Guyana Times November 20, 2017

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80 street lamps given to constituencies across Linden Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, November 20, 2017

Issue No. 3398

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Guyana to lose out on crucial loan concessions

Lindener P2 emerges as 1st female GTT "million dollar smile" winner

Page 3

– as report signals shift from fixed interest loans to floating interest

18 social activists honoured

Page 14

New P7 strategies needed to revamp court system – CCJ President City’s garbage woes

Mayor blasts Solid Waste Director for misdirection

…Town Clerk opposes Govt’s bailout P9

Some of the social activists who were honoured when The Caribbean Voice (TCV) on Saturday hosted its third annual El Dorado Awards

To save industry

Page 2

Armed bandits rob gas station at Vreed-en-Hoop Despite some reservations

Govt needs to reverse plans to privatise sugar estates

18-year-old Berbice beauty wins “I am a Big Deal” P13 Pageant

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Page 15

Opposition still has confidence in Public Procurement Commission – Jagdeo

Guyana’s $330B public debt

Economist advises Govt to “stop borrowing!”

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2 news Armed bandits rob gas station at Vreed-en-Hoop monDAY, november 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

was the first time that the facility has been robbed. He added that the entire ordeal lasted a mere five minutes.

He told this publication that the men were of African descent and medium build, while one was tall and the other short. Additionally, he said that it was the first The G Sridat Service Station at Vreed-en-Hoop

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olice are investigating the robbery of G Sridat Service Station at Lot 1 New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD), which left staff members traumatised but thankful for their lives.

According to information, around 18:15h on Saturday, two men, one armed with a gun, placed the night shift pump attendant and two security guards to lie face down and took their cell phones along with approximately $50,000 in cash before making good their escape.

The pump attendant,

Raja (only name given) told Guyana Times that he was at the other end of the gas station selling diesel when one of the men entered the premises, while the other was on the road, and began enquiring about the price of lubricants. He added that the man first approached the security guards who told him to wait, since they were unaware of the prices.

“He wait till me come here to ask me, but me tell he to wait that me have two cars to sell and when me done sell the two cars, the other man on the road come in and he take out the gun

and put the two watchman to lie down on the bench.

Then the other one come and grab me hand and take me on the bench too and them clean me (money from pocket) out,” he related.

“The man them take about $40-$45,000 from me and them take one cell phone from the watchman and some money. It had a customer there that them man take $5000 from and he cell phone then them run out,” Raja added.

The man further stated that he has been working at the gas station for approximately five years and this

time he saw the men, but he could identify them if they crossed paths again.

The Police also came in for some criticism since they demanded that the gas station be closed and the attendant venture to the Vreeden-Hoop Police Station to make a report before the

commencement of their investigation. The pump attendant related that he denied the request and the Police arrived on the scene approximately 30 minutes after the ordeal.

The Police say that their investigations are ongoing.

Lindener emerges as 1st female GTT “million dollar smile” winner

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wenty-four-yearold Gillian Sharon Washington, an insurance sales representative from the Wisroc Housing Scheme area of Linden, became the first female and third winner at the Linden draw of the GTT Million Dollar Smile campaign on Friday, November 17.

“I am more than thankful to GTT,” she declared.

“Winning this money is very significant for me and my family, since my mom has plenty expenses and I was at my wits’ end wondering how I will be able to help, since I only recently started working,” Washington explained.

The mother of two said that on the evening before the draw she purchased a GTT handset as a present for her mother’s birthday, and it was this purchase which entered her for a chance to win the million dollars. Her number was the fifth number called, after the holders of all of the other numbers called were absent from the draw location. The promotion requires the winner to be at the draw location when the number is called.

Washington says she will remain faithful to the GTT network.

GTT Million Dollar Smile campaign has made it quite simple for customers to have

Sharon Washington emerged as the first female GTT “million dollar smile” winner

a chance to win millions.

Every customer who does an electronic top-up of $1,000 or more in a single transaction, or purchases a data plan for a $1,000 or more, or pays any GTT bill in full and on time, or signs up for or upgrades a Blaze plan, or purchases a GTT handset or purchases a ticket for the Chronixx show, has been entered for a chance to win.

The first winner, Maynard Carmichael, was entered through his pur-

chase of tickets to the Chronixx show which was held on Saturday evening.

David Sital, the second winner, topped up and won.

The promotion next heads to Bartica on November 24; Essequibo on December 1; Berbice on December 15; and will return to Georgetown for the Grand Draw on December 18, when four winners will be selected for a million dollars each.

news

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

Public external loans

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, November 20 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, November 21 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, November 20 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, November 21 – 05:35h-07:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light to heavy rain showers will prevail throughout the day, while sunny intervals are expected in the late afternoon. Partly cloudy conditions are expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 24 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging between South-easterly and East North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 05:13h and 17:23h reaching maximum heights of 2.59 metres and 2.69 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:59h and 23:22h reaching minimum heights of 0.65 metre and 0.53 metre respectively.

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Guyana to lose out on crucial loan concessions – as report signals shift from fixed interest loans to floating interest

By Jarryl Bryan

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any of Guyana’s developmental loans were negotiated on concessionary terms. But Guyana’s new status as a middle-income country is expected to bite, with the Finance Ministry’s Public Debt Annual report signalling an impending end to these concessions.

According to the report, most of Guyana's public external debt was contracted on a fixed interest rate basis.

At the end of December 2016, the fixed interest rate for Guyana’s public external debt was 86.8 per cent of the external debt portfolio. This, the report notes, represents a marginal decline from 2015’s year-end position.

“Consequently, the share of variable interest rate debt increased by the corresponding 0.5 percentage points to 13.2 per cent as at end-December 2016.

The increase in the variable interest rate component of the debt in 2016 is due to the disbursements made on IDB [InterAmerican Development Bank] and CDB [Caribbean Development Bank] variable rate loans.”

“Notably, Guyana's high percentage of fixed interest rate debt is as a result of the highly concessional loans contracted in the past. Fixed interest rate debt eliminates the impact of market volatility on the economy. This aids in insulating a developing country, and particularly small open economies, from international shocks which affect capital market stability,” the report explains.

Trojan horse

Guyana’s reclassification by the World Bank from a lower to an upper middle-income country came in July 2016 follow-

ing the oil discoveries in the Stabroek Block. While it was agreed that the upgrade was a positive indicator, concerns had also been expressed that Guyana would lose some of the concessionary terms and agreements it enjoys internationally.

According to the report, it turns out that as Guyana

be accurately forecasted as the interest rate is set throughout the life of the loan. However, as the economy begins to transition to floating interest rate loans, cash projections become more complex and less accurate as market forces impute unpredictability and induce volatility,” the report further adds.

Guyana's public external debt stock, as at end-December 2016, with the IDB being the most dominant creditor. According to the report, the IDB has an average share of 42.0 per cent of the debt portfolio; the CDB – 12.6 per cent; China’s EXIM Bank – 12.5 per cent and PDVSA – 10.6 per cent. Notably, PDVSA

The World Bank reclassified Guyana as an upper middle-income country in the wake of the oil discoveries

graduates to upper middle-income country status and the economy continues to grow, the development will be a proverbial Trojan Horse as there will be a transition to floating interest rate loans.

Floating interest loans are adjustable and thus, do not afford the same protection a fixed rate arrangement would.

“Already, Guyana is beginning to experience an increase in the prevalence of 'blended loans' where one portion of the loan is granted on a fixed interest rate basis and the other portion of the same loan is granted on a floating interest rate basis,” the report states.

“With a fixed interest rate loan, the cash requirements for debt service can

Currently, Guyana's four main external creditors are the IDB; the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB); the Stateowned Export-Import Bank of China (China EXIM Bank) and Venezuela’s State-owned oil company (PDVSA).

Together, they constitute some 77.7 per cent of

has recently been declared to be in default of its debts by a US trade group.

Kuwait and Libya, whose debts are in arrears, were recorded as Guyana's largest non-Paris Club bilateral creditors.

They accounted for 10.1 per cent of Guyana's public external debt stock as at the end of December 2016.

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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

Climate Change anyone?

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he 2017 UN Climate Change Conference (COP 23) -- held in Bonn, but actually hosted by Fiji -- was wrapped up last Friday on a more positive note than had been expected, after US President Donald Trump’s bellicose opposition to the COP 21 agreement crafted in Paris two years ago. That agreement had committed the countries gathered to collectively limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, the tipping point for irreversible climate change.

The fly in the ointment being that individual national targets had not been made mandatory, the goal at Bonn was to move closer towards such targets. While Fiji did place on the agenda a process for the post-2020 emissions’ reduction targets to be stated by all countries - developed and undeveloped -- it failed to point out that, under the Paris Accord, emissions’ reduction by developing countries were linked to those of the developed countries.

The developed countries had also committed to provide up to $100 billion in funds by 2020, and transfer green technologies to developing countries. This became the pre-2020 agenda of the Bonn climate change talks, but the developing countries found that this had been dropped from the formal UN negotiations. That meant that the developed countries would not be held accountable for their commitments up to 2020.

Matters were not helped after the Conference opened on Nov 6th and the US negotiators immediately began pushing for upping the use of coal and other fossil fuels.

But the G77 countries+ China took a tough stance, and eventually the developed nations agreed to report on their emissions’ reduction targets for 2020, and these would be linked to the “facilitative dialogue” for measuring the developing countries’ cuts.

The developed countries would also have to inform the UN climate change forum about the levels of finance they provide to developing countries by 2020.

But, from a local standpoint, it was very disappointing that, for a nation that had been catapulted to the very centre of the fight against global warming by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana was nowhere to be seen at Bonn -- especially when it was the block of developing nations that took the lead in forging the new agreement.

The representatives of the latter block were very candid about their assessment -- that the developed countries: the EU, Britain, Japan, Australia and Canada, would hide behind the skirts of the US in the future, but they would at least be able to occupy the moral high ground.

Guyana’s opportunity to continue occupying that moral high ground had already been prepared by the PPP, so its absence was also surprising -- especially since Guyana would be one of the countries most affected by rising sea levels consequent to rising global temperatures, and the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) of the previous PPP Administration had become a model for the rest of the developing world in the goal of creating a sustainable Green Economy. But these had been all but abandoned.

While the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition speak about a “Green Economy”, most of their efforts have unfortunately been confined to painting government buildings - including the Office of the President - and other official structures in the colour green. The Government seemed to have lost the plot after Exxon struck oil just before they assumed office.

The most glaring proof of this is their refusal to pursue the generation of hydro-power even though Guyana is so bountifully provided by waterfalls that it is conservatively estimated that we can generate over 4000MW of electricity annually.

The Amaila Falls Hydro-Electric Power project has been described as most cost effective by Norway, which has committed US$80 million towards its completion; but it has been abandoned simply because the administration does not want Jagdeo to receive credit for his visionary plans on dealing with Climate Change.

In fact, if the plan of the Government is to pursue generation of power from the newly discovered fossil fuels, Guyana might just have to issue its plans for achieving COP 23 compliance.

The Chinese municipality of Chongqing in southwest China is home to some 30 million people. With more than 100 days of fog a year, Chongqing is nicknamed Fog City. And appropriately, its sister city in the United States is Seattle. (Photograph by Alexander Kaunas, National Geographic Your Shot)

Importance of child protection is personal Dear Editor, As Guyana joins the rest of the world in celebrating the 28th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) on November 20, 2017, it is important that we recognise the connection between child protection and our nation’s well-being.

Protecting children from violence and abuse is critical to ensuring economic and social development in society, as well as achieving several of the United Nations’ Sustainable Developmental Goals (UN SDGs). More importantly, it is about doing the right things to keep children safe from all forms of abuse.

There has been an increase in the number of cases of child abuse reported to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) over the past several years.

According to ChildLinK’s

Child Neglect in Guyana Report, there were 2745 reported cases of child abuse in 2014. In 2016, the number of reported cases increased to 4015 – an increase of 19 per cent.

While it is important to know the reason for the increase in reported cases, the impact of child abuse and the importance of ensuring children are protected need to be at, or near, the forefront of our national deliberations. When we fail to ensure that children are protected from violence and abuse, there is a possible constraint to Guyana’s ability to achieve several of the UNs’ SDGs; Number Four – ensuring quality education and promoting lifelong learning, and Number Eight, which seeks to promote sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. This suggests that children who ex-

perience abuse are likely to remain poor, disadvantaged, and less likely to contribute to Guyana’s development.

The ChildLinK 2016 study: An Analysis of the Nature and Extent of Institutionalisation of Children in Guyana (BessBascom) revealed that girls between the ages of 10 and 16 are vulnerable to being placed in institutional care as a result of sexual abuse. The continued sexual abuse of girls will hinder Guyana’s ability to achieve the UN SDG Number Five, which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Gender equality cannot be realised if girls are subject to sexual abuse and are separated from their families.

According to the Child Neglect in Guyana Report, the main contributing factor to child neglect is lack of finances. Affected income

earning capacity may contribute to either a cycle of poverty or a resort to criminal activity -- a national security concern. Child neglect and child poverty will hinder Guyana’s ability to achieve the UN SDG Number One, which aims to end poverty in all its forms.

Ultimately, the issue of the importance of child protection is personal. Every child has the right to grow up in an environment in which they feel safe and have the freedom to learn as well as to explore their potential.

Stronger legislation and improved policies, once implemented and enforced, will not only improve the quality of life for children, but the economic and social well-being of our nation.

Yours faithfully, Hasani Tinnie Child Rights Alliance

Water crisis at Hand-en-Veldt an unfair situation Dear Editor, We are witnessing a mere trajectory of how our beloved utility company operates. We, the residents of Hand-en-Veldt, Mahaica, have been without potable water supply for over a decade. Despite several pleas to the previous Administration (Government and Management of the GWI), nothing was ever done.

With the change in Government in 2015, we thought things would have

been different. Several pleas were made since 2015 to date, however, it was not until recently that we met with the divisional administration and received support from them. The division undertook the works assiduously, and completed all of the tasks relevant to have the supply done. It’s been almost 4 months now, and still we are yet to receive the service.

We visited the division several times during the last week, and tried to meet

with the divisional manager, only to be told that this person was not in office. We proceeded to inquire from other managers in the division, but they are “tight-lipped” about the situation and are not providing us with answers.

We were advised to write to headquarters regarding the same issue.

However, this is amazing. Is it really true that the central headquarters are not aware of our woes? Multiple letters were sent over the

years to address this issue, until we practically became frustrated. However, what must be recognised are the politics addressed, and how the situation was treated.

It is incredible that after one (1) day of heavy protesting and barricading, the residents of Mara reportedly received the service within 24 hours; and here we are pleading for over a decade and our voices are placed in the wilderness. continued on page 5

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The issue of disaster resilience planning for the Caribbean Dear Editor, The 41st annual Conference on the Caribbean and Central America wrapped up (in Miami, Florida) on Friday with the issue of disaster resilience planning dominating the discussions, against the backdrop of Hurricanes Irma and Maria which struck the Caribbean region within weeks of each other in September, resulting in almost total devastation of several islands.

The need for resilience planning to become a major input into the region’s national development strategy was first advocated at the conference by former Jamaican ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal, who pointed out that Caribbean societies are concentrated along the coastal areas, for “there is where our populations, our productive activity and our ports and airports are located in most of our countries.

We live on the beach.”

General Manager of FEDEX Latin America and the Caribbean, Franciso Santeiro, agreed with Bernal, and pointed out “that is the reason why FEDEX has been funding the Ports Resiliency Program (PReP) which is executed by the Americas Relief Team (ART), a division of Outreach Aid to the Americas (OAA).”

