Friday, july 6, 2018

Manickchand challenges students to reject prejudices for a better P13 Guyana Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3615

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, July 6, 2018

PRICE

PPP 2020 presidential candidate

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Any frontrunner could be maliciously charged by APNU/AFC – Jagdeo

LGE preparations begin

GECOM urges P13 Guyanese to get registered

Page 3

…selection process to be fair, determined by Party's Central Committee 50% severance

Govt buckles: announces remaining payment for sugar workers Page 7

5 schools closed to shelter evacuated residents Page 12

Mother jailed for 3 years …tells court “I did it for my kids”

Amaila Falls' US$80M diverted to solar farms project

Linden P2 woman slapped with murder charge

GRA unearths drivers’ P10 licence scam

Fishermen charged P8 for stealing GRA boat

…as Region 9 floods worsen CJIA cocaine bust

“Hot water” killing

See stories on Pages 9 & 15

…Jagdeo questions Govt’s access to fund …says “Green Strategy” still to reach Parliament

Recaptured escapee P2 gets life imprisonment for attempted murder

2 news

friDAY, july 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Attempted murder

Recaptured escapee gets life imprisonment for attempted murder

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ecaptured prison escapee Stafrei Alexander of Laing Avenue, Georgetown was on Thursday found guilty of attempting to kill his neighbour Curtis Thom, whom he was said to have shot twice in March 2015.

The 12-member jury returned an 11-to-one verdict after more than two hours of deliberation.

After perusing a probation report from Alexander’s previous trial, which had ended in November last year, Justice Sandil Kissoon sentenced Alexander to life imprisonment even as his attorney, Stanley Moore, appealed for mercy in a plea of mitigation that lasted for more than 30 minutes.

After the sentence was imposed, the judge revealed that life imprisonment was the maximum sentence prescribed for the offence. After brief back-and-forth legal discussions in open court, Moore was advised by Justice

Kissoon to retain certain arguments for another arm of the court system.

In the probation report, it was revealed that the defendant was born in New Amsterdam, Berbice, and grew up with his grandparents rather than his parents; and Alexander admitted that this had impacted upon him.

Alexander maintained his innocence as Police led him off in tight security. According to the indictment, the 35-yearold man attempted to murder Thom by way of discharging a loaded firearm in his direction. Thom was shot hours after his daughter’s christening.

The court heard that, based on his beliefs, Thom proceeded to walk into his home backwards after the christening, when Alexander mumbled remarks and pointed a gun at him. The victim was hospitalised for seven weeks, during which he obtained surgery to correct his injuries. Based on the ac-

Recaptured prison escapee Stafrei Alexander is set to spend the rest of his life in prison

count of an expert witness, a .38 revolver was the firearm of choice on the night in question.

At the end of his previous trial before Justice Brassington Reynolds in

November 2017, Alexander was set to be sentenced after being found guilty, but prior to deliberations on October 30, 2017, it was discovered that one of the jurors was below the age of 18.

That juror was discharged, and the remaining 11 deliberated and found Alexander guilty by a 9-2 proportion for the March 23, 2015, attempted murder.

However, Justice Reynolds conceded that he had “erroneously” formed the opinion that a verdict of such proportion could be accepted by the court.

Alexander is an inmate who had fled lawful custody multiple times. Also known as Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander, he was apprehended in late July 2017 after a special operation in Berbice. His apprehension came weeks after he had fled the Camp Street Penitentiary during an inferno that occurred around the

same time when several prisoners, including death row inmate Mark Royden “Smallie” Williams and now dead former policeman and prisoner Uree Varswyck had fled.

Prison officer Odinga Wickham was killed during that ordeal, which flattened the century-old sections of the prison. Alexander had previously fled lawful custody for six months before finally being recaptured at Kurupukari Crossing in the Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) in May 2016.

Attorneys Lisa Cave and Orithia Schmidt appeared for the prosecution.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

“Hot water” killing

Linden woman slapped with murder charge

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rances Harlequin, also called ‘Blacky’, of Lot 38 Half Mile Wismar, Linden, was arraigned before Linden Magistrate Clive Nurse on Thursday for the murder of her 56-year-old uncle, Hilbert Scott, upon whom she allegedly threw hot water during an argument at their home.

Facing a charge of murder, the 42-year-old unemployed Harlequin was remanded to prison on Thursday. The woman is suspected to be mentally ill.

According to information received from the Police, Harlequin was initially charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, then attempted murder. She was charged with murder after Scott, a security guard succumbed to his injuries.

The incident occurred at about 09:30hrs on June 16.

Information from Police revealed that the two lived together but in different apartments in a flat, wooden and concrete structure. On June 16, the suspect reportedly lit a coal pot in her apartment, and the smoke started to affect Scott. While still alive in his hospital bed, Scott told investigators that he had gone over to his niece’s apartment to speak to her about the nuisance.

Harlequin reportedly became annoyed and threw a pot of hot water from off the stove on her uncle, resulting in him contracting like injuries. Scott reportedly went to the Wismar Police Station immediately after, and reported the matter, and was later escorted for medical attention.

Scot was seen and examined by a doctor at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), where he was treated and sent away. Shortly after Scott had made the report, the suspect reportedly also went to the said Police Station and

reported that Scott had dealt her a cuff to her mouth during the incident, and she threw the water on him.

She also was sent for medical attention, but reportedly never returned to the Police Station. Harlequin was arrested by Police on June 17 and placed into custody. On June 19, she was placed on self-bail, to appear in court on June 25.

Scott was additionally charged for assault. It was reported that, on June 21, the victim started to feel unwell and was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, where he was admitted with an infection reportedly caused by the burn injuries.

On June 25, the suspect was charged with the offence of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to commit murder. The matter was called before Linden Magistrate Clive Nurse, but Harlequin did not appear.

The magistrate ordered that she be summoned for court on July 9. Information from Police also revealed that while Scott was in the hospital, his condition worsened and he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

He died at about 08:15h on July 2.

A file was later completed and sent for legal advice, and a post-mortem was (PME) performed on the body of Scott by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh.

According to the results of that PME, conducted at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on July 4, the cause of Scott’s death had been Generalised Sepsis or ‘Septic’. It was also revealed that the deceased was HIV positive, and the hot water which was thrown on him caused his body organs to become infected. The body was later handed over to relatives for burial.

news

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friDAY, july 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP 2020 presidential candidate

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, July 6 – 10:30h-12:00h and Saturday, July 7 – 12:00h-13:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, July 6 – 09:45h-11:15h and Saturday, July 7 – 10:55h-12:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Early morning sunny intervals are expected to give way to light rain showers that will last throughout the day followed by partly cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-easterly to East North-easterly and North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 10:11h and 22:44h reaching maximum heights of 2.32 metres and 2.33 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 03:41h and 16:11h reaching minimum heights of 0.91 metre and 0.89 metre respectively.

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Any frontrunner could be maliciously charged

by APNU/AFC – Jagdeo …selection process to be fair, determined

by Party's Central Committee

A

ny candidate who considers himself or herself a front runner for the post of presidential candidate for the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) at the upcoming 2020 elections could find themselves facing malicious, trumped up, or spurious charges for dubious offenses following directions handed down by the ruling APNU/AFC Coalition Government.

This is the view expressed by Opposition Leader and PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo as he responded to questions raised by the media in regard to the likelihood of the next PPP Presidential candidate being singled out for charges.

“I won’t put it past them…They can charge anyone, make up any charge,” Jagdeo responded, as he said the party’s Central Executive Committee (CC) would have to decide on the way forward if such a situation were to arise, and it would cross that bridge if and when the time comes.

His comments come at a time when the Government has been accused of utilising several independent agencies, including the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and senior persons at various levels to achieve political objectives by charging and arresting former PPP MPs, ministers, and other professionals perceived to be PPP. Jagdeo refused to endorse any candidate or

state whom he supports or favours for the post, as he said it would be unethical for him to do so publicly and prematurely, as there is a process to be followed internally.

He also said he would not be inclined to make any such pronouncements publicly, as these are sensitive matters which must be thoroughly determined and debated internally by the PPP and its leaders.

The PPP General Secretary avoided the temptation of also stating whether or not he felt there was anything wrong with people declaring their candidacy in the public, but he did say that careful attention has to be placed on how this is done, and what is said as well as the timeliness of any pronouncements.

Jagdeo insisted that while everyone would have an opportunity to make their case to the party’s executive following the determination of the process to be followed, candidates should be mindful of the statements they make about other would-be competitors, and exactly how much they are willing to divulge to the public to suit the partisan agendas of others, including those anti-PPP elements.

He said the PPP’s Central Executive would be tasked with finding the suitably qualified and experienced candidates to consider for the top post, and not him individually.

“People have an interest in personalising these things, so it seems like I am telling people to toe a particular line,” he said as he

warned that his job as GS was merely to state what the PPP position is on particular issues. “ E v e r y candidate will have an opportunity pursuant to that process to make their claim or to pursue…their ambitions”, Jagdeo said Opposition Leader and PPP General Secretary sternly.

He made Bharrat Jagdeo it clear that the PPP”, he reminded mehe was not against anyone dia operatives. declaring an interest in the Jagdeo also explained job, but he argued even more that he was in favour of all cautiously that respect must young people accessing opbe shown for whatever selec- portunities, as he called on tion process is agreed upon. all Guyanese to show decoThe former president has rum and civility in the comsaid he does not want to say ments that they are makwhether he prefers someone ing about public officials and who is from the ‘new or old those who aspire to high ofschool’ PPP, but he insisted fice. that his track record and fluHe maintained that the id support for youths at ev- next PPP presidential canery level of the party’s lead- didate must also be someone ership is clear. who has the right tempera“My record as president ment and qualities to lead saw the youngest Cabinet the next Government, as he in the history of Guyana; exuded confidence that the and as General Secretary, PPP will be victorious at the saw the youngest Central 2020 elections. (Michael Committee and Executive Younge) Committee in the history of

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friDAY, july 6, 2018

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Paying teachers better

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his week, the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) made a bold assertion -- that it is finding it difficult to trust the Ministry of Education and the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change Coalition Government in general with respect to reaching a pay deal for the nation’s public educators.

Among other things, the Union, in various sections of the press, said the Government’s track record was the underlying reason for the entity’s distrust and frustration. The GTU also stressed that it had been fully cooperating with the Education Ministry over the past few months, after it cancelled a planned industrial/strike action against Government following the intervention of President David Granger back in 2016.

The Union also explained that there has been little or no communication from the Government on the proposed multi-year pay package it submitted, despite President Granger’s optimism that a deal would be reached when he addressed the issue during this year’s May Day Rally.

In fact, GTU, under the leadership of Mark Lyte as President and veteran trade unionist Coretta McDonald as General Secretary, has expressed concern time and time again about the slothfulness being depicted by the Ministries of Finance, Education and Presidency since the proposal was submitted to Cabinet for consideration.

And while these two trade unionists could continue to display patience in the face of the Government’s silence, teachers this week proved that they will not allow the Education Ministry to exploit their tolerance and self-restraint. This resulted in some teachers from the South Georgetown Branch engaging in a peaceful picketing exercise to demonstrate their willingness to struggle for better working conditions and improved remuneration.

From all indications, other GTU branches are ready to mobilise their teachers to move to the streets to demand that the Government not only show more respect for the collective labour bargaining agreement, but for the teachers themselves, who are facing insurmountable challenges both within and outside of the classrooms within the public education system.

In fact, the teachers may utilise the upcoming GTU General Council meeting set for August 28 to give a new mandate to the leadership of the Union, which may be similar to the posture the GTU adopted under successive PPP Administrations; where, as argued by many, intolerance and industrial actions were not the last but first resorts whenever talks broke down and little progress was made.

The truth is, the feelings of betrayal and frustration that are being vented by our teachers are both justifiable and understandable. After all, these teachers and their representatives have been in talks with the APNU/AFC Govt about finalising a multi-year agreement since 2015.

Following the President’s intervention, which is now being seen as a political PLOY to avoid industrial action, the task force established late last year -- which comprised representatives of the Ministries of Education, Finance, Communities, Public Service and the Presidency; as well as representatives of the union -- completed its work and submitted its report to Henry on April 6th, 2018, who then tabled it at Cabinet.

The Coalition Government, which campaigned on education reform, respect for labour laws, and better remuneration during the 2015 elections, cannot now change its tune when it has accessed executive power. It must now deliver, especially after several of its leading members -- including President David Granger -- vowed to treat our nation’s educators far better than its predecessors, in order to exact better performances and results.

The Coalition Government also has a moral duty to finalise the agreement and accede to the demands made by GTU, because it found monies -- just two months after taking office back in 2015 -- to pay its Ministers a 50 percent salary increase to boost their morale and performance, while insulating them from becoming ‘bribable’.

It is also unacceptable that the Government continues to find huge sums of money to invest in all sorts of social and party-like ventures aimed at continuing the pomp and ceremony surrounding select national events, but cannot afford to pay Guyanese teachers what they deserve.

Just as the Government finds it easy to take credit for the gains and successes recorded by students within the public education system, it must also see it fit to reward the teachers with better terms of service, conditions of work and pay, for their sterling performance, which forms the bedrock of those successes which are celebrated by all.

The GTU, too, despite its historic affinities to the PNC-led coalition, must not exhibit double standards. The union cannot run with the foxes and hunt with the hounds. It cannot continue to empathise and sympathise with the Government, which has the ability to budget and find monies to pay public prosecutors $20,000 per hour for appearances in court, but cannot find an extra $15,000 a month for teachers, who spend more than 8 hours daily in our classrooms.

Any amount of money spent on our teachers is money well spent, and always results in value for the dollars flowing from the public purse.

Motor Vessel Malali is still going strong after so many years. Here, the Malali is sailing down the Essequibo River en route to docking at the Leguan Ferry Stelling. (Photo by Lakhram Bhagirat)

GECOM Chairman must do better

Dear Editor, The unilaterally appointed Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Retd) James Patterson, recently presented an open challenge for anyone to dispute that GECOM is the best run bureaucracy in Guyana. This and the many disappointing published statements from the Chairman present very distressing signals that he woefully misunderstands his role in advancing the ideals of the organisation.

It is indeed very questionable that the Chairman sees GECOM as a bureaucracy. Foremost, the organisation ought to be demonstrative of the broadest levels of transparency in advancing the ideal of its constitutional mandate -- that of a democracy.

Equally opposite, however, the definitions of bureaucracy confirm on one side “a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives”; and on the other, “an excessively complicated administrative procedure that is seen as characteristic” of the term.

The situation is certainly worthy of query, as it drives two obvious questions. Is the Chairman indicating that he is leading GECOM under the influence of state officials and the Government?

Or is he suggesting that he

is likely to advance a most complicated path?

One would be hopeful, for the sake of all Guyana, that the intent of the Chairman is not misconstrued as expressed; and that simplifying the operational mechanisms in a fair and transparent framework would be the order of his pursuit. Our citizens need and demand this much.

There have been recent recognisable conflicts and walk outs of meetings of the Commission. These resulted from disagreements by the Chairman over questions raised, in particular

by Opposition Commission Members, who actual function as representative of constituencies of people.

In the context, it is obviously logical to question the Chairman’s apparently eroding and ageing grey matter, thinking, actions and pronouncements. In fact, statements about best run just cannot be qualified, for many obvious reasons.

The image of GECOM has been significantly tarnished by the exposure of a number of inept practices of persons in control of operational administration. The 2015 National and Regional Elections are under scrutiny via an Election Petition in the Court. It is also public knowledge that there were 33 fake statements of poll which the former GECOM Chairman, Steve Surujbally,

saw no reason to question, or to ascertain the facts of how they got in the system.

Audits were conducted at GECOM following the 2015 General Elections. The eminent Auditor General’s Office prepared three reports based on its investigations into the procurement of radios, pliers, batteries, toners and other accessories, and found that more than one hundred million dollars ($100M) had been spent, but cannot be properly accounted for. These allegations of fraud must be taken seriously.

Justice James Patterson (retd) took the reins as GECOM Chairman last year October. He has on his desk the Auditor General’s report that detailed the allegations of procurement irregularities at the Commission.

