Guyana Times 19 August, 2017

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Issue No. 3306

PRICE

Controversial Broadcast Bill

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt stands firm to its position Page 3

…rules out consultations with broadcasters

12-year-old crushed to death after house collapses

Page 7

$80 vat included

11 injured, 5 hospitalised after minibus slams into trailer Page 10

Bandits storm GPL’s Parika office

P9

Teen jailed, fined for shooting at P8 Cop

Illegal aircraft

Demerara River crossing

Govt to select contractor from pre-qualifiers

National border security plan on the way – Harmon P7

Page 2

Guyana P5 submits bid to join global anticorruption watchdog

Contractors wanting to design and build the new bridge across the Demerara River will have to first pre-qualify in order to be shortlisted for the award of the contract.

Pictured is an artist’s impression of the proposed new Demerara River bridge. The proposed bridge is approximately two kilometers North of the existing floating bridge, spanning from Houston on the eastern bank of the Demerara River to Versailles on the western bank

Assassination claim

Lawyers clash over bail, Top Cop ‘interference’ Page 9

Police P15 unearth AK47, ammo in Kingstown

2 News

saturDAY, august 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

New Demerara River crossing

Govt to select contractor from pre-qualifiers

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ontractors wanting to design and build the new bridge across the Demerara River will have to first pre-qualify in order to be shortlisted for the award of the contract. That pre-qualifying process will soon commence.

Through the Public Infrastructure Ministry, interested contractors will be pre-qualified for the finance, design, building, and maintenance components of the new bridge. These works will be procured through public tendering, with a restricted number of bidders.

The procurement process,

according to the Ministry, will be in two phases – the current pre-qualification phase and the bidding phase. In the pre-qualification phase, three contractors will be shortlisted and requested to submit designs and offer a fixed price lump sum bid for the design and construction of the bridge and approach roads.

The shortlisting of the bidders, the Ministry noted, will be on the basis of the profile, track record, financial capacity of the applicant as well as on the merit of the technical, cost and financing proposals presented by applicants in their pre-qualification docu-

An artist’s impression of the new Demerara River bridge

ment.

Furthermore, in order to improve the funding package, applicants for shortlisting are

requested to advance proposals for financing the project.

The Request for PreQualification Document will

be available for download on the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s website, www. mopi.gov.gy, from Monday

August 21. Contractors must respond by September 4 in order to be considered for participation in the pre-qualification procedure.

Floating at 1.25 miles, the Demerara Harbour Bridge is a strategic link between the East and West Bank of Demerara. It facilitates the daily movement of large numbers of vehicles, people, and cargo. The structure was built in the 1970s but was opened in July 1978 with the expectation of lasting only 10 years. However, some 37 years after, it is still floating. turn to page 11

news

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saturDAY, august 19, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, August 19 – a night time retraction at 02:30h and a day retraction at 14:30h-16:00h and Sunday, August 20 – a night time retraction at 03:30h and a day retraction at 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, August 19 – 14:55h-16:25h and Sunday, August 20 – 15:40h-17:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, with clear to partly skies expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from East South-easterly to easterly between 3.12 metres to 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 02:14h and 14:52h reaching maximum heights of 2.50 metres and 2.47 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:20h and 20:43h reaching minimum heights of 0.66 metre and 0.74 metre respectively.

wednesDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS K

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FREE TICKET

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 02 07 08 15 20 LUCKY 3 3 3 1 Afternoon Draw

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

Controversial Broadcast Bill

Govt stands firm in its position … rules out consultations with broadcasters

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hile the President is yet to assent to the Broadcast Bill 2017, the Government is holding firm to its position that it will not hold consultations with broadcasters who will be affected, before the Bill becomes law.

Broadcasters have been clamouring for meaningful consultations on the Bill, as some of its clauses have been deemed ‘oppressive’. The political Opposition and international agencies have also expressed the need for consultations.

However, during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon ruled out Government consulting with broadcasters before the Bill becomes law.

“No there is no possibility (for) that. I mean you’re speaking to the quality of the consultation, not to the fact that there were consultations. It is not for me in any capacity to say that the National Assembly, having debated and voted on this matter, that any individual can come and say stop it.”

“Unless something is egregiously (wrong), is not in keeping with the law, which the Attorney General (Basil Williams) can advise that this is not in keeping with the law and (he) advises to that effect. But as far as I am aware, nothing like that has taken place.”

Broadcasters had called on the Government to delay passing the Bill until meaningful consultations were held with them. A letter to this effect was dispatched to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. The Minister, however, argued that consultations were indeed carried out.

“There’s always consultation. And so the Broadcast Bill was subject to that type of consultation. Once it goes through the National Assembly (and) the debate was completed, the Clerk of the National Assembly (Sherlock Issacs) submits the draft for consent to my office.”

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

He noted that it is then sent to the Attorney General, who then verifies “that the law is the true reflection of what happened in the National Assembly and it then goes as a recommendation for (the President) to assent.”

However, the political Opposition has for some time argued that the broad cast bill infringes on a number of legal, constitutional rights of broadcasters. For one, the Opposition has said that the Bill threatens proprietary rights guaranteed in Article 142 of the Constitution.

The article guarantees that the private property of individuals could not be acquired by the State without adequate compensation being paid to the owner of the property. In addition, the Opposition has argued that the Bill tramples on Article 146 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression.

It is on this basis, and the fact that the Guyana Press Association, Reporters Without Borders and other local and international groups opposed the Bill, that the Opposition had promised to mount a challenge in court.

The Bill

Part two of the Bill sets out that broadcast agencies will be mandated to broadcast public service pro-

grammes for a total of up to one hour daily. Broadcast agencies will be airing these public service programmes free of cost and as requested by the Government between 06:00h and 22:00h.

The Bill also states that the GNBA reserves the right to direct a broadcaster to broadcast emergency notices for any length of time. This can even be done during peak or prime advertising time.

A broadcaster will have the right to file a complaint with the GNBA within 24 hours of being asked to broadcast a programme free of cost if, in the agency’s judgment, it is not considered a public service broadcast programme.

But there is a warning for broadcasters daring to oppose the legislation: the Bill states that any broadcaster the GNBA finds to have “arbitrarily refused” to broadcast a public service broadcast programme without lodging a complaint has com-

President David Granger

mitted an offence.

Even before its passage, broadcasters have already come out in opposition to the new proposed measures.

Using its seat majority, however, the Government had forged ahead with its passage over the Opposition from the other side of the house.

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, august 19, 2017

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

CPL: a much-needed boost to Guyana’s tourism sector

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s Guyana hosts its leg of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) matches, the level of excitement that is currently building is no surprise, as it has now become a norm that, during this time, there is a renewed interest in the game from everyone here. Now in its fifth year, CPL is truly established as one of the leading T20 leagues in the world, and compares favourably with the likes of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash League (BBL).

In addition to the high level of entertainment provided for families, many stakeholders in the Caribbean -- including governments and private sector bodies -- are well aware of the huge potential the tournament has in terms of its massive contribution to host countries’ economies and the region as a whole.

Over the past two months, several businesses have been complaining of poor sales, and the general consensus was that much more needs to be done to revive the economy and create opportunities for citizens.

We believe that hosting of the CPL games here is the kind of intervention that would give a much-needed boost to the economy. For example, already, several hotels in Georgetown, both large and small, have reported massive increase in bookings, and some are even booked to capacity. The fans of the various teams have descended on Guyana in large numbers to root for their teams. Not only would they attend the matches, but they would also use the opportunity to experience Guyana’s major tourist attractions. Hence the benefits would have a trickle-down effect to other related sectors, such as transport, retail, services etc.

In essence, the CPL games here are a good example of the tremendous benefits that could be derived from a sporting event of such magnitude. Guyana, through the CPL, has benefited significantly from hosting the event since the inception of the tournament. The games’ economic impact locally has been both direct and indirect.

According to CPL, assessment reports compiled showed that the economy received close to US$17 million last season. The net sum was calculated by looking at the influx of tourists to the country, hotel bookings, vending during the games, and the overall spending of persons during this period. With the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ success at CPL, Guyana has, over the past four years, benefited from some US$80M from the tournament.

Now that the CPL tournament has proven to have many trickle-down effects, the whole concept of sports tourism is beginning to gain popularity in the region. The introduction of sports tourism as a major industry here is an excellent idea; and it would certainly be in the nation’s interest if the major players involved work seriously towards designing and implementing the necessary programmes and policies that would see Guyana taking advantage of the many opportunities available in the sector.

Analysts have pointed to the fact that sports tourism is a huge and growing industry, with important economic implications for both the sport, the event, and the impact of travel and tourism-related benefits on host destinations.

Additionally, each year, the National Stadium at Providence, which is the home ground of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, attract sold out crowds. However, with tournaments such as this, it is not only the sold-out stadiums that warrant the prestige, but there is a chance to showcase one’s country on the global market, since television viewership would usually span every continent.

CPL has indeed been a success story, not only as it relates to the development of cricket in Guyana and the region, but for the potential for growth and the ability to create the kind of opportunities that would seek to improve the lives of citizens. Guyana must therefore capitalise on the economic successes of CPL, and work towards further developing sports tourism in general.

The ER Burrowes School of Art graduating class of 2017, having completed their studies put on display artwork from during their tutelage at the art school at the Umana Yana, Kingston, Georgetown on Friday

The Sleepin saga Dear Editor, The August 15, 2017 issue of the Guyana Chronicle carried a screaming front page headline: “Tracking The Money”. The strapline went on to add: “Sleepin boss, associates snared in money laundering probe…”

This is the Government’s newspaper talking about one of our young, bright and upcoming entrepreneurs.

This vicious attack on one of our progressive businessmen, Mr. Clifton Bacchus, the proprietor of the Sleepin Hotel chain, is an indication of how low this regime has sunk. It is a reflection of their viciousness.

Sleepin International was given a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the PPP/C Administration.

It was during my presidency that it was done.

The PPP/C Administration had identified tourism as one of the areas wherein our country had potential for rap-

id growth. It was in pursuit of this position that we aggressively worked with stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality sectors in laying the infrastructure for its take-off.

It was that policy that guided the PPP/C Administration’s investment in several projects, including the Guyana National Stadium, The Convention Centre, the Marriott Hotel, a world class Olympic size swimming pool, and an international standard track and field facility.

The PPP/C also worked hard on big projects like the Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion project, and did a great deal of work on our roads. We upgraded the Ogle airstrip, transforming it into an international airport.

The idea was to promote a multi-faceted tourism product. The traditional eco–tourism was one area.

However, we were looking

at developing sports and health tourism (that was why we were also building a specialty hospital -- to serve the Guyanese people firstly, but also to attract foreigners to use the facilities).

The position included making Guyana a destination for conferences and also for education tourism.

This is why the PPP/C Government worked closely with all hotel owners and persons with tourist businesses. Most, if not all, benefited from concessions granted by the administration.

In the case of the Sleepin Hotel, the Government committed to grant a casino licence if the owner built a hotel comprising 150 rooms.

It was on that commitment that the owner of Sleepin put in his own resources, and also sought an international partner to finance this project.

This project will create jobs for more than 300 persons. It will expand our

country‘s accommodation facilities, and offer a world class service to its clientele.

It is a bold initiative, and has proven to be an excellent tourism lure for our country as a whole.

Entrepreneurs like Mr Bacchus would be highly valued in most countries of the world.

Why then has the regime become so vicious to this initiative, which is certainly good for our country?

The first reason is because Mr. Clifton Bacchus and I are good friends. The pattern of this regime is to try to punish persons because of their association/ friendship with opposition politicians.

Finally, the attack on Sleepin violates the oath they took on assuming power. They swore to govern without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.

Dear Editor, In my Straight Talk column of August 18, 2017, there was one error which is 100% my fault.

My period of compar-

ison was the full year 2016 vs the latest full year 2017 estimates for exports for Gold and Rice as printed on Appendix B in the 2017 Half Year

Report. The numbers are correct, it is just that the period I indicated was misclassified as the half year period of 2016 vs 2017.

I apologise for this error on my part and take full responsibility.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

Error in column Sincerely, Sase Singh

saturDAY, AUGUST 19, 2017

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News

Guyana submits bid to join global anti-corruption watchdog …as country readies for oil industry

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he Natural Resources Ministry (MNRE) on Friday submitted Guyana’s application to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an important step if the country hopes to develop a transparent, corruption-free oil sector.

The ceremonial handing over of Guyana’s application was held at the Natural Resources Ministry’s Board room and saw the Multi Stakeholder Group in attendance. The application was presented via Skype to Dr Francisco Paris, Regional Director of EITI. According to Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, becoming a member of EITI would strengthen Guyana’s governance framework.

“As you know, we’re not planning on oil production until 2020. So we’re putting these fundamentals in place very early,” Trotman related in an interview after the

ceremony. “When you look at the natural resources sector, for now we have gold, diamond, bauxite, forests. And the idea is (that) long before we get into oil production, we want to look at how the royalties are collected (and) what are they used for.

“So this is only going to strengthen the good governance framework, to ensure there is transparency in the spending of that money. So when we do start to produce oil and receive income for it, (we can avoid) the resource curse and issues of corruption and waste,” Trotman explained.

He said that joining the EITI would help Guyana to avoid not just corruption, but Government would have to spend the oil revenue in a wise manner, including ignoring investments in infrastructure -- such as roads or bridges -- that the country didn’t need.

