Guyana Times - Saturday October 6, 2018

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Saturday, October 6, 2018

Issue No. 3707

GECOM Chairman not ruling out stepping down Details on pages 3&5

...as Commissioner Benn calls for GECOM to provide free, fair, transparent, nationally and internationally verifiable democratic elections

PPP pulls out of only Elderly couple 1 constituency in terrorised by Wakenaam – party armed men during Page 7 clarifies Page 3

...to contest other 8 constituencies

home invasion

Region 5 retired teachers honoured

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Trio arraigned with seawall cocaine bust

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CANU seeking ECD businesswoman for cocaine bust P2 in Canada

RPA calls out GRDB over Panama rice mix-up P10

N/A prison officer arraigned with trafficking

The Department of Education of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) honoured retired educators on Friday, as Guyana joined the rest of the world in observing World Teacher’s Day under the theme “The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher”

City Hall CoI

City Hall owes taxes since 2016 – GRA …failed to issue pension payments for 19 months

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Cash jet pilot convicted for cocaine Page smuggling, 9 money laundering

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AFC set to host 'FIT & PROPPA' P7 Candidates Conference today

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City Hall CoI

City Hall owes taxes since 2016 – GRA … failed to issue pension payments for 19 months

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he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been awaiting payments from the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) for rates and taxes dating back to 2016, while there has also been examination of pension payments to a broker insurance company that has not been paid for the past 19 months.

Officials from the GRA submitted their evidence at Friday’s Commission of Inquiry (CoI), where retired Justice Cecil Kennard continued to probe the matter with support from the legal assistant Sherwin Benjamin.

Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Ron Simbhu told the Commission that City Hall is guilty of outstanding taxes, which have been owed for 2016, 2017 and 2018.

While they were unable to divulge the amount as part of its agreements with the client, Simbhu positively stated that these payments were not made.

Instances of outstanding payments continued throughout the hearing as the Deputy Managing Director of Insurance Brokers Guyana Limited, Ewart Adams was called to the stand to testify.

The Guyana Revenue Authority

It was related that for the past 19 months, the M&CC has not made any monetary payments to the company under its pension plan. It is understood that the Council was required to disburse the monies to the broker after which it would be distributed to the subject insurance company so that the pensioners can uplift their benefits.

“The last payment of $776,523 was in February of 2017,” Adams said.

It is estimated that over $14.5 million is unpaid for the pension plan, with an additional $9,566,304 for the fire and motor insurance payments.

Adams indicated that the issue is of concern to the

pensioners since they are not receiving their complete pensions. Furthermore, he noted that he would have tried to engage officials of the Council as to when the full payments would be made, as well as to have the pension plan registered.

However, he “was given the royal runaround”

by City Treasurer John Douglas.

“I attempted to see the City Treasurer three weeks ago, without any success. He advised his secretary to check the following week. On my return to City Council the following week, it has not been rectified.”

Upon expressing his dissatisfaction at the management and with the way the

Council is functioning, the Deputy Managing Director is of the view that the entire body should be overhauled.

“I do not know how they keep their records but I know in the past, we were approached to provide documents to the Mayor and City Council which would help them to reconstitute their financial affairs.”

The inquiry comes at a time when numerous complaints were made by staffers of the Council and other agencies, regarding the expenditure and decisions which were taken by the Council. So far, it was heard that lands were leased by Town Clerk Royston King, which were not owned by the Council and he also reneged on a tax waiver for Giftland Mall. Additionally, over $70 million from the $500 million funding for the city restoration project is unaccounted for.

Since September 21, 2018, the Town Clerk was instructed to proceed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. It was announced that the Deputy Town Clerk Sharon Munroe-Harry would perform the duties as acting Town Clerk.

CANU seeking ECD businesswoman for cocaine bust in Canada

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Rosemary Singh

n East Coast Demerara (ECD) businesswoman is wanted for questioning by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) in relation to last month’s cocaine bust in Canada on a bauxite ship that departed Guyana.

Wanted is Rosemary Singh, called “Rose” of Lot 123 Ramsingh Street, Annandale, ECD, and Lot 153 South Annandale. She is the proprietress of Rose Bar, located in Section C Enterprise, ECD. CANU is asking anyone with information on her whereabouts to make con-

tact with its headquarters on telephone numbers 227-3507 and 226-0431.

On September 15, 2018, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) carried out a major drug enforcement exercise during which they seized 81 kilograms of cocaine at the Port of Valleyfield.

The drug was found concealed in the hold of a vessel – Jacqueline C – carrying bauxite from Linden, Guyana, where the ship departed.

“After an initial search of the vessel, signs led us to concentrate on the front of the boat. And after a vigorous search, the cocaine was found concealed in bags in the hold of the vessel,” CBSA Deputy Director, Alain Surprenant was quoted saying in subsequent reports.

Nevertheless, four people were arrested, two of whom – 48-year-old Nazir Ahmad Hussain and 36-year-old Roldan De Gorio TITO – were charged with conspiracy to import drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

According to a statement on the RCMP’s website, investigations revealed that the seized drug was heading for Toronto and Vancouver markets.

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saturdAY, october 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Demerara – Saturday, October 6 – a night retraction at 02:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Sunday, October 7 – a night retraction at 03:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, October 6 – 14:35h-16:05h and Sunday, October 7 – 15:15h-16:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals can be expected throughout most of the day, with sunny skies dominating in the afternoon.

Clear skies are expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly and Northeasterly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 02:07h and 14:39h reaching maximum heights of 2.49 metres and 2.55 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:08h and 20:33h reaching minimum heights of 0.66 metre and 0.65 metre respectively.

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GECOM Chairman not ruling out stepping down ...as Commissioner Benn calls for GECOM to provide free, fair, transparent, nationally and internationally verifiable democratic elections

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ince his appointment late last year, Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, Justice James Patterson has had a turbulent reign. On Friday, he did not rule out resigning and putting an end to it all.

During a press conference at GECOM’s Secretariat, the retired Justice complained about the challenges he is facing at the helm of the entity. When asked whether he would rule out resigning as Chairman, Patterson noted that he would not.

He spoke of “machinations” within and out OF GECOM, which were affecting his work. While he declined to go into detail about exactly what these machinations were, Patterson also complained about the court cases the secretariat has become embroiled in.

“I personally have done all that is humanly possible, to weld the opposing factions together. It seems that things are getting worse. It seems that the understandable use of the legal system has become a tool of disruption.”

“I am not saying that people who are aggrieved should not have access to the courts.

But I believe at some time, some lawyer, some member of the petition may file an ac-

GECOM Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson, has had his tenure beset by controversies since last year

tion in the court deeming, if it comes to that, the misuse of the legal system by any particular individual to have transgressed access to the court and deem him such.”

The latest legal challenge against GECOM was a case filed to have 50 names removed from nominator lists for Local Government Elections. The applicants claim their names were fraudulently affixed to the lists and they were barred from removing them by Returning Officers.

GECOM has also been hauled to court regarding the 2015 General and Regional

Elections. Patterson’s appointment itself, which was under a cloud of controversy, was also challenged at the level of the High Court.

After rejecting three lists of nominees submitted by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, President David Granger had gone ahead and appointed retired Justice Patterson as Chairman of GECOM. This decision had been, and continues to be, the centre of contention and debate, especially among civil society.

In fact, it was as a result of this that People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Secretary, Zulficar Mustapha approached the High Court to challenge the appointment. But on June 8, 2018, acting Chief Justice Roxane George had ruled that the Constitution of Guyana allowed for the President to unilaterally appoint someone to fill the position of GECOM chair. As such, Mustapha subsequently filed legal proceedings to appeal the High Court decision.

Qualifications trump race

Patterson also confronted another controversy – the issue of an alleged ethnic im-

balance at GECOM. When asked whether deliberate efforts to achieve racial diversity were being made, Patterson contended that deliberate efforts were being made to get the best people and he has “no apologies” for that.

“We’re making deliberate efforts to get the best people on the job. Sometimes that collides with ethnic quantities. For example, like in the interior. You don’t expect to find the same racial mix as the coastland.”

“Our (focus) is on getting the best people to do the jobs.

Personally, I would make no apologies about that. When we have to make a choice, quality trumps race… I don’t see anything wrong with that. I won’t quarrel with anyone who disagrees. I speak for myself.”

PPP Commissioners have raised concerns over the Commission’s hiring practises being skewered towards a particular ethnic group and indeed, have lodged a formal complaint with the Ethnic Relations Commission.

In their complaint, they had noted that candidates applying for posts at GECOM were being scored and hired based on their ethnicity and perceived political alignment.

Elderly couple terrorised by armed men during home invasion

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he elderly parents of television personality and activist, Neaz Subhan, were left traumatised after five bandits, two of whom were armed with handguns, broke into their home in the wee hours of Friday.

The incident occurred at Lot A Craig, East Bank Demerara; home to 72-yearold Mohamed Subhan, a pensioner; and his 83-year-old wife, Khairool Subhan, who is bedridden due to medical issues.

According to Police reports, the robbery occurred sometime around 02:10h

during which the bandits escaped with a 32" flat screen TV valued $70,000.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the elder Subhan recalled that he was awakened after his wife was in some discomfort and after giving her medication, he returned to bed. The man said he was still awake when he noticed a pair of hands on the window.

“I thought was a bat opened its wing and on the window but when I get up, I see the window open and when I look outside, I didn’t see anybody. By the time I go back inside the room and was about to lie down, a man

Mohamed Subhan

pounced on me,” he recounted.

Subhan said he saw the man approaching him and

yelled three times before he was silenced by the intruder.

“He covered my mouth and put a gun to my head saying ‘don’t holla, don’t holla’. He asked where the money deh and I tell he that I don’t have money that my wife paralysed, then he said that he know that she paralysed. Then he and the other guys, they go and tumble up the whole house. They were going to break the wardrobe but I tell them where the key was and they open it and empty out all the clothes but they didn’t get anything,” he related. turn to page 9

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saturdAY, october 6, 2018

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

Social responsibility

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very business seeks to maximise its profit, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) would seem to contradict this logic by taking away some of the company’s resources.

At its heart, corporate social responsibility is about an organisation taking responsibility for the impacts of its decisions and activities on all aspects of society, the community, and the environment. Corporate social responsibility is more than just donating money; it’s about contributing to the health and welfare of society, and operating transparently and ethically.

More importantly, this way of operating should be embedded in the business, rather than an afterthought.

What many may not know is that corporate social responsibility also helps to build a good corporate reputation.

In other words, companies agree to do more for society than simply create jobs and pay wages and taxes with the expectation of some reward, such as a good reputation or a competitive advantage in the local market.

Corporate philanthropy can serve to promote solidarity in a society where different groups agree on what is ethical and beneficial, according to the researchers. In societies built on this consensus model, CSR can smooth out the effects of economic inequality, and corporations voluntarily support public benefit projects to achieve this goal.

It can be understood that CSR helps in building a reputation as a responsible business and as a good citizen.

Keeping social responsibility front of mind encourages businesses to act ethically, and to consider the social and environmental impacts of their business. In doing so, organisations can avoid or mitigate detrimental impacts of their business on the community. In some cases, organisations will find ways to make changes in their services or value chain that actually delivers benefits for the community where they once didn’t.

In addition, CSR supports public value outcomes; put simply, public value is about the value that an organisation contributes to society. A sound, robust corporate social responsibility framework and organisational mindset can genuinely help organisations deliver public value outcomes by focusing on how their services can make a difference in the community.

This might happen indirectly, where an organisation’s services enable others to contribute to the community; or directly, through the organisation’s own activities, such as volunteerism and philanthropy.

Quite recently, a local company, in seeking to fulfill its CSR, donated a quantity of cash to the victims of a fire; a family of five was left homeless after the tragedy. This is commendable.

However, this was only one family in need of such assistance.

Another benefit of a strong corporate social responsibility framework is essential to building and maintaining trust between the company and clients. It can strengthen ties, build alliances, and foster strong working relationships with both existing and new clients. One way this can be achieved is by offering pro-bono or similar services where a company can partner with not-for-profit organisations to support their public value outcomes, where funds or resources may be limited. In turn, this helps deliver public value outcomes that may not have been delivered otherwise.

Studies have shown that a robust corporate social responsibility framework can also help a company become more attractive to potential future employees who are looking for workplaces with socially responsible practices, community mindedness and sound ethics.

The era of the social enterprises is upon us. More so than ever before, the most successful, respected, and desirable businesses exist to do much more than make money; they exist to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

Study after study has shown that socially responsible businesses (aka social enterprises) not only provide sustainable business models, but also have improved marketing, employee recruitment, employee satisfaction, legal treatment, customer loyalty, brand perception, and richer partnerships.

The question that many local businesses need to consider is: ‘Can corporate social responsibility help your organisation?

Do you see the benefits of CSR?

Local actors during one of their presentations at the launch of the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign which kicked off on Friday at the Square of the Revolution on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown

Isn’t it more important for the Guyanese public to have some sense of confidence in SOCU? Dear Editor, My attention was drawn to an article published in the Stabroek News of October 3, 2018 under the headline “Too much time being wasted on prepping criminal case files -- SOCU adviser tells investigators, prosecutors.”

This article followed an article in Kaieteur News on August 15, 2018 titled “UK getting “value for money” in SOCU’s operation – British envoy’.

The recent report stated that the “Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) adviser Dr. Sam Sittlington yesterday told investigators and prosecutors that too much time is being wasted on preparing criminal case files which fail to hold up in court.” Rather an odd statement to make, one would think. What was the gravamen here?

Dr. Sittlington expanded by saying, “…..we see a lot of cases getting to court and failing at court. We’ve seen failings when the file would go to the DPP [Director of Public Prosecutions]. We don’t want files to come back to us with amendments and corrections. We want one file one time going to the DPP, and that file being referred to charges. It’s a lot of time wasting, and we don’t need that.”

Was Dr. Sittlington saying that too much time was being wasted on preparing criminal cases, or was it that time was being wasted when cases failed to hold up in court?

One would assume that thoroughly and well prepared cases, backed with solid evidence -- even if it took time to do so -- were

preferable to hastily putting politically directed charges against PPP/C leaders and former Cabinet members, as those laid against former Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington, based on spurious information.

SOCU staff have been given “a basket full of holes to fetch water”, but Sittlington is ploughing on with an agenda only few seem to know, while ensuring that his resume looks good. He certainly feels obliged to provide some rationale to explain his failure to bring 30 “good cases” against former Cabinet members, which he publicly announced would be brought over a year ago.

One would have thought that, instead of playing the blame game, Sittlington would have ensured that law enforcement agencies/ officers were upholding the rule of law and doing proper investigations based on evidence, in order to make winnable cases. He is, no doubt, aware that the present rushed and poorly prepared cases are being directed by a political agenda, and in any democratic nation, this would be considered reckless and a threat to human rights. Certainly the fallout would be to undermine public confidence in the Guyanese civilian law enforcement agencies.

