Guyana Times Daily

Green denies being used to burn down PNC HQ in 1979

...laments Police’s sloth in arresting suspects Census reveals 3339 dip in population

Killing

Overfishing, piracy big threats to fisheries sector –Ramsammy Dynamic Airways to operate out of Newark Int’l Airport Rodney CoI stalls opening of Family Court

Green denies being used to burn down PNC HQ in 1979

City Mayor and former Prime Minister, Hamilton Green has denied orchestrating the burning down of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Secretariat back in 1979 which set off a wave of violence aimed at members of the Working People’s Alliance who were accused of carrying out the act.

During his evidence in chief at the Dr Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry last week, WPA Executive Member Tacuma Ogunseye said at the time of the arson, it was rumoured that Green might have orchestrated the blaze to give the Government of the day legitimacy to go after the party.

However, when contacted on the allegations on

Sunday, Green rejected the statements.

When questioned by Guyana Times on whether he would be taking part in the Inquiry, Green responded in the negative, stating that the Commission had written him and he had already told them that had no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the assassination of the political activist. “I know nothing about how Rodney died, they wrote me… and I told them I can’t help… I will not testify; I know nothing of Rodney’s death,” Green stressed.

Elaborate surveillance network

Following the burning down of the National Development Building, that had also housed the Secretariat of the PNC, then President Forbes Burnham had employed an elaborate surveillance network here with undercover cops being set upon political activists, some with instructions to kill. Guyana Times was told that State surveillance during that era was so pervasive that ordinary citizens were spied on, creating an atmosphere of tension across the country.

Burnham himself had declared publicly at the party’s Third Biennial Congress in August 1979

that the arson happened, because “we had not activated our full intelligence services that are part of the State Apparatus”.

Both Dr Rodney and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, along with other WPA activists, were arrested and thrown in lock-ups for the incident. Addressing party faithful at the August 22-26 Congress, Burnham said: “While we number thousands, they number at most a few hundred. Therefore, we should be in a position to have a proper intelligence service which I shall discuss with you at a group level.”

He continued: “We have already infiltrated them, so much that the Dr Walter Rodney does not sleep in the same place any two nights in succession; so much so that when he has his conspiratorial meetings, he shifts from downstairs to upstairs, but let him know that walls have ears where the People’s National Congress is concerned.”

Burnham had charged his members then to be vigilant. “We must be suspicious and all details must be reported. Up to now I would say that about 75 per cent of the WPA consists of PNC members, I do not want any more. But that 75 per cent there plus others must be reporting from time to time and we must ferret these mice out of their holes.”

Spread of Chikungunya virus under control – Health Ministry

The Health Ministry’s Vector Control Department has reported that there have not been any new confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne infection Chikungunya, which has been declared an epidemic in certain parts of the Caribbean.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Monday, Vector Control Department Director Reyad Rahaman said the Government is still conducting surveillance and sending blood samples taken from persons suspected of contracting the disease to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CPHA).

Residents in some areas, particularly North Ruimveldt and South Sophia, had complained that they were being ignored by the Vector Control Department, in that there were no fogging exercises conducted in their neighbourhoods.

However, Rahaman explained to Guyana Times on Tuesday that all areas which were targeted for fogging exercises were fogged. He explained that it may not have been done on the specified day since other environmental conditions had hampered the exercise. He said too that if any area or part of an area had not been fogged, it was because of the area was inaccessible.

Rahaman explained that the workers conducting the fogging exercise would not go into every street in an area to get their work done since that is not necessary, He further explained that the workers depend heavily on the wind to transport the

fog that euthanatises mosquitoes, which are responsible for the spread of not only Chikungunya but other vector-borne viruses.

So far, 19 persons were confirmed infected with the Chikungunya virus. This information was released by the Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran who had said that the cases were restricted to the Berbice region. The Minister credited the standstill in the infection rate to the far-reaching preventive measures that the Ministry had undertaken to curb the spread of the virus.

Fogging exercises

“The disease has been confined to restricted areas in Berbice, namely Canje, Cumberland, Canefield, Port Mourant and New Amsterdam. We have concluded the first phase of our fogging exercise, but the second phase will soon begin and in Georgetown, we have already carried out some fogging exercises while the Ministry of Local Government had undertaken the task of cleaning up the city to avoid having breeding grounds for the

mosquitoes,” he had told reporters.

He had also explained that while the disease was debilitating to a person’s health, the possibility of it being fatal is low. The Minister explained that although a large number of persons were infected in the Caribbean, there were only a few deaths and those were restricted to the elderly and the young and Guyana was no different. He said the persons who have died may have had a pre-existing medical condition or their immune systems might not have been fully developed as is seen with minors. Dr Ramsaran had also indicated that Guyana will soon begin local testing for Chikungunya Virus. He said the Government already has the necessary physical infrastructure in place. But it is lacking with respect to the professional capacity of the personnel to conduct the testing on these shores. He said the Government has since approached the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) to provide training to personnel in that regard.

New Strategic Plan among measures for Caricom Heads

The first-ever Strategic Plan for the Caribbean Community (Caricom) will be among major items for consideration by regional leaders at their 35th annual Heads of Government conference in Antigua/Barbuda which opens today.

The meeting will be chaired by the newly-elected Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne. The five-year Strategic Plan, for the period 2015-2019, is the product of wide public consultation across Caricom, and seeks to reposition the Community to better secure its future in a rapidly changing environment. The Heads will seek to reach agreement on top prior-

ity areas for focused attention over the five-year period of the plan and the arrangements to ensure implementation, the Caricom Secretariat said.

According to the Secretariat, a Commission on the Economy will also report to the Heads on its work on a number of initiatives including; formulating a fiscal sustainability programme, reviewing the Region’s business operating environment with a view towards improving its Doing Business Indicators, and the design of regional programmes to assist in alleviating some of the constraints to growth in the Member States.

Also high on the agenda will be key issues for the Community related to the upcoming third International Meeting of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Samoa, September 1-4; the United Nations Climate Change Summit later that month; and the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

“Celebrating Caricom”

A highlight of the meeting’s opening ceremony today will be the public launch of the new Caricom Song, produced by Michele Henderson of Dominica. Michele’s

“Celebrating Caricom” was selected from 63 submissions from 15 Member States and Associate Members. The second-placed entry “My Caricom” came from Adiel Thomas of Jamaica and the third placed, “One Caricom” was by Carmella Lawrence of St Kitts and Nevis. The Caricom Song will be used primarily at ceremonial and Community events. (You can see Henderson interviewed about the song and her career on the Caricom website www. caricom.org and the Caricom Facebook page) The opening ceremony will also feature the presentation of the Caricom Triennial Award for Women 2014 to Marion Bethel of The Bahamas. The Award is aimed at honouring a Caricom woman who has made an outstanding contribution to the socio-economic development of the Region. Prime Minister Browne will address the ceremony as the new Caricom Chairman. Addresses will also be made by outgoing Chairman, Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Caricom Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque. The ceremony will be held at the Sandals Grande Antigua Resorts and Spa from 17:00h.

City Mayor and former Prime Minister, Hamilton Green

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne

The smallest variation of the fogging machines used by the Vector Control Department

Overfishing, piracy big threats to fisheries sector – Ramsammy

OBRIDGE OPENINGS LOTTERY NUMBERS

verfishing and exploitation of fisheries resources here, as well as the longstanding issue of piracy are significant threats to the sustainability of the sector, Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy warned fisherfolk on Sunday. He was at the time addressing a gathering at the Port Mourant Community Centre in observance of International Fisherfolk Day 2014. Dr Ramsammy spoke about the importance of the fisheries sector to Guyana’s economy, stating that fishing is an integral part not only in the lives of Guyanese but to the country’s development. He said, “Guyana’s development has always depended on a number of things, and fishing is one. It has always been important and, indeed, fishing contributes about six per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution from agriculture for Guyana and that in itself is a very significant contribution,” the Minister said.

Surging demand

A recent report published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said more people than ever rely on fisheries and aquaculture for food and as a source of income, but harmful practices and poor management threaten the sector’s sustainability. According to the latest edition of FAO’s “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture”, global fisheries and aquaculture production totalled 158 million tonnes in 2012 – around 10 million tonnes more than 2010. The rapid expansion of aquaculture, including the activities of small-scale farmers, is driving this growth in production.

Fish farming holds tremendous promise in responding to surging demand for food which is taking place due to global population

growth, the report says. At the same time, the planet’s oceans – if sustainably managed – have an important role to play in providing jobs and feeding the world.

“The health of our planet as well as our own health and future food security all hinge on how we treat the blue world,” FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva said. “We need to ensure that environmental well-being is compatible

dustry of the Caribbean and we are concerned how we protect the fishing resources… this industry indirectly provides employment of approximately 20,000 residents.”

A study last year by scientists linked the decline of Caribbean coral reefs to overfishing and deforestation in addition to humaninduced climate change. The researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography

with human well-being in order to make long-term sustainable prosperity a reality for all. For this reason, FAO is committed to promoting “Blue Growth”, which is based on the sustainable and responsible management of our aquatic resources.”

The renewed focus on the so-called “blue world” comes as the share of fisheries production used by humans for food has increased from about 70 per cent in the 1980s to a record high of more than 85 per cent (136 million tonnes) in 2012.

Overfishing

Dr Ramsammy told the gathering about the impact of overfishing, noting that it has caused a drastic decline in fish production “and this is something that all Caribbean countries must work closely to protect”. “That is why Guyana is so important to the fishing in -

at UC San Diego in the United States have used an excavation technique to reconstruct the timeline of historical change in coral reefs located on the Caribbean side of Panama.

Lead scientist Katie Cramer said the study was the first to quantitatively show that the cumulative effects of deforestation, and possibly overfishing, have been degrading Caribbean coral and molluscan communities long before climate change impacts.

Unlicensed vessels

“Traceability is of vital importance to our industry, since, without this, our fish cannot be exported and without licence there is no traceability and anyone without a licence will soon be unable to sell their fish when the new legislation which must be passed for Guyana to be eli -

gible to export fish in Europe, so the least you could do is cooperate and licence your vessel or we will be forced to ensure only the catch of licensed fishing is allowed in the market,” Dr Ramsammy said, while noting that fisherfolk investments contributes to 6.6 per cent of the country’s economy.”

Regarding piracy, Dr Ramsammy said the Police, Coast Guard and fishermen themselves need to do more in order to stop this scourge. Noting that fishermen themselves are involved in this illicit practice, the Minister said: “We must recognise that our fight against piracy needs to be strengthened. The Police, Judiciary, Coast Guard and also the participation of fisherfolk all need to be strengthened.”

Region Six Chairman David Armogan told the gathering that International Fisherfolk Day has been set aside primarily to honour our fisherfolk and to let them know that they are an important part of the Guyanese economy. “The fishing industry contributes significantly to the country’s economy,” Armogan said. Also present at the event were the Chief Fisheries Officer Denzel Roberts, of the Region Six Fisheries Department and other officials.

Fisherfolk receiving tokens from the Agriculture Ministry

Fishermen with their catch

Monday, June 30, 2014

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, letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Philosophy and law

Over the last few months, the public discourse about “law” in Guyana has been dominated by two rather practical questions: should we have some new “Senior Counsels” and even more germane-ly, if more prosaically, should we have our own law school. Questions about the law itself seem to have escaped notice, saved for the resort to the Courts on Constitutional matters, which are more rooted in politics than law. Some fear the law stands in danger of being further politicised.

But abroad, there has been quite a spirited discourse to move away from the economic analysis of law that became ascendant half a century ago and to return to at least a more than passing familiarity with “jurisprudence”. The latter, of course, is the philosophical theorising about the nature of law and legal reasoning, and the differences between law and morality. While it remains a compulsory subject at Oxford, can we honestly say that it is given the importance it deserves in the Caribbean? The answer would have to be “no” if we go by the state of the legal fraternity.

The disjuncture between economic and philosophical approaches had never been complete and maybe the present disarray in the field of economics to make heads or tail with the present “Great Recession” has something to do with the shift in focus. Economics might not be so “scientific” after all, and the law may have as much to do with how we analyse, describe and talk about the human condition. It is a constructivist world.

Law is, first and foremost, a discursive discipline: lawyers and judges live in the domain of reasons and meanings. They interpret statutes and cases, articulate rules to guide behaviour, and then argue about their import in particular cases. Judges write opinions, in which they give reasons for their conclusions. Lawyers offer arguments to persuade judges. Even lawyers who never argue cases in court still deal continuously with rules, their meanings and entailments.

Philosophy is, of course, the discursive discipline par excellence. The English philosopher John Campbell famously and quite perceptively described philosophy as “thinking in slow motion”. Lawyering, especially in an oral argument before an Appellate Court, is often “thinking in fast motion”, but the key fact is that both disciplines are concerned with rational and logical thought.

Even allowing for that very real difference between legal and philosophical argument, the affinity is clear enough, so much so that legal education takes its most famous pedagogical approach, the Socratic Method, from philosophy. Law teachers question students, much as Socrates questioned citizens of Athens about the nature of knowledge and justice. The method is supposed to illustrate and teach the kind of dialectical skill that lawyering, as a discursive discipline, requires.

It is equally important, however, that philosophy as a discipline concerns itself with literally everything, whether science or art or morality or law. It can be asked of these domains of human activity, “What is its nature? What makes it what it is?” Philosophers have asked this about science, about art and also about law. And it is this willingness to question that a greater stress on the philosophical approach can impart to our lawyering fraternity.

As with many areas of philosophical inquiry, philosophical inquiry into law simply brings to light and makes explicit what is often implicit and unargued. Of recent there have been trenchant criticisms of High Court decisions as “politically motivated, rather than following the law”. But that already presupposes, we know where the boundaries of law and politics are located: precisely what jurisprudential inquiry tries to illuminate. Would more lawyers and citizens appreciate this?

So, too, when commentators criticise a judge’s reasoning in support of their conclusions, they invariably presuppose claims about the nature of law, legal interpretation and the character of legal reasoning. It is the task of jurisprudence to bring those presuppositions out in the open and subject them to scrutiny.

Questions for APNU/AFC

Dear Editor,

Please permit me to ask a couple of questions through your letter pages of the joint Opposition partnership (APNU/AFC). It is critical for me to understand where they stand on these matters before I cast my vote at the next election whenever it is called.

Firstly, can the joint Opposition tell us, the People of Guyana, after voting down the Amaila Project and chasing away what everyone knows to be a credible investor, Sithe Global, what solution have they come up with after having control of the Parliament, to get this project underway? Right now we are paying exor -

bitant rates for electricity so much that people risk their lives to steal electricity so that their kids can study in the evenings. If they have a solution, what is it and when can we expect it?

Secondly, can the lawyers of the joint Opposition, Basil Williams, Khemraj Ramjattan and Nigel Hughes, indicate to us very clearly that when they voted against the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Bill that they did not do so, because their big clients were past money launderers and drug lords, and they were not heavily lobbied by the drug lords to delay the Bill which was very important to Guyana not being blacklisted.

Thirdly, since the joint Opposition have been voting together on over 95 per cent of anything that is taken into Parliament and they seem to have the same concerns, can we expect that they will join together and form one party to contest the next election? As of right now, it seems a vote for the AFC is a vote for the PNC and vice versa, we might as well see a broad unity party and avoid the AFC being used like the UF.

Finally, can Mr Carl Greenidge and Mr Anand Goolsarran, two wellknown personalities, inform us what have they done during their period out of Guyana to reshape their thinking so that we,

the People of Guyana, can once again take them seriously? It boggles my mind that Mr Greenidge and Mr Goolsarran who have nothing positive to show during their respective tenures are now speaking more loudly than those who have outperformed them by leaps and bounds.