Although Auditor General Deodat Sharma insisted that the Commission turns the report over to the Police, the Chairman of the Commission is blatantly declining to allow the law to take its course.

Guyanese must be fully cognisant that the Commissioners have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure the integrity of the accounts of GECOM. Hence they must take full responsibility to make sure that accountability; transparency; and, above all, trust must be the order of the day.

After the initial Office

of the Auditor General’s report, there was a management letter sent to the Elections Commission. Are the Management and the Secretariat the same? Do we have a copy of the response by the Election Commission to the report prior to the publication of the report of the Office of the Auditor General?

Reports emanating from the various registration centres are suggesting that the verification process after completing a registration transaction were delayed.

This is despite it being clear that such activities must be completed within 48 hours.

On the other hand, GECOM must be flexible to conduct the verification exercises after working hours, to accommodate persons who are working and have to be on the job at the same time that the exercise is been conducted.

Other reports suggest that there is another round of spending extravagance as funds are exhausted in the name of GECOM for accrued expenses that have nothing to do with registration or elections preparations and management.

The Chairman must do better and stop trying to defend the obvious anomalies.

He must fix them!

Sincerely, Neil Kumar, JP, MP

Third parties have proven to be cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled Dear Editor, The lure of power and pecuniary gain will always rule paramount for third parties. This was evidenced in the 1964 elections, and again in the 2015 elections by both the UF and the AFC. The pretenders and the pretensions of these third parties are well documented.

In fact, those in the

AFC are currently squandering the opportunity to become patriots who can bring about the necessary changes to propel this country towards socio-economic growth. Where have the progressives gone? Without an iota of doubt, they have been utterly consumed by the PNC, because of their greed and lust for power. Another

third party just dissipated!

It must be recalled that the main thrust and objective of the leaders of the AFC was to ‘get rid of the PPP’, as evidenced even before the coalition was formed by the subversive tactics they used in Parliament. It was never about putting Guyana first, but rather about getting rid of their arch enemy.

At no point in time was the AFC honest about tackling the socio-economic problems facing this country. They made the country ungovernable, and this led to a vote of no confidence tabled by Nagamootoo, the dissolution of Parliament, and the calling of an early Election in 2015. continued on page 5

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

What is the real purpose Accusations against the Prize are of the City Constabulary? false and without merit (Part 1) Dear Editor, With this recent massive robbery that was committed on a popular jewellery store at the Stabroek Market -- a heist that could rival ‘The Great Train Robbery,’ which occurred in 1963 when a Royal Mail train was heading from Glasgow to London -- the citizens of Georgetown should expect nothing less than the resignations of the Georgetown Mayor, the Town Clerk, the Chief Constable, and the Clerk of Markets being immediately tendered.

Of course this will never happen, as those at City Hall cheerfully stumble from one scandal to another without any reprimand ever being meted out to them.

The role of the City Constabulary seems to be only that of body protection: for securing of the multiple residences of the Mayor, the Town Clerk and other members in and out of the city; and for chasing vendors around downtown Georgetown whilst the poor

vendors and patrons in and around the municipal markets are robbed with impunity on a daily basis.

What is the real purpose of the City Constabulary, which has well over 100 employees and about five stations in Georgetown? Which, according to the Town Clerk, has the same power as the national police (GPF) in the maintenance of law and order in this country? Couldn’t they simply use these extensive powers to guard the markets?

He proudly boasts that his Constabulary is responsible for policing the entire 15-square mile area of the capital city, with its approximately 180,000 citizens; and that they are also empowered to protect citizens as they patrol the city. Does this include the Stabroek and other municipal markets, which are burgled on a daily basis?

The Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown should be ashamed of themselves, and

should hang their heads when they see citizens. They have been raising market stall rents, property rates, licence fees and certificate charges, solid waste collection costs, yet the municipal markets have leaky roofs; are dark and rat infested and insecure; the abattoir is dilapidated and barely able to slaughter animals for consumption as food; the Day Care Centres are being shuttered; City Hall and most other municipal buildings are in a most ruinous condition; there is no municipal swimming pool or other recreational facilities; and the cemetery is a national disgrace, to name a few maladies.

Mr. President, isn't this jewellery store robbery the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back? Should there not be a Commission of Inquiry launched at City Hall?

Regards, Kwasi Sanderson

Dear Editor, I refer to the claims made in letters to the national newspapers by Rev. Gideon Cecil and Ras Aaron Blackman: * That the Guyana Prize for Literature privileges Guyanese writers resident overseas • That it awards prizes only to a small clique of friends in that circle of overseas- based writers • That local writers and unpublished manuscripts are overlooked • That local writers do not stand a chance against the foreigner ones; and • That local writers are denied opportunities for recognition and development as writers.

The Guyana Prize was established “to recognise and reward outstanding work in literature by Guyanese and Caribbean authors, in order to: (1) Provide a focus for the recognition of the cre-

Third parties have proven to...

It must also be recalled that, at its formation, the founding leaders had vowed never to coalesce with either the PPP or the PNC, since they claimed that both had destroyed this country. They had vowed to remain independent, but the grand entry of the genuine pretender Moses Nagamootoo just before the 2011 Elections changed all of that, with his guile and innate ability to manipulate.

Therefore, Mr Ralph Ramkarran’s proposal outlining the characteristics which a third party must have in order to be viewed as utopian in nature is meant for academic discourses rather than being based on the realities of our situation. I am sure he is genuine in what he has proposed, but it simply will not work.

There will never be ‘political unity,’ such stuff are what dreams are made of; it is a myth! The ‘waste, extravagance and corruption’ of our oil monies have been set in motion.

Furthermore, no third party will be willing to hold the reins of the Presidency until the Constitution is amended to include shared governance, in accordance with the parties’ support at the elections. This will happen only if the third party wins a majority and can get a two-thirds majority or call a referendum. This will never happen!

On the other hand, if the third party does not secure a majority or a plurality, then it will be in opposition advocating for a unity Government. This, again, will never happen, since

the winner takes all mentality bears a strong incentive against this. The alternative scenario is that, if this call is ‘resisted,’ then the third party will support ‘the party which agrees to implement its policies of constitutional reform, leading to inclusive governance,’ to fight poverty, crime and corruption.

In opposition, the AFC has proven that it will work to topple the Government to

secure power and a ‘good life’ for itself. So this, again, will not happen.

Where will we find a third party which possesses ‘that higher purpose which resonates with the Guyanese people’? Third parties have proven themselves to be the means by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves

from page 4

the reins of Government.

Another third party is criminal!

When I was a boy, I once said to my father, “Dad, we need a third political party.” He said to me, “I'll settle for a second.” (Ralph Nader) Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor, Region Six

ative writing of Guyanese at home and abroad (2) Stimulate interest in, and provide encouragement for, the development of good creative writing among Guyanese in particular, and Caribbean writers in general.

Since it began in 1987, the clear majority of winners have been resident overseas. The Prize Awards have always been meant to go to the best of the nation’s literature, and the harsh reality has been that, since the 1950s, the vast majority of practising and professional writers left the country, most of them settling overseas.

This means that the bulk of the best Guyanese literature is being produced in the UK, Canada and the USA. It should not be surprising that that is where most of the winners have been.

In spite of that reality, it is plainly not true that there was a bias towards those writers “in exile”, and a neglect of local residents.

The judges have proven themselves ready to recognise the best talent when it is resident in Guyana, and have not hesitated to award the Prizes to them.

Contrary to what has been peddled, there have been outstanding cases of local writers, most of them with unpublished manuscripts, defeating well known

names who have been established overseas.

Here are some examples: Harischandra Khemraj was an unknown writer – a school teacher in D’ Edward Village in Region Five, West Coast Berbice, with no previous publications when he won the top prize – the Best Book of Fiction in 1994 with Cosmic Dance.

Among the vanquished were celebrated literary high flyers based overseas Fred D’Aguiar, David Dabydeen, Beryl Gilroy and Cyril Dabydeen. That was a major find, an emphatic advance for Guyanese literature at home.

Harold Bascom has now advanced to be a playwright with four Guyana Prize victories and one Caribbean Award. He resides in the USA. But he was a local writer and dramatist in Lodge, Georgetown when he received his greatest recognition up to that time – the Guyana Prize for the Best Book of Drama in 1994 for his unpublished manuscript of the play Two Wrongs.

What is more, he repeated the achievement in 1996 while still a local resident, when he entered his playscript of Makantali.

Yours faithfully, Al Creighton Secretary, Guyana Prize

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By Erin Leonard, PhD

T

ypically, kids do not remember much before the age of four or five, but the details of an early morning 39 years ago replay vividly in my mind.

I remember the way my big toe throbbed after the dresser drawer landed on it, and the panic I felt when I couldn't find my favourite shirt. I remember the airport window, cold on my forehead as I leaned against it, waiting to see my brother for the first time.

A tiny silhouette appeared against the shadow of the airplane and walked across the windy tarmac accompanied by the airline attendant. He held a cookie, moist and cemented to his sweaty little fingers. Possibly his only source of comfort as he flew across the world by himself. No mom. No dad. No sister. Nobody.

Yet, on that day, I became his sister. I was now his and he was mine. That day changed me. My heart began to beat for someone other than myself.

My parents were devoted to my brother, older sister (who was also adopted) and me. I was close in age to my brother and sister, so I was attuned to how they felt. Although my parents were loving and supportive, I sensed a deep wound within my sister and brother.

I desperately tried to understand this wound, hoping that if I did, I could help. As a young adult, I found myself studying attachment, infant mental health, child development, and child psychology. In graduate school, I found a way to relate every paper back to attachment.

My dissertation was no exception.

Finally, I began to understand.

Yet, this knowledge failed to help my brother and sister. After all, they were adults who were occupied with grown-up life, not old childhood wounds.

Ironically, around this time, I received the news that I was not

Foundation …An adoptive mom and her decision to consider the child's perspective

able to carry children of my own.

I was devastated. I desperately wanted to be a mom. Quickly, I persuaded my husband to adopt and, miraculously, we were blessed with twins.

Yet, the pain that adoption caused my brother and sister played on my mind, and I thought seriously about the issue. I decided to forgo the current recommendations and apply the insight I gleaned from my brother and sister, as well as my knowledge of child development, and my experiences as a child psychotherapist, in order to tackle the issue of adoption with my kids.

From the beginning, I used the word “adopted”

routinely.

When people asked which parent Jack and Jane resembled, I warmly responded, “They are adopted.” At a very early age, Jack and Jane were aware they were adopted. They understood it as something that described them like blue eyes, or brown hair, or being a twin.

At five, Jane and Jack asked what “adopted” meant. I explained, “Kids come into this world in two ways. Some kids come from their mom’s hearts and some kids come from their mom’s bellies. Adopted babies come from their mom’s heart. Your Auntie Katie and Uncle John are adopted.”

Jane asked, “So, Uncle John

and Auntie Katie came from Nana’s heart and you came from Nana’s belly?" “Yep,” I said with a smile. Jane and Jack seemed very content with this explanation, and ran off to play.

Second, I did not divulge too much information too early.

Kids are not psychologically or emotionally equipped to handle sophisticated and emotionally laden material.

Providing them with unnecessary details prematurely can traumatise them.

Letting them lead the discussion and ask the questions is the safest route. The helpful aspect about well-adjusted kids is they usually only ask the questions they are emotionally equipped t o

handle.

Third, I never used the term “birth mom”. When a child hears they had another mom, a mom who gave them up, it hurts and is confusing. It may induce a type of shame that is difficult for a young child’s selfesteem to recover from. Moreover, the birth mom is not the child's actual mom from the child's perspective. In many situations, they only know one mom. The adoptive mom. Yes, the birth mom was selfless and courageous, but they are not the child's mom from the child’s perspective. Looking at the issue from the child's perspective is imperative.

As I told Jane and Jack, “I have

always been your mom. Since you took your first breath on this earth, I have been your mom.”

When Jane and Jack were nine, they realised that coming from my heart was a physical impossibility and they understood I was using a metaphor. When they asked me about it, I explained that they were born from another person’s body, but I have always been their mom.

“I have been your mom as long as you have been alive,” I said. They both gave me a hug and seemed relieved.

Yesterday, Jane was incredibly patient and nurturing with another child. I commented, “Gosh, honey, you are so kind. You are going to be such a great mom.” She looked at me and said, “Yes, and I'm going to adopt my babies like you.”

In that moment, I realised she had been protected from the wound my sister and brother experienced, and although I can't help my brother and sister with their childhood heartache, they helped me protect Jane and Jack from it.

And, as I hold my brother’s tiny daughter in my arms, the same feeling washes over me. I am yours. You are mine. My heart beats for you, and I am forever changed.

It is important to note that every adoption is different, but these basic principles may help with the discussion: Normalise adoption.

Do not divulge sophisticated and confusing details too early.

If the situation allows, avoid the term birth mom until the child is older and is psychologically equipped to handle the sophisticated details of the adoption.

Allow the child the space to ask the questions when they are ready.

Adoption is a gift of love. I am forever grateful to the birth moms who provided me the loves of my life. Thank you. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.

com)

– help your child deal with disappointment in a way that makes them stronger

J

immy is a silly, skinny, nine-year-old boy, who barely tips the scales at 48 pounds. "I can practically spit through him," my dad says on a regular basis.

Although Jimmy showed promise on the house league baseball team, his performance didn't cause anyone to spill their beer. When his best friend, Jake, a baseball prodigy built more like a tree trunk than a twig, announced he was planning to try out for an elite travel team, Jimmy jumped on the bandwagon. The tryouts were open and Jimmy wanted to sign up.

"Ugh," I thought.

"He'll get killed!" a neighbour gasped when he heard the news.

The line between setting a child up for success and protecting him from disappointment is hazy. A parent never wants to see their child hurt or disappointed. After all, it might lead to him quitting or giving up. Yet the alternative – attempting to shield him from life's inevitable sprinkling of disappointments – is not only impossible, it backfires.

In addition, if a parent incorrectly handles a child’s disappointment by denying him the feeling, the ramifications are significant. Not only is the child left alone with their disappointment, but the child may feel estranged from the parent because the parent does not understand.

It’s not easy. A list of Do's and Don'ts helps.

Do:

Embrace disappointment It is inevitable. Use it to help make your child strong and resilient. The most important thing you can do for your child is help them adjust to disappointment in a way that makes them stronger.

This creates resiliency in your child. A resilient child is well adjusted and happy.

Stay present Have empathy. Put yourself in their shoes for a moment in time, and honour the disappointment. "You are disappointed. I would be too. I get it."

Let them know they are not alone “I've felt the way you do lots of times in my life. It is hard.”

Prove that you understand Tell them a story about when you were disappointed. "I felt exactly like you do right now when I didn't get that promotion at work last year. It hurt."

Encourage them to keep trying "Keep at it. It will come."

Always validate effort before achievement Make it clear that working hard is more important than a victory, and really mean it. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

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friDAY, july 6, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

50% severance

Govt buckles: announces remaining payment for sugar workers

J

ust over one week after legal proceedings were filed for certain categories of redundant sugar workers to get their full severance pay, Government has now come out assuring that it is committed to paying out the second tranche of monies as promised.

“Cabinet discussed payment of the second tranche of severance to sugar workers and reiterated its commitment to honouring the agreement to make the remaining severance payment within the time it promised,” Minister of State Joseph Harmon said on Thursday at the post-Cabinet press briefing. in January, Back Government had announced that some $2 billion was earmarked to pay the displaced sugar workers following the closure of the Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon estates last year as part of plans to downsize and reorganise the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Those entitled to $500,000 and less were paid in full while those entitled to more, were only paid 50 per cent with the remaining monies to be paid in the second half of the year.

However, Government had come in for much criticism over the move with stakeholders, including the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), saying it is a violation of the labour laws and called for full payments to be made. According to the laws, redundant workers are to be paid severance upon termination of their employment.

In fact, the Union last

plained on Thursday that Government had to source monies from the various ministries to pay the redundant workers. “…Several ministries were actually asked to do a cut back on their budgetary allocations and we anticipat-

ed that all of the monies will come from that process. Half of it has already been paid and the second tranche… will come directly from Government sources that will be paid in the second half of the year,” he noted.

