Guyana Times November 11,2017

Local businesses donate $11M to Hurricane Relief Fund P13

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Issue No. 3389

PRICE

Camp St Prison blaze

Government must accept responsibility for deaths – Opposition Page 3

Pastor arrested for raping church member Page 9

Private Sector blasts Govt, GPL for blackout woes Page 2

…questions Govt's hydro policy …says manufacturing sector hampered by outages

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Man nabbed with high-powered rifle, bulletproof vest P11

Guyana Gold Board probe widens P9

…employees admit to fraud – Chairman

Man jailed P8 for stabbing estranged wife

CANU launches investigation into passage of cocaine P10 at CJIA

…after Guyanese swimmer busted in US

IR student named UG’s 2017 P10 valedictorian …graduation slated for today

Strong ties! As Guyana and China celebrate 45 years of diplomatic ties, an evening of Sichuan ABA song and dance was hosted at the National Cultural Centre on Thursday evening

Nearly 2 years later

Page 7

Tax Reform report still under review – Jordan

…claims Govt uncomfortable with some recommendations

La Grange Station shooting

P10

Jilted Cop was shot twice – PM

2 news Private Sector blasts Govt, GPL for blackout woes saturDAY, november 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

…questions Govt’s hydro policy …says manufacturing sector hampered by outages

A

s Christmas draws closer, worry about power generation and the performance of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) has caused the Private Sector Commission (PSC) to unleash it wrath on the power company.

The PSC noted in a strongly worded statement issued on Friday that the frequent and sometimes unannounced power outages come without any credible explanation from GPL’s management, Board, or the responsible Minister, in this case Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson.

“To add insult to injury, GPL recently, from 2nd September to 5th November 2017, announced a series of scheduled mainte-

nance power cuts, which in Georgetown alone amounted to a total of 149 hours spread between 17 sections of the city.”

In addition, power outages averaging about five hours each were scheduled for the Essequibo Coast, Berbice, East and West Bank Demerara, West Coast Demerara, Soesdyke and East Canje.

The Commission said the average citizen does not have private generators, which could save any food being stored in freezers.

The PSC said judging from GPL’s non-performance; the entity had neither the management nor the capacity to deliver a reliable power supply to the

country. It also noted that Government has consistently failed to address this reality.

Failed promises

GPL has for some time promised to bring an end to the chronic black outs.

In fact, this assurance was given during a press conference in August by GPL Public Relations Officer Shevion Sears.

Acknowledging the frequency of the power outages, Sears noted that a number of planned and unplanned maintenance exercises are responsible. She had cited locations which, due to these works, were having an adverse effect on the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System

GPL Chairman Robert Badal

(DBIS).

But even though GPL promised to have these issues fixed, power outages are nowhere near dissipating. According to the PSC, Guyana’s commercial sector cannot continue in this vein.

“Guyana’s manufacturing and commercial sectors cannot function in these circumstances and, in this day and age at the exorbitant price, that we are expected to pay for electricity, Guyana’s population should not be subjected to this punishment,” the PSC

GPL CEO Renford Homer (ag)

stated. “It is nothing short of a tragedy that with such immense hydroelectric potential (Guyana) should be made to tolerate this situation.”

The Private Sector noted that the previous Government – the People’s Progressive Party – with support of the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and funding from Norway, negotiated a major American power company to build and operate

the Amaila Falls Project.

“Our current Government has put the project in cold storage while offering no acceptable alternative. So where do we go from here?” it queried.

The Government after winning the 2015 election shut down any hope in resurrecting the Amaila Falls project. The Government of Norway, which has been providing funding over the years to Guyana for projects under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), had contracted consultancy firm Norconsult to conduct a review of the Amaila Falls project.

The Norconsult report had in fact concluded that the Amaila Falls Hydropower project was the only realistic way for Guyana to achieve an emission free electricity sector.

Norconsult had noted the merits of the project, such as its completed feasibility study and a higher plant load than the other alternatives.

Repeat offender slapped with robbery charge

R

epeat offender Antonio Maraj of Agricola, Greater Georgetown found himself before Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly, charged with robbery under arms.

The charge alleges that on November 2, 2017, at Durban Backlands

Georgetown, while being armed with a gun, the 20-year-old Maraj robbed Wes Matthews of one iPhone valued $65,500, one wallet valued $5000, and $5000 in cash.

Police Prosecutor Richard Harris objected to the defendant being placed on bail, telling the court

that Maraj was positively identified by the virtual complainant (VC).

He noted that Maraj has matters of a similar nature pending before the court.

Maraj was, as such, remanded to prison, and the case will continue on November 24.

news

3

saturDAY, november 11, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Camp St Prison blaze

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, November 11 – 11:30h-13:00h and Sunday, November 12 – 13:00h-14:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, November 11 – 11:00h-12:30h and Sunday, November 12 – 12:10h-13:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

Government must accept responsibility for deaths – Opposition

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, while partly cloudy to light rain showers can be expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from East North-easterly to Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 10:35h and 23:02h reaching maximum heights of 2.19 metres and 2.22 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 03:53h and 16:30h reaching minimum heights of 0.91 metre and 1.08 metres respectively.

What was left of the Camp Street Prison after the fire

I

wednesDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

10

11 13

14

15

25

06 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 01 05 14 15

23

LUCKY 3 0 0 0

6

Afternoon Draw

4

4

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02 10

16 17

18 20 21

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

n the wake of the fire which gutted the Camp Street Prison, and Government resolving against another Commission of Inquiry, the parliamentary Opposition will be demanding answers from the Government after the National Assembly resumes next week Friday.

According to Notice Paper No 114, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) parliamentarian Juan Edghill will be moving a motion to have the Government accept responsibility for the July 9 jailbreak; in accordance of Article 106 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana.

While expressing support for the Disciplined Services, the motion includes a resolution which states that the public is in the dark about what exactly led to the fire and jail break. It also has questions as to how the Government managed the situation and the aftermath.

It also noted that initial reports that a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) would be appointed by the President were subsequently ruled out. In light of this, the motion notes that the public’s

questions would otherwise remain unanswered.

“The National Assembly calls on the Government to make full disclosure of all aspects of the tragedy at the Georgetown Prison on July 9 and to declare what actions have been, and are being taken, to reduce opportunities for (reoccurrences),” the motion reads.

The motion goes on to state that “The National Assembly calls on Government to make full disclosure with regard to the circumstances surrounding the most recent escape of prisoners on July 24, 2017.”

Pandemonium broke out at the Camp Street Prison on July 9 when prisoners set the facility on fire, occasioning its complete destruction except for a newly built brick building which is still standing intact.

In the ensuing confusion, a number of prisoners managed to escape from lawful custody, including convicted murderers Mark Royden Durant, also called “Royden Williams”; Uree Varswyck, Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander and Cobena Stephens – all deemed armed and danger-

ous. That incident resulted in the death of Prison Officer Wickham, who lost his life after he was shot by prisoners during the breakout.

Following that jailbreak, over 1000 prisoners were displaced. While some were moved to Mazaruni or granted early release or bail, others remained at the Lusignan penitentiary under straightened circumstances. It was then that another contingent of prisoners escaped. Since these two jailbreaks, all but two prison escapees – Paul Goriah and Cobena Stephens – have either been recaptured or killed.

It was only in March of 2016 that a fire had raged through the Camp Street Prison, claiming the lives of

17 prisoners. Afterwards, a CoI which cost the Treasury $13 million was ordered by President David Granger.

According to the report compiled by the Commissioners, the combination of overcrowded, uncomfortable and unhygienic confinement; all ideal conditions for epidemics, for gangs to prosper and to propagate discontent contributed to the resultant unrest.

Moreover, the CoI found that reducing numbers in prison to manageable levels is the single most important priority for establishing safe, humane and purposeful prisons. But some of these recommendations were not implemented at the time of the fire in July 2017.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, november 11, 2017

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, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Loss of confidence in GPL

T

he Private Sector Commission (PSC) has issued a blistering statement about the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL) ability to supply reliable electricity to the nation.

As a matter of fact, the PSC has forthrightly said it has lost confidence in GPL as a power company.

Over the past few months, the complaints coming from various sections of the population, including private citizens and businesses, about constant power outages have increased dramatically. In fact, recently there have been several letters to the editor where persons expressed their frustration over prolonged periods of blackouts in their communities with the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) doing very little to assuage the concerns of residents.

Businesses have also been very vocal about the huge negative impact the prolonged periods of blackouts have had on their operations. However, officials of the power company have done very little to convince the populace that serious efforts are being made to bring a lasting solution to the power woes the country has been experiencing over the years; in fact, they have been giving one excuse after the other which does not help in any way.

Recently, frustrated businessmen from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) met with staff from GPL at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), where they vented their anger at the constant and prolonged power outages on the Essequibo Coast. With the northern side of the Essequibo Coast hardest hit, the businessmen pointed to the plight of residents in Charity, who have suffered greatly. They related that a number of businesses suffered tremendous losses as a direct result of the blackouts and questioned whether the company was willing to provide compensation for their suffering and losses.

Persona have also complained that these constant power outages have resulted in most electrical appliances being damaged. Unfortunately, this has been the experience of many consumers and has been so for many years. There is no clear policy in relation to compensation for consumers/ businesses who suffer losses due to voltage surges etc; or even if there is such, it is not being implemented in a transparent and professional manner. Many persons have claimed that in such situations, GPL officials would show an uncaring and unhelpful attitude when they are approached for assistance.

While it is not our intention to sound like pessimists, from the way it looks, ‘blackouts’ will remain with us for a very long time. Despite the promises that ‘blackouts’ will be “a thing of the past”, the nation is yet to see any measurable progress in relation to an affordable and reliable service to consumers. Very little has changed under this Administration which used every opportunity while in Opposition to criticise the previous Government in relation to the manner in which the electricity sector was being managed.

GPL had announced that billions would be spent by the company towards the construction of four new substations. The company had explained that this formed part of GY$6.6 billion that had been set aside for works to improve service delivery of the company; GY$3 billion for the new substations and GY$1.4 billion for renovation works to existing substations. This and other interventions were meant to contribute to the company offering a more stable electricity supply to consumers; however, for the first quarter of 2017, it seems as if the service has actually deteriorated.

That said, we are not oblivious to the many problems being experienced by the power company. These problems which include line losses and electricity theft have been known for decades and have certainly had a tremendous impact on the company’s ability to provide better services to Guyanese consumers. The extent of electricity theft is shocking and GPL must continue to tackle the issue frontally.

Once such issues are addressed, the company would be in a better position to perform better.

After investing so many billions, in this day and age, these constant power outages are unacceptable. In addition to being a huge discomfort to citizens, they discourage investors who have an interest in doing business here. The authorities must stop making excuses and find a solution to the problem once and for all.

Children are seen during climate march prior to the opening session of the COP23 UN Climate Change Conference 2017, hosted by Fiji but held in Bonn, in World Conference Center Bonn, Germany (Reuters)

How hypocritical! (Part 2) Dear Editor, The President’s belittling of the parliamentary Opposition is a mere veneer to distract from the magnitude of his deeds. The President has cast his stone; he will go down in the annals of Guyana’s history as the first President to violate the constitutional provisions regarding the appointment of the Chairman of GECOM. He has triggered a trajectory of his own making; his will be an ignoble notoriety.

He has refused to accept that his actions have immensely damaged the political fabric of our nation. He has further exacerbated the situation with his speech in Atlanta, Georgia, which further confirms that his objective is to take this country down a dangerous path of PNC party paramountcy.

The statement that the “PNC is the face of the future. We are what Guyana looks like, not the people that you saw on Thursday (in the National Assembly)”

will require by itself many other letters, but immediately it can be interpreted as a clarion call that is arrogant, elitist, and ethnically biased, and hence fundamentally undemocratic.

Not surprisingly, the statement reflects the profound prejudice of an urban, older, male upper middle class in power who have no tolerance for anything different as is reflected repeatedly in their statements, deeds, policies and programmes.

Fundamentally, they are anti-working class, anti-farmers, anti-women, anti-youth, anti-criticism, and undemocratic. While in Opposition they were good at dishing out their criticism, mainly based on fiction, but now in Government, they are extraordinarily thin-skinned, even though so many of them are former military men.

They have thrown out transparency and accountability, and believe that they are not open to scrutiny. The posture is one of the

“Emperor”, and no one interrupts, troubles, or, worse yet, heckles the King – fortunately Emperors and Kings are of the past, thanks to the people’s struggles for democracy. He, like those before him, will find out in 2020 how Guyanese voters treasure their young democracy.

It appears that these upper middle-class sensibilities have been offended by the protest in the Chambers.

Maybe those who have been so offended should take a look at the Mother of all Parliaments which often descends into loud cacophony or, worse yet, in other parliaments where there are fisticuffs and furniture throwing as recently seen in the Ugandan Parliament.

Is the Government saying to the people that it can do as it wishes with a mere less than one per cent more of the vote and everyone must sit there and be polite like schoolchildren so that we can show that we were well-brought up like refined

old QC boys?

I have read some letters encouraging the Speaker to discipline all 32 PPP/C members. What I do know is despite the consistent unruly and disruptive behaviour, especially in the Seventh and 10th Parliaments by the then Opposition, no PNC MP was ever disciplined.

In fact, only two MPs, Dr Cheddi Jagan and Ishahak Bashir have ever been disciplined in over 50 years in the National Assembly, and, this was done by Speaker Sase Naraine.

Let’s see if the PPP/C Members will once again be targets of an undemocratic National Assembly? But we can guarantee that silent we shall not be in the face of constant and consistent efforts to undermine our democratic values and rights.

Dear Editor, Recently there have been discussions between the respective Unions and the Government on increased wages and salaries for public servants and for teachers.

What about our pensioners who have given yeoman service to this country and are now paid a pension of $19,000 per month? I am motivated to write on the pension being paid to citizens 65 years and older, with the view that the governmental

authorities will do a meaningful review of this pension for the 2018 Budget.

Under this administration, in September 2015 it was $17,000 and in 2017 it had increased by $2,000 to $19,000. It can be argued that over the two years there was a 12 percent increase, however is this significant to the pensioners. The Government has been working to create an environment which is supportive of socio-economic development

with the objective of ensuring a ‘good life’ for all.

If we are striving for a ‘good life’ for all, certainly the pension being paid is insufficient and should be addressed as a major priority.

This pension, like other pensions globally, should be at a minimum amount for the pensioner to live comfortably, and it is expected that this pension will be subsidized by the pensioner in the form of savings, contributions by relatives, etc in order to meet a

liveable amount.