I am, therefore, Mr Editor, kindly asking the joint Opposition to clarify these questions for the people of Guyana whom I am quite sure have the same questions in mind.

Kind regards, Name and address withheld

Nonsensical STOP signs on the Corentyne Highway

Dear Editor,

My good friend and exChief Labour Officer, Mr Mohammed Akeel, has written about this before, but to date it appears that the powers-that-be have not taken note or are reluctant to take corrective action regarding the four obviously nonsensical, improper and perhaps dangerous “STOP” signs which impede the flow of traffic on the Corentyne Highway at Eversham and at Number 44/Good Hope villages.

I drive frequently on this Highway and more often than not, I and most others have been ignoring these STOP signs, not because we are inclined to unlawful or other improper behaviour,

but because these are crazy signs. As one just happens upon them, one is first surprised then confounded by the stupidity they rep resent.

those who are not familiar with the Highway, it is noted that the signs are placed on the east-

ern and western sides of the Highway bridges at Eversham and Number 44/Good Hope. On both sides of each bridge, there are subsidiary roads/dams leading into Black Bush Polder, which is South of the Corentyne Highway. There is obviously sufficient justification for STOP signs to be placed at the junction where the subsidiary roads meet the Highway, and not the other way round, where the Highway meets the subsid-

iary road! Last Friday, I was stopped by a bright-looking young Policeman who politely told me that I should have stopped upon seeing the STOP sign; I took the opportunity of explaining to the smiling officer what I thought was the lack of logic and commonsense in the placement of the signs. I was not surprised when, instead of giving me a traffic ticket, the apparently convinced officer gave me a soft, friendly’ word of advice that if the sign says “STOP”, then I should stop. Is this a case where “the law is an ass”???

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

Muslims stand after having their Iftar (evening breaking fast) meal on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in India, at the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi, June 30 (Reuters/Ahmad Masood)

Double standards and friends within GuySuCo

Dear Editor,

We wish to inform the Guyanese public about the double standards and friendships that exist within GuySuCo.

Firstly, we must state that four senior staff members were dismissed for negligence at Albion-Port Mourant Estate.

However, it was a total of five that were charged for negligence in 2012.

Four senior staff members were dismissed, while another was suspended for two weeks. Many believe it is because he is friends with a senior officer (name given), since it is not the first time that this has happened. In a previous matter of breaching procedure, a staff member was suspended for six weeks, but no money reportedly was deducted from his salary.

Based on our knowledge, these four staff members that were dismissed were not in any way negligent. The matter stemmed from an argument In the 2012 First Crop, when these senior staff were charged for negligence they were attached to the harvesting department when the tonnes of caneper tonnes of sugar (TC/TS) ratio was less than 10 and the average weight was above 6.5 tonnes per

punt. Yet these unfortunate staffs were dismissed for negligence.

Can someone from GuySuCo state why these staff members were found to be negligent in the First Crop of 2012 which concluded within the first week of May and ‘show cause’ letters were given to them at the end of September 2012. Can someone tell us who is really negligent?

Also the four dismissed senior staff members were attached to the harvesting department when the estate made its record first crop target of 28,504 tonnes in 2011.

Secondly, we must state that a supervisor who breached payment was only suspended for one month. Three field foremen were dismissed for breach of payment procedure when four of them were charged. The unfortunate foremen were dismissed, while the fortunate foreman is still on the job. Aren’t these double standards?

Thirdly, we must state that a supervisor, as far as we know, walked off the job and was working with Port Mourant United (PMU) for more than one month and was leaving his motorcycle, an asset of the estate, at his home while working with PMU, until the estate’s security went to his

house to uplift same.

Yet this same person returned to Albion, Port Mourant Estate as if nothing ever happened. He is the best friend of a senior officer. We really need some answers why all the staff cannot be treated the same.

Lastly, someone allegedly stole materials from the estate using the tractor and trailer to transport the materials to his house, yet he is still happily working. An Assistant Field Manager (AFM) and Superintendent were only suspended for two weeks for spraying chemicals which affected an entire gang of harvesters at the working location.

A staff member was reportedly dismissed for making up payment, while another allegedly authorised 100 per cent extra payment for supplying of DAM beds at Expansion A for over one week and no action was taken against him.

In concluding, can someone from GuySuCo clear up these issues regarding the double standards and friendships mentioned?

Sincerely, Concerned workers at Albion-Port Mourant Estate

Time for Granger to back his words

Dear Editor,

It is time for David Granger to back his words. I recall how he was most daring when he said that he was not afraid of any kind of interrogation, as regard to the assassination of Dr Walter Rodney. He also said the same about the 1973 killing of Bholanauth Parmanand and Jagan Ramessar, who were ruthlessly and brutally gunned down, after demanding that the ballots be counted at the place of poll during the elections that year.

In fact, Granger did get upset repeatedly, when he and his party (PNC) were accused of being guilty of many crimes and, therefore, ‘had hands of blood’.

So, it is time now for him to come forward and answer some searching questions. I add here, that only ‘the wicked flee’ and look over their shoulder, as innocence and truth are afraid of nothing.

We all know that the then Forbes Burnham-led PNC has been constantly accused of killing the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Leader, Dr Walter Rodney.

This tag has always been like common knowledge, but nothing ever came out of it, as the then regime was in control of the press, had its hands in the judiciary, and exercised a reign of terror and intimidation.

Now, since Granger was a Commander in the Army, during the period when Dr. Rodney met his death, it is only logical for him to testify and he should be glad about it too. I am very surprised that he is now acting most evasively. Either he fears being cornered and implicated, or he is worrying

about admitting some very revealing truths.

I point out here that the Rodney Commission of Inquiry has vested power to summon witnesses, who are with relevant information, so as to ensure that there be a full disclosure of what actually transpired at that time. I think that if a key person like Granger is most unwilling to step forward, then he should be legally compelled to do so. I can see a game already at work.

I am reading about some frivolous complaints like length of the actual process and cost factors. I think that the death of Dr Rodney must be accounted for.

After all, the overall objective is “to arrive at the truth and any known individual or group with information considered helpful to the work of the Commission should be made mandatory to appear and share information at their disposal”. The issue has been left untended for too long and it is too big to ignore. It should be brought to a close. So far. the utter ‘shame and embarrassment’ we are seeing from the many disclosures should make us all aware of what Guyana has been saved from.

Sincerely, Dave

Martindale

Hamilton Green is unrepentant

Dear Editor, Hamilton Green is unrepentant. He has to be, unless he is suffering from massive dementia and amnesia. He wants to hold on to the Mayorship of Georgetown.

I recall how his consort tried to evade taxes, in millions too, and Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba exposed it. My expectation, after the news broke was that he would have sought some kind of conciliatory move. The man has regressed to the point that he seems to deem ‘wrongs’ ‘rights’.

What is mind-boggling is that he comes up with all kinds of excuses for what is happening with the city of Georgetown. The place has been allowed to run down, and this is really a reflection of how all of Guyana most likely would have been, if Green had only been given a say on how this land should have really been run.

I see hope for Georgetown only when Green is out. I feel good that he will not be involved in the massive clean-up and rehabilitation of Georgetown. His being peeved at not being allowed access to the monetary subvention is easily understood.

Now getting to his attack on Joe Hamilton, Member of Parliament for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), I am not surprised. Green left the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) early on June 4. His later explanation was that he could not stay on.

My take is that he was nervous that Hamilton, under oath, firmly detailed how Green had met the said Hamilton and others in 1978, as part of a House

of Israel’s delegation. Back then, this was common knowledge, but Green and his cohorts had no fear. They did what they wanted.

I recall during this period, how every little ‘colt’ was deemed something to dread. This ‘colt’ was the small enclosed vans that the House of Israel thugs used to move around in. The House of Israel caused the people to coin the term ‘kick-down-the-door bandits’ as this was what was happening and what everyone feared.

Honestly, in that period, fear stalked the land. Green needs to soak in some reality. The declarations of Hamilton are not “fabrication(s) designed to serve his latest sponsors”. Any independent and candid journalist can go now and do the field work. I wonder what Green would say to that.

Green, probably trying to subtly soften Hamilton, writes that he was impressed with him “as one who could and did with clarity and verve, expose the evils, corruption and mistakes of the PPP/C” .

I cannot remember this and then Hamilton would have most likely been under duress. I think that after what Green said he would do to Sooba, we all have to be careful.

I am sure that many more will come forward to expose the terrible history of Green and the PNC by extension. And Green must know that facts cannot be debunked when the living are here to tell.

Yours faithfully, Thomas Cole

It is time for an IMC in Georgetown

Dear Editor,

I am appalled that Mayor Hamilton Green is still with a voice, a pen and a face. He was utterly exposed and humiliated, during one session of the Rodney Commission of Inquiry and had to walk out, feigning an excuse. Now it is the same, as regard the massive cleanup exercise that is about to begin in Georgetown. And by the way, Georgetown’s present state is exclusively the work and legacy of Green.

Let me quickly make a comment on how the Opposition parties have been most biased. They love to talk about how repulsive Georgetown has become, but I never hear them calling on Green to get his act together.

I think especially of Moses Nagamootoo and how he personally suffered at the hands of Green, during his People’s National Congress (PNC) days. Yet Nagamootoo is

talking about ‘no confidence’ against this Government. Shame on him!

I know for decades that there was no transparency or accountability with the Mayor and City Council, so I can see where Green’s anger is coming from.

That is why I am not surprised, at what he desperately attempted, during the 2014 Easter Day mayhem. He and his ‘henchmen’ tried bullyism to take control of cash proceeds, legally collected by the Council, from vendors.

We must never ever forget the kind of character Hamilton Green is and what he was immersed in for all of his life, both with the PNC and up to recent, as the Mayor of Georgetown.

He sees a last-minute opportunity to capitalise, where the massive billion-dollar clean-up exercise is concerned; especially the Georgetown leg that has half of

the budgeted amount. This is why he is walking out of meetings, complaining about a proposed Interim Management Committee (IMC).

I have to laugh when a man like Green is talking about constitutional rule, and law and order, etc. He never was a follower of the things that he is now seeking to champion. Also, since he has been such a failure as Mayor, then he should allow for a different form of administration, even if only for this clean-up exercise.

I call on the two Opposition parties to speak out against what is happening, where Green and his cohorts are concerned. Both the Alliance for Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) are silent supporters of this man.

Yours truly, Baldeo

Mathura

Page Foundation

4

things not to let your children try on vacation

BY BETH BLAIR

Travel is all about possibility and exposure and trying new things – right? Well, yes. Mostly. Sampling foreign dishes, taking on adventurous feats, and exploring unseen (to you and your family) territory is all part of the joy of travel. Did you read my story of overcoming my fear of snorkelling (I dread the whole face-in-water thing)? Yes, travel can be about overcoming fears and obstacles, too. However, there are a few times the “go for it” mentality should be waned and that’s when travelling with children. Here are four things not to let your children try on vacation –for the first time.

Peanuts

Many years ago I was working a flight when a mother and grandmother asked me if I knew what could be wrong with their child. The toddler boy was covered head to toe in huge hives and they were getting worse by the minute. I went down a list of possibilities and, sure enough, the parents had given him peanuts for the first time in-flight and he was having a reaction. Luckily, his breathing was okay. The lesson: never give your child peanuts for the first time while flying.

tioning to “big kid” underwear, opt for the night time protection to avoid having to call hotel housekeeping in the middle of night and dealing with a damp mattress.

Swimming on their own – ever

Tragically, there have been a few cruise ship drownings/deaths in recent months, some with parents only yards away. As of right now, most cruise ships and hotel pools and some beaches do not have lifeguards on duty. Parents, even if your children are strong swimmers in your backyard or the local YMCA, please don’t let them swim alone while on vacations. Big, deep, crowded, and unfamiliar pools or the unpredictable ocean can contribute to such tragedies. Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you get a vacation from parenting and never assume someone else is watching your little lovelies.

Skiing, snowboarding, surfing, etc without lessons

Speaking from experience, my daughter decided to potty train herself at age two. All was going well until we hit the road for our annual Thanksgiving trip to Palm Springs. That was when she decided that Pullups were much more convenient than this whole grownup way of doing it. And so she, the originally willing participant, regressed. If you have potty training plans and know that you will be travelling in coming weeks, simply hold off until post-trip when you can dedicate a schedule and routine. As for night time, if your child has a history of wetting the bed or is transi-

If you’re going to make the effort of having an active getaway with the family, then forget being cheap and simply dish out the extra bucks so your children can learn how to enjoy the sport via proper training.

Professional instruction will not only enhance their fun, but they will learn safety measures of the sport, and your children will in turn become better skiers, snowboarders, or surfers, which means future trips will be more enjoyable for the entire family.

Of course, at some point the children will out-grow these limitations but as long as they’re young, keep them safe and comfortable while travelling. (thevacationgals.com)

Imaginary friends: Should you be concerned?

BY NICHOLE RICHARDSON

After watching movies like "The Shining", it can be very alarming to witness your child speaking to imaginary “friends”. You wonder if there is something psychologically wrong with them, or if they are not getting enough everyday interaction in their lives. Fortunately, these common assumptions are almost never true, and having an imaginary playmate can actually be a good sign of a child’s development.

Stereotypes regarding imaginary friends were propagated in the 1940s through the 1970s, by childcare guru, Dr Benjamin Spock. In his best-selling books, he advised that children who had imaginary friends needed more time with other children, or help getting along better with other children.

On the contrary, evidence from two studies done by developmental Psychologist Marjorie Taylor and her colleagues has proven that children who have imaginary companions tend to be less shy, better able to focus their attention, and able to have more empathy.

Taylor isn’t the only one confirming this phenomenon, either. Emily KircherMorris, PLPC, a professional counsellor in St Louis who specialises in working with gifted and high achieving children, also believes very creative children are likely to have imaginary friends.

“The more creative the

child is, the more he or she seems to be likely to have an imaginary friend… Drabowski’s Theory of Overexcitabilities talks about how young gifted children who have over-excitability in the imaginative area are likely to have an imaginary friend,” explained Morris.

It is estimated that more than half of all preschool through elementary-aged children develop imaginary companions. There are many reasons why this happens, ranging from coping with life changes to pure entertainment.

Licensed professional counsellor and registered play therapist, Pam Dyson, agrees with the reasons for “fake” friends being varied.

“It’s often assumed that only children are lonely so they create imaginary friends as a way of managing the loneliness. There’s really no basis for that assumption…Some children may develop [them] as a way of coping with a life change…the majority create

makebelieve friends because they find pretending to have a friend to be a lot of fun,” said Dyson.

Even if your child seems convinced his pal is “real”, most children understand that these friends are just in their imaginations; however, there may be a brief stint during which your child is insistent on his friend being real.

“There is a period of ‘magical thinking’ in which children may believe in magic and fantasy. During this time when reality can be blurred, the child may maintain that their friend is in fact real,” said Cherie Baetz-Davis, a licensed Psychologist in St Louis.

Parents can learn a great deal about their children by watching them interact with the imagined friend. The child’s feelings may manifest themselves in the type of play that occurs with the friend. Sometimes children will give the friend the same feelings they are having, so it’s important to note that while observing interactions.

“It may also show the parents the extent to which their child can elaborate within the world; having many details of the imaginary friend’s life and world are typical for a highly imaginative child,” said Morris.

While it still may be a little unsettling for some parents to witness, having an imaginary friend is nothing to worry over. The only time to be concerned is when the friend is causing the child anxiety, fear, or distress.

“If the child becomes obsessed with this play or it interferes with normal social interaction, then parents might want to assess what else is going on. Typically, imaginary friends will drop off when it is no longer socially accepted by their peer group,” said Davis.

