Guyana Times 28 August 2017

Onion trials prove largescale production feasible – despite challenges P14

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, August 28, 2017

Issue No. 3315

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PRICE

3rd plane crash in just over a month

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: GECOM chairmanship

Pilot dies after plane crashes over Mahdia

President “fooling P9 around” if he rejects third list – Gaskin

…body expected to be removed today

Page 3

Fly Jamaica battles massive P13 backlog

… passengers threaten legal action as chartered flight allegedly turned back on runway

Troops from the Guyana Defence Force 31 Special Forces Squadron departing to assist in the search and rescue operation

An aerial shot of the crash site

Region 9 illegal airstrip

Prominent Lethem businessman in custody, equipment seized Page 2

19-year-old peacemaker stabbed to death Page 12

... during Corentyne early-morning brawl

Several injured in accident

P14

– along Rupert Craig Highway

Soesdyke fatal accident

Amerindian conference

Govt, not NTC, to be blamed for nonachievement Page 13

Govt’s attitude to Constitution “deeply troubling” – former Speaker Page 5

...urges Govt to withdraw PSC letter before court makes another embarrassing ruling

Victim’s identity P8 revealed

Success fatal accident

DPP to advise P9 whether Cop should be charged

2 News

monDAY, august 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 9 illegal airstrip

Prominent Lethem businessman in custody, equipment seized

By Lakhram Bhagirat

F

ollowing the arrest of a regional contractor in connection with the discovery of an illegal airstrip and the seizure of an aircraft in Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), a prominent businessman has been taken into custody for allegedly hiring the contractor to prepare the illegal airstrip.

Several pieces of equipment have been seized from both the contractor and the businessman.

The plane was seized after police and other security officials had journeyed to the Santa Fe area amid reports of strange flights and discovered illegal fuel and other items near a makeshift airstrip. A number of men were seen running away from the

The frontload grader seized from the contractor and sitting in the compound of the Lethem Police Station

This Beechcraft luxury plane, bearing registration PT-IMG, was discovered and seized by the GDF

aircraft when Joint Services officials descended upon the area.

Reports from Lethem are that the Joint Services officers also seized the contractor’s equipment follow-

Leary to be questioned.

Some equipment belonging to the businessman were also reportedly seized and are at the Lethem Police Station.

According to reports, the

ing his arrest on Monday last. On Friday, the businessman was taken into custody and brought from Lethem to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters at Eve

man had carried out works at Yupukari in 2016, where his company undertook works to a sanitary facility in the village, and persons in the area noted that the contractor has close Brazilian relationships. It is alleged that the contractor used his front-end loader to build an illegal airstrip about 10 miles from Santa Fe. Fifty-four-hundred-foot-

the plane was flown to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) by the army just over a week ago.

President Granger had said the Guyanese authorities are treating the discovery of the twin engine Beechcraft as a matter of national security, and would be determining the fate of the plane following the investigation. He said an investi-

The illegal airstrip

long by 45 feet wide, the airstrip appeared to have undergone recent repairs when it was discovered. This strip had been discovered and destroyed by the GDF only a few years ago. The aircraft landed while the ranks were making their way back to the airstrip.

During a recent visit to Region 9, President David Granger urged security officials to do everything in their power to protect the borders of Guyana, and called on community leaders to report all illegal activities they observe.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) recently participated in a two-week-long field tactical exercise aimed at ensuring the Force is always prepared to protect the territorial integrity of Guyana.

The police secured the Beechcraft luxury plane, bearing registration PTIMG, after several men were seen running away from the scene two Sundays ago. The aircraft had suffered some minor mechanical damages, and those were repaired and

gation has been launched to determine whether the twin engine Beechcraft landed at the illegal airstrip as a sign of distress, or for illegal reasons.

A history of the aircraft shows that it was owned by 11 companies in the past 27 years. The Beechcraft Kingair aircraft is currently registered to Banco Brandesco - Brazil’s third largest bank. However, an official from the Bank has said that they do not own any planes but it is registered to them since the owner may have acquired a loan to purchase it.

A mining company named Riwa SA Incorporated Investments and Participants operates the aircraft. No trace of narcotics was found on the plane, but identification cards of Venezuelan and Brazilian origin were discovered on board. During the search of the aircraft, several pieces of communication equipment, including cellular phones, flashlights, a quantity of dried ration and medical supplies were discovered.

news

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monDAY, august 28, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, August 28 – 09:00h-10:30h and Tuesday, August 29 – 10:00h-11:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, August 28 – 08:00h-09:30h and Tuesday, August 29 – 08:55h-10:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

3rd plane crash in just over a month

Pilot dies after plane crashes over Mahdia …body expected to be removed today

By Lakhram Bhagirat

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, with sunny weather prevailing in the later afternoon. Clear skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 25 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East South-easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 08:40h and 20:58h reaching maximum heights of 2.34 metres and 2.32 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 02:11h and 14:31h reaching minimum heights of 0.79 metre and 0.92 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2017

T

he aviation fraternity was on Sunday thrown into yet another state of mourning after receiving news that Captain Imran Khan had lost his life when the Cessna 206 (8R-GFM) aircraft he was piloting went down some three miles west of Mahdia in Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni).

The 41-year-old Captain Khan of Essequibo Coast, Region Two, had been attached to Air Services Limited, and was flying from Chi-Chi to Mahdia when his aircraft went down.

mountainous terrain, SAR operators had to trek to the crash site, where they found the lifeless body of Captain Imran Khan. Because of the time constrains, the rescuers had to stay with the body overnight at the crash site.

“The Special Forces reached the site, and unfortunately the pilot did not make it, so what we are working on now is for them to leave at the crack of dawn, so we could bring out the body to Ogle,” Annette Arjoon-Martins, President of the National Air Transport Association, (NATA) said.

Arjoon-Martins, also

gle-engine CESSNA aircraft bearing registration number 8R-GPR.” A source close to the GCAA’s investigative team has said the recent plane crash at Eteringbang airstrip in Region 7 (CuyuniMazaruni) on August 8th may be due to the pilot overloading the aircraft.

The source added that when the aircraft took off it tilted back too much, causing it to ascend at ‘too steep’ an angle, and the centre of gravity shifted further, causing the plane to stall. It was further explained that when a plane stalls it goes nose down

Captain Imran Khan

The Cessna 206 8R-GFM that Captain Khan was flying

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An aerial shot of the crash site

Bonus Ball

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Troops from the Guyana Defence Force 31 Special Forces Squadron departing to assist in the search and rescue operation

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Fying solo, Captain Khan was reportedly expected to arrive at Mahdia at 08:47 hrs, but was a ‘no show’. However, at 09:08hrs, an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal for the said aircraft was identified as coming from an area west of Mahdia.

Captain Rawle Seecharan, flying a Britten-Norman Islander owned by BK Air, first spotted the wreckage.

Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), retired Colonel Egbert Field, confirmed that the plane was scheduled to land at 8:47 hrs on Sunday, but did not make the landing. He added that the ELT signal locating the crash site was picked up, and immediately after a rescue operation was mounted with troops from the Guyana Defence Force 31 Special Forces Squadron involved in the operation. The GDF had also deployed a helicopter to support the SAR Mission, and launched Operation Hawkeye to recover the pilot and aircraft.

However, because of the

closely connected to the operations of Air Services Limited, said Captain Khan had been with ASL for more than seven years, and had been very experienced. She added that the route from Chi-Chi to Mahdia is Khan’s regular flight, and she was unclear what had transpired to cause the aircraft to go down.

Khan had apparently been shuttling goods when the craft went down. The GCAA has sent a team to the crash site and an investigation has been launched to determine what had transpired.

On August 8, a single-engine Cessna aircraft piloted by Captain Dominique Waddell was taking off from the Eteringbang airstrip in Region 7 when it crashed.

The Wings Aviation plane was on a shuttling mission from Eteringbang to Ekereku when the incident occurred at around 11:00hrs.

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority has since launched an investigation into the incident, to “ascertain the circumstances leading to the crash of a sin-

and has a tendency to pull left and that is exactly what transpired, and concretizes the fact that the aircraft was overloaded.

On July 25, Captain Collin Martin, a retired Guyana Defence Force Major, was piloting a Roraima Airways aircraft when it crashed, killing him almost instantly. Martin perished after the BrittenNorman Islander aircraft he was operating crashed on landing at Eteringbang.

Reports are that Captain

Martin, who was alone at the time, was approaching the runway at the border location when he lost control of the aircraft bearing registration 8R-GRA. That same aircraft had, in August 2016, sustained substantial damage after it had encountered mechanical problems during takeoff at Eteringbang. The pilot lost control of the aircraft at the time and later crashed in a valley during an aborted take-off attempt.

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monDAY, august 28, 2017

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

“Equality” and Guyana

W

hile “equality” has become the mantra of the age, inequality has increased to such a degree that, in the US, the mecca of the egalitarian society, one per cent of their population owns more wealth than the remaining 99%. While in Guyana matters are not as dire, our underdeveloped state makes our existing inequalities even more incendiary, because they can be exploited by political entrepreneurs. One of the reasons is that the matter is partly semantic: "equality” being one of those laudatory words which are constantly invoked, even though its users are not clear as to what it means.

Most will agree with the statement that we are all “equally human”, but isn’t that a mere tautology? We are not equally tall, strong, intelligent or beautiful, so whither equality? For the term to have any content, we have to choose any area of endeavor, or personal attribute, or of treatment, and then discuss whether or not we are all equal in terms of the identified criteria.

Equality from this perspective has therefore to be contingent on the context or criteria wherein we speak: equality is a triadic relationship. We may talk about three types of equality – those pertaining to personal characteristics, to treatment and to distribution. The last two categories are relevant to politics, and we need to be clear about them, because it is becoming literally a life and death situation in Guyana.

There are some theories of equality that are purely formal; they specify no substantive content, but are simply a formula or policy. Statements such as “equality before the law” -- the much-sought-after “equal treatment” -falls under this category: no questions arise as to what was the content of the law. Formal equality demands only consistency. But “equal treatment”, while not sufficient for delivering the substantive equality to which most citizens aspire, is a necessary prerequisite for achieving the latter.

Today, there is a widespread perception by those groups that have not been traditional supporters of the PNC that they are not receiving “equal treatment” from state initiatives in the award of contracts, scholarships, jobs, development of communities, etc.

It is generally accepted that, in any society, some inequalities will be morally permissible. In Guyana, these are questions that have to be debated and agreed on. Normally the rewards or punishment from one’s efforts (desserts) are also seen as permissible, even if not equally distributed.

Once those that are not defensible have been identified, then the state/society has to decide what to do about them.

Items identified from the latter category at some time or place have been political power, opportunity for scarce resources, welfare or social position, social position/class, economic resources, welfare, etc.

Most recently, the African Cultural & Developmental Association (ACDA) has bitterly complained about the 13.8% of land allocated to Indigenous Peoples via our Independence Agreement with Britain. This is only the tip of the iceberg, and in Guyana, questions of the equality of wealth, social status, and political and economic parity are just as intensely contested between the ethnic groups in the society. This is because some are not satisfied with “equality of treatment” - they want ‘equality of results”.

In this instance, the inherent inequalities of effort, talent, inheritance etc, are overlooked by the aspirant, and “equality of results’is supposed to flow like manna from heaven.

Politicians and other leaders have to level with their constituents that there is no inbuilt mechanism that guarantees all applicants will have equal life chances. The question, therefore, is for all the people of the society to decide whether the still surviving inequalities are, or are not, morally permissible. If the latter is decided on, then there may be affirmative action programmes or other compensating policies initiated.

In Guyana, where there have been historically determined structural conditions that undergird some inequalities, there may be the need for affirmative action programmes to rectify these imbalances; for instance, in the composition of the bureaucracy, the disciplined services.

The city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, is the holiest site in the religion of Islam. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city, and each year, 15 million pilgrims make the trip to worship. The tower is the Makkah Royal Clock Tower, part of Abraj Al-Bait, a complex of skycraper hotels for worshippers to stay in. The clock tower is one of the tallest buildings in the world, and it sports the largest clock face – measuring 141 feet across. (Photograph by Ammar alamir, National Geographic Your Shot)

M&CC must assess consequences of moving to seize movable property Dear Editor, The announcement made by the Town Clerk of Georgetown, that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will be moving to seize movable property as part of its efforts to recover billions of dollars owed by the delinquent ratepayers, is tonguein-cheek, particularly coming from him, who is aware of the trauma that is caused by such seizures. As they say here in Guyana ‘Sorry fah magga dog, magga dog

turn round bite you’.

But has Council even considered what would happen should their creditors take the same punitive action against them for their delinquency? They should realize that if you can’t take it, then don’t dish it out.

What if the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) cut electricity to municipal buildings for the tens of millions owed to them for street lighting etc? And the Guyana Water Inc (GWI)

cut the water supply for non-payment, including for their clinics, day care centres and abattoir?

What about if their bankers took serious action for their non-serviced overdraft? And the garbage contractors for the more than three hundred million dollars owed for two years or more?

What about if the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS)

moved against them for the tens of millions that they deduct from their employees but (allegedly) fail to pay over to the respective agencies?

What about if municipal employees took strike action for constant late payments?

As the saying goes, ‘People who live in glass houses should not throw stones’.

With thanks, Riley Matthews

Georgetown has become a failed city, with no accolades or awards Dear Editor, The international World Mayor Project which has been founded and run by the London-based City Mayors Foundation has, since 2004, had as its aim globally raising the profile of mayors who have made significant contributions to cities nationally and internationally.

Municipal leaders are nominated because of their general qualities, such as honesty; management abilities; financial acumen; social, economic and environmental awareness etc. One wonders whether the Mayor of our capital city Georgetown could be nominated despite her dismal performance and low rate of achievements since ascending to that position in early 2016.

Indeed, whilst Mayors like Lovely Warren of Rochester New York is inviting business owners in her city to access financial assistance in order to grow or im-

prove their businesses, our Mayor is, on the contrary, taxing businesses into insolvency with initiatives such as the container tax, and now a special refuse collection and disposal fee.

Whilst Philippine Mayor of the city of Cagayan de Oro has launched an e-payment system, allowing residents and businesses to pay their bills, such as business permits, property rates, traffic citations, market stall rentals, sales taxes, transfer taxes, and city building fees through the Globe-Cash Mobile Services and by dialing *137# on their phones, our Mayor is instead demanding that citizens trudge down to City Hall to read the parking meter review and pay all municipal fees.

Whilst the role for mayors, city managers, city council members and other municipal officials is to help in shaping and supporting entrepreneurial commu-

nities, our municipal leaders in Georgetown have instead been chasing vendors all over the place, and rolling out parking meters which have severely affected businesses in the city.

In many cities around the world, Mayors have been doing their part. The Mayor of San Antonio recently opened Cafe Commerce, an entrepreneurship center housed in the central library, to bring together various resources for new and young companies. In places such as Reno, the Mayor has been opening up public spaces, or using public rhetoric to promote entrepreneurship programmes such as 1 Million Cups.

Unfortunately, the only thing our Mayor can proudly point to in Georgetown is the opening up of ‘57 Dog Food Stands’ that have popped up everywhere in the city, a public health and food handling nightmare.

But seriously, when her two terms are up, the maximum allowed under the law, one wonders what achievements our Mayor will be able to point to? Tons of overseas trips? Rampant nepotism and cronyism, with the hiring of relatives to jobs within the Council and the granting of contracts to them also? An empty and bankrupt City Treasury? A city that is filling up again everywhere with garbage? Or, as she said in the media, ‘garbages’? Ramshackle municipal offices and buildings?

Late payments to workers? A city swimming in debt, with large sums owed to contractors and every conceivable agency?

Quite frankly, under this mayorship, Georgetown has become a failed city, for which there are no accolades or awards.

Sincerely, Sean Levius

monDAY, august 28, 2017

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News

Govt’s attitude to Constitution “deeply troubling” – former Speaker

... urges Govt to withdraw PSC letter before court makes another embarrassing ruling

T

he Government’s track record of losing court cases in which interpretation of the Constitution is involved has not gone unnoticed. Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, has become the latest legal mind to express worry over decisions made by the President that have been overturned by the Judiciary.

