Untrained labour force a turnoff for investors –Mc Lean
Berbice Commander urged to deal condignly with rogue cops
New state boards' members still to be named
Postponement of Toshaos' elections Amerindians up in arms against Govt over move
Police Constable gets bail on fraud charge
wednesday, july 22, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com
Recently-appointed Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association
high level of unskilled labour in the country is a major turnoff for investors. He was at the time
on current affairs and other social matters that will help entrepreneurs develop their businesses.
(GMSA) President and Private Sector Commission Chairman, retired Major General Norman Mc Lean, has highlighted that the
speaking at the GMSA’s mid-year business luncheon held at the Pegasus Hotel on Monday, when he updated the business community
The GMSA Head said:
“We agree that there is a pool of vocational and advanced skills in Guyana, but that is a very limited
skill and we need to ensure that the Private Sector is able to attract huge foreign investments and apart from our limited labour force, the high cost of doing business in Guyana also keeps investors doubtful about investing in Guyana.”
He was referring to energy costs, Customs charges and the long undue delays in the import and export procedures. According to the GMSA President, the Private Sector is even more committed now than ever to change the local business landscape, from relying on the sale of raw products to promoting new businesses that will see processing of rice, fruits and vegetables, meat and milk. He noted that the frequent wastage at markets proves that there is a dire need to process those produce in order to ensure that the country truly becomes the food basket of the Caribbean.
Mc Lean spoke about the services sector which has proven to be a growing industry in the Caribbean and accounted for more that 60 per cent of accumulated revenues in the Region. However, he pointed out that Guyana has been “lapsing” in this regard.
the country, since it mostly pays for deadweight, as the vessels were unable to carry their maximum capacity. “We do agree unconditionally that Guyana, positioned as it is on the Atlantic Coast gives us a distinct advantage in terms of access to foreign markets
“Although CEDA (Caribbean Export Development Agency) has taken the next logical step towards consolidating this growing area of the economy, we are not doing as we should do. This is an area of weakness for us,” he stated.
Technical support
The GMSA head explained that the organisation was hoping to secure membership in the Caribbean Network, which will enable Guyana to be eligible for funding for technical support to develop the music industry, specialty health care, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and a wide range of other industrial and social services.
Additionally, Mc Lean underscored that Guyana’s position on the Atlantic Ocean was both a curse as well as a blessing. He explained that with the Atlantic off its shores, Guyana has easy access to Caribbean markets, but was unable to effectively tap into them because of inadequate harbour facilities.
He pointed out that this must be a major priority for
… So a serious priority for us here in Guyana is ensure that we install facilities similar to the one that is at the Berbice River mouth … The time has come for us to ensure that the Georgetown Harbour, receive larger vessels through a similar facility, either by dredging or opening a channel through the bar and ensuring that we have a loading facility where we can bring in large vessels and take out large vessels as well,” he emphasized.
Mc Lean outlined that the lack of such facilities was hampering the development of trade and investment in Guyana, hence it needed to be addressed urgently.
On this note, he expressed his satisfaction that the new Government has committed to address these issues in the shortest possible time and extended the support of the Private Sector to enhance the ability of entrepreneurs to earn more than subsistence level revenue, and to eliminate the barriers to external trade which exporters have been dealing with for years.
Ateenager was killed and a relative injured on Tuesday morning after the vehicle they were travelling in crashed into a parked trailer along the West Coast Demerara Public Road. The incident occurred around 08:45h.
Dead is 19-year-old Ricardo Ram, while the injured man has been identified as 20-year-old Ronaldo Ram of Canal Number One Polder, West Bank Demerara.
According to reports, Ronaldo was reportedly
driving the motor vehicle at a fast pace along the Harlem Public Road, when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a parked trailer.
Both young men sustained injuries and were rushed by public-spirited citizens to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH). However, Ricardo was pronounced dead on arrival by doctors on duty. Ronaldo has been admitted to the Hospital.
The Police continue to investigate the matter.
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Wednesday, July 22 – 09:00h-10:30h and Thursday, July 23 – 09:30h-11:00h
The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Wednesday, July 22 – 07:35h-09:05h and Thursday, July 23 – 08:10h-09:45h
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily.
Winds: East North-easterly between 3.12 metre and 4.02 metres per second.
High Tide: 08:18h and 20:42h reaching maximum heights of 2.43 metres and 2.38 metres respectively.
Low Tide: 01:51h and 14:14h reaching minimum heights of 0.79 metre and 0.81 metre respectively.
wednesday, july 22, 2015 |
An ExxonMobil Corp discovery off the coast of Guyana may hold oil and natural gas worth 12 times the nation’s entire economic output, Bloomberg has reported.
The Liza-1 well, which probably holds the equivalent of more than 700 million barrels of oil, may begin pumping crude in as few as five years, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman, said in an interview Monday. The prospect would be on par with a recent Exxon find at the Hadrian formation in the Gulf of Mexico, and would be worth about US$40 billion at today’s international crude price.
Guyana produces no oil and its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$3.23 billion in 2014 ranked between Burundi and Swaziland, according to the World Bank.
Exxon, which has a market value of US$341 billion, has declined to provide an estimate for Liza-1 since describing the discovery as “significant” in a May 20 statement. Guyana has been receiving sustained international attention from huge companies, especially in the oil sector, after the US Geological Survey said in 2000 that the Guyana-Suriname Basin has the second largest unexplored oil potential in the world after Greenland.
“A find of this magnitude for a country like ours, which sits on the lower end of the scale of countries in this hemisphere, this could be transformational,” Trotman told the news agency. “From my sense, from speaking to experts outside of Exxon, it has to be something excess of 700 million barrels.”
Exxon, which began drilling the well in March, said it found a 295-foot (90-metre) column of oil- and gas-soaked rock in the Stabroek Block off the Essequibo Coast. The well is 120 miles (193 kilometers) offshore and 5,710 feet beneath the sea surface.
The multibillion-dollar oil exploration project, which is expected to be executed over 10 years, got underway in early March.
The scope of operations spans a drillship, with approximately 200 crew and contractors; helicopter support flying out of Ogle International Airport a utility as well as a search-and-rescue craft, which is always on standby; four support vessels and two shore bases – Georgetown and Trinidad, as well as a waste treatment facility at the John Fernandes Site at Houston,
Greater Georgetown.
ExxonMobil Country Manager Jeff Simmons had stated that work had proceeded without any interference from Venezuela, which has raised concerns about the rig’s operation in the Essequibo basin, to which it has laid claim along with the entire county. The country recently issued two decrees which are designed to allow it to aggressively and illegally patrol Guyana’s waters.
Venezuela has repeatedly laid claim to the area to be explored, ignoring an 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award, which was declared as the full and final settlement of the boundary between the two South American nations. With Venezuela’s insistence on its position, Guyana is pushing for judicial settlement of the boundary.
The first round of the Commission of Inquiry set up by Government to probe the operations of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was completed on Tuesday, with several experts testifying and members of the Commission visiting the Uitvulgt Factory, West Coast Demerara (WCD).
Commission Chairman Vibert Parvatan told Guyana Times on Tuesday that among those who testified and made recommendation on the way forward for the crumbling industry are: former Factory Manager Sydney Robinson, former GuySuCo Chairman Vickram Oditt, former Houston/Versailles Estates shareholder and Manager Anthony Vieira, former GuySuCo Human Resources Director Earl John, and GuySuCo Agriculture Services General Manager Raymond Sangster.
Discussions are ongoing with Paul Bhim, who along with Errol Hanoman, currently heads GuySuCo. When Hanoman, a former Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo, returns shortly, he too will join the talks, Parvatan informed.
Commission Chairman Vibert Parvatan
Commissioners have also met with staff members of various levels. Those responsible for field and factory operations and human resources held meetings with general managers, departmental managers and several workers as they examined the preparatory work for the next crop in this, the out-of-crop season. Teams will be revisiting the estates at various periods to follow up.
Other interested parties have been invited by the Commission to participate in
the investigation. Persons who have signalled their intention to make submissions include former GuySuCo General Manager Vishnu Panday, former Factory Manager and Chief Electrical Engineer Lance Tyrell, and former employee George Alleyne.
The National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), and the National Cane Farming Association have also indicated that they would be participating in the Inquiry.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) said it was considering the request made by the Commission for it to make submissions about the operations at the Corporation.
GAWU President Komal Chand told Guyana Times that the organisation would make a decision as soon as possible. GAWU has been at the forefront of the sugar in-
dustry, fighting for the rights of the industry and thousands of workers who benefit.
Government said the objective was to develop a plan which would bring the stateowned enterprise, which has been operating since 1976, back to profitability, and assure its long-term environmental and economic sustainability.
The commissioners, who are tasked with development planning for this purpose, are mandated to “investigate and inquire into the current state of cane cultivation, production, and marketing of sugar, molasses and other by-products including power”.
The consultants will work closely with the Interim Management Team and other GuySuCo officials to realise the objective. They will also liaise with cane farmers as required. The Commission of Inquiry is expected to complete its work by September 30.
Editor: Nigel Williams
Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134
Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown
Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com
On July 20, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) published a documentary on their YouTube channel entitled “Thin Slice: embracing the past and moving forward” which details the experience of a maleto-female transgender Guyanese youth who was involved in sex work and almost murdered by her paramour.
The documentary, which is widely available on social media, purports to tell the story of 23-year-old Romario Lovell who is popularly known as “Thin Slice” and the amount of abuse she endured from her partner who committed suicide after brutally hacking to death two other transgender youth, who were Lovell’s friends.
Other documentaries are available from the LGBT human rights advocacy body telling the stories of countless Guyanese and the abuse that they endure at the hands of their families, partners and society as a whole because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Some of these individuals are forced underground because of the fear that they live in and because of the amount of torment that they suffer if they implicitly or explicitly declare that they are homosexual, bisexual or transgender.
While the levels of tolerance in Guyana have increased over the years for the LGBT people, there are sections of the society that refuse to even allow the members of that community the right to enjoy life or peaceful coexistence. As result, people who have a different sexual orientation or gender identity from what is ‘religiously accepted’ are denied employment at various levels of the public and private sector; treated with scorn and resentment; mocked and beaten; and condemned to a life of unimaginable levels of physical and psychological torment.
The ruling of the US Supreme Court, though a major step in the fight for equal rights and human rights for this global community, has not made it any easier for LGBT people residing in Caribbean countries with similar demographics like Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Haiti.
The truth is, that as sections of the society harden their resolve not to at least end the discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation, the underground LBGT community is flourishing and expanding to the point where it can be argued that every community has a group.
A worrying trend is also developing, which sociologists and behavioural scientists need to pay attention to, if they are to understand how the continued rejection and increasing homophobia in certain parts of this country is undermining the ‘perfect and religiously correct society’ that anti-LGBT activists are seeking to create or maintain.
The LGBT community is fighting back, becoming more visible with more young people between the ages of 14 to 35, claiming that they were either born that way or grew to a level of comfort with themselves despite the constant beating and psychological pain endured to “change”. The community is also producing more influential blue and white collar persons who are, by their own resilience, breaking barriers in business, media and government to take on serious roles which could alter public policy, opinion and the status quo in the not so distant future.
Guyanese must end the double standards on this issue. It is not acceptable that on one hand, these individuals are used for good entertainment and good laughs because of their flamboyance but are rejected whenever they try to live peacefully and respectfully.
The argument is not being made for anyone to abandon their beliefs, religious or otherwise, or for anyone to accept the LGBT community with open arms. It is however being argued that these individuals must be guaranteed the basic human right of living and expressing themselves without having to worry about being killed, stabbed, beaten, discriminated against and resented.
Just as Guyanese do not murder adulterers, fornicators and others who breach strongly held ‘religious views’, members of the LGBT community who are not guilty of crimes should be allowed to enjoy the benefits of their human rights. If sections of the society understandably prefer not to condone the acts of members of the LGBT community then research, studies and other introspective forms of investigations must be done to solve the ‘problem’. Sending them to an island as one politician and former Government Minister endorsed is certainly not the answer and in any case, it would be interesting to see what yardsticks are used to identify and authenticate LGBT Guyanese.
There is need for more tolerance and a society where discrimination is frowned upon; a society where ignorance gives way to education and informed, intelligent decision-making; a country where to be multi-cultural includes sexual and gender diversity; a society which allows its citizens to live in decency and to tap into all of their productive abilities; a society built on the precepts of respect, equality and justice.
Dear Editor, Can the APNU/AFC coalition lift us out of poverty? Without hesitation, the answer is a resounding no. How can this Government help us when it drowns itself in political corruption - favoritism, cronyism and nepotism? Glaringly, its Cabinet is the product of this scourge which doomed it from the very start.