Pensions are not increased in an objective manner. Each year it is increased by an incremental percentage, and this is known in the financial literature as Incremental Budgeting. It is the view that Zero-Based Budgeting should be applied to determine a liveable pension. In so doing, it should be revaluated each time a new budget is formulated.

Sincerely, Gail Teixeira, MP, Chief Whip, Parliamentary Opposition

Pensioners deserve a liveable pension

continued on page 5

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, november 11, 2017

5

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

President Granger needs to respect our Constitution (Part 1) Dear Editor, Much have been said about our protest in the National Assembly during the address of the President on Thursday, November 2. It was our intention to make a bold statement to demonstrate our collective outrage at the callous way in which the Head of State and his Government violate the rule of law, assault important democratic institutions, and breach the Constitution in the most egregious fashion.

Article 226(1) of the Constitution states: “In the exercise of its functions under the Constitution, a Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority”.

In May 2015, the then Junior Social Protection Minister Simona Broomes in-

structed the Secretary of the Public Service Commission, that “all interviews and meetings of the Commission are to cease forthwith until further as instructed by His Excellency, the President, David Arthur Granger’s notice”.

This was challenged in the High Court, and Justice Chang ruled that the Public Service Commission, a Commission established by the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, in the exercise of its functions shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority. The Chief Justice called it a violation of Article 226 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and ruled that it was unlawful, null, void and

Pensioners deserve...

The way forward is to do a Means Test, whereby on a monthly basis, an estimated amount is required, for example for food, transportation, utilities, accommodation. If this is done it is obvious that $19,000 is inadequate.

When one looks at the upper levels of pensions being paid of over one million dollars per month, why pay the lowest level such a meager amount? We must move away from this incremental approach and do a Means Test to determine a liveable pension, and I can assure you that it will be more than $19,000 a month.

It would be failing on my part if I do not mention the

from page 4

pensionable age of 65 years to enjoy a ‘good life’.

According to the latest World Health Organisation data, Life Expectancy in Guyana is 64 years for a male and 68 years for a female, a total life expectancy of 66 years and a ranking of 130.

It is obvious that the authorities should have an early review on the life expectancy and to lower this pensionable age based on the authentic global statistics.

After all, our pensioners also deserve a ‘good life’ and time is running out.

Yours sincerely, John M. Seeram

of no legal effect.

In a public statement released to the press on October 8, 2016, trade unionist Carvil Duncan said that he was asked by President Granger in February of that year to resign as Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and from other constitutional commissions. Duncan related that he was invited to meet with the President and the Minister of State, the Honourable Joseph Harmon, and was asked to submit his resignation. Harmon, he said, offered him a suitable financial package for his exit. And during the course of the meeting, Duncan reported that the President said “no less than three times” that he does not want any blood on his carpet.

Duncan having rejected the offer, the Government em-

barked upon a manifestly unlawful course of action. While certain criminal charges were pending in the Magistrate’s Court against Duncan, the Government decided to trigger a constitutional process to remove him from office.

Without a hearing, President Granger set up a ‘kangaroo tribunal’ to remove the embattled trade unionist as Chairman of the Public Service Commission. But by virtue of being Chairman of the PSC, Carvil Duncan was ex-officio, a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Police Service Commission, institutions created by the Constitution and endowed with the fundamental role and function of guarding against executive abuses.

As Chairman of the PSC, Carvil Duncan enjoyed all

these constitutional protections.

And in June 2016, the President again deliberately violated the Constitution when he instructed Minister Harmon to issue a directive to the Police Service Commission in his name, instructing the PSC to halt the Police promotions’ process.

It is obvious that this President demonstrates absolute disrespect and disregard for the letter and spirit of the Constitution, and continues to contravene its provisions with impunity. This vulgar and authoritarian attempt by the President to trample upon the independence and functional autonomy of the Police Service Commission, a constitutional agency, was again challenged in the High Court.

It is clear that when it suits the President and the Government to ignore constitutional precepts – in this case the vital insulating of service commissions – they are prepared to do so.

Two and a half years into the Government’s term of office, this tendency is rife with jeopardies to constitutional rule and the rule of law.

It also adds to the unpleasant legend of the PNC’s undemocratic rule of the 70s and 80s, the flying of colours of the party over the Guyana Court of Appeal and the entrenching of paramountcy of the party as enshrined in the Sophia Declaration.

Sincerely, Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

Reckless for Govt to open its purse to M&CC

Dear Editor, The recent assurance given by Central Government at a post-Cabinet press conference to the two garbage contractors who provided their services for waste disposal to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC), but who were not paid over $400 million, that they would consider picking up the tab and settling the debt, sounds benevolent and commendable on the surface.

However, if one were to look carefully at such a proposal, one would realise that it would be extremely reckless of a government to open its purse strings to a municipality that has not been audited, and has not had its accounts examined or qualified or published for more than two decades.

Giving the Georgetown

City Council close to half a billion dollars in another bailout would only empower and encourage it to rack up another debt soon after by crediting goods and services that it cannot afford and in many instances, it does not need.

The Council must say what it is doing with the property rates it receives which should be used to cover refuse collection and disposal. Does it only use them to fund large delegations jaunting around the world? What is it doing with the special monthly garbage collection fees it charges the Private Sector?

Every other agency in the world seeking a loan, grant, or other financial relief whether from a bank or elsewhere is required to open their books for scrutiny; the Georgetown City

Council has received billions over the years, but is not required to have financial inspections done to its records.

The last Auditor General’s Report which was specially done regarding a $300 million sum given by the Government had found several “discrepancies” in the way the allotted amount for restoration initiatives was spent by the City Council.

There was no evidence of the payment vouchers being certified by the accountant or any other authorised officer; approval by the City Treasurer was not seen on many payment vouchers and there was also no evidence of the Finance Committee approving a large number of payments.

The basis of award of

several contracts for the weeding of parapets, desilting of drains and cutting down of trees in various areas around Georgetown could not be determined owing to the unavailability of the relevant supporting documents, the report further noted, and as a result, it could not be ascertained whether proper transparency and accountability were exercised in the awarding of contracts.

And in spite of all of this and the fact that nothing has changed at City Hall, the Government would still consider doling out more than $400 million to the Council again? How do it know that the sums being presented by the Council as indebtedness are accurate?

With thanks, Riley Matthews

6

saturDAY, november 11, 2017

Page

Foundation

…a Canadian business programme is making literature, philosophy, and the arts part of the curriculum in hopes of enhancing both fields of study – and students’ careers – in the process

O

n a sun-splashed quadrangle suffused with the enthusiasm of a new semester, Pearl Bakhtiari (pictured above) sat cross-legged on the grass and made a passionate case for her major in philosophy and minor in French.

“Our world is becoming more black and white every day,” said Bakhtiari, a thirdyear student at McMaster University near Toronto.

“The humanities add some colour into that.”

She admitted that her choice of academic disciplines elicited anxiety from relatives and friends concerned about more practical issues, however.

“People are, like, ‘You’re studying what? How will you find a job?’”

It’s a fast-spreading scepticism that has resulted in significant drops in the number of students majoring in the humanities.

At stake is not only

guyanatimesgy.com

whether people will be able to interpret Shakespeare, say advocates of subjects including English, history, language, philosophy, and the visual and performing arts.

It’s the essential skills they say these fields teach, and that focus groups suggest employers want.

Accounting and financial management professor Emad Mohammad and linguistics and languages professor Anna Moro came together from their separate academic worlds to create a combined program in business and humanities at McMaster University near Toronto.

“We did the research about what employers are looking for and we kept coming back to the same things: critical thinking, communication, cultural perspective,” said Mohammad, the director of the new programme, called Integrated Business and Humanities. “But the

School of Business couldn’t teach these skills. We didn’t have the in-house expertise to teach philosophy and history and English.”

It found a willing partner in the humanities department, which had been pushing the same idea for so long that Ken Cruikshank, the dean of humanities, said the plan had been sitting in a drawer for nearly 20 years.

Such long-sought partnerships are serious matters and important potential lifelines for humanities faculties.

The proportion of students who major in the humanities has fallen from a high of nearly one in five in the late 1960s to one in 20 in 2015, the last year for which the figure is available, according to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

“It’s pressure from parents. ‘There are no jobs.’ You name it,” said Anna Moro,

a linguistics and languages professor who teamed up with Mohammad to design the new programme.

As the associate dean of humanities, Moro is responsible for the challenging job of recruiting humanities majors. While many young prospects are attracted to the humanities, she said, “It was the parents who came to the recruitment events who were saying, ‘We’re going to check out nursing or engineering.’”

At a time of spiralling tuition, conceded Moro, it’s gotten harder to justify a major without an evident immediate financial benefit. Those parents “are worried about the economic and overall well-being of their children,” she said. They’re not entirely wrong. But the figures overlook the importance of the humanities as a foundation for all kinds of jobs, said Moro.

Employers highly value what humanities majors learn in college, focus groups and surveys show. More than nine out of 10 say a job candidate’s capacity for thinking and communicating clearly and solving complex problems is more important than his or her major.

As the humanities decline, business has become the largest undergraduate major. But a Carnegie Foundation report found that undergraduate business education is narrow and doesn’t challenge students to think creatively or ask important questions. (Carnegie is among the funders of The Hechinger Report, which produced this story in conjunction with The Atlantic.)

“I want students to calm their parents’ fears and say, ‘I’ll take philosophy, but I’ll also take business.’” (Excerpt from

The Atlantic)

Precocious reading

– reading beyond their years

By Paula J Schwanenflugel, PhD, and Nancy Flanagan Knapp, PhD

R

ecently, a friend asked us what we might advise as appropriate reading instruction for her kindergarten daughter, Karina, who was already well able to read. Karina’s teacher had determined that Karina was reading on at least a second or third grade level, but because of her phonemic awareness skills did not measure as high, the teacher felt that Karina should participate in the regular kindergarten literacy instruction anyway. So, with her non-reading classmates, Karina was spending hours each school day practising writing her letters, participating in phonemic awareness games, learning simple vocabulary, and answering questions about stories the teacher read to the class.

Karina already had most of these skills in spades. For example, Karina recently asked her mother what “euphoria” meant which she had found in a book she was reading and sounded out correctly by herself). Though “euphoria is certainly not a word most children her age might be expected to know, Karina’s mother remembered that Karina crowed with glee when she was told what it meant, loving the mere thought of it. Her mother was worried that Katrina might really need something beyond the standard kindergarten instruction.

This story brought back memories to both of us, some good and some not as good. We had each experienced something quite similar for our own sons, albeit over twenty years ago.

Okay, we are literacy researchers so it isn’t all that surprising that our sons spent most of their school years well ahead of their peers in reading. But we were a little surprised, given all the emphasis in recent years on differentiated instruction and personalized learning, that this problem hadn’t been worked out.

The scientific term for kids like Karina is precocious reader.

Precocious readers are children who often learn to read prior to entering school, and are able to read aloud and comprehend more like children who are at least two or three years older than themselves (Stroebel & Evans, 1988). These children have learned to read without any really coherent reading instruction from the adults around them. Instead, it seems these children gradually figured out the “code,” just asking for help as they needed it.

The most remarkable thing about precocious readers is that they are not all that remarkable.

They are sometimes verbally gifted, but often not. Early talkers are not more likely than other children to be early

readers, as one might think (Crain-Thoreson & Dale, 1992).

Precocious readers are not unusually intellectually driven or academically motivated outside of simply wanting to learn to read and managing to do so at an early age. They might watch Sesame Street a good bit, but so do many kids who are not precocious readers. They come from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, not just from families from which one might expect precocious readers to come. There are few common threads: there are usually children’s books around in their homes, and at least one parent generally spends time reading to them. It is often in the context of this shared reading that these children develop knowledge of letters and a store of sight words that may help get the process of learning to read started. Parents of precocious readers often use rich language while interacting with their children (Davidson & Snow, 1995), but these children also seem to be instigating parents to use this rich talk.

Importantly, although many homes turn on Sesame Street, have children’s books, and enjoy shared book reading and rich conversation, most do not produce a precocious reader.

Precocious readers sometimes show a better ability to blend word sounds than their peers (Backman, 1983), but their superiority in manipulating word sounds is not universal, and the specific advanced phonological skills that precocious readers display seems to vary from study to study; such skills may even be the result, rather than the cause of precocious reading.

And like Karina and Nancy’s son, many precocious readers show no particular advanced sound manipulation skills.

Often, such children without great phonological awareness approach reading as a visual problem rather than a task about sounding out words (Forester, 1977). Essentially, they read by sight. Nevertheless, it is more likely that children will be a precocious reader if the language they are reading is phonetically transparent, that is, a language in which the alphabet and the sounds used in reading words have a clearer one-to-one match. So, Finnish children, whose writing system is quite phonetically regular in this way, are considerably more likely to be precocious readers than English-speaking children (Silven, Poskiparta, & Niemi, 2004). Indeed, this support from the writing system might actually operate to prompt children to develop an understanding of the sounds of their language.

One question we have is whether being a precocious reader actually matters in the long run. Do these children go on to have unusual abilities in reading and writing in the future? (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

news

7

saturDAY, november 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Nearly 2 years later

Tax Reform report still under review – Jordan …claims Govt uncomfortable with some recommendations

Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram

T

he much-vaunted Tax Reform Committee report, which contained a number of recommendations to the coalition Government -- including recommendations that ministers and the President pay taxes -- is still being reviewed.

This is according to Finance Minister Winston Jordan in an interview with this publication. While he denied that the Government was hesitant, Jordan admitted that it was uncomfortable implementing some of the measures.

“A report done by anybody and submitted to the

client is for the client to determine what they will do to the report. It is for the client to determine. It is up to the client to determine the efficacy, timeliness of the recommendation.

“Some of the measures we are uncomfortable with,” Jordan told this publication.

“So we will not be implementing (them). I can say off-hand they asked for us to put a tax on pensions, and we refused to do that. It’s not about hesitancy. Every recommendation that has been made is just that -- a recommendation; and it is up to the client to accept, reject or vary the recommendations.”

Jordan claimed that otherwise, every consultant the Government hired could come up with recommendations that do not have a factual basis, and the Government would be forced to implement them.

“We will go through each recommendation and we will either implement it in full, part, or none at all.”

In 2015, the Government had established the Tax Reform Committee, headed by Dr Maurice Odle. The committee’s mandate was to examine the country’s taxation system and make recommendations for fixing it.

