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Issue No. 2993

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, September 30, 2016

PRICE

2015 Auditor General’s Report

WHAT'S INSIDE:

APNU/AFC Govt continues abuse of Contingency Fund

Government apartments a big mistake, waste of P16 scarce resources

Page 3

– former CH&PA Director

– AG to hand over report to House Speaker today

Annandale father hacks son to death

Page 2

$80 VAT INCLUDED

Bandits posing as Police Officers beat, rob Herstelling family Page 2

Slain Martyrs of 1872 Devonshire Castle P16 Uprising remembered

Wales Estate rice farm deal

Government competing with the Private P9 Sector – Doerga

The Guyana Cancer Foundation (GCF) on Thursday launched its month-long activities on cancer awareness in the ballroom of the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown.

President of the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Bibi Hassan (centre) said focus was currently being placed on breast cancer awareness (see story on page 16)

Govt policy now threatens poultry industry to aid friends, comrades

Page 11

Dataram situation should have been avoided – President Granger Page 10

…former Commerce Minister says country is already self-sufficient – urges law enforcement to locate, transport him back

CJIA’s US$150M Expansion Project

APNU/AFC amended contract a frontal attack on Private P7 Sector …Guyanese taxpayers to repay loan now creating jobs in Suriname – Sase Singh

2 news

friDAY, september 30, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Bandits posing as Police Officers Annandale father hacks son to death beat, rob Herstelling family Station but all were unsuccessful. It was sometime later that ranks reportedly attached to the Brickdam Police Station who were on patrol came and took the report.

“We couldn’t do anything because when we peep through we window, we see de gun, we couldn’t come out. We just put on de light

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arrests were made.

It was only Wednesday around noon that a Cuban vendor Maria Puig, 61, was shot to her right hand outside a store in Regent Street, Georgetown, after being robbed of $5000 cash. The bandits reportedly fled on a CG motorcycle.

Meanwhile, over the past

One of the ransacked rooms at the Herstelling home

n East Bank Demerara man was briefly hospitalised after he was beaten by several armed men who posed as police to gain entry into the premises.

According to reports gathered, around 02:45h Thursday, 5 bandits stormed the Lot 463 Herstelling home of Lalta, his wife Esther Sammy and their 21-year-old daughter.

Guyana Times understands that the gunmen arrived by car. The five men exited, four of whom kicked down the door to the house while the fifth kept watch.

The men then held up the man and dealt him several blows to the back and chest with a cutlass. They then ordered the woman to kneel on the floor as they turned their

attention on the daughter.

This publication was further told the bandits took the young lady into the upper flat of the house where they ransacked the bedrooms. They then carted off an undisclosed sum of money and a quantity of jewellery. One of the neighbours recalled what she witnessed.

“They run and kicked down de door and one of the man say we is police and say open de door so the man said why I must open me door for and dem run and kick down the door and go in and hole up de man,” the woman explained.

Eyewitnesses also said that as the robbery was unfolding they made repeated calls to the Providence Police

One of the weapons that were used to beat the homeowner, Lalta

and tek it off back… everybody calling [the Providence Police Station] dem seh de phone na working,” the woman said.

This newspaper was however made aware that when one of the eyewitnesses visited the Providence Station, two telephones were working.

The police are continuing their investigations but no

week, both armed and unarmed bandits carried out over 20 robberies on several businesses in the Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara.

In many instances, excessive violence was used. The area’s Acting Divisional Commander, Leslie James met with stakeholders there where he related that more patrols will be set up at strategic locations.

The house where 24-year-old Mahesh Chand was fatally chopped by his father

P

olice in C Division (East Coast Demerara) have arrested a 46-year-old man after he hacked his son to death during an argument with his wife over money.

Dead is 24-year-old Mahesh Chand of Lot 81 Narine Street, Annadale, East Coast Demerara.

According to reports, the dead man’s parents were having an argument late Wednesday night and he intervened, siding with his mother.

This apparently angered his father who picked up a cutlass and attacked the young man.

Guyana Times visited the home where the incident occurred and the dead man’s mother, Nandranie Chowtie, related what transpired the night before.

She recalled that on Wednesday, her husband had given her $2000 which she used to purchase things to cook and when he came home around 23:00h, he picked a fight asking for the change. The woman claimed that her husband had already picked up the money but still had her search for it as

he continued his tantrum. “(Mahesh) was in his bed – he went to work and was tired – so he get up and bring $400 and tell me ‘mommy give the man this money’. My husband de done pack his bag and say he want the money because he want go away, and he say that me and my children them ah lick one head. So the boy turn and tell he that he taking advantage,” she stated.

Chowtie continued that her son’s comment may have upset her husband; as such, he went into the kitchen and grabbed a cutlass. She added that the man ran into the room and chopped her son to the abdomen and to his thigh.

“I didn’t know that he stab meh son so I run downstairs because I was scared he woulda chop me and I run out the yard and go hide in some bushes on the road… (My husband) go away and come back and start cuss up the boy that how he mek them and they want beat, but all the time meh son upstairs bleeding out,” the woman cried. turn to page 7

news

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friDAY, september 30, 2016 | guyana-times.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, September 30 – 14:30h-16:00h and Saturday, October 1 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, September 30 – 16:15h-17:45h and Saturday, October 1 – 16:45h-18:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Light rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, while clear skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 25 degrees and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 03:56h and 16:11h reaching maximum heights of 2.61 metres and 2.65 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:48h and 22:05h reaching minimum heights of 0.60 metre and 0.54 metre respectively.

wednesday, september 28, 2016

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

2015 Auditor General’s Report

APNU/AFC Govt continues abuse of Contingency Fund – AG to hand over report to House Speaker today

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uditor General Deodat Sharma is expected to hand over the 2015 Auditor General’s Report to Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland later today and according to top officials in the Audit Office of Guyana, the report is expected to highlight the continued abuse of the Contingency Fund by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition which took office in May 2015.

The APNU/AFC while in Opposition, complained bitterly about similar acts by the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

A senior functionary within the Audit Office, who has access to the audit information, told Guyana Times that there are a series of abuses of the Contingency Fund by the APNU/AFC Administration during 2015, the Fiscal year under review. The source said the abuse continued into 2016, pointing to the single-sourcing of the controversial Sussex Street Drug Bond as a prime example.

Speaking directly about the period under review, the official confirmed that the 2015 Audit Report is expected to highlight a number of abuses, including the Supplementary Financial Paper No 3 of 2015 which saw a total of $799,897,637 being utilised from the Contingency Fund for the period September 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015.

One of the withdrawals expected to be highlighted in the report is the $48 million for the purchase of furniture and equipment for the Ministry of the Presidency and State House, as well as the installation of 6000 solar systems at the President’s official residence, which is not deemed to be of any “urgency”.

The 2015 Audit report is also expected to highlight

ber of instances under the previous Administration.

GECOM

Flashback: Deodat Sharma, Auditor General of Guyana, handing over the 2014 Auditor General’s Report to Dr Barton Scotland, Speaker of the National Assembly

a $77 million advance from the said Fund for the provision of salary increases and a one-off tax free payment for the University of Guyana at the Turkeyen and Tain locations.

Then there is the $11 million withdrawal from the Contingency Fund in 2015 as part payment to the Guyana National Newspapers Limited, the publisher of the Government-owned Guyana Chronicle as an outstanding balance owed by the Government Information Agency (GINA) – another State-owned entity.

It is important to note that the APNU/AFC, while in Opposition, voted against budgetary allocations for GINA in 2013 and 2014, reducing that entity’s allocations to $1 on both occasions.

The Audit Office official said that all of the highlighted cases are but a few of the abuses of the Contingency Fund by the Government.

These abuses were previously highlighted to the Government when the financial paper was tabled and subsequently approved by the Government-controlled National Assembly, but at the time, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had dismissed these accusations, stating he was not of the opinion that the advances made amount to the abuse

of the Contingency Fund.

Meanwhile, the report is also expected to cover several cases prior to the May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections, as the then PPP/C Government was also drawing down from the Contingency Fund.

It is also important to recall that then President Donald Ramotar had prorogued the Parliament and subsequently called the General Elections, therefore there was no 2015 National Budget until August of that year; four months after the coalition Government took office, and thus the report is expected to highlight a num-

There were expectations that the 2015 Audit Report would have shed some light on the controversies surrounding a decision by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to procure 50 obsolete High Frequency (HF) communication radio sets by GECOM from a Water Street businessman for close to $100 million, while sidelining Barrett Communications, the manufacturers of the very equipment.

The equipment were purchased for the 2015 General and Regional Elections but were never put into use after it was discovered many of them were not working.

However, the official said that the report is not expected to elaborate on that agency since there is a special investigation into the corruption allegations there.

The electoral body is also accused of procuring another $100 million in stationery supplies from the same businessman and $14 million in pliers and nippers from a relative of the businessman. turn to page 9

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friday, september 30, 2016

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Editorial

GECOM and public trust

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ver the past few days the spotlight has been centred on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as the electoral body has found itself mired in allegations of high-level corruption. At present, the public image of the organisation, whether justified or not, is taking a severe beating and it seems as if its Chairman, Commissioners and Chief Election Officer are not interested in doing any damage control, that is if anything at all could be done, at this time.

This newspaper reported a few days back that State auditors, earlier this month, launched a major probe after it was reportedly noticed that there were some discrepancies in relation to the purchase of 50 VHF communication radios

by GECOM for close to G$100 million, prior to the May 2015 General and Regional Elections. The contract was handed to a Water Street, Georgetown businessman. As expected, serious questions were raised regarding the entire transaction, especially as it relates to the huge cost for these radio sets.

According to reports, even though the radio sets were purchased for use during the 2015 General and Regional Elections, particularly in the outlying regions of Guyana, they were never put into use after it was discovered that many of them were faulty.

Media reports later surfaced that some of the equipment purchased were obsolete and were not covered by warranty. As a matter of fact, sections of the Guyanese media reported that the Australian-based manufacturer, Barrett Communications, through its European office, distanced itself from the purchase.

From reports gathered, the company made it clear that it had ceased to manufacture the equipment more than five years ago. These are all very startling revelations and if found to be true, would no doubt raise serious questions about the entire procurement methods adopted by GECOM. In addition to this most recent case, there were several other cases where concerns were raised regarding the methods employed by GECOM in procuring goods and services. In fact, at a press conference recently, one Commissioner bluntly told the media that he believes corruption at the electoral body is deeprooted, with key players at many levels of the organisation.

If we are to go by what some Commissioners are saying, at least in the press, there are serious problems plaguing the organisation at the moment which should be addressed forthwith, not only as it relates to transparency and accountability of public funds, but the overall management and delivery of credible elections.

Perhaps the time has come for all stakeholders to seriously commence talks regarding reforming the organisation, meaning its entire operational structure, starting with the manner in which the Chairman and Commissioners are appointed and the way the secretariat functions.

It is clear that a major stakeholder, the parliamentary Opposition, has lost confidence in the current Chairman and CEO of the organisation. Some have expressed the view that the Commission is expending a tremendous amount of time and resources in attempting to dismiss and/or delay the hearing and determination of the 2015 Elections Petition, because it will expose the electoral machinery and system administered and managed by GECOM to public scrutiny.

With respect to the G$100 million purchase of VHF communication equipment, it would be premature to make any definitive pronouncement on the matter considering the fact that an audit is in progress.

That said, while we await the findings of the audit, it is hoped that GECOM would learn its lesson from this entire episode and take the necessary steps to ensure that it is never caught up in this mess again.

As stated by the Opposition Leader, as an independent constitutional body, GECOM enjoys financial, functional and operational autonomy and like every agency which is financed with public funds must account in a transparent manner for the expenditure of these funds.

The bottom line is that GECOM certainly cannot afford to be caught up in such scandals. Because of the nature of the work it does due to its constitutional mandate, GECOM must always strive to build public trust; its officers must be seen as credible and working on behalf of the nation in every respect. Every stakeholder in the country must have confidence in the work the electoral body is doing.

The giant panda is perhaps the most powerful symbol in the world when it comes to species conservation, according to the WWF. The distinctive black and white animal is a national treasure in China and has been the symbol of the WWF since its formation in 1961.

While its numbers are slowly increasing, the giant panda remains one of the rarest and most endangered bears in the world. Owing to improvements in breeding technology, newborn numbers have almost doubled. About 23 giant pandas born in 2016 are seen on a display at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China, September 29, 2016 (China Daily/ via Reuters)

Worshipping God as female Dear Editor, Hinduism accepts that from an absolute perspective, God is beyond gender or form or any of our human categories in which we apprehend reality. From our perspective then, God is all categories including male and female and even both simultaneously - Ardhanarishvara, which is a composite of Shiva and consort Parvati.

In the mother worship ceremony the Divine Mother is worshipped for nine days and nights.

Although she is one, she is adored in the three aspects that is DURGA-LAKSHMISARSWATI. In the plan of Devi worship, the first three days are focused on the worship of Devi as Durga the destroyer, the second three days are focused on Goddess Lakshmi the giver of prosperity and the last three days on Goddess Saraswati the giver of wisdom.