Overall, the best thing parents can do regarding imaginary friends is to relax and be as involved as the child wants them to be.

“Don’t dismiss the friend as not being real and don’t make fun of it either. Have conversations with the friend and engage in imaginative play with your child,” said Dyson. (Everyday Family)

Dynamic Airways to operate out of Newark Int’l Airport

By Bhisham mohamed

S-based carrier

UDynamic Airways will continue its operations out of Georgetown, Guyana despite recent challenges it encountered at the John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport during its inaugural flight over the weekend.

The 767-200 Boeing aircraft of the airline will be operating out of the Newark International Airport, New Jersey after facing major challenges at JFK, according to managing Director of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia.

Gouveia made the announcement on Sunday evening while speaking with media operatives at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). He, however, explained that upon arrival at the Newark Airport, passengers will be shuttled to JFK. While cognisant that this will pose an inconvenience for some passengers, Gouveia is asking them to be patient and is hoping that the issues will be sorted out shortly.

As the official handling agent for Dynamic Airways, Gouveia said at no point in time were passengers stranded as was reported in certain sections of the media. He went on to say that after they realised that a situation had developed, they immediately activated their contingency plan which he admitted was a little tiresome but worked well.

He said the Dynamic Airways team worked diligently and overtime to ensure that passengers were not stranded and the airline was able to fly its passengers to their destination despite a few hours’ delay.

Technical problems

Gouveia stressed that the carrier is here to stay noting that he will personally ensure it happens, and called on the travelling public for their support and patience. Explaining what exactly transpired, he said

there was a mix-up of passengers’ luggage on Friday evening which resulted in the initial delay of the flight to the CJIA. The handling agent at JFK was consequently fired, Gouveia said.

“This is where our problem started.... after we fired him, it would have meant that we had to get another handling agent before the flight returns to JFK, so we consulted with Fly Jamaica to see if it was possible to use theirs, since its aircraft was experiencing technical problems.”

Fly Jamaica, Gouveia related, agreed to let Dynamic use the handling agent but about 10 minutes before arriving at JFK, they received an email stating that the agreement had several flaws which had legal implications. The flight landed, but was immediately taken over by the United States custom authorities. This, he said, meant that they will have to contract another handling agent before the aircraft can operate out of JFK.

Grilled

Several high-ranking officials and media operatives were on board Dynamic Airways’ inaugural flight. The aircraft left CJIA five hours behind schedule and arrived in New York after 11:00h on Saturday. Upon arrival at Terminal One of the JFK, the Guyanese passengers were rigorously grilled and searched by Custom officials. Moments later, news spread about the grounding of the flight and speculation was rife about the reason for such action.

After some time, the more than 100 passengers were informed via local handling agents of the situation. The agents indicated that they were trying to rectify the situations and promised to keep in contact with passengers.

There were some lapses, but eventually the passengers were contacted on Saturday afternoon and informed that the aircraft will leave US soil but from

Payment of taxes now possible through Mobile Money Guyana

Mobile Money Guyana Incorporated (MMG), a mobile financial service provider, has been recently added to the list of collecting agents for tax and licence payments to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

In a release, GRA said through an agreement reached on June 17 with MMG, a subsidiary of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), the agency is now authorised to receive and process taxes and licence payments electronically. Taxpayers who utilise the MMG service are assured that their payments will be cleared, processed, and credited to the GRA’s bank account within 24 hours, providing that the transaction was done correctly.

another airport facility. Passengers were asked to make their way to the JFK international Airport on Sunday morning and to follow stipulated instructions. There, passengers were checked and placed on a shuttle bus to Atlantic City International Airport for departure.

Again, there were some hiccups with respect to passengers’ baggage which saw another delay in departure. Due to the fact that Atlantic Airport is not accustomed to handling international flights, there were also some challenges. Passengers boarded but instead of leaving at the original departure time, 14:00h, the plane took off just after 17:00h.

The delays and shuttling saw some not-so-friendly reactions from passengers. One passenger said he wanted a refund of his air ticket and slammed the Dynamic team for its inefficiency, noting that he was not happy with the service. He added that a first impression always counts. However, Feroze Mohamed, who resides on the West Coast of Demerara, told Guyana Times that it is too early to make a judgment on the efficiency of the services offered by the aircraft. He noted that this was the first flight and admitted that there would be some initial challenges.

Meanwhile, Bobby Vieira, Public Relations Consultant for the airline, expressed his gratitude to the passengers for being patient with them. He apologised for the inconvenience, but believes that the Dynamic team did an excellent job in getting passengers to their destination. The Dynamic team also promised to compensate the passengers with a US$200 travel voucher. Dynamic Airways touched down in Guyana with 150 passengers on Sunday evening and will continue to operate on its original schedule. (bhisham@guyanatimesgy.com)

set, is at liberty to make payment of various tax types to the GRA from anywhere and at anytime within minutes. MMG is now listed among the range of service providers collecting payments electronically on behalf of the GRA for Individual Income, Corporation Tax, Property, Value-Added Tax (VAT), Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Remittances and Motor Vehicle Licences payments.

Other providers are Demerara Bank, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), and Republic Bank. Over-the-counter payment at the nearest Western Union’s Bill Express location is another option available to taxpayers.

A small service fee of $40 will be borne by the taxpayer who, with a mobile hand-

MMG was incorporated by GT&T in 2010 to afford its customers the opportunity to purchase mobile credit, pay utility and other bills, receive loan disbursements and make loan repayments,

send and receive money locally, as well as make deposits and withdrawals. The GRA sought to forge partnerships with the corporate entities as it seeks to revolutionise its services and more importantly provide taxpayers with convenient, fast and secure options of conducting payment transactions.

The Authority took into consideration the numerous challenges it continues to face in the task of ensuring that taxpayers honour their obligations in accordance with the law. Chief among those challenges is congestion at its Camp Street Head office. Now, with the online banking and mobile options available for paying taxes, it is the GRA’s hope that the number of taxpayers visiting the GRA on a daily basis will be significantly reduced and the level of compliance will be greater.

Hospitality Institute to enhance competitiveness among businesses – GTA

The country’s first Hospitality Institute for which US$4 million was made available in the 2014 national budget is currently in its design phase, which is scheduled to be completed within the next month.

The school with a one-ofa-kind curriculum will offer certificate, diploma, associate degree and degree courses in hospitality and is part of the Government’s thrust to build capacity within the tourism sector, which is still in a fledging stage.

Speaking at a recent press conference, Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director Indranauth Haralsingh described this initiative as a major foundation step, as the country continues to strive to expand the industry.

“It is a serious investment in training and capacity building on the part of

the Government. A variety of courses will be offered; it will have a state-of-the-art kitchen with some hotel rooms… currently the University of Guyana offers a degree programme in tourism. This would be the first Institute that will offer hospitality training, there is a vast difference between tourism and hospitality,” Haralsingh said.

He added that the Institute will help to further boost and promote the kind of hospitality that Guyana is already known for, and will also be open to accommodate foreign students. Additionally, the Hospitality Institute will help local businesses become more competitive and be better prepared to offer world-class service and by extension a worldclass Guyanese experience.

As the sector continues to grow, this Institute will en-

sure the creation of more job opportunities. Over the past 10 years, there has been an exponential increase in visitor arrivals in the country.

In 2013, Guyana was named one of the three countries in the Caribbean to record double-digit growth with a 13.3 per cent increase in arrivals. There was an average of 2630 tourists per month. As of May this year, a 9.6 per cent increase was recorded over figures of the previous year and a 28.8 per cent increase in April. Meanwhile, for the month of June, arrivals were recorded at 14,601, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Tourism is one of the sectors in which Guyana has a strong comparative advantage, given its vast and diverse endowment of nature, geographical locations, and large Diaspora.

Dynamic Airways at Atlantic International Airport on Sunday afternoon

Man gets 15 years for stabbing bus driver

Aman was on Monday morning sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for stabbing to death an East Bank Demerara (EBD) minibus driver six years ago.

Sherwin Anthony Hyle was indicted with the May 1, 2008 murder of Joel Savory at Friendship, EBD; however, he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter when he appeared before Justice Dawn Gregory over a week ago.

Justice Gregory subsequently ordered that a probation report be prepared and it was presented to the court on Monday. After the report was read, Attorney Maxwell Mc Kay, who represented Hyle, made submis-

sions on mitigating factors to the court. The presiding Judge started of an initial sentence with 30 years, and took off six years for the time Hyle spent on remand, another six for his guilty plea, and an additional three years for his mental history.

According to reports, Savory, 41, of Lot 37 Friendship, was walking through a street in the village when he was confronted by the accused. He then got into an argument with Hyle, who was said to be of “unsound mind”. The accused then took a piece of broken bottle and stabbed Savory in his neck.

The injured bus driver was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he

succumbed while receiving medical attention. Hyle was charged a week later and placed before the courts. The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) began in December 2009 and saw some four witnesses testifying before it concluded in July 2011.

Magistrate Sueanna Lovell had found that a prima facie case was made out against the accused and committed him to stand trial at the High Court. However, when the matter was called up at the High Court in March last year, a psychiatric evaluation was done to determine whether the accused was fit to undergo trial. The evaluation was conducted by State Psychiatrist, Dr Bhiro

Harry, who had found that Hyle is of unsound mind and unfit to plead to the indictment against him.

In his testimony before Justice Gregory over a year ago, Dr Harry explained that the accused is suffering from a psychotic illness, complete with hallucinations. Following the psychiatrist’s testimony on his findings in the report, the jury panel was directed to deliberate on the matter. After about 30 minutes in deliberation, the panel returned and informed the court that they found that the accused was fit to plead to the indictment. As such, Hyle was further remanded to prison while he waited for his trial to be called up again.

Estate of Bel Air woman donates $14.1M to charities

The Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry on Monday received a donation of $14.1 million from the estate of the late Mrs Muriel Wright to assist several organisations, including the Palms Geriatric Home.

The cheques were presented by the Administrator of her estate, Edwin Verasammy to the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Lorene Baird. According to a release by the Ministry, the money received is intended to improve services offered at the Palms Geriatric Home; assist abused women and children; and provide a small monetary donation to two identified Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

Wright, who lived in Bel Air, Georgetown, died on July 26, 2010 at the age of 102, and left a substantial portion of her estate to support services for battered women, including funding for three charitable institutions that assist women and children and persons suffering from cancer.

Wright nee Fraser had dedicated most of her life

to the Guide Movement in Guyana. She became a member of the Sisterhood in New Amsterdam in 1922, beginning as a Brownie in the Second Brownie Group Company and served as

a Life Vice-President, up to the time of her passing. In 2010, the Guyana Girl Guides Association launched the Muriel Wright Scholarship Fund for Girls and Young Women.

Kitty resident pleads guilty to assault charge

Desmond Lewis, of 226 Gordon Street, Kitty, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday after he was charged for assault causing actual bodily harm.

Belvidere

TThe charge alleged that on June 28 at Gordon Street, Lewis assaulted Michelle Norwik as to cause her actual bodily harm.

The defendant, who was unrepresented by an attorney, pleaded guilty to the charge and was ordered by the Magistrate to find another place of residence, otherwise his alternative abode would be the Camp Street Prison.

Lewis was released on his own recongnisance and was bonded to keep the peace. He will make his second appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on July 28.

woman fined $150,000 for forgery

The charge read that on June 23 at the Central Immigration Passport Office, Sita Persaud presented to the Registrar General Orin Harris fake birth certificates. It also

hirty-six-yearold Sita Persaud of Belvidere Corentyne, Berbice, appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday after being charged for forgery of birth certificates.

read that between June 19 and 24; she attempted to forge five birth certificates with two out of the five bearing the names “Vyber Ramsammy” and “Soroja”. Persaud was unrepresented by an attorney and pleaded guilty to all the

charges laid against her. She told the court that she has realised her mistake and apologised for what she did. Persaud was fined $150,000 and was granted one month to pay the fine.

Eyew tness

Don’t fix...

...(governance) if it ain’t broken

We know these wankers Rose and Singh have to keep stirring the PNC’s cauldron of hate and dissension in Guyana – from their “foreign” basements. You’d think with summer boiling their butts off, they’d get a life and go to some park or something. But then again they have to supplement their income to pay that basement rental.

They jumped all over President Ramotar for continuing with his predecessor President Jagdeo’s policies. But apart from their usual cuss down and ‘buse out’ accusations, they failed to point to any specific policies that President Ramotar would serve Guyana by abandoning. What they focused on was the style rather than substance that might’ve been followed. But even in this we have to ask: What’s wrong with the present and prior presidential style of dealing with the Opposition?

Trouble with the Opposition is they like to dish out – but they just can’t take it. Wasn’t it Ramotar – against the advice of most of his colleagues – who proposed the unprecedented “Tripartite Talks” where he brought in both Opposition leaders as equals? And wasn’t it they who kicked him in the groin, when the AFC refused to participate and APNU followed the latter to the laceration of Linden?

When they kept on kicking him on the appointments of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Committee Heads – and even the dog catcher’s position – was he supposed to keep on taking it quietly? The exposure of the Opposition by the President to call their stand on the AML/CFT Bill as naked “BLACKMAIL” seems to have struck a raw nerve. That’s Jagdeo’s “style” all right – to call a spade a spade. Well, good for President Ramotar. The reason for the Opposition’s discomfiture is clear – the whole world saw how cold, calculating and unpatriotic they are.

But enough of their name calling on “style”. Let’s talk about policies that they might have reason – as they did – to talk about “Jagdeoism”. So what’s wrong about continuing with low inflation, small current deficits, high growth rates – highest in the Region – and large influxes of Direct Foreign Investments?? Or the strong commitment to regionalism – specifically, regional food security under the “Jagdeo Initiative”? Should this be abandoned??

The wankers mentioned “old age pension” at $13,000. Hey, we know those old folks could do with more... but you can’t dismiss that the numbers have increased exponentially from what the PPP/C inherited. We’ll leave with one last observation: Franklin Roosevelt promised Americans “a chicken in every pot”. Jagdeo and Ramotar have gone way beyond that: a car in every driveway!!!

Just look at the roads – the PSS series is almost gone in eight months!!!

...(Constitution) if it ain’t broken

There was one accountant type who got too big for his bookkeeping britches – and suspenders – because he wanted to sit at the head table. So he upped and went to law school in his dotage, cogged his way from children half his age – and became a lawyer. Still wet behind the years in his newfound field, the man immediately began to lecture his betters – such as the Attorney General – on the nuances of the law.

Who was it who said a little knowledge is a dangerous thing? Someone should tell this to another decrepit accountant type – who’s now suddenly a constitutional expert. Quoting the Constitution, he’s spouting all sorts of inanities about the monies the Government had to spend because the Opposition didn’t approve them in the budget.

...what the expert pronounces

After the AG quoted Article 218 (3) to show him the Finance Minister could spend “for a purpose for which no amount has been appropriated”...by submitting “a statement of excess showing the sums required or spent… before the National Assembly”, the wanker claimed that’s only for “small figures”. So now he’s interpreting the intentions of the framers of the Constitution!!

At least Suspenders went to law school!

Mrs Wright estate’s Administrator, Edwin Verasammy presents the cheques to Permanent Secretary of the Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry, Lorene Baird, in the presence of Labour, Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster, and Director of Social Services, Whentworth Tanner

Boy (13) says he was forced into prostitution

A13-year-old boy who was allegedly forced into prostitution by two females will make his first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday, July 4 for the commencement of his trial in camera (closed to public and press).

Guyana Times was informed that the teen might be charged with wandering and that matter is before the Court. It appeared that when the teen was apprehended, he made the allegations of being forced into prostitution.

