Guyana Times 29 June 2017

Mental health services

P16

32 trained as peer educators in Region 1 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3256

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, June 29, 2017

PRICE

Police to clamp down on ganja smoking among students

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Sheep thieves hit flooded West Coast Berbice P15

Page 14

Jagdeo assails cowed corruption watchdogs over Govt excesses

Corruption in Police Force hinders antiTIP efforts – US report P2

…as Guyana climbs to Tier 1

Page 7

Adamantium Holdings bids for Govt P3 contracts

Exploratory meeting hosted with EITI-IDB team Page 9

From left: Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr Jan Mangal; Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, and the IDB team, led by its Representative in Guyana, Sophie Makonnen – Ramon Espinasa, Lenin Balza and Carlos Sucre after the team paid a courtesy call on the Minister of State at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday

Dutch company to install, operate ExxonMobil floating base Page 7

GuySuCo reports fall in world market price for sugar Page 9

…GAWU says projection inaccurate

After weeks without electricity

Mabaruma to receive substitute P15 generator

…new system to be procured

RDC refrains from scrutinising P16 Region’s spending

2 NEWS Corruption in Police Force hinders anti-TIP efforts – US report THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

… as Guyana climbs to Tier 1

G

uyana can now boast as a country that has made headway in the fight against Trafficking in Persons (TIP), according to the newly released US State Department Trafficking in Persons 2017 Report. The report bumps Guyana from Tier 2 to Tier 1 on the TIP Index.

The upgrade means that the country have been able to implement the recommendations made in the 2016 report and satisfied the minimum requirements of the United States’ Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Guyana is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour in mining, agriculture, forestry, domestic service and shops. The report stated that for the past five years women and children from Guyana, Brazil, The Dominican Republic, Suriname, and Venezuela are subjected to sex trafficking in mining communities in the interior and urban areas.

It also identifies that while both sex trafficking and forced labour occurs in interior mining communities, limited Government presence in those areas makes the extent of traffick-

ing unknown. It added that corruption within the Police Force also hinders anti-trafficking efforts.

The Social Protection Ministry has been the lead agency responsible for tackling trafficking and overseeing the work of the AntiTrafficking Unit (ATU). The Government was commended on the establishment of the inter-ministerial taskforce, which in collaboration with various stakeholders coordinated several successful anti-trafficking operations.

In 2016, the Government reported 19 trafficking investigations, 19 prosecutions, and two convictions; compared to 15 trafficking investigations, seven prosecutions, and one conviction in 2015, and sev-

en investigations, four prosecutions, and one conviction in 2014.

While the report notes the accomplishments, it also identifies Government’s failure to increase protection and services for victims outside of Georgetown as well as the provision of adequate protection and shelter for child and male victims.

“The Government reported identifying 98 trafficking victims in 2016 (80 for sex trafficking and 18 for labour trafficking), compared with 56 in 2015. An NGO reported the Government referred 40 victims to shelter and psycho-social services in 2016, compared with 17 victims in 2015,” the report stated.

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NEWS

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, June 29 – 08:30h-10:00h and Friday, June 30 – 09:30h-11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, June 29 – 07:50h-09:20h and Friday, June 30 – 08:45h-10:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery and heavy rain showers with light cloudy skies can be expected throughout the day, while clear skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from Easterly to East North-easterly and South-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.02 metres.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Adamantium Holdings bids for Govt contracts A

damantium Holdings is now in the running to secure millions from the Public Security Ministry.

Adamantium Holdings was recently named top local gold producer of 2015 when the Natural Resources Ministry in concert with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) held an award ceremony at the Guyana Pegasus on Sunday

tracted significant attention was the rehabilitation of the Alberttown Police Station estimated to cost some $20.9 million.

Adamantium is among the bidders for that project with a bid of $20.5 million while the lowest bidder came in at $17 million.

Adamantium Holdings was also among the featured bidders for the rehabilitation of the Sparendaam

Back in September 2015, the company had set its sights on rehabilitation/repairs of roads from the Brian Sucre junction to Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

The company had submitted a $40 million bid at the time.

Adamantium Holdings, in conjunction with Atlantic Fuels Inc, are also premier suppliers of fuel for interi-

High Tide: 08:21h and 20:54h reaching maximum heights of 2.47 metres and 2.37 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 01:53h and 14:24h reaching minimum heights of 0.80 metre and 0.76 metres respectively.

GWI Managing Director, Dr Richard Van West-Charles

Adamantium Holdings, Lot 16 Sublot ‘A’ Mudlot, Kingston, Georgetown

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS G

05 13 15

18 23 28

22 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 17 19 23 24 25 LUCKY 3 8 9 3 Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

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03 05 09 10 15 19 20 DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

to kick off the week-long festivities of Mining Week 2017.

The mining company had been prominent in the news recently when it was discovered that both Adamantium and Atlantic Fuels Inc shared several close connections with Government officials.

The two companies also share the same Kingston, Georgetown address, with Atlantic Fuels Inc securing an import/wholesale licence for fuel to supply, in part, the mining operations.

Bids were opened on Tuesday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), housed at the Finance Ministry.

Among the contracts that had been advertised that at-

Police Station, estimated to cost some $14.9 million.

The lowest bidder came in at $11.8 million, with Adamantium Holdings Inc coming in at $15 million.

The company has since 2015 become a regular feature across a number of industries outside of mining.

Other bids opened at the NPTAB on Tuesday related to rehabilitation of the Mahaicony Police Station.

or mining operations, with one of its Directors being the GWI Managing Director, Dr Richard Van West-Charles.

The companies were granted fuel licences by the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) under questionable circumstances when it was discovered that the company did not meet the minimum requirements under the laws.

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Views Martial arts diplomacy

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

Das Capital

V

ery few books, apart from some works in fiction, are relevant in the 21st century, so the worldwide commemorations of the publication of Karl Marx’s “Das Capital” 150 years ago in 1867, is testament to its remarkable impact. While most would have thought the “fall of communism” in 1989 in the USSR and its “Eastern Bloc” would be the death knell of Marx’s relevance, the 2008 collapse of the neo-liberal paradigm – which was supposed to have done the job – in accordance of Marx’s theory, gave Das Capital a new relevance.

We have to note that Marx wrote Das Capital long after his famous pamphlet “The Communist Manifesto” and other revolutionary works from his youthful days.

Das Capital was supposed to give rigour to his earlier, more polemical, rhetoric, by grounding his theory of capitalism onto an excruciatingly detailed development of the English working class. But this fact, in and of itself, should signal that with the passage of time and the historical development of capitalism, some of Marx’s conclusions might not necessarily be wrong as much as, irrelevant, in the present.

One of the fundamental Marxian ideas developed in Das Capital is his particular interpretation “labour theory of value”, which was proposed earlier by the economists Adam Smith and David Ricardo to explain the different prices at which goods were bought and sold.

These pioneering economists proposed that the value of a commodity could be measured objectively by the average number of labour hours necessary to produce it.

Marx contribution was to query if this were so, then where do “profits” come from? His simple answer was that workers were being paid less that the true worth of their labour and profits were therefore squeezed from the latter. This was the essential exploitative relationship between those who own “capital” – “capitalists” – and those who provided their labour to produce commodities – “the proletariat”. He said, “Capital cares nothing for the length of life of labour power. All that concerns it is simply and solely the maximum of labour power that can be rendered fluent in a workday.” But in so doing the “labour” of persons becomes a commodity like any other that is sold and bought like any other.

In its urge to extract increasing amount of profits, Marx proposed that capitalists would always seek to reduce the price of labour and those who are most successful at this manoeuvre can sell more commodities and acquire more profits. This results in the number of capitalists decreasing as the fittest (most exploitative of labour) survives while the number of unemployed or underemployed increases. But that also sets the seed of inevitable crises in this “capitalist mode of production”: with the increasing unemployed, there are less customers to purchase the commodities and with the piled-up surpluses, the market periodically “crashes”.

“Along with the constantly diminishing number of the magnates of capital, who usurp and monopolize all advantages of this process of transformation, grows the mass of misery, oppression, slavery, degradation, exploitation; but with this too grows the revolt of the working class, a class always increasing in numbers, and disciplined, united, organized by the very mechanism of the process of capitalist production itself.”

After Marx, trade unions were formed in the “developed capitalist economies”, which improved the wages of workers. However, the capitalists began to move to underdeveloped countries (eg China) where they could pay labour at a much lesser rates than in their own countries. This was the beginning of the “outsourcing” of manufacturing and services which led, among other factors, to the 2008 collapse. At present, according to Oxfam, the richest one per cent owns as much wealth as the rest of the world combined and in fact just 62 persons have as much wealth as the poorest half of the world’s population.

Marx’s fatal flaw was his prediction that the working class would overthrow the capitalists and establish a communist utopia. It has been called his “sin of optimism”.

Members of North Korea-led International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) demonstrate their skills at the World Taekwondo Headquarters ‘Kukkiwon’ in Seoul, South Korea (Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji)

Worrying factors in Berbice cricket (Pt 2) Dear Editor, The Berbice Cricket Stakeholders Committee would like to inform Berbicians on the recent development in Berbice Cricket over the last three years.

1. Angela Haniff in her capacity as Secretary has never signed any notice for special meetings nor has received any motion including the no-confidence against her.

2. What was surprising was Godwyn Allicock and David Black submitting a letter authorising Somwaru to act as President. Imagine, Beharry was blocked from fulfilling his elected duties but they chose to authorise Somwaru to do so. More shocking was the fact that they would be willing to withdraw the court injunction if certain conditions were met. This letter was done without the knowledge of the Judge.

3. Angela Haniff had no knowledge of the no-confidence or the reasons for the motion, nor was she ever invited to the special meeting to defend the accusations against her. Under this new era of cricket dictatorship there is no need for justice and no regard for the law.

4. Vice President Winter

nor Treasurer Bharosay were never invited to any special meeting while numerous clubs who those so call administrators thought would not agree to what they wanted were also not invited.

5. A court injunction was granted by the High Court against Somwaru, Godwyn Allicock and three others which were filed by Rabindranauth Saywack and Albert Smith.

6. The majority of Berbicians are not aware of what took place at the meeting but that representatives from Albion, Port Mourant, Whim, Rose Hall Canje, West Berbice, Young Warriors and Tucber Park were in attendance. Young Warriors and Tucber Park did not have voting rights.

7. At a recent public event, Somwaru has been introduced as President, Vickram Suebarran as Secretary, Godwyn Allicock as Assistant Secretary and David Black as the Chairman of the Competitions Committee.

8. One is left to wonder which part of the world do people take one another to court and in the same time fill position as Executives.

This shows that these people have no respect and regard for the law. Imagine

these persons who are so anxious to take over the Berbice Cricket Board were all defeated at the last Annual General Meeting in 2014.

9. They have made efforts to get access to the Berbice Cricket Board Bank account and to transfer the telephone line to another address.

The Berbice Cricket Stakeholders would be very grateful for answers to the following questions: a) When was an election held by the members of the Berbice Cricket Board and who elected Somwaru as President when the three Vice Presidents have the same status? b) Why are the two persons who took the out the Injunctions against the Berbice Cricket Board are now involved in the administration of cricket when they are responsible for the current state of our cricket. c) What are the current status of the two elected Vice Presidents of the Berbice Cricket Board Qualis Winter and Vemen Walter? d) Why are correspondences signed by D Somwaru as President and not by the Secretary? e) What is the role of a senior Guyana Cricket

Board official playing in all of this mess? He is known to be at all of the meetings where he sits at the front giving instructions. He asked the Secretary of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club to be part of the Berbice Cricket Board Steering Committee and he has demanded the removal of Angela Haniff, on the condition if that is done then the Berbice Cricket Board would receive the subvention from the Guyana Cricket Board. f) Is it true that Carol Nurse chaired a special meeting at the Albion Club despite the presence of Vice President Vemen Walter?

Ms Nurse has no relationship whatsoever with the Berbice Cricket Board.

The Berbice Cricketing Public deserve answers and all members of the Business Sector should be very careful in dealing with these imposters acting as administrators especially the ones that were defeated at the last Annual General Meeting and who used the court system as a platform to gain power via the back door.

Sincerely, Berbice Cricket Stakeholders Committee

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THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

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

Things that bother me Dear Editor, As a young Guyanese who loves my country very much, and wish so much to see it prosper and progress, I am bothered by a number of things that have occurred recently, in our society, and others that continue to capture our attention, at the political level.

1. Appointment of a GECOM Chairman: Why is it that His Excellency President David Granger continues to engage in semantics as it relates to the selection of a candidate for the filling of this critically important vacant post? Is it that he has a specific person in mind for this post, and since that name is not appearing on the lists being submitted, he flagrantly disregards all other options? If the appointee is found to not be impartial in the discharge of the duties of the post, surely there must be some provision for his or her removal. I do not believe there is anyone out there who is not sympathetic to one political party or the other.