An implementing country’s first EITI Report must

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, with members of the Multi Stakeholder Group (MSG)

be published within 18 months from the date the country was admitted as a candidate. There are 52 countries with membership that adhere to the standard.

Minister Trotman noted that, once accepted, Guyana would become the 53rd country in the EITI. The application process began in 2010, when

the previous administration gave its commitment to join the international standard.

In 2012, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Guyana and EITI for assistance in preparing its candidacy.

Guyana has officially completed the sign-up step, which involved: Government engagement, company en-

gagement, civil society engagement, the establishment of a multi-stakeholder group, and agreement on an EITI work plan.

With assistance from neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago, capacity-building symposiums were held earlier this year by the Multi Stakeholder Group (MSG) of the Guyana Extractive

Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI).

The GYEITI is a tripartite of government, industry and civil society. Its outreaches target communities that are traditionally engaged in the extractive industries, such as Bartica in Region Seven; Corriverton in Region Six; Linden in Region 10; Charity in Region Two; and in Georgetown, Region Four.

In June, a draft work plan was put together and later endorsed by the group.

The Guyana EITI official steering committee includes representatives from the extractive industries and from civil society. This is to ensure that Guyana meets all the milestones required for EITI compliance. Now that Guyana’s application has been submitted, it would be reviewed and deliberated upon at the next EITI International Conference, scheduled to take place in Indonesia in late October.

Region 9 residents disappointed with incomplete capital projects Dear Editor, Kindly permit me space in your newspaper to bring to the attention of the general public an issue of four capital projects that were approved in 2016 by the National Assembly of Guyana for the enhancement and delivery of education in Region Nine; all of which yet remain incomplete, despite final payments having been awarded to the contractor. The projects were rolled over to 2017.

Editor, as aforementioned, in late 2016, four capital projects were awarded to a coastland contractor. These projects are the construction of Tabatinga Nursery School in the Municipality of Lethem, Baishaidrun Nursery School in Deep South Rupununi, Pipang Nursery School in South Pakaraimas, and Teachers Five Apartment Living Quarters in Sand Creek in South Central Rupununi. Each project was costed at approximately Gy$18 million.

It is pellucid and public

knowledge that the awarded contractor had sub-contracted these capital projects. The stipulated month of completion of the projects was May, 2017. Checks and follow-ups were made by the Public Works Standing Committee of the Regional Democratic Council of Region Nine as the work on these projects progressed.

It has been revealed that the awarded contractor had received final payments for the said projects, pending 10% retention, yet all four capital projects remain incomplete.

Editor, the opening of these new nursery schools and teachers’ quarters respectively in the new school academic year in September, 2017 was highly anticipated by parents, teachers and pupils; and the collective disappointment is indescribable.

I call on the subject minister and relevant authorities -- since they have promised transparency and accountability on public spending -- to intervene

forthwith in this matter, so that the nursery schools and teachers’ quarters are completed at the earliest possible time for their beneficiaries.

Editor, of major note and immense concern is the fact that the Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs,

the fourth Vice-President, recently visited Sand Creek village, but chose to turn a blind eye on the incomplete and stalled teachers’ five-apartment construction.

The people of Region Nine have seen and noted that Government ministers frequently visit, lecture and

make pronouncements, with none addressing needs and concerns, or finding solutions to existing problems of the villagers; but they instead choose to make glowing remarks in self-praise of the “Good life” the people now enjoy.

However, some persons

may be enjoying ‘the good life’, but at the level of the communities, it is a different reality.

Regards, Alister Charlie Member of Parliament Region Nine

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saturDAY, August 19, 2017

Page

Foundation Dinner: 30 minutes to a more connected family ways so interesting. With some discussion ideas in mind and a little energy, you can create a dinner hour that will have the teens almost wishing they didn’t have to head out. (I said almost.)

How do you create a dinner hour that's so nurturing that everyone in the family – including you – looks forward to it? Here are 15 ideas to get you started.

BY DR LAURA MARKHAM (Continued from Friday)

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guyanatimesgy.com

"What about date night?" hile your children are young, you may want to sit down with them for Saturday night dinner before the babysitter arrives and you head out for an evening with your partner. Of course, if you have dinner as a family most of the other nights of the week, this won't feel necessary. And if you don't, then consider this first part of your Saturday evening "date night" with your children.

"As my children have gotten older, they don't want to have dinner with us on the weekend."

Again, if you have dinner as a family most other nights, you can feel comfortable exempting Saturday night as "party night" for everyone. But if you don't, then your family needs the connection time -- even if your tweens and teens don't know that!

Naturally, as your children get older, they'll be the ones having date night. But if you open your doors to your children' friends for dinner, tweens and even teens often enjoy a delicious free, home-cooked dinner – and are willing to engage in an interesting discussion, if you don't embarrass them – before they head out to a movie or party. That may seem hard to believe, but my children’s friends have commented that they love hanging out at our house because the conversations are al-

1. Put on your own oxygen mask first If you walk in the door from work exhausted and have to rush to get dinner on the table, you won't have any internal resources left by the time you sit down. Try putting out healthy snacks (carrots and hummus, cheese and crackers) as the "first course" while you take ten minutes to wind down. After that, you'll be more relaxed while you get dinner on the table and sit down with those people you adore. For more tips, see Surviving Arsenic Hour.

2. Consciously cultivate sacred space There’s nothing magical about exhausted parents, cranky children, and take-out food. But with minimal effort, we can create a daily, short but restorative, celebration of family, which offers refuge from the trials and tribulations of ordinary life. Some families do this by lighting candles, which seems to set the time apart and make it special. Some say a short blessing, which may or may not be religious in nature, but reconnects us with our gratitude for simply being alive and together.

The most important component, though, is the attitude of celebration and appreciation. Parents will need to set the tone by overlooking trivial issues like table manners and whose turn it is to (fill in the blank), and focusing instead on what really matters. Which isn’t, by the way, the food.

3. The food is not the point I'm considered a health food nut by my family, and not a day goes by without my urging more vegetables on them. But I try to remember that the point of sitting down to dinner is to connect with each other, not what we eat. I never knock myself out with

an elaborate meal on a weeknight when it's just our family eating. There are plenty of easy, healthy, kid-pleasing options out there, and my advice would be to eat simple, and save your energy for making the dinner table pleasant, rather than cooking a meal that leaves you even more exhausted at the end of a long day.

How simple can you eat? Your call, and my admiration to the chefs out there, but I rely heavily on spaghetti with sauce from a jar and salad from a bag (ok, cut up some red pepper and cucumbers), organic chilli from a box (accompanying healthy corn muffins from a mix always makes this a crowd-pleaser), and scrambled eggs with raw carrots out of the bag. Make soup on the weekend and eat it on Monday and Wednesday. And of course, there's always pizza and take-out. The point is that decent nutrition does not require a long prep time, and stressing about the food sabotages what you really want, which is connection with your family.

4. Turn off the TV and radio Some families resist the temptation to turn on the TV during dinner by situating the TV where it can’t be seen from the table. Many impose a rule that no one answers phone calls, even if Mom or Dad gets an important work call, and turn off cell phones so they can't be heard. Protect this special time with your family from interruptions. As the U.S. President said recently about prioritising dinner with his daughters, the world will still be there in half an hour, even if you're the President.

5. Establish fun rituals and routines Some families take turns choosing appropriate background music or being in charge of dessert. Some rotate who says the blessing or chooses the discussion topic. In some families, Tuesday is pizza night and Friday is family game night or the Jewish Sabbath. It’s the fact that you always do the same thing that reinforces the ritual aspect, and creates the feeling that this is home, and family, and regardless of the day’s difficulties, life is good.

6. Use blessings to create a sense of gratitude and connection For some parents, saying grace is a time-honoured tradition they wouldn't

think of overlooking; for others it feels foreign and artificial. I often hear "I don't believe in God, so we don't say blessings at dinner!" But blessings are not about God, necessarily. Blessings are about us: our gratitude that we are able to sit down to a meal when others are hungry, our appreciation of each other, our honouring the person who prepared the meal and the bounty of nature that produced it, our awareness that in this moment we have everything we truly need.

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hen it comes to talking to your children about political matters, you may think that your eight-year-old would rather be playing video games or that your 14-year-old would prefer texting friends – but you might be wrong.

KidsHealth.org asked more than 2000 children and teens throughout the US what they thought about presidential elections and how they might affect them, if at all.

A whopping 75 per cent of children and 79 per cent of teens answered "yes" when asked whether they thought that the outcome of an election would change their lives.

Nearly half of teens surveyed said that they believed they'd had at least some influence on their parents' choice of candidate.

So, if you think your children are only interested in talking about children' stuff, think again.

What's on their minds?

In every election season, we see signs, bumper stickers, and ads for political candidates everywhere. Turn on the TV or radio or surf online and there's an onslaught of messages on everything from health care, the economy, and jobs, to war abroad and climate change.

As parents, we can't expect our children not to be influenced by this media blitz. In fact, most teens who took our poll ranked talked-about issues – like gas and food prices, education, health care, war, and the environment – as "very important" to them.

Knowing what children think about these issues and how they might affect your family is important. Talking about it not only helps to promote learning and develop critical thinking skills, but also lets you clear up misconceptions your children may have or calm any fears about the future.

Talk about it When discussing an election, talk about what you believe and why – and ask your children what they think and feel. This shows that you value their opinions and want to hear what's on their minds.

If their opinions differ from yours, that's OK. Use it as a teaching opportunity: Why do they feel that way? Can they come up with examples to support their view? Engaging children in this way helps them to develop their own opinions

Blessings don't have to be traditional prayers to "God." Blessings are a way of marking the meal as a sacred time together, a way of connecting us together in the deliciousness of shared appreciation. You might try holding hands while each person says one thing they're thankful for.

Meg J. Ryan's book A Grateful Heart: Daily Blessings for the Evening Meal from Buddha to the Beatles has blessings of all kinds if you want some inspiration. (Excerpted from Aha Parenting)

and express their ideas.

More tips to keep in mind: Keep it positive. In the heat of an election season, strong feelings about tough issues can spark disagreements.

Use the opportunity to show children how to voice differences of opinion with respect, strength, and conviction. Say what you don't like about a candidate or his or her position and explain what you do like about your candidate of choice.

Encourage your children to do the same. Focus on the positive attributes of your candidate – talk about what you're for and your children will too.

Be reassuring. Perhaps children are worried by what the candidates and others are saying about the economy or the job market. They might fear the family losing the house or a parent losing a job. Listen to their concerns and provide reassurance and perspective.

If you're facing financial troubles, be honest and then tell your children (in an age-appropriate way) what you're doing to handle the problem.

Suggest they get involved. Many children are quite interested in and concerned about current events.

Taking action helps them feel empowered and effective, and builds problem-solving skills.

Help children think of what they can do. Talk about how small things can add up to make a big difference. If the environment is of particular concern, for example, maybe they'd like to find ways to help the family "go green" at home.

Let your children know that just like voting for a candidate can make a difference, so can working on an issue that you'd like to change.

Casting your vote Talking with your children about important issues, the electoral process, and why voting is important not only gives them a mini lesson on how government affects the world, but also shows that every person's opinion counts. Though they can't vote yet, they'll be able to someday, so it's important that they start becoming informed.

If possible, take your children with you into the voting booth on Election Day to show them firsthand how the process works. Be a role model by setting a positive example that lets them know you value the right to vote. Show your children the importance of voting – and they'll grow up knowing that every vote counts.

(Childrenhealth.org)

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saturDAY, August 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

12-year-old crushed to death after house collapses

Illegal aircraft

National border security plan on the way – Harmon

By Jarryl Bryan

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ollowing back-to-back discoveries of illegal aircraft and airstrips in Guyana’s hinterland regions, Government is formulating a National Border Security Plan – inclusive of satellite imagery, hightech aircraft field sensors, and an integrated network of spies – to address national security issues affecting Guyana.

Minister of State, Joseph

T

The twin-engine Beechcraft aircraft that was discovered

Neighbours gathered to console the grieving family

ragedy befell the community of La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara, on Friday afternoon after a single-storey wooden building came crashing down, resulting in a child being crushed to death while another was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, nursing severe injuries.

Dead is 12-year-old Amber Richards of Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara, who was at the time vacationing at her aunt’s home while on break from school along with her bother, nine-year-old Josh Richards, who was also trapped in the ruins of the house.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, the siblings were rocking in a hammock tied under the wooden building when the house came crashing down.

The hammock was said to be attached to the main supporting beams on which the building was supported, approximately seven feet off the ground.

When this publication visited the scene, distraught family members were still in shock over the tragedy.

Shortly after, the mother of the two children arrived at the residence, only to find

what was once an elevated building, was lying flat on the ground while her children were already removed from the scene.

However, this newspa-

cue team arrived at the residence approximately 30 minutes after receiving the report and only managed to remove the children from under the rubble after

The collapsed house in LBI

per spoke with the uncle of the children, Mahendra Shivtahal, who was at home when the house collapsed.

“Well them went downstairs (below the house) in the hammock and like they were shaking and the house pull and drop,” Shivtahal relayed. The now homeless man further noted that the incident took place at around 15:00h.

The uncle along with his wife and two children were in the building, while the two siblings were under the house. Guyana Timesunderstands a res-

much effort. The 12-year-old had already taken her last breath before she was found while her brother remained conscious despite his injuries.

Meanwhile, a relative of the now dead child indicated that Richards was faced with severe medical complications as a child and required much investment to keep her alive. As such, they were all is dismay over her sudden demise.