The child told this publication that back in April of this year he befriended a woman and her cousin and subsequently began residing with them, and it was then he was forced into the sex trade. He alleged that the two women, whom he named, would usually dress

him up in female apparel and send him out at night to “work” on King Street. He said he was forced to have oral and anal sex with sometimes up to five men in one night in a city hotel. He said at one time he was paid a sum of $30,000 for half an hour with one of his clients.

The boy, who hails from a village along the East Coast of Demerara, also alleged that he would not be given any monies when the men were finished with him. He revealed that he was constantly sexually molested at the age of 10 by a neighbour, but a settlement was reached with his parents and the matter was aborted. It is alleged that this incident is one of the reasons the minor ran away from home.

The teen, who will celebrate his 14th birthday this week, also told this newspaper that he contemplated su-

icide several times, but did not follow through with his thoughts since he decided that it was pointless.

The young man, who dropped out of a city public school in Form Two, said he would like to move on with his life and further his studies, as he has hopes of becoming an attorney one day. When asked about what kind of home he would like to be placed in, he remained adamant about being placed in a home without the presence of a male or children and was reluctant to give a reason why.

Reports reaching this newspaper suggest that the Police are aware of the incidents involving the child and are familiar with the persons who allegedly forced him into prostitution and these persons are yet to be placed before the Courts.

IICA workshop puts spotlight on struggles of women producers

By Jillicia Pinder

The Inter-American Institute on Agriculture (IICA), in collaboration with the Caribbean Network of Rural Women Producers (CANROP), hosted a regional meeting with female representatives from 12 Caribbean countries on the usefulness of “Knowledge Management” in production activities.

The workshop, held on Monday in the conference room of the Regency Suites Hotel, aimed at enhancing networking and the information and knowledge-sharing capacity of CANROP members in the development and execution of strategies to ensure sustainability by improving their production, competitiveness, and social inclusion.

CANROP President Carmen Nurse, a Guyanese who currently resides in St Lucia, told Guyana Times that the workshop was aimed to improve communication among all 13 chap-

ters and National Clusters of CANROP.

Nurse said knowing how to handle the management of information will facilitate growth and development in each individual business and increase production and services. She also stated that the idea is to teach women producers ways of better marketing their products, all with the result of making a greater contribution to the food and nutrition basket of the Caribbean.

Main challenges

Regional representatives stated that they were aiming to be able to trade regionally, but it was difficult in their own respective countries to do their local trading owing to the stereotype that a woman should be limited to certain jobs.

The Guyanese representatives present at this workshop shared the difficulties they face as female producers and identified that one of the main challenges was sourcing packaging materials. The women stated that

Rodney CoI stalls opening of Family Court

The opening of the longanticipated Family Court has yet again experienced another delay, this time the Commission of Inquiry into the death of historian Dr Walter Rodney is apparently causing the holdup.

Works have been ongoing for over six years to have the Family Court established; however, while the building, which is located on the eastern side of the High Court compound, is completed and all furnishing acquired, there is still some work left to be done. This work is of an organising nature.

it would be wise to purchase only what is immediately needed for their products, but most companies sell their materials wholesale, making it very expensive as the women have to buy retail.

Another problem identified was financial access, as the small businesswomen claimed that banks refuse to give loans to women without a male partner, as the stereotype of women being limited to one particular area of work still exists and stakeholders refuse to take female business owners seriously. One woman even stated that she was genuinely afraid to approach banks for a loan, as a result of the scrutiny and stereotypical behaviour exhibited in that arena.

Other difficulties, a Guyanese female producer noted, were transportation and communication. The young woman resides in Region One, but most of her customers are in Georgetown, so she uses the “steamer”; however, its schedule is unpredictable, hence her produce sometimes arrives late and she loses her customers. As it relates to communication, she stated that at home she has to travel a long distance before she can receive a decent signal in order to communicate with her consumers and others.

Other female business owners stated that as single mothers, it is sometimes difficult to balance both business and personal life. The Guyanese women said they participated in the workshop to learn ways in which they can overcome their obstacles and be successful in their respective businesses.

The opening of the Court was previously stalled, as furniture for the facility was being acquired; however, Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall told Guyana Times on Monday that the furnishings were there, but it was just a matter of organising a few things. He noted that at the moment, one of issues holding back the opening of the court is the Rodney CoI.

The Rodney CoI is currently being held on the lower flat of the building, which

houses the law Library. Guyana Times was made to understand that the upper flat of the building will accommodate the courtrooms, the judges’ chambers, and a ‘children waiting’ facility. While the lower flat, where the inquiry is being held, will be the Family Court’s Registry.

No date set yet for opening Nandlall added that he will have to meet with the Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) and other officials before he can make any announcement on the opening of the Court. The building was also used in September 2012 to February 2013 for the Commission of Inquiry into the killings of the three Lindeners in July 2012.

When contacted, Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Carl Singh, briefly stated that since all the furnishings are available, the court will be operationalised soon.

During the 2014 Budget Debates, Minister Nandlall told the National Assembly that the Family Court will be commissioned soon and the rules have also been

completed. With the Family Court coming into operation, Judges of the High Court will likely migrate to that building. This, according to the AG, will create physical space for new appointments to be made, as there is no space to accommodate a new judge in the Supreme Court Building. In 2010, then Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand had said the establishment of such a court was prompted by observations that Guyanese family units are affected by societal demoralisation. It is expected that the services of the Family Court would be mostly sought by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, through the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA).

This year, allocations were made in the National Budget for the construction of another building in the compound of the Georgetown Supreme Court to facilitate the Land Court of Demerara, a Registry and storage facilities for the Supreme Court. This building will house a minimum of two courtrooms and chambers for the Judges.

The Family Court building in the High Court compound

The female agro-processors at the Regional Workshop

WPA was Burnham’s biggest threat – Westmaas

By Tajeram mohaBir

Professor of African Studies, Hamilton College, USA and Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive Nigel Westmaas said the party never conceived overthrowing the Burnham Administration, pointing out that it did not have the means to do so.

Former Police Constable Robert Gates had told the Commission that WPA Co-Founder, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine had confided in him that he (Dr Roopnaraine) and Dr Rodney were spearheading an operation to overthrow the People National Congress (PNC) Government.

Gates had said that Dr Roopnaraine had discussed the logistics for the overthrow, in which he explained that it would require seizing Base Camp Ayanganna, taking control of the country’s ports of entry and exit, raiding the Office of the President, arresting President Forbes Burnham and taking control of the Government radio station.

Another WPA Executive Tacuma Ogunseye had subsequently told the Commission that if this information was indeed disclosed by Dr Roopnaraine, it would have been deliberate misinformation, as the WPA knew that it was infiltrated by Burnham’s agents.

According to Dr Westmaas, given the powerful security forces of the Burnham Administration, the constant arrests, beating up and harassment of WPA supporters and other political opponents, the par-

ty had recognised that it was merely a minnow in the amphitheatre.

He explained that the Civil Rebellion by the WPA in 1979, which included marches, picketing and street protests, was a demonstration of the party’s opposition to the PNC’s rigging of elections and the significant erosion of human rights of the citizenry.

The academic also told the Commission that while he is aware that the WPA had formed a Security Committee to protect its members, he is unaware that at any time it was accumulating arms and ammunition, pointing out that the party never embraced violence to achieve its goals.

He also disputed claims in the book Assassination Cry of a Failed Revolution written by Gregory Smith, the man accused of killing Rodney and his sister Anne R Wagner. Dr Rodney was allegedly killed under the instruction of President Burnham.

Never a member

Smith in the book had claimed that he was a member of the WPA, pointing out that he had filled a membership form, but Dr Westmaas, who was the party Archivist at the time, said that there was no such member by that name registered as being in the membership of the party, pinning the assertion as false.

He also pointed out that several other personalities in the book were falsely identified as WPA members.

Speaking on the death of Rodney, Westmaas said he believes that the killing was well planned, pointing out

PPP says

he was under surveillance by the PNC as was evident in a handbook produced by that party of WPA members. Professor Westmaas also pointed out that prior to Dr Rodney’s death, the WPA’s fight against the PNC Government, was gaining the support of the masses. This, he singled out as one of the reasons for the Burnham regime paying special attention to the WPA.

According to him, Burnham though recognising the People's Progressive Party (PPP) as the official Opposition party, felt deeply threatened by the WPA, which was making inroads into both the PPP and PNC support base.

He said the gaining of ground was largely due to the WPA’s message of bridging the racial divide and participatory democracy, drawn and developed from the Indian Political Revolutionary Associates headed by Attorney

Professor Westmaas also pointed out that contrary to popular belief; the WPA did not die immediately with the death of Dr Rodney, but experienced a resurgence through the work of party members who worked diligently to propagate his legacy.

The resurgence, he said, was at its peak in 1985, while pointing out that generally, the party grew in size and scope from the period 1980 to 1990. Dr Westmaas told the Commission that he recalled former President Desmond Hoyte in 1985 saying that the “WPA must be contained” and another former President, Janet Jagan from the PPP Administration, telling a “Berbice group” to “stop joining the WPA”.

it has a lot

to reveal to Rodney CoI

The ruling People’s Progressive Party says it has a lot of information to divulge about what it feels may have led to the assassination of Dr. Walter Rodney, and the Party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee has disclosed that he will be standing in the gap to provide the much needed information.

Although tightlipped on the details of his testimony to the Commission, Rohee noted that it would be a travesty for the Party to sit without giving any information. “There is not a single political development, even outside of the Rodney peri-

od that could be discussed without taking into account the position that the PPP adopted during that period of time,” Rohee, said when asked by Guyana Times about his participation.

Rohee reminded that so far, no one from the Party has spoken officially about its role and place during the period he labelled as the “heavy days”. He said the party does not want anyone to second guess the PPP and its role during that period. “I think a lot of people will find it very unusual if this inquiry is completed and the People's Progressive Party, a major stakeholder

in the political fortunes in this country, did not appear before that Commission to present whatever details it felt was necessary to be exposed and represented from the PPP’s point of view”.

The Party’s General Secretary said that every Guyanese who lived through that period would know that the PPP was very prominent in the politics that prevailed in the country at that time. “It is only natural that the PPP should step forward to say what it felt may have led to the assassination of Dr Walter Rodney”.

The Walter Rodney

Commission of Inquiry was set up on February 25 last to probe the circumstances which led to the death of Dr. Walter Rodney. Since the commencement of the hearings on April 28, several witnesses including coleader of the Working People’s Alliance, Eusi Kwayana, have testified, describing the role of the People’s National Congress and state agencies in the death of the world renowned historian. Dr Rodney was killed on June 13, 1980 when a bomb, planted in a walkie-talkie exploded while he sat in the car outside the Georgetown Prison.

Some body bite Oscar and Oscar bite back

Football gotta lotta bitin and boxin gotta lotta bitin. So it only fair that Tyson and Suarez should face off in a bitin match. But right hey in GT, it gotta lotta boxin and bitin. And some body bite Oscar and Oscar bite back.

A long time now Parliament was like MGM Grand wid sheer boxin. But now de Pee-N-C need boxin gloves wid whah goin on in de party. And it ain’t no party. It look like is a long time now dem been practisin shadow boxin.

After all, is sheer shadow people dem got. Who not shadowin Ashni shadowin Rohee, and Green Jah tryin to shadow de Prezzi. But dem is a shadow of every ting. De Mighty Shadow mighta getta run fuh he life if he was a PeeN-C-ite.

Is now de real boxin start up. There was a time when de Heights Man had box Green Ham, so Green is de first man who ever getta box wid boxin gloves. Since then Green never recover and and he used to run fuh cover around de Heights Man.

Till now Green does see de Heights Man every time he close he eye. That is because he know when he eye close fuh good, he ain’t gon be able to run from de Heights Man up in de heights. Right now he can’t even run from Sober.

A young boxer retire from boxin de other day and de Vankisson woman send fuh he gloves. Every body thought was because she like boxin and she wanted to remember he as a good boxer.

Is now people know that she had to box Oscar. But when Green Jah see how Oscar look, he realise it wasn’t no boxin alone. Now de Green Jah realise that Vankissoon is a local Tyson and de first place she does bite is de mike.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! So is a lotta bitin and back-bitin deh in de Pee-N-C. But is de bites whah people can’t see causin problems, and Oscar too shame to show!

Energy Plus Gas Station robbed

An East Coast Demerara gas station owner is now counting his losses after gunmen invaded his business premises and relieved his cashier of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash.

According to information reaching this publication, the Energy Plus Gas Station located at Pigeon Island, East Coast Demerara which also houses a Chester Fried Chicken franchise came under attack at around 21:30h on Sunday.

A reliable source informed Guyana Times that the gas station was opened for business as usual when the masked men walked into the building and opened fire. This led to the customers

and staff running for cover at various locations.

The men then proceeded to hold the cashier at gunpoint while demanding that she hand over all the monies she had in her possession.

Fearful for her life, the woman handed over the cash to the bandits after which they quickly exited the building and boarded a waiting car while still firing gunshots. Fortunately no one was injured in the ordeal.

Several spent shells have been recovered from the scene while the Police have launched an investigation into the matter. Despite several attempts, the owner could not be reached for a comment on the mater.

Moses Bhagwan and the Association for Cultural Relations with Independent Africa under the leadership of Eusi Kwayana.

WPA Executive, Professor Nigel Westmaas testify before the Walter Rodney CoI

Census reveals 3339 dip in population

By Svetlana MarShall

Guyana’s population has dipped by 3339, the Guyana Bureau of Statistics revealed on Monday as it unveiled the preliminary findings of the 20012 Population and Housing Census.

The findings unveiled by the Deputy Census Officer Vanessa Profitt, indicate that Guyana had a population of 747,884 persons on Census Day September 15, 2012 compared to 751,223 persons when the previous census was taken in 2002. This represents an annual negative growth rate of -0.04 per cent. However, Guyana would have to wait until the second quarter of 2015 for the final report when disclosures will be made on the ethnic makeup of the country and data on the employment and unemployment rates within the country.

Coastal region

In her presentation at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Profitt disclosed that the coastal regions accounted for 89.1% of the population while the hinterland regions such as Regions 1, 7, 8 and nine accounted for 10.9% of the population.

Though Region Four constitutes just one percent of the land mass, it accounts for 41.9 per cent of the population, the Deputy Census Officer said, noting that Demerara-Mahaica is followed by Regions Six and Three, which account for 14.6 per cent and 14.4 percent of the population respectively.

More females

Additionally, the 2012 Census Report confirmed that there are a higher percentage of females than males in the country. On September 15, 2012, there were 372,547 males when compared to 375,337 females, thus giving an estimated sex ratio of 99 males per every 100 females in the 2012 Census. “The evidence is now giving precedence to what our men folks have been saying all these years, that the females are outnumbering the males.”

However, in the hinterland regions, the sex ratio for males exceeded 100 while it was low in the Coastal Regions, particularly in Region 4 with an estimate of 96 males to every 100 females.

“This might be as a result of the economic activities within the hinterland regions which are more male dominated, so you will have

more males within the hinterland,” the Deputy Census Officer explained. But not only did the population reduced at the time of the census; according to the preliminary re-

the number of dwellings was reported as 221,741 in the 2012 census, up by 16,624 dwelling units when compared to 2002 figure of 205,117 dwelling units. Approximately 214,999 of

the total buildings were occupied while the remaining 6,742 dwelling units were vacant and unoccupied.

Before a small audience from across the various sectors, the Chief Statistician

port, the national average household size decreased from about 4.1 persons per household in 2002 to 3.6 persons per household in 2012. “The highest average household size was recorded for the four Hinterland regions (Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9) combined, which yielded as estimated 4.7 persons per household, down by an absolute 0.7 person when compared to the 2002 census results.”