Harmon went on to ex-

plain that as the majority shareholder in the sugar company, which is currently heavily indebted and cash strapped, Government has to step forward and fulfil the payments. (Vahnu Manikchand)

Mother blames NA Hospital for baby’s death

Several ex-GuySuCo male and female workers stood in the scorching sun for hours to receive their severance

month approach the court to get Government to make full severance payments, a move which Minister Harmon bashed.

“I’ve learnt that some attorney has actually gone to court to get a determination that these monies are owed [but] Government has acknowledged that. Sometimes I really wonder why people are, in a sense, abusing the court system by going to get a declaration and saying to the court to tell the Government “you must pay” when in fact, the Government has already determined that it will pay and it will pay the second tranche in the second half of the year and we’ve committed ourselves to that,” he stated.

Mixed reactions

There have been mixed reactions to GAWU’s move of filing legal proceedings regarding the severance payment, with some sugar workers feeling this may further delay them getting their monies.

However, Opposition

Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday posited that the move by GAWU should be supported because it may push Government to deliver on its promises. He noted that Government’s announcement now of its commitment to make the payments has no guarantee and could very well be a tactic used to convince GAWU to withdraw the court action.

“I think it’s a wise move on the part of the Union, we support that. In fact, we’re hoping to go jointly but they have locus standi.

There is no timeline that the Government has given so if the court case forces them to give a timeline and then they say but we can’t make the payment because there is a court case, GAWU can easily withdraw the court case and have the workers paid. But right now, they’re raising all of this money, there is confusion at the [GuySuCo] Board but workers can’t get their money,” Jagdeo stated.

Source of funding

Minister

Harmon

ex-

A

young mother is accusing some doctors and nurses at the New Amsterdam Hospital’s Maternity Ward of negligence, which resulted in her delivering a stillborn baby early Tuesday morning.

The 19-year-old firsttime mother, Bibi Asiyaa Hussain, is demanding answers from the Hospital’s authorities since she would have entered their care with a healthy foetus. According to the grieving woman, she left her Crabwood Creek, Corentyne home on July 1 after experiencing severe pains and was admitted to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

She said had the doctors and nurses paid much more attention to her complaints then perhaps her baby girl would have still been alive.

The visibly distraught woman explained that she cried and begged the nurses to help her, since the pain was unbearable but all she got was “you nah ready yet…yuh time nah reach yet.”

However, when her time did come, the baby was already dead. Recounting the events, Hussain said from the time she was admitted all she had been hearing was that she was not ready to deliver despite her continuous complaints of heavy pains and steady contractions. This

Bibi Asiyaa Hussain

persisted until Monday and a nurse who told her to wait her turn checked her.

Around 21:00h Monday night, the nurses began monitoring the foetus and it was indicated that a steady and healthy heartbeat was present. At that point, Hussain was 3cm dilated. On Tuesday morning about 01:00h, a doctor came to check on her and told her she was 4cm dilated, but Hussain said she felt as though it was time and would have indicated that to the doctor and asked to use the washroom.

Nevertheless, the doctor said that the baby was in a position to be delivered and she could not use the washroom. Hussain would then be forced to lie there and wait until 04:00h when the doctor

returned and began panicking after the foetal heartbeat was no longer there.

"She check me and then say they not hearing a heartbeat from the baby, I say ‘what you mean because when you check earlier the baby was okay?’,” she related.

An emergency ultrasound was done at 05:30h and it was confirmed that the foetus died.

“The doctor advised to put me on drips to bring down the baby and that was to ?start at 06:00h. After about 30 minutes into the drips, another female doctor came to check me and after she realised I was on the drips she said that wrong because it would take too long, because the baby dead and in me, if they wait longer it could kill me too,” she tearfully related.??

She eventually delivered the dead baby girl. Now her grief has changed into anger and she is demanding answers from the authorities since she believes the doctor and nurses were negligent. However, the Hospital has been mum on the incident and efforts to contact the Director of Health Services proved futile.

Additionally, the woman sought to get a meeting with the doctor, but that request was denied.

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friDAY, july 6, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS CJIA cocaine bust

Mother jailed for 3 years ...tells court “I did it for my kids”

A

37-year-old beautician was sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined $1,117,200 when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for trafficking in narcotics.

Natasha Blair of Lot 92 Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), admitted to the charge after it was read to her by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The charge stated that on July 2, 2018, while she was an outgoing passenger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, EBD, she attempted to smuggle 532 grams of cocaine.

The prosecution’s case stated that on July 2,

Blair was destined for JFK International Airport when a Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit officer, acting on information received, approached her. She was told of the suspicion but denied.

The mother of two was then cautioned and taken to a medical facility where an X-ray revealed foreign objects in her stomach.

She was admitted, and subsequently excreted 32 pellets containing suspected cocaine which weighed 322 grams and 210 grams was extracted from her vagina.

According to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Blair used her body to accomplish ‘two risky concealment methods’, that is, ingestion and insertion.

Blair’s attorney, Keoma Griffith, in plea of mitigation asked that the court show compassion for his client since it was an unfortunate risk she took while citing that she has an 11-monthold baby.

“I’m sorry for causing my family any hurt and pain but I did it for my kids,” a tearful Blair told the Magistrate as she apologised for her crime.

Reports indicate that the woman swallowed cocaine pellets and concealed a package of the illicit drugs in her lower extremity.

Her 11-month-old daughter, with whom she was travelling when she was intercepted, has since been handed over to her grandmother.

W Jailed: Natasha Blair

Meanwhile, CANU said t they are now in search of the father of the suspect’s child for questioning into the discovery.

He has been identified as Sherwin Stoby, called “Kong”. His last know addressed was given as Lot 87 Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown.

Fishermen charged for stealing GRA boat

T

hree fishermen who reportedly stole a boat belonging to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) found themselves before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Taijram Roopnarine, 38, and Hemchan Kenswain, 21, both of Lot 67 Annandale Market Road, ECD, and Nazim Khan, 44, of Lot 265 Narine Street, Annandale were not required to plead to the indictable charge. An alleged accomplice, Shameer Mohamed, was also charged, but did not make an appearance in court.

The prosecution is alleging that while the vessel was in the vicinity of a wharf at Ruimveldt, Georgetown on July 2, the men stole the vessel, valued at $2.5 million and belonging to the Guyana Revenue

The duo being escorted by Police as they left court

Authority.

According to facts presented to the court, on July 2, law enforcement officers

Debating…

of the GRA carried out a search exercise in the same area where they seized a 55foot wooden vessel and docked same at the Ruimveldt wharf.

However, at about 02:15h the same day, the vessel went missing. A search was carried out, and the vessel was allegedly seen being towed by a smaller boat being operated by Kenswain.

The men were subsequently arrested. Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield did not object to the men being placed on bail, but asked that they each lodge their travel documents and report to the Ruimveldt Police Station every Friday.

The men were each placed on $350,000 bail. The matter will continue of July 20.

…and leadership

hen you think about it, using “debates” to choose leaders of countries is a bit strange, don’t you think?? Since we’ve just finished heralding the top performers of the NGSA, we can appreciate that, as a method of choosing students for the top schools, the test must be predictive to the goal.

So how about presidential debates?? Are their results as predictive of good leadership? As usual, with social innovations of all sorts, it’s from the US, which prides itself as marching to a different drummer in almost every field of human endeavour, and then gets the rest of the world to follow suit because of the power of its media!! The US presidential debate comes out of the “Town Hall” meetings of New England from way back in the 18th century, and received its greatest fillip when Abe Lincoln debated Stephen Douglas in 1858, just before their Civil War. Now Abe was concededly a very good president by all accounts, but in the 20th century, with the astounding growth of the media and the Public Relations industry, matters took a turn for the worse. Debates became just another way to project the “image” the candidates’ PR crew’s polls had projected as what the people wanted to hear!! The debates were just vehicles for uttering soundbites to get the attention of various “voting blocs”.

Presidential debates, of course, percolated into Guyana…even though there’s never been an actual debate between the big guns. But, for the first time, the “debate” culture seems to’ve infected one of them – the PNC – in the race for the party’s chairmanship. Basil Williams, the incumbent and Attorney General, just threw down the gauntlet to his challengers – Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Minister of Health Volda Lawrence.

Now, to your Eyewitness, this is a very intriguing scenario. The audience for these debates won’t be the general public – but, at the very best, the PNC faithful; or more likely the power elite that usually fixes these things behind the scenes!! While it’s been said -- with a great deal of truth -- that it doesn’t matter who’s placed as the candidates of the two majors, appearances must also be kept up! So what is it these two constituencies want to hear??

Their interests coincide, of course, in demanding that the PNC reoccupy the seat of power so that the goodies keep on coming! The successful strategy the last time was to get someone who could lull the Indian bozos in the AFC that they’d really get a piece of the action is they joined up.

The question, then, is which of the three can bring in some new bozos to augment the AFC dead meat?!!

…the empire’s role

There’s a growing school of scholars in metropolitian countries pushing the line that imperialism wasn’t as bad as it’s been made out by the Third World intelligentsia and their own Liberal “bleeding heart” compradors. It’s like “The empire writes back”!! So what’s the point they’re making?? Well, simply that while conceding they might’ve done SOME bad things to us natives, if they’d left us to our own devices, we’d done worse!

Now, your Eyewitness thinks this is a load of bollocks of course, but understands why the revisionist scholars from up North are gaining traction. In a nutshell, it’s because of Governments like the PNC’s then and now.

Think about this scenario, dear readers, as one of them could write about us in Guyana. When the British GAVE us independence in 1966, they left us with the highest literacy rate in the British Caribbean; one of the lowest crime rates; a decent standard of living; the sugar industry producing 350,000 tonnes annually; the bauxite industry one of the largest in the world etc… etc.

And today?? Don’t ask!!

…Haitians into Barbados

Imagine, after building a special “Guyanese Bench” at Grantley Adams Airport…the Bajans have now declared that Haitians don’t even need a visa to enter their island!!

What does that say about us??

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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friDAY, july 6, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Amaila Falls US$80M

Jagdeo questions Govt’s access to fund …says “Green Strategy” still to reach Parliament

N

ow that the Government has revealed that it has been able to secure another tranche of the Norway Fund, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has again expressed his discontent with the solar energy deal, while pointing out that there is still no clear framework for renewable energy in Guyana.

Jagdeo also argued that nothing of this nature was taken to Parliament, and warned that spending of monies must meet the stipulations in the agreement with Norway. Therefore he questioned what public policy document the Government had presented to Norway.

He recalled that Director of the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) Per Fredrik had stated that Guyana needs to establish a credible pathway to a clean and renewable energy transition, in line with its nationally determined contributions and the original Norway agreement.

“Pharo made it clear that this must be done through a public policy document with formal status,” Jagdeo said. According to him, the Government’s Green State Development Strategy cannot be the public policy document with formal status, since that has not even been completed.

“The Green State Strategy is hollow. We don’t know what document they gave to Norway. They have to come clean, they have to say how all the safeguards in the original agreement

Minister David Patterson had said that the independent fact-based assessment conducted by Norconsult does not define Amaila as the best option for renewable energy in Guyana, but rather the “most advanced”.

He explained that there are 67 other sites in Guyana that have potential to generate hydropower, but Amaila is the only site with the most

ment the power provided by Amaila. On these grounds, he explained, Government is still deciding on the best way forward.

The APNU/AFC Administration, since its days in the Opposition, has been strongly against the Project – which could have been providing clean, reliable, and affordable energy in the next few months, had

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

will be met, and they have to say how the money will be spent transparently,” Jagdeo told a news conference on Thursday.

The former Head of State, whose brainchild is the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) -- the proposal that helped to earn Guyana funds from Norway for protecting its rainforest -- expressed worry over all of these issues, while claiming that Government may have tried to deceive the Norwegian Government.

PPP left.”

Further to that, the Opposition Leader said he expected that Government would have had a comprehensive discussion. He therefore said, “The visit should have resulted in clarity on how we (Guyana) will receive the final tranche to take us up to the $250 million earned in the first agreement. There should have been clarity about the status of the negotiations for the new agreement.”

Trip to Norway

Norway had, since 2009, supported the Amaila Falls Project, depositing US$80 million in the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), earmarked for Guyana’s equity share in Amaila Falls Hydropower Inc, a special purpose company for realising the project. But in December 2015, Government announced that the US$80 million which had been earmarked for the project could go to other energy initiatives.

Public Infrastructure

Jagdeo also questioned Government officials’ recent trip to Norway, because he feels the local delegation was not prepared to discuss long-term plans, but was more focused on getting some money.

“It seems that the only purpose of the trip was to get the US$80 million, to get permission from Norway to spend the money. This is typical of Government; (having) nothing new conceptually, only spending what the

Amaila Falls Project

An aerial view of a camp set up to carry out work on one of the roads to the Amaila Falls project, Region Seven (File photo)

dated feasibility report.

Patterson noted, too, that if Government were to pursue Amaila, it would mean other renewable energy plants would need to be established to comple-

it been given the green light from the inception.

N o n e t h e l e s s , Government had announced that the report by Norconsult would determine whether the project will

move forward.

The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, which started under the previous Administration, was the flagship project of the fiveyear forest protection partnership.

Guyana was expected to earn up to US$250 million in performance-based payments based on an independent verification of deforestation and forest degradation rates and progress on REDD+ enabling activities.

REDD+ is a global initiative that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Norway had transferred US$80 million to the IDB for the project, but when the APNU/AFC Government took office, it said that proceeding with the project would be irresponsible. Norway had urged the Government to consider the merits of the project, as Guyana stood to lose the US$80 million earmarked if it failed to come up with a plan for transformational renewable energy sources that can be realised in the next few years, hence a review of the project was conducted.

(Samuel Sukhnandan)

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friDAY, july 6, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GRA unearths drivers’ licence scam T

he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) revealed on Thursday that is has unearthed illegal operations relative to forged drivers’ licences, among other illegalities.

The GRA says it has discovered that some unscrupulous members of its staff were working in collusion with outsiders and members of the public to issue forged drivers’ licences, certificates of compliance and registrations.

While announcing that details surrounding this development will not yet be divulged, the GRA has announced that an investigation has been launched and is ongoing.

The GRA has also revealed that those individuals who were part of the illegal operations have been sent on leave.

In a statement it issued, the authority posited: “The GRA will continue to work to improve its systems to minimise illegal activity and ensure that integrity and transparency are the hallmarks of the agency.

However, it needs the help of the general public in ridding the agency of staff who are determined to discredit the Authority by engaging in unscrupulous activities with willing participants and confidence tricksters.”

Just a few months ago, the Guyana Police Force had seen some major irregularities in one of its examinations prior to the issuance of drivers’ licences, in

The Guyana Revenue Authority

that 174 persons were registered to write the examination, 106 persons presented themselves to do so on the day in question, but 207 scripts were received at conclusion of the examination, and 155 of the 207 scripts were completed.

According to the Police, preliminary inquiries had revealed a complete breach of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) governing the administration and conduct of the learner driver’s theoretical examination.

The Police had also stated that initial inquires had revealed that a senior subordinate officer who was mandated to oversee this theoretical examination, in collaboration with two pastors from the Cops and Faith Community Network partnership with the Guyana Police Force

(GPF) and three junior GPF ranks, had left the venue shortly after the examination had commenced, and did not return.

Further, it was reported that a junior subordinate officer who ought not to have been at the examination venue had presented himself there, had spent some time, and subsequently left.

The GPF has said that since members of the Cops and Faith Community Network became involved in the invigilation of the Learner Driver’s Theoretical and Practical examinations, there have been reports of a significant reduction in the opportunities for corruption, complaint and allegations; thus this voluntary involvement will continue.

news

S RAIGHT T

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friDAY, july 6, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Footballer’s murder

“Nasty Man” smiles as he’s jailed for 51 years

Guyana is more indebted than Haiti

T

he total stock of public debt (both external and domestic) increased by 4.3 percent to US$1.61 billion at the end of 2017 when compared to 2016 (see graph below). The projected stock of debt for 2018 is expected to grow more than the economy, making Guyana more indebted per size of the economy than Haiti. If one were to add the G$50 billion overdraft incurred at the Central Bank by the Government, Guyana is having

its worst debt position since 2014. Sadly, there is every reason to expect that Guyana’s debt will worsen in the months ahead, as the unsettled political situation encourages capital flight. When all is said and done, this situation will cause a rapid deterioration in the Debt-to-GDP ratio.