"If God is our father, why cannot God be our Mother? If we are the children of our heavenly Father, why cannot we be the children of our heavenly Mother?" This rhetorical question is the basis of why Hindus recognise and accept both male and female aspects of Nature and worship the Supreme Reality in the form of Mother, Father, Friend, Master, Guru, and Savior. Thus Lord Krishna declares in the Bhagawad Gita: "I am the Father - of this universe. I am the Mother of this universe, and the

Creator - of all. I am the Highest to be known, the Purifier, the holy OM, and the three Vedas." (BG 9.17) The worship of God in the form of Mother - is a unique feature of Hinduism.

Through the ages, the doctrine of the Motherhood of God has established a firm root in Hinduism. Today Hindus worship the Divine Mother in many popular forms such as Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ambika, and Uma. By worshipping God as the Divine Mother, a Hindu can more easily attribute Motherly traits to the Lord, such as tenderness and forgivingness. The natural love between a Mother and her - child is the best expression of the Lord's unconditional love for- us as children of God. In the most representative Hindu view, the universe is the manifestation of the creative power (shakti) of Brahman, whose essence is absolute existence, consciousness, and bliss (or in Sanskrit, sat-chit-ananda). Since all created forms proceed from the womb of the mother, the creative power shakti) of God is recognised by Hindus as the female principle or the motherly aspect of nature. In this sense we are all children of the Divine Mother. We are contained by her before our - manifestation and nourished by her throughout our existence.

To a Hindu, the motherly aspect of God in nature is full of beauty, gentleness, kindness, and tender-

ness. When we look upon all the glorious and beautiful things in nature and experience a feeling of tenderness within us, we feel the motherly instinct of God. The worship of God in the form of Mother is a unique contribution of the Hindu child. When a devotee worships God as Divine Mother, he or - she appeals to her tenderness and unconditional love.

Such love unites the devotee with God, like a child with its mother.

Just as a child feels safe and secure in the lap of its mother, a devotee feels safe and secure in the presence of the Divine Mother. Paramahamsa Sri Ramakrishna, one of the greatest Indians of modern times, worshipped the Divine Mother Kali during his entire life. He established a personal relationship with her and was always conscious of her presence by his side.

In Hinduism, Divine Mother is the first manifestation of Divine Energy.

Thus with the name of Divine Mother comes the idea of energy, omnipotence, omnipresence, love, intelligence, and wisdom.

Just as a child believes its mother to be all-powerful, and capable of doing anything for the child, a devotee believes the Divine Mother to be all merciful, all-powerful and eternally guiding and protecting him/her with her invisible arms.

The worship of God as Mother has had a significant impact on Hinduism.

The position of women in the Hindu religion is dignified because each woman is considered a manifestation of the Divine Mother.

Hindus view man and woman as the two wings of the same bird. Thus, a man is considered incomplete without a woman, since "it is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing"--Swami Vivekananda. Through the worship of God in the form of Mother, Hinduism offers a unique reverence to womanhood.

See the hands of the divine mother, behind the process of destruction and difficult circumstances and do not grieve, see the hands behind the expression of success and fulfilment and do not become proud.

See the divine hands behind insight and inspiration and do not become deluded by vanity.

OM DUM – DURAGA YAI NAMA is the mantra for pleasing the Universal Mother during the period of nuratri. Recite this powerful mantra, with the feelings and devotion every day and feel the all-loving Mother besides you at all times.

Pray to the Mother who is destroyer of all impurities and the bestower of blessings and the supreme destination of all souls that wander through the world process; let your life flow as a stream of prayer to the feet of the divine Mother and attain self-realisation.

Sincerely, Pt Surendra Tiwari Patentia Mandir

guyana-times.com

friday, september 30, 2016

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Name local athletes with potential to medal in Tokyo 2020

Dear Editor, Edison Jefford, one of Guyana’s most accomplished sports athlete, senior sports journalist of KN, recipient of many outstanding awards over the years, senior member of the current National Sports Commission etc has now made his appearance via the press in relation to the ongoing issue with KAJ Yassin (President of the Guyana Olympic Association) and his establishment to vacate the office of the GOA for many reasons. He seems to have chosen the side and in support of his colleague Rawle Welch of the KN who started this issue.

The general public’s response should be one of respect because Guyana is a democratic country and I repeat again, that it is everyone’s democratic right to challenge KAJ Yassin for his current chairmanship of the Goa and his establishment.

E Jefford, Minister Nicolette Henry just went

on record via the press and announced that the government of the day has rolled out billions of dollars for sports development to date and will continue to do so towards ‘Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.’

I challenge you to publicly identify and name all the current athletes (locally) who you believe possess the abilities and potentials to make it on the medal podium in Tokyo 2020.

This is vital because the nurturing aspect has to get kick started immediately. Time is of the essence. Guyana would have attended IAAF World Championships meets over the years under the leadership of former Presidents of the AAG (Athletics Association of Guyana), Blackmore and C Boyce and never made it to the medal podium.

Can you say whether the media at large ever attacked those gentlemen for their chairmanship when Guyana

failed to medal? If not, are we playing the race card with J Yassin?

Can you also furnish the general public with names of your choice who you believe will lead the GOA and make Guyana stand on the medal podium in Tokyo 2020?

Can you also educate the public what is it that you lack from challenging KAJ Yassin for his chairmanship during GOA’s 2016 elections?

Editor and the general public, I am not the enemy or taking sides with anyone.

My independent position remains the same where I stand my ground firmly with the message that the current President of the GOA, KAJ Yassin) and his establishment is not solely responsible for Guyana’s failure to medal at the just-concluded RIO 2016 Olympic Games...

We are all responsible.

Yours faithfully, T Pemberton

Dear US Embassy Dear Editor, The US Embassy in Guyana Wednesday on its official social media page, shared a vintage photography of late President Jagan exchanging with Kennedy during his visit to New York in 1961. The photograph was captioned “Celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations”.

Ironically, Jagan’s visit was barely tolerated and he even suffered Spivak’s character assassination, who presented him to the American population as evasive and a potential communist threat. If anything during that visit, Jagan was diplomatically mocked, and development funds were declined to a meagre US$5 million, as opposed to the US$12.5 million later released for the commencement of another US installed South

American dictatorship under Burnham.

The late Kennedy might be a hero in his country, but for this Guyanese woman he was an instigator of dictatorial oppression and ethnic cleavages in a land which was never his. The Embassy should think twice before boasting of diplomatic relations when the only thing the US has done in this part of the world, is overthrow Governments, install dictatorships, and then parasite us for our resources while trapping and buying us with “aid” that has proven to be useless for lifting populations out of poverty.

So I say to the US Embassy, if you want to make a valuable contribution to Guyanese, start by being honest (as incredible as it sounds) and share in-

formation which enlightens us. For instance, declassifying State documents on CIA covert operations and how you supported the Jagans being thrown in jail, might be a good start.

Sincerely, Anna Correia

Why are there no Bartician working on the Green Town?

Dear Editor, In keeping with President David Granger’s promise to have Bartica become the first Green Town, the $31 million Green Space Park is taking shape in Constituency 6, West Indian Housing Scheme, Bartica, but not without mixed views from residents of Bartica.

The contract has been awarded to S Jagmohan Construction but what is most disappointing is that the $31 million contract is generating a heated debate among Barticians and immediate residents of Constituency 6, as it relates to the hiring of workers.

Why are there no Bartician working on the project? Where is the con-

stituency representative to bring representation on behalf of residents to ensure they gain employment? Residents have been turning up at the construction site asking for employment and are turned away as allegations is being levelled against a top official in Bartica, who is alleged to have told the contractor not to employ any Bartician to work because Barticians are lazy.

Bartica now has township status and the leaders, movers and shakers of the town must now take steps to ensure, as a matter of policy, all contractors and investors employ at least 25% of their work force from Bartica.

The unemployment rate

in Bartica is alarming and is a cause of concern and for a contract of this magnitude and not one single Bartician could gain employment is beyond sad, and an insult to the skilled human resources we possess in Bartica.

Are the leaders and representatives of Bartica implying that no Bartician is qualified or have the experience to work on the said project? I call on the leaders and representatives of the various constituencies to afford Barticians and their respective constituency the highest level of effective representation.

Sincerely, Bartica resident, Sherwyn Downer

APNU/AFC Councillors disrupt Region 3 RDC statutory meeting Dear Editor, The APNU/AFC Councillors of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) disrupted the Council’s statutory meeting, which was held on Wednesday, September 28, by singing “we shall not be removed” and by tapping the tables loudly, saying “Faeber must go, Jaikarran will stay”.

The disruption came about when the Council voted on a motion to have “no confidence” against Denis Jaikarran who is the Clerk

of the Council and the Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Three.

The decision was taken by the Council since decisions taken at the Council level are not being implemented by the REO, who is the Clerk of the Council.

He only works on decisions that suit his interests and not those of the Council.

The REO is the Clerk of the Council in the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meetings. He is mandat-

ed by the Act, Chapter 28:09, to carry out all decisions taken at the statutory meetings.

The REO thinks he is supreme to the RDC – the Communities Minister needs to sanction him for not carrying out mandatory functions.

Yours truly, Julius Faerber Regional Chairman Region Three

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guyana-times.com

Foundation

School problems: what to expect Truancy and school refusal U ps and downs at school are part of life for many young people. A good relationship with your child’s school and teachers can help you head off problems. If school problems do come up, it’s important that you quickly recognise and address them.

School problems can show up as poor academic performance, lack of motivation for school, loss of interest in school work, or poor relationships with peers or teachers.

School difficulties range from minor to severe, might be very short-lived or last for longer. Even short-term school problems can have a negative impact on how young people feel about school – and themselves.

Common signs of school problems

Some signs that might indicate your child is having problems at school include: * drop in marks in one or more subjects * lack of engagement, connection or involvement with school – for example, your child might not be interested in extracurricular activities or have very few friends * embarrassment or discomfort when talking about school * refusal to talk with you about school, or rarely talking about school with family or friends * resistance to doing homework, or rarely talking about homework * low confidence or lack of self-esteem – your child might say he is ‘dumb’, ‘stupid’ or not as clever as his friends * detentions at lunch time or the end of the school day * excuses not to go to school or skipping school without your knowledge

* boredom with school work or not feeling challenged enough – your child might say he’s not learning anything new * attention or behaviour problems * experiences of being bullied or bullying others.

Sometimes, school problems will be easy to spot, and your child will willingly talk to you about them.

But some children hide problems from their parents, teachers and peers. They might copy homework, pretend to be sick during important tests, or not bring reports home. This can make it very difficult for you to pick up on a problem. Sometimes even teachers might not spot the clues – especially if your child is absent a lot.

Why it’s important to pick up school problems early

If existing problems aren’t picked up and addressed early, they can have significant, long-term consequences.

To start with, school problems might contribute to poor self-esteem. In the longer term, they can significantly affect your child’s wellbeing.

School problems can also lead to an increased risk of dropping out. They might make children more likely to avoid school and less likely to want to go to school. Poor academic performance is connected with negative longterm consequences such as an increased risk of absenteeism, leaving school early, and being less likely to undertake further education or training.

Another consequence of problems at school is that children can get tagged with unhelpful labels such as ‘uninterested’, ‘easily distracted’ or ‘doesn’t try hard enough’.

Worst of all, young people often ‘own’ the label and begin to believe that they are ‘troublemakers’ or ‘misfits’. All these labels suggest a child is somehow to blame.

But school problems are often a sign that systems and support networks around

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still. a child aren’t adequate.

Finally, children who have problems at school can experience a reduced sense of belonging. Young people’s success at school depends on their wellbeing – how they think, feel and act both in and out of school. Studies have found that fitting in at school and feeling like they belong improve young people’s wellbeing.

Causes of school problems

Some of the more common causes of school problems are underlying learning difficulties or learning disabilities – such as dyslexia – or behavioural or emotional issues. But there are many other reasons why a young person might not be achieving academically.

Personal factors might include: * chronic illness * intellectual or cognitive disability * behavioural or developmental difficulties or disorders * mental health issues such as depression or anxiety * experiences of trauma * difficulties with self-esteem, communication skills or social skills * difficulties with listening, concentrating or sitting

School factors might include: * being bullied * disliking, or not feeling connected to, the school culture or environment * disliking school subjects, not liking the choice of subjects, or not feeling challenged by the work * poor school or academic support, especially in relation to heavy workloads * not getting along with teachers or other students at school * skipping school because of any of the reasons listed above * competing demands on time, such as extracurricular activities.

our child might miss a day of school every now and then – that’s pretty normal. But if it happens a lot, you could be looking at or truancy or ‘school refusal’. By supporting your child to attend school regularly and working on any concerns together, you and your child can make the most of education.

Absenteeism, truancy and school refusal: what are they?

It’s pretty normal to miss a day of school here and there. But for some young people, missing school is more common. And if a child misses a lot of school, it can be hard to keep up with schoolwork and friendships.

parents’ wishes.

If your child is truanting, it might look like he’s going to school. He’ll leave and come home at the usual time – he might even go to school some of the time – but he’ll miss particular classes or even whole days at school.

School refusal

School refusal is when young people refuse to go to school. It’s a more serious emotional problem involving fear of attending school or anxiety about leaving home.

It’s different from truancy.

Your child might show symptoms such as crying, panic, tantrums, aggression or threats of self-harm.