However, the National Building Stocks increased by 16.9 per cent, Profitt said. It was explained that the number of buildings in the country moved from 187,696 in 2002 to 219,509 in 2012.

“Government policy of making land available for home construction as well as increase in the development of both Government and private housing schemes was seen as the main reason for the growth.”

The Deputy Census Officer also disclosed that

and Census Officer said the 2012 Census was not completed without its challenges.

Benjamin explained that the lack of rainfall resulted in the detriment of field activities within some of the hinterland regions and riverine communities.

“The water levels were reportedly so low in the rivers and creeks, even boats could not even access some river-rain communities.”

Gated communities also posed a problem, Benjamin said, explaining that census takers in several instances denied access to communities. “Impeding a census taker is contrary to the law and an offence.”

He said too even when access was gained; it was difficult to make contact with some homeowners, although call back cards were left.

“Guyana is progressively becoming a more impersonal society, profiled by small-

er households and more females progressively being in the household. No longer there is a guarantee that you will always find someone at home,” Benjamin explained.

The 2012 Census marked the 17th National Census of Guyana and Guyana’s seventh Post-War National Census of Population and Housing. In conducting the census, Guyana joined the regional movement led by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat, in compliance with the United Nations’ mandate to execute the 2010 Global Round of Censuses.

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, Caricom Secretariat Deputy Statistics Programme Manager Barbara Adams and Demographic Consultant Sonkarley Beaie were among officials present at the launch of the 2012 Preliminary Census Report.

Staffers of the Guyana Bureau of Statistics showing the country’s population on their jerseys as of September 15, 2012 2012 Building Stocks being compared with 2002

The Deputy Census Officer Vanessa Profitt delivering her presentation at the Guyana International Conference Centre

Thousands rally against tossing out sodomy act; shout out for clean, righteous living in Jamaica

Police Sunday night estimated that around 25,000 Jamaicans turned out in their black, green and gold to support the Jamaica CAUSE (Churches Action Uniting Society for Emancipation) mass rally in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew.

The rally called on Jamaicans to stand up for strong and healthy families, righteousness and justice as well as to resist the homosexual agenda and the repealing of the sodomy law.

“I think this initiative is very good because it is important that we have a voice, because a lot of different things have been happening in Jamaica and we have to stand up,” said Camille Morrison, while adding that homosexuality not just goes against God’s will but against humanity, and in terms of biology “di ting don’t mek sense and as such it should not be imposed upon people as if it is something right.”

After a short praise and worship session, the Chairman of the rally, Alvin Bailey spoke to uniting every Jamaican, church, temple, and other institutions. “We will do all that is righteous and Godly to accomplish

the cause”, said Bailey, highlighting that Jamaica is a society that demands respect and recognition of sovereignty.

“Our emancipation means standing up for strong families, our emancipa-

Caricom cooperation needed in rum fight with US

Barbados Trade, Industry and Commerce Minister, Donville Inniss, has compared the current trade issue with the United States over rum to the banana struggle of the 90s, and criticised regional leaders for lack of support in the effort.

Millions of dollars and thousands of jobs have been put at stake for Caribbean Community (Caricom) workers and rum producers as the US continues to place massive subsidies on rum made in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands that enter the United States market with a competitive edge over the product from the rest of the Caribbean.

But Inniss said on television on Monday that his

Government’s efforts at forming a united Caricom front to lobby for changes to the unfair trade condition has not yielded responses from other regional leaders.

“It it time that they face a bit of realty. It is time that Prime Ministers in the Region really get out of their lofty offices, get out on the streets and understand the importance of solidarity on key matters,” Inniss said.

“We are facing it with the banana issue, today we are facing it with the rum issue. I, as a politician in this Region, am totally embarrassed with the lack of interest on the part of the Region,” he added. “Stop the dress-up in expensive suits and the fancy foods and face realities.” (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

tion means standing against the homosexuality agenda, emancipation for us means standing up against the repealing of the buggery law,” Bailey told the crowd, much to shouts of agreement.

Jamaica tables legislation to deal with certain marijuana offences

The Jamaican Government has tabled legislation allowing for the automatic expungement of convictions for certain minor marijuana related offences.

Justice Minister Mark Golding has tabled in the Bill which also makes provision that convictions on minor offences relating to the possession of or smoking ganja shall not be entered on the criminal record of the offender.

The Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act, as the Bill is titled, provides that qualified offenders are to be regarded as “rehabilitated” at the end of five years without reoffending, and the convictions considered to be spent. Where the conviction is spent, the

offender cannot for most purposes be required to disclose the spent conviction and cannot be prejudiced by it.

Plans are in the making for the decriminalisation of possession of small amounts of marijuana. Earlier this month, the Portia Simpson Miller Administration had announced that Cabinet had approved certain changes to the law relating to marijuana.

“These relate to possession of small quantities of ganja for personal use, the smoking of ganja in private places and the use of ganja for medical-medicinal purposes,” Golding said then as he announced the intention to amend the Dangerous Drugs Act. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

White House will ask Congress for new powers to tackle immigration surge

The White House is preparing an emergency request to Congress for additional powers to enable the fast-track deportation of tens of thousands of unaccompanied children from Central America who are crossing the US border illegally, a move that could bypass protections introduced by the Bush Administration.

President Barack Obama has called the surge of minors pouring across Mexico border and into the Rio Grande Valley a “humanitarian crisis” and has ordered officials to open emergency shelters on military bas-

es and increase the number of border agents.

But in a significant toughening of the President’s stance, scheduled to be announced formally on Monday, the Administration will request the authority to immediately repatriate children from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador – the Central American countries from which most of the child migrants are travelling

A White House official told The Guardian the Administration is planning to ask Congress to provide the Department of Homeland Security

with “additional authority to exercise discretion” in dealing with children from those countries. The request has been drafted in a letter to Congress that will be sent on Monday, the official said.

More than 52,000 unaccompanied children have been apprehended on the border since October. Administration officials have been particularly alarmed by the increase in children, many of them girls, under the age of 13. Border officials have reported finding some children as young as four or five

(Excerpt

The Bahamas Government criticised over CLICO silence in budget

The Bahamas Government has been criticised for its silence on the issue of whether it will honour a US$30 million promise to guarantee CLICO policies, after no mention of it was made in this year’s budget statement.

With no indication of an allocation having been made by the Government with respect to the guarantee it promised most recently in June 2013, Guardian Business understands that court-appointed liquidator Craig Tony Gomez is seeking a meeting with officials on the matter.

On Friday, a prominent CLICO policyholder and Shadow Finance inister, K Peter Turnquest, both said that, notwithstanding the Government’s current financial straits, Government

“culpability” in the situation given acknowledged regulatory failings makes it all the more important that it steps up to honour the commitment to guarantee the 13,000 Bahamian policies, which have been in limbo since the insurer’s February 2009 liquidation order. The Government guarantee was intended to allow for the transfer of the CLICO (The Bahamas) policy portfolio to another life and health insurer, as no other underwriter would purchase the portfolio without it. Today, it is not clear if any would purchase the portfolio with the guarantee, as any prior active interest that may have existed would likely have withered on the vine given the Government’s extended inaction over the matter. (Excerpt

Colombian rebels attack Arauca oil camp

Thirteen oil workers and their relatives have been injured in a rebel attack on a camp in the north-eastern Colombian state of Arauca. Two home-made explosive devices were thrown into the camp operated by Occidental Petroleum in Cano Limon.

The Army blamed the attack on the left-wing National Liberation Army (ELN). Oil pipelines are frequently targeted by the rebels, but Colombia’s Mining Minister said it was the first time that a camp for workers had been hit.

The attack happened on Sunday afternoon as the workers and their relatives were getting ready to attend mass. One of the devices reportedly hit the television room and another the canteen.

The camp is 50 kilometres (30 miles) West of the city of Arauca. State oil company Ecopetrol, which operates the Cano Limon pipeline, said it had been attacked three times in the past 10 days, restricting the transport of oil.

The ELN, Colombia’s second largest guerrilla group, agreed earlier this month to engage in formal peace talks in an attempt to end its fivedecades-long armed struggle. However, neither side has agreed to a truce.

The Government is also in negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country’s largest rebel group. President Juan Manuel Santos has said he hopes to sign a final peace deal with the FARC by the end of the year.

A section of the large crowd which gathered in HalfWay-Tree for the mass rally on Sunday

The Army said ELN rebels were suspected to be behind Sunday’s attack

Missing Israeli teens found dead near Hebron

The three Israeli teenagers who went missing earlier this month in the West Bank have been found dead.

An Israeli military spokesman said their bodies were found in a pit near the town of Halhul, north of Hebron.

Naftali Frenkel and Gilad Shaar, both aged 16, and 19-year-old Eyal Yifrach were last seen at a junction near Hebron as they hitchhiked home.

Israel had accused Hamas of abducting the three teens, which the Palestinian militant group repeatedly denied.

The teenagers’ families

have been informed, the military said. More information is expected to be released after an emergency Cabinet meeting.

The Israeli military has set up blockades and closed down whole areas around Halhul, which is just a few kilometres from where the teenagers were last seen.

The disappearance of the three Jewish seminary students sparked a huge search operation in Palestinian towns and cities.

More than 400 Palestinians have been arrested, while five Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops.

Earlier, Israeli television showed large numbers of Israeli security forces personnel deployed around Halhul.

There have been reports of clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians in the area.

Last week, the Israeli military identified two men from Hebron as its main suspects and said they were associated with Hamas, leading Hamas to again deny that it had anything to do with the teenagers’ disappearance.

The case has put serious strain on relations between Israel and the Palestinians.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Ukraine and Russia agree to work on truce extension

Ukraine and Russia have agreed to work together to establish a bilateral ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, the Office of the French President said. They were also working towards the establishment of effective border controls, it added.

It follows talks between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France to resolve the conflict in east Ukraine.

A ceasefire between the Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russian separatists is due to end on Monday evening.

But the temporary truce, which was extended for three days on Friday, has had lit-

tle effect on the ground, with both sides accusing the other of violating it.

Five Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in clashes in the east and a Russian state TV cameraman was also shot dead while he was reporting in the city of Donetsk.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko, agreed to work on “the adoption of an agreement on a bilateral ceasefire between Ukrainian authorities and separatists,” the French presidency said.

“They have also agreed to work on the liberation of more hostages and prison-

ers and the organisation of “substantial tripartite negotiations,” it added. It came after a four-way teleconference between the two men, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Putin had earlier stressed the importance of extending the ceasefire, and called for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to play an “active role” in monitoring a truce.

However, the OSCE earlier said it was scaling back monitoring operations and freezing deployments to Ukraine’s east. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Market blast kills two in Somali capital

At least two people have been killed and seven wounded when a bomb ripped through a busy market in the Somali capital, a Government official said.

It is not clear who carried out Monday’s attack, but in the past similar explosions in Mogadishu have been claimed by alShabab fighters.

The group had previously vowed to wage a series of attacks during Ramadan, the Muslim

fasting month which started on Sunday.

On Sunday, al-Shabab gunmen shot dead three people and said the killings were just the start of the group’s Ramadan campaign, the Reuters news agency reported.

“It was a bomb they planted in a small room in the market that the local Government staff used as they collected tax,” Ahmed Hassan, the District Commissioner of Kaaraan district, told reporters.

India launches foreign satellites into space

India’s domestically-produced Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has blasted off from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota, carrying satellites from France, Germany, Canada, and Singapore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed India’s low-cost space technology on Monday, saying a rocket which launched five foreign satellites into orbit had cost less to make than the Hollywood film “Gravity”, which had a budget of about US$100 million.

“I have heard about the film “Gravity”. I am told the cost of sending an Indian rocket to space is less than the money invested in making the Hollywood movie,” said Modi who was inaugurated as Prime Minister last month after a landslide victory. Former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), G Madhavan Nair,

said it was a great feat and it would tighten India’s grip on space commerce. The PSLV launch bolsters

the South Asian country’s goal of capturing more of the US$304 billion annual global space market. The ISRO has so far launched 35 satellites of foreign countries.

The ISRO has worked to keep import costs low by designing most of the parts for its programme that are then outsourced to the domestic private sector.

Modi said the country must be proud of its space programme, developed in the face of “great international pressure and hurdles”.

Western sanctions on India after the nation staged a nuclear weapons test in 1974 gave a major thrust to the space programme because New Delhi needed to develop its own missile technology.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

As caliphate declared, Iraqi troops battle for Tikrit

Iraqi troops battled to dislodge an al Qaeda splinter group from the city of Tikrit on Monday after its leader was declared caliph of a new Islamic state in lands seized this month across a swath of Iraq and Syria.

Alarming regional and world powers, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed universal authority, declaring its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was now caliph of

the Muslim world – a mediaeval title last widely recognised in the Ottoman sultan deposed 90 years ago after World War One.

“He is the imam and caliph for Muslims everywhere,” group spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani said in an online statement on Sunday, using titles that carry religious and civil power.

The move, at the start of the holy month of Ramadan,

follows a three-week drive for territory by ISIL militants and allies among Iraqi’s Sunni Muslim minority. The caliphate aims to erase colonial-era borders and defy the US- and Iranian-backed Government of Shi’ite Prime Minister Nuri alMaliki in Baghdad. It also poses a direct challenge to the global leadership of al Qaeda, which disowned ISIL, and to conservative Gulf Arab Sunni rulers, who al-

ready view the group as a security threat. The Iraqi Government has appealed for international help and has accused Sunni neighbours, notably Saudi Arabia, of having fostered Islamist militancy in Syria and Iraq. Iraqi Army Spokesman Qassim Atta said declaring a caliphate could backfire by showing that Baghdadi’s group posed a risk to other nations. (Excerpt from Reuters)

The Government and African Union peacekeepers have stepped up security to try to prevent assaults during Ramadan by al-Shabab, which has waged a seven-year campaign to impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law.

In the past year or so, alShabab has killed dozens of people in guerrilla-style assaults in Mogadishu, on UN offices, the presidential compound, Parliament and the courts. (Al Jazeera)

Top China military official General Xu Caihou accused

One of China’s most senior military officials was accused of accepting bribes and expelled from the Communist Party, state media report.

General Xu Caihou was once a member of China’s elite decision-making body, the Politburo. He will now be handed over to prosecutors for a court martial.

He is believed to have been held under house arrest for several months.

Analysts say this could be the biggest military scandal China has seen for many years.

Xinhua reported that President Xi Jinping had presided over a Politburo meeting about military discipline and approved the decision to expel General Xu and hand him over to military prosecutors.

Rumours about the investigation into General Xu had circulated for months. Many believed poor health – he is reported to have been treated for cancer – would save him from prosecution.

But this move is being presented in state media as part of the Government’s battle against corruption.

Two other high-profile figures were also expelled from the Communist Party for corruption on Monday – Jiang Jiemin, the former head of the state asset regulator, and Wang Yongchun, the deputy head of the state energy giant China National Petroleum Company (CNPC).

The spate of expulsions comes at a time when speculation is rife about the fate of one of China’s most powerful politicians, former Politburo Standing Committee member Zhou Yongkang, who is allegedly being investigated over allegations of corruption and abuse of power.

Tens of thousands of officials have been arrested since President Xi began an anti-corruption campaign in 2012. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach went missing near Hebron on June 12

India has worked to keep import costs low by designing most parts domestically [Reuters]

Killing of Rodney an act of terrorism – Westmaas

also tells of

narrow escapes from PNC

“thugs”

By Tajeram mohaBir

Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive, Professor Nigel Westmaas said the killing of party leader, Dr Walter Rodney, allegedly by the 1980 Forbes Burnham-led administration, was an act of terrorism.