Referring to an editorial which stated that the Government’s attitude to the Constitution signals a willingness to ignore legal precedents whenever it finds this suitable, Ramkarran has cited several cases that seem to support this view. Among those are the termination of the Red House lease and the instructions the President issued to the Police Service Commission (PSC).

“In the face of criticism, the Government, instead of withdrawing the offending instructions to the PSC, doubled down and gave excuses for its unlawful conduct,” Ramkarran stated. “In other words, the Government does not want the PSC to select some of the persons recommended.

“Even though the Government can properly place the evidence of unfitness of persons recommended to the PSC and ask it to reconsider, it appears more comfortable in violating the Constitution by giving instructions,” the legal luminary observed.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, in a letter dated July 27, wrote to the Police Service Commission (PSC) to inform that the President had directed that there be no consideration of promotion for members of the Guyana Police Force until further notice, and this directive should be implemented immediately.

Even PSC Chairman Omesh Satyanand had expressed concern at the unprecedented directive given by the President, and had said that halting the entire promotion process would be a blow to senior officers of the Guyana Police Force, whom he noted have invested time and energy in building a career at the Guyana Police Force, and were expecting their just reward.

Satyanand had called for some clarity and justifica-

the President’s revocation of rice farmers’ land leases, deeming it unconstitutional.

She also ruled that the farmers are entitled to compensation from the State.

There is also the case of the vacant Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairmanship. Interpreting constitutional stipulations according to his own understanding, President Granger had rejected every nominee proposed for the post by Opposition Leader Senior Counsel and former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran

tion in regard to the circumstances that had led to the President’s directive, and President David Granger had subsequently stated that he had acted based on information he had received regarding complaints made against individuals in the Force.

Article 226 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states: “Save as otherwise provided in this Constitution, in the exercise of its functions under this Constitution, a Commission (service commissions) shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.”

“Apart from maintaining professionalism, the drafters of the Constitution understood that a professional, and not a politically aligned, Police Force is related to the human rights and civil liberties of citizens,” Ramkarran noted of the directive.

“Guyana (has) already experienced the subversion of the Guyana Constitution, starting with the defanging of the Elections Commission in 1968 prior to the elections of that year. I personally experienced it when I served on a toothless Elections Commission in the elections year of 1973,” he recalled.

Track record

Already, a number of rulings have been made in the High Court against the coalition APNU/ AFC Administration, and President Granger has had some of his decisions deemed unconstitutional.

Last year, he gave occupants of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) 48 hours to vacate the prem-

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC

ises in a directive which Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo described as “unconscionable and vindictive”.

On August 9, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) secured two conservatory High Court orders blocking the State from ejecting the CJRC from the property, once the official residence of former President, the late Dr Cheddi Jagan.

Acting Chief Justice, Senior Counsel Roxane George, SC, overruled every submission made by Attorney General Basil Williams, and refused his request that the CJRC case be dismissed. The Chief Justice upheld submissions made by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall on behalf of the CJRC. Then the plight of several farmers who were issued land leases grabbed nation-

down last month.

While the Chief Justice had acknowledged that the President can determine whom he deems “fit and proper”, she overruled the President’s interpretation of the Constitution by finding that there is no particular preference for the appointment of persons with legal training.

In wake of these rulings, Ramkarran has urged that attempts to issue directives to the PSC not be allowed to

President David Granger

al attention. These farmers were, in 2014, granted by then President Donald Ramotar 50-year leases for state land located in the rear of Number 40 Village, West Coast Berbice.

However, in March of 2016, they received from the Mahaica/ Mahaicony/Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) letters informing that President David Granger had cancelled their leases and they must therefore cease occupation and return the land to the MMA/ADA. The farmers sought justice in the courts, and were represented by Attorneys Nandlall and Manoj Narayan among others, while the State and the MMA/ADA were represented by Attorney General Basil Williams.

On the same day as the Red House judgment, the Chief Justice ruled against

The court granted orders preventing the State from ejecting the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre from Red House

Bharrat Jagdeo on grounds that Article 161 (2) of the Constitution prescribes that nominees must either be qualified to be a Judge, or be fit and proper.

But local businessman Marcel Gaskin moved to the High Court in March to challenge the constitutionality of the President’s reasoning.

That judgment was handed

succeed. He has proffered the following advice for the government: “The Government can lift its deeply troubling approach to the Constitution by withdrawing the offending letter to the PSC before the court once again embarrasses it by inevitably ordering it to do so.” (Jarryl Bryan)

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Page

Foundation

5 steps to choosing childcare

Adjusting to preschool and overcoming separation anxiety

BY GAIL O'CONNOR

T

he transition to preschool is often marked with two steps forward, one step back, as your child grows and learns in amazing ways – but at the same time, regresses in some behaviours, too. Child psychiatrist Joshua Sparrow, MD, is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School professor and co-author, with T Berry Brazelton, of Touchpoints 3 to 6. He's also a former preschool teacher and gives this advice about how to ease your child's transition.

Starting preschool is a big step for many young children. What are some of the biggest challenges they face?

The most common challenge for most kids is saying goodbye to their parents, or trouble separating. For some children this may be their first time out of the home. Others may have separated before, but are now in a new, possibly more demanding situation (if they have to share the adult caregiver with a number of other children).

How can parents help soothe their children's separation anxiety?

First, they can look within for whatever ambivalence they have about leaving their child, because he will pick up on those feelings. If there's any hesitation or discomfort or doubt – which there often is; you hate to leave your child when he's unhappy about it – but if you don't feel good about where you're leaving him, or about the fact that you have to leave him, your child's going to feel, "Well, maybe this isn't really a good place or idea." The first thing you have to do to prepare your child is to prepare yourself.

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How else can parents help ease the transition for their preschooler?

There are a number of things you can do to prepare your child. Prior to starting school, take your child to visit the classroom and meet the teacher. If there's a way of having a playdate with one of the other children who will be attending the preschool, that's great, because then the children can welcome each other when they begin school. You could give your child a transitional object, like a favourite blanket or teddy bear they can carry around with them all day; or even a story so the teacher can read it. And give your child lots of reassurance that "Mommy's coming back," or "Daddy's coming back."

To reinforce the idea, you can play a little game in which something disappears from sight but your child rediscovers it. Roll a ball under the couch and say, "Look, we can't see it. Do you think it's still there? Let's go look."

When your child finds the ball, you can say, "See, even though we couldn't see the ball it's still there, just like Mommy when she went to work." What you're doing is reinforcing "object permanence," a concept that comes earlier (by the end of the first year) but can be threatened by the emotional challenge that separation presents.

What are some of the ways preschool helps a child grow?

For some children this may be the first time they're going into a group setting where the attention by caregivers will be divided among several children.

Learning to share the relationship to the teacher will be a major new gain.

Also, the child will be learning to make friends, share, take turns, and hold back on impulses, areas in which they're still making progress. Preschool will present them with more opportuni-

Finding child care can be a difficult task, but following these steps can help:

ties to practice these skills. They'll also have opportunities to learn about other children's feelings, and to discover the joy of being generous. It's very early, but you'll see examples where the child will say, "Do you want to play with this doll?" That's their little gift, and they're learning the internal pleasure they get out of that.

Also, at this age kids love the daily routine of preschool. They get excited about mastering the schedule – they know when storytime and snack and lunch and nap happen – and they're really thrilled with themselves. Their fantasy play becomes stronger around this age, and there are ways of being more elaborate with their imagination when other children are around. They also benefit from their peers in terms of language acquisition, and even motor development. You may start to see them climb up on a slide more readily, for instance.

When children are learning so many new things in preschool, is it likely they may regress in some other areas?

In general, whenever a child is challenged by a new developmental area, she's likely to temporarily lose ground in an area she's only recently mastered.

So at age three, it might be bedwetting, because she may just have learned to stay dry through the night. It's very likely there could be more crying, more clinging, more wanting to stick close to parents, and maybe some baby talk.

There could be trouble separating at bedtime, and with getting to sleep. One of the things kids are working on at that age is learning to control their feelings, which in a way, we work on our whole lives. You can expect more crying, more temper tantrums, more irritability, and more impulsiveness. (scholastic.com) TO BE CONTINUED

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1. Start early tart looking as far in advance as you can. If you are expecting a new baby, begin researching your options now! Depending on where you live, you may need to get on a wait list even before your baby is born. No matter what type of care you are considering – a child care centre or care in someone else’s home – finding the right child care option can take some time.

2. Make a call Begin your search by calling your local experts. They can give you the facts about child care and a list of child care options in your area that may meet your needs. Make sure to ask: * Will all of the child care providers on my referral list be licensed? * What are the child care licensing requirements? * How can I get information about complaints and licensing violations against child care programmes? * Is there a quality rating system for child care? If so, how can I find rated child care providers? * Does my family qualify for any child care financial assistance programmes?

3. Visit and ask questions Visit the child care options you are considering. Before you visit, create a list of questions that you plan to ask each programme, and note indicators of quality that you will look for.

Make special note of these five key indicators of quality: Adult to child ratio: Ask how many children there are for each adult. The fewer the children for each adult, the better for your child. You want your child to get plenty of attention.

The younger your child, the more important this is. Babies need an adult to child ratio of no more than 1:4 (one adult for four infants), while four-yearolds can do well with a ratio of 1:10 (one adult for 10 children).

Group size: Find out how many children are in the group.

The smaller the group, the better. Imagine a group of 25 twoyear olds with five adults, compared to a group of 10 with two adults. Both groups have the same adult to child ratio.

Which would be calmer and safer? Which would be more like a family?

Caregiver qualifications: Ask about the caregivers’ training and education. Caregivers with degrees and/or special training in working with children will be better able to help your child learn. Are the caregivers involved in activities to improve their skills? Do they attend classes and workshops?

Turnover: Check how long caregivers have been at the centre or providing care in their homes. It’s best if children stay with the same caregiver at least a year. Caregivers who come and go make it hard on your child. Getting used to new caregivers takes time and energy that could be spent learning new things.

Accreditation: Find out if the child care provider has been accredited by a national organisation. Providers that are accredited have met voluntary standards for child care that are higher than most state licensing requirements.

4. Make an informed choice Be sure to gather information about each child care programme from all available sources. * Take some time to review inspection reports. Look for any violations that would concern you as a parent. If you find concerning violations or patterns of uncorrected or repeated violations, it may be a sign that you should look into other child care options. * Contact references that the child care provider gave you, and ask questions about the other families’ experiences with the programme. * Think about what you saw at each visit and what you’ve learned from inspections and references. Were you comfortable with the level of security of the programme, the provider interactions you witnessed, the health and safety measures taken to protect children, and the answers you were given to the questions you asked? Does the programme seem like a place that your child would enjoy coming to each day? Does it seem like a place that you can trust?

5. Stay involved The work isn’t over when you find good care for your child. You and your child’s caregiver are partners now.

Here are some ways to be involved: * Have parent-caregiver meetings regularly, and ask questions. * Offer to volunteer time when needed, like participating in clean-up days or fixing broken toys. * Be there for your child’s birthday party. * Visit your child at child care and read a book aloud. * Join in special events, like field trips Even if you can’t get time off from work during the day, you can still check in at dropoff and pick-up times. Ask the caregiver how things are going and how your child is doing. (childcareaware.org)

7 Jagdeo disagrees PPP/C NDC Councillors uncooperative news

monDAY, august 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

– claims Govt not interested in setting up LGC

By Samuel Sukhnandan

C

oncerns have been raised in certain quarters regarding some councillors of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) refusing to cooperate with Central Government, but Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has said those councillors have valid reasons for not participating in events.

Jagdeo said the PPP/C is on record as declaring its willingness to work with both Local and Central Government officials, but he stressed that the chairmen and vice-chairmen of those NDCs have a right to their opinion; besides, they are on tight schedules, and are constantly engaged in the people’s work.

During the launch of the National Regional Development Consultative Committee (NRDCC) and establishment of ten (10) Regional Development Consultative Committees (RDCCs), Jagdeo reminded that there was no prior consultation with the Parliamentary Opposition on the matter.

“They were told to come to a meeting; and then to hear that (Government is) launching this body and will be using flags (the councillors) don’t agree with. And what will happen (is that the councillors) will participate in a process that reduces their constitutional and

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

legal powers in the region as regional chair… municipality…,” he recalled.

Using Lethem as an example, the Opposition Leader said if this mechanism was agreed to, it would mean that the mayor of that town would be co-chairing a regional body with the regional chairman. “So, his jurisdiction gets extended to the entire region, but he is only appointed in that area in the municipality, (whereas) the chairman is elected by the entire region,” Jagdeo argued.

He said the same obtained for the Guyana Association of Municipalities. “We were ready to go, and a week before that President (David Granger) went in defiance of a court order and swore in the mayor of Mabaruma. An

illegal act, and he was going to be at the conference, and we couldn’t go and participate. Look at the councillors in Region Five that broke up several meetings for almost one year,” Jagdeo pointed out.

The former Guyanese Head of State does not agree with the image being portrayed by President Granger, that when people don’t show up and pay homage to him, he takes it as disrespect.

“Many times, when I was President, people didn’t show up, but you get on with your work. All this pomp and ceremony that they are accustomed to, and the police lined up…. they can’t be catching criminals and lining up for the President,”Jagdeo said.

According to Jagdeo, “They (want) every PPP/C councillor to appear wearing a shirt jack and suit and tie, and appear when the President goes to a region; well, that is not how we work!”

Jagdeo also criticised Government for allegedly undermining the budgets of various NDCs. He said, “The RDCs submit budgets and they (Government) cut budgets unilaterally. I heard the President saying that you can now go to the Minister of Finance and get money, not through their representative leaders. This undermines the constitutional structures that are in place.”

In making reference to the Local Government Commission (LGC), the Opposition Leader recalled that Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan had said the PPP/C did not consult with all the parties in Parliament when they submitted the first set of names, although it was a requirement by law.

Although at the beginning the Opposition was against doing so, Jagdeo said the party corrected itself and resubmitted the names of the three nominees for the

LGC, done through a consultative process. “Now we have resubmitted. And their nominees are still being considered by the Cabinet,” he lamented.

Jagdeo said it has been over one year since Local Government elections were held. “They do not want to establish the LGC, although they have promised this, because the minister (Bulkan) will now have the power and control over the regions and everybody,” he added.

Recently, Minister Bulkan told this publication that setting up of the LGC

is still in the pipelines. He gave his full assurance that the process is still ongoing, and iterated that there is no intention on the part of Government to abandon the setting up of that body, but Government is working to meet the 2017 deadline.

In the 2016 budget estimates, some $30 million had been allocated by the Government to the non-functioning LGC. Bulkan said the money was to allow the LGC to operate independently of Central Government.

8 news

monDAY, august 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Soesdyke fatal accident

Victim’s identity revealed

By Shemuel Fanfair

T

he victim who was struck and killed on the Soesdyke public road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), over two weeks ago has finally been identified as 22-year-old Eno David of Matthew’s Ridge, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini).

Guyana Times understands that David had been working with a resident of Farm Track Road at Soesdyke.

The Soesdyke resident, Ronald Lloyd, was said to have provided the young man’s birth certificate to Police who then used the document to determine David’s identify after his name and date of birth were corroborated with relatives of the deceased. Guyana Times understands Lloyd opted against identifying the body – an indication that the process should be carried out by the young man’s next of kin. However, several stumbling blocks were encountered when Police made efforts to have the family identify the body.

This comes in light of prevailing circumstances that surrounded the dead young man’s life. This publication was told that Eno David’s mother died when he was a toddler and a woman named Helna Scott of Matthew’s Ridge, North West District, tended to him from a tender age and raised him along with her two children. When contacted on Sunday, the still grieving woman explained that financial constraints have prevented her from traveling to Demerara to retrieve the young man’s body. She noted that even

though Eno was not her biological son, she feels just as hurt as if it were one of her children who perished.

“Last week we get the news but we ain’t got money. Me feel for he and if me had money, I coulda go long.

I mind he from a baby and I feel it for he because me mind he like me own,” she lamented.

claimed that she refused to do so on the account that she had left Matthew’s Ridge when she was young and could not clearly remember the deceased man.

Meanwhile, the implicated Policeman involved in the pedestrian’s death has not been charged. A credible Police source disclosed that investigative ranks are

injuries”.