Furthermore, was Dr. Sittlington expressing some dissatisfaction with the Office of the DPP? Or, worse yet, was he sending a dog whistle to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions , a constitutional body, that it should

not make amendments and corrections once S.O.C.U or other law enforcement agencies brought their criminal cases to it?

Even more disturbing, was Dr. Sittlington also signalling to the Judiciary, another constitutional body, some dissatisfaction with the number of cases which are failing in the courts?

Just as worrying is that these comments made by the SOCU adviser appear to be in direct contradiction with what the British High Commissioner, H.E. Quinn, is reported to have said in the August 15th Kaieteur News article. The High Commissioner is quoted as saying, “That sort of investigative side, I think (it) is working well…but then the next step…is not one that we [UK] are involved in. The next step is out of our control in many ways. All SOCU can do is put forward good cases that can be looked at and considered for prosecution,” he noted.

The cases now being put forward by SOCU are “good”, “so SOCU is doing its job,” said the High Commissioner.

So which one is it, Dr. Sittlington – “good cases being put forward “or “too much time being wasted on prepping criminal cases which fail to hold up in the courts”? You cannot have it both ways.

With regard to the earlier statement by the High Commissioner, one has to wonder. How would a foreign diplomat know whether the cases being put forward, as he says, are “good” or not? How is he classifying “good cases”? Generally,

such a reference to a “good” case means that they are winnable in a court of law. How would the High Commissioner know that?

Is he privy to matters that are considered outside of the remit of a foreign diplomat in Guyana’s internal affairs? Worse yet, what is the role of a foreign diplomat in SOCU, an investigative arm which falls under the Guyana Police Force?

I am doubtful if the previous Commissioner of Police, or maybe even the new one, is as informed as the High Commissioner on the number of “good” cases being brought. I wonder whether the Minister of Foreign Affairs is comfortable with these statements made by a foreign diplomat on internal matters of the State?

Furthermore, having submitted all information, including the Public Procurement Commission’s report on its findings on the award of contract for the New Demerara Harbour Bridge, as well as my official statement to the S.O.C.U., it would be interesting to know if this will be classified as a “good” case. l am patiently waiting to see what happens next.

At least one of the purposes of the High Commissioner’s August press conference was to blow the UK Government’s proverbial trumpet of “getting value for money as it relates to the operation of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), under the guidance of Financial Investigations Advisor Dr. Sam Sittlington.” continued on page 5

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PPP Commissioner responds to GECOM Chairman’s press briefing Dear Editor, At a press conference held on Friday, October 5, 2018, Guyana Elections Commission Chairman, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, seems to have adopted the tactic of making unsubstantiated charges about “racial conflict” and efforts to stymie the holding of Local Government Elections (LGE) at the level of the Commission itself and external to it.

It is indeed regrettable that the Elections Commission Chairman would go public to try to deflect and obfuscate the justifiable criticisms of GECOM. Article 162 of the Constitution mandates GECOM to always act fairly and impartially. It would appear that the GECOM Chairman is adopting the language of the APNU, which frequently resorts to charges of race when valid issues which warrant serious reflection, deliberation and action are raised

at the national level. This behaviour readily results in the polarisation of the Guyanese people on the basis of ethnicity.

Further, it is even more astonishing that on October 5, 2018, the very anniversary of the acclaimed ‘Restoration of Democracy’ in 1992, and bearing in mind the generally shameful experiences of prior elections in Guyana, that anyone would characterise efforts to rectify illegalities as warranting a challenge by a member of the legal profession against ‘the misuse of the legal system’!

I would like to clear up some of the real mischief embedded in the wild assertions of the GECOM Chairman.

On the assertion that he makes of racially motivated political bickering, I want to remind the public that I raised an issue of lack of diversity in the establishment and hiring practices at GECOM, wherein I iden-

tified that up to 90 percent of the top management at GECOM is dominated by one group, and that it was wrong in principle for any group to have such dominance in what is a critical institution, given the diverse nature of our society.

Because there was strong feeling about this matter, it was felt necessary to bring it to the attention of the Ethnic Relations Commission.

This matter is under that Commission’s diligent review, and that commission has so far responded as befits its mandate. I might point out that the stakeholder group to which I belong at the Commission is the most diverse in the representation of gender, age range and ethnicity. And I am almost certain that the Commissioners on all sides would be surprised at the charge of racially motivated bickering, given the decided effort of all parties to have a diversified electoral appeal.

On the assertion of “de-

signs and machinations” to stymie the holding of the LGE, one should not have to inform the Chairman that Local Government Elections are elections by themselves in separate Local Authority Areas, constituencies and municipalities. If, for reasons of death, ties and court decisions, elections have to be held outside of the general appointed date, the laws make provision for that to occur.

For the Chairman, a former judge, to speak about “the misuse of the court system” and it becoming “a tool of disruption” is deeply troubling.

The Chairman has to recall that the basic mandate of GECOM is to provide for free, fair, transparent, nationally and internationally verifiable democratic elections in Guyana. No resort to the courts of the current matters relating to the required legal process for the dismantling of LAAs and the declaration of new ones by

The teachers’ plight shows Government does not care

Dear Editor, The Government of Guyana will have its way, and there is nothing the teachers can do about it.

This was the caption for an article that I wrote some weeks ago. This is the naked truth that is going to play out as this impasse winds down to a disgraceful finale.

The fact is that labour, or public relations of any kind for that matter, with this Government stink to the high heavens, and nothing good can come out of such an arrangement.

If you have no respect for laws and want to carry out the existence of a bully, the situation developing at the present moment is bound to be the end result.

The GTU/GoG relations remain a stark reminder to all that with a Government which has no regard for laws, there is very little the aggrieved party would get out of it all. In fact, I predicted way upfront that the teachers would come out of

this brawl worse off than when they began -- something the teachers are about to experience soon.

It is not a situation wherein we did not know that this would be the end result, because this PNCled Administration has done it before, and, from all appearances, has gotten away with it.

You would recall the appointment of a GECOM Chairman and the adherence to the Laws of Guyana as they pertain to that selection process? Now, 18 names were submitted, and Granger snubbed every one of them and unilaterally chose his own. I am speaking of eighteen names of reputable persons who are fit and proper and of international standing being pushed aside for a geriatric of his choosing.

This was bullyism at its height, and a notable noisemaker of the day, Lincoln Lewis, said nothing. The warning bells were ringing that the worst was yet to

come. All and sundry were being told that their day will soon come.

All of this was going on when those “eddying talks” on teachers’ salaries and benefits were ongoing. That should have been a clue to those holding negotiations then that their situation would get similar treatment.

This should have been a wake-up call, but it failed because the political head of a chairman of the GTU was of the mistaken belief that “his government” would be at least nice and generous to persons who are known supporters of the regime. Wrong! He was ever so wrong!

So, what gave Mark Lyte that bright idea that he would be able to twist the arm of the bully by the sabre-rattling of calling out teachers on another strike?

Well, I challenge him to try, and he would see how horrible the results will be.

No PNC Government, past or present, has ever

been nice; or let me use the appropriate terminology, “decent towards struggling workers”; none that I know of, and this one is no different. And the Pro-PNC, ProGovernment Trades Union would not be there for the teachers when the onslaught begins. They would have thrown the teachers under the bus long since.

Would The Trades Union Congress be there to assist the teachers with a monthly salary when the Granger Government refuses to pay them? Certainly not!

That is what this brutal, uncaring Government is going to do, and there is nothing stopping them from doing so, especially when you look at their track record and the way they have treated other sectors also. It is not going to happen.

I see a Government that is going to bully its way through all of this, heaven help us!

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Isn’t it more important...

One wonders, however, what were the criteria used to come up with that conclusion.

Is there some target set for the number of cases to be brought as part of the conditions for the UK’s funding?

Neither the public nor the National Assembly know how much of the UK taxpayers money is being expended by either the UK Government or the High Commission on the provision of Dr. Sittlington’s services to the S.O.C.U; nor do we know what are his terms of

reference. What l have heard is that he is being paid an exorbitant salary; no exaggeration.

Again, the Guyanese people are none the wiser with regard to the fate of the Security Sector Reform report, which was prepared by another British Adviser on Security, Russell Combe, and submitted to the Government since May 2018. Yet the High Commissioner stated on October 2, 2018 that that course “is part of the

latest round of training for Guyanese law enforcement, which is part of the broader support from the United Kingdom for the security sector reform”.

Isn’t it time that we learn from the Guyanese heads of law enforcement agencies as to what is taking place, rather than these snippets from foreign advisers or diplomats?

Isn’t it more important for the Guyanese public to have some sense of confidence in the SOCU, an investigative

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body? And in fact in all civilian law enforcement agencies, as being professional and free from political interference, whether internal or external to our borders?

Regards, Gail Teixeira, MP , Parliamentary Opposition Chief Whip Chairperson of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Relations

the Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan in the face of “charges of bias” and ‘gerrymandering’ could be termed as “disruptive and a misuse of the legal system”.

GECOM itself, as the steward and custodian of the elections process, should be happy to have these issues fairly and expertly reviewed and pronounced on by the Court system. How could efforts to remove fraudulent names – either of candidates or from lists of nominators -- come under such attack?

Is the Chairman himself unaware that an Elections Petition relating to the 2015 National and Regional Elections has been seemingly languishing in the courts, and is it not in his best interest, as Chairman of the Elections Commission, to have it heard quickly even after three years?

I have the unfortunate duty to remind the Chairman that he was the prime actor, after an invitation to the United Nations was made and accepted, to have international technical expertise hired at UN cost to assist GECOM with certain critical issues relating to advice on and the upgrade of elections technology and capabilities. The refusal to meet the UN in Guyana as scheduled at the instance of the Chairman as was his studied refusal – in excess of three weeks – to deign a reply to the UN in explanation was a grave error and embarrassment to GECOM. Beyond truly taking up his constitutional responsibilities, and eschewing badly timed histrionics, Mr. Patterson needs to offer genuine explanations

for certain recent questionable hirings in which he has had a direct role, and for the preferential treatment of a newly hired staffer.

Also, he should not appear to be supporting the serious indiscretions of GECOM staff, particularly in not offering acceptable explanations for the disappearance of CEO Lowenfield for some 10 hours at a critical time on Wednesday, September 26 last, which allowed for the non-removal, and therefore acceptance, of fraudulent names on lists by GECOM Returning Officers in a number of areas.

I can list at least ten (10) important and critical matters for which the continuing silence, dilatory excuses and delayed considerations by the Chairman is having serious negative impacts on the improvement in the management and efficiency of the GECOM in achieving the ultimate goal of having exclusively free and fair elections in Guyana.

Lastly, I am unaware, both at GECOM and with the obvious energy and interest being exerted by stakeholders and electors, that any political organisation is intent on stymieing the holding of the LGE. Given his unique placement at GECOM and the evidence of LGE activity thus far, this conclusion of the Chairman of GECOM is indeed remarkable.

I can only leave it to the media and the public at this time to consider this and to arrive at their own deliberate conclusions.

Robeson Benn GECOM Commissioner

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n today’s busy world, children and teens are chronically juggling the demands of academics, sports, friendships, social media, family, and extracurricular activities.

The expectation and need to excel in multiple domains can be enormously taxing for children and adolescents, lending themselves to exhaustion, burn-out, depression, and anxiety.

For some children and teenagers, these demands can be even more overwhelming when the desire for perfectionism plays itself out.

In order to explore how and why striving for perfectionism can be so detrimental to child development and mental well-being, Jessica Naecker, a licensed clinical psychologist and credentialed school psychologist at Aspiring Families, Centre for Mental Health and Wellness, San Diego, shares the following information: Perfectionism is pervasive in our lives and our children’s, so much so that demanding perfection of ourselves feels ironically unexceptional. In fact, one recent study finds that rates of perfectionism have increased over time, indicating that younger generations experience higher expectations from others and set higher expectations of themselves than previous generations.

Naecker asks an important question: “Is expecting excellence from ourselves a concern?” To answer this question, she states the following: We have to understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy perfectionism.

Certainly, setting high expectations of ourselves, striving for achievement, and nurturing self-discipline

are characteristics that are adaptive and helpful. We of course want ourselves and our children to be motivated to achieve and to be successful in our endeavours. But a focus on achievement can become problematic when it morphs into unhealthy perfectionism, which involves an unshakable fear of failure and mistakes, unrealistically high standards, and feeling that our performance is intertwined with our sense of worth.

‘Please. Perform. Perfect.’

Brené Brown, a researcher at the University of Houston, says it best: “Perfectionism is not selfimprovement. Perfectionism is, at its core, about trying to earn approval. Most perfectionists grew up being praised for achievement and performance (grades, manners, rule following, people pleasing, appearance, sports). Somewhere along the way, they adopted this dangerous and debilitating belief system: ‘I am what I accomplish and how well I accomplish it. Please. Perform.

Perfect.’”

In exploring the impact of perfectionism on children’s development and how it affects their mental health, Naecker states that it is no surprise, then, that the overly high personal standards and critical self-evaluations characteristic of unhealthy perfectionism can lead to a host of negative outcomes.

Notably, perfectionism is associated with various mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, self-harm, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and eating disorders, as well as general distress. Perfectionism also takes a toll on our physical health, and is associated with fatigue, insomnia, and chronic headaches.

Contrary to intuition, unhealthy perfectionism

is also not associated with improvements in academic achievement: on the whole, children who are unhealthily perfectionistic don’t actually do better in school than their non-perfectionistic peers. In sum, the costs of unhealthy perfectionism are high, and the benefits nearly non-existent.

It is essential that as parents, teachers, and professionals, we assist our children and teenagers with the vulnerability of perfectionism. Naecker assures us that although perfectionism is pervasive and pernicious, there is thankfully much we can do to help our children and ourselves avoid perfectionism and adopt a more adaptive achievement-oriented stance.

Carol Dweck, a distinguished researcher at Stanford, has spent her career investigating motivation and achievement, and her research findings on mindsets offer a way forward.

next generation how to live in positive ways. Naecker shares that those who healthfully strive for excellence embody what Dweck calls a growth mindset, or a belief that talent, skills, and intelligence can be developed through persistence and effort. Unlike unhealthy perfectionists, those with growth mindsets are focused on mastering challenging material or activities, and while they may not relish mistakes and failure, they view them as helpful, necessary, and important opportunities for learning. In a word, children and adults with growth mindsets are resilient.

Naecker states that clearly, we would do well to help ourselves and children develop a resilient, achievementoriented growth mindset and quiet our perfectionistic fixed-mindsets. Fortunately, Dweck offers straightforward, effective strategies:

Mindset Naecker explains that unhealthy perfectionists embody what Dweck terms a fixed mindset, or a belief that one is born with a specific, fixed amount of talent and intelligence. Notably, those with fixed mindsets are similar to unhealthy perfectionists in that they avoid making mistakes because they interpret mistakes as indications that they have reached their maximum potential. They view effort as a weakness (for if you had enough intelligence or talent, they reason, one would not need to exert effort), and as a result, they fear failure and are unwilling to persist in difficult tasks.