The committee had report-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

ed its findings to the Finance Minister in January 2016.

Among its recommendations were: an income tax threshold of $750,000 with progressive rates of taxation from 20% to 35%; reintroduction of estate duties, and levies on tobacco and alcohol.

Last month, Chartered Accountant and reform committee member Christopher Ram had criticised the Government for the delay in implementing several crucial recommendations.

Specifically, he had zeroed in on the administration’s failure to adopt recommendations that income tax exemptions be removed from

office holders such as the President, Attorney General, Auditor General, and the Chancellor of the Judiciary.

“Some of the recommendations were expected to be controversial, particularly those designed to have a redistributive effect: such as the reintroduction of estate duty and taxation of dividends above a certain level,” Ram had said.

“There were also some that mixed revenue with social policy, such as a tobacco levy and a health levy on alcoholic beverages.

“These are only some of the unimplemented measures available to the Minister of Finance. The Tax Reform Commission had estimated that its proposals

excluding amnesty, government transfers, etc, would be revenue neutral, but that there would be some rebalancing in the system.”

But the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) itself has announced intentions to reform its tax incentive system. According to GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia at a recent engagement with manufacturing sector representatives, they are looking at replacing exemptions with credits.

According to the finance specialist, replacing exemptions with credit would assist in creating a level playing field.

Instead of reducing taxable income, tax credits actually reduce the amount of taxes owed. But while tax ex-

emptions are still available, Statia was critical of some businesses not taking advantage of them.

“Many businesses also do not adequately realize various tax concessions available under the act. Until the advent of tax credits, maybe introduced instead of exemptions, businesses must trudge through the various acts. Small businesses in particular do not reap the rewards available under the Small Business Act. “Exemptions go a begging, and the various allowances are often not utilized.

Yet, complaints are made when foreign companies benefit and local companies do not. These are available to all competitors in the market, and should be used,” Statia had pronounced.

8 NEWS

saturDAY, november 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS Man jailed for stabbing estranged wife

A

man who claimed that he stabbed his reputed wife in order to prevent her from injuring his penis was on Friday jailed when he appeared before the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.

Christopher Gittens, 23, of Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD) appeared before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool. He ad-

mitted that on October 28, 2017 at Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD) unlawfully and maliciously wounded Simone Eden.

According to the Prosecution’s case, Virtual Complainant (VC) went to Gittens home to visit his father, when the accused demanded that she resume their relationship with him.

However, Gittens reportedly became enraged when the VC refused and subsequently pulled out a scissors and dealt her several stabs about her body.

The VC was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where she was treated, and the matter was reported to the Police. Gittens was later arrested and charged.

In plea of mitigation, Gittens told the Magistrate Liverpool that the VC held unto his penis after he refused to confirm whether he was in another relationship or not and as such he was forced to stab her.

The repeat offender, who was before the Court on numerous occasions, was sentenced to three years in prison.

Miner remanded on cocaine trafficking charge

A

Zeelught, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) man vehemently denied a charge of possession of cocaine brought against him, saying the charge is bogus. He made this claim when he made his appearance at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Shazad Mohammed of Lot 421 Zeelught, EBE, denied that he had 12 grams of cocaine in his possession on November 9, 2017, for the purpose of trafficking.

The 25-year-old man told Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool that the cocaine found was planted on his person.

Mohammed, who is a miner, told the Magistrate that he was sitting with a group of persons on the day in question

when the Police approached and subsequently found the cocaine laying on the ground.

He said he was the only one arrested out of the group, beaten, locked up and later told that the cocaine belonged to him.

However, the Police Prosecutor contested Mohammed’s version of the story, telling the court that the cocaine indeed belonged to the defendant as it was found in his right side pants pocket.

Bail was denied and Mohammed was remanded to prison. The case will continue on November 21.

Puffery… “

U

…and unilateralism

nilateralism” was a very hot topic not so long ago during the US invasion of Iraq - supposedly to neutralise the latter’s “weapons of mass destruction” (WMD) - and some of its major allies opposed the move. The US, of course, invaded “unilaterally”, the WMD were never found, Iraq was destroyed and the war’s still going on. The Us KNEW NOBODY COULD DO A DAMN THING!?

Folks tend to act “unilaterally” rather than “multilaterally” when they have the power to back them up. In other words, unilateralism is an indicium of power. And it’s from this perspective, we must consider Pressie’s unilateral appointment of Justice James Patterson to the GECOM Chair. That he might be a placeholder for the real Justice he wants in that hot seat “is neither here nor there”!

Pressie’s unilateralism, signals that he doesn’t believe the PPP has the power to challenge his government effectively. But did he see the grouping when he showed up at the National Assembly to constitute it into a “Parliament” and deliver his speech? Did he not see protestors? But what they did not do was get violent as the PNC ones did in the 1960’s and post 1997.

The fact that the PPP has started to march should register on the rest of Guyana especially the foreign embassies.

But Pressie’s unilateralism didn’t begin with the Patterson appointment. It was there with his award of the OR and the princely pension to Hamilton Green. Can you imagine rewarding the man who inflicted so many blows on the PPP’s supporters in the sixties, his name was used to scare their children. “Hamilton Green guh come fuh yuh!” But Pressie didn’t give a damn what the PPP thought.

And we arrive at Patterson’s CV puffery, which he had to “rush” - being called only a few hours before he was sworn in - and his “pen slipped”! But surely, he’d submitted a CV when appointed a year ago by Pressie as a one-man CPI into the conflagration of Camp St prison? After all, he wasn’t as friend, was he?

So when Nagamootoo’s looking for a job after 2020, would it be “neither her no there” if he put “President of Guyana” on his CV? After all he also “acted” thusly for a few days!!

…and vulgarians

Seems Pressie has a different opinion of the PPP’s placard-waving demonstration in Parliament than his PM Minister Nagamootoo, who according to the Cummingsburg Accord, was supposed to sit on his right hand in Cabinet meetings. That didn’t take place, of course, because the Bible had reserved that space for the Messiah!

Rather than going along with his PM (Post Mortem?) and calling the PPP “domestic terrorists”, the trained security expert utilised his training in history to dub them “vulgarians” and told his US PNC supporters that was unfortunately, the behaviour of “PPP people”. But he must’ve forgotten the identical raucous behaviour of PNC MP’s when the PPP was in Government and Speaker Trotman - of Nassau Accord fame - had to suspend the sittings!

But did he miss the video of the young PNC supporter flashing his privates at the PPP women demonstrators when he was speaking in Parliament?

Even if he did, surely he remembers the PNC high-official’s daughter pissing on the flag during the last elections?

Oh…so civilised!!

…of Finance Ministry’s importance

Criticised by the Auditor General for unauthorised spending from the Contingencies Funds, Finance Minister Jordan declared that this government watchdog’s opinion “doesn’t count under the law.”

Jordan’s just following the leader. The AG’s “perception” isn’t better than his!!

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

News

9

saturDAY, november 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana Gold Board probe widens …employees admit to fraud – Chairman

“We paid tens of millions of dollars for a complete system and what was delivered here was half of a system and when I raised my voice at somebody, they reported to the Minister (Raphael Trotman) that I threatened them…We have a half of a system where there are people in the trenches know that

this is how it operates and they try to work their way around it,” Lall said.

Earlier this year, senior staff members of the GGB were sent on leave to facilitate a probe of alleged links to an embattled gold dealer, Saddiqi Mohamed Rasul, who was charged for the $956 million fraud at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI).

Shortly after Rasul was

granted $3 million bail on the fraud charges in April, reports surfaced that he sold gold to the Gold Board regularly. There were also reports that he allegedly purchased yellow metal above the London Fix; deposited and withdrew millions of dollars from his company’s bank account, and was allowed to pay only the five per cent royalty and not the two per cent tax.

Pastor arrested for raping church member

GGB Chairman Gabriel Lall

A

s the probe widens at the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) over several fraudulent transactions that amounted to millions of dollars, the Chairman of that institution, Gabriel Lall, said the two employees have admitted to the being engaged in the unlawful act.

These two employees, an accountant and a clerk, were recently sent on administrative leave pending the outcome of further investigations. Both employees have been in the employ of GGB for over 10 years.

Lall told a press conference on Friday that the duo has admitted to manipulating assay figures in the management information system and taking monies for themselves.

“The documentation is thorough; the evidence is persuasive and comprehensive… And in addition to that, the investigation is ongoing and we do not know where it will lead,” Lall remarked.

Acting General Manager of GGB, Eondrene Thompson

Acting General GGB Manager, Eondrene Thompson

said the first sign of fraud was spotted one month ago when a client, who normally takes in a high quality of gold to the Board received results that showed low quality; and another one with a very low quality came back with a very high quality.

“So we decided to investigate it. It turned out that it wasn’t switched in that client’s assay but that was rectified. However, we decided to comb the system and that is when we unearthed a couple of inconsistencies,” Thompson said, explaining that they went back to as far as January 2017.

The GGB’s acting General Manager further stated that the name employees who were implicated, were found on every false document that was discovered. She said it was found that these same employees have been taking a lot of monies for their personal benefit.

Thompson said in many cases, they were taking payment advice numbers for small clients, who were selling less than 10 ounces, and

put on fabricated assay certificates and a large client’s name would be used, and the percentage paid out. “They were using people who were not owed as the surrogate,” Lall added, saying it was manipulation of the books and violated policies.

Although there may be concerns about client’s assays being compromised due to this probe, she affirmed that this was not the case as the documents which were used to defraud the entity of the money were false. It was revealed that the employees reduced payments to clients and paid themselves the differences. In other cases, clients’ entire assays were paid out without them being aware.

Meanwhile, the GGB Chairman took wrap for the loophole and said the Board has one of the most robust systems in place. However, he noted that some Board members had resisted the introduction of an upgraded and secure system that may have served to prevent the swindle.

Security guard found dead in bedroom

S

ecurity guard T a m r a a d h o u j Ramcharran of Richmond Village, Essequibo Coast, Region Two, was on Thursday evening discovered dead in his bedroom.

The 61-year-old had reportedly lived alone, and had last been seen by neighbours at about 22:00 on November

9.

This newspaper was told that after neighbours with whom he usually chats did not see him, they ventured into his yard. One of the neighbours went into his house and saw the man lying in his bedroom.

The Police were alerted and visited the home. An ex-

amination conducted by the Police did not find any marks of violence on the body.

Ramcharran’s body was then taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead, and the body was later transported to the Suddie Mortuary to await a post mortem.

A

37-year-old pastor is now in Police custody following an accusation made against him by a female member of his congregation, who alleged he raped her at his Diamond, East Bank Demerara home last month.

According to information received, the man, who is said to be attached to a full gospel church, had provided counselling to the young adult and her mother two years ago, after the passing of a loved one.

However, the young lady told Police that the pastor invited her to his home where she was stripped, pushed onto the bed and was sexually violated.

Guyana Times understands that the man committed the act on several occasions, but the victim was threatened hence she did not lodge a complaint with the Police. After the last encounter, the victim came forward and confided in the Police.

She reportedly told detectives that before committing

the act, the pastor would drink a Guinness and perform a ritual before raping her.

Apart from the young woman, another church member reportedly told detectives that she ended her relationship with the pastor after his wife found out about the affair, but the pastor continues to stalk and make sexual advances towards her.

Police have since launched an investigation into the matter.

10 News CANU launches investigation into passage of cocaine at CJIA saturDAY, november 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

…after Guyanese swimmer busted in US

CANU Head, Major General Michael Atherly

I

n light of the arrest of Guyanese swimmer, Earlando McRae at the JFK International Airport, with cocaine in false walls

of his suitcase, head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Major General Michael Atherly confirmed there was a breach at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

The 28-year-old departed Guyana on November 4 at 01:30h on a Fly Jamaica flight to the USA with transit in Jamaica but was arrested moments after landing at JFK airport later in the day.

However, Major General Atherly explained that the drug enforcement body received the news of the arrest almost the same time as the local media and as such, a probe was immediately launched.

He went on to say it is alarming that a passenger walked through several layers of security with over 2kg

Earlando McRea

of cocaine and no one detected it in the suitcase.

Preliminary investigations revealed the illicit substance was smuggled in a hand piece which had to be

processed through a scanner and the drugs ought to have been detected.

“What I can say at this time is that on the night Mc Rea left Guyana, CANU had a skeleton staff at the CJIA because most of the officers were engaged in a training programme but this does not stop the airport security and the Police to do their jobs…The drugs by all means should have been detected and as such, we will zoom in to what went wrong at the scanner,” Atherly noted.

He also emphasised that after the hand piece is scanned, the security at the other end can at any time request to manually check the luggage.

“The only reason why the hand piece was not checked manually is probably be-

cause no strange object was detected by the scanner… carrying this among of cocaine, it is strange that it didn’t show up,” the CANU head noted.

As such, he noted the airport security and Police at the internal scanner must give account for any slippages.

The national swimmer was taken into custody after it was discovered that his suitcase had false walls filled with cocaine. Based

on reports received, the young man, who represented Guyana at the regional and international levels, presented a suitcase to the Border Patrol Agents upon arriving in the US and it was during a search of the luggage, it was discovered that it had false walls.

The young man was arrested and subsequently charged. He was remanded to the New York Detention Centre until November 21.

IR student named UG’s 2017 valedictorian

…graduation slated for today

UG’s Valedictorian 2017, Elsie Harry

A

s the University of Guyana gears up to stage its 51st Convocation in grand style today, the institution has announced the student who managed to cop the honour of Valedictorian for this year.

Emerging in as the front runner amidst a group of about 2000 graduating students was a 25-year-old International Relations student, Elsie Harry.

Harry, who is the former president of the university’s International Affairs Association, took to social media on Friday to express delight at being named UG’s Valedictorian for 2017. The young woman summed up her feelings as being “overwhelmed”, and went on to thank here well-wishers for their support throughout her journey of higher levels of academic and professional pursuits.

All the while, scores of family, friends and colleagues also reached out to the high flyer via the online platform, congratulating her on this coveted and highly prestigious achievement.

Among those commending the 25-year-old on this landmark achievement was UG’s International Affairs Association. In doing so, they conveyed, “You are a brilliant mind, an extraor-

dinary human being, and definitely a force to be reckoned with. We applaud all the hard work you’ve put into this Association and by extension our University.”

Meanwhile, UG graduation this year was advertised with a number of developments, of which for the first time in the history of the university, graduands emanating from certificate, diploma and degree programmes offered at the institution will be awarded at two separate ceremonies.