Before Eno David met his demise, Constable Gavin Gentle lost control of his PTT 5444 motorcar and crashed into a utility pole at Timehri, EBD. The Constable who is implicated in David’s death, came up and was in the process of transporting his colleague, Constable Gavin Gentle,

The PPP 8497 Allion motor car that struck Eno David at Soesdyke

Scott further indicated that in the young man’s teenaged years, he wanted to live life more independently. She told this publication that it was three years ago that Eno left the North West District for Demerara.

“I never ill-treat him. He get big and own way, that was why he gone down that side,” Scott told this publication on Sunday. Guyana Times was made aware that the deceased man’s father works as a gold miner in the hinterland.

According to information received, Police contacted Scott’s sister who lives in Timehri, EBD, to identify the body. However, it was

compiling statements and reports which are expected to wrap up soon. After the compilation of the case file is complete, it will be handed over to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

This newspaper had reported that the pedestrian was said to have suffered severe head injuries and had been picked up and placed in another vehicle with the previously injured Police rank and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His post-mortem examination which was conducted on Friday last, revealed that he died from “multiple

to hospital when he struck David with his privately owned Toyota Allion motorcar, PPP 8497.

It was claimed by Police that just before the fatal accident, the Allion motor car of the implicated Constable was escorted by a Police vehicle with flashing lights and the sound of its siren.

According to information received, the driver of PPP 8497 had allegedly swerved from the pedestrian who was said to be in the centre of the road when he was struck by the Constable’s car. The driver of PPP 8497 had been detained and tests reportedly revealed that no alcohol had been traced on his breath.

Missing the boat…

W

…on oil local content

ith every passing day, it’s becoming clearer that the hope of oil solving our underdeveloped woes is growing dimmer. It might soon be “out,” unless the citizens of this country take matters in their own hands. We can’t leave it to their fingers, come elections 2020 - since by then it will be all signed away

by Trotman and Co. First was his nonsensical mumblings that the PPP’s 1999 contract couldn’t be renegotiated - even though he’d announced earlier in the day about assembling a team of experts to do just that with Exxon! He was proven to be lying though his teeth when he boasted about DOUBLING the rate of royalties the company would be paying on gross oil revenues. Everyone perked up until they heard the quantum - 2%!!

Imagine boasting about 2% royalties when even the most corrupt regimes of Africa were getting 8-10%!!

And with them, there’s the standing assumption that whatever was signed above the table was matched in private bank deposits under the table! The mind boggles at what transpired here! But what everyone missed was: if the 1999 contract couldn’t be ‘renegotiated,” how was the royalty rate changed? Exxon unilaterally decided to double it? What a crock!

Fact of the matter is the 1999 contract had time-lines built in for exploration, development etc. And by 2015, the contract for production had to be renegotiated in its ENTIRETY! Fact of the matter is, Trotman now admits we won’t be getting more than US$1/2 million annually for the first three years. Literally “peanuts,” since we can earn this much from our Rupununi peanuts!

As we’ve been saying, the vaunted 50% of profits Trotman “extracted” is pretty much 50% of peanuts, since Exxon is allowed 75% of the revenues for its development costs!

But in any case, we know that not a single country in Africa has developed on its oil revenues. Instead, their history has led to a new economic phrase -“resource curse”, in that the revenues ended up in private government officials’ pockets, while other industries wilted on the vine. But a decade or so ago, it was realised that all was not lost. The oil producing country could still develop by insisting and enforcing “local content policies”.

In this way, forward and backward linkages could be formed in the country to create not only employment, but also in gestating industries that demanded technological and manufacturing knowhow that could be transmitted across other sectors.

But now we’re told by Trotman that his ‘experts” have advised there should be no penalising of oil companies if they flub our “local content regs”.

He’s depending on Scouts honour!! Wanker!!

…on government contracts

The latest flare up about medical insurance for cabinet ministers and senior government officials proves once again this Government has no intention of following the rules of transparency when conducting business. The essential point former Health Minister Ramsammy made was the need to advertise for bids so the widest possible responses could be elicited. Are we to take the word of a Cabinet that approved a contract to Larry Singh for a non-existent pharma warehouse that it did better now?

After the Durban Park boondoogle?

But rather than answering Ramsammy’s query, the spokesperson attacks his record. Sad; the PPP, which the PNC claimed were the most corrupt government on Planet Earth, are now their lodestar!! But what’s more alarming is the Cabinet seems to have no problem with soliciting and approving bids on a contract that involves them!! Isn’t there even the smallest hint in their minds of a possible conflict of interest?

But then, for this Government, it’s a matter of do what they say, and not what they do, isn’t it?

…on reparations

It’s clear ACDA wants reparations from the Guyana Government via the land CoI - even though it’s not within the latter’s remit.

But if reparations are given by Guyana, isn’t the claim on Britain extinguished? No double dipping!!

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

News

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monDAY, august 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GECOM chairmanship

President “fooling around” if he rejects third list – Gaskin

By Samuel Sukhnandan

N

ow that a third list of nominees for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been submitted to President David Granger, close attention will be paid to how the President responds to this new submission, especially after he rejected two previous lists.

Outspoken political commentator and economist, Ramon Gaskin, thinks if the President rejects this list, it would send a clear message that he is more focused on complicating the process of selecting another Chairman for one of the most import-

opined.

Gaskin reminded that the Constitution allows the President the option of appointing someone of his choice, but only on the basis that the Opposition Leader fails to submit a list. “The Constitution says (David) Granger could pick somebody. That is what I think he would like to do. He may not get away with it, but that is what he may want to do,” the political commentator added.

He continued, “(David) Granger is only confortable with people he picks. He has to pick the person who he is comfortable with. He likes to pick military people and People’s National Congress (PNC) people. He wants to

Political and social commentator, Ramon Gaskin

This list of nominees for the GECOM chairmanship includes Major General (retired) Joseph Singh; Teni Housty; Sanjeev Datadin; Annette ArjuneMartins; Onesi LaFleur and Krishnadatt Persaud.

In a letter to the President accompanying the list, Jagdeo said arriving at the six names was not an easy task. He said that regarding the antecedents in relation to the matter and a subsequent meeting with the President at State House back in June, he continued to elaborate and protracted consultations with various stakeholders in an exercise that lasted for several weeks.

During that process, Jagdeo said he solicited their views and sought nominations in efforts to ensure that six names were presented to the President that satisfy the requirements contemplated by Article 161(2) of the

Constitution.

Regarding the nominees, Jagdeo explained that one is a former Chairman of GECOM, while two are attorneys with over 10 years of “good standing” at the Guyana Bar, and both are qualified to be appointed as Judges of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in Guyana.

Another of the nominees, he explained, is an attorney with over 40 years of good standing, and is a former Magistrate who served in that capacity for over 20 years; another nominee is a business executive in the local airline industry, and has received national and international acclaim for her work in protecting Guyana’s biodiversity; while the other person has distinguished himself as an agriculturalist, and has made a sterling contribution in Guyana and the

Caribbean in the area of education and religion.

Following the rejection of the second list, a consultation was held among Jagdeo, Minister Harmon, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall and PPP/C parliamentarian Irfaan Ali to find an amicable solution to the issue.

It was agreed that in the event that the third list is rejected by the President, a high-level team would be established, representing the President and the Opposition Leader, to begin working instantaneously on exploring modalities to bring a resolution to the matter. However, there has been no word on this team.

GECOM has been without a Chairman since February 28, 2017, when Dr Steve Surujbally stepped down after 15 years at the helm.

Success fatal accident

DPP to advise whether Cop should be charged Former GECOM Chairman, retired Major General Joe Singh

Attorney-at-Law Teni Housty

Educator and religious leader Onesi LaFleur

Attorney-at-law Sanjeev Datadin

ant constitutional offices in Guyana.

“It would mean that he is fooling around and that he wants to put his own person there. And it also means that he is trying to get (Bharrat) Jagdeo frustrated, because once Jagdeo stops submitting lists he could say that he has no list in front of him,” he

be able to pick the person… he has strong dictatorial tendencies.”

Gaskin also made reference to the recent incident which was brought to the public’s attention, where the President through Minister of State Joseph Harmon, instructed the Police Service Commission (PSC) to put a

Annette Arjune-Martins

hold on promotions for senior Police ranks. The commentator reminded that this move breaches the Constitution, as Granger cannot dictate when senior Police ranks should be appointed.

Shifting his attention back to the GECOM chairmanship, Gaskin said he sees no reason why the President would want to reject the third list of nominees. “I would hope that he chooses somebody from the third list. There are some good candidates there and I hope he chooses one. I don’t think he can say that this list is no good. You have people there who are more qualified. He should be able to find somebody.”

On submitting the third list on August 25, the Opposition Leader said he is hopeful that the President would take into consideration the ruling of the acting Chief Justice (CJ) in regard to the constitutional stipulation governing the appointment of a Chairman for the GECOM.

T

he matter regarding the demise of 58-yearold Pulmattie Ramotar, of Success, East Coast Demerara, is currently seeking the attention of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Ramotar died on

August 18, 2017, two days after she was struck by an allegedly speeding Police Officer on the Success Public Road.

The mother of three succumbed to her injuries while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital. turn to page 10

Dead: Pulmattie Ramotar, a mother of three, was struck will attempting to cross the Success Public Road

10 news

monDAY, august 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Reform of Police Force forging ahead – Top Cop ... measures include new 911 facilities at Brickdam

By Jarryl Bryan

U

nder the Citizens Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP), efforts are underway to train police officers in a number of areas, including management and law. This is being done through partnerships with public and private tertiary institutions.

Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine, who recently detailed some past, ongoing and forthcoming training initiatives for both officers and ranks of the Police Force, has said: “Currently, as we strive to build capacity and capability in the Force, some 30 ranks are attending the University of Guyana on a one-month programme in Guidance and Counselling.

Thirty-five have just benefited from various subjects, including Criminal Law, Legal Theory and Practice, Leadership for Law Enforcement, Human Resource Management, Internal and External Customer Care and chain management among other (things) at Nations University.”

Ramnarine revealed that, early in September, some 14 police officers and ranks are scheduled to undergo strategic planning

Acting Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine

and management training.

He said this is being facilitated by the British High Commission under the reform programme.

“A large number of these ranks will be tasked with moving forward the work of the Strategic Planning Unit as we forge ahead with reform in the Guyana Police Force,” the acting Top Cop has said.

“Starting Monday (today), some 36 ranks from ‘A’ Division, who are identified to soon operationalise the new 911 facility at Brickdam (Police Station), will benefit from customer

service etiquette and voice procedure training.”

He recounted that 140 ranks have successfully completed a basic first responders training exercise at Project Dawn Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara (ECD) recently.

The exercise was administered under Dr Zulficar Bux, the National Director of Emergency Medical Services.

“This drive to equip officers with people skills is certainly to ensure that they can effectively meet the demands that arise in a changing and evolving society, where law enforcement is also evolving,” he said.

Reform The news of 911 facilities to be set up will be welcome news to many, as the Guyana Police Force has, over the years, come under heavy criticism for its poor response time to emergency calls.

The security reform project, which began in 2007, was scrapped in 2009 after the British Government had requested to have oversight of the programme to ensure that there was ‘value for money’.

The former Government had disagreed with the manner in which the British Government had wanted the programme to be run, claiming that Britain had

Police ranks who recently completed a training exercise

sought to intrude upon Guyana’s sovereignty.

However, the British Government has said the Government of Guyana had submitted a different proposal, one which had focused on Police modernisation rather than a holistic approach to reform. The intention was to build a workable basis for improving national security while reducing crime in Guyana.

Government believes that, once implemented, Guyana’s security sector will be significantly strengthened; and, hopeful-

ly, this will lead to a reduction in the number of illicit activities that take place.

President David Granger has also said there is need for a stronger Police Force, one that is better equipped with all tools necessary to function adequately. Back in May, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge had also provided an update on the project during a State visit to the United Kingdom (UK).

According to the Minister, talks surrounding assistance for crime and se-

curity had been at the top of the agenda, and he had given assurance that the coalition Government was keen on reactivating the security assistance mechanism, and that finances for the project could be dispersed early.

“I believe that that exercise will be completed before year-end, and there will be arrangements for some parts of those funds to be dispersed before the end of the year. I am very sure that that is the intention and the plan,” he had said, when asked to provide a timeframe.

DPP to advise whether Cop...

Information reaching Guyana Times suggested that Police, over the past few days, sent the case file over for the DPP’s advice, after which, the determination will be made on whether or not Police will pursue the matter against the implicated rank.

Reports were that Ramotar was hit while attempting to cross the roadway. Police investigations

had also revealed that at about 08:00h on the morning in question, motor car PVV 8233 was proceeding East along the northern carriageway of Success Public Road, when the pedestrian attempted to make her way over the roadway (from South to North) and ran into the path of the vehicle which was said to be speeding.

As a result of the im-

from page 9

pact, the woman was flung into the air and landed a short distance from the point of impact, where she remained unconscious until her body was removed from the scene.

Police investigators disclosed that a breathalyser test was administered to the Policeman where it was relayed that no trace of alcohol was detected.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

news

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monDAY, august 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Opposition MP says

Guyanese will have to pick “better team” in 2020

– to lead, manage oil and gas industry

I

n mid-2020 Guyana could start producing commercial quantities of oil, and in that same year, the country will also be constitutionally due for another general election. Opposition Member of Parliament, Juan Edghill says Guyanese will have to choose then, which “team” is better to handle this important sector that could propel massive growth and development for the Guyanese economy.

Guyana Edghill told Times on Sunday that 2020 will be an important year for the aforementioned reasons, explaining that a competent Government would be required to manage the affairs of the economy, especially with the new addition of this sec-

tor, which could help to boost the country’s income and generate jobs for hundreds, if not thousands of Guyanese, from all walks of life.

“This will have to be an issue for the people of Guyana to determine, which will be the best team to lead this country to ensure its economic viability to come up with plans and engage the necessary expertise to ensure that Guyana favour most. The People’s Progressive Party/ [Civic] (PPP/C) has however always been the better team and is ready and willing to properly manage this sector,” he posited.

The former Junior Finance Minister reflected on the progress made under the PPP/C Administration compared

West Berbice 50-year leases

Farmers still not paid after winning legal challenge

By Shemuel Fanfair

A

s the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into ancestral land ownership continues, one of the affected West Coast Berbice (WCB) farmers that won their court case against the President’s revocation of their leases for lands at Seafield and Number 40 Village, Berbice, is hoping to appear to have their issues sorted out.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Sunday, Joylyn Nicholson said she and five others – Gratien and Herman Nicholson, Brian George, Tiffany Hubbard and Vaughn Aaron – are still to be paid court costs and compensation weeks after Justice Roxane George SC, ruled that their leases constitute property under Article 142 of the Constitution, and the President’s revocation of those leases amounted to depriving the applicants of property without compensating them, as noted in Article 142 of the Constitution.

Nicholson stated now that they have won the High Court case, the farmers intend to cultivate the next crop for rice.

She however noted that since they haven’t been compensated or paid court costs, they are hesitant to move forward with plans to farm the lands.

Nicholson said once given an invitation, she would be happy to testify to the treatment which has been meted out to the West Coast Berbice farmers, reportedly at the hands of senior Mahaica/ Mahaicony/Abary-Agriculture Development Association (MMA-ADA) officials.

“On August 14th I submitted my documents at the box in Onverwagt. I hope to have these and other matters ad-

dressed in the land CoI, but up to now, I haven’t heard anything from them as yet – they haven’t called me,” the woman explained.

While a conservatory order was granted until compensation is worked out by both parties, another order was granted whereby each of the applicants was to be paid court costs in the sum of $300,000. To date, they are still to be paid.

They had previously claimed that in November 2014, former President Donald Ramotar had granted the 50year leases for State land located in the rear of Number 40 Village, West Coast Berbice.

The MMA/ADA had cancelled the State land leases last year, and these West Coast Berbice farmers filed legal action challenging that cancellation. But after President Granger cancelled the leases, they again filed court action and were successful in their challenge against the revocation.

The MMA-ADA came under criticism for its “illegal” possession of some 2000 acres of land that belonged to the Abary Cattle Ranch Company Limited (ACRCL) without any reason or explanation. ACRCL’s Chairman, Hemraj Kissoon, told the CoI last week the liability company has been in existence since 1909 with the responsibility for fattening animals in the Abary area. He said that they have over 3000 heads of cattle, utilising approximately 7784 acres of land. However, he noted that this amount of land is not sufficient with each head of cattle, requiring at least four acres of land to graze, since sections of the land are swampy and grass does not grow in some parts.

with that of the previous People’s National Congress (PNC) and that of the current coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government. “There is nothing to boast about,” Edghill said, while pointing out that the PPP/C has brought about significant changes and rapid development not only to coastland areas, but also in communities across Guyana.