Research estimates that

Getting help with school problems

Depending on the problems your child is experiencing, it might be a good idea to talk to your child’s teacher, the principal or assistant principal, the school welfare coordinator or other specialist teaching staff, or classroom learning support assistants. You could also talk to your GP, who might refer you to other health professionals, such as psychologists, speech therapists or occupational therapists. (raisingchildren.net.au)

Absenteeism

Absenteeism is a persistent or regular pattern of not attending school. It usually happens with a parent’s knowledge and consent.

Students who are absent usually spend their time away from school at home.

Several family, school and personal factors might be responsible for absenteeism. These factors include: * lack of family support, encouragement or organisation * family poverty leading to problems with buying food, uniforms and school books or with getting transport to school * work or family commitments, including care duties in the home * negative school experiences such as bullying or failure in learning * the need to catch up on homework or assessment tasks * illness.

Truancy

Truancy is when students are absent from school without their parents’ knowledge or permission. It’s also called ‘wagging’ or ‘skipping’ school. Students who truant tend to hide this from their parents or do it against their

between one to five per cent of school-age children suffer from school refusal, with children aged five to six years and 10 to 11 years most affected. Students who suffer from school refusal might also be dealing with depression or anxiety disorders.

Why young people play truant or refuse to go to school

School refusal often happens around the same time as a major change in your child’s life. Some of those major changes might be changing classes, schools, friends, starting secondary school or having problems at school.

Your child could be anxious about family circumstances – for example, a period of illness or stress in the family – and want to stay at home because of that.

A change to personal, school or family factors in your child’s life – or several things happening all at once – can be so upsetting that your child might feel disconnected from school or anxious about leaving the house. Once your child feels this way, skipping or refusing school becomes more likely. (raisingchildren.net.au) TO BE CONTINUED

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friday, september 30, 2016 | guyana-times.com

CJIA’s US$150M Expansion Project

APNU/AFC amended contract a frontal attack on Private Sector …Guyanese taxpayers to repay loan now creating jobs in Suriname – Sase Singh

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n an environment where the Administration has failed to deliver on its promises to provide jobs for young people, it is now caught in a situation where taxpayers will be forced to repay the largest loan in recent history, but the jobs being created have now been shifted to neighbouring Suriname.

This was the observation made by former Alliance For Change (AFC) economist Sasenarine Singh, who in a recent missive to the media lambasted the Administration along with his former colleague now Business Minister Dominic Gaskin over the disclosure that 300,000 tonnes of stones will be imported from Suriname – bypassing local suppliers – for the US$150 million Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project.

“This situation demands a forensic audit and even a project audit from the Office of the Auditor General…This contract is a frontal attack on the Guyanese Private Sector.”

The former AFC economist has since labelled the actions by the controversial Chinese contractor in cohort with the A Partnership for National Unity/AFC Government as a “giveaway of our wealth”.

Singh has since queried, “What a greater giveaway of our wealth is there than to take decisions that will destroy our internal wealth creation capacity by lifting all of that potential into a foreign land?”

He suggested that the situation represented nothing, but developmental disparity: “we pay and Suriname plays”.

Team Guyana

According to Singh, “what the (David) Granger

Govt powerless

Former AFC economist Sasenarine Singh

Administration has done with this airport contract was to have kept Team Guyana on the bench as spectators to the game, when by right we have the talent, the material and the ability to produce every stone needed for our national airport”.

He was referring to the fact that it was the current Administration which had halted the Expansion Project when it took office, and renegotiated and amended the contract.

Singh said the Business Minister was wrong, reiterating that the contract was “a frontal attack on the Guyanese Private Sector”.

“The children of Guyanese taxpayers will be asked to pay back a loan to China in the future, but that same loan was creating new jobs in Suriname rather than in Guyana in an industry where we have a core competence locally,” he declared.

The economist made his position known in a recent public missive and said, “Here is another situation where the Granger Administration is clearly out to lunch on the big developmental issues.”

He was at the time responding to statements made by the Business Minister that the Government was essentially powerless to prevent China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC), the contractor on the project, from importing crushed stones from Suriname.

“To add to that pitiable performance, he (Gaskin) then went on to say why this is the case by saying that due to the contractual agreement between the Government and CHEC, the State cannot prevent the contracting firm from importing 300,000 tonnes of stones… I say this is too much from Minister Gaskin,” the former AFC member stated.

Singh had prefaced his observation by firstly crediting the now Business Minister with his stewardship of the AFC’s finances during the 2011 elections campaign.

According to Singh, “He (Gaskin) was extremely consistent in his demand for full accountability from all the field staff then… So in 2011, I was proud of his work, but clearly, as Minister of Business, he has lost his way.”

He lambasted the Business Minister for also conceding in the local press that “no new investment proposal has yet borne fruit” after 16 months under his watch.

“Minister Gaskin is making these statements in an environment where the Granger Administration has not delivered on its promise to create new jobs for young people,” Singh lamented.

“When will this national burden subside, where we continue to create too few new jobs all because of an overwhelming deformity of stra-

tegic thinking in the public service and reckless public statements from most of our Ministers, with very few exceptions.”

He added, “Can you imagine that the biggest contract that is being implemented under Team Granger that was incubated under Team Jagdeo

is working to serve the State of Suriname rather than the State of Guyana and we talk about territorial integrity?”

NAREI extends condolences

T

he management and staff of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) wish to express condolences to the husband, children, relatives and friends of the late Abiola Gomes.

“NAREI is saddened by her passing, which has left a hole in the hearts of colleagues, farmers and other stakeholders in the agricul-

ture sector,” a release from the Institute stated.

Gomes joined the Ministry of Agriculture on February 2, 1998, as a Crop Reporter and was absorbed

by NAREI on August 2, 2011.

She was appointed as a Crop Extension Assistant in 2011.

She effectively and efficiently serviced farmers operating on the SoesdykeLinden Highway.

Annandale father...

The grieving mother said at that time, her four other children were also hiding in the backyard and out of fear, she stayed in hiding and it was not until her daughter alerted her that Mahesh was bleeding that she became aware her son was injured.

“Meh daughter start call for me and tell me come see what happen to Mahesh, he deh bad so I run out (from the bushes) and start call for help and begging somebody to come with a taxi to take him to the hospital,” the distraught woman cried.

She explained that despite her pleas, none of the neighbours came to assist in taking her injured son to the hospital. It was after some time has elapsed that someone transported the injured

young man to seek medical attention, but it was too late.

“When they were carrying him out (of the house) last night, like he been done dead because his head was on my foot and it get heavy… I didn’t had money to take taxi so we had to wait long after till when somebody come to take him to the hospital and when we reach there, they call and tell me that he dead,” the aggrieved woman lamented helplessly.

The 24-year-old young man, the eldest of five, worked on a delivery truck and assisted in running the household. He was described by persons in the village as a quite, respectful and willing individual.

Meanwhile, the father, 46-year-old Amarnauth

“Gomes was a reliable staff, good organiser, and very conversant with the farmers…She contributed significantly to the development of agriculture on the Highway…She will be sadly missed,” Dr Oudho Homenauth said.

NAREI will be covering the wake and funeral expenses for the late Abiola Gomes.

from page 2

Chand, is currently in Police custody assisting with the investigation. The Police in a statement on Thursday said after committing the act, the man “fled the scene but has since been apprehended and taken into custody.”

Guyana Times was told that the man was reportedly unaware that this eldest child was dead. Moreover, this newspaper understands that this was not the first that Chand has carried out such an attack. In fact, back in March on Phagwah Day, the man attacked his wife, chopping her to the head.

The woman reported the matter to the Police and was given a medical to see a doctor but there were some issues with the document and nothing came out of the matter.

8 news

fridAY, september 30, 2016 | guyana-times.com

IN THE COURTS

Man on causing death charge placed on $600,000 bail

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athan Heylinger was granted $600,000 bail for causing the death of Carl Dundas when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Courts.

Heylinger pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on September 11, 2016, he drove a car bearing registration plates PVV 1650 in a manner dangerous to the

public, thereby causing the death of Dundas.

The defendant’s Attorney, James Bond, made an application for reduction of bail claiming his client is not financially stable at the mo-

ment but it was denied by Chief Magistrate McLennan who noted that the bail is low enough. The defendant is scheduled to make his next court appearance on October 18 for statements.

Eyew tness

Roots...

T

...of PM Nagamootoo

he Chronicle's headline blared: "Nagamootoo on state visit to India". Your Eyewitness knows among the myriad onerous tasks he's saddled with as PM, Nagamootoo's in charge of the Chronic, but isn't "state visit" puffing his portfolio a tad? "State visits" are when the HEAD OF STATE visits another State and is received by the head of THAT State.

OK...OK...when President Granger jetted off to the UN General Assembly, Nagamootoo was made "ACTING President". But in the same edition of the Chronic there's Prezzie, clearly back in the country swearing in Carl Greenidge as acting PM. So we can clearly conclude Nagamootoo departed Guyana's shores as PM and not our Head of State, can we? No "state visit"!!

We expect a CoI to be constituted immediately to find out who inserted this headline, which is clearly in breach of protocol. Or is it more than that? Is it a projection of a palace coup being plotted by the ambitious PM? Or is it a case of his shill bigging up his boss so he could also step up into bigger and better quarters? And this Eyewitness wants to know why the said shill wasn't offered the first-class ticket to India but that fell to some other flunkey in the PM's office?

Is that a hint all isn't well with the shill's sinecure?

Anyhow, now that your Eyewitness has hopefully cleared up the fact our PM won't be getting any 18gun salute or/and being received by President Pranab Mukerjee of India, we can move on to more important matters. Such as the identity of the PM. Just before the last elections, you, Dear Readers, would remember the PM-to-be had created quite a stir on the identity front when he declared he was "NOT an Indian". He was just a "Guyanese".

But he's now jetting off, to a "Tamil" conference and says he'll be connecting with his "Tamil Roots".

Will he be issuing a clarification after his return that he is "NOT a Tamil". Equal opportunity disavowal and all that! Nagamootoo insists he's of "Tamil origin" because his fore- fathers came from there. Really? Did he check his papers? At the time of PM's forefathers’ departure, their neck of the woods was called "Madras Presidency" and included modern Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Odisha, Kerala, Karnataka, and Telangana.

Anyhow, as PM Nagamootoo gets more granular about his roots, maybe he'll find out he's actually not just a "Tamil" but a "Tamil Tiger".

So is PM Nagamootoo going to return all radical and stuff?

...of WI Cricket disaster

Every time it happens, your Eyewitness "wrings his ears" and swears, "no more!". He's bitching about our ignominious defeat in the T20 series with Pakistan, of course. Here it is diehards like him could at least retain a shred of dignity and boast "at least we have our once superpower status at the T20 level."

He could even rationalise our retreat into the shortest form of the game by saying that "Test" wasn't REALLY the WI form of the game. That was for stiff upper-lipped Englishmen daintily nibbling cucumber sandwiches and tapping their fingers when a good delivery was carted to the boundary.

No siree Bob! We were naturally adept at hoiking the ball OVER the boundary, playing in outrageous colours and screaming encouragement or insults at players. And now to be cut off at the knees by Pakistan – which can't even PLAY in their own country?!! Oh... the shame of it all!

But we all know nothing will change unless we get root and branch reform, don't we?

Meaning the WICB Board must go!

...of road carnage

The root of the road chaos that leads to carnage is the average Guyanese’s absolute refusal to "wait his turn".

"Boring" is the mantra on the road.

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

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9

friday, september 30, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Wales Estate rice farm deal

Govt competing with the Private Sector – Doerga C hief Executive Officer of Alesie Rice Group, Turhane Doerga, said the move by the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration through the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to cultivate rice at the Wales Sugar Estate is a blatant attempt to compete with the Private Sector.

Government recently announced that it will be using the lands of Wales Sugar Estate, which will officially cease operations later this year, to begin rice cultivation, but the businessman said that private operators will suffer as a result of this move.

“They are taking taxpayers’ money to compete with the Private Sector because their friends are going to get all the contracts to plough lands. They are going to buy seeds at exorbitant prices and when they have the paddy, they are going to compete with the Private Sector”, he told Guyana Times on Thursday.

He said while he does not have a problem with what GuySuCo is doing since it is a private entity, consideration must be given to those who have been operating privately.

“The problem I have is they are taking taxpayers money to plant rice. They have proven not to be able to manage anything because for 23 years, GuySuCo has been losing money, and now they are taking taxpayers’ money to compete with the Private Sector.”

He continued “With all the professionals they have, if they can’t earn their own money, they should sell out GuySuCo and get on with it.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

Alesie Rice Group CEO Turhane Doerga

This nonsense has to stop.

You cannot use taxpayers’ money to accommodate your friends and compete with the Private Sector. That is unacceptable,” he complained.

Earlier this month, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) raised concerns about being left out of the consultation on rice cultivation on the estate’s lands.

Last week, the Corporation published an advertisement in the Stateowned Guyana Chronicle inviting bids for the clearing of 484 acres of land, out of 3000 acres, on the former sugar plots.

GuySuCo stated that the land was “required to be cleared of all vegetation to facilitate laser land levelling for rice cultivation,” making it the first solid statement on the fate of the Estate.

GAWU indicated that they were surprised “to learn through a newspaper advertisement” that GuySuCo was seeking to pursue rice cultivation at the estate.