The house was said to be standing for some 30 years and was set to undergo renovations. (Ashraf Dabi)

One of the dugout trenches that were found west of Santa Fe

Harmon, said President David Granger was in Lethem and had discussions with officials on the ground in furtherance of this proposed plan.

Detailing the modus operandi of drug traffickers, Minister Harmon said they are able to set up landing strips in the Savannah region because the mostly flat terrain expedites their work. However, a plan of action designed to secure the borders is on the way.

He said that while some parts of this proposed plan have been put on the back burner, others have been a work in progress, in that some recommendations from the 2016 Commission of Inquiry into the discovery of another illegal aircraft near Yupukari in Region Nine have already been introduced. turn to page 15

8 news

saturDAY, august 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Teen jailed, fined for shooting at Cop A partially paralysed 18-year-old named Mark Anthony on Friday stood arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Dylan Bess, facing the following charges: 1: That on September 26, 2016, at Albouystown, Georgetown, he discharged a loaded firearm at Police rank Rojah Pilgrim with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or cause Pilgrim grievous bodily harm.

2: That on the same day, he had in his possession a .38 revolver and three matching live rounds of ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence.

On trial for the offence since late last year, Mark Anthony actually appeared

Anthony on his first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

in court on a stretcher, as he is experiencing swelling to his abdomen and legs.

The prosecutor informed the court that on the day of his arrest, Mark Anthony had reportedly approached the virtu-

al complainant (VC) Rojah Pilgrim, who was in his car, and discharged his firearm in Pilgrim’s direction, injuring the plain-clothes Policeman. The injured officer nevertheless managed to disarm Anthony

and arrest him, in process of which Anthony also was shot; hence his partial paralysis.

The teen was on Friday jailed for one year and fined $50,000 on the possession of ammunition charge, and jailed for one year and fined $100,000 on the possession of a firearm charge.

Moreover, he was jailed for eighteen months for discharging rounds at the Police Officer. However, all sentences will be served concurrently.

Anthony’s family members were very upset at the sentences imposed on him.

They explained to anyone listening that he is sick and they are being denied the right to make certain necessities available to him.

Kitty man remanded on narco trafficking charge

A

Kitty, Georgetown man, who claimed that a charge of possession of narcotics brought against him was “trumped up”, was on Friday remanded to prison when he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

A very vocal Desmond Lewis, 44, denied the charge against him when it was read at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge alleged that on May 31, 2017, at Lot 226 Garnett Street, Newtown, Kitty, he had in his possession 341.8 grams of canna-

bis for the purpose of trafficking.

After the charge was read, Lewis told Magistrate Latchman “I am really shocked and in dismay and am very uncomfortable with this charge, it is a trumpedup charge!”

According to the defendant, a search was conducted in one of the buildings in the yard in which he resides when the narcotics was found.

He explained “next thing I know is a group of Police approach me and asked me about the marijuana and I

told them that I don’t know about it”.

Lewis revealed that he was granted $60,000 station bail. “Your Honour, the drugs was not found on my person or anywhere close to me, not even 15 feet away,” Lewis said.

However, Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves objected to bail and stated that the defendant provided no special reasons why bail should be granted to him.

Gonsalves revealed that at about 16:00h on the day in question, Police officers

went to the address where the cannabis was found and a search was conducted.

The narcotics were reportedly found in several Ziploc bags hidden in a bucket containing paddy in the home of the accused, as such he was arrested and charged, the Prosecutor said.

During the court proceedings, the defendant continually objected to the Prosecutor’s facts.

Magistrate Latchman remanded Gonsalves to prison. He is scheduled to reappear on August 21.

Closing the gates…

T

…of the USA

here was, in the New York Times a week ago, an extended piece on some proposed radical changes to the US Immigration law, introduced by two Republican Senators. What was interesting was the Times used Guyanese immigrants in New York to illustrate the biggest impact the changes would precipitate. Seems that while tiny Guyana is punching way beyond its weight class in sending immigrants to America, we’re numero uno when it comes to using the option of naturalised citizens sponsoring their “immediate” relatives.

And if the law is passed, this is what will be cut by a whopping 50%!! The bill - “Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment Act, or the RAISE”, will now define -: (1) “immediate relative” as the less-than-21-year-old child or spouse of a U.S. citizen, and (2) “family-sponsored immigrant” as the under-21-year-old child or spouse of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. So this means that sponsorship of adult children - many of them with their own large brood of children - by citizens might soon be over!! This is presently the largest category under which the 7000+immigrants that Guyana sends annually to America falls.

Trump - not surprisingly - supports the Bill, since it fits in with his anti-immigrant narrative that condemns them for “taking away jobs” from Americans. The Bill also moves to introduce the Canadian system -- that encourages specific types of persons that they want through the allocation of “points” in these categories.

If you’re a multi-millionaire (in US dollars!!), or an Olympic winner (say Bolt!) or a nuclear physicist …you get the idea - then you’re in. Fluent English also helps; creole or “bruk-up” doesn’t count!”

While the Times commented on the impact of the bill on the present tsunami of remittances that end up in Guyana from the Guyanese immigrant community, they missed another, possibly more significant one; to wit, the devastating impact of the half of Guyana that have their “papers in” and who’ve put their lives on hold for the duration. In the case of adult married children, that might be up to ten years!! As the old calypso said, “Some a dem guh hallah; some a dem guh bawl”!! It’s a good thing UG’s collaborating with York University to introduce a “Social Work” Masters programme; social workers might be needed!

While your Eyewitness is no Marxist, if most of the “papered” Guyanese are forced to remain in Guyana, it should also heighten the revolutionary potential of the masses. If half of the population left since independence, but we’re still just above Haiti - imagine when that safety valve’s turned off.

Fyaah in Babylon!!

…on business culture?

Guyana is slowly - too slowly - learning how real business is conducted in the rest of the world when corporations from the developed North are involved.

Even though we’ve been independent for over 50 years, during more than half of those years under Burnham, we were busy nationalising the few such corporations that were in Guyana -- and then running them into the ground. We’ve been trying to play “catch up” ever since.

In the world of business - we repeat for the umpteenth time - a corporation HAS to seek to make profits by whatever means legal! And they’ll push the envelope on that!! It doesn’t matter if an owner is the world’s biggest philanthropist, like Bill Gates, Microsoft still plays hardball when dealing in the world of business. The point of it all, your Eyewitness is saying, is that we shouldn’t be whining about Exxon or GTT trying to maximise their returns; they’re serving their shareholders’ interest.

It’s the Government of Guyana that has to protect OUR interests - by any means necessary!

…on constitutional reform

The British High Commissioner wants it. The US Ambassador wants it. The Carter Centre wants it. The UNDP wants it.

But the billion-dollar question is: Does the Government of Guyana want Constitutional Reform?

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

News

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saturDAY, august 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Assassination claim

Lawyers clash over bail, Top Cop ‘interference’ …meddling influences public perception, delivery of justice

By Lakhram Bhagirat

T

hings got a bit heated on Friday when attorneys making their final submissions before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger clashed over the issue of bail and the reported interference of Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud in the investigation.

On March 29, Andriff Gillard reported to the Police that his friend and neighbour, Nizam Khan, had offered him $7 million to assassinate President Granger. He said the offer was made during a conversation he had with Khan after he approached Khan to borrow $6 million to purchase a property.

The investigation into this allegation is still ongoing.

During his submission to the CoI, attorney for the Guyana Police Force (GPF), former Chief Justice Ian Chang, said Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud was executing the functions of his office when he contacted Inspector Prem Narine and suggested that Imran Khan -- who was arrested for disorderly behaviour -- be released on his own recognizance, and his brother, Nizam, be placed on

Attorney Glen Hanoman

Attorney Ian Chang

CoI Commissioner Paul Slowe

Attorney Christopher Ram

Attorney Selwyn Pieters

station bail.

The issue of bail is particularly contentious, since Persaud was on vacation leave at that time, and he is also reputedly a longtime friend of Imran Khan.

Chang said that when the allegation was made, the office of Police Commissioner was not vacant, and Persaud was just exercising his administrative discretionary power.

Chang submitted that although Gillard had several options to report the alleged plot to the Police, he chose to make that allegation some 21 months after the fact, and with there being no one to corroborate his story.

According to Gillard, when he had the conversation with Khan, no one was within earshot. However, Leon Baldeo, one of Gillard’s friends, told the CoI that he was, on March 26th, offered $50,000 to corroborate Gillard’s story by saying he was present when the conversation took place.

Chang told the Commission that had Baldeo gone to the Police then, Gillard would have only had to confirm the allegation without making the report.

Chang submitted that if the report were credible, Gillard would have been detained under Section 316 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8:01, for the offence of Misprision of Treason. Chang said that by making the report some 21 months after the fact, Gillard was exposing himself to that very charge.

“The police did not see it fit to detain Gillard for this offence. Why? The answer is obvious. If Gillard’s report lacked credibility, then there was no treason… If the Police took the view that his story lacked credibility, it was right and proper that both he and Nizam Khan be released,” Chang submitted.

The CoI Act states that no

one can testify without taking an oath or making an affirmation, and Chang said Gillard did neither.

Chang said Gillard described himself as a converted Muslim, but both times when he appeared before the Commission, he swore using the Bible instead of the holy Quran.

This very action, Chang said, causes Gillard’s evidence to have no value, and to cause the CoI to have been defrauded.

“Gillard falsely swore on the Bible, which did not bind his conscience….what he stated before this tribunal is therefore of no evidential value. He has committed a fraud on this Commission. His falsities know no bounds or limits,” Chang submitted.

Chang added that the Major Crime Unit of the GPF should be complimented for uncovering the falsity of Gillard’s “mischievous allegations”, and further submitted that the investigations were thorough and uncovered the truth.

that Police Commissioner Persaud did not afford Assistant Commissioner David Ramnarine the professional courtesy he deserved.

He contended that if Persaud had interfered in an ongoing investigation in any other jurisdiction, he would have been arrested for obstructing justice, because such an approach would affect public perception and the administration of justice.

“The systematic failures in this case are not only an embarrassment, (they) reflect a loss of confidence in law enforcement. It shows that investigations and their efficacy can be influenced by civilians who are connected to the top brass, particularly the Commissioner of Police,” Pieters submitted.

respective of whether Seelall Persaud or David Ramnarine was on duty as Police Commissioner, or whether Blanhum or Dass was on duty as Crime Chief, the investigations were, and continue to be, diligently and properly conducted. There is evidence, however, as to what may have resulted in the false premise on which this inquiry is based,” Hanoman said.

“The baseless opinions and ill-informed reports by David Ramnarine to the political directorate could evidently result in a perception that something was amiss in the investigation. It is yet to be determined whether those reports were by malice and/or burning desires to ingratiate himself and diminish others for his personal ambitions,” he added.

Attorney Christopher Ram argued that Gillard’s story lacked credibility, and that he should seek psychological help.

The public hearing aspect of the commission ended on Friday, and the commission is expected to submit its report to President Granger on or before August 31. The CoI Commissioner has acknowledged all the submissions and has committed to considering them all.

Bandits storm GPL’s Parika office T hree armed bandits stormed the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL’s) Customer Service Centre at Parika, East Bank Essequibo on Friday at about noon, robbing staffers of the day’s proceeds and making off with the security guard’s weapon.

The bandits were able to get their hands on all revenues received up until that time, as they held both staff and customers at gun point.

Demerara. Swift response by police last Thursday resulted in three bandits fleeing the scene, leaving behind the belongings of customers that they had forcibly taken moments before.

GPL has since said it is immensely concerned about these incidents, and that a robust assessment of security provisions at its locations nationwide is underway.

They then disarmed the security guard on duty before making good their escape.

The matter has since been reported to the police, and investigations are ongoing.

This recent robbery comes on the heels of last week’s foiled attempt at the power company’s Customer Service Centre at Mon Repos, East Coast

The company has meanwhile announced temporary service interruptions at two of its Customer Service Centres: The Grove, East Bank Demerara branch will be closed from today until Tuesday coming; and the Parika location will be closed from Sunday until business resumes on Monday.

Professional discourtesy

Attorney Selwyn Pieters, representing journalist Travis Chase, who had interviewed Gillard following the allegation, argued

Not diligent

Persaud’s lawyer, Glen Hanoman, submitted that the ToRs presupposes that the GPF was not diligent in its investigation and that there were systemic failures, individual instances of neglect, and that disciplinary action should be taken against the individuals.

He added that the evidence provided does not suggest that there were failures.

“I wish to submit that, ir-

10 news

saturdAY, august 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

11 injured, 5 hospitalised after minibus slams into trailer A reportedly drunken driver is now in Police custody after the minibus he was driving along the East Coast Berbice Highway slammed into a tractor trailer, injuring 11 persons.

In a release on Friday, the Police said an intoxicated 47-year-old minibus driver along with a 45-year-old motor lorry driver were both in custody assisting with investigation.

According to the release, five of the eleven passengers of the minibus are still hospitalised -- four at the New Amsterdam Hospital and one at the Georgetown Public Hospital. They are each said to be in stable condition.

Shazar Kiodeen, 8, was transferred to the

Mohamed Safraz Kairodeen

Georgetown Hospital; while Niesah Kairodeen 13, Fayila Kairodeen 10, and Ryan Garian,10, were admitted at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Mohamed Safraz

Kairodeen, 43; Natraini Chari Narine, 44; Lilawattie Basdeo, 27, Keshan Looknauth, 5, Yashty Looknauth, 3, and Ddenish Lookanauth were treated and sent away.