He said that successful PReP workshops have been held in the Caribbean and Central America, including in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and just recently St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and that he would continue to ensure future funding of the programme.

“We have got to factor into our economic plans the impact of climate change, and therefore include resilience planning. We cannot continue to focus merely on disaster preparation and relief. Climate change has brought on a new period of uncertainty, with not only an increasing number of hurricanes but increasing intensity, which may call for a category six status,” Bernal told a roundtable on the Caribbean Business

Agenda held last Thursday morning, at which he was the keynote speaker.

He said that each hurricane sets back the economy of each island it impacts by at least three (3) years of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which Fernando Rivera, General Manager of the Caribbean Shipping Association, called “very conservative; suggesting that “it is more like 5 to 10 years of GDP, and in the current case of Puerto Rico, perhaps as much as 15 years of GDP." Bernal, who is currently Pro Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs at the University of the West Indies (UWI), said the frequent payments for damage resulting from hurricanes was also impacting insurance rates, a point which was referred to at another session of the conference by the British Consul General in Miami, David Prodger, who noted that current insurance rates in the region “are too high for the poor, who can’t afford it. The rich don’t need it, and so it is the middle class -- small and medium sized business owners and professionals -- who are negatively impacted.”

The Consul General said Britain played a significant role in the immediate rescue and relief efforts following recent hurricanes in the Caribbean, since it had a ship stationed in the region during the hurricane season. He disclosed that Britain had so far delivered some 800,000 tons of supplies to its overseas territories and other countries in the region, and is now focusing on assisting resiliency-rebuilding efforts.

Prodger also announced that Britain has allocated 20 million dollars for the construction of resilient roads on the island of Barbuda; which, along with Antigua, forms the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda.

Adam Golstein, President and Chief Operating Officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., the keynote speaker on Friday at a session entitled Resilience, Rebuilding and Economic Recovery, pointed to the need to ensure that

Water crisis at... from page 4

We have several residents here, and many more who want to join in building their homes, but have not done so due to not having access to potable water.

We are forced to pay $700 for 250 gallons of water to wash, cook, clean and drink.

A typical household comprises 4 to 10 persons of differing ages and characteristics. Many of us are peasant farmers with little children who have to go to school, and even pensioners, and we have to be using water from the canal for personal and hygienic needs. Should

this still be happening in the year 2017? I don’t think this is fair. And aren’t we Guyanese, just as the residents of Mara?

In my view, I do not think President David Granger or Minister Bulkan is aware of this matter; because otherwise, I am sure, we would have already received the service. We are therefore pleading with the relevant authorities to remedy our situation.

Residents of Hand-en-Veldt, Mahaica

the rest of the world is not given the impression that the Caribbean is wiped out and is out of business. He said he was advancing that advice because of concerns raised in certain quarters, including the media, that the cruise line industry was being callous and uncaring by rushing to get back into countries devastated by hurricanes.

In justifying the move to begin serving affected countries as quickly as possible, Goldstein said his company faced the same criticism following the Haiti earthquake. These criticisms, he said, were debunked by a single ordinary worker, who told a visiting media team, “If the ships don’t come, we wouldn’t eat.”

Goldstein said that in one of the affected islands Royal Caribbean recognised that the local authorities would have been unable to clean up the beaches in a timely fashion, and his company undertook to do so in an effort to ensure that those who benefit from employment and other income from the cruise line business would not be affected for a prolonged period of time.

“So pushing hard to come back is not a bad thing. It is economically critical to resume service,” he argued.

Noting that one of the important considerations in dealing effectively with a crisis is “understanding there is a crisis,” Goldstein said that not since nine eleven (9/11) did his company’s

Incidence Response Center have to engage in such intense response to a crisis, which he said positioned Royal Caribbean ships in the region to help evacuate people and pets. He said Royal Caribbean ships evacuated people from affected countries free of cost. “And you won’t imagine the number of pets…cats and dogs…I don’t think there were any horses…but many, many pets,” he said.

Goldstein praised the governments and people of the affected countries for their cooperation in handling the crisis, and for the appreciation displayed for the efforts of his company to assist.

Caribbean Central America Action (CCAA) Executive Director, Sally

Yearwood, who chaired the session on Friday, said, “Incredible strides have been made by the region in terms of preparedness and management, but more time is needed to assess the scope of economic recovery and resilience. Some of the considerations that have to be taken account of include understanding the new workforce when significant numbers of business owners and employees have left the community temporarily or permanently, and an analysis of how countries provide a safety net for uninsured and underinsured citizens and businesses without distorting insurance markets."

Sincerely, Wesley Kirton

UK Guyanese Diaspora objects to unilateral GECOM appointment Dear Editor, I spent some two weeks this month in the United Kingdom, travelling around and interacting with Guyanese and other Caribbean and South Asian diaspora communities, and discussing varied issues relating to immigrants and minorities.

Naturally, politics in Guyana was the focus of discussion among all Guyanese and most Caribbean nationals. Several of them raised issues, including the controversial appointment of retired Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The recent unilateral appointment of Patterson as GECOM Chair was the centre of conversation of every Guyanese I met. Some Caribbean nationals are also well versed on the issue, perhaps learning about it from Guyanese. The Guyanese diaspora in the UK are polarised on the issue, based on party affiliation and race.

I was astounded at the level of interest in Guyana’s politics by the diaspora in UK, given most British Guyanese left their homeland several decades ago (1950s thru 1970s). While they may not be as familiar or as attuned with Guyana’s day-to-day political or economic affairs as many

Guyanese are in North America, they are current and up to date on the controversial GECOM appointment.

Almost every Guyanaborn and their adult Britishborn descendant seem to have some kind of knowledge of the GECOM matter. Every Guyanese I spoke with, irrespective of party affiliation and ethnicity, expressed disappointment with the way the appointment of Patterson as GECOM Chair was handled.

They objected to the idea of a unilateral appointment by President Granger. Almost everyone felt there should have been some kind of consensus (by the Government and the Opposition) on an appointee, instead of the President acting unilaterally to choose someone in whom he (and by extension the Government) has confidence to head the elections body.

Based on my interaction with many Guyanese, every supporter (without exception) of the PPP and AFC in the UK objected to James Patterson as GECOM Chair.

Supporters of the AFC feel their party’s leadership should not have endorsed the way the appointment was done, nor should they have endorsed the appointee himself. Almost every PPP and AFC supporter felt the

President had violated the spirit of the Constitution, if not the Constitution itself.

But PNC supporters are not as vociferous in their objection to President Granger’s unilateral appointment, although they are not pleased with how the issue was handled.

PNC supporters, some of whom claimed they visited Guyana last year for the 50th anniversary independence celebrations, are split on the issue. Some back President Granger’s action, and some are not supportive. Everyone feels the country is badly divided, and that racial healing is urgently needed. People do not feel the Government has

been doing much to unite the nation.

Guyanese of all political affiliation expressed admiration for the action taken

by Messrs Joe Singh (former GECOM Chair) and respected Accountant Chris Ram -to resign from Government appointments after the President rejected them as “not being fit and proper” to head GECOM. Every UKbased Guyanese said both gentlemen and several others among the 18 submitted by the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo would have made an excellent Chair of GECOM. Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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Foundation

Continued from Sunday

Explain the problem

Now that you’re more at ease, start preparing your child.

Begin by explaining the reason for the surgery in simple, calming words. Explain – at your child’s level of understanding – about the medical problem and why surgery is necessary. Don’t use alarming language like “the doctor will cut you”, “open you up”, or “sew you with a needle”.

Say that the doctor will fix the problem, and explain that many children have this problem and must get it fixed at the hospital.

Although they seldom express it, children may fear that their parents aren’t telling them everything – that their health problem is worse than they’ve been led to believe. To build trust, don’t mislead your child – tell as much of the truth as your child can understand.

Handle fears

Many children fear that an operation will be painful.

It can help to explain that a special doctor, called an anaesthesiologist, gives medicine to make patients sleep very deeply so they won’t feel anything during the operation and once it’s finished, they’ll wake up. (Older children, in particular, need special assurances that they will wake up.)

Again, avoid frightening language – don’t say, “You’ll be given gas” or “You’ll be put to sleep.” Young children may confuse “gas” with the fuel that can poison or kill and “put to sleep” with what can happen to sick pets.

Explain that you’ll be there

when your child wakes up – and a favourite toy can come along, too. Tell your child that if anything feels sore right after the operation, a doctor or nurse can give medicine that will make it feel better.

Common surgery-related fears of young children are the possibility of separation from (or abandonment by) parents and the possibility of pain. Schoolage children also fear needles, knives, and damage to their bodies. Give a child this age clear, rational information as well as assurances that the surgery is to fix an existing problem, not create a new one.

The fears of teens go well beyond those of younger children. Besides pain or change of appearance, a teen might be afraid of losing control, missing out on events, being embarrassed or humiliated in public, and sounding childish by expressing fear, anxiety, or pain.

A teen also may be afraid of waking up during the operation – or not waking up afterward.

Anticipate these fears, then emphasise that expressing fear, anxiety, and response to pain is quite normal (and OK) at any age, even adulthood. Correct any misconceptions about disfigurement or injury. And explain that anaesthesia is very safe today and that patients do not wake up during operations, but will certainly wake up afterward.

Encourage your teen to read up on the medical condition and share the information with the family. Reading and sharing information is an excellent

coping mechanism.

One further fear that affects children of all ages is that of being seen naked and having their “private parts” touched.

If the operation involves the genital or anal area, your child will cope better if you explain in advance that although it might be embarrassing, doctors and nurses will need to examine these private areas, especially to check if they’re healing after the operation. Explain that doctors, nurses, and parents are the only exceptions to the rules about privacy.

Encourage your child’s questions about the health problem and hospital experience, so that other fears and anxieties can be expressed. Take all questions seriously and answer them to the best of your ability.

If you don’t know an answer, tell your child that you’ll find it out, and explain that the doctors and nurses are happy to answer questions, too.

Relieve guilt

Children often believe that their medical problem and operation are really punishments for “being bad”. They might not say so, but they may feel guilty and believe that they’ve brought events on themselves.

Explain that the medical problem is not the result of anything your child may have done or failed to do, and that the operation is not a punishment, but simply the way to “fix” the problem.

On the other hand, if the medical problem was caused by an accident that could have been

avoided by obeying safety rules, make sure your child understands the reason for the rules and will follow them in the future.

Explaining what will happen

Find books, appropriate to your child’s level of understanding, about what to expect at the hospital. Reading together and discussing the surgery will make the hospital seem less threatening. Discuss each idea and encourage your child’s questions.

Young children also will benefit from practising on a doll or stuffed teddy bear with toy doctor-kit “instruments”.

Your child can take the toy’s “temperature” and “pulse” and listen to its “heartbeat” and “breathing”.

Ask your doctor for suggested videos or multimedia tools for parents or children that can help explain the procedure.

As you discuss the hospital and surgery, remember that in addition to your words, your nonverbal cues convey assurance: your tone of voice, facial expressions, gestures, and body language send powerful messages. If you appear fearful, your child is likely to feel fearful regardless of the words you use.

Pre-operative orientation and tour

Many hospitals offer special pre-operative children’s programme, family orientations, and hospital tours, led by specially trained nurses or licensed child-life specialists.

Child-life specialists are a valuable resource for parents and

children. They are professionals trained to talk to children and teens about medical procedures, comfort them if they’re upset or need extra support, and organise “play time” for hospitalised children and teens to get together and hang out.

Call the hospital to schedule a pre-operative tour, program, or orientation as soon as possible, even from the doctor’s office when the appointment for the surgery is made. It’s best to schedule the appointment for a few days before the surgery.

An orientation programme can remove the mystery of the surgery for children and their families by making the hospital familiar and friendly and the experience predictable.

On the day of surgery When you arrive on the day

of surgery, your young child can play with toys and books you bring from home or sit on your lap and be cuddled during the waiting time.

You won’t be allowed to stay in the operating room during the surgery, but afterward, you’ll be escorted to the recovery room to be with your child as he or she awakens. Upon discharge, you’ll be given instructions for further care at home and for a follow-up visit to the surgeon.

During recovery, there may be times of discomfort for your child. So explain that even if this happens, your child will get better.

Distracting your child, whether with a new book or a visit from a relative or friend, also can make recovery more pleasant. Just make sure your child gets plenty of time to rest and recuperate. (Kidshealth.org)

Part 1: The causes and consequences in children

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ccording to The Washington Post, a recent research study indicates that children who scored well on social competence indicators were four times more likely to get a college? degree by age 25 than children who scored poorly. The study goes on to state that children who interact well as kindergartners are more likely to make friends and get positive feedback from teachers, and therefore are more likely to like and stay in school.

Teaching children at a very young age how to treat others with good manners, respect and courtesy is one of the most important things we’ll ever do as parents. In fact, one of the most valuable tools we can give our children is the ability to build positive relationships with other people.

The flip side of having good people skills is rudeness. In this article, we’ll look at the reasons for rudeness and why it seems so many children (and adults) fall into a “rudeness rut.”?

So why are so many people – including children – rude?

Rudeness is a learned behaviour.

Infants are born adorable, innocent, and teachable. But as they grow up, some are taught to be rude.

Parents fail to guide and protect their children when they don’t teach them manners and respect for other people. Having good social skills are so important because they affect how a child will do on the playground, in the classroom, at home, in the future workplace, and in life.

According to The Civility Solution – What to Do When People Are Rude, by PM Farni, there are 11 causes of rudeness: Individualism and a lack of restraint – “I’ll do it my way and I don’t care about what you think!”

Inflated self-worth – People who are self-absorbed don’t value others except as a means to fill needs and desires.

Low self-worth – Being hostile and defensive is often a sign of insecurity.

Materialism – The quest for money and possessions is more important than showing kindness.

Injustice – An injustice may create feelings of envy,

demoralisation, depression, or outrage.

Stress – People who are overworked or overwhelmed may be indifferent to those around them.

Anonymity – “If I don’t know you, it doesn’t matter how I treat you.”

Not needing others – We are becoming content with electronic isolation.

• Anger • Fear • Mental health problems Here are a few more reasons that are not on The Civility Solution list: Some parents were not taught to have good manners themselves, and they may not recognise what they are doing wrong or know how to teach manners to their children.

Some parents may be so wrapped up in their own lives that they fail to recognise or have the energy to care about their child’s interactions with others.

The parents of a rude child may feel like they’ve lost control and don’t have the ability or energy to discipline their child.

Also today’s communication technology (cell phones, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, etc.) opens up a whole new pathway to rudeness as people say things online that they would never say to a person face-toface.

Being on the receiving end of rudeness has its own negative effects. Being treated unkindly by others can cause anxiety, depression, and a loss of selfesteem. It also causes stress. In a recent study through Baylor University, it was discovered that when parents are treated rudely by others in the workplace, stress levels increase. That stress then follows the parent home and causes unhappiness, rudeness, and stress among family members.

According to Paul Tough (How Children Succeed, 2012), stress in the home causes adverse childhood experiences that can impede a child’s ability to develop and sustain skills such as cognitive flexibility (thinking outside the box to solve problems) and cognitive self-control (delayed gratification.)

It’s clear to see that rude behaviour is not the path you want your child to follow. (Boyston.org)

news

7

MONDAY, november 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana’s $330B public debt

Economist advises Govt to “stop borrowing!”