However, both the Ministry and GuySuCo had announced that they were pursuing feasibility studies on rice, aqua-culture, citrus crops and dairy production

on the cane lands.

Notably, however, the Union underscored that the Sugar Corporation had promised to keep the Union abreast with its ventures in Wales. “In spite of that commitment, GuySuCo did not even inform our Union or the workers about their plans, much less sharing their ideas and intentions and to solicit the GAWU’s contribution,” GAWU said in a statement.

GAWU said this “shunning” of the workers and the Union represents another blunder of the management of the sugar entity and their advisors.

“Assuming there is a report from a study of growing rice at Wales, it is being treated as highly confidential at this time,” it added, noting that, “The least we expect from GuySuCo’s hierarchy is to provide the relevant essential information to its employees”.

GAWU questioned whether the rice venture is another instance of “GuySuCo being penny-wise and pound-foolish”.

Meanwhile, Holder defended the Corporation’s move to plant rice on the lands, affirming that GuySuCo was approached

by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) with the idea and that the Board would be pumping the funds in the venture and not GuySuCo. Nevertheless, he charged that the Corporation is not answerable to GAWU on any of its financial ventures.

“GuySuCo is there to manage the industry, not GAWU. GAWU needs to be reminded that they are neither the employer nor a shareholder of GuySuCo and that they are not helping the situation,” he said, pointing out that if the Union continues along this path, it will lead to the destruction of the industry.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder vowed that the Corporation is working in the interest of the workers to save the industry. “GuySuCo is looking for economic ventures and this is one,” he argued.

Contrarily, GAWU contended that at this time, when world market prices are uneconomical, rice cultivation may very well have been “ill-considered”.

Moreover, GAWU stated that it is not to be ignored that contemporary rice cultivation is largely mechanised and thus, such a project will only absorb a small fraction of those displaced sugar workers of Wales Estate who

may wish to seek re-employment.

The Union contended further that over decades ago, the Corporation hastily implemented an ‘Other Crops Division’ of which rice cultivation was featured. That investment was costly and it was later abandoned after it was deemed unsustainable and unprofitable, it highlighted, adding that rice it is not feasible.

On the other hand, Minister Holder stated that while he respects the Union’s opinion; neither GuySuCo nor the Ministry agree with it. “Rice prices might be low yes, but sugar is lower,” he highlighted.

APNU/AFC Govt continues... from page 3

NICIL

Meanwhile, the official revealed that the auditors were unable to comb the books of the controversial National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) since all of that agency’s financial records are in the hands of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) which is conducting investigations into the operations of that entity.

The 2014 Auditor General’s Report had flagged the PPP/C Administration over the withdrawal of $962 million from the Contingency Fund without meeting the specified criteria.

Abuse of the Contingency Fund has always been a talking point for the APNU/

AFC while in the political Opposition.

As a matter of fact, AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, who is now a Vice President and Public Security Minister in the coalition Government had emphasised on several occasions in the past that the National Assembly is the first device or mechanism for which emergency advances can be protected from abuse.

“The (PPP) has been abusing their understanding of the criteria of an emergency under the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. “When we run to the Fund it is only to be used for emergency cases, like if there is a serious flood in Mahaicony and we need to remove citizens, mon-

ey would be used in that case.

But I understand that they are using the Contingencies Fund to relieve the National Communications Network,” Ramjattan was quoted as saying.

Ramjattan had accused former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh of abusing the Fund.

“I am begging the people of this nation to understand that it is their money that is being abused and to realise what kind of Government they had,” Ramjattan had said.

However, the examples that are now being cited bear a very close resemblance to what the APNU/ AFC condemned while in the Opposition.

10

news

friday, september 30, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Dataram situation should No help on Hindu holiday controversy from Indian High Commissioner have been avoided – President Granger …urges law enforcement to locate, transport him back

D

ays before the ruling on a drug trafficking charge against him, Barry Dataram had fled the jurisdiction, a situation President David Granger believes would not have existed had the local justice system been more alert.

During the taping of this week’s “The Public Interest” programme on Thursday, the Head of State posited that while he would not lay blame at the feet of any agency or individual, Dataram’s flight from Guyana was something which could have been avoided.

“Mr Dataram is a person of interest. He is a wellknown character in Guyana, and I would expect that even though the judicial branch is separate, there should be a greater level of alertness on the part of the magistracy, in the judiciary, in matters like this and I don’t regard it as a failing on the part of law enforcement agencies, but it is definitely an error which ought to have been avoided,” he told reporters when prompted to comment on the matter.

Nevertheless, President Granger is calling on local law enforcement agencies to work with their counterparts in neighbouring countries and use every possible legitimate avenue available to them to locate the convicted drug lord and have him transported back to Guyana.

“The danger posed in having somebody who is now a convict out there, out of the jurisdiction is going to be harmful to our national

President David Granger

interest, so I would urge the law enforcement agencies to alert their counterparts in neighbouring states… I would urge all law enforcement agencies to use every legitimate measure to bring him back into this jurisdiction so that he can serve his sentence,” the President stated.

Furthermore, the President told reporters on the weekly programme that information suggested that Dataram might have absconded using a passport not issued by the Government of Guyana.

“Even though Mr Dataram might have a foreign passport, it might be a forged passport… my information is that he is not travelling on a Guyanese passport. So, after his disappearance, and we weren’t aware of his disappearance, we continued to work with our partners

in the Caribbean to bring him to justice. If he is in Suriname as is suspected, the Commissioner of Police has been instructed to try to ascertain his whereabouts in neighbouring countries, but he is not using a Guyana passport – that much we know,” the Head of State further revealed.

Dataram and his reputed wife, Anjanie Boodnarine, along with two others, Komal Charran and Trevor Gouveia, were charged jointly with the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

However, days before the court’s ruling, Dataram and his spouse, who was previously granted High Court bail, fled the country. After the couple failed to attend court on the previous scheduled days of sentencing (September 20 and September 23, 2016), the presiding Magistrate Judy Lactchman issued arrest warrants for them and noted that she would proceed with her ruling in their absence.

As such, on Tuesday last, Dataram was sentenced to 60 months in jail and a fine of $164.2 million after he was found guilty in absentia of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Meanwhile, his three coaccused, including his reputed wife, were all freed of the joint charge, which stated that on April 16, 2015, at Fourth Avenue, Diamond, East Bank Demerara, they had 60.840 kilograms of cocaine in their possession for the purpose of trafficking.

5 arrested over marijuana find, cultivation

P

The cultivated cannbis field with one of the tents visible

olice ranks in Essequibo and Berbice have arrested five suspects in two separate drug eradication exercises on Wednesday.

In Berbice, two men were busted with a quarter kilogram of cannabis, which they tried to discard after being caught smoking a ‘joint’.

According to a Police

source, Rashawn Brush, 25, and Denesh Balwant, 21, both of Rose Hall Town registered on the Police’s radar when officers from the anti-crime patrol were proceeding along the Number 7 Village Public Road, East Coast Berbice.

It is being alleged that the suspects were seen smoking and when the Officers pulled up, they threw a bag into a

clump of bushes which was retrieved by the Officers.

The bag contained a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems.

Both men were taken into custody and the drug was weighed; it amounted to 225 grams. The men have since been charged and are expected to appear in court today.

Meanwhile, in Essequibo, during a 12-hour drug eradication exercise at Araray Village, Upper Essequibo, ranks stumbled upon several acres of marijuana.

A Police release detailed that “in excess of nine acres of cultivated cannabis with about 8000 plants ranging in heights from one foot to 10 feet, several nurseries with over 3000 seedlings and two makeshift tents were found and destroyed.”

Further reports revealed that three males, who were found tending to the plants, were taken into custody and charged with cultivating prohibited plants. They too will make a court appearance today.

From left to right: Pandit Hardesh Tiwari of the Viraat Sabhaa, Pandit Ramdial Balbadar of the West Coast Demerara Sanatan Dharm Pandits Sabha, Pandit Navin Lillia of the Guyana Pandits Council and Pandit Ravi Persaud, the President of the Viraat Sabhaa

A

resolution to the Hindu holiday controversy is far from over now that the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Venkatachalam Mahalingam opted to stay clear of this conflict which has virtually divided the local community.

He was lobbied by the local Hindu fraternity to provide assistance in settling the dispute over the timings for the various religious events, most notably Diwali and Phagwah.

However Pandit Hardesh Tiwari of the Viraat Sabhaa, one of the lobbyist groups, disclosed during a Thursday news conference that the High Commissioner indicated that no help will be forthcoming since the matter is too controversial.

“The Indian High Commissioner clearly indicated that India is a secular nation and would not want to interfere in a sovereign nation’s own expression of its religious views and that the Indian Government would not want to interfere and be

a part of this whole,” he pronounced.

After this route was unsuccessful in resolving the controversy, the Viraat Sabhaa organised a symposium with the aim of establishing the correct date for Hindu religious observations locally.

Some 33 pandits from various organisations attended the meeting and came to a consensus that Diwali 2016 must be observed on October 29.

But Pandit Tiwari explained that given the 9:30h time zone difference, Guyana must celebrate Diwali the day before India in keeping with the religious guidelines to observe the holiday during the evening of the new moon (Amaavasya).

He said the problem lies in establishing when Amaavasya, which has a beginning and an ending.

In local time, the Pandit explained that Amavaasya starts at 11:09h on October 29 and ends on 13:37h on October 30. Therefore, he

said, Guyana must observe Diwali on the night of the new moon which falls on October 29.

He explained that India is celebrating the festival on October 30 because with the time zone difference, the new moon sighting will be on that evening.

Amavaasya will begin at 20:30h on October 29 in India and end at 23:00h on October 30. Pandit Tiwari said it would be impractical to celebrate Diwali on October 29 in India because adherents generally light their diyas around 18:00h.

He argued that this calculation is being observed by Caribbean States and Hindus in both Canada and the USA. Massive confusion erupted last year after the two leading Hindu organisations in the country failed to find middle ground on the date for the festival of lights - Diwali.

This disagreement between the two bodies rolled over into the new year for the festival of colours - Phagwah.

NEWS

11

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Govt policy now threatens poultry industry to aid friends, comrades

…former Commerce Minister says country is already self-sufficient ucts.He also drew reference

T

he coalition A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU/ AFC) Government has now sidelined local poultry producers to grant licences to import hundreds of thousands of pounds of chicken without even consulting with local producers to see if the demand locally can be met – just to aid friends and comrades.

This is according to Chairperson of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PPAC), Irfaan Ali, who was at the time responding to revelations that a company registered only last year has already been granted a licence to import chicken into the country despite a thriving industry that has always been able to meet local demand.

Ali has since posited that there appeared to be a change in Government policy whereby encouraging and defending local businesses and the welfare of Guyanese workers were no longer a priority.

The former Housing Minister, who also held responsibility for Tourism, Industry and Commerce in Guyana under the previous Administration, pointed out that this was occurring in a time when the nation has seen the loss of jobs, such as in the case of Barama Company Limited.

He also questioned if it was the intention of the APNU/AFC Government to close down the poultry industry in order to aid “a few friends and comrades, while at the same time relegating our country to becoming an economic colony of a few de-

to the fact that “Guyana has been self-sufficient in both fresh eggs and broiler meat for several years now”.

This industry, he said, is now threatened too by smuggling, under-invoicing of weights being imported by persons who have been issued licences “and now in

addition… the granting of licences without even a discussion with the industry to see if there is a need to import”.

A number of local farmers are upset at the Government’s decision, citing the fact that they have adequate supplies for the local market.

Some local producers

queried exactly how 19 companies were granted licences by the Government without any consultation with the local industry.

This publication was told that such a move by the Government will have devastating consequences on local chicken producers and the feed industry.

Teenagers held at gunpoint in foiled Better Hope robbery veloped countries.”

Guyana Times on Thursday reported that Government has granted several licences to import close to one million – 884,000 – pounds of chicken for the latter half of 2016 and among the recipients are Guyana Water Inc Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Richard Van West-Charles and fired Debt Recovery Manager Lear Goring.

Guyana Development Associates is among the companies granted licences to import chicken and is jointly owned by Van WestCharles and Goring.

The company was registered on July 27, 2015, two months after the APNU/ AFC Administration took office. Its address is registered as Lot 301 Meadowbrook Gardens, Georgetown.

It is among a list of 19 businesses/individuals who were recipients of the second batch of chicken import licences for 2016.

GWI’s Internal Auditing Department is currently investigating Dr Van West-Charles over a litany of complaints and decisions, including the hiring of Goring in a position that

he created.

Ali pointed out that the local poultry industry was the largest non-traditional agricultural sector with investments in the tens of millions of US dollars.

According to Ali, “the local poultry industry has always had a good working relationship with the Ministry of Business and has always had an opportunity whenever these situations arise to meet and discuss whether there will be adequate supplies of chicken for Christmas.”

The former Minister noted that the industry provided employment for some 18,000 people, “mainly in our rural communities where employment is difficult to find”.

He used the opportunity to point out too that “hundreds of small households supplement their income by rearing broilers and layers in their backyards”.

The industry, according to the former Minister, also provides an important partner for the struggling rice sector, since a large percentage of the feed used in the poultry industry comprises rice and its by-prod-

I

n another brazen attack, bandits on Thursday afternoon held two females under the age of 18 when they attempted to rob a Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, furniture store.