As adults, we should try to demonstrate to our children and teenagers how to achieve and succeed in balanced and healthy ways. How we live our lives will model to the

Helpful tips Become familiar with unhealthy (fixed-mindset) versus healthy (growthmindset) talk, and challenge fixed-mindset talk when you hear it. A fixed-mindset voice might say things like: “I’m no good at this”; This would have been easier if you really had talent”; Other people don’t have to work hard to understand this. If I’m working hard, I m u s t not be smart

enough”; “You’ve made a mistake in front of everyone – now they all know that you aren’t talented”; and “What if I fail?” A growth mindset voice sounds like: “You made a mistake, which isn’t always fun, but it taught you a lot!”; “I don’t know how to do this… yet”; “This was my first try – I’ll get there eventually with practice”; and “I can always get better.”

Encourage yourself and your child to think about setbacks, criticism, and failure differently. Instead of thinking of mistakes and failures as signs that you are lacking, choose to interpret them signs that you are learning and as indicators that you may need to change your strategy or increase your effort. Reframe

your goals: Make progress, not perfection.

Recognise and challenge impossibly high standards and realise when you or your child are overestimating of the cost of mistakes/failure.

Be a role model to your children and challenge yourself to make mistakes! Face difficult activities/material, experience setbacks, learn from failures, and try again.

By recognising and challenging the everpresent messages we and our children receive about success, accomplishments, failure, mistakes, we can help ourselves and our families become healthier, resilient, and better able to learn and achieve. (pyschologytoday.com)

…help kids practise their Maths skills in a natural way – in the garden!

W

hether you have a few pots sitting on

that we eat start off as flowers.

Count how many flowers are

a window sill or a great big garden in your backyard, here are some garden Maths projects to keep learning going. *Pick a plant in the garden to measure on a plant and see how many veggies you’ll get. *Take a good look at the garden. How many different colours are in it? Shapes? Turn your data into a bar graph.

Which colour or shape is the most common?

You can do the same for bugs.

One of the great things about learning in a natural environment is that, much like life, it’s ever-changing. (Excerpt from pbs.

org)

every day for a week. Make a chart. Then take a week off. Measure it again. Do the Maths to see how much it grew during the week you weren’t checking. * M a n y vegetables

7 PPP pulls out of only 1 constituency in Wakenaam – party clarifies news

saturdAY, october 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

...to contest other 8 constituencies

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has clarified that it has only pulled out from contesting one of the nine constituencies in Wakenaam, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) at the upcoming Local Government Election (LGE) and not the entire Wakenaam Local Authority Area (LAA).

This clarification comes on the heels of several media reports stemming from Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s weekly press conference on Thursday, claiming that the Party has withdrawn

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

AFC set to host ‘FIT & PROPPA’ Candidates Conference today

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he youngest slate in Local Government Elections (LGE) will be on full display today when hundreds of candidates will invade the Centre For Change as the Alliance For Change (AFC) hosts its LGE Candidates Conference at its headquarters at Railway Embankment, Kitty, Georgetown.

The Candidates Conference will see AFC constituency candidates for the upcoming November 12 Local Government polls travelling from as far as Bartica, Corentyne, Kwakwani, Leguan and Linden to attend the conference.

According to a statement from the party on Friday, candidates from Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) are expected to be in attendance. The party said it will be hosting similar events in other regions on upcoming dates.

During the one-day Conference, candidates will be briefed on Local Government Election rules and procedures and will receive a charge by party elder, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

Furthermore, several candidates will also deliver presentations in addition to presentations by party Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan, Vice Chair Cathy Hughes and Campaign Director David Patterson.

The event will also see the launch of campaign jingles and the LGE edition of ‘The Key’, the party’s news-

paper.

“This event is designed to both energise and educate our candidates. We look forward to the legendary AFC camaraderie and energy tomorrow as the candidates swarm in from all over the country,” party leader Raphael Trotman said.

Meanwhile, AFC’s Campaign Director David Patterson said, “It has taken a considerable amount of planning and logistical work to put together this conference but all has gone smoothly and the final arrangements are being put in place for a successful event.”

Following failed negotiations with its majority coalition partner, the AFC announced back in August it will be contesting the November 12 LGE separately from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

The minority party in the coalition Government had said the decision was reached following the inconclusive negotiations with APNU but noted that the separation applies only for the 2018 Local Government polls and “does not, in any way, affect the APNU/AFC coalition Government, nor does it, in any way, change the AFC’s position on coalition politics at the national level. The AFC remains, and reaffirms that it is, commit-

ted to the APNU/AFC coalition.”

On February 14 last, the APNU and AFC celebrated their three-year anniversary since signing the “lovers’ deal”. However, the AFC of recent has come under fire for the submissive role it has been playing since joining forces with the APNU. In fact, the top leadership of the AFC had decided back mid-November to revise its governing agreement with its majority coalition partner.

The Cummingsburg Accord has a lifespan of a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years, and was focused primarily on the General and Regional Elections. To this end, the AFC had proposed as part of the nine points up for negotiation with its coalition partner that an agreement on LGE be crafted. In fact, the minority coalition partner detailed some of its positions for negotiation in the LGE Accord.

The AFC’s National Executive Committee, after a May 1 meeting, had allowed additional time for the two coalition partners to have a definitive written agreement in the form of a Local Government Elections Accord but this was never done.

entirely from contesting the Wakenaam LAA. However, in a statement on Friday, the Party sought to set the record straight on its participation in the November 12 Local Government polls in Wakenaam.

The Party pointed out that when the issue of discrepancies on one of the party’s list of backers was raised at a press conference on September 24, 2018, Party General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo acknowledged that the issue had attracted his attention and that an investigation was underway.

“He then pointed out that the allegation was related to one constituency in Wakenaam and that the island is in fact a PPP/C stronghold in which it won 15 out of the 18 Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) seats in 2016. Further, the General Secretary gave an undertaking that should his investigation unearth any acts of wrongdoing, that the Party will withdraw from contesting that constituency,” the statement detailed.

It continued that when the Opposition Leader was questioned again about the issue at his press conference on Thursday, it was against this backdrop that he said, “I saw it…

and I believe something went wrong there and we withdrew as promised”.

To this end, the Party outlined that the Wakenaam Local Authority Area has nine constituencies, eight of which were won at the 2016 LGEs by PPP/Civic.

“We also wish to point out that while the Party has withdrawn from contesting Constituency Two, Rush Brook/Maria Johanna, which has 185 listed electors, it will still be contesting the other eight constituencies and Proportional Representation seats on November 12, 2018,” the Party clarified.

Furthermore, the Opposition party went on to highlight that it is the only party contesting all 80 LAAs, with over 3000 candidates and over 20,000 backers. It further added that out of the 596 constituencies across the country, issues of irregularity only arose on one of the party’s lists of backers, in one constituency, as a result of which the party took a principled position and withdrew its candidate in that disputed constituency.

However, it sought to point out that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) and

the United Republican Party of Guyana (URP), on the other hand, have had allegations of fraud and other impropriety levelled against them in 42 of 80 NDCs but has done nothing of this effect.

At Crabwood Creek, Corriverton, Number 63 and Whim Villages in Berbice, a total of 202 persons objected to the fraudulent inclusion of their names on list of backers.

Similar claims were made at La Grange, La Jalousie and Canal Polder in West Bank Demerara by dozens of persons.

“We hope that the press will highlight the fact that GECOM has accepted several APNU/AFC and URP lists and dozens of names that were fraudulently procured rather than focus and sensationalise the fact that the PPP/C withdrew one candidate, in one constituency in Wakenaam which attracted allegations of irregularity. We continue to maintain that the PPP/C’s position should be emulated by the APNU/AFC and the URP and we hope that the press will urge them to do so,” the PPP asserted.

Nevertheless, the Party went on to reaffirm it has not withdrawn from contesting Wakenaam or any other LAA.

8 news

saturdAY, october 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Alleged Technician charged battery thieves for physically granted bail assaulting man

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hree men were on Friday granted bail by Principle Magistrate Judy Latchman when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a joint charge of theft.

Thirty-four-year-old Clayon Nedd, 24-year-old Henry Green and 44-yearold Collin Carr were all accused of stealing a quantity of used batteries from their employer between January and June of this year.

The allegation against them stated that between January 1 and June 6, 2018, at Lot 39 Broad Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, they stole 12½ tons of used batteries which amounted to a total value of $1.9 million belonging to Emaly Nedd; proprietress of Den’s Trading.

The trio denied the allegation after it was read to

them.

According to the prosecutor’s case, the men were employed at Den’s Trading, which is known for purchasing scrap metal and used batteries.

The Virtual Complainant had purchased batteries to be exported to South Korea, but while loading the container with the said items on June 6, 2018, she noticed some batteries were missing.

The matter was reported and an investigation was launched. The three accused were later arrested and charged.

Police Prosecutor Deneiro Jones made no objections to bail and Magistrate Latchman, after summing up the matter, granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of $100,000 and adjourned the matter for November 2, 2018.

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West Ruimveldt, Georgetown man appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Principle Magistrate Judy Latchman charged with assault and unlawful wounding.

Junior St Clair, of Lot 458 West Ruimveldt, denied the allegation after it was read to him.

The charge stated that on September 22, 2018, at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously assaulted Andre Moonsammy.

In addition, the Police stated that on May 25, 2018, at the aforementioned location, he unlawfully wounded the said victim.

According to the facts presented in court, on May 25, the defendant and vic-

tim were involved in a misunderstanding, during which time the defendant became annoyed and dealt the Virtual Complainant (VC) a cuff to his face.

Meanwhile, on September 22, 2018, they were both involved in another misunderstanding and the defendant armed himself with bottles and hurled them at the VC. The victim suffered lacerations to the hand for which he had to receive medical care. The matter was reported and the defendant was arrested and charged for the offence.

Police Prosecutor Deneiro Jones made no objections to bail.

As a result, Magistrate Latchman granted St Clair bail in total sum of $100,000 and adjourned the matter to November 2.

Responsibility…

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…or slackness?

he headline in the Chronic caught your Eyewitness’s eye: “2500 free homes”+ repairs!!

Really? And here your Eyewitness thought nothing in the world was ‘free”! So he immediately wondered cynically what was behind the move. And of course the first thing that came to his mind was “politics”! Or more likely, “politricks”. After all, that’s what makes the world go ‘round, doesn’t it?

With 2020 bringing in the oil revenues just around the corner, the elections scheduled for that year take on a whole new significance! The party that takes that one is in the driver’s seat for another three decades; bettering the PNC’s first infamous “28 years”. The PNC has to win this one by hook or crook. And the giveaway of 2500 free houses now makes sense – it’s part of the “hook”. If by 2020 the PNC figure they can’t pull off the elections legally, then the “crook” will kick in.

Now note: all the free houses will be located in Region 4 – which isn’t only the largest region population-wise, but has most of the PNC’s supporters!

Now, we know from all the previous Household Income and Expenditure Surveys (HIES) that Region 4 is doing waaaay better than ALL the other Regions.

So what other reason does the PNC have for ignoring those other Regions other that solidifying its base by vote-buying in the region it can get the biggest bang for the buck?

Note the SPECIFIC areas in Region 4 where the houses will be built. It’s not in areas where the PNC’s support is rock solid, like, say, Buxton; but in marginal areas, where these new home owners can become missionaries for the PNC, to convince fence straddlers to jump in, feet first, into “their party”.

Normally, a cynic like your Eyewitness may’ve shrugged his shoulders, since this kind of politics even got its own name – Tammany Hall politics – in the bastion of democracy, the USA! But here, in our dear land of Guyana, our polity is ethnically fractured, and politics can get outright scary when “one side” sees “the other” getting all the goodies. When Cabinet posts, Permanent Secretaries, Department Heads, Police Heads, Army Heads, Judiciary heads, GECOM head, etc are all reserved for not only one party, but one race, it’s pretty near impossible to prevent the genie of violence from being let out from its bottle once again.

This is even more likely when the US$30 million, or Gy$6 billion, couldn’t be found to pay off the severance to 5700 fired sugar workers, who’d earned that money through their service.

But the PNC figures that’ll be a ‘slaughter of the lambs”.

…for Integrity in Government

If it’s one job that came with its built-in recipe for failure, it’s the Integrity Commissioner’s. He wants to enlarge the pool of folks who should be submitting annual declarations of their income and assets. He feels the top brass of the GPF and the GRA ought also to be brought under the microscope. Now, your Eyewitness is in full agreement with this position, since he – and the rest of Guyana – know the Police and GRA are, by definition, cesspools of corruption and graft.

But, isn’t the Integrity Commissioner putting the cart before the horse? Shouldn’t he be focusing on the 80 per cent of Public officials who’re already under his watch but couldn’t be bothered to submit their info?

This is totally unacceptable!! What’s the purpose of all the sturm and drang about SOCU going after corruption with PPP officials when the mice are literally slurping the milk from under the (cat) Commissioner’s eye??

The law the Integrity Commissioner should ask to be enacted is to drag in Government officials whose houses and other assets are way above their pay grade.

…for rice fraud

So let’s get this straight. A miller tried to pull a “fast one” by shipping PARBOILED rice instead of WHITE rice to Panama to defraud his customer there?

But if parboiled rice is more expensive than WHITE rice, who’s fooling who?

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

News

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saturdAY, october 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cash jet pilot convicted N/A prison officer arraigned of cocaine smuggling, with trafficking money laundering

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uyanese businessman and pilot, Khamraj Lall, has been convicted in a United States court over a series of offences, including cocaine smuggling and money laundering, US Attorney Craig Carpenito announced on Friday.

According to a statement from the Department of Justice, US Attorney’s Office of the District of New Jersey, the businessman was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, money laundering, structuring monetary instruments, and conspiracy to commit money laundering and structuring.

The District Attorney’s Office said Lall, 51, of Ringwood, New Jersey, was convicted on Thursday on all eight counts of a superseding indictment following an eight-day trial before US District Judge Anne E Thompson in Trenton Federal Court.

According to documents filed in the case and evidence at trial, from April 2011 through November 2014, Lall, a private pilot, smuggled hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Guyana to New Jersey and New York on his privately-owned jet aircraft and then laundered the proceeds.

Lall, who owed a private jet charter business called Exec Jet Club in Gainesville, Florida, used the proceeds of his cocaine empire to purchase jet planes, houses, and cars.

He also paid more than $2 million in cash stuffed in suitcases to a Florida contractor to build an airplane hangar in Guyana.