It has the nerve to shove a large ineffective cabinet down our throats and the system is such that we have to swallow it. Is this democracy? The country does not belong to the APNU/ AFC coalition. Democratic Governments traditionally fill their cabinets with distinguished people capable of building nations, rather than strangling them - this is something Guyana is still waiting for. So do not hold your breath for a 100 day roll out.
Ironically, this fresh Government branded the PPP/C as corrupt when in fact it too is like a vampire sucking blood from the population. It dons a mantle projecting that it is against this scourge when in fact it is a veil of propaganda shielding its hypocrisy.
Highlighting this is the fact that Government caters to its inner circle in a blatant political manner relegating the welfare of the nation to the backburner. Unsurprisingly, this guarantees our stay in poverty.
Furthermore, it extends an atmosphere of unfair-
ness, widens rifts, creates rancor and erodes public confidence. Is this the kind of change our country needs?
Further assessments of this cabinet reveal a glaring picture of the uniformity of its members which was born out of political corruption. This handicaps Governments and hamstrings development.
A major impediment of such a group is the inherent problem of groupthink. It is a well-known fact that such a group is riddled with problems because its aim is to solely not rock the boat.
It is likely to maintain the status quo rather than shaking it up. Often such groups slam the door on innovation in order to protect the ego of its leaders.
History has educated us on the dangers of conformist thinking which includesthe failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Jim Jones disaster and the space shuttle Challenger disaster. Yet we engage in this. Given consideration of this, can we expect anything from this Government?
Our Government should know better. It should know that countries including - Haiti, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and our very own fail because of political corruption. On the campaign trails, Government has staged a revival of our country making vacuous promises including that its heart is in stamping out corruption.
It hypocritically preach-
es about how poverty and corruption go hand in hand while doing nothing about its own corruption. Editor, a lack of accountability, disrespect and hoodwinking are unfortunately norms in our society. Government is not above the law. In many parts of the world Governments are forced to clarify issues on corruption.
For example, the South African president, Mr. Jacob Zuma has come under fire and was called upon to clarify his appointment of his daughter to a senior Cabinet post. In weak democracies like ours, however, citizens are afraid to stand up against corruption fearing retaliation.
We all know our country is in pitiful condition, but yet our Government continue to mistreat it. In no way should it whip and ride our nation to fuel its self-interest. It is wrong for any of our Governments, be it the PPP/C, APNU (PNC) or the APNU/AFC coalition to use our country's funds to hire favorites including friends and family.
Editor, political corruption has taken a toll on our country including: stifling development, breeding inefficiencies, causing the number of suicides to skyrocket, increasing alcoholism, diving educational standards, frustrating potentials, tearing lives apart, yanking opportunities away, creating joblessness and ushering in early deaths.
These are the moral
tragedies of our country. Corruption streamlines our lives on one of three trajectories: to either commit suicide, to migrate or to live a blighted life in the country. Undoubtedly, we have been downtrodden by all this. We are asking for mercy from Government.
We need to return home to Guyana especially from countries in which we are unwelcome. We need jobs here for our survival. We need leaders like Mr. Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore who are doers and not talkers.
The current flawed system, which allows Governments the liberty to unilaterally hire whomever it wants without the approval of an independent body, needs to be immediately changed. It is one of the prime reasons for our country's failure.
Guyana is too bloated with corruption for a system like this. It brings to mind the popular adage that you cannot leave a fox to watch chickens. Government needs an independent watch dog monitoring its actions, including when it makes critical appointments. The current system has clearly reduced us to naught. For the betterment of our country, I urge all Guyanese, to speak with one voice against any kind of corruption, irrespective of political ties.
Yours sincerely Annie Baliram
Dear Sir,
Of course Minister of Business and Investment
Dominic Gaskin doesn’t know whether there will be a GuyExpo or not. Government will surely have to conduct an audit, have a consultation with stakeholders, or dismantle the exposition, or all of the above before a decision can be made.
It has become very clear that all those years sitting on the opposition bench opposing everything the PPP government did was being done just to be obstructive
since Coalition now in power has no plans or projects of its own to put forward. Now in Office, its focus seems to still remain on what the PPP did as it tries to dismantle everything created previously. There is no change in the attitude brought forward from the previous opposition’s ranks.
Everything in which the efforts of the PP were invested seems to be falling apart, even in the sugar and rice industry, GuyExpo and the humble School Uniform Voucher which benefitted so many parents. Crime
has soared to degrees hardly witnessed during the last few years.
The new Government clearly shows that it had no alternative plans as an opposition and is only now trying to determine how to run the country.
For Guyana’s sake, the PPP needs to take up its seats in Parliament in order to give this clueless Government help and direction if our country is to continue on the path to progress.
Shanie Jagessar
Dear Editor,
It’s hard to believe but human breast milk is now available online. In developed countries human breast milk is a fast growing online business. It started out as milk for babies for mothers who are unable to provide any or enough milk for their babies. But now there is a growing demand for such milk for cancer patients and for body builders.
It is believed among cancer patients and body builders that human milk enhances their immune system. However, there is no evidence that human milk used by cancer patients and by body builders improve their immune systems.
Human milk obtained online is unsafe. Scientific tests of human milk obtained online found the milk to be contami-
nated with pathogens, such as Hepatitis B and C and other bacteria.
But the HIV community should also be concerned. Breast milk is a reservoir for HIV and the online availability of breast milk could provide a potential risk.
But my concern is the potential for poor families to sell human breast milk as an income earner. In so doing they might deprive their own babies of the best nutrient in the world.
As the online trade in human breast milk grows, there’s the potential spread to developing countries where poor mothers might deprive their babies of nature’s best nutrient in order to become a provider of this valuable commodity.
It is these concerns that I take into consideration as I
warn the public health community around the world that this is a brand new public health challenge. Governments need to recognize that this online business is regulated from a safety perspective. It must also be regulated to ensure that mothers do not deprive their babies of this important natural and most nutritious food that god has provided for our children.
I am flabbergasted that the WHO has been silent on this issue. I urge the WHO to ensure that we bring attention to this problem. I urge UNAIDS to insert this challenge within its global objective. In our Region, PAHO and CARPHA must issue advisory calls to bring to attention this emerging public health issue.
Dr Leslie Ramsammy
Dear Editor,
The Aishalton Village Council elections will be held on July 22 and this will be the “elections of all elections” in the entire Rupununi region. The same goes for the village of Santa Rosa in the Moruca sub-region of Region no.1.
Tony James, the VicePresident of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) and Douglas Casimero are contesting for the Toshaoship of the Aishalton Village, in the South Rupununi.
The residents of Aishalton are all excited and happy because they are so eager to have Douglas Casimero as their new Toshao since he it is claimed that he has progressive ideas and leadership skills that can continue to move the Aishalton Village forward.
However, Tony James who was a Toshao for some twelve years did nothing for the village in terms of its development. Residents are also of the opinion that Tony James’ ideas are outdated and cannot contribute to modern development.
Residents are also of the view that Tony James as a village elder should try to benefit from time spent
with his family and grandchildren since he has long outlived his usefulness in Aishalton.
With regards to the Santa Rosa Village in the Moruca sub-region, Sharon Atkinson, the President of the APA is competing against Richard Cornelius for the Toshaoship. But the residents are confused as to why Sharon Atkinson is trying to represent the village of Santa Rosa since she never tried to represent them as head of the APA.
Yours sincerely, W James
Dear Editor,
Permit me to comment on your editorial “Stimulus needed for Budget 2015” published in the Guyana Times on July 20. In terms of financial policy measures, the best way I believe is to lower direct taxes - corporation and income taxes which your editorial covered.
The Government needs VAT (indirect tax) to remain high so to generate tax revenues to be spent on other sectors, but it has made an irresponsible populist campaign promise and will now have to keep it. The new Finance Minister has signalled the inappropriateness of the promise and has been hedging on the quantum of
the decrease.
Through its monetary policy instruments, executed through the Bank of Guyana, the Government could also lower interest rates which would encourage less saving and bring about more spending, investment and borrowing. The first by consumers and the last two by businesses. And the budget should also give incentives to sectors where they want to encourage investment such as manufacturing and value added.
In my opinion, Guyanese just want a positive Government focused on development. The deep structural factors which your editorial alluded to, come probably second to
the Government’s failure to be magnanimous. The Government is only focusing on digging into the past and firing people and this is only serving to create doubt - especially with investors.
On top of that it is keen to show that everything is worse than it actually is just to show the PPP in bad light, but they do not realise that this is creating more pessimism - both domestically and externally.
From Its statements, the new Government also does not seem to grasp that Government spending is a key ingredient to keeping the economy in motion.
Sincerely, Ravi Ram
Good food: If you are able to breastfeed, breast milk is the best food you can give your baby for the first six months of life (and well beyond, with complementary foods). Whether you breastfeed or use formula, think of feeding time as a brain-building time too: making eye contact, smiling, and having skin contact are all positive experiences. As your baby grows, be sure to offer iron-rich foods and foods with a variety of nutrients, like fruits and vegetables (see below for links to re sources on healthy eating).
Your baby doesn’t need expensive toys. The loving, smiling faces of adults who respond to them are the best toys ever. Many electronic toys, DVDs, and TV shows are marketed as “educa tional” for babies. But there is no research to back up claims that these products help babies learn. Watching a DVD or TV show is passive. Babies need to actively interact with you and other people in their lives, and explore their world. Screen time is not recommended for children under the age of two.
ing sounds, or smiling. When you respond in a loving and consistent way, you help baby’s brain develop.
Provide a safe and loving home for your baby
Develop daily routines that your baby can count on. Keep your home calm. Help your baby explore his surroundings, both in-
should be seen by a healthcare provider on a regular basis. Keep vaccines up-todate and talk to your provider about development and what to expect next.
Develop community connections. Get to know the services and programmes available in your neighbourhood. Many communities have agencies or centres that serve young families. Playgroups and drop-ins are great places to meet other parents, and many have visiting professionals who can answer questions. If you’re not sure where to go, try contacting your local community centre, public library, public health unit, or family resource programme. Choose quality child care
What can you do?
Respond to your baby
This is especially important when your baby is sick, hungry, upset, or just needs some comfort. But babies also reach out for you in countless positive ways – by babbling, mak-
side and out. Play helps babies learn, and you are your child’s first playmate. Playing simple games will help him learn about the people and the world around him. And remember to talk to your baby as you go through your daily routines. Tell your baby what is going on, point out interesting things that you see together, and help him develop his other senses—hearing, touch, taste, and smell. Get regular health care for your baby. Your baby
When you need to be away from you baby, make sure you leave your baby with a caregiver who will care for your baby like you do. Choose someone you trust, who will respond to your baby’s emotional needs, and provide a safe and healthy environment with opportunities to learn and grow.
Reach out if you need help. If you feel stressed, overwhelmed, depressed or need some support caring for your baby, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Talk to your health care provider, your family or contact a local community agency. (caringforkids. cps.ca)
Begin by changing your child’s bedtime ritual just a bit
Most children who are afraid to sleep in their own beds also become afraid when any part of their bedtime ritual is changed. So take one small step first. Change something that your child feels he “needs” when going to sleep. If he needs the light on, tell him that you’ll help him go to sleep in the dark. Or if he needs his teddy or pacifier, propose to put teddy on the nightstand, or his pacifier in a jar by his bedside. Just propose the change. If the idea of change brings tears or tantrums, your child is already offloading the feelings that prevent him from feeling safe. Listen. Stay close. Offer eye contact, whether he looks at you or not. Hold him gently if he’s screaming or thrashing – this wild activity is what it takes to heal a big fear that has leapt out of emotional storage. Don’t ask him what he’s scared of. Don’t ask him to answer any questions at all. Just absorb what he’s telling you nonverbally. He needs you to see how hard this is, but your worry isn’t helpful to him. He’s sturdy. He’s built to offload feelings in this way. Just hang in there – he’s having a big, messy “emotional poop,” and it will continue until he doesn’t have more to release for to-
night. When his crying or thrashing slows, remind him that you want to turn out the light, or put his teddy on the nightstand, or put his pacifier in a jar nearby. That will start the feelings up again. You don’t have to do these things – he’s begun to shed fear or grief by working on the idea of doing those things, and that’s just fine. You’re not trying to “accomplish” anything, or to get to the next stage. Your goal is to support him while he cries about the idea you have proposed. If your ability to listen wears out before your child
BY PATTY WIPFLER
ings. There are more to be shed, and tomorrow is another day. If you find that tomorrow night, you don’t have the emotional wherewithal to do the ‘Staylistening’, then just wait to propose the little bedtime change, and listen, until you can support him well.
stops crying, you can tell him that he’s done enough hard work for tonight, and that you’ll make the change tomorrow night. This is not giving in, and it’s not being inconsistent. It’s telling a child, “I can’t listen to your feelings any more. I won’t force you to make a change before you’re ready. So you can go to sleep now, and we’ll talk about putting your teddy on the nightstand tomorrow night.” Your child has shed some big feel-
You will most likely need emotional support to staylisten with full attention It’s not easy to listen to our children wail and flail in fear. We don’t want them to hurt. We want to make life smooth and easy. Most of us have never ever seen a person dive into their feelings as fully as a child does. Children show every detail of their emotional pain. So it’s scary. It’s wearing. It’s unusual. It doesn’t look like a supportive thing to do. And other family members don’t always approve. You’ll most likely need a listener for yourself, so you can offload your own fear and grief. You’ll need someone to care about how you feel, and to stay with you as you release your own set of upsets and worries. We have a booklet, Listening Partnerships for Parents, which describes how two parents can team up to support one another in turn. It’s a simple thing to try, and there’s an art to listening that is interesting to refine. It makes such a difference to have someone to talk to about parenting, someone who won’t judge you, and who will let you explore your own mind and heart without interruption or advice. We highly recommend setting up a Listening Partnership, so you don’t exhaust yourself while trying to help your child. You’ll be a far better listener, and a far steadier emotional guide, if you have your own listener on a regular basis!