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

By Samuel Sukhnandan

A

s Guyana’s debt continues to rise, there have been some concerns in several quarters of society that the coalition Government’s spending is spiralling out of control and should be better managed, or the country could be faced with insurmountable challenges in years to come.

Russia-trained economist and political commentator Ramon Gaskin is one of those persons who believe that the current Administration needs to do a better job at handling its financial affairs. Although debt has been an issue for many years, Gaskin considers this Government to be responsible for adding to the burden.

“This Government loves to borrow all the time. They love to borrow everything.

They should just stop it.

The problem is not the revenue (collection), it’s the expenditure,” the outspoken economist told Guyana Times.

According to him, one of the best examples to show the David Granger-led Government has to take blame is the massive increase of the Disciplined Services payroll from $4.2 billion to $7 billion.

Gaskin noted that the increase was close to 60 per cent and included all

Economist Ramon Gaskin

the contract workers who have been employed to work within or advise on the Disciplined Services.

While the coalition Government has broadened its revenue collection base by implementing several new measures since taking office, the economist said that focus now needed to be placed on broadening this base, to include royalties for Guyana’s natural resources, particularly bauxite.

“We have to start to get royalties that are being shipped out of Guyana.

There is no country in the world that allows you to ship out natural resources or non-renewable without charging you royalties,” he advised, noting that locals were already overburdened by heavy taxation.

Gaskin told this newspaper that if certain measures were not implemented soon, Guyana’s debt could spiral out of control and this could have a negative impact on the local economy. He also noted that Guyana’s debt has been increasing steadily over the years, at both the domestic and external levels.

“It is easier to service the debt now, because the economy is much bigger.

But we are going back to the phase in 1992 where the per capita debt hasn’t

changed much over the years,” he explained. He said 75 to 80 per cent of the old debt from 1992 which is about US$1.9 billion has been written off.

“So, although we’ve had many debts written off, we keep incurring more debt and adding to it…We borrow for everything. You want to do something, we go to the IDB (InterAmerican Development Bank) and they give you money for everything, for some programme, some survey and some nonsense. And we are creeping back up to the US$2 billion mark we had in 1992,” Gaskin warned.

The Finance Ministry’s recent Public Debt Annual Report has highlighted that since 2015, there has been a 4.1 per cent rise in Guyana’s indebtedness to creditors. The report details that Guyana’s total debt, inclusive of external and domestic debt, increased to $330 billion as of December 2016. The Ministry attributed this to disbursements from the Export-Import Bank of China towards the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project, as well as monies from multilateral creditors.

A breakdown of the figures shows that total external debt amounted to $240 billion, 72.6 per cent of the total public debt. On the other hand, domestic debt

stood at $90.6 billion, or 27.4 per cent of the total.

Multilateral creditors continued to be the predominant creditor category.

In 2012, the public external debt was $277.8 billion, but by early 2015, that had been reduced to $236 billion. In similar manner, the domestic debt had been reduced from $93.4 billion in 2012 to $81.6 billion in 2015 before a sudden surge in the figures after the new Government took office.

The report noted that Guyana’s four main external creditors are the IDB; the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB); the State-owned ExportImport Bank of China (China EXIM Bank) and Venezuela’s State-owned oil company (PDVSA).

Together, they constitute some 77.7 per cent of Guyana’s public external debt stock, as at end-December 2016, with the IDB the most dominant creditor. According to the report, the IDB has an average share of 42.0 per cent of the debt portfolio.

The CDB is Guyana’s second largest creditor, accounting for 12.6 per cent of total public external debt.

The Export-Import Bank of China follows closely with a 12.5 per cent share of external debt, while Venezuela’s PDVSA accounted for 10.6 per cent. Of significant note is the fact PDVSA has recently been declared to be in default of its debts by a trade group in the US.

New strategies needed to revamp court system – CCJ President – urges judiciary to adopt reforms in line with int’l best practices

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ecommendations are being made for Guyana’s Judiciary to follow the lead of other jurisdictions, including the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which has crafted new strategies in line with international best practice.

Making these recommendations was CCJ President Sir Dennis Byron, who was at the time addressing the Guyana Bar Association.

According to Byron, several complaints are usually levelled against the performances of judiciaries, the most common of which are the inordinate delays for trials to start, low performance and efficiency, high costs of court operations, and the public’s lack of confidence in the system.

“Discussions on judicial independence usually concentrate on the tensions between the executive and the judiciary; but let us recall the definition of judicial independence as the guarantor of the right of the citizen to a fair and timely trial,” he cautioned.

“If the trial process fails to provide this, should the judges and the legal profession look at their influence on ju-

dicial independence? I want to introduce some ideas that have influenced our operations at the CCJ,” Sir Byron continued.

He said that an efficient court system is a process of continuous improvement.

The legal luminaire noted that the best courts are those that are continuously assessing where they are and developing plans to deal with systemic weaknesses. He noted that such courts also have to implement those plans, evaluate their effects, and then start over.

“In this regard, the International Framework for Court Excellence is a quality management system designed to help courts to improve their performance.

The Framework is particularly useful to judicial policymakers and practitioners, and it prescribes a set of focused, clear and actionable core court performance measures,” Sir Byron explained.

“The Framework makes it clear that a court’s pathway to excellence will also be enhanced by open communication regarding its strategies, policies and procedures with court users and the public in general. turn to page 11

8 NEWS PI into cocaine-laced hammocks winds down monDAY, november 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

…4 more witnesses to testify

Could have been…

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ustoms Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts indicated that four more witnesses were slated to testify in the case against a mother of one who attempted to ship four hammocks laced with cocaine to the United States of America.

A solemn Tiffani Collison, accused of trafficking 6.742 kilograms of cocaine to the US in September last, appeared in court, accompanied by trial lawyer Stanley Moore, as the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) continued before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Twenty-six-year-old Collison, of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, is charged for allegedly posting a box containing the cocaine-laced hammocks at DHL Express in Alberttown, Georgetown on September 20, 2017.

On Thursday, CANU Officer Joseph Innis took to the witness box where he gave a sworn statement to

S Tiffani Collison

The cocaine-laced hammocks

the court during which he related that following the incident, he collected statements from the human resources department at DHL Express which revealed that the sender was listed as Nora Barton (the mother of the accused) and the recipient as one Keith Brown. Hereafter, Innis testified, he made contact with the defendant at CANU headquarters, where she was told of the allegation and cautioned.

Thursday’s proceedings

were cut short by an unforeseen occurrence on the part of the prosecution and the case was adjourned to be heard today.

A Customer Service Officer (CSO) from DHL Express had appeared previously to give sworn testimony in the trial.

According to the witness, she was approached by the accused, who expressed her desire to have four hammocks shipped to the US to the said recipient, Keith Brown, as a

gift.

The accused reportedly produced her Identification Card (ID); TIN Certificate and bills in her mother’s name as proof of address before filling out a security form permitting CANU to inspect the item.

The shipping fee was paid, and the accused was told that the item would be shipped.

However, subsequent checks revealed that the hammocks were laced with the illicit drug and a wanted bulletin was issued for the defendant’s arrest. She was subsequently charged for the offence.

Barber on $35,000 bail for threatening language, damage to property

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showdown in Barclay Street, Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara has landed several persons in court for various offences against public order.

Twenty-eight-year-old Mahendra Seebarat of La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara, appeared at the Wales Magistrate’s Court late last week and was released on $35,000 bail after he entered pleas of not guilty to threatening language and damage to property charges.

Police said that on Sunday, November 5, 2017 at Goed Fortuin, Seebarat made

use of threatening language against Zameena Hamid and damaged a mesh barrier belonging to Chandra Armin, a housewife. Both individuals reside at 86 Barclay Street. The defendant was released on $35,000 bail for the charges.

Meanwhile, Armin, 49, who suffered damage to her property, was counter-charged, having been accused of verbally abusing Seebarat at Goed Fortuin.

She was released on self-bail on the abusive language charge. Both parties will return to the Wales court on January 5 for report.

…Guyana?

urely, dear reader, you must’ve read one of those “counterfactual” novels…the ones premised on ‘what if” such and such facts were different.

Like what would’ve happened if apes had developed intelligence and ruled Earth? Oh…they did that in “Planet of the Apes”!! Well, right here in Guyana, lots of folks are wondering what life might’ve been if Forbes Burnham was still around.

Of course, there are some who’ve vowed to take us back to the Burnhamite days to “fulfil” his legacy…but fate’s arranged for us to have our counterfactual - in the object lesson of Robert Mugabe. Mugabe and Burnham, you see, had so many things in common - apart from being contemporaries - Burnham’s DOB Feb 20, 1923 and Mugabe’s, Feb 21, 1924.

While both saw themselves as “anti-colonialists”, Burnham cut a deal with the Brits to get power, Mugabe had to engage in a bloody guerrilla war with one Joshua Nkomo. But, in the end, they both got rid of their political rivals - who just happened to be from another ethnic group! In the case of Burnham, he made Jagan toothless through election rigging; while in Zimbabwe, Nkomo -- from the Ndebele tribe -- the senior politician in the “multiracial” ZAPU, was swamped in the 1980 elections

by Mugabe’s ZANU via his numerically preponderant Shona tribesmen.

Even though Nkomo was brought into the government, Mugabe never trusted him; and, in 1983, unleashed the N.Korean army led by Emmerson Mnangagwa - known as the Crocodile - against the Ndebele, massacring over 20,000 of them. Nkomo fled, never to return. So, while Mugabe would later turn his guns against the white Rhodesians, to drive them off their farms and “redistribute” the lands, the ethnic hostilities have never been addressed. Most of the lands ended up in Shona hands - and the favoured few, to boot!

And so we saw Zimbabwe reduced from the “breadbasket of Southern Africa” to its “basket case”!!

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Inflation at one point got so bad Zimbabweans had to carry around their money in wheelbarrows!! Anyhow, when Mugabe remarried (like Burnham) his wife became very visible in the party!!

Too visible, it seems, for “the Crocodile,” who by now had become VP -- but in the way of the ambitious young wife!

So we have an army coup orchestrated by the Croc, who always remained close with them, and he’s now President. But, it’s now even worse than the same ole, same ole -- with the minority Nbele still suppressed and the army now directly controlled by “their man”.

Any lessons here, with our army being remade in Burnham’s vision? To be loyal only to his government!

…a contender

The line, of course, is from the movie classic “On the Waterfront”, where Brando, the washed up exboxer who went on the wrong side, exclaimed, “I coulda been a contender!” And it’s a line that’s very apropos of what’s happened to Ramjattan and Nagamootoo in Guyanese politics. In the PPP, Ramjattan was very much the “young man in a hurry”, and didn’t bide his time; while Nagamootoo had become like “old man river” by the time there was a spot at the top.

And the powers that be just didn’t think he had what it took to go all the way to the top. Events since his move to the AFC and then into the PNC (as APNU) have shown that while the Jagans might’ve been atheists, they were certainly prophetic! Ramjattan, on the other hand, was “force ripe’ and never allowed himself to develop the nous for politics.

His erstwhile co-founder of the AFC, Trotman, certainly played him like a “shak-shak!!”

…Independent Agencies

Nagamootoo berated his old PPP comrades for questioning the requests by the constitutional bodies for $8 billion. Says the PPP always wanted to ‘control” those agencies.

So Prezzie doesn’t want to control GECOM? Why then his act of unilateralism to appoint Patterson? There are many ways to skin a cat!!

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

News

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monDAY, november 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

City’s garbage woes

Sans Souci man Mayor blasts Solid Waste granted $65,000 Director for misdirection bail for threatening, …Town Clerk opposes Govt’s bailout assaulting neighbours

By Lakhram Bhagirat

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eorgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green has said the city is in a crisis all way round, especially when it comes to addressing the current garbage situation, since the two major contractors withdrew their services owing to nonpayment.

At an Extraordinary Statutory Meeting last week, she bashed Solid Waste Director Walter Narine for allegedly misguiding her in relation to the current garbage situation.

“I am looking at a bailout from the Government to bring this city back in order, because the garbage is killing me, and Mr. Narine can’t tell me they got ‘no red velvet’ out there because the place nasty. On Mandela Avenue it is laced with garbage…there is garbage everywhere,” she said.

“We are in a crisis…with this garbage. I am not listening to Mr. Narine anymore, because he is not directing me right. He telling me one thing in here, and when I go out there, is something else; and I am believing everything I seeing with my own two eyes,” Chase-Green added.

The embattled Mayor has said she is going to personally approach the Government for the over-$475-million bailout to settle the debt with Puran Brothers and Cevon’s Waste Management. She noted that the smaller contractors who were taken on to fill the gaps do not have the capacity to continue picking up the city’s garbage on a long-term basis.

The M&CC had approached the Central Government, through the Ministry of Communities, for a bailout of four hundred and seventy-five million, six hundred and thirty-five thou-

Solid Waste Director Walter Narine

Mayor of Georgetown Patricia Chase Green

sand, two hundred and forty-five dollars ($475,635,245) to settle the city’s debt to both Puran Brothers, Cevons, and another company.

“The garbage isn’t under control, and I got to get it in control. I going to the Government and beg for this bailout, because we got to get this place in order. We can look at small contractors to assist us, but they don’t have the capacity to do it; they don’t have the kind of trucks,” the Mayor said.

“Look at the open-back trucks; we should not be allowing it, but we had to because it is the only thing we had at the time; but it’s not the right type of vehicles to carry garbage through the city. I will not sit here as Mayor and allow us to go down the drain,” she further stated.

Town Clerk Royston King has opposed the bailout, stating that City Hall is an autonomous agency and accepting a Government bailout undermines its autonomy.

“We should not depend on Government for any bailouts or handouts; and if Government supports us we are happy, but this Council is autonomous and we have all the provisions to raise our

own revenues, and we can do it…we must not hope for bailouts, because when you get bailouts from Government you are diluting your own authority and autonomy,” King stated.

Earlier last week, Solid Waste Director Narine had said the two contractors would come back with reduced responsibilities.

“They will not come back with the same luxury they had when both of them had 5 groups each. They will not come back with that. What I am thinking of, going forward, is we have 15 constituency and let us do constituency clearance; and in that way all the small contractors get a bite with Cevons and Puran,” Narine posited.

“The city will do some cleaning. Actually, the city would do four constituencies, and Puran, Cevons, Grandison (Waste), Sandeep (Waste) would have two each…,” he added.

Narine said that the new arrangement would see each contractor being paid $10 million per month for their services, as compared to the previous range from $43million to $45million per month.

On September 1, the M&CC implemented fees for

commercial waste collection.

Small business operators are required to pay $5000 per month, while medium sized businesses will contend with $8000 per month. However, large business operators across Georgetown are required to pay the most significant figure of $12,000 per month for their waste collection.

The Solid Waste Director had told the Council that while the originally approved fees for commercial garbage collection were $5000, $10,000 and $15,000; the latter two were reduced to $8000 and $12,000 after consultations.

Puran Brothers Disposal and Cevon’s Waste Management withdrew services on July 30, 2017, as City Hall’s debts had risen to the multi-million-dollar range. According to the companies, the issue of non-payment has been a longstanding one, with many debts going as far back as 2015.

Many Councillors at Monday’s statutory meeting commended themselves for keeping the city clean despite the withdrawal of these waste disposal services. A Councillor, however, noted reports that a truck (registration number provided) was going around and charging some residents $500 to empty their barrels – a service which currently attracts no additional fees for homeowners.

T

hirty-year-old construction worker Chandricka Hardyal of Sans Souci, Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara was released on $65,000 bail on allegations that he had assaulted and threatened his neighbours.

The charges he faced as he stood before Wales Magistrate Rushell Liverpool last Thursday alleged that on November 6, 2017 at Sans Souci, he made use of threatening language to Rosita Williams; and further, that he assaulted Udit Persaud.

Hardyal denied the charges, and Police Prosecutor Sergeant Campbell objected to bail on grounds that the accused had before the court similar matters involving his neighbours. Prosecutor Campbell further observed that the accused and the virtual complainants live in the

same yard at Sans Souci.

Magistrate Liverpool asked Hardyal if he had ever been charged prior to this month’s incident, and he responded in the affirmative.

The accused then told the court that he had been incarcerated for one month.

“It was a story with me and my child mother,” Hardyal explained.

After brief consideration, Magistrate Liverpool placed the accused father on a bond to keep the peace for the duration of the case, and thereafter released him on $65,000 bail.

He was escorted into custody by a police rank, but after a female relative posted his bail, Hardyal exited the courtyard, removed his shirt from inside his trousers, and adorned himself with sunglasses.

10 News

monDAY, november 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

80 street lamps given to constituencies across Linden

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onstituencies across Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) were the recipients of a number of street lamps, which were handed over by the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) last week.

Representatives of the eight constituencies each received 10 lamps to be placed in their respective areas. The street lamps were handed over at the office of the LM&TC. The lamps are to be installed by the Linden Electricity Company Inc (LECI) and the Linden Utility Services Co-op Society Limited (LUSCSL) in time for the festive season.

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland said the project was aimed at lighting up areas in the community, noting that more was yet to come.

"We know there are several dark streets within the township and we're just happy to play our little part with this contribution", he said.

LM&TC Treasurer Audrey Nelson (right) makes a donation to constituency representative, Councillor Fern Mckoy (left) in the presence of Linden Deputy Mayor Waneka Arindell (centre) and Councillors Leroy James and Wainwright Bethune

"It's not the end of the lamps…because we expect a donation of several street lamps through the Ministry of Communities, from the Japanese grant.

However, we've not gotten it as yet. So Council decided to invest in 80 street lamps. It is our plan to light up Linden, make Linden brighter and... make Linden safe," the Mayor said.

He noted that providing the street lamps was also part of efforts to ensure the security of the township. (Utamu Belle)

Route 31 minibus driver spared court penalty

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est Bank D e m e r a r a (WBD) bus driver Brian Simpson was spared a court penalty when he appeared before Wales Magistrate Rushell Liverpool last week.

He was charged for not being the holder of a road service licence even though he had driven his BKK 8861 Route 31 minibus.

Police found him breaking the law on October 30 on the La Grange Public Road, WBD, and when

Simpson was arraigned at the Wales Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, he admitted that the prosecution’s facts were correct.

After he entered his guilty plea, he told the Magistrate that he was not aware that the document had expired.

He also admitted that he was fined previously for a speeding offence; however, he was reprimanded and discharged for his most recent traffic offence.

News

11

monDAY, november 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

To save industry

Govt needs to reverse plans to privatise sugar estates – GAWU President in yet another appeal

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overnment has postponed closure of the Rose Hall Sugar Estate from end of 2017 to sometime in 2018, and the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU) is urging the administration to make this position permanent, so as to allow workers to keep their jobs.

GAWU President, Komal Chand, gave reasons for this proposal, stating that even during discussions with the Special Purposes Unit (SPU) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), consensus was arrived at that the best position was to keep the es-

GAWU President Komal Chand

New strategies needed to...

(It) stresses the imperative for courts to be open and transparent about their performance, strategies, and processes, to ensure public respect and confidence in the judicial system and to publish details of what actions they are taking to address problems within the court system. This goes hand in hand with strategic planning,” he related.

He noted that one of the advantages of strategic planning is that important stakeholders, including the Bar, can use the opportunity to contribute to developing strategies which would guide judicial performance.

“At the CCJ, we also embraced this concept, and now we are at the end of the first plan, from 2012 to 2017,” Sir Byron revealed. “We are currently in the process of developing the new plan for 2018 – 2023. I recommend a similar process for the courts here.”

In Guyana, some have argued that there is a need for the judiciary to be more pro-

active in carrying out its duties. These calls have gained more urgency in the wake of a fire earlier this year that gutted most of the Camp Street prison. It was only last year that another fire had claimed the lives of 17 inmates.

According to the report of a Commission of Inquiry into the 2016 fire, the combination of being overcrowded, uncomfortable, and an unhygienic confinement creates ideal conditions for epidemics and for gangs to prosper and propagate discontent.

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.

It was further noted that repeat offenders have increased by over 100 per cent, “indicating not only a waste of taxpayers’ dollars, but also the need for a more comprehensive and structured partnership within the wider justice system.”

from page 7

But despite these recommendations, Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, himself confirmed that at the time of the 2017 fire, over 1000 prisoners were being housed at the prison – a place of incarceration originally built to house half that number.

In addition, it was only after the 2017 fire that the judiciary took concerted steps to grant pre-trial liberty to remand inmates whose bail had previously been curtailed for various reasons.

From an infrastructure perspective, some steps have been taken to address some of the most prevalent complaints against the judiciary. Those include the construction of a night court and a court dealing specifically with sexual violence cases.

tates open.

“We feel that is not enough. We don’t want them to push back; we want them to make the decision permanent. It should be reversed instead,” Chand told the Guyana Times on Sunday.

The GAWU leader said officials from the SPU are interested in getting the estates functional. “They are talking about getting the work continuing, and they might pause for a few months, and that may be for the entire first crop in the next year,” he added.

Chand said that if everything goes well, “They feel that both estates have the potential to do well and to become sustainable.” He noted that during a meeting with the SPU officials on November 14, they also expressed concern with the removal of the assets of those estates, agreeing with GAWU. “In fact, we have commented on this matter and we made this aware to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo)… It’s not private assets, but state assets,” Chand further stated.

The GAWU official told this newspaper that if the sugar estates had not been nationalised in 1976, most of them would have already been closed by now. He said it is therefore important that Government reverse its plans to privatise those estates and factories, in order to save the industry.

However, he noted, “Estates would not be able to continue on sugar revenues, but they can use bagasse to produce electricity and some other stuff, which GAWU had

submitted in its proposal.”

He continued, “Keep them open and make these estates more productive, to bring down cost. We are hoping that we halt the decision to close and sell Skeldon and turn this industry around.”

State Minister Joseph Harmon recently announced plans to push back the closure of the Rose Hall Estate to 2018. The decision was taken to push back the closure until works being done by the SPU are completed.

Back in May, Government had announced plans to close the Enmore and Rose Hall Sugar Estates, sell the Skeldon Sugar Factory, reduce the annual production of sugar, and take on the responsibility of managing the drainage and irrigation services offered by GuySuCo. Ever since that announcement, workers attached to the various estates, backed by their unions –GAWU and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) -- have taken to the streets in several protest demonstrations, to signal to the Government the negative impact the closure will have on workers and the economy as a whole.

In fact, the Rose Hall Estate workers had only last week said it was not too late to reconsider closing the facility at the end of the crop. One of the workers’ representatives, Glen McCloud, had said the workers were hopeful that there would have been a re-look at the intention, having recognised the obvious hardship that would result from the estate’s closure.

Last month, GuySuCo announced plans to retrench

2,500 workers by the end of this year; but GAWU said the downsizing and subsequent closure of sugar estates would lead to the loss of more than 15,000 jobs and the potential threat of poverty for between 50,000 and 100,000 people.

Workers believe Government has no plans in regard to making provisions for those workers who would be displaced by the closure of estates.

In regard to the Skeldon and Enmore estates, State Minister Harmon has explained that the SPU would have to conduct evaluations, surveys and inventory assessments before any steps are taken to actually sell them.

It was recently reported that the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has submitted a proposal for the acquisition of the East Coast Demerara estate. A statement from Head of the SPU, Colvin Heath-London, last month detailed that an international accounting firm will be recruited to evaluate GuySuCo’s assets for privatisation and divestment.

Selected tenders were invited from Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, and KPMG to provide the services to the SPU as international financial services provider. The selected firm would be conducting the valuation of all assets under the control of GuySuCo, in addition to other advisory and financial services.

After the winning firm is identified, which should be anytime, work will commence in regard to the valuation of the assets. The preparation of a prospectus is expected to be completed by the end of January 2018.

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monDAY, november 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Linden to benefit from sister-city twinning relationship with Xuzhou

Mayor Zhou Tiegen receiving a gift from Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland

By Utamu Belle

T

he Linden municipality is making good on its promise to advance the development of the town by all means, including friendly relations with international cities that are more developed.

Just recently, Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the City of Xuzhou, which was represented by its Vice Mayor Xu Donghai, at a ceremony held at Xuzhou City’s Exotic Conference Hall.

The symbolic signing, which immediately puts into effect municipal cooperation between the two municipalities, has already yielded great benefits for Linden in the areas of education, youth, agriculture and infrastructure.

The Linden team that attended this signing ceremony comprised the Mayor and his wife Nikosa Holland, Councillor Lennox Gasper and First Secretary of the Guyana Embassy in China, Dennelle Marshall. This team had bilateral discussions with Xuzhou officials, led by the Vice Mayor Xu Donghi; Deputy SecretaryGeneral of Xuzhou Municipal Government, Jiang Ming; Director of Xuzhou Foreign Affairs Office, Wang Lianyun; and the Deputy Director of Xuzhou Foreign Affairs Office, Sun Weimin.

Discussions were centred on means of advancing cooperation between the two municipalities, and there was great consensus, given the mining background of Linden and Xuzhou.

In his brief remarks, Vice Mayor Donghai highlighted his similarities to Mayor

Holland: they both came from a media background, and share the same drive to see development of their municipality. However, he noted the disparities in size, budget and development of the two municipalities, while pledging Xuzhou’s full support to see Linden develop comparatively. The Vice Mayor also said that his city will be looking out for Linden’s interest as a big brother, and would waste no time in fortifying the relationship.

The Linden Mayor, in his response, thanked Xuzhou for twinning with Linden, and said the town of Linden, birthed in 1970, is known for its friendly and industrious people. He invited other Chinese investors to join BOSAI Minerals by establishing manufacturing and agro processing plants in Linden.

Mayor Holland said this was his third visit to China, but this time it was extra special, as both municipalities seek to advance friendly cooperation on the principle of equality and mutual benefit, and to facilitate fruitful results in a wide area of cooperation.

Linden Councillor Lennox Gasper, who led the gift exchange after the signing ceremony, expressed his appreciation for the outcome of the visit, and said the people of Linden are very grateful for the cooperation.

Together with the Mayor, he championed the call for tangible results through the establishment of twin-city relations.

The Linden delegation also toured the Xuzhou Institute of Agricultural Sciences, where they negotiated for the training of

Lindeners in agri-scientific research with the Director Mr. Qinghe Cao. They later visited the China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) and met with Director of International Office, Mr. Zhang Zhenkang, to discuss the possibility of student exchanges, scholarships, and research collaboration.

Mayor Holland, also a University of Guyana Education Resource Ambassador, lobbied for academic staff exchanges and fostering ties between Guyana’s leading tertiary institution and CUMT. In the immediate future, the two municipalities will host art exhibitions showcasing the art of the children of the sister territory, which will be opened for public viewing. Linden will host the first exhibition of art pieces by children of Xuzhou in December 2017, while Xuzhou will host the exhibition of Linden children’s art in early 2018 in Xuzhou. A pen pal initiative by all participating students would also be kick-started.

The Linden delegation was also featured at the Xuzhou Investment Conference, which gave them the opportunity to participate in the forum showcasing Xuzhou’s business sector and investment opportunities, providing insight into a viable model of investment promotion from which the Linden team could draw lessons.

The twinning, according to Mayor Holland, will target development in the areas of agriculture, education, sports, youth, culture, tourism, and infrastructure development.

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monDAY, november 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

18-year-old Berbice beauty wins A

n 18-year-old aspiring entrepreneur has won the inaugural 'I am a big Deal' Miss Berbice pageant.

Farah Valentina Bates copped the title from eleven other contestants on Sunday morning at the Albion Sports Complex.

Bates, a Rose Hall Town Corentyne resident who is pursuing a diploma in Public Management at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus, competed under the platform ‘suicide awareness and prevention’.

The contest saw the delegates competing in four categories: talent, costume, beach wear and evening wear, with the top

performed under the platform of ‘global warming awareness’.

The “I’m a Big Deal/ Miss Berbice Beauty” pageant was promoted by RD Productions.

Promoter Royston Drakes says the event will be an annual one.

According to him, the concept is to “empower young women” in every aspects of their lives. The pageant focused on education, empowerment, discipline, talent, and building self-confidence and leadership qualities.

The pageant is also aimed at encouraging women to take up roles as leaders in society. (Andrew Carmichael)

The queen, Farah Bates

The top five contestants in the pageant

five having to answer a question based on their platform in the intelligence segment, to decide the winner and positions the others will occupy.

The first runner-up is 17-year-old Tatiana Lancaster of Rose Hall Town, who competed under the platform ‘climate change and its impact on Guyana’. Lancaster,

who was a crowd favourite throughout the competition, is also a university student pursuing an associate degree in Social Work. favourPre-contest ite Lottoya Williamson, a 30-year-old English major at the University of Guyana, copped the third place spot, as she represented her platform, ‘violence against women’, an issue which has affected members of her close family.

The fourth spot went to Atasha Pantlitz, 17, of Princetown, Corriverton, after she sought to bring awareness about HIV/ AIDS. Pantlitz attends

the Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre.

Shaquilla Sharpe, a 22-year-old from Limlair Village, Corentyne, placed fifth.

Meanwhile, Bates also won the best gown prize.

Her gown was designed by Randy Madray. She also won best smile and best talent. The People’s Choice award was given to Latoya Williamson, while 19-yearold Kelisha Ramoutar, who chose domestic violence as her platform, was judged Miss Photogenic.

The person with the best walk throughout the pageant was 17-year-old Tatiana Lancaster, who

Lottoya Williamson receiving the People’s Choice award from promoter Royston Drakes

CCJ finds State’s ignorance of pending litigation unacceptable – as Dipcon awarded US$2.2M in appeal judgment

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he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has delivered a ruling on the matter involving the Attorney General (AG) of Guyana and Trinidad construction company Dipcon whereby the Government will now have to pay that company US$2.2 million, after losing its bid to appeal the judgment.

But the CCJ in its ruling pointed out that there were various time-frame violations, on all of which detailed comments were given in the written judgment. It said these very factors highlight how unacceptable were the reasons for the State’s failure to be aware of this pending litigation and the award of judgment.

It also noted its failure to apply urgently for an extension of time within which to appeal.

“To say, regardless of who was in Government, that the State failed to satisfy the most basic standard of care is an understatement,” noted the Court in the written judgment, which was

released a few days ago.

In delivering his ruling, CCJ President, Sir Dennis Byron reprimanded the State for its failure to apply for an extension of time to file a special leave application, and said that was sufficient reason to dismiss the outof-time application for special leave, for want of jurisdiction.

The Judge noted that even though the AG was well aware that he needed to have applied for special leave to appeal, and needed first to have applied for an extension of time within which to make the application, his counsel deliberately chose not to file these applications and offered no justification.

Recalling the timeframe in which this case happened, former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall pointed out that he had demitted office after the May 11, 2015 elections and the new and current AG, Basil Williams, had taken up his post not long after.

President of the CCJ, Sir Dennis Byron

In October 2015, the High Court granted judgment against the AG in favour of Dipcon in certain legal proceedings, which eventually culminated in the CCJ’s decision delivered on November 15, 2015. When that

judgment was granted by the High Court, Williams was already six months in office. No appeal was filed against this judgment within the required six-week period as prescribed by the law.

Nandlall recalled that the AG had claimed that he only became aware of the judgment in January 2016, which was four months after the judgment was granted and 11 months after he assumed office. The AG had also blamed Nandlall for his ignorance of this judgment, although Nandlall had left office in May 2015. Williams took another few weeks before he filed an application in February 2016 to extend time for appealing the judgment granted by the High Court.

The matter reached the CCJ due to the AG’s failure to provide to the Court of Appeal of Guyana good and substantial reasons for an extension of time to be granted for an appeal to be filed out of time and to persuade the Court

that the said intended appeal has some prospects of success.

As a result, the Court of Appeal had refused to grant an extension of time.

While the blame was put at the feet of Nandlall who served previously as AG and the then acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh for the Court of Appeal aspect, the CCJ has now ruled that the wrong type of appeal was filed to that Court; therefore, the jurisdiction of the CCJ was not properly invoked.

Additionally, the CCJ went on to express the view that even if the proper documents were filed, the decision would not have been different, since sufficient material was not put before the Court to demonstrate that there was a “miscarriage of justice”. As a result, the Court dismissed the application, leaving Guyana to pay the judgment of US$2.2 million, an embarrassing setback.

14 news

mondAY, november 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

18 social activists honoured ‌at TCV’s 3rd annual El Dorado Awards

Ashraf Dabie, one of the Youth Ambassadors Guyana 2015, receiving an award at the ceremony

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he Caribbean Voice (TCV) on Saturday hosted its 3rd annual El Dorado Awards, during which 18 social activists were honoured for their contributions through charitable ventures to their respective communities and by extension the country at large.

This was as the TCV, in collaboration with the Save Abee Foundation, set out to recognise and award individuals as well as organisations and business establishments for their selfless missions of impacting change in the lives of the lesser fortunate and at-risked sections of society with specific focus on those tackling social issues such as abuse, sexual violence, drug and alcohol misuse and most significantly suicide, among others.

Emerging at the forefront of their various fields of social activism were a non-governmental organisation working with children within several Indigenous communities, an indigenous artist who engages in tremendous social work, several businesses giving back to the tune of millions of dollars, along with two community based organisations making significant contributions to their respective societies.

They were joined by one youth activist as well as a youth organisation making significant strides in youth activism, a disability rights activist who is visually impaired, a women empowerment activist, an organisation providing services for children living with autism and to wrap it up an organisation providing relief through food and other necessary supplies to families hit by disasters such as fires and flooding.

As such, among the honourees for the 2017 awards was former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who was recognised for exceptional accomplishment characterised by humility, pride in performance and approachability while giving back and/or displaying activism.

Adding to the list of El Dorado awardees for this year were public figures Clifford Reis who is the Chairman/Managing Director of Banks DIH, singled out for his achievement in the private sector characterized by activism and/or advocacy or charity and giving back in a significant manner along with the Chairman of Region 2 (Pomeroon-Supernaam), Devanand Ramdat, receiving the Umana Yana Award for significant contribution towards community building.

Meanwhile, decorated with the Arapima Award for youth achievement characterised by activism and/or advocacy or charity and giving back in a significant manner were the Youth Action Network and one of the Youth Ambassadors Guyana 2015, both operating through the support of the US Embassy in Georgetown.

At the same time, disability rights activist Ganesh Singh was the recipient of the Pakarimas Awards for a lifetime accomplishment characterised by activism and/or advocacy or charity and giving back in a significant manner.

Speaking at the event hosted at Park Vue on the East Bank of Demerara was the President of the US based organisation, Annan Boodram who explained the concept of the award ceremony and dinner.

In doing so he outlined that there is a plethora of individuals and organisations, both locally and within the Diaspora, engaged in making a difference and qualitatively impacting the lives of Guyanese, especially the powerless and disadvantaged, while tackling the social issues that negatively affect lives.

It is towards this end that El Dorado Awards provides a space to recognise the efforts of those so involved so that they can connect with each other and establish dialogue that would enhance the

Former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds receiving his award at the event

Banks DIH official Troy Peters (left) receiving the award on behalf of Clifford Reis, Chairman/Managing Director of Banks DIH

Disability rights activist Ganesh Singh was the recipient of the Pakaraimas Award for a lifetime accomplishment characterised by activism and/or advocacy

collaborative approach within a national framework.

Moreover, the initiative seeks to build connections with the business and professional community so as to foster collaboration with those engaged in civic activism.

With this being the third consecutive staging of the annual El Dorado Awards, the Caribbean Voice has thus far honoured 34 Guyanese social activists and change agents, both individuals and organisations along with the additional 18 which were honoured this year.

President of The Caribbean Voice, Annan Boodram speaking at the event

Works moving apace on $120M Bagotville bridge

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Works on the $120 million main access bridge at Bagotville, WBD are moving apace

early two months after construction work began, the main access bridge to the village of Bagotville, West Bank Demerara is taking shape. When completed, it will ease the periodic traf-

fic congestions that have occurred since the bridge sank in June.

The structure, which runs across the access channel into Canal Number One Polder, began to sink owing to heavy rainfall and

erosion over the years. A temporary bridge built of greenheart lumber was constructed near the site to assist in the flow of traffic.

When this newspaper visited the area on Sunday, steel and concrete were laid

across the path from north to south, while an outline of an accompanying walkway was seen on the right side of the new structure.

Construction works to the walkway on the opposite side were still ongoing.

The Public Infrastructure Ministry had sought an additional $120 million under its bridges programme for reconstruction and critical rehabilitation works for the bridge, which links La Grange to Bagotville and several areas, including Canal Number One Polder and La Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme.

After the bridge had initially sunk, those affected had pleaded with the Public Infrastructure Ministry to have the structure rehabilitated, since it was hindering the smooth flow of traffic and causing an unnecessary build-up.

Guyana Times was told that the new steel-and-concrete structure would be able to withstand both corrosion and the weight of heavy-duty vehicles that often traverse the bridge, as opposed to the older structure, which was partly constructed out of wood. The project for the bridge’s rehabilitation was awarded to Gaico Construction.

News

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mondAY, november 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Despite some reservations

Opposition still has confidence in Public Procurement Commission – Jagdeo

By Samuel Sukhnandan

W

hile the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had made some general remarks regarding the work of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has clarified that the Party still has confidence in the body although it did not agree with all of the reports.

During a recent press conference, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira had expressed that she had ‘no confidence’ in the PPC, since she believed that a thorough probe would not be conducted into the award of a contract to Dutch company LievenseCSO for a feasibility study on the proposed new Demerara River bridge.

However, Jagdeo dismissed the “unfortunate characterisation” of comments made by the PPP/C Member of Parliament (MP).

He said, “Reservations were expressed about the work of the PPC. We may have reservations about the pace in which the PPC does its work…we may not agree with all of its findings…”

However, the former Head of State noted that the PPP/C would continue to work with this body. “…we will continue to supply information to the PPC to expose the serious acts of corruption taking place in Guyana by this Government … we participated in the formation of the PPC, so even with those reservations, we have not lost confidence in the PPC.” Teixeira’s ‘no-confidence’ remarks were made based on the fact that PPC Chairperson Carol Corbin promised to look into the matters raised with the relevant entities and also wrote that this would be done “within the confines of (the Commission’s) work programme and available resources”.

The Opposition MP had expressed concern about the Commission’s response, noting that the law mandated it has to investigate complaints. Teixeira, who wrote requesting the probe of the feasibility contract, even described the Commission’s response as scary – when its responsibilities are considered.

“The issue to flag is that phrase, within the confines of our work pro-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

gramme and available resources.

Now the Constitution makes it absolutely clear that once there is a complaint, the PPC has to investigate it. It cannot say, well we have a work programme and we have these 10 items, we have to do these first. Or we don’t have enough re-

sources. This is unacceptable, this is a constitutional body,” she asserted.

Meanwhile, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall had stressed that the PPC’s functions and mandates are outlined in the Constitution. “So it’s not a capricious or whimsical schedule that they can construct. They have to have a work programme that is within their constitutional mandate. And the matters requested in the letter are matters that ought to find priority within their constitutional mandate.”

According to the Opposition MPs, the Commission has also responded in similar fashion to requests for probes into the D’Urban Park Project and the Sussex Street bond. Opposition MP Juan Edghill had confirmed that the Commission also responded in similar fashion to his request for two probes.

In a letter to PPC Chairperson Corbin, Edghill identified aspects of the D’Urban Park Project the Party is most concerned about.

Edghill, a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), noted

Parking Meter Renegotiation Committee

that despite promises to the contrary, no account of donations received between September 2015 and January 2016 was made public. The PPP/C, therefore, queried the procurement process used for works on the project; as well as the scope a private company has to engage contractors and receive funding for a public project. The Party queried the budgeted and actual costs throughout the project, as well as the final cost. In addition, the Party demanded information on what payments were made to individuals and contractors up to June.

In the case of the Sussex Street bond, Edghill also approached the PPC to call for an investigation into the contract inked between the Public Health Ministry and a known financier of the coalition Administration.

Edghill had also indicated that the political Opposition was demanding “a definitive pronouncement specifically addressing if this award was done in a fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective manner according to our procurement laws.”

Killing over $440 at Canal No 1

Consultation with Smart City Brother of accused Solutions to commence soon teen testifies as

By Lakhram Bhagirat

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hairman of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) Parking Meter Renegotiation Committee, Councillor Akeem Peter, said the owners of Smart City Solutions (SCS) have committed to return to Guyana for the commencement of consultations and possible renegotiation of the controversial parking meter contract.

Peter was at the time responding to questions from the media in relation to the work of the committee.

“The principal members of the company are out of the jurisdiction. They have committed to being here in the next 14 days for the first meeting,” Peter said on Monday last.

“The Committee is currently deciphering the (controversial) contract, and breaking it down so we can have our recommendations (on) the table (when we meet with Smart City Solutions),” he added. Peter said that the committee has written to SCS requesting additional documentation for the purpose of their consultation.

“There has been no change to the (Terms of Reference) but as we go on and we see the need to widen the scope of the committee, then the ToR gives us the power to do so,” Peter said.

The M&CC had, on May 13, 2016, entered into a contract with Smart City Solutions Inc. for parking meters to be implemented in Georgetown. A committee had previously been set

Chairman of the Parking Meter Renegotiation Committee, Councillor Akeem Peter

up on April 26, 2017, one month after Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan had suspended the paid parking initiative. Its members comprised Malcolm Ferreira (Chairman), Roopnarine Persaud, Noelle Chow-Chee (VC), Ivelaw Henry, Trichria Richards, Carlyle Goring, and Heston Bostwick.

The life of the Parking Meter Re-negotiation Committee ended when it submitted its final report and findings to the Mayor of Georgetown on August 2, and later circulated same to all Councillors. The report made three recommendations, which included renegotiating the contract with SCS, scrapping the entire project, and awaiting the outcome of the pending court cases.

On September 7, there was a vote of 13:5:7 in favour of continuing the me-

tered parking systems under a renegotiated contract. Following the vote, the Council had agreed to appoint a Special Select Committee consisting of seven Councillors and two members of the public with expertise and experience in the fields of accounting, law and engineering to meet with SCS. They would discuss the terms of the agreement with a view to renegotiating it in light of the findings and recommendations made by the previous committee, which had carried out an examination of the project and reported its findings to the council.

Following much delay, the new Special Committee to re-negotiate the controversial Parking Meter Contract with Smart City Solutions was selected.

The Committee is being chaired by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)

councillor Akeem Peter.

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen and a majority of the city councillors voted for APNU Councillor Noelle Chow-Chee to be ViceChairman. The other members of the new committee are Councillors Oscar Clark, Jameel Rasul, James Samuels, Heston Bostwick and Ivor Henry. People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor Bishram Kuppen was also nominated, but declined.

The Mayor mandated that two members of the public also sit on the committee, and Civil Engineer Owen Godfrey Edwards and Accountant Robin Hunte were selected.

The new committee, according to the draft TORs, would be tasked with engaging Smart City Solutions with a view to renegotiating the terms of the agreement entered into between the parties, and more specifically to seek to take into account the concerns raised and addressed in the reports of the Special Committee in relation to costs, fines, enforcement, profit-sharing, areas, times, and other factors identified in relation to the project, plus any other relevant actions as the committee may, in its discretion, determine or as may be suggested by the general council. Upon completion of the negotiation period, the new committee would have to prepare a report setting out the proposals and or agreements arrived at, and present same to Council at a meeting called for that purpose.

PI continues

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Deceased: Leon Ritchie

he Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Canal Number One Polder teen Leon Ritchie continued before Magistrate Rushell Liverpool at the Wales Magistrate’s Court on Thursday last.

The accused, Andrew Gittens, allegedly stabbed his cousin on January 18, 2017 after he, Ritchie, did not repay $440 that was borrowed to purchase bread.

At last week’s court proceedings, Gittens’ brother, Akeem, 21, testified to the events that surrounded his cousin’s fatal stabbing.

Other witnesses taking the stand to testify in the matter were Robert Adams and Corporal Lallbachan.

Ritchie, then 17, was killed at his Lot 20 L’Oratoire, Canal Number One Polder, West Bank Demerara (WBD) residence after the accused reported-

ly came up to him and demanded that he repay the money. Reports were that an argument ensued between the two over the $440 that Ritchie had borrowed two weeks prior. It was stated that after a scuffle, Gittens, also a teenager, stabbed his cousin to the chest. An injured Ritchie reportedly collapsed and upon realising what he had done, the alleged perpetrator had raised an alarm and the injured teen was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he had been pronounced dead on arrival.

When interviewed back in January, the father said that his son lived at his grandparent’s house along with his other cousins. Their grandfather, who had supervised the boys, passed away in 2016 and ever since then, the young family members had lived alone.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, november 20, 2017

Regional

Chile to elect President Bachelet's successor

Stormy weather complicates search for missing Argentine submarine

hileans are voting in presidential elections to choose a successor to Michelle Bachelet.

Eight candidates are standing, with conservative billionaire Sebastián Piñera seen as the favourite to return to the post he held from 2010-14.

Socialist contender Alejandro Guillier, a former journalist, is regarded as the most realistic challenger to Piñera.

On Sunday, voters also elected all 155 members of the Lower House and half of the Senate.

Piñera, 67, has been leading in recent opinion polls. However, analysts say he may fail to get 50

storm on Sunday complicated the search for an Argentine navy submarine missing in the South Atlantic with 44 crew members, as authorities tried to verify that recent satellite calls seen as a sign the sailors were alive came from the vessel.

US airplanes carrying subsurface search specialists arrived in Argentina to help hunt for the ARA San Juan, which was 432 kilometres (268 miles) off Argentina’s coast when its location was last known early on Wednesday, said navy Admiral Gabriel Gonzalez.

More than a dozen boats and aircraft from Argentina, the United States, Britain, Chile and Brazil had joined the effort.

Authorities have mainly been scanning the sea from above as waves of up to eight metres (26 feet) and winds of up to 40 knots made the

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Sebastián Piñera (left) and Alejandro Guillier are seen as the main rivals in Sunday's poll

per cent of the votes needed to avoid a run-off in December.

In 2010, he became Chile’s first conservative leader since the country’s

return to democracy, ending two decades of uninterrupted centre-left rule.