Over a three and a half year period, Lall also made, or had others make, 1287 cash deposits totalling approximately $7.5 million

Convicted pilot, Khamraj Lall

into more than 20 different bank accounts in New Jersey and New York, much of it in $20 bills. In order to avoid detection and circumvent bank reporting laws, all 1287 deposits were for amounts less than $10,000.

In November 2014, Lall was flying one of his jets from the United States to Guyana and stopped in Puerto Rico to refuel. An outbound search of the plane discovered US$470,000 in cash stuffed into a suitcase hidden in the tail of the plane, and another US$150,000 in cash hidden under a seat.

The conspiracy to distribute cocaine carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a US$10 million fine. The counts for money laundering and conspiracy to launder money each carry a potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The counts of structuring and conspiracy to structure cash carry a potential penalty of 10 years in prison.

The Guyanese-born Lall has several business ventures in Guyana. In August 2010, he had applied for land at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport

(CJIA) to construct a hangar to facilitate his aircraft operations. He had indicated that he wanted to operate an Executive Jet Service and Air Ambulance Service in Guyana, and had presented a sound business plan to push the venture.

The Air Ambulance Service was expected to provide an invaluable lifesaving service, while the Jet Service was to facilitate corporate clients. Two years later, Cabinet had approved a three-year lease to allow for the construction of the hangar, which up to last year, was not completed. However, that lease has since expired and the coalition Government has refused to renew same.

Furthermore, following his arrest back in 2015, Government indicated that Government may go after the businessman’s local assets, which also includes a gas station and limousine service.

In fact, it has been reported that the Guyana Police Force’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) is looking into Lall’s operations here since it is believed that the his assets were obtained through money laundering.

prison officer attached to the New Amsterdam Prison was on Friday remanded to the said institution after he was arraigned and remanded for allegedly trafficking marijuana and cigarettes into the penitentiary.

Gladwin King, 39, of Lot 331 Fort Ordinance Housing Scheme, Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh at the Albion Magistrate’s Court to answer to two charges.

Police stated that on October 3, 2018, at the New Amsterdam Prison, King had in his possession 1032 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. In addition, on the same day, he introduced a prohibited item into the prison; that is to say 19 packets of Pall Mall cigarettes.

The father of six pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Police Prosecutor Lance Corporal Shinel Matterson told the court that on the day in question, Police and prison officers viewed CCTV footage which showed King

Prison officer Gladwin King

in uniform acting in a suspicious manner.

He was reportedly seen hiding a bag behind the kitchen area. According to the prosecutor, it was later revealed that the bag contained the two items for which he was charged.

It had earlier been reported that Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels discovered that the bag came over the prison fence.

King then conspired with prisoners to secure it in the prison kitchen.

Samuels had also relat-

ed that the prison officer has since admitted to being linked to the prohibited items which he said were to be delivered to a specific prisoner.

Lance Corporal Matterson objected to bail claiming that if granted bail, King is likely not to attend court. Magistrate Singh refused bail and ordered the defendant to return to court on October 22.

The matter had been transferred to the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

Elderly couple terrorised...

The distraught man further recalled that the men left the room and sometime after, the landline began to ring and when he came out the bedroom to take the call, the men had already left, taking the television and a cellphone with them.

According to Subhan, subsequent checks around the house revealed that the perpetrators escaped through the door in the lower flat of the house after removing the protective bars.

Meanwhile, the man’s son, Neaz, related to Guyana Times that his brother called and informed him that bandits had broken into their parents’ home and he immediately called 911 but was disappointed in the response he got.

“The phone rang for a while before someone picked up and I tried to relay what I was told happened. I was put on hold for what seems to be a while, and then when the person came back on the line they give me a number and told me to call the number, which is a Police station within the jurisdiction.

But when I called the number, it wasn’t within jurisdiction, it was the station at Providence and they told me to call Grove Station. I then said ‘look, I don’t think I could go through all of this can you radio internally and get the message out that this happened and that officer I spoke with seemed cooperative,” he recalled.

Neaz continued that he eventually contacted the

from page 3

Grove Station and was told that they do not have any patrols and only two ranks were at the station so they could not provide any assistance.

“I was kind of disappointed in that but eventually I got through with a number for Operations at Brickdam and the person who answered was very helpful and the Police eventually came – although it was an hour and a half late,” he stated in dismay.

Nevertheless, an investigation has been launched.

This is the second robbery carried out on the elderly couple. Bandits had broken into the couple’s home in July of 2017; however, no one was ever apprehended from that burglary.

10 news

saturdAY, october 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Trio arraigned for seawall cocaine bust

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he three men who were arrested on Wednesday with a quantity of cocaine by members of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), made their appearance on Friday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

They were slapped with several charges including possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and illegal possession of guns and ammunition.

The three accused – Aundre Singh of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; Clifford Gouveia of Little Abary, East Coast Demerara; and Oneil Charan of Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown; all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court heard that on October, 3 while in the vicinity of the Rupert Craig Highway, the three men had 5.582 kilograms of cocaine in their possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Another charge was read which stated that on the said day, CANU ranks car-

Aundre Singh ried out a search at Singh’s Diamond, East Bank Demerara house where an additional 6.6 grams of the cocaine were unearthed.

Other charges stated that on the day in question, the men also had in their possession two unlicensed firearms – a pistol and a .32 Taurus revolver with several matching rounds.

Attorney Leonard

Oneil Charan

DaSilva who represented Charan in an application for bail told the court that the drugs along with the unlicensed firearms were not found on his client but rather in a vehicle that was accessible to several others during the course of the day.

However, Attorney Latchmie Rahamat represented Singh and would have also made an applica-

Clifford Gouveia

tion for bail on the premise that the drugs and other items were not found in the possession of her client.

Gouveia was unrepresented.

State Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford objected to bail being granted to the men while informing the court that the men have been under CANU surveillance for a long time.

Further, she noted that the men had provided the

investigators with written statements after they were busted on Wednesday.

Moreover, the prosecution’s submission was upheld by Magistrate Latchman and the men were all remanded to prison until October 17.

On Wednesday last, CANU agents intercepted two cars on the Rupert Craig Highway in the vicinity of

Kitty seawall with a quantity of cocaine, guns and ammunition. As a result of the operation, three males were taken into custody.

Based on information received, Singh and Charan were in a white Toyota Premio car bearing registration number PSS 8977, while Gouveia was the driver of another motorcar PLL 5213. At the time, a box was being transferred from one car to the other.

Ranks of CANU swopped down on the operation and intercepted a box containing five suspected bricks of cocaine and beauty soaps.

Upon weighing the cocaine, it amounted to 5.582 kilograms.

However, the home of Singh was subsequently searched and a further 6.6 grams of suspected cocaine, along with US$5000 and GY$3 million were found.

In addition, one Taurus Revolver with matching ammunition and one Pistol with matching ammunition were discovered in another section of Singh’s house.

RPA calls out GRDB over Panama rice mix-up Region 6 Chairman

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he Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) is flaying the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) along with Agriculture Minister Noel Holder following Panama’s rejection of several containers of rice.

The RPA said the responsible parties should take immediate measures to have the situation rectified.

The authorities in Panama rejected several containers of rice following a mix-up with the shipment. One of the reasons for the rejection is that the shipment contained parboiled rice.

There were more than 700 tons of parboiled rice packed in 20lbs bags in the containers.

The RPA said it boggles the mind to even contemplate how over 700 tons of parboiled rice could have passed through the various quality and quantity checks and customs inspections and arrive in Panama, which is a white rice import market.

“The contracted party (the seller) is the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) for this particular market.

The GRDB, in order to fulfill its contractual obligations, purchases rice from millers in order to supply this market. Notably, the GRDB charges millers US$8 per unit for inspection

calls for Councillors to resign

Rice shipment

and to certify the quality and quantity supplied.

The rice is even checked during the processing at the mills by the GRDB. The bags are then packed into the containers under the watchful eyes of the GRDB officers, samples are then taken and sent to the GRDB Head Office laboratories that are ISO certified, along with the number of the containers and the containers’ seal numbers.

Further, the final sample is used for the preparation of the export grade certificate. The GRDB is the buyer of the

rice from the millers, the agency is also responsible for certifying the quality and quantity and they are the contracted party to export to Panama,” the RPA said via a statement on Friday.

Panama is currently Guyana’s best market with the best price and according to the Association, this fiasco has the potential to threaten the continuation of selling to that market, which would be a great financial loss to the farmers. The RPA said the GRDB can also lose its ISO certification, which will be a further blow to the rice industry.

Some of the seats left empty by absent coalition Councillors on Thursday

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s coalition Councillors continue to stay away from Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meetings in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Regional Chairman David Armogan has made a strong call for them to resign.

The RDC has 25 seats; 19 to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and 11 to the coalition. At Thursday’s meeting, only five coalition Councillors were present and only three made contributions to the success of the meeting.

Under the Local Government Act, Councillors should lose their seats if they are absent for three consecutive meetings without a valid excuse. One of the coalition Councillors is currently on sick leave.

According to Armogan, many of those who frequently stay away from meetings fail to realise that they have to serve the people who elected them to office.

He then called on Janet Samuels and Khausal Goberdhan to resign, sighting their frequent absenteeism. Armogan noted that they need to resign and give others a chance to serve as

regional Councillors.

Back in August, both the PPP and the Alliance For Change had called on coalition Councillors to attend meetings, noting that more than 70 per cent of them have been absent from RDC meetings.

Regional Chairman David Armogan and several PPP Councillors said they were disappointed at the attitude of some of the coalition Councillors towards the regional parliament.

Coalition Councillor Gobin Harbhajan has also lashed out at his colleagues and called for them to do the honourable thing and tender their resignation.

Harbhajan reminded the RDC that Councillors should automatically lose their seats after being absent for three consecutive meetings with a valid excuse. He says there are others who should be given a chance to serve.

He told the RDC that he was disappointed with the actions of his colleagues.

Despite this trend, the RDC has not used its right to revoke the seats of any Councillor.

news

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saturdAY, october 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Alleged disappearing act

GECOM CEO claims he was with his lawyer – avoided taking calls for hours as objection deadline neared

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uyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield has revealed that his lawyer is his alibi for him being unavailable for hours prior to the deadline for nominators’ names to be removed from disputed lists.

Lowenfield was asked about his whereabouts on September 26, 2018, when desperate attempts to reach him failed. At the time he supposedly went missing, persons were reportedly being prevented from removing their names from nominator lists they claim they were fraudulently included on.

This has since resulted in another court challenge being filed against GECOM, where one Shafraz Beekham and 49 other persons are seeking the removal of their names. Commenting on the matter, the CEO claimed that Beekham was not on any list, but declined to elaborate further until a “later date.”

As regards his absence, Lowenfield claimed that he was in a meeting with his lawyer on the exact date of the deadline for persons to remove their names. The CEO further explained that during these meetings, he customarily turns off his phone.

“I receive daily about 550 calls, not only from Commissioners. I deal with all Guyanese who call me… the [Returning Officers] ROs were adhering to the letter of the law. So I don’t know what was there that the Commissioners couldn’t find me to clarify. I’ll tell you where I went. I was taken to court on the issue of gerrymandering.”

“The new legal system says we have to go through your lawyer and supply an

GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield

affidavit to them to submit.

Now my affidavit was supposed to have been submitted. So I had to make time to ensure that I can make a defence of the office of CEO, even while nominations are going on… when I’m with the lawyer, I’m not taking calls, because I have a [Deputy Chief Elections Officer] DCEO, an ACEO, ROs. If the issue is no Lowenfield, no elections, I want to dispel that.”

Lowenfield went on to insist that GECOM has a structure and that even if persons could not reach him, they had the option of making contact with his Deputy Chief Elections Officer or any other subordinate official for assistance.

But in the court documents of the aforementioned case, it is noted that when contacted, DCEO Roxanne Myers had deferred the candidates’ complaints to Lowenfield, who she also could not reach.

Notwithstanding this contradiction, Lowenfield struck a defiant note to the political parties, aggrieved candidates and nominators who complained of his absence.

“I don’t have to be standing at the beck and call of

anyone to say what the processes are. Anybody! The law is clear. I don’t know why you (media) wrote that I was lost… disappearing act at the eleventh hour.

From Nomination Day the contestants ought to know the rules of the game as they are. Those are the rules, not my rules. The law says that.”

“Prior to Nomination Day, we explained to the contestants the criteria and all the subsets, I mentioned before, that today (Nomination Day) you submit, you submit in two copies, the original stays here, we affix in a conspicuous location your copies so that all and sundry can see this list belongs to (respective party). The law says that. And everything we did to bring closure to the nomination process is fixated in the laws.”

It had been reported previously that at a meeting between Commissioners on September 25, 2018, it was confirmed that the deadline for the submission of the statutory affidavits to remove names that were fraudulently added to lists was at 23:55h on September 26, 2018.

That was before these electors reportedly received a hard time from Returning Officers who reportedly refused to remove person’s names from the list when requested. This is despite the fact that these persons complained of either being tricked into signing the lists or their signatures even being forged.

To compound the matter, the CEO was allegedly out of touch, absent from his office and could not be reached personally or by telephone to give any directions to the offending ROs after 14:30h on September 26.

In the absence of the CEO, the DCEO, Roxanne Myers, was reportedly con-

Some of the persons who turned up at Whim Village, Berbice to have their names removed from the list

tacted in her office and indicated that she could not give any instructions to the ROs without first conferring with the CEO of GECOM who she was also unable to contact.

Meanwhile, Lowenfield informed the media that ballots, Statements of Poll and tally sheets are currently being prepared for November 12 election day. He related

that the official lists of voters’ total 573,923 electors and that there will be 1684 polling stations in use across the 80 Local Authority Areas.

Captain, bowman arrested with illegal gun, ammo

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Joint Services exercise on Friday has resulted in the arrests of a boat captain and his bowman after an illegal weapon and matching ammunition were found in their vessel.

The discovery was made sometime around 15:15h at the Pomeroon River mouth, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

According to reports, ranks from the Guyana Police Force, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Coast Guard, who are stationed

at the Floating Base in the Pomeroon River, conducted a stop-and-search exercise on the cargo vessel.

During the routine check, the ranks unearthed an unlicensed 12 gauge shotgun and 67 matching cartridges concealed in the bow of the boat.

The 28-year-old captain and his 32-year-old bowman, who reportedly admitted ownership of the unlicensed weapon and ammunition, are in custody pending charges. Both men are said to be from Jacklow, Pomeroon. The Joint Services exercise was

commanded by an Assistant Superintendent of Police.

This operation comes two days after three men were intercepted in Georgetown with over 5kg of cocaine, two unlicensed firearms and matching ammunition, along with millions of dollars in local and foreign currencies.

The trio was reportedly in the process of transferring a box from one car to another on Wednesday evening when CANU ranks swooped down on them.

They were subsequently charged and remanded to prison.

12

saturdAY, october 6, 2018 | guy

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Shopping with your man is T ideally the best joys in the world for a woman

h o u g h some women resent the i who love to sp their partner.