Initially, the graduation ceremony for students attached to the Faculties of Agriculture and Forestry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Technology will be held at the National Cultural Centre earlier in the day, while for those stemming from the faculties of Education and Humanities, Health Sciences, and Social Sciences the ceremony will be held on the Turkeyen campus in the afternoon.

However, due to inclement weather and alarming forecasts, the University’s administration has indicated a shift in venue, which will now see the latter half of the graduation being staged at the National Exhibition Centre, Georgetown, and is expected to commence at 16:30hrs.

Booked to deliver the feature address at the first ceremony is Dr Dhanpaul Narine, who is a distinguished educator and journalist based in New York, while Ambassador Rudolph Michael Ten-Pow, who studied modern languages, will give the keynote at the ceremony set for the new Sophia location.

Meanwhile, the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education, the extra-mural arm of the university, is scheduled to hold its graduation ceremonies for its four centres as follows: Georgetown Centre on November 25; Linden Centre on November 26; Anna Regina Centre on December 2, and the New Amsterdam Centre on December 9, 2017.

news

11

saturDAY, november 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

La Grange Station shooting

Jilted Cop was shot twice – PM A

post-mortem examination conducted on the body of the 20-year-old Police Constable who shot his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself, has revealed that the young man was shot twice. “(He had) two gunshot wounds – one on the chin and another on the left side head,” Divisional Commander ACP Leslie James told reporters on Friday. The post-mortem was done earlier in the day and the pathologist found that he died from haemorrhage and shock due to gunshot wounds.

This revelation has given substance to concerns initially raised by the relatives of Constable Clement Cockfield. The morning after the incident, the young man’s father indicated that the story they were told of what transpired does not add up. “(The Police) telling me that my son shot the girl, then shot himself; he get up back again and come towards the vehicle that they were trying to put the girl in and some officer go fuh hold he and he shot himself again…but I’m saying if a man shot himself in the head, how can he get up back and shot himself again. I feel something of the sort ain’t right because, honestly, it is really hard to believe this,” the distraught father had stated.

Initially, the Police had reported that Cockfield shot himself once in the

Dead: Constable Clement Cockfield

Injured: Constable Shanice Fraser

head, after shooting and injuring his girlfriend, Constable Shanice Fraser.

She was shot four times to her upper body.

The incident occurred at about 20:30h at the La Grange Police Station, West Bank Demerara, where the two Constables were both stationed.

According to Police reports, the couple worked different shifts and on the Tuesday night, Cockfield reported for anti-crime patrol duty and uplifted a .38 service revolver with six rounds, while his girlfriend, Constable Shanice Fraser had just completed a tour of duty.

At about 20:30h, the couple was seen on the stairway of the station when gunshots were subsequently heard.

The Police reported that Fraser ran down stairs into the

yard and was seen bleeding profusely. She was assisted by other ranks on duty when Cockfield pursued her and discharged more shots at her.

She attempted to escape the enraged man but collapsed in the station’s compound.

The Police claimed that the other ranks pleaded with Cockfield to stand down but instead he turned the gun on himself.

The couple was picked up and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where Cockfield was pronounced dead on arrival. His injured 21-year-old girlfriend was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where she is in a stable condition.

Commander James told Guyana Times that as part

of ongoing investigations, statements have been obtained from the ranks that were on duty on the night of the shooting.

When probed further, he disclosed that the ranks were also swabbed for gunpowder residue and the samples have been sent to be analysed. The swabbing, the Commander added, was done by specialists from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary.

“So you see nothing is being hidden, everything is being done above board and the matter is being fully investigated,” the Commander .assured.

When asked about the Force’s policy regarding workplace relationships, ACP James explained that it is not allowed. He explained that whenever it is known that ranks at the same location are in a relationship, then they would be separated.

“They would not be allowed to work continuously at the same station…

I was unaware of such happening (at La Grange Station),” the Commander stated.

Man nabbed with high-powered rifle, bullet proof vest

The AR Rifle, bulletproof and handcuff unearthed during the search

P

olice ranks in A Division (GeorgetownEast Bank Demerara) have arrested a Georgetown resident after he was found in possession of a high-powered weapon and other suspicious items on Thursday afternoon.

The discovery was made during an intelligence-led operation, which saw ranks conducting a search on the car of the 52-year-old suspect.

According to Police re-

ports, among the items seized during the operation were an unlicensed AR Rifle with magazine, a pair of handcuffs and one bulletproof vest.

The suspect, who resides on Church Street, Georgetown, is a licensed firearm holder but not for the type of weapon that was found in his possession. He is currently in Police custody and is assisting with investigations.

12 NEWS

saturDAY, november 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Trade Union Board in limbo …as court finds it in breach of Trade Union Act

T

he Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB) has been found to be in violation of the Trade Union Recognition Act, especially as it relates to the selection of a chairman of the organisation.

In a written judgment issued by the High Court on Wednesday, it was said the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) was not consulted prior to the appointment of a chair in 2015.

FITUG General

Secretary, Carvil Duncan, had claimed that TURCB unilaterally appointed a chairman in 2015 without consulting FITUG, and only recognised the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC).

The court said, “There was non-compliance with the amendment to Section 5 of the Trade Union Recognition Act of 1997 as set out in the aforementioned Act 2009 in the 2015 appointment.”

The court also found that FITUG has the most

“representative organisation of workers in Guyana.”

It further declared that the TURCB set up in 2015 was not established in conformity with that Act. “The plaintiff (FITUG) has not been duly recognised and treated in accordance with the existing law, and consequently the aforementioned board cannot be regarded, recognized, and treated as being in accordance with the law,” the judgment further added.

Some trade unionists believe that based on this new

judgment, some of the polls conducted throughout various companies to select a union may need to be redone. However, they said this decision lies with the current board, and if they are fair, they may move towards redoing those polls.

The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) in early October won a recognition poll by an overwhelming majority of 93 per cent when it came up against the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated’s (BCGI)-

preferred for the National Mine Workers Union.

In October 2015, FITUG had taken objection to Government’s appointment of former Justice Claudette La Bennett as Chairperson of the TURCB, and had questioned the legal transparency of the process.

FITUG also questioned the appointment of the current board. Social Protection Minister Amna Ally had asked for nominations from GTUC, which signalled its support for Justice La Bennett to return as chairperson. FITUG was then asked to nominate a person, and its representatives made it clear that “we have no faith and confidence in the present chairman”.

Duncan had claimed that the decision might

FITUG Executive Carvil Duncan

have already been arrived at, and the FITUG submission was just a matter of formality.

TURCB has responsibility for determination of all applications and matters concerning the certification of trade unions as recognised majority unions.

Attack on teacher

Police arrest another “associate” of deceased

I

nvestigators probing the gruesome attack on the late 22-year-old Kescia Branche have arrested an “associate” of the young woman, with whom she was in contact hours before she was discovered in an unconscious state.

“The deceased was in contact with a male on several occasions via cell phone in the early hours of that morning,” Police said in a statement on Friday.

Guyana Times understands that upon examining the cellular phone of the deceased, detectives came across the number, and as such, tracked down and arrested the associate on Friday morning. The man is in custody, assisting with the investigations.

On Thursday, investigators hauled in Branche’s former partner, the father of her son, for questioning. He, too, remains in custody.

Even as these two are being questioned, the two Police Constables with whom the young woman was seen leaving a city night club remain under close arrest.

Additionally, two other ranks are being questioned after phone records show that they were in constant contact with one of the constables after he left the night club in company of the now dead young woman.

Meanwhile, a post mortem revealed that Branche died as a result og brain haemorrhage and blunt trauma to the head.

The unconscious Richard Ishmael Secondary School teacher was found in the vicinity of Princes Street and Louisa Row, Georgetown on Sunday morning, and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where she remained in an unconscious state hooked up to life support machines until Tuesday, when she succumbed to her injuries at

Dead: Kescia Branche

some time around 17:00h.

Branche, who had resided in Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, was last seen on Saturday evening when she left for a night out with her friends, and the Police are seeking the public’s assistance to determine what may have transpired that resulted in the inhumane beating the young woman had received.

A source close to the investigation revealed that detectives on Monday reviewed the CCTV footage at a popular Newtown nightclub where the woman was seen partying on Saturday evening, and came across evidence of the two uniformed officers interacting with the deceased.

It was shown that the young woman left with the ranks, hopping on the back of one the motorcycles. This publication understands that investigators were told that they then proceeded to Mandela Avenue to get barbeque, and while there, one of the ranks reported left to use the washroom.

Upon his return, he told detectives, the young woman was not there, and his colleague said she had left in a taxi.

The battered and unconscious body of the 22-yearold was found on the corner of Princes Street and Louisa Row at sometime around 05:00h on Sunday.

news

13

saturDAY, november 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Local businesses donate $11M to Hurricane Relief Fund (Caricom), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, was planned to raise funds to assist the hurricane ravaged Caribbean islands.

The show will feature several regional and local artistes, including Orlando

Octive, Partice Roberts and Olatunji. Also performing at the show will be Guyana’s own Natural Black, Dave Martins, Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo, Kwasi “Ace” Edmondson and Michelle “Big Red” Roberts, among

others.

At the event, BK International will also launch its musical band titled ‘BK Mingles’ which will perform its maiden piece before a massive audience.

25 youth leaders honoured Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Keith Scott along with members of the Private Sector who together donated $11 million towards the Hurricane Relief Fund

T

he Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Friday received over $11 million from several private businesses in aid of the Hurricane Relief Fund.

Some of the donations came from China Trading ($300,000), SOL Guyana ($1 million), Guyana Water Inc ($500,000), Jumbo Jet ($1 million), Rodisa Incorporated ($1 million), Caltech Incorporated ($200,000), China Harbour (US$20,000), Trans Global ($2 million) along with $500,000 from an anonymous donor.

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott re-

ceived the donation on behalf of Minister of State Joseph Harmon.

Speaking at the small handing over ceremony, Director General of the CDC, Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup expressed his gratitude to the companies.

“I would like to thank you very much on behalf of the Government of Guyana and the Civil Defence Commission for your generous donation, I can assure you that this will go a very long way in assisting the hurricane ravaged islands in the Caribbean. I had some decisions three days ago with the Deputy Director of Caribbean Disaster

GTA greets visitors with snacks, tokens as part of Tourism Month

Passengers arriving on the early morning flight at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Friday were greeted by staff of the Tourism Ministry who distributed small tokens and eatables

I

ncoming passengers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) were pleasantly surprised on Friday as they were greeted with local snacks and tokens.

Representatives of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) distributed the delicacies and mementos to the delighted visitors, as part of the organisation’s Tourism Month activities.

Some of the visitors included Guyanese returning home, as well as first-time visitors to the country.

One visitor, Shanpaul Narine, disclosed the purpose of his visit, stating he is expected to make an address at the University of Guyana’s Convocation Ceremony at the National Cultural Centre. “Guyana will always be home and I

love coming here, and my son loves it too, he always wants to come when I coming, so this trip I brought him,” Narine said.

Patsy Brow has resided in the USA for over 30 years and is always happy to return home. “Guyana is my birthplace and I will always come back home. What I love most about being back home is the warmth and the food,” she is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

“I have been living in the USA over 35 years and I happy to come back home.

I am here for the University of Guyana graduation. I love coming home for the food and the weather, everything is so organic and everything is so wonderful here,” Naro Bali said.

Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and they are very thankful for the response so far,” Ramsarup added.

Meanwhile, this evening, the Hurricane Relief Concert will be held at D’Urban Park. The concert, which is being hosted by the Civil Defence Commission, under the patronage of Minister of State Joseph Harmony and Secretary General of the Caribbean Community

The Government on Friday hosted the third annual National Youth Awards during which 25 youth leaders and organisations emanating from each of the 10 administrative regions of Guyana were recognised for their work as young change-markers within the fields of volunteerism, sports, arts, youth entrepreneurship and agriculture.

This year marks the first time the event is being hosted under the umbrella of the Social Cohesion Ministry. As such, Minister George Norton, who now holds the responsibility of culture, youth and sport, joined the group of honourees along with, from left to right, Director of Sports Christopher Jones; Director of Culture, Tamika Boatswain; Director of Youth, Leslyn Boyce; and UNICEF Deputy Representative to Guyana and Suriname, Paolo Marchi.

14 news

saturdAY, november 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

More stringent measures needed to Canadian High prevent sexual violence – protesters Commissioner hosts

I

n light of the recent incidents which have seen both young men and women being sexual assaulted, a group of citizens has taken a stand against the current judicial system, which those citizens believe continues to fail victims of rape and at-risk citizens.

This is as the City Hall protesters returned for a third week, the small group having grown on Thursday as more concerned citizens came out to speak up against rape.

At the forefront of the calls for a revision of the judicial system in handling rape cases was Dr Raquel Thomas-Caesar, who explained what prompted the group to take to the streets.

In doing so, she relayed, “One of the things we would like to see an outcome from this is originations and offices. What are their procedures for dealing with situations like sexual harassment, rape? Are they aware what they should do

when a situation of rape or harassment occurs in their office?

“Rape is very serious because it is a very serious crime, and any crime needs to be reported to the police,” she continued.

With that being established, Dr Thomas-Caesar, who was at the time representing local organisation Citizens Against Rape, told Guyana Times that there are many facets of sexual violence which are lacking attention in Guyana. At the top of her list was the issue of consent.

“The age for consent is 16; so any child under the age of 16, even if they say yes, that is not consent because of the age. If somebody is drunk and they have sex and then they say they were raped, the fact is: when somebody is drunk and can’t do anything, they cannot issue consent.”

Adding to that, the social activist pointed out that the common excuse of wom-

Dr Raquel Thomas-Caesar

en dressing seductively is no justification for rape. In fact, she highlighted, even women who are fully clad are victims of rape and other forms of sexual molestation.

As such, the public demonstrator went on to address the laws available in Guyana to protect victims and penalize the perpetrators of such heinous crimes.

“We have to fix our law.

1% conviction rate from our judicial system is just not

good enough, and we need to fix it,” she contended.

Dr Raquel ThomasCaesar further underlined, “We have a very good Act, the Sexual Offences Act, but it needs to work. There are many things in there that can protect people and victims of rape.”

According to the last crime statistics issued, the Police have indicated that there were 171 rape cases reported as at August this year. However, in recent months, there has been a spike in these instances, which have seen particularly brutal outcomes.

Meanwhile, just earlier this week, a Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) man was charged with having sexual relations with a 13-yearold girl after he appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and was released on $250,000 bail.