Aside from that, Edghill said there has been growing incompetence within the current David Grangerled Administration when it comes to handling issues relating to the petroleum sector. He opined that members of the coalition Government are not “prepared to handle” this enormous sector, explaining that they lack capacity at various levels. “I don’t think Government has the capacity. They are feeling their way and they don’t want to admit that they don’t have the ca-

Opposition MP Juan Edghill

pacity. It’s a pride issue,” the former Minister stated.

He also noted that the Government is dealing with a multibillion-dollar company which can hire the best skills from around the world and that Guyana should seek to have highly skilled professionals working alongside the Government whenever they meet with these oil compa-

nies.

“You have people in Government who are pretenders. They don’t know, they are not surrounding themselves with people who know and they are mouthing off clichés that doesn’t inspire confidence. And ExxonMobil will make rings around them and that is a great concern for us in this country.”

Edghill also agrees with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s opinion that Government should release the contract it signed with ExxonMobil. He said once that is done, “We wouldn’t be talking percentage in a vacuum; we will be talking about this in the context of what the contract says. So, we are not exploring anymore. We have ideas of what quantities exist. Let us see the entire contract.”

Although the discovery of oil is welcoming, some Guyanese believe that Government should start tak-

ing the necessary steps towards the proper management of the resource. Guyana is poised to make huge profits from the oil industry, with the country projected to produce an estimated 100,000 barrels of oil per day. Annual profits, based on an average price of US$50 per barrel, could earn Guyana billions.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 2017 Staff Report, 75 per cent of total oil revenues will be extracted by ExxonMobil for those costs.

Of the 25 per cent left for distribution, based on the 50/50 sharing agreement, Exxon will get 12.5 per cent and Government 12.5 per cent.

Exxon’s oil find in Guyana has attracted international attention, with a number of seminars being held over time. In addition, assistance is being provided by the IMF to boost Guyana’s administrative capacity to handle the expected

12 news Women urged to support 19-year-old peacemaker Green economy stabbed to death monDAY, august 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

– as PNCR hosts Region 10 NCW conference ... during Corentyne early-morning brawl

N

By Utamu Belle

U

nder the theme, “PNCR Women, support for a Green economy”, the National Congress of Women (NCW) - the women’s arm of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), hosted its Regional Conference at the LICHAS Hall in Linden on Saturday.

With scores of women from a wide cross-section of Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) and other locations, including Georgetown, congregating, messages of upliftment -- more so in keeping with a Green economy and women’s development -were delivered.

In delivering the feature address, Cheryl Sampson urged women to be a force to reckon with in support of the green economy. “There are times in our lives when we need to stop, look and listen...We think of where we came from, where we are, and where we want to go,” she told the gathering.

Sampson also urged women that, in developing the economy, they must show support and appreciation for locally manufactured products and the creation of cottage industries. She said they must also consider creating their own version of locally made products for export.

In this regard, she stressed that local products such as guava cheese would attract both local and foreign markets. She encouraged women to utilise their own back yards and other

Women in attendance at the conference

available spaces to facilitate planting, as she stressed the importance of utilising what is available.

“We can feed ourselves!

If we go green and we use what we have and plant our little trees, we can contribute to our economy,” she urged. Sampson further challenged women to develop local produce, master the art of packaging same, and get acquainted with shipping in addition to supporting a clean environment.

In stressing the era of the oil and gas industry, Sampson urged women to also get their children qualified for the emerging oil and gas sector. “We are the ones who have got to support the green economy...do a little planting so that we can feed ourselves,” she said.

Meanwhile, Chairpeson of the Region 10 NCW, Denise Belgrave, gave an overview of the Regional NCW, noting that it has em-

barked on empowering women in the community through various programmes and activities, with its motto being “Upliftment of women”.

“Our vision is to reach a wider cross section of women as far as possible, to aid in development,” she noted.

Belgrave said that since its resuscitation in 2014, the Region 10 NCW has also enhanced its membership by installing women’s groups at Linden, Coomacka, Three Friends, and Yaribo Mines; as well as Old England in Region 10. She said four other communities have so far expressed interest in membership.

She also urged women to uplift each other through positive decisions, words and support, noting that “women are the real architects of society”. Also in attendance were Central Executive Committee Member Sandra Adams and Minister Valerie Patterson-Yearwood.

ineteen-year-old Vishram Mohabir of 258 Williamsburg, Corentyne Berbice died early Sunday morning after he sustained stab wounds to his neck as he attempted to act as a peacemaker between his younger brother and 44-year-old Williamsburg resident Ivor Thom, with whom he had an ongoing issue.

Mohabir’s 16-year-old brother received several lacerations on his hands from that altercation.

Guyana Times was told that after Mohabir had reportedly been stabbed to the neck by Thom, the suspect was immediately taken into custody by police officers who were patrolling the area.

Police ‘B’ Division Commander Paul Williams told Guyana Times that members of the Community Police Group (CPG) had shut down a bar-b-que and lime in the village at some time around 3am on Sunday, and the police action had allegedly drawn rebuke from a group of individuals, of which the accused was part.

According to the Police Commander, the group had re-converged, and the 16-year-old was passing when the accused confront-

Dead: 19-year-old Vishram Mohabir

ed him. At that point, the older brother stepped in to separate the two, and the accused whipped out a knife and stabbed him in the neck, before inflicting injury on the hands of the 16-year-old with whom he had a beef.

Commander Williams said the suspect was immediately taken into custody by a police patrol that was just a few yards away.

At the home of the deceased, an older brother told Guyana Times that his two younger brothers had gone out during the evening, and sometime later, his 16-yearold brother returned home

to drop his bicycle. While the teen was on his way back to meet his brother, he was confronted by the accused, who began to “hassle” him.

According to the sibling, his brother Vishram intervened and asked, “Man, what you really doing?” and was then reportedly stabbed by the accused.

The dead man’s mother, Davika Ranjas, said she was awakened at some time around 4am on Sunday and told the dreaded news about her second child.

“That was after four this morning, I get a call to say come Ajaj (Vishram) get bore in his throat. I go to the hospital and went to the emergency room. When I got there I see me son on the bed. I said, ‘Boy what happen with you? He said ‘Ma’.

That is all I hear from my son”, the grieving woman told Guyana Times.

She said she was asked to leave the room, and sometime later was informed that her son had died.

The distressed mother said that, as a single parent, she was devastated by the sudden death of her son, whom she said had become the breadwinner of the family.

Police investigations into the tragic incident continue.

Rockstone residents complain about poor roads, lack of jobs

– among other issues during meeting with Trotman

A

Minister Raphael Trotman, Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland and Rockstone residents pose for a photo

team of officials from the Natural Resources Ministry, including Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman; Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland; and Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira met with residents of Rockstone on Saturday.

The visit was to afford residents of the community, located 14 miles from Linden, the opportunity to voice their concerns to Government.

Lynette Benn highlighted that the community lacks one of the most vital connections in today’s society, that being telecommunications.

According to her, the village receives a weak Guyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT) signal. As such, she requested that there be an improved signal strength or better access to some form of telecommunication in the area. This, she contended, will boost economic activity.

Celestine Peters indicated that there should be

rules implemented, so persons coming to fish will not harm the Arapaima which is abound in the area. She also added that domestic fishing is one of the main activities being hindered by the increased fishing activity by outside persons, hence “some measure should be put in place” to curb and safeguard fishing.

The Department of Public Information said other issues raised at the meeting include the conditions of the roads, land titling, job creation, upgrade of the Guest House, and acquiring mining lands.

According to Minister Trotman, the “Place has rich tourism potential but is struggling for support.” He has committed to reporting all concerns to the respective ministries to ensure a speedy resolution of the issues.

Mayor Holland advised the village to collaborate with the municipal body to ensure Rockstone be included in the township of Linden.

This will enable Rockstone to access services to help in further developing the area. He urged residents to petition to be a part of the township, and meet with him at a later date.

MP Figueira also encouraged residents to work to be a part of the township, for “more can be achieved if we work in collaboration”. The Member of Parliament commended residents for airing their views honestly.

“Government needs the people to candidly express some of the difficulties you are experiencing so that they can assess from a better standpoint how they prioritise these,” he said.

Scented candle wax and bolts of cloth were donated to the community by MP Figueira, for members to use either economically or recreationally. He told the residents that “these materials are a jumpstart to boosting economic activity in the community”.

news

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monDAY, august 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Amerindian conference

Govt, not NTC, to be blamed for non-achievement –T oshao Dorrick accused of being “an apologist” for APNU/AFC coalition

A

s the eleventh Annual National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference concluded on Saturday, several toshaos have come out in stinging criticisms of Yupukari Toshao Russian Dorrick, accusing him of being “an apologist” for the Government regarding issues relating to the development of Indigenous (Amerindian) people in Guyana.

Dorrick had told this publication that the NTC Executive did not stick to the agenda for the conference. “To be honest, I am not too sure what I am going to tell my people. I came to the NTC with the hope that I would have had a response to go back and tell the people what I got,” Dorrick said.

In response, however, one of the toshaos (who preferred to have his identity concealed), rebuffed the Yupukari toshao’s comments on Sunday by telling Guyana Times that Dorrick has refused to blame the coalition APNU/AFC Administration

for Amerindians not achieving what they had set out to attain during the meetings.

“He has accused the PPP in the past for not doing enough, which is a blatant lie,” the toshao expressed.

He also criticised the response, or lack thereof, to the flood recovery situation in Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni).

Noting that this was just one of the issues that needed to be addressed, one of the toshaos that spoke to this newspaper indicated that Government, and not the NTC, should be blamed for the plight of Amerindians and lack of any tangible achievement at the conference.

When this newspaper had interviewed several toshaos during the 2017 NTC, they claimed there were too many hiccups during the six days they had met to discuss important issues affecting their villages. Several members of the NTC Executive staged a walkout on Wednesday, accusing Government of attempting

to ‘undermine’ the issues being put forward for discussion.

Vice Chairman of the NTC, Lenox Shuman, told Guyana Times that while toshaos intended to host presentations on that day, there was no Government minister present until the evening.

“The fact that seven Government ministers showed up just to engage the NTC at this very last moment is questionable. It brings to my mind the question of sincerity. How sincere and what kind of action you are going to get for these people? And I see it as an attempt to undermine the credibility of the NTC, to undermine the proposed work that the NTC is doing, and to ensure that the NTC remains weak,” Shuman had related.

Shuman berated the ministers for showing up late in the evenings: “I don’t see the NTC to be a side chick or a side thing for the ministers, that they could only see us in the nights. What is wrong with during the day” he questioned.

A section of the gathering at the NTC Conference

The Toshao that this newspaper spoke with on Sunday concurred, criticizing the ministers for going to meeting at 18:00 hrs to 20:00 hrs rather than earlier. In fact, the Toshao pointed out that several MPs from the Opposition PPP/C were present throughout the day where discussions were held on number of issues that affect Amerindians including land tenure and titling, recovery efforts and assistance in the aftermath of flooding in Region 8.

Meanwhile, NTC officials had told Guyana Times that issues which should have been, resolved since the last NTC

conference have been discussed again and the same solutions given last year have been repeated. He said that, over the past year, the NTC has been preaching for Government to release the guns seized during the gun amnesty from Amerindians, and Ramjattan has again promised to give the guns back.

“Minister Ramjattan showed up and said, ‘You will get your guns back; we have to put serial numbers on them.

Why isn’t it we could get this action since a year ago when we brought it to his attention?”

Shuman expressed.

At the opening of con-

ference, the NTC executive had also condemned comments made by a Government Minister, who suggested that Amerindians are greedy.

Chairman of the Council, Joel Fredericks, criticised Government over an incident which took place as a direct attack on Indigenous people’s identity, and expressed disappointment with the statement. “(There are) Ministers of the Government insulting the Indigenous people and calling them greedy, also in Parliament, without any consequence,” he had observed.

He also raised concerns over the fact that no parliamentarian from either the Government or Opposition had side of the House had objected to the remarks purportedly made by the said Minister in Parliament.

Issues such as alleged political interference in Indigenous communities and the need for strengthening of the NTC were also discussed at the conference opening.

Fly Jamaica battles massive backlog

… passengers threaten legal action as chartered flight allegedly turned back on runway

Hundreds of Fly Jamaica passengers making their way through Pearson International in Toronto on Saturday, after being stranded for a number of days

By Ashraf Dabie

E

ver since the grounding of an aircraft attached to Fly Jamaica’s fleet over two weeks ago, the airline has been battling with a massive backlog, as the swarms of irate passengers continue to multiply at three of the airports from which the carrier operates.

Hundreds of travellers booked with Fly Jamaica Airways over the past week have been left stranded at the John F Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York and Pearson International in Toronto, Canada, ultimately resulting in a buildup of passengers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport; given that there has been an interruption to both in-bound and out-bound services here in Guyana.

Even with the airline’s administration being forced to seek refuge by chartering an aircraft operating through another international fleet, passengers are still awaiting their flights out of the CJIA, while those returning home were faced with an endless list of inconveniences.

On Thursday last, the world’s largest twinjet, a Boeing 777 attached to Omni Airways in the United States, made a historical touchdown at the CJIA, carrying 377 of Fly Jamaica’s customers, who were delayed in their return from New York for a number of days.

However, a simultaneous flight was set to relieve passengers stranded in Canada on Friday but the Omni Airways 767 domestic jet had allegedly missed its allotted take off time while taxiing to the runway, and as such, was grounded for an entire day.

An excess of 260 passengers finally landed in Guyana on Sunday, only to discover that some of their luggage did not make the flight out of Canada. This was after scores of furious customers had already abandoned the wait and booked their trip back home with other airlines.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Sunday was one of the just landed passengers who expressed several grievances in the airline’s response to the technical difficulty and thereby outlined her family’s losses as a result of their days-

long delay.

The young woman who was set to commence her studies at the University of Guyana is now uncertain of her academic future, given that she missed the registration deadline after being stranded in Canada since Monday of last week.

She explained that the confusion of being delayed for five days and subsequently turned away after finally boarding a plane, her family was left in the dark by the staff of Fly Jamaica, who

were unforthcoming with information relating to their return to Guyana.

However, after finally arriving at home, they were greeted with yet another pile of disappointing news, following the announcement that their luggage was not on the plane.

As such, the young woman is calling on Fly Jamaica Airways to embark on efforts to compensate the passengers for their losses, especially in light of the immeasurable inconveniences.

In addition, other enraged passengers have taken to social media and other forums in widespread outbursts of condemnation over the airline’s failure to cater for their customers in the time of interruptions to their regular operations.

Nevertheless, Fly Jamaica Airways has, over the past few

days, announced that they are working feverishly to put an end to the delays and return their service to normalcy.

In fact, the carrier has announced that the grounded aircraft is currently undergoing repairs to its engine but is expected to be back on the runway within the coming week.

14 news

monDAY, august 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Onion trials prove large-scale production feasible – despite challenges

longer (unrefrigerated) shelflife of 80 to 100 days. The seedlings which were grown under shaded conditions required special attention.

Details are that heavy rainfall after transplanting could lead to more than 90 per cent mortality, pests and diseases were almost non-existent under shaded conditions, fertilisers should be applied at or near the surface because of the shallow root system and

F

ollowing several trials of onion cultivation by small farmers, largescale production of the commodity in Guyana has been deemed feasible. This would result in a significant reduction of the import bill for onions into the country.

This information was disclosed after partnering agencies, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and World University Service of Canada (WUSC), had conducted pilot projects in several parts of Guyana.

The project was rolled out in Regions Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

Presentations highlighting the findings of the trial, lessons learnt as well as recommendations going forward were made on Friday, August 26, 2017, by NAREI’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Oudho Homenauth; Research Scientist, Tracy Persaud; and PROPEL Agronomist, Joanna Robertson.

The trials were conducted in areas of the Mahaica River, Kara-Kara, Amelia’s Ward, Affiance, Parika, Hopetown and Benab to name a few.