2. Loss of life: The almost daily shedding of blood and loss of life by premeditation or in accidents should

be cause of concern for us all, as a people of faith. As a Christian, we believe that our adversary, the devil, is there to steal, kill and destroy, and he roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

I, therefore, take this opportunity to call on churches countrywide to engage in more prayer for our people, against the shedding of blood and loss of precious lives, across our country, and for us to be drawn closer to the Lord.

3. Conduct of Minister Raphael Trotman: The manner in which senior Minister Raphael Trotman chose to conduct himself recently in Parliament was nothing short of vitriolic, a display of pure arrogance and a show of utter disrespect for a former President of Guyana. And the Speaker said nothing! We may not like a person holding a certain office, but as a civilised people we must accord respect to the particular office. You mean to say former President Jagdeo did not do even one good for our country that Mr Trotman, someone I considered sophisticated, had to attempt to disparage him?

Undoubtedly, Trotman only did himself harm. As parliamentarians, they might as well stop referring to members as “honourable”.

4. Conduct of Minister Simona Judy Broomes: To date, there has been no indication that the actions of Minister Simona Judy Broomes, and United States honouree, who brought the Guyana Parliament into disrepute, with her video making skills, has been dealt with.

5. Big spending: It is no surprise that the President was prompted to hold discussions with Permanent Secretaries regarding the curbing of Government spending. The ‘cadillac’ lifestyle enjoyed by a select group in this small, developing country is simply too much for the ordinary citizen to comprehend and accept, especially when that lifestyle is financed with public funds. Almost all the Ministers have gained weight; clearly, they are enjoying “the good life”. The latest splurge coming to light is the $500,000 property rental for two junior Ministers. With all the excesses, no wonder the ordinary people were all flooded

out, because no one cared to spend monies preparing the pumps and drainage system in anticipation of floods from heavy rainfall, in areas outside of Georgetown.

After the damage was done, then we heard that pumps were not working. How unconscionable!

6. Flooding: As if the village of Buxton was the only flood affected village, we heard that two Ministers would hold an outreach to that village. The President who should be leading by example was nowhere to be seen. Who is really advising him?

7. Robberies: The bandits seem to be having free reign, with reports of robberies, daily. Where are the Police patrols? My fellow citizens are urged to not make themselves easy targets for the bandits. The seawall seems to now be their chosen place of seeking victims.

Editor, Guyanese deserve better from our office holders, who must all remember that they are the servants of the people. This is why they were placed there.

Sincerely, Marcia Fernadez

PPP will win free and fair elections

Dear Editor, A poll conducted by this writer for the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) earlier this month showed the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) winning the next general election if it is free and fair. But a large majority of voters also expressed fear that the next election may be rigged noting that the People’s National Congress (PNC) – which now dominates the coalition Government – never allowed a free and fair election or its sole referendum (July 1978) when it governed between 1964 and 1992.

The latest opinion survey – with 430 respondents reflecting the demographics of the country – shows widespread dissatisfaction with the governance of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition in virtually every area measured. And a large majority also said the Government and the country is moving in the wrong direction. Voters say the coalition has turned out to be the exact opposite of their expectation when they

voted out the PPP for its arrogant ways. Voters say they can’t wait for the next election to send a clear message to the PNC dominated coalition.

When asked if a general election were to be held now, which party they think would win, 57 per cent (including many who said they will still vote for the coalition) said the PPP is most likely to get the most votes. But it is not clear the PPP can command a majority in Parliament as many (who previously voted for it) are distrustful of it saying they fear the party could return to its old hubristic ways of governance.

Many voters said they feel betrayed by the Alliance For Change for jumping in bed with the PNC and not demanding the enforcement of the Cummingsburg Accord.

These and other voters say they would support a genuine “third force” to serve as a balance for good governance, which the AFC has failed to carry out because of political opportunism. So there is scope for a third party.

The poll’s findings show voters are divided on who

should be the Presidential nominee of the PPP. The overwhelming choice, among PPP supporters, as Presidential candidate is former President Bharrat Jagdeo with the former President having some support among disenchanted supporters of the AFC and APNU. But if he is unable or unwilling to run for the pres-

idency, party supporters are split on the prospective nominee among Gail Teixeira, Irfaan Ali, Anil Nandlall, Frank Anthony and others with no overwhelming favourite rivalling the popularity of Jagdeo.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Acting with more sensitivity and in children’s interest Dear Editor, It is important to the wellbeing of our society that the media highlights social issues, such as child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Increased awareness of this scourge may prompt those responsible to do more and possibly effectuate change for the better. However, it is equally important that those involved in the rescue, investigations and reporting of child sexual exploitation and abuse cases do the right thing in the right way.

Whatever actions are taken, the best interest of the child should be paramount.

On June 22, 2017, one media house reported the story of two teenage girls who were removed from a “sex camp” along the Amaila Falls access road, Kuribrong mining district, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni). The 15-year-old is below the age of consent so any adult who engaged in sexual activities with her is guilty of statutory rape. The 17-year-old may be above the age of consent but the investigation could possibly reveal that she was coerced or forced into sexual activities while she was a minor.

On the surface, the fact that this story was highlighted in the media is commendable.

Additionally, the swift action by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) officers and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) ranks, rescuing the teenagers from the “sex camp” is commendable. More similar actions of this nature are needed to protect children, especially those in remote locations and should be coming

from others in these communities and their leaders.

It is not clear why there was a reporter at the scene, directly asking the teenagers questions. Here is where a trained counsellor should have been present as clearly this was a planned rescue mission. While this matter needs to be reported to the public, the rights of these teenagers and their dignity is important and garnering details from the girls should be done in a sensitive and ethical manner and by someone who is trained to address the issues of child sexual exploitation and abuse that will bring no further harm to the children.

Children should not be exposed to the questioning of a reporter in these rescue missions. What they need is the support of a counsellor. We encourage the officers to ensure that a trained counsellor from the relevant agency accompany them on future exercises and the press to act with greater care.

The ChildLinK and our partners in the Child Rights Alliance (CRA) commend the act of removing these girls by the GGMC and the GPF ranks from an environment where they were possibly abused. We commend the media for their interest in social issues and support their right to bring these matters to the public’s attention. We do, however, encourage these important stakeholders to act with more sensitivity and in the best interest of children in the future.

Yours faithfully, Hasani Tinnie

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THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

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Foundation Stress management

for parents

made worse by chronic tension. Also, our immune system can be weakened, thus, making us more susceptible to colds and other infections.

Progressive relaxation

P

arenting can be very stressful. Whether you are a stay-at-home parent or a working parent, a single parent or a married parent, mother or father, parent of one child or several children, remaining cool, calm and full of energy can help get you through the day. Below are some simple stress management tips and relaxation exercises that have proven useful to adults whether or not they are a parent. By taking a moment to consider which stress management tools will work for you and then putting them into practice immediately will help to provide the stress management approach you are looking for and the stress relief you deserve.

How do we get so tense?

When we are worried, anxious, hurried or harried, our body begins to feel tense. Actually, this is a natural reaction. Our body is preparing us for flight or fight. Our body has been given the signal to prepare to respond to a threat.

If a real physical danger were present, we would be able to protect ourselves by attack or retreat. When the emergency was over, an “all clear signal” would be given and our body would relax and return to its normal state.

In our modern existence, our mind is often bothered by many things. Constant mental stress keeps our body in constant tension which itself becomes a form of stress. We can handle stress by learning to cope with thoughts and events so they no longer are stressful. We can also learn to relax.

When we practise relaxation, we are giving the “all clear signal”. As we become better at giving the signal we are able to trigger the relaxation response so our body will return to its normal state.

Chronic tension affects each of us differently. Depending on the person it can cause sleep disturbance, increased or decreased appetite, headaches, stomach aches, poor concentration or irritability. Some diseases may be caused by or

Start with your feet and lower legs. Tighten those muscles just as hard as you can. Feel the tension. Then gradually release the tension. Let your feet and lower leg muscles relax just a little bit at a time. Repeat this with your upper leg and hip muscles, then hands and lower arms, upper arms and shoulders, stomach and other body parts. Again, experience first the tension and then the gradual relaxation as you slowly release all the tension.

Try to practice on a daily basis. When you have followed the above for about 10 to 15 sessions, try it without tensing the muscles. See if you can just relax one muscle group at a time while breathing slowly and deeply.

Deep breathing

When we are tense, our breathing is often shallow and rapid. If fact, most of us do not breathe properly, tense or not. Improper breathing robs us of oxygen which purifies our body as well as helps our body produce energy. Fortunately, learning to breathe properly is not difficult. Find a comfortable place to lie down. Place your hands on your abdomen just below your ribs. Begin breathing slowly and deeply. If you are breathing properly, you will feel the expansion in the abdominal area before your rib cage expands. Spend 5 to 10 minutes several times a day practising your deep breathing. You will notice that as you become more proficient, your breathing will improve during your normal activities.Listening to music is very relaxing. Reading can be rewarding for many. Enjoying a hobby can make life more fun.

Research has shown that exercising several times a week (even just a walk) can reduce stress and tension. Research has also found that regular church attendance and daily prayer result in lower blood pressure and better coping.

Avoid too much caffeine or alcohol. Both of these are thought to be relaxing but they can actually make things worse. Avoid watching the news before going to bed. Try to take one day at a time. Look for the good things that happen each day and be thankful. Reach out and touch someone.

Giving IS better than receiving. Be forgiving. Don’t hold grudges. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. As you learn to forgive others, use a little on yourself. Tomorrow is another day. (Excerpt from Childdevelopmentinstitute)

5 of the hardest

things parents face:

how to handle the most challenging parenting issues CONTINUED FROM WEDNESDAY

By Janet Lehman

4. “I Hate You, Mom!” One of the hardest things parents face is when their child is mean, rude or disrespectful. Your child may have always been this way, or the change in their personality might have seemingly happened overnight – perhaps when they hit the pre-teen years. Your 10-year-old loves being with you, but the next thing you know, she’s screaming “I hate you,” calling you names, and refusing to go anywhere with you.

The words “I hate you” can have the power to reduce any parent to tears or anger – it can make you feel like you’ve failed and wonder where you went wrong.

Childs know that saying these words can paralyse a parent during a fight, which is why they use this tactic to get what they want. As hard as it is, try not to personalise your child’s behaviour.

When you personalise things, it makes it very hard to be objective about how to respond to your child in the moment. A good thing to do when this happens is stop, breathe, and instead of a knee-jerk reaction, respond with (for example), “We’re not talking about that right now. We’re talking about the fact that you need to do your homework.”

You can also ask yourself, “What does my child really need from me right now?”

It might be some space, or it might be for you to follow through on a consequence you issued. But remember, try not to take these words from your child personally.

5. Letting go: During your child’s pre-adolescence and adolescence, you are constantly confronted with letting go, especially if your child seems to need to learn things the hard way. A natural part of adolescence is risk taking – which often results in breaking rules and inappropriate behaviour. It becomes extremely important as a parent to be able to disconnect

from your own emotional response to this misbehaviour (feeling guilty, embarrassed, ashamed, or simply disappointed). As parents, when our children get older, we need to pull back and become coaches and teachers, still loving our children as people, but giving them space to learn.

As painful as it is to accept sometimes, our children are born to move away from us. There is a sense of grief that goes along with this; I’ve experienced it myself.

It’s important to remember that this work of caring for our children while they are constantly separating from us and becoming individuals can be stressful and demanding.

A “Good Enough” Parent

You can’t protect your children from everything bad that might happen to them, or from the poor choices they may make, but you can help them learn from the bad situations they get themselves into. Your child will likely not thank you now for letting her struggle on her own and suffer through a consequence, but she may surprise you when she’s an adult by telling you that your coaching, teaching or limit setting made a positive difference in her life.

One final word: It’s difficult for parents to figure out what is right; and the truth is, there really isn’t a “right” answer all the time. It’s important to accept that there are choices to make, and that choices often come with anxiety. Remember that you are doing the best you can and making the best choices possible. More important than trying to be a perfect parent is to be a “good enough” parent , who takes care of their child and tries their best.

Hard situations are part of life – situations from which we can learn and grow. And as parents we can support our children through the difficult times. This doesn’t stop at adolescence because we will be parents forever – our role just continues to change over time. (Excerpt from empoweringparents.com)

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Jagdeo assails cowed corruption watchdogs over Govt excesses

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday lashed out at the now cowed anti-corruption advocates and civil society bodies over their silence on what he calls “blatant corruption and excesses”, exhibited by the coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary was at the time responding to queries at his Church Street office, over his Party’s seeming failure to effectively challenge some of the excesses he repeatedly lamented. Jagdeo responded, “It seems as though we are the only ones fighting the corruption. Where are the civil society organisations now?”

The former President was at the time addressing a press engagement at his Church Street office and had

The Sussex Street drug bond

again lamented the $1.4 billion D’Urban Park Project.

TIGI

He spoke too of the controversial $605 million drug purchase single sourced from ANSA McAL as well as the infamous ‘pharma-gate’ scandal costing taxpayers $174 million annually.