Investigations revealed that motor lorry GLL 8559, with trailer TSS 458, was proceeding east along the northern carriageway while the minibus BNN 9791 was proceeding in the said direction. The bus allegedly attempted to overtake the lorry, but collided with the rear of the trailer.

As a result of the impact, the passengers, all from Topoo, Albion, Corentyne, received injuries, whilst the driver of the minibus and lorry were unhurt.

The passengers were rushed to the New Amsterdam Public

Hospital for treatment after she complained of feeling unwell. It was on their

and leg, was sitting in the front seat along with his three-year-old son when a bright light approaching blinded them, and suddenly the bus hit something and stopped abruptly.

Reports are that the minibus driver is a relative of Natraini Narine. He had rented the bus and travelled to Berbice earlier to spend time with relatives.

According to the Police, breathalyzer tests were administered to both drivers, and whilst the driver of the lorry, who hails from Nigg Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice, was not found to have any alcohol in his breath, the driver of the minibus was found to be above the legal limit.

way home that the accident occurred.

Kairodeen, who sustained injuries to his face

The legal limit is 35 micrograms, but his alcohol level was pegged at 71 micrograms.

Police arresting the minibus driver

Hospital, where six of them were treated and sent away.

The wrecked minibus

The scene at the NA Hospital on Thursday night

Mohamed Safraz Kairodeen, 43, had taken his wife Natraini Narine to the New Amsterdam

news

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saturDAY, august 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

DEMTOCO denies preventing passage of anti-tobacco laws L ocal distributor, the Demerara Tobacco Company Ltd (DEMTOCO), has rejected assertions by a local Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) representative, Dr William Adu-Krow that it is trying to delay the passage and assent of the Tobacco Control Bill of 2017.

The company in a statement on Friday said it understands the interests of PAHO, and their representative in attaining their objectives across the Caribbean, but “we reject this false assertion, and urge them to allow the Guyanese people and democratic consultative processes, to institute a good piece of legislation that will be progressive, non-discriminatory and fair.”

In fact, the company pointed out that over the past weeks, it has indicat-

PAHO/WHO representative, Dr William Adu-Krow

ed support for the regulation of the local tobacco industry, especially since Government is obligated to do so being party to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

It added too that they had written to the Public Health Ministers (present and past) Volda Lawrence and Dr George Norton, offering assistance and sup-

port towards ensuring the development of a balanced piece of tobacco legislation.

However, DEMTOCO noted that since the passage of the Bill, it has made public its disappointment on specific clauses in the legislation which it said are harsh, and contain significant discriminatory measures that would negatively impact ordinary Guyanese.

“These concerning clauses, we believe go way beyond the stated intent of what a tobacco bill should be concerned with,” the company said.

It was on this basis that it had written the Head of State, following a similar appeal by the Private Sector Commission (PSC), expressing concerns with the form in which the Bill was passed. In that correspondence, DEMTOCO clearly outlined the areas with which it has concerns.

These include: the fact that the defini-

Govt to select contractor ...

In 2013, the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, in collaboration with the then Public Works Ministry, had carried out a pre-feasibility study. That study concluded that a ‘fixed high-level’ bridge was the best option to pursue.

To this end, a $146.3 million contract was signed with Dutch company, LievenseCSO, for a feasibility study to be done to determine various factors relating to the new Demerara River crossing. The study was done earlier this year and now, Government is forging ahead with construction.

The proposed Demerara River bridge is approx-

imately two kilometers North of the existing floating bridge, spanning from Houston on the eastern bank of the Demerara River to Versailles on the western bank of the Demerara River. The new bridge will be an essential part of the road network and will also have a significant impact on

from page 2

marine traffic passing under the bridge.

The project will see the construction of an approximately 1500 metre long fixed bridge with a movable span and two approach roads of a total length of 600 metre. It is envisaged that the project will commence in 2018 and will be delivered in 2020.

DEMTOCO Managing Director Maurlain Kirton

tion of “workplace” within the Bill infringes on the rights of homeowners to smoke in their own homes if they have employed help, and is calling for an exception to be made with regards to private homes, when defining “workplace”; that under Public Place Smoking Ban section, no smoking in indoor places should not include private homes; and that under the same section, the ban imposed on smoking in bars, restaurants and hotels can accommodate both smokers and non-smokers alike with a provision for the establishment of outdoor designated smoking areas.

The company also asks that the legislation be amended to allow “the display of products at the point of sale only” so customers can see what they are buying. It said that the ban on product display will not only see a serious rise in the illicit Tobacco trade by driving legal tobacco sales under the counter as it had experienced in neighbouring Suriname but also affect Government’s ability to collect the taxes it requires to aid in nation building.

DEMTOCO further noted that the ban on carrying trays with tobacco products is significantly harsh and will affect the livelihood and income of hawkers. While Government has noted that the motivation for this particular ban is to stop the sale of cigarettes to minors, the company suggests that the Bill be amended to allow for carrying trays to be labelled with required health warnings and declarations against selling to minors which can be provided by the Tobacco Company, through retailers.

Moreover, the company wants the articles avoiding relations with the industry

contained in Sections 4044 of the Bill, be removed.

The Tobacco Company remains a key, legal stakeholder in the economic landscape of Guyana and as such should not be treated as a pariah simply because there is a powerful lobby against our products.

It noted too that under the same section, a person applying for a Government job is required to disclose their employment/relationship with the tobacco industry, if it occurred within five years of their application. Company said this is discriminatory and also affects persons employed in supermarkets, gas stations and any other place selling cigarettes or tobacco products.

DEMTOCO is calling on President Granger to place the Bill in the joint Select Committee of Parliament, so that a more reasonable solution could be arrived at before the gazetting of the Bill.

In this light, DEMTOCO said it “categorically rejects any effort to impugn the character of the industry, and reaffirm its support for the passage of a Tobacco Control Bill that is fair, balanced, and non-discriminatory.”

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saturDAY, august 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

14 news Street dwellers to be relocated, receive counselling – NTFC T saturDAY, august 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

he National Task Force Commission (NTFC) is hoping to work with the relevant stakeholders to have street dwellers documented and assessed by professionals with the aim of relocating them.

The NTFC is also seeking to provide street dwellers with counselling and therapy, and begin a process of rehabilitation. This exercise will commence by the last quarter of this year.

NTFC Chairman, retired Major General Joseph Singh, has said the National Committee has already begun work, and has been evaluating persons living on the streets to determine whether they are placed into shelters or drug rehabilitation centres.

“To the extent of persons living on the streets, whether they are street dwellers or mentally challenged…

The National Committee did some pilot work with trained therapists and psychiatrists from the Ministry of (Public) Health, to determine what type of therapy and welfare management would be appropriate for the categories,” Singh told journalists on Friday.

Chairman of the NTFC, (retired) Major General Joe Singh

According to Singh, it is a norm for persons to be taken off the streets, but they manage to find themselves back there in a matter of hours.

“Persons, in the past, have been removed from the pavement, taken to the night shelters, cleaned up, and given all that they need; but the next day they are back on the very pavements.

If you visit some of those persons, you will see that that is there home,” he said.

He said there are some homeless persons who are

intelligent, while there are others who prefer to be homeless even though they have families.

He said that now that the Hugo Chavez Centre in Berbice is up and running, the NTFC would be working closely with the Social Protection Ministry to see how many persons could be relocated there, along with the Phoenix House which deals particularly with drug rehabilitation.

Singh opined that homelessness is caused by many factors. “It has to do with the migration of a significant number of persons and people left here in the care of others. So the whole structure of the society needs to be retooled -- restore that caring for the neighbour,” he said.

He said many relatives are willing to take their family members back into the home, but it was found that those persons refuse to stay in the home.

Meanwhile, regarding the project, Singh said the task force is currently getting together the relevant professionals to get the work started. He said a lot of preplanning has to be done.

The project will be based

Vagrants occupying the pavement at the Parliament

in Georgetown, and it is hoped that the experiences of this pilot project would inform future projects elsewhere.

The issue of street dwellers has long plagued Guyana, and has received attention from many organisations over time. Earlier this year, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) announced that it was collaborating with the Anglican Diocese of Guyana to provide assistance to street dwellers and vagrants. It is unclear what has become of that plan.

Vagrancy comes under the responsibility of the Ministry of Social

Protection, though there is scope for collaboration with other agencies.

Back in 2015, then Minister of Social Protection (MSP), Volda Lawrence, had announced that the MSP would be working with a welfare committee to evaluate and possibly reintegrate the homeless into society.

The committee comprised persons from the Ministry of Social Protection, Public Health, Public Security, Agriculture, and the Mayor and City Council.

When speaking on the issue in 2015, Minister Lawrence had stated that there must be an evaluation, because you have var-

ious persons out there. You have the addicted, the mentally challenged, the homeless, and persons who see it as an economic means.

She had also acknowledged that there are those who use begging as a means to earn an income, even sending their children to beg. Saying that a programme has to be put in place to educate those individuals, Lawrence had pledged the Government’s support in tackling vagrancy. It is not clear what fruit this collaboration has borne, since begging and destitution, including among juveniles, remain fairly prevalent in the city.

Region 10 GPSU rep calls for improved conditions for school cleaners

T

he Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Representative of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Maurice Butters, has repeated calls for improvement in the working conditions of parttime sweeper/cleaners employed by the Region 10 Administration.

This comes on the heels of numerous complaints made by several female staff who met with the representative on Wednesday, although he noted that the issues raised were not new. During the meeting, Butters shared the Union’s concerns in regard to a better life for those affected, as he pointed out that the cleaners, some of whom are in the system for over 20 years, are being paid half the minimum wage ($24,700 per month).

It was further highlighted that though employment contracts stipulate that cleaners work for between four and six hours per day, they are paid for only four hours of work.

The GPSU representative

Maurice Butters and some of the cleaners during the meeting

pointed out that the workers work under “alarming conditions,” and in many instances are not provided with the necessary work gear to execute their duties. He opined that administration does not see it fit to protect a fraction of those workers affected in this regard.

The representative pointed out that a cleaner recent-

ly died of lung infection, while another was hospitalized. Additionally, it was highlighted that cleaners, some of whom have already resumed duty, would be paid for only 2 weeks this month, their already meagre salaries being cut by half.

Explaining the situation, the cleaners noted that they are required to report for duty at 12:00hrs, though

they cannot perform any tasks, given that school is in session at this time. Rather, their duties commence at 14:00hrs, when school is completed. However, they explained that in many instances they are forced to halt duties to facilitate classes, which convene for after school lessons, which is an additional inconvenience and results in additional

working hours.

Additionally, they explained, the work load is immense and cannot be completed within the stipulated time. Butters noted that despite a discussion with the Regional Administration for an increase in working hours for the staff, he was told that no permission has been granted.

He added that he has received complaints also of teachers reprimanding and ill-treating cleaners who attempt to clean during after-school lessons.

Cleaners noted that though schools are equipped with full-time employees, the bulk of the work falls on part- time cleaners, who are required to wait (in the case of after school lessons) to start their work, and cannot leave until it’s completed.

“We are standing very firm with these cleaners, and are calling on the administration to ensure that these people are properly employed and that they are able to provide for their families...We think it is time

someone looks in the direction of these cleaners, and I’m hoping that this is done sooner (rather) than later,” Butters said.

He added he is appalled that, so far, no women’s organization has come out in defence of these female employees. Other issues such as insufficient cleaning agents at schools, being made to perform additional cleaning tasks other than what is stipulated in their work contracts, such as the cleaning of walls and curtains, (without additional payments), being made to fetch water, and non- permission of annual, sick and compassionate leave were also highlighted by the affected employees.

The cleaners have requested a meeting with the President and First Lady to discuss these matters. They were advised by Butters to “put it to the test” by organising a 2-day peaceful protest “against the injustices” when school is re-opened.

Another meeting has been planned before such time to discuss details of the sit out.

saturDAY, august 19, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

Police unearth AK47, Liberalisation of telecoms sector ammo in Kingstown awaits talks by GTT/GRA T R anks of the Guyana Police Force in A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) on Friday evening unearthed a high-profile weapon and several rounds of ammunition and ammunition components in Kingston, Georgetown.

The discovery was made sometime around 18:30h.

According to reports received, acting on information received, the officers went to a bushy area in Kingston, where they found a haversack.

Upon examination, they unearthed a number of illegal weaponry. These include an AK47 rifle, an extended

.380 magazine and 196 live rounds of 7.62 x 39.40 and .380 ammunitions.

No arrests have been made but an investigation is nevertheless in progress.

NTFC calls for stakeholders’ input in restoring city

T

he National Task Force Commission (NTFC) is still seeking the help of the relevant stakeholders to assist the Commission as it continues to fulfil its mandate in seeing the restoration of the Capital City.

The Task Force was established in August 2015, following a request by Cabinet for the restoration of the City of Georgetown.

The Commission has been able to achieve much over the last two years, but still faces some challenges.

Chairman of the Commission, retired Major General Joe Singh said the Commission continues to be crowded with challenges. He said all the agencies must work together to realise the objective of the Commission.

“We are dealing with attitudes, we’re dealing with getting people to break out of this mind-set that this is my turf and I need to guard it zealously and recognising the need for integrated planning for proper consultations with persons,” Singh said at a press conference on Friday.

He said the Commission has taken on a roll and has

facilitated a process of dialogue and consultation and of bringing people together to share information to look at joint implementation and maintenance.