The African Studies Professor expressed the view while testifying before the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Monday. He also told a story of frequent harassment and beating up of WPA members and supporters.

According to Dr Westmaas, during the 19771980 period, citizens believed to be WPA supporters were arrested randomly and placed before the court, without being charged. It was during this period June 13, 1980 that the world renowned Historian was killed by alleged People’s National Congress (PNC) Government agent Gregory Smith.

Professor Westmaas told the Commission that on many occasions, the Police were unaware of what grounds they were making arrests on, pointing out that suspects were picked up at will, taken to the station and questioned.

Many were released within the 72-hour period, and many of the cases brought before the Magistrates’ Courts were dismissed as frivolous, the witness said.

He related that frequent arrests were a tool used by the Burnham regime to har-

ass and perhaps ‘wear down’ WPA members and supporters, as he pointed to three incidents he personally experienced during the 19771979.

Public meeting

Dr Westmaas, who joined the party when he was about 20, told the Commission that the episodes happened at Campbellville, Georgetown; La Grange, West Coast Demerara; and Linden Region 10.

Speaking of the Campbelville incident which occurred in August 1977, the academic who was an ordinary WPA member at the time, said a public meeting was held at the community as part of the Civil

Rebellion, but could not recall if permission was given by the Police. He recalled the Police came equipped with batons and charged towards the crowd, beating some supporters and arresting a few. Westmass, who played a part in the organising of the meeting, said on seeing the ruckus created by the Police storming the crowd, members dispersed in groups, pointing out that he was in the group with Dr Rodney, which had about 15 persons.

Scaling of fence

He said as they darted from the scene, the Police followed in hot pursuit, and were unable to catch up with them and they quickly dis-

appeared from sight after they scaled a fence in a yard and hid behind a house, and saw the Police passed by.

Dr Westmaas disclosed that while behind the house, most of the members relaxed on a septic tank and Dr Rodney pulled out a pack of cards and they played a few games of Trump. He said while behind the house, Dr Rodney also gave the members a brief History lesson. Professor Westmaas, recalling the incident, said though the group with Dr Rodney managed to escape, WPA member Mosses Bhagwan was not so lucky, disclosing that he was hauled from a chicken pen and given a sound thrashing.

When the Police had finished with him, the WPA Executive member said a still stoic Bhagwan was left with a broken arm. It was this incident, he recalled that Burnham had referred to at the party’s third Biannual Congress when he said, the “big revolutionary” Dr Walter Rodney, should be sent to the Olympics.

Burnham had said that Dr Rodney could not only run, but “jumped a fence and cleared it”. At that forum, the PNC leader had also said that WPA members should “write their wills” as the PNC “steel is sharper now” while contending, “Comrades, we are now in the Roman Amphitheatre. The lion and the gladiator cannot both survive; one must die, and we know that the PNC will live.”

These statements, the WPA leadership had taken seriously and catapulted the three-month Civil Rebellion. The other incident, Professor Westmaas said occurred on September 4, 1979, at another public meeting he had organised at La Grange.

He told the Commission that on reaching the meeting place, the WPA members observed some strange people who came in a Land Rover milling about, and as they were about to set up their equipment, the strangers zero-in on them.

Census findings crucial to policymaking – Finance Minister

The Guyana Population and Housing Census

2012 Preliminary Results would be used to inform policymaking, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said on Monday.

“We believe in evidencebased policy, we believe understanding the dynamics of the population is critical to the formulation of policies, social policies, for example,” Dr Singh said as he delivered remarks during the launch ceremony for the 2012 Census Preliminary Report at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

In addition to the Government, in the Private Sector, close attention is paid to the changing trends because of the implications for changing market opportunities. The Finance Minister explained that the growth in the population will guide investments made by the Private Sector. “What will be demanded? What goods and services would be demanded, as the profile of the population evolves and how should we prepare ourselves best to take advantage of those emerging opportunities.”

Dr. Singh said Guyanese should not take the report at face value, noting that they should dive into the profiles of each region and pay keen attention to the age, education and employment pro-

files of persons living within Guyana.

The Guyana Population and Housing Census 2012 Preliminary Report indicates that the country on September 15, 2012, had a population of 747,884 persons when compared to 751,223 persons in the 2002 count.

While a detailed analysis of the country’s employment and unemployment rates was not included in the preliminary report, the Chief Statistician Lennox Benjamin told the press that information on the ethnic makeup of the country, in addition to the education and employment profiles of the population would be made available with the release of the final 2012 Population and Housing Census Report by the second quarter of 2015. “In every census, we do detail the ethnic breakdown of the population, but that as well as the composition of the foreign born population will come in our next major report.” He, however, disclosed that migration was among the factors that led to the reduction in the country’s population.

In August 2012, the Finance Minister signed the mandatory Census Order and Regulations in keeping with Chapter 19:09 of the Statistics Act, designating September 15, 2012 as Census Day.

Caretaker of Berbice orphanage charged for allegedly sodomising teen

The caretaker of the Berbice Oophanage was on Monday placed on $200,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Sherdell Issacs-Marcus in a New Amsterdam Court on a charge of sexual activity with a child by abusing a position of trust.

Mohamed Deen is accused of committing the act between January 1 and May 24, 2014 at the orphanage. Police Prosecutor Sergeant Godfrey Platter told the court that Deen was in a position of trust in relation to the Virtual Complainant (VC) namely by being a caregiver at the orphanage. He said Deen knew or reasonably could have been expected to know of the position of trust he held in relation to the VC.

The 37-year-old Deen told the court that he has been employed with the orphanage for the past seven years. Attorney-at-law Marceline Bacchus, in a petition for bail, told the court that Deen was never accused of criminal activity before and now lives several miles away from the accused. He asked for reasonable bail to be granted.

Platter did not object to bail, but asked that serious conditions be imposed. He

said the accused is still residing at the orphanage where other juveniles are housed. Magistrate Issacs-Marcus in granting bail ordered that the accused must not come within 20 feet of the VC or his place of residence. Deen is also ordered to report to Central Police Station every second Friday.

The Prosecution’s case is that between January 1 and May 24, 2014 at the Berbice orphanage Deen allegedly sexually molested the juvenile. He will have to return to court on July 14 for statements by the Police.

Professor Westmass (at left) hugs a party member as other WPA executives look on

Mohamed Deen

PSC warns against no-confidence vote

... says action can drive out investors

By JoMo PAUl

Amid threats by the Opposition that they will be moving a noconfidence motion against the Government, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Monday warned about the implications of political instability.

“It will be very unfortunate if such a motion is passed as it would signal political instability to our foreign investors, financiers, customers and suppliers. This will further increase the political risk premium added to the cost of capital when overseas funding is sought by private entities and can negatively impact our economy,” the PSC said in a statement.

According to the PSC, for progress to be made in a dispensation where a minority Government and a majority Opposition exist, the political culture should consist of dialogue and compromise on

issues of national interest and development.

“This culture has been very much absent since our last General Elections in 2011, as both sides of the House have exposed their limitations in dealing with such a dispensation,” the umbrella business body said.

It added that the calling for elections prematurely is signalling that only in a “winner takes all” environment can progress be made. This does not auger well for a plural society such as Guyana, the PSC contended.

“The PSC is not hopeful that General Elections will automatically resolve many of the problems facing the country. However, if elections are to be called, we hope that they would be conducted efficiently and effectively.”

The PSC said it is also hoping that whatever the

results, that they would be accepted by all and that the country can move forward so that every member of the population can be guaranteed a better life.

Uncertainty

Sharing a similar view was the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), which said that all General Elections do instil fear and uncertainty in the minds of Guyana’s population.

GMSA President Clinton Williams said that “to go to elections is not the best thing for the country” at this time. He described the current situation as “double whammy”, explaining that “there is no absolute probability that elections will not return a minority Government”.

Williams told Guyana Times that the policymaker should cease their impasse on the many developmental issues that go through the National Assembly, and work together with “trust and confidence”.

Holds it breath

Also weighing in on the subject, Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) President Kit Nascimento said that elections at any time have serious implications for not only the tourism sector, but also the economy as a whole.

“The nation tends to hold its breath... from the tourism point of view, elections is never good for the economy... but they are a necessary part of democracy.”

However, the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) and Blue Caps are of the opinion that early General Elections might just be the solution to the issues that are plaguing Guyana’s 10th Parliament and affecting some major developmental projects.

CAIC President Ramesh Dookhoo said that people

are losing faith in the current Government structure, where there is a minority Government and a frequent stalemate in Parliament.

“People are losing faith, whatever needs to be done, has to be done,” stressed Dookhoo.

He told Guyana Times there is “capital flight” taking place presently, whereby persons are transferring their funds from local banks into other banks because of issues that arose as a result of the non-passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill in the National Assembly.

Dookhoo opined that it would seem as though the country is “running on the spot” as he referred to the inability of the 10th Parliament to arrive at compromise with respect to any major development project.

“If they absolutely can’t work together, let’s go back to elections,” said Dookhoo, adding that the parliamentarians are “exerting energy on the wrong things”.

Possible solutions

Founder of Blue Caps and the former Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Clinton Urling said that snap elections are definitely possible solution to the woes of the 10th Parliament.

“Snap elections seem to be a necessary conclusion right now... the economy will suffer more if we continue on this current trajectory... we need an election to sort out the issue... we need to settle this question once and for all,” Urling told Guyana Times. He, like Williams, expressed some concerns about if a poll would return a minority Government, but noted that if this is the outcome of the polls, then the political parties need to look at the idea of shared governance.

“If we go back and we get the same results, then our policymakers need to look at shared governance,” said Urling.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) had first raised the issue of a no-confidence motion which has since gained traction, with the main Opposition, the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) saying that it will likely support the move. However, in light of all of this, President Donald Ramotar has maintained that his administration is ready to deal with the consequences of a General Election.

PPP covering all bets in event of snap poll – Rohee …

says Party is confident of victory

By Alexis Rodney

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said it has been covering all the necessary grounds in preparations of any National Election, and is confident of its prospects.

The Party’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee, made the comments when asked to respond to an article by former PPP Executive Ralph Ramkarran indicating that should there be another general election any time soon the results may be similar to those of the 2011 election in which the Opposition achieved a oneseat majority.

Rohee said the Party is confident that this will not be the case at all. He said Ramkarran, like every other citizen, is free to give his prognosis based on his analysis. “What I have said is not in contradiction of what the President has said. He (Ramkarran) gave his views. What I’m saying is on the part of the PPP, we remain entirely optimistic of our possibilities or prospects at any future elections in Guyana,” Rohee told media operatives at the Party’s weekly press briefing at Freedom House.

This optimism, he said, is grounded in the work being carried out by the Party. The feedback the Party has been receiving especially in areas where it had suffered losses has been overwhelming, Rohee said. He noted that “we have been doing some targeting. Our work is more concentrated and more results oriented”, although the work is not being done at the expense of the routine political work.

He said the Party is also

depending on the decisions of persons who have lived through the results of previous elections under the current administration. Rohee pointed out the PPP is not an electioneering Party and although it is set to fight the election, it has not become lethargic in that regard. According to him, members are always on the ground working painstakingly. “We are set to fight election yes, but we don’t go to sleep after election and then wake up after the election bell is rung. We are always on the ground,” he said. .

Bankrupt Opposition

Rohee, in condemning the political Opposition, said both the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) are basking in the glory of their one-seat majority, which they fully well know will not continue come any future election. He said the statement of the Opposition is the work of a bankrupt Opposition, seeking to make up for its faulty leadership.

The General Secretary challenged the AFC to pro-

Killing of Rodney...

Dr Westmaas recalled that the strangers tried to take away their equipment, but WPA Executive Tacuma Ogunseye, who was a karateka, quickly put his skills into action, causing some of the vandals to retreat.

At this point, Dr Westmaas said WPA leader, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who was slated to speak, along with Dr Rodney, Eusi Kwayana and others, told him that they have to flee the scene. He said him and Dr Roopnaraine managed to board their vehicle with the equipment onboard, and sped away, but the persons who he identified as “thugs” sent from the Regional Development Ministry, followed them in their Land Rover.

The academic recalled that Dr Roopnaraine was behind the wheels while he was the lookout man, but noted while close to the Demerara Harbour Bridge,

their vehicle started to experience mechanical problems. He said this caused him to look back to see how far was the ‘enemy’ and to his fear, they were not far behind, and axe handles and cutlasses were seen protruding from the windows of the Land Rover.

Dr Westmaas related that on seeing the dreadful sight, he and Dr Roopnaraine decided to take a street through La Grange which had a low wooden lintel with the hope that the big Land Rover will not make it through, but to their horror, it did. And while it was about 100 yards from their vehicle, Dr Westmaas said he and Dr Roopnaraine fled their vehicle, jumped into a trench and swam to safety to a nearby cane field Dr Westmaas told the Commission that he ran at top speed, covering about two miles, and survived the day by having a meal of cane

vide the names of stakeholders it consulted on the noconfidence motion, which it said it would be laying against the Government.

“The statement of the AFC that it is receiving huge amounts of positive feedback from stakeholders lacks credibility and is meant to deceive the public who is becoming increasingly tired of their deception and obstructionist behaviour,” Rohee said. The Party also challenges APNU to demonstrate its “testicular capacity by giving effect to their stated desire for a no-confidence motion in Parliament”. Failing to do so, Rohee declared, they should “shut up and forever hold thy peace”.

The Party General Secretary was at the time reading a statement on the Party’s views on the threat by the AFC and later the APNU to table a no-confidence motion on the leadership of the country. He said the Party remains convinced that the only reason for the “enhanced level of absurdity by the Opposition” is to divert public’s attention” from the position taken in relation to the Anti-Money Laundering Bill and its nonpassage.

Speaking to the major constituent party of APNU, the People’s National Congress (PNC) directly, Rohee posited that the party has been embarrassed by the many revelations coming out of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the death of Dr Walter Rodney and is using the no-confidence motion as a diversionary tactic. He added that extending the life of the CoI has become a nightmare for the PNC.

From page 16

and fresh canal water.

When night had stepped in, he said he dug a hole and hid in it, and on the break of dawn, he made his way through the canefield and onto the road, where he took a taxi and reached safely to the party’s office at Tiger Bay, Georgetown, where he was welcomed by Dr Rodney and other WPA comrades.

A search party was immediately launched for Dr Roopnaraine, but they did not find him as he had also made a safe escape, arriving at the party's headquarters after the party set out to search for him. But the search party did find the vehicle in a burnt state in a nearby trench.

The other incident he recalled occurred in the early 1980, which was less eventful, when he, Dr Rodney and party member Bonita Harris were going to Linden to have a meeting there.

CAIC President Ramesh Dookhoo

PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee

PSC Chairman Ramesh Persaud

SUDOKU

Re-evaluate your financial position, and you’ll find a way to supplement your savings. Staying ahead of the rising cost of living will require strategy, patience and discipline.

Tame your temper. It’s essential to keep the lines of communication open if you want to avoid verbal clashes, but you must do so with diplomacy. Offer solutions and hands-on help.

Once others are aware of what you have to offer, professional advancement will follow. It’s in your best interest to promote your skills, knowledge and talents to as many influential people as possible.

You will garner acclaim for your leadership skills. Become involved in your community by helping a cause that you feel passionate about. You can make a difference.

Don’t be tempted to exaggerate. Others will lose confidence in you if you are misleading. Stick to what you know and do best, and don’t make promises you cannot keep.