Jagdeo has since questioned where the organisa-

tions were that “were so vocal against these things”.

He told members of the media that despite being elected representatives in the 65-member National Assembly, “the civil society organisations have not taken a position on GECOM as yet” save the Guyana Bar Association, which he concedes recently filed court proceedings.

Dutch company to install, operate ExxonMobil floating base

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xxonMobil, the USbased oil giant gearing for production offshore Guyana, has handed a major contract to a Dutch based company to install and operate its floating producing and storage base for its Liza oil field in Guyana.

The company – SBM Offshore – made the official announcement on Monday saying under the contract it will construct, install, lease and operate a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO).

This follows completion of front-end engineering studies and the final investment decision on the project by ExxonMobil, according to the company.

The FPSO is said to be designed to produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day, will have associated gas treatment capacity of about

170 million cubic feet per day and water injection capacity of about 200,000 barrels per day.

The floating base will be moored at a depth of 1525 meters and will be able to store 1.6 million barrels of crude oil at a given time.

Making the announcement, SBM’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bruno Chabas said, “We are proud that ExxonMobil awarded SBM Offshore the contracts for the Liza FPSO.”

SBM’s Chief Executive Officer, Bruno Chabas

He observed that the ExxonMobil Liza Field offshore Guyana was one of the industry’s largest oil discoveries of the past decade, and “we look forward to cooperating closely with our client

and partners to make this project a success”.

According to Chabas, “this award underlines SBM Offshore’s continued focus on building on our experience, our long-term relationships and FPSO-led strategic vision.”

The decision to award the contract by ExxonMobil comes on the heels of the company being awarded its Production Licence from the Guyana Government.

The acceleration towards

production offshore Guyana follows major discoveries in Guyana in May 2015 and June 2016 of “world-class resources”, possibly the largest over the last two years.

“A small team worked more than a year designing and executing a plan that had now brought us to the brink of what could be a major discovery,” ExxonMobil’s Guyana Basin Project Manager said, at the time of the Liza-1 well discovery.

SBM Offshore is a listed holding company headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands that provides floating production services to the offshore energy industry.

The company is regarded as one of the leading firms in leased floating production systems with multiple units currently in operation.

The company’s main activities are the design, supply, installation, operation and the life extension of FPSO vessels.

These are either owned and operated by SBM Offshore and leased to its clients or supplied on a turnkey sale basis.

Only recently, the Guyana Parliament was updated by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, who had said the Stabroek Basin offshore Guyana, where exploration activities are currently underway, holds potentially two billion barrels of recoverable oil.

He said, too, Government has drafted an Upstream and Local Content Policy in anticipation of the start of production in 2020.

Trotman was at the time piloting the Petroleum Bill 2017, which has since been sent to a Special Select Committee of the Guyana Parliament for further consultations.

He suggested that the anti-corruption watchdog body had only taken public positions on things in the past.

The Opposition Leader quickly highlighted prominent TIGI Past President Anand Goolsarran, who accused the then PPP/C Administration of siphoning off $28 billion annually through misfeasance and other nefarious and corrupt means.

According to Jagdeo,

“it is time the Government breaks this down.”

Jagdeo challenged Government to have the TIGI Past President provide a breakdown of the $28 billion in procurement fraud and to go after the people involved.

In lashing out at the current Administration over its penchant for excesses, Jagdeo pointed to the early budgets presented by Government, which inherently allow for a situation where “they have two budgets running parallelly (sic), they don’t close the budget”.

Billions

He explained that during the month of December the Administration would take the opportunity to spend large amounts of money without having debates in the Parliament.

Jagdeo lamented a situation too where Government agencies make out cheques in large amounts during that period and “the accounting officers holds bil-

lions of dollars in cheques that are then used in a fashion we will never be able to trace whether we are getting the services or not”.

President Granger, in his most recent pre-packaged televised programme “The Public Interest”, lamented problems over the Skeldon Sugar Factory, the fibreoptic cable project and the Hope Canal among other large projects undertaken by the PPP/C Administration.

Granger also hinted too at his new cost measures/ austerity measures in the face of an inherited dire economic situation.

Jagdeo retorted, however, that “the President has not spoken about the spending of his (APNU/AFC) Government and the wanton spending”.

He drew reference to the $80 billion liability to the treasury as well as the $1.4 billion D’Urban Park “stadium that is not in use…rent a bond for $174 million a year which is a bottom house”.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS

“Hustler” jailed for 3 years, fined

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man, who says that he is a “hustler” when asked by Magistrate Fabayo Azore his occupation, was on Wednesday jailed for three years and fined when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Clarksdale Aaron, 25, of Lot 180 Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara (EBD), admitted that on June 26, 2017 at John Street, Werken-Rust, he was in possession of 102 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

According to Police Prosecutor Simone Payne,

Jailed: Clarksdale Aaron

the father of two was observed by ranks on patrol acting in a suspicious manner on the day in question.

As such, he was approached; however, he then threw a black bag away and attempted to flee.

He was apprehended and taken back to the location where he threw the bag. It was searched and leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be those of the cannabis plant were found.

The defendant was then taken to the Alberttown Police Station where the illicit substance was weighed in his presence. In a plea of

mitigation, Aaron told the Magistrate that he was unemployed and was finding it difficult to find full-time work.

“I can’t get work and I spoke with a brethren and decided to do this, because I got to provide for my children. But I am very sorry, madam. I don’t want my children to beg people.

All I ask is for me to get to see them one more time before I go to jail,” he told the Magistrate.

Magistrate Azore sentenced him to three years in prison along with a fine of $153,000.

Miner charged for stealing raw gold

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miner working in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) was on Wednesday taken before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer to a charge which stated that he stole 19 pennyweights of raw gold.

Colin Sherwin Jerome, of Lot 222 Amelia’s Ward, Linden, denied the charge when it was read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Police are contending that the 37-year-old man on June 22, 2017 at Potaro River, Essequibo stole 19

pennyweights of raw gold valued $190, 000 from Anil Patan.

The Police Prosecutor told the Court that on the day in question, the Virtual Complainant (VC) burnt the gold and left it to cool while he went to shower.

However, upon his return, he saw the defendant removing the gold after which he ran away.

The matter was reported and Jerome was arrested a few miles away from the scene.

The court was told that he had 5.7 pennyweights of the gold in his possession when he was arrested. As such he was arrested and charged.

The prosecution had no objection to bail, but requested that it be substantial. Jerome was released on $70,000 bail. The case will continue on July 18 at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.

Corruption in Police Force hinders...

FROM PAGE 2

The Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an anti-trafficking non-governmental organisation (NGO) during the previous reporting period and committed public funding for the provision of enhanced psychosocial services to adult female trafficking victims referred by the Government.

However, the Government never honoured its commitment; rather it gave $13 million to another NGO that provided housing and counselling services to victims of gender-based violence, including an unknown number of trafficking victims, the report highlighted.

Guyana was put in the spotlight for its lack of adequate public or private shelters for male or child trafficking victims, despite the Government’s commitment, made in early 2016, to open and partially fund a shelter for male victims. Child trafficking victims are placed in nonspecialised shelters, and child victims identified in rural areas were placed in holding cells overnight without food before being trans-

ferred to the capital for shelter.

Recommendations

In order to become fully prepared to tackle TIP, several initiatives have to be taken. The report recommends the funding of specialised victim services; vigorously investigate and prosecute sex and labour trafficking cases; train law enforcement, judiciary officials, and frontline responders – especially those working outside the capital – on victim identification and referral procedures and finalise the written identification procedures to better guide law enforcement officials.

It also recommends Guyana provide additional protection for victims to enable them to testify against traffickers in a way that minimizes re-traumatisation; record the number of cases reported to the trafficking hotline to promote a rapid investigative and victim assistance response; and provide training for diplomatic personnel on human trafficking.

Controlling…

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…Trinidad

he Trinis are all outraged by the remark – on international TV – of Mario Sabgda-Aboud that his “ethnic group”, the “Lebanese-Syrians”, actually are “the most powerful group in Trinidad”. The fella has now apologised!! Now your Eyewitness wants to know why he should apologise when he’s speaking the truth!!?? He’s actually is the owner of the Rituals Coffee Chain which is all across the Caribbean – including Guyana.

But he’s related to the Abouds – of TT “Textile King” fame and, more pertinently, the Sabgas – who own ANSA McAL. As the latter’s website boasts, their asset base is at least US$2 billion and the activities of their 58 companies span automotive, beverage, distribution, financial services, manufacturing, media, retail, services.

If WE’RE used to be called “Bookers Guiana”, then with more than double the number of companies, TT should be called “Ansa TT”!! Most recently they were in the news here for the $605 million pharma contract that is being investigated by the Procurement Commission and the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee. And of course, adding to their portfolio by buying out Berger Paints.

With the community of “Syrians” – as they’re called in TT – numbering only 5000, there’s no question they box way above their weight category – when it comes to calling the shots in that island. While it would’ve been expected by some they’d be closer to the Indian Trinis, who share their commercial aspirations – the reality is exactly the opposite. The Indians are seen as their competitors and in the political rivalries playing out over in carnival land – the Syrians back the PNM – the party of the African Trinis.

And that’s why so many of the latter are outraged by Sabga-Aboud’s boast!! For the assertion of being “most powerful” to be made by the Rituals boss, he just couldn’t be referring to their wealth. That implies “influence” but not “power”. Like how in Guyana, folks like the Beharrys or Yesu Persaud may have influence – but absolutely no power. To have power one has to command the political directorate. And this is what the Syrians do in TT. All the politicians of the PNC are in their pockets since they were the ones with political power for most of TT’s independence in 1962. With the short-lived Indian TTUNC sneaking in twice, the group might’ve hedged their bets – but momentum, if not demographics and cultural affinities keep them behind the PNM. The Syrian community have been laughing their tail off at the hostility between the African and Indian communities.

Laughing all the way to the bank. Ansa Merchant Bank – which they own!!

…Berbice rice farmers?

Moses Nagamootoo, PM of Guyana, says he never told rice farmers they’d be getting $9000 per bag of paddy. Fair enough – even though scads of persons have come forward to attest that he did in fact make that promise. But what he can’t possibly deny is that soon after he was elevated to High Office in 2015 – with the requisite Main Street address newly air-conditioned, SUV suitably bullet-proofed and outriders on the ready etc – he did promise he had secured a lucrative rice market in Mexico. Which would take care of rice farmers’ woes.

But here we are, two years down the road and no conclusion on this Mexican Market. Is it a Mexican standoff? After all, Guyana was made to jump through any number of hoops – phytosanitary and others – but no response? In the meantime, the rice farmers are up to their necks in water – once again.

And with them having to spend mega bucks to drain their fields – it might just COST them $9000 per bag of paddy!

…water

OK. Your Eyewitness understands heavy rainfall – which raised conservancy levels beyond its safety mark – is the work of the big fella up there. Not the Government!

But couldn’t the latter at least INFORM farmers before releasing water? Contempt!

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

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GuySuCo reports fall in world Exploratory meeting market price for sugar hosted with EITI… GAWU says projection inaccurate

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he world market price for sugar has dropped significantly, with a range of US$250 to $275 per tonne which is in the vicinity of $12.5 cents per pound, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has said.

However the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has debunked those claims saying the figures are inaccurate and does not represent a true picture of what prices on the world market are.

GuySuCo on Wednesday claimed that as of June 28, 2017, the prices per pound of sugar were US$12.66. But President of GAWU Komal Chand told Guyana Times that international price is US$12.77, which if calculated by tonnage would result in a greater income.

GuySuCo stated that it supplies annually 65,000 tonnes of bagged and packaged sugar to Caribbean and local markets. Another 12,000 tonnes of raw sugar is supplied to the North American market while the remainder which is also raw sugar, is sold on the European market. The supply to Europe for the second crop 2017 will total some 70,000 tonnes.

The company also claimed that the current forecast is that there will be a surplus of sugar on the world market for the marketing year 2017/2018. In addition, from October 1, 2017, the European Union (EU) market will also see some radical changes since it is anticipated that significant additional amounts of beet sugar will be available for sale and this will compete directly with cane sugar.

GuySuCo said this may result in reduced sugar prices in Europe. Due to the competition with beet producers, the price paid by the refiners for raw cane sugar (as supplied

by GuySuCo) will be more in line with the world market price, which currently is trad-

GAWU President Komal Chand

ing at US$275 per tonne and the forecast is that it will not increase significantly in the near future. The price at the commencement of the year was US$396 per tonne.

However, Chand told Guyana Times that based on the international market prices and reports from Czarnikow Group Limited, a company that provides sugar market services to sugar producers, consumers, and processors in the United Kingdom and internationally, this may not be true.

The GAWU head said the company is responsible for analysing different sugar production areas in the world and they come up with projections. “They pointed out that the end of the sugar year which is in September; the production will be 177.8 tonnes which is an increase by 4.9 million tonnes,” he said.