Indicative research showed that monitoring should be focused on protected cultiva-

Joanna Robertson, Agronomist at PROPEL

tion, nutritional and irrigation facts.

The objectives of the trials were to demonstrate that onions can be grown locally, to determine the producer’s perception of cultivating onions through participatory research and evaluation, garner consumers perception of taste and preference of the locally grown commodity.

In her review of the project, PROPEL Agronomist, Joanna Robertson noted that, “It is our hope to increase onion production in Guyana over a period of years…The long-term effect would be for us to gradually reduce the amounts of imports of onions in due time as production increases.”

According to statistics presented, Guyana’s annual consumption of onions is recorded

at approximately 3987 metric tonnes, costing the country a fresh market expenditure of US$1,459,765.

According to the Department of Public Information, the varieties used for the trials were the Red Creole, Mercedes and Texas Early Grano. The Mercedes was identified as being most suitable for large-scale cultivation in Guyana. This variety along with the others was cultivated during three seasons of the year.

The Mercedes variety yielded 56,444 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha) when its actual yield potential is 57,500 kg/ha.

Other facts determined during trials were that onions which were cultivated have a

– along Rupert Craig Highway

W

The minibus and Hilux Surf that collided on Sunday afternoon

al passengers.

The driver of the minibus emerged from the incident a hero, as passengers were high in praise of his efforts to avert the collision. “He tried his best to save everybody in the bus,” was the general consensus.

in several areas throughout the country.

The Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL) project is a sustainable economic growth project which aims to increase the value of Caribbean fresh produce. By doing this, producers will be able to access high-value markets in the Caribbean and internationally.

Dexter Sultan, from Sanvoort, Canje (Region Six), a participant in the onion pilot project

Several injured in accident estward bound Route 44 minibus BNN 9711 collided with Toyota Hilux Surf vehicle PHH 5650 at the Conversation Tree junction of the Rupert Craig Highway in Greater Georgetown just after 18:00hrs on Sunday, and several persons had to be rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries before being discharged.

The Hilux Surf was reportedly westward bound, travelling towards Georgetown when the driver attempted to make a U-turn at the Conversation Tree junction in an effort to head back towards the East Coast. The vehicle ended up in the path of the minibus, whose front crashed into the side of the Hilux Surf, and a number of occupants of both vehicles sustained injuries upon impact.

Eyewitnesses detailed that at time of the mishap, the bus had 12 passengers and the Hilux vehicle had three, including a child who was flung out of the vehicle and on to the roadway. The impact of the crash also snapped seats in the bus out of place, causing minor injuries to sever-

ion cultivation in other fields.

However, in his trial plot at Sandvoort, West Canje, Berbice, Region Six, some of his seedlings died while other plants were spoilt.

“When I went there to clear the area a few weeks ago, I actually saw some of them; they bulb very well but not fit for human consumption due to not having consistent amounts of water,” Sultan explained.

Police investigations have commenced.

The Conversation Tree junction has, over the years, been the site of countless accidents, and is notorious for roadway fatalities. (Ashraf Dabie)

Unrefrigerated onions, approximately three months after harvesting

in most cases, frequent irrigation can increase bulb size of the onion.

One farmer, Dexter Sultan, shared that he has seen the results of the on-

NAREI has been working with the World University Service of Canada through a Canadian Funded project to conduct a number of onion and potato cultivation trials

The Canadian Government has invested Cdn$100 million for the project’s implementation over a six-year period.

Govt working to improve housing in Amerindian communities

T

he Government, through the Hinterland Housing Project, is working on building quality neighbourhoods and sustainable communities for Amerindian villages, according to Minister within the Communities Ministry, Dawn Hasting-Williams. In addition, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson said the Education Ministry of is working to ensure quality and updated education delivery in the hinterland communities.

Minister HastingWilliams was addressing a gathering of Toshaos and village leaders at the National Toshaos Conference. She said the Government is committed to working with the Amerindian Village Councils and villagers to ensure sustainable development.

“We have interventions ongoing in Regions One, Seven and Nine and that is where we are meeting with the Village Councils, having discussions with them and having them come up with their own house plans and we have a number of discussions with them to see how best we can improve housing in the Amerindian communities…” “… We want to ensure that you have increased access to potable water, so we are not just building homes; we also ensure that we provide you with potable water.

When we build your homes and if you don’t have proper sanitation outlet we ensure that we build sanitation outlets,” Hasting-Williams added.

She further stated that the aim is to ensure that there is less overcrowding,

Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson

Junior Communities Minister Dawn Hasting-Williams

in Amerindian homes, and to improve the quality and sustainability of the communities.

In the 2017 budget, $100 million has been allocated for the construction of 115 subsidised housing units and 45 roof and water catchment system subsidies in Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Under the Hinterland Housing Project, there would be full house replacement and/or a roof replacement. A full house replacement means families will be provided with a one-storey elevated timber building in Region One, or flat burnt-brick building in Region Nine, measuring 500 square feet, with four rooms and front and back stairs; zinc roofing, guttering and a 400-gallon water tank.

Under roof replacement, they will be provided with zinc sheets for their houses, measuring no more than

5000 square feet, complete with guttering, fittings and a 400-gallon water tank.

Meanwhile, CEO Hutson said they are cognisant of the fact that there are issues to be addressed in the education sector and are working assiduously to bridge the gap in education delivery between the Hinterland and the coastland. He added that they are also trying to improve the education quality of teachers in the Hinterland communities.

“We are looking to bring science, technology, and engineering in Hinterland Regions. We are looking to align teaching materials, reviewing and restructuring the acquisition of education materials and to ensure that is accessed on a timely basis,” Hutson stated.

Quite often teachers in the Hinterland areas complain about the lack of updated educational materials and the quality of services delivered.

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MONDAY, August 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say about

I SAY...

Drug use in Indigenous communities M

ore than 200 leaders of Indigenous communities across Guyana in the past week gathered in Georgetown for the annual convention of the National Toshaos Council, at with pressing matters affecting the first peoples were deliberated. Stemming from the week-long forum, Guyana Times spoke with the Toshaos of various communities as it relates to the prevalence of drug use among youths within their areas. Here are the views of the Indigenous community leaders:

Rufus Rodrigues – Toshao of Pomeroon Village, Region Two Drugs in our village is a big

issue. I find that the youths, most of them using drugs now. I don’t know if the drugs are from people farming in the village but I know there are many who are using it.

Also, I think there are persons who are selling it right in the area.

I would like if we can get assistance to check the village and investigate where it is coming from because it is causing problems most of the time and sometimes, they (the young people) are not focusing on their education.

The drugs making them drop out of school and other things.

Norma Thomas – Toshao of Kamarang, Region Seven In recent years, we are observing plenty marijuana in Kamarang and a lot of young people are using the drug. It still beats me to know how it reach in Kamarang.

I don’t know if they are planting it in the area. We have health workers that are speaking out against drug use via health education at school, village meetings and through the sports club. But it has not been effective; within three months we had two deaths. Young people dying from drug abuse and this is the first of its kind in my community.

Ivan Pio – Toshao of Cambelltown, Region Eight Especially marijuana…we don’t know where it is coming from but the (majority) of Mahdia, not Cambelltown really, are into marijuana.

Youths…small, school-age children also engage in

smoking. It’s now going over to the women (females). I understand that in Princeville there is also cocaine selling and when the Police are notified they are so wise that they hide (it), as they would have already communicated this information.

They have become so bold that they smoke it in front of Toshaos, even Police because the Police cannot really do anything there. I see it having a negative impact on the community’s development in that all the boys do is stay home, lime and do nothing… they are unable to contribute meaningfully to society. There is also an increase in the crime rate; Amerindian youths are both perpetrators and victims of robberies.

I also recommend that there be strict policies at airstrips where persons boarding and coming off are checked by security or airlines personnel.

in the community, although it is rumoured that it is being grown but not on a large scale.

Maybe persons going into the back dams through the river may have introduced the use of drugs.

Right now we are trying to talk to every community. There are many young people in the region, some of them coming out with good grades, but they don’t have jobs within the communities.

From there you have to go out of the community if you want a job and any time a young person leaving school and going in the bush, that’s what they will end up in, the use of drugs, and when they come back they will introduce it to their friends.

This is affecting the community because the young people are our future generation and they are the ones now getting involved in drugs.

Alonzo Cornelius – Toshao of Haimarakabra, Region Six For the past five years, we would’ve recognised that young people between the ages of 14-16 are becoming more involved in drugs, marijuana especially. We do not know if it is being grown

Paul Chekima – Toshao of Massakenari, Region Nine Concerning drugs, there is no problem as yet. But young people coming out to savannah, sometimes they might carry (drugs). I am looking at the situation so whenever the go from here to savannah, I investigate all of them. I check their bags.

Nicholas Fredericks – Toshao of Shulinab Village, South Rupununi, Region Nine I have seen an increase of the use of drugs in my community. I wouldn’t say it is a problem as yet but what I think is causing that

is because you have the road passing through from Lethem to the mining area of Marudi and I think that is one of the main reasons why you would find the increase of drugs, not only in my community but others as well because of the access.

One of the things we are trying to do is have a strategic checkpoint where we can monitor who and what coming in to the area.

If we can have that, it will put us in a better position to monitor what’s going on. We have public and youth talks.

The Village Council would usually go to the schools, at our public meetings and through church where we discuss social matters.

The issue is also discussed at home in an effort to overcome the problem and to provide support.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, august 28, 2017

Regional

Guatemalan President orders out Teenager charged over Scottish UN anti-corruption investigator conductor’s death in Argentina

G

uatemala’s President has ordered the expulsion from the country of the head of the UN anti-corruption mission.

President Jimmy Morales ordered Iván Velásquez Gómez’s immediate removal in a video message released earlier in the day.

However the Constitutional Court quickly halted the order, The UN agency has backed calls for the removal of Morales’ political immunity and an inquiry into funding irregularities in the 2015 election. In a video posted on social media, Morales declared Colombian lawyer Iván Velásquez persona non grata.

“As President of the republic, for the interests of the Guatemalan people,

President Morales declared Iván Velásquez Gómez persona non grata

strengthening of the rule of

law, and institutionality, I declare Mr Iván Velásquez Gómez non grata, in his capacity as Commissioner of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, and I order that he immediately leaves the Republic of Guatemala,” Morales said.

Health Minister Lucre Hernández Mack? resigned in protest at the move. She said on Twitter it had become “ethically and politically unviable” to work in such a government.

Morales is a former comic actor who had never held public office before becoming President. He surprised traditional politicians and won the election promising to tackle corruption and impunity. (BBC News)

T&T a hub for illegal immigrants – Global Detention Project

T

he Global Detention Project, an international group based in Switzerland says Trinidad and Tobago is a hub for an alarming number of illegal immigrants.

In its online report, Global Detention Project says there are currently 100,000 undocumented migrants living in the twin island republic.

The report – “Trinidad and Tobago Immigration Detention Profile” says the rate at which foreigners were migrating to the country, national security could

be seriously compromised.

The report said that Trinidad and Tobago was a stomping ground for illegal immigrants because, it being one of the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean, its people enjoyed an above-average per capita income for the region.

“Its status has made this country an important transit and destination country as well as a major tourist destination,” the report said.

According to the report, Guyanese and Jamaicans formed the two major groups of migrants living illegally

in the country.

It added that Venezuelans and persons from Ghana were also seeking refuge in Trinidad and Tobago in droves due to the economic situation in their respective countries.

The Global Detention Project report also noted that the treatment of detainees from Africa had been criticised due to the length of time they remained in custody.

In many cases, immigrants remained in detention up to three years. (Jamaica

Observer)

A

teenager has been charged in connection with the death of a Scottish conductor in Argentina.

Violinist Finlay Ferguson, 60, was the director of the San Martin Theatre Youth Academic Orchestra and a former gold medal-winning student at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

His body was found in his apartment in the city of Córdoba on Thursday and

police said his death was being treated as murder. Local reports said police arrested a 19-year-old man who has been charged with simple homicide. The teenager is said to have been in possession of Ferguson’s mobile phone and computer at the time of his arrest. Local media reported that Ferguson was found naked in bed and had died from a blow to the head, thought to have been from a gym dumbbell.

Córdoba’s cultural agen-

cy cancelled performances for the weekend at the theatre where he worked and expressed their “deepest sympathy” for the “painful loss”.

In a statement, the agency paid tribute to a “great teacher” and said he had taught dozens of violinists and other musicians who now perform in official orchestras across Argentina.

Ferguson, from Glasgow, had lived in Argentina for 30 years. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Trump threatens to terminate NAFTA, renews calls for Mexico to pay for wall

D

onald Trump on Sunday paused his monitoring of flooding and hurricane recovery in Texas to fire off tweets on familiar bugbears including NAFTA and his promised border wall.

Canada and Mexico were being “very difficult” over the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, the President wrote, threatening to terminate the deal instead.

Trump also demanded that Mexico pay for his border wall “through reimbursement/other”, signalled a visit to Missouri designed to pressure a Democratic senator, and praised a book by a controversial law enforcement official.

Trump was at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland. He spent most of the morning tweeting about rescue efforts

Trump conducting a video teleconference on Hurricane Harvey from a conference room at Camp David

in Texas as the Houston area was hit hard by flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey, which also devastated coastal communities.

NAFTA has been a target for Trump since the presidential campaign. Shortly before writing that he was “going to a cabinet meeting (tele-conference)… on #Harvey”, he tweeted that it was the “worst trade deal ever made” and added: “May

have to terminate?”

The US, Mexico and Canada have begun formal negotiations to rework the 23-year-old trade deal that Trump blames for hundreds of thousands of lost US factory jobs. The US has raised tariffs on Canadian lumber. Trump has also said: “Canada, what they’ve done to our dairy farmworkers is a disgrace.” (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Guard Sector San Juan diverted the Joseph Napier to interdict the suspect vessel – “which failed to heave to and performed aggressive manoeuvres to avoid interception.”

During the pursuit, the Coast Guard said the Joseph Napier boarding team members “observed the suspects jettisoning objects overboard, and one of the suspects brandishing a knife at them.”

“The Joseph Napier forced the non-compliant vessel to a full stop by employing disabling fire to the suspect

vessel’s engines,” the Coast Guard said.

“Following the interdiction, a Coast Guard boarding team conducted an at-sea boarding and removed the suspected smugglers.

Miguel Rivera-Cuadrado, Coast Guard Investigative Service Resident Agent in Puerto Rico, said it was “a successful interdiction thanks to the great interagency coordination communication and execution between the Coast Guard units involved.

Corruption our major US Coast Guard apprehends challenge, T&T PM Dom Rep nationals suspected of T drug smuggling in C’bean Sea rinidad Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley has admitted that the major challenge facing his Government is the extent of corruption in Trinidad and Tobago.

Rowley made the comment on the Barber Shop programme on i955 FM on Saturday, as he was asked by host John Benoit to reflect on how the People’s National Movement, which will celebrates its second year in office in two weeks’ time, had performed so far. Rowley said if he were to leave the job today, he would list the extent of corruption in this country as his major challenge. “If I leave this job today and I have to write a script as to what was my major challenge as Prime Minister of

Trinidad Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley

Trinidad and Tobago during my

tenure I will write simply the extent of corruption in Trinidad and Tobago,” Rowley said.

“That is the biggest challenge that the Government faces because from the top to the bottom there are people and instances of corrupt practice which makes public service, service in the country more expensive and it makes it less efficient. “Everybody wants a bit more than they are entitled to and some people are so entrenched in it that they demand it as a right and if you interfere with the arrangements that are in place they have some significant push back and this Government is prepared to face that down.” (Excerpt from Trinidad

Guardian)

T

he United States Coast Guard says four Dominican Republic nationals were arrested when they were interdicted by the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier in the Mona Passage waters off Puerto Rico.

On Friday, the Coast Guard said the crew of a Coast Guard maritime patrol aircraft detected a suspicious go-fast vessel traveling towards Puerto Rico from The Dominican Republic, about 38 nautical miles West of Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico.

Watchstanders at Coast

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Venezuelan Army, civil militias hold exercises after Trump threat

V

enezuela held nationwide armed forces exercises on Saturday, calling on civilians to join reserve units to defend against a possible attack after US President Donald Trump warned that a “military option” was on the table for the crisis-hit country.