When your child can agree to the bedtime change, make it Whether it’s five minutes or five nights, when the idea of making the change you’ve proposed doesn’t bring your child to tears or thrashing or tantrums, then he’ll be able to tell you that it’s okay to make the change. Do it. Enjoy your success for a few nights, and propose another change, working step by step until your child can fall asleep easily. Take breaks in this emotional project for vacations, illnesses, and to lower your own stress levels. Just explain to your child, “Tonight I am not going to help you sleep with Teddy on the nightstand. I had a big day. I’ll help you another night.” Your child doesn’t need you to be consistent in how each bedtime goes. He just needs to know why things are different today. (Handinhandparenting.org)
Presidential Adviser on National Security, retired Brigadier Edward Collins last Saturday kicked off a four-day outreach to law enforcement agencies in Berbice, encouraging ranks to put a lid on criminals and pledging Government’s full support.
This is the first of a series of such outreaches to be carried out across the country with the aim of interacting with Police Officers, giving them the opportunity to highlight their challenges and make recommendations on the way forward, the Ministry of the Presidency said in a statement.
Berbice has been hard hit by the recent flare-up in criminal violence here and despite assurances from Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, bandits continue to be on the prowl.
Only last week in lamenting the escalating crime rate, the West Berbice Chamber of Commerce said that the situation was greatly interfering with the development of the business sector, particularly in Berbice. At the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on July 1, incoming President Imram Sacoor highlighted that crime continued to be a hindrance to businesses in the community. The Chamber, which is mandated to oversee business operations in the county of Berbice, recognised the vast potential of the business sector in Berbice.
“This scourge must be addressed if we are to enhance our community and to make our businesses safer,” he said.
Ramjattan had promised to take every step available to reduce the
crime rate as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, according to the Ministry, following a report from Berbice Division Commander Christopher Griffith, Brigadier Collins urged the Division to continue to deal strictly with rogue officers, especially those who are responsible for the destruction of Police vehicles. Commander Griffith reported that 29 complaints were received about ranks of B Division. As a result, seven ranks have been placed before the court, while departmental actions have been taken against the others.
Brigadier Collins also called on the B Division Commander and senior ranks to develop a closer relationship with community members. In this regard, the B Division is currently working closely with the Community Policing Groups (CPGs) in the region. Brigadier Collins was briefed on the over-
all operations of the Police in B Division by the Commander who indicated that there were currently 385 ranks attached to the Division, a number which falls woefully short of the recommended 928, given the vastness of the region.
Commander Griffith said that this shortage was largely owed to the fact that the Force has been unable to attract recruits because of the current salaries and allowances being offered. He said that if Police Officers were offered more attractive salary packages, more people will be encouraged to join and even trained ranks who have left the Force to seek more lucrative options will return to serve.
President David Granger has committed to modernising the Guyana Police Force. In his address at the opening of the 11th Parliament, on June 10, President Granger said, “Your Government will refashion the Guyana Police Force into a more professional and better equipped law enforcement agency. We shall pay Policemen and women better so that they are not easily led into temptation.”
This outreach visit forms part of the consultative process aimed at better equipping the Force and improving security across Guyana. Brigadier Collins was expected to spend a few days visiting the Whim Police Station, the Guyana Revenue Authority and Berbice Anti-Smuggling Squad (BASS) in Moleson Creek, Orealla, Canje, East Bank Berbice, and Fort Wellington on the West Coast of Berbice. BASS was disbanded last Saturday.
New state boards' members still to be named
Almost a month after declaring that it would be shaking up State Boards across the country, Government is still to announce those changes.
Minister of Governance and Patrimony Raphael Trotman had said last week that the announcement about the changes in the structure of the boards would be made by the end of that week. However, no announcement was made and it yet to be made.
In June, Government said that it was conducting a major shakeup of boards which overlooked Government agencies. These include the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), and the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil). So far, head of GRDB Jagnarine Singh has already resigned his post and Trotman had indicated that head of the NIS board, Dr Roger Luncheon was also slated to be sent packing.
Also to be removed from his post is head of the Guyana Power and Light Winston Brassington; who is also head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). Currently, Government is carrying out investigations into that entity.
Since the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition assumed office, there have been massive changes in the various state boards aimed at what the Government said was bringing back confidence over the opera-
tions of the various agencies.
It noted that Guyoil’s General Manager Badree Persaud did not enjoy the confidence of Government and would definitely have to go. Former President Donald Ramotar’s son Alexei Ramotar, who headed the E-Governance Project, was recently sent on leave to facilitate investigations into the financial operation of the project which has missed its deadline by some two years.
Government has also shaken up the entire Board of Directors of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and has replaced it with an Interim Management Committee (IMC). Its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Raj Singh was fired and the other Board Members were forced to resign. A Commission of Inquiry (CoI) is currently being conducted into its operations.
Other boards up under review include the Board of Directors for the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board and the Board of Directors of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest). Minister of State Joseph Harmon had said that Government has decided to send the heads packing because of their “inadequacy to effectively manage their respective agency”. In relation to the GRDB General Manager, Harmon had disclosed that Singh had indicated his desire to demit office and that was fully welcomed by the new Government. In addition, the entire Rice Board is also up for review and will be replaced.
wednesday, july 22, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com
BY DEVINASAMAROO
Amerindians are complaining about the last minute postponement of the highly anticipated Toshaos elections in several Amerindian communities across Guyana, and are questioning the Government’s sincerity in promoting indigenous peoples development.
For months now, those residing in the hinterland communities have been in intense preparation for this important occasion, which is part and parcel of the entire democratic system of the country and reflective of the governing Administration’s respect for Amerindian rights.
However, while the village leaders and people were highly annoyed and irritated over the postponement, their infuriation and frustration comes in light of the manner in which the postponement was done.
The community of Four Miles, located in Region One (Barima-Waini) was confirmed to host the Toshaos Elections on Tuesday, July 21 at 09:00h. However, as the officials were just about to commence the process, they were informed, without reason, that the election must be stopped.
Chairman of the Four Miles Community Development Council (CDC) Ellis James, explained that the Amerindian Regional Executive Officer (AREO) Susan Sawack, informed them that instructions were given from the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry that the election will be postponed
until further notice. James said that the AREO was informed by A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Member of Parliament Richard Allen and confirmation was later verified by Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock.
A similar incident occurred in the nearby village of Eclipse Falls Top, where residents and officials were forced to halt the activities of the day in relation to these crucial elections, notably much to the annoyance of many.
“We received a confirmation letter from the Ministry saying that elections are to be conducted today (Tuesday) and just before we were about to start, they cancelled it until further notice. People made lots of investment into this, we had to get transportation to bring people in from far-
reaching areas and I do not understand why they called it off last minute,” vented village Toshao Emanuel Henry.
Violation of the Amerindian Act
The villagers and their leaders are even more upset about the fact that the entire position taken by the Government is in blatant violation of the Amerindian Act 2006.
The Act, which was dubbed a modern piece of legislation that is ideally crafted to represent the rights of Amerindians, embodies the principle of selfdetermination and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and is consistent with Articles 3 and 4 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
FPIC requires that every movement in any process oc-
curring in an Amerindian Community must be given prior and informed notice before it can take effect.
Guyana Times spoke with former advisor to the Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Yvonne Pearson who expressed utter dissatisfaction with the occurrences.
In an invited comment, Pearson said “I am highly disappointed, regardless of where the order came from; it is a total disrespect for Amerindians. It demonstrates no respect. It was such short noticed. People turned up for elections to vote and then were just told that they cannot and there was no reason. What happened to FPIC?”
This newspaper also spoke to Region One Regional Chairman Brentol Ashley who related that he too was not even informed of this change until after residents began expressing their anger over the outcome.
“I was not even informed by the officials,” he said.
However, when information did reach his office, Ashely said “I was informed that it was postponed because someone objected to elections being held” and that someone was the APNU/AFC MP Richard Allen.
Asked whether a reason was given to him for the snap postponement, Ashley replied in the negative, noting that he has been trying to make contact with the Minister for clarification but to no avail.
Guyana Times up to press time, tried to make contact with the Minister but all efforts proved futile.
Apublic-spirited citizen reported that all the "working girls" Minister of Social Cohesion Simona "I is" Broomes had hauled out from Bartica - 29 of them - are back on the job. Just a block away from the Bartica Police Station. Now your Eyewitness had predicted this outcome, hadn't he? And repeating this has nothing to do with any "It told you so!" braggadocio - but everything about law and morality on what's been dubbed the "oldest profession".
Your Eyewitness knows that prostitution's against the law in Guyana. And we're not even talking about stuff like same-sex prostitution or S&M or anything kinky. The law says that it's a crime for a woman to accept money as payment for providing sexual services involving parts of her anatomy. It's OK for her to accept (minimum wage) payment for offering her entire body to say, stand guard over some building, where she could be shot or attacked at any moment.
Obviously "women's work" is highly circumscribed to such an extent that there are laws on the books about what's permissible and what's not. Even with the rise of neoliberalism, which insists that allocation of all resources - including "labour" - should be done by the "market", there's something larger determining supply (not demand) in this area. And that something is "morality".
Somewhere, somehow, down the ages, it was determined that it's "immoral" for women to "sell" sexual services to men. And interestingly, these laws were passed by men many of whom, if the lurid British press is to be believed, were the same fellas enjoying those services!! Anyhow, the point we want to make is not that perchance "law" may be "morality" writ largethat's grist for another column! - but that if the law can change in other areas, why not here?
If the law is not in step with public morality, then that law will be obeyed in the breach - or, more likely, not at all. And if we insist on enforcing such laws, we'll end up with the denouement of the "I is" Broomes' sweep of the interior's working girls. Even when there's a police station next door, ordinary citizens will still seek their "calls of nature" and the police will allow it. It wasn't a coincidence that "I is" Broomes had to use the subterfuge of "rescuing" the "working girls" as "victims" of Trafficking in Persons" (TIP). It's high time that we revisit the law on "working girls". Especially when the girls themselves freely and voluntarily choose to "work it".
Another letter writer complained that the CPL was ruining the morality of the nation by allowing liquor to be served to patrons at their games! Really? Well, this Eyewitness used to be taken to Bourda by his dad back in the day when test cricket was still played there. And he can tell you...the rum flowed like the Demerara River at low tide. Brown, fast and sweet!! And the cricket was the more fun for it! Ahhhh! The gyaaf!!
His dad and friends would take their "stuff" with them on the ground - using all sorts of subterfuges. One being your youthful Eyewitness, still in short pants, slip two "halfs" in his pockets. Now don't get your Eyewitness wrong. He knows all about the evils of "devil rum". But here again, we butt up with the clash of public morality and the law.
It's still the law to drink at public events. Not much CPL can do about it. Some countries tried banning alcohol (like during the "Prohibition" in the U.S. ) Didn't help much.
So conversely to the law on prostitution, let's work on "public morality" and drinking.
Before we go changing the laws.
C'mon guys!! Really?? The head of the GRA and 20 of the top brass "sent on leave"?
So the organisationcan work on autopilot as the economy implodes?
Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com
... insists killing was no ‘hit’
Kaieteur News
Publisher Glenn
Lall who had put up a $5 million bounty for the capture of the killers of Multiplex Mall owner Ganesh Ramlall said the money would not be given to the police Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) Unit and he also maintained that the execution of the businessman was a “plain” robbery and not a “hit”.
Lall, who described himself as a family friend of the murdered businessman, told this newspaper on Tuesday that the reward money was put up by a group of close associates.
Asked whether the money will go towards the Police given the fact that they were able to apprehend Ramlall’s killers, Lall responded in the negative. The award was to encourage persons to come forward with information that will lead investigators to the killers but Lall explained that the Police were able to track down the killers.