Consumption, on the other hand, will be 187.1 million tonnes and stocks which are kept at a certain level so as to deal with situations that may arise from natural disasters has been dwindling.

“As of September this year, that stock is forecasted to be 30.8 million tonnes and it was 38 million tonnes last year.

These numbers are telling you that the sugar prices will go up. So, where GuySuCo get this projection from that they will be there isn’t when you take into account the production, consumption and stock,” he asserted.

However, GuySuCo maintained that the anticipated lower prices for the sugar sold will not assist the Corporation’s fragile financial position and poor liquidity will continue to pose a serious challenge in the upcoming second crop.

Former President Donald Ramotar also gave his opinion on the matter, stating that fluctuating prices will occur but this does not have the potential to devastate the industry, especially if GuySuCo continues to work towards expanding its value added production.

IDB team

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team of officials from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on Wednesday met with Minister of State, Joseph Harmon for an exploratory meeting, which was also attended by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr Jan Mangal.

The team is exploring the possible roles that the IDB could play in supporting Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector and included the IDB Representative in Guyana, Sophie Makonnen; Lead Oil and Gas Specialist in the Energy Division, Ramon Espinasa;

Economist- Energy, Lenin Balza and Consultant in the Energy Division of the Infrastructure and Environment Section, Carlos Sucre.

During the meeting, Minister Harmon said that he and Minister Trotman were both members of a team appointed by President David Granger to advise the Cabinet on matters related to this sector. The Minister assured the IDB team that the Government was confident that its support could benefit the development of policies in the sector.

Meanwhile, Espinasa advised the Ministers that it was essential for the Government to determine how it wanted to manage the resources, and that it must ensure contracts are well drafted to ensure the best possible deal for Guyana. “We are here to support with whatever you need, most probably with what we call technical assistance, and this is concessionary support, and eventually, if that is the case, a loan of different amounts for creating the proper institutions,” he said.

10 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Many downsides to an early budget – Jagdeo

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November Budget will kick start Government’s spending way before the commencement of a new fiscal year and will lessen time available for parliamentary scrutiny, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has affirmed, while again criticising the David Grangerled Administration for the announcement of an early budget.

The Cabinet has decided in principle to advance the presentation of the National Budget one month before the new year, from November instead of January. The objective is to have the Budget constitutionally approved

by Parliament and assented to by the President, and all allocations at different tiers disseminated, before the financial year begins on January 1.

February is that you have final numbers for the year,” he added.

The former Head of State said the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was concerned that in presenting early budgets when there were two budgets running parallel, the Government would not necessarily close the budgets as was obtained in the past, from the month of November to December.

The aim is that all spending authorities within the system and those financially dependent on Government would be in a position to work out their activities with assured resources in the beginning of the year without hesitation. Government has said with annual financial resources approved and bestowed in November, a more planned and regulated expenditure profile during the

Cutting costs

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

year is expected.

But Jagdeo has said that there were many downsides to an early budget. The Opposition Leader thinks that presenting an early budget does not carry any meaning, if its contents are lacking many basic policies that cater for the upliftment and betterment of the Guyanese people.

“So, if you have an early budget that has a slew of new taxes and administrative measures that will bring hardships to people, push up their cost of living and create disincentives to the Private Sector, then all you are doing is bringing the hardships earlier,” he told a media conference on Tuesday.

“If the Budget is presented in November,

the Minister comes to Parliament with estimates up to the end of the calendar year about spending. So, he will say I have actual numbers up to November 30 and I am estimating what it will be on December 31, which is our financial year,” he added.

According to him, referencing the first quarter’s financial report and what Finance Minister Winston Jordan said in Parliament last November when he presented the Budget about where the finances of the country would be on December 31, it would be totally inaccurate.

“He spoke of a higher growth rate than the final growth rate. And the good thing about presenting a budget in January or

The former Finance Minister and trained economist was also quick to point out that the Government needed to do as it said when it came to cutting costs.

Jagdeo argued that while this was a constant message being spoken by President David Granger and members of his Cabinet, he was still to see this put into action, highlighting the many cases of overspending.

Budget consultation

Asked whether the Opposition is prepared to make an input into the next annual budget, Jagdeo responded that President Granger knows his party’s position on a number of key policy decisions taken over the past two years the coalition has been in Government and if the Opposition were invited, it would still maintain its position to have these policies removed.

11

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

W K

ing’s is Guyana’s leading luxury retailer offering the finest jewellery, diamonds, gemstones, watches, sunglasses, handbags, clothing, shoes, crystals, pens, and accessories.

King’s Jewellery World has maintained a time-honoured tradition of designing and providing the finest quality jewellery, hand crafted from premium Guyanese gold.

King’s has built its reputation by offering superior quality, styling, and service which goes beyond customers’ expectation. This company has revolutionised the jewellery industry in Guyana with its high quality, consistency and wide selection. Don’t wait. Shop today for your wedding bands and much more at the main location at 141 Quamina Street, 176 Middle Street; and its outlets at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the Giftland Mall.

eddings are around the corner!! If you’re thinking about the best place to pamper yourself before your wedding, why not try Salon J and Spa? Salon J and Spa, located at 83 Lamaha Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, is a full-service beauty salon dedicated to consistently providing high customer satisfaction by rendering excellent services, quality products and furnishing an enjoyable atmosphere at an affordable price.

You can spend a day enjoying a variety of services with them. As we know, all women like to spoil themselves. We have professionals to cater for your every need – be it facials, body wax, manicures, pedicures, blowouts and massages to help you look and feel your best on your Wedding Day. Contact Salon J and Spa on 2269115 or 615-8994.

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ThursDAY, june 29, 2017

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our wedding day is a special day, it’s one of the most important decisions you make. Make that moment memorable with a glass of wine from Wine Cellar.

Wine Cellar features a variety of wines to choose from, here’s an insight on just a few.

M i o n e t t o G r a n Rose Prestige Collection is a brilliant peach colour that has a grapefruit pomegranate aroma. Hints of raspberry and strawberry can be tasted.

Mionetto Moscato Prestige Collection has a pleasing aroma of white peach and honey with subtle spring floral notes.

Ruby Port and Tawny

Dow’s Fine Tawny White is a three-year-old blend that combines subtle fruit with delicious velvety nutty flavours derived from the cask ageing.

Dow’s LBV is full-bodied, rich but perfectly balanced with soft peppery

tannins a n d with a fine acidity that e n s u r e perfect balance on the palate.

T h e classic Dow’s dry finish is always present in the house’s LBV; it is one of the finest LBV Ports available.

Dow’s Fine Ruby is aged for three years, and has exuberant youthful fruit flavours, which make it perfect for informal drinking.

Dow’s Fine Tawny is a three-yearold blend that combines subtle fruit with delicious velvety nutty flavours derived from the cask ageing.

We are the only importers of TITOS’ Vodka – which is enjoyed by celebrities like John Legend and Chrissy Teigen. This pure form of vodka is distilled six times to attain perfection. Our one-litre DiSarano Amaretto is also a must-have for persons who like a sweet liqueur.

Wine Cellar can be found in the DIGICOM location on 73 Robb & Wellington Streets, Lacytown. Wholesale and retail orders can be placed on 612-7702/624-8964 or via email- winecellargy@gmail.com.

N

esha’s Flowerland is a household name when it comes to floral arrangements and gifts for special occasions in Guyana. Starting off as just a small business over 23 years ago, Nesha’s Flowerland has grown to two booming locations and a large clientele. Whether it is for a wedding or anniversary, they have got you covered.

Their fresh and artificial bridal bouquets, bridesmaid bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, centrepieces and such make them your ideal stop for your wedding needs. All of these can be done to the customers’ colour scheme and they do their best to work with your budget.

They can also do your wedding decor, decorating the rooms, making flower arches and even cake decorations with fresh flowers.

They have their own material in a variety of colours so customers don’t have to go out of their way to buy any. To top it off, they will offer 50% off on these materials if they are doing the decor. For an exceptional wedding, contact Nesha’s Flowerland on 227-3553 or 225-3315.

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ThursDAY, june 29, 2017

5 personalised wedding gifts

Mr and Mrs Photo Frame A simple monogrammed silver-plated frame will give them a classic option for showcasing their favourite wedding day memory.

Diamond Flute Set A monogrammed intricate diamond-cut platinum flute set that will ensure the crystal sparkles when it counts.

Contemporary Server Usable for decorating or serving appetisers, the natural marble and Acacia wood finishes add a modern touch to their kitchen. Like all marble items, just be sure they hand wash!

Customised Aerator A monogrammed hand-blown glass carafe would be perfect for the wine-loving couple. Aeration allows every bottle of wine to showcase a smooth taste.

Jewellery Box The velvet interior of a polished jewellery box keeps their new rings and other jewellery safe from scratches and dust.

(Excerpt from GoodHousekeeping)

V

PRO OKE!

L

ingerie can be fashionable and alluring; curves need special care and wearing the right lingerie can make those curves feel beautiful. Peat your honeymoon night up with the most stylish lingerie from the Lingerie Shop conveniently located at 146 Regent Street between Alexander and Camp Streets.

It is the ultimate destination for designer lingerie, nightwear, swimwear and loungewear for men and women. Not forgetting your make-up needs. Contact them today to get your perfect lingerie on tel# 225-0578.

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police to clamp down on ganja smoking among students

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oncerned citizens in Georgetown are calling on the Guyana Police Force and the Education Ministry to work together to clamp down on secondary school students who usually loiter around the city and those who engage in drug use.

These issues were among the many raised by stakeholders on Tuesday afternoon when the newly installed A Division (GeorgetownEast Bank Demerara) Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Marlon Chapman, held a public meeting at the Brickdam Police Station.

During the engagement, Pastor Timothy Norton urged the Divisional Head to be proactive in curbing the use of marijuana around the Stabroek Market area, noting that school students are

A Division Commander Marlon Chapman responding to citizens at Tuesday’s public meeting

now indulging in the illegal act. “(One) thing is the use of marijuana right around the bus parks. Up to today

(Tuesday) I passed there on the pavement just next to the Route 48 bus park and they killing me with the marijuana smell. The other thing is that a lot of school children after hours are indulging in smoking marijuana right around the same area there,” he stated.

On this note, Norton called on the Commander to dispatch some plain clothes ranks to go out there and Police the area so that those found culpable of encouraging youngsters to partake in using the illicit drug can be taken to court.

Meanwhile, Clifton Elias, a former head teacher, raised concerns about students who are out loitering during school hours and late in the evening.

“I am appalled at the growing number of children, particularly those in the sec-

ondary school, who long after 09:30h on school days are loitering around the market places and elsewhere; instead of being in school where they could qualify themselves for useful service to our nation,” Elias noted.

To this end, the former head teacher enquired about the nexus between the Police Force and the Education Ministry for looking into these issues, whereby secondary school students are engaging in illegal activities.

In response, Commander Chapman acknowledged the concerns raised and committed the Force to working with the Education Ministry to have these issues addressed.

“Children should be in school when they ought to be.

I know for a fact that my deputy (Divisional Traffic Head) is usually out on the park in the mornings and afternoons chasing them (students)…,” the Commander noted.

He continued that “we cannot take away the fact that the school welfare department has a function and I can’t speak of that but

Pastor Timothy Norton raising his concerns at a stakeholder’s meeting hosted by the Police in A Division

I know of times when they would make a request for assistance from us, and readily those assistances are granted. I have to say I received no such requests when I came to A Division but in C Division (East Coast Demerara), it used to be a regular feature.”

Chapman posited, nevertheless, that while he is also concerned about the youths not staying in school, the onus lies on all citizens to

ensure that they do not condone or turn a blind eye to school children engaging in illegal activities.

Moreover, the Divisional Commander outlined that with regards to marijuana smoking on the various bus parks, steps were previously taken to address the matter but the results were not as fruitful as desired.

He also promised changes under his tenure, while adding that he has an open door policy. On this note, the Commander invited members of the public to make contact with him whenever they witness any wrongdoing within the Division whether by another civilian or an officer of the Police Force.

In 2015, the report of the Secondary School Drug Prevalence Survey 2013 Project was launched, revealing that marijuana – along with alcohol, cigarettes and inhalants – is the most commonly used drugs among the student population in Guyana.

The survey was done by the Organisation of American States (OAS) Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) in collaboration with the Government of Guyana in 2013 with some 1712 valid questionnaires obtained. Of these, 1266 were from public schools and 446 were from private schools.

Among the key findings was the fact that marijuana remains the most accessible illegal drug while cocaine the least accessible. Some 16.3 per cent of the students indicated that it would be easy to access marijuana.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

After weeks without electricity Sheep thieves hit flooded West Mabaruma to receive substitute generator Coast Berbice … new system to be procured

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s farmers on the West Coast of Berbice (WCB) continued to battle flooding, a group of thieves used the opportunity to raid several sheep pens along the coast.