According to information gathered, around 14:30h, two bandits, one of whom was armed, rolled up on a black CG motorcycle at the Pradeep’s Furniture Store and demanded cash from the proprietor’s 16 and 17-year-old granddaughters. The teenagers were attending to the store at the time the would-be robbers infiltrated.

According to reports, the armed bandit took one of the girls to the back of the furniture store and placed a gun at her belly, demanding that she hand over the cash.

The other bandit who was unarmed kept watch with the other young lady at the front. After it was explained that cash was unavailable, the gunman escorted the

Bandits attempted to rob this East Coast Demerara furniture store on Thursday

girl to the front but pointed the gun to the other sister.

At this point the girls’ father who is the proprietor’s son-in-law returned and the bandits assumed that he was a regular customer and left.

The ordeal has left the family shaken.

Proprietor Pradeep

Jangbir told Guyana Times that police responded in less than 15 minutes and are currently investigating the attempted robbery.

Meanwhile investigations by Guyana Times revealed that the number plate of the motorcycle bares the registration number CF 6479.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | GUY

ER 30, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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14 NEWS

friday, september 30, 2016 | guyana-times.com

47th anniversary celebration

NIS Chairman flays management, employees

– no room for incompetence, poor customer service

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he Management and staff of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) came in for some flogging from Board Chairman, Dr Surrendra Persaud when he upbraided them to take full stock of their responsibilities as “custodians” of the Insurance body, urging them to come up to standard in their performance, particularly in the area of customer service.

Persaud was the featured speaker on Thursday at the 47th anniversary celebration of the Insurance Scheme, held in the compound of the organisation’s Brickdam office.

He lashed out at the organisation, taking to its several incidences of what he said aptly describes incompetence by the institution towards members of the public.

“NIS’ management and staff need to recognise, we are not doing a favour to beneficiaries when we provide a benefit. We are custodians of the money that was paid by them and we have a moral and legal obligation to fulfil those claims”, he told the audience of mostly staff members.

Dr Persaud encouraged staff members to take the few days ahead and reflect on their role in the organisation.

He said NIS is a service provider, providing benefits that are enshrined in the law and are due to each contributor.

“We need to stop treating people like they are defrauding the system and we need to immediately begin to provide better service to the people we serve. So when you reflect on your role, you need to ask yourself if this is the right place for you. If it is not, then

NIS Chairman, Dr Surendra Persaud

is unsustainable.

While the situation is not unique to Guyana and insurance schemes throughout the Caribbean, the Chairman stressed that Guyana needs to make a difference.

“The NIS will not be allowed to fail. We are not going to tolerate incompetence and poor customer service.

We cannot continue to treat our people, our own pensioners and our own Guyanese this way. It is unacceptable and it is wrong, so let us freshly commit to be better in the year ahead”.

A section of the gathering at the ceremony on Thursday

please find the right place for yourself. You should not be working here if you are not happy and if you would not do the job,” he said.

Speaking to the financial status of NIS, Persaud said the scheme seems to be in a rocky position, as it now spends more than it actually earns from contributions to satisfy benefits and operations. Persaud said the scheme is using money from its investments to pay out benefits and maintain operations. According to him, that

Meanwhile, the Scheme’s General Manager, Holly Greaves, presenting on the organisation’s financial performance, reported that at the end of December 2015, the fund stood at some $33.5 billion. However, it is projected that at the end of December this year, it will be just below $34 billion.

“For the period January to August 2016, income from contributions collected was $12.5 billion or 70.6 per cent of the $17.7 billion budgeted, while total expenditure

over the same period was approximately $12.6 billion or 71.6 per cent of its $17.6 billion budgetary allocation,” Greaves reported.

According to her, the projections to the end of the year show that income would be approximately $19 billion while the projected expenditure would be approximately $18.6 billion.

In terms of benefits, at the end of August 2016, the Scheme had expended $11.4 billion for benefit payments and it is projected that by the end of the year, this figure, she said, would increase to $16.4 billion. The Pension Branch – Old Age, Invalidity, Survivors – accounted for approximately 90 per cent of these payments. “There were over 47,000 pensioners on roll as at the end of August, 2016. Coupled with this, at the beginning of the year, increases were granted to the Funeral Benefit from $33,385 to $36,725 and the minimum rate for Old Age and Invalidity pensions was increased from $21,352 to $25,000 per month”.

Greaves said notwithstanding the figures mentioned, an assessment of the current business and operating environments during the 2016 budgeted period revealed that there are other key issues that should not be overlooked by the Scheme that could have an impact on its income and operations.

Meanwhile, the organisation also awarded several individuals, including employees with services between 20 and 40 years, along with bursaries to children whose parents are employees of the organisation.

Gandhi and the end of Indentureship

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ctober 2 is Gandhi’s birthday. When you can refer to someone by just his last name and yet most people in the world know who you are referring to, there has to be good reason. Most know Gandhi because of his introduction of “civil disobedience” – he called it “satyagraha” or “truth force” – as a form of struggle for justice. He is also associated with the struggle Ravi Dev for India’s independence, which was a seminal event for all the other British colonies, including the then British Guiana.

But not so well known is that Gandhi was also associated with the events that led to the abolition of indentureship as was alluded to in an earlier article. Gandhi had been hired as a lawyer by a wealthy businessman in South Africa, part of a 5000-strong mostly Muslim community that had migrated there from Bombay. This community stayed aloof from the “indentured Indians” who were recruited to work on plantations –- or in the case of South Africa – also in the mines – except to sell them “goods”.

These two sets of Indians occupied separate worlds – socially, culturally and politically – and it was only when the two intersected through personal experiences of Gandhi that their commonality of interests was briefly glimpsed. We have recounted how Gandhi was thrown off a train at the insistence of a white Britisher shortly after his arrival in South Africa. The newly minted London-trained lawyer insisted as a “British subject”, he had the right to the first class seat he had bought. These and other actions problematised Gandhi’s assumptions about what he had been taught about the “benefits” of India being in the British Empire.

Shortly after the train humiliation, Gandhi encountered the indentured world. As he recounted it: “A Tamil man in tattered clothes, headgear in hand, two front teeth missing and mouth bleeding, stood before me, trembling and weeping.” And elsewhere the “hat in hand” anecdote is repeated – clearly as a trope for his shaken premise on “Britishness”: “...Balasundaram entered my office, headgear in hand. There was a particular pathos about the circumstance which also showed our humiliation. I have already narrated the incident when I was asked to take off my turban. A practice had been forced upon the very indentured labourer and every stranger to take off his headgear, when visiting European, whether the headgear was a cap, turban or scarf wrapped round the head. A salute even with both hands was not sufficient.”

Balasundaram’s case exposed the inequities indentureds endured even though they were supposedly protected by a contract – the “agreement” they tried to uphold from their side scrupulously. Eventually after a great effort Gandhi gets Balasundaram transferred to another employer but now understood how SA’s institutions such as the magistracy were stacked against indentureds. In 1896 on a visit to Bombay, Gandhi produced a 15,000 word tract on the problems of Indians – merchants, free and indentured in South Africa. He complained bitterly that the Bombay merchants are called “Coolie Traders” and not treated much better than the indentureds. He earned some notoriety from the Whites when he returned to SA but at the same time much goodwill from the indentured Indians.

Between 1907 when Gandhi launched his first “satyagraha”campaign to 1914 when he left South Africa, even though most of the issues were peripheral to their plight, Indentured Indians formed the bulk of the protesters. As recounted before, he provided his mentor Gokhale in the Indian Legislative Council with information on the conditions in South Africa. In 1912, the latter called for the complete abolition of indentureship. When this was finally achieved in 1917, Gandhi suggested that satyagraha had “hastened the end”.

These has been a steady stream of revisionist accounts of Gandhi’s life – including his 21-year stay in South Africa – especially as they relate to Gandhi’s relations with both Indentured Indians and Native Africans. But we have to remember that while Gandhi was ahead of his times on human rights in many regards – we cannot judge him totally by present standards.

He was a “Mahatma” – a great Soul – not a “Paramatman” – the Supreme Soul.

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friday, september 30, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Tapakuma Amerindian community receives school bus, supplies ... take a vow to send your children to school – President Granger

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resident David Granger has urged parents in the Amerindian communities of Tapakuma and Mainstay\ Whyaka in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) to take a vow to send their children to school. He was at the time delivering the feature address at the commissioning of a 26-seater school bus, “David G 13” at Tapakuma under the President’s Five Bs programme.

The bus was donated by popular Essequibo businessman Joe Jagmohan in collaboration with Innovating Mining Inc. President Granger was accompanied by Ministers of Social Cohesion Amna Ally, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Syney Allicock and Education Nicollette Henry.

Addressing a large gathering of school children, businessmen, residents, APNU members and regional officials, President Granger said that parents, teachers and commu-

The Head of State said that parents need to ensure their children attain an education and this is only possible if children attend school regularly and punctually. He pointed out that through sound education comes profitable jobs and entrepreneurship.

Speaking about the 5 Bs initiative he said the idea was birthed after he visited the PomeroonSupenaam Region and discovered the struggles children endure to attain an education.

He mentioned that more buses will be provided on the Essequibo Coast since the programme is fully supported by the private sector.

Not happy with state of education

Students welcoming the Head of State

nity leaders need to pledge their efforts in ensuring that each child attends school. Speaking about the importance of education he said

that the coalition Government is committed to providing the necessary resources for children to stay in school.

The President spoke about the poor state of the education sector, underscoring that hinterland schools are predominately affected.

He said he is very disturbed with the alarming numbers of school

drop-outs recorded at the Primary and Secondary schools.

“I am not happy at all, people need to understand that the Government cannot do it alone, there must be a collective approach, the bus is to ensure child go to school; with an education then persons can be afforded better jobs and that community can eventually develop,” President Granger said.

He also mentioned that the Grade 6 assessment results were very disappointing and half of the students failed in the core subject areas; he said there is definitely room for improvement.

Residents showered loud praises to the President for the bus.

Previously parents had to pay exorbitant fees to get to and from the Coast land.

President Granger officially commissioned the bus by assisting to cut the ribbon and sprinkling coconut water around.

Teachers to get separate increase from Suspect in East Canje shooting public servants – President Granger gives conflicting statements

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resident David Granger on Thursday said the proposed salary increases which were put forward to the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) for 2016, will not be the same for the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU).

“It is not my view that the GTU negotiations were part of the negotiations with the GPSU. I would have expected a separate arrangement to be made and I would say that the actual agreement between the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers Union should be something which should be kept separate from the GPSU negotiations. We, as the Government, accept, we acknowledge [and] we observe the collective bargaining agreement and that is how the GPSU agreement was arrived at in the first place…,” President Granger said.

He said that the payment, when made, is a preliminary one as negotiations continue.

“Even with regard to the GPSU, the agreement, it’s not a final agreement. The Government of Guyana is still in engagement with the GPSU, so if it’s not final for GPSU, it can’t be final for

GTU,” he said.

During the recording of the Ministry of the Presidency’s weekly programme, ‘The Public Interest’, the President, in response to questions on whether he would have received correspondence from the Guyana Teacher’s Union on the matter and whether he had engaged the Union, President Granger said he had indeed received the Union’s letter but he believes that the Union should first engage at a ministerial level with the Ministers in the Social Protection Ministry.

“As far as the trade union is concerned, yes I have received a letter and I have a Ministry of Social Protection and I would urge that the trade unions engage the Ministers first. It would be imprudent for me to overrule or override or try to deal with the unions without first giving the Minister responsible [a chance to engage]; and they are two Ministers in that Ministry. So it is important for the Trade Unions to engage her first and of course, the Minister who has specific responsibility for industrial relations,” the Head of State posited.

President Granger said that conciliation was not necessary at this time, as he noted that talks between the Union and Government were not discontinued. He cited the fact that there is a menu of measures which have not yet been exhausted. He noted that because of Government’s preparation of the 2017 Budget, talks between the Unions and the Government needed to have reached a certain point by September so that a budget could be prepared.

The President added, “The GPSU is fully aware that these matters are still on the table and the discussions are continuing. It is not a final offer; it is an offer which allows the Government to get on with its business and allow the public servants to enjoy the increase in pay to which we feel that they are entitled.

We are still talking to the Union there’s no reason for conciliation at this stage because we are still engaged, it is not as though the talks are deadlocked but we are willing to move ahead and we can’t have the public servants suffering because of the slow pace of negotiations.”

Sophia Health Centre closes as crime wave escalates

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mid a rampant crime wave, the Public Health Ministry has decided to close the Sophia Health Centre until further notice, after the staff there were given a scare on Wednesday.

Guyana Times was informed that around 11:00h on Wednesday, a young man went into the facility and made enquiries from a staff member about the centre and whether they had surveillance cameras. This caused the nurses to become suspicious of the indi-

vidual, who was subsequently seen removing a firearm from his pocket and placing it into a bag he was carrying.

The incident has left many staff members traumatised. A report was made to the Public Health Ministry and a decision was made to close the facility. In October 2015, the health centre was robbed by two armed gunmen who pretended they were in need of medical attention.

The two men entered the health centre claiming

that they were in need of urgent medical attention and stormed into a room where the nurse was attending to a patient. They then held them at gunpoint.