You will act as the catalyst for any activity that you choose to participate in. Your enthusiasm and sense of humor will rally friends and family alike.

By Bernice Bede Osol

Consider turning a skill or hobby into a small sideline business. Using your energy constructively will help you gain financial stability and greater security.

Overspending will get you in trouble. Trying to lift your spirits by going on a shopping spree will have the opposite effect if you end up stressing over the money you spend.

You can’t make the correct decision without first getting your facts straight. Rather than relying on someone else, do your own research until you feel confident enough to proceed.

Young and old alike can provide you with insight and inspiration. Spend some time with relatives or friends, and absorb all the knowledge you can. Take note of someone who is brazenly honest.

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You can enhance your lifestyle if you take note of how others live and investigate new ways to cut corners. Your charisma will catch the eye of someone who has something to offer you.

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arCHie

dilbert

National ruggers return home to heroes’ welcome

The Men’s 15s rugby team that upstaged USA South Panthers to win the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) title on Saturday last returned home on Monday morning to a heroes’ welcome at the country’s main port of entry, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

The Guyanese ruggers, nicknamed the Guyana Jaguars, were welcomed by Director of Sport Neil Kumar and senior executives of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), including President Peter Green, upon arrival in Guyana. Kumar and Green both lauded the ruggers for their impressive showing, noting that the victory is an important one for Guyana, as the country was able to defeat a higher ranked nation.

“It was an excellent performance by the Guyanese and everyone who played a part in assisting this team to such a win should be congratulated. Ryan Gonsalves and his teammates played very well…to come back from being down 8-24

and win 30-27, limiting the powerful Americans to just three points in the second half, while scoring 22 was indeed a great achievement,” Kumar pointed out.

Skipper Ryan Gonsalves broke the deadlock to give Guyana Jaguars a spectacular come-from-behind victory over the host country after the game was forced into extra time, following a 27-27 scoreline at the end of full-time.

The Guyanese entered the game as heavy underdogs, as USA South Panthers had the comfort of home court, as well as being high ranked on the International Rugby Board (iRB) list.

From what transpired during the early exhanges, it seemed the game would have gone according to the script, as all hopes of an upset by the Guyanese seemed to have vanished at half-time when the hosts surged to a 24-8 lead. What followed in the second half, however, was a complete change in fortune for the Guyanese who first levelled the scores at 27 to force the game into sud-

den death overtime.

USA South Panthers then missed out on scoring a penalty, which would have guaranteed

them the win, before Gonsalves converted in the dying stages of overtime to land the Jaguars a memorable 30-27 success.

Three female TT players to attend Olympic fest

– GTTA President optimistic team will be competitive

The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) will be sending a female team to the Olympic Fest scheduled for July 17 in Mexico. The Guyanese females qualified for the event during the Caribbean Table Tennis Championships held last year in St. Lucia

The three females to represent Guyana at the fest are Natalie Cummings, Trenace Lowe and Chelsea Edghill.

President of the GTTA Godfrey Munroe told Guyana Times Sport via telephone that he is confi-

dent the trio will do well in Mexico. “It is going to be a good test for them; it’s the

best of the PAN American countries so it’s going to be good for them with

Guyadeen steadies nerves to win Tiburn golf tourney in USA

Overseas-based

Guyanese golfer

Chris Guyadeen recently overcame a strong field to win the 2-day Tiburon Amateur Championship at Naples in Florida.

Guyadeen continued his winning streak on the Golf Channel Amateur Tour with a first round shot of +1 and a second round score of +7 to finish with a best score of 8 over par.

The field of golfers on the Amateur Tour number more than 200 from across the United States, Canada, Denmark, Scotland, Ireland Mexico, Puerto Rico and of course Guyana.

“The competition was very intense; extremely competitive similar to what is played on the PGA tour. Every one that plays in the competition is there for

Commonwealth Games

Godfrey Munroe

to be competitive, Natalie had a training stint in Brazil and Chelsea is in China training, so I think

one purpose and that is to win, so the pressure is very high. The nerves and brains are under serious strain,” Guyadeen told Guyana Times Sport.

The Guyanese golfer and businessman, who resides, works and plays golf in the USA, has been playing on the Golf Channel AM Tour for the past 4 years and has won several times

“The experience playing golf in America is one of a very honest and competitive nature. Coming from Guyana is always an underdog situation which in itself is an additional pressure, but as long as you are sound in your mind and have a great game you can be successful, as long as you stay focus and don’t get upset if you make a mistake.”

The next local tournament for Guyadeen is on Wednesday at Harbor Links Golf and Country Club while his next major two-day tournament is on August 2-3 in Orlando Florida. “My win on the major tournaments qualifies me to play in the USA National tournament to be played in October 2014 in Arizona where I will be representing Guyana at a higher level,” a proud Guyadeen further related.

The USA National tournament will be telecast on The Golf Channel.

Guyadeen also said he plans to play in some tournaments here in Guyana this year.

they will be competitive against the best of North and South America,” Munroe stated. The tournament is expected to run from July 17 to 20, just before the Commonwealth Games which begin on July 23. Meanwhile, the GTTA is getting ready to host the Teach them Young programme in conjunction with the National Sports Commission (NSC). The event is scheduled to begin in the second week of July with sessions set for each morning from 10:00h to 12:00h. The venue for the hosting of sessions will be decided on shortly.

(Treiston Joseph)

Chris Guyadeen is seeking qualification for the USA National golf tournament in October 2014 in Arizona where he again hopes to make Guyana proud.

Guyana’s captain and scorer of the winning penalty, Ryan Gonsalves, with the NACRA trophy

Trenace Lowe

Natalie Cummings Chelsea Edghill

Guyana Amazon Warriors begin training camp today

The Guyana Amazon Warriors training camp for this month’s Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) begins today at the National Stadium in Providence. The majority of the 15-man squad, along with the six local Under-19 players, will be under the supervision of head coach Roger Harper.

However, seven star players will not be able to join the training camp today.

Red Steel (19:30h), July 19 against St Lucia Zouks (16:00h) and July 20 against Jamaica Tallawahs (16:00h).

The local franchise will play Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel on July 24; Barbados Tridents on July 27; Jamaica Tallawahs on August 2; Antigua Hawksbills on August 7; and St Lucia Zouks on August 10 in their final preliminary game.

Dubbed the “Biggest Part in Sport”, this year’s tournament commences on July 11 and ends on August 16.

Jamaica Tallawahs won the inaugural tournament when they defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors by seven wickets in the final in Trinidad and Tobago on August 24.

Josiah-Tanner makes successful return to track

Overseas-based Guyanese distance athlete Euleen

Sport.

The National Track and Field Championships in Antigua at the weekend was open to outside competition and saw, among others, long jumper Amy Harris-Willock out of England and Alison Peter – a 200 and 400 meter specialist out of St Croix – competing for top honours in their various fields.

In addition, JosiahTanner finished second to Trinidad’s Tonya Nero on Sunday morning in the Caricom 10k event. Nero clocked 38 minutes and 36 seconds to win the event for the third straight time while Josiah-Tanner was second with a time of 40 minutes 48 seconds.

New Zealand and West Indies will play two T20 internationals on July 5 and 6 and those players are expected to feature in that series.

Pakistan Mohammad Hafeez will join the squad on arrival here on July 5. The others; International Franchise Player, New Zealander Corey Anderson, regional players’ captain Denesh Ramdin, Lendl Simmons, Krishmar Santokie and Sunil Narine, along with local star Christopher Barnwell, will miss the camp due to international T20 duties.

The training camp runs until July 8 before the squad moves on to Grenada for their first game against Antigua Hawksbills on July 11.

Guyana Amazon Warriors comprise Denesh Ramdin (captain), Sunil Narine, Mohammad Hafeez, Lendl Simmons, Martin Guptill, Krishmar Santokie, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Navin Stewart, Steven Jacobs, Leon Johnson, Robin Bacchus, Corey Anderson and Trevon Griffith.

Josiah-Tanner made a triumphant return to track at the 2014 National Track and Field Championships at the YASCO Sports Complex in Antigua on Sunday.

Josiah-Tanner, who is known for her road running exploits in Guyana, did not compete in a track event since 2008 but prevailed in the 3000 metres in a time of 10 minutes and 59 seconds, 30 seconds slower than her personal best in that event.

Meanwhile, JosiahTanner will be aiming for improvements in her road times but also plans to continue on the track where she has a 1500 metres personal best of 4 minutes and 44 seconds.

The Guyana franchise, bought by the NEW GPC INC, under its Limacol brand, will then play three of their nine preliminary games at home, on July 17 against Trinidad and Tobago

The Under-19 players are Shimron Hetmeyer, Akshaya Persaud, Kevin Paul, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Daniel Basdeo and Kemo Paul.

“It felt great, it was my first track event and I think it has to do with the acclimatisation since there is a three minute gap competing in the Caribbean and the USA, so it was great for me,” JosiahTanner told Guyana Times

“My next event will be at the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta Georgia where I want to run faster. I will be competing more on the track also,” Josiah-Tanner mentioned.

The Peachtree Road Race is scheduled for July 4.

(Treiston Joseph)

France beat Nigeria to reach last eight germany through after algeria scare

France scored twice in the final 11 minutes in Brasilia to beat Nigeria and reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

Nigeria’s Emmanuel Emenike had a strike ruled out for offside before Vincent Enyeama saved Paul Pogba’s volley. Victor Moses cleared Karim Benzema’s shot off the line after the break and Yohan Cabaye volleyed against the bar as France pressed.

But Pogba eventually headed in after an Enyeama error and Joseph Yobo diverted Mathieu Valbuena’s cross into the net.

France will play the winners of Monday’s late match between Algeria and Germany in the last eight at the Maracana on Friday.

The final scoreline was harsh on Nigeria, who dominated for large parts of the second half, but late mistakes from their tiring players ensured they will have to wait for their first quarterfinal appearance in a World Cup.

France have pedigree in the knockout rounds, having reached at least the semi-finals on the last five occasions they have progressed past the first round at the World Cup.

Nigeria’s last-16 preparations had been disrupted by a row over bonuses and, with their group victory over Bosnia-Hercegovina their only World Cup win in 11 matches, this tie was always going to prove a big ask.

Nigeria’s goalkeeper

Enyeama made the most saves of any goalkeeper in the group phase and had to be alert again to keep out Pogba’s fierce close-range volley as the play swept from end to end in a first half that saw both sides look vulnerable defensively.

The African champions were forced into a change after the break when influential midfielder Ogenyi Onazi was injured by a late tackle from Blaise Matuidi, who was lucky to escape with only a yellow card.

France, the 2006 runnersup, did not make it past the group stage in South Africa four years ago but they appear to be much more united as a squad in this tournament.

Extra-time goals from Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil proved enough to edge Germany past Algeria and into a FIFA World Cup™ quarterfinal against France. After the first 90 minutes ended goalless, Schurrle’s sublime flick broke the deadlock and Ozil doubled the European giants’ lead, with Abdelmoumene Djabou’s 11th-hour goal proving too little, too late for the spirited north Africans.

The Germans started as overwhelming favourites, but it was Algeria who bossed the opening exchanges. Germany’s only chances of the first half came when Adi Mbolhi

failed to hold long-range strikes. When Toni Kroos and Ozil saw their efforts parried, however, Mario Gotze and Thomas Muller failed to capitalise on the rebounds.

The final opening of normal time fell to Bastian Schweinsteiger, but the unmarked midfielder’s closerange header lacked power and accuracy.

Germany had missed a series of second-half chances, but Schurrle took their first of extra-time with aplomb. Muller broke down the left but his cross was a little behind the Chelsea forward. It looked like the chance would pass by, but Schurrle let the ball run

through his legs and sublimely flicked it past Mbolhi with his heel. Germany commanded play thereafter and Ozil thumped home a rebound from close range to make it 2-0 on the stroke of fulltime. Djabou did slot the ball home to give Algeria a glimmer of hope, but they had insufficient time to search for an equaliser.

Vahid Halilhodzic and his charges, who arrived in Brazil as supposed whipping boys, go home with their heads held high. Joachim Low and his men head to Rio de Janeiro for a Maracana meeting with France.

Nigeria’s goalkeeper Enyeama made the most saves of any goalkeeper in the group phase

Philipp Lahm forces a fine save from Rais Mbolhi

Roger Harper

Martin Guptill

Euleen Josiah-Tanner

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Digicel Schools Football Tournament… Carmel Secondary edge QC

– QC to appeal fielding of extra player by opponents

By TreisTon Joseph

It was only until 10 minutes into the second half that referees realised that Carmel Secondary School had been fielding an extra player when action in the Digicel Schools Football Tournament continued on Monday at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Carmel Secondary played with 12 men on the field since the start of the game in which they defeated Queen’s College 2-1. The academic ball weavers, QC, always seemed like the better team, making better reads that resulted in the right passes and a couple of opportunities in the first half that weren’t finished mostly due to the congested backfield of Carmel.

While the fielding of an

extra player by Carmel was seemingly not a willful act by the coach of the team, it made a huge difference between two evenly balanced teams. Carmel soon managed to create their second opportunity of the game in the 14th minute which was slotted into the back of the net by Marlon Allen.

As Queen’s continued to search for the equaliser, Carmel again proved to be a handful with a goal in the 20th minute by Caleb Allen. The teams would continue to exchange possession during the course of the game before the half-time whistle.

Ten minutes into the second half, a Caramel player was red carded which made the numbers even but then Caleb Allen was red carded in the 55th minute to dramatically

see Queen’s now having a oneplayer advantage. The red card for Allen also resulted in a penalty for Queen’s and Nathan Patterson, who had failed to convert a few opportunities before, made no mistake in powering in a right-footed kick in the right hand corner of the net to make the score 2-1.

As if it was about making amends for the disadvantage due to the extra player, Queen’s were awarded a penalty five minutes before full time but shockingly sent the ensuing kick over the crossbar.

After the game, the referees advised Queen’s College coach Michael Daly to appeal the game to which Daly agreed.

North Ruimveldt whip sophia training Centre

By AvenAsh rAmzAn

Despite missing out on a plethora of opportunities, North Ruimveldt Multilateral still managed to finish with a convincing 6-1 win over Sophia Training Centre at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary on Monday.

fence of the opposition›s goalkeeper three times. However, it was Tyrese Rowley who started North Ruimveldt›s domination of the match by opening the scoring in the 11th minute.

of 4-0 soon became 5-0 when Carl Griffith added his name to the list of scorers in the 48th minute.

Serine Daniels then broke the sequence of unanswered goals in the 57th minute, converting a penalty to hand the Sophia Training Centre lads their lone goal of the game.

The commanding victory means the ‹Multi› boys have advanced to the next round and remain in contention to be crowned Georgetown Zone champions.

North Ruimveldt were led by the impressive Jeremy Garrett who breached the de-

Kiwis win

Seven minutes later, Garrett got into the act with his first goal and followed up with his second in the 31st minute to hand his school an early 3-0 lead. With his team controlling the run of play, Garrett›s dream game continued when he skillfully converted a penalty after being brought down in the box in the 42nd minute.

A comfortable position

For good measure, Shamar McPherson extended North Ruimveldt›s margin of victory, scoring on the stroke of full-time in the 70th minute. The competition will continue today with more matches across the country.

Test series against West Indies

Southee pierced through the middle order with some intelligent exhibition of skills. He had a battle of patience with Darren Bravo, who had seemed on making up for a loose shot in the first innings. He was tight around his off stump and held his drives in check for 97 balls. Then came the teaser outside off and Bravo just couldn’t help himself and perished at gully for the second time in the match. Denesh Ramdin succumbed soon after and a lengthy tail was exposed.