The most recent incident occurred about 23:30h on Monday when thieves broke into an Armadale family’s animal pen and stole six sheep after the family had retired to bed. The farmer’s wife, Dungandai RamassarRamnarine, told Guyana Times that while she did not see how many persons raided the sheep pen, there were several footprints in the mud. “[Monday] night around 11:30, I hear the noise. When I hear tramping in the water, meh put on the light and wake up meh husband and when they come down and pitch light, the men already gone with the sheep them,” the woman noted.

She explained that the thieves broke in from the back of the pen to gain access to the livestock. However, after the lights were switched on, the men fled.

“Me thought it was cows, not knowing that it was men carrying away the sheep them,” the farmer’s wife related, noting that the six

A

fter almost six weeks without electricity, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan on Tuesday announced that the Government is seeking to procure a new generation set for Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini).

This announcement came in response to a recent publication in Guyana Times, that the community has been suffering a prolonged power outage for over five weeks, resulting from the disintegration of the district’s electrical supply

Armadale resident Dungandai Ramassar-Ramnarine

sheep were all large in size.

Ramassar-Ramnarine explained that a report was made at the Fort Wellington Police Station, but up to late Tuesday afternoon, no rank had visited the family. The Police reportedly contended that the Ramnarines should have branded their livestock.

Meanwhile, residents in Number 30 Village reported similar incidents of sheep theft, claiming that the thieves are taking advantage of the flood situation to pounce on them.

“Threesome” peeper identified

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he man who was beaten to death by three people after he was caught watching them performing a “threesome” in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) was positively identified on Tuesday evening.

The man was identified as 49-year-old Kumar Persaud, also called “Radika” of Bartica by relatives after reading a post in the press.

The man succumbed to his injuries on Monday while receiving medical attention at the Bartica Hospital. He was severely beaten by two men and a woman after he continued to look at them while they were engaged in a sexual act.

The beating was witnessed by another person who was also “peeping” from a different angle. The suspects were subsequently arrested and have since confessed to the murder and are being processed for court.

While details surrounding the incident remain sketchy, Guyana Times understands the parties requested for the now dead man to refrain from watching but in a drunken state, the man continued to watch.

As such, the three began to reportedly “cuff and kick” him about his body. Only recently, a 40-year-old, a miner, was shot to death after he allegedly refused to per-

Dead: Kumar Persaud

form fellatio on one of his two drinking buddies.

The murdered miner, Orland LaCruz, of Pomeroon River was reportedly imbibing with the two suspects inside a camp located in Jack and Vieira Backdam, North West District, when an argument ensued among the men over LaCruz’s alleged refusal to perform the sexual act on one of the suspects, who was armed with a shotgun at the time.

This prompted the armed man to load the firearm with a cartridge that was given to him by the second suspect.

He then shot the victim to the right side of his neck, resulting in his death. The male suspects, who reportedly propositioned the now dead miner, remain at large.

system, which stemmed from a malfunctioning generator.

According to reports, a crankshaft and a series of bearings attached to the generator have been damaged, causing the halt in the operations of the crucial machinery. With the engine out of order, the community was forced to endure the very prolonged blackout as was no alternative means of generating electrical energy.

The procurement of the new generator is a long-term solution to the problem, ac-

cording to Minister Bulkan, as he explained that for the short-term intervention, the Natural Resources Ministry had been able to procure a standby 500 kilowatt generator to service the community in the meantime.

The Minister noted that the substitute generator is expected to be transported and installed in the community shortly, as he urged residents to exercise patience as the Administration works expeditiously to rectify the situation.

Regional Executive Officer of Region One, Leslie Wilburg, had explained that the generator went down on May 15, 2017 and it was soon discovered that expenses to fix the plant would be extensive. The alternatives were to repair the plant for some $8.4 million with a time frame of four to five weeks, while the other option was to purchase a new plant for $16.7 million with one week’s framework for installation, or $14.4 million with the installation time of about one month.

16 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mental health services delivery

32 trained as peer educators in Region 1 … seeking the re-introduction of the peer system Therefore, to tackle this the Mental Health Unit, as a part of the National Mental Health Action Plan 20152020, is re-introducing the peer system where they will train children from all regions to offer support to their peers and to report instances of mental trauma to the unit so that they can provide care and prevent possible life threatening situations.

BY LAKHRAM BHAGIRAT

A

s a part of taking mental health services to the community level, the Public Health Ministry’s Mental Health Unit conducted a two-day training workshop with 32 youths, age 10 to fourteen, from the Region One (Barima-Waini) community of Baramita.

The training workshop – a Pan-American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) initiative – concluded on June 21 and saw the youths being trained as peer educators to help tackle the social ills affecting the community.

Psychologist Jermain Pollard along with social workers Alicia Solomon, Janeil Osborne and Macie Barclay were the facilitators of the workshop.

Solomon explained Baramita was chosen because of it’s at risk status. “For a small community they were known for suicide and other contributing factors. We know that alcoholism is one of the major problems and knowing that they are predominantly Amerindians and they are from the Carib tribe – what we know are war like people, so when they use these alcohol, they become very vi-

The facilitators from left: Macie Barclay, Janeil Osborne, Jermain Pollard and Alicia Solomon

olent and they can even kill so that was one of the reasons Baramita was chosen,” she explained.

She further stated that the mining community has only one primary school with a secondary division but noted that it is not mandatory that the children attend and as such, they often choose not to.

However, this publication understands that the head teacher of the school has contacted the Education Ministry for them to look at the construction of a secondary school in the community.

The information that was shared during the workshop, not only surrounded mental health but also how to resolve conflicts and how to build and keep relationships since

most of the youths in the area found it hard to be social with each other.

Solomon also stated that the team is expected to visit the community at least two times before the end of 2017 and hopes to see progress made. She added that they would also train the children on the wide range of issues while assessing their knowledge retention skills.

Peer system

Young people are more inclined to share their experiences with their peers and quite often they unload their sufferings as well. In turn, they are offered advice and in most cases the knowledge imparted, by their peers, may be incorrect.

Worldwide 10-20 per cent

of children and adolescents experience mental disorders with half of all mental illnesses beginning by the age of 14.

If untreated, these conditions severely influence children’s development, their educational attainments and their potential to live fulfilling and productive lives.

Children with mental disorders face major challenges with stigma, isolation and discrimination, as well as lack of access to health care and education facilities, in violation of their fundamental human rights.

There have been several cases of children cutting their wrists and posting pictures of it on social media and even in those instances, they are not being afforded the help they need.

Seal of confidentiality

While some children are open and would confide in their peers, there are some who tend to isolate themselves and quite often have trust issues, according to Solomon. However, the Unit is big on confidentiality when training peer educators.

“We would have asked for persons that we know that if somebody shares something with them, then they can say that look, yes, this information is to stay with me but if you are going to hurt somebody or it’s going to be harmful to you I need to share it.

I cannot keep it to myself so that is why we want to integrate the teachers, also parents, also community leaders, and authorities in the community,” she explained.

Janeil Osborne, who has been a peer educator for over

five years, said the seal of confidentiality is important. She also stressed the need to inform and be helpful to those in distress.

Tackling the issues

Psychologist, Jermain Pollard, said that upon his visit to Baramita and an investigation along with interactions with the youths he observed that the community needs the training. He noted that because mining is the dominant economic activity in the area, children are quite often left unsupervised and as such, they engage in all sorts of behaviours.

Pollard said the situation there requires urgent attention and he sees the training workshop as one that would make a difference. He explained that the children are now informed and educated on the opportunities that presents itself beyond the community and hopes they use the knowledge to make informed choices as well as influence the lives of their peers.

The Unit would be making its way into schools at the beginning of the new term in September to offer services to the students as well as train teachers to be able to identify children suffering from psychological trauma.

‘Dysfunctional’ RDC refrains from Sophia man died of punctured lung scrutinising Region’s spending A O ver the past few weeks, members of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) for Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) have been unable to meet and plan programmes to improve the lives of residents and farmers in the administrative district, many of whom are suffered the impact of intense flooding.

Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ovid Morrison was quoted on Wednesday by the Government Information Agency (GINA) as saying that the Region has started clearing canals with the assistance of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA).

However, Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal believes that the Council not being able to hold meetings could lead to financial improprieties flourishing as the administration’s spending cannot be scrutinised.

“I want to believe that it is a deliberate act on behalf of those who are not allowing our statutory meetings to go through, so they can keep away these financial records and documents and spend the money the way they feel like … once the Council cannot scrutinise the spending of the administration, there is room for corruption,”

Region 5 Chairman Vickchand Ramphal

Ramphal told Guyana Times at Onverwagt on Tuesday.

He conceded that the Region Five RDC was dysfunctional owing to the differences between the Council and the Region’s administration.

“Yes, I would say that it is dysfunctional, because we cannot sit at our statutory meeting and make solid and proper decisions for the people of this region. There is a disconnect between the regional administration and Regional Democratic Council. The Council is the body that makes decisions for the Region and thereafter, the administration needs to execute those deci-

Region 5 REO Ovid Morrison

sions, but that is not happening presently,” the Chairman pointed out.

He noted too that Morrison has not been providing evidence of the Region’s spending.

The Chairman called on the regional official to prize the neutrality of the public position that he holds.

“The REO is supposed to be a neutral individual and execute his duties in a very professional manner and not be biased on any side, but apparently, he wants to be a policy maker and I would say to him if he wants to do so, he should come off and leave the office and then maybe join the Council,” the Region Five Chairman stressed.

He expressed hope that Central Government could intervene to bring the situation to normalcy. Ramphal wrote Morrison last Saturday requesting a meeting after the heavy rainfall in the Region, but the Chairman claimed that the REO has not signalled any indication to meet with him.

The REO is claiming that the Chairman should apologise to him for asking for an investigation to be launched into the alleged misuse of an excavator in a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC). “I would say the right procedure is to launch an investigation, and we can take an example from Parliament, where the Speaker had launched an investigation into the drug bond issue while Parliament was in session and the findings came back to Parliament. I was trying to do something at the regional level to have a six-member ad-hoc committee to investigate the alleged misuse of the excavator,” Ramphal stated.

Earlier this month, the refusal of the REO to sign on the bank accounts had resulted in the 10 NDCs in the Region not being able to spend money in areas that were critical and in need of emergency works for drainage and irrigation, along with the maintenance of roads and other infrastructure.

post-mortem examination conducted on the body of the C Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown man, whose remains were discovered on Saturday evening revealed that he died as a result of a punctured left lung.

Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Police Force, Jairam Ramlakhan said on Wednesday that the examination done by Government pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh, on Tuesday found that the cause of death of 49-year-old Trevor Dublin was perforation of the lungs.

Dublin, of Lot 385 C Field, Sophia, was a serviceman employed with BK International. His lifeless body was found around 22:15h on the C Field Sophia Access Road by Police ranks on mobile patrol.

According to Police reports, the body bore a single wound to the left side chest. At the time, Dublin was clad in a dark-coloured shirt and blue jeans. The man was also wearing a pair of black long boots at the time his body was found.

Investigators also found a knife and a toque in close proximity to his body.

The Police arrested an E Field, Sophia resident Saturday evening after he was found near Dublin’s body.

Dead: Trevor Dublin

However, while investigators believe that the suspect may have had something to do with or know something about Dublin’s murder, the E Field resident has reportedly denied any involvement in the man’s death.

Nevertheless, the suspect remains in custody as investigators work to determine whether there was any connection between the two men. When contacted on Wednesday, C Division (East Coast) Commander Calvin Brutus told this newspaper that detectives have found “nothing substantial as yet”.

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Trade matters likely to dominate Protests held across India after attacks against Muslims Caricom summit

C

P

rotests were held in cities across India on Wednesday against a wave of attacks on Muslims by mobs that accuse them of killing cows or eating beef.

The protests follow the stabbing to death last week of a 16-year-old boy accused of possessing beef on a train.

Several people have been arrested. On Tuesday, a man was beaten and his house set on fire by a mob that accused him of slaughtering a cow in eastern Jharkhand state.

Waving "Not in My Name" banners and "Stop Cow Terrorism" placards, actors, writers and young mothers cradling babies braved monsoon rains in Mumbai, Kolkata and other cities, while in Delhi a cast of intellectuals and activists were joined by relatives of recent lynching victims.

Critics accuse right-wing Hindu groups, some linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, of fomenting

Muslims offer prayers as they take part in a protest against the recent cases of mob lynchings of Muslims who were accused of possessing beef, in Kolkata, India June 28, 2017

or not doing enough to stop violence against Muslims and lower-caste Hindus who eat beef or work in the meat and leather industries.

Modi denies the accusation and has publicly criticised so-called cow vigilantes.

Many Hindus worship the cow as sacred to their religion.

Almost all of the 63 at-

tacks since 2010 involving cow-related violence were recorded after Modi and his Hindu nationalist government came to power in 2014, IndiaSpend, a data journalism website, said in a report.