The Debt-to-GDP ratio is designed to help investors determine if a

country has too much debt. In 2017, growing debt represented 46.1 percent of GDP, and this is expected to worsen in 2018 to just shy of 49%. Why this increasing Debt-to-GDP ratio will be bad news for Guyana in 2019?

Increasing debt service cost In 2017 the total domestic debt service payments increased by 11.7 percent to US$11 million. External debt service payments rose by 13.2 percent, to US$61 million from US$54 million in 2016. This leaves less money for investment in critically needed developmental projects.

Who is supplying the debt?

The portion of the national debt is increasingly foreign. In 2017 it was 73% foreign funded, while in 2018 it is expected to be 75%. In such a situation, it means that foreigners with no loyalty to Guyana are increasingly buying the nation’s debt, not because they have confidence in the Guyanese economy, but as a live investment with sizeable returns. They see Guyana as an opportunity to harvest larger and large rates of return, as in the case of China, which has lots of free cash flows and sees this as an opportunity to buy political votes from countries like Guyana at international forums like the UN, while at the same time making a healthy return on their investments.

Economic growth and debt The economy is growing at a slower pace than the growth in the debt. In 2017, the stock of debt grew by 4.2%; the economy grew by 2.1%. This is bad news! Because of the low economic growth rate, the ability to pay off these new debts is becoming less possible, and as Guyana’s credit profile worsens, the international investors will find more lucrative opportunities elsewhere, which can then stagnate the nation. Guyana should really be using all of this borrowing to expand its productivity and production, not waste it on idle pipe dreams like the Green State Economy, which is yet to be defined with bankable projects. One of the biggest miscalculations this Granger Government is making is that there is scope for a rapid expansion of revenue collection in a weakening economy. The second biggest miscalculation being made is that this Government has the ability to instill discipline in spending. Thirdly, the Government programme to rapidly expand new opportunities for investment seems dead on arrival. GO-Invest continues to fail at its intended mission; and clearly, its work model needs a through re-examination. The policies coming out of this Granger Government can be classified as confusing and lethargic.

Since May 2015, there have been major spates of policy paralysis in Guyana as the Government struggles at rolling out a comprehensive plan that can turn the economy around.

Here are some common solutions to a high debt-to-GDP ratio: Cut Government Spending - Governments with a high debt-to1.

GDP ratio can cut spending to reduce their debt burden. However, the trick to successfully cut spending in non-value added areas is to not deter growth and undermine the GDP portion of the equation. Let us cut all the parades, wasted travel and pageantry from the budget.

2.

Encourage Growth – The Bank of Guyana can play a big role in encouraging growth by cutting interest rates, which should lead to easier commercial lending to the private sector. Higher growth increases the GDP end of the equation, and lowers the overall debt-to-GDP percentage.

Increase Tax Income - Governments can increase taxes as a way to 3. pay off debt. But, again, the trick is to increase taxes in a way that broadens the range, rather than increase tax rates so as not to affect GDP growth and undermine the denominator in the equation.

There is no easy path, but action must be taken; because, before we know, it servicing our debt will become more expensive, to the point that it Please your thoughts at sasesin1@yahoo.com. can becomeshare unsustainable.

wo weeks after a 12-member jury unanimously found him guilty, Delon Henry, called “Nasty Man”, was on Thursday sentenced to 51 years imprisonment by High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon for murdering East Ruimveldt, Georgetown footballer Dexter Griffith.

Griffith was murdered on September 29, 2015, near his mother’s home. He was shot six times in the East Ruimveldt warlock area.

Henry smiled after he heard the court’s verdict and was even heard threatening persons as he exited court amid heavy security. Nevertheless, Griffith’s mother shouted that she forgave him as Police escorted her son’s killer out of the courtroom. Earlier in the day, the courtroom was packed to capacity with relatives and friends of the Griffiths’ who were all on the edge of their seats as the sentence was handed down.

During Henry’s trial, he

Delon Henry, known as “Nasty Man”

always professed his innocence and when it was time for him to have his say, he told the court that he was in jail from 2006 to 2014 as a teenager and that he had no knowledge of the Warlock area where Griffith was gunned down. He was represented by Adrian Thompson while Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt prosecuted the case.

When he was found guilty last month, the jury required nearly six hours

to come to a unanimous verdict. On that day, the 12-member jury emerged at about 15:30h, after being sequestered for deliberations before midday and were deadlocked at a proportion of 6-6. They were sent again and emerged later with the unified decision.

During the trial, jurors had been told that five spent shells had been recovered from the scene. However, former Inspector Jackson, who had then been a Sergeant of Police and had tendered the exhibits at the Magistrates’ Courts, had admitted that he could not find the exhibits, after making several checks at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary. The murdered footballer’s brother, Keshawn Griffith, had testified that while in hiding, he had seen the defendant, Henry, firing a gun moments after his brother was shot. The deceased man’s mother, Lavern Griffith, had recalled

Murdered footballer Dexter Griffith

running to the Warlock area from her home where she and other relatives saw the footballer lying in a drain.

It was reported in September 2015 that after being shot, Griffith had managed to stand and walk a short distance in an attempt to escape from Henry, but he eventually fell unconscious to the ground while his assailant escaped. He was taken to a city hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

12 news 5 schools closed to shelter evacuated residents friDAY, july 6, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

… as Region 9 floods worsen

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s water levels continue to rise rapidly throughout Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) docking several communities, five schools were closed and have since been turned into shelters as residents in affected communities are being evacuated.

This was revealed by Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday as he updated the media of the situation on the ground and Government’s response to the flooding in the region.

“Twenty-five residents had been evacuated from their homes and housed in temporary shelters at Culvert City Nursery School, Tabatinga Community Centre and the Amerindian hostel; while additional affected residents were evacuated to relatives’ homes on higher grounds,” he stated.

Minister Harmon went on to note too that the Regional Emergency Operation Centre was activated on Thursday and has recommended the closure of five schools so that they can be utilised as shelters, including St Ignatius Primary.

Access to this school is in-

This road is completely covered as threatening water levels in Region 9 recorded

undated and challenging to traverse.

Among the other schools that have been given approval by the Education Ministry to be suspended are St Ignatius Secondary; Culvert City Nursery; Arapaima Primary and Secondary.

The regional administration has indicated that it has the capacity to deal with the flooding as is, however, if the situation worsens, then external assistance would be required.

Nevertheless, Harmon said the Civil Defence

Commission (CDC) is in contact with the region and has identified and quantified the needs requirements in these communities based on preliminary assessments.

“You’re looking at aviation fuel to support emergency evacuation should that become necessary in remove areas; water purification tablets; water storage containers, and food and bedding for the residents who are in shelters. I have been advised by the Civil Defence Commission that these items are available and can be deposited there on short notice,” the State Minister asserted.

Moreover, he related that acting President, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, has since ordered that Ministers be dispatched to the region to assess the situation. To this end, Junior Public Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson has already left for Region Nine and is looking into

“infrastructure matters”.

Additionally, Minister Harmon, who has responsibility for the CDC, will also be travelling to the region today to also assess the situation.

The Minister of State however could not give the extent of the floods, that a more updated assessment would be obtained and given today. But he did note that the floods are at the worst in the Lethem and Tabatinga surroundings.

Threating water levels

However, Regional Vice Chairman Carl Singh

told Guyana Times on Wednesday that communities in the South Pakaraimas and Deep South, and the Rupununi are still inundated.

He revealed that at about 05:00h on Wednesday, the Moco-Moco and Takutu Rivers rose some six feet, while the Rupununi River also remains at a “very high” level. Up to late that evening, the water had not receded.

“St Ignatius Secondary school was cut off, you have to use boats to get over the bridge; the entire Deep South is cut off; at Nasha

Bridge, the water very high there. Nothing can be done in there,” Singh observed.

Coupled with the flooding is reportedly a shortage of fuel in Region Nine which is blamed on the bad condition of LindenLethem trail. Only last week, a truck transporting fuel toppled while crossing a bridge.

A temporary by-pass was carved out but according the Vice Chairman, the truck remains stuck on the bridge as drums of fuel are being shuttled to Lethem.

(Vahnu Manikchand)

Den Amstel accident

Minibus drivers get bail for brothers’ deaths

Dead: Shemon West

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he two minibus drivers who are accused of being responsible for the fatal accident that occurred on June 26 at Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara and claimed the lives of two brothers were each slapped with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Devon Headley and Mohendra Rambowar both denied the charges after it was read to them by Magistrate Dylon Best in the Wales Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Dead: Shalum Allen

Headley and Rambowar were released on $150,000 for each charge. The matter is expected to continue on September 12.

Shemon West, 28, and Shalum Allen, 19, of Lot 8-9 Fellowship, WCD were returning home on a pedal cycle from the Leonora Police Station after uplifting car documents when they met their demise.

Preliminary investigations revealed that minibus BVV 8882 had stopped on the Den Amstel public to put off passengers, and as

the two brothers were in the process of overtaking it, the vehicle suddenly drove off.

However, in the process, its right-side front hit the left handle bar of the bicycle, thus causing the two brothers to fall onto the roadway.

It was at this time that another minibus, BVV 7042, which was heading in the opposite direction, drove over them.

The teen reportedly died on the spot, while his older brother, a father of two, succumbed at the Leonora Cottage Hospital.

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friDAY, july 6, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Manickchand LGE preparations begin challenges students to reject prejudices GECOM urges Guyanese for a better Guyana to get registered

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Top student Nalia Rahaman shares a moment with former Education Minister Priya Manickchand

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ormer Education Minister Priya Manickchand, in giving the charge to the 2018 Westfield Prep graduating class, challenged students to reject prejudices that have almost become part of our culture.

Westfield Prep produced Guyana’s top student at the 2018 National Grade Six Assessment.

Manickchand told the graduants that they will be met daily with outdated views, sometimes from right at home, or from school, or from the community. These outdated views, she said, will insinuate that one ethnicity is superior to another, or people who worship in a particular way are strange, or that children from rich homes are better.

She advised the students that at each and every time they encounter those anachronistic views, they must confront them and gently but firmly set the makers of those statements right.

She told the students that they have a special responsibility to be educated, inform themselves about the issues affecting Guyana, and dedicate themselves to working to make our country better than it is now. She encouraged them to be fully involved in both the academic and extracurricular life of

the high schools they would be attending.

On March 28 and 29, grade six students from both public and private primary schools across the country wrote the NGSA examination so as to complete their primary education programme and gain entrance into the secondary education system. They were tested in the areas of Mathematics, English, Social Studies and Science.

Just one week ago, the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results were announced, with Nalia Rahaman of Westfield Prep securing a perfect score of 529 marks at the examination. According to the Education Ministry, this was the first time ever that a perfect score was achieved by a Guyanese student at the NGSA. Meanwhile, along with the good performance, a gender gap was observed, with females acquiring more spots in the top one percent when compared to males.

This year’s examination also saw 14,145 students sitting the examination, with 104 females out of the 174 students being placed within the top one percent.

Additionally, a performance gap has also been present between the coastal and hinterland schools.

s the countdown begins for the conclusion of registration, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is urging all eligible persons who have not yet registered to visit their nearest GECOM office and do so by July 8.

The registration exercises, which commenced on May 21, 2018, stemmed from an effort to ensure that all suitable persons are afforded unlimited opportunities to be included on the National Register of Registrants database while ensuring that GECOM is in a state of preparedness which would enable it to respond to calls for elections in a timely manner.

According to GECOM, any person who will be 14 years and over by October 31 of this year and is a Guyanese citizen by birth, descent, naturalisation or is a citizen from a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one year or more, is eligible for registration.

For the registration process to be completed, inter-

ested persons are asked to present an original birth certificate or a valid Guyana passport and original marriage certificate or deed poll.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that baptism certificates, expired passports, photocopies of relevant documents or letters from priests, elders, head teachers, Toshaos, Justices of

the Peace (JPs) and existing Identification Cards (ID) will be not acceptable as source documents for registration.

Persons 18 years and older can also request to correct or change their name, address or occupation by July 8, while July 12 will be the last day in which persons can object to a name appear-

ing on the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE).

There will be a hearing by registration officers to determine the validity of the objections and if persons are not satisfied with the outcome, appeals will be heard by the Chief Election Officer.

Registration guarantees eligible persons their constitutional right to become registered in accordance with the relevant legal provisions and to cast their ballots at future General, Regional and Local Government Elections.

The Commission is also urging persons to desist from unlawful practices as there are reports of persons presenting themselves to be registered, claiming not to know their names, date of birth and other key personal identifying information.

The 29 registration offices countrywide are opened from Monday to Thursday between 08:00h to 17:00h, Friday between 08:00h and 16:00h and on weekends and holidays from 10:00h to 14:00h.

GDF officer successfully completes overseas training

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aving successfully completed advanced military staff training, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Commander Vernon Burnette has returned to Guyana from the United States with a Master of Science degree and a Diploma from the Naval War College at Rhode Island, USA. He graduated last May from the Salve Regina University with a Master of Science Degree in Administration, Justice, and Homeland Security, and last June from the Naval Staff College at Rhode Island with a Diploma in Navy and Joint Professional Education in

Commander Vernon Burnette

National Security, Strategy, Policy, and Joint Military Operations.

The two courses were

done concurrently, with the latter focusing on theatre security decision-making, strategy, war-fighting, and joint military operations. It also included several largescale planning exercises which provided participants with the opportunity to draft national security strategies.

Commander Burnett studied alongside a diverse group of American and international senior officers, and has been recognised as a highly professional officer with the requisite skills and attributes for higher levels of command. He was publicly commended for his two academic papers titled, “Humanitarian

Assistance and Disaster Relief,” and “Existing Security Challenges between the United States and the Caribbean.”

While commenting on his achievements, Commander Burnett stated, “It is my intention to use this new knowledge to make a positive impact towards the further development of the GDF Coast Guard. We were not only able to draw from the course material presented, but from the experiences of the officers who attended from the various militaries, with similar security challenges, strengths and other factors,” he added.

14 news GGDMA calls for technical assistance for miners T friDAY, july 6, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is urging Government to implement measures to ensure that small and medium-scale miners can grow and expand the sector. This call was relayed on Thursday when the body announced that medium and large-scale gold miners will be able to achieve gold production of over 1,000,000 ounces annually from 2020 if Government provides the requested assistance.

“We believe that small and medium-scale miners will continue to improve especially as the large companies set

the pace in exploration, excavation, processing and environmental management. As we affirm this partnership we call on the Government to provide increased technical assistance, education and training, and financial inputs to move the small and medium-scale gold miners forward at a faster pace,” the association disclosed.

GGDMA noted that it continues to encourage both local and foreign investment in the gold and diamond mining sector of Guyana. It congratulated all those “who mobilised investment dollars into mining in Guyana as they are

convinced that the investment climate though not perfect

is acceptable”.

“We call on small, medium and large-scale mining operators to be faithful to the

t e r m s of their agreements. GGDMA thanks Troy Resources and Guyana Goldfields/Aurora Gold Mines

for their sterling efforts and we declare our continued support as they proceed with expansion plans,” it said.

The GGDMA said too that it will continue to advocate for the fair and equitable treatment of all investors in the mining industry, whether foreign or local; small medium or large. It encouraged companies to continue adhering to occupational health and safety regulations, noting that Troy and Guyana Gold Fields Inc/Aurora Gold Mines on their level of gold production which was recorded at a recovery rate above 90 per cent.

“Even though the small

and medium-scale miners produced more gold in aggregate than these two large mining companies, it was at a mere 30-40 per cent recovery rate,” GGDMA added.

On Thursday, gold was trading at US$1256.90 per ounce of raw gold. Finance Minister Winston Jordan in January said that Guyana recorded some 653,754 ounces of gold in 2017, which indicated that gold declarations fell short of the projected of 720,000 ounces.

The Guyana Gold Board blamed poor roads and inclement weather for the fall in gold declaration.

STEM training Former AG bashes Govt for hosted for youths irresponsible spending Hiring of foreign attorneys

– as Govt reveals lawyers in third term case paid $10M

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

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ormer Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has described Government’s spending, particularly as it relates to recent court cases, as irresponsible.

Nandlall’s statement comes after his successor Basil Williams announced on Wednesday that the two Barbadian lawyers retained for the presidential term limit case were paid close to $10 million for their services.

The Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) also noted that that sum does not include travelling, hotel and living expenses.

According to him, the two lawyers – Ralph Thorne and Hal Gollop – were also separately hired for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) case, therefore it can be concluded that the fee structure may be similar. It could therefore amount to a whopping $24 million for two cases.

“One must ask what work the Attorney General is doing. He already has five advisors. He has an almost full complement of staff within the Chambers.

He already retains a battery of lawyers in private practice in Guyana. He is now recruiting from foreign lands. The public needs to know how much of taxpayer’s money this one Minister is costing this country!”

Nandlall ranted in his remarks.

Additionally, the former AG argued that Guyana have dozens of more expe-

AG Basil Williams

rienced and able lawyers in that could have been retained at a fraction of the sum paid to the Barbadians.

But, he claimed that the Government is unconcerned about spending wisely, but rather addicted to borrowing.

“They are addicted to borrowing, squandermania, corruption and nepotism.

While they continue to spend money as if it is going out of style, sugar workers cannot be paid, teachers are being refused promised in-

crease in wages and the little that Guyanese have are being plundered away by the bandits,” he added.

Nandlall also reminded that Government is currently embroiled in other sensitive matters that include the $300 million that would be paid in rent by December 2018, in respect to a building that was purchased by the landlord for $25 million, rented by Government as a “drugs bond” but never occupied. Also, the $20,000 per hour and $2 million per head, paid to Special Prosecutors, among others.

Williams revealed Wednesday that no one lawyer in the term limit case received more than $5 million. “They did well; I think the two Barbadian lawyers did well,” as he attempted to justify why they were paid that amount. The AG also went on to explain that skills from everyone will be utilised once there is a need and the decision to hire the Barbadians was not a mistake, because the matter was successful.

Jetty drowning

2nd body recovered

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he body of 10-yearold Timothy Yearwood, who reportedly drowned after plunging into the Atlantic Ocean at the seawall jetty around noon on Monday last, was found at the Buxton foreshore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Wednesday last.

Yearwood, of Lot 65 Unity Mahaica, ECD, went missing on Monday last when he reportedly went swimming with his cousin, 14-year-old Timothy Robinson. Robinson’s body was recovered on Tuesday afternoon in the vicinity of the Hope Foreshore, ECD,

Drowned: Timothy Yearwood

while the search continued for 10-year-old Yearwood.

The boys – 14-year-old Timothy Robinson, called “Dadoo,” and 10-year-old Timothy Yearwood – reportedly drowned after they had gone swimming at the seawall jetty.

According to reports, the families of the boys became alarmed when the clothing of Robinson was found near some rocks at the jetty but the boys were nowhere in sight.

Upon enquiring, the families of the boys were told that the two were seen swimming, and that Yearwood had begun to ex-

perience difficulties in the water, prompting Robinson to jump in to save him, but both had failed to resurface.

However, another narrative told to the boys’ families indicated that the two had been gambling in a boat when they fell overboard.

And yet another narrative was that two older boys who had been seen with the missing boys were reportedly seen running from the said jetty just before the clothing of Robinson was found.

Some of the participants testing one of the robots during the training exercise

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o increase innovations in the areas of technological creations, some twenty-five youths were on Thursday engaged in a training exercise facilitated

by STEM Guyana (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), in collaboration with the Department of Youth.

This collaboration between the Department of Youth and STEM Guyana was a two-day exercise, and one of the first training activities that was organised for the young individuals who are interested in learning the art of robotics.

It is seen primarily as a way of fostering youth involvement and engagement in the varying fields of the Science, Technology Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) initiative.

One of the co-founders of STEM Guyana, Ima Christian, in her remarks at the commencement of Thursday’s training exercise, noting that these efforts will enable students to learn the skills of robotics and programming, as well as computational thinking.

“We want these students to be able to be trained and ingratiated enough with the information, so that they may then go ahead and join our robotics league.”

She also noted that, as part of the robotics league, the participants will be given challenges every week on an interdisciplinary topic which will require them to program robots and discover solutions to these problems. This is part of an online challenge that was created to keep the minds

of these young individuals active and inventive.

“The goal is that they are able to engage with the subject matter while at the same time, pursuing technology to develop solutions to these problems that we pose to them every single week. It’s a very competitive focus to the platform, because we want people to be engaged and incentivised,” Christian posited.

Meanwhile, the Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael, emphasised that technology is an important factor in creating innovative creations which can help mankind and moreover, the environment.

“We believe that young people across Guyana, especially the out-of-school and unattached young people, will be able to benefit from this partnership. We’re looking forward to great things happening for our young people in various communities (in) regard to innovation, technology and robotics as we continue to create for them safe spaces.”

She noted that the Department will this year also be facilitating a youth camp, themed “Innovate to Accelerate”, which is also part of the collaboration with STEM Guyana.

The camp will run from July 23 to August 17, and will reach every administrative region of Guyana.

“Every region will have at least three maximum, minimum two, camps for the JulyAugust period. Again, young people will be exposed to robotics, recycling, tenets of the green economy, [and] animation to some extent,” the director said.

15 Amaila Falls' US$80M diverted to solar farms project G news

friDAY, july 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

uyana has been given the green light to use monies from the Norway Agreement -- in which the country is being paid for sustaining its rainforests to absorb global carbon emissions -- to fund a 100-megawatt solar energy project.

This was revealed by Minister of State Joseph Harmon at this week’s post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday. He said a Guyanese delegation comprising of himself, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and Amerindian People’s Association executive Laura George recently secured approval from Norwegian authorities to divert the funds that were initially ear-

marked for the controversial Amaila Falls Hydro Project.

“We have been now given sort of the green light that the $80 million can be utilised for solar energy… and so: (to) those persons who are wedded to this idea of Amaila Falls or nothing, this is basically making it very clear,” the Minister of State noted.

He explained that the Guyanese delegation was able to convince the Norwegian authorities to accept the use of natural gas as a clean and cheap alternative during Guyana’s transition.

“They were prepared to accept that as a transitory arrangement, whereby: because natural gas was a resource that belongs to Guyana; that it was cheap and it was clean; that it was a sovereign decision

as to what is done… It was felt that if you had natural gas in there, there was no Norwegian money; [but] I believe we had a more practical discussion,” Harmon said, while adding that the officials also saw a concerted effort by the visiting delegation, which comprised of three senior ministers promoting the solar project coupled with the support of the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) and Conservation International.

Harmon posited that Finance Minister Winston Jordan would soon be activating, with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank, the process to release the monies earned by Guyana for preserving its rainforests – an agreement that was en-

SPU defends $30B bond acquired for GuySuCo ...says PWC valuation of sugar estates 90% complete

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he Special Purpose Unit (SPU) under the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has responded to statements made by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in regard to his criticism of the $30 billion bond acquired by SPU through commercials banks both in Guyana and the region.

The SPU has not taken lightly those criticisms, which seek to suggest that the bond would be wasted and that it was acquired at an unreasonable rate. In a statement issued Thursday, the SPU said it should be noted that, as standard for any debt financing, security is required to secure payments to bondholders.

According to the SPU, rather than burden the assets of NICIL, which include the Guyana Oil Company, Atlantic Hotels Incorporated and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the security of the NICIL bond is simply a guarantee of payment from the Government of Guyana.

The terms of the bond are five years, since it is expected that the proceeds of the land sale for GuySuCo would be used to repay the facility, and NICIL wanted to secure the lowest possible interest rate.

“It is therefore important to correct several inaccurate statements being made by the former President of Guyana and Minister of Finance, Bharrat Jagdeo, regarding the bond,” the statement said.

The SPU reminded that the bond was secured solely by the full faith of bondholders in the Government, and not against any assets of NICIL or GuySuCo. Further, the Unit noted that the commercial lending rate for Guyana is 13.00 percent, while the NICIL bond was issued at 4.75 percent, which is

8.25 percent lower than the rate that most companies borrow at in Guyana.

It said, “The current inflation rate in Guyana is 2 percent; therefore, any prudent investor would demand a return higher than the rate of annual inflation. Mr. Jagdeo’s comments, as a former Finance Minister, are very concerning, since he would certainly understand that no country in the world, including the USA, Switzerland or Germany, can borrow at less than 2 percent for 40 years, as he mentioned.”

The Unit also stated that the 30-year US Treasury Bond is currently trading at 3.04 percent, which is expected to raise within the next year. To further illustrate how competitive the interest rates are in comparison to the countries in local lending rates, the SPU pointed to various bond rates in the region.

However, Jagdeo said recently that he is now in receipt of the Private Placement Memorandum for the GuySuCo $30 billion bond, and having read the contents of that document, he was shocked by what was contained in the agreement, which now leaves more questions than answers.

“I’ve had a copy of the Private Placement Memorandum for the bond – the $30 billion bond -- and I was shocked,” the Opposition Leader said recently, noting that in reading the memo, he came across details that the proceeds would be used to fund long-term projects and capital expenditure.

Jagdeo, an economist by training, said the general perception was that Government was raising $30 billion to spend on GuySuCo, on the remaining three estates.

However, the memo tells a different story, as it has stated explicitly that the $30 billion that they agreed to will

go to long-term projects instead.

“We don’t know what the projects are as yet, but you would recall that this bond is only for five years. So, they’re borrowing on a short to medium term, for long-term projects. You tend to match your borrowing with the life of the project. Normally, we would borrow on concessional terms for long term-projects.”

He used the example of the road and airport expansion projects, where there is an option of repayment of 20 or 30 years at one and two per cent interest. These, he said, are long-term projects. “So that you don’t have big balloon payments,” he declared.

However, Jagdeo said that in the case of the GuySuCo bond, this was different because, “In five years, at a 4.75 per cent interest, which is 355 basis points above our treasury bill, the Government of Guyana will have to pay back from the proceeds of NICIL nearly US$40 million in about five years just to service $30 billion.”

The SPU also announced that the preliminary works being carried out

by PricewaterhouseCoopers PWC with respect to the valuation of the estates that have been put up for privatisation and diversification are 90 percent completed. It said that it is completing information memoranda (IM) for each estate.

The IMs will include the asset registry and land inventory for each estate. The completed IMs will be published for potential investors and public scrutiny within the next two weeks. It is expected that potential investors would begin visiting the various estates in August, in order to make assessments of the facilities as part of the preparation of their proposal to the SPU.

tered into under the Bharrat Jagdeo regime.

It was recently reported that Government is set to pursue a 100-megawatt solar farm project. According to Minister Harmon, this proposed project will see several solar farms established to feed energy into Guyana’s grid.

“It doesn’t have to be one space in which that is going to, but the accumulated amount that goes into the national grid adds up to that…

From what I’ve seen in the GPL study, we’ll try as far as possible to locate them as close to where you have these sub-stations, so it will link very easily into the grid. So you won’t have to have the farms in some far place and then you will now have the issue of having to have trans-

mission lines and all of that,” he posited.

Moreover, the State Minister outlined that this solar project will bring about several benefits. This includes a 15 per cent reduction in the country’s reliance on fossil fuel in the first year after the project has taken off. He added that by the second to third year, there is estimated to be a 50 per cent displacement on Guyana’s reliance on heavy and fossil fuels.

“This is going to make a major change insofar as our finances are concerned. We won’t be buying diesel and so on for our generators. Of course there’re still gonna be get kept as backup, but our frontline arrangement is gonna be solar. And in the presentation, it is made very

clear that solar is now what the world is embracing,” he asserted.

Harmon went on to note that this move to solar power is driven by the fact that it is much cheaper, with Germany and China having mastered efficient and low cost production of solar materials. While Government is going ahead with the solar farm project, Minister Harmon has clarified that Government is still embracing hydro-projects as an alternative energy source, but will be doing so with only smaller projects like the Moco Moco Hydro, which was recently approved.

Nevertheless, he posited that Government is open to a private company investing in the Amaila Falls Hydro Project.

Self-Reliance Workshops

Graduates launch greenhouse project at Sophia

First Lady Sandra Granger looks at some of the plants at the greenhouse project in Sophia

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irst Lady Sandra Granger attended the launch of a greenhouse project, which is being spearheaded by the Green Life Floral Co-op Society, established by a group of graduates of the 16th SelfReliance and Success in Business Workshop. The

opening ceremony was held at the Cummings Park Multi-Purpose Centre, Sophia.

The First Lady, in her remarks, said that it was always a joyous occasion to witness a success story materialising from workshops facilitated by her of-

fice and commended the Co-op Society for facilitating the process. She also informed the gathering of her intention to facilitate more workshops in the Cummings Lodge community. “I am very happy to see Green Life Floral Co-op Society beginning to mobilise … because it is not just a nursery and a greenhouse, but you are also looking at sustainable livelihood…,” the First Lady is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.

The First Lady also thanked the Social Protection Ministry, for the continued support of the Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshops and for supporting the development of the Green Life Floral Co-op Society Green House project through the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) Project.

Bosai to gift compactor truck to Linden municipality

Bosai General Manager Eric Yu and former Mayor Carwyn Holland inspecting the truck

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brand-new compactor truck is set to be handed over to the municipality of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC), compliments of bauxite mining company Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI).

Carwyn Holland, who had lobbied for the truck while on a trip to China during his tenure as mayor, was recently invited by the company's General Manager, Eric Yu,

to inspect the truck which has arrived in Guyana from China.

This is a boost for the Linden municipality as it relates to its garbage collection efforts, as this will now make a total of four compactor trucks in its possession.

“As I'd announced a while back -- that I'd successfully lobbied for a large compactor truck for Linden; I'm pleased to state that the gift has arrived, and will soon be hand-

ed over to the town", Holland stated.

According to the former mayor, there should now be no excuse for the garbage situation in the community not being rectified. Holland said he was happy and thankful for the gift to the municipality, noting that one of his plans as Mayor had been to eradicate the garbage woes in Linden. The former mayor had also been instrumental in terms of the municipality having resources and finances to secure compactor trucks, two of which were recently purchased. He said residents should now be able to enjoy timely and quality garbage collection, and as such, a healthier environment.

Holland noted that the compactor truck which is set to be handed over is a larger one, and he is optimistic that residents will now be more motivated to pay their taxes. He also wished the municipality well with the new truck.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, july 6, 2018

Around the World

Mother Teresa’s charity Maduro warns Venezuela army sold babies – Indian Police over Trump ‘invasion’ plans

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nun and a staff member at Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in eastern India were arrested Thursday for allegedly selling babies born to unwed mothers, Police said.

The pair was arrested from the grounds of one of the offices of the charity in Jharkhand on charges of child trafficking, Police in the state capital Ranchi said.

The women could face up to five years in prison for selling a baby boy from the institution founded by the Nobel laureate, which cares for unwed pregnant women and mothers in distress.

Police said the infant was sold to a family in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh state for US$1700 by the two suspects.

Authorities grew suspicious after the state’s Child Welfare Committee discovered a newborn boy was

P

Mother Teresa was a missionary nun who became a global symbol of compassion but she was also a controversial and divisive figure

missing from the centre last week. Nuns at the charity told Police that the boy’s mother had taken the child away, said Ranchi inspector general Ashish Batra.

“However, on being contacted, the mother said that she did not have the baby with

her,” Batra said. The hospitals where the children were delivered will also be investigated, Police said. Mother Teresa was a missionary nun who became a global symbol of compassion but she was also a controversial and divisive figure. (Excerpt from

Jamaica Observer)

resident Nicolás Maduro urged his armed forces Wednesday to be on guard following reports that nearly a year ago Donald Trump, the US President, raised the possibility of invading Venezuela.

“You cannot lower you guard for even a second, because we will defend the greatest right our homeland has had in all of its history,” Maduro said at a military ceremony, “which is to live in peace.”

He alluded to reports in the press which said that, last August, Trump asked foreign policy advisers about the possibility of invading Venezuela, which the Trump administration has derided as a corrupt, Leftwing dictatorship.

Trump raised the idea in August 2017 during a meeting about sanctions the United States has imposed on oil rich Venezuela,

“You cannot lower your guard for even a second, because we will defend the greatest right our homeland has had in all of its history,” Maduro said at a military ceremony

reports quoting a senior administration official said.

Trump’s advisers said no, as did Latin American leaders with whom Trump also raised the idea. Bob Baer, a former CIA operative, said the idea of a coup in Venezuela had been “in the air for a couple of years” in intelligence circles, and he suspected the president had “got wind of it”.

He said: “I understand McMaster pushed back, said ‘stay out of it’. It’s very sensitive in South America – US troops operating there, overthrowing governments, is beyond the pale.

“Then again, Venezuela is a mess, and countries around it are scared. The situation is ripe for a change so we’ll see where it goes.”

(Excerpt from MSN)

Lions eat ‘rhino poachers’ on Fireworks explosions kill 19 in central Mexico South African game reserve

A

t least 19 people were killed in a series of explosions Thursday at fireworks warehouses in the town of Tultepec in central Mexico, including rescue workers who died saving others’ lives, officials said.

The initial explosion occurred around 09:30h (1430 GMT), then spread to other warehouses just as Police and firefighters began attending to the first victims in the town, which is known for its artisanal fireworks – and a history of deadly accidents.

“We deeply regret the

deaths of those who were killed this morning in...

Tultepec, including our firefighter and Police colleagues who lost their lives saving those of many others,” read a tweet from the Red Cross in the state of Mexico, where Tultepec is located.

At least 19 people were killed – including a minor – and 40 wounded, said state Interior Minister Alejandro Ozuna. Hundreds of soldiers, Police and firefighters deployed to the neighbourhood of Xahuento, on the outskirts of the town, cordoning off a wide area

around the smouldering workshops where the explosions occurred.

“I was having breakfast when there was a terrible blast. We left the house running and I saw a huge white cloud in the sky, as if it were going to rain – except today it rained fire,” said Alondra Perez, 62, who lives across the road.

An anguished teenager was asking rescue workers for information about his father, a fireworks maker who worked in the area. (Excerpt from

Jamaica Observer)

Key Trump ally Scott Pruitt forced to resign

Former environment chief Scott Pruitt has denied wrongdoing in the face of multiple congressional and oversight inquiries

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he embattled head of the US Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, has quit his post.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the departure of his environment chief who faced ever-growing scandals over his spending and conduct in office.

Trump announced that Pruitt’s deputy, former coal

lobbyist Andrew Wheeler, would take over Monday as acting head of the agency that the President has tasked with dismantling Barack Obama’s green legacy.

Pruitt has faced an array of ethical questions about his travel spending, security costs, dealings with industry lobbyists and misuse of Government resources.

He has denied wrongdoing in the face of multiple congressional and oversight inquiries. Lawmakers probed Pruitt for renting a room in a high-end townhouse coowned by the wife of energy industry lobbyist Steven Hart for $50 a night, an arrangement that has drawn fire from ethics experts.

Media reports say the payment is less than onethird the price of similar properties. Pruitt was also under fire for frequent firstclass air travel and for purchasing costly items for his office, including a soundproof telephone booth. Despite the scandals, Trump has been approving of Pruitt’s efforts to reduce regulations that the administration says curb business growth. Activists have argued those cuts have endangered the environment.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The suspected poachers strayed into a large pride of lions, the reserve's owner said

A

t least two suspected rhino poachers have been mauled to death and eaten by lions on a South African game reserve, officials say. Rangers discovered the remains of two, possibly three, people in a lion enclosure in the Sibuya reserve, near the South-east town of

Kenton-on-Sea. A high-powered rifle and an axe were also found. There has been an rise in poaching in Africa in recent years, to feed growing demand for rhino horn in parts of Asia.

In China, Vietnam and elsewhere, rhino horn is believed to have aphrodisi-

ac qualities. Sibuya reserve owner Nick Fox said in a statement on the reserve’s Facebook page that the suspected poachers entered the reserve late on Sunday night or early on Monday morning.

The remains were first spotted at 16:30 local time on Tuesday (14:30 GMT).

An anti-poaching team arrived on the scene, where a hunting rifle with silencer, a long axe and wire-cutters – equipment generally used by rhino poachers – were also found.

Several lions had to be tranquilised before the remains could be recovered, Fox added. Nine rhinos were killed by poachers in Eastern Cape province, where the reserve is located, this year alone. More than 7000 have been killed in South Africa in the past decade. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

UK Govt launches hurricane preparedness plans for overseas territories in C’bean

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he United Kingdom (UK) Government on Wednesday announced new measures to ensure British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean have the support they need in the event of a repeat of the devastating hurricanes that hit the region last year.

The British Government said its departments “have been putting plans in place to bring together humanitarian, military support and diplomatic work under a joint unit coordinated by the Foreign Office”.

RFA Mounts Bay will remain in the vicinity of the

Caribbean throughout the hurricane season this year and also for 2019. It said the Royal Fleet Auxilliary (RFA) Mounts Bay, a Navy ship deployed to the region since 2017, will remain in the vicinity of the Caribbean throughout the hurricane season this year and also for 2019.

Experts have also been deployed to the region to lead negotiations on a number of commercial contracts, in advance of peak hurricane season, to deliver essential recovery needs.

Plans for a multi-national coordination cell in the Caribbean to coordinate part-

ner countries and organisations are being made “to make sure efforts aren’t being duplicated across the region and to make immediate responses more efficient,” the Government said.

The statement said emergency humanitarian supplies in the form of over 1000 collapsible jerry cans, 1000 hygiene kits and up to 1000 shelter kits have been pre-loaded onto RFA Mounts Bay, “which will remain in the region for the hurricane season and be on hand to provide life-saving emergency assistance as required.” (Excerpt from Jamaica

Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, july 6, 2018

The in Sport" just got more exciting

O

n August 8, the Biggest Party in Sport – the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) – will commence with the grand opening ceremony at the Queen Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago. The opening game is set to bowl off immediately after the opening ceremony.

While it is anticipated that the opening ceremony and first match will draw a large Trinidadian audience on September 8, Guyanese are also ready to party at the 2018 edition of the tournament. And yes, there is a lot to celebrate and be excited about. Guyana will not only host five of the preliminary matches, but an addition two matches in the playoff round.

On August 8, the Guyana Amazon Warriors

Guyana Amazon Warriors Squad: Akshaya Persaud, Cameron Delport, Chadwick Walton, Devendra Bishoo, Gajanand Singh, Imran Tahir, Jason Mohammed, Keemo Paul, Luke Ronchi, Rayad Emrit, Romario Shepherd, Roshon Primus, Saurabh Netravalkar, Sherfane Rutherford, Shimron Hetmyer, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Tanvir, Veerasammy Permaul

will take on the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots; while on August 11, the Guyanese squad will take on the St Lucia Stars; followed by the Guyana Amazon Warriors taking on the Barbados Tridents on August 12.

On September 8, the Jamaica Tallawahs will play against the Guyanese team and then again on September 9, the Tribago Knight Riders will be in the house. With those matches gone, the focus will then be shifted to the playoff. Guyana is all set to accommodate two playoff matches on September 11 and 12.

With all the matches now set, it time for the party to commence. Guyanese from all walks of life

Jamaica Tallawahs Squad: Andre McCarthy, Andre Russell, David Miller, Elmore Hutchinson, Glenn Phillips, Imad Wasim, Johnson Charles, Kemar Roach, Kennar Lewis, Krishmar Santokie, Kristian Kallicharran, Oshane Thomas, Ross Taylor, Rovman Powell, Samuel Badree, Shahid Afridi, Steven Jacobs, Steven Taylor

Barbados Tridents Squad: Jason Holder (captain), Ashley Nurse, Dominic Drakes, Dwayne Smith, Hashim Amla, Imran Khan, Junaid Khan, Mark Deyal,Martin Guptill, Nicholas Pooran, Raymon Reifer, Roston Chase, Shai Hope, Shakib Al Hasan, Shamar Springer, Sunny Sohal, Tion Webster, Wahab Riaz

will undoubtedly flock the ticketing office at Camp and Quamina Streets to purchase those tickets early and avoid the rush. Tickets will be available shortly but the hardcore cricket fans can log onto the CPL website and get their tickets early.

This time around, there will be more excitement as before and Guyanese are known for their tremendous support to the tournament.

Meanwhile, while you are picking up those tickets, make sure to pick up your hats, bandanas, jerseys and other items at the merchandise section of the ticketing office.

One of the main attractions at this year’s competition will be the “catch a ball, win cash

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Squad: Alzarri Joseph, Ben Cutting, Brandon King, Carlos Brathwaite,Chris Gayle, Devon Thomas, Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, Graeme Cremer, Ibrahim Khalil, Javil Glenn, Jeremiah Louis, Mahmadullah Reyad, Sandeep Lamichhane, Shamarh Brooks, Sheldon Cottrell, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tom Cooper

prizes” initiative. It was done initially but it is back with a bang. On this note, we are calling all Warriors to make sure they are ready and waiting to roar as the Guyana-owned team take on the best of the best at the Guyana National Stadium.

While some might have their preference to win the tournament, the seven days will be fun to the max. It’s a time when Guyanese show the rest of the Caribbean, “how we party”.

It’s one competition and six teams vying for supremacy and will run from August 8 to September 16.

The full squads are as follows:

St Lucia Stars Squad: Andre Fletcher, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Christopher Lamont, Darren Sammy, Dasun Shanaka, David Warner (replaced D’Arcy Short), Jaskaran Malholtra, Kaveem Hodge, Kesrick Williams, Kieron Pollard,Lendl Simmons, Mitch McCleneghan, Niroshan Dickwella, Obed McCoy, Odean Smith, Qias Ahmad, Rakheem Cornwall, Rumman Raees, Hussain Talat

Trinbago Knight Riders Squad: Amir Jangoo, Anderson Phillips, Brendon McCullum, Chris Lynn, Colin Munro, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin,Dwayne Bravo, Hamza Tariq, Javon Searles, Shannon Gabriel (Junior Dala’s replacement), Kevon Cooper, Khary Pierre, Nikita Miller, Ronsford Beaton, Fawad Ahmed (Shadab Khan’s replacement), Sunil Narine, and Terrence Hinds.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, july 6, 2018

“Sauce it up” Fling”

Summer

“

for 89.5 on Wednesday

O

ne of Guyana’s most popular comediennes, Leza Singh, launched her new radio programme titled “Sauce it up” on Wednesday last on 89.5 FM. The guests on her inaugural show were popular television personality Joel Gansham, Evening New Editor, Michael Young and comedian, Sonia Yarde. The programme was full of

shade throwing, sarcasm and witty innuendos which added some spice to the one hour on radio.

Although listeners were expecting a clash of the two titans – Younge and Gansham – the one-hour show passed by with only egos being bruised.

Persons are now waiting to hear the announcement of who the next guests will be.

The show is clean content with no political or vulgar content. The show is not intended to discuss any serious issues and aims to remain on the lighter side of any issue that may arise.

“Sauce it up” is intended to reach the general Guyanese population, and as such, the content will be geared to piqué the interest of both young and old. The show is aired on Wednesday at 18:00h.

It’s one that will have you laughing so make sure, you take those pills before turning in to “Sauce it Up”.

T

for District Ultra Lounge tonight

he official party to kick off the August holidays is going down at the District Ultra Lounge this evening, with a concept party called “Summer Fling” promoted by Endless Entertainment. The name says it all and the party is expected to be epic.

In the house will be no other than the two most versatile deejays and selectors who have been creating quite a stir whenever they touch down. Selector Diamond and Gully Rass are known “party hypers” and will set the place on fire.

From soca to a touch of chutney and dancehall to hip hop – the vibes will be epic throughout the evening. In addition, there will be drink specials all night long.

Ladies, make sure, you have the perfect outfit to make a grand entrance, but remember, the first 50 ladies will receive free Jell-O shots upon entry. In addition, all ladies will be admitted free before 21:00h.

It is a night to behave bad because the party will “tun up”. Admission is easy… patrons will pay at the door.

Art of War

competitor

Daren Jordon A

for PC this Saturday

T

he place to be this Saturday is Guyana’s premier night spot, Palm Court, on Main Street, Georgetown, for another exciting event called “Baseline”. It is the ultimate dancehall party with the best deejays in town.

In fact, the venue will be invaded by 10 top-notch deejays and selectors who will definitely set the place on fire. They promise to spin the right selections to get the crowd going.

These include Selector Diamond and Carl, Shizzle and Deejay Energy, Selector Biggs and Ryan, Selector Papa and Fyah Feelings, and the last team comprising Father Moey and Rayvon.

This is one concept party you really don’t want to miss. There will be drink specials all night and without a doubt, there will be pure excitement.

The event is promoted by Future Entertainment. Ladies will be admitted free before 22:00h. This event is sponsored by Stag, HJ and Cheese Please.

s the countdown continues for the ‘Art of War’ deejay competition which is set for July 28, Guyana Times Entertainment will feature the deejays participating in the event. This week, we are pleased to feature Daren Jordon, also called “Turf Teacha”.

He is 28 years old and hails from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

“Turf Teacha” started his musical career at the tender age of 15 and previously played with Big Life Sound. He currently plays for the Trinity Sound System.

He has been in the sound business for 13 years. “Turf Teacha” has competed in three clashes and is still to win a trophy. His preferred musical weapon of choice is dub plates.

His focus as a deejay is to entertain his fans and his strongest quality is his self-confidence. He is also a self-inspired individual.

Jordon’s most memorable moment as a DJ was the impact he made at Art of War 2017.

If you want to see the “Turf Teacha” in action, be sure to come out on July 28 at the Sports Hall tarmac.

For more information on Art of War 2018, you can check the Facebook page “Empire Media Inc” or call telephone numbers 680-6720 or 862-233-0494.

friDAY, JUly 6, 2018

19

Juventus shares on the rise after Ronaldo speculation

Cristiano Ronaldo

S

hares in

Juventus FC jumped almost 10 per cent on Thursday on the back of reports that Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo might soon join the Italian club.

For a second day running, Juventus, Italy’s most successful soccer team, declined to comment on the reports. At 1230 GMT, Juventus shares were trading nine per cent higher at 0.81 euros. Over the last three days, shares in the club have surged more than 20 per cent in heavy trading volumes, as speculation over a Ronaldo transfer mounted.

Several Italian newspapers said on Thursday that Ronaldo’s agent was expected to meet Real Madrid President Florentino Perez later the same day to discuss the possible transfer.

Juventus won a seventh successive Serie A title in May, bringing their overall tally to a record 34 titles.

“It would be a big deal, increasing the team’s appeal and also because it would [be] bigger business for Juve, through merchandising,” a Milanbased trader said.

Ronaldo, who joined Real from Manchester United in 2008 for a then world record 80 million pounds (US$105.9 million), is the Spanish club’s all-time top scorer with 451 goals in all competitions and has won two La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies with them.

Despite the glut of silverware, however, the five-time world player of the year has had frequent fallouts with Real and has declared on several occasions that he wants to leave the club.

Moments after lifting a third consecutive Champions League trophy by helping Real beat Liverpool 3-1 in the final on May 26, Ronaldo appeared to suggest he had already decided to leave, telling a television reporter on the pitch at Kiev’s NSC Olympic Stadium: “It was beautiful to play for Real Madrid.”

The 33-year-old appeared to backtrack on that statement during Real’s celebration parade through the Spanish capital the next day when he told a mass of supporters: “See you next season.”

Transfer reports

Real has not issued any statement on their website about Ronaldo, although in the past days they have issued statements denying reports they have made transfer bids for Paris St Germain forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Spanish newspaper Marca suggested on Wednesday that Ronaldo is unhappy at Real because they are searching for his successor, and Perez has publicly courted Neymar, urging the Brazilian last year to come to Madrid if he wants to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.