Back in August 2015, Cabinet had mandated that the National Task Force for Project Restore Guyana be established. In November of that same year, there was a visit by Dutch-Disaster Rapid Response (DRR) Assessment Team where a report was tabled to the NTFC. In July 2016, a Mission was carried out by students of Delft University who collaborated on a Drainage model for Georgetown. That report was tabled and auctioned by NTFC. Over the last two years, the NTFC said it has been able to oversee the proposal and completion of several projects including proposed road repairs under Ministry of Public Infrastructure “Miscellaneous Roads” program – Western access road, Mon Repos North; Fourth Street, Mon Repos North; Access Road (Middle Walk Victoria, East Side Line road Victoria, Kinston Street Victoria) for LED street

Man remanded on burglary charge W

esley Fernandes of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was on Friday remanded to prison after his arraignment before Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly, before whom he denied stealing $500,000 worth of items from Ken’s Jewellery.

The 39-year-old denied that he broke and entered

Ken’s storage bong and stealing therefrom three pumps, one generator and one pressure washer, all to the total value of $500,000.

The Police Prosecutor objected to bail being granted, and noted that the defendant does not have a fixed place of abode.

Bail was refused and the defendant was remanded, to return on September 22.

lights in Recess, Mahaicony; and Vlissengen Road; Carifesta Avenue to Lamaha Street Sidewalk construction proposal – Albert Street to Thomas Lands and Pouderoyen, West Coast Demerara (2018). There is also a proposal for the revetment and repair of Hunter Street between Mandela Avenue and Front Road also in the new year. The Task Force listed as critical requirements for the successful implementation of project restore Guyana to include political consensus and good governance, public awareness, ethical, attitudinal, socially and environmentally responsible behaviour, integrated planning and implementation, adherence to maintenance schedules, routine monitoring, rigid enforcement and accountability.

he liberalisation of the telecommunication sector, which was expected to be completed by the end of July, has been stalled pending crucial discussions between the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT).

Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes disclosed on Thursday that telecommunications liberalisation is awaiting the completion of talks between the two bodies. She said part of the negotiations require that the GTT and GRA work out some tax issues, and the GRA remains an independent body over which she has no jurisdiction.

“I am certainly waiting patiently for them to finish that part of the negotiations,” she said.

She also said that the Atlantic Telecommunication Network (ATN) and GTT teams had held a meeting with the GRA, after which they had paid her a visit at her office.

“The tone of the discussion was just as I had hoped

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes

and wished. They are very confident that we are moving ahead, and I think we have seen already indication of GTT’s commitment to the Guyanese market,” the Minister explained.

She said she hopes that, at the end of those discussions, the liberalisation process would be speedily advanced.

In the meantime, she said, the Telecommunications

Ministry is designing and looking at job descriptions for the new telecommunications agency, which will become the new regulatory body through which persons applying for licences for spectrum and other areas have to pass.

The Finance Ministry’s Mid-Year Report had recently stated that negotiations with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) were expected to be completed by the end of the year, and thereafter the authority would be established.

The report also relayed that the requisite regulations have been published for comment.

The Telecommunications Bill was first introduced in 2011. When Government took the legislation before the National Assembly, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had called for the Bill to be sent to a Special Select Committee for further consideration, but Minister Hughes had argued that the Bill had been long promised and was overdue.

17-year-old remanded for stealing gold chains

A

17-year-old appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday morning and denied stealing three gold chains from his friend.

Dwayne Castello of Albousystown, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

That charge alleges that he on June 17 at Albousytown, while in the company of another and be-

ing armed with a gun, he robbed Patrick Dundas of three gold chains valued $345,000.

The prosecution objected to bail.

However, the defendant told the court that he was with the Virtual Complainant (VC) when he was robbed by a man known as “Shaka”.

He explained that Dundas was attacked by the man and relieved of one of his chains, while another fell

into a gutter during the scuffle. He could not say what happened to the third chain.

He noted that two months following the incident, Police Officers showed up at his mother’s residence where he was living at the time and he was told “you lend the perpetrator the motorcycle that was used to rob Dundas”. As such, he was arrested.

Magistrate Daly remanded him to prison and the case will continue on August 25.

National border security plan on... from page 7

“The immediate ones we actually took into consideration, and some of the steps that we took were that: we increased the level of police command in the area; we introduced a system of regular patrolling in the region, and those patrols move from one base, in this case Lethem, to another base, so that the area between those two bases is covered by vehicle patrols and, in some cases, horse patrols. Secondly, we reactivated the operations of the Regional Intelligence Committees,” Harmon stated. He explained that the Regional Intelligence Committees comprise members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF); the locals; the toshaos; members of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDC), and other

Government officers in the region.

Harmon related that as a result of this system, information is shared on a weekly and sometimes fortnightly basis. This information, he noted, is also conveyed to the National Security Committee. Probed further, Harmon also revealed that satellite imagery was something being looked at to clamp down on illegal aircraft and air strips.

“But we are going to take any necessary step to ensure that our land, air and sea space is protected, and that we are given advanced notice, wherever possible, about any incursions in those areas,” he assured.

Long term plans The Minister also shared aspects of a long-term plan,

the implementation of which would be guided by financial and other factors. A major aspect of this plan, according to the Minister, is to encourage residents to report to the network any suspicious activity detected. And as it turns out, the use of technology will play a large part.

“On a longer term, the intention basically is to cover those areas by aerial activity -- by the use of drones; by the use of fixed wing aircraft on a regular basis, so that you can have a better understanding as to what is happening in between the fixed locations of the police and the army.

“As a result of this, we are likely to see some additional type of deployment in that area from the GDF,” he predicted. “We are also

looking at the technology which you use to ensure that if there is an (aircraft) landing, the vibrations which take place can be communicated. These are technological things we are exploring.” Last Sunday, a twin-engine Beechcraft aircraft was discovered in Region 9. It is currently registered to Banco Brandesco --one of Brazil’s largest banks. No trace of narcotics was found on the plane, but identification cards of Venezuelan and Brazilian nationals were discovered on board. An illegal airstrip was also unearthed about five kilometres west of Santa Fe, Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) by members of the Guyana Defence Force on August 5.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, august 19, 2017

Regional

12-year-old boy and older brother in Trinidad charged with killing teen

T

wo brothers, one 12 years old and the other 18, have been charged in connection with the death of a 15-year-old boy who was stabbed multiple times and then drowned.

The pre-teen is charged with the manslaughter of Emmanuel Okeira, whose body was found in a river on August 11, 2017, while his older brother is facing the more serious charge of murder.

The two appeared in court on Thursday. The younger boy was released on TT$75,000 bail but the other accused was remanded to prison.

Okeira’s mother said her son left home on August 10 to go to the churchyard of the Bethel House of God Church where he sold produce. She spoke with him that same afternoon, around

‘Child rape up during summer’, Antigua Police say

T

15:15h, but when she tried to call him on several subsequent occasions, she got no answer so she went to the church.

When she did not find her son there, she filed a missing person’s report and Police began a search that evening.

Although they found a significant amount of blood, the

boy was not found.

However, according to local media reports, when they resumed the search the next day, they saw Okeira’s body floating face down in the river.

An autopsy found that he had been stabbed 15 times on the neck, face and head, but had died from drowning.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

he Police said that they are seeing a spike in the number of statutory rape cases, especially during the summer months.

“One of the things I have noticed as an investigator, is that summer vacation is when we tend to see a peak in children below the age of consent, engaging in sexual activity,” said Marlon Proctor, Senior Sergeant of Police.

The Police Officer told Observer media that without pulling all the records, two males were already apprehended for having sex with minors in July.

“From the top of my head, for July we arrested and charged two males, 17 and 30 years old, for having sexual intercourse with two 15-year-old girls,” Senior Sergeant Proctor said.

The Police Sergeant said that most of the cases of statutory rape that they are seeing at this time, are between 14 and 15-yearold girls and 17-year old boys, however, there are others involving older men and teenaged girls.

Antigua and Barbuda’s statutory rape law is violated when an individual has sexual intercourse

with a person under 16.

The senior Cop said the major cause for the increase in the sexual offence is parents leaving children who are on summer break, unsupervised at home, while they go to work.

“There are many factors which can cause this, but primarily during summer vacation, children tend to be less supervised than at other times,” he said.

“They have more free time, they are out of the house more, and this is the time we tend to see the spike in this activity,” said the senior Sergeant. (Excerpt from Antigua

Observer)

Venezuela’s constituent assembly assumes power to legislate

Caricom Secretary General asks Sweden for help on blacklisting issue

S

ecretary General of the Caribbean C o m m u n i t y (Caricom), Irwin LaRocque, has urged Sweden to use its position in two major international organisations to highlight the unfair labelling of some of the Community’s member states as “non-cooperative tax jurisdictions”.

Speaking at the Caricom Secretariat’s Guyana headquarters during the accreditation ceremony of Sweden’s new ambassador to the Community, the Secretary General said, “As we seek to diversify our economies

and build our services sector, some of our member states, engaged in financial services, have been labelled as 'non-cooperative tax jurisdictions'. This is despite the fact that the countries in question are not so designated by the relevant global authorities, such as the Financial Action Task Force and the OECD Global Forum.”

“As a member of the EU and the OECD, Sweden can assist in encouraging these bodies to be guided by the informed position of the relevant global regulatory authorities and desist from their unneces-

sary seemingly punitive actions,” he added.

The Secretary General called attention to the decision earlier this year by the European Union Council to screen some Caricom member states to determine whether they were cooperative tax jurisdictions using new criteria.

“The stated criteria go beyond the generally accepted international tax transparency and accountability standards which our countries have been meeting over the past several years,” he pointed out.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Jamaican doctor who tried to bribe Police is found guilty of corruption

A

Jamaican doctor who claimed he had offered a bribe to a Policeman to try to entrap him, was on Thursday found guilty of corruption charges.

Dr Jephthah Ford will know next Wednesday what punishment he will face for two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice following an incident in which two Surinamese men were held with US$533,886 and J$1.3 million during a traffic stop three years ago.

He was caught on camera offering 40 per cent of the money seized to a Police Officer in exchange for the release of the men and the funds.

The court heard during the trial that Roshen Daniels and Murvin Reingould were held when Police intercepted the vehicle they were in on April 7, 2014, and found

Dr Jephthah Ford will be sentenced next Tuesday

the money on them. They were subsequently taken to their apartment where Police seized an additional US$3,000, J$700 and 55 Surinamese dollars.

Sergeant Franklyn McLaren testified that while the men were in cus-

tody, Dr Ford contacted him and requested a meeting to discuss the case. The officer, wearing a secret camera, met with the doctor who asked him to get the cases dismissed and recover the confiscated money for him. Dr Ford offered 40 per cent of the money to get that done.

But in his defence, the doctor claimed he was trying to draw out corrupt Police, and that he wanted to help the Surinamese men because he believed they would have been killed

by Police. He claimed he was aware that Sergeant McLaren, whom he accused of being corrupt, was wearing a recording device.

However, Parish Judge Simone Wolfe Reece did not buy that story and found Dr Ford guilty and set August 22 as the date for his sentencing. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Delcy Rodriguez (C), President of the national constituent assembly, speaks during a meeting of the Truth Commission in Caracas, Venezuela August 16, 2017

V

enezuela's new legislative superbody on Friday gave itself the power to pass laws, superseding the opposition-led congress and fuelling criticism by Government adversaries that socialist President Nicolás Maduro is consolidating a dictatorship.

In practice, the move does little to change the existing situation. The Socialistdominated Supreme Court has stripped power from the congress and shot down nearly every law it has approved since it was taken over by the Opposition in 2016.

But the decision suggests the constituent assembly,

elected in July in a vote boycotted by the Opposition, is more interested in limiting the Opposition's influence than carrying out its official task of rewriting the nation's Constitution.

Delcy Rodriguez, a Maduro ally and president of the constituent assembly, insisted the move did not imply a dissolution of the congress.

"Those lazy bums have to work. What we are doing is telling them 'Gentlemen, we are not going to let you take a holiday,'" Rodriguez said in a reference to opposition legislators.

The assembly had invited leaders of the existing

congress to join the session.

Congressional leaders did not attend, insisting it was fraudulently created and usurped their powers. "(Congress) only obeys the constitution and the people. We do not recognize the constituent assembly, much less subordinate ourselves to it," Freddy Guevara, an opposition politician and vice president of the congress, wrote on Twitter.

Maduro pushed for the creation of the constituent assembly on promises it would bring peace to the country after months of violent street protests that have killed more than 125 people. (Excerpt from Reuters)

de-Paix.

He said officials believe about 40 people were on board but there was no manifest. The vessels used as ferries in that area are fre-

quently overloaded and poorly maintained.

At least three other people have been taken to the Immaculate Hospital of Portde-Paix. (Jamaica Observer)

6 drown in Haiti, search on for survivors

S

earch and rescue operations were continuing here on Friday after six women drowned when their sailboat capsized Thursday.

The Local Civil Protection agency representative, Jose Rethone, said that 23 people have so far been rescued after the boat sank off the Canal de la Tortue. At least 10 others are missing.

Rethone did not provide the identities of the women that died in the incident, but said the boat overturned Thursday in rough seas as it was carrying people on a regular route between the island of La Tortue and Port-

saturDAY, August 19, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Steve Bannon out as Trump's top strategist: White House

S

teve Bannon, US President Donald Trump's chief strategist, has become the latest high-profile figure in the administration whose role has come to an abrupt end.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckerby Sanders confirmed that Bannon would no longer be showing up to work. "White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Steve Bannon have mutually agreed today would be Steve's last day," Sanders said in a statement on Friday. "We are grateful for his service and wish him the best."