Twenty-eight Indians – 24 of them Muslims – have been killed and 124 injured since 2010 in cow-related violence, IndiaSpend said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Revived US travel ban sows confusion, anger in Middle East

A

US Supreme Court decision allowing partial implementation of President Donald Trump's travel ban has stirred anger and confusion in parts of the Middle East, with would-be visitors worried about their travel plans and their futures.

The blanket 90-day ban on visitors from six Muslimmajority countries – Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen – and a 120-day ban on all refugees was completely blocked by lower courts after Trump is-

sued it on March 6, saying it was needed to prevent terrorism attacks.

On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled the bans could proceed, though only for foreigners with no "bona fide relationship" with an American entity or person, and it did not specify what that meant. The ruling left some in the Middle East wondering if they would be able to enter the United States.

At the US Consulate in Dubai, where there is normally a queue out the door

of people waiting to process visa applications, a Reuters reporter saw few people.

Middle East airlines have yet to receive a directive from the United States following the ruling, industry sources told Reuters on Wednesday. The sources said US flights would continue to operate as normal until guidance is received.

Major airlines based in the region include Dubaibased Emirates Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuela crisis: Hunt for pilot after attack on Supreme Court

T

Oscar Perez poses at a CICPC event in March 2015

he Venezuelan military is hunting for a rogue elite Police Officer suspected of carrying out a helicopter attack on the country's Supreme Court. Oscar Pérez posted Instagram videos admitting the attack and calling on Venezuelans to rise up against the Government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The officer's home has been searched as the

President put the entire military on alert, citing a "terrorist attack". The country is in the midst of a deep economic and political crisis. Nobody was injured in the helicopter attack, which took place at around sunset on Tuesday evening.

One Police source reported

by Reuters said that the helicopter had been dumped in Higuerote, on the Caribbean

coast, but that the pilot had not been found. The report has not been verified.

A blue Police helicopter was seen flying over central Caracas carrying a banner reading "350 Freedom" – a reference to a clause in the Constitution cited by opponents of Maduro to claim his government is illegitimate.

The helicopter, reportedly stolen, carried the marks of the CICPC Forensic Police Force, for which Oscar Pérez has worked for 15 years. The Government said 15 shots were fired at a social event at the interior ministry. The helicopter then flew to the court and dropped four Israelimade grenades of "Colombian origin". One failed to detonate. No one was injured.

Many of those opposed to Maduro see the Supreme Court as one of his main supporters. (Excerpt from BBC News)

aribbean Community (Caricom) leaders will discuss future trade relations with the United Kingdom as it prepares to leave the European Union when they meet here next week for their annual summit.

Acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Nicholas Steele, briefing reporters on the July 4-7 summit here, said that trade relations between the 15-mrember grouping and the United Kingdom after Brexit would most likely dominate the talks here.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has started the

process of pulling Britain out of the EU single market even as critics said the talks should be suspended because it could not be delivered by a Government “lacking in strength and stability, unclear on its objectives, unlikely to survive”.

Last July, the regional leaders began their summit in Guyana in the shadows of the vote taken by Britons to exit the 43-year-old European Union.

While the leaders made reference to the vote and urged Caribbean people not to harbour any such thought as it relates to the region-

al integration movement, the St Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, while he welcomed the opportunities that Brexit – as it is popularly known – may have for the region, also noted that it has “put the survival of our integration into focus”.

Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said that the summit provided the leaders with “a wonderful opportunity to seriously consider the effect that Britain's exit from the European Union will have on Caricom to demonstrate real leadership by showing the way forward.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

North Korea threatens South's exleader with death over 'plot to kill Kim'

N

orth Korea has threatened to impose the death penalty on the South’s former president Park Geun-hye over an alleged plot to assassinate its leader, Kim Jong-un.

Park had “pushed forward” a supposed plan by Seoul’s intelligence services to eliminate the North’s leadership, Pyongyang’s security ministries and prosecutors said in a joint statement carried by its official Korean Central News Agency. “We declare at home and abroad that we will impose the death penalty on traitor Park Geun-

hye,” it said. The former director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) Lee Byung-ho would meet a similar fate, it added, along with “their groups”. They “can never make any appeal even though they meet a miserable dog’s death any time, at any place and by whatever methods from this moment”.

The declaration comes after the killing of Kim’s estranged half-brother Kim Jong-nam by two women using the banned nerve agent VX at Kuala Lumpur international airport in February. Both Malaysia and South Korea

have blamed the North for the assassination, which retorts that the accusations are an attempt to smear it.

Last month Pyongyang’s powerful ministry of state security said it had foiled a plot by the US and South Korean spy agencies to kill Kim using a biochemical weapon.

The lurid accusations came amid continuing high tensions over the North’s nuclear and missile programmes and with Washington considering whether to redesignate Pyongyang as a state sponsor of terrorism. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Sabga-Aboud apologises after CNN show comments upset public

C

hairman of the Global Brands Group of Companies, Mario Sabga-Aboud, has described Tuesday as “one of my worst days ever”.

Sabga-Aboud was responding to the public outcry on social media and the oneman protest staged in front of one of his establishments in Maraval, about a statement he made on the CNN Anthony Bourdain show “Parts Unknown” last week.

Addressing his critics,

Sabga-Aboud humbly apologised and admitted he used his words carelessly. He, however, praised his members of staff, whom he described as family and credited them for his accomplishments.

During Bourdain’s visit to T&T for the taping of the show, one of his dinner sessions was at Bayshore with Sabga-Aboud and several of his family members. The conversation started up with the Syrian-Lebanese community’s arrival in T&T and then

went on to note the community was the smallest ethnic group in T&T with just under 5000. This was where SabgaAboud interjected, saying “but the most powerful, well almost the most powerful”.

He then said he was “very big in the food business” with 120 restaurants and referred to himself as the “Starbucks of the Caribbean”.

In a statement yesterday, Sabga-Aboud said he misrepresented himself and his values. (Trinidad Guardian)

Teachers in Barbados turn to courts to get back docked pay

D

isgruntled teachers in Barbados are taking the Education Ministry to court to fight for the restoration of their June salaries, which were docked for participating in a protest march back in April.

Yesterday, Supreme Court Justice Pamela Beckles heard an injunction which was first filed last Thursday by the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) to block the salary cut.

At the hearing, which lasted just 20 minutes, lawyers for the two sides agreed to a speedy trial and the court set

the dates for the filing of submissions and the filing of further affidavit evidence for the October 18 pre-trial review.

When he emerged from the hearing, BSTU Attorney Gregory Nicholls described the action taken by the Education Ministry as “unprecedented” and a breach of the teachers’ constitutional rights.

Nicholls was adamant that only the Governor General, acting on the advice of the Public Service Commission, has the legal authority to do. “This is enshrined in the Constitution of Barbados, and

therefore the Constitution of Barbados being supreme law, any process that does not have the Governor General acting on the advice of the [Public] Service Commission is in breach of the constitutional provisions.”

Some 200 members of the 500-strong BSTU took to the streets on April 5, in what they had dubbed a March of Respect to press their case for payment to correct schoolbased assessment (SBA) projects administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

ARCHIE

Children, siblings and people trying to convince you (March 21- to do something should be April 19) monitored closely. Ulterior motives are present. Choose stability and greater security over popularity.

ARIES

Network and get involved TAURUS with people you find inspir(April 20- ing. Talks will lead to an opMay 20) portunity to use one of your skills in a diverse setting.

DILBERT

Problems will stem from GEMINI (May 21- poor communication. Emotions June 20) will be difficult to control and can lead to regret if you act inappropriately. Concentrate on personal improvements, not on trying to change others.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Taking a trip to someplace you’ve never been will shed light on what you should be doing in the not-too-distant future. Learn what you can from this experience.

Promises will be broken or something will not be delivered as you expect. Get your facts straight before you agree to personal, domestic or work-related changes.

It’s OK to be different.

VIRGO (Aug. 23- Don’t shy away from an idea Sept. 22) that is trendy or has the potential to break new ground.

Take control and be detailed and precise to ensure success.

Think twice before you LIBRA spend money or make a prom(Sept. 23Oct. 23) ise that you cannot keep.

Keeping your balance is what you do best, and right now it’s important that you don’t start to waver.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Get involved and you SCORPIO will make a difference. Your (Oct. 24strong beliefs and intense Nov. 22) way of going about your business and getting things done will help you excel. Romance is highlighted.

More creative input about SAGITTARIUS how you earn your living will (Nov. 23- help you come up with a novDec. 21) el plan. Someone close to you will cause emotional turmoil.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Look at all the possibilities CAPRICORN and choose something that (Dec. 22- won’t limit you. Partnerships Jan. 19) will play an important role in your life. With someone you love, make decisions that will influence your life.

Make alterations at home AQUARIUS that will help you lower your (Jan. 20overhead, ease stress and add Feb. 19) to your overall comfort. Make wise choices based on thought and consideration.

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

Emotional matters will PISCES surface and should be ad(Feb. 20March 20) dressed so that you can move forward with your plans. Be open with those you confront if you want to resolve unfinished business.

thursDAY, june 29, 2017

19

McEnroe suggests men v women contest to solve Serena debate A

n unapologetic John McEnroe has proposed competition between men and women players to prove his claim

John McEnroe

that 23-time grand slam singles winner Serena Williams would be ranked “like 700 in the world” if she competed on the men’s cir-

cuit.

Three-time Wimbledon champion McEnroe said Williams was “the best female player ever” but said her performance on the men’s circuit would be an “entirely different story.”

Williams responded on Twitter asking the 58-year-old to leave her out of his statements and called for respect and privacy as she takes time off to have her first child.

“I felt the need, however unfortunately, to defend myself and say what I really felt, which is about what I think she

would be (in the men’s rankings),” McEnroe told American TV show CBS’s This Morning on Tuesday.

“I’ve got a solution. Solve the problem, and I’m sure the men would be all for this – the men and women play together. And then we don’t have to guess.”

Former world number one Williams confirmed her pregnancy in April and expects to be back on the court as early as January 2018. (Reuters)

Retired Windies pacer calls for chief selector’s resignation

P

lacing the blame for recent struggles of the West Indies senior team squarely at the feet of the chief selector, former West Indies bowler Winston Benjamin is calling for the resignation of Courtney Browne.

The 52-year-old retired fast bowler, who took 61 wick-

Winston Benjamin

ets in 21 Tests for the West Indies between 1987 and 1995, blames Browne’s selection policy for the inconsistency seen

from the regional squad in recent times. He claims that the chief selector has consistently failed to find the right blend of players for any one series.

You’re picking a team that you realize is not getting the job done, but you’re not changing,” the aggrieved Benjamin told the A n t i g u a Observer. “You are in the Caribbean where you can change 40 different teams [players] and you are not looking for the combination — all you are saying is that you are sticking to this and sticking to that. I am disappointed with the policy they are now sticking with.”

The West Indies currently trail India 1-0 in their fivematch ODI series following the visitors’ recent 105-run win against the home side in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. They West Indies drew 1-1 with lowly Afghanistan that seriously impacted the team’s chances of qualifying for the next ICC World Cup. It is in this context that Benjamin said the selectors need to pick players on merit or go.

“It’s not about who likes you and who you like,” said the fiery pace bowler who has 100 ODI wickets under his belt. “It’s about who is producing and it’s about West Indies cricket. I can say this without fear — I think that Courtney Browne needs to resign or retire, just call it and pack up his things because we are not going any place in a hurry. Do you realize we are going to have to play against Italy and America in order to qualify for the World Cup?” West Indies and India will clash at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Friday and Sunday. (Sportsmax)

Bolt

slowing down ‒ De Grasse

U FIA to re-examine Vettel-Hamilton collision

F

ormula One’s governing body is to re-examine Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix collision between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton and could take further action, the FIA said on Wednesday.

Race stewards imposed a 10 second stop-go penalty on Vettel, Ferrari’s championship leader, after he hit the back of race leader Hamilton’s car and then angrily banged wheels while they were waiting for the safety car to return to the pits.

Some commentators felt the German

had got off lightly for what they saw as a case of ‘road rage’, with Vettel ultimately finishing ahead of Hamilton and extending his overall lead to 14 points.

Vettel accused Hamilton of ‘brake testing’ him by suddenly slowing but the FIA said on Sunday that the data showed the Briton had “maintained a consistent speed and behaved in the same manner on that occasion as in all the other restarts during the race”. (Reuters)

Serena Williams

Andre De Grasse and Usain Bolt

p and coming Canadian sprint prodigy is confident that now could be the right time to beat world’s fastest man Usain Bolt as the sprinter has lost pace over the years.

The 30-year-old Bolt has dominated the event for close to a decade, but has announced that he will retire sometime after this year’s World Championships in London. The Jamaican, who is expected to contest the just 100m at the event, hopes to go out on top, but De Grasse has other ideas.

“He’s one of the best.

For me to have people stop talking about it, I have to go out there and beat him,” De Grasse said.

The 22-year-old is, however, yet to come close so far. De Grasse finished in third place at the last two major championships, not only behind Bolt, but behind American Justin Gatlin as well. The Canadian, however, feels experience and improved form could make the difference this year. De Grasse recently clocked a heavily wind-aided 9.69 in Stockholm. Bolt on the other hand opened his season with a 10.03 clocking in Kingston at the Racers Grand Prix.