Craig did his bit to assist the seamers and with ample assistance from a worn pitch, he was able to generate good flight and dip to ensure the batsmen were being strangled from both ends. His heroics with the bat have overshadowed his primary responsibility but today he was key in quelling the lower order’s defiance.

New Zealand looked an im-

- it was only their fifth away Test win in five years. (espncricinfo)

Patterson powers in his penalty shot for Queen’s College (Carl Crocker photo)

Young Karatekas display skills at GKF, GOA mini-tournament Jones, Williams emerge as top Mini-Tennis players

The Guyana Karate Federation (GFK), in collaboration with the Guyana Olympic Association, (GOA) on Sunday hosted a successful mini-tournament in the auditorium of the YMCA Building on Thomas Lands.

The categories were Boys and Girls 6-8, 9-11 and 1114 years in the Kata and Kumite styles.

In the 6-8 Male Kata, Deron Austin emerged victorious, leaving Keyah Barker to occupy second position, while in the 6-8 Male Kumite, the results were reversed with Barker taking the top spot from Austin.

Alyssa Singh, Krystal

Realine and Jasmine Hodge placed 1-2-3 in the 6-8 Female Kata, while Hodge won from second place Singh and third place finisher Realine in the 6-8 Female Kumite.

In the 9-11 Male Kata, Aryan Singh was the winner, with Shaquan Norville and Joseph Rahaman securing second and third spots respectively, while Rahaman stormed back to win the 9-11 Male Kumite, leaving Anish Sharma to settle for second and Nechamiyah Levans third.

Hanna Farinha won the 9-11 Female Kata from Nizi Realine, while Realine returned the favourite in the 9-11 Female Kumite, rele-

gating Farinha to second position.

The 12-14 Female Kata was won by Aliya Wong with Theresa Sampat getting second and Kelly-Ann Fortune third, while the 12-14 Female Kumite saw Fortune emerging victorious over Sampat.

Yannick Rameshwar was the top karateka in the 12-14 Male Kata, finishing ahead of Ashton Bovell and Alexander Cheeks, while Cheeks returned to top the 12-14 Male Kumite by beating off the challenge of Daniel Floyd and Bovell.

The top performers were all given trophies for their efforts.

Aggrieved GHRA members pass noconfidence motion against Vic Ouditt – but Ouditt says motion null and void

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Aggrieved members of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) passed a vote of noconfidence against President Vic Ouditt at a special meeting held at the Bush Lot United Turf Club on Saturday.

Guyana Times Sport understands that Fazal Habibula, who was performing duties as the first Vice President, will now take the position as President (ag) until elections are held in January 2015.

However, Ouditt in an invited comment contended that the decision is null and void since the special meeting held was unconstitutional.

Ouditt was absent from Saturday’s proceedings and his reason was that an inquiry meeting was planned for that day but was subsequently postponed since the notice for that meeting was not done according to the GHRA constitution. According to the GHRA constitution, a notice for any meeting must be done seven days prior to the date of the meeting.

“It was not a special meeting, what happen is that the GHRA had planned an inquiry meeting into Kennard Memorial Turf Club President Roopnarine Matadial’s behavior, where he verbally abused and used threatening remarks

towards me at a meeting of the racing authority in March.

“Subsequently, that inquiry meeting was postponed after the notice for that meeting was not done the way it was supposed to be done, the members were notified on Friday, the day before and by telephone, hence the meeting was postponed and will now be held on July 12. The meeting was supposed to be chaired by Rajendra Poonai, the authority’s Legal advisor and not me,” Ouditt said.

Meanwhile, secretary of the GHRA Zenzie Goring, who was responsible for notice, acknowledged that the notice was not emailed to each member of the GHRA but each member was informed of the meeting via telephone on Friday.

The aggrieved members alleged that Ouditt has been micro-managing the authority and that they have lost faith,

trust and confidence in him as a result.

“His lack of leadership qualities, inability to consult and make decisions and his dictatorial behavior in dealing with critical issues such as race dates, unfair and bias attitude towards some of the clubs and their members and his many other weaknesses have caused the members to lose trust and confidence in him and as a result led the GHRA into disrepute and confusion,” the aggrieved members alleged in a release.

The no-confidence motion was moved by Dennis DeRoop and seconded by Neville Budhan.

The clubs represented were Rising Sun Turf Club, Bush Lot United Turf Club, Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club, Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) and Budhan’s Memorial Sports Complex

Ouditt replaced retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Cecil Kennard when the body held its annual general meeting in February at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club pavilion. He was elected president when the sport was resuscitated but did not seek re-election at the 2011 elections after he expressed outrage with the attitude of some members of the GHRA. However, he got the biggest thumbs-up from members at the last AGM with 11 votes, as against seven for Kennard.

Nine-year-old Akilah Jones of Green Acres was all smiles on Saturday last as she struggled to hold her trophies for Best Girl, Most Talented Player and Best School in the Guyana Tennis Association’s Inter-school Tennis 10s competition at the New Guyana School.

In the Boys’ category, Quincy Williams of F.E. Pollard copped the top spot by winning three rounds and seven matches as he showed off his consistency and style even at this grassroots level of tennis. Vinicius Spricigo of Gisele Primary was the runner-up.

A total of nine boys and

pants from other schools and the number of matches won was used to determine the winner.

At the closing ceremony, President of the Guyana Tennis Association, Grace McCalman, thanked the New Guyana School for hosting the competition.

General Manager, Alphonso De Armas Jr., who was present for most of the competition, was enthusiastic about the event. He committed his school to supporting such an activity in the future even as he develops his own tennis programmes for the school.

Meanwhile, McCalman further urged parents and teachers to ensure that physical and competitive activities are maintained for children, as such events contribute in a big way to their ability to focus and perform well in their academics.

She noted particularly that the Roraima Tennis Club was well represented for the first time in this competition, in which the number of girls heavily surpassed the boys.

After playing four rounds of competition and 10 matches, she proved her potential to be Guyana’s top seed in the years to come by playing unbeaten in all her games. Coming in for a close second spot was Sunnah Sealy of Redeemer Primary, who was also feisty in her ability to keep the ball in play.

27 girls were recommended for participation in the competition, coming from other schools such as St Pius Primary, Stella Maris Primary, Marian Academy Primary and Mae’s Under-12. The round-robin format was used to give the players an opportunity to play many matches against the partici-

National Junior Tennis Coordinator, Shelly DalyRamdyhan, expressed her optimism about the future of tennis with this new crop of young players. However, she hopes that parents and teachers make a special effort to ensure that children are engaged in meaningful recreational activity such as tennis.

ga BF reinstates three players to female c B c squad

The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has reinstated three players to the women’s national side after naming an initial 12 member squad on Saturday.

The three players reinstated are Lowquantor Gibson, Nicola Jacobs and Timike Joseph.

According to a release by the GABF, two of the players reinstated were unable to attend training sessions due to work commitments and the lack of proper arrangements for national practice time off. Issues of fitness and attitude were raised by the coaches concerning the other player.

However, the release went on to note that discussions were held between the coaches and the GABF as wells as discussions among GABF executives after which the decision was taken to reinstate the players to the team.

The three players are considered as certain picks by the coaches for the national team once they attend every practice session and give maximum effort and team commitment.

The full squad now includes Natasha Alder (Captain), Shakelia Sampson, Sonia Rodney, Tamara Hunter, Shauna Chester, Kristy Roberts,

Ginelle Ifill, Latoya Rodney, Philomena George, Kean Andrews, Necosia Mitchell and Natasha Andrews, Lowquantor Gibson, Nicola Jacobs and Timike Joseph-De Rouche.

The team is scheduled to depart these shores for the British Virgin Islands (BVI) on July 6 to participate in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Women’s Championship scheduled to start on July 8. Meanwhile, the men‘s team arrived in the BVI on Monday morning and are scheduled to play their first game against BVI tonight at 21:00h.

The top performers pose with their trophies

Leading female player Akilah Jones with her parents and brother after her performance on Saturday

The top three finishers of one of the categories pose with their trophies

Vic Ouditt

Caribbean Basketball Confederation C/ship…

Guyana up against hosts BVI tonight

In a matter of hours the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) 2014 Men’s Basketball Championship will get underway at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex (MPSC) in Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI), and Guyana will be up against the hosts in the feature encounter.

The Rawle Marshall-led Guyana team will play the BVI from 21:00h following an opening ceremony. There will be three games prior to the opening ceremony.

“All the teams are here, the Technical Team, the Referees, the FIBA Officials and CBC Executive are all here and everything is coming together nicely,” commented Event Organiser, Mrs Dawn F. Crabbe-Herbert told a BVI news entity on Sunday.

Crabbe-Herbert also went on to say that she hopes fans will come out in numbers to not only support the host territory but also the other countries. Guyana is expected to get good support from the large Guyanese community in the British Virgin Islands.

Guyana are grouped with United States Virgin Islands (USVI), Barbados and BVI while the other group comprises Antigua, St Vincent, Cuba and the Bahamas.

The action begins from noon today with the Bahamas playing St Vincent, Barbados taking on US Virgin Islands, followed by a clash between Cuba and Antigua and then the Guyana/ BVI matchup following the opening ceremony.

The Guyana contingent includes six overseas-based players in Captain and the first

Guyanese to play in the NBA, Rawle Marshall, Andre De Florimonte, Ray Victor, Keron McKenzie, Kevan Creppy and Gordon Klaiber. The local players are Akeem Kanhai, Andrew Ifill, Dwayne Roberts, Ryan Gullen, Ryan Stephney and Shane Webster. Further, Tyler Persaud, Richard Hall and Shelroy Thomas also make up the squad and may even be eligible for selection, according to the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF).

The full BVI squad reads: Parillon, Leslee J. Smith, Rasheed Cann, Halstead “JR” Chiverton, Randy “Chino” George, Norville “Banana” Carey, Kennedy H. “Poster Boy” Bass, Cadafee “Boss” Freeman, Jovaughn Cameron, Molik Malone, Dione Blyden and Ryan Alfred. (Reuben Stoby)

See schedule of games below

GFF shortlists 30 for Under-17 CFU tournament

– Guyana to participate in Senior CFU championship

By TreisTon Joseph

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has shortlisted 30 players for the upcoming Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-17 Championship scheduled for July 18 in the Dominican Republic.

The team will be encamped from July 4 until the final selection of 18 players is made ahead of the departure date of July 16.

At a press conference held on Monday at the GFF Head Office in Campbellville, Technical Director of the GFF Mark Rodrigues thought highly of what he saw from the team in a mini-camp over the past weekend.

“I’m excited about our team. We had a quick peek at the boys and the staff unanimously thinks it’s an excellent group, the fitness level of the team is great and we left this weekend feeling really excited.

“I have said we have to build on our nursery in order to develop our flagship team which is the national side, we have no doubt we will do well because we have a great coach with leadership experience and a good quality staff,” Rodrigues mentioned.

Head Coach of the team Brian Joseph also identified fitness as a major asset to the team while highlighting what the camp will be focused on.

“As said before, the fitness level is really great so it will be my job to assess the technical ability of the team as well as to implement the style of football we want to play as well as building team chemistry. That is what we will focus on more because of how well the guys responded with their fitness tests,” Joseph highlighted.

Technical Development Officer of the GFF Linden France also highlighted the fitness of the team and attributed that to ongoing tournaments. “The fitness was a really great surprise and we think that it’s because of the recently concluded national under-17 tournament and the current Digicel Schools tournament.

“The guys also showed great potential with their recovery after the beep tests and that is also a plus for us. We understand that it takes about six to eight years to really build a good football player but we think we have a great bunch of players,” France stated.

Senior CFU Championship

Meanwhile, Rodrigues confirmed that Guyana will participate in the senior CFU championship later this year.

The absence of a national tournament has raised some concerns since the start of the year; however, Rodrigues noted that a draft plan has been concep-

tualised to get the ball rolling with the national men’s side.

While the GFF is not ready to fully release information on the side, Rodrigues said a team and a head coach will be named in “the near future”. The under-17 tournament will run from July 17-22 with Guyana being drawn in Group Three with Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and host nation The Dominican Republic. Shortlisted squad:Ronnel Roberts, Jeremy Garrett, Tariq Nelson, Ryan Hackette, Job Caesar, Samuel Hunte, Leyland Smith, Dwayne Thomas, Quazim Yusuf, Shawn Angoy, Joel Dick, Kevin Layne, Bryan Thom, Jamal Bastiani, Elton Sullivan, Gerald Anthony, Maurice Barnes, Demitry Grant, Aldison Abel, Seon Barrett, Randy Hohenkirk, Taffon Alexander, Keshawn Dey, Mark Samuels, Anthony Allicock, Shomol Smith, Germaine Accra, Keno Washington, Shamar Blair and Shimar Arrindell. Head Coach: Brian Joseph, Assistant Coach: Chevon Monchior, Goalkeeper Coach: Andrew Hazel, Assistant Coach Developmental: Anthony Stephens, Physical Trainer: Trevor Beckles, Physiotherapist: Charlene Henry and Manager: Carlos Bernard.

From second left Manager of the team Carlos Bernard, Mark Rodrigues, Vice President Keith O’Jeer, Linden France and Brian Joseph during the press conference

National ruggers return home to heroes’ welcome

Kiwis win Test series against West Indies

Trent Boult and Tim Southee shepherded New Zealand their first series win away from home against a top-eight nation in 12 years.

It took Jason Holder, a debutant at no.7, to provide the hosts’ strongest source of resistance. New Zealand attacked him with a short-ball barrage. He sustained a painful blow to the thumb but shook it off. After some time at the crease, he took them on and when the ball ventured closer to his half, he exhibited some sweet drives to fuel the innings’ only halfcentury.

Shane Shillingford provided dogged support as the eighth wicket contributed 77 runs. He weaved under bouncers, took body blows when the fifth-day pitch misbehaved and hit out with impressive power but their efforts could not resurrect a poor top order performance.

The visitors’ declaration with an overnight lead of 307 was lazily dubbed brave. The fact that they were away from home would have been discussed. The criticism they would invite if West Indies overhauled the target and claim the series had the potential to frighten. But Brendon

morning

ing his bowlers the time they would need to dismiss the opposition, especially with showers predicted. Two of them did interrupt play, but in the end they contributed to a stunning finish as the Test went down to the final hour

delivery - this one eased across the right-hander - took the outside edge and found Ross Taylor at second slip.

McCullum does not appear a captain who prefers the safe route. Moreover, in Boult and Southee, he had two exception-

al new-ball bowlers, who would be operating against a depleted batting line-up. It wasn’t a punt. McCullum was simply giv-

Boult’s skill in swinging the ball both ways left the batsmen noticeably unsure. Kraigg Brathwaite shouldered arms to a rousing indipper that eased off his pad to cannon into off stump. Kirk Edwards followed the same method but had managed to protect his stumps with his pads. Boult flew into an appeal and the umpire obliged, but DRS surprisingly indicated that the ball would have bounced over off stump. Edwards survived but he was clearly shaken. Another lovely

A sedate Chris Gayle was hoping to occupy the crease until New Zealand’s momentum eased off. However, Southee enticed him with a fuller delivery and a booming drive ended up deflecting the ball back onto his stumps. West Indies had crumbled to 31 for 3 and were eyeing another collapse in the face. Shivnarine Chanderpaul abated those concerns for a brief period but traipsed down the track against offspinner Mark Craig to be stumped for the first time in 266 innings to leave his side reeling again. And they never quite recovered....

Chris Gayle (left) was bowled for 11. Right: Trent Boult took two wickets in the

session. Photo: WICB

GRFU President Peter Green (right), Director of Sport Neil Kumar (second left) and other officials of the GRFU pose with the ruggers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport