Guyana Times - Friday, October 19, 2018

IAST launches nutrient drink made from potatoes P16

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

Issue No. 3720

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, October 19, 2018

PRICE

Oil revenue will not be squandered, the “good life” promised – Granger Jagdeo dismisses President’s parliamentary "ploy" Page 12

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Page 3

India's PM calls off visit to Guyana

GDF ranks charged for rape-robbery of Essequibo couple P10 Man arraigned P8 for Circuit Ville murder

Page 2

Govt to expand ban on plastic usage by 2020 – Jordan

Govt budgets $2.4B to offset severance payout Page 7

…as Green Expo opens P16

2018 LGE Voter Education Project

GECOM abandons P9 public procurement, tendering system

…as sugar workers protest outside Parliament

Appellate Court upholds Justice Patterson’s appointment as GECOM Chairman

...accused of contract splitting, rewarding ‘phantom companies’

Page 13

Sophia man stabbed to death during “bicycle” row Page2

Zeelugt miner killed during row over cigarettes Page 9

President P14 Granger has responsibility for oil and gas sector – Harmon

2 news

FridAY, october 19, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Sophia man stabbed to death during “bicycle” row

India’s PM calls off visit to Guyana A T

By Vahnu Manikchand

he much anticipated visit to Guyana by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December has been called off, sources have confirmed to Guyana Times.

Government had disclosed in September that Prime Minister Modi was scheduled to make his first-ever visit to Guyana in early December and would have taken part in the commissioning of the Indian Indentureship Monument in Palmyra on the Corentyne, Berbice, which is a US$150,000 gift to Guyana by the Government of India to symbolise the country’s cultural celebration.

News of the Indian Leader’s visit was first announced back in April by President David Granger while in New Delhi for the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Founding Conference and Solar Summit.

During a bilateral meeting, President Granger and Prime Minister Modi pledged to strengthen the historical ties between the two countries through increased cooperation. In fact, Modi told the Guyanese Leader that India is willing to do whatever it can to support Guyana’s development and pointed out that there are many areas for coopera-

President David Granger and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a bilateral meeting in New Delhi back in April

tion, particularly in the sugar and oil sectors, and the two leaders were expected to reviewed the scale of Guyana-India relations and continue discussions during his visit to Guyana.

He was scheduled to attend the 2018 G20 Summit to be held in Argentina on November 31 to December 1 before leaving for Trinidad and Tobago to attend a special Caricom (Caribbean Community) Heads of Government meeting on the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) set for December 3 and 4.

However, Guyana Times was reliably informed that Prime Minister Modi will no longer be making a trip to

Guyana, or to the Caribbean as a matter of fact, during his current tour.

“Due to current domestic compulsions, he’s not coming anymore,” a reliable source confirmed to this newspaper on Thursday, while assuring that the visit will be rescheduled.

Over the past weeks, there has been an air of uncertainty of the Indian Prime Minister’s inaugural visit to Guyana. In fact, this publication understands that local non-profit organisations that are involved in sustaining the Indian culture and tradition were being assembled for a possible visit to Trinidad. turn to page 7

late-night misunderstanding on Wednesday between two friends turned deadly during an armed confrontation the following morning.

Dead is 26-year-old Seon Harry, called “Shoulder”, of Plum Park, Block E, South Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

The incident occurred around 08:30h on Thursday morning at South Sophia Squatting Area.

According to Police reports, Harry borrowed the suspect’s bicycle on Wednesday evening and after returning it after midnight, the two had a brief but heated exchange of words.

It did not end there. The now dead man armed himself with a cutlass the following morning and dealt the suspect, who does by the name “Ding Dong”, several chops during a confrontation. In retaliation, the injured man dealt Harry one stab to his body.

Guyana Times was told that it was ego that led to Thursday morning’s confrontation between the two men, who were friends.

This newspaper was told that on Wednesday night, another person known to both men picked up “Ding Dong”’s bike without his knowledge and then handed it to Harry who returned it.

Upon returning the bicycle, a heated argument ensued between the two men at a hangout spot during which

Dead: Seon Harry

the suspect became annoyed and threw down a plate of food that Harry’s girlfriend had on a nearby table.

The men were parted by their friends who were around and they went home.

On Thursday morning, however, eyewitnesses say that “Ding Dong” was hanging out with some friends when he noticed Harry on a dam charging towards him, armed with a cutlass.

“After Ding Dong see the man on the dam, he pull out a knife and tek off he shirt and wrap it ‘round he hand with the knife and run up to Shoulder on the de dam,” an eyewitness related.

According to the man, Harry took the first swing, inflicting three chop wounds on “Ding Dong” – one to his head, his left upper body and another to his abdomen. The injured man in turn then dealt his attacker a fatal sin-

gle stab.

Close associates of the two men called the incident a “senseless act”, but noted that at the rate the two men confronted each other, it was clear one or the other would have ended up dead.

“A simple argument just escalate and turn into this situation here… is really rough ‘cause these two [men] were friends and now they gone and throw ‘way they life,” a man related.

Meanwhile, an uncle of the now dead man, Brentnol Harry, in expressing his grief on social media, said that his nephew’s death was tough to take. “… Seon now turning [his] life around since [he] getting a ‘lil one on de way and to get dis news… only last [night] we spoke and [this morning] you gone,” the distraught man wrote on his Facebook page.

The body of 26-yearold Harry, whose girlfriend is pregnant with his first child, is presently at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

The 31-year-old suspect has since turned himself in at the Turkeyen Police Station and is assisting with the investigations. He had to be taken for medical attention to tend to his wounds inflicted by the now dead man. He is expected to be charged for the murder of his good friend.

(Vahnu Manikchand)

news

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FridAY, october 19, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, October 19 – a night retraction at 01:30h and a day retraction from 13:30h-15:00h and Saturday, October 20 – a night retraction at 02:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, October 19 – 13:05h-15:20h and Saturday, October 20 – 13:50h-15:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to light rain showers can be expected throughout the day. Light rain showers are expected in the early evening, followed by partly cloudy skies, with intermittent thundery rain showers.

Temperatures will range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-easterly to Easterly and East North-easterly to North-North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 00:13h and 13:00h reaching maximum heights of 2.09 metres and 2.14 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 06:22h and 18:54h reaching minimum heights of 1.06 metres and 1.09 metres respectively.

WednesDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS F

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

Oil revenue will not be squandered, the “good life” promised – Granger

I

t was a red carpet occasion as the 97th Sitting of the National Assembly of the First Session of the Eleventh Parliament was called on Thursday when President David Granger addressed the packed Chamber filled with members of the diplomatic corps and other guests.

In a lengthy speech, the Guyanese Head of State regurgitated his old promise of a “good life” for all Guyanese.

But the President went a bit further by stating his vision is to create a good life for all Guyanese based on happy communities, happy households and happy people.

“The ‘good life’ entails providing every citizen with opportunities to be the best that they can be. The ‘good life’ is about securing sustained economic prosperity, ensuring citizens’ access to quality public services and promoting social cohesion… eliminating extreme poverty and removing social, ethnic and geographic inequalities,” he told the National Assembly.

However, the President’s remarks comes at a time when there is a pending increase in tolls at the Berbice River Bridge, and where sugar workers have not yet been paid their severance.

Additionally, bauxite workers are uncertain about their future with the impending closure of Rusal and the sugar industry has performed it worse in decades since its downsizing.

Nevertheless, the President shared a broader vision for the country in 2019, explaining that all Guyanese could rest assured that Government will support the Assembly in providing oversight over the work of the executive and in the debate and passage of key pieces of legislation.

He said, “Guyanese could expect confidently, that by the end of 2019, they would be able to live in a State with more secure borders; communities that are safer; in an economy that is more resilient; in a society that is more cohesive; with public services that are more accessible and constitutional agencies and institutions which enjoy the confidence and respect of the public.”

The President also used the opportunity to speak about Government’s Green

Not abandoned

President David Granger

State Development Strategy which is Government’s roadmap for the transition towards the “good life.” The strategy, he said, is being crystallised and will be tabled and debated in this National Assembly.

“A Green Development trajectory will ensure a diversified, resilient economy, promote sustainable development, social cohesion and good governance and protect the environment while generating wealth and employment,” the President added.

President Granger also noted that sugar workers have not been abandoned and neither will the industry be neglected. “Your Government recognises the importance of the sugar industry. We are restructuring the industry. The measures which have been adopted, including estate consolidation and workforce downsizing – were necessary to save the industry. We want to see a sustainable and viable industry – one that will contribute to national development and to workers’ well-being,” the Head of State reassured the National Assembly.

He reiterated that workers are at the “heart of the Government’s decision” on the industry. He also outlined plans to boost production in the remaining sugar estates.

“A plan is being developed to boost production in the remaining estates… The divestment of some of the sugar estates, which is expected to occur as early as the first half of 2019, will see some displaced workers being afforded the opportunity to regain employment.”

However, it is under Granger’s leadership that saw the firing of 7000 plus sugar workers without a social impact assessment done.

Many ex-workers are still finding it hard to secure new jobs, and many of them have spoken publicly about the daily struggles to survive.

Oil revenue

And while there is major concern over the Government’s management and handling of the oil revenues to come on stream in 2020, President Granger again assured the National Assembly that Government is strategically positioned to manage the oil and gas sector.

“Your Government is taking steps to ensure that the revenues which accrue from the sector will not be squandered but, instead, will be invested strategically in building human and institutional capacity, addressing our infrastructural deficit and providing economic security for future generations,” he said to some whispers of astonishment from the Opposition side. turn to page 12

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fridAY, october 19, 2018

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

Youth governance

T

he world’s Western education system continues to teach us that youths are the future of tomorrow’s world and possess the ability to redefine and change the socioeconomic and geopolitical dynamics of the modern world.

It also teaches us that young people possess the necessary creativity, talent, energy and drive, vision and outlook as well as technological and transformational skills needed to confront some of the world’s most serious threats to the coexistence and continuity of the human race and protection as well as preservation of the environment in which they cohabit.

As a result, elders across the globe and in very different locales have wasted no time in underscoring the importance of education, integrity, truth, knowledge and reason as prerequisites that should be instilled in youths in their most formative years.

This has led to the creation and continued development of formal and informal institutions and organisations over several decades, if not centuries, aimed at preparing young people for the mantle of leadership while nurturing them to shape and redefine the global order in a positive and more effective manner.

Additionally, there can be no argument made against the fact that the rhetoric and philosophy of many powerful and ordinary elders are supportive of young people adding their voices and joining global discourse on crime and violence, ending wars and diseases, reducing poverty and inequality, ending human rights injustices and social discrimination, and maintaining the balance of power and the search for world peace.

Youths, the world over, distractions aside after working, studying and adhering to the social constructs of their time, are expectant that as soon as they feel they are of age, they can lead, rule the world, engineer positive and revolutionary changes and take up their destiny.

Unfortunately, recent history is replete with examples as to how the very system and elders that encouraged and educated youths are actively undermining their efforts to lead and create change as they see it.

In the developed world, any market analysis will show how hard it is for youths to climb to the top of dominant firms, entities and leadership groups such as the UN, WTO, PAHO/ WHO and a slew of others. They literally have to upset and fight against the discriminatory processes that favour elders over youth to get ahead and in many cases, they prove themselves worthy of their portfolios once interference is kept at bay.

Closer to home, there are fewer opportunities for youths to be part of a meaningful regional discourse and decisionmaking process that changes the way things are done in the Caribbean and South America. While there are many established paper laws and institutions that seek to carve youth into the pot of power, there are even more personalities and elders who prefer conformity to their traditionalistic and idealistic outlook on regional affairs over the daring, bold and sometimes too ambitious plans of youths. Decades after, the Caribbean Community still does not have a cohesive, influential and powerful youth forum that can hold its elders to account whenever they fail to deliver, or debate with meaningful outcomes and not paper declarations, important socioeconomic and political issues that are retarding the forward movement of integration and the unification process, as well as the growth of the Region. At home where power is concentrated in the realm of politics and wealth, the situation is worse but not surprising.

Youths are used as poster boys and girls for political campaigning purposes, marketing appeal by powerful companies and rubber stamps for aid and donor agencies, but are hardly ever properly rewarded, promoted, empowered or made influential.

While it is clear the ruling Government is making steps to deal with aspects of youth leadership and inclusivity by piloting a national youth policy, that policy remains in the theatre undergoing corrective surgery even though it has been completed.

There is also a noticeable imbalance of youths sitting as MPs in Parliament and serving on the ministerial and Government fronts.

It seems as if youths are only given prominence when elders need them to access wealth, power and status. While there are hundreds of elders who are eager to step aside and are not guilty of hoarding power and positions, there are thousands more who pay pure lip service to notions of youth power, influence and leadership.

Local Government Elections offer yet another opportunity to install youths in higher governance positions.

A student of Bishops’ High School showing off her skipping skills to her schoolmates as she promotes a healthy lifestyle at the inaugural Green Expo that is currently being held at the Guyana National Stadium (Adam Baksh photo)

Jamal Khashoggi case: Mnuchin and Fox quit Saudi summit

U

S Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and UK International Trade Secretary Liam Fox have pulled out of an investment conference in Saudi Arabia.

Their moves come amid allegations the country was behind the killing of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi has not been seen since October 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, where Turkish officials allege he was murdered.

Saudi Arabia, which denies the killing, allowed investigators inside overnight.

The Future Investment Initiative summit will take place from October 23 to 25 in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

It is being hosted by Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman to promote his reform agenda.

His plan for economic and social modernisation, called Vision 2030, aims to reduce Saudi Arabia's dependence on oil and provide new jobs.

As a result, Mnuchin's decision to boycott the summit is seen as a substantial blow to the Prince's agenda, correspondents say.

Investment bank Goldman Sachs became the latest business to say it would not send any executives to the conference.

However, a number of major businesses – including Pepsi and EDF – are still intending to go despite growing pressure for a boycott.

Mnuchin announced he would pull out of the summit following a discussion with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Pompeo went to Riyadh earlier this week to discuss the disappearance with Saudi King Salman.

He said he had been assured that Saudi Arabia would investigate the matter, and that he had told Trump to give the country "a few more days" before deciding whether to take action.

What happened to Jamal Khashoggi?

It is not clear. Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2, to pick up paperwork that would allow him to marry his fiancée, Hatice Cengiz.

Turkish officials believe Khashoggi was killed by a team of Saudi agents inside the consulate, with his body then removed.

Saudi Arabia has denied the claims, and initially insisted Khashoggi had freely left the embassy.

Is there any evidence?

The Turkish authorities say they have audio and video evidence of the killing – although these have not been made public.

Turkish media with close links to the Government have published gruesome details on the alleged audio, saying screams, and the voice of the consul, Mohammed al-Otaibi, could be heard in the recording.

The Yeni Safak newspaper, which is close to the Government, quotes him as telling alleged Saudi agents sent to Istanbul: "Do this outside. You're going to get me in trouble."

Meanwhile, Turkish media say they have identified a 15-member team of suspected Saudi agents who flew into and out of Istanbul on the day of the disappearance.

However, Saudi Arabia says reports on Khashoggi's death were "completely false and baseless" and that it was "open to cooperation" to find out what happened.

Several high-profile human rights groups have demanded that Turkey ask the United Nations to investigate the possible killing of Khashoggi.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists said that a "one-sided" investigation by Saudi Arabia was not good enough.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Turkish investigators spent almost nine hours searching the Saudi Consul's residence, before moving on to the Consulate itself about 200 metres (650 feet) away, according to Reuters news agency.

Several vehicles with Saudi diplomatic number plates were filmed

by CCTV cameras moving from the Consulate to the residence just under two hours after Khashoggi entered the Consulate.

Late on Thursday, Turkish offi-

cials told Journalists that Police were searching Belgrad Forest – a secluded woodland more than 10 kilometres (six miles) from the capital Istanbul – as well as Yalova city nearby.

An official told Reuters they suspected that Khashoggi's remains had been disposed of in "a farm house or villa" in one of those areas.

Investigators had taken samples from the Saudi Consulate and the Consul's home, and would analyse them for traces of Khashoggi's DNA, the official, who Reuters did not name, added.

How have other countries reacted?

Saudi Arabia is a key ally to many Western countries, especially the US. As one of the world's biggest oil exporters, it has significant influence on the world stage.

The Dutch and French Finance Ministers, and the head of the International Monetary Fund, are amongst those now boycotting the summit.

On Thursday, President Trump told reporters it "certainly looks" like Khashoggi is dead, adding "it's very sad".

He said there would be "very severe" consequences if Saudi Arabia was proved to have killed the Journalist.

However, Trump has also been accused of providing cover to the Saudi Government.

He previously said he would not cancel military contracts with Saudi Arabia, because "I don't want to hurt jobs", and also said he was unhappy Saudi Arabia was being treated as "guilty until proven innocent".

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said it is a pity that Khashoggi has gone missing, but that Russia cannot damage relations with Saudi Arabia without hard facts.

Who is Jamal Khashoggi?

Khashoggi is a prominent journalist who has covered major stories for various Saudi news organisations.

He served as an adviser to top Saudi officials, but later fell out of favour with the Government.

He went into self-imposed exile in the US last year, and wrote a monthly column in the Washington Post.

On Thursday, the Washington Post published Khashoggi’s latest column – a call for press freedom across the Arab world. continued on page 5

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

Jordan's propaganda cannot Gross negligence by Govt (Part 2) fool sugar workers

Dear Editor, The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) saw in the dailies on October 18, 2018, a full page advertisement by the Finance Ministry informing that Minister Winston Jordan would be seeking parliamentary approval for monies to settle the outstanding severance payments to the thousands of sugar workers the Government laid off since it came to office.

Such an advertisement we gather is an expensive venture and is yet another demonstration of how our people’s monies are used now-a-days.

Minister Jordan who, it seems, is smiling from ear to ear, tells workers not to be fooled and that they would soon be paid. While the GAWU is happy, even at this very late stage, that the workers who desperately need their monies, will be paid expectedly with interest; at the same time, we feel constrained to point out that the effort is coming along at a time close to the November 12 Local Government Elections and additionally we wish to note that the Minister is not do-

ing the workers any favours as he wants to make it seem.

The fact Government is moving to secure funds to settle its indebtedness to the workers is not because of magnanimity but because of a sustained struggle which kept the matter in the air.

Over the last months, the nation has been moved by the sad situations workers and their families now find themselves in.

The workers themselves have taken part in picketing exercises and marches.

The Union has sought judicial intervention to have Government respect the laws of our land, which, we cannot fail to re-collect the attorneys representing the Guyana Sugar Corporation sought to have dismissed on frivolous grounds. Fraternal union bodies abroad have also condemned the Government’s actions with UNIFOR’s International Director, just weeks ago, telling the media that in Canada such acts would have seen the perpetrators behind bars.

Also, we cannot forget that several allies who, on many occasions, have drawn attention to what can only be described as a shameful

crime against the workers and their families.

So while the Minister wants to appear to beat his own drum, he and his colleagues have committed one of the gravest assaults on the workers, first putting them out of a job and then denying them their lawful payments for a prolonged period, contrary to our country’s laws.

At the end of the day, had the Government not been denounced as it deserves, in our view, the machinations and the face-saving manoeuvres now being employed would have not been pursued at this time.

Today, while the Administration seeks to redeem itself in the eyes of the sugar workers and come into their good graces, after creating painful wounds and then rubbing pepper in them, we wish to tell the Minister and the Government that it cannot fool the workers as it ignominiously seeks to do now with advertisements, flyers and other propaganda material.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

Discriminatory hiring practices at GECOM Dear Editor, It is appalling to note that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) seems to be engaged in widespread discriminatory employment practices in this postmodern era. Persons were invited to attend training on October 12 and 13, 2018, but when those who believed that God’s Sabbath is still binding on mankind turned up on October 13 to participate in the training, they were prevented from attending the sessions for that day.

How can this be fair?

Many persons studied the manual, which was distributed about a week beforehand, knowing it was impossible to attend training on day one. I am sure if they were given a chance they would have done exceptionally well on the remaining evaluations, especially the final one.

It is indeed sad to note that in a country like Guyana, where the Constitution clearly prohibits the discrimination of individuals based on their religious affiliation, the rights of

persons are still being blatantly violated.

The Constitution under the Prevention Of Discrimination Act 1997 clearly states that, “It shall be unlawful for any person who is an employer or any person acting or purporting to act on behalf of a person who is an employer, in relation to recruitment, selection or employment or any other person for purposes of training, apprenticeship or employment, to discriminate against that person based on their religious affiliation….” The training officials seem to be more powerful than the laws of Guyana.

One GECOM officer even mentioned that if persons cannot put GECOM first, it makes no sense you attend the training. In the same manual used by the GECOM to train polling day staff, it is noted that no person should be prevented from voting based on their religious affiliation, hence the use of the various holy books for taking oaths on Election Day. Then how can persons

be prevented from training and working based on their religious affiliation?

Seems like double standards to me. Reading the article by an aggrieved citizen in Wednesday’s KN, I realised that the problem was not confined to one centre. Persons at Cumberland, Vrymens Erven and All Saints were all turned away for the same reasons.

More persons need to come forward and let the public know about what is taking place at these training centres.

I think the Leader of the Opposition was right when he pointed out that GECOM employs unfair and discriminatory hiring practices.

The only thing left for GECOM to do is to state pointedly that Seventh-day Adventists are not welcome to be trained as polling day staff.

But you know what; they cannot because that would be illegal.

Sincerely, Victim of discrimination

Jamal Khashoggi case...

The newspaper said the column had been submitted

by Khashoggi’s translator the day after he was reported missing.

It had initially held off from publishing the column, but decided to go ahead after

accepting Khashoggi was not going to return safely.

In his column, Khashoggi criticised the state of press freedom in the Arab world, saying it left Saudis "either uninformed or misinformed".

Government moves to

from page 4

suppress Journalists "no longer carry the consequence of a backlash from the international community", he wrote.

"Instead, these actions may trigger condemnation quickly followed by silence." (BBC News)

Dear Editor, Citizens should not be surprised if one morning or evening they were to be confronted in their yard or in their place of residence by one or two or all three of the escapees.

The threat to life, limb and property is real and must not be taken for granted nor underestimated.

The much-touted National Security Strategy continues to be held hostage by the Granger Administration.

The President has a habit of trotting out deceptive and misleading assurances to the public. As recent as September this year, he promised that the Combe Report on Security Sector Reform will be released; “I have instructed that he (Jagdeo) be sent a copy of the Report by Colonel Combe and during the month of October, after the, recess it will be made available to the National Assembly.”

In August, President Granger declared that the report would be “made public once it is presented to the National Assembly.”

Apparently, the security reform plan is still being “studied” by the sub-set of seat warming security experts ensconced at Cabinet.

In the meantime, the crime situation is in a mess and the prisons system continues to rock from crisis to crisis.

The citizenry has lost all respect for the Public Security Minister and the Government in which he serves, despite assurances.

Calls for Ramjattan’s dismissal have been made time and again; however, President Granger is shackled by the Cummingsburg Accord. No AFC Cabinet Minister can be removed from office, lest the coalition Administration falls apart.

Guyanese must be like Banwarie and ‘bear their chafe.’ 2020 is the only way out.

In the meanwhile, more and more drugs, improvised weapons and other illegal items are pouring into the prisons. Bribable and corruptible prison officers are complicit.

Granger in an interview in September this year was quoted as saying; “... at the heart of the problem are of course the quality of manpower; and I believe the Minister of Public Security is working on... and recruiting suitable type persons that would not be susceptible to bribery and corruption.”

This statement is a clear indication that Granger is sailing while Ramjattan is sleeping. They are both oblivious to the fact that the security situation in the country is becoming more and more unmanageable.

In the wider society, despite assurances when in Opposition, that they would

snuff out criminal networks engaging in human trafficking, gun running and drug smuggling, on a daily basis massive amounts of cocaine are found in lumber, vegetables and in the bowels of human mules.

But even more disturbing was the ‘breaking news’ that Ecstasy is in great demand in our schools while heroin and crystal methamphetamine are penetrating the borders of our country only to endanger the lives of our young people. Constant bellyaching by Government claiming there is no money to implement the 2016 Commission of Inquiry recommendations aimed at addressing the deplorable conditions at the Lusignan and other prison locations is hypocritical to say the least, especially when huge amounts are being spent on wasteful, non-essential projects.

The loud-mouthed commitments made over the years that Government will find the resources to finance the security sector rings hollow.

With approximately 558 inmates belonging to the Camp Street Prison being

held in hellish holding bays at the Lusignan Prison and another 300 belonging to the Lusignan Prison itself, it is not surprising that the escape of prisoners and protests actions at Lusignan took place.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Administration must cease its pretense at being a fountain of knowledge on security matters. It must be more inclusive and transparent in its management and administration of the prisons system.

To constantly harp on the claim that it was worse under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and to ask the perennial question, ‘why didn’t you, meaning the PPP/C do these things when you were there, is not good enough. The APNU/ AFC campaigned on the platform of time for change.

An APNU/AFC coalition is in Government now, they must make the changes they promised the nation or resign. 2020 beckons!

Yours sincerely, Clement J Rohee

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S

ince the start of widespread vaccinations, cases of once common childhood illnesses like measles and diphtheria have dropped dramatically. Immunisations have protected millions of children from dangerous diseases and saved thousands of lives.

In fact, certain diseases crop up so rarely now that parents sometimes ask if vaccines for them are even necessary. But most diseases that can be prevented by vaccines do still exist in the world, although they happen very rarely.

Foundation

The reality is that vaccinations play a vital role in keeping children healthy.

Unfortunately, misinformation about vaccines could make some parents decide not to immunise their children, putting them and others at a greater risk for illness — or even death.

To better understand the benefits and risks of vaccines, read on.

Can getting so many vaccines at once harm my baby?

Babies have stronger immune systems than you might

What do vaccines do?

Vaccines work by preparing the body to fight illness. Each contains either a dead or a weakened germ (or parts of it) that causes a particular disease.

The body practises fighting the disease by making antibodies that recognise specific parts of that germ.

This permanent or longstanding response means that if someone is ever exposed to the actual disease, the antibodies are already in place and the body knows how to combat it and the person doesn't get sick.

This is called immunity.

Will my child's immune system be weaker by relying on a vaccine?

No, the immune system makes antibodies against a germ, like the chickenpox virus, whether it encounters it naturally or is exposed to it through a vaccine. Being vaccinated against one disease does not weaken the immune response to another disease.

Will the vaccine give someone the disease it's supposed to prevent?

It's impossible to get the disease

think, and they can handle far more germs than what they receive from vaccines. In fact, the amount of germs in vaccines is just a small percentage of the germs babies' immune systems deal with every day.

Sometimes, children can have a reaction to a vaccine like a mild fever or rash. But the risk of serious reactions is small compared with the health risks associated with the often-serious diseases they prevent, and do not happen because the baby got several vaccines at once.

from any vaccine made with dead (killed) bacteria or viruses or just part of the bacteria or virus.

Only those immunisations made from weakened (also called attenuated) live viruses – like the chickenpox (varicella) and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines – could possibly make a child develop a mild form of the disease.

But it's almost always much less severe than if a child became infected with the disease-causing virus itself. However, for children with weakened immune systems, such as those being treated for cancer, these vaccines may cause problems.

The risk of disease from vaccination is extremely small.

Why should I have my child immunised if all the other children in school are immunised?

It is true that a single child's chance of catching a disease is low if everyone else is immunised. But your child is also exposed to people other than just those in school. And if one person thinks about skipping vaccines, chances are that others are thinking the same thing. Each

A lot of consideration and research went into creating the immunisation schedule most doctors use, and it has been proven safe time and time again. Still, some parents choose to use alternative schedules (spreading or "spacing out" vaccines) because they're concerned about the number of shots their babies get at each check-up. This is actually more likely to make a baby sick. Studies show that many babies on alternative immunisation schedules never get all the vaccines they need.

child who isn't immunised gives highly contagious diseases one more chance to spread.

As more people choose not to vaccinate their children for one reason or another, outbreaks become more common, especially of diseases that were once wiped out. In 2014, 383 cases of measles were reported in Ohio, for instance. That year, 667 cases from 27 states were reported in all. That's the highest number since measles was declared eliminated from the US in 2000.

Most of those cases were among people who did not get vaccinated.

In 2012, close to 50,000 US cases of whooping cough (pertussis) were reported. That was the first time so many people were affected since the 1950s.

Although vaccination rates are fairly high, there's no reliable way to know if everyone your child comes into contact with has been vaccinated, particularly now that so many people travel to and from other countries. So the best way to protect your children is through immunisation.

Plus, alternative schedules can be a real hassle. Spacing out vaccines over more doctor visits means that you'll have to take your child to the doctor — and your child will have to get a shot — more often.

Why should my child get a painful shot if vaccines aren't 100% effective?

Few things in medicine work 100 per cent of the time, but vaccines are one of the most effective weapons we have against disease — they work in 85 per cent to 99 per cent of cases. They greatly reduce your child's risk of serious illness (particularly when more and more people are vaccinated) and give diseases fewer chances to take hold in a population.

It can be hard to watch children get a shot, but the short-term pain is nothing compared with suffering through a potentially deadly bout of diphtheria, whooping cough, or measles.

Why do children who are healthy, active, and eating well need to be immunised?

Vaccinations are intended to help keep healthy children healthy. Because vaccines work by protecting the body before disease strikes, if you wait until your child gets sick, it will be too late for the vaccine to work. The best time to immunize children is when they're healthy.

Can immunisations cause a bad reaction in my child?

The most common reactions to vaccines are minor and include: redness and swelling where the shot was given fever soreness at the site where the shot was given In rare cases, immunisations can trigger more serious problems, such as seizures or severe allergic reactions.

If your child has a history of allergies to food or medicine, or has had a problem with a vaccine before, let the doctor know before any vaccines are given. Every year, millions of children are safely vaccinated and very few experience serious side effects.

Research continually improves the safety of immunisations. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now advises doctors to use a diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine that includes only specific parts of the pertussis cell instead of the entire killed cell.

This vaccine, called DTaP, has been associated with even fewer side effects.

Do immunisations or thimerosal cause autism?

No. Numerous studies have found no link between vaccines and autism (a developmental disorder that's characterised by mild to severe im-

pairment of communication and social interaction skills).

Likewise, a groundbreaking 2004 report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found that thimerosal (an organic mercury compound that's been used as a preservative in vaccines since the 1930s) does not cause autism.

Still, some parents have opted not to have their children immunized, putting them at great risk of contracting deadly diseases.

The MMR vaccine, especially, has come under fire even though many scientific reports have found no evidence linking the vaccine to autism.

In fact, a long-disputed 1998 study that suggested a possible link between autism and the MMR vaccine was retracted in 2004 and the doctor who published it lost his medical license. Even before it was discredited and declared fraudulent, the study was rejected by all major health organizations, including the AAP, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

There's also no reason to believe that thimerosal is linked to autism, according to the 2004 IOM report. Still, in an effort to reduce childhood exposure to mercury and other heavy metals, thimerosal began being removed from children' vaccines in 1999.

Now, vaccines for infants and young children contain no or very little thimerosal. And recent studies have not shown any cognitive and behavioral problems in babies who might have received these thimerosal-containing vaccines.

So what could explain the increased rates of autism in recent years? For one thing, there's a broader definition of autism that can be applied to more children who show varying degrees of symptoms. A greater awareness of the condition among health professionals also has led to more diagnoses.

And although the number of children diagnosed with autism may be increasing, the rates of MMR vaccination are not. In London, diagnoses of autistic disorders have been on the rise since 1979, but rates of MMR vaccination haven't increased since routine MMR vaccination began in 1988. Also, the average age of diagnosis of autism has been found to be the same both in children who have and who have not received the MMR vaccine. What many researchers are discovering is that subtle symptoms of autism are often present before a child's first birthday — sometimes even in early infancy — but often go unnoticed until the symptoms are more obvious to parents. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

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fridAY, october 19, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt budgets $2.4B to offset severance payout …as sugar workers protest outside Parliament

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo greets a former Wales sugar worker who was among several others who protested outside Parliament on Thursday

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s several sugar workers protested Parliament on Thursday, Government tabled a new financial paper seeking parliamentary approval for $2.451 billion to pay off hundreds of them.

The supplementary paper caters for workers severance packages but does not include payments for the dismissed Wales sugar workers.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Chief Whip and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) executive, Gail Teixeira both confirmed this to be true.

The financial paper totalled $7.5 billion, but only $2.4 billion was set aside for severance pay.

“Form all that we have been told is that it excludes workers from Wales who have been waiting even before (2016). So Wales workers will have to wait and fight,” Jagdeo told the press.

As such, the Opposition tabled a motion to be heard in Parliament to debate the sum. The motion, tabled in Teixeira’s name, was denied

by Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland.

This placed the matter on hold until October 31, 2018, when Parliament meets again.

Jagdeo said he has taken note of the huge sum spent on a newspaper advertisement by the Finance Ministry informing sugar workers that Government will pay the severance.

Earlier in the day, a group of Wales sugar workers and PPP Members of Parliament (MPs) held placards and protested outside the Public Buildings, demanding that they are paid their severance.

The workers raised concerns over the fact that the Wales estate has been closed since 2016 and no alterna-

tive employment was ever offered to them, while many remain jobless.

When Jagdeo arrived at Parliament, he greeted the sugar workers, a Rastafarian group, even supporters of the governing A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Government.

However, on her arrival, People’s National Congress (PNC) chair and Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence only greeted her party supporters and group, neglecting the sugar workers.

Only recently, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) are battling over the conversion of the La Bonne Intention (LBI) estate staff club into a sports bar.

However, this move has drawn GuySuCo’s ire as terminated sugar workers feel resources should have been allocated to fund their severance payment rather than establishing a sports bar.

The SPU secured a $30 billion bond for its divestment initiatives.

“The 30 billion dollars what they get, they putting in sports bar [but] things real tight. I aint think they should ah do that; they should come out and give people them money,” one worker said.

However, this issue is before the courts since early 2017. It was last reported that Justice Sandil Kissoon is said to be hearing the matter in the High Court.

These workers demanded severance since they refused to take up work at the Uitvlugt Estate, which is 22

India’s PM calls...

Persons attached to those organisations indicated that this was the first sign that the Prime Minister might no longer be coming to Guyana since they were being told that they would meet with him in the twin-island state the day after his meeting with the Caricom Heads of Government.

In the meantime, the Guyana Government, through its Foreign Affairs Ministry, has since been informed of this change in the Prime Minister Modi’s itinerary.

With the last high-level State visit of an Indian leader to Guyana being in 2006 when then Vice President of India, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, visited, it was anticipated that the impending trip of Prime Minister Modi would further solidify bilateral relations between the two countries.

The high level visit was expected to cover overall bilateral relations with engagements in areas of politics, commercial, cultural and so on.

More importantly, however, major highlights of the visit would be continued, with ongoing discussions on Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector as

well as its heavily indebted and cash-strapped, and now downsized, sugar industry.

The Indian Government has long indicated its willingness to assist with Guyana’s ailing sugar sector. However, Government is yet to formally take the emerging Asian power-house nation up on its offer.

But Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, had told Guyana Times earlier this year that interest is brewing amongst Indians on the assets from the local sugar industry that are up for divestment. Greenidge had led a high-level ministerial delegation to India back in January and during that visit, he said that more tangible than the State-offered technical assistance is interests expressed by private companies, which have massive and expansive capacities.

On the other hand, with Guyana being a new member of the oil club, India had also offer downstream, midstream and upstream assistance, while at the same time indicating its interest in exploration activities here as well as intention to buy Guyana’s oil in the future. Currently, Latin America accounts for

from page 2

around 20 per cent of India’s oil imports with sellers including Venezuela.

Guyana and India established Diplomatic ties in 1965 and has since maintained a strong bond on the bilateral and multilateral fronts given the similarities of not only its democracy and colonial background, but also its multiracial and multicultural societies.

Over the years, Guyana has become the beneficiary of several loans and line of credits from the Indian Government towards infrastructure, healthcare and education development, including the cricket stadium, traffic lights in Georgetown and supply of 14 irrigation drainage pumps.

Currently, there are seven projects that the Indian Government is either fully or partially funding in Guyana.

Among these are the US$50 million East Bank DemeraraEast Coast Demerara bypass road; the US$17.50 million modernisation of the Bartica, West Demerara and Suddie Hospitals; the US$18 million acquisition of a passenger ferry and the setting up an IT Centre of Excellence in Guyana.

miles away from their original place of employment.

In January of this year, Government had announced that redundant sugar estate workers whose severance payments are $500,000 and less will be paid in full by the end of January 2018, while workers receiving in excess

of the aforementioned sum would attain 50 per cent of their severance benefits by the end of January and the other 50 per cent at the end of 2018.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) which is the legitimate trade union for the sugar workers had filed court proceedings against

PPP/C MP Irfaan Ali interacts with protesters in front of Parliament Building on Thursday

GuySuCo and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited, to which GuySuCo has transferred all of its assets to get them to pay the workers their outstanding severance.

GAWU contended that it is illegal for Government to pay the severance in two tranches as this is against the letter and spirit of what is outlined by Section 21 of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay (TESPA) Act. It was outlined that the 7000 redundant workers were to receive their redundancy allowance/severance payment no later than December 29, 2017.

Following this development, Canada’s largest Private Sector trade union, Unifor, had in September of this year, during a conference dubbed ‘sugar too big to fail’, expressed deep concerns over Government’s handling of the sugar industry, particularly when it comes to ensuring that dismissed sugar workers are given their severance package in full.

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fridAY, october 19, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Man arraigned for Circuit Ville murder

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he businessman accused of being responsible for the stabbing death of 19-yearold Nyron Vyphuis at Circuit Ville, Yarrowkabra, Linden-Soesdyke Highway was on Wednesday arraigned for the heinous crime when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Anthony Jones, 40, of Circuit Ville, Yarrowkabra, was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he appeared be-

Murder accused: Anthony Jones

fore Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Police stated that on October 13, 2018, at Circuit Ville, he murdered Vyphuis.

Defence Attorney James Bond asked for disclosure of the prosecution’s facts while in court on Wednesday.

Police Prosecutor Simone Payne related that on the day in question the accused and his reputed wife were involved in an argument and he attempt-

ed to assault her, but the teenager intervened.

It was stated that Jones became annoyed and stabbed the teen to his stomach.

The teen was then picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Chief Magistrate remanded the father of five to prison, and adjourned the matter until November 6, 2018.

Kitty woman charged with trafficking of narcotics

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woman who appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman on Wednesday was remanded to prison after she was arraigned on two counts of narcotics possession.

Fifty-three-year-old Judith Alexander of Lot 109 D’Andrade Street, Kitty, Georgetown, denied the charges made out against her. The first charge read that on October 15, 2018 at the abovementioned location, she had in her possession 410 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The other charge against her stated that on the said date and location, she had in her possession 24 methyl?enedioxy?methamphetamine (commonly known as ecstasy) pills, which are equivalent to three grams.

The court heard that on the day in question, ranks from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) acting on information visited the home of the defendant and conducted a search.

During the operation, the ranks came across a pink suitcase containing clothes and a black plastic bag, which had several ziplock bags in which leaves and stems suspected to be cannabis were found.

A small bottle was subsequently found in a cupboard. A closer inspection of the bottle revealed several coloured tables suspected to be ecstasy. The woman was taken into custody and later charged for the present offences.

Her Attorney, in his application for bail on Wednesday, told the court that his client has no other pending matters and she is not a flight risk. As such, he requested that bail be set in a reasonable sum.

Police Prosecutor Warren Thornhill objected to bail, noting the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. The defendant is expected to return to court on November 7, 2018.

Power of money…

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…in world affairs

here’s the old saying, “money talks and bullshit walks”!! But what happens when money and bullshit work together?? Before answering the question, your Eyewitness hopes you dear readers out there don’t get your drawers in a knot over the explicit use of the term “bullshit”. He reminds you this is a term of art defined by the philosopher Henry Frankfurt in his bestselling book, <<<<<On Bullshit>>>>>.

Frankfurt makes the seminal distinction between “lying” and “bullshit”. The liar is someone who KNOWS the truth but just doesn’t want you to accept it. So he concocts the lie that he wants you to follow. The bullshitter, on the other hand, doesn’t even CARE whether what he says is true or false. He just says whatever comes to mind just so you form a good impression of him!! Bullshitters, then, are more dangerous than liars when it comes to the truth.

So we return to the original question, and the answer is when the two work together, you get somebody like “Trump”!! He just says whatever he thinks will make him look good to his supporters! Take this case with the Arab journalist Khashoggi who disappeared in the Arab Embassy in Turkey. What are the known facts based on empirical evidence such as camera footage, voice recordings and visa entries?

That the man entered the embassy and never exited on his own. That a team of Saudi intelligence operatives – at least one pictured with Crown Prince Salman – entered Turkey, with a forensic pathologist and his bone saw and went straight to their Embassy.

Then there’s a voice recording – don’t ask how the Turks obtained it – of the horror of Khashoggi’s last moments as he was being tortured. His fingers were evidently first cut off one by one, just like we see in those cheap “thrillers”.

And what does Trump say to all of this? That the Washington Post columnist, who was a US permanent resident, “disappeared in Turkey and wasn’t a US Citizen”!! After denying that the man had been killed, he then said “rogue killers” might have been at work!

Vowing to investigate what happened, the US President then condemned those who were condemning the Saudis for their actions!! That’s exactly what Professor Frankfurt had in mind when he defined “bullshit”.

And it all comes down to the power of money talking…the US$110 billion Saudi arms deal, for one, is just the tip of the iceberg. The lesson in all of this for Guyana, of course, is to recognise the bullshitters in Guyana which shouldn’t be hard to do.

Just examine their statements on the murder of the sugar industry!! Any one of them!! …in attracting creditors When we were down and out – the result of the US$2.1 billion debt the PNC saddled us with in 1992 – Bharrat Jagdeo had to travel the world over like the Ancient Mariner of yore – buttonholing our creditors and asking for “write-offs”!! One Prime Minister of Jamaica rejected Jagdeo’s advice of getting debt write-off, saying he wouldn’t take advice from a “panhandler”!! What does he say now that Jamaica’s on its knees to the IMF??

Anyhow, look how the world changed for us since Exxon struck oil!! Right now, the big ones are lining up like ducklings behind their mother trying to give advice on how to use our money. The US, Britain, Canada, and all their banks are even offering money on the cheap to build whatever we want to build! Even if we don’t want to build anything – if you include China!! Against that background, when Ramjattan says he can’t get foreign funding for a new prison, it’s quite clear that “goat bite he”!!

Money goes to money!! …and Merrill Lynch Your Eyewitness was intrigued to see Merrill Lynch – now the investment arm of Bank of America – asking to advise us on investing our Sovereign Fund-to-be.

Does this mean Bank of America will now restore “corresponding banking services” to us, which it severed in 2016??

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

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fridAY, october 19, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

2018 LGE Voter Education Programme

GECOM abandons public procurement, tendering system ...accused of contract splitting, rewarding ‘phantom companies’

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he Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) has been accused of abandoning the public procurement system which guarantees transparency and accountability, as it made shocking revelations at its most recent Commissioners meeting that it has already awarded several contracts to companies for the provision of key services under its 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE) Voter Education Programme without publicly advertising for those services.

And what is even more shocking is that the Commission has reportedly failed to say exactly how much of its overall LGE budget has been set aside to meet its initiatives and other projects under the entity’s Voter Education Programme, as was traditionally the case under previous GECOM Chief Elections Officers and Chairmen.

Chief Commissioner for the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), who attended the last meeting where these revelations were made, Bibi Shadick, explained that she has personally requested that the Commission’s Secretariat provide all Commissioners with the exact process that was utilised to select the companies and the method used to advertise various services that were required to be externally secured under the Voter Education

Programme.

“I don’t know where they got those names and companies from… or how they selected them… it was only when we started asking questions based upon reports in the press that the Secretariat via the Chief Elections Officer began sharing this information,” she remarked during an interview on Wednesday evening.

Asked if there was a Voter Education Manager employed by GECOM, Shadick responded in the negative, stating that she is not aware that that vacancy had been filled or even advertised.

Pressed as to what role the Commissioners played in the conceptualisation of GECOM’s Voter Education Programme or the initiatives that would be embarked upon, Shadick said no proposal addressing that specific programme was brought to the Commissioners for their input or consent.

“The answers we are getting from the Commission are nowhere near transparent,” she opined. The PPP Commissioner also said that GECOM is making the excuse that it was in a rush and haste to meet timelines and get work going under the Voter Education Project but this seems strange as the date for LGEs was made public via the Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan back in May of this year.

Shadick even vented her concerns in a letter to the

Editor published in today’s dailies where she questioned the integrity of the entire process as adumbrated by GECOM. “Just before the meeting, information was shared via email about the voter education activities promised to us last week. The information included a matrix of PR and other multimedia outfits which apparently sent quotations for several activities including infomercials and flyers. Questions were asked and it turns out that none of this procurement of services was publicly advertised, no information was available as to how the entities were chosen to send in quotes, and how the various activities were even disaggregated!,” Shadick suggested.

She further explained that “activities such as the voting process; stamping ballot paper; voting without an ID; eligibility to vote; voter rights and responsibility; voting by proxy and election offences are all listed separately for 60 second infomercials costing between $65,000 and $160,000. The basis for

this listing remained unexplained and the impression I got was that the whole thing is contract splitting to benefit select outfits. As usual, the excuse for no public tender or anything resembling a transparent process was sacrificed at the altar of ‘not enough time and statutory deadlines to meet in a great hurry’”.

She even took aim at APNU’s Chief GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander who she described as “a would-be pacifist” when he lamented “the absence of a procurement manual which would disallow such underhand practices, yet that manual remains elusive”.

During the interview, Shadick underscored the importance of getting the most out of the money spent by GECOM as he explained that the voter education component of any elections is important.

Documents seen by Guyana Times on Wednesday also exposes the fact several companies were listed as having sent quotations to GECOM for the provision of

Zeelugt miner killed during row over cigarettes

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olice ranks in F Division (Interior Locations) have arrested a Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) resident, who stabbed a miner to death during an argument on Tuesday evening.

The dead man has been identified as 20-year-old Daniel George of Zeelugt, EBE. According to Police reports, the

incident occurred around 20:00h at Barakat Landing, Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Preliminary investigations revealed that George and the 35-year-old suspect, both miners, were imbibing at a shop at Barakat Landing on the night in question.

It was reported that an argument ensued between the two miners over

cigarettes, during which the suspect dealt the now dead young man several stabs with a knife.

Guyana Times understands that George was fatally wounded in his abdomen and right eye.

The suspect was subsequently taken into custody where he was assisting with further investigations.

services. Some of the entities that got the bulk of various contracts and job orders were Murondi Radio Drama, Intel Storm, Fuse Arts, Modern Media and Pro-media.

GECOM is looking for the production of 60 second infomercials, 60 second advertisements, the printing and design of posters and flyers on various electoral issues.

Questioned as to who was responsible for supervising the programme, Shadick said it would appear that the functions were passed on to GECOM’s Public Relations Officer Yolanda Warde.

She was quoted extensively in the media last week announcing that the Voter Education Programme would be launched this week.

“Prior to nomination, we focused on contestants and the preparation of their list of candidates… We have since started our programme as it relates to the voter education aspect… Our audio visual element will commence next week focusing primarily on the voter education aspects; rights and responsibilities, eligibility, the voting process and all that’s required for the elector to be aware of as it relates to participating in the Local Government Elections process,” Warde said.

Warde also disclosed that

GECOM has identified a company to commence work on its social media education awareness. She clarified that the voter education campaign is being managed by GECOM itself and not by an advertising agency.

“For each individual production which ever company emerged as the successful bidder, that’s the company that was selected so there is no one individual company.

As it relates to placement of advertisements, that is being done by GECOM so it’s not an advertising company that is managing that process for us. So, we have already commenced that process in terms of the placement as it relates to the television process and so,” she reported.

GECOM’s entire budget for 2018 is $2.9 billion of which the sum for the holding of Local Government Elections is included. $160 million was allocated for capital works and items and $1.6 billion for the normal operations of the Commission.

As such, the remaining sum of $1.2 billion was allotted for the conduct of Local Government Elections in November.

In 2016, $1.5 billion was expended for Local Government Elections.

(Michael Younge)

10 news

fridAY, october 19, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GDF ranks charged for rape- Man remanded for indecent exposure robbery of Essequibo couple A

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he two dishonoured Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks who were implicated in a rape and robbery on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have been charged and are expected to make their appearance at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court today.

Twenty-two-year-old Rawlston Reid, of Doch Four Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and Isaiah Rawlins, 21, of Wisroc, Linden, have already been dismissed from the Defence Force.

It was reported that the female victim and her boyfriend were at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, which is close to the GDF base, for an event and about 23:30h as they were enjoying an evening together, the two ranks attacked

them.

The soldiers reportedly dealt the young man several blows about his body, took away his money and gold chain, and demanded that his girlfriend have sex with them or else they would rape him.

At first, this demand was shut down, but the two ranks severely beat the young man. They then allegedly took turns raping the woman as she wept bitterly and asked them to stop.

The young man had no choice but to watch his girlfriend being sexually assaulted. After the ordeal, the young couple reported the matter to the Police. At the Police Station, the couple were told that there were no ranks available to search the area.

Family members then took it upon themselves to

look for the two perpetrators. Upon seeing the angry mob of residents, the two men escaped.

The couple were taken to hospital where the young lady was admitted. The Police subsequently took statements from the two traumatised young people and an investigation was launched.

An identification parade was done on Monday afternoon at the Suddie Police Station, and the two perpetrators were positively identified by the victims.

Guyana Times was told that while the ID parade was in progress, colleagues of the implicated ranks were heard shouting derogatory remarks towards the victims.

The young male victim is an acquaintance of both ranks.

Duo get bail for possession of ecstasy

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minibus driver and a taxi driver were hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to charges relating to possession of ecstasy tablets. The two men were held during a sting operation by the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU).

Twenty-five-year-old Samuel Bruce, called Samie Wintz, of Lot J 944 Jackson Street, Tucville, Georgetown and Kelder Roxana Halley, 21, of Lot 224 Gibson Street, Guyhoc Park, Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The charge stated that the two were found with 63 grams of ecstasy pills in their possession on October 15, 2018.

Roxana Halley

Bruce’s Attorney, Tiffany Jeffery, in a bail application, informed the court that the illegal drug was not found in her client’s vehicle or in his possession.

However, CANU Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford stated that Bruce handed the illicit tablets over to an

undercover CANU officer, who subsequently gave an oral statement.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor Sandiford, who objected to bail, informed the court that Halley gave a confession statement.

According to facts presented in court on Friday, Halley was accused of orchestrating the drug exchange by telling Bruce that she was in need of the ecstasy pills. She was represented by Attorney-at-Law Bernard DaSilva.

The defendants were each placed on $150,000 bail, and the matter was adjourned until November 9, 2018, but they were ordered to report to the CANU Headquarters on Mondays and Fridays until the investigation is completed.

man who allegedly showed his neighbour his penis, thereby causing her distress and alarm was on Friday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.

Forty-six-year-old Mark Phillips denied the charge which stated that on October 13, 2018 at Yarrowkabra, Linden- Soesdyke Highway, he committed the act.

Based on reports received, the defendant is in the habit of making advances to the victim.

However, in court on Friday, he denied the claims and gave a different account of what transpired, telling the court that the victim was "making up the story".

The Chief Magistrate ordered that Phillips be mentally evaluated and as such, remanded him to prison until November 6, 2018.

Mark Phillips

S RAIGHT Have the teachers been short-changed by their union?

By Sase Singh; MSc – Finance, ACCA

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Introduction uyana faces serious challenges in the number, quality, and distribution of teachers in the system.

The 2016-2018 income negotiations (old process) did not help this situation. In spite of the dreadful reality, there is something fresh about the current leadership in the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU). It is in this light that the Kaieteur News cartoon must be rejected because it is an alteration of the truth. It clearly misclassified Coretta McDonald.

As a collective, this new GTU leadership has shown themselves as people who are willing to engage in industrial relations battles when necessary. Isn't that a good thing for the teachers? The time was right to bring an end to the old process because there is a new process that needs more attention at this moment. By the new process, I am referring to the 2019-2021 income negotiations. Managing two processes simultaneously would have been inefficient and ineffective. Thus, the GTU leadership must be credited for focusing on the new income negotiations.

I am aware that a few are disappointed with Mark Lyte for pulling the plug on the old process, including some inside his team. But they are not seeing the long game.

Everything that happened in the old process has aided an outcome where the GTU now commands the moral high ground on these 2019-2021 wages talks. The GTU is in its strongest negotiating position ever in the history of independent Guyana and that happened because of their reasonableness in the old process.

The Guyanese nation, especially the students, would have seen a GTU that cares more for their students' welfare than their own. The stakeholders can now see clearly the problem is the stingy and hypocritical Government, which has money for billion-dollar travel for Government executives but not enough for the teachers. If the GTU calls a long-term strike in support of the teachers, they will be able to count on the students and their parents.

But mistakes were made in the old process which will not happen in the new process. Firstly, if the teachers are called out in 2019, they will not be returning to the classroom until real cash and a signed agreement are in place.

Secondly, the GTU leadership did exhibit many opportunities of inexperience and was more willing to give Team Granger the benefit of the doubt. It is now clear that Team Granger must not be trusted. Cordiality yes, trust no!

Thirdly, they failed to adequately leverage the wealth of experience in the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana and the Trades Union Congress to help strengthen their position. In the new process, that will not happen.

Fourthly, the GTU failed to build a cash war chest to support teachers if a strike happens. They have 12 months to commence the accumulation process.

Fifthly, an alliance with the Private Sector must be built from now to ensure support can be garnered from that angle if the need arises. For example, I was told a company offered all the water for the teachers on strike in September 2018. Those are the kind of relationships that mould a struggle.

Sixthly, though all teachers’ matters focus on your TS3 and TS4 – since it is these people who are the bulk of the teaching fraternity – and it is they who will come out. You cannot expect the head of Queens College to back you when her salary surpasses GY$250,000 per month, but those who are averaging around GY$79,000 per month will stand with you to the end.

With an awareness that the Government does not represent your class interest, the new process must be constructed by the GTU leadership very differently than the old process. The road to the end game must be project managed from now. Have the letters been written to the Government outlining your position on the 2019-2021 income negotiations? If not, let us get this ball rolling!

Please share your thoughts at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

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fridAY, october 19, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Wages impasse

Agreement between GTU, Education Ministry not signed

T

he agreement only recently made between the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the Education Ministry to end the teachers’ salary impasse was expected to be signed off on Wednesday; however, the two parties were unable to do so.

GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald on Monday told <<<Guyana Times>>> that the agreement was expected to be signed by Wednesday.

When McDonald was contacted on Wednesday, she informed that the two sides would not be meeting during the day.

The Education Ministry and GTU officials addressing the media at the last meeting held on Friday last

Moreover, the General Secretary pointed out that the GTU officials were set to meet and did not comment on the agreement.

Although she had previously voiced her concern over the 12 per cent and eight per cent payout being offered by the Government, she opted not to comment before meeting with the Union on Wednesday.

Thereafter, all calls went unanswered.

Calls made to the Education Ministry’s office also went unanswered. continued on page 15

12 news Jagdeo dismisses President’s parliamentary "ploy" M fridAY, october 19, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

oments after President David Granger’s address to Parliament on Friday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo held an impromptu press conference where he dismissed many of the assertions and remarks that were made by the Head of State.

While the Opposition Leader is maintaining that it was not a policy speech, he also sought to point out that no transparent policy guidance was specified for the future.

“First of all, this was not a policy speech. This was the President speaking about his work programme for the past year and what they have done and grading and appraising himself and his Government,” the former President pointed out.

In highlighting that Granger failed to disclose the impact of these governmental policies, some of the matters addressed by Granger were carefully examined and he formulated a synopsis of the actual scenario.

According to Jagdeo, the 2051 new businesses that

were created in the 215 hinterland communities through the Village Improvement Plans, were made through provisions that were set up under the tenure of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration and monies were left to fund these projects.

“The Village Improvement Plans were there long before 2016 in each village and we left money to fund those plans. The presidential grant he talks about now was started under the PPP.” Adding to that, Jagdeo is of the belief that the training of youths did not lower the unemployment rate since thousands of persons would have lost their jobs over the past three years. Granger had mentioned in his address that the 40 per cent unemployment rate in 2015 would have been remedied by the implementation of minor training programmes for youths.

“He did not say what youth unemployment is today because we know that many people have lost their jobs. In fact, 30,000 people have lost their jobs under his tenure in

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

office and many of them are young people and many can’t find a job now so him enumerating how many people they’ve trained through small programmes doesn’t answer the fundamental question.”

The Opposition Leader lamented that the reality of livelihood in Guyana demonstrates differently than what was said during the Head of State’ discourse, while alluding to the meager pension increase that is accompanied by cutbacks on subsidies for utility services.

“They have now removed the water subsidy, electricity

subsidy, put the VAT (Value Added Tax) on drugs that old people use more. The transport cost has gone up because they had a fare increase recently. That adds hardship to old people. He didn’t say a single word on how he will improve the lot of old people.”

With respect to the President’s remark on the improvement in the quality of electricity that is being supplied to Guyanese, the former President urged the Government to take a closer look into this affair, adding that the situation has “deteriorated” with no long-term solutions.

“The reality of Guyana is that it has deteriorated. You ask the people in Bartica or the Essequibo Coast or on the East Coast or Georgetown… and they have absolutely no plans for addressing it.”

He also gestured at the

250 housing units that was mentioned by Granger is incomparable to the thousands of property lots that were distributed under the PPP Administration, while noting that the mortgage rate was lowered significantly from 38 per cent to a minimum of five per cent for persons who are borrowing up to $8 million.

“So far, three and a half years in Government, they have decided to build 250 housing units. That’s their achievement. In the years PPP had been in office, over 100,000 house lots have been issued, many tens of thousands of houses built.”

The Opposition Leader further went on to state the important issues that should have been mentioned by the President, which includes the fraudulent names on the Local Government Elections lists and the frequent secu-

rity breaches at the penitentiary.

“He talks about the prisons and that they inherit past failures. Twenty-three years in management of the country, we did not have yearly crises at the prison. The first one led to a massive escape and a fire, the second one led to a fire that burn down the whole prison [Camp Street Prison] and many people were killed.

Then we had a breakout at Lusignan and now we have another breakout.”

The “big revelation” to Parliament was to launch a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the piracy attack. A Mining Act will also be crafted where there will new regulations to control mercury and in the Jagdeo’s views, this will create a “huge impact” on small-scale miners.

Oil revenue will not be squandered...

The President continued, “Your Government is committed to transparency in the management of this sector. We have made public the petroleum contracts signed between investors and the Government of Guyana.

Work is continuing, also, on the Petroleum Commission Bill which has been re-drafted and forwarded to the Department of Energy for review.”

However, Government’s commitment to transparency was questioned when it was discovered that it had received a US$18 million as a signing bonus from United States-oil giant Exxon Mobil.

They had failed to disclose that it had received the mon-

ey since 2016 but also deposited it into a private account at the Bank of Guyana (BoG) instead of the Consolidated Fund.

Government had defended its actions saying that the money was placed at the Bank of Guyana since Government had intended to use it to pay the legal team that would represent Guyana’s interest at the World Court regarding the border controversy with its western neighbour Venezuela. The money was never placed into the Fund and there are still many unanswered questions.

But Granger said, “Your Government will ensure that oil revenues are prudent-

from page 3

ly managed for the present and future generations in accordance with our objective of securing the good life for all. We shall do this through a natural resources fund which will be established before first oil in 2020. Priority will be given to investments in human capital…” he added.

While Government has laid a Green Paper on the natural resources fund, before this Assembly, in August, there has been no effort to table any other legislation that will guide the industry.

This includes a local content policy and the Petroleum Commission, among others.

(Samuel Sukhnandan)

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fridAY, october 19, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Appellate Court upholds Justice Patterson’s appointment as GECOM Chairman ...as PPP signals intention to appeal decision

By Shemuel Fanfair

P

eople’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha lost his appeal to the acting Chief Justice Roxane George's decision regarding the appointment of retired Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) when the Court of Appeal handed down its ruling on Thursday. The PPP was seeking to have the court reverse Justice George’s June 8, 2018, ruling which followed Mustapha filing his case in October last year.

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and fellow Appellate Justices Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud unanimously agreed that Justice Patterson’s appointment was not unconstitutional, saying the President was empowered to appoint a Judge, retired Judge or someone with the qualifications if he judged the Opposition Leader’s list unacceptable.

Justice Gregory in her determination opined that the three lists as submitted did not achieve consensus.

“My finding is that to submit lists with three sets of names and simultaneously ask the President, in submitting those names to choose a Chairman; in my mind, that could not have been contemplated as achieving consensus,” the Appeal Court Judge observed.

She also said the manner in which the lists were submitted was not reasonable, adding that the submission of the three lists without engagement could not have led

Attorney Anil Nandlall

to the selection of a “consensual candidate.”

Justice Persaud, focused on three aspects on the interpretive process of Guyana’s Constitution, having observed that while it was earlier framed with a view of giving the President unilateral power to appoint a Chairman; was moved toward a consensual approach.

He said that initial engagement with the President and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo showed an “appreciation” for the consensual nature for GECOM Chairman’s appointment.

Justice Persaud said too that any move towards unilateralism is wholly unacceptable and this could lead to abuse and would not be motivated by good faith. He outlined that there was nothing to suggest that the President acted “unconstitutionally, illegally or unreasonably in appointing Justice Patterson.

“The appointment of a former Judge results itself in impartiality and fairness and can only lead to establishing the intended balance pre-

scribed for as a whole,” the Judge highlighted.

Chancellor CummingsEdwards who announced the unanimous decision spoke extensively in giving background to applicant’s case.

Included in the salient points she addressed was that the appellant’s case had no bearing in affecting the elections process as the challenge to Justice Patterson’s appointment was filed well before the date before Local Government Elections (LGE) was proclaimed.

She therefore determined that both the High Court and Appeal Court had jurisdiction to hear Mustapha’s case.

She also harped on the point of the unilateral position being changed to one of consensus. Justice CummingsEdwards reminded that the Constitution had earlier outlined that the President was required to select a Judge, retired Judge or one that holds the qualifications to be a Judge. This was later amended when the late Desmond Hoyte was the Opposition Leader and Hoyte could have submitted a list with any other “fit and proper” person.

The country’s most senior Judge outlined that once he found the list, in what the framers of the Constitution opined as “not acceptable”, he could select a Judge, retired Judge or one that holds the relevant qualifications.

Justice Cummings-Edwards held the view that this decision was in keeping with the proviso to Article 161(2) of the Constitution declaring that Justice George’s High Court decision upholding the appointment was correct. She observed too that the retired

Guyana Elections Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson

Judge was qualified to serve in the Chairman’s post, having served in the Commonwealth, with Guyana being included in this category.

The Attorney General in reacting to the ruling, meanwhile, said he was pleased with the court’s decision though he said the local courts have being ruling against him. He held that both the

President and his acts have immunity, saying the appointment of GECOM Chair is Granger’s decision. The Chancellor had moments before ruled that the President’s acts were not immune.

“We can’t have you personally exempted and then any Tom, Dick and Harry could go to a court and attempt to examine and dissect them and you’re not present,” the AG stressed.

He said he is prepared to defend the case further even as the applicant’s Attorney Anil Nandlall confirmed to members of the media that he will be soon be taking the case to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). He expressed his disappointment over the Judges agreeing with many of his arguments, while still ruling unfavourably toward his client.

“The Judges demonstrated an understanding of the history of the provision; an understanding of what was required in the interpretation of the provision; they understood what the pow-

Attorney General Basil Williams

ers of the President were and the powers of the Leader of the Opposition was and then suddenly as they were about to make that crucial ruling, there was a mental, judicial, jurisprudential collapse in their reasoning,” Nandlall opined.

No court costs were awarded by the Appeal Court after Thursday’s decision.

14 news President Granger has responsibility for oil and gas sector – Harmon M fridAY, october 19, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

inister of State, Joseph Harmon on Thursday reiterated that responsibility for the oil and gas sector rested solely with President David Granger, even though he is answerable to the National Assembly for the Ministry of the Presidency and its departments, which include the Department of Energy.

Minister Harmon was at the time speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management HighLevel Meeting of Caribbean Ministers from Small Island Developing States at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown.

Responding to an article carried on the online news site, Demerara Waves, captioned “Granger takes charge of oil and gas sector; Harmon not required to meet with oil company executives”, dated October 17,

President David Granger 2018, Minister Harmon explained that at previous post-Cabinet press briefings, it was made explicitly clear that the Department of Energy would be under the purview of the President.

“I had announced that His Excellency would have established the Department of Energy from August 1, 2018 and that it would be

headed by a Director, Dr Mark Bynoe and that the entity will report directly to His Excellency, who would exercise personal supervision over it. So, it is strange [to hear this now]. You understand that in the way in which our official gazettes are published … with ministerial responsibility that all of these issues, which fall under the President and the Ministry of the Presidency will be published under my name so that I will answer to those issues in the National Assembly,” Minister Harmon said. At the post-Cabinet press briefing on March 8, 2018, Neil Marks, a reporter attached to local media outfit, the Newsroom, questioned whether the Minister of State would be gazetted as the person who held responsibility for the Department of Energy.

Minister Harmon had responded, “the Department of Energy is under the

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon Ministry of the Presidency and will receive direct guidance from His Excellency, the President. The quintet of Ministers with responsibility for oil and gas have been tasked with setting up the various items that I’ve explained to you, 10 different things – the structure, functioning, the capacity

building and all of these different issues will be dealt with under that. So, it’s basically giving more space, more authority, more resources and the direct eye of the President in dealing with these issues.”

Further, Denis Chabrol, from the Demerara Waves, followed up on this question, querying who will be the reporting Minister to the House when it comes to the Energy Department.

Minister Harmon stated on that occasion that “once it is in the Ministry of the Presidency, the Minister of State is the person who will answer to the Parliament for any matter that relates to the Ministry of the Presidency”.

In reference to a letter from the President to oil companies, which Demerara Waves quoted in its article, Minister Harmon said that even before the President’s letter was dispatched; he

would have already written to the companies and other agencies informing them of the change.

“Even before the letter that you spoke about written by His Excellency, I had written to all of the companies, including the international banks and some foreign countries, indicating to them that the Department of Energy was established on August 1, 2018 and that all issues in relation to oil and gas were to be referred to that entity under Dr Bynoe.

“It is important, with this being a new entity, that we establish very clearly the authority of the entity and this is what His Excellency, the President has reinforced; that this is a new department of Government established and, therefore, we have to work assiduously to ensure that it is given that authority and scope which is required by us,” the Minister of State said.

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fridAY, october 19, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

City Hall CoI

Corruption, overemployment, bankruptcy swarm City Hall – Gaskin …calls for criminal charges to be laid

T

he Mayor and City Council’s unbalanced and bankrupted condition is linked to corruption, incompetence and the embezzlement of resources with those in superiority being the central malefactors.

This was the position shared by former presidential advisor Ramon Gaskin who submitted his witness statement and evidence before retired Justice Cecil Kennard at Wednesday’s Commission of Inquiry at the Critchlow Labour College on Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

“Mismanagement, corruption and incompetence and stealing… They’re too incompetent and unqualified… City Hall is bankrupt like the Berbice Bridge,” said the former consultant.

Gaskin made these remarks based on his contact with employees of the Council in 2012, but also shared his views as an economist.

In 2009, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Keith Burrowes had carried out an extensive inquiry into the state of affairs at City Hall.

This led to Gaskin’s appointment in May of 2012 to verify if the recommendations from the report were implemented. Upon investigating, it was found that none of these recommendations were applied to the operations of the local organ body.

“He (Burrowes) did the inquiry for the City Council

in 2009 and in 2012, he hired me to go and inquire if they had implemented any of his recommendations. I got the opportunity to go there…

The recommendations of Burrowes were not implemented.”

While that report was submitted the following June, the economist said he delved into other matters of the Council where astonishing financial procedures and other questionable incidents were unearthed. From those signals, he is of the belief that the Town Council has adequate revenues to sustain operations but it is being hindered by mishandling of funds.

Being tasked to provide him with a list of outstanding revenues and taxes, staffers provided documents which indicated that over $12 billion were owed from businesses and taxpayers.

“They’re bankrupted now but that’s because of their own mismanagement of the financial affairs of the city…

The amount owed to City Council at that time was $12 billion. It’s a confronted lie that they don’t have money.

If they run the place properly, they will have enough money to do their work,” he said.

Documents provided to the Commission revealed that on one occasion, a payment of $2,845,125 was made to an entity under the name MTM General Contraction and Services but the letterhead only had the company title with no address or contact number.

A noted inscribed at the bottom of the letter was written by the then City Engineer, instructing that the cheque be written to a person instead.

“No address, no telephone number, no nothing. The engineer is telling the chief accountant how to write this cheque in the name of this person in his own handwriting.”

Overemployment Another issue which

Agreement between GTU...

from page 11

Last Friday, the GTU finally agreed to the Ministry’s offer after consulting its members. The disclosure was made after more than six hours of discussion between the two sides.

Education Minister Nicolette Henry announced, “What we have proposed essentially is in so far as 2016 is concerned, we finalised at 12 and eight per cent respectively and for 2018, we’re at eight per cent and the debunching figure (is) the one that we shared earlier – the $350,000,000.”

Although fewer smiles were seen on the faces of the executives after that meeting, GTU President Mark Lyte told this publication that the Union was satisfied with the amount being given to teachers. “We are walking away a lot happier than initially. We recognise that we were able to broker an agreement with the Ministry of Education that will bring a lot of satisfaction to our members, and I think that was the ultimate objective of this whole process to ensure that every teacher benefits significantly.”

According to him, the previous offers tabled did not provide benefits for all teachers. In fact, some 80 per cent of teachers, he said, would not have benefited from the Government’s previous offer.

It was explained by him that the increases for teachers will be paid in two tranches. “The increases are going to be paid in two tranches, because you know what teachers receive in 2016 would have an impact on 2017 and 2018, so we are going to have payments being done in December and payments being done in January 2019,” Lyte stated.

A joint statement shared with the media from the two agencies said: “Having considered new information provided, which included salary benefits for all scales of teachers ranging from TS1 to TS19 and special and non-salary benefits, the two parties concluded discussions and have committed to the implementation of the agreement. The three-year 2016 to 2018 agreement will be signed in the new week.”

Not only has the arbitration process been wiped off

the table owing to the recent agreement but also the thought of strike action.

Teachers were gearing up for another round of protest action following a number of failed discussions between the GTU and the Ministry. They were being rallied by the Union as they were unable to agree with the Ministry on the appointment of an arbitration panel to decide the teachers’ wages dispute.

A 40 per cent salary increase for public school teachers was initially proposed for the year 2016.

Over time, the percentage would be increased for all categories of represented teachers.

For the year 2017, the Union was hoping to have bargained for a 45 per cent increase, which would then increase to 50 per cent for the remainder of the years indicated in the agreement (2018-2020).

It recently changed its demands and said it was willing to accept a ‘substantial’ payout from the Government.

seemed baffling was the quantity of individuals that the Council employed, amounting to over 800. The doubled workforce causes a steep increase in the payroll and it is one which City Hall cannot sustain.

“You have over 800 persons to pay every Friday.

Right now the payroll is over $100 million per month to find for these people. Any time you got 800 people working in a place where you only need 300 and you have to find $100 million a month to pay them, then you’re in big trouble,” Gaskin advised.

Under-qualified persons are also acquiring posts that do not suit their qualifications.

One such instance is the appointment of the Internal Auditor, Omadeily Newton, who possesses only a Public Management Degree. For Gaskin, an auditor should have accounting qualifications and experience.

“Auditing is part of the whole accountancy profession.

To learn to do auditing, you have to learn accountancy.”

Adding to that, the person should operate independently but Newton works from the Town Clerk’s Office which is extremely contradicting.

One of Burrowes’ recommendations was for the establishment of an Internal Audit Department which never materialised. In the City Treasury Department, Gaskin is certain that a majority of the persons are not

City Treasurer John Douglas

Economist Ramon Gaskin

trained in accountancy.

He pointed out that in the year 2000, the Auditor General at that time had stated that they hadn’t conducted any financial assessment of the Council in one decade.

Following up in 2016, an announcement was made that no audits were orchestrated in 12 years.

“The whole accountancy and books and ledger were wrong…”

ry, laundry, leave passage, meals, overtime, premium, responsibility, risk allowance and travelling, retroactive payments and miscellaneous.

“They had 19 different types of allowances on top of your salary. Isn’t that a nice place to work? By now, they might have more than 19.”

While the Town Clerk Royston King is considered “the epicenter” of corruption and has been “getting the brunt of the “attack”, Gaskin posited that the abuse of power has led to several violations of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01.

In his final recommendation, Gaskin called for criminal charges to be laid after the probe against those persons who are guilty of any offences while on duty at the Georgetown Town Council, as well as a complete overhaul of its management body.

19 allowances During 2012, 19 allowances were disbursed when the need arose and was distinct from the employees’ monthly salary. A list was tendered for evidence and coincides with one that was submitted by the Audit Office of Guyana.

The stipends included acting, cashier, clothing, commuted overtime, double-time, duty, entertainment, honour, housing, increment on sala-

16 news

fridAY, october 19, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt to expand ban on plastic usage by 2020 – Jordan …as Green Expo opens

A

s the inaugural Green Expo kicked off on Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara, Finance Minister Winston Jordan reiterated that the coalition Government plans to implement a ban on more plastic products by 2020.

Jordan was at the time addressing a gathering at the Ramada Hotel, also in Providence, at the opening ceremony of the inaugural Green Expo.

He said, “Having banned the use of certain plastic products in 2016, our Government is committed to

on single use plastics.

In August, as part of World Earth Day, a number of supermarkets partnered with the EPA to reduce the use of single use plastic bags as they introduce reusable shopping bags.

Meanwhile, over 130 exhibitors at the Stadium are gearing themselves for three packed days of questions and sharing samples of their products as the first ever Green Expo gets underway.

The expo and summit are being held under the theme “Sustainable economic growth through small businesses innovation, entrepreneurship and transformative

The LPG powered car

ban even more by 2020”.

The Minister noted the importance of imposing a ban on certain plastic products, as they are hazardous to human and marine life. Various agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been lobbying for a ban to be imposed

Government policies”.

The expo, which winds down on Saturday, is opened to the public from 14:00h daily with the intention of promoting innovation and driving Guyana towards the Green State Development Strategy.

According to Minister

Public Information Minister Dawn Hastings cuts the ceremonial ribbon to welcome locals to the inaugural Green Expo

Jordan, “This expo and summit brings together business experts from Guyana and around the world to educate and inspire local businesses to adopt new technologies and good practices that are necessary to build business resilience and competitiveness”.

He added that the expo will undoubtedly create opportunities for networking and facilitate trade at the same time to benefit locals.

The MP pulled out a pack of straws made of bamboo while explaining to the gathering that much can be done with the material, by young entrepreneurs.

The Business Minister endorsed the importance of the summit in helping small businesses.

“This event that we are opening today (Thursday) is an important one for the country. It is also an important one for businesses, especially small businesses because business-

es that understand where Guyana is heading over the next two decades will make better decisions than those who do not,” he added.

Further, he pointed out the importance of small businesses understanding how the Green State Development Strategy will affect their sector and as such noted that the Government has made it more affordable to invest in renewable energy solutions by removing import duties on renewable energy generating

equipment, which makes the decision to invest in green energy a great one for businesses in the long-term.

No gasoline car

Nevertheless, a car powered by Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was on display at the exposition. This vehicle is powered by a new gas being distributed and marketed by Massy services, which happens to be the same type of gas used for domestic purposes.

Hekima Paul, an employee at Massy told the Guyana Times that the gas is more feasible and safe. Paul explained that cars are currently being modified to use this type of gas as it is safer for the environment and the user.

According to him, persons can save as much as $10,000 in fuel as customers can get 30 miles per gallon. Extra cash can also be saved as the car requires less maintenance, in terms of servicing.

Another great feature of the car is that it was designed for impact and in the case of an accident, it will absorb the impact while in some cases, a gas tank might explode, as was explained by another employee, Robert Hong.

He said, “If there is a problem where somebody gets into an accident, the driver can electronically shut off the gas from inside the car… to prevent gas from going more to the engine. Regular vehicles do not generally have a cut-off switch for their cars”.

(Davina Ramdass)

IAST launches nutrient drink made from potatoes

T

he Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) on Thursday launched its new nutrient filled beverage ‘Sak’, by at the Inaugural Green Expo which is being held at the Guyana National Stadium, East Bank Demerara.

The new product which is made from purple potatoes grown in Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), is said to be packed with nutrients to help promote male performance as well as promote healthy hair, skin and nail growth.

This was disclosed by Chairman of the IAST, Suresh Narine who noted that the product is multiply blessed because it has several factors that make it very exciting.

“At one level it’s a product which is vertically integrated from sustaining farming practices by Indigenous peoples… in that concept alone it is remarkable because it reaches the rural farmers all the way up to the tertiary consumer and its business model allows all of the proceeds to go back to that farmer”.

The purple potato has been used for several years by various Amerindian tribes such as the Makusi and Patamonas to make cultural drinks such as fly and piwari.

The drink as a matter of fact got its name ‘Sak’ from the Patomona word for potato.

Narine explained that he became interested in the potatoes as he learnt it con-

The new nutrient filled drink

tained tons of health benefits; such as improving blood circulation, thereby reducing hypertension and other blood diseases; cardiac health; brain function and delivery and stimulates growth of the hair and nails.

Added to that, he said the plant is also packed with magnesium, potassium and fibre.

The new drink which is expected to hit supermarkets by Christmas comes in two types – the low calorie and original.

“The low calorie is specifically targeted at remov-

ing the kinds of high impact of sugar seen in aerated drinks, so it is suitable for diabetics and children,” he said.

A few of the ingredients being used along with the purple potatoes include water, stabiliser, cinnamon, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B2 and Vitamin B12.

It was pointed out by the developer that although the drink is only being bottled in 10 ounces, the idea of expanding has not been wiped off the table.

friday, october 19, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

F

ounder and lead dancer of the Ishara Dance Troupe, Shivanie Latchman, was on Sunday evening last crowned Mrs India Guyana Worldwide 2018 at an elaborate event at the M&M Banquet Hall, Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara.

The Guyanese beauty, who was once a Miss Universe delegate, will represent Guyana at the international pageant slated for New Jersey, USA, between December 9 and 14.

The Guyanese beauty hails from Diamond/Grove, on the East Bank Demerara, and holds a diploma in computer studies and a diploma in marketing. She is presently employed at the Guyana Marriott Hotel as a Catering/ Sales Manager.

Apart from work, she is a television host/producer of Entertainment Buzz.

As the founder of the dance group, she was quite pleased to have taken it above the others with her blend of old and contemporary styles of filmi, classical folk Bharatanatyam, bhangra and Bollywood music.

Latchman performed with some of the Indian stars who visited Guyana, such as Karan, Abha, Purvi, Arjune and also as the back-up Dance India Dance, Winner Shakti Mohan.

In addition, the dance group performed at the 2014 Chutney Monarch 2014 Competition held in Trinidad. Dancing, the talented young lady said, is a passion of hers.

As a compassionate person, she gives back to the less fortunate and to humanity. In recent times, she has

Mrs India Guyana Worldwide, Shivanie Latchman posed with delegates of the Miss India Guyana Pageant

teamed up with the Nirvana Foundation.

In addition, she has teamed up with the Divja Jyoti Association to work on the construction of a Ganga Maa Temple.

She is married to Ravi Persaud, one of her biggest supporters. The newly crowned Mrs India Guyana Worldwide enjoys nature walks, music, dancing, and a relaxing conversation with friends.

Latchman likes to spice up her life by trying new things. She is also the owner of a convenience store in Diamond.

Although losing everything she had in a fire that destroyed their home, and later being injured in a car accident, Latchman said she picked up the pieces and pressed on.

In 2011, she ventured into her first pageant titled, ‘Miss India Guyana Worldwide’ where she said she came face to face with her dreams. “With hard work and perseverance, I successfully emerged as a crowd favourite and was honoured with ‘Miss Best Talent’ and

the first runner-up position.”

About the pageant Mrs India Worldwide is produced by the IFC, based in New York City. The IFC is a pioneer organisation in conducting Indian pageants and fashion shows in the USA and worldwide.

The committee has been conducting Miss India Worldwide pageants since 1990 and Miss India New York and Miss India USA pageants annually since 1980.

In the year 2016, to mark the Silver Anniversary of Miss India Worldwide, Dharmatma Saran, Chairman and Founder of Miss India Worldwide, introduced for the first time Mrs India Worldwide.

The IFC selects distinguished local organisations in various parts of the world and authorises them to conduct national pageants in their respective countries.

The contestants are of Indian origin,

of any age, and are citizens, residents, or born in the country which they represent.

Applicants can be married, widowed, divorced and with or without children.

The idea is to empower Indian women around the world irrespective of their marital status. The pageant consists of three segments – Evening Gown, Indian Dress and Question/Answer.

The winners of all the various national pageant from all over the world vie for the glamorous and prestigious title of the Mrs India Worldwide.

Mrs India Worldwide aims to create and empower role models who will serve as ambassadors to charity, enrich the perceptions to beauty, and enhance a new strength, energy and spirit for the advancement of Indian women while positively impacting their communities in their respective countries.

This is a pageant that will provide Indian women around the world with a platform where they would get an opportunity to “make a difference to the world.”

F

ollowing a successful competition in 2017 which saw Bramha Persaud of the National Television Network (NTN), walking away with the top prize; this year, the telephone giant is once again hosting the event with 20 teams ready to cook their way to the top.

The 8th Annual Digicel Duck Curry Competition is billed for Sunday, October 28, 2018, at the Number 63 Beach, Corentyne, Berbice. All plans are in place and the teams are making sure their spices are in order to get the nod from the judges as the best curry.

As usual, the Digicel Duck Curry Competition is a lucrative venture, with thousands of dollars in prizes to be won. The winners will walk away with $275,000, while the runner-up will bag $175,000, the second runners up $125,000 and the fourth place winner will get $100,000. In addition, there will be consolation prizes of $10,000 each.

Participants are to take to the venue a minimum of 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) of duck meat which must be marinated and cooked at the venue.

They are also required to take along their cooking utensils and ingredients.

The organisers of the event will be given a ready-to-use stove. The cooking kicks off at 11:00h but the judging will commence at 14:30h.

However, as the sun sets, the party will commence with the stage show featuring Trinidad’s chutney singers Kavita Ramkissoon and Anthony Batson.

In addition, Guyana’s own, Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo will be performing live.

In addition to the duck curry competition and live performances, there will be lots of other events for the entire family.

Patrons can also win SIM cards and data plans, and those who wish to make purchases will receive reduced prices on handsets. The event is sponsored by Banks DIH, Edward B Beharry and Sons and Guy Gas.

W

ith the 68th edition of the Miss World pageant scheduled to take place in Sanya, China, on December 8, Guyana’s representative, 19-year-old Ambika Ramraj winged out to compete in the international pageant.

The Guyanese beauty queen left Guyana earlier in the week. Family members and friends turned up at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to bid farewell and wish the queen good luck. The reigning queen left with high hopes of returning to Guyana with the coveted crown.

While in China, she will make several appearances and more importantly, she will compete with more than 100 delegates from around the world for the title. She will also be working on her presentation “Beauty with a Purpose”, titled “Healthy Wholly” which focuses on using sport and fitness to reduce mental illness.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, october 19, 2018

he stage is set for the red carpet sashing ceremony of the 2018 “Miss Berbice I’m a Big deal, Beauty and Empowerment Pageant” delegates which will take place at State House Lawns, New Amsterdam, this Saturday, October 20.

This will be the first public appearance for the nine Berbician beauties who will share their vision and focus

on topical issues that are plaguing the ancient county.

The organisers have been looking at ways in which they can raise the bar by adding new and unique experiences for Berbicians and this is one such way, since this will be the first event of its kind in the Ancient County.

Royston Drakes, Director of RD Productions under which the pageant is being

held, said the evening will be filled with live entertainment from some of the best talents in Berbice.

Prizes will be given for the best dressed male and female and cancer survivors will be honoured. The delegates will do a three-part presentation which will begin with a sassy and confident dance number, followed by their presentation and conclude with their sponsors

sashing them.

Also on the programme is a boutique fashion show which will be hosted by Couture Closet, featuring models from Berbice.

The focus remains heavily on social awareness which is being tackled by delegates who are educating and informing the masses on the issue of suicide, domestic violence, cyberbullying and women empowerment

H

T

he fantastic DJ Stress Boat Cruise, sponsored by Stag Beer, will depart the Parika Stelling, East Bank Essequibo, at 09:00h on one of the new Chinese ferries on Sunday, October 28, to Supenaam with lots of excitement in place.

DJ Stephan, 71 Sound System, Selector Andy from the Megamix Reload,tThe One-Man Band Entertainer and Feel Da Beat Tassa Group will be there to add to the excitement as the ferry travels down the mighty Essequibo River.

There will be a wide variety of alcoholic beverages along with the new and great tasting 592 beer. A food bar will be present with some of the best creole dishes on sale.

Tickets for the cruise cost

$3000 each and for all those who purchase a ticket, they will receive a free pair of the all-new DJ Stress sunglasses.

Several grand prizes will be up for grabs based on the drawing that will be done 15 minutes before arrival at Supenaam.

Patrons will have to fill out the information on each ticket such as your name, cellphone number and address to be eligible for the drawing.

The first prize includes a gold chain from Elegance Jewellery and a pair of Double Duty safety shoes from Hardware Depot.

Second prize includes a pair of Double Duty safety shoes and a case of Stag Beer, while the third prize includes a pair of Double Duty safety shoes and a case of 592 Beer.

Boat cruise fans who are driving are reminded that there are several secured parking lots such as the Big Kiss Parking Lot and Barnes Parking Lot located just one block away from the Parika Stelling.

The ferry will berth at Supenaam for no less than two hours hence patrons can leave the ferry to visit friends and family in Anna Regina, Charity, Suddie and other villages.

The first 50 persons will receive passes for the final leg of Caribbean Motor Racing Championships slated for November 11, at the South Dakota Circuit. For those who did not buy tickets in advance, they will be required to pay $5000 at the stelling on October 28.

among others to help curb these social ills.

This will be the second edition of the “Miss Berbice, I am a Big Deal Beauty and Empowerment Pageant” and the organisers have broken up the pageant into various segments which will continue in the month of November with a swimsuit competition, costume extravaganza, family fun day and conclude with the

alloween lovers, the place to be this Saturday is The Strip Restaurant and Bar, Giftland Mall, Greater Georgetown, for one of the most provocative Thriller parties titled, Blood Rain Halloween J’Ouvert.

The event is promoted by The Strip Restaurant and Bar alongside Pulse Entertainment.

This is one of the events that you don’t want to miss since it will be off the hook. Water, foam and powder will be in abundance and from all indications; the preferred colour will be red. This event will be a prelude to the Thriller Halloween Party titled “The Way of the Zen” at the said location on October 27.

Nevertheless, on Saturday evening, patrons are promised a grand time with great personalities and music. On the consoles that night will be Pulse’s very own, Deejay Ryan, Deejay Anisah and from the Boom FM, Kerwin and Shizzle will be in the house to add to the fantastic evening.

Early-bird tickets cost $1500 and more at the gate. Ladies will be admitted free before 20:00h.

Music, sound and lighting will be provided by Pulse Rentals.

main event on Saturday, November 20, at the Albion Sports Complex Ground.

Top Brandz Distributors who supply Corona, Budweiser, Budlight, as well as other non-alcoholic beverages remains the main sponsor of the event and other youth and women development projects in the region.

fridAY, october 19, 2018

19

The untold story: Kevon Wiggins Rose Hall Town Primary School, where he wrote the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and attained exceptional grades to attend one of Berbice’s best schools – New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School (NAMS).

Presently, Wiggins attends Evander Child’s Campus in the Bronx, New York. If you asked about Wiggins during his high school years, stories will be told about basketball. During his time at the NAMS, he dominated school basketball tournaments, scoring three pointers and dunking with ease.

Kevon Wiggins in action during a game for Guyana

By Brandon Corlette

G

uyana is known as a cricketing nation, but basketball is on the rise. The life of Kevon Adrian Wiggins is a story to all basketball lovers. He is carrying Guyana’s basketball to great places. At the tender age of 17 representing your country in your given sport suggests that you are a young legend.

This young legend was born on October 19, 2000 in New Amsterdam, Guyana, but grew up in Rose Hall Town. Wiggins fell in love

with basketball at age 13.

During that time, his father played for the Rose Hall Town Jammers at the Area H Ground, Rose Hall Town.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport exclusively, Wiggins related he achieved a rare feat: playing for Guyana’s junior and senior basketball teams in the year 2018.

Though Wiggins has migrated to the United States of America, he continues to be patriotic, travelling home to represent Guyana in various basketball tour-

naments. “The most successful game of my career was against Alfred E Smith High School in the Bronx, I scored a breathtaking 34 points, I shot 6-8 from the three-point line,” Wiggins told this reporter.

In the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) U-16 Championships, which was played in Guyana, Wiggins had an outstanding average of 15.2 points per game. His unforgettable youth tournament consisted of 11.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

Wiggins attended the

Jamaica becomes 1st Caribbean country to qualify for FIFA Women’s World Cup Jody Brown of Jamaica (right) fights for the ball against Katherine Castillo of Panama in the thirdplace match of the CONCACAF Women’s Championship at Toyota Stadium, in Frisco, Texas on October 17, 2018

J

amaica became the first Caribbean country to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, defeating Panama in a penalty-kick shootout in the third-place match of the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship at Toyota Stadium, Texas on Wednesday night.

The Reggae Girlz won 4-2 on penalties after playing out a 2-2 draw.

Goalkeeper Nicole McClure, who replaced Sydney Schneider in the 120th min-

ute, saved shots by Lineth Cedeno and Kenia Rangel after Yomira Pinzon and Erika Hernandez converted their chances. Deneisha Blackwood, Ashleigh Shim, Christina Chang and Dominique Bond-Flasza put home their attempts for Jamaica. The Panamanians still have a chance to reach France for next year’s tournament as they will play Argentina in a home-andhome playoff.

Brown set up the Reggae Girlz’s first goal as Khadija

Shaw headed in her rightwing cross from seven yards for her third goal of the tournament in the 14th minute. Panama equalised in the 75th minute on Captain Natalia Mills’ first goal of the competition. Mills latched onto a pass and ran to the top of the box as she drilled a shot into the lower left corner past Schneider to knot the score at 1-1.

Jamaica’s Jody Brown tallied her fourth goal of the tournament five minutes into the first extra period. She fired a right-footed shot from 16 yards into the near right post past Bailey.

Panama tied things up for the second time in the 115th minute as Adrith Quintero fed Cedeno, who beat Schneider from eight yards.

Defending world champions United States and Canada played for the confederation title in the second game of the double header.

However, there is life after basketball; Wiggins is enjoying his basketball, but is simultaneously majoring in computer science.

Wiggins told Guyana Times Sport that he is working toward his dreams of playing basketball in the National Basketball Association (NBA) or in Europe.

Before it was all basketball for Wiggins, he played cricket, attending Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Cricket Academy, but he certainly took little time to find his love – basketball. Standing at six feet, the talented shooting guard is certainly making a name

for himself in the world of basketball.

Wiggins is known to his classmates and teammates as an entertainer: a jovial and funny guy.

Among his motivators are his parents and brother, Jaydon Wiggins, who also has a passion for the game of basketball. His favourite basketball player is Kawhi Leonard, who plays for the Toronto Raptors in the NBA. Wiggins believes that nothing is impossible, and hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

fridAY, october 19, 2018

Music’s big names to headline Women’s World T20 concerts

Antilles 3x3 to tip off Saturday

– Patrice Roberts and Shenseea to perform at final in Antigua

S

ome of the biggest names and best voices on the Caribbean music scene will be on show for mega-concerts, which form part of fan engagement at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World T20 Cricket Tournament.

Patrice Roberts, the Soca superstar from Trinidad, and Shenseea, the popular Dancehall performer from Jamaica, will headline the shows on match days in Guyana and St Lucia.

The duo will also perform at the final in Antigua on November 24. They are the voices behind the tournament song “Watch This” – which has been the rallying call for fans to support the tournament. Kes The Band will be the headliners for the showpiece concert after the final at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground. The muchloved band from Trinidad, famous for the hit song “Hello”, will bring a rousing end to the tournament.

Roberts said: “Everybody knows I love my cricket and I’m a true West Indies supporter. I’m ready and I want all the fans out there to fill the grounds and be part of this amazing ICC Women’s World T20. Come out and Watch This as we show the world what the West Indies

T Patrice Roberts

Shenseea

has to offer. We want people to enjoy the cricket and feel the vibes of the music. This is the game we love and the music we love.”

The musical segment will start at 14:30h daily with disc jockeys and the “live” performances. Tanya Stephens from Jamaica will perform at the semi-finals on November 22 in Antigua, while other favourites including Teddyson John and the Dennery Segment in St Lucia, Timeka Marshall and Big Red in Guyana, Claudette Peters and Tian Winter in Antigua, will hit the stage. There will be no additional cost for the entertainment packages, and fans in some venues will have free transportation to and from the venues. Tickets are available at https://tickets. worldtwenty20.com, while

box offices open in all three host countries on Monday, October 29.

Tickets are priced from just US$3 with the focus on ensuring more people across the Caribbean can enjoy the event. The group stage matches at the Guyana National Stadium and the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia start at just US$3 (or G$500) and US$4 (or EC$10) respectively.

The semi-finals and finals will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua with tickets for the semi-finals starting at just US$7 (or EC$20) and the final at US$11 (or EC$30). A combination ticket package for the semis and final is priced at only US$15 (EC$40).

Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters presents GABF’s Shemaiah Denny with the sponsorship

he Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) will light up this weekend as it is being treated to the 3x3 Antilles Under-18 basketball competition.

While the focus will be on the 3x3 basketball action, the weekend’s schedule organised by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) also incorporates seminars so as to build the players’ skill and character.

Speaking on the level of competition, GABF President Nigel Hinds gave insight into the participating countries and went as far as to reveal the purpose of the tournament.

“We’re playing against some small islands in this basketball event of which we’ll have eight countries coming into Guyana.

Those countries comprise of Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, St Lucia and Dominica.

It’s a youth tournament that seeks to expand and energise persons’ interest in basketball using the 3-on-3 format,” the

GABF President explained.

He went on to express his gratitude to Banks for its longstanding support of the sport. ”We’re grateful to the flagship sponsor beyond the International Basketball Federation (IBF), this being Banks DIH, who have over the years been very generous to basketball and other sport disciplines in Guyana. I recall being here 10 months ago for the launching of Mecca and Banks supported that event, which I think was part of the catalyst to Guyana becoming the Caribbean basketball men’s champions,” Hinds stated.

Furthermore, the beverage company’s Communication Manager, Troy Peters cited the Federation’s hard work and success as one of the reasons why the beverage entity continued to support the sport

discipline.

“We’ve seen the success of the Guyana men’s basketball team and we’ve seen the 3 on 3 where they were successful, so to host an event at this level and the recent Caribbean junior tournament, it really shows that the Basketball Federation is on top of its game. So, when Nigel called on us, we were ready to assist the Federation,” Peters noted.

Aside from the Federation’s youth leadership seminar which is slated for Friday evening and Saturday morning, the 3x3 action will bounce off from 14:00h on Saturday and Sunday, with the Guyanese male and female teams comprising Akeem Crandon, Andrew Johnson, Nigel Bowen, Shamar France, Saffiya Greene, Lydia Roberts, and Roschelle Campbell hoping to keep the winners’ cup on local shores.

Steve’s Jewellery on board with Guyana Softball Cup

Representatives of Steve’s Jewellery and the GFSCA pose with the gold and diamond pendants

W

ith the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) officially launching the Guyana Softball Cup 8, Steve’s Jewellery has continued its commitment towards the Association for the tournament set to run October 26-28 under floodlights in Georgetown and on the East Coast of Demerara.

The tournament is deemed one of the biggest softball tournaments in the world, bigger than the Orlando Cup, Fort Lauderhill Cup, New York Cup and Canadian Cup. Over the years, the sponsors have been an integral part in what has made the tournament good.

Steve’s Jewellery, located at 301 Church Street, Georgetown, Guyana, has promised to continue to play an integral role in the tournament.

Company representative Mitchell Pereira, in a statement, said, “Once again, Steve’s Jewellery is pleased to be associated with the Guyana Softball Cup 8 under the GFSCA. On their eighth edition of this event, we wish this organisation well in their continued effort and making this a reality.”

Pereira also stated that Steve’s Jewellery would be presenting the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the three categories of the tournament with brand new gold and diamond pendants made of the finest Guyanese gold and diamonds.

The registration fee for the open category will remain at US$400 with the prize money set at US$4000, while the cost for registration for the masters (O-45 and O-50) is set at US$700. The prize money for the master’s categories is yet to be determined.

The tournament will feature teams from New York and Florida in the US, Guyana and Canada.

Some of the sponsors on board thus far are ANSA McAL under its Lucozade, Stag and iCool Water brands; Mike’s Pharmacy; Rubis Guyana; Trophy Stall; Survival Group of Companies; A and R Jewanram Printery; Rohan Auto Spares; Steve’s Jewellery; Ramchand’s Auto Spares; Clear Water; Busta; WJ Enterprise and Nand Persaud & Company Limited.

(Timothy Jaikarran)

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Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup set for action

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W

ith the success the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup reaped last year, the tournament is prepared this year to reap even more as it gets underway today at various

grounds across Georgetown.

After the teams were drawn they were placed into several groups where they will have to battle it out over the weekend. The top four teams with the high-

est points will qualify for the semi-finals; the top two teams remaining will then qualify for the final, which will be held on Sunday, October 21, 2018 at Everest Cricket Ground. Fans will

have the opportunity to witness some of the most modern equipment and forms of entertainment being brought to the game, including lighted bails and cheerleaders.

Fixtures for Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup: Friday October 19, 2018 ALL STARS PRELIMINARY ROUND 9:30AM (MORNING) Pitch #1 #2 #3

EVEREST GROUND Team VS Team Hillfoot Vipers Vs DS 18 All Stars Enterprise Rebels Vs Bartica All Stars Speedboat Vs Farm All Stars

Pitch #2 #3

GUYANA POLICE FORCE GROUND Team VS Team Boots All Stars Vs SVC All Stars Regal All Stars Vs Corriverton All Stars

Pitch #1

GNIC GROUND Team VS Team Challengers All Stars Vs Success All Stars

Pitch #1 #2 #3

1:00PM (AFTERNOON) EVEREST CRICKET CLUB Team VS Team Hillfoot Vipers Vs Bartica All Stars Enterprise Rebels Vs Farm All Stars Speedboat Vs DS 18 All Stars

Pitch #1 #2 #3

GUYANA POLICE FORCE GROUND Team VS Team Challengers All Stars Vs Corriverton Spartans Boots All Stars Vs Success All Stars Regal All Stars Vs SVC All Stars

Pitch #1 #2 #3

SATURDAY 20th, OCTOBER, 2018 ALL STARS PRELIMINARY ROUND 9:30AM (MORNING) EVEREST GROUND Team VS Team Hillfoot Vipers Vs Farm All Stars Enterprise Rebels Vs DS 18 All Stars Speedboat Vs Bartica All Stars

Pitch #1 #2 #3

GUYANA POLICE FORCE GROUND Team VS Team Challengers All Stars Vs SVC All Stars Boots All Stars Vs Corriverton Spartans Regal All Stars Vs Success All Stars

1:30pm (Afternoon Games) Four Teams with the highest points will go through to the Semi – Finals.

FRIDAY 19th, OCTOBER, 2018 MASTERS PRELIMINARY ROUND 9:30AM (MORNING) GUYANA POLICE FORCE GROUND Pitch Team VS Team #1 Regal Masters Vs Fishermen Masters Pitch #1 Pitch #1

YMCA GROUND Team VS Florida Guyana Hope Masters Vs

Team Enterprise Masters

MYO GROUND Team VS Team Sunrisers Masters Vs Royal Canadian Masters

Pitch #1 Pitch #1 #2

GYO GROUND Team VS Team Tropical Spring Masters Vs Wellman Masters DEMERARA CRICKET CLUB (DCC) Team VS Team Albion Masters Vs Marine Masters Parika Defenders Vs Ontario Masters Softball International

MASTERS PRELIMINARY ROUND 1:00PM (AFTERNOON) GNIC GROUND Pitch Team VS Team #1 Regal Masters Vs Enterprise Masters Pitch #1

YMCA GROUND Team VS Team Florida Guyana Hope Vs Royal Canadian Masters Masters

#2

DEMERARA CRICKET CLUB (DCC) Team VS Team Albion Masters Vs Ontario Masters Softball International Parika Defenders Vs Wellman Masters

Pitch #1

MYO GROUND Team VS Team Sunrisers Masters Vs Fishermen Masters

Pitch #1

GYO GROUND Team VS Tropical Spring Masters Vs

Pitch #1

Team Marine Masters

SATURDAY 20th, OCTOBER, 2018 MASTERS PRELIMINARY ROUND 9:30AM (MORNING) GNIC GROUND Pitch Team VS Team #1 Regal Masters Vs Royal Canadian Masters YMCA GROUND Pitch Team VS #1 Florida Guyana Hope Masters Vs Pitch #1 Pitch #1

Pitch #1 #2

Team Fishermen Master

MYO GROUND Team VS Team Sunrisers Masters Vs Enterprise Masters Team Tropical Masters

GYO GROUND VS Team Spring Vs Ontario Masters Softball International

DEMERARA CRICKET CLUB (DCC) Team VS Team Albion Masters Vs Wellman Masters Parika Defenders Vs Marine Masters

Saturday 20th October, 2018 at 1:30pm (Afternoon Games) Four Teams with the HIGHEST POINTS will go through to the Semi – Finals.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

fridAY, october 19, 2018

Regional Super50 Tournament

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force topple depleted Windward Volcanoes – rain has the final say as Canada-Windies B game abandoned

T

he defending champions Windward Islands Volcanoes succumbed to their fifth defeat in the Regional Super50 Tournament with an embarrassing loss against powerhouse Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

Volcanoes were blown away for a mere 78 in 22.1 overs, and Red Force batsmen enjoyed chasing down a small target as they completed the chase in 9.4 overs, winning by seven wickets.