During the current presidential campaign, Piñera has managed to unite

Chile’s conservative wing and enjoys backing of the business community.

He represents the rightwing Chile Vamos coalition.

His victory would represent another shift to the right in South America after the rise of conservative leaders in Argentina, Brazil and Peru.

Meanwhile, Guillier, 64, is a candidate from Bachelet’s left-wing Nueva Mayoria coalition.

He has pledged to continue a series of liberal reforms launched by Bachelet, who is unable to seek immediate re-election under Chile’s Constitution.

(BBC News)

Dominican Republic, Haiti sign air services agreement

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he Dominican Republic and Haiti have signed an agreement that will lead to commercial flights between both nations – after 19 years without ties in aviation.

On Thursday, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Air Services, was signed between Dominican Civil Aviation Board (JAC) President Luis Ernesto Camilo and Haiti Civil Aeronautics Director Olivier Jean.

The MoU establishes the legal framework for bilateral trade relations.

In a statement, the JAC noted that it was the Dominican Republic’s 58th agreement reached with as many countries, “successfully developing the open air commercial air policy, which will serve as benefits for the Region”.

A

search difficult for boats, Gonzalez told reporters.

“Unfortunately, these conditions are expected to remain for the next 48 hours,” Gonzalez said from the Mar del Plata naval base, about 420 km (240 miles) south of Buenos Aires where the submarine had been heading toward before vanishing.

The Defence Ministry has said the submarine appeared to have tried to make contact through seven failed satellite calls on Saturday between late morning and early afternoon. On Sunday afternoon, Gonzalez said it was still not clear whether the calls were sent by or to the vessel.

“What we are trying to do today is geolocate those calls to see if they correlate with any point in the operation zone that would suggest it is the San Juan submarine,” navy spokesman Enrique Balbi told reporters on Sunday afternoon. (Excerpt from Reuters)

J'can sues Missouri health authority for racial discrimination

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The MoU establishes the legal framework for bilateral trade relations

The civil aviation authorities of both nations and their respective technical teams signed the agreement after two work meetings leading to the international air services negotiation (ICAN), hosed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation

(ICAO) , to be held later this year in Sri Lanka.

Camilo, who called the moment “historic”, said he was satisfied with the MoU which “strengthens the bilateral relations of both States”.

Jean stressed the cordiality and openness that pre-

vailed throughout the negotiation process, adding that he looked forward to signing definitive agreement “as soon as possible.”. The talks to reach a similar agreement date as far back as 1992, but did not materialise until now. (CMC)

man, who court documents identify as a Jamaican man, is suing a Missouri hospital for US$75,000 plus damages and attorney’s and court costs after what he alleges was racial discrimination and retaliation.

US media is reporting that Jerome Morgan, a former security aide with the Missouri Department of Mental Health, has filed a suit against his employers, alleging that he and other black employees were given less favourable and more dangerous jobs at the Fulton State Hospital because of their race.

Morgan reportedly filed a charge of discrimination with

the Missouri Commission of Human Rights detailing the allegations of racial discrimination in September 2016.

Morgan alleges that white workers were given less physically risky assignments, while black workers were placed in areas with higher risk for violence. He also alleges that he endured racial and harassing comments from co-workers, which he reported, but to no avail.

Morgan also reportedly argues that his Jamaican origin was a “contributing factor in his co-workers’ racist and derogatory comments”.

It has been reported that Morgan requested a trial by jury in his lawsuit. (CMC)

Petrotrin procedures at fault – contractor on oil discrepancies Prince of Wales tours

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and V Oil and Gas Limited, through its attorneys, says any discrepancies between reported oil production in its Exploration and Production Operations and the actual production receipts at Pointe-a-Pierre is the fault of State-owned Petrotrin.

The company’s attorney Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC, said A and V’s legal team had retained a Canadian forensic oil and gas expert with the equivalent skill and experience of Kroll Consulting Canada Company, the company used

by Petrotrin for its forensic audit, to give an opinion on the Internal Audit Report which Petrotrin had relied on.

“That opinion shows there is no evidence that A and V committed any fraud or breach of contract or that

Petrotrin Chairman Wilfred Espinet

A and V supplied any fake oil to Petrotrin,” Maharaj said. He, however, did not name the company hired by A and V’s Legal team.

In a media release Saturday, Maharaj said if such discrepancies existed, it was the fault of Petrotrin and the systems and proce-

dures it used to record the supply of crude oil from contractors to the Barrackpore Tank Farm.

The release further stated that discrepancies, if they existed, did not constitute fraudulent conduct or a breach of contract by A and V. Maharaj’s release was a direct response to a statement released on Friday by Petrotrin, which said a forensic report by Kroll Consulting Canada Company had confirmed the report of an internal audit done by the company, which first highlighted discrepancies.

That internal audit was made public during a political party meeting by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and dubbed the “fake oil” fiasco.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

hurricane-ravaged BVI

T

he Prince of Wales, Prince Charles made his first visit to the British Virgin Islands on Saturday for a first-hand look at the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Accompanied by British Member of Parliament Penny Mordaunt, Secretary of State for the Department for International Trade, the Prince briefly toured Tortola and met with local communities to hear about the ways they have been recovering since the BVI was hit by the hurricanes.

Prince Charles also visited the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), “which has fought back since the storms to get up and running.

“There, he met some of the young people who have

been a part of new support programmes, which encourage them to talk about storm experiences and equip them with practical life skills to cope with difficult living conditions,” said the BVI Government in a statement late Saturday.

Prince Charles, who is also the President of Red Cross, visited the local branch where he was introduced to several volunteers, including Deniese Gardener, “who risked her life in the middle of the storm, along with two others, to rescue a local woman.

This was Prince Charles’ first official visit to the BVI and the first Royal visit since the Duke of Gloucester in March 2012, the statement said. (Excerpt from CMC)

mondAY, november 20, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Defiant Mugabe vows to stay on Beijing housing block fire: 19 people killed

Robert Mugabe defied expectations by not resigning on Sunday night

Z

imbabwe's embattled leader Robert Mugabe has vowed to stay in power for several weeks, despite intensifying pressure on him to stand down.

In a live TV address, Mugabe said he would preside over the ruling party's congress in December.

The ZANU-PF earlier sacked him as party leader, and gave him less than 24 hours to resign as President or be impeached.

His grip on power has weakened since the military intervened last week in a row over who should succeed him.

A crisis was triggered after Mugabe sacked his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, two weeks ago, angering the army who saw it as an attempt to move his wife, Grace, into the position of his successor.

Earlier on Sunday, Mnangagwa was named as ZANU-PF's new leader and candidate for the 2018 general elections.

At the same party meeting, Mugabe's 52-year-old wife, Grace, was expelled from the party, alongside a number of other senior officials.

"The (ruling ZANU-PF)

party congress is due in a few weeks and I will preside over its processes," President Mugabe told the nation on Sunday.

He also acknowledged criticism against him from the ZANU-PF, the military and public, but did not mention the possibility of resigning. It is not entirely clear how Mugabe can preside over ZANU-PF's congress next month, following his dismissal as party leader.

Party positions are officially decided at the congress and Mnangagwa may officially take over leading the country then. (BBC News)

EU cuts Turkey funding after 'democratic deterioration'

T

he European Union will cut funds allocated to Turkey due to the "deteriorating situation in relation to democracy, rule of law and human rights" there, according to a European Parliament (EP) statement.

The bloc will shrink the so-called "pre-ascension funds" for Turkey by 105 million euros (US$124 million) and suspend an addi-

tional 70 million euros in the 2018 budget, the statement said on Saturday.

Ankara is entitled to receive 4.45 billion euros from the EU between 2014 and 2020 in the framework of the bloc's "Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance".

The Council of the EU and the EP, the two legislative institutions of the bloc, still need to formally approve the new budget.

"Concerning Turkey, MEPs made sure to cut pre-accession funds by 105 million euros (with a further â‚Ź70 million in commitments put in reserve), as they consider the deteriorating situation in relation to democracy, rule of law and human rights worrying," the statement by the EP said, referring to its members as MEPs. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

It took 14 firefighting teams more than three hours to extinguish the fire

A

fire in a housing block in a southern district of the Chinese capital, Beijing, has killed 19 people and injured eight others, reports say.

It took firefighters several hours to bring the overnight blaze under control. The cause is not yet known.

However, Beijing Police say they have detained a number of suspects.

The blaze broke out in

Daxing district, an area mostly inhabited by migrant workers from the inner provinces who often require cheaper accommodation.

The area where the fire began also hosts several small clothing factories.

It took more than 30 fire engines containing 14 firefighting teams more than three hours to extinguish the fire.

Some of those trapped

inside the building are now being treated in hospital, the fire department said.

The fire comes amid rising tension in Beijing over a beautification campaign implemented by the authorities in the city centre intended to close unsightly market stalls.

Rights campaigners say the drive has included the forced removal of migrant workers further from the city centre. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Morocco food stampede kills 15, wounds many

A

t least 15 people have been killed in a stampede in Morocco while food aid was being handed out.

The incident occurred in the town of Sidi Boulaalam in Essaouira province. The

aid was being distributed by a private charity.

Some reports indicate that up to 40 people were injured in the crush. Local media reported that most of the victims were women and elderly people.

Pictures on social media showed bodies of women laid out on the ground.

An investigation is under way to determine the circumstances of the incident, officials said. (BBC News)

To counter OBOR, India pushes own idea

Turkey, Russia, Iran meet to discuss Syria Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with US President Donald Trump during a bilateral meeting alongside the ASEAN Summit

W

R

The Syrian conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of people since 2011 [Qusay Noor/Anadolu]

ussian President Vladimir Putin is set to host his Iranian and Turkish counterparts at his official residence in the coastal city of Sochi to discuss the Syrian conflict.

The event on Wednesday was scheduled to be preceded by a meeting on Sunday in Turkey's resort city of Antalya between the three countries' Foreign

Ministers.

It comes days after Russia vetoed a US-initiated draft United Nations Security Council resolution on extending the mandate of the UN's mission for investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and the Japan-initiated draft on a provisional extension of the mission's mandate.

US Ambassador Nikki

Haley accused Moscow of dealing a "deep blow" to international efforts to deter chemical attacks, saying it bodes ill for Russia's future role in Syrian peace efforts.

"How, then, can we trust Russia's supposed support for peace in Syria? How can anyone take Russia's proposal of political talks in Sochi seriously?" she asked.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

hen India stood up against China's One Belt and One Road Initiative (OBOR) in May this year, it inserted a new thinking to the whole idea of connectivity as an instrument of foreign policy.

Until then, connectivity was how China would build its way through Asia and Africa using highways and rail networks – its excess capacity and capital creating fabulous infrastructure and debt underbellies.

India, too, used connectivity to further its own foreign policy, but not to the same effect. But as China continues to grow, connec-

tivity as a foreign policy is being perceived as a certain threat by countries like India and Japan.

Therefore, since this summer, India has pushed its own connectivity mantra with most of its international partners, but with very different rules from China.

A cursory glance at joint statements between India and its international partners shows how New Delhi is trying to change the language of development aid and connectivity initiatives as well as getting its friends to agree.

In its most recent statement with Italy, the two

countries "acknowledged the importance of connectivity in today's globalised world. They underlined that connectivity initiatives must be based on universally recognised international norms, good governance, rule of law, openness, transparency and equality and must follow principles of financial responsibility, accountable debt financing practices, balanced ecological and environmental protection, preservation standards and social sustainability."

These are the contours of the Indian version of connectivity as compared to China's OBOR. (Excerpt from Times

of India)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, november 20, 2017

ARCHIE

Get involved, travel, study and sign up for events.

(March 21April 19) You’ll be at the top of your game, and you should be intent on bringing about positive change. Raise your standards.

ARIES

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Don’t feel you must follow the crowd. Watch to see what happens before you give in to something you are only partially interested in doing. Focus on greater personal awareness.

Your emotions will be difGEMINI (May 21- ficult to control. Don’t lead June 20) anyone on or make promises you won’t want to keep.

Speak from the heart instead of saying what you think others want to hear.

Accept change and you’ll be able to move forward.

(June 21- Holding on to the past or doJuly 22) ing your job using outdated methods will not help the people dependent on you and your progress.

CANCER

Peanuts

If something isn’t working LEO for you, make a change. Don’t (July 23- put up with situations that Aug. 22) are injurious to your emotional, physical or financial health. You’ll gain support if you make the right choice.

Compassion and underVIRGO standing will be required when (Aug. 23dealing with domestic situaSept. 22) tions. Cooperation will bring you closer to a solution involving children or elders. Physical improvement is encouraged.

Calvin and Hobbes

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

If you learn as much as you can, it will result in positive change, a new direction or a higher standard of living. Listen to experts, and share information.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Think about what you have to offer, and find ways to use your skills and talents in ways that you’ve never done before. Your actions will not be forgotten.

It’s up to you to bring SAGITTARIUS about positive change. Good (Nov. 23- things will happen if you are Dec. 21) forthright about your motives and ready to negotiate or offer incentives.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SATURDAY’S WORD – TANTRUMS

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle

Take the high road and use intelligence to maneuver your way through situations. If you are too aggressive or inconsistent, you will be met with a response that is equally unpredictable.

Take better care of your AQUARIUS health by monitoring your (Jan. 20- eating and drinking habits Feb. 19) closely. Offer to help someone you’d like to get to know better. A professional change looks promising.

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

Take one step at a time.

PISCES (Feb. 20- Protect your assets and take March 20) care of your liabilities. Refuse to let anyone outsmart or outmaneuver you. Listen carefully and respond mindfully.

monDAY, november 20, 2017

19

Joseph, Alphonso champions of Lucozade Handicap Squash

T

Nyron Joseph (left) and Michael Alphonso

he curtains came down on the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) ANSA McAL Lucozade Handicap Squash Tournament which was held at the Georgetown Club Inc courts on Sunday.

Nyron Joseph and Michael Alphonso were crowned champions in their respective categories, but both had to work extremely hard to achieve their victories.

In the Open final Nyron Joseph -22 was pitted against Jonathan Antczak +7. Jonathan had secured his place in the final with an upset victory over Daniel Islam in their semi final match while Nyron had beaten

Theron Mohabeer to book his place in the final. Nyron came out of the minus handicap with Jonathan at 10 points and eventually caught him at 11.

He eventually won the first game 15 - 13. However in the second game Nyron could only come out of the minus handicap with Jonathan at 12 points and just could not close the gap fast enough as Jonathan won the second game 15 - 12. In the third game Nyron again came out of the minus handicap with Jonathan at 10 points but Jonathan was playing his heart out. At 12 2 Jonathan was three points away from securing victory but

The respective winners and their accolades

could only win one more point as Nyron came back to win the third game 15 - 13.

In category A defending champion Abosaide Cadogan 0 was matched against Michael Alphonso -4. Abosaide won a close first game 15 - 12 but Michael rebounded to take the second game 15 - 9. In the third game Abosaide jumped out to a quick lead and with her leading 12 - 8 it seemed as if she would successfully defend her title but Michael won the next seven points to claim a well deserved victory 15 - 12.

In the open category Daniel Islam -5 placed third when he Harry Kane

Kane wants to spend entire career at Tottenham

T

ottenham Hotspur and England forward Harry Kane wants to spend his entire career at the London club, he told Germany’s Bild newspaper on Sunday. “My aim is to play my whole career only for Tottenham,” Kane, who is reportedly a major transfer target for the biggest European clubs but whose current deal with Spurs runs to 2022, told the newspaper.

“At the moment, everything fits well for me here and I am happy. We have a fantastic team, a good coach and a professional training centre and we are getting a new stadium as well.”

Kane, Premier League Golden Boot winner for the last two seasons, has scored eight more league goals this season with Tottenham currently in fourth place.

Tottenham’s squad, with a young English

core of Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Danny Rose, Harry Winks and Kieran Trippier, certainly appears to offer a sustainable future.

Promoting home-grown youngsters into the first team is a matter of pride for coach Mauricio Pochettino, who was equally impressive on that front while in charge at Southampton, but Kane’s rise is a particular source of pride for supporters.

The 24-year-old, who arrived at the club as an 11-year-old back in 2004, has also scored five times in the Champions League, with Tottenham having qualified for the knockout stage with two games to spare.

They travel to Borussia Dortmund next week with the Germans all but eliminated from the competition. (Reuters)

defeated Theron Mohabeer +8 by two games to one. Daniel came from being down 7 - 14 to win a close first game 15 - 14. In the second game Daniel would be down 4 - 14 but would get to as close as 13 - 14 before Theron would close out the game 15 - 13. In the third game the efforts of the two previous games took its toll on Theron as Daniel would catch him at ten all and would close out the match 15 - 12.

In category A Kirsten Gomes 0 would finish third as she defeated Gianni Carpenter -8, by two games to nil. Kirsten would establish a big lead and

was up 13 - 5. Gianni would get all the way up to 12 - 13 but would lose the next two points for a 15 - 12 first game loss. In the second game Kirsten was always in the lead but Gianni closed the gap to be down 6 8. Kirsten would win the next four points to be up 12 - 6 and would win the match by taking the second game 15 - 11.

In the plate finals both matches had straight set winners. In the Open plate final Adam Alves +5 beat Nicholas Narain -12 15 - 0 in the first game. The second game was a lot closer but Adam would eventually win it

15 - 12. In the category A plate final both players Mohryan Baksh and James Meckeci had the identical handicap of +5.

Mohryan easily won the first game 15 - 8 but with James leading 14 - 11 in the second game it looked like if he would force a deciding third game but it was not to be as Mohryan won the next four points to secure victory 15 - 14.

In the play off for third place in the category A plate Zachary Persaud had an easy 15 - 7, 15 - 7 win over Jahcinta Adams while Douglas De Groot got a walk over from Ryan Rahaman to finish third in the Open plate.

IAAF bid withdrawal leaves Bolt’s Nitro Athletics series in limbo

A

180 degree turn from the IAAF with regard to purchasing the Nitro Athletics series could put the future of the franchise which debuted in Australia last year at risk.

The track and field series, which has recently retired sprint superstar Bolt listed as an equity partner, was marketed as a shot in the arm for track and field featuring several new events like the mixed relay and elimination mile. It was expected that the concept would have been purchased by the world athletic body following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in July. A change of heart, however, saw the IAAF pull out of the deal.

In its first year as a competition, the Nitro Athletics series was well received with the Usain Bolt All-Stars winning the inaugural competition in Melbourne. The event, however, reportedly ran at an estimated loss of US$1.38m. With Australia Athletics insistent that any continued operations of the event will be linked to the negative or positive impact on the financials the staging of the event is unlikely to resume anytime soon.

“It’s unlikely it will be in the first half of next year so then you are looking at the end of next year and there is a matter of the turnaround to the year after. If it is a series then that will not happen until early 2019,” Athletics Australia CEO Darren Goche told Sydney Morning Herald.

“What we are looking at and most partners are looking at is a series. It makes a lot more sense to be an international series across countries rather than just one country.” (Sportsmax)

Usain Bolt

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, november 20, 2017

Dhawan, Rahul lead India revival

I

ndia turned the tables on Sri Lanka thanks to an impressive opening stand from Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul in their second innings.

Sri Lanka’s hopes of winning the first Test against India faded dramatically as openers Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul shared a partnership of 166 on day four in Kolkata.

Having limited their hosts to just 172 in a match affected by rain and bad light, Sri Lanka secured a first-innings lead of 122 by reaching 294 all out on Sunday, thanks largely to Rangana Herath’s 67.

However, Dhawan and Rahul counter-attacked effectively to wipe out the deficit and establish a handy lead.

Dhawan fell agonisingly short of a century, caught behind for 94 aiming a wild heave at Dasun Shanaka, but Rahul remained unbeaten on 73 when poor light again forced an early

P

Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul shared a 166-run opening stand © BCCI

close with India 171-1 and ahead by 49. They will now hope to apply pressure on

SCOREBOARD India 1st innings 172 Sri Lanka 1st innings (Overnight: 165-4) S Samarawickrama c Saha b B Kumar 23 D Karunaratne lbw b B Kumar 8 L Thirimanne c Kohli b U Yadav 51 A Mathews c Rahul b U Yadav 52 D Chandimal c Saha b Shami 28 N Dickwella c Kohli b Shami 35 D Shanaka lbw b B Kumar 0 D Perera c Saha b Shami 5 R Herath c Shami b B Kumar 67 S Lakmal b Shami 16 L Gamage not out 0 Extras: (b-4 lb-4 w-1) 9 Total (all out, 83.4 overs) 294 Fall of wickets: 1-29 D. Karunaratne,2-34 S. Samarawickrama,3-133 L. Thirimanne,4-138 A. Mathews,5-200

N. Dickwella,6-201 D. Shanaka,7-201 D. Chandimal,8-244 D. Perera,9-290 R. Herath,10-294 S. Lakmal Bowling: B Kumar 27-5-88-4, Shami 26.3 - 5 - 100 – 4, U Yadav 20 - 1 - 79 - 2(w-1) , Ashwin 8 - 2 - 13 – 0, Kohli 1.1 - 0 5 – 0, Jadeja 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 India 2nd innings L Rahul not out 73 S Dhawan c Dickwella b Shanaka 94 C Pujara not out 2 Extras (nb-1 w-1) 2 Total (for 1 wickets, 39.3 overs) 171 Fall of wickets: 1-166 To bat: V. Kohli, A. Rahane, W. Saha, R. Ashwin, R. Jadeja, B. Kumar, M. Shami, U. Yadav Bowling: Lakmal 8 - 0 - 29 – 0, Gamage 9 - 0 - 47 - 0(nb1), Shanaka 9.3 - 1 - 29 1(w-1), Perera 10 - 1 - 41 – 0, Herath 3 - 0 - 25 - 0

the final day.

All 10 Sri Lanka first-innings wickets fell to seam bowling, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami returning 4-88 and 4-100 respectively as Umesh Yadav picked up the other two scalps.

The tourists began the fourth day on 165-4 but were wobbling at 2017 after losing Niroshan Dickwella (35), Shanaka (0) and skipper Dinesh Chandimal (28) in the space of 10 deliveries Shami striking twice either side of Bhuvneshwar’s third breakthrough.

Yet Herath shared useful stands with Dilruwan Perera, who successfully reviewed an lbw decision despite initially walking off, and Suranga Lakmal to add handy runs to Sri Lanka’s total.

Herath hit nine fours in his 105-ball innings, which was finally brought to an end by Bhuvneshwar before Shami wrapped up the

innings in the next over.

The tone for India’s second innings was set by Rahul, who struck Lahiru Gamage for three fours in the second over.

Gamage went on to put down a tough return chance when Rahul was on 22, while Dhawan survived two optimistic reviews as Sri Lanka failed to make inroads.

India were looking increasingly comfortable when a mighty six over long-on from Dhawan moved them into the lead and the left-hander soon cleared the ropes for a second time off Herath.

However, Dhawan could not reach stumps or three figures. Needing six to bring up his hundred, he stepped out of his crease to drive Shanaka, but got a thin edge behind that was spotted by umpire Nigel Llong despite the bowler failing to join the appeal.

Dhawan reviewed immediately, but to no avail.

(Sportsmax)

aul Pogba was labelled “different class”

by Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho after returning from injury with a goal and an assist.

Pogba set up Anthony Martial for the equaliser and scored the third goal as the hosts came from behind to beat Newcastle United 4-1 at Old Trafford.

T h e France midfielder had missed t h e past 12 league and cup games with a hamstring injury.

“It was a great performance from him,” said Mourinho.

The Red Devils had failed to win three of their previous seven league games without Pogba as he recovered from injury.

However, the 24-yearold produced a man-of-thematch performance as his side set a club record of 38 games unbeaten at Old Trafford to beat the Magpies and stay in touch with leaders Manchester City.

“Paul Pogba is different class - Paul and Nemanja Matic grew up together at the start of the season and are the engine of the team,” added Mourinho, who replaced Pogba after 70 minutes with Marouane Fellaini.

“It was in Paul’s hands, how many minutes to play until he began to feel fatigued.”

On a positive day for Manchester United, striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic also returned to action with a 14-minute appearance as a substitute.

Former Sweden international Ibrahimovic, 36, was

mak-

ing h i s first a p pearance since suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury on 20 April.

Paul Pogba

“To see him back is a great emotion,” added Mourinho. “His was such a dramatic injury.

“You recover some players and you lose others.

Some teams are luckier.

“We have had to go through difficult matches without important players. Let us see if we can go through the Christmas period with all the players available at our disposal.

“The more players we have, the better for me.” (BBC)

“Lara my goto guy” – Bravo

W

indies batsman Darren Bravo has credited cricket legend Brian Lara with not being a tremendous source of motivation but also a dependable source of advice in tough times.

The 28-year-old often noted for being similar in appearance at the crease to his famous cousin has revealed that the comparison might be a bit more than co-incidental.

“Other than being a world-class batsman, what I most admire about him is the fact that when I am not doing well at my game, I can pick up my phone to message or call him and he is always willing to give advice,” Bravo explained in a recent interview with Espncricinfo.

It wouldn’t be the first time the Trinidadian has credited Lara with being behind a

significant performance at the crease. After scoring his first Test century in the Caribbean in 2014, Bravo revealed that Lara had spoken to him regarding his concentration a little ahead of the innings. Last year following a matchwinning ODI ton against South Africa in a triseries, which also included Australia, Bravo was quick to point to a late night message from the legendary batsman as key to the outstanding performance.

“Whenever he gives me advice, I am guaranteed to score runs in the next innings.

He is always my go-to guy when I am under pressure. On any given day, he will just message to find out if everything is okay, not only cricket-related. He is always looking out for me and I appreciate that.” (Sportsmax)

Added to their family bond, the duo share great similarities in their batting

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21

Guyanese softball cricketers reach out to Sickkids Foundation

By Ravi Madholall in Toronto

R

ems Cricket Club which has been featuring annually at the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) tournaments for the past decade shows it generosity off the field by donating Cd $1,000 to Sickkids Foundation at University Avenue, Toronto.

The simple presentation ceremony took place at the institution on Thursday and president of Rems Prakash Singh was also ecstatic to do the honours.

According to Singh, the Club has started the first of many ventures of this manner and expressed his deepest gratitude to the club’s members for their continued support and all who attended their Dinner and Dance and Casino Trip to help raise funds.

“I must say thanks to all who would have contributed in various ways to make this kind of gesture a reality; We at Rems feel that giving back to the children who in need

Rems President Prakash Singh (left) with Vice Captain Ian Baldeo and Pradeep Singh display the cheque

is very important,” Singh commented.

Since the formation of the club in 2004, Singh stated the past and present players always think like that to make worthy contributions and thank the Sickkids Hospital to

acknowledge their efforts as well.

Chief Executive Officer of Sickkids, Ted Garrard, in her statement, was very grateful to the support shown

by Rems. “Your generous support will help give

children-like Grace- a brighter and healthier future; together we will change the future of child health,” She related.

Also in attendance was Rems’ vice-captain and former skipper Ian Baldeo along with another ex-

skipper Pradeep Singh.

Baldeo mentioned the team is very helpful when planning to raise funds for this kind of important care and also expressed his heartfelt thanks to his fellow teammates and the ardent supporters of the club.

He declared that their main goal is moving forward to expand their fundraising to more charitable organizations within Canada and their native country, Guyana.

At the 2017 OSCL 20, 15 and 10-over competitions, Rems once again made a sterling efforts to appear at the semi-final stages and Baldeo declared that the team will continue to play positive and committed cricket in the future and will hold fundraising activities to assist in meaningful ways.

Meanwhile, some other Canada-based Guyanese cricketers to play for Rems that represented Guyana at the youth are: Ejaz Mohamed, Rovendra Mandolall, Eon Katchay among others.

Jaguars’ 50-over League to bowl off Tuesday – being used for selection for Super50 squad

A

fter a successful 3-Day league, teams will now prepare to do battle in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Jaguars 50-Overs League which bowls off its first round of matches on Tuesday.

The first round of matches will bowl off from 09:00 hours with Jaguars 3-Day Champions, Essequibo playing West Berbice at the Imam Bacchus Ground in Essequibo. Upper Corentyne will do battle with East Coast Demerara at the Port Mourant Ground.

Meanwhile, Berbice while Lower Corentyne will tackle Georgetown at the Albion Community Centre Ground, Berbice. Upper Demerara/ East Bank will oppose West Demerara at the Everest Ground, also the East Coast franchise were yet to submit their squad up until press time.

With numerous top performances in the 3-Day format, the one-day segment will now see players looking to make full use of the league in order to place themselves in contention for selection to the Jaguars’ 50-overs squad.

Jaguars will participate in the 2018 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Super50 which bowls in late January.

The League will witness seven preliminary rounds of high level cricket action, with four such rounds of matches being played in November and the remaining three preliminary rounds of matches being played in December.

The franchise team which finishes with the most points at the end of the preliminary rounds, will gain the right to play in the finals on December 30 while the second and third placed teams on conclusion of the preliminary rounds will meet in the play offs on December 28.

Essequibo: Anthony

Rajiv Ivan, Andy Mohan, Demetri Cameron, Samuel Kishnasammy, Shawn Pereira, Kandasammy

Akshaya Persaud

Christopher Barnwell

Ricardo Adams

Adams, Ricardo Adams, Keemo Paul, Kevon Boddie, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Akinie Adams, Kevin Gordon, Tulsieram Premnauth, Joshua Jones, Avenish Persaud, Kemol Savory, Mark Williams, Leoryan Ramlakhan, Parmesh Parsotam, Vijai Surujpaul, Nealand Codogan, Ricardo Peters, Nokta Moses, Chaitram Persaud and Royan Fredricks. The coaches are Michael Franco and Ryan Hercules.

Upper Corentyne:

Surujnarine, Lloydel Lewis, David Latchaya, Adrian Sukwah, Omesh Mathura, Parmeshwar Chatterpaul, Joshua Ramsammy, Troy Gonsalves, Chandrashekar Arjune, Balchand Baldeo, Totaran Rajaram, Arrif Chan, Dorasammi Mahadeo, Veramootoo Senwasane and Karan Arjpaul. The coaches are Leslie Solomon and Michael Newland.

Lower Corentyne: Royston Crandon, Jonathan foo, Seon Hetmyer, Devon clements, Gajanand Singh, Veerasammy Permaul, Kassim Khan, Raun Johnson, Nail Smith, Kevlon Anderson, hakeem Hinds, Jason Sinclair, Sharaz Ramcharran, Alex Algoo,

Omar Weatherspoon, Waheid Edwards, suresh Dhani, Eugene La Fleur, Anthony D’ Andrade and Linden Austin. The coaches are Julian Moore and Kwasie Maltay.