Since taking office in January, Trump has lost five top aides: Bannon, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, press sec-

12.

Bannon headed the far-right news outlet Breitbart before joining the White House

retary Sean Spicer, chief of staff Reince Priebus and communications director Anthony Scaramucci.

The New York Times earlier reported what it termed as Bannon's ap-

parent dismissal, citing sources. The development comes as the White House reels from the fallout over Trump's response to a violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville on August

Bannon's critics label him a white supremacist.

The former head of far-right outlet Breitbart News is described as being the nucleus of one of several competing power centres in what has been a chaotic White House.

He repeatedly clashed with other top White House advisers and often ran afoul of the president himself.

Bannon offered his resignation to Trump on August 7, according to one person close to the adviser, AP reported.

The resignation was to go into effect a week later, August 14, which was the one year anniversary of when he officially joined Trump's presidential campaign. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Finland looks for more suspects in fatal attack

P

olice in Finland say the man who is in custody in a deadly stabbing attack in the western city of Turku is likely to have acted alone, but they are not ruling out the involvement of other people.

Authorities are looking for more potential suspects.

They say the man stabbed eight people, killing two of them, before Police shot him in the thigh and detained him. Authorities are trying to determine his identity

17

and nationality.

Finland's Interior Minister says security is being stepped up across the country.

The country's President, Sauli Niinisto, visited Turku later Friday and condemned what he called a "shocking and cowardly act." He said officials are doing what they can "so that all Finns are able to feel safe."

It was reported earlier that a man stabbed eight people in Finland's west-

ern city of Turku, killing two of them, before Police shot him in the thigh and detained him, police said.

Authorities were looking for more potential suspects in the attack.

A suspect – who Police said was "a youngish man with a foreign background" – was being treated in the city's main hospital but was in Police custody. Security was being stepped up across the Nordic country, Interior Minister Paula Risikko told

reporters at a news conference.

The man's identity and nationality were being investigated. Police said he is likely to have acted alone though it was not possible to completely rule out that other people were involved.

Police did not give any information on the two people killed or the conditions of those wounded in downtown Turku, 170 kilometers (106 miles) west of Helsinki, the capital. (Excerpt from MSN)

Barcelona van attacker among 5 killed by Police: Spanish media

T

he driver of the van that ploughed into crowds in Barcelona, killing 13 people, was one of five men shot dead by Police in a Catalan seaside resort hours later, Spanish newspapers reported on Friday.

Josep Lluis Trapero, Police chief in Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia, had said earlier that it was possible, but not confirmed, that the driver was among those killed.

The driver abandoned the van and fled on Thursday after speeding along a pedestrianised section of Las Ramblas, the most famous boulevard in Barcelona, leaving a trail of dead and injured among the crowds of tourists and local residents thronging the street.

It was the latest of a string of attacks across Europe in the past 13 months in which militants have used vehicles as weap-

ons – a crude but deadly tactic that is near-impossible to prevent and has now killed nearly 130 people in France, Germany, Britain, Sweden and Spain.

Suspected jihadists have been behind the previous attacks. Islamic State said the perpetrators of the latest one had been responding to its call to target countries involved in a US-led coalition against the Sunni militant group.

Hours after the van rampage, Police shot dead five people in the Catalan resort of Cambrils, 120 km (75 miles) down the coast from Barcelona, after they drove their car at pedestrians and police officers.

The five assailants had an ax and knives in their car and wore fake explosive belts, Police said. A single police officer shot four of the men, Trapero said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

South Africa has granted Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity

Rhino swept from Nepal to India by flooding rescued

A

n endangered onehorned rhino which was swept across the Nepalese border into India by flooding has been rescued and brought home.

The young female rhino was found 42km (26 miles) from the Chitwan National Park in the Indian village of Bagah.

Four more rhinos from the park need to be rescued and one was found dead after devastating flooding in the area. Monsoon rains have caused widespread damage in Nepal, Bangladesh and parts of India in recent weeks.

Nepal's Chitwan Valley

The young female rhino had been swept far away from her home in Nepal

– home to the park which houses more than 600 rhinos – has been badly affected. Last week dozens of elephants and rafts were de-

ployed to rescue nearly 500 people trapped in the area.

A team of 40 Nepali officials were deployed to bring the two-and-a-half year old

rhino home from India.

"We were able to bring the baby rhino back with the support of Indian forestry officials," the park's Deputy Warden Nurendra Aryal told BBC Nepali.

"Hundreds of Indian people came to watch the rescue."

The rhino, found at a sugarcane farm in an Indian village, was tranquilised using a dart and brought back in a truck, he said. Of the four rhinos still missing, officials say two are inside the protected tiger conservation area in Valmikinagar in India, which borders the Chitwan district. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Deadly South Asia floods affect 16M people

M

ore than 16 million people have now been affected by seasonal flooding across a swathe of South Asia, say aid officials.

The floods in Nepal, Bangladesh and India are thought to have killed about 500 people and are expected to worsen.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) says it is becoming one of the worst regional humanitarian crises in years.

There are growing concerns about food shortages

and disease.

More than 16 million people have now been affected by seasonal flooding across a swathe of South Asia, say aid officials.

The floods in Nepal, Bangladesh and India are thought to have killed about 500 people and are expected to worsen.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) says it is becoming one of the worst regional humanitarian crises in years.

There are growing concerns about food shortages

and disease.

Bangladesh, where flood levels are already at a record high, is expected to be further hit as swollen Indian rivers flow down through it in the coming days.

Save the Children Director Mark Pierce said the situation there was "extremely desperate". "The sheer volume of water is also making it really difficult to access some of the communities most in need."

Nepal's Red Cross Society said food crops there had been wiped out, as floods hit major farming and agricul-

tural land in the south.

"We fear that this destruction will lead to severe food shortages," said Secretary General Dev Ratna Dhakhwa.

Further heavy rain has been forecast across the region in the coming days, worsening the flooding and making it harder to reach those affected.

Save The Children's India manager, Murali Kunduru, told Reuters that while the monsoon rains come annually, "this year is particularly severe". (BBC)

Gabriella Engels claims Mugabe attacked her with the plug of an extension cord, causing injury to her forehead

S

outh Africa has granted diplomatic immunity to Zimbabwe's First Lady, Grace Mugabe, allowing her to return to Harare and avoid prosecution for the alleged assault of a 20-year-old model, a security source said on Friday.

South African police had put border posts on "red alert" to prevent Mugabe fleeing and indicated she would receive no special treatment in the case involving Gabriella Engels, who says Mugabe whipped her with an electric extension cable.

A security source, however, said immunity had been granted. The source also said Grace Mugabe had failed to turn up at a Johannesburg court hearing on Tuesday, as agreed with police, because of concerns she could be attacked.

The alleged assault – Engels said it occurred on Sunday evening as she

waited with two friends in a luxury Johannesburg hotel suite to meet one of Mugabe's adult sons – is a diplomatic nightmare for South Africa.

The country has a difficult relationship with its northern neighbor. It is home to an estimated three million Zimbabwean exiles who regard President Robert Mugabe as a dictator who has ruined what was once one of Africa's most promising democracies.

But although he is also widely reviled in the West, Mugabe is still seen by many Africans as the continent's elder statesman and a hero of its anti-colonial struggles.

A senior Government source said on Friday there was "no way" Grace Mugabe, 52, would be arrested because of the diplomatic fallout that would ensue from Zimbabwe. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, august 19, 2017

ARCHIE

Sign up for a course or get away for a brief vacation.

(March 21- Spending time with someone April 19) you love and exploring new options or lifestyle adjustments will enhance your personal situation.

ARIES

Control your emotions.

TAURUS Children, a friend or loved (April 20- one will push or pressure you.

May 20) Use intelligence and have a practical alternative in place to offset any feud that arises.

dilbert

You may feel like beGEMINI (May 21- ing the life of the party, but June 20) overdoing it will not wear well at the end of the night.

Moderation in all aspects of life will be required.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Share your feelings. If you don’t, anxiety will build and an explosion could result.

Hashing out any differences you have with someone will bring you closer together.

Avoid indulgent situations, and walk away from temptation. Stay on track and aim to finish what you start.

Discipline, endurance and strength will bring good results.

Putting pressure on yourVIRGO self or others will lead to un(Aug. 23expected results. Chill out and Sept. 22) let situations unfold naturally.

Patience and practicality will be necessary. Circumvent emotional mayhem.

Aim to take better care LIBRA of your health and emotional (Sept. 23Oct. 23) state of mind. Exercise, proper diet and implementing moderation into your actions and food intake are good places to begin.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Discussing your plans with SCORPIO a friend, relative or loved one (Oct. 24will lead to opposition. Make Nov. 22) a kind gesture that will ease built-up tension to gain support. Romance is encouraged.

Change can be a good thing SAGITTARIUS if it inspires you to reach your (Nov. 23- goals. Personal improvements Dec. 21) will give you added confidence and help you recognize who is your friend and who isn’t.

An emotional matter will

CAPRICORN lead to a change of plans. Your (Dec. 22- personal papers and finances Jan. 19) are best kept hidden. Observe

solution for Last Published Puzzle

what’s going on around you, but don’t retaliate unless you have good reason.

An impulsive decision will AQUARIUS lead to a loss. Protect against (Jan. 20- theft, physical mishaps and Feb. 19) vulnerability due to a lack of technological protection.

Don’t share private or personal information.

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

Delve into subjects, culPISCES tures and philosophies that (Feb. 20March 20) interest you. Consider the pros and cons of your findings and come up with what works best for you.

saturAY, august 19, 2017

WATSON replaces SAMMY

Mayweather on putting legacy on the line:

‘IT’S WORTH IT’

as ST LUCIA STARS

D

CAPTAIN

arren Sammy has been removed from his position as captain by the St Lucia Stars after a run of six successive matches without a victory in the 2017 Caribbean Premier League. Shane Watson, the former Australia allrounder, takes over the leadership of the team and will be assisted by his new deputy Marlon Samuels.

A press release from the Stars on Thursday insisted that Sammy remained an integral part of the team.

Barring the results, Sammy has had a good tournament, scoring a valiant fifty against the Barbados Tridents, at the end of which the opposition captain Kieron Pollard joked he was thankful for the rain stopping Sammy before he could do further damage.

They were then upstaged in the final over by Guyana Amazon Warriors - Sammy nearly defended seven runs - and most recently lost to

Jamaica Tallawahs after bossing the majority the match.

To “incorporate some fresh thinking as the team completes this season and builds for 2018,” the Stars management has decided to end Sammy’s stint at the helm after 40 matches across five seasons.

“If it were not for Daren, St Lucian cricket would not have the standing it does in world cricket and his ability to lead both on and off the field remains unquestioned,” owner Jay Pandya said. “However, after the results that we have seen over the first half of the 2017 Hero CPL, a change is needed to freshen things up as we look to win the remaining four fixtures this season.”

The new captain Watson has excellent credentials in T20 cricket, with 5691 runs and 194 wickets and has led teams in the Indian Premier League and the Big Bash League.

Watson has scored 45 runs in four games in the 2017 Caribbean Premier League. (Cricinfo)

PCB refutes ‘BASELESS’ Umar Akmal allegations A

fter Umar Akmal criticised Mickey Arthur and the Pakistan coaching team, the PCB has hit back with a strongly worded statement.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has strongly condemned Umar Akmal, accusing the wicketkeeper-batsman of making “baseless allegations” against head coach Mickey Arthur and the national management team.

Umar was issued with a show-cause notice on Thursday for breaching the PCB’s code of conduct.

In a media conference, the 27-year-old accused Arthur of verbally abusing him and said the coaching staff at the National Cricket Academy

19

did not want to work with him to improve his fitness.

However, the PCB claim Umar was given multiple opportunities to raise his fitness levels and earn selection for the ICC Champions Trophy.

“The PCB strongly condemns the reckless statements made by batsman Umar Akmal with regards to his omission from the ICC Champions Trophy squad,” read a PCB statement on Friday.

“While making frivolous allegations against the national team management, Umar has made a bogus attempt to deviate attention from his own failings. Umar was given as many as seven chances to improve his

fitness and match the standards of his team-mates, laid out by the team management.

“Umar was given a program to improve his fitness like other players before the West Indies tour and after he failed the tests in Lahore, he was left out of the team.

“After clearing another test before the squad selection on eve of the ICC Champions Trophy in England, Umar was included in the eventual 15-member squad.

“The PCB wants to stress that the team trainer conducts fitness tests of squad members before each international assignment and the tests before

Umar Akmal

the Champions Trophy were conducted as a continuation of the policy. Once again Umar failed to attain the desired level of fitness and the team management was left with no option but to drop him from the squad.

“Head coach Mickey Arthur had placed Umar in his white-ball format plans and gave him repeated chances for redemption. Unfortunately, though, the batsman remained incapable of reaching the requisite fitness level.

“The PCB awaits his response to the show cause issued to him yesterday and hopes that in the meantime, the batsman will refrain from making baseless allegations.” (SportsMax)

W

Floyd Mayweather

ith his superfight against Conor McGregor a little over a week away, Floyd Mayweather struck a reflective tone on Thursday as he discussed the risk of coming out of retirement for a massive payday.

Mayweather, who has not fought in nearly two years, needs a win next week to surpass Rocky Marciano’s record and reach 50-0 for his career, while McGregor, who is making his professional boxing debut, is 21-3 in mixed martial arts.