On this note, the businessman applauded the work of the Police ranks who had worked diligently in ensuring that the perpetrators were brought to justice. “They did a fanastic
job... I’m extremely happy... I hope this is how they treat all cases from now on,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, the Publisher was adamant that the attack on Ramlall was a robbery and not a hit. He pointed out that to say a “hit” was put out on the mall owner would suggest that the 48-yearold mall owner was involved in questionable activities, which is not the case. Lall added that Ramlall was always hanging out with different persons so it would have been easy for him to be a target of robbery. Furthermore, he pointed out that Guyana Times
carried detailed articles of the perpetrators confessing to planning the robbery two months prior to its execution.
Fazeel Bacchus called “Javed” and Lennox Roberts called “Soldier Man” had reportedly told Police that they never planned to kill Ramlall but intended to rob him and if they did not get enough money, then they would kidnap the businessman and demand a ransom.
They reportedly hired persons to carry out the act.
However, during the robbery, the businessman put
up a fight in attempts to alert his wife, daughter and niece who were upstairs at the time, and as such, he was shot several times about his body.
On July 14, acting on information provided by a “concerned citizen”, Police detectives partnered with the SWAT Unit and swooped down on a Craig First Street, East Bank Demerara house, where they encountered several persons wanted by the Police in connection to high-profile investigations. During a confrontation with the suspects, Police shot and killed Rolston Morrison, called “Mappy”
or “Sadam” of Nabacalis, East Coast Demerara; and injured 22-year-old Warren McKenzie of Brutus Street, Agricola, Greater Georgetown.
Seven other suspects were arrested during the raid; however, it was after further investigations that detectives arrested the two taxi drivers – 21-yearold Fazeel Bacchus of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara and 32-year-old Lennox Roberts of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo later that same day.
Moments after their arrests, the men reported-
ly confessed to the crime and tried to lay the blame of the incident at the feet of each other. They were both charged and brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday. The accused were not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated they murdered the Regent Street Multiplex Mall owner Ganesh Ramlall, also known as “Boyo” on July 5 at his La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara home. Ramlall was out with his friends at a BBQ in a neighbouring village and upon his return home at about 00:30h, he went to collect a plate as well as use the outside washroom.
While doing so, he was attacked by gunmen who discharged a round, hitting the washroom door.
Guyana Times understands that the businessman might have attempted to run into the bottom flat of the house from which he had emerged and was riddled with bullets.
He dropped a few metres from his back door where he was left to die. Both Roberts and Bacchus were remanded and will make their next court appearance on August 3 at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.
ABand Corps Special Constable was granted $100,000 bail on Tuesday when he was brought to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer fraud and forgery charges.
Kevin Mc Donald, 31, of 41 Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara was granted bail by Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two after pleading not guilty to four counts of fraud and forgery that were levelled against him.
Initially he was not required to plead to the charges which allege that on April 10, with intent to defraud, he forged a receipt dated April 10, 2014, for a sum of $73,000 purport-
ing it to show it was issued by Universal Machinery to him, knowing same to be false.
The same day he uttered the receipt to an employee of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS), purporting that it was issued to him by Universal Machinery.
Mc Donald is alleged to have forged another receipt dated April 16, 2014, on April 16 for a sum of $104,300, with intent to defraud. He purported that it was given to him by Universal Machinery, knowing same to be false.
On the same day, he allegedly uttered the receipt to the MCYS with the intention of defrauding the Ministry as he purported that the receipt was from Universal Machinery.
All the charges were in-
dictable but Prosecutor Jones asked the court for the matter to be tried at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, which was granted. He also asked the court to grant the accused substantial bail as he had no objections to it being granted. The accused was recently appointed to the post of Special Constable at the Band Core. The offences were not committed while he was employed by the Ministry.
Magistrate McLennan had the matter transferred to Court Five of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Mc Donald is expected to return to court on July 30.
Police in Berbice are investigating a robbery which was committed on Denesh Etwar of Lot 9 Portuguese Quarters, Port Mourant, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) which occurred last Friday. Reports are that Etwar, also called “Fatman” was at his Port Mourant home along with his two children watching cricket on television on the upper flat of a two storey wooden and concrete building, when they became hungry. Guyana Times understands that his 17-year-old daughter
Christine and his 15-yearold son Surendra went downstairs to the outside kitchen. On their way out of the kitchen, they were confronted by two bandits, who tied Surendra’s hands behind his back and took him and his sister back upstairs and asked the teen-
agers for their father.
Two of the bandits made their way into a bedroom where they confronted Ewtar and his wife Dhankumarie.
The men then demanded money and jewellery. Guyana Times was told that after Denesh told the intruders that he had no money, one of them hit him with a crow bar to his mouth before tying him up, his wife and his daughter and ransacked two bedrooms. Etwar was treated at the Port Mourant Hospital and sent away.
According to Ewtar, the bandits removed from his house $20,000 cash, US $200 and a quantity of gold jewellery valued $500,000. The men spent about one hour in the house before escaping. Police are investigating.
Satiricus wanted to know what all the fuss was all about when the Government announced that the top 20 bosses of the GRA were asked to take their leave. And this wasn’t your ordinary garden-variety “leave”. Some of these bureaucrats had as much as six months or more leave piled up!!
“Boy!!” exclaimed Satiricus, “What dedication these folks had shown to their job. If they got so many days available, it must mean they didn’t leave their desks in SEVEN years at least!!!”
“Sato me friend,” replied his friend Cappo, while they were bending their elbows at the back street bar, “Abee cane cutters does get six months leave every year. Abee na get pay though!”
“But it wasn’t just dedication, Cappo,” continued Satiricus. “The bad PPCEE government used to force them GRA workers to work night and day, to harass people for taxes. But that was still above and beyond the call of duty, wasn’t it?”
“Suh wha happen now?” Inquired Cappo.
“Bai, Cappo... this new Government, is all full of love and compassion,” he grinned. “They insist that the Bosses must take their leave. The Minister knew how worn out these worker bees of the GRA must be because of the bad PPCEE. He even said they must “recharge their batteries”. But Cappo was worried. “Who gon collect all de taxes duh run de country?” he asked fretfully.
“Chap, why you worrying yuh head,” replied Satiricus. “The new Government know we Guyanese are the most law abiding people in the world! We does pay we taxes.”
“Really?” asked Cappo with a doubtful look, dominated by raised eyebrows. “Me na pay tax since me barn!”
“Cappo, you don’t work enough money to pay taxes,” sighed Satiricus. “You don’t count! I talking about all the big ones - they does pay their taxes, as soon as it is due!”
“So why de PPCEE been gat all dem workers hassling people fuh pay taxes?” Cappo wanted to know.
“Budday!! The PPP didn’t trust Guyanese,” said Satiricus. “They think people would cheat. But this Government know better. They know that Guyanese would rather starve than cheat on their taxes. And that’s why they don’t need any bosses to collect taxes.”
“Me na know about dat,” mumbled Cappo doubtfully.
“Listen Cappo, what you know?” said Satiricus sternly. «This Government so sure the taxes will come in like water, they allowed the Boss of Bosses to take his leave...AFTER he heard all his assistants were going away!”
“Bai, da is confidence!!” said Cappo in relief.
Members of the Guyana Beautification Project, in keeping with their mandate to ensure that Guyanese citizens maintain a clean, green and litter-free country will be hosting the first ever Environmental Street Fair & Youth Expo next month.
Guyana Beautification Project Coordinator Clayon Halley told Guyana Times that the aim of this event was to
disseminate information on environmental protection such as proper waste disposal, waste management, composting and recycling.
The United Nations has made August 12 International Youth Day and in keeping with this theme, the group decided to celebrate young entrepreneurs between the ages of 16 and 35. Some of these business people include Jenelle Pierre who started BowJay, at the age of 17. Other participants have created businesses in the food industry, arts and crafts and many other sectors. There will also be a cultural element on show at the Expo. Halley shared that many of the young business persons who showed interest in this event were looking forward to this occasion, as the fate of GuyExpo this year remained uncertain. The Project Coordinator added that the event is free, but limited spaces are available.
A63-year-old woman who goes by the alias “Steel Donkey” was remanded to jail on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to wounding a young woman on her cheek with a broken bottle.
Yvonne Colins of 17 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown made her first appear -
Given the current rate of suicide in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Councillors of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) have called for immediate intervention by relevant authorities to reduce the incidence of suicide.
People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillor Basil Bryan Persaud said the rate of suicide within the region was very alarming and the issue needed to be addressed. “Every day people taking their life on the Essequibo Coast; it’s a sad situation and the rates are high,”
Persaud noted. During his address to fellow Councillors at the first statutory meeting of the RDC, he said that mostly young people in the region lose their life as a result of suicide. He urged the RDC to implement programmes to reach out to youths. He suggested that counselling sessions on domestic violence be held in Region Two, and called for social workers from the Social Protection Ministry to go out into the field and reach out to persons living in frustration.
Another PPP/C Councillor Rozetta Beatrice
Mittelholzer also called for consultations to be held with people on the ground to address the issue of suicide on the Essequibo Coast. Mittelholzer said mini counselling centres can be established in different villages to address the issue.
Regional Vice Chairman Juliet Coonjah also recognised that the issue was very alarming and noted that counselling was available at Marias Lodge “House of Justice”. She also said she was working with nongovernmental agencies to ensure that several seminars on the issue were held. Since the start of 2015, more
than 20 persons have committed suicide, with several more surviving their attempts to kill themselves. Presently, a 33-year-old farmer, Mahendra Chowtie, from Reliance Village is hospitalised at the Suddie Public Hospital after he attempted to end his own life. He was rushed to the public institution on Friday. It was reported that the farmer returned from a wedding house intoxicated and drank some “grass killler”. It was unclear why he wanted to end his life. Doctors are monitoring his condition.
ance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday where she was read the charge for unlawful and malicious wounding.
According to the charge, she supposedly wounded the Virtual Complainant (VC) Crystal Fletchman on Saturday while she was standing in Colins’ yard.
Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones elaborated on this. He said the VC was in the defendant’s yard waiting for a taxi when Colins asked if she had used her toilet.
The VC did not reply, thus angering the defendant who proceeded to break a nearby glass bottle and stabbed Fletchman in the face creating a gash in her right cheek.
She was not represented by an Attorney but told the court that she was not guilty. Magistrate Judy Latchman refused bail and ordered her to return on August 6.
The driver and owner of PMM 6118 which was on Saturday involved in an accident which killed pedestrian Derick Glasgow on the Queenstown Public Road, Biseshuar Ramnauth was on Tuesday placed on $200,000 station bail.
He was subsequently locked up for the 72hour legal detention period and necessary statements were taken. Ramnauth was placed on station bail. Ramnauth, an instructor at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC), was returning from a wedding with his friends on Saturday evening when he lost control of his vehicle and reportedly struck 63-year-old
Glasgow, also known as “Pudding”.
The autopsy conducted on the body revealed the labourer died as a
result of multiple injuries caused by the accident. It was performed on Monday by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh. Ramnauth is expected to face the courts as soon as the case file is returned from the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, where it was sent for advice.
However residents are contending that the owner of the car was not driving the vehicle when the accident occurred. The car had four persons inside. They were reportedly under the influence of alcohol. Glasgow was last seen by his wife Saturday evening when he left for a walk in the neighbourhood.
Shortly after signing the Geneva Agreement in 1966, Venezuela invaded and occupied Guyana's half of Ankoko Island (established by the 1899 Arbitral Award). Forbes Burnham, then Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs, reached out to Cheddi Jagan and other opposition forces for (and received) support. They jointly protested Venezuelan aggression and resorted to international diplomacy to rebuff Venezuelan revanchism.
A few weeks ago, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, while addressing officers of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, extended his nation's claim to our Essequibo region to include Guyana’s territorial waters. Venezuela is flexing its muscles and Maduro is desperately trying to use its claims to deflect protests over his country's crumbling economy and out-of-control crime epidemic.
Any sane person would agree that Guyana was no challenge militarily, then or now, to Venezuela’s overwhelming military advantage. President Granger's diplomatic approach to isolate Venezuela and condemn its aggression is well meaning, and deserves the collective support of all Guyanese at home and abroad.
Guyana in 1966 was not a militarized country like the one constructed by the PNC in the following years. Our military could not act as a deterrent against external aggression by powerful neighbors like Venezuela and Brazil (Surinam is a different case). However, we know how the military was subverted following Ankoko, ending with army officers swearing personal loyalty to Burnham (see George Danns: Dominance and Power in Guyana: A Study of the Police in a Third World Context, 1982). So when the Granger administration, which came to power on the basis of “change” was accused of militarising its top echelons, the present brouhaha with Venezuela raises some angst and grave concerns about whether we are witnessing a déjà vu of the previous militarisation of the entire society.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Latin American governments, including those of Chile, Argentina, and nearby Brazil were characterized by what Argentine political scientist Guillermo O'Donnell described as having bureaucratic authoritarian (BA) regimes. O’Donnell argued that such regimes were headed by powerful leaders, an enabling and sympathetic bureaucracy (civil servants) working with the rulers to implement government policy, and a military force that nurtured and protected the regime and its leaders from domestic threats. Essentially, the BA regime relied heavily on three core social classes: the military for order and domination of other social classes, the business elites for the achieving of a modern transnational open economy, and the civil servants for the formation of pro-market policy and managerial capabilities.