A recent stu with your man ing and help to ship. Shopping make one unde likes towards ce

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13

ber 6, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

buy.

3. Try to buy just the amount you need or have space to store.

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h o u g h some women resent the idea, there are a few who love to spend this happy time with their partner.

A recent study shows that shopping with your man can bring in a better bonding and help to strengthen the relationship. Shopping with your partner can also make one understand their likes and dislikes towards certain items too.

Why Do Men Hate Shopping?

If you and your partner love to shop, ladies we would love for you to read this article. Here are some of the important things a woman should know while shopping with her man. Never allow him to feel out of place, keep him in the loop and get him to understand your style.

Here are some of the ways in which shopping helps to bind a relationship for a couple, take a look:

E

veryone wants to save money when they shop. The best way to save money is to plan ahead.

When you plan before you shop you can save money and get the foods your family needs for good health.

Before you shop: 1. Think about some of the meals you will make.

2. Look at what you have on hand.

3. Write a list of what you need to buy.

At the store: 1. Compare prices of different sizes and brands of the food you're buying.

2. Use coupons only for the things you usually

Make A List If you want your man to accompany you on a shopping spree make sure you have a list as to what to buy. Don't make your man sweat it out.

You Must Buy Him Something Pamper him just like how he pampers you. Surprise him with a hidden gift. He will truly appreciate the effort made by you.

Ask Him His Permission Though it is not compulsary, there are times when you should ask your man if something you buy looks good on you.

Taking his permission or asking his opinion matters a great deal when you take him shopping.

Don't Expect Him To Chip In Just because you treat him like a bank from time to time, it doesn't mean he has to splurge on you every time you take him shopping. As a lady, make it a point to spend on yourself as well.

Please Carry Your Bags Be a lady and carry your own bags. Your man is not a slave for you and don't treat him that way when you take him shopping.

Never Bargain Never make the mistake of bargaining with the vendor while you take your man shopping. This is one of the many things guys hate.

Shop To Shop Hopping from shop to shop only women love and not men, this is another tip to keep in mind the next time your man comes out shopping with you.

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Other Tips: Package-mix dinners and other ready-to-eat foods are popular because they are easy to make and save you time in the kitchen. Just add a salad or fruit, a roll, and something to drink for a complete meal.

If you have the time, you can save money by making "planned-over" pasta or rice dinners. Buy enough rice, pasta or meat to have some leftover. Mix the leftover meats and pasta or rice; add vegetables like canned tomatoes or corn. Then spice up the dish with your favorite seasonings.

Many package-mix foods are high in fat and sodium.

Be sure to read the nutrition labels. Choose the products that are lower in fat and so-

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14 news

saturdAY, october 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Bosai to establish new kiln, dryer; to resuscitate Linden aluminium plant

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auxite mining company, Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI), is looking forward to major future developments that will enhance its operations in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), which according to the company’s Secretary, Norman McLean, will also lead to a major boost in employment opportunities within the community.

At a recent meeting with representatives of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), McLean said the company is currently working to establish a new kiln, which will be added to the two already existing ones at its Linden operations; in addition to the setting up of a new dryer.

As a result, the company's Secretary also indicated that Bosai is also seeking to re-implement its apprenticeship programme which was suspended a few years ago.

Additionally, McLean related that Bosai is working towards the resuscitation of the abandoned aluminium plant at Mackenzie, Linden. "I'm happy to report that Bosai is in the move to establish a number 15 kiln, a new one which will be a third kiln for our operation. That will be a real

Regional Chairman Renis Morian and Bosai Secretary Norman McLean seated at the head table during the meeting

boost for employment here and we hope that this will be up and running sometime next year. But we're already moving ahead with that and a new dryer as well. So, there's very optimistic news being taken for the people of Linden," he stated.

In an effort to have suitably qualified persons on the job, McLean said the company is also working towards the re-establishment of its apprenticeship pro-

gramme which in the past saw scores of youths from the community benefiting. In 2015, the company had laid off approximately 30 of its apprentices, citing a decline in production and sales as the main reason.

The company had indicated that as a means of cutting back on its expenses, it was forced to release all of its apprentices.

However, according to McLean, the new developments will see a

re-introduction of the programme.

"The same will happen, because in order to provide qualified employment for our young people, we have to maybe go ahead with another hundred employees, another hundred apprentices because work will have to be up and running," McLean added.

The establishment of a new aluminium plant by the company is also expected to boost employment once all goes well. "And we are not

only looking forward to a new dryer and a new kiln but we're looking forward as well to trying to resuscitate a new aluminium plant.

That is something that we're looking at and we've already filed with the GGMC (Guyana Geology and Mines Commission)...," he said.

Citing environmental concerns, Regional Councillor Charles Sampson said it is his hope that the company takes adequate steps to protect the environment. "I hope that with Bosai's improvement and whatever infrastructure they're putting in, they put in the dust collectors. And putting in the dust collectors will not only take the dust out the atmosphere but it has a financial benefit for the company," he noted.

McLean, however, assured that there is scope for development given the current environment at Bosai. "We are looking forward to not only putting in new apprentices and what have you but putting in for certain properties that are going to be needed to help feed that number 15 kiln and feed the dragger. So, I would love to say to the employees and the people of Linden that there's optimism and scope for development in Linden given what is taking place," McLean stated.

MovieTowne scouts local talent Wakapau calls for doctors, transportation for spectacular opening …during Heritage celebrations

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The final touches being done on the building

A villager displaying some of the dishes during the festivities

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illagers of the Amerindian community of Wakapau, in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) last Friday held their Heritage Day celebrations at St Lucia’s Mission – an island in close proximity to the village.

Although Wakapau is a small village, there is a Village Council, a health centre and a nursery, primary and secondary school. The village’s name was derived from the Carib word ‘Wakoqua’ which means pigeons, a type of bird which inhabits the village.

During a visit to the community, Toshao Howard Cornelius was elated as he expressed what has been happening in Wakapau and other Amerindian communities over the past months.

Some of the activities which visitors and locals were engaged in included cultural performances of Indigenous songs, poems, dances and music. Games of tug-o-war, sack race, and the paiwari and cas-

siri drinking completion were also played, while patrons enjoyed diverse Amerindian food and drinks.

Calls were made for Central Government to focus on these communities since there is a need for healthcare professionals to tend to the people. The community doctor lives six miles away from the health centre and is forced to travel this journey every day since the living quarters in the village, although constructed, is yet to be furnished.

A state-of-the-art medical centre is also needed since many would have to travel all the way to the Essequibo Coast to obtain medical treatment.

Another worrying factor is the requirement for adequate transportation services to enter and exit the village. At present, three outboard engines are needed to facilitate the population of over 2500 persons.

The village has been faced with the epidemic of constant migration of youths. The high unemployment rate has also led to drug abuse.

nticipation is rising and the excitement is building as MovieTowne Guyana enters its final lap to completion. Events and Entertainment Manager of Multicinemas Incorporated, Heathcliff West, is currently scouting Guyanese talent to perform at the spectacular unveiling of the cineplex.

In addition to the opening ceremony, MovieTowne will also have weekly entertainment shows featuring talent from Guyana at Fiesta Plaza.

"We want to showcase the best of Guyana to the world. Of course, we will be surprising our patrons with some regional and international artistes on occasions, but our full commitment is to Guyana and the development and flattering exposure of its people," West said.

He explained that MovieTowne's Fiesta Plaza in Trinidad and Tobago has been responsible for securing international markets for several of the performers there.

"It has been incredible. Only recently, we had one group being afforded the opportunity to tour Japan. They only recently returned... that is the kind of impact that MovieTowne is hoping to have in Guyana," West noted.

A call has been issued via social media for persons to submit biographies and videos of their talent, so that a database can be created to ensure that a wide variety of talent goes on full display when MovieTowne opens.

"So far, we have had a couple of submissions, and I'm very pleased by what we have seen so far. We know that Guyana has a tremendous amount of talent, so we are excited to be able to show this to the world," West noted.

Ever since its establishment in 2002, MovieTowne has transformed the economy of the twin island republic. It has also boosted the creative arts industry, while providing several hundred employment opportunities for Trinidadians.

When opened, MovieTowne

Guyana will provide hundreds of job opportunities. The complex has not even been completed yet and it has already been attracting the attention of a host of internationally recognised entertainment franchises.

The ultra-modern complex is ideally positioned on 10 acres of prime land, with a 200,000plus square foot building, standing fascinatingly along the East Coast Demerara corridor.

In the coming months, MovieTowne will take Guyana by storm, satisfying every craving for clean, classy, secure and exciting family-oriented entertainment.

Guyanese are invited to be part of this journey, by participating fully in the entertainment aspect. Interested persons are asked to send their submissions to West via email at fiestaplaza@movietowne.com or via the MovieTowne Guyana Facebook page. Join the magic by making your submissions on or before October 7.

15 Region 6 RDC not satisfied with work done on EBB Road T news

saturdAY, october 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

he Region Six Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has expressed concern over the rehabilitation work currently undertaken on the East Bank Berbice access road.

The issue attracted a heated debate on Thursday when the RDC met. The $1.2 billion project is being undertaken by the Public Infrastructure Ministry, and should see a new road being constructed from Marks Bridge to Everton, covering 5.5 kilometres.

Back in 2017, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had acknowledged that residents had been on the protest line since 2009, demanding the new road. He had said the project would no longer be funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) as had initially been announced, but by the Public Infrastructure Ministry (MPI) under the Special Projects Unit of that Ministry.

Sixteen months after its launch, Region Six Councillors have expressed dissatisfaction with the project, and Regional Vice Chairman Dennis DeRoop is claiming that it is not the same project that had been stated by Minister Patterson back in 2017.

“I can’t understand the logic of what is happening with this project. I am foreseeing that by the time we complete this project, we

Figures from the Public Infrastructure Ministry (MPI) indicate that the volume of traffic in New Amsterdam along Main Street is approximately 9,200 vehicles per day heading southward. This volume is reduced to 2,000 vehicles per day heading southward near Edinburgh; 850 vehicles per day in Brothers, and 200 vehicles per day in Light Town, further south.

Regional Chairman David Armogan, weighing in on the debate, said the Government was forced to

White sand being thrown into one of the recently dug sections of the road

would spend twice as much as the IDB was going to spend on the road,” DeRoop related.

Minister Patterson had said the MPI would save taxpayers $1 billion since the IDB was loaning the country $2.2 billion.

DeRoop told the RDC he had believed that Government was trying to save money. Referring to the design which the IDB had approved and was funding under the PPP administration, DeRoop said it was an immaculate one.

“It is a design that had heavy steel frames and concrete for the drains, and the light poles (were) made of steel. We are not seeing that.

They have also reduced the width of the road from what the IDB design had. By the time they are finished, they would (have spent) twice as much as the IDB would have

spent,” DeRoop posited.

The East Bank Berbice Road currently supports two lanes of traffic from New Amsterdam to Mara.

The road provides access to both the adjacent housing communities and the agriculture-based communities, and has several bridges and drainage structures which outfall into the Berbice River.

Addressing the RDC meeting, Councillor Zamal Hussain opined that Government was not getting value for money expended, since a lot of man hours are being wasted.

“Many of these workers are just (sheltering) sitting from the sun in people’s yards, and not much is going on. I want to believe that they are being paid in full, and for the entire day.

We should ask for a commission of inquiry (CoI) into

Rehabilitation of the East Bank Berbice Road

this project, so that we can put the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to the test, to ensure that the people of this Region are not shortchanged in this particular project,” Hussain noted.

undertake the project after the IDB pulled out because the current administration did not want to deal with the contractor which the IDB had chosen.

“When the IDB is giv-

ing you money, they supervise it almost every day.

They supervise their money, so you can’t really misspend the money or spend it as you like. The IDB wanted to decide who the contractor is. That was based on a submission from a list of contractors; the IDB picked the best contractor for the job based on the submissions of those contractors, (but) the Government did not want that contractor, and then the IDB pulled out,” he explained.

Back in 2015, this publication was told that the IDB had selected H Nauth and Sons Construction.

Resident engineer Joel Tucker had said in September that some 1.9 kilometres of the base layer and the final layer of asphalt were slated for completion in Glasgow. Preparations are underway to begin the final layer of asphalt in the Edinburgh, Everton and Islington areas shortly.

Construction of the culvert at Baptiste Turn, Edinburgh is finished, and another at Glasgow is approximately 90 per cent complete. The remaining structures to be done are the bridges at Gay Park, Providence and one recently added at Everton.

This project has been slated for completion in three phases, but it is still unclear when it would finally be completed.

Aracari Resort officially Religious body hosts workshop on reduction of mortality rate launches mini casino

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Blast Casino opening at Aracari Resort

he Aracari Resort is the newest member to join the casino industry, after it officially launched the “Lotto Blast” on Thursday at Versailles, West Bank Demerara. The initiative is in partnership with the Guyana Lottery Company.

The facility was opened to the public, thus providing more reasons to visit the resort. This facility is the only one in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and from all indications, it is there to stay.

During a simple launching ceremony, Manager of the resort, Alex Wayne, told Guyana Times that the casino was launched to provide a service to those individuals on the West Bank and West Coast of Demerara.

He noted that the facility is conveniently located at the resort, thus making it easier for persons wanting to win some extra cash to do so instead of heading to the capital city, Georgetown.

Wayne noted that after numerous requests were made to make available such a facility, management of the Aracari Resort has made a decision to open same.

He noted that ever since the casino was being

erected, persons would have visited the facility to get a firsthand experience. Of course, he noted, they would have won.

However, the Chief Executive Officer of the Resort, Sase Sewnarine, is pleased to have joined the Lottery Company in establishing the mini casino, not only for the enjoyment of guests of the hotel, but the general public as well. He explained that the facility will also house a Superbet office shortly.

On this note, he explained that the resort is expanding its services to the public to make their stay at the hotel more family oriented.

The Aracari Resort comprises a hotel, a poolside restaurant and bar, a fully equipped gym, conference halls and an outdoor field. The CEO mentioned that only recently, a graduation was held where approximately 510 students were honoured at the facility.

Aracari Resort also caters for weddings and other celebratory events. The resort is conveniently located on the West Bank of Demerara, less than one mile from the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence with trainers at the workshop

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he Public Health Ministry in collaboration with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO) hosted a four-day training session for local doctors, nurses, and midwives in an effort to reduce the mortality rates of mothers while giving birth.

Some of the topics discussed at the workshop included helping mothers survive bleeding after birth, and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. Dr Oneka Scott, Maternal and Child Health Officer (acting) from the Ministry of Public Health introduced the training, which marked the fifth time the Church presented mothers and infant life-saving instruction in support of the Public Health Ministry’s Maternal and Child Health Unit Project. The project aims “To ensure that women, children and family

members obtain maximum health care that is necessary for their growth and development.”