Trump made the threat two weeks ago and on Friday he signed an order prohibiting dealings in new debt from the Venezuelan Government or its oil company, a move to hobble financing that Trump says is fuelling socialist President Nicolás Maduro’s “dictator-

ship.”

“Against the belligerent threats of the United States, all Venezuelans between the ages of 18 and 60 are required to contribute to the integral defence of the nation,” said an announcement broadcast early on Saturday on state television.

Maduro used Trump’s threat to try to energise his political base, broadcasting images of rifle-carrying civilians negotiating obstacle courses and learning hand-to-hand combat.

The Government created the hashtag#EsHoraDeDefenderLaPatria, which translates

as “It’s Time To Defend The Homeland,” to promote the exercises.

TV images showed Venezuelans young and old entering military reserve registration centres. But there was no evidence that registration reached far beyond

Government employees and Maduro’s Socialist Party loyalists. Scenes were aired of camouflaged sharp-shooters firing their weapons while military commanders gave fiery speeches at “anti-imperialist” rallies.

More exercises were scheduled for Sunday. (Excerpt from Reuters)

monDAY, august 28, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Storm Harvey: Up to 2000 rescued as Houston hit by 'catastrophic floods' U p to 2000 people have been rescued from floods in and around Houston, as Tropical Storm Harvey continues to batter Texas with heavy rains.

There are reports of possible deaths in submerged vehicles, but investigations continue, Chief Darryl Coleman of the Harris County Sheriff's Office said.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott told the media he could not confirm storm-related deaths. The National Weather Service (NWS) says conditions are "unprecedented".

It said there was a "flash flood emergency" across the Houston Metro area, with travel near impossible.

Many shelters have been opened, including in a convention centre. Governor Abbott said about 250 roads and motorways had been closed in Texas and that he

More than 3000 National Guard members are on-hand to help in Houston and elsewhere

had made a federal disaster declaration for 19 counties that was granted by President Donald Trump.

"We are dealing with a triangle of ongoing rain, including Houston, Victoria and Corpus Christi cities," Abbott said. "We will continue receiving incredibly heavy rain."

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has urged residents not to call emergency ser-

vices unless their situation is life-threatening and they need to be rescued.

"Don't get on the road.

Don't assume this storm is over," he said.

Officials in Harris County, of which Houston is the county seat, have asked people who own boats to help with rescues. Houston Bush Airport has announced that all commercial flight operations have been stopped un-

til further notice. Houston's other airport, Hobby, is also shut, with runways completely flooded.

In Washington, the White House said that President Trump would visit Texas on Tuesday to survey storm damage. Mr Trump had earlier said that he would go as soon as it was possible to do so "without causing disruption". (Excerpt from BBC News)

Zillertal Alps accident kills 5 German climbers in Austria F

ive German climbers were killed and another climber was seriously injured after an accident in the Austrian Alps.

Five rescue helicopters were sent to the scene, 2900 metres (9500 feet) above sea level in the Zillertal Alps.

The climbers were roped together when one of them slipped, pulling the rest of the group with him, Police said. They fell 200 metres (650 feet) down a slope be-

fore landing in a crevasse.

Only one survived, and was flown to hospital in Salzburg, about 80km (50 miles) away.

Officials say the climbers were below the Mannlkarscharte pass near Krimml, in an area where a heightened risk of rockslides made recovery of the bodies more difficult.

"We think a rope may have come loose," said Anton Voithofer, head of the Red

Cross rescue team. Three of those who died were over 60 years old. The climber who was seriously injured is in his 70s.

The accident is believed to be the deadliest so far this season in the Austrian Alps, where several dozen mountaineers die annually.

In a separate accident, three Italian climbers are believed to have died on a glacier in the Ademello Brenta Park near Trento, in the Italian

Alps.

Two of them perished after falling into a crevasse.

The Associated Press reports that a third was rescued but died later. They were climbing as a group of nine mountaineers roped together, and their six companions all sustained injuries.

On Saturday, an Italian climber died after he was hit by rocks in the Valtellina valley near the Swiss border. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Taliban suicide bomb attack on Afghan forces kills 13

A

Taliban suicide bomber killed at least 13 people and wounded several more in an attack on a convoy of Afghan soldiers in southern Helmand province late Sunday, an official said.

It was the latest in a series of deadly blows to Afghanistan's beleaguered security forces and yet again underlined spiralling insecurity in the war-torn nation.

"A suicide bomber detonated an explosive-filled car as the Afghan National Army convoy passed a small market in Nawa District of Helmand," Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP news agency.

He added that civilians and forces personnel were among the dead while more

than a dozen others had been wounded.

A source working at a nearby hospital told AFP on condition of anonymity that the bodies of 15 victims had been brought to the hospital. Another 19 injured were also admitted, he added.

"The majority of the dead belong to Afghan forces and most of the wounded are civilians," the source said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a WhatsApp message sent to journalists.

The deadly assault came days after a Taliban suicide bomber killed five civilians and wounded dozens of others, mainly children, when he detonated a car filled with explosives at a police headquarters in Lashkar Gah, Helmand's capital.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Almost 100 dead and thousands evacuated as violence flares in Myanmar

Indian states in lockdown for guru's rape sentencing after deadly protests I T ndia has deployed thousands of riot Police and shut down Internet services in two northern states before the sentencing of a self-styled “god man” whose followers were involved in deadly clashes with authorities after he was convicted of rape on Friday.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, leader of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, has a vast rural following in Punjab and Haryana states, where his furious supporters burned down petrol stations and train stations and torched vehicles after a local court found him guilty of raping two women in a 2002 case.

At least 38 people were killed and more than 200 injured in the violence in Haryana, officials said, drawing sharp criticism for the state government run by the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), to which the Prime

17

Bangladeshi soldiers at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. An estimated 2000 Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh since Friday

Scorch marks are seen on the road in Panchkula after protests following Singh’s rape conviction

Minister Narendra Modi, belongs.

The case has also highlighted the Indian heartland’s fascination with spiritual gurus, who enjoy immense political clout for their ability to mobilise millions of followers frustrated by the shortcomings of the

state.

Security forces have cordoned off a jail in Rohtak city, 44 miles (70km) from New Delhi, where Singh – also known as the guru of bling for the clothes he wears in the movies he has starred in – is being held.

The Judge who convict-

ed Singh will hold a special hearing inside the prison in Rohtak at about 14:.30h local time today to decide the punishment, in a move that officials hope will prevent his followers from gathering in the streets like they did on Friday. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

he Myanmar Government has evacuated at least 4000 non-Muslim villagers amid ongoing clashes in Northwestern Rakhine state, the Government said, while thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled across the border to Bangladesh.

The death toll from the violence that erupted on Friday with coordinated attacks by Rohingya insurgents has climbed to 98, including 80 insurgents and 12 members of the security forces, the Government said. The clashes, the worst since at least October, have prompted the Government to evacuate staff and thousands of non-Muslim villagers from the area.

Fighting involving the military and hundreds of Rohingya across Northwestern Rakhine continued on Saturday with the

fiercest clashes taking place on the outskirts of the major town of Maungdaw, according to residents and the Government.

The attacks marked a dramatic escalation of a conflict that has simmered in the region since last October, when a similar but much smaller Rohingya attack prompted a brutal military operation beset by allegations of human rights abuses.

The treatment of approximately 1.1 million Muslim Rohingya in mainly Buddhist Myanmar has emerged as the biggest challenge for national leader Aung San Suu Kyi. On Friday she condemned the raids in which insurgents wielding guns, sticks and homemade bombs assaulted 30 police stations and an army base. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, august 28, 2017

ARCHIE

ARIES

Put the spotlight on you.

(March 21- Show off what you have to ofApril 19) fer and dig in and get things

done. Traveling, attending meetings and networking are all favored, along with a little romance.

Get along with others, TAURUS no matter what transpires.

(April 20- Refuse to let a stubborn atMay 20) titude hinder an important relationship. Remain level-headed and poised to make diplomatic decisions.

dilbert

Emotions will swell up, GEMINI (May 21- creating some concern for June 20) you or those around you. Stay calm and use your charm to wiggle your way through any controversy you encounter.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Do what comes naturally.

Set your sights on what you want, and follow your heart, intuition and imagination.

Refuse to let others tempt you. Stick to your own devices.

Don’t let the past come back to haunt you. Arguing about what’s been done won’t solve anything. Make peace or prepare to move on. Focus on personal growth.

Spend time with people VIRGO who share your beliefs and (Aug. 23collaborate with them. Don’t Sept. 22) waste time getting angry with people who differ from you.

Do what you can to pitch LIBRA (Sept. 23- in and help, but not at the Oct. 23) expense of paying for others’ mistakes. An emotional situation can be rectified if you are sincere and compassionate.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

A good sense of humor SCORPIO will help you ignore irritating (Oct. 24people or situations. Looking Nov. 22) at the broad perspective and acting mature but lighthearted will encourage peace.

Keep your feelings to yourSAGITTARIUS self. Someone will use person(Nov. 23- al information that you diDec. 21) vulge against you if you are too open or opinionated. A physical activity or challenge will ease stress.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

What you do for others CAPRICORN will be considered commend(Dec. 22- able, but will also leave you Jan. 19) vulnerable to those who want to take advantage of you.

Offer suggestions instead of doing the work yourself.

Share laughter, stories AQUARIUS and good times with some(Jan. 20- one you can’t get enough of.

Feb. 19) Be loving, compassionate and aware. Be good to yourself and those you love.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Don’t trust anything or PISCES (Feb. 20- anyone. You’ll be subject to March 20) emotional manipulation and should keep your thoughts and secrets to yourself.

Concentrate on inner peace and growth.

mondAY, august 28, 2017

Still the champ!

19

Liverpool rips Arsenal to shreds

‒ Mayweather silences McGregor with 10th round stoppage

A

ruthless Floyd Mayweather scored a 10th round technical knockout over mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor on Saturday, the American cementing his legacy as an all-time boxing great with his 50th win in as many fights.

Mayweather, who had guaranteed an early finish to the 12 round contest, made good on his promise when he pinned a brave-but-limited McGregor on the ropes and mercilessly hammered the Irishman before referee Robert Byrd stepped in to halt the bout.

The fight, which Mayweather insisted would be his last, sends the 40-year-old into his second retirement with a unblemished 50-0 record to surpass heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 mark for most wins without a loss or draw. ”This was my last fight tonight. For sure,“ Mayweather declared in the ring. ”Tonight was my last fight. Tonight I chose the right dance partner to dance with. ”Conor you are a hell of a champion.

“A win is a win, no matter how you get it. Rocky Marciano is a legend and I look forward to going into the Hall of Fame one day.” Whether the fight will be the richest of all-time as promoters had predicted will be decided later when pay-perview numbers come in, but it certainly will not be included on any list of the great bouts in boxing.

On paper it would be hard to find a bigger mismatch, but it did not prevent millions around the globe from reaching for their wallets to purchase a pay-per-view package or the 14,623 spectators at T-Mobile Arena to part with big money for tickets.

In the end, the fight proved to be the one-sided contest many had predicted as Mayweather shook off the rust of two years of inactivity against an outclassed double UFC champion making his professional boxing debut.

Few openings For months, the charismatic McGregor had boasted he would knock out Mayweather and his legions of loyal fans believed every word of a man capable of backing his supreme self-confidence with devastating power inside the octagon.

However, McGregor’s lack of ring savvy quickly exposed him as Mayweather clinically dissected the 29-year-old, who was soon reverting to his mixed martial arts roots -- clutching, grabbing and hitting his opponent repeatedly on the back of the head.

McGregor did come out full of fury and menace but Mayweather, long regarded as one of the finest defensive fighters in history, left few openings as he used the first three rounds to feel out his opponent.

Once he had studied McGregor’s technique, Mayweather took complete control of the contest by the fourth round and started to land blow after blow on his easy target as the Irishman bravely battled on.

The American’s domination was complete by the 10th round as he moved in for the kill to record his first early finish since he stopped Victor Ortiz in controversial fashion almost six years ago.

“I thought it was close,” a defiant McGregor argued. “I thought I had him in the early rounds. I thought he was getting me in the middle toward the end.

“But where was the final two rounds? Let me wobble back to me corner. Let me try and recompose myself. You’ve got to put me out. “I thought it was a little early of a stoppage. I get like that when I am tired. I get a little wobbly and flowy. But you got to give it to him, that’s what 50 pro fights will give you.” (Reuters)

Mohamed Salah has scored more goals for Liverpool this season (three) than he managed in a year at Chelsea

A

rsenal were cut to ribbons by Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, the Reds providing a fine counterattacking display.

Liverpool showed no signs of fatigue from their midweek exertions with a counterattacking masterclass to dismantle Arsenal in a highly convincing 4-0 Premier League victory at Anfield.

A 6-3 aggregate victory over Hoffenheim, completed on Wednesday, clinched a return to the Champions League but did not appear to take its toll on Liverpool, who were full of energy as they punished a shambolic display from Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger shuffled his back three after last weekend’s dismal 1-0 defeat at Stoke City but they were left exposed when Liverpool regained possession high up the pitch and Roberto Firmino headed in the opener.

The visitors were caught out again when Sadio Mane finished off a move that flew from one box to the other and some woeful defending from the bungling Hector Bellerin allowed Mohamed Salah to surge clear to put the result beyond doubt in the second half.

Daniel Sturridge, a 74thminute replacement for Mane, added gloss to a scoreline that will help overshadow the confusion regarding Simon Mignolet being dropped from the matchday squad as Loris Karius started his first top-flight game since December.

Despite the return of star forward Alexis Sanchez to the starting line-up after an abdominal injury Arsenal were left to mull on another chastening defeat that leaves them with just one win from their first three games.

Danny Welbeck led the Arsenal line ahead of Alexandre Lacazette and wasted a glorious chance to repay Wenger’s faith when he lost his footing and fired over under pressure from Joe Gomez.

Salah would have similarly been ruing his finishing in the 10th minute. Emre Can burst into the box via a one-two with Firmino and rolled a cross to the back post for the Egyptian, whose shot along the ground was blocked brilliantly by Petr Cech at full stretch.

Liverpool’s high press and counter-attacking caused the visitors consistent problems, Jordan Henderson and Salah both going close before Jurgen Klopp’s men added to their tally in trademark fashion.

A length-of-the-pitch break was finished off exquisitely by Mane, who stepped inside Rob Holding on the left and curled a great effort into the far corner.

Wenger replaced Aaron Ramsey – who was making his 300th appearance for the club

– with Francis Coquelin for the second half to tighten up Arsenal’s porous midfield, but an error from Nacho Monreal led to Salah forcing another save from Cech.

Salah was not so forgiving with his next opportunity, nicking the ball away from Bellerin and sprinting from inside his own half to coolly slot past Cech.

Mane forced Cech into action before making way for Sturridge, who capitalised on slack defending from Laurent Koscielny with a header at the back post for his first goal of the season. Liverpool were relentless and Cech stayed big to stop Salah adding to their tally in stoppage-time, but it provided Arsenal scant relief as they head into the international break following a stinging loss. (Sportsmax)

Hamilton holds off Vettel to win in Belgium

L

ewis Hamilton cut his championship deficit to Sebastian Vettel to just seven points with a closely fought victory in the Belgian Grand Prix.

Hamilton rarely led Vettel by more than two seconds in a tense battle until a late safety car added further jeopardy.

As all the drivers pitted, Ferrari put the fastest ultra-soft tyres on Vettel while Mercedes put Hamilton on softs.

But after fending off an attack by the German on the restart, Hamilton took back control and led to the flag.

Hamilton had not been happy with the decision to bring out the safety car, after a collision between the two Force India drivers on the run down the hill from La Source to Eau Rouge.

He said it was “a BS call from the stewards”, clearly worried that with the extra grip from the ultra-soft tyres, Vettel would have an advantage.

For a few seconds after the restart, Hamilton appeared to be in trouble, as Vettel sat right behind him through Eau Rouge and appeared to be lining up to pass the Mercedes up the long Kemmel straight.

But Hamilton - taking part in his 200th race - used all the power advantage of his Mercedes to fend him off and he reeled off two consecutive fastest laps to pull 1.4 seconds clear and give himself a more comfortable margin.

The race settled back into the pattern that had been set soon after the start.