In those days, human rights violations were the norm, partly because some of the leaders have risen from the military ranks and the military was suspicious about leftist elements with socialist goals. With the United States supporting some of the most brutal regimes in its own backyard, political killings and murders reached unprecedented levels in these countries. Brazilian President Rousseff pointedly referred to this fact at the recent MERCOSUR meeting with Granger in attendance.
This troika (ruler, civil service and military)
formed the basis for a powerful dominant force which governed in a way that eliminated all opposition forces and allowed the government unfettered freedom of action. Opposition elements were coopted, eliminated, suppressed, or "disappeared".
It was not easy to remove these modern dictatorships because political leaders were more interested in keeping themselves in power, with little concern for uniting the country and creating a more inclusionary politics. The means by which the regime amassed its powers included control of the economy, minimizing the influence of civil society and control of the state apparatus and the electoral process.
It is farfetched to accuse the young Granger administration of militarization reminiscent of the Burnham years, but there are some signs of a “creeping” militarization since May 11th. Not only did the campaign saw the return and mobilization of ex-military squaddies, but President Granger, a soldier who once swore loyalty to Burnham, has placed military loyalists in key positions of power in his government. There’s ex-GDF captainMike Archer, Rear Admiral (rtd) Gary Best, Brigadier (rtd) Edward Collins, Police Commissioner (rtd) Winston Felix, Lt Col (rtd) Joseph Harmon, Minister of State.
In addition to the above, there is no question about the loyalty and overwhelming support received from the army and police, with historically more than 90% voting for the PNC. Civil servants have also provided overwhelming support for the new government. With the announcement that most of the companies will get new boards, including GPL, GFC, GGMC, GGB, GuyOil, GuySuCo, CH&PA, etc, there is no question as to who will dominate these boards. Thus, while we must unite to confront the Venezuelan threat, we must guard against that unity being used as a cover to militarise and control society through a BA regime. We must remember Marx's caution about history as tragedy then repeating a
Dr Baytoram Ramharack
Associate Professor of Political Science (adj) Nassau Community College. Send comments to BRamharack60@gmail.com
The ranks of the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department are continuing with traffic enforcement activities and have since charged five more drunk drivers through its name and shame campaign.
These five men, all from Berbice, were charged and placed before the courts for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) after they were found to be above the legal limit in terms of alco-
hol consumption.
Joseph Appiah, of Seawell, East Coast Berbice (ECB), was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on July 10, while driving motor vehicle PKK 6873 on the Number Two Public Road,
Canje, Corentyne. Appiah was subsequently charged and appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on July 13, when he pleaded guilty and was fined $7500.
On July 5, Danraj Hebnatine, of Albion, Corentyne, Berbice, was also stopped and tested while driving motor vehicle CH 800 on the Palmyra Public Road, Canje. He too was charged and placed before the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court two days later. Hebnatine pleaded guilty to the DUI offence and as such, a $7500 fine was imposed on him.
Ramnarine Samaroo, of Lot 7 Hampshire Village, Corentyne, was also sentenced to pay a fine of 7500,
after he was found to be above the legal limit of alcohol consumption. According to reports, he was driving motor vehicle CE 1774 on the Palmyra Public Road, Canje when the Police conducted a breathalyser test on him. Consequently, he was charged and appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on July 7, when he pleaded guilty to the DUI offence. Additionally, Tyron
TAccording to an online report, Andrew Liverpool, 25, and Shinella Andrea Ghent, 27, both graduated with a law degree from the University of Guyana and attained their Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the University of Fiji.
Singh, of Glasgow, East Bank Berbice (EBB), was found to be above the legal limit of alcohol consumption after he was tested with a breathalyser on July 5. The man was driving motor vehicle CE 4229 on Palmyra Public Road, Canje, when he stopped by the Police. Singh was later charged and placed before the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on July 7, when he pleaded guilty and was fined $7500.
Finally, Kevin Mangal,
of Lot 78 Tain Settlement, Corentyne, was sentenced to pay a fine of $7500 after he pleaded guilty to a DUI offence. The charge stated
that the man was driving motor vehicle PMM 3203 on Palmyra Public Road, Canje, when he stopped and tested by the Police. Mangal was subsequently found to be above the legal limit; hence, he was charged and two days later, appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.
Head of the Diabetic Foot Centre at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr Kumar Sukhraj, recently facilitated a Diabetic Foot Care workshop in Grenada, as the institution partnered with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) to aid Grenada in boosting its health care capacity.
The workshop which was held at the Grenada National Stadium, ran from July 7 to July 9, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported. The aim of the workshop was to achieve a greater level of diabetic foot care and to reduce the incidence of diabetic related amputations. The workshop was sponsored by the Health Ministry of Grenada along with the PAHO. It targeted nurses and doctors in
the country’s health sector. According to a release, from the hospital upon his return, Dr Sukhraj noted that “the workshop was a success and expressed hope that the health care professionals will put into practice the skills acquired during the three days of comprehensive diabetic foot care training”. He also highlighted that continuous technical support will be needed from the GPHC and the Public Health Ministry in order to aid with further training and the eventual establishment of a diabetic foot care centre in Grenada. This is a representation of the country’s commitment to providing assistance where it may be required as it continues to foster and strengthen its relationship with partners on a bilateral level.
The admission ceremony was
by Chief Justice
wished the
well and reminded them of the oaths that they took to see that right and justice are done. Families and friends were present during the ceremony to witness the two take their solemn oaths, one of allegiance to the profession and the other to uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji Islands.
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Monday upheld a Guyanese High Court ruling that the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) cannot deny Internet access to James Samuel, who was using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to make and receive international calls. The technology was being provided by the USbased company Vonage.
Back in 2009, the local businessman took the telecommunications company to court, claiming that GT&T had no contractual right to deny him access to DSL service after his Internet service was disconnected, because he had used the VoIP
technology. He posited that he was only made aware of the restrictions after his Internet service was disconnected.
In the decision at the local High Court, Justice Rishi Persaud had ruled that the businessman did not sign any agreement with the company which would have informed him of the restrictive terms. The Judge further outlined that Samuel’s use of Vonage did not breach the Act, which dated back to 1990. He said that the legislation did not cover recent advances in technology such as VoIP.
Following this ruling, the telecommunications company moved to the Court of Appeal to have the deci-
sion reversed and was successful in doing so. The Appeal Court posited that the High Court Judge failed to consider the issue of implied terms. Additionally, the Court stated that the restrictive clause, which GT&T was contending was in place, ought to be implied in the contract to ensure business efficiency.
However, in Monday’s ruling, the CCJ accepted that the Court of Appeal wrongly implied a term into the contract restricting Samuel’s use of his Internet service for making and receiving international calls. It said the issue of implied terms was not raised by the parties and there was no evidence to show
how Samuel’s conduct would have affected GT&T’s business. Furthermore, the Region’s highest court refused to express an opinion on whether Samuel’s action infringed the Telecommunications Act as this was a matter for the Director of Telecommunications. The Court also declined to rule on whether GT&T’s exclusive licence was void based on the Civil Law Act, Chap.6:01 and the Constitution because these matters were not part of Samuel’s original claim.
GT&T was ordered to pay damages and costs as awarded by the trial judge as well as the costs of the appeal before the CCJ.
On Monday, the Cuban Government officially opened an embassy on United States soil for the first time since 1961, a key step in updating USCuba relations for the 21st century.
“In addition to serving as an important symbolic step in the process of normalising relations, the exchange of embassies will provide an important platform for both countries to engage in serious discussions, includ-
ing direct talks on human rights,” said Marc Hanson, a senior associate at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).
On the same day as the embassy’s opening, US representatives also announced a Republican-led, bipartisan bill that will create new opportunities for US telecommunications and Internet firms to offer services in Cuba and build a 21st century digital infrastructure.
The Cuba Digital and
Telecommunications Advancement Act (Cuba DATA Act, or H.R. 3055), introduced by Republican Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Republican Peter Welch (DVT), seeks to help Cubans connect to each other and to the rest of the world. The legislation will accelerate the normalisation process by helping Cuban individuals and businesses access the tools needed in today’s digital age.
“Just as exchanging em-
bassies will help the US revise its outdated approach towards Cuba for today’s diplomatic realities, expanding Internet and telecommunications services will give Cuban citizens more access to information and more economic opportunities,” said WOLA Programme Director Geoff Thale. “Internet access has become a pillar of the 21st century global economy, and this bill brings new possibilities for both trade and peopleto-people engagement.”
President Dilma Rousseff’s popularity continues to tumble due to a widening corruption scandal and economic recession, and an increasing number of Brazilians want to see her impeached, according to an opinion poll published on Tuesday.
The CNT/MDA poll showed that her Government’s approval rating has fallen to 7.7 per cent compared with 10.8 per cent in a previous survey in March, while
70.9 per cent rate her Government negatively compared to 64.8 per cent in March.
The number of respondents who favour Rousseff’s impeachment over a massive kickback scandal at state-run oil company Petrobras has risen to 62.8 per cent from 59.7 per cent four months ago. The MDA poll, commissioned by the national transport lobby group CNT, surveyed 2002 people between July 12 and 16. (Reuters)
Families of the Kurdish activists killed in a suicide attack in the Turkish town of Suruc have begun laying their loved ones to rest.
Huge crowds attended Tuesday’s funerals of 25 of the 32 victims of Monday’s blast, which happened just 10 kilometres from Turkey’s border with Syria.
Those who attended shouted slogans against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, which has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Mourners also chanted against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who they accuse of not doing enough to combat the armed group, which has conducted a military campaign against Syrian Kurdish communities that line the border.
Mourners bid farewell to 32 killed in Suruc attack and accuse Turkish President of not doing enough to combat ISIL
age students from an activist group as they gathered to make a statement to the local press about a trip they were planning to help rebuild Kobane in Syria.
The footage showed young men and women from the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations standing behind a banner declaring support for the devastat-
ed Syrian city, some holding up small red flags. Suddenly there was a huge explosion, apparently from within the crowd, sending up a column of flame. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Davutoglu did not give the name of the suspect, but said there was a high probability the attack was caused by a suicide bomber with connections to the ISIL.
“One suspect has been
Earlier Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkish authorities had identified a suspect involved in the bombing.
identified. All the [suspect’s] links internationally and domestically are being investigated,” he said on Tuesday.
“We expect this investigation to be concluded as soon as possible.”
The attack targeted the group of mostly university-
Polling stations have closed after Burundi’s controversial presidential elections, in which incumbent Pierre Nkurunziza is widely expected to win a third consecutive term.
Shortly before voting started on Tuesday, a Policeman and a civilian were killed amid a string of explosions and gunfire in the capital Bujumbura, the epicentre of three months of anti-government protests.
Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa, reporting from Bujumbura, said that one member of the Opposition was also killed overnight in the city’s Nyakabiga neighbourhood. The incident
prompted a big crowd to gather there in protest in the morning.
The body was removed on Tuesday, several hours after the incident. But the crowd who were boycotting the elections still stayed on at the incident spot, with Riot Police mobilised near them keeping a safe distance.
About 3.8 million Burundians are eligible to vote in the polls, which the Opposition and civil society groups are boycotting, claiming they will not be free and fair.
The Opposition have denounced the candidacy of the incumbent President as unconstitutional and a vio-
lation of the 2006 peace deal that ended a dozen years of civil war and ethnic massacres in 2006.
A spokesman for the US said the elections lacked credibility and by pressing ahead, the Government risked its “legitimacy”.
State Department spokesman John Kirby said, the vote “will further discredit the Government”.
The nation’s constitutional court has ruled in the President’s favour, however, maintaining he is eligible for a third term because he was chosen by legislators – and not popularly elected – for his first term. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
At least 24 civilians have been killed and 22 others injured in the southern Somali town of Marka after troops from the African Union opened fire on unarmed residents, local residents and a health worker have told Al Jazeera.
The soldiers driving armoured vehicles went to a sports grounds then opened fire on boys playing football there killing nine and wounding eight, Haji Muse Mohamud, an elder in the town, told Al Jazeera by phone on Tuesday from the coastal town in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region.
“They then went to the nearby houses where they dragged people out and shot dead 17 people. They also left 14 people badly injured,” Mohamud said.
Mohamud also alleged that the soldiers, who are part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), “raped two
Currently 22,000 African Union troops are in Somalia to back the country’s internationally backed government [EPA]
women”.