The training was done by a team from Latter-Day Saints (LDS) charities consisting of Dr Lori Lindsay, Obstetrician/ Gynaecologist from Alaska; Dr Steve Kammeyer; retired Obstetrician/ Gynaecologist from Utah; Adele Kammeyer, retired Labour and Delivery Nurse from Utah; Dr Lloyd Jensen, Professor of Paediatrics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and the team’s Project Administrator, Chantel Jensen.

Dr William Adu-Krow, PAHO/ WHO Representative of Guyana; and President Wayne Barrow, Elder’s Quorum President of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, gave brief remarks. Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence also met with the LDS charities officials.

16 news

saturdAY, october 6, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Teachers in Guyana feel “unappreciated”

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t a time when teachers in Guyana are crying for their present remuneration to be improved, World Teachers Day was observed on Friday with most teachers complaining of feeling “unappreciated”.

Nonetheless, in Guyana thousands of the teachers were reportedly honoured as they joined the rest of the world in celebrating the day, which was held under the theme “the right to education means the right to a qualified teacher”.

Teachers at various schools were presented with small tokens and cards by students and parents for the meaningful and continuous labour of love and dedication they offer.

Education Minister Nicolette Henry, in her prepared message to teachers, said, “being a teacher is one of the noblest professions, and through the teacher’s commitment and dedication, that human resource: past,

Teachers during the recent GTU protest

present and those to come, can stand as independent thinkers and positive contributors to Guyana and the world at large”.

Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson said in his message, “Teachers make a difference in the lives of our children, and they are at the heart of the action.

“Even though teachers

are still concerned that they are still not receiving their respective amount of money, they still continue to give their maximum effort.

World Teachers Day in Guyana is observed at a time where thousands of teachers are again expected to take to the streets as they continuously battle for increased salaries and better working conditions, as the

saga between the Education Ministry in Guyana and the Teachers Union continues.

Efforts made to contact the Union on the matter went unanswered.

The Guyana Times spoke with a few teachers, who expressed that they were happy to be in the profession, although they feel unappreciated, especially on a day set aside for them.

Guyana needs to do more to eliminate filaria – PAHO/WHO …as pill distribution campaign kicks off

“I

think we need to do more to make sure that we have this disease eliminated. Other countries have done it, so what makes us different? What makes us different is that we have oil, we have money. We should be able to do it.”

Those were the words shared by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO) Representative to Guyana, Dr William Adu Krow, at launch of the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign which kicked off on Friday at the Square of the Revolution in Georgetown.

He shared that there are currently some 97 million cases of filaria around the world which have received treatment so far; and of those cases, approximately US$100 billion were used to avert the cases.

The representative’s words were further endorsed

by National Coordinator for Neglected Infectious Diseases, Fabu MosesStuart. According to her, “While there is ample evidence around us of success, even here in the Region of the Americas, Guyana still lags behind in the fight against lymphatic filariasis.

“We are the only country in the Americas yet to scale up to 100 per cent geographical coverage (of pill distribution)”.

Her statements were made in relation to the fact that Guyana currently only distributes filaria pills to five administrative regions, including Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (DemeraraMahaica), Five (Mahaica-

This woman spared no effort to be one of the first to have her filaria prevention pills

Berbice) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) as these happen to be the most affected Regions, as was found in a survey conducted by the Ministry a few years ago.

The Coordinator nonetheless informed the gather that she believes the disease can be eliminated in the days ahead.

During this year’s campaign, persons from the aforementioned regions will benefit from the two free pills, the albendazole and diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC).

The number of tablets will vary as per age, and the tablets are not to be given to pregnant women and children below two years old. It is said that a person requires five annual doses of the pills before they become immune to the mosquito-borne disease.

Although these pills are being distributed in only four of Guyana’s administrative regions, Senior Health Officer Quincy Jones, who gave the feature address instead of subject Minsiter Volda Lawrence, assured that the Ministry has not forgotten

about the other regions.

“Whilst we enjoy the success of the past year and buckle down to the challenges of this year -- to continually roll out the MDA programme within these four regions, which is currently (the) undertaking, I urge the members of the public and the media to know that the other regions...are not forgotten,” Jones pointed out.

This year’s pill distribution campaign will, like others, cost just about US$1 million.

Jones pointed out that although the programme is very costly, the benefits of safeguarding Guyanese outweigh those costs.

Although distribution of the pills has already started in other regions, uniformed distributors will visit home, schools and work places from Monday in Region Four.

Persons are being urged by the Ministry to take the pills, as they will prevent the spread of lymphatic filariasis, which has no signs during the first 10 years in the life of an infected person.

The disease is transmit-

ted by a mosquito, and causes a person’s lymphatic glands located in areas such as the legs, breasts and even penis to swell, a condition often referred to as “goadie” and “big foot”.

It was disclosed during the launch that epidemiology coverage has improved from 45.7 per cent in 2015 to 54.42 in 2016, as only two Regions received the pills back in 2015, but in 2016 the Government was able to extend the pill distribution areas to four.

This, however, was still no major achievement for the country, as the pass mark coverage percentage was 65 percent, according to PAHO/ WHO. The country was finally able to improve the coverage last year, as it achieved 86 percent epidemiology coverage.

City Hall’s management is in chaos – trade unionist

…says finances should be handled by a qualified accountant

T

City Hall

he Guyana Local Government Officers Union is solely responsible for the affairs of City Hall workers who are on the fixed establishment, but over the years, the relationship between the Union and the municipality has deteriorated.

President of the Union and former employee at City Hall, Wendy DeCunha, testified at the Commission of Inquiry on Friday, speaking about the way the resources are being managed at the Mayor and City Council (M&CC). She is of the belief that all monies of the Council should be collected, disbursed, and moreover, managed by a qualified and experienced accountant rather than having the Town Clerk perform those duties.

DeCunha noted that the Union would have tried to engage City Hall on the rights of the workers, since it is unfair to have some persons working as employees on the unfixed establishment.

However, the relationship has been “confrontational”.

“It has been pretty confrontational over the past year and a half. We had an uneasy relationship before, but after certain actions were taken last year to now, it’s confrontational,” said the Trade Unionist.

The Union President pointed out that the Council is not functioning effectively, and this is because employ-

ees have been acting in capacities for many years without being confirmed.

“It (the Council) is not operating at optimal. We have a lot of vacancies for staff,” she explained.

She added, “If someone is promoted or someone is retired, they place you to act and you’re supposed to act for six months after which they would review your performance…four years and you’re still acting. Nobody is looking at confirming them.”

It is her views that since Town Clerk, Royston King has taken up his respective post, the workers are being neglected and the monies are being spent on restoration and community initiatives.

She directed those statements after judging from the time the former Town Clerk, Carol Sooba was in office where at that time; all workers were paid on time.

“I would say that the late payment of salaries, not looking at the welfare and wellbeing of the workers in terms of working environment are some of those things. All of those have to be dealt as a result of good management of Council finances.”

DeCunha said she is dissatisfied with the state of affairs and management at City Hall, since there are many irregularities in the system and some workers are given preferential treatment when disciplinary actions are being taken against them.

Courts customers can win 2 cars in October promotion

F

urniture giants Courts Guyana Inc. has partnered with multinational manufacturers and marketers of home appliances, Whirlpool, for the launch of its October promotion.

Customers who purchase any Whirlpool item at Courts Guyana Inc. will qualify for a coupon, and two lucky customers will each have a chance to win a Nissan Juke motor car during the month of October. The promotion commenced on October 5, 2018 and will conclude on November 9, 2018.

Speaking to Guyana Times, Marketing Manager of Courts Guyana Inc., Pernell Cummings, explained that Courts has officially launched one of many mega promotions for the Christmas season that is swiftly approaching.

Cummings urged customers to visit Courts stores and purchase from a wide variety of new products, which include blow-up pools, curtains, car tyres and rims, among

other products.

Additionally, Courts Guyana Inc. will be having weekly surprises on offer to add excitement for customers, who can pay nothing down on products purchased until January 2019.

Courts Guyana Inc. has, over the years, been Guyana’s Christmas store, providing everything that customers need.

17

saturdAY, october 6, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Interpol chief reportedly vanishes on visit to China

F

rench Police have opened an investigation into the reported disappearance last month of Meng Hongwei, the Chinese head of the international police organisation Interpol, sources close to the inquiry told European news outlets on Friday. Meng was last seen leaving for China from Interpol's headquarters in Lyon, southeast France, in late September, the source said. His wife reported him missing.

Interpol's website notes that Meng previously served as Vice Minister of Public Security in his native China.

Interpol would not immediately confirm that its leader was missing when contacted

by CBS News on Friday, but later released a statement saying the whereabouts of

Meng Hongwei, President of Interpol, gives an addresses at the opening of the Interpol World Congress in Singapore on July 4, 2017

its leader was a "matter for the relevant authorities in both France and China."

French Police said the case was being handled by the public prosecutor in

Lyon, but there was no immediate response at that office. An official at the global Police organisation told The Associated Press that Meng did leave France and arrive in China at the end of September, and that there had been no news of him since.

News of Meng's apparent disappearance comes on the heels of an announcement by Chinese officials that Hollywood star Fan Bingbing, who also vanished without a trace several months ago, has been ordered to pay millions of dollars in alleged back taxes and penalties. The announcement of the fines this week by Communist Party officials shed no light on her current whereabouts. (Excerpt from MSN)

Lubna Al Olayan appointed as first woman Saudi bank head

Saudi businesswoman Lubna Al Olayan

A

woman has been appointed to run a Saudi Arabian bank in a first for women in the country. Saudi businesswoman Lubna Al Olayan will chair a new bank being formed out of a merger between the Saudi British Bank (SABB) and Alawwal Bank.

The move comes amid

a liberalisation of women's roles in a traditionally conservative society. In June, Saudi women were officially allowed behind the wheel for the first time, after a driving ban was lifted.

Currently the head of a family conglomerate, Olayan is seen as a trailblazer for Saudi women in the finance industry. The US-educated financier topped the list of Forbes Middle East's Most Influential Women 2018.

The empowerment of Saudi women is seen as key to the Kingdom's modernisation as part of an initiative led

by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman known as Saudi Vision 2030.

The merger between the SABB and Alawwal Bank creates the country's third biggest bank, with a capitalisation of £13.2 billion (US$17.2 billion). British multinational bank HSBC will own part of the new entity. (BBC News)

Jamaica’s Prime Minister calls for lifting of embargoes against Cuba Barbados monitoring

J

amaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has called for the lifting of embargoes against Cuba. As he delivered his statement to world leaders at the United Nations, he noted that societies function best within an inclusive global environment, where no one feels left behind.

“Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must be people-centred. Embargoes and other financial and economic barriers must not become tools to prevent people, such as our neighbours, the citizens the Republic of Cuba, from attaining their right to development. Jamaica continues to call for a lifting of the embargoes against that country,” said the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness at United Nations

In his address, Holness also noted that it is important for the UN to support the efforts of the Secretary General and his special en-

voy in pursuing political processes related to situations in Western Sahara, Syria and Myanmar.

In that regard, he said

each nation should be mindful of others who consistently face discrimination as the world prepares to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“Jamaica has been at the forefront of international human rights, having been the first country to incorporate human rights into our foreign policy strategy – a principle that we guard fiercely.

We will never lose sight of the responsibility to promote and protect the interests of the vulnerable. We are especially keen to ensure that our women, children, persons living with disabilities, elderly and young people can make meaningful contributions, and reap, the benefits of a safe and prosperous society,” said Prime Minister Holness.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

bed bug problem

H

ealth authorities say they are closely monitoring reported sightings of bed bugs mainly in public spaces in Barbados, and are asking householders to report any sightings on their premises to the Environmental Health Department.

Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr Kenneth George, said that while the Ministry of Health and Wellness had received reports of bed bug sightings at various institutions, only “a few” had been confirmed by the environmental health officers.

He said that bed bugs did not represent a public health challenge, since they did not transmit disease.

“They are considered a nuisance or a pest. If bitten, there can be irritation and redness and in a few cases a rash, but no passage of disease from individual to individual,” he said, noting there has been an uptick in the presence of bed bugs worldwide.

Dr George cautioned residents to keep their surroundings clean and advised travellers, in particular, to pay attention and check mattresses and chairs in their hotel rooms where multiple people slept. He said that bed bugs were most often found in the crevices of beds and chairs and travelled from place to place on people's clothing.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Brett Kavanaugh: Key Nobel peace prize goes to campaigners senators back embattled against sexual violence Supreme Court pick

B

rett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court seat looks all but confirmed after he won the backing of key senators despite an FBI investigation into sexual assault allegations.

Republican Senator Susan Collins and Joe Manchin, a Democrat, both indicated their backing for the judge on Friday.

Judge Kavanaugh's confirmation would tilt America's highest court in favour of conservatives.

The court has the final say on issues such as abortion and gun control.

A final vote on whether Judge Kavanaugh will join the nine-member panel could take place as soon as Saturday. If confirmed, the position is for life.

Hours before the undecided senators indicated their backing, the US Senate narrowly advanced

President Donald Trump's nominee to a final vote by voting to end debate on the issue.

Friday's "cloture" vote – 51-49 in favour – was a test of support for the embattled nominee who has faced sexual assault allegations from several women, including Prof Christine Blasey Ford.

Senator Collins ended hopes she would side with her Democratic colleagues in the final vote, telling senate colleagues she did not believe the "charges can fairly prevent Judge Kavanaugh from serving on the court".

"The facts presented do not mean that Professor Ford was not sexually assaulted that night or at some other time but they do lead me to conclude that the allegations failed to meet the more likely than not standard," she said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

T

wo leaders of the struggle against sexual violence in war have won this year’s Nobel peace prize, a choice that will hearten campaigners fighting for greater recognition of a grave but long-neglected problem, and may also bring hope to victims worldwide that their suffering has at last been recognised.

The Norwegian Nobel committee said that Denis Mukwege, a doctor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nadia Murad, a 25-yearold Yazidi activist, had been awarded the prize “for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict”.

Mukwege, 63, has spent decades caring for victims of sexual assault in his homeland. Murad has used her own story of enslavement and rape

by Islamic State to publicise human rights abuses.

The Nobel committee said on Friday that both had “put their own personal security at risk by cou-

Nobel peace prize 2018 winners: Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege

rageously combating war crimes and securing justice for victims.”

Mukwege was in surgery when he heard he had won the peace prize.

He learned he had won because he heard colleagues and patients crying. “I can see in the faces of many women how they are happy to be recognised,” he said.

The choice has been universally applauded. Some recent awards have been controversial: the former US president Barack Obama won in 2009 after less than a year in office, and the European Union won in 2012. Last year’s winner was the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturdAY, october 6, 2018

ARCHIE

Don’t settle for less. Have your facts straight and be (March 21- willing to prove your point in April 19) a positive and caring manner.

How you deliver your plans will make a difference.