Hamilton was in front, Vettel was more than capable of staying right with him, but in evenly matched cars could not get close enough to attack.(BBC)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

Bumrah, Rohit secure Bangladesh tighten series win for India grip with late wickets Australia tour of Bangladesh

O

pener Rohit Sharma smashed an unbeaten 124 to help India overcome a top-order wobble and register a series-clinching six-wicket victory in the third one-day international against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Paceman Jasprit Bumrah laid the foundation for India’s victory with a career-best 5-27 to help restrict Sri Lanka to 217-9 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

India slumped to 61-4 in 14 overs but Sharma and Mahendra Singh Dhoni accomplished the chase with an unbroken 157-run stand to put India 3-0 up in the five-match series.

The match was held up towards the end when irate fans, who have been protesting since India blanked Sri Lanka 3-0 in the preceding test series, hurled water bottles and forced the players off the ground for about half an hour.

Earlier, Sri Lanka captain Chamara Kapugedera won the toss but the hosts did not get the kind of start they needed.

Bumrah dismissed Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Mendis to reduce Sri Lanka to 28-2 before Lahiru Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal tried to steady the innings.

Once Hardik Pandya dismissed Chandimal for 36, Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals and did not get any significant partnership.

Bumrah dismissed Thirimanne for 80 and accounted for the wickets of Akila Dananjaya and Milinda Siriwardana.

India started their reply weakly.

Opener Shikhar Dhawan dragged a Lasith Malinga delivery on to his stumps and skipper Virat Kohli flicked Vishwa Fernando to the long leg fielder.

Rohit Sharma scored runs all around the dial © NurPhoto/Getty Images

Dananjaya’s six-wicket haul had nearly derailed India’s chase in the previous match and the off-spinner dismissed KL Rahul and the Kedar Jadhav cheaply to rekindle Sri Lanka’s hopes of staying alive in the series.

Sharma’s sensible batting, in the calming presence of former captain Dhoni,

snuffed out home hopes as they calmly guided India home.

Sharma’s 12th ODI century included two sixes and 16 boundaries. Dhoni hit a six and four fours in his 67 not out.

The teams move to Colombo for the fourth one-dayer on Thursday.

(Reuters)

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka Innings N Dickwella lbw b Bumrah 13 DChandimal c Bumrah b H Pandya 36 K Mendis cR Sharmab Bumrah 1 L Thirimanne c Jadhav b Bumrah 80 A Mathews lbw b Jadhav 11 C Kapugedera b A. Patel 14 M Siriwardana b Bumrah 29 A Dananjaya b Bumrah 2 D Chameera run out (Dhoni, B. Kumar) 6 V Fernando not out 5 L Malinga not out 1 Extras (b-4 lb-7 w-8) 19 Total (for 9 wickets, 50 overs) 217 Fall of wickets: 1-18 N. Dickwella,2-28 K. Mendis,3-100 D. Chandimal,4-138 A. Mathews,5-159 L. Thirimanne,6-181 C. Kapugedera,7-191 A. Dananjaya,8-201 M. Siriwardana,9-210 D. Chameera Bowling: B Kumar 9-2 -41 -0 (w-3), Bumrah 10 - 2 - 27 - 5(w-

1), Chahal 10 - 0 - 49 – 0, H Pandya 8 - 0 - 42 1(w-2), A Patel 10 - 1 - 35 - 1(w1), Jadhav 3 - 0 - 12 - 1(w-1) India Innings R Sharma not out 124 S Dhawanb Malinga 5 V Kohli c Chameera b V. Fernando 3 L Rahul c Thirimanne b Dananjaya 17 K Jadhav lbw b Dananjaya 0 M Dhoni not out 67 Extras (lb-1 w-1) 2 Total (for 4 wickets, 45.1 overs) 218 Fall of wickets: 1-9 S. Dhawan,2-19 V. Kohli,3-61 L. Rahul,4-61 K. Jadhav Did not bat: H. Pandya, A. Patel, B. Kumar, J. Bumrah, Y. Chahal Bowling : Malinga 5 - 0 - 25 1(w-1), Fernando 8.1 - 2 - 35 – 1, Chameera 10 - 1 - 59 – 0, Mathews 3 - 0 - 17 – 0, Dananjaya 10 - 0 - 38 –

Shakib Al Hasan sweeps aerially ©Getty Images

A

ustralia bowled out Bangladesh for 260 and then suffered a spectacular top-order collapse of their own to leave them reeling at 18 for three after the spin-dominated opening day of the first test on Sunday.

On a day of fluctuating fortunes, Bangladesh slumped to 10-3 before Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal raised 155 runs to help them post a competitive total at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Australia witnessed a similar collapse in their reply and slumped to 14-3 as Bangladesh roared back into the contest in the eventful final session when eight wickets fell.

Matt Renshaw was batting on six at stumps with skipper Steve Smith on three. Australia now face a daunting task on a spin-friendly track where slow bowlers have claimed nine of the 13 wickets that fell on the opening day.

After opting to bat,

Bangladesh were left gasping for breath after Pat Cummins reduced them to 10-3 inside four overs with a terrific display of fast bowling.

The paceman gave an indication of things to come with his third delivery, which flew off the shoulder of Soumya Sarkar’s blade and soared over the agitated slip fielders.

Two balls later, the batsman was caught in the gully by Peter Handscomb.

Cummins returned to have Imrul Kayes and Sabbir Rahman off successive deliveries, the leaden-footed batsmen perishing caught behind without scoring.

With two left-handers at the crease, Smith pressed off-spinner Nathan Lyon into service but Shakib and Tamim, playing their 50th tests, refused to retreat into a defensive shell and batted positively.

Both batsmen used their feet against the spinners, steadying the innings and reaching half-centuries in the process.

Glenn Maxwell’s parttime off-spin finally earned

Australia the breakthrough with Tamim lobbing one to David Warner at backward point to fall for a 71 which included three sixes off Lyon’s bowling.

Lyon then claimed the important wicket of Shakib with an extra bit of bounce from the track when the batsman edged him to Smith in the slips.

Shakib’s 84 included 11 boundaries.

Australia’s spin duo of Lyon (3-79) and Ashton Agar (3-46) shared six wickets between them to bowl out the hosts for a modest total.

The strong start Australia expected from their openers, however, did not materialise.

Warner fell lbw to Mehedy Hasan for eight, a delivery after successfully reviewing and overturning a similar leg-before appeal.

Usman Khawaja then ran himself out chasing a non-existent single and night-watchman Lyon fell lbw to Shakib to further complicate Australia’s crisis. (Reuters)

Federer confident about fitness as he seeks SCOREBOARD 20th Grand Slam

R

oger Federer will head into next week’s US Open feeling optimistic he has overcome his injury concerns.

The Swiss, 36, struggled with a back problem as he lost to Alexander Zverev in Montreal two weeks ago.

But the third seed has been practising freely in New York and said: “I’m really happy how I’m feeling.”

A hip injury has seen Andy Murray join Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori on the list of absentees.

That leaves Federer and top seed Rafael Nadal as the clear favourites, with the pair in line for a potential semi-final meeting.

Federer has a 35-3 record this year, having taken his Grand Slam tally to 19 titles with wins at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

His hopes of winning a sixth US Open,

and first since 2008, suffered a blow with the third of those defeats against Zverev in Montreal two weeks ago.

A back problem restricted Federer in the final but he has recovered sufficiently to face American teenager Frances Tiafoe in the first round at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday.

“Two weeks after the finals [in Montreal] is a long time, so because you’ve got two weeks you can take your time,” said the Swiss.

“So the first week was really just trying to feel better, get better, get back on the court at some stage. I have been on the practice courts since last week.

There you have it.

“I have been playing sets the last few days, and I’m really happy how I’m feeling.”

If Federer and Nadal were to make it through to the semi-finals it would be their first ever meeting at the US Open.

“I’d be happy to play him here,” said Federer. “We never played in New York, so I think that would be fun for everybody involved. I don’t think we are both thinking that far ahead.”

Nadal, who plays Dusan Lajovic of Serbia in the first round, said: “A lot of points and games to play, so now is not the moment to think about that.

“For me, I think about Lajovic. That’s my goal.” (BBC)

Bangladesh 1st innings T Iqbal c Warner b Maxwell 71 S Sarkar c Handscomb b Cummins 8 I Kayes c Wade b Cummins 0 S Rahman c Wade b Cummins 0 Shakib Al Hasan c Smith b Lyon 84 M Rahim lbw b Agar 18 N Hossain lbw b Agar 23 M Hasan c Handscomb b Lyon 18 T Islam lbw b Lyon 4 S Islam c Hazlewood b Agar 13 M Rahman not out 0 Extras (b-15 lb-3 nb-2 w-1) 21 Total (all out, 78.5 overs) 260 Fall of wickets: 1-10 S. Sarkar,2-10 I. Kayes,3-10 Sa. Rahman,4-165 T. Iqbal,5-188 S. Al Hasan,6-198 M. Rahim,7-240 M. Hasan,8-246 Nas. Hossain,9-246 T. Islam,10-260 Sh. Islam

Bowling: Hazlewood 15 - 5 39 – 0, Cummins 16 - 1 - 63 3(nb-2 w-1), Lyon 30 - 6 - 79 – 3, Agar 12.5 - 2 46 – 3, Maxwell 5 - 0 - 15 - 1 Australia 1st innings D Warner lbw b M. Hasan 8 M Renshaw not out 6 U Khawaja run out (Rahim, Sarkar) 1 N Lyon lbw b Al Hasan 0 S Smith not out 3 Extras 0 Total (for 3 wickets, 9 overs) 18 Fall of wickets: 1-9 D. Warner,2-14 U. Khawaja,3-14 N. Lyon To bat: P. Handscomb, G. Maxwell, M. Wade, A. Agar, P. Cummins, J. Hazlewood Bowling : S Islam 2 - 0 - 8 – 0, M Hasan 4 - 2 - 7 – 1, Shakib Al Hasan 3-1-3-1

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21

We are the champions! The victorious Jamaica unit

J

amaica have been crowned double champions for regional cricket for the blind and visually impaired, after defeating Barbados by 10 wickets in the T20 final yesterday at the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) ground to add to their 40 over title achieved last week.

The Jamaicans accomplished the feat on the back of a strong batting performance by their openers, Alvin James and Lashane Myles. The respective B2 and B3 players blasted unbeaten scores of 57 and 49 as Jamaica finished on 121 without loss in 10 overs replying to 119-5 from 15 overs made by Barbados.

Through great hitting ability and positive running between the wickets, James and Myles managed to entertain the scores of fans

who witnessed the match.

That was subsequent to an outstanding bowling display by the lads from the Land of Wood and Water, which was spearheaded by Myles, who captured 2-11.

Halden Forde 43, and K. Ryan 22, were the top scores for the Bajan side.

After dominating proceedings in the 40-over segment, Team Jamaica automatically booked their place in the final, leaving Guyana and Barbados to do battle in the tri-nation event.

Barbados prevailed in the one-off semifinal, which came to a controversial ending due to misinterpretation of playing regulations.

Barbados batted first and posted 214-3 in 20 overs, compliments of skipper and B3 player Carl Sobers’ striking 64 and Ricardo Manning’s 49 not out. The

pair added 136 for the fourth wicket in an instrumental stand for their side.

However, due to several mishaps by the host nation, Barbados were awarded 29 penalty runs, which helped them to 243-3 instead of the 214-3 which they originally made.

Guyana, in response, was restricted to 221-4, losing by 22 runs despite a valuable effort from Kevin Douglas 43, and Douglas Tika, 40.

Sobers was named man of the match for his brilliant batting.

The tournament saw 42 of the Region’s best compete for top honours and spots on the West Indies Team for the limited overs World Cup in Dubai and Pakistan in January 2018. Trinidad and Tobago are currently serving a two-year suspension from the event.

Stokes on brink of ban after ICC reprimand

B

en Stokes has been reprimanded by the ICC for making an inappropriate comment and will be banned if he picks up another demerit point.

England vice-captain Ben Stokes is dangerously close to receiving a suspension with the Ashes looming after being reprimanded for making an inappropriate comment during the second Test with West Indies.

Stokes admitted a charge of “using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting” on day two at Headingley.

The 26-year-old accepted a proposed sanction of an official reprimand, while a third demerit point has been added to his disciplinary record. Any player picking up four or more within a 24-month period receives a ban.

England will be desperate for Stokes to avoid a suspension given their next Test series comes against old rivals Australia. Joe Root’s side have one further

he first round of matches in the Guinness Cage/Three Peat Promotions Indoor Soccer Competition had to be postponed from Thursday night because of prolonged power outage (blackout) in the community, but the organisers have rescheduled those games for Tuesday night at the National Gymnasium.

They say that Tuesday’s knockout action will see sixteen games being played, thus an early start is necessary.

More than $800,000 in prize money, as well as trophies, will be up for grabs, with the winner set to receive $400,000 and the championship trophy; while second, third and fourth placed finishers will respectively take home $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 along with trophies.

The other playing dates for the championship are August 29 and 31, September 2, 5, 7, 9; with

the final set for September 16th at the same venue.

Meanwhile, the organisers are extending commendation to all the teams, ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), and fans who showed up at the venue on Thursday, for exhibiting a high quality of patience and understanding. They are therefore asking all interested parties to work collaboratively with them to pull off what is anticipated to be an exciting and successful tournament.

Due to the amount of games to be played, the organisers have reduced the allotted time for a match to fifteen minutes; and teams are being urged to be on time for a prompt start.

Among the other sponsors on board are: Star Party Rentals, Faye Joseph, Claude Geddes Recreational Sports Club, National Sports Commission, Windjammer International Hotel & Cuisine, Woodpecker Trophies & Sport.

Listed below are the fixtures for Tuesday: Sophia vs MBK All Stars from

19:00hrs

Broad Street vs Old School Ballers from

19:15hrs

Tucville vs Showstoppers from

19:30hrs

Dave and Celena vs Pike Street Sophia from

19:45hrs

Tiger Bay vs Silver Bullets from

20:00hrs

West Back Road vs Albouystown ‘B’ from

20:15hrs

Leopold Street vs Plaisance from

20:30hrs

North Ruimveldt vs Melanie from

20:45hrs

Bent Street vs Hustlers from

21:00hrs

North East La Penitence vs Mocha from

21:15hrs

Champion Boys vs Channel 9 Warriors from

21:30hrs

Albouystown ‘A’ vs Alexander Village from

21:45hrs

Gold is Money vs Campbellville from

22:00hrs

Future Stars vs Agricola Gas Team from

22:15hrs

Back Circle vs New Market Street from

22:30hrs

Sparta vs Vryheid’s Lust from

22:45hrs

BABA/Nigel Hinds Basketball League final postponed, set for September 3

T

Ben Stokes has been reprimanded by the ICC for making an inappropriate comment

match against West Indies, at Lord’s next month, before their trip to the southern hemisphere.

An ICC statement revealed Stokes had been charged for “making an inappropriate comment which was clearly audible through the stump mic and also heard by the match of-

ficials”, after a delivery had been edged for four by Shai Hope.

Hope and Kraigg Brathwaite each made centuries on Saturday as the Windies - 1-0 down in the three-Test series - rallied superbly to reach 329-5 and lead by 71 ahead of day three. (Sportsmax)

he final of the Berbice Amateur Basketball Association (BABA)/Nigel Hinds Financial Service-sponsored round-robin competition organised by Vibert Garrett is now set for September 3, 2017.

At this event, Rose Hall Town Jammers and New Amsterdam Warriors collide for championship glory.

The change in date became necessary because a number of the players are part of Guyana’s Inter Guiana Games team which will be competing against Suriname between August 25 and 27.

Some six teams were part of the competition which was played in two zones. Zone ‘A’ comprised Canje Knight, Fyrish Black Shark and Ithaca Hardliners, while Zone ‘B’ comprised Rose Hall Town Jammers, Hopetown Stealers and New Amsterdam Warriors.

ATrophies, cash and other incentives are up for grabs.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

England v West Indies 2nd Test

Holder shines but England battle back on gripping 3rd day Jason Holder

E

ngland battled back into contention on the third day of the second Test against West Indies as Mark Stoneman’s first half century and captain Joe Root’s unbeaten 45 helped wipe out a sizeable first-innings deficit on Sunday.