Ronaldo, Portugal’s most capped player and all-time leading scorer with 85 goals in 154 appearances, scored two goals against Juventus in Real’s 4-1 win in the 2017 Champions League final.

Earlier this season, he struck a jaw-dropping bicycle kick against the Italians in a 3-0 win in a quarter-final first-leg game in Turin which prompted Juve supporters to give him a standing ovation.

He scored four goals in the World Cup, including a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw with Spain, but missed a penalty in a 1-1 draw with Iran and could not prevent a second round 2-1 defeat by Uruguay. (Reuters)

12-year-old breaks into England and Sweden confident as they go into final 8 Grandmaster rankings S T

welve-year-old R Praggnanandhaa became an overnight sensation when news broke out about the Chennai boy becoming the second youngest and India’s 52nd Grandmaster, after finishing joint first in the recentlyconcluded Gredine Open in Italy.

Back in 2016, Praggnanandhaa, at the age of 10 years and 9 months, had become the youngest International Master in the history of the game. From that point onwards, curiosity around the boy grew with him standing a chance to become the world’s youngest Grandmaster.

In a bid to achieve that dream, Praggnanandhaa played several tournaments around the world trying to earn GM norms. He even achieved the 2500 rating threshold but kept falling short.

Since becoming an International Master, Praggnanandhaa had only bagged one GM norm in the next year and 10 months. Post failing to break Sergey Karjakin’s record, the boy breezed through his title requirements, taking three and a half months to score his two remaining GM norms and become the second youngest Grandmaster in history, with the final one coming in Ortisei.

“Actually, before the eighth round, I wasn’t aware that if I win, I will score a GM norm,” Praggnanandhaa told Firstpost. “But after the eighth round, when I realised that I had made it, I was exhilarated.”

During the Gredine Open, several reports stated that the 12-year-old could possibly score a GM norm after the seventh round. But Praggnanandhaa had not read them. In fact, he avoids reading the coverage about him, fearing what’s written might distract him during games.

“I hadn’t read those reports. Also, I don’t do that usually,” he revealed. “I fear if I read everything that’s written about me, I might keep thinking about it during my games. Especially, if I am having a bad tournament, reading these reports might disturb me.”

Twelve-year-old R Praggnanandhaa

At the conclusion of the Aeroflot Open earlier this year, it became evident that he will not be able to meet the requirements for the GM title before the March 10 deadline to break Karjakin’s record. Praggnanandhaa said that striving to break the record had taken its toll.

“There was some pressure at the time. But I was also playing continuous tournaments back then and in many tournaments, I felt quite tired.”

Speaking about how he celebrated his achievement, Praggnanandhaa said, “After coming back to India, I went with my parents to the temple and some relatives visited me. So that was how I celebrated.”

Despite his historic achievement, Praggnanandhaa said that he wanted to increase his practice time and improve on his game. “I usually practice for four to five hours daily. But I want to change that. I want to work more on chess now and practice for an hour or two more, every day.

“I just want to improve my playing strength and increase my rating.”

Praggnanandhaa’s next challenge is the Leon Masters in Spain which takes place July 6-8. (News18)

weden’s strong collective is aiming to make life difficult for their more illustrious English counterparts when the two sides meet in their World Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday.

The Swedes trained at their hotel on the Black Sea before departing for Samara where they will face England in their first World Cup last eight match since 1994, when they came third in the tournament.

“All we (can) do is focus on our own game. We’ve proven to other people and to ourselves that when we’re at the right level we can make it very difficult for teams, and we’re not going to try to do anything else against England,” midfielder Sebastian Larsson told reporters.

Larsson has spent his adult life in England playing for a variety of clubs in England’s top two divisions, and with a move back to Sweden and AIK already secured, this might be the last English fans get to see of the 33-year-old.

“It’s a game I’m really looking forward to, it’s the quarter-finals of the World Cup and for me personally to be going up against England, the country where I spent 17 years, it’s obviously a little bit special,” he said.

“We’ve got huge respect for England; they’ve got quality players all over the pitch, they’re a good team, but for us, like w e h a v e been doing for most of this tournament, we’re trying to focus mostly on ourselves.”

After knocking out Italy in a qualification playoff for Russia, the Swedes won a group containing world champions Germany before defeating Switzerland in the last 16, but England will be a step up again for Larsson and his teammates.

“We know we have to reach our own standards, which is very close to our maximum like we have done, and that’s the only way to win football games at this level,”

he said.

Larsson’s midfield partner Albin Ekdal had a scan on a twisted ankle on Wednesday, but was back training on Thursday and is expected to start against England, and striker Ola Toivonen is ready for another tough day of running.

Toivonen scored in the 2-1 loss to Germany, but otherwise it’s been slim pickings for him and fellow striker Marcus Berg due to the amount of unselfish running demanded of them by Coach Janne Andersson’s defensive system.

“We know our game, we know we’re not going to have the ball as much, but we need to do the work for the team,” Toivonen said.

Meanwhile, England’s Gareth Southgate says the team must “make the most” of their World Cup opportunity in Russia, starting with Saturday’s quarter-final against an “older, more experienced” Sweden.

The match in Samara is England’s first quarterfinal appearance since 2006; a victory would earn England a semi-final meeting with Russia or Croatia.

“It’s a great opportunity, and although our team will be individually better i n two years, we might n o t have this opportunity again,” said Southgate.

England beat Colombia on penalties in the last 16 to record a first knockout stage win at a major tournament since 2006 with only their second penalty shootout win in eight attempts. Victory over Sweden would hand England a first semi-final since 1990.

Sweden, though, have impressed in the last 12 months – finishing ahead of the Netherlands in qualifying, beating Italy in the subsequent play-offs and qualifying from the group in Russia ahead of defending champions Germany. (Reuters) Sweden’s Sebastian Larsson

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friDAY, JUly 6, 2018

Bangladesh collapse again after Brathwaite’s ton W

est Indies’ fast bowlers rocked Bangladesh, again, reducing them to 50 for 6 in the final hour of play on the third day. This after Kraigg Brathwaite’s seventh Test hundred secured West Indies a 363-run first-innings lead.

Kemar Roach, who had wrecked Bangladesh in the first innings did not take the field in the second because of a hamstring injury, but Shannon Gabriel blew the visitors away with sheer pace and bounce.

Gabriel, fresh from a 20-wicket series against Sri Lanka, dismissed Tamim Iqbal soon after the opener had become the first Bangladesh player to 4000 Test runs. One ball after Tamim’s dismissal, Mominul was bowled by a Gabriel shooter that snuck through his defences.

Jason Holder, who took the new ball with Gabriel due to Roach’s absence, then plunged into the action. He kept moving the outswinger late from Liton Das, who resisted for a while, but in the seventh over, he went after another outswinger, only to edge to Brathwaite at first slip.

Gabriel then blazed one

Mushfiqur Rahim is bowled

by Shannon Gabriel

past Mushfiqur’s defensive prod, with the ball cutting back after pitching on a good length. Shakib then became his fourth victim, squared up to one that snaked away from him. Mehidy Hasan,

who had earlier bowled well to give Bangladesh something to cheer about, became Holder’s second wicket when he edged a short ball.

The action wasn’t as dramatic when the hosts start-

ed the day on 201 for 2.

They added 205 runs in 69.3 overs, Brathwaite leading the way with a polished ton.

Having begun the day on 88, Brathwaite first took 20 balls to reach the milestone and then let the others do the bulk of the scoring.

He was in control of most of his shots, however, and only offered one chance – Liton Das dropping him at leg gully when he was on 110 though it was a tough chance.

Brathwaite added 52 runs for the third wicket with Devendra Bishoo before the nightwatchman lost his off stump to Kamrul Islam Rabbi. The second session saw West Indies lose their way to Bangladesh’s spinners. Mehidy Hasan removed Roston Chase leg-before and Jason Holder caught at short-leg, while Shakib Al Hasan took the wickets of Brathwaite caught at cover and Shane Dowrich caught at silly mid-off.

Roach, though, struck six fours and a six in his breezy 33, before falling leg-before to Mehidy Hasan while Hope made 67 off 127 balls. Debutant Abu Jayed took Hope’s wicket – caught at fine leg – before remov-

ing Gabriel to wrap up the West Indies innings. Mehidy Hasan and Jayed took three

wickets each while Shakib Al Hasan took two wickets.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Bangladesh 1st innings 43 all out West Indies 1st innings KC Brathwaite c Mehidy Hasan Miraz b Shakib Al Hasan 121 DS Smith c †Nurul Hasan b Abu Jayed 58 KOA Powell c Liton Das b Mahmudullah 48 D Bishoo b Kamrul Islam Rabbi 19 SD Hope c Tamim Iqbal b Abu Jayed 67 RL Chase lbw b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2 SO Dowrich † c Liton Das b Shakib Al Hasan 4 JO Holder (c) c Liton Das b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 33 KAJ Roach lbw b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 33 ML Cummins not out 1 ST Gabriel c Shakib Al Hasan b Abu Jayed 5 Extras: (b 3, lb 8, nb 1, w 3) 15 Total: (137.3 Overs) 406 Fall of wickets: 1-113 (DS Smith, 40.4 ov), 2-194 (KOA Powell, 64.1 ov), 3-246 (D Bishoo, 85.5 ov), 4-272 (KC Brathwaite, 96.4 ov), 5-281 (RL Chase, 99.5 ov), 6-288 (SO Dowrich, 104.3 ov), 7-338 (JO Holder, 116.2 ov), 8-394 (KAJ Roach, 132.4 ov), 9-400 (SD Hope, 135.4 ov), 10-

406 (ST Gabriel, 137.3 ov) Bowling: Abu Jayed 26.3-7, Rubel Hossain 1784-3 3-44-0, Kamrul Islam Rabbi 20-3-69-1, Shakib Al Hasan 272-71-2, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 34-6-101-3, Mahmudullah 11-118-1, Mominul Haque 2-0-8-0 Bangladesh 2nd Innings Tamim Iqbal c Hope b Gabriel 13 Liton Das c Brathwaite b Holder 2 Mominul Haque b Gabriel 0 Mushfiqur Rahim b Gabriel 8 Shakib Al Hasan (c) c Holder b Gabriel 12 Mahmudullah not out 15 Mehidy Hasan Miraz c †Dowrich b Holder 2 Nurul Hasan † not out 7 Extras: (b 1, nb 1, w 1) 3 Total: (6 wickets, 18 Overs) 62 Yet to bat: Rubel Hossain, Abu Jayed, Kamrul Islam Rabbi Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Tamim Iqbal, 3.4 ov), 2-14 (Mominul Haque, 3.6 ov), 3-16 (Liton Das, 6.4 ov), 4-36 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 9.3 ov), 5-43 (Shakib Al Hasan, 11.6 ov), 6-50 (Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 14.5 ov) Bowling: JO Holder 9-115-2, ST Gabriel 7-2-36-4, ML Cummins 2-0-10-0

Zaman and Shaheen guide NAGICO fuels “Reds” Perreira’s Pakistan past Aussies A visit to Berbice A

s the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continues to push its mandate of restoring the glory of cricket in the Ancient County, associates of the organisation have been working tirelessly to ensure that they acquire funding to facilitate a programme which would see to the development of cricket within their region.

On that note, NAGICO Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Imran Mc Sood Amjad has now joined hands with the hardworking Board by providing financial The legendary Joseph sponsorship which will go to“Reds” Perreira wards expenses for the visit of Joseph “Reds” Perreira.

Perreira, who is a widely respected international cricket commentator and sports administrator, will be visiting Berbice July 19-22, 2018 as part of a comprehensive development programme. During his stay, the sports personality will meet with players, umpires, BCB Executives and representatives of clubs as part of an effort to strengthen management at both the club and board levels. NAGICO’s sponsorship will go a long way towards covering expenses for accommodation, meals, transportation and a one-day seminar with 100 persons.

BCB President Hilbert Foster, who is spearheading the historic visit, expressed gratitude to the NAGICO CEO for his timely support and also to former BCB Secretary Oscar Ramjeet for working beyond the call of duty to assist Berbice cricket. Ramjeet, he stated, has single-handedly assisted the BCB to raise over $2 million in sponsorship from overseas-based Guyanese.

The main objective of the four-day visit by the St Lucia-based Perreira is to assist clubs to strengthen their management structures so that they can achieve more on and off the cricket field. Special emphasis will also be placed on strengthening the overall operation of the BCB while getting officials to understand their list of duties. Perreira will also be meeting with the entire Berbice Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 and female cricketers as part of a comprehensive personal development programme.

Additionally, the BCB and the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS, will also be honouring the legendary commentator for his service to the gentleman’s sport.

ustralia’s progress in the Twenty20 international tri-series was checked by a 45-run defeat to Pakistan on Thursday.

The Aussies bounced back from limited-overs humiliation in England by beating Pakistan and then Zimbabwe in Harare, but they fell well short of a third win.

Opener Fakhar

rate actually increased when Zaman was replaced at the crease, thanks to Asif Ali’s 37 not out off just 18 deliveries.

Australia needed a strong start if they were to battle to a third straight win, but Finch was dishearteningly the first to go – to Shaheen Afridi – and wickets followed steadily thereafter.

Teenager Shaheen (3-37) removed Maxwell (10) and then the industrious if hardly effective D’Arcy Short, who made a slow 28 off 34. Carey restored some respectability to the total, but 149-7 was all Australia could muster.

(SportsMax)

Zaman hit 73 off 42 balls to lead Pakistan to a total of 194-7, Andrew Tye proving the pick of the bowlers with 3-35. Captain Aaron Finch (16) was unable to recreate his world-record heroics from the Zimbabwe match and Australia were forced to play out their innings without threatening a chase, as Alex Carey’s unbeaten 37 top scored.

Australia will face Zimbabwe again today before looking for an improved performance against Pakistan Opener Fakhar Zaman in Sunday’s final. hit 73 off 42 balls Pakistan faced an uncomfortable start as Haris Sohail went for a golden duck in the second over, but Zaman kept his side on track and built a crucial 72-run partnership with Hussain Talat.

Zaman hit nine fours and three maximums before he finally departed in the 15th over, caught

by Glenn Maxwell off Marcus Stoinis. Pakistan were well on their way by then and the scoring

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan Innings (20 overs maximum) Fakhar Zaman c Maxwell b Stoinis 73 Haris Sohail c Short b Richardson 0 Hussain Talat b Maxwell 30 Sarfraz Ahmed (c) † c †Carey b Tye 14 Shoaib Malik c Finch b Tye 27 Asif Ali not out 37 Faheem Ashraf c Maxwell b Richardson 0 Shadab Khan c Stoinis b Tye 7 Mohammad Amir not out 0 Extras: (w 6) 6 Total: (7 wickets, 20 Overs) 194 Did not bat: Usman Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Haris Sohail, 1.1 ov), 2-80 (Hussain Talat, 8.6 ov), 3-107 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 12.4 ov), 4-132 (Fakhar Zaman, 14.2 ov), 5-158 (Shoaib Malik, 17.3 ov), 6-176 (Faheem Ashraf, 18.6 ov), 7-190 (Shadab Khan, 19.5 ov) Bowling: B Stanlake 4-0-300, JA Richardson 4-0-43-2, AJ Tye 4-0-35-3, MP Stoinis 3-0-29-1, GJ Maxwell 3-030-1, AC Agar 2-0-27-0

Australia Innings (target: 195 runs from 20 overs) DJM Short b Shaheen Shah Afridi 28 AJ Finch (c) c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Shaheen Shah Afridi 16 TM Head b Faheem Ashraf 7 GJ Maxwell lbw b Shaheen Shah Afridi 10 NJ Maddinson st †Sarfraz Ahmed b Shadab Khan 5 MP Stoinis c Asif Ali b Usman Khan 16 AT Carey † not out 37 AC Agar b Mohammad Amir 11 AJ Tye not out 12 Extras: (lb 5, w 2) 7 Total: (7 wickets, 20 Overs) 149 Did not bat: JA Richardson, B Stanlake Fall of wickets: 1-29 (AJ Finch, 4.2 ov), 2-38 (TM Head, 5.2 ov), 3-49 (GJ Maxwell, 6.5 ov), 4-67 (NJ Maddinson, 9.6 ov), 5-75 (DJM Short, 12.2 ov), 6-106 (MP Stoinis, 14.6 ov), 7-131 (AC Agar, 17.5 ov) Bowling: Mohammad Amir 4-0-25-1, Faheem Ashraf 4-030-1, Shaheen Shah Afridi 4-0-37-3, Shadab Khan 4-026-1, Usman Khan 4-0-26-1

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Chandimal picked for South Africa Tests

pending ICC hearing

D

inesh Chandimal has been named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the series against South Africa, even though he is unlikely to play the series owing to the disciplinary charges and probable suspension hanging over his head. Suranga Lakmal is likely to captain if Chandimal does receive a suspension.