ARIES

Aim to stabilize whatevTAURUS er situation you find yourself (April 20- in, instead of causing chaos. A May 20) change must be orchestrated with thought and concern for anyone who will be affected by your actions.

dilbert

Knowing is believing. Do GEMINI (May 21- your research and gather June 20) the facts. If you act on hearsay, you’ll end up making a mistake that can cost you a friendship with someone special.

Let your intuition take control. What you feel will be (June 21- more accurate than what you July 22) hear. Concentrate on what others do and respond with a positive attitude, love and respect.

CANCER

Peanuts

Look before you leap. Get LEO the information required to (July 23- make a sound judgment call.

Aug. 22) If you overreact, you’ll have to backtrack. Anger won’t bring about positive change.

Share your feelings with VIRGO affection, kindness and un(Aug. 23derstanding. An older relative Sept. 22) will shed light on a situation you face. Romance will bring you closer to someone special.

Calvin and Hobbes

Know your rights, and reLIBRA (Sept. 23- fuse to let anyone push you Oct. 23) around. The changes that take place should be implemented by you, not by someone looking out for his or her own interests.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — TERRAZZO

SUDOKU

If you make a change, do so SAGITTARIUS for the right reasons. Gather (Nov. 23- facts and make yourself clear.

Dec. 21) You’ll represent yourself better than anyone else could. Be honest and avoid conflict.

(TERRAZZO: tuh-RAHZ-oh: A flooring material of marble or stone chips in mortar.)

Average mark 14 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 19 or more words in TERRAZZO? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — INSTEAD idea ides inset neat nest said saint sand sane sate satin seat sedan

send sent seta side sine site snide snit staid stain stand stead stein

tend tide tied tine tinea tisane east edit adit aide anise ante anti

aside dais date dean deist dent detain diet dine dint

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Make some uplifting perSCORPIO sonal changes. Making a (Oct. 24physical alteration or rethinkNov. 22) ing the way you live to better suit your needs will also help you outwit anyone trying to take advantage of you.

solution for last published puzzle

A change at home will CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- bring you closer to loved ones.

Jan. 19) Add to your comfort and convenience. A romantic plan will improve an important relationship.

Bide your time and act AQUARIUS only on proven facts. Be smart (Jan. 20- when it comes to your personFeb. 19) al finances and how you run your household. Spend less.

You can’t buy friendship or love.

Honesty is the best polPISCES (Feb. 20- icy when dealing with joint March 20) ventures. If you want to get things done, be up-front about your expectations. Love and romance will improve your personal life.

saturdAY, october 6, 2018

19

Softball action continues this weekend A

ction in the Permaul’s Trading/ Khan’s Trading/Back to Eden/ Trophy Stall Softball tournament continued last weekend with all the players seemingly ready and poised for action. The matches were held at various venues, such as the Ogle, Albion and GNIC grounds.

In the first match, held at the Jai Hind Ground in Albion, Corentyne, Albion Masters defeated Success Masters by 35 runs. Sent in to bat, Albion made 135 runs all out at the end of their allotted 20 overs.

Scoring for the home side were Paul Baldeo with 35, and John Sunir and Imran Hussain with 25 and 21 respectively. Bowling for Success, R. Khan bagged 3-28 and Vijay Baljit took 3-19.

Set a total of 136 for victory, Success were bowled out for a meagre

102, with resistance coming only from Vijay Baljit, who scored 31.

The chief tormentors for the Albion unit were I. Kahodloo with 3-18 and Ravi Mangalio with 2-24.

The Ogle Cricket Ground then saw SVC battling it out with Beach Knights. Sent in to bat, SVC compiled a total of 256-2 in their allotted overs, with Vijay Surujpaul smacking a blistering 103, Safraz Karim 46, and Richard Latif finishing off the innings with 73 not out.

In response to this mammoth total set before them, Beach Knights succumbed to the pressure of expectations, being bowled out for 58, with Pavindra Persaud top scoring with 19.

Bowling SVC to victory were Mark Harold with 3-9, Dharam Persaud with 2-28, and Richard Latif returning with the ball to bag 3-9.

China Open 2018…

Osaka apologises after 'emotional' win over Shuai

U

S Open champion Naomi Osaka apologised to Zhang Shuai for an emotional display in beating the Chinese in Beijing.

The 20-year-old Japanese was close to tears at points in her 3-6 6-4 7-5 win in the China Open quarter-finals.

Osaka wept in the wake of her US Open win, overshadowed by Serena Williams' confrontation with umpire Carlos Ramos, and was again facing a crowd favourite.

"I was basically apologising because I feel I was more emotional than I normally try to be," said Osaka.

Asked the cause of her emotion, she said: "Because it was a hard match. That's basically why."

Unseeded Zhang took advantage of a string of early errors to take the first set and was a break up in the second before being reeled in by world number six Osaka, who will play Latvia's unseeded Anastasija Sevastova in the next round. (BBC Sport)

Continuing at the Ogle ground, the next match was a typical low-scoring thriller, in which Success defeated Ariel by 10 wickets. Batting first, Ariel made 91 all out, with Gary Singh taking a 5-wicket haul (5-10) and Roy Persaud 4-20.

Set 92 to win, Success made light work of the target, Dindial Lakhan making 41 not out and Chris Sukram 24 not out. The match ended at 93 without loss for Success.

Matches will continue this Sunday at the Malteenoes Sports Ground, on Pitch 1 at 10:00 am, with SVC battling it out with Farm; and at 13:00 hrs, Regal All-Stars take on Ariel.

Pitch 2 will see three matches taking place. From at 10:00 am, Karibee Strikers meet Wellwoman, then 4R Lioness and Spikeland Warriors battle Beach Knight.

Richard Latif

– Latif guides SVC to victory

Naomi Osaka (left) prevailed in two hours and 33 minutes

Ahmed Shehzad gets 4-month doping ban

T

he PCB has banned Ahmed Shehzad for four months effective from July 10, 2018, for violating the board's anti-doping rules. That date was when the PCB provisionally suspended Shehzad, after a random dope test conducted during the Pakistan Cup domestic tournament returned a positive result for a prohibited substance.

Shehzad was charged with two violations of the PCB's anti-doping rules. He has admitted to the violations but said he had no intent to cheat or enhance his performance. Apart from serving the four-month ban

from international and domestic cricket - which will end on November 10 - Shehzad is required to deliver anti-doping lectures "to such audiences and at such places as the PCB may require", as part of his rehabilitation process.

"PCB has a zero tolerance policy towards doping in cricket and hopes that in future cricketers will exercise utmost care to ensure that no Prohibited Substances enter their system," Ehsan Mani, the PCB chairman, said.

(Cricinfo)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturdAY, october 6, 2018

2018 CWI Regional Super50…

Hurricanes, Scorpions snatch wins in Group B battle

A

career-best spell from Leeward Islands Hurricanes medium-pacer Jeremiah Louis sunk the Barbados Pride, while Rovman Powell batted the Jamaica Scorpions to a win as the opening round of Group “B” matches in the CWI Regional Super 50 tourney commenced.

At the Kensington Oval on Thursday, Louis ripped the heart out of the home

nings.

Louis’ delight, however, was ruined by a lighting failure and wet conditions caused by rain, which forced a no-result in the feature match of group play.

Kevin Stoute, who led Barbados to 50 over glory in 2013/14 season, added 83 for the 5th wicket with the classy Shamarh Brooks, whose 53 from 86 balls included just three boundar-

late flourish from the hosts.

A mechanical failure at one of the lighting posts prompted a lengthy delay, and the Hurricanes were left to chase a revised target of 140 from 29 overs. They lost opener Montcin Hodge, caught at extra cover for 15 off Marquino Mindley.

Before a stoppage for rain, the former Scorpions pacer brought the match to a final halt with the visitors

fours and six sixes in an unbeaten 79 off 63 balls, while Player-of-the-Match, McCarthy, hit four fours and three sixes in 72 not out off 69 balls to lead the Scorpions’ successful chase of a target of 220. The pair piled on 135 – unbroken – for the fourth wicket to take the visitors over the threshold with 92 balls remaining.

The Marooners had earlier limped to 219 for eight

Andre McCarthy

Players celebrate with Jeremiah Louis

team with his magical returns of 5-33 from 8 overs.

This restricted the Pride to 181-9 from their allocation of 50 overs. Louis poached three early wickets that left the home team in jeopardy on 28-4, but top-scorer Kevin Stoute hit 66 from 107 with two fours and a six in his counterpunching in-

ies.

Former Windies Under-19 World Cupwinning all-rounder Shamar Springer came to the crease and added 58 for the sixth wicket with Stoute, before Louis and Windies left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell returned to share four wickets and snuff the life out of a

on 37 for 1 off 8.5 overs.

Earlier in the day, at Three W’s Oval, unbeaten half-centuries from Powell and Andre McCarthy carried Jamaica Scorpions to a comfortable 7-wicket victory over joint-hosts Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners.

Powell slammed two

from their 50 overs, needing a 72-run stand between Yannick Ottley, whose 43 was the top score, and Keron Cottoy with 40, to help them cross the 200run mark. Scorpions’ captain Nikita Miller was the pick of his side’s bowlers, collecting 3-35 from nine overs.

Rovman Powell

Hamilton dominates Japanese GP practice after crash scare

L

ewis Hamilton was in scintillating form as Mercedes dominated Friday practice at the Japanese Grand Prix.

He was 0.833 seconds clear of title rival Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari, and 0.461secs faster than team-mate Valtteri Bottas at the Suzuka track.

Hamilton was even faster on the 'soft' tyre, the middle compound this weekend, than Vettel was on the fastest 'super-soft'.

The Briton also narrowly avoided a huge crash in first practice.

Frenchman Pierre Gasly was driving his Toro Rosso slowly on the racing line at the chicane and Hamilton had to take avoiding action and run into the escape road as he closed in at a frightening speed.

The two drivers were summoned to see the stewards to discuss the incident, where officials handed Gasly a reprimand.

Hamilton was fastest in the first session, when he was 0.446secs ahead of Bottas and 0.682secs quicker than Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo in third. (BBC Sport)

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G

uyana will be hosting the International B a s k e t b a l l Federation’s (IBF’s) Antilles 3-on-3 Finals for U-18 Men and Women, bouncing off from October 19-21 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

Players from across 8 countries have announced their participation in the tournament, and more than 70 athletes along with officials will be attending.

Countries listed to participate in the Men’s category of this competition include Aruba, Barbados, Dominica, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique and St Lucia.

Teams set to play in the ladies’ category include Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique and St Lucia.

The Guyana U-18 threeon-3 Male team will comprise Akeem Crandon, Andrew Johnson, Nigel

Cliff Anderson Sports Hall will be hosting the 2018 International Basketball Federation’s Antilles 3x3 Finals for U-18 Men and Women

Bowen and Shamar France, with the Coordinator being Mark Agard. The Female team will comprise Annalisa Barclay, Saffiya Greene, Lydia Roberts and Roschelle

Campbell, with Troy Greene as Coordinator.

The visiting teams will arrive in Guyana on October 18th and depart on October 22nd.

The IBF Antilles 3x3 Finals for U-18 Men’s and Women’s teams are primarily funded by the IBF and managed by the national federation of the host country.

Nand Persaud & Co Ltd sponsors female cricket tourney company’s delight to be on board with such a dynamic, organised entity. The company also committed to continue supporting cricket in Berbice once the proper management is in place.

GCA cricket fixtures continue

BCB President, Hilbert Foster, receiving the sponsorship cheque from Amanda Budhoo in the presence of fellow staffers of Nand Persaud & Company Limited

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he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) had in March intended to host twenty-two cricket tournaments at different levels. Today it is on the verge of not only achieving that intention, but even surpassing it. Female cricket is special to Berbice cricket, and the BCB is as such pleased to partner with the largest company in Berbice -- Nand Persaud & Company -- to host a tournament for females.

The tournament, to be contested between the Rose Hall Town Metro Female Team and a combined New Amsterdam/Canje Team, will be played on a best-of-three match basis, with the team winning twice being declared champion.

Players such as Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Tremayne Smartt, Shaneeta Grimmond, Shabika Gajnabi, Plaffiana Millington, Sherica Campbelle, Ameera Abrams, Ashley Ramnauth, Dian Prahalad, Uma Matadin and Mariam Samaroo are expected to participate in this historic tournament.

President of the BCB, Hilbert Foster, has hailed this Nand Persaud investment in female cricket, and has said he enjoys a close working relationship with Managing Director of Nand Persaud & Company, Mohindra Persaud. He had been one of several well-known Berbicians who had endorsed Foster for the BCB Presidency when the election of the Board was held.

This company will also be sponsoring two Under-15 trial matches in 2018 as part of the pro-active BCB early preparation for the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) Inter-County Tournament for 2019.

The BCB will also be hosting the 2019 Mike’s PharmacyUnder-15 tournament, and a squad of 26 will be shortlisted after the completion of three rounds of matches.

Those selected will then form the core of the Berbice Team, and the coaches will have at least two months prior to the tournament to work with these selectees.

Similar arrangements would also be made for the Berbice Under-17, Under-19, Female Under-19 and Berbice Female Senior teams.

As Managing Director of Nand Persaud & Company Limited, Mohindra Persaud hailed the outstanding work of the BCB and expressed his

M

atches organised by the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) will continue this weekend with some crucial fixtures.

The highly anticipated New Building Society (NBS) Second Division 40Over finals will today be played between the Guyana Cricket Club (GCC) and the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) at the DCC Ground in Queenstown, Georgetown. The action is scheduled to begin at 10:15 hrs.

The Noble House Seafoods two-day tournament will resume today as well, and the Police will attempt to detain the GDF at Eve Leary Sports Complex Ground. Play in this tourney starts on both days from 10:30 hrs.

The Friends of Cricket Under-17 hundred-over tournament continues today as well, with Everest colliding with Bel Air at Everest Cricket Ground.

On Sunday, the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) will trash it out with GCC at the MYO Ground. Match commences at 9:30 hrs.

DCC player Ashmead Nedd

Property for Sale: Friendship, EBD Interested persons contact Manjarie on 668-1092

IBF U-18 3-on-3 set to bounce off from October 19

sports

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturdAY, october 6, 2018

South Africa’s Tour of the West Indies T20…

Natasah McLean

D

Windies can win, SA looking for the tie

espite the W i n d i e s Women losing the match, Natasha McLean continued her excellent form with the bat, in the ongoing Sandals International Home Series versus South Africa, in front of hundreds of spectators at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Thursday night.

However, before a ball was bowled, the fans which came out to take in the imminent spectacle, shared a heart-warming moment with the teams.

Both teams wore pink ribbons to bring awareness to the serious, worldwide is-

sue of breast cancer. They huddled up and took pictures, before entering the field of play to compete. This was a commendable gesture by both units, considering they have been engaged in an entertaining series of cricket for the past few weeks.