“When a fighter has lost before, if he loses again they say ‘oh, it’s nothing, he’s lost before,’” Mayweather told a conference call. “But when a fighter has been dominating for 20-some years and never lost, everything is on the line.

“My legacy. My boxing record. Everything is on the line.”

The fight, which the two combatants promoted with a four-city international media tour stretching across three countries, has garnered plenty of interest despite scepticism about how competitive it will be.

Mayweather, a master defensive technician and tactician, is heavily favored to win the Aug. 26 fight in Las Vegas but the 40-yearold has said that, on paper, everything leans toward the 29-year-old Irishman, who is taller and has a longer reach.

Mayweather acknowledged the physical demands of training for a fight had become much harder on his body than when in his prime, but said he did not let negative thoughts enter his mind.

“I try not to think about losing or taking the ‘L.’ That’s not really my focus.

Every day I tell myself I am a winner. I was born to be a winner at life. Not just in the ring but I was born to be a winner,” said Mayweather.

“It’s all about taking risk. I wouldn’t be where I’m at if I didn’t take risks so I don’t mind putting a 49-0 record on the line, putting everything on the line for this fight. I feel like it’s worth it.”

Mayweather may be far from his prime but feels his sheer experience in the ring will carry him through what he says will be his last fight, one that is expected to be the most lucrative event in the history of combat sport.

“I don’t think that I’m the same Floyd Mayweather that I was 21 years ago. Of course not,” he said.

“I don’t think that I’m the same Floyd Mayweather that I was 10 years ago. I’m, not even the same Floyd Mayweather that I was I was five or two years ago.

“But I still have a high IQ in that ring. And experience wise, it leans toward me, period, because I have been in the ring at such a high level for so long.” (Reuters)

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saturdAY, AUGUST 19, 2017

Cook's double-century leaves WI with no place to hide

F

or the second day running, Edgbaston was a picture under lights - resplendent in the setting sun, as a tanked-up crowd sang gleefully into the advancing night. This time, however, their dulcet overtures were accompanied by the incessant thud of raindrops, as the down side of staging day-night Test cricket in England revealed itself in no uncertain terms.

The lights had been involved in the day's action for just seven overs of the evening session, in which time West Indies responded to another Alastair Cookmagnum opus by inching along to 44 for 1, a deficit of 470. After the early loss of Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck, Kyle Hope and Kieran Powell were granted a life in the cor-

don apiece as they reached stumps on 25 and 18 respectively - their pride still just about as intact as their wickets.

But the day, and the match so far for that matter, belonged to Cook, who had resumed with intent on 153 overnight, and ground on, and on, and on, eventually falling to the spin of Roston Chase for a gargantuan 243 from 407 balls. His departure, deep into the tenth hour of his innings, triggered an immediate declaration and, as he left the field to a justified ovation, West Indies' fielders made a point of chasing after him to offer their congratulations - a magnanimous gesture that spoke of the huge esteem in which he is held by his opponents.

By that stage, he had

SCOREBOARD England 1st Innings BATSMEN AN Cook lbw b Chase 243 MD Stoneman b Roach 8 T Westley lbw b Cummins 8 JE Root (c) b Roach 136 DJ Malan c Blackwood b Cha se 65 BA Stokes c Blackwood b Cha se 10 JM Bairstow † b Holder 18 MM Ali c Brathwaite b Chase 0 TS Roland-Jones not out 6 Extras: 20 (lb 10, nb 7, w 3) TOTAL:514/8d (135.5 Overs) Did not bat: SCJ Broad, JM Anderson BOWLING: KAJ Roach 28-86-

2, AS Joseph 22-109-0, ML Cummins 24- 87-1, JO Holder 29.3-103-1, RL Chase 26.2113-4, KC Brathwaite 6- 6-0 West Indies 1st Innings BATSMEN KC Brathwaite c †Bairstow b Anderson 0 KOA Powell not out 18 KA Hope not out 25 Extras: 1 (w 1) TOTAL:44/1 (16 Overs) Yet to bat: SD Hope, RL Chase, J Blackwood, SO Dowrich †, JO Holder (c), KAJ Roach, AS Joseph, ML Cummins BOWLING: JM Anderson 817-1, SCJ Broad 8-27-0

run most of their team into the ground, in compiling his fourth Test double-century, and what would eventually be the third-highest of his 31 hundreds.

The sheer mental will that went into Cook's innings was amplified (Joe Root aside) by the relative paucity of the scores around him - Dawid Malan's 65 was the next largest contribution - but he might as well have been batting in the nets for all the resistance that was offered by a supine West Indies attack.

Rarely in the course of his 145-Test career can Cook have been less challenged by either the conditions or the opponents. His resumption in the morning was epitomised by the struggles that Kemar Roach, in particular, endured in his spirited but unsupported attempt to raise the collective levels of West Indies' attack.

Though he was obtaining some appreciable outswing with the still-new pink ball, the closest that Roach came to a breakthrough was when Cook, on 159, fell across his stumps to a delivery that struck his pads but was missing leg stump.

He rarely missed out on his bread-and-butter clips off the pads thereafter, with Alzarri Joseph particularly culpable in that regard. All told, he conceded 20 boundaries in his 22 overs, a rate of attrition that rendered him unusable in the closing stages of the innings.

The manner in which

Cook brought up his double-century epitomised the occasion's air of lethargy.

On 198, he slashed the toiling Roach for a single to third man, only for the fielder, Kyle Hope, to trip over his own feet as the ball dribbled through his legs to the boundary. Cook acknowledged the crowd's ovation with an underwhelmed wave of the bat - a sign of enduring ambition, maybe, or an acknowledgement that it was all coming to him a bit too easily.

At the other end, of both the pitch and the career graph, Malan built on his overnight 28 to record his maiden Test fifty, a landmark that he achieved with a forceful pull through square leg in the final 20 minutes of the session. But then, on the stroke of lunch, he poked an off-stump delivery into the hands of Blackwood at slip, and stalked from the field swishing his bat in anger. He knew he could, and should, have piled on the agony deep into the afternoon session.

After enduring a sticky start to his innings on the first evening, Malan had been decidedly more assured this time out, with his cover-drive in particularly good order on two eye-catching occasions. He may not be offered quite so many half-volleys in Australia, should he go on to book his place on the Ashes tour, but it is a Test batsman's duty to take advantage when the going is in your favour - a lesson that his senior partner demon-

Alastair Cook celebrates his double century during day two of the Test match against West Indies

strated admirably.

The final hour of England's innings heralded the start of what would prove to be West Indies' most effective mini-session to date.

England shipped five wickets for 65 runs in the space of 18 overs, including the dangerous Ben Stokes and the in-form Jonny Bairstow, in their attempt to raise the tempo as the declaration drew nigh.

Stokes' departure was a particularly deflating moment for another packed crowd who had been nodding contently along to Cook's rhythms but were clearly ready to rock out in the afternoon session. Instead, on 10, Stokes attempted a reverse sweep and was smartly caught by an alert Jermaine Blackwood at slip, and the atmosphere went audibly flat.

Bairstow soon followed, play-

ing on to Jason Holder for 18, before Moeen Ali - never one to stick when he can twist, especially with a scoreline of 505 for 6 to back him up - slashed airily to point for a duck against Chase who finished with a hard-earned four-wicket haul.

By that stage, however, England were already in utter control of the contest. A combination of fallible catching - Stokes, unusually, let Powell elude him at gully before Moeen failed to lay a hand on Hope - and slightly less-than-pinpoint new-ball bowling from Broad, in particular, allowed West Indies to finish the day with more optimism than might have been anticipated. But the rain had the final say on a day that, Cook's feat notwithstanding, seemed tinged with grey throughout. (Cricinfo)

Durant won't go to White Brazil Police seek charges for House to visit Trump alleged World Cup I stadium graft B

Kevin Durant

f the Golden State Warriors are invited to White House, Kevin Durant said he will not visit with President Donald Trump to celebrate the team's 2017 championship.

Durant was honored in his hometown of Seat Pleasant, Md. and the 2017 Finals MVP told ESPN he will not attend any possible ceremony with Trump.

"Nah, I won't do that," Durant told ESPN. "I don't respect who's in office right now."

Durant and the Warriors are scheduled to visit the Washington Wizards Feb. 28.

The Warriors have been officially been invited by the Trump administration.

"I don't agree with what he agrees with, so my voice is going to be heard by not doing that," Durant told ESPN. "That's just me personally, but if I know my guys well enough, they'll all agree with me."

Durant's comments occurred as Trump is dealing with the fallout over what transpired in Charlottesville, Va., last Saturday, which has caused many sports figures to vent their frustrations.

Last Saturday, 32-year-old Heather Heyer was protesting a white supremacist rally and was killed when a car plowed into the crowd of protesters.

Durant said he thinks Trump is playing a role in the increased public visibility of white supremacists.

"He's definitely driving it," Durant told ESPN. "I feel ever since he's got into office, or since he ran for the presidency, our country has been so divided and it's not a coincidence."

Durant is not the only NBA star to speak out against Trump.

On Tuesday, Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James called out Trump on twitter by saying: "Hate has always existed in America. Yes we know that but Donald Trump just made it fashionable again! Statues has nothing to do with us now!

During the regular season, Golden State's Steve Kerr and San Antonio's Gregg Popovich were among the more vocal coaches in publicly criticizing Trump. (The Sports Xchange)

razil's Federal Police have called for the indictment of 21 people, including two ex-governors of the capital Brasilia, for allegedly overcharging 559 million reais ($178 million) in the renovation of the stadium used in the 2014 World Cup. The Mane Garrincha stadium in Brasilia was originally scheduled to cost around 600 million reais but ended up costing closer to 1.575 billion, officials said.

It was built by a consortium led by construction firm Andrade Gutierrez. The investigation into the overbilling began after the firm's executives entered into a plea-bargain deal to offer details about their role in long-running and massive political kickback schemes that have been uncovered by investigators in the past three years.

It is now up to federal prosecutors to decide whether to press charges, ask for more information or drop the case.

The 69,000-capacity stadium hosted seven games in the 2014 World Cup and several others in the 2016 Olympic soccer tournament.

Former governors Agnelo Queiroz and Jose Roberto Arruda, were among those accused of "criminal overbilling" in Friday's almost 350-page police report, as was a former special advisor to Brazilian President Michel Temer. (Reuters)

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Rafael Nadal

op-seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal defeated fellow countryman Albert Ramos-Vinolas in straight sets on Friday to set up a mouth-watering quarter-final against Australian Nick Kyrgios.

Nadal made a flurry of uncharacteristic errors in the first set but settled down in the second and ultimately cruised to a 7-6(1) 6-2 victory on a humid, gusty day at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati.

"It was very warm and the ball was flying a lot. It was difficult to control," a sweat-covered Nadal said during a television interview after the center court battle.

"Probably during the night it will be slower conditions."

The match was one

of several postponed on Thursday due to rain, forcing players that advanced during Friday's daytime matches to return for an encore in the evening.

Nadal dug himdelf out of a 0-40 hole early in the second set by reeling off five straight points including two aces, putting himself up 3-2.

The 31-year-old Spaniard, who will for the fourth time in his career be the world number one when the ATP rankings come out next week, never looked back from there.

With the win Nadal improved to 4-0 against Ramos-Vinolas and he has still never dropped a set to the 29-year-old lefty.

Earlier, the 22-year-old Kyrgios, whose match began on Thursday before it was held over due to rain, defeated hard-serving 6-foot 11inch Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 4-6 7-6(6) 6-3.

Kyrgios, known as much for his temper as for his brilliant shot-making, threw his racquet down in disgust after losing two straight service points in the tiebreak to even it up at 6-6.

The outburst appeared to work as he won the next two points and then dominated a deflated Karlovic in the fi-

nal set.

Elsewhere, seventh-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov sailed past Japan's Yuichi Sugita 6-2 6-1.

Dimitrov will play the winner of the all-American battle between 14th seed John Isner and Jared Donaldson. (Reuters)

Don’t expect brand new Windies – CEO Graves claims CWI will keep faith with current bunch

‘River Conqueror’ visits

President Granger, aims to inspire elderly exercise C

Johnny Grave

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n Friday, his Excellency, President David Granger received a courtesy call at State House from Ashraf Ali better known as “River Conqueror”. Ali, a US-based Guyanese (aged 71), whose passion is swimming, has swam across the Demerara, Berbice, Essequibo and several other rivers and lakes.

His greatest feat thus far has been swimming seven miles from Guyana to Suriname, using the route traversed by the Ferry, which operates between the two countries.

Ali hails from East-Berbice Corentyne and is a self-taught swimmer. In a release to the media, Ali noted that swimming has been his hobby since childhood. Even at 71, he said he has no plans to slow down and is currently in the stages of planning another swim out into the Atlantic from the Berbice River mouth by the end of the month. His aim, he said, is to inspire the older generation to get involved in physical activities, which can add to their years.

“I am appealing to the elders to do a minimum of half an hour of exercise, three times per week. Swimming is the best exercise but you can do anything. I also want to motivate the younger generation to dream and

The River Conqueror! Ashraf Ali meets President David Granger

know that whatever they dream, they can achieve,” he said.

Mr. Ali swam across the Berbice River in 1979, the Corentyne River, which leads from Skeldon to Nickerie, Suriname in 1998 and the Demerara River in 1999. Additionally, he swam across the Lake Mainstay twice.

ricket West Indies chief executive Johnny Grave has warned against expecting wholesale changes to the current regional team despite several senior players now becoming available.