According to a resident in the area, the staff at the centre is in constant fear that the facility could be robbed at any time since there is no security. The woman stated that although the closure of the facility would bring inconvenience, it was in the best interest of the staff and residents.

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s police continue to probe the fatal shooting of an East Canje farmer three days ago, the two suspects remain in custody; however, one has given investigators conflicting statements.

The body of Ramnarine Etwaru was found on a dam in East Canje with multiple gunshot wounds on Tuesday last. Following the discovery, police arrested two men, Ramadolar Shamdundar called ‘Arnold’, 38, and Diaram also called ‘Bouy’, 46.

One of those in custody is a fisherman who saw Itwaru lying on the dam and reportedly told villagers that the man had met with an accident. It was after villagers arrived on the scene that it was discovered that he was

Dead: Ramnarine Etwaru

shot execution-style.

Initially, one of the suspects told investigators that he heard gunshots and saw when the fisherman was coming out of the backdam.

That story was changed with the suspect now saying that

he did not see the fisherman.

He has also given investigators conflicting timeframes about when he left the backdam.

Nevertheless, the probe into the latest murder in the Region continues with detectives working on a theory that Itwaru was shot over a disputed plot of land situated at Gangaram.

The fact that Etwaru’s motorbike was found in an upright position next to where the body was lying leaves some to believe that he might have been lured off of the bike before being shot.

Etwaru leaves to mourn his wife and an eleven-yearold son. Police are continuing their investigation and are hoping to get a confession from the suspects soon.

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friDay, september 30, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Government apartments a big mistake, waste of scarce resources – fmr CH&PA Director

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he stated move by Government to engage private developers to construct apartment buildings for among others, State employees, is being met with resistance.

The move by Government comes even as thousands of Guyanese are currently waiting on the processing of their house lot applications.

Former Director of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) Board, Mohamed Khan, has called the proposed move by Government not only a big mistake, but also a waste of scarce resources.

Khan, the former CHPA Director, was at the time responding to reports that several hundred acres of land has been identified for housing, including the building of homes and apartment buildings for State employees.

According to Khan, apartment buildings were built in 1989 by the late Hugh Desmond Hoyte’s Government but this had failed. He pointed to the cost of maintenance of those apartments by the occupier as being “huge and was milking them of their re-

sources.”

Speaking to some of the problems that had arisen out of the Hoyte’s apartment building programme, Khan pointed to constraints on the part of the occupier of the unit who was made to carry out all work ordered by any competent public authority in respect of the apartment.

“Many of the occupiers couldn’t enjoy the common property in the manner for which it was designed; often there were complaints of noise nuisance and hazard to the occupier by an occupier of another apartment.”

According to Khan, “my take on this whole issue is that Guyana has 83,000 square miles with a population of about 700,000 people, and still the present and previous Governments have been finding it hard to find land for the 10,000 outstanding applicants.”

He said “with 83,000 square miles of land, every Guyanese should be able to own a big plot of land to build their house and have land space to do some subsistence gardening which will help augment their small income, but it seems to me we

do not have good planners in the Government systems to guide our Ministers.”

According to Khan, when

the house lots were bigger with all the necessary infrastructure in place before the applicant occupied their

“...with 83,000 square miles of land, every Guyanese should be able to own a big plot of land to build their house and have land space to do some subsistence gardening which will help augment their small income, but it seems to me we do not have good planners in the Government systems to guide our Ministers.” the Government builds apartments, the occupiers will have no space to plant a kitchen garden or even a flower garden, “so what kind of planning is this...

This plan will have little or no impact on the applicants’ needs.”

He posited that an evaluation of the nature and forms of housing in Guyana for over three decades to 2016 would lead to the conclusion that there had been no recognisable policy and programme in place.

“There was a better policy in 1972 under the National Development Plan, where

land in the schemes.”

Khan reminds that at the time, the Central Board of Health inspectors had to inspect the new schemes and make sure that all infrastructure was in place before the first and second certificates were issued to the Ministry of Housing.

It was pointed out too that in October 1992, when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic took over the reins of Government, it removed these requirements and applicants were given plots of land without the infrastructure in place, in order to facilitate the fast-

tracking of certificates of title so the owners could secure mortgages from the banks to build.

The size of the house lot was reduced and the price skyrocketed 10 fold, according to Khan, who suggested that the applicants had no choice because they were badly in need of a piece of land to build a house; many of them were living in rented houses working for a small salary.

“When this new Government first took office on May 11, 2015, they too followed suit, issuing small house lots at the same price without the basic infrastructure in place.”

According to an advertisement in the State-owned newspaper, the Government will be embarking on several projects emanating from its strategic objectives as it relates to Housing for low-income and State employees.

The development is slated to be undertaken along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and in Georgetown.

As such, expressions of interest are currently being

invited.

The project is expected to be undertaking in three phases – phase one will entail the executing of infrastructural works including land preparation the construction of roads, drains, heavy-duty bridges and the installation of a water distribution network. The second phase according to the Ministry’s invite will be the construction of apartment buildings and single flat houses. The final phase will be the construction of social infrastructure such as recreational facilities, commercial facilities, educational and health facilities.

The areas identified comprise underdeveloped lands at Little and Great Diamond, EBD; Cummings Lodge, ECD; and La Penitence, in Georgetown. Some 150 acres of land has been identified for development in Diamond – lands that had been previously used for cane cultivation.

Lands identified in Cummings lodge totals 99.31 acres while another 2.3 acres have been identified in La Penitence.

Slain Martyrs of 1872 Devonshire Castle Uprising remembered Cancer Awareness Month Beccaroo, Maxidally, Baldeo and Acukloo. These men lost confidence in the estate management and as such retaliated.

Persaud said that the uprising brought freedom for other indentureds on the plantations and showed how courageous and determined they were.

According to Chairwoman, Coonjah, the observance marked the 144th Anniversary of the Devonshire Castle Uprising. She called on the Region Two Administration, through the RDC, to give more prominence to the event and recommended that it be held annually.

activities launched

Attendees at the remembrance service

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he five sugar workers who were viciously killed during the Devonshire Castle uprising in 1872 were on Wednesday remembered during an impressive wreathlaying ceremony held at the monument site, at Cabbage Day, Devonshire Castle, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam). The activity was organised by the Region Two Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

Wreaths were laid at the monument which was erected in honour of the indentured immigrants. Acting Chairwoman, Nandranie Coonjah, representatives from the Anna Regina Town Council, Department of Education, school children and the Devonshire Castle community all participated in the ceremony.

Delivering the feature address was retired Headmaster and Justice of the Peace (JP) Madhya Persaud. He reminded that the indentured labourers were killed due to their protest against harsh and inhumane conditions under which they were forced to work.

On May, 5, 1838, he related, Indians came to Guyana as Indentured labourers operating under the indentured system with specific obligations. The labourers were at the time given poor wages with incredibly long working hours, and administrative abuse. They were equally alarmed by mysterious deductions from their wages which upon investigation could not be justified.

Guyana Cancer Foundation President Bibi Hassan

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Acting Chairwoman Nandranie Coonjah lays a wreath

Persaud said they were not allowed the freedom to fight for their rights in the Magistrate Courts.

“They were just found in three places: hospitals, jails and (on) estates, due to the harsh conditions, and uprising started throughout Guyana and in 1872 it took feet in Essequibo. There was uneasiness, a strike took place, the police came, opened fire and cold bloodedly murdered the innocent labourers; they were gunned down,” Persaud informed.

He explained that during the uprising seven were injured and 5 were killed. Among the dead were Kaulica,

Coonjah acknowledged the efforts made of recent by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to highlight the event and said it is important for children to be taught about the sacrifices and trials the Indentured labourers endured.

In recognition of the five martyrs who were killed on September 29, 1872, the Devonshire Castle Moument serves as a tangible reminder of the struggles of the Indian foreparents.

Attending the event also was Ishack Basir, CCH.

n an effort to provide the public with more education on cancer, the Guyana Cancer Foundation (GCF) on Thursday launched its monthlong activities on cancer awareness in the ballroom of the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown.

The Foundation announced that it was geared up to provide help for low-income and underinsured persons affected by cancer with the aim of “reintegrating survivors back into society”.

President of the NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO), Bibi Hassan said that focus was currently being placed on Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but other forms of cancer would be addressed within the coming months.

Hassan explained the mandate of her organisation was to “provide help and inspire hope to those affected by cancer through early detection, education, awareness and free medical screening with a focus on the medically underserved and low-income population”.

The GCF President explained that she developed the passion to engage in cancer advocacy after her mother survived breast cancer. GCF as-

sociate member, Justice Donald Trotman pointed to the importance of cancer awareness, noting that the disease has affected many persons across the world.

“Even though our scientists, the world over, are trying their best to find solutions, they have not yet come up with a specific and lasting one that could give us hope, [but] we are hopeful that one day the scourge of this disease will be completely eradicated,” the Judge noted.

Justice Trotman commended the GCF President for the work her organisation has been doing. The Foundation was registered in June 2016 and was formed through awareness programmes conducted by the then Avon Community Help Fund.

Over the next month, the GCF will host a tree wrapping exercise, cancer awareness sessions, wear Pink Friday and a Cancer Fitness Walk. A number of private companies have committed their support to the NGO’s cancer initiatives and the organisation stated that it was in the process of soliciting partnership from Government entities, such as the Education Ministry and Social Protection Ministry.

guyana-times.com

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friday, september 30, 2016

leven young men drawn from several communities in Guyana will clash head-on for the title of Guyana Fashion Week Model Image 2016.

The 11 contenders will be working closely with Artistic Director Richard Young leading up to the finals of the competition slated for November 5 at the Pegasus Hotel.

The contenders will participate in a photo shoot, an

Andre DaSilva

Eron Rodrigues

impromptu speech competition, and design and produce a television advertisement on major sponsors of the Guyana Fashion Week 2016.

The winner will not only be the face of the Guyana

Mikhail Rampersaud

Mukesh Jagasar

Fashion Week but will also have the chance to tour several Caribbean Islands and North American countries to participate in various gigs.

These include Trinidad and Tobago Fashion Show, Antigua Fashion Weekend, New York Fashion Week and others. They will be accompanied by Young and Fashion Icon Sonia Noel.

To vote for the contestants, you are asked to log-in to Eze Nurse

Jay Ramcharran

GFW Model Image on Facebook.

Richard Leung

Jumain Stephens

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Kenny Hercules

Kishawn Simon

ollowing his recent success with “GT Woman” out of the Golden Child Project, Robert Dublin Hiscock is tearing up the airwaves with his newest single, “HIGH”. Released a couple of weeks ago, the song is among the top 20 being played on the HJ playlist.

The song which was written by the talented artiste and produced by DP Records, is all about two people in love.

There is always one who is more vulnerable in the relationship and can easily be taken advantage of.

This song, Dublin noted, has taken on a new dimension in the local music industry. He added that most of his songs are now pop and are moving away from the regular genre of music that Guyanese are accustomed to. The young man who is balancing work and recording music is optimistic that by the end of the year, three other new songs will be released.

He is presently scripting them and once time permits, they will be recorded. Overwhelmed with the response after his signature tune, “GT Woman”, the artiste is being contacted by several promoters to perform at events.

One such event was the recently concluded Miss Universe Guyana pageant where he was given the opportunity to serenade the top five delegates. It was indeed a momentous occasion, he noted.

Dublin definitely has a lot to offer his Guyanese fans and intends to continue writing songs based on experiences.

Roland Trotman

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guyana-times.com

friday, september 30, 2016

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he Miss Universe Guyana Pageant was the first beauty contest for News Anchor and Television Producer, Ashley John, and without a doubt, it was worth the run. The 24-year-old beauty who stands five feet, seven inches tall, joined the pageant to gain self confidence and more so, to be a well rounded individual.

During the competition, she had the opportunity to interact with the other beauties and that ultimately led to a long lasting sisterhood.

On pageant night, although she did not cop the coveted crown, she was recognised for her beauty, charm and elegance. She was awarded the prizes for People’s Choice and Elegance – two awards she did not envisage getting.

Now that the 2016 competition is over, John has sent a strong message to the world that she will compete in the next competition, since she is confident in taking home the crown. “I told the Artistic Director,

Derek Moore, and the Franchise Holder Joyoti Hardat that they will get an application from me until I get the crown”.

Reminiscing on pageant night, John told Guyana Times Entertainment that she was happy about the outcome and nothing happens before its time. She was awarded the third runner-up spot and was quite pleased since she was one of the newcomers to pageantry.

She felt she did nothing wrong that might have cost her the title.

“I don’t think that I did anything wrong, I would say that everything happens for the best and I am starting training for the next Miss Universe Guyana Pageant almost immediately,” the beauty said.

She extended her best wishes to the reigning Queen, Soyini Fraser, who is already in the United States in preparation for the Miss Universe Pageant billed for the Philippines on January 1, 2017. She admitted

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t will be a night of worship and anointing as the “You Are Not A Mistake” concert is held at the National Sports Hall tarmac, Homestretch Avenue, on Saturday, November 5.

The event is promoted by Kester Dean in collaboration with Richie Righteous who is returning home after several years.

The show will see live performances by several gospel artistes who will undoubtedly create the right atmosphere for healing and anointing.