“Everyone knows he’s slowing down a little bit,” De Grasse said. “He’s getting older, but he’s still the man to beat.

“He’s still running fast times.” (Sportsmax)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, june 29, 2017

Brazil great Ronaldo "almost certain" Cristiano will stay at Real Madrid

Ronaldo Nazario

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo Nazario thinks his namesake Cristiano Ronaldo will stay at Real Madrid

R

eal Madrid are confident of keeping Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo Nazario has warned the club they cannot afford to lose him.

Ronaldo Nazario says he is “almost certain” Cristiano Ronaldo will stay with Real Madrid.

The Portugal international has been linked with moves to former club Manchester United and Paris SaintGermain after reports indicated he wanted to leave Madrid due to his unhappiness at scrutiny of his tax affairs in Spain.

Ronaldo, 32, has denied that he defrauded Spanish tax authorities out of €14.7million in image rights.

But Brazil icon Ronaldo, who won two LaLiga titles while spending five years of his career at the Santiago Bernabeu, believes his namesake provides too many goals to Madrid for the European champions to contemplate allowing his exit.

“I’m almost certain that Cristiano Ronaldo will stay,” Ronaldo said to Gazzetta dello Sport.

“When someone scores 50 goals a year [it] is too much certainty for a team to give up.

“I don’t think there is a team that can deal with it better,” he added, referring to the challenge of retaining the superstar.

Ronaldo has helped Portugal into the Confederations Cup semi-finals and is preparing for his country’s semi-final tie against Chile in Kazan on Wednesday.

Madrid president Florentino Perez has said he believes the star forward will remain at the club, even though he is “angry” about the situation.

Ex-striker Ronaldo also discussed his former club’s success against Juventus in the Champions League final.

“It was a beautiful final, with a much more competitive Juve than two years ago against Barcelona,” he said.

“In the second half though, Real always had the ball, they were superior in all aspects. Everything.” (Sportsmax)

Joshua-Klitschko II could be heading for Las Vegas N igeria, Dubai and Cardiff are in the running, but Las Vegas is leading the way to host Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Wladimir Klitschko.

The destination leading the way for the prospective world heavyweight title rematch between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko is Las Vegas.

Joshua retained his IBF crown and gained the WBA and lesser-regarded IBO belts by stopping Klitschko in the 11th round of an epic battle at Wembley Stadium in April.

The champion is awaiting a decision on the second bout from the 41-yearold Ukrainian, who hinted at retirement following just his fifth career defeat in London.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has held discussions with Klitschko’s manager Bernd Bonte and feels a Las Vegas bout could be the key to locking the fight in, though Nigeria, Dubai and Cardiff are also in the hosting mix.

“I have been in talks with Bernd Bonte and the team. We’re getting close now to identifying the real options in terms of venues

Why Ravi Shastri is better than Anil Kumble, reveals Indian cricket team insider R avi Shastri is one of the front runners to take over as head coach of the Indian cricket team, after he threw in his hat for the role following the resignation of Anil Kumble With Ravi Shastri throwing in the hat now for the job of India coach, o n e can’t h e l p b u t question whether the brouhaha last year over his application and its subsequent rejection was really worth it.

The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), led by Sourav Ganguly, had taken exception to the fact that he had not appeared for the interview in person, holidaying as he was in Thailand, and appointed Anil Kumble to take his place.

There is little doubt that Shastri gelled better

to follow the energies within the group. It is important to be receptive. You have to yield to the demands of the group and you have to make sure that each guy is in the best possible space,” says Sridhar.

That probably means a different, less fatherly approach -at best, an inspirational speech in the morning that Shastri can deliver quite effectively in his stentorian accent to charge up the boys. But nothing more, as captain Kohli needs to be the allround boss.

Kohli and his boys fancy themselves having enough experience to take charge of everything and need a helping hand from the coach and plenty of trust, something Kumble failed to earn, it seems.

“The current Indian

Ravi Shastri has applied for the Indian cricket team’s head coach position, following the resignation of Anil Kumble (HT Photo)

The destination leading the way for the prospective world heavyweight title rematch between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko is Las Vegas

and locations,” Hearn told Sky Sports.

“Vegas has taken a little bit of a frontrunner in those. I know the British fans would love to do a trip out there for JoshuaKlitschko.

“Nigeria is still in the mix, Dubai as well, and of course Cardiff. But like I said, Vegas has probably got its nose in front at the moment.

“I think in the next week, we’re looking to present all those opportuni-

ties to Wladimir Klitschko and his team. Speaking to Bernd Bonte this morning [Wednesday], I feel like it’s going to take that special event to make this fight.

“I would like to keep it in Britain. The fans have been incredible to Anthony Joshua, but if it means travelling to make sure this fight happens for world boxing, and it means taking a few plane loads to Las Vegas for a night and an experience they won’t forget.

“Anthony Joshua is the world heavyweight champion, he’s not the British heavyweight champion. He wants to break boundaries and so do we.

“To see Anthony Joshua’s name up in lights on the Las Vegas strip is certainly something that appeals to us all.

“I would say the next couple of weeks, we’ll be looking to make a decision in terms of the venue and location.” (Sportsmax)

with skipper Virat Kohli than the more workmanlike Kumble. ielding coach R Sridhar, who has worked for three years and has been part of the team with both Shastri and Kumble, spells out the difference.

“Shastri was somebody who was character-based.

He wanted characters in the team, so he worked on that kind of approach,” says Sridhar. “He wanted to take that approach to the field.

Kumble was someone who wanted to achieve excellence in his own way.”

“They were two different people, they cannot be the same,” added Sridhar.

But what he hints at, even though careful in not saying it in as many words, was the fact that Kumble should have followed Kohli’s pack more than the other way around.

“What is important in today’s cricket as a leader is

team has some great experience. So we should allow that experience to take over and be inclusive and take the best possible decisions for the team. What is important to be a good leader is to be a good follower,” says Sridhar.

The last line probably says it all. To lead Kohli, you have to let him do his own things. That is what probably makes Shastri the hottest contender.

The transition shouldn’t be that big an issue. Sridhar feels the team is wellequipped for that.

“Look, they are a professional outfit and they go about their business. Each guy is quite busy and taken up in his own preparations for each match. They know what to do and whom to speak to, and what to get out of the coaches. They are the best judges as how they need to prepare,” adds Sridhar. (HindustanTimes)

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Shootout hero Bravo sends Chile into final C

hile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo saved three successive penalties to give them a 3-0 shootout win over Portugal after their Confederations Cup semi-final had ended goalless on Wednesday.

Bravo stopped Portugal’s first three spot kicks from Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho and Nani while Chile converted their first

three to win the clash of South American and European champions.

That meant that Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who usually goes last in the shootout, did not get to take a kick, as was the case when Portugal lost to Spain on penalties in the Euro 2012 semi-finals.

The result was justice for Chile after they hit the

woodwork with two successive shots in the dying seconds of extra time.

Arturo Vidal struck the post and the rebound fell to Martin Rodriguez who hit the underside of the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

There was controversy shortly before that when Chile winger Alexis Sanchez went down in the box under

BCB using school system to select female cricketers

‒ Smartt named as Coach

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ed by Coach Tremayne Smartt the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is using the school system to start early preparation for the inter-county female under-19 tournament.

The BCB has set off on a massive exercise to identify and train females who are under 19 years of age to be part of the Board’s Female Camp in preparation for the Inter County and Regional Under 19 Competitions scheduled to commence next month.

Chairman of Selectors for the Junior panel, Leslie Solomon, along with West Indies female player and National female Captain, Smartt visited several Secondary Schools in the Ancient County and received positive responses from these institutions. The New Amsterdam Multilateral School, Canje Secondary School, Rosignol

Tremayne Smartt, Berbice U-19 Female Coach

Secondary, Woodly Park and Number 8 Secondary have already indicated their willingness to engage in the training sessions.

The training commenced in the Central Corentyne Area at the Port Mourant Community Center, under the supervision of Smartt. Sessions are also

planned for T h e Berbice High S c h o o l Ground, and the West Berbice Area, in order to select a squad of 20 which will be encamped from July 2, 2017. Following the conclusion a Berbice squad would be shortlisted. The BCB is encouraging all Clubs and individuals who are interested in the sport to attend these sessions, and contribute to the development of female cricket in Guyana.

sports

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Chile’s Claudio Bravo saves from Portugal’s Nani to win the penalty shootout

a Jose Fonte tackle but the referee did not consult the Video Assistant Referees (VARs), even though contact seemed to be made.

Bravo has been criticised for his club form with Manchester City this season but he was Chile’s hero alongside Vidal who gave another inspired and tireless performance in midfield.

“Claudio was amazing and the penalty takers were amazing and I think we deserve to be in the final,” said Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi. “Claudio and the goalkeeping coach had studied the penalty takers.”

Chile will face either Germany or Mexico, who meet on Thursday, in Sunday’s final in St Petersburg to close an exhausting two weeks.

The game only came to life in exasperating patches.

It started promisingly as Chile forward Eduardo Vargas had an excellent chance blocked by Rui

Patricio, then Andre Silva’s close-range effort was smothered by Bravo at the other end.

Vargas provided the high point of the second half with a brilliant overhead shot which Rui Patricio saved while Ronaldo had several second-half chances.

One effort was parried by Bravo, then he sent a longrange free kick high and wide, then had a shot deflected wide and then missed the target with a header from Cedric Soares’ cross.

Sanchez was largely kept under wraps and Chile’s record scorer did not have his first sniff of goal until early in extra time when his header from Mauricio Isla’s cross curled away from the goal.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos pointed out that the same three players who missed on Wednesday all took penalties and converted when his side beat Poland in their Euro 2016 quarter-final. “On that occasion, they were heroes,” he said. (Reuters)

Transcend Entertainment Inaugural KO Tournament

Danram bats Warriors to title

Pre-Caricom Domino Tournament

Metro set to defend title O

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Call:

223-7230 Ext 50

n Friday domino players will be engaged as the Foreign Ministry Promotions Organiser James “Uprising” Lewis will be hosting a grand work place knock out competition from 16:30h at the Guyana Public Service Union Hall, Regent and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive.

In what is predicted to be a keen contest reigning champ i o n s Metro Office Supply will set out in defence of its title in the Pre-Caricom Knock out Tournament.

At stake is the Minister of State Joseph Harmon trophy as well as medals and cash incentive. The runners-up will also be rewarded with cash incentives while there will be prizes for

the most games and best female player.

All teams are asked to note that disciplinary action will be taken for late arrivals.

Interested teams can make contact with James Lewis on Telephone Numbers 6281656, 666-5857 and 672-6179.

Some of the teams already entered a r e : Former

Champions M e t r o Office Supply, Guyana Forestry Commission, Guyoil, Office of the President, PSM, GNBS, Ministry of Communities, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Public Health, Guyana Civil Aviation, Auditor General, Ministry of Finance and CJIA/ CAMEX.

Omesh Danram receiving the winning trophy from West Indies T20 Player and Leading Edge Proprietor Christopher Barnwell

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mesh Danram dominated Transcend Entertainment Inaugural Knockout Tapeball Tournament to steer Alexander Village Warriors to the title last Sunday at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac.

Danram blasted 57 not out, his third fifty of the tournament, in a big hitting fest as Warriors prevailed by 24 runs over Outlaws.

Batting first the eventual winners posted 89-4 from five overs in the seven a-side

affair, before they restricted their opponents to 65-2.

In his team’s four innings to the title only once the right handed Danram failed to reach a half century. He made 49 in that outing.

For his dominance throughout the competition he was awarded the most valuable player, best batsman and player of the final.

The tournament started on June 18 but due to bad light the final was rescheduled to Sunday, June 25.

The organisers extended gratitude to Regal Stationery and Computer Supplies, Banks DIH, Church’s Chicken, Star Party Rentals, National Sports Commission, Seepaul’s Sports Bar and Seeta’s Sports Bar, Imperial Trading, Movement Auto Rental, Xavier’s Investments, Precision Auto Works, Leading Edge and Squires Realty, all of which have contributed in some department for the tournament a reality.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursdAY, june 29, 2017

AAG insists not bankrupt

‒ “there is a big difference between “cash flow issues” and “bankruptcy””

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he Athletics Association Guyana (AAG) on Wednesday responded to a section of the media on claims that it was bankrupted after hosting the South American Junior Championships earlier this month.

According to the release, which was signed by the Association’s General Secretary, Mayfield TaylorTrim, the Association has made and will continue to make wise and prudent financial decisions in the dispensation of its mandate to athletes.

Below is the full text: “There is a big difference between “cash flow issues” and “bankruptcy”. We have made and will continue to make wise and prudent financial decisions in the dispensation of our mandate to our athletes. The development of the nation’s athletes in their quest to be world champions is our number one priority and focus, and we will not be distracted from this objective.