In a much-anticipated encounter at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Red Force won the toss and opted to field. Improved Trinidadian fast bowler Ravi Rampaul struck in his first over, rattling the stumps of Volcanoes opener Tyrone Theophile for 1.

The Windward Islands Volcanoes continued to struggle as the Red Force skipper brilliantly opened t h e

s Kirk back to ing room

seven runs to his name.

Wickets continued to tumble as the Red Force bowlers chipped away with quick wickets. Left-arm spinner Khary Pierre wrapped up the innings in the 22nd over, bowling Alick Athanaze.

Opener Girdon

The Trinidad Red Force have now moved on to 23 points, two points behind table toppers Guyana Jaguars.

Red Force will clash with Windies B in their next encounter while Volcanoes will battle Guyana Jaguars today, October 19 at 11:30h lo-

SCOREBOARD

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force celebrate Lendl Simmons

bowli n g , ending Edwards the dresswith only

Pope was the only batsman offering resistance, stroking 37 from 44 balls – including five well-timed fours and one maximum off leg-spinner Imran Khan.

In completing a comprehensive bowling effort, Khan picked up 3-13 from four overs, fellow spinner Pierre and seasoned fast bowler Rayad Emrit took two wickets apiece. Captain Dwayne Bravo, Rampaul and Jason Mohammed chipped in with one wicket each.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force opener Lendl Simmons blazed away to a quick-fire half century with his new opening partner,

DeSinco Limited partners with Mobil 1 to sponsor Matthew Vieira ahead of “Ignite” T

he distributors of quality consumer products DeSinco Limited Guyana has proudly sponsored motor racer Matthew Vieira, who is set to participate in the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) “Ignite” National Championship at the South Dakota Circuit on November 10 and 11 this year.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, DeSinco Limited Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frank DeAbreu explained that many years ago his company had started a cycling project and he vividly remembers presenting a cycle to Matthew

cal time.

In the other encounter at the Queen’s Park Oval, rain once again had the last say as the match between Canada and Windies B was abandoned. (Brandon Corlette)

Vieira, who has now moved from being a cyclist to a motor racer. DeSinco is happy to have young Vieira as an endorser and hopes to have a long-term relationship with the bright motor-racing prospect. DeAbreu added that he has known the Vieira family for a relatively long period and he is certain that Matthew will be successful.

Meanwhile, the 21-year-old racing ace is thankful for the sponsorship, and he is willing to promote DeSinco, since he is a known mot o r

racer in the Caribbean and North America. Vieira added that he looked forward to DeSinco playing a role in his success in the future.

Mobil 1 is one of the largest lubricant companies in the world, and Vieira highlighted that his motorcycle has consumed the lubricant over the years and it has shown great performance.

DeSinco Limited, which was established in 1992 by DeAbreu, is the main distributor of quality consumer products in Guyana and sells a wide range of health, personal care and food products at very competitive prices.

DeSinco seeks to give back to the community and supports youth development through sponsorship of educational facilities and sporting activities nationwide.

Motor racer Matthew Vieira

West Indies star performer Keiron Pollard, who lost his stumps to left-arm spinner Kavem Hodge for a duck.

Hodge picked up all three Red Force wickets, but was unable to prevent a thumping victory by Red Force.

Simmons and the consistent Nicholas Pooran were the not out batsmen, with Simmons taking 20 off four balls, rubbing salt into the Volcanoes’ wounds.

Windward Islands Volcanoes Innings (50 overs maximum) T Theophile b Rampaul 1 GD Pope c Pooran b Emrit 37 KA Edwards c Emrit b DJ Bravo 7 DS Smith c †Ramdin b Mohammed 2 KAR Hodge c Mohammed b Emrit 3 RO Cato c DJ Bravo b Khan 0 A Athanaze b Pierre 6 EWJ Stewart † lbw b Khan 8 S Shillingford (c) c †Ramdin b Pierre 0 DE Johnson lbw b Khan 6 LM Edwards not out 0 Extras (lb 1, w 7) 8 TOTAL (22.1 Overs, RR: 3.51) 78 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (T Theophile, 1.4 ov), 2-26 (KA Edwards, 6.2 ov), 3-34 (DS Smith, 9.6 ov), 4-58 (GD Pope, 14.3 ov), 5-58 (KAR Hodge, 14.6 ov), 6-58 (RO Cato, 15.4 ov), 7-70 (EWJ Stewart,

19.5 ov), 8-71 (S Shillingford, 20.3 ov), 9-78 (DE Johnson, 21.5 ov), 10-78 (A Athanaze, 22.1 ov) BOWLING : DJ Bravo 4-0-15-1, R Rampaul 4-1-16-1, RR Emrit 4-28-2, JN Mohammed 3-0-18-1, I Khan 4-1-13-3, K Pierre 3.1-0-7-2 Trinidad and Tobago Red Force Innings (50 overs maximum) LMP Simmons not out 52 KA Pollard b Hodge 0 JN Mohammed c Cato b Hodge 3 DM Bravo c Cato b Hodge 0 N Pooran not out 25 TOTAL (3 wickets, 9.4 Overs, RR: 8.58) 83 Fall of wickets: 1-13 (KA Pollard, 1.4 ov), 2-23 (JN Mohammed, 3.6 ov), 3-23 (DM Bravo, 5.3 ov) BOWLING : DE Johnson 4-130-0, KAR Hodge 4.4-0-483, T Theophile 1-0-5-0

Pee Wee Football

Competition heats up as players head into Round of 16

F

ollowing three rounds of gruelling and competitive football at the junior stage, the Petraorganised Pee Wee Under-11 football tournament will ignite the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue this weekend.

The top 16 teams will be pitted against each other as they battle for a place in the quarter-final round.

Though they are young, the Under-11 players are not to be underestimated as they have proven over the past three weeks to be talented and keen on the particulars of the sport.

Leading the charge into the Round of 16 are defending champions West Ruimveldt. Despite missing some of their front runners from their championship team, West Ruimveldt have proven that they are the team to beat, since they are yet to lose an encoun-

ter. However, the champions will have to watch their backs, as there are quite a few strong contenders this year. Along with West Ruimveldt, there are five other teams who have not lost a game, hence, recording nine points. However, this front-running batch is being led by St Agnes, who thanks to their 9-0 win over Parfaite Harmonie in the first round, has a goal difference of 13. St Pius trail closely with their 11 and North Georgetown on 10. The other top teams are Mocha Arcadia with 9 (goal difference) and Mae’s Primary with 8.

12:30h 12:30h 13:30h 13:30h 14:30h 14:30h 15:30h 15:30h

The remainder of the top 16 will feature Marian Academy, St John’s Bosco (Plaisance) and South Ruimveldt on seven points while Golden Grove, Enterprise, Tucville, Timehri, Colaaco and St Ambrose are all on six points.

However, come Saturday, points will be put aside as the teams venture into fresh rivalries outside of their groups. The battle for the eight spots in the quarter-finals will kick off from 12:30h and will go on until the final match is staged at 17:30h.

Fixtures: St Agnes v/s Colaaco Tucville v/s Maes Marian Academy v/s Golden Grove West Ruimveldt v/s Plaisance Orphanage St Pius v/s Soesdyke Timerhi v/s Mocha St Ambrose v/s south North Georgetown v/s Enterprise

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIdAY, october 19, 2018

23

Regional Super50 Tournament

Cornwall smashes masterful century in rain-affected clash with USA – Leeward Islands Hurricanes snatch 2nd victory

Rakeem Cornwall swings for the hills during his masterful century

cluded 10 gigantic sixes and six timely fours against the United States of America (USA) in a rain-affected encounter at the Three Ws Oval, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados.

The Leeward Islands Hurricanes won the toss and opted to bat first on a small outfield, scoring 2487 in 49 overs.

The Hurricanes lost opener Keacy Carty in the second over of the innings to left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjigie as he was caught by Timil Patel for one. USA bowlers continued to interrupt the Hurricanes batsmen, with the top three batsmen scoring 22 runs combined.

However, Hurricanes skipper Devon Thomas and Cornwall had other plans as they scored briskly.

Thomas was dismissed in the 19th over for 43 from 52 deliveries by leg-spinner Patel as he was threatening to take the attack to the USA bowlers. Cornwall continued to lose batting partners, but that did not halt his scoring rate. He finally found a reliable partner in Orlando Peters, who faced 57 deliveries, scoring 27 useful runs. In the final over, Cornwall finished off in style as he thumped the

Devon Thomas during his knock of 43

USA left-arm fast bowler for a huge maximum and a four off the final two deliveries for an unbeaten 125.

Kyle Phillips, who has been among the wickets for the USA, grabbed 3-62 in eight overs. Left-arm spinner Kenjigie bowled economically, grabbing two wickets for 28 runs in 10 overs, including two maidens.

As there were continuous rain breaks, the USA were tasked with a revised target of 207. The openers Jaskaran Malhotram and Monank Patel were

watchful until the latter was dismissed by off-spinner Terrence Ward in the ninth over with the score on 22. Skipper Malhotram and Steven Taylor consolidated for a while, but leg-spinner Damion Jacobs sent Taylor packing for 23 runs, bowling the 19th over. The Hurricanes bowlers bowled brilliantly as they contained the USA batsmen. Cornwall, who bowled with control and variation, picked up two wickets for a mere 13 runs in eight overs as he com-

Timil Patel was the best bowler on show

pleted a man-of-the-match performance, while medium pacer Orlando Peters had two wickets in his twoover spell; Terrence Ward, who had an economy rate of 3.2, had one wicket along with Chesney Hughes and Jamaican Damian Jacobs.

USA Captain Malhotram was the only USA batsman to contribute substantially with 40 from 90 deliveries. After the 36th over, the rain began pouring and the game concluded. The USA were on 131-7 losing by 47

runs under the DuckworthLewis method.

The Leeward Islands Hurricanes and the United States of America are at the bottom of Group B. The USA’s next encounter will be on October 20 at Cave Hill, Barbados facing the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC), while Leeward Islands will play the exact opponent, CCC, on October 22 at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.

(Brandon Corlette)

R 5-a-side football Banks throws support behind South American 10K set to light Marriott beach front ablaze M B akeem Cornwall scored a rapid 125 from 93 balls that in-

ore than 150 athletes are expected to take the road in a matter of weeks as the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) prepares to host the 16th edition of the South American 10K road race.

The event has once again gained the support of Banks DIH. The 16th installment of the international meet will feature athletes from South American and Caribbean countries as well as the local stalwarts. Looking to attract in excess of 150 athletes, AAG President Aubrey Hutson shed some light on the nature of the event.

“This event is a three parts event, starts in Suriname, second leg in Guyana and the third leg in Canada.

Even though they are individually organised, we like to look at it as the circuit of the South Americas as it relates to 10K events,” Hutson explained.

Hutson noted that the correct procedures regarding the safety of participants on the road have been met.

“We’re in touch with the Guyana Police Force and they have promised this year to do the right thing for road racing, shut the entire road down for vehicular traffic, pedal cyclist, motorcyclist who are not part of the technical team.”

Furthermore, the AAG has fine-tuned the registration process as it relates to forms. “I must report that registration forms are out and these forms

are numbered for auditing purposes,” Hutson stated.

As a result of this, trainers and Coaches will be required to collect a form for each participant rather than uplifting one and photocopying it, as was done in previous years.

The race route runs along Carifesta Avenue, with a U-turn at UG, then into JB Latchmansingh Road, right turn into Thomas Lands, into the National Park before ending at the children’s monument.

Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters expressed his contentment with the values of the events and noted that the company was happy to be the primary sponsor once again.

“Over the years, we’ve seen the success of our athletes internationally, and Banks DIH Limited has been supporting the development of these athletes in no small measure. Our company will ensure the athletes and officials are hydrated with our award-winning Rainforest Waters. We also have Malta Supreme on board and we are very proud to have these two products supporting this event.”

The highly-anticipated South American 10K road race is set for November 4, 2018.

eing deemed one of the biggest football tournaments to hit the Marriott beach front under the theme “Bragging Rights 5-a-side Football”, popular promoter Marlon Jacobs, aka “Freedom Boss”, has stated that all systems are in place as the tournament is set to commence today.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, Jacobs stated that registration has been officially closed, and he was excited because some of the top teams from around Guyana are competing for a chance at $500,000.

He further went on to confirm that 18 teams have been confirmed for the tournament such as Diamond, Uprising, Silver Stars Berbice, Avocado, Sparta Boss, Back Circle, Leopold Street, Gold Is Money, North East, Tiger Bay, Kingston, Swag Ent (Linden), Dave & Celina (Linden), BV, Future Stars and Agricola Warriors.

When asked how he felt as today is officially the day when the first ball kicks off,

Promoter Marlon Jacobs, aka “Freedom Boss”

Jacobs responded, “I feel like this tournament will be the biggest tournament to hit Guyana based on the tickets sales and the tremendous feedback from participating teams and from their fans. Also, everyone is excited to see who will win and come out victorious, since the competing teams are no stranger to each other and have not played with out-of-town teams lately,”

he declared.

Jacobs said, “The sponsors have played a vital role in the tournament getting to where it is right now, especially the National Sports Commission (NSC), who is very happy to welcome such a competitive and fun tournament, and Stag also is excited since they haven’t had a football tournament of such magnitude in Guyana.”

In closing, Jacobs stated that his intention was to make “Bragging Rights” an annual event which footballers from across the country can look forward to. Based on the success of this year’s competition, they are looking to raise the stakes next year. Football is not the only sport that Jacobs plans to promote as he views sports as an area that he can definitely boost, with cricket and basketball among the possibilities.

The tournament begins at 18:00h and concludes at 22:00h and will be followed by the after-party that will conclude at 02:00h.

(Timothy Jaikarran)

fridAY, october 19, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Banks throws support behind South American 10K Page 23

Rainforest Waters Brand Manager Clive Pellew hands over the Banks DIH sponsorship cheque to AAG President Aubrey Hutson

DeSinco Limited partners with Mobil 1 to sponsor Matthew Competition heats up as players head Vieira ahead of “Ignite” into Round of 16 Pee Wee Football

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Matthew Vieira receiving his cheque in the presence of DeSinco Limited CEO Frank DeAbreu, and Mobil 1 and DeSinco representatives

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