These include Dr Astell Collins, motivational speaker on youth empowerment; Guyanese R&B, hip-hop gospel singer Richard Ishmael; gospel soca singing sensation, song writer and uncle of R&B singer Rihanna, Leroy Brightwith; gospel reg-

gae/dancehall singer and song writer Kester Dean; Psalmist Samuel Medas; singer and song writer Natoya Belle London; Allan Petty Jr, reggae, gospel singer song writer; the Dominion dancers; hip hop gospel singer Trevor Smith; dancehall gospel singer Major-Joe B and others.

The event will be hosted by Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Sherod Duncan.

Tickets for the concert can be purchased at Kester D Gospel Music Centre, Charlotte Street, Georgetown (between Alexander and Camp Streets); Andrew’s Supermarket, Aubrey Barker Road; and from youth leaders in local churches. Tickets cost $1000.

Showtime is 18:30h.

that Fraser did a fantastic job on pageant night and wished her every success on the international stage.

“Just be yourself, Soyini... you are fantastic… you have a great walk and you answered the questions very eloquently… continue to make Guyana proud”, was her message to the reigning queen.

John attended Mae’s Schools where he acquired her secondary education, before continuing her studies at the University for the Creative Arts in the United Kingdom. She enjoys singing, creative script writing and being in broadcast media. She also plays the piano and is versatile in ballet.

She was a finalist in the GTT Jingle and Song Competition and more interestingly, she co-hosted with the very entertaining Joel Gansham on a popular television show. She is also a former host of the Morning Times Television Show and is presently the Anchor of Newsroom.

san Ignatius Benn, better known as “Esan Benzy”, is a Guyanese singer, songwriter and rapper. He was born on October 20, 1996, in Georgetown, Guyana.

His parents separated when he was only six years old and they migrated to different countries.

Benn grew up under the care of his grandmother for most of his life in Essequibo, completing high school and being able to graduate as the best graduating student in his class and given the valedictorian honor.

He later discovered that he possessed the talent of writing and singing at the age of 14 due to loneliness, and it became pertinent to his life because it served as an antidote to alleviate his emotional pain.

Since then, E s a n Benzy has

been conceptualising most of his music about relationships based on what he gained from an extrinsic perspective. As he grew older, his music became his image; being conceptualised upon personal experiences he faced.

S o m e of Esan’s influences in music are Air Supply, ABBA, Chris Brown,

Michael Jackson and Tyga.

He is now signed to KAST Talent Management Company and is working tediously to be bold and express himself through his music, while also focusing on his academics at the University of Guyana where he is studying Communications.

Presently, Esan is working on a mixed tape that will feature mostly creole-style Guyanese hip hop and rap songs.

Proud of the fact that he writes and produces his own music, Esan believes that his efforts and great talent will take him to great heights, putting his beloved country Guyana on the map.

friDAY, september 30, 2016

guyana-times.com

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nly recently, Barbados soca queen Allison Hinds created quite a stir on the waters during her live performance during the “Soca On Water” boat cruise but come this Sunday, Jamaican dancehall artiste, Tanya Stephens will

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attempt to do the same.

The Vintage Reggae Boat Cruise is slated for Sunday, October 2. The boat will leave the Parika Stelling at 09:30h and sail to Supenaam. The cruise will feature Stephens who is known to hold down a crowd. Stephens has tons

he Lusignan Community Centre ground will be transformed into a party atmosphere come November 5, when the Guyana Night Big Clash is hosted.

The event will feature some of the best in the local music and comedy industries. For the first time

I

n a matter of hours, September will end and the month of Halloween will take centre stage. This year a number of exciting concept parties are being advertised so that partyholics can grab their garb in time.

One of the leading entertainment groups of the West side has already taken the lead and all plans are moving apace for the hosting of the Westside Halloween party titled “Super Heroes vs Villains” on October 29 at the 50/50 Sports Bar and Lounge, New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast

of hits and believe she will dish out some of the most popular ones on Sunday.

Some of her hits include “Big Things a Gwaan”, “One Touch”, “Need You Tonight”, “Handle the Ride”, Big Up Di Cash”, “These Streets” and “Ruff Rider”, among others.

ever, there will be a show that will not feature performers outside of Guyana. It will be an all Guyanese cast that will blow you away.

The show will feature Mahendra Ramkellawan, Jumo Primo, Shelly G, Steven Ramphal, Aamir Khan, Avinash Roopchand, Aaron

Demerara.

Come dressed as your favourite super hero or villain but all costumes will be allowed. It will be one exciting event. Tickets cost $1000 in advance and $1500 at the door. Advance tickets can be uplifted at Westsiderz Entertainment Centre and 50/50 Sports Bar and Lounge.

Prizes will be given to the best dressed female in costume and also ladies will be admitted free before 22:00h.

Music will be provided by the Westsiderz Sound Crew.

Three years ago, the dancehall artiste releases one of the most versatile albums titled “Guilty”.

However, she will be accompanied by reigning Carib Soca Monarch Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo who is known as an excellent performer. Without a

Dasrat, Rajesh Dubraj, Ceclia Samaroo, Bunty Singh, Young Bill Rogers and Charmaine Blackman.

Also adding some vibes to the evening will be the Heatwaves Band, Dax New Generation Band, The Hot Shots Band and the Shakti String Orchestra. There will also

doubt, the duo will definitely ensure their fans have an enjoyable time. Music for the cruise will be provided by Ramping Vibes, 71 Sound System along with Skinny Hype and Platinum.

Stitchie One Man Band

be members of the Fire Fest and Shalita Dance Troupes as well as members of Dance Fanatics who will leave the audience spellbound with their variety of routines.

In terms of comedy, the Cool Boyz as well as Mark Kazim and Credit will lighten the night up

19

will also be onboard as well as Xtra Beer ambassador, Deejay Garwin, will also be on deck to add to the excitement. Tickets cost $2000 and are available at New Look Boutique and Sweet Point Bar, Orange Walk, Bourda.

with some laughter. Finally, WR Reaz and Surida Nagreadi will emcee the night’s proceedings.

With the line-up, it is clear that all roads will lead to the Lusignan Community Centre ground on November 5. Tickets cost $1000 and will be available shortly.

20

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

FRIday, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

Schools Pee-Wee Football Championship kicks off on October 8

C

ourts Pee-Wee Boys Under-11 Primary Schools football Championship will kick-off on October 8 and will last until November 19, this according to organisers at the launching on Thursday at the National Library.

The fifth edition of the tournament which attracted 24 teams will be played at the Thirst Park Ground and the furniture giants have invested $4M into the event.

Managing Director Clyde de Haas during the feature address said the company’s focus is to develop the sport and the budding talents that are there at the grassroots level where proper technique and discipline can be instilled, adding they are proud to play their role.

De Hass was in full praise of the Petra Organization, stating that they must be applauded for their effort, declaring the funding from the company would mean nothing without the hardwork of the coordinators.

He further thanked Banks DIH Limited for being a valuable partner as well as the GFF for implementing the strategies that can be beneficial by building on the age group and more importantly, the schools for their participation and unwavering support.

Petra Organisation CoDirector Troy Mendonca thanked Courts Guyana for their continued support of the developmental program, declaring the event has had an immense impact on the lives of many of the participants.

He further revealed the focus of the championship will also be on creating role models for the players to pattern, noting that winning is not the most important aspect and that participation should be valued in equal measure.

Meanwhile Wayne Forde, GFF President expressed gratitude to the title sponsors for their consistent investment in the sports, declaring “the consistency shown at this level is exemplary”.

He added Banks DIH has always been a partner of the sport for many years especially in the troubled times, declaring this age group is the most critical for the development of the sport.

Forde further thanked the coordinators for their outstanding work in the progression of the discipline, revealing that the federation will always support such initiatives.

Also Malta Brand Manager, Clayton McKenzie said Banks DIH Limited is

pleased once again to be in partnership with Courts in the event, adding the company has seen the tournament and competitiveness evolve with every edition.

He further said that company is committed to the growth of the event by adding two banners in the form of Malta and Tropical Mist Water, stating that he hopes the event is the biggest to date.

On conclusion of the group stage, the top two teams from each group as well as the best four third positioned teams will advance to the round of 16 knock-out stage.

Following the conclusion of the round of 16 stage, the losing eight schools will compete for positions nine through 16 until the conclusion of the event.

The competing schools are defending champion St. Angela’s, Stella Maris (2014 victor), St Pius (2013 winner), Marian Academy (2012 champ), Enterprise, Tucville, New Guyana School, West Ruimveldt, St Margaret’s, St Agnes, South Ruimveldt, North Georgetown, Smith Memorial, St Gabriel’s, FE Pollard, Comenius, Success Academy, Mae’s, St. Ambrose, Winfer Garden, St Stephens, Rama Krishna, JE Burnham and School of

the Nations.

Winners of the tourney will receive the championship trophy, medals, a set of team uniforms and certificates while the runners-up will collect the second place trophy, medals, six footballs and certificates.

The third placed side will receive the respective trophy, four balls and certificates while fourth placed will be presented with a trophy and certificates. The most discipline team will also be presented with a trophy.

On the individual side, the most valuable player, highest goal scorer and best goalkeeper will each receive a trophy and football cleats.

Captions: Petra Organization Co-Director Troy Mendonca (centre) collecting the sponsorship cheque valued at $4,000,000 from Courts Managing Director Clyde De Hass in the presence of the several of the students from the participating schools as well as GFF President Wayne Forde (3rdfrom left), Malta Brand Manager Clayton McKenzie (2nd from left) and Petra Representative Mark Alleyne (left) at the launch of the 5th Annual Courts Pee Wee Boys Football Championship

Fernando Alonso to get 30-place grid penalty

M

cLaren’s Fernando Alonso will start Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix from the back of the grid because he is to test an updated Honda engine.

The two-time champion will get a 30-place grid penalty for using more than the permitted number of engine parts.

Reliability problems mean Alonso needed the engine to complete the season, but it also has upgraded parts.

The new power unit has a lighter engine block for better reliability and a redesigned exhaust to boost efficiency.

Alonso, 35, will run the new engine in first practice on Friday before Honda decides whether to keep it in the car for the second session.

“We had a plan at the middle of the season which races were the best ones to pay the penalties,” said Alonso.

“This one was one of the best because the conditions change here and the rain may come, and also Suzuka is the next one and we want to do a good job there because it is the home grand prix.

“So it was one of the best races to go for the rest of the season with a little more confidence. And the last time I started last in Spa I was fifth or fourth after five laps, so maybe in this weekend I am lucky as well.”

Fernando Alonso was also given a 35-place grid penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix in August and finished seventh At this stage, Honda is planning to run the engine

The two-time champion will get a 30-place grid penalty for using more than the permitted number of engine parts

only on Friday, with Alonso switching back to the same specification as team-mate Jenson Button for the rest of the weekend. But it is not impossible the Spaniard will run the new engine for qualifying and the race as well.

The new parts mean Alonso will be using his eighth internal combustion engine, turbocharger, and MGU-H - the part of the hybrid system that recovers energy from the turbo - and his seventh control electronics, and energy store (battery).

The only part of his engine carried over from previous races is the MGU-K, which recovers energy from the rear axle.

If everything goes to plan, Alonso will use the new engine for the entire Japanese Grand Prix meeting next weekend.

At this stage, Honda is not planning for Button to use it in Suzuka because it does not want any grid penalties at its home race.

Drivers are permitted to use only five of the six constituent parts of the engine without incurring a penalty.

(SportsMax)

YELLOW PAGES friDAY, september 30, 2016 | www.guyana-times.com

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sports

Consistent cyclists dominate rankings – Niles, Hinds, Hicks and Leung stretching lead

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eam Evolution rider, Orville Hinds along with Team Cocos Junior Niles and We Stand (WS) United (WS) pair Andrew Hicks and Rapheal Leung are among the top riders to date.

The riders receive these ranking through a points system devised by a group of cycling enthusiasts who award points in the three divisions (Open, Junior and Masters Under 50) at the end of every race on local soil.

In the Open Category, Hinds is miles ahead of his three other Team Evolution team mates with a top ranking point of 186 followed by Michael Anthony with 134, Marlon Williams and Raul Leal joint third with 132 ranking points.

Linden Bauxite Flyers’ Shaquel Agard (83), Team Cocos’ Junior Niles (77), Team Alianis’ Paul Denobrega (69), WS United’s Rapheal Leung (43), Team Coco’s Hamza Eastman (41) and Continental’s Geron Williams (39) round off the top ten in the open division.

In the junior category, WS United pair, Andrew Hicks and Rapheal Leung are sitting comfortably at joint top with 87 points, distancing third placed Christopher Cornelius of Team Evolution, who has 58 points.

Team Alanis’s Deeraj Garbarran is 18 points behind Cornelius with 40 Junior Niles points, ranking fourth.

Trojan Cycling Club’s Romello Crawford (32), WS United’s Brighton John (28), Team United’s Nigel Duguid (25), Linden Bauxite Flyers’ Jornel Yearwood (24), Team Alanis’ Jaleel Jackson (3) and Roraima’s Dwayne Gibbs Jnr. (2) complete the top rankings in the Juniors category.

In the veteran division, Niles remains the top rider more than doubling second placed Team Evolution’s Stephen Fernandes. Niles has amassed 105 points to date while Fernandes has earned 40 points.