Most of the injured were taken to the capital, Mogadishu, about 109 kilometres away from the town.
“It was a massacre of innocent people. We took the injured on wheelbarrows to the hospital, but we had to send many to Mogadishu because we could not treat them,” Mohamed Ali, a health worker in the town, told Al Jazeera.
“These people did nothing to deserve this. If they [AU troops] want to fight al-Shabab they know where they are, they should go fight them, not the innocent people,” Ali said.
In a statement published on its website, AMISOM said it strongly “refutes” the allegation it killed civilians, instead claiming that it had engaged fighters from alShabab in a gun battle. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
wednesday, july 22, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com
Another pedestrian lost his life tragically after he was struck down by a popular businessman on the Anna Regina Housing Scheme Road and succumbed to his injuries on Monday evening. Dead is Gangaram Danraj, 58, of Anna Regina Housing Scheme, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
The accident occurred around 17:00h on Friday evening while Danraj was walking along the roadway. The driver was reportedly intoxicated.
Danraj succumbed to his injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital to which he was transferred from the Suddie Public Hospital.
According to his widow, Anita, Danraj, who had previously suffered a stroke, was taking his usual evening stroll when he was struck down by the speeding car.
The saddened woman said that she was alerted to the accident by residents within the area.
She said that when she
"Drug
rushed to the scene, she saw her husband was all bloody. The driver took the injured man to the Suddie Public Hospital.
Anita said that her husband sustained a fractured skull, broken ribs and a broken foot. She related that her husband was bleeding profusely as he was being rushed to the regional hospital for medical attention. She described her husband as a loving father of two.
The family is presently making funeral arrangements.
The driver involved in the accident was taken into custody, but later released. According to relatives of the deceased, what is shocking is that Police did not visit the scene as soon as the accident occurred. "Imagine they only came on Monday when he died to measure," one relative related. Relatives also stated that measurements were taken by the Police some 300 feet from where the accident reportedly occurred. Residents who saw the accident were reportedly too scared to come out and give eyewitness accounts as they reportedly feared the driver.
A post-mortem is scheduled to be performed on the body today. On Saturday, another pedestrian, Derick Glasgow, 63, of Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, was struck down by a speeding car on the Queenstown Public Road.
Aquartet walked out of Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday morning after a question of possession was raised by their Attorney James Bond. Delson Wayne, 25, of Lot 27 Caneville Housing Scheme, Georgetown; Kevin Ashley, 20, of 452 Section B Sophia, Greater Georgetown; Ruel Garner, 24, of 435 North East La Penitence, Georgetown; and 22-year-old Roxel Neopaul, were brought to court to answer to two counts of unlicensed gun and ammunition possession.
The charges state that on July 18, they were found
– $60,000 in goods destroyed, vendors call for Police intervention
Chaos reigned last Thursday at the Charity Market in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) when an alleged drug addict of unsound mind, armed with a cutlass, attacked a vendor's fruit and vegetable stall.
in Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown, with an unlicensed .22 revolver and corresponding ammunition for the revolver. The defendants are not holders of gun licenses.
tion will be unable to prove a case against his client or anyone one of the other accused as they must prove a case of possession and control for the unlicensed firearm.
He explained that Garner was offered a drop in the car which had numerous other occupants. This, he said, would make it difficult for the prosecution to prove who had actual ownership of the firearm. The Attorney said it is strange that the prosecution is unable to state who owned the car.
Bond asked the court to grant bail for his client, stating that the gun was not found on him nor is he the owner of the car. He said Garner is a committed Muslim who is presently observing Ramadan. He is also a Teacher at a local a Masjid.
According to stall owner Kissoondial Samdass ' daughter-in-law Nora Lewis, the man just approached the stall and started to chop the items.
"A girl ran and said look a man coming with a cutlass, chopping up the fruits and vegetables," the
The incident occurred near the Charity River Dam close to the New Guyana Marketing Centre Wharf.
vendor said. The man destroyed peppers, pineapples, cabbage, boulangers, limes, oranges and carrots worth some $60,000. He also attacked another stall.
Vendors wrested the cutlass from the man. The shaken vendors said they were paying their taxes for the stalls rented and, as such, proper security
should be provided.
Samdass said he suffered many losses and no one from the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) has visited him to investigate the matter. The matter was reported to the Charity Police Station.
The mentally ill attacker was arrested, but was later released. Vendors are calling for the man of unsound mind who lives in the market area to be removed as he was creating havoc around the environs.
Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones told the court that Police had received information about the gun and ammunition and had intercepted a motor car bearing registration plates PPP 3594 at Sandy Babb Street with the four defendants inside the car.
He continued that the Police told the vehicle’s occupants of their suspicions and a searched was conducted. The gun and ammunition was found under the driver’s seat. It was sent to be tested and dusted for fingerprints. However, Prosecutor Jones said investigations continue.
He objected to bail, stating that unlicensed guns have become too prevalent in society.
However, Garner’s Attorney (James Bond) told the court that the prosecu-
Wayne told the court his age and address, stating that he is presently working on a house in Mocha and has not been in trouble with the law since he was brought before the court for robbery on a prior occasion. He said he is a father of two and assists his wife with her two children.
Magistrate Ann McLennan asked about the owner of the car and who was driving as she listened to the applications for bail, however, she learnt the investigation is still ongoing. She granted each of the defendants $125,000 bail. However, she stated this is on condition that they report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) every Friday. The men are expected back in court on August 3.
Residents on Number 72
New Area, Corentyne,
Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are appealing to the relevant authorities to urgently address a developing situation which has resulted in some vehicle owners not being to take their vehicles home. The only access road to that community which housed more than 50 families has become impassible to vehicular traffic.
A section of the road has collapsed, leaving several residents stranded as it relates to getting their vehicles out of the area, while others cannot take their vehicles home.
Reports are that the road started to cave in about one month ago following the digging of the Number 72 Village canal. Authorities employed the services of an excavator to clear the Number 72 Village canal which leads into the backlands. Residents say it was dug to a depth that was too close to the edges, which is responsible for the sinking of a section of the road. This
The section of the road that caved in
was done by the Drainage and Irrigation Board (D&I) in an attempt to make access for boat traffic to the farm lands.
According to Beenawattie Jairam, one resident who has been living in the area for the past 56 years and in front of whose house the road has caved in said the D&I dug the middle walk very deep for the rice farmers. “… since dem dig the middle walk, the dam start cave down,” Jairam
said. She further told Guyana Times that when the road started cracking after the canal was dug, she reported it to the 52-74 Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).
Jairam said this was roughly one month ago. “The NDC come and they look at it and they aint come back an tell we nothing. Me ah call all ova the place to see who ah can get a little assistance before me house cave down.” It
has already started to affect the foundation of her house which she is still under constructing.
Residents say that the surface of the street started to cave in about one week after the canal was dug. They say it is getting worse daily.
More than 50 families use the street to get to and from home, with several of them being forced to leave their vehicles out of the community. Some vehicle owners who live there have their vehicles trapped at their residence and cannot get them out of the area.
Meanwhile, Region Six Chairman David Armogan says the regional administration is not in possession of the funds needed to carry out revetment to the canal. However, he has instructed that the regional engineer visit and prepare a report which will be sent to central government with the aim that the relevant authorities will be able to urgently address the issue.
Police are investigating a robbery that was committed on Tuesday on a businessman of Rosignol Stelling Road, Region Five (MahaicaBerbice). Reports are that shortly after 02:30h, Shuadeo Ragbeer was about to close his business when two masked men; both carrying firearms and dressed in camouflage hoodies, entered the snackette and dragged Ragbeer to the back of the snackette before stating what they were there for.
The 25-year-old noted that the men demanded cash and jewellery. After saying that he had none, Ragbeer was then tied by the hands, while his mouth and feet were wrapped with duct tape. The business said that he was left to lie on the floor while the robbers ransacked the shop and found what they wanted.
wednesday, july 22, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com
There is an urgent need to define new rules for financing sustainable development in the world, participants in the side event “Regional Perspectives on Implementing an Ambitious, Transformative Sustainable Development Agenda” agreed. The event was hosted on Tuesday, July 14 by the five United Nations regional commissions, of which the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) is one, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
During the event – which took place in the framework of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, held through July 16 in Ethiopia – the US economist and Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz called for “rewriting the rules for sustainable and inclusive development”. Financial markets only work for themselves, which means that the role of an institution such as the UN is key for discussing matters such as a global tax reform, he said.
front some of their main problems, such as inequality, vulnerability to climate change, the lack of governance of natural resources, and informality in the labour market, she said.
In addition to Bárcena, other speakers included: Rima Khalaf, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA); Shamshad Akhtar, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP); Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA); and Christian Friis Bach, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe.
He was also dealt several blows as they took away $50,000 in cash, and one gold band value $200,000. The men also removed a quantity of cigarettes valued $100,000, and a quantity of GT&T and Digicel phone cards.
Keon Stephen Allicock, age 22, a musician of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and of Paramaribo, Suriname has been jailed for three years for the illegal possession of cannabis sativa (marijuana).
Ragbeer managed to get his hands untied and called for assistance. The matter was reported to the Blairmont Police Station. Police are investigating.
International fiscal cooperation, in the framework of the UN, is crucial for Latin America and the Caribbean, according to ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena. The senior official said that the Region’s countries not only should make more efforts to increase their fiscal footprint but also to reduce illicit flows, which exceed US$150 billion. In this way, they could con-
The senior representatives contended that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are currently in the process of being defined, will require a great mobilisation of resources at a global level, a task in which rich countries should support developing nations. The meeting was also attended by Egyptian Finance Minister Hany Kadry Dimian; Jordan’s Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury; Advisor to Ecuador’s Vice President, Jeanette Sánchez; Morocco’s Economy and Finance Minister Mohammad Benssaid; former Australian Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan and Swiss Special Envoy for Global Sustainable Development Michael Gerber.
Allicock appeared before Magistrate Robindranauth Singh at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court and pleaded guilty to the charge which said that on July 18 at the Number 78 Foreshore, Corentyne, he had in his possession 8.217 grams of the drug.
Allicock was arrested when a Constable noticed him acting in a suspicious manner and carried out a search on his person.
ARIES (March 21April 19)
TAURUS (April 20May 20)
(May 21June 20)
CANCER
Family relations will be overly dramatic and upsetting. You are best off focusing on business matters and making more money. Extra time put in at work will pay off.
Love is on the rise. A promising partnership will result from a social gathering or group activity. Get involved in community and industry events. Collaborate with people you respect.
Consider the feelings of a loved one when you are using charm to impress an outsider. What you consider harmless fun will have a sobering effect on a personal relationship.
Don’t hesitate to make a positive change. There is always room for improvement if you are willing to do the work. An unexpected source will offer valuable advice.
LEO (July 23Aug. 22)
Your stress level will be lessened if you get involved in physical activity or tackle a challenge that takes your mind off your troubles. Stewing over emotional issues will lead to a costly mistake.
VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)
LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)
SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)
CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)
PISCES
(Feb. 20March 20)
If you have trouble making up your mind, don’t commit to anything. It’s better to be sure than to make a promise you don’t want to keep. Weigh the pros and cons.
Money is headed your way. Don’t put yourself in harm’s way by associating with unscrupulous or overindulgent individuals. Spend little money and protect what you’ve got.
Dealing with government, bureaucracies or institutions will be frustrating. Concentrate on self-improvement programs instead. Gather knowledge and plan your strategy. There is no room for error.
Today’s emphasis is on financial matters. Keep your money safe. If you can convince others to invest in your ideas, you will come out ahead. Love and romance are in the stars.
Don’t act on impulse. An intriguing job prospect will have some unexpected detriments. Be sure you know what you are getting into before you give the go-ahead.
Don’t try to embellish or overstate your talents. You will do much better if you stick to the truth. Problems will surface if you give the wrong impression. Step into the spotlight and share your knowledge and plans, but be aware of someone who is jealous or feeling left out. Your inclusion of everyone will be what makes you popular.
The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) on Friday completed what it described as its best-ever cricket academy. The RHTY&SC since 1994 has been organising a vacation cricket academy and this year, the academy attracted 97 youths of both sexes.
Students came from as far as Skeldon and New Amsterdam to the twoweek Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) academy, which was conducted by Coaches Winston Smith, Delbert Hicks and Eon Hooper, while national female cricketer Plaffiana Millington assisted.
RHTY&SC Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster hailed the TCL cricket academy as a huge success that fulfilled all of its objectives.
The young cricketers, he noted, displayed remarkable traits of hard work, discipline, a willingness to learn and dedication. The
Secretary also praised the coaches for working beyond the call of duty to make sure that every academy member improved as a cricketer and a sport ambassador over the course of two weeks.
The cricketers were exposed to basic batting, bowling, fielding and phys-
ical fitness drills. The academy participants were also involved in video presentations, practice cricket
matches and numerous lectures on topics of importance to them.