“On the subject of our attendance at the South American Senior Championships in Paraguay, our decision was based on the following factors.

1) The AAG did not have to attend.

The IAAF mandates that each Member Federation (MF) must attend at least one Area Champion per year.

The AAG hosted and attended the South American U20 Championship 2017.

2) Show of solidarity with Consudatle Of the 13 MFs in Consudatle, 11 attended the South American U20 Championship in Guyana.

We therefore decided that we should attend to maintain our fraternity and friendship in South America.

3) Athletes vying to make the IAAF World Championship Standard.

The AAG had considered Paraguay, as one of the meets to attend for the qualification of its top athletes on their World Championship’s Long List. These athletes would also have two other opportunities to make the standards by attending the National Senior Championship on July 2nd and 3rd, and the Aliann Pompey Invitational on July 15th right here in Guyana.

This was saving us approximately US$10,400.00.

4) International Competition Calendar In 2017, the AAG must

AAG President Aubrey Huston

maintain funds in the coffers to participate in the following international competition. (a) World Youth Championship (Nairobi, Kenya) July12-16 (b) World Championship (London) August 4-13 (c) Panam Juniors (Lima, Peru) July 21-23 Decision Considering the facts as stated above, the AAG offered the athletes who were willing to find their own airfare, the opportunity to compete in Paraguay. Winston George, Genea McCammon and Owen Adonis took up the offer. We would like to thank these athletes for making this bold step to represent

Nedd setting high standards ahead of Regional U-17

Guyana. A point to note is, Winston George would have already made the entry standard for the London World Championships on June 3rd, 2017 at the Jim Bush meet running 45.49.

Decisions made by the AAG may not find favour with everyone, and that fact we are prepared to accept. What we must state, without any fear of contradiction, is that decision by the AAG over the past 4 1/2 years have borne fruits as

never seen in the history of Track and Field in Guyana.

1) South American Juniors. For 42 years of this Championship, Guyana’s total medal accumulation is eight. We earned 25 medals in the 2017 Championship.

2) Carifta Games. For 46 years of this championship, Guyana got its largest medal haul in 2017 and also winning a gold medal for the first time in the 100m Boys Under 20, Triple Jump Girls U20 and Long Jump Girls U18.

3) Natricia Hooper ranked 4th in the world in the Junior Triple Jump 4) South American Youth 2016. Guyana’s largest medal haul at the youth level in South America. 6 medal from 4 athletes.

5) South American Youth 2014. Jason Yaw and Natricia Hooper earning gold and silver medals respectively in the 400m.

The gold medal performance is still the current South American Youth 400m record.

Just a few facts to consid-

er when judging the AAG. We have no issue with constructive criticism, but the useless attacks on the credibility of the AAG are only a mere foolish attempt to tarnish the good image of our sport. These attacks don’t affect us; they make us stronger for we are aware that “SUCCESS BREEDS ITS OWN ENEMIES”.

The AAG was happy for the opportunity to host the South American U20 Championship, an event that will be remembered with joy. The IAAF, Consudatle and the Guyana Athletics Family congratulated us on a job well done. We would like to take this opportunity to thank President Granger and the Government of Guyana, the National Sports Commission, the Guyana Olympic Association, all of our sponsors, our fans and most of all, our athletes for the pride and joy they brought. We are proud to be Guyanese.

Let’s bid for CARIFTA Games 2020 in Guyana.

Bolt disappointed despite Ostrava victory

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alented National Youth all-rounder Ashmead Nedd has given himself some illustrious goals as he prepares for the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Under-17 50-over tournament, which is slated for July 8-18 in Trinidad and Tobago.

This year’s tournament will be the skiddy left-arm spinner’s third at this level and his initial desire is to make the regional Under-19 side.

“The goals I have set are to come out with most wickets and MVP [Most Valuable Player] award and look to get into the West Indies Under-19 set-up,” he stated.

Nedd led the National Under-17 Select Squad in the recently-concluded Guyana Cricket Board Hand-In-Hand Inter-county Under-19 Tournament, where they placed second in the 50-over contest and third in the three-day.

Regarding the team’s preparation, he contended that being exposed to the inter-county tournament would have allowed management to address any faults of the players.

“Preparation has been coming good; the Select Under-17 was playing in the Under-19 tournament and it was a stepping stone for us, as the coaches and the manager could have seen what we were doing wrong, so they can make the necessary adjustments.”

Last year, Guyana came exceptionally close to winning the title, but were edged by hosts Trinidad and Tobago, who ended on 20.6 points, just 0.3 points ahead of Guyana, thanks to the 0.6 of a bonus point secured.

Commenting on the close loss, Nedd said he felt drop catches and not utilising fast bowlers to gain the extra points was the difference.

“Last year’s tournament we lost due to rain; we had the tournament in hand. The game against Barbados, we dropped a catch from one of the fast bowlers and against Windward Islands, we took two in the match and dropped some. We have to use more fast

Usain Bolt has yet to break the 10 seconds barrier this season

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As talented as he is with ball in hand, Ashmead Nedd knows that consistency will be vital in the upcoming tournament

bowlers than last year, since we didn’t bowl them much,” he noted.

Having made his debut in national colours in 2013, the 16-year-old accredited his success so far to training hard and doing the basics.

With his inspiration coming from the likes of English batsman Joe Root and Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Ranga Herath, the son of the former First-Class off-spinner Garvin Nedd said he would remain focused to achieve his ultimate dream – to play for the senior West Indies team.

In August 2016, he was part of a talented trio of players from the Demerara Cricket Club (the others were opening batsman Sachin Singh and pacer Qumar Torrington) who were selected to represent the West Indies Under-16 team on a tour to England.

In addition, he also played for Tony Hartford U-17 Academy team of Trinidad and Tobago for their tour of New Zealand from January 1-26, 2015. (Akeem Greene)

amaican sprint legend Usain Bolt failed to break 10 seconds in Ostrava and was disappointed with his showing in Ostrava.

Usain Bolt expressed disappointment with his performance at the Golden Spike meeting on Wednesday, despite claiming victory in his second 100 metres race of his final season. Sprint legend Bolt is expected to retire after

the World Championships in August and continued his preparations by winning in a time of 10.06 seconds in Ostrava on Wednesday.

Speaking after the race, Bolt said: “I’m not happy with the time but I’m just getting into my running, I have some training to do, work on my execution but I’ll be fine. “I’m going to get checked out by my doctor, my coach will give me some training

to do and I should be fine, so I’ve got no worries.”

Meanwhile 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk set a world’s best time at 300m, his triumph in 30.81 seconds beating Michael Johnson’s previous mark and the meet record of 30.97 set by Bolt.

Mo Farah also emerged victorious in the 10,000m race in the Czech Republic. (Sportsmax)

Clippers send Chris Paul to Rockets to team up with James Harden

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he Los Angeles Clippers are sending Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets, according to The Vertical.

Instead of testing free agency like expected, Chris Paul has agreed to opt in to his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers so the team can trade him to the Houston Rockets, according to The Vertical.

It is claimed the Clippers will receive Patrick Beverley, named in the All-Defensive First Team for last season, Sixth Man of the Year candidate Lou Williams, Sam Dekker and a

2018 first-round pick in the NBA Draft.

Los Angeles were set to lose Paul to free agency and get nothing in return, so taking plenty of valuable players in exchange should be seen as a win.

Beverley and Dekker appeared to confirm the trade when they took to Twitter and referenced the Clippers on Wednesday.

The Rockets will no doubt improve with the addition of Paul, which means James Harden could move over to shooting

guard despite excelling at the point position last season as he finished second in MVP voting.

The trade is expected to impact Blake Griffin’s decision as a free agent, as the talented big man opted out of his deal with the Clippers. He could reconsider remaining to become the face of the franchise with Paul out, or it could support his decision to leave.

The blockbuster deal is expected to halt any efforts being made by the Rockets to bring in Paul George.

(Sportsmax)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, june 29, 2017

Taylor, Dottin GSA to unveil plans for hosting Caribbean Junior C/ships today in sight of T joint landmark S tafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin made their debuts together, and are now set to play their 100th ODIs in the same match as well On June 24, 2008, a Jamaican and a Bajan, both 17, made their ODI debuts against Ireland in Dublin. The Taunton weather permitting, Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin are both set to reach the milestone of 100 ODIs when West Indies meet India on Thursday.

The offspinner Anisa Mohammed is the only other West Indies women’s cricketer to play 100 ODIs. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Taylor said she was pleased to know she would bring up her landmark during a World Cup. “I didn’t remember until my media manager actual-

Deandra Dottin

ly said it to me this morning that tomorrow is your 100th ODI game,” she said. “Yeah, I’m pleased to be here and to know that the 100 is actually in a World Cup. So hopefully, in the end, we come out victorious.”

Dottin said she came to know of her impending achievement only two days before the match.

“I’m feeling really good about what I’ve achieved and to be playing for the West Indies and playing so many matches,” she said. “It all happened so fast, and it all came so fast, that I didn’t even realise until the last training session we had yesterday.”

When asked if she remembered her debut, Taylor spoke of it coming during a tour of Europe - which included matches against Ireland, Netherlands and England - but didn’t recall any of her early triumphs, such as the fifties she made in her second and third ODIs. Instead, the West Indies captain spoke of her first game against England, which West Indies lost by 10 wickets after being bowled out for 41.

“Obviously playing against England, being 17, when you are very new to

Stafanie Taylor

everything - we got beat, but I remember my first time playing for the West Indies and it was a memorable one.”

Asked about her most memorable moment, she chose her maiden hundred, in Paarl in 2009, an unbeaten 108 that led West Indies to a five-wicket win.

“It would definitely be my first hundred that I made against South Africa,” Taylor said. “I don’t think anything could really beat when you’re young and you’ve made your first hundred and even winning the game for your team, so that is special.”

Dottin, for her part, chose the final of the World Cup qualifier in 2011, when she made what remains her best ODI score, against Pakistan in Mirpur. “Well, the most memorable moment for me is scoring a 95 in Bangladesh in the World Cup qualifiers,” she said. “I can’t remember the year, but yeah.”

Both said they had come a long way since their debut.

“I’ve made a massive improvement from where I was back then,” Dottin said. “I was just a normal, ordinary kid, plaing cricket, just doing what I came up doing, as in playing cricket at home with my brothers and stuff, but after all the training and coaching and stuff, I got more educated about it and I’m in a better place at the moment right now. I’ve improved a lot.

Taylor said she had become a lot more mature since her early days, and even brought up her tears after a narrow defeat to England at last year’s World T20 as a step towards her growth.

West Indies, under Taylor’s leadership, went on to win the tournament.

“I would definitely say I’ve come a long way, where I know I’ve matured, looking back to the days where, you know, [I was] 17, and now to being 26, I would have learnt a lot - even crying last year in the World Cup. I’ve changed over the years, I’ve become the woman that I am today.” (Cricinfo)

he Guyana Squash Association (GSA) will unveil its plans to host the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships today at the Georgetown Club Courts from 16:00h.

Guyana are seeking to win their 13th consecutive title, given that the team comprise some of the most talented and outstanding youth players of the Region.

Last year, Guyana retained the overall Team Title for the 12th consecutive time with a hard-fought three matches to two victory in the Boys Team segment, while earlier in the day, the girls had narrowly lost to Barbados by three matches to two, to finish second.

Given their familiarity with the courts here and the usually massive home support, the Guyanese are firm favourites to repeat as Team champions.

However, it will by no

means be an easy task for the host nation, as the other countries will no doubt be looking to up their game, especially the Barbados, who gave the Guyanese a run in 2016.

GSA President Robin Lowe, in a recent interview with Guyana Times Sport, contended that although the team have been dominant for over a decade, the championships would be no walkover on home turf.

“It is not going to be a walk-over; it is always going to be a fight. Guyana has dominated over the past 12 years, which in itself is a feat; we have the advantage this year playing home, but the other teams are playing hard as well,” Lowe expressed.

The locals will have the likes of Junior Champion Shomari Wiltshire; Taylor Fernandes (who is playing in her final season as a junior); Alex Cheeks; Makeda

23

Shomari Wiltshire’s experience at this level will be key to Guyana’s chances

Harding and Abosaide Cadogan among other talented players to carry the fight to the opposing teams.

With respect to the facilities, the Georgetown Club Courts, along with the National Racquet Centre, will undergo rehabilitation works.

“Both venues are going to be upgraded; at the Racquet Centre… we are putting in new floors and that is possibly three-quarter way finished; there will also be seats for at least 70 people; both venues will be up to scratch ahead of the event.”

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

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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Taylor, Dottin

in sight of joint landmark Stafanie Taylor chose her maiden hundred, against South Africa in 2009, as the most memorable moment of her ODI career

"It all happened so fast" - Deandra Dottin on the landmark of 100 ODIs

AAG insists not bankrupt

It was reported that Guyana hosting the South American Games earlier this month was a factor in the Association becoming allegedly bankrupt

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