West Indies added 98 runs to their overnight total at a sun-drenched Headingley as they were bowled out for 427 - a lead of 169 - and England were 171-3 at the close, two runs ahead.

England had struggled

to 94-3 before Root and Dawid Malan dug in for a 77run partnership that left the match finely balanced.

W e s t Indies skipper Jason Holder, who earlier shared a 75-run partnership with J e r m a i n e Blackwood, removed England opener Alastair Cook for 23 after he and Stoneman put on 58 for the first wicket.

Holder then had Tom Westley caught behind for eight, the England batsman rashly chasing a wide one.

When the impressive Shannon Gabriel clattered Stoneman’s off stump with a pearler of a delivery after the opener had played diligently for 52 England still trailed by 75 runs.

Had Kyle Hope held a head high catch when Root, on 10, edged Kemar Roach to fifth slip England would

have been staring at an unthinkable defeat, having crushed West Indies in a one-sided first test.

But the chance went down and Root, who also successfully reviewed an lbw decision, could make them pay on Monday when England will hope to build a lead.

An enthralling day’s cricket began in incredible fashion when James Anderson took wickets with the first two balls of the day after West Indies resumed on 329 for five.

Anderson had centurion Shai Hope caught behind and with his next delivery he removed Shane Dowrich.

Boos rang out as Holder survived the hat-trick ball.

Moeen Ali spilled a dolly of a catch in the next over when Blackwood lobbed a Stuart Broad delivery straight to him at midon and it proved costly as Blackwood and Holder put on a rapid 75 for the eighth wicket.

Holder was out for 43 when he tried to hit Chris Woakes out of the ground and Moeen redeemed himself by holding on to a

Alastair Cook was caught behind off Jason Holder ©Getty Images

steepling catch in the deep.

Blackwood needlessly ran himself out going for a third run one short of his half century but tailenders Gabriel and Roach added a handy 21 for the last wicket before Gabriel was out lbw to Ben Stokes just before lunch.

Anderson was the pick of the England bowlers as his two wickets gave him the 23rd five-wicket haul of his career to take his test wicket tally to 497. (Reuters)

GISE, Star Party Rentals and Trophy Stall 1st Division

Persaud, Hemraj ensure Everest win big against GCC A solid performance by a strong Everest Cricket Club unit ensured an outright victory for the Carifesta Avenue side over a weakened Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) yesterday at the renowned GCC Ground, Bourda.

Missing the West Indies duo of Leon Johnson and Vishual Singh, GCC suffered a nine-wicket defeat as Everest got their GISE, Star Party Rentals and Trophy Stall First Division campaign off to a positive start.

Scores in the match are: Everest 271-9 declared and 53-1; and GCC 125-9 innings closed and 198 all out.

Batting first on day one, GCC were restricted to 125-9 at the close of their innings,

with first class leg spinner Amir Khan dominating proceedings for Everest with figures of 5-31 from 10.4 overs, while Martin Pestano-Belle with 43 and Stephon Wilson with 25 were the principal scorers for GCC. In reply, three wickets apiece for left-arm spinners Devon Lord and Wilson did not prevent Everest from building a healthy lead of 146.

First class players Chandrapaul Hemraj 84, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 76, and Amir Khan 55, all scored half centuries to guide their team to a formidable first innings total.

By close on Saturday, GCC had already started their second innings, and

CGI contract T 28 for 2017/18 season ‒ Fudadin declines contract

were 19 without loss, still trailing by 127 runs.

They added a further 179 runs, with skipper Robin Bacchus leading the way with 51, inclusive of three sixes and two fours, while Lord and Marlon Persaud contributed 33 and 22 respectively.

Ashkaya Persaud, 4-39 from 12 overs, and Javed Rasheed, 4-44 from 15.3 overs, were the destroyers as Everest raced to 53-1 in 7.5 overs to claim victory.

Persaud was aggressive in his approach, smashing three sixes and a four in 28 not out, while Chanderpaul was with him on 13. Saheed Mohammed was the lone casualty, being trapped lbw to Joshua Wade for 10.

he Guyana Cricket Board and its Cricket Guyana Inc (CGI) Jaguar Franchise announced new contracts for the 2017/18 cricket season on Sunday via release.

Fifteen players received CGI contracts for the upcoming Professional Cricket League (PCL), while 13 players copped Academy contracts commencing from September 1st 2017.

The Centrally contracted players are: Leon Johnson, Raymon Reifer, Veerasammy Permaul, Keon Joseph, Rajendra Chandrika, Ramall Lewis, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Anthony Bramble,

Assad Fudadin

SCOREBOARD

England 1st innings 258 West Indies 1st innings (Overnight: 329-5) K Brathwaite b Broad 134 K Powell c Cook b Anderson 5 D Bishoo c Bairstow b Anderson 1 K. Hope c Root b Anderson 3 S. Hopec Bairstow b Anderson 147 R Chase c Cook b Stokes 5 J Blackwood run out (Stokes, Bairstow) 49 S Dowrich c Root b Anderson 0 J Holder c Ali b Woakes 43 K. Roach not out 6 S Gabriel lbw b Stokes 10 Extras (b-8 lb-11 w-5) 24 Total (all out, 127 overs) 427 Fall of wickets: 1-11 K. Powell,2-31 D. Bishoo,3-35 K. Hope,4-281 K. Brathwaite,5-296 R. Chase,6-329 S. Hope,7-329 S. Dowrich,8-404 J. Holder,9-406 J. Blackwood,10-427 S. Gabriel

Bowling : Anderson 29 - 7 - 76 - 5(w-1) , Broad 24 - 2 - 95 - 1 , . Woakes 21 - 4 78 - 1(w-1) Stokes 25 - 9 - 63 - 2(w-3) , Ali 24 - 4 - 84 – 0, Westley 4 - 0 - 12 - 0

England 2nd innings A Cook c Dowrich b Holder 23 M Stoneman b Gabriel 52 T Westley c Dowrich b Holder 8 J Root not out 45 D Malan not out 21 Extras (b-8 lb-2 nb-5 w-7) 22 Total (for 3 wickets, 59 overs) 171 Fall of wickets: 1-58 A. Cook,281 T. Westley,3-94 M. Stoneman To bat: B. Stokes, J. Bairstow, M. Ali, C. Woakes, S. Broad, J. Anderson Bowling : Gabriel 14 - 3 41 - 1(nb-5 w-3), Roach 11 - 5 - 34 – 0, Holder 17 - 4 - 44 – 2, Chase 15 - 3 - 31 – 0, Bishoo 2 - 0 - 11 - 0

Everest batsmen Tagenarine Chanderpaul and skipper Ashkaya Persaud leave the playing field after completing their team’s victory

Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Steven Jacobs, Tevin Imlach, Christopher Barnwell and Chanderpaul Hemraj. The Academy players are: Anthony Adams, Kemol Savory, Kevon Boodie, Akshaya Persaud, Joshua Persaud, Sherfane Rutherford, Clinton Pestano, Raun Johnson, Baskar Yadram, Robin Bacchus, Raymond Perez, Ronaldo AliMohamed and Rickie Looknauth These players would be joined

by Cricket West Indies-contracted players Devindra Bishoo, Vishaul Singh and Shimron Hetemyer, to commence preparation for the

Cricket West Indies’ PCL 2017/18 tournament. All Under-19 youth players returning from the CWI tournament in St Kitts are required to report to Chairman of the Senior Selection Panel for placement in the Jaguar’s 3-day League and continue training with the CGI, if eligible to play in CWI U-19 2018.

The release added, “It should be noted that Assad Fudadin refused a CGI contract. We wish him good luck in all future endeavours”.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, if available, would be offered a “Pay for Play” contract with the Guyana Jaguars.

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, august 28, 2017

23

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2017

“We are very hungry for success” – Captain Emrit

… as Warriors depart, hunting for spot in finals

By Akeem Greene

G

uyana Amazon Warriors departed these shores on Sunday afternoon with one ultimate goal -- to win their two remaining matches and hopefully secure a spot in the 2017 finals of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Captain Rayad Emrit, in addressing the media TEAM

at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, emphasized the Warriors’ will to succeed and keep their record of qualifying for all finals in the five years of the league.

“We are very hungry for success after losing the first two home matches, and to see the crowd still come in their numbers, we know that the entire nation is behind us and we want to do

something special for them”, the all-rounder posited.

He added, “It is going to be tough for us, but we really want to do well. I think we have the squad to go all the way. As long as we do the basics right, there is no doubt we can qualify for the second round”.

The Warriors will confront the Barbados Tridents on Tuesday and then do battle with the Jamaica

Tallawahs on Friday, hoping that other results go in their favour for them to book a spot in the top four.

With the loss of Martin Guptill to family commitments, Emrit knows the pressure that attends these matches. “(They are) obviously two pressure matches. We have to win, since we have to qualify for the finals.

Marty [Martin Guptill] has

MP

MW

ML

MT

MD

N/R

PT

1

Trinbago Knight Riders

9

8

1

0

0

0

16

2

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

8

5

2

0

0

0

11

3

Jamaica Tallawahs

8

5

3

0

0

0

10

4

Guyana Amazon Warriors

8

3

5

0

0

0

6

5

Barbados Tridents

6

2

4

0

0

0

4

6

St Lucia Stars

9

0

8

0

0

0

1

gone home, and we know the type of player he is, but Luke [Ronchi] is coming in, and he has the capability and experience to help fill that gap,” the captain has disclosed.

Given that they are three-time finalists, the stuttering start was quite surprising. Their losses came as a result of simply bad shot selection, but they looked a well-oiled unit their last two matches.

“It is just for NRR us to continue the good crick1.451 et we have been playing the last 0.740 two matches.

The games that -0.275 we lost was not smart cricket.

-0.064 We had two days off, trained really hard on the oth-0.125 er two. We had (a) team building -1.656 session

which was organised by the owner, where we went to Essequibo, and it was very relaxing. So we are ready”, the Trinidadian disclosed.

The conditions at Kensington Oval and Sabina Park are expected to (be) the opposite (of what) the Warriors had become accustomed to in Guyana. In this regard, and the skipper has admitted, they will be willing to play “horses for causes”, given the prevailing conditions.

Guyana Amazon Warriors Full Squad: Rayad Emrit (captain), Sohail Tanveer, Chadwick Walton, Rashid Khan, Jason Mohammed, Steven Taylor, Veerasammy Permaul, Roshon Primus, Gajanand Singh, Assad Fudadin, Steven Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Steven Katwaroo, Keemo P a u l , Muhammad A l i K h a n , Luke Ronchi.

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2017

A

McCullum’s onslaught leads Knight Riders to another win

brilliant 91 from Brendon McCullum and a composed bowling performance from the Trinbago Knight Riders set up a 36-run victory over Jamaica Tallawahs in Match 24 of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL). McCullum’s explosive 91 helped the Knight Riders equal the highest score this season of 208 - a total that proved too many for the Tallawahs despite a good batting pitch.

After being put into bat the Knight Riders innings got off to the worst possible start when Sunil Narine picked out mid-off from the first ball of the innings, bowled by Krishmar Santokie. This season the Knight Riders have not allowed early wickets to inhibit their stroke-play and here was no different. Through a mixture of poor bowling and excellent batting McCullum and Colin Munro hit four boundaries each in the PowerPlay, taking the Knight Riders to 58 for 1 after six overs.

The end of the field restrictions did not slow the Knight Riders who took 34 off the three overs immediately after the PowerPlay, hitting one boundary an over and running proactively. A

partnership of 92 was ended off the last ball of the ninth over when Munro mis-timed Rovman Powell to long-on.

Darren Bravo hit the last ball of the tenth over for six to take the Knight Riders to 100 for 2 at the halfway stage.

The second half of the innings brought no letup in the scoring rate. A single on the off side took McCullum to his fifty off 35 balls. His next scoring shot was an outrageous ramp shot off Odean Smith that went for six. An explosive cameo from Darren Bravo of 28 off 13 balls propelled the Knight Riders through the late middle overs. After 15 overs they were 156 for 3.

The powerful Robbie Frylink only made 15 off 10 before holing out to longon. With McCullum approaching his century he was starved of the strike before eventually falling for 91 as he picked out long off against Williams. A frenetic finish saw the Knight Riders blitz 17 off the last seven balls to end with 208.

In pursuit of 209 the Tallawahs innings got off to a disastrous start when Glenn Phillips was expertly stumped by Dinesh Ramdin after Nikita Miller’s second ball slid down the leg

side. Kumar Sangakkara responded to the loss of the early wicket in emphatic fashion hitting four fours in his first ten balls before an audacious inside out drive over cover off Narine for six.

Two tight overs followed but a critical sixth over was taken for 19 by Lendl Simmons, leaving the Tallawahs 61-1 after six overs and well and truly in the chase.

Sangakkara was lucky to be dropped three times—one only a half chance—early on in his innings, but he still had to capitalise on his good fortune. A second six off the last ball of Narine’s second over took the Tallawahs to 80-1 after 8 overs and a swivel four took Sangakkara to his fifty. An attempted ramp off Frylink was one shot too many and he was bowled for a superb 53. The very next ball Simmons edged a leg cutter from Javon Searles through to Ramdin and the Knight Riders were in command once more.

A sparky cameo of 21 off 12 balls from Andre McCarthy rekindled Tallawahs hopes but they needed more than just cameos. 33 came from the four overs between 12 and 16 leaving the Tallawahs requiring an unlikely 60 from 24 balls. It was then that

two wickets in two balls from Searles, Mahmudullah caught for a painstaking 6 off 11 and then the key man of Powell caught behind, all but ended the match. Defeat Brendon McCullum for the Tallawahs means that they have still not qualified for the Play Off stage with Barbados Tridents and Guyana Amazon Warriors in pursuit. (CPLT20)

SCOREBOARD

Trinbago Knight Riders S Narine c Smith b Santokie 0 B McCullum c Simmons b Williams 91 C Munro c Simmons b Powel 42 DM Bravo c McCarthy b Powell 28 R Frylinck c Powell b Santokie 15 J Searles Not out 11 DJ Bravo * c Mahmudullah b Smith 4 D Ramdin † Not out 1 Extras (13 wd,1 lb,2 nb) 16 Total (6 wickets, 20 overs) 208 Did not bat : N Miller, A Nurse, R Beaton Fall of wickets : 1-0 (S Narine,0.1), 2-92 (C Munro,8.6), 3-155 (DM Bravo,14.5), 4-179 (R Frylinck,17.3), 5-191 (B McCullum,18.5), 6-207 (DJ Bravo,19.5) BOWLING: 4-0-0-49 ( wd 2). Williams 4-041-1 ( wd 2, n 2), O Smith, 4-0-43-1 ( wd 8), Mathurin 4-0-36-0, R Powell 4- 0-38-2 ( wd 1)

Jamaica Tallwahs L Simmons c Ramdin b Searles32 G Phillips st Ramdin b Miller 0 53 K Sangakkara *† b Frylinck A McCarthy c McCullum b DJ Bravo 21 R Powell c Ramdin b Searles 30 M Mahmudullah c Munro b Searles 6 Not out 14 J Foo K Santokie lbw Beaton 0 O Smith Not out 6 Extras (6 wd,2 lb,1 nb) 9 Total (7 wickets, 20 overs) 172 Did not bat : G Mathurin, K Williams Fall of wickets : 1-2 (G Phillips,0.2), 2-87 (K Sangakkara,8.6), 3-87 (L Simmons,9.1), 4-116 (A McCarthy,12.1), 5-149 (M Mahmudullah,16.1), 6-149 (R Powell,16.2), 7-152 (K Santokie,17.1) Bowling: Miller 1-0-141 ( wd 2), Beaton 4- 0-29-1 ( wd 1), Narine 4-0-30-0, Nurse 2-0-22-0, DJ Bravo 4-0-28-1, Frylinck 2-0-20-1 ( wd 2, n 1), Searles 3-0-27-3 ( wd 1)

Kumar Sangakkara

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2017

“We are very hungry for success” – Captain Emrit Pg 23

… as Warriors depart, hunting for spot in finals A confident Guyana Amazon Warriors Squad as they departed these shores on Sunday en-route to Barbados (Carl Crooker photo)

Still the champ!

Pg 19

‒ Mayweather silences McGregor with 10th round stoppage Floyd Mayweather Jr (black trunks) and Conor McGregor box during their match at T-Mobile Arena (Reuters photo)

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