Georgetown: Leon Johnson (Captain), Christopher Barnwell (Vice Captain), Robin Bacchus, Raymond Perez, Shenroy Barrington, Derwin Christian, Andrew Light, Ramaal Lewis, Omesh Dhaniram, Dexter Solomon, Ovid Ricardson, Paul Wintz, Steven Sankar, Ashmead Nedd, Kellon Carmichael, Devon Lord, Martin PestanoBelle, Gajanan Suknanan, Travis Mohamed, Andre Stoll and Raj Nanan. The coaches are Clive Grimmond and Winston Smith.

They will be ably assisted at relevant times by Bharat Mangru.

Upper Demerara/East Bank: Ronaldo AliMohamed, Steven Jacobs, Sherfane

Rutherford, Vishual Singh, Sachin Singh, David Francis, Marc Nicholson, Quazim Yusuf, Irfaan Alli, Travon France, Quincy Grimmond, Keon Morris, Mortin Salick, Colin Benn, Dwayne Dillon, Sagar Hathiranmi, Terrence Decunha, Christopher Ragnauth, Daniel Barker, Vinaoh Rampersaud and Romain Muniram.The manager and coach are respectively Rohan Sarjoo and Orin Bailey.

West Berbice: Krishandat Ramoo, Sherwyn Mc Pherson, Steffon adams, Raffel Estraido, Andrew Dutchin, Avishkar Sewkarran, Leon Andrews, Keyron Fraser, Renision Mitchell, Derrick Mc Calmon, Keith Fraser, Quacey Mc Pherson, Stephen Harris, Rendell Bobb, Arthley Bailey, Ceon Glasgow, Kelvin Sinclair, Javid Karim, wakar Hassan and Shamal Angel. Manager is David Black and the Coach Andre Percival.

West Demerara: Akshaya Persaud (Captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul (V/Captain), Romario Shepherd, Raymond Reifer, Richie Looknauth, Tevin Imlach, Safraz Esau, Mahendra Dhanpaul, Vickash Dhaniram, Chandrika Persaud, Keshram Seyhodan, Travis Persaud, Deoram Chandrabir, Naveed Alli, Ronaldo Renee, Ganesh Narine, Yutesh Dhanpaul, Ewart Samuels, Jamal Gomes and Diquan Murray. The coaches are Rayon Griffith and Dhanpaul. They will be ably assisted at relevant times by Omar Hossein.

22 Caribbean well placed to host ‘I want to help Women’s World T20 – ICC official Jaguars to – collective approach needed to market event the next level’ says Cox S GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, november 20, 2017

By Clifton Ross

imon Jelowitz, the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Senior Event Operations Manager says the Caribbean venues look in good shape to host a spectacular Women’s World T20 set for November 2018.

Jelowitz and his inspection team, comprised of event operations, broadcast and media personnel met with the officials of Cricket West Indies (CWI) earlier this month in Antigua regarding the inspections.

The team inspected eleven venues across eight Caribbean countries in a twelve-day span with Guyana’s National Stadium at Providence being their fourth stop.

Jelowitz told Guyana Times Sport on his visit it is important for nations to show how they intent on marketing the event, adding that overall he believes the Caribbean is ready for the premier Women’s T20 tourney.

“Well I think we need to work in tandem with CWI and the countries. We want to find countries who will show us in their bid document how they plan on marketing Women’s cricket. But we all

International Cricket Council (ICC) Senior Event Operations Manager Simon Jelowitz believes the Caribbean can host the biggest Women’s T20 yet

have a job to do and that’s to ensure we promote Women’s cricket”, stated the ICC official Regarding his overall thoughts on the possibility of a brilliant tournament hosted by the West Indies, the Operations Manager said, “I think the Caribbean is really, really well placed to host the T20 and we want to work with boards and countries that will help to get people out

to come out and enjoy this wonderful cricket”.

With the inspection concluded Jelowitz explained CWI will now make a recommendation to the ICC regarding the countries they believe fit the necessary requirements for the hosting of the competition; based on the objectives shared by the inspection team.

Built back in 2007 ahead of the 50 over World Cup, Providence has a capacity of 15,000 and has had matches in the 2010 World T20. Jelowitz confirmed that the team was happy with the inspections conducted at Providence and they were just looking to carry out precise assessments of the respective venues.

Other venues visited by the ICC inspection team included; Sabina Park in Jamaica, National Cricket Stadium in Grenada, Queen’s Park Oval and Brian Lara Cricket Ground in Trinidad, National Cricket Stadium in Guyana, Three W’s Oval and Kensington Oval in Barbados, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St. Lucia, Warner Park in St. Kitts, and Vivian Richards Cricket Ground and Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

The reigning T20 champs are the West Indies women.

World Cup cricket could possible return to Providence in 2018

Part of the new DUFC Executive from right, Orein Angoy, Sonia Angoy-Johnson, Danielle Angoy, Atoya Shepherd, Vianne Stanislaus and Troy Forde. Absent are Shawn Angoy and Andre Gibbs

F

Angoy elected President of Diamond United

ounder member and Coach of Diamond United Football Club (DUFC) Orein Angoy was elected President of the club for the next two years following their Annual General Meeting held at the Diamond Food Court on Friday evening.

The dedicated and GFF accredited Coach has been with the club ever since its formation over seven (7) years ago. Vianne Stanislaus will serve as Vice President while Danielle Ango will serve as Secretary.

Atoya Shepherd has taken on the

responsibility as Treasurer while Shawn Angoy is the Assistant Secretary/ Tresaurer. The Committee Members are Sonia Angoy-Johnson, Troy Forde and Andre Gibbs.

Angoy expressed gratitude to the club members for allowing him the opportunity to serve the club in a higher capacity noting that he is looking forward to all his executive members working as a team for the good of the players.

By Michelangelo Jacobus

A

t just twenty-seven-years old, Samuel Peter “Sam” Cox already possesses a wealth of experience in football he has played at the highest level of English football and came through the ranks of Tottenham Hotspur FC where he captained the U-16 team.

Cox now plays for Wealdstone FC and captains them in the sixth tier of the English league and has also been established as captain of the Golden Jaguars, Guyana’s National Football team.

He believes that the current crop of players that represent Guyana has what it takes to carry the country to the next level in international football especially with the CONCACAF League of Nations on the horizon.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport Cox revealed “I’ve been around the programme now since about 2015 and I’ve seen a lot of players come and go. Recently we’ve seen a new crop of players coming through, a new generation of Guyanese footballers who are hopefully going to take us to another level.”

“It’s a huge honour for me to be captain of this national team and lead in the national programme. I hope that I can use my experience of playing at a decent level in England, being captain of the various

clubs that I’ve been at; that experience is something that I think can help me guide the younger players. My role as captain is to lead on and off the pitch, that role is something I’ve always thrived off” Cox explained.

The Golden Jaguars performed creditably in their last outing; an international friendly against Trinidad and Tobago just last week which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Following that game Cox noted that his side has taken a lot of positives away from that fixture and the general feeling in the camp is one of optimism and cheerfulness.

While pulling on the Golden Jaguars kit is something that he always looks forward to, Cox maintained that it’s a challenge as he now coaches at the Tottenham Hotspur Academy in addition to playing for Wealdstone.

However, the knowledge and experience gained from his daily life in English football is something that he wants to use in his quest of leading the “Golden Jags” to more international success.

“It is a good challenge to have, it’s arduous work but it is worth it. The life experience and the pleasure that I get from representing the National team is one that I will live and take with me forever. Whenever I’m called upon I will be there, I’m a hundred percent committed to the cause, I really want to take this programme and help the National team to the next level. I Just hope that my time playing for the

National team I can see progress, see us g o to the next level. That’s my goal, that’s what I want so I won’t stop until we get there” he declared.

The next international meeting that the Golden Jaguars have lined up is an international friendly against Indonesia on November 25, however Cox will not be a part of the squad that travels to Asia due to the specific fixture not being part of the FIFA Timetable.

Sam Cox is the Captain of the Golden Jaguars

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, november 20, 2017

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

23

Jaguars extinguish Red Force – Permaul takes 9 wickets, Bramble 9 catches

By John Ramsingh

D

in

Tarouba

efending champions, Guyana Jaguars completed a comfortable innings and 217 runs victory over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 15 minutes before the end of the first session on day four of their fourth round Digicel Regional Four-Day Tournament clash at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba on Sunday.

In the second innings, the Red Force lower order showed patience and application but Jaguars left-arm spinner claimed his 23rd five-wicket haul and was supported by wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble with nine dismissals to end the resistance at 147 all out in the 76th over.

It was a disappointing performance from the Red Force who failed to put up a fight after winning their last game at home inside

three days against the Volcanoes. The champions have now beaten the Red Force in six of their last seven encounters and will remain on top of the points table with their third win in the season heading into the first mid-season break.

The hosts began the day on 106 for 6 still behind by 258 runs but Imran Khan and Daniel St. Clair who batted sensibly towards the end on day three could not carry on for much longer to

Daniel flexes to Mr “Stage of Champions” title

O

n Saturday night, the Theatre Guild was the place to be for bodybuilding fanatics since some of the best bodies in the Caribbean took the stage to do battle in what turned out to be a highly entertaining evening.

After 28 gladiators flexed their muscle fibres to the max, Grenada’s Damion Daniel, Guyana’s Emmerson Campbell Suriname’s Stefeni Tjon-A-San found themselves as the last men and woman standing.

Daniel, a 2016 Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) gold medalist in the heavyweight class, stood head and shoulders above the competition, flexing and posing his way to the Mr ‘Stage of Champions’ overall title.

Standing at 6-foot 2’ , Daniel outclassed his opponents as he possessed a superior level of detail and his 215-pound frame was a mass of striated muscle.

With chiselled arms, deltoids, glutes, legs, a barndoor back and a washboard mid-section, the muscleman from the Spice Isle, used his sharp physique to slice through the competition.

Before winning the overall pose down of the champions of champions against Sudarshanan Persaud (under 143 lb) Marlon Bennet (154 lb), Nolan Smith (164 lb) and Ollyn Martin (super heavyweight) , Daniel dispatched five other bodybuilders in the heavyweight class. For his exploits under the lights, Daniel expertly tanned and clad in a red posing trunks, pocketed the $250,000 first prize.

Martin was adjudged the second place bodybuilder overall while a novice on the stage, surprisingly took third ahead of Bennett and Smith.

Men’s Physique The judges awarded the Men’s Physique Showdown trophy to 2016 CAC silver medalist, Campbell with Suriname’s Raphael Kromokanjo and Trinidad’s Brendon Francis placing second and third respectively.

Among a group of eight outstanding physiques, Campbell brought the shape and stage presence the judges most wanted to see, he was well-proportioned, wellmuscled and conditioned, the tools necessary to present a winning package in the category to repeat as champion.

Ms Bikini In the sizzling Ms Bikini segment, Tjon-A-San upstaged her countrywomen, Militia Galimo (last year’s winner) and Suelle Sheppherd in the fivewoman category. The overall Ms. Bikini champion was the near perfect mix of muscularity, symmetry, sass and style.

Campbell and Tjon-ASan took home the $100,000 first prize for winning their segments of the show. Second and third place finishers, in the Bikini and Physique classes earned $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.

The organizers of ‘Stage of Champions’ dubbed the event a success and are looking to raise the profile of the third edition of the fixture in 2018.

130 balls with five fours and after his dismissal; the injured Denesh Ramdin was left with the bowlers.

Gudakesh Motie who replaced Keemo Paul, who was on the verge of a fivefer, accounted for Charles before the Permaul put the final nail in the Red Force coffin with Ramdin left on 22 from 80 balls. There was a stoppage of 11 minutes due to a drizzle which only delayed the inevitable.

Both teams will have a week off before bouncing back in action on November 30. The Red Force will battle the Hurricanes at Warner Park while the three-time defending champions will host the Pride at Providence.

Gudakesh Motie sends down one in the sun on the final day

SCOREBOARD

Red Force captain, Denesh Ramdin tried his best with an injured hamstring

pull off a miracle.

In the day’s second over, St. Clair who batted for 75 balls (2x4) offered Bramble his first catch of the day

with the score on 112 for 7 to end the 50-run partnership. Khan who looked set for a big score suffered a similar fate after facing

Jaguars 1st Innings 484-8 decl.

Red Force 1st Innings 120 Red Force 2nd Innings (Following On) (Overnight 106/6) K Hope c Hemraj b Permaul 5 A Jangoo c Rutherford b Paul 19 Y Carriah c Bramble+ b Paul 14 J Mohammed lbw b Permaul 8 T Webster lbw b Paul 6 R Primus b Paul 0 I Khan c Bramble+ b Permaul 20 D St Clair c Bramble+ b Permaul 28 D Ramdin not out 22

B Charles c Bramble+ b Motie 1 S Cottrell c Bramble+ b Permaul 7 Extras:(b-1, lb-3, nb-5) 9 Total (All out; 75.1 Overs) 147 FOW: 1-5, 2-39, 3-47, 4-56, 5-56, 6-62, 7-112, 8-123, 9-138, 10-147 Joseph 7-1-28-0, Permaul 32.1-16-54-5, Paul 14-426-4, Rutherford 1-1-00, Motie 21-10-35-1 Result: Jaguars won by an innings and 217 runs

18th Diamond Mineral Water 60-Mile Road Race

John ahead yet again J

amaul John continued his winning run on Sunday at the 18th edition of the Diamond Mineral Water 60-Miler cycling road race.

Despite falling behind the peloton in the initial stages of the race, John along with Paul DeNobrega made up good ground to catch the early leaders just before the turn back point at “Halfway tree” Perseverance, Mahaicony.

However, speaking

DeNobrega), other cyclists attacked and opened a sizable gap on the return trip from Mahaicony.

The duo again had to make up ground and initiated the final attack at Buxton, from thereon the cyclist who would take the race was already decided. John’s remarkable gift of endurance and a strong finish carried him to the vacant title in a time of two hours 14 minutes 17 seconds.

Alonzo Ambrose holds off Paul DeNobrega (right) and Christopher Griffith (left). The trio finished second, third and fourth respectively

Jamaul John extended his winning run on Sunday

exclusively to Guyana Times Sport John revealed that due to constant marking of each other (himself and

John revealed that it was a challenging ride but said that he relished the competition as he is aiming to keep himself

in top form as he continues training for the upcoming trips to the Commonwealth Games in Australia, Pan American Cycling Championships in Peru and the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Colombia all set for 2018.

Alanzo Ambrose took second after holding off a spirited attack from third placed Paul DeNobrega while fourth to sixth was taken by Christopher “Chicken Legs” Griffith, Cortis Dey and Paul Cho-wee-nam.

In the Junior category Cortis Dey took the top podium spot while second and third went to his rivals Briton John and Marcus Keiler.

Paul Cho-wee-nam was the first veteran cyclist over the finish line, he was followed by Alex Mendes and Junior Niles.

In the Mountain Bikers event, Ozia McAulay outlasted Sean Budhan and Julio Melville to cop first place. The oldest cyclist to complete the race was Montgomery Parris.

(Michelangelo Jacobus)

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

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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

Jaguars extinguish Red Force

– Permaul takes 9 wickets, Bramble 9 catches

Pg 23

Red Force's last man, Sheldon Cottrell about to be caught by Anthony Bramble off Veersammy Permaul to end the match

Daniel flexes to Mr “Stage of Champions” title Pg 23

Kerwin Clarke presents the prize to Damion Daniel in the presence of men’s Physique Champion Emmerson Campbell (right) and Ms Bikini Stefeni Tjon-A-San

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