On Friday, a pastor was arrested on rape allegations in Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

COTED delegation

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterje, and Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, share a toast at the 45th COTED reception

C

anadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterje, hosted a reception for the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) delegation who are currently in Guyana for the 45th COTED meeting.

High Commissioner Chatterje noted that the reception was another facet of the Canada Caricom relationship, which is grounded in strong people-to-people links as well as economic and diplomatic cooperation.

“Canada considers Caricom a valued partner.

Over the years, our commercial relationship with the Caribbean has grown exponentially,” Commissioner Chatterje said.

She added that the twoway merchandise trade between Canada and Caricom member states reached $1.6 billion in 2015, while the total service trade reached $3.6 billion in 2015. She further added that over 2.2 million Canadians visit the Caribbean every year.

“We see great opportunities working with Caricom and their individual members to continue building on this relationship, and at times repair areas of weakness,” Commissioner Chatterje noted.

High Commissioner Chatterje is also the Canadian Representative to Caricom.

Also speaking at the reception, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, in brief remarks, stated that Caricom stands ready to re-engage on the trade and development agreement. He added that Caricom and Canada have enjoyed a strong relationship that will remain unbroken.

Additionally, the Caricom SG encouraged Canada to continue leading the charge in the fight against climate change “by getting the Paris Agreement implemented. It has to be 1.5, and we are not going to stop talking about climate change until it’s 1.5.

One point five for us to stay alive.”

COTED plays a critical role in ensuring the functioning of the Caricom Single Market and Economy through initiatives that streamline markets, foster economic and production integration, and facilitate the movement of skills among member states.

The 45th Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) concluded on Friday.

News

15

saturdAY, november 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Self-Reliance programme

Trainers, graduates urged to become community leaders

F

irst Lady Sandra Granger on Friday expressed her desire to see the graduates of the Training of Trainers Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop become leaders in their communities. She voiced this expectation to the 32 participants who successfully completed the one-week workshop at the Regency Suites, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

“These workshops, I hope, will not only help you financially… but will also give you ways to develop your own family structure, and, of course, be more active in your community… I hope that you’ve understood that underlying all this training is the idea that you can be a leader in your community… I hope that, at the end of this workshop, we would have set you on the path of thinking how you can be someone who can help to build your own communities and help [them] develop,” the First Lady is quoted by the Ministry of the Presidency as saying.

First Lady Sandra Granger flanked by, from left: Chairperson, Yvonne Smith; Lead Facilitator, Sanjay Pooran; Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence; Senior Facilitator Wayne Barrow; Executive Director of Interweave Solutions International, Dr Lynn Curtis and participants of the programme

Meanwhile, delivering the feature address, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence urged the graduates to embrace the confidence that their newfound knowl-

edge affords them. “I want you to understand what you were given.

Don’t take it for granted. You have been given power... I hope that when you leave this place… your

head will be lifted a little higher, that your chest would be lifted to a higher place, [and] that your shoulders will be straight. I want to tell you that unless you

know who you are… you will not be able to use the power that you have been given here. When you’re walking out of here, you’re walking out with power… and that power… can make you anything you want to be,” she said.

Executive Director of Interweave Solutions International, Dr Lynn Curtis, said with the training of the new facilitators, the Self-Reliance programme can reach thousands of Guyanese.

The ceremony which featured poetic and musical performances, closed the first of two training of trainers programmes being held in the month of November.

The second workshop will be conducted from November 13-17 and will host participants from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

79 graduate from Carnegie School of Home Economics

“

Y

our contributions, regardless of how small, can play a significant role in the development of our society.”

Those were the words of minister within the Social Protection Ministry, with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott.

The minister made those remarks at the 84th graduation ceremony for the 2017 graduands of the Carnegie School of Home Economics (CSHE) and the Craft Production and Design Division of the Education Ministry. The event was held at the Princess Ramada Hotel at Providence, EBD. Minister Scott told the graduating students that, having completed their courses of study, their contribution to the national economy can be enormous, and that it can fuel econom-

A section of the class graduating from the Carnegie School of Home Economics

ic development in Guyana.

He said the development of Guyana therefore is synonymous with the personal development of the graduands.

He commended the Principal of the Carnegie School of Home Economics, Penelope Harris, and her

staff for the high level of commitment and dedication they have shown to the institution to ensure that quality education is provided to its students.

Delivering the Annual Report of the CSHE, Principal Penelope Harris

“You need to be leaders” – Commander Hicken tells new recruits

C

ommander Clifton Hicken has charged the 133 recruits who graduated on Friday as new members of the Guyana Police Force to be leaders, not only in the Guyana Police Force (GPF), but in Guyana.

Under the training theme “Forging ahead with professionalism and intelligence-led policing in collaboration with stakeholders”, the trainees all endured vigorous training exercises.

The new officers were trained in five different recruit courses which consisted of academics, practical and extra-curricular components which will enable them to serve to the best of their abilities.

The training exercise which lasted for a five-month period was one that was both fulfilling and “challenging”, according to Hicken, who reminded the recruits “the challenges have now begun, you

will not meet with smooth sailing”.

The Commander in his address at the Police Officers’ Training Centre, Eve Leary, on Friday, reminded the new recruits to put the training received into practice.

“You need to take all that you would’ve learnt in the training school and put them into practice. Learn the laws of the country, read the standing orders, read the policies, especially the different acts and make decisions that are in keeping with the Guyana Police Force,” the Commander charged.

Hicken congratulated the successful trainees and further urged them to become friends with the citizens of Guyana.

“Take off your armour so that members of the public will feel inclined to interact with you. You are the peacemakers, you are to solve problems, get into communities,

interact with the people, identify problems before it escalates, so that the people will see that you are their friends and not their enemies,” the Commander explained.

The recruits were reminded that the expectation of them is higher than before, and as such, they need to exhibit professional behaviours at all times.

“Expectations are higher than before especially since the implementation of the new 911. The people expect that responses to calls will now be swift so you need to ensure that you maintain a professional relationship with the public. In the absence of a leader, new leaders emerge, you all need to be leaders,” Hicken said.

Following the Commander’s remarks, special awards were handed out to the best student, runner-up and most improved student of the five courses.

said 79 graduands will proceed into a life of commerce, while some will further their studies. Based on Harris’s presentation of the CSHE Annual Report, the graduands that were honoured and celebrated completed courses in Household

Management – Commercial Food Preparation (23), Household Management – Garment Construction (9), Interior Decoration (6), Cosmetology (16) and Catering and Hospitality (25).

Further, she said students would have completed internships at a number of entities within the tourism and hospitality sector, the garment industry, the beauty care industry, and at the Caricom Secretariat.

Additionally, Harris said the institution is in the process of transitioning to a new uniform, which will give students a more professional appearance.

Among the projections, the Principal said, it is anticipated that programmes offered will be accredited in the near future, beginning with the Catering

Hospitality course. Further, it is projected that services offered to the public will expand, staff welfare will be improved, and a facility to accommodate hospitality training will be among the improvements there.

Delivering the Charge to the graduands, Manager of Lezon’s, Colin Langford, charged the graduands to always seek opportunities for personal and professional growth. He urged them to conduct themselves in a manner that would cause people to hold their professions in the highest esteem, and show appreciation for the work of colleagues in similar professional disciplines. Lastly, he charged the graduands not to forget their Alma Mater, and to ensure that they do whatever is possible to facilitate its improvement.

PM Rowley’s friend charged

S

outh-based businessman Hanif Nazim Baksh, described as a close friend of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, surrendered to Police on Thursday more than 24 hours after they tried to arrest him at his Penal business place on Wednesday afternoon. He was not there when the police showed up and they returned later but he still could not be found.

As they were preparing to return, they were told a senior member of the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) was contacted by Baksh’s attorney who was arranging to have Baksh surrender at about 2 pm.

He and attorney Michael Rooplal went to the Henry Street, Port of Spain office of the PSB where he met acting Supt Ruthven Hunte of the Police Complaints Division at about 1.48 pm. Hunte

Billy Ramsundar

told Baksh of the charges to be laid against him.

He was charged shortly before 16:00h with assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Trinidad Guardian photographer Kristian De Silva and malicious damage to De Silva’s spectacles in September.

Baksh, the CEO of AV Oil and Gas Ltd, was taken to the Besson Street po-

lice station where he waited on a justice of the peace who granted him bail in the sum of $80,000.

Cpl Billy Ramsundar, husband of government senator Allyson Baksh, was granted $80,000 bail after he was also charged with assaulting De Silva.

He has also been charged with malicious damage of De Silva’s Canon camera, valued US$1,600.

Ramsundar was granted bail by a justice of the peace on Wednesday after he was charged by Hunte.

He and Baksh, father of the government senator, are expected to appear before a Siparia magistrate today.

De Silva, 34, of Golconda, was at Nazim Avenue, San Francique, Penal on September 16 covering the alleged Petrotrin “fake oil” story at Baksh’s company when he was allegedly assaulted. (T&T NewsDay)

16

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, november 11, 2017

Regional

US expands Venezuela blacklist Trial for taxi driver, 77, for ‘undermining democracy’ charged with molesting girls

A

T

he US has imposed sanctions on 10 Venezuelan officials it accuses of undermining democracy, corruption and censoring the press. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the US “would not stand by while the administration of President Nicolás Maduro destroyed democratic order”.

Maduro’s chief of staff and two ministers are on the list. It brings to 40 the total number of Venezuelans sanctioned by the US, including Maduro. The ten have had their US assets frozen and are also banned from travelling to the country, while American businesses are forbidden to work with them.

The Treasury department also issued bans against several members of Venezuela’s all-powerful Constituent Assembly, including a Vice President.

The department said the

Sea Lots man has been committed to stand trial in the Port of Spain High Court, on multiple sexual offences against two girls.

The preliminary enquiry involving 77-yearold Neville Richards, a taxi driver, was heard by Port of Spain Magistrate Adia

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said Venezuela was “disregarding the will of its people”

assembly had sworn in the winners of the October regional election but that the vote had been “marked by numerous irregularities that strongly suggest fraud” and that had helped Maduro’s ruling party win a majority of governorships.

The latest sanctions come two days after the Constituent Assembly took away the immunity of a congressman, Freddy Guevara,

and barred him from leaving the country.

The pro-Government Supreme Court said it believed Guevara had instigated unrest during months of anti-Government protests earlier this year. In August the US imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela, banning debt trading of bonds issued by the Government and its state-owned oil company. (Excerpt from BBC News)

UWI to remove name of ‘racist’ former British governor on St Augustine Hall of Residence

N

early a century after being named in honour of a former British governor, Milner Hall, a co-ed hall of residence at the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) is to be renamed.

In a statement, the UWI said that the decision to re-name the hall comes after months of internal discussion, some of it divisive and at times emotionally charged.

The UWI Finance and General Purposes Committee (F&GPC), comprising all stakeholders, from governments to

graduates, unanimously accepted the recommendation from the university’s Senior Executive Management on October 30 and the name change will be done in accordance with the recommendations of the report by Pro Vice Chancellor, Alan Cobley.

Cobley, a Professor of South African History had been asked by UWI Vice Chancellor, Sir Hilary Beckles to investigate the life and times of Lord Alfred Milner and to make recommendations with respect to Milner’s fitness to be celebrated as an icon within the 70-year-old re-

gional institution.

Milner was a British Colonial Governor in South Africa at the turn of the 20th century.

UWI said that the Cobley Report sets out, among other things Lord Milner’s political identity as a self-proclaimed “British race supremacist”; his role as a formulator of British racial theory in which he described Africans as “savages” and the part he played as a founder of the criminal system of racial apartheid which was institutionalised in South Africa in 1948. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

OECS looking to reduce costs of importing drugs

H

ealth Ministers from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) began a twoday meeting in Martinique on Friday examining ways to share scarce resources while improving access to health services for people of the sub-regional grouping.

Last year, the St Luciabased OECS Commission spent an estimated EC$25

million through the OECS Pharmaceutical Service acquiring medical products.

The Commission said that as a result of the bulk purchase, it was able to save five million dollars for the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts-Nevis, Anguilla, Montserrat and

the British Virgin Islands.

The financial savings in the health sector is among the topics being discussed at the fourth Council of OECS Health Ministers meeting that is also expected to evaluate the member states’ response to non-chronic communicable diseases (NCDs), health human resource sharing in the Eastern Caribbean.

The Ministers are also to discuss the annual work programme of the OECS/Pharmaceutical Procurement Service and will also explore expanding the OECS/PPS product portfolio to include the pooled procurement of Laboratory supplies, particularly viral load reagents for monitoring People Living with HIV/ AIDS. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Mohammed, who committed the matter to trial.

Richards was later remanded into custody, pending the securing of TT$150,000 bail with surety.

According to the State, the accused was alleged hired as a driver, by the parents of the six-year-old and seven-year-old girls, to

transport them to their primary school.

It is alleged the offences against the girls were committed sometime between June 1st 2016 and June 30th 2016.

Richards was charged by WPC Makeda Edwards, of the Child Protection Unit.

(Trinidad Express)

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister visits Barbados

B

ritain’s Minister of State with responsibility for the Caribbean and the Commonwealth, Lord Ahmad, paid his first official visit to Barbados on Wednesday, to strengthen the relations between the two countries and advance issues of mutual interest.

This formed part of a three-day visit to the Caribbean, which also included Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. In Barbados, Ahmad’s engagements included official meetings with Prime Minister Freundel Stuart; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean; and International Business Minister, Donville Inniss. Ahmad also visit-

From left: Prime Minister of Barbados Freundel Stuart; British High Commissioner Janet Douglas; and Lord Ahmad

ed the Regional Security System (RSS) and met with representatives from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management

Agency (CDEMA), the Caribbean Community (Caricom), and members of the local business community. (Caribbean News Now)

IDB launches fund to assist early childhood development in the Caribbean

T

he Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has launched the ECD Innovation Fund, a partnership to foster early childhood development (ECD) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

The ECD Innovation Fund is a partnership with FEMSA Foundation and Open Society Foundations at a regional level, and with Fundação Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal (FMCSV) in Brazil. It will be coordinated and managed by the IDB. The Washington-based

financial institution said that each partner will initially contribute one million US dollars to the ECD Innovation Fund, hoping that over the next three years it will reach more than US$10 million for financing projects in the region.

Designed to benefit children in the most vulnerable communities, the new fund will finance initiatives to improve the cognitive, linguistic, motor, and socio-emotional abilities in the first five years of a child's life.