African footballers as young as 14 are being trafficked to Asia and forced to sign contracts, the BBC has learnt.
Six minors are still with top Laos side Champasak United, after it imported 23 under-age players from West Africa to an unregistered football academy in February, a BBC investigation found.
Fifa regulations prohibit the movement of players to a foreign club or academy until they are 18.
The club, based in the southern city Pakse, denies any wrongdoing.
“Fifa is in contact with several member associations in order to gather all information to assess the matter and safeguard the interests of the minors,” a Fifa spokesperson told the BBC.
It has been claimed that Champasak United, a newly-formed club which plays in Laos’s top league, intends to profit by selling the players in future.
In a clear breach of the world football governing body’s rules, the club has fielded overseas players as young as 14 and 15 in league games this season.
One 14-year-old player, Liberia’s Kesselly Kamara, who scored in a full league game, says he was forced into signing a six-year deal
before playing for the senior team.
His contract promised him a salary and accommodation, but Kamara says he was never paid and had to sleep on the floor of the club’s stadium - as did the rest of the travelling party.
“It was very bad because you can’t have 30 people sleeping in one room,” Kamara, who is now playing for a club back home in Liberia’s top league, told the BBC.
All those who travelled to join the “IDSEA Champasak Asia African Football Academy” did so after being invited by former Liberia international Alex Karmo, who captained the club at the time.
Young players gratefully accepted the invitation, since Liberia lacks a football academy of its own, despite being the only African country to have produced a Fifa World Footballer of the Year - George Weah in 1995.
“It’s a fictitious academy, which was never legally established,” said Liberian journalist and sports promoter Wleh Bedell, who led the group to Laos in February but who has since returned.
“It’s an ‘academy’ that has no coach nor doctor. Karmo was the coach, the business manager, everything. It was completely absurd.”
The sleeping arrangements for the African players.
Following initial pressure from both Fifa and global players’ body FIFPro, Champasak released 17 teenagers from the original party, with Kamara among them, three months ago.
But six minors chose to remain.
FIFPro says that all have since signed contracts presented to them by Karmo, who describes himself as a “manager for players from Africa in Champasak”, and club president Phonesavanh Khieulavong.
These appear to allow Champasak to pay the boys nothing at all, while also de-
manding that unrealistic conditions be met should the teenagers want to leave.
Karmo says the players are fed three times a day and paid every month.
“We don’t give the [minors] professional contracts, just a contract that gives them bonuses,” Khieulavong told the BBC.
Neither Khieulavong nor Karmo denied the presence of minors at the academies, although Karmo claimed there was just one - a 16-year-old from Guinea.
The BBC understands there are five more minors from Liberia at the club.
Along with eight senior players (six Liberians, a Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean), all are living in conditions described as “deplorable and disturbing” by Bedell.
For five months, they have been sleeping on meagre mattresses in a vast room that lacks any glass on its windows and a lock on the door.
“It’s hard to live in a place with no windows. It made sleeping very difficult, because you are thinking about your life,” said Kamara.
“Players are in this wild place that is reminiscent of the civil crisis in Liberia when people left their homes and were displaced, [taking shelter] in a makeshift building or auditorium,” Bedell, who experienced his country’s civil wars of 198996 and 1999-2003, told the BBC.
The minors’ freedom of movement is restricted by the fact that they became illegal immigrants in March after their visas ran out.
They are hoping to receive work permits but these are unlikely to arrive since all are underage.
Karmo, who insists that he did pay Kamara, admits nine of the 14 Africans do not have work permits but asserts that they have the right documentation to stay in Laos.
“Nobody is illegal. Everybody is legal,” he told the BBC.
With the club having held their passports since their arrival, the boys rarely leave the stadium where they both live and train twice a day. Despite the situation, not everyone wants the minors to leave Laos.
“I don’t want him to come back to Liberia until he succeeds in his dream,” said Bella Tapeh, the mother of one 17-year-old still in Pakse.
Some of those who have returned to Liberia have told the BBC they were poorly fed, rarely paid and received no medical assistance from the club despite contracting malaria and typhoid because of the conditions.
One also described their existence at Champasak United as akin to “slave work”.
“This is a very serious situation,” Stephane Burchkalter, a FIFPro official, told the BBC.
“It is shocking to FIFPro that a club from Laos, which - with all due respect - is a very small football country, can lure minor players from Liberia without Fifa noticing.” In a statement, FIFPro said it suspected this case was “probably the tip of the iceberg”.(BBC Sport)
By AvenAsh RAmzAn
For football to develop in Guyana, financial support from Government is of utmost importance.
That is the contention of Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalisation Committee Chairman Clinton Urling, who highlighted the need for such collaboration at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Addressing media operatives in the boardroom of the GFF headquarters in Section K Campbellville, Georgetown, the businessman stressed the need for the Administration of the day to throw funds behind the national programme, as the Governments of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have been doing in those countries.
“I know people like to talk about and use comparative examples with what Jamaica is doing in the Gold Cup, look what Trinidad is doing in the Gold Cup, and these guys are phenomenal and yet Guyana can’t get there because Guyana has all these issues,” Urling highlighted.
He continued, “One of the ingredients in the success of those programmes [is that] they all receive Government’s support. Take out Government support from Trinidad – the Government subsidise the
league – if you take them out, there is no league, if you take them out, there is no national team.”
Urling, who is heading the five-member Normalisation Committee, which was installed last year by football’s world governing body, FIFA, to regularise Guyana’s football, said since his tenure began, there has been support from the Government, but not financially.
“We need Government to step up financially to support football and to support the Guyana Football
Federation. I heard recently Minister [Joseph] Harmon saying cricket is important and critical, and Guyanese love it, so hence the Government will support cricket and support the CPL. Likewise, for football, me being here for eight months, I can say the same. Football is important: Guyanese love football, and for our development programme and all our Next Generation plans and our national teams to succeed, [we] will require Government’s financial support,” Urling explained. He added, “Without the
These included Drug Abuse, Teenage Pregnancy, Captaincy, Field Placement, History of Cricket, Public Manners, Role of a Sports Ambassador and Personal Hygiene. Academy members were also involved in special quiz sessions where they had opportunities to win special prizes.
Foster, at the closing ceremony, asked that they put into practice what they have learnt from the coaches and develop a permanent attitude of discipline, hard work and most importantly listening to advice from their seniors.
He committed the RHTY&SC to assist each of the young cricketers to fulfil their true potential by providing the necessary tools for them to do so.
Director of Sports, Christopher Jones congratulated the young cricketers and praised the RHTY&SC for investing in its future. He has committed the National Sports Commission to assist in the work of the RHTY&SC in the future as he was highly impressed by its work.
Education Minister with responsibility for Youth, Culture and Sport,
Dr Rupert Roopnaraine spoke widely on the importance of education and discipline. He told the attentive youths that without discipline, they would be unable to fulfil their true potential and stated that the educational sector would be reformed to make sure that it fulfilled the objective of producing rounded persons who can assist to move Guyana forward.
Minister Roopnaraine hailed the RHTY&SC as a role model club, which should be emulated by every other organisation in Guyana.
Nine-year-old Matthew Pattaya of Albion was named Cricketer-of-theAcademy and received a cricket bat valued $25,000 and a collection of gifts. Shaneeta Grimmond won the best female award and received a pair of batting pads, while Tyrese Park was named best batsman, Brandon Pydana best bowler, Anthony Harry most disciplined player and Chandrapaul Govinda most committed player. The runner-up most committed player was Sequan Cox and runnerup batsman was Joshua
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Gobin. They each received a supply of educational materials and a trophy, while 10 other members received school bags for their outstanding performances at the academy.
RHTY&SC members
Joel Pike and Clement King Jr also received a cricket bat and a pair of batting pads respectively for their hard work to ensure that the academy was successful. Each member also received a youth information booklet.
The management of the Club would like to express gratitude to Mark Bender, Eric Whaul and the management of TCL (Guyana) for its sponsorship of the 2015 academy.
The Club would also like to thank the Guyana Beverage Company, Beharry’s, DDL, ANSA McAL Trading, HA Snacks Co Ltd, Candy Shop, Bermudez, De Sinco, F&H Printing Establishment, Len’s Craft, Food For The Poor, Tiger Sports, National Sports Commission, DTV-8 and LRTVS-CH10 for their input in making the academy a success.
Government’s financial support, it will be pretty difficult for us to run a sustainable league, not just a one-off league. So I’m appealing to Government to come on board with the Guyana Football Federation and help to fund our entire development programme, inclusive of our Elite League, and the Providence Centre
in terms of infrastructure.”
Elite League
The eight-team Elite League is tentatively set to start in late August or early September, according to Normalisation Committee member and head of the Competitions Committee, Tariq Williams.
Currently, the Competitions Committee is setting the framework for the League, including the bylaws.
The final draft was completed on Tuesday, and was forwarded to the Normalisation Committee, following which it will be sent to CONCACAF for their input and to ensure it is in line with other territories in the regional grouping that have similar leagues.
Williams also pointed out that one of the critical areas that is currently engaging their attention is sponsorship of the League.
“Yes, the GFF needs to put a certain amount of finance into the League, but we’re also engaging both the Private Sector and the Government, through our Director of Sponsorship, Marketing and Communication, Mr
Rawle Toney. I could tell you we’ve already been in contact with a large potential sponsor on the issue of title sponsorship for the League, and we expect to have a response from them very shortly in terms of what they would be willing to contribute to the programme.”
Meanwhile, Williams also informed the media that Admiral, the official kit supplier of the GFF, is expected in Guyana early next week, and officials of that company will be meeting with the eight clubs in the Elite League to finalise kit sponsorship deals.
“Once we have ironed those issues, and a few other small things, we will be able to work out a more precise and exact date rather than just saying late August, early September for the commencement of the League,” Williams intimated.
The inaugural Elite League will be contested by Alpha United, Guyana Defence Force, Slingerz FC, Pele, Fruta Conquerors, Georgetown Football Club, Buxton United and Monedderlust FC.
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Guyana’s national female football team, who have been dubbed the Lady Jags, made a courtesy call on the Director of Sports, Christopher Jones on Tuesday at his Homestretch Avenue office in Georgetown.
The Lady Jags are currently preparing for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) 2016 Olympic Qualifiers in the Dominican Republic next month.
Jones highlighted that the people of Guyana were rallying behind the female squad, just like they did for their male counterparts.
Further, Jones not-
ed that the team have the blessing of the Government of Guyana who was always willing to lend a helping hand.
“The Government will do whatever we can do to assist. Our doors are open, just for the calling, we are prepared to represent Guyana,” Jones stressed.
Head Coach Mark Rodrigues thanked Jones for entertaining the squad and stated that the Lady Jags were being used as the machine to kick start awareness of women’s football in Guyana.
In addition, Rodrigues revealed that the ladies,
unlike most other national teams, do not desire remuneration from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) but rather have the resources spent on other areas of development for the game locally.
Guyana will play St Kitts and Nevis on August 21 and Cuba two days later with the winner from the Group advancing to the next round of the qualifiers. The Lady Jags are hoping to become the first football team from Guyana to play at the Olympic Games which will be held in Rio be Janeiro, Brazil.
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) is inviting the public to attend and share their views and concerns at the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Town Hall Meeting, which is set to start at 18:00h this evening at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) pavilion.
The event is being organised and executed by WICB President Dave Cameron, Vice President Emmanuel Nanthan, and Director Anand Sanasie.
The topics discussed at the Meeting will be wide ranging; and can be any area that is cricket related.
The Town Hall Meeting is one of a series of meetings
that started in Barbados in May, moved to Dominica in June, and departed St Lucia last Friday.
The aim of the undertaking is to give cricket fans and administrators across the
Indies the opportunity to air their concerns directly to the heads. The hope is that the interaction with the public will provide valuable ideas to develop the cricket industry in the Region.
Eight cities - Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Dharamsala, Mohali, Mumbai, Nagpur and Delhihave been named as venues for the World Twenty20 that begins on March 11 next year. Kolkata will host the final on April 3.
“BCCI is extremely proud to host this prestigious event,” BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said. “All the venues identified have hosted many prestigious matches. With this announcement, we have begun our preparations in right earnest. We want this World Twenty20 to be a memorable experience for our participants and fans.”
Chennai was included in the list of venues despite un-
certainty surrounding the use of the venue’s I, J and K stands, which have been locked during matches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in the last three years.
It is understood that the BCCI, while shortlisting Chennai as a venue, had informed TNCA that it would have to resolve the lockedstands dispute to host the games. Otherwise, the city would lose its hosting rights, according to the prescribed requirements of ICC and BCCI.
BCCI is also understood to have been in favour of eight venues as opposed to five that the ICC recommended initially. This will be the first World T20 to feature more than three
venues.