The likes of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine, Marlon Samuels and Lendl Simmons, to name a few, will all be available for the Windies ahead of their upcoming fivematch One Day International (ODI) series against England with the CWI player amnesty in full effect. The temporary exemption has been implemented as the board prepares to offer special contracts to players that will allow them to represent the region despite not taking part in regional competition.

Despite the well-documented struggles of the current unit, which has been woefully short of experience, Grave has insisted that the CWI and selectors will keep faith with a lot of the current set-up.

"We feel that our young team are growing in confidence as they are gaining more experience and enjoying the positive environment that Stuart (Law) and Jason (Holder) are creating,” Grave told Indian publication Firstpost.

“This isn't a case of 11 experienced players coming back and replacing the team. I expect two or three senior players being selected to join the ODI squad for the England tour and hopefully they can not only help improve our performances but also guide and support our younger players out on the pitch,” he added.

“I am sure some players won't want to come back to play the 50-over game and that's fine it's their choice and career.

Our selectors may also overlook some older players who our supporters might want them to select, but we have to look forward and the 2019 World Cup is clearly our priority in the ODI format." (SportsMax)

Scipio resigns as GFF General Secretary after 8 months A fter holding the post of General Secretary for the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for eight months, Althea Scipio has resigned.

This was revealed in a GFF release to the media on Friday, it read; “The General Secretary of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Althea Scipio, has resigned effective Monday, 14th August, 2017 after being in the employ of the Federation from December 2016”.

According to President Wayne Forde’ during her tenure, Scipio contributed significantly to

the development of football in Guyana. However, Forde also revealed that Scipio; “will continue to participate in the Federation’s future programmes and projects.”

Meanwhile in the interim, Ms. Rennella Bourne who is the Deputy General Secretary will perform the duties of General Secretary until further notice.

In conclusion the release stated; “The President and the Executive Committee wishes Scipio well in her future endeavours.”

Althea Scipio

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Sri Lanka face uphill task for direct qualification for 2019 World Cup S

ri Lanka face an uphill task of sealing direct qualification for the ICC World Cup 2019 as they prepare to take on India in a five-match ODI series beginning in Dambulla on Sunday.

The Upul Tharanga-led side will have to win at least two matches in order to secure a place in the 2019 edition by staving off the challenge from the West Indies.

The cut-off date for direct qualification is September 30.

Sri Lanka is currently placed eighth with 88 points but have a 10 point cushion over the West Indies, who have an unenviable task of being among the seven topranked sides apart from host England to gain direct qualification.

The bottom four sides on the ODI Team Rankings will need to play a qualifying event also featuring the top four sides from the ICC World Cricket League Championship and top two sides from the ICC World Cricket League. The top two

Pacquiao versus Horn rematch likely confirmed soon, says Arum

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Manny Pacquiao

Sri Lanka is currently placed eighth with 88 points but have a 10 point cushion over the West Indies

teams from this event will get to play in the World Cup 2019.

Winning two matches will take Sri Lanka to 90 points while West Indies will at best reach 88 points even if it wins its one-off ODI against Ireland on September 13 as well as all five matches of its series in England from September

19-29.

However, a 4-1 win for the Men in Blue will see Sri Lanka finish at 88 points and The Windies could edge it on decimal points if it wins all its upcoming six matches. The West Indies will go out of contention if it loses to Ireland as from there it will at best reach 86 points and remain behind Sri Lanka on

decimal points, even if Sri Lanka loses 5-0 to India.

As for India, which is in third position with 114 points, only a 4-1 series win will ensure it stays ahead of England. Even a 3-2 win for India will mean it will slip to 113 points and behind England on decimal points owing to Sri Lanka’s low ranking. (HindustanTimes)

anny Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum is "optimistic" a rematch between his fighter and Jeff Horn will be confirmed in the next few days, he told Reuters on Thursday.

Arum said the parties in Australia were eyeing a November date in the same Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane where Horn beat Pacquiao in controversial circumstances last month.

A temporary cover would be constructed at the out-

Guyana aiming for more golds

door arena to cover the ring and the first 10 rows of spectators, a precaution in case of rain, he said.

"Manny's on board, Horn's on board," Top Rank promoter Arum said in a telephone interview.

"The parties in Australia are meeting the Queensland government authorities on Saturday and hopefully the meeting goes well."

Horn's surprise welterweight victory over Pacquiao allowed the Filipino to trigger a rematch clause.

Many observers thought 38-year-old Pacquiao had clearly won and were outraged by the unanimous decision to Horn.

A World Boxing Organization scoring review later endorsed Horn as the rightful winner.

"I wasn't outraged," Arum said. "I thought it was very close."

He added that the WBO would submit a list of three potential referees and 10 judges for the rematch, and that both camps would agree on which to use. (Reuters)

Ex-Olympic cycling champ Sanchez fails – Colours support Ninvalle doping test T

Kaysan Ninvalle

he Guyanese Table Tennis contingent will leave Guyana tonight for Jamaica where they will be competing at the 11th Annual Caribbean Mini & Pre-Cadet Table Tennis Championships from August 21-28, 2017.

In an exclusive interview, Head Coach of the contingent, Linden Johnson told Guyana Times Sportthat he is “confident that the team will better their performance last year”.

The team is considerably smaller than last year’s team which brought home one gold medal courtesy of Kaysan Ninvalle; this is due to financial constraints according to Johnson.

He noted that the team consists mostly of the same players that attended last year’s championships in Jamaica and pointed out that this was so due to the players competing above their respective age ranges.

One such case in point is the talented Ninvalle who is the reigning U-11 Gold medalist at the championships.

Two members of the team; Jonathan Van Lange and Krystian Sahadeo are already in Jamaica participating at the Caribbean Hopes Table Tennis Training and Selection Camp which will conclude today.

The competition will be amongst countries such as Puerto Rico, Barbados, Aruba, Jamaica, St Lucia Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic and French Guiana.

The other members of Guyana’s delegation, Isaiah Layne, Thuraia Thomas, Dhanesh Persaud, Alexander De Abreu and Colin Wong, will travel to Jamaica to join Sahadeo and Van Lange for the championships slated for August 21-28, 2017.

Meanwhile, Ninvalle was yesterday presented with gear for the tournament by Colours Boutique on Robb Street. In April of this year the Guyana number one footwear store signed on to a two-year contract with the 12-year-old the 2016 Junior Sportsman of the year.

The contract allows for Ninvalle, a student of Chase Academy, to receive training and competition attire from Colours.

F

Samuel Sanchez

ormer Olympic cycling champion Samuel Sanchez was suspended yesterday after failing an out-of-competition doping test. The International Cycling Union said the Spanish rider for BMC Racing tested positive for a growth hormone releasing peptide in a sample taken on August 9.

Sanchez won the road race at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He was due to race in the Spanish Vuelta, which starts on Saturday. His BMC team announced that was provisionally suspending Sanchez until the results come of the B sample test. "BMC Racing Team is extremely disappointed to share this news on the eve of the Spanish Vuelta," the team said. Loic Vligen will replace the 39-year-old Sanchez on BMC's team for the Vuelta. (AIGLE, Switzerland AP)

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, august 19, 2017

G

u y a n a Amazon Warriors, arguably the most popular team in the Hero’s Caribbean Premier League – and cert a i n l y the most consistent h a v e had a luckless start t o their 2017

Omar Khan-Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors

campaign as they struggled to win matches they would have dominated for most part.

Thus they have found themselves in an unfortunate situation although they have been competitive in all of their games.

Therefore it will take a never say die attitude from the Amazon Warriors if they are to reach the play-off stage like the St Lucia Stars did in the 2016 edition when they qualified with six wins and four losses in the round robin stage.

Manager of the Amazon Warriors Omar Khan is adamant that the fans have nothing to worry about as there are still 5 games to be played, all of which the Warriors are aiming to win.

“I want to give the assurance to all of Guyana and Amazon Warriors fans that

Mo Farah 'more relaxed' for switch to road

M

o Farah says he is relishing escaping the pressure of the track as he prepares for his final UK track race before switching to the road.

"I'm definitely more relaxed, more chilled," said Farah before Sunday's Diamond League meeting in Birmingham. "I don't have a target on my back."

"I will have more than fun. It's going to be different but I'm excited."

The 34-year-old has won four Olympic titles and collected his sixth world gold in London earlier this month.

Farah finished eighth in a time of two hours, eight minutes and 21 seconds at the 2014 London Marathon, his only attempt at the distance.

Dennis Kimetto's world record - set the same year in Berlin - is almost five and a half minutes quicker.

Farah admits it will be a steep learning curve to close the gap on the world's best over 26.2 miles.

"People expect me to do certain things in the marathon because I have won so much stuff on the track, but it is a completely different event," he added.

"I want to go in with a new mind and vision, forget about what I have achieved as Mo and learn and understand the event and see what I can do on the road.

"It will take me a couple of times at least to get it right."

Farah name-checked New York, Boston, Berlin

we still have five games.

There are six teams in the tournament, out of those six teams four teams qualify for the playoffs. One team is already out, that is St. Lucia so we have five teams fighting to progress and we are still optimistic of the Warriors winning to qualify”, detailed Khan.

The Amazon Warriors have always been dominant at home and the next three to five days of home advantage and home support will be important as Khan agrees.

“The players love that support, they love the energy that the fans bring to the game and it also motivates them… for example Steven Jacobs on Thursday night with his passion and his energy. The way he bowled he wanted to prove to the Guyanese people his passion

and London as prestige races that he was considering.

The Daily Mail reported earlier this month that London Marathon officials were preparing a six-figure offer to tempt Farah to run the 2018 and 2019 races in his hometown.

The Zurich Diamond League and Great North Run will conclude Farah's 2017 season, but he says that a return to Birmingham will be a chance to relish what he has achieved with British fans.

"This weekend is about enjoying. I'll go out there and give 110%, but it is not as demanding or nerve-racking as London," he said.

"I want to take care of the race, get a good result and say goodbye.

Birmingham has been good to me and the crowd especially have been amazing.

It is definitely one of my favourites."

Farah has accused sections of the media of trying to tarnish his legacy by questioning his association with American coach Alberto Salazar, who is under investigation by the US Anti-Doping Agency.

Both he and Farah deny they have ever broken anti-doping rules.

Farah is one of 59 medallists from the recent World Championships who will be in action at Alexander Stadium.

Dafne Schippers, world 200m champion, will renew her rivalry with silver medallist Marie Josee Ta Lou in a 100m race that also includes London's 110m hurdles champion Sally Pearson and British-record holder Dina Asher-Smith. (BBC)

and what he could do.”

T h e Warriors will clash with tournament leaders Trinbago Knight Riders today from 12:00h – the second of four home games for the Warriors, who remain on two points after five games.

M e a n w h i l e , Guyana Amazon Warriors captain, Martin Guptill, noted his team would have to rectify what went wrong in their previous match as they aim to be positive against archrivals Trinbago Knight Riders.

While blooming in confi-

23

dence Knight Riders captain Dwayne Bravo is expecting an easy game against the Warriors.

Chelsea are still title favourites - Mourinho cranks up mind games with former club

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anchester United manager Jose Mourinho insists former club Chelsea should still be considered favourites for the Premier League title, despite the champions losing their opening game to Burnley.

Antonio Conte's men had Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas sent off as they went down 3-2 at Stamford Bridge, while the Italian is reportedly unhappy with his club's business over the transfer window.

In contrast, Mourinho appears to have conceded defeat in United's attempts to land a fourth signing of the window to add to Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelof and Nemanja Matic, with Ivan Perisic and Gareth Bale among those to have been linked with a switch to Old Trafford.

The Portuguese piled the pressure on his former employers by reasserting their status as Premier League title favourites as Conte prepares for Sunday's trip to Tottenham.

"For me the favourite is the champion, always," Mourinho told reporters ahead of Saturday's trip to Swansea City.

"It doesn't mean you are going to win it, I think it is the stamp that you have when you are champions, it is that the next season you are the favourite."

United's purchase of Matic from Chelsea reportedly upset Conte, but Mourinho insisted his side's title rivals cannot complain about their transfer business before the window closes on August 31.

"If they have problems, the problems are going to finish in a couple of weeks because in a couple of weeks the market is closed and they don't have problems any more," Mourinho said.

"If they have, and I don't know if they have but if they have, in a couple of weeks the problems are over. They have very good teams, very good players and I don't see

Jose Mourinho

any reason for them not to be fighting for the title.

"When people say, for example, Chelsea lost an important midfield player [Matic], if you lose one but you buy [Tiemoue] Bakayoko and [Danny] Drinkwater for example, what's the problem? The problem is when you sell and you don't buy.

"When you sell and you keep buying, what's the problem? You are probably even stronger, so I think every top team in the Premier League is strong enough, is potentially strong enough with the financial situation to be fighting for everything and, when everybody is also in Europe, five in the Champions League and two in the Europa League, you have the top seven teams playing for everything and all of them are strong." (SportsMax)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 23

Warriors very optimistic, says Manager Khan

Guyana aiming for more golds – Colours support Ninvalle Pg 22

Junior Sportsman of the Year, Caribbean 11 and Under Table Tennis champion Kaysan Ninvalle is all smiles as he receives gear from Colours Boutique.

Ninvalle is flanked by Colours Sales Representative Creanna Damon (left) and Principle of Chase Academy Henry Chase

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