Knowledge exchange will be

a critical component of the fund, as partners will generate and share new evidence on effective ECD solutions.

“We seek innovative, replicable, and scalable initiatives in order to develop comprehensive solutions to the challenges we face as a society.

The ECD Innovation Fund is an opportunity to foster new ideas and contribute to early childhood development in the region”, said Mariano Montero, Director of FEMSA Foundation. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Police looking for the man behind hotel bomb hoax

P

anicked guests of the Pineapple Beach Club Antigua were evacuated from their hotel rooms on Thursday morning in what Police determined to be a bomb-threat hoax.

Police said a receptionist received the threatening message from a male caller shortly before 07:00h and the caller advised that explosives were on the hotel’s compound.

More than 300 people, including scantily clad guests, were rushed from their rooms right away as the hotel staff summoned the Police.

The incident disrupt-

ed the hotel’s operations for over three hours. The bomb threat was reported to the Willikies Police Station whose officers were joined by the Bomb Squad, K9 Unit and Special Branch.

Together, they swept the hotel compound at Long Bay in search of the explosives.

Lawmen said that they are now focusing on tracing the call, so that they can pursue the perpetrator(s).

They told Observer media that this could take a few days because warrants to the telecommunication companies would have to be sought before the information can be released.

One employee told our newsroom that the property owner was on the compound and spoke with the guests. Efforts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.(Antigua Observer)

saturdAY, november 11, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Hezbollah says Saudi declares Lebanon war with Hariri detention

F

rance became the first Western country to indicate that Saudi Arabia was holding Hariri against his will, saying it wished for him to have “all his freedom of movement and be fully able to play the essential role that is his in Lebanon”.

Hariri’s resignation has plunged Lebanon into crisis, thrusting the small Arab country back to the forefront of regional rivalry between the Sunni Muslim monarchy Saudi Arabia and Shi‘ite revolutionary Iran.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, said Saudi Arabia’s detention of Hariri, a long-time Saudi ally who declared his resignation while in Riyadh last Saturday, was an insult to

Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is seen on a video screen as he addresses his supporters in Beirut, Lebanon, November 10, 2017

all Lebanese and he must return to Lebanon.

“Let us say things as they are: the man is detained in Saudi Arabia and forbidden until this moment from returning to Lebanon,” Nasrallah said in a televised speech.

“It is clear that Saudi Arabia and Saudi officials have declared war on Lebanon and on Hezbollah in Lebanon,” he said.

His comments mirror an accusation by Riyadh on Monday that Lebanon and Hezbollah had declared

During 2016 and 2017, the UN monitors said a military campaign by Government troops in the north-western town of Wau and surrounding areas in Western Bahr elGhazal targeted civilians on ethnic grounds and displaced more than 100,000.

“The Government has during much of 2017 delib-

erately prevented life-saving food assistance from reaching some citizens,” the monitors wrote. “These actions amount to using food as a weapon of war with the intent to inflict suffering on civilians the Government views as opponents to its agenda.”

“The denial of aid had caused extreme food inse-

war on the conservative Gulf Arab kingdom.

Riyadh says Hariri is a free man and he decided to resign because Hezbollah was calling the shots in his government. Saudi Arabia considers Hezbollah to be its enemy in conflicts across the Middle East, including Syria and Yemen.

Western countries have looked on with alarm at the rising regional tension.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned other countries and groups against using Lebanon as vehicle for a larger proxy fight in the Middle East, saying Washington strongly backed Lebanon’s independence and respected Hariri as a strong partner of the United States, still referring to him as Prime Minister. (Excerpt from Reuters)

South Sudan’s Govt using food as weapon of war – UN report

S

outh Sudan President Salva Kiir’s Government is using food as a weapon of war to target civilians by blocking life-saving aid in some areas, United Nations sanctions monitors told the Security Council in a confidential report seen by Reuters on Friday.

curity among large sections of the population, with malnutrition and death by starvation the documented outcome, in particular in the Greater Baggari area in Wau County,” they said in the report submitted to the UN Security Council’s South Sudan sanctions committee.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Louis CK admits sexual misconduct allegations are true

U

S comedian Louis CK has admitted that sexual misconduct allegations made against him by five women are true.

He said he had “wielded power irresponsibly” and could hardly wrap his head around the “scope of hurt” he had caused them.

Four of the accusers told the New York Times he masturbated during interactions with them and a fifth said he had asked to do so.

The allegations led to the release of his new movie being scrapped.

“I Love You Daddy” – a comedy about an ageing film director, played

by John Malkovich, who has a reputation for getting embroiled with young

Louis CK has won six Emmy Awards and had 39 nominations

women – was due to have been released in the US on November 17.

“These stories are true,” Louis CK said in his statement.

“The power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly.”

The comedian added that he regretted the hurt he had inflicted on people he worked with, including his manager Dave Becky, his family, his friends, his children and their mother.

In Thursday’s New York Times report, four comediennes – Dana Min Goodman, Julia Wolov, Rebecca Corry and Abby Schachner – and a fifth woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, made allegations about the entertainer. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Russia to amend law to classify US media as ‘foreign agents’

R

ussia’s Parliament warned on Friday some US and other foreign media could be declared “foreign agents” and obliged to regularly declare full details of their funding, finances and staffing.

Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the State Duma, said Parliament could back legislation as early as next week in response to what lawmakers view as US pressure on Russian media.

17

Journalists watch Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on a big screen during his annual news conference in Moscow (file photo)

“Possible restrictions will be the same as

those taken by the United States,” Interfax news

agency quoted him as saying.

He said some US media in Russia were trying to turn US public opinion against Moscow.

“We understand that it’s essential to protect the interests of our citizens and the country and we will do this in the same way as the country which lays claim to be the gold standard and mentor and which is constantly talking about freedom.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

APEC summit: Trump, Xi offer competing visions for trade

U

S President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping have set out starkly different visions for the future of global trade in speeches at a summit in Vietnam.

In a defiant address, Trump told the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC meeting that the US would no longer tolerate “chronic trade abuses”.

In contrast, President Xi said globalisation was irreversible.

Trump is currently on a five-nation Asia tour, with China one of his stops.

Apec brings together 21 economies from the Pacific region – the equivalent of about 60 per cent of the world’s GDP. Since taking office, President Trump has pursued his “America First” agenda and pulled the US out of the regional TransPacific Partnership – a major trade deal with 12 Apec nations – arguing it would hurt US economic interests.

In a speech in the Vietnamese port city of Da

Nang on Friday, President Trump railed against the World Trade Organisation, which sets global trade laws, and said it “cannot function properly” if all members do not respect the rules.

He complained about trade imbalances, saying the US had lowered market barriers and ended tariffs while other countries had not reciprocated. “Such practices hurt many people in our country,” he said, adding that free trade had cost millions of American jobs.

But he did not lay the blame on Apec countries, and instead accused earlier US Administrations of not acting earlier to reverse the trend.

He said America would make bilateral agreements with “any Indo-Pacific partner here who abides by fair reciprocal trade”, but only “on a basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit”.

Trump has repeatedly referred to the region as “Indo-Pacific”, a term used to define America’s new geopolitical view of Asia. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

French car ‘attack’ hurts students near Toulouse

The three victims have been taken to hospital

A

driver has ploughed into a group of students near the south-western French city of Toulouse, injuring three.

One of the injured is said to be in a serious condition.

All three are thought to be Chinese.

The incident occurred outside a college in the suburb of Blagnac.

French media quoted Police sources as saying the incident was deliberate, but the driver, reported to be aged 28, was not on a security watch list. He was arrested several minutes later.

Police say the man had several previous minor convictions, notably drugs-related.

Unconfirmed reports say

he had a history of mental illness, including acute schizophrenia. La Dépêche du Midi newspaper quoted him as telling Police he had heard voices telling him to harm someone.

The injured students, said to be aged 22 and 23, have been taken to hospital in Toulouse.

The Public Prosecutor has visited the scene of the accident and for the moment there has been no suggestion that it is an act of terrorism.

Toulouse Mayor JeanLuc Moudenc tweeted (in French): “Very shocked by the aggression towards the students in Blagnac. We offer all our support to them and their loved ones.” (BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, november 11, 2017

ARCHIE

Take care of legal, financial and health issues. Look (March 21over personal papers and tidy April 19) up loose ends. Make plans that offer others incentive to work hard and do well.

ARIES

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Look for bargains and practical purchases that will make your life easier. Time spent with someone you love will encourage moving forward with long-term plans.

Emotional manipulaGEMINI (May 21- tion will not end the way June 20) you anticipate. You are best off sticking to the truth and making your feelings and intentions clear when dealing with friends or loved ones.

You’ll have unusual ideas that can make a difference (June 21- to how or where you live.

July 22) Don’t let emotions come between you and your success.

Honesty will help you make the right choice.

CANCER

Peanuts

Someone will take what LEO you say the wrong way. You (July 23- are likely to make an unreAug. 22) alistic promise if you don’t avoid being overly generous while under the influence of stimulants.

A change at home will VIRGO turn out better than antici(Aug. 23pated if you are disciplined Sept. 22) and work hard to resolve family matters without hesitation. Don’t let anyone take credit for your work.

Calvin and Hobbes

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

A positive turn of events will be encouraging. Plan something special with someone you love to enhance your relationship. Don’t let the past stand in your way.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

A fast pace can lead to mistakes. Double-check everything and leave no room for error. Trust firsthand information and get promises in writing. Don’t complicate matters.

Make personal changSAGITTARIUS es that will leave you feeling (Nov. 23- better about yourself. Travel Dec. 21) and communication will be informative. Experience what life has to offer. A retreat will enhance your awareness.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

You can stabilize your current work or financial situation if you make changes to your professional approach. Negotiate on your own behalf.

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle A problem with a joint enAQUARIUS deavor can cause financial (Jan. 20- stress. Resolve issues without Feb. 19) taking on an added expense.

Have a plan in mind that will lower overhead while maintaining the relationship.

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Emotions will interfere PISCES (Feb. 20- with reason when discussing March 20) important matters and dealing with peers. It’s important to take a moment to listen to what’s being said before you respond.

saturDAY, november 11, 2017

19

MotoAmerica champions ready for CMRC battle

– lowering lap records high on agenda

T

eam Mohamed’s Enterprise which consists of three international riders, two of which are MotoAmerica Champions, are pumped and ready for the battle that awaits them at final leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) which begins today at the South Dakota Circuit.

The 2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champions Jason Aguilar, who will be riding at the Circuit for the first spoke exclusively to Guyana Times Sport on Friday and expressed his delight at the conditions.

“So far everything is going well, I like the track, it is different from what I usually ride on but it is fun so it’s really nice to be here.”

The 21 year who began professional racing since the age of 11 added, “the races are very short and on a track like

you cannot make any mistakes unless you will be at the back in time.”

Likewise, 2016 champion Bryce Prince, who has already dethroned Matthew Vieira for the 2016 CMRC Super stock due to his unbeaten run in the previous three legs is planning on creating more history becoming the first rider to win the title unbeaten.

“It has been a really good experience, we have gone 12 for 12 wins and nice to come back to Guyana and really excited to give the fans a good show with his new bike and set some new times,” Prince posited.

“We want to win races and try to break the track set record set last year, I am going to give it my all and we will see what happens.”

In addition, British Superbike Rider Matt Truelove is also happy to grace these

shores again after setting a new track record of 33.3 seconds last year.

“It is great to be back and seeing everyone again. I am working hard to get back to the times I had before and even better them. I hope I can lower the times since I feel like a better rider.”

“It’s more competition and I’m excited and rearing to go but I don’t think anyone but these two [Prince and Aguilar] will be in the mix but hopefully I can keep up with them.”

At practice on Friday, all three riders were clocking impressive times, close and some even below the track record. Come Sunday, the trio expressed their desire to ring the throttle to the max and wow the fans in record breaking times with the Yamaha R6 machines. (Akeem Greene)

Jamaican Atkinson wins 5th straight 50-m breaststroke Alia Atkinson is arguably the fastest breaststroker in the history of swimming

J

amaica’s Alia Atkinson continued her impressive win streak in the 50m breaststroke this season winning the event at the Beijing leg of the FINA/Airweave World Cup Tour on Friday.

The 28-year-old Jamaica, described by FINA, the world governing body for swimming, as the fastest and most consistent breaststroker in the history of the Short Course World Cup, was a comfortable winner in 29.57s.

She was almost a full second ahead of Junyang Feng (30.40) and China’s Ran Suo (30.44).

It was Atkinson’s fifth consecutive win in the event this season following previous gold medal performances Moscow, Eindhoven, Hong Kong and Qatar. It was also her fifth consecutive winning time in 30 seconds this season.

Atkinson currently holds the World Record of 28.64 seconds in this event. (Sportsmax)

Jaguars wounded...

With only the all-rounders; Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd and specialist fast bowler, Keon Joseph to come the Hurricanes will be looking for their third straight victory very early on day three.

Earlier, the Hurricanes resumed on 181 for 1 with Keacy Carty on 61 and Montcin Hodge on 72 in an unbroken 123-run partnership having lost only Chesney Hughes on the opening day. The pair punished the defending champions in the 165-run partnership which

ended in the morning session when Carty went at 223 for 2. The Hurricanes eventually lost three more wickets before lunch which was taken at 250 for 5 and the Jaguars were back in the contest after conceding 69 runs.

The Hurricanes’ middle and lower orders then rallied until the declaration with Jahmar Hamilton and Terence Ward joining Hodge and Carty with half centuries. All of the Jaguars bowlers were stretched however, it was teenager Rutherford who picked up three

from page 23

wickets while the seasoned campaigners Permaul (2) and Joseph were kept out.

Day two was total contrast to the opening day in terms of runs and wickets where 15 wickets fell for 284 runs were scored compared to 181 for 1 on the opening day. What will day three bring? We will have to wait and see but the Hurricanes will be the happier team when the action resumes today at 10:00H. the three-time defending champions will have to dig deep to claw back into this contest.

Team Mohammed’s Enterprise in the pits after practice on Sunday

Hamilton aces Brazilian Grand Prix practice

L

ewis Hamilton set the pace in second practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix as Mercedes dominated the first day at the penultimate race of the season.

Hamilton and teammate Valtteri Bottas were first and second in both sessions, the new champion just 0.048 seconds ahead of the Finn in the afternoon.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was next, 0.228secs off Hamilton and 0.132secs ahead of Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen was fifth ahead of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

Record-breaking Lewis Hamilton tops first Grand Prix practice in Brazil

Hamilton clinched the championship at the last race in Mexico but says he is determined to win the final two races to keep the pressure on Ferrari going into the winter, following their collapse in the championship.