While the rivalry and competitive nature has been alive and well on the field of play, both the WINDIES and South Africa Women were able to put that aside and unite for such a worthy cause.

With the series now 2-1 in favour of the Windies, South Africa can draw level in the final T20 International today, when both teams meet again at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

The Windies will be looking to wrap up the series, after convincing wins in the first two T20 internationals, with the third having been abandoned due to a soggy outfield.

On the field of play, after scoring 38 and 42 in the first two matches, McLean was able to finally get past the half-century mark, batting through the innings again and scoring 57 (61 balls).

Stafanie Taylor’s 26 (30 balls) and Deandra Dottin’s 28 (15 balls) provided support for McLean during the innings, while the South African Women managed to restrict the regional side to 135-3 in their allotted 20 Overs.

Thereafter, the South African batting unit proved too much to handle for the WINDIES Women. Openers, Laura Wolvaardt (55* from 57 balls) and Lizelle Lee (54 from 38 balls) put on an opening stand of 89 in 76 balls, which all but took the game out of the WINDIES Women’s hands and eventually steered South Africa to their first victory of the T20 segment of this series by 8 wickets, with 6 balls

to spare.

Both teams are preparing for the first stand-alone ICC World Women’s T20 competition, which will take place in the West Indies from November 9 – 24.

WINDIES WOMEN: Stafanie Taylor (captain), Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Sheneta Grimmond, Qiana Joseph, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Natasha McLean, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN: Dané van Niekerk (captain), Chloe Tryon (vice-captain), Mignon du Preez, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, Lizelle Lee, Suné Luus, Zintle Mali, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Robyn Searle, Tumi Sekhukhune, Saarah Smith, Faye Tunnicliffe, Laura Wolvaardt

ANSA McAL Lucozade ‘Handicap’ Squash 2018…

Persaud, Fernandes among top performers M

adison Fernandes continued her form while Zachary Persaud gained some steam as the Lucozade Squash tourney continued at the Georgetown Club Courts.

Persaud (7) and Louis Da Silva (6) battled to the end in the main event of the night, with Zachary winning the first game in commanding style by thumping his opponent 15 - 6. Da Silva bounced back to win the second game 15 -11 before Persaud surged to a five-

point lead in the third game before winning his first point, then winning another seven points before Persaud won his second point.

At 13- 2 it seemed that it would only be a matter of time before Da Silva was victorious, but Persaud had other ideas. He clawed his way back to get to 10 -13 before his opponent won a point to set up match ball at 14 -10. However Da Silva could not close out the match, and point by point it was Persaud who inched

closer and closer to eventually get to 14 all. At this stage it was sudden death, with the winner of the next point securing victory, and

Persaud won the first game 15- 12, but Madison would win both the second and third games 15 -12 to win the contest.

In the lone Open category match played, Robert Natiello (8) defeated Reagan Rodrigues (11) 15 - 8, 11- 15, 15- 9.

Seniors shine

Madison Fernandes

Persaud would ensure a fairytale come back by winning this point and thus the match 15- 14.

In the other highlighted match, the young Fernandes (0) faced Lucas Persaud (11), and all three of the games finished in identical fashion, with scores being 15- 12.

Senior squash players got into their groove on Thursday evening with matches in the A and Open categories.

The Open category saw Nyron Joseph (-22) being the player with the lowest handicap. Having to call on all his experience, he defeated Robert Natiello (8) two sets to one. The difference of 30 points to overcome proved to be too much for Joseph in the first game, as Robert won this game 15- 4.

Natiello would only win one point in game two, as his opponent won the second game 15 - 9 and Joseph would eventually close out the contest with a 15 -10 win in the

third.

R e g a n Pollard (-12) proved to be too strong for Ashley Khalil (-4) as he won the match in straight games 15 -11, 15 - 7.

The closest match of the evening saw Jonathan Antczak (6) coming from one game down to defeat Javid Rahaman (-2) 13-15, 15-10, 15-10, while Adam Alves (4) also had to overcome a first game deficit when he defeated Dane Pereira (10) 12 -15, 15- 9, 158.

In category A, Gianni Carpenter (-4) easily disposed of an in-form Zachary Persaud (7) 15-10, 15 -13, while the experi-

enced Abosaide Cadogan (-4) surrendered just two points in her match against T e i j a Edwards (11) with a 15- 12, 15- 12 victory.

Nicholas Verwey (-1) continued to show tremendous all-round improvement as he defeated Madison Fernandes (0) 15- 6, 15- 10.

Matches continue on Saturday from 18:00h, with the finals set to be played on Sunday starting at 11.00 am.

Nyron Joseph

BCB to host Naeem Nasir Memorial One-Day 5/5 Tournament – $200K in prizes at stake

T

Abosaide Cadogan

he Area ‘H’ Ground at Rose Hall Town in East Berbice will be a hive of activity when the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), with support from the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTYSC), hosts the 5th annual Naeem Nasir Memorial Tournament.

This tournament will be played on a knockout basis, and will involve eight teams located in the Lower Corentyne area.

The teams selected to participate in this tournament are Rose Hall Town Bakewell, Fyrish Cricket Club, Courtland Cricket Club, Jai Hind Cricket Club, Belvedere United Cricket Club, Albion Community Centre, and Whim National Cricket Club.

Tournament winner receives $100,000; while runners-up will receive $50,000, third place win-

ner $30,000 and fourth placed $20,000.

The tournament is being held in memory of the founder of Bakewell, Naeem Nasir, who died on October 9, 2012.

Nasir had been a strong supporter of cricket in Berbice, and in particular the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC).

Bakewell has been sponsoring the Club’s Under-17 and Second

Division Cricket Teams since 2000, and has played a major role in shaping the careers of players such as Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Shemaine Campbelle, Shawn Pereira, Clinton Pestano, Eon Hooper, Kevlon Anderson, Erva Giddings and Junior Sinclair, among dozens of others.

The first match bowls off on October 9th at 09:30 hours, while Bakewell General Manager Rajin Ganga is expected to be present to do the presentation after the game.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturdAY, october 6, 2018

I

t was like an afternoon stroll on a warm winter's day. By the end of it, Virat Kohli had notched up another inevitable-looking hundred, Ravindra Jadeja had entertained his home crowd with a maiden hundred, a run-out where he walked from mid-on and threw the stumps down as if playing marbles, and a wicket off his first ball, Rishabh Pant had attacked his way to 92, India had registered their highest total against West Indies, and the visitors ended the day 555 behind with four first-innings wickets in hand. It seemed so easy you would be forgiven for forgetting they were actually playing in dry, 40-degree heat.

The availability of loose balls and defensive fields meant the India batsmen had to barely break a sweat when they resumed play on the second day at 364 for 4.

Sherman Lewis bothering Pant with the short ball for about one over, and Keemo Paul beating his bat as a result of that, was the most competitive period of play in this Test.

With nearly 400 on the board, Pant kept playing his shots, and when they come off they looked amazing.

The flick off the pads was the most productive against pace, and once West Indies went back to spin, Pant was all over them. Over midwicket, over mid-on, taking on long-off at the boundary. At one point, Pant threatened to beat Kohli to the century despite starting the day 55 behind. Eventually, there was one shot too many, as

Kholi, Jadeja prolong West Indies’ agony

seemingly flat pitch suddenly became venomous. Before he walked off clutching his side, Shami had removed the openers in a four-over opening spell. He bowled with a beautiful seam position, attacked the stumps, and benefited from the skid-

23

Shimron Hetmeyer went on to self-destruct. Hetmeyer and Ambris ended up at the striker's end after Hetmeyer hit a shot a touch too well to Jadeja at mid-on. Jadeja teased him by walking slowly to the stumps and then throwing the ball on top of

SCOREBOARD

Shimron Hetmyer was well short of his crease and lost his wicket against India on the second day of the first Test for 10

he failed to pick a Devendra Bisho googly and edged a hoick.

There was no such uncertainty around Kohli's hundred. It seemed like batting practice for him. He was hardly challenged by the bowling and the conditions.

It was like a session where a batsman is trying to reinforce the basics in the nets.

Leave wide balls alone; drive if it is too full; if it is a touch straight, close the bat face late. He ran hard. There were enough bad balls in between for him to not need to take any risks to put the bowlers under pressure. His century was his 24th, taking him past Virender Sehwag on the list of India's most prolific centurions, and placing him behind only Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.

When he off-drove the first ball he faced post lunch for only his eighth bound-

ary, Kohli crossed 1000 runs for the third year in a row.

He began to take risks now.

Having survived a return catch before lunch, he picked a wrong'un and smacked it over midwicket for four. He began to walk down against pace, eventually getting a leading edge that ended his innings.

Jadeja had by then established himself at the wicket, having added 64 with Kohli.

As wickets fell at the other end, finally giving Bishoo some reward for his unremarkable toil that gave him 4 for 217 - the second-most expensive figures for West Indies, Jadeja grew adventurous. The half-century was uneventful, his sword-wielding promising that he had something special planned to celebrate a hundred.

Thanks to their run rate, India had a lot of time to allow Jadeja a shot at the landmark, but they had lost eight wickets by then.

However, Jadeja found support from Umesh Yadav as they added 55 for the ninth wicket. Jadeja showed the urgency required, hitting the second ball he faced after his fifty for a six back over Bishoo's head. That was the first of his five sixes. He went from 50 to 98 in 34 balls despite refusing singles when batting with the No. 11 Mohammed Shami.

That West Indies were a beaten lot showed in their captaincy. The first ball Shami faced was the 25th of the 10th-wicket partnership. The field didn't change at all at the end of the overs, allowing Jadeja to take the single and retain the strike.

Shami kept his end of the bargain, allowing Jadeja to get to the hundred. The celebration, it turned out, was joyous, involving a long look at the heavens above, but he didn't add any variant to his sword dance.

As India took the field, a

India 1st Innings PP Shaw c & b Bishoo 134 KL Rahul lbw b Gabriel 0 CA Pujara c †Dowrich b Lewis 86 V Kohli (c) c Bishoo b Lewis 139 AM Rahane c †Dowrich b Chase 41 RR Pant † c Paul b Bishoo 92 RA Jadeja not out 100 R Ashwin c †Dowrich b Bishoo 7 Kuldeep Yadav lbw b Bishoo 12 UT Yadav c Lewis b Brathwaite 22 Mohammed Shami not out 2 Extras (b 9, lb 1, nb 4) 14 TOTAL: (149.5 Overs, RR: 4.33) 649/9d Fall of wickets: 1-3 (KL Rahul, 0.6 ov), 2-209 (CA Pujara, 42.6 ov), 3-232 (PP Shaw, 50.2 ov), 4-337 (AM Rahane, 83.3 ov), 5-470 (RR Pant, 108.1 ov), 6-534 (V Kohli, 123.4 ov), 7-545 (R Ashwin, 128.1 ov), 8-571 (Kuldeep Yadav, 136.5 ov), 9-626 (UT Yadav, 143.6 ov) BOWLING: ST Gabriel (21-1-841), KMA Paul (15-1-61-0), SH Lewis (20-0-93-2), D Bishoo (543-217-4), RL Chase (26-1-1371), KC Brathwaite (13.5-1-47-1)

dy bounce he gets. R Ashwin soon got into the act, dismissing Shai Hope with an offbreak that didn't turn.

With the ball still new, and his seam parallel to the ground, it wasn't entirely unintentional.

Sunil Ambris and

West Indies 1st Innings KC Brathwaite (c) b Mohammed Shami 2 KOA Powell lbw b Mohammed Shami 1 SD Hope b Ashwin 10 SO Hetmyer run out (Jadeja) 10 SW Ambris c Rahane b Jadeja 12 RL Chase not out 27 SO Dowrich † b Kuldeep Yadav 10 KMA Paul not out 13 Extras (b 8, lb 1) 9 TOTAL (29 Overs, RR: 3.24) 94-6 Yet to bat: D Bishoo, SH Lewis, ST Gabriel Fall of wickets: 1-2 (KC Brathwaite, 2.2 ov), 2-7 (KOA Powell, 4.1 ov), 3-21 (SD Hope, 9.2 ov), 4-32 (SO Hetmyer, 11.5 ov), 5-49 (SW Ambris, 16.1 ov), 6-74 (SO Dowrich, 25.2 ov) BOWLING: Mohammed Shami (6-2-11-2), UT Yadav (7-1-14-0), R Ashwin (7-032-1), RA Jadeja (5-1-9-1), Kuldeep Yadav (4-1-19-1)

them. Ambris was teased by a flighted ball first up, which he looked to hit over midoff but edged to slip. Shane Dowrich then tried to hit a big shot off Kuldeep Yadav, presenting him with a gate to burst through. Six wickets in 29 overs. (ESPNcricinfo)

GFF presents equipment to foster youth development

GFF President Wayne Forde presenting gear to students of The Business School

F

Presentation of football gear to the St Pius Primary School

ive groups have, between September 17 and October 4, benefited from the donation of football equipment to foster growth and development of the sport among their youth population.

Three educational institutions in St. Pius Primary School, East Ruimveldt Secondary School and The Business School, along with the Upper Mazaruni Sports Council

and the Lethem Mayor and Town Council, were presented the equipment, courtesy of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) through Nigel White and The Crossfire Foundation, a partner based in the United States of America.

Among the items presented to the groups named were cleats, balls, bibs, cones and jerseys in a variety of quantities and types. Additionally, two

barrels of equipment were presented to St Pius Primary and East Ruimveldt Secondary School respectively.

In expressing gratitude for the presentation, Head Teacher of East Ruimveldt Secondary School, Katheryn Fraser, said it would greatly assist the school to participate in future competitions. “I feel good about the gesture, because the children are

into football and these gears will go a far way. We have female and male football teams, and they actively participate in competitions.

Usually respective parents buy the gears used, but this presentation will greatly reduce the cost faced by the parents to acquire same,” Fraser said.

President Wayne Forde, who was on hand to present the gear to The Business School last Tuesday, said he was impressed with the

work of the school, especially as it afforded scholarship opportunities to young footballers.

“Mr. Bovell, the Head Teacher, visited me over the past week and shared with me a very thoughtful report of the exceptional work that this institution has been doing to promote sports in general, and in particular football. What I learned is that the school has given second chances to students through the academic and sports scholarships,”

Forde explained.

He urged the students to maximise the second chance afforded them, and to make informed decisions.

According to the website, The Crossfire Foundation is a club in the United States of America which “provides professional training and player development to qualified players to assist them in advancing to play at the highest levels of play available.”

saturdAY, october 6, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

GFF presents equipment to foster youth development Page 23

Head teacher of East Ruimveldt Secondary School, Katheryn Fraser, receiving a barrel of football equipment from GFF's Coaching Education Officer Lyndon France

Kholi, Jadeja prolong West Indies’ agony

Page 23

Hurricanes, Scorpions snatch wins in Group B battle

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