BCCI’s general manager, cricket operations, MV Sridhar, has been appointed tournament director for the World T20. Former Bihar left-arm spinner Prasad Rao has been appointed manager, cricket operations while Neeraj Kumar, the former Delhi Police commissioner, will be Director of Security and Anti-Corruption Security Unit. The other members of the organising committee are: Amrit Mathur (principal coordinator), RP Shah (tournament manager, finance), Mayank Parikh (manager, logistics and hospitality) and Nishant Arora (tournament media manager). (Cricinfo)
Over 140 youths were recently introduced to the exciting game of rugby as the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) held its annual camp at the Buxton Community Centre Ground, East Coast Demerara.
The week-long Scotiabank sponsored Get-into-Rugby (GIR) Programme saw several youths from the Buxton community area, the Drop-in Centre and the Sophia Care Centre being taught the basic skills of the game by GRFU Youth Development Officers (YDOs) Troy Yhip, Larry Adonis and Theodore Henry.
They were ably assisted by some senior national players. In addition to the basic skills of rugby, the youths were also taken on a tour of the National Milling Company, while some were
edified on basic computer skills, compliments of the Guyana Police Force.
The camp started on July 10 and concluded on July 18 with the excited lads showcasing their talents in several friendly games of tag-rugby for the sponsor and family members in attendance.
The annual camp was coordinated by YDO Yhip, who lauded the success of the programme, while stating that Guyana’s rugby future was bright, as was evident by the talent seen throughout the camp.
He also called for more financial support from the
business community and Government in sustaining the programme as the GRFU helped the youths become more disciplined and rounded individuals through sports.
Scotiabank had donated $700,000 towards the programme this year.
Bodybuilder Kerwin Clarke made it three wins in a row when he was crowned Mr Guyana on Sunday evening at the Park Vue Hotel.
Clarke, who easily outflexed Alfred Jordan in the middleweight category, seemed at ease during the Champion of Champions round outflexing the likes of Sylvester Andrews (heavyweight); Marlon Bennett (lightweight); Rashleigh Bentick (bantamweight); Mahendra Singh (welterweight) and Zalim Bacchus (under 132 pounds) to win the 2015 Supligen Mr Guyana title.
In a packed Park Vue Conference Hall, Clarke delivered pose after pose with seamless transition to the applause of the vocal crowd in attendance who were in awe of his chiselled physique.
Second-place finish-
er Sylvester Andrews brought a bulkier package to the stage but lacked the muscle definition to defeat Clarke, a two-time Central American Caribbean Bodybuilding (CAC) Bodybuilding bronze medallist. Clarke will now represent Guyana at the CAC Championships set for October in The Bahamas. Meanwhile, Alisa Fortune won the Ms Body Fitness category, but fell to second after Junica Pluck in the Ms Bikini category. In the men’s physique, BodyMaxx’s Emmerson Campbell was the winner of the event ahead of Yannick Grimes also from BodyMaxx. Coel Marks of Buddy’s Gym was third.
The Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) has honoured its former member and current Coach of the Amazon Warriors, Carl Hooper for his contribution to the Club as well as to the overall development of the sport in Guyana.
A team from the Club handed over a plaque and a golden pendant bearing the GCC emblem during a simple ceremony at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara on Tuesday.
Hooper, a former West Indies Captain and classy batsman, expressed gratitude for the recognition and renewed interest to make financial and other contributions to the GCC.
GCC Executive Member Les Ramalho stated that there were ongoing efforts to make improvements to the Club facilities; “As you know, the Club is going through a lot of hardship, ever since Test cricket was removed from there, we do not have the same amount of members as we
had before; as such, contributions are not as forthcoming,” Ramalho expressed to Hooper.
Hooper has committed to making an undisclosed initial financial contribution, after the ongoing CPL matches in Guyana. There was also a commitment for follow-up provision of gear and other items.
Hooper was earlier this year appointed Coach of the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the 2015 edition of the Caribbean Premier League (GPL).
In another clear demonstration of its commitment to the development of sport, Scotiabank on Tuesday presented a cheque for a significant amount to the national senior female football team, the Lady Jags, to facilitate its participation in the upcoming Olympic Qualifiers.
Scotiabank Marketing Manager Jennifer Cipriani presented a cheque valued $500,000 to some members of the Lady Jags in the presence of Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalisation Committee members at a simple ceremony at the Federation’s head office in Campbellville, Georgetown.
Cipriani used the opportunity to highlight Scotiabank’s input in local football, noting that over the years the Bank has partnered with Demerara Distillers Limited and the Guyana Sports Development Foundation to promote male
and female football at the youth level.
She said this latest contribution was indicative of the interest the Bank has in the growth and development of female football in Guyana.
Normalisation Committee Chairman Clinton Urling lauded the Bank for its support, noting that corporate backing was critical for the sustenance of any effective football programme.
He expressed gratitude to Cipriani and the management and staff of Scotiabank for their investment in the team, especially at a time when they were preparing for such an important tournament.
With the aim of reaching the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Guyana’s senior national women’s team are heightening preparations ahead of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) leg of the qualifiers.
from back page
He smashed a further four boundaries as the Red Steel finished the powerplay overs at 44-2.
The pair fashioned Red Steel’s recovery with a partnership of 36. However, de Lange switched ends and broke through the thirdwicket partnership when Bravo (3), was taken at the wicket.
Delport made his intentions clear when he smashed Hodge over long on for the first six of the match in the 10th over, but the very next delivery, a short-ofthe-length ball, the South African hit to short cover where Simmons claimed a low catch inches off the ground.
The onus was now on Skipper Dwayne Bravo and Johan Botha. But the duo found the going tough against the guile and the skill of the Amazon Warriors bowlers.
Bravo struggled, particularly against Narine, who eventually trapped his Trinidadian counterpart leg
before wicket for five.
Kamran Akmal hit two boundaries in his 10, while Botha also struck two boundaries in his 33-ball 22 before Bishoo removed both batsmen with the first ball in the 17th over and final ball off the penultimate over.
De Lange returned for his final over and claimed the wicket of Kevon Cooper for 10.
The Amazon Warriors were well on course for the win as Simmons thrashed the hapless Red Steel bowling.
Simmons shared an opening stand of 54 with Assad Fudadin, who laboured to a 12-ball nine before he was dismissed by the Red Steel Skipper.
Amazon Skipper Denesh Ramdin made five but the right-handed pair of Simmons and Hodge shared 52 runs for the third wicket.
Both batsmen were not in a mood to delay the proceedings as they tore apart the bowlers with some clean hitting.
By Rajiv Bisnauth
The Guyana Amazon Warriors produced a clinical display to ease past Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel with a commanding seven-wicket victory in the final preliminary game of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Tuesday evening at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.
With the win the Amazon Warriors moved into second position on 11 points, and will play the second play-off against either the Red Steel or Jamaica Tallawahs on Saturday.
The Red Steel and Jamaica Tallawahs will clash in the first play-off on Thursday.
It was definitely an authoritative all-round performance from the home team as they first restricted the Red Steel to a modest 1178 and then knocked off the runs with 22 balls to spare.
Man-of-the-Match Lendl Simmons led the Amazon Warriors’ reply with his usual stroke-filled arsenal, hitting a flurry of boundaries to
finish unbeaten on 64.
Despite a star-studded Red Steel batting lineup, the hosts took wickets at regular intervals to deny momentum to the visitors, but opener Cameron Delport ensured that the Red Steel put up a respectable total with a superb 30-ball 44, after his side elected to bat on a slow pitch.
Delport, who hit six fours and a six, held the Red Steel innings together and he was the only batsman who could give some fight to the disciplined Amazon Warriors bowlers.
For Amazon Warriors, pacer Marchant de Lange claimed 4-20; leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo grabbed 2-19 while Sunil Narine and Brad Hodge took a wicket each. But no one can take any credit away from Veerasammy Permaul, who bowled a brilliant spell which yielded only 20 runs.
Delport started proceedings for the Red Steel hitting Permaul for a boundary off the final ball in the first over.
But the visitors suffered
By avenash Ramzan
Atelephone conversation with his spouse might have sparked Lendl Simmons to lead the demolition of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel by seven wickets in Match
30 of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Tuesday evening at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.
The dashing right-hander struck a stroke-filled 65 not out off 51 balls as the Guyana Amazon Warriors overhauled a target of 118 with exactly three overs to spare. His innings included five fours and three maximums, one of which shattered the glass edifice of the Media Centre.
It was Simmons’ second fifty in an otherwise ordinary season, in which the Trinidadian has not been as dominant and fluent as he was in previous CPLs. Speaking at the post-match press briefing, the Warriors #54 was delighted to find some form at such a crucial stage of the competition, where the top four teams now
head in to the play-offs.
“I got a call from my wife today [Tuesday] reminding me of what I could do and what I normally do … and I think that was a good reminder for myself when I went to bat and what I can do, which is give the team a good start and bat positive in the powerplay,” Simmons revealed.
He added, “I think the pitch was more conducive to stroke play today [Tuesday]; the bounce was a little more even, so it worked out well for me.”
Coming into the match, Simmons had racked up just 188 runs from seven innings, including a solitary 50 and a pedestrian 15 off 31 balls in the last match against defending champions Barbados Tridents on Saturday. Not
getting among the runs was starting to worry the Warriors’ premier opener.
“It played on my mind, because normally I would be in the top three in the aggregate, but it didn’t happen this season for me. Going forward the most I can do is continue to go out and give my team a good start. I think once I back myself and play positive I will have no fear in my mind. I think form is just being positive and having confidence in yourself that you can do well,” he explained.
The win pushed the Amazon Warriors to second place on the Hero MotoCorp Leaderboard at the end of the preliminary round, which means the South American franchise will play qualifier two on Saturday against the
two early setbacks, losing fellow opener Jacques Kallis (3) and Javon Searles (6) inside the first four overs. Both batsmen fell to de Lange. Kallis was caught at the wicket while Searles was caught at backward point off a leading edge.
After the dismissal of Searles, Darren Bravo joined Delport, who weathered the early storm and unleashed a few breathtaking shots to push the hosts on the back foot.
Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel innings
JH Kallis c †Ramdin b de Lange 3
CS Delport c Simmons b Hodge 44
JPR Scantlebury-Searles c Barnwell b de Lange 6
DM Bravo c †Ramdin b de Lange 3
J Botha b Bishoo 22
DJ Bravo* lbw b Narine 5 Kamran Akmal† c Permaul b Bishoo 10
KK Cooper c Wiese b de Lange 10
DYA Davis not out 1
S Badree not out 3
Extras: (b 4, lb 1, w 5) 10
Total: (8 wickets; 20 overs) 117
Did not bat: SJ Benn
Fall of wickets 1-7 (Kallis, 1.3 ov), 2-19 (Scantlebury-Searles, 3.4 ov), 3-55 (DM Bravo, 8.1 ov), 4-65 (Delport, 9.2 ov), 5-80 (DJ Bravo, 13.5 ov), 6-97 (Kamran Akmal, 16.1 ov), 7-111 (Botha, 18.6 ov), 8-113 (Cooper, 19.2 ov)
Bowling: V Permaul 4-0-20-0-
(1w), M de Lange 4-0-23-4, P Narine 4-0-17-1-(1w), D Wiese 2-0-21-0, BJ Hodge 2-0-121, D Bishoo-4-0-19-2-(1w) Guyana Amazon Warriors innings LMP Simmons not out 65 AB Fudadin c Cooper b DJ Bravo 9 D Ramdin*† st †Kamran Akmal b Botha 5 BJ Hodge b DJ Bravo 33 Umar Akmal not out 3 Extras (w 3) 3
Total (3 wickets; 17 overs) 118 Did not bat: CD Barnwell, D Wiese, SP Narine, V Permaul, M de Lange, D Bishoo Fall of wickets 1-54 (Fudadin, 8.1 ov), 2-62 (Ramdin, 9.2 ov), 3-114 (Hodge, 16.1 ov) Bowling: S Badree 3-0-21-0(1w), DYA Davis 3-0-27-0, SJ Benn 4-0-17-0, DJ Bravo 3-022-2 (1w), J Botha 3-0-15-1(1w), KK Cooper 1-1-16-0.
Lendl Simmons: “I think form is just being positive and having confidence in yourself that you can do well”
winner of qualifier one, which is between the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel and the Jamaica Tallawahs on Thursday.
By virtue of topping the points standing, reigning champions Barbados Tridents have automatically qualified for Sunday’s final.
All the remaining matches will be played at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, and Simmons be-
lieves conditions there will favour the Amazon Warriors.
“Going to Trinidad, it’s a familiar pitch to me, Denesh [Ramdin] and Sunil [Narine] so we could use that to our advantage, and I think that will provide a little bit more stroke play for guys like Brad Hodge and Umar Akmal. The ball comes on a little better than Guyana,” Simmons reckoned.