That is a contrast with his approach the last time he won the title early, in 2015, when his team-mate Nico Rosberg won the final three races of the season and used it as a launch pad for a strong start to the following year, which he ended as champion.

Hamilton has stamped his authority on the weekend so far, fastest in both

sessions and also marginally quickest on the race-simulation runs later in the afternoon when the team practice for the race.

Vettel was closest to Hamilton on race pace, within 0.1secs a lap of the Mercedes on average on the super-soft tyres, with Bottas a similar difference behind and Ricciardo next.

But Hamilton was blisteringly fast when he switched to the 'soft' tyre - more than 0.5secs a lap on average quicker than Bottas, who was comfortably quicker than Ricciardo as the three were all out on track at the same time. (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, november 11, 2017

MACORP supports Peter Barry lands development of Crystal Palace job future golfers

L

ocal pro golfer and MACORP executive Guillermo Escarraga believes Saturday’s 11th annual Invitational tournament will help shape the landscape for future golfers in Guyana.

Escarraga, the Product Support Manager of MACORP told Guyana Times Sport recently that his company’s sole goal was to prepare an environment suitable for the growth of the sport which will demographically target a younger age range.

“What we (MACORP) want to do is to make a golf contribution here in Guyana, we know people love golf here and we want to ensure we provide good conditions. We have a few employees who are golfers that enjoy the sport and through our contribution and spon-

MACORP’s Guillermo Escarraga is expecting a competitive day in the 11th edition invitational today at Lusignan

sorship. We say to them it’s a good way to improve yourself and have a good hobby and this is how MACORP embraces golf in Guyana,” said Escarraga.

Winner of the best Net score in the recently conclud-

ed Guyana Open Cup tournament, Escarraga exalted the executive arm of the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) for ensuring the Fairways at Lusignan are in the best condition to date.

He pointed out that due to their common goal; which is to see golf being played by more youths, MACORP as such have indicated their support to the LGC in the future and hoped that more Guyanese would take up the sport.

The Manager further applauded the executives for opening up the fraternity to the younger generation, as it mirrors that of company’s foremost goals; which is to ensure that more youths across the country are fully integrated with the sport.

From a playing perspective, the pro golfer who will be participating in the in-

vitational said that he was poised heading onto the Greens this Saturday, adding that MACORP as a company were truly upbeat about their premier event playing a role in the continued growth of golf.

More importantly, Escarraga said that it was the inclusion of the three schools; Bishops High, St Roses and Queen’s College in the Guyana Open Cup which has shown the executive at MACOPR that the LGC were indeed serious about targeting the younger generation of Guyanese, hence the reason for signaling their support for future events.

The 11th annual MACORP Invitational will feature a number of top local and a few overseas golfers with tee off set for 12:30h at the Lusignan Golf Course.

(Clifton Ross)

I Strong Guyanese

contingent take the stage tonight

F

ollowing last year’s relative success at the 9th edition of the Darcy Beckles Classic in Barbados, Guyana will once again be strongly represented in the Land of the Flying Fish.

This time around the Guyanese contingent has

eight members including Caerus Cipriani who won silver last year and Yannick Grimes who took bronze; both of the athletes competed in the Men’s physique category. The annual bodybuilding and fitness event will be held this evening at the Lloyd Erskine Centre in

St Michael, Barbados.

Four of the athletes; Eybo Orford, Yannick Grimes, Alisha Fortune and Emmerson Campbell travelled to Barbados on Thursday while Cipriani, Chaitram Nagessar, Junica Pluck and Tremel King joined them on Friday.

F

ollowing the successful launch of the Solid Rock Academy in Kenya, Guyanese Peter Barry made his return to South East London, England and was met with a wonderful bit of information.

It turns out that Barry was employed by English Premier League (EPL) side Crystal Palace FC. Barry revealed to the media that his role at the club includes scouting players, coaching and preparing the U-15 – U-18 Boys and Girls for entry into Crystal Palace Club at various levels not excluding the Premiership level.

Colts, Jets to battle for Brusches crown

10th Darcy Beckles Classic

From left are Eybo Orford, Yannick Grimes, Alisha Fortune and Emmerson Campbell

Guyanese Peter Barry

Barry was appointed to one of the coaching positions at the U-18 level at the Crystal Palace Foundation.

Barry was a member of the Santos Football Club in Guyana before migrating to England.

He also expressed hopes that in the future, players from the youth system in Guyana would be able to benefit from his knowledge and achievements as well as to be channeled into international clubs.

When Barry lived in Guyana, he had also shown interest in coaching. While he was a teacher at East Ruimveldt Secondary School he taught classes in Business and Accounting Principles. He also taught at Central High School and St. Stanislaus College.

At East Ruimveldt Secondary School’s 50th Anniversary celebration, Barry was honoured for his outstanding contributions to the institution.

The former teacher is currently pursuing his PHD in Theology and is still open to one day work with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).

Ryan Stephney

Akeem Kanhai

Travis Burnette

n a finals fit for basketball junkies, Georgetown’s Ravens will lock horns with Amelia’s Ward Jets for bragging rights and spoils in the sixth biennial Brusches Classic Basketball Foundation held at the Mackenzie Sports Club’s Hard court.

Persistent showers throughout last week forced the mouth-watering finals to Saturday November 11 where Ravens who won in 2013 seek to reclaim a title they once held so dearly against the Jets. According to coach Darcel Harris, the Ravens were without captain Ryan Stephney before but now with him back at the helm in company of Travis Burnett who is in ripping form and Jermain Slater, Georgetown seem to be in a strong position to regain their crown.

However, their opponents are confident that Stephney’s presence this time around does not scare them as they have shown that with Akeem Kanhai, who has found success from both ends for the floor, whilst guiding their offence and defense, will make them be hard to beat.

Coach Kevin Joseph is unnerved about what Stephney brings to the Ravens camp as he feels that his side can stave off the Georgetown side regardless. He noted that his best shooter Orin Rose, who has not been in top form as of late, can be a factor as he was two years ago and when in tandem with Kanhai dismantled the Ravens in the past.

In addition to this duo the home side has some talent in Adrian Webster and Donnel Benjamin and his brother Joel

playing inside while at the back court are Nathan Saul and Shannon Cadogan. This game will be the night cap as the preceding match is one that neither Georgetown Colts nor rivals Victory Valley Royals, would want to lose.

With so much at stake and their pride of course the national champions Colts should be hoping for a good showing against arguably the top Linden side in Royals this season. That game is having $100,000 stake with the loser while the final has $300,000 for the winner and the championship trophy while the runner-up carts off $200,000.

Jump ball is 19:00h for the third place playoff game between Colts and Royals while the big clash between Ravens and Jets will bounce off from at 21:00h.

CLASSIFIED ADS

saturDAY, november 11, 2017 www.guyanatimesgy.com

ACCOMMODATIONS Conferences and retreats – full service: Hotel, Catering & Facilities.

Aracari Resort WBD – 264-2946 Alex Wayne Weddings and anniversaries: Rental or full service: Banquet Hall & Catering. Aracari Resort 264-2946 Alex Wayne Aracari Hotel, WBD (Near Harbour Bridge) – All modern amenities, rates from $25. Phone 264-2946-8

EDUCATION Jean offers courses in dress-making, curtain designs, floral arrangement, cake decorating 670-2653/ 638-8449

FOR RENT Space to let, entire bottom flat 225 F New Market Street, 1350 sq feet, suitable for doctor’s office, clinic, pharmacy, etc. Tel: 624-7471 or email: rravier@gmail.com

FOR SALE Gas Stove and Small Refrigerator.

Total Price: $13,000. Contact Tony: 218-0167 ONE OLD MODEL TOYOTA PREMIO, PTT SERIES, INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACT: 694-5297

JOB OPENING Administrative Assistant for Pro business Builders, we are looking for a highly motivated person to assist a corporate executive and be a part of our team.

Your spoken and written English are superb. Send resume to jannessa.kalloo@probusinessbuilders.com

LAND for sale Land for sale. Farm East Bank Demerara. 1 -Bellwest, West Bank Demerara; 2 -Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara; 3 -Diamond-house and land by owner; 4 -Tuschen West Coast Demerara-house and land by owner. Tel: 650-6530

NOTICE AFTER SERVING TWO PRESCRIPTIVE RIGHTS, ACCUMULATING TO TWENTY SIX YEARS, AT BOTH 3218 BUTTERCUP PLACE, SOUTH RUIMVELDT PARK AND 469 KISKADEE DRIVE SOUTH RUIMVELDT GARDENS, IT IS HEREBY DECLARED TO THE PUBLIC THAT RAYMOND ANTHONY IS THE RIGHTFUL OWNER OF THE AFORMENTIONED PROPERTIES.

property for sale One wooden/concrete two story building painted, for sale at Wales Patentia Housing Scheme, W.B.D. Price 6 million dollars. Contact 610-8963.

Two-storey concrete, 4-bedroom, one self-contained, two bathrooms, toilet. 2320 Tuschen, E.B.E. $20M, price negotiable.

Phone 664-9310 or 626-8190.

VACANCIES Job opening for Cosmetologist, Esthetician and Barbers at Nalini’s Hair Salon. Contact us via email at nalinissalonandspa@gmail.com.

One male to work on a chicken farm in the interior. Must have knowledge and experience with poultry rearing. Contact: 680-2702 One male to work as handyman in the interior. Meals and accommodation provided.

Contact: 680-2702 Vacancies exist for the following positions: SemiSkilled Construction Workers Requirements: •Identification (ID) •TIN •NIS •Police Clearance •Two (2) References (Previous Employer).

Civil Engineer Requirements: •Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering •At least Five (5) years’ experience •Identification (ID) •TIN •NIS •Police Clearance •Two (2) References (Previous Employer) Mechanical Engineer Requirements: •Batchelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering •At least Five (5) years’ experience •Identification (ID) •TIN •NIS •Police Clearance •Two (2) References (Previous Employer).

Apply to: Universal Investment Inc., Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate, Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

services Specialized in repairing, Servicing and Spares to Washing Machines, Treadmills, Dryers, Stoves, Refrigerators, A/C units, Pressure Pumps, Dishwashers, Convection Ovens & Deep fryers. Home service available 681-1312.

taxi services GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 2257878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

Shanti Persaud receiving the winning trophy after King Stanley beat Slim Shady in the “K” class race before the two animals clashed in the feature event

Maid Needed. Contact Tony: 218-0167 Waitress for bar 612-2522

spiritualist Lalita Mahadevi Spiritualist Center.

Baba is specialised in name and date of birth reading, patra reading and book opening. He is an expert in removing black magic, enmity, bad luck and gives permanent protections. Solutions will be given to love, health, marriage, business, sexual problems and much more. Call him on 660-1938 or 618-6569. Take that number again: 660-1938 or 618-6569

Business upliftment, marriage problems, pregnancy, remove blockage impotent and many more. Tel: 6121608, 683-5228 Surinamese spiritualist. Resolving all problems. Money, love, blockage etc. Call 651-9663/600-7719.

MEDITATION You are invited to attend an introductory lecture on transcendental meditation on Nov. 9, 2017 at 5:30 pm at John’s Place 114 Garnet St, Newtown, Kitty, obliquely opposite Kanhai’s electronics. T.M is world renowned for easy and effortless stress reduction with over 600 science studies documenting the benefits from mental protection, health, relationship and peace.

Contact: Ashone Kumar (certified treacher) 609-3701

Classified Ads $5+VAT per word

Call:

223-7230 Ext 50

21

W

ith many of the country’s top racing horses being rested for the upcoming year, end meets, promising upcoming animals took advantage to shine at the Eon, Quaicy and Keyno/Number 28 Bushlot/ Adventure Action Group oneday horse race meet at the Kennard Memorial Turf Club on Sunday.

The feature event over a distance of furlongs saw Slim Shady winning from pre-race favorite, King Stanley by three lengths. Miss Anjelie ran a distant third but just ahead of Red Jet. The winner rode away with $170,000 while the second place finisher pocketed $85,000 with the third and fourth place finishers

WANTED

SALON / SPA COSMETOLOGY – FULL COURSE $100,000. TECHNICIAN $40,000.

Aracari Salon & Spa, WBD 2643312, 600-3927

Next generation horses show off at Bushlot

sports

Slim Shady with Jockey Kevin Paul crossing the finish line to win the feature race of the day

collecting $42,000 and $21,000 respectively.

The day saw six races being run. The two-year-old event saw Princess Shoma of the K. Sooklall Stables with Jockey Colin Ross on board winning.

The second place went to Perfect Return ahead of Wise

Tom. The event had an overall purse of $205,000 with the winner pocketing $110,000.

The L ‘1’ and lower event over a distance of five furlongs with a top prize of $100,000 while the second place finisher got $50,000 and third and fourth place winners pocketed $25,500 and $12,500

Lancaster attending Head of Refereeing Workshop

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Head of Refereeing Department, Stanley Lancaster, has been invited to the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association (CONCACAF) 2017 Head of Refereeing Workshop from November 10 to 12 in Miami, Florida.

Lancaster will be part of this first CONCACAF meeting of all Member Association Heads of Refereeing workshop, which has been developed for Heads of Refereeing to receive critical information that will help each Member Association direct their refereeing departments in the future.

The workshop is meant to be an annual event.

In an invited comment, Lancaster said he expects to see a difference in his

GFF Head of Refereeing Department, Stanley Lancaster

approach to his duties after completing this workshop: “The knowledge received from this workshop will be a plus for Guyana since I’ll be exposed to the standard recommended by CONCACAF. This knowledge will subsequently be filtered to referees, instructors and assessors through training and education.

Coming out of this we will surely see growth in the standard of refereeing in Guyana.”

respectively. The race was won

by Irish Baby piloted by Jockey Kevin Blake. In second place was Victoria Secret ahead of touch of Class previously called Little Magiver.

The ‘K’ and Lower class fetching an overall purse of $225,000 and was won

by Kings Stanley as Jockey R. Ramnaught was able to propel the animal to outrun Massapequa Dr and take the $120,000 first prize. Victoria Secret again placed third this time beating Irish Baby into fourth place.

The race for animals classified as L ‘2’ and lower over a distance of five furlongs had seven horses under the starters orders and it was total gallop from gate to pole, Sweet Silence of the M. Balgobin Stable ran past the finish pole ahead of Matrix, Country Girl and Royal Paymaster finishing

in that order. The winning purse was $80,000.