Carton Wheelers’ Rapheal Leung Andrew Hicks Jaikarran Sukhai c o m e s in third with 36 p o i n t s and Roriama’s warren McKay, fourth with 31 points. Flying Stars’ Ian Jackson (28), Roraima’s Raymond Newton (20), Team Alanis’ Paul Chooweenam (16), Carlton Wheelers’ Robin Williams and Ralph Williams (10 points each) and Carton Wheelers’ Jude Bentley and Lennox Jackson (8) close off the top ten riders in the Under 50 division.

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22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

friday, september 30, 2016

West Indies look to resurge in ODI opener T

he West Indies are set to open their One Day International campaign today against Pakistan after a humiliating display in the three match T20 internationals. The Caribbean side find themselves in a pressure situation having to win the series to remain in the top eight for automatic qualification for the 2019 50 overs World Cup. Once again the West Indies will field a team without superstars, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Lendl Simmons and Andre Russell, who will miss out due to selection policies.

The West Indies had a poor start to their tour of the United Arab Emirates, failing to show any resistance or competitiveness in the three match T20 series.

There have not been much changes to the ODI side and the questions are about consistency and improvement. Whether the players who participated in the T20 series would start to adapt to the condition there or would the ODI team continue from a competitive tri-nation series in the West Indies, where they p l a y e d against

World Champions Australia and powerhouse South Africa.

The slow, turning pitch has contributed to the Pakistanis since it stifle the free hitting of the West Indies batsmen.

Pakistan on the other hand struggled in England, taking a consolation win in the final match as the series ended 4-1 in England’s favour.

Prior to the T20 series captain of West Indies T20 team Carlos Braithwaite, said the two teams are unpredictable and there could be unpredictable results. However, that was not to as Pakistan looked an improve team and dominated throughout.

And like they have done in the longest format during the last two years, they look very much intact in the shortest format recently. Even to the series in England, their cricket was not the worst but the home team utilized the condition to their advantage.

The last time the two met was in the 50 over World Cup in 2015 and West Indies won that match by a large margin in different condition and a different side which included the likes of Gayle, Bravo and Simmons.

This time around, there would have to be optimistic of a solid performance from Kraigg Braithwaite, who is set to debut in this format and open the batting alongside Johnson Charles while substantial performance is due from Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels and Dinesh Ramdin with the bat as well as Sunil Narine and Sulieman Benn with the ball.

Pakistan has a very talented team with it most senior Pakistan will seek to continue with their dominance against the West Indies player being Shoaib

Job Caesar grateful for exposure in Golden Jaguars camp

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t the age of 17, Job Caesar was named the most valuable player at this year’s Digicel’s School’s Football Championship after his school; Chase Academic Foundation won the title.

Now he is elevated to training with the country’s senior football team, the Golden Jaguars and he says it is very excellent thus far.

“It feels very excellent, coming and getting experience training with the national senior team I have learned much more regarding executing and my technique in the mid field; knocking the ball better and playing in different positions.” Caesar disclosed.

The Santos Football Club player, who played with the national under-17 team in 2014, explained that senior players in the team are quite welcoming and giving thoughtful advice.

“The senior guys are showing me more by directing me to do the right thing, in terms of passing the ball

Malik, who has retired from Test cricket to focus on limited over cricket. He is expected to be impactful in the middle while skipper Azhar Ali is likely to provide a quality Marlon Samuels must improve start for his team to to contribute to a competitive ride on. Imam Wasim, showing from the West Indies who has impressed in his short career to date and was named man of the series in the T20 series is also expected to play a big role.

If West Indies do not fall to the slow nature of the pitch, quality bowling from the Pakistani bowlers or self-destruction due to poor shot choices then it will be a fierce encounter between two unpredictable sides.

West Indies Squad; Jason Holder (captain), Johnson Charles, Carlos BraithwaIte, Kraigg Braithwaite, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Jonathan Carter, Ashley Nurse, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph, Dinesh Ramdin, Suliemann Benn, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard.

Pakistan: Azhar Ali (capt.), Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Rizwad, Sohail Khan, Yasir Shah,, Sharjeel Khan.

Inter-company cricket to light up Thirst Park Players from Times Media Group going through last minute preparations on Thursday

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Job Caesar

and showing the correct position I’m supposed to be in”.

Meanwhile, Assistant head coach of the Jaguars, Wayne Dover is in firm belief of incorporating the players at young into the senior team set up.

Dover explained, “we all know that these youngsters are talented so we need to start looking at the transition into the senior camp so they can get early understanding as to what it en-

tails to be a senior national player and put out certain works; we have seen a lot of good things for the future”.

Ryan Hackett, Kelsey Benjamin, Jeremy Garrett, Curtez Kellman are some other young footballers who are a part of the preparatory camp for the Jaguars upcoming Caribbean Men’s cup matches against Suriname and Jamaica on October 8 and 11 respectively.

hree companies have agreed to a friendly tape-ball cricket competition tonight at the Banks DIH Thirst Park ground from 18:00h with bragging rights and lots of silverware at stake.

Health International Inc have combined with Global Printing and Global Packaging to open the competition under the floodlights against longtime rivals, the New GPC Inc while Guyana Times Media Group and a combined XI will play the second match.

The matches will be 10 overs per side and since the opening fixtures are semi-finals and the winners will meet in the final for the towering winners’ trophy.

Additionally, the batsman to score the most runs on the night, bowler with the most wickets and the Man of the Match in the final will all receive a trophy for their efforts.

Some stalwarts in the tape ball arena spoke to Guyana Times Sport about their chances. Marcus Watkins will turn

out for Health International Inc, Global Printing and Global Packaging combined team and said he will bring his ‘A’ game and will look for the support of his team mates as they look to lift the trophy and silence the competition and go for a sweep of the trophies.

Akeem Greene is expected to play a major part in the competition if Guyana Times Media Group will advance.

Greene said after intense training his team will be looking to go all the way with little worry.

Chaitram Singh who is in the New GPC lineup said that since the final XI will be difficult to pick it shows the strength of the team and they will show their dominance tonight. The event was organized to bring camaraderie among the companies but promises to be everything but friendly.

Admission to Thirst Park for tonight’s event is free.

Health International Inc, Global Printing and Global

Packaging combined team will come from; Trevor Griffith, Shivanash Persaud, Davendra Karran (vice Captain), Marlon Roach, Getindra Persaud, Chris Issiac, Alex Doodnauth, Kishore Singh, Marcus Watkins, Sean Bandoo (captain), Shamindra Ramnarine, Nankishore Bharat and Steve Persaud. New GPC Inc team reads; Ravendra Persaud (Captain), Gorminston Stuart, Olatunde Lovell, Shaquille Lynch, Shazad Khan, Dennis Alexander, Marvin Griffith, Jai Persaud, Micheal Stuart, Travis Martin, Vishram Bishun, Chaitram Singh, Yogeshwar Pitamber and Bindray Seemangal.

Times Media Group squad reads; Akeem Greene, Edward Layne, Vishal Sew, Gary Eleazar, Sarfraz Khan, Delvon Mc Ewan, Karran Francis, Sayad Abdool, Dexter Ceres, Marceano Narine, Richard Jagdeo, Romario Samaroo, Denish Singh, Rahul Singh, Khandai Seenanan, Reepudaman Dhanraj and John Ramsingh.

guyana-times.com

friday, september 30, 2016

Jaguars Franchise League

Exciting matches expected in penultimate round ― all to play for in Lower Corentyne-West Demerara clash

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oday marks the start of the penultimate round of the inaugural Jaguars Franchise League and a win from here for the Lower Corentyne will see them emerge as champions of the League.

However, they will face second placed team West Demerara at the Tuschen Ground and it is expected to be the most important match in this round.

Lower Corentyne has won all of their matches so far while West Demerara lost their opening match to East Coast but rebounded since. The latter was also hampered by rain which only allowed a day’s play in their fourth round fixture at the said venue against Upper Corentyne.

Meanwhile the leaders have dominated in all aspects of their game, there-

Jonathan Foo

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

fore deep into the tournament are expected to be a confident unit. It would take a herculean effort to dismantle them.

Upper Corentyne so far came the closest to winnings against Lower Corentyne after they won first innings points early on the second morning of their third round clash. Prior and after that match no other team stood a chance against Lower Corentyne.

Their batting department is so efficient that there bowlers have little or no problem in defending totals. And since Veerasammy Permaul departed, Kassim Khan has taken over the lead with the ball. The Lower Corentyne team could be deemed as the lone complete team in the tournament. It consists of sufficient batting, good bowling and perfect execution on

match days.

Players like Jonathan Foo, Permaul, Khan, Gajanand Singh, Devon Clements, Surujnarine Kandasammy and recently Seon Hetmyer have all thrown their efforts to provide substance to their team.

On the other hand, West Demerara’s performance in this tournament has been outstanding, especially after losing their first match.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Ashkaya Persaud, Travis Persaud, Rishi Looknauth and most consistently Romario Shepherd have all contributed to their team’s success.

If West Demerara wins this match and East Coast win against Essequibo then closer the challenge will be in the final round as it will head to a photo finish among

Lower Corentyne, East Coast and West Demerara, the only teams in contention to win the League.

In the other clashes, at Imam Bacchus Ground in Essequibo, Essequibo will host East Coast. Upper Demerara/ East Bank will take on Upper Corentyne at Everest Cricket Club Ground while the West Berbice will play Georgetown at the Young Warriors ground in Cumberland.

Essequibo and East Coast clash is also expected to be keenly contested. East Coast like Lower Corentyne has not lost a game and will be aiming to make the final round an interested one.

However, with the likes of former West Indies player, Shivnarine Chanderpaul in their unit, a strengthened Essequibo team have a better chance to defeat their

National draughts tournament opens this weekend

President of the Association, Jairam receives sponsored trophies from a representative of Berbice Bridge Inc, while Secretary of the Association, Marlyn Ali looks on

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he Guyana Draughts Association will host its Annual National Championship this weekend at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

The tournament will officially get underway on October 1 with ‘B’ players taking to the board.

Defending champion, Anthony Yearwood will be looking to elevate his rankings. A win will secure his position into the ‘A’ level.

October 2 will see four of the top players

from the ‘B’ class coming on the table to show their strategic plans when they compete with the big guns in the ‘A’ Level.

After winning both the 64 and 100 square categories last year and will be pressing to extend his dominance in the sport. However, rigorous competition can be expected from the likes of Floyd Cumberbatch, Guyana Draughts Association President, Jairam, Mark Brathwaite and Steve Bacchus, who narrowly missed out in last year’s event.

As the sport continues, on Saturday October 8, the Open International 100 square will be played at the same venue, where the best of the lot will be on show.

Registration begins at 09:00h and the action gets underway at 10:00h sharp.

Entrance fee is $300 per person. All the games would be played on a six round Swiss system. The first four places in each division will receive trophies.

President of the Association, Jairam is calling on more Youths to get involved in this Board Game as it builds the thinking power and leads one to positive approach in life.

Berbice Bridge Inc and Rubis Bel Air Gas Station are already on board with both companies providing six trophies each. Attorney-at-Law Gentle Elias has sponsored two trophies while defending champion, Pooranmall sponsored one.

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opponent.

Meanwhile, the lone match in the city will feature fourth placed and favourites against Upper Demerara/ East Bank and that match too should provide some amount of competition as both teams will aim to finish well.

Finally, pride is at stake for Georgetown, who is yet to win a game as they prepare for an interesting clash against West Berbice. The city team will once again be dependent on top player Christopher Barnwell to dominate with the bat while much would be expected from Robin Bacchus, Dexter Solomon and former West Indies youth player Kwame Crosse.

West Berbice team should be optimistic about their chances after Kyron Fraser batting at number 10 stroked a spectacular century last round against Upper Demerara/ East Bank.

All four matches are expected to be competitive as teams seek to get it right before the end.

The following is the point standing so far; Lower Corentyne 86.1, West Demerara 64.6, East Coast 59.3, Upper Corentyne 34.8, Essequibo 30.5, West Berbice 29.5, Upper Demerara/ East Bank 25.1 and Georgetown 24.4.

Junior Chess players begin qualifiers tomorrow

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he Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) will be holding its 2016 National Junior Qualifiers Tournament over the next two weekends at the National Racquet Center, Woolford Avenue.

It is expected that the tournament will commencing on Saturday October 1 at 13:00h and will head into Sunday October 2 from 09:30h.

T h e action will them shift over to the Previous winner Haifeng Su following weekend where at 10:00h on Saturday October 8 will see the tournament wind down and the final day of tournament on October 9 from 09:30h.

The tournament will feature the Swiss style which sees seven rounds being played

with a time control of 90 minutes per player.

Additionally, a senior tournament will be running alongside this tournament.

The tournament which commenced back in 2007 has seen champions such as Ron Motilall, Haifeng Su (twice), Anthony Drayton and Taffin Khan and this year a new champion will definitely be crowned as Haifeng Su, now residing in Canada is over the age limit.

The organizers wish to remind potential participants that in order to be eligible for qualification in the Junior Qualifiers, players must be 20 years of age and under.

The GCF invites all chess players to contend for the title.

friday, september 30, 2016

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

Pg 22

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