Chandimal, along with Coach Chandika Hathurusingha, has pleaded guilty to a level three spirit of cricket offence, over their roles in delaying the start of play for almost two hours on day three of the St Lucia Test amid a ball-tampering row. Although Sri Lanka will plead for leniency for Chandimal, the minimum punishment for this offence is suspension from two Tests. The hearing is due to be held on July 10 – two days before the start of the first Test.

Rangana Herath and Kusal Perera have also been named “subject to fitness”. Herath split the webbing on his bowling hand while doing fielding drills in the Caribbean, and Kusal had had a nasty collision with a boundary hoarding on the penultimate day of that tour.

But otherwise, there are no real surprises. The only addition to the squad that toured the West Indies is left-arm

wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan. It was felt that Sandakan had lost a little rhythm through the domestic season, but he has seemingly regained it in Bangladesh, where he took 5 for 108 for Sri Lanka A last week. He rounds out a four-man spin-bowling contingent, which features Akila

Dananjaya and Dilruwan Perera, in addition to Herath.

There are questions as to what the Test top order will look like, with some players out of form, but what is almost certain is that Dimuth Karunaratne will reclaim his place as opener, having now recovered from a fracture to his hand. In fact, he has even perhaps played himself into form, having just made a second-innings hundred against Bangladesh A. He takes the place of Mahela Udawatte, who was unsuccessful in the opening position in the Caribbean.

The three quicks who had wrought the series-levelling victory in Barbados – Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha – are all in this squad. Lahiru Gamage, who had played in the first Test of the West Indies tour, has been dropped.

The first of two Tests begins in Galle on July 12. (ESPNcricinfo)

Dinesh Chandimal

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razil Head Coach Tite has confirmed Marcelo is back in contention for a place in his starting XI in today’s World Cup quarter-final with Belgium after recovering from a back injury.

The Real Madrid leftback lasted just 10 minutes of Brazil’s 2-0 Group E win over Serbia, when he was forced off with back

spasms and replaced by Filipe Luis. Marcelo subsequently missed the 2-0 defeat of Mexico in the last 16 and Filipe Luis generally looked assured, even if Hirving Lozano caused him a few issues.

Tite did not confirm whether or not Marcelo will return to his starting XI, but he is ready to make a comeback in Kazan.”Marcelo left

because of a clinical problem, he hasn’t been back because of his condition,” Tite said to reporters at the Kazan Arena.

“Filipe Luis played well in the two matches. Marcelo is coming back.”

One player who still does not appear to have done enough to earn a starting role is Roberto Firmino.

The Liverpool star scored

Brazil’s second goal in the win over Mexico after replacing Gabriel Jesus, who has had an underwhelming tournament so far from an individual perspective.

“The play is designed according to the match itself,” the Coach said. “Versatility plays a role, Jesus has that and we can adjust to him.

All the players joining [as substitutes] have been effective.

“I make a confession here about after the Serbia game – I usually hug everyone, I don’t talk too much because the changing room isn’t the place for that.

But I gave Firmino a hug and said you deserved that [goal] for the two matches you played [from the bench].

“I can’t say what he said, but he said something like: ‘I’m really happy’. But the coach must read the needs of the team. To develop the relationship we have with players with different characteristics [you must change sometimes], but it doesn’t mean players can’t be decisive.” (SportsMax)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friDAY, JUly 6, 2018

GSA, Banks DIH wrap up successful championships and Arjoon did well to outplay some stiff competition.

A sold-out, hyped crowd threw their support behind the women during their finals.

Fernandes did well throughout the tournament, but bowed out honourably; losing four

Taylor Fernandes and Alex Arjoon were among the stars of the 2018 Senior National Squash Championships

sets 15-17, 13-11, 12-10, 11-8 to Mary Fung-A-Fat. The Championships’ final bout saw the battle of the masters as Arjoon and the veteran Richard Chin exhibited their class on the court.

Arjoon in the end did well to keep Chin quiet, prevailing though battle-scarred af-

ter four sets: 11-7, 8-11, 117, 11-4.

Among other top performers in the finals were Jason Khalil, Jonathan Antczak, Shomari Wiltshire, and others. Meanwhile, the 2018 Championships were sponsored by Banks DIH via its Rainforest Waters brand.

Final Results:

Alex Arjoon beat Richard Chin 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-4.

Shomari Wiltshire beat Regan Pollard 11-7, 12-14, 11-1, 11-4.

Damien Da Silva beat Robert Fernandes 11-5, 5-11, 11-4, 11-9.

Jonathan Antczak beat Samuel Ince-Carvalhal 6-11, 11-7, 4-11, 13-11, 11-8.

Jason Van Dyk beat Adam Alves 11-9, 12-10, 5-11, 11-6.

Mary Fung-A-Fat beat Taylor Fernandes 15-17, 13-11, 12-10, 11-8.

Ashley Khalil beat Abosaide Cadogan 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5.

Kirsten Gomes beat Sarah Lewis 11-4, 11-3, 11-4.

Madison Fernandes beat Tian Edwards 11-2, 11-2, 11-2.

Men’s

Winner – Alex Arjoon Runner-up – Richard Chin Third place – Jason Khalil Fourth place – Nyron Joseph

M

ary Fung-A-Fat and Alex Arjoon emerged as champs of their respective categories, following the end of a

highly-competitive Guyana Squash Association (GSA)/ Rainforest Waters Senior National Championships.

The near week-long com-

petition, which culminated Sunday at the Georgetown Club Courts, saw intense battles and old rivalries being renewed as Fernandes

Men’s Classic Plate

Winner – Shomari Wiltshire Runner-up – Regan Pollard Third place – Damien Da Silva

Women’s

Men’s Plate

Winner –Jonathan Antczak Runner-up – Samuel Ince-Carvalhal Third place – Jason Van Dyk

Winner – Mary Fung-A-Fat Runner-up –Taylor Fernandes Third place – Ashley Khalil

Classic Plate

Winner – Kirsten Gomes Runner-up – Sarah Lewis Third place – Madison Fernandes

BFA Independence Cup Bissan’s Trading supports winners receive prizes Malteenoes Cricket Academy B

G

GFF President Wayne Forde handing over the winning cheque to Mil Ballers United’s Shaquille Hopkins

uyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde recently presented cheques to the amount of $225,000 to first, second and third-placed winners of the recently-concluded GFF– Bartica Football Association (BFA) Independence Cup Football Tournament.

In a tournament that was conducted from May 13 to June 27, Mil Ballers United were crowned champions while Lazio FC came in second in the final, which was played at the Bartica Secondary School Ground.

Rivers View FC placed third.

The presentation was made to Shaquille Hopkins of Mil Ballers FC, Sherwin Da Silva of Lazio FC and Mark Ambrose on behalf of Rivers View FC during a visit to Bartica on the weekend of June 30. The winning team pocketed $100,000, the second-place team received $75,000 and $50,000 was given to the third-placed team.

In brief remarks to the recipients, Forde stated that he was pleased with the efforts made by the BFA to rebuild football in Bartica: “I am very happy with the efforts being made by Bartica

to reignite the passion for the game and equally encouraged by the support of the fans. This is one simple step in rebuilding Bartica’s reputation for producing excellent national footballers.”

The tournament was sponsored by the GFF, organised by the BFA and saw eight teams competing in two groups under a round-robin knockout format. Group A consisted of Beacons, Mil Ballers, Wolves United and Strikers while Group B was made up of Lazio, Potaro Strikers, Rising Stars, and Rivers View.

issan’s Trading of 94 King Street, Georgetown has come on board the sponsorship team in support of this year’s two-week Malteenoes Cricket Academy, which starts on July 23.

Bissan’s Trading Proprietor Bissoon Singh said he played some cricket at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) as a leg-spinner before getting into cricket administration because he wanted to help the development of cricket in Guyana, especially on the East Coast of Demerara where he holds a prominent position in the cricketing fraternity.

“This is a great concept and I know how much the youngsters will learn from this and hopefully some players from this Academy will go on to play at the highest level. The East Coast Board has held summer camps in the past and I wish Malteenoes all the best,” said Singh.

The sponsorship cheque was collected by Malteenoes’ Public Relations Officer

Bissoon Singh

(PRO) Sean Devers, who thanked the company for its contribution, adding that he knew Singh wanted to see cricket strive in Guyana.

The Malteenoes Cricket Academy was launched in July 1993 in recognition of the Club’s motto, “Our Youth, Our Future” and caters for males and females aged 6-13 and 14-18.

Registration is $3000 and lunch and snacks will be provided. The Academy caters for 90 students and registration closes on July 20.

It will include classroom and field work, which will provide participants with the tools to become cricketers, umpires, scorers, journalists and broadcasters, all of which can be well-paid careers.

National U-17 Coach Orin Bailey is the Head Coach, while former Test pacer Colin Stuart, Guyana Head Coach Esuan Crandon and a NSC qualified Coach will conduct technical and physical sessions and facilitators will discuss on Education, Social Skills, Health and Hygiene, Etiquette, Child Protection, Law and History of Cricket, Umpiring and Scoring.

The Academy has produced Test players Ramnaresh Sarwan and Ryan Ramdass along with former USA Captain Steve Massiah while Azeemul Hannif and Ricardo Mohamed have played First-Class Cricket.

Parents or guardians can uplift registration forms from the Malteenoes Sports Club in Thomas Lands or call 2256509.

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, JUly 6, 2018

GCB slams CWI over selection flaws

Shimron Hetmyer

T

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) lambasted Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Committee for what it deemed as “totally illogical selection decisions” during the Caribbean side’s home series.

Via a press release, the GCB highlighted numerous areas where it felt the CWI had been administering in-

justice to its players.

“Our franchise has invested heavily in our youths and has created an Academy program whereby the Academy players practice daily with our contracted Franchise players”.

“As a result of these successes, one would have thought that most of our players should have been featuring heavily in the entire CWI representative red ball teams. That is yet to happen”.

“In the past month or so,

CWI hosted Sri Lanka in a three- Test series that unfortunately ended in a 1-1 draw at home. For the very first time in a long time, our team won the first Test of a series most convincingly.”

The release further questioned the CWI’s move to have Guyanese Keemo Paul sit out the third Test versus Sri Lanka as well as Shimron Hetmyer, who returned to the side against Bangladesh but failed to start in the XI. “We strongly feel that had the correct team been selected to represent us in the Third Test of that series, we would have won that series easily by a 2 to nil margin. Keemo Paul was named as a replacement for Shimron Hetmyer and plucked out from a touring team in England to return

Wendell Meusa Foundation set to host chess camp T he Wendell Meusa Chess Foundation is continuing to push its agenda of spreading the game of chess among the younger generation; as such, the Foundation is set to host a chess camp over the next few weeks. The camp is aimed at teaching young minds the importance of problem solving, critical thinking, planning, assessing, sportsmanship, and patience.

The camp will take on two courses w h i c h are formulated for beginners

on game skills and techniques thus covering more advanced ideas. Additionally, they will focus on tactics, strategy, middle game planning, and endgame techniques.

The camp will also provide opportunities to practise these skills in a variety of activities and workshops with classmates under the observation of the chess Instructors. The participants will be trained according to the World Chess Federation (FIDE) TRG 2018 Syllabus and Russia Training Manual.

In anticipation of the upc o m i n g c a m p ,

and adv a n c e d players.

The introductory course will cater to players who are new to the sport or those who are not well versed as yet.

The course is expected to cover the history of chess, the chessboard and pieces, algebraic notation (chess language) and the basic principles of play.

On the other hand, the advanced course has been formulated to suit those players who are already established and aspiring chess players. As such, more intense training sessions will be offered to deepen their understanding of the game, building

a ‘Kids Chess Tournament’ will be staged this weekend from 09:00h to 16:00h.

The first-, second- and third-place finishers will be rewarded while the Best Under-10 and Under-14 Boys and Girls and the youngest boy and girl will receive special prizes. The tournament will also assist local junior players with improving their or attaining FIDE rankings.

The camp will run from July 9 to August 3 at the American University of Peace Studies located on Sheriff Street.

Interested person can contact 231 -1284 or 664 -0124 for more information or uplift forms at the University, Oasis Café or the National Sports Commission.

here in the Caribbean to sit on the bench.

“The GCB held its collective breath and refrained from making a statement in this regard with the hope that these mistakes would have been corrected at the commencement of this Bangladesh series.

“We were heartened when Shimron Hetmyer recovered from his recent illness and was able to participate in the tour match last week where he cracked a brilliant century against the tourists for the CWI President’s XI. Yet still this was not enough to warrant his return to the starting XI in the first Test of this Bangladesh series. Keemo Paul was made to sit out this match again,” stated the release.

Furthermore, the GCB

strongly pointed out that it believes it was critical for the Windies to test their bench strength, given the short nature of the series.

“We strongly feel that with these short two and three matches Test series now, our bench strength has to be tested regularly, so that our supposedly ‘entrenched’ players are placed on notice that their places are not guaranteed throughout the series.

“Our teams and its players will not develop if players continue to fail and are selected and players who perform well are not selected in the final XI. Our policy in this regard has to be clearly outlined and defined. It is noteworthy that four CWI teams have been selected in the last month or so, and

23 Keemo Paul

some of our top performers in the [Professional Cricket League] PCL over the years could not find favour with the selectors,” ended the release.

ExxonMobil/Petra U-14 Football

Under-14 League heats up …as players head into quarter-finals

A

fter an exhilarating round of 16, the ExxonMobil/Petra Under-14 League is gearing up to stage quarter-final action this weekend. This round of play will pit the top eight teams against each other, with fight to the death action in order to advance to the semi-final round.

Given the impressive exhibition of skill, talent and wit so far, the final eight are expected to put on an even better show come Saturday.

St George’s Secondary and Dolphin Secondary will want to avoid any close calls, given that they were both involved in penalty shootouts in the round of 16. Although it was a near-miss scenario, both teams will want to keep up their excellent defence tactics, to which their victories can be attributed.

North Ruimveldt Multilateral will look to continue their winning streak after stumbling in the first few matches of the tournament. The team have had their downs, like their 3-1 loss to Vergenoegen Secondary earlier in the competition but their ups in the form of a 4-1 onslaught on Carmel and a 3-0 win over Queenstown last week should be enough to inspire them.

Tucville Secondary had a great outing last week, sending out Carmel Secondary on a 9-0 defeat; this coupled with a few

wins in the previous weeks should be enough motivation to push the team forward. On the other hand, a confident Buxton team will also grace the field on Saturday. With a 7-0 win over Ann’s Grove last weekend and a 6-0 win over St George’s the previous week, they too should have what it takes to master the quarter-finals.

However, the team to watch closely is Chase’s Academy. As if they are taking pattern from their senior Under-18 counterparts, the team have been dominant in the competition since its inception.

With a knack for high-scoring games, they defeated Brickdam Secondary 4-0, New Campbellville Secondary 5-2 and just last week they handed down a 7-0 thrashing of Uitvlugt Secondary to send them out of the competition.

The highly-anticipated matches will go down at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue on Saturday.

FRIDAY, JUly 6, 2018

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

guyanatimesgy.com

Bangladesh collapse again after Brathwaite’s ton

GCB slams CWI over selection flaws Pg 23

Pg 20

Kraigg Brathwaite celebrates reaching a hundred on the second day of the first Test between West Indies and Bangladesh on Thursday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground

Shimron Hetmyer

Keemo Paul

ExxonMobil/Petra U-14 Football

Under-14 League heats up Pg 23

…as players head into quarter-finals GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.