The race for unclassified animals which kicked off the one-day meeting saw Princess Zalida of the R. Ramnarian Stales recording its first win compliments of Jockey Y. Drapaul. The reward was $40,000 for the owner.

The other animals that were registered as finishing the race were Red Weasel running second behind her stablemate, Royal Spice and Baby Girl.

The champion Jockey was Jockey Drapaul with Kevin being judged as runner-up and also the champion trainer.

Proceeds from the day’s event will go towards the Number 28 Bushlot/Adventure in Action Group’s ongoing school feeding programme and give the children of the area a much deserved Christmas party. (Andrew Carmichael)

Inter-Jamaat 10/10 bowls off on Sunday

T

he Muslim Youth Organization (MYO) of Guyana Inter-Jamaat 10/10 softball cricket competition in Memory of the late Br. Amanat Baksh of Queenstown Jama Masjid is schedule to start this Sunday November 12 at the MYO ground, Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

At the draw, the 10 teams that have registered were divided into two groups. The competition will be on a round robin basis within the groups where only round-hand bowling will be allowed.

Zone A comprises Grove, Queenstown, Farm, Enmore and Land of Canaan while Zone B has Wakenaam, Adventure, MYO, Diamond/Grove and New Amsterdam Jamaats.

Meanwhile, five games have been fixed for Sunday November 12 with Adventure Jamaat taking on Diamond/ Grove from 09:00h. At 10:30h, New Amsterdam will take on the hosts, MYO followed by Adventure and New Amsterdam at 12:00 noon. The final two game will see Diamond/Grove

The late Brother Amanat Baksh

taking on Enmore at 13:30h before Queenstown and Land of Canaan bring the curtains down with their clash at 15:00h.

Teams are vying for a number of trophies and cash with the finals set for Sunday December 3, with a BBQ and Food Sale.

Tickets cost $1,000.

Before the first match on Sunday, there will be a small opening ceremony in which brief remarks will be done by the MYO and the children of the late Amanat Baksh.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, november 11, 2017

Determined Deokie out to make amends A

fter falling five points from championship glory last season, Sports Tuner (1600cc) driver Daniel Deokie is focused on ensuring he can make amends this year at the final of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) at the South Dakota Circuit which commences today.

“I’m currently standing at third in the championship points but I still have a really fair shot at snatching another champion driver trophy.”

ER racing teammate Azaad Hassan currently leads the local standings with 108 points while Sharima Khan is second with 76 and then Deokie on 75.

In April, Deokie was outstanding in the class winning all three races with some commanding and skilful driving but at the next

meet in June, rain and some mechanical problems hampered his participation but he assured he is ready for the big occasion.

“Preparation on the car is coming along strong as we keep making adjustments to make the car as fast and reliable as possible.”

He added, “Big or small race meet I always try to keep my nerves calm and stay focus with one intention and that is to win.”

Though underpowered, Deokie also plans on taking his fight into the group two class in order to gain valuable points for Guyana.

In terms of his support on his quest, the driver expressed immense appreciation to sponsors Toucan Industries, GuyOil, Robbie’s Jewellery, Tola’s Engineering, D&G foreign auto and Emran & Raymond General Automotive Services.

Danil Deokie and his Honda Civic

CAC Hockey Qualifiers, Jamaica 2017…

Guyana men on top despite Jamaica’s big win

GTM Health and Fitness Expo 2017…

Fit of the fittest will survive packed weekend Dillon Mahadeo and Semonica Duke

D

espite the Jamaica Men’s National team dismantling Guatemala 7-0 on Friday team Guyana stayed top of the table as they (Guyana) look certain for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Barranquilla, Colombia next year.

The host nation dominated the Guatemalans but failed to capitalize on shoddy defending as they could have easily had a double figure victory.

The architect of the 7-0 victory for Jamaica was Kemar Mitchell who grabbed a hattrick. Mitchell was backed up with goals from four other players; Brandon Clarke, Charles Burton, Kishawn White and Onuque Salmon who all had a goal apiece.

Salmon opened the Jamaicans’ account after just three minutes had gone by but they would have to wait another 21 minutes before Mitchell added his first and Jamaica’s second.

With score remaining at 2-0 by the end of the second half, Kishawn White netted five minutes after the break, in the 40th minute Mitchell made it 4-0 with his second goal while Brandon Clarke scored in the 44th minute.

In the closing minutes Charles Burton netted Jamaica’s sixth before Mitchell completed his hat-trick to end

T

A Jamaican player battles with a Guatemalan for the ball during their game on Friday (Jevon Williams Photo)

the game at 7-0.

Despite racking up nine points from their three games played, the Jamaicans remained second in the point standings with an inferior goal difference to that of the Guyanese.

The top two teams (Guyana and Jamaica) will now clash in their final round robin game today at 17:00h local time.

Meanwhile, the Guyanese ladies look like they too will seal a spot at the CAC Games as they have eight points from

BCB 2nd Division Tournament

four games and are second behind Jamaica who has 10 points from their four games.

The “GT Gyals” will next face Guatemala at 09:00h today in their final round robin matchup.

he GTM Health and Fitness Expo rolls off today amid much fanfare as “fitness enthusiasts” are sure to come out in their numbers over the next two days at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Since the inaugural Fitness Expo three years ago, a lot more events have been added to the roster much like a demand and supply system where the number of participants have grown significantly forcing the organizers to think out of the box to accommodate them.

This year will see the biggest turn out yet and will also see an increase in the number of activities.

Among today’s event there will be fitness sessions, a Cancer Awareness Glow Walk, Zumba Glow Party, threepoint shootout and Slam Dunk competition, while on Sunday, the fitness exhibition will be followed by the Squat and Fitness Challenges and the highly-anticipated Strongman

competition.

The Cross Fit games involve Powerlifting, weightlifting, endurance running etc. and among the local athletes set to take part are Dillon Mahadeo and Semonika Duke. The pair will be teaming up for the first ever ‘Pairs Competition’ and will be gunning for top honours having conquered the singles competition last year.

Last week at the launching Mahadeo told Guyana Times Sport; “this year we are trying to display our fitness levels in all the arenas, try to make the requirements, just try to have fun while staying competitive.”

In terms of training Mahadeo stated that he along with Duke has been focusing mainly on working together while maintaining their fitness levels.

Semonica Duke echoed Mahadeo’s sentiment noting that it will be all about fun but pointed out that she will be going all out to conquer the challenge.

Port Mourant beat Big Stars by 218 runs – 4 other teams on winners row F ive teams recorded wins this past weekend when the Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB) 2nd Division 40-overs tournament continued with a number of matches across venues in the Ancient County.

Playing at the Port Mourant Community Center Ground, the home team Port Mourant defeated Big Stars by 218 runs after batting first and racking up 274. Andy Mohan (96), M. Hemraj (50), V. Senwasane (32*) and Mahendra Gorindan (24) were the top-scorers. Bowling for Big Stars was led by Keron Hooper (3-38) who shot down the Stars for nightmare 56 with N.

Hunte the only double digit scorer with 20.

Fort Canje defeated Mount Sinai by 79 runs at the Lochaber Ground. Batting first, the Fort Canje Eagles scored 259 with J. De Freitas 73, N Dejonge 53, A Seenarine 29 and K Ramsarran 22. Bowling for Mount Sinai, R. Mohammed 3-56, J Gansham 2-27. Mount Sinai replied with a fighting 180 thanks in vain efforts from M. Mickle 25, E. Schultz 53, K. Mickle 33 and W. Edoo 24 not out. Fort Canje’s bowling was spearheaded by K. Ramsarran who took 3-29 and M. Barker 2-38.

In the Upper Corentyne Zone, # 77 Sports

Club defeated # 72 Cut & Load by 3 wickets after the latter batted first and made 197 all out with C. Beresford 48, C. Laljit 26, D. Chatterpaul 37 and R. Joseph 21 among the scorers. Bowling for # 77 Sports Club, A. Singh had figures of 3-25 in 6.1 overs.

In reply # 77’s reply, raced to their target in 28 overs led by a blistering 120 from T. Ramdass and 56 from G. Ramnarine. Bowling for # 72 Cut & Load, Chatterpaul grabbed 2-40 in 7.1 overs.

Over at the # 70 Cricket Ground, the home team defeated # 71 CC by 75 runs. Batting first # 70 scored 222 compliments of T. Ramoutar 41, Viendra Gooniah 36 and Chris Bollers 26.

Bowling for # 71 CC, M. McIntosh claimed 3-45 while S. Khan supported with 3-39. # 71 CC were then bowled out for 147 after Omesh Khemraj snared 5-30 and Gooniah 2-34.

At the # 70 MYO Ground, the hosts whipped Bomb Squad by 89 runs after they elected to bat first and scored 184 with Alim Haniff 78, and J. Assad 32, the two top-scorers. Bowling for Bomb Squad, R. Mohabir returned with 4-15 while Satesh Toolsie chipped in with 3-34. Ironically, Bomb Squad found themselves blown up by the opposition as they fell for 96 after N. Khan sliced through the order with 4-18. The competition continues on November 12.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, november 11, 2017

23

Courts/Malta Pee-Wee Schools Football Final

CWI/Digicel Regional 4-Day Championship 2017-18…

Marian Jaguars wounded at 53-6 Compact start as favourites

…replying to 412-9 decl.

T

he Leeward Islands Hurricanes are large and in charge of their third round match against the Guyana Jaguars at Warner Park at stumps on day two. Replying to the Hurricane’s mammoth first innings total of 412 for 9 declared, the Jaguars limped to the close on 53 for 6.

dropped for this game and Tagenarine Chanderpaul began with Chandrapaul Hemraj and the new Jaguars opening pair first innings together at the top of the order lasted just 15 balls.

Chanderpaul was first to go at 6 for 1 in the third over and his dismissal opened the flood gates for the home team. Out

Chandrapaul Hemraj

After spending close to two days in the field, the Jaguars were asked to negotiate 17 overs before stumps on the second day but crumbled miserably to give full advantage to the only team to beat them twice last season.

Rajendra Chandrika was

of form Leon Johnson did not last long and was followed by Hemraj who looked good after hitting three fours and a six in his 31-ball knock. At 39 for 3 in the 11th over, the Jaguars sent night watchman, Veerasammy Permaul to partner Vishaul Singh and after a mad mix up

the night watchman’s role was over.

With five overs still to be bowled in the day’s play, veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, in his first game this season, made his

appearance but didn’t last long. While in the day’s final over, Anthony Bramble was sent back after poking 12 previous balls leaving Singh not out on 17 and a huge task on hand. turn to page 19

SCOREBOARD Stumps Day 2 Hurricanes 1st Innings (Overnight 181/1) M Hodge b Paul 91 C Hughes lbw b Shepherd 31 K Carty c wkpr Bramble+ b Rutherford 82 D Thomas+ c Hemraj b Shepherd 20 N Bonner c Shiv Chanderpaul b Rutherford 0 J Hamilton c Johnson b Hemraj 56 R Cornwall* b Rutherford 28 T Ward stp wkpr Bramble+ b Permaul 52 J Louis c Johnson+ b Permaul 6 M Mathew not out 21 Extras (b-6, lb-2, w-7, nb-10) 25 Total (For 9 wickets declared; 160.5 Overs) Did not bat; Stanny Simon FOW: 1-58, 2-223, 3-223, 4-224, 5-246, 6-297, 7-366, 8-381, 9-412, 10Bowling: Joseph 25-5-61-0, Paul 22-7-49-1, Shepherd 26-6-

64-2, Permaul 46.5-12-104-2, Rutherford 26-6-92-3, Hemraj 14-3-31-1, Singh 1-0-3-0 Jaguars 1st Innings T Chanderpaul c Cornwall* b Louis 3 C Hemraj c Carty b Simon 23 L Johnson* b Louis 2 V Singh not out 17 V Permaul run out 0 S Chanderpaul c Hamilton b Cornwall 5 A Bramble+ c Louis b Ward 0 Extras: (b-1, lb-1, nb-1) 3 Total: (For 6 wickets; 16.3 Overs) 53 Still to bat Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Keon Joseph FOW: 1-6, 2-8, 3-39, 4-39, 5-47, 6-53 Bowling: Louis 5-0-18-2, Mathew 3-1-8-0, Cornwall 5-1-11-1, Simon 3-0-111, Ward 0.3-0-3-1 Position: Jaguars trail by 359 runs with 4 1st innings wickets in hand

against West Ruimveldt

I

t will either be a repeat in champion or the birth of a new era when the final of the seventh annual Courts /Malta Pee-Wee Schools Football Final is played today at the Banks DIH, Thirst Park Ground.

Inaugural Champions Marian Academy, will start as favourites against former finalist West Ruimveldt in a bout which is expected to provide trills for all in attendance.

Marian has produced the most systematic play throughout the tournament while West has been pouring goals on their way to the final.

Michael Alphonso and Bradley Walton have combined to share six goals equally while Captain Chad Henry (1) and Asher Adams (2) have showed promising signs. Their team has netted eleven goals while having their defence breached twice.

Coach Devnon Winter explained his main focus is trying to help the players understand their roles to be systematic on the field and

thus he has been impressed.

“The team is a very good team technically, tactically; I don’t see anyone beating us. We won the inaugural tournament and no doubt we will carry away it,” Smith contended.

On the other side of the field, West Ruimveldt’s Ian Daniels, who leads the tournament’s tally with 10 goals has been the engine room for his team’s offense along with Devon Chance.

Coach Jamal Pedro, explained that his team is confident of doing well given their experiences of previous tournaments which have caused them to mature as a team.

“The feeling is not anything new, second time we made it to the final and we are experienced now and I am confident we will come out victorious.”

New champions will be crowned as 2016 champions, St Angela’s Primary were knocked out at the group stage. The placement matches begin at 11:00h while the opening whistle for the final is at 15:00h.

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

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

MotoAmerica champions ready for CMRC battle

Pg 19

– lowering lap records high on agenda

Jason Aguilar looked smooth on the turns during Friday’s practice session (Akeem Greene Photo)

Courts/Malta Pee-Wee Schools Football Final

Compact Marian start as favourites against West Ruimveldt Pg 23

Marian Academy (blue) have played well as a compact unit

West Ruimveldt (blue) knows they will need to bring their A game to offset former champions Marian Academy today at the Thirst Park ground

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Sport: sport@guyanatimesgy.com Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 SALES AND MARKETING - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.