Guyana Times 30 April 2018

“Buy local,” agro-processors P14 urge Guyanese

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3549

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, April 30, 2018

Charges against Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington unconstitutional Page 3

– Ralph Ramkarran, other legal luminaries

1 dead, several injured in weekend accidents

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Elevators to be installed at EBD pedestrian overpasses P2

WGE Commissioner slams bias in P11 GDF ‘male only’ recruitment ad – cites previous “responsible pregnancy” comments of Chief-of-Staff

Pages 7&8

Largest march held to end domestic violence against women in Guyana Page 8

TUC, FITUG, Opposition to address May Day rally P10 – as wreath-laying ceremony commences Labour Week observance

GRA, GEA capably handling fuel smuggling cases – Harmon P9 … unable to verify claim senior official linked to recent seized vessel

Guyanese turned out in their numbers on Sunday to support a march organised to send a strong signal to perpetrators of domestic violence that "enough is enough" while encouraging victims to break their silence (Carl Croker photo)

WCD-EBE road project substantially completed

Page 12

Man shot, killed in Better Hope Page 10

Labourer P8 slapped with felony charge GRA recovers millions lost P9 in heavy-duty machinery scam

2 news

monDAY, april 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Elevators to be installed at EBD pedestrian overpasses

G

overnment will soon be installing elevators at the five pedestrian overpasses along the East Bank Demerara (EBD) corridor, according to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson.

During a special programme on the Stateowned radio station last week, Minister Patterson disclosed that the lifts have been procured and have already arrived from Sweden.

There will be 10 lifts, with two being installed on each side of the five pedestrian overpasses located at Houston, Eccles, Peter’s Hall, Providence and Diamond.

While the Public Infrastructure Minister did not indicate when the installation process would commence, he did note that it would take about one week for each overhead structure.

“Obviously, we have to install them … It’s just

However, Minister Patterson implored pedestrians to use the overpasses as they would guarantee their safety.

“We still continue to have too many road fatalities, (and) pedestrians are still a high percentage of these accidents and fatalities, so we have to do better. I’ll make this call right off the bat that we do better,” he urged.

a question of coordination and when that’s finish, we would hope that every Guyanese (will use the overpasses),” Patterson posited.

Since the overpasses have been completed and accessible to the public, there have been and continue to be mixed feelings about the structures, with some taking advantage of the facility while others find the stairs too tedious and time consuming, opting instead to quickly dash across the road.

In its last monthly update on traffic statistics, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had reported that a total of six pedestrians were killed on the country’s roadways by the end of February 2018.

Meanwhile, in March, there were two more pedestrian fatalities; however, again none of these occurred on the East Bank corridor.

Nevertheless, the Public Infrastructure Minister went on to highlight that the overpasses were prov-

ing to be “tremendously popular”, particularly among the young and the elderly, who were initially among the target groups.

“I mean I must compliment the young persons, they use it far more than the middle-aged… it is proving very popular and very, very successful… But we will continue our public awareness exercises. It’s a facility there for you to use, it only take you 10 seconds longer than trying to dodge the traffic and it will guarantee you 100 per cent safety,” the Minister noted.

Construction of the pedestrian overpasses commenced mid-last year and was mostly completed by December 2017. The overpasses were intended not only to reduce the high level of road carnage and enhance public safety, but to also eliminate traffic congestion along the East Bank Road, which is said to be the busiest in the country.

The contract for the overpasses at Houston, Eccles and Peter’s Hall were awarded to B&J Civil Works for the sum of US$1,034,326. Meanwhile, there were separate contracts for the Providence and Diamond overpasses which were both awarded to S Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services to the tune of US$364,247 and US$364,727 respectively.

Trinidadian supervision firm – RM Engineering Limited – was recruited to oversee the construction of the overpasses.

WCD bus driver denies breaching road service licence

D

anraj Remraj, a 38-year-old minibus driver from Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was earlier this month released on $10,000 bail at the Vreeden-Hoop Magistrate’s Court after denying that he was in breach of his road service licence.

Police contended that the violation occurred in the West Demerara district on April 6, 2018 when Remraj operated his BVV 7046 minibus. Presiding Magistrate Christel Lambert adjourned

the matter to June 11, 2018 for trial.

E a r l i e r this month,

in an effort to find some 41,000 drivers that are holders of expired road service licenc-

it was reported that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was working with the Guyana Police Force (GPF)

es. Since the announcement, there has been an increase in Police ranks who have been checking the documents of motor vehicle operators.

news

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monDAY, april 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, April 30 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, May 1 – 05:30h-07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, April 30 – 16:45h-18:15h and Tuesday, May 1 – 17:00h-18:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to light rain showers can be expected throughout the day and into the evening hours.

Temperatures will range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 6.25 metres.

High Tide: 04:33h and 16:56h reaching maximum heights of 2.77 metres and 2.69 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:30h and 22:42h reaching minimum heights of 0.43 metre and 0.55 metre respectively.

Charges against Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington unconstitutional – Ralph Ramkarran, other legal luminaries

S

enior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, in his weekly column, suggests that the charges against former Finance Minister Ashni Singh and former National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Executive Director Winston Brassington may be unconstitutional on the basis that they are not “public officers” in accordance with the Constitution.

Singh and Brassington have been jointly charged by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on three charges, using a UK common law application: “Misconduct in Public Office: Contrary to the Common Law.” Ramkarran states: “Questions have arisen as

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body (whether incorporate or not) established by any law in force in Guyana.”

Legal definition

Former Finance Minister Ashni Singh

SaturDAY, April 28, 2018

Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran

to who is a public officer.

In England, which does not have a written constitution, or apparently any applicable statutory definition, case law developed. In R v Whittaker (1914), the court defined a “public office holder” as “an officer who discharges any duty in the discharge of which the public are interested, more clearly if he is paid out of a fund provided by the public.” More recently, in R v Dytham (1979), Chief Justice Lord Widgery referred to a public officer as one “who has an obligation to perform a duty”.

Ramkarran refers to the Guyana Constitution by stating that in Guyana, however, the Constitution defines a “public officer” as “the holder of a public office”. A “public office” is defined as “an office of emolument in the public service.” And the public service excludes “the Office of the President, [and] Minister.….” and it also excludes “the office of a member of any board, committee or other similar

Various lawyers have also recently pointed out that using the definitions of “public officer”, “public office,” and “public service” as defined in Article 232 of the Guyana’s Constitution would exclude both Singh and Brassington, from the charges of “Misconduct in Public Office: Contrary to the Common Law.” Further buttressing their arguments, legal scholars point to a 2006 Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) case (“Griffith vs [Guyana Revenue Authority] GRA, AG”), where the Court found that while the GRA was a “public authority”, its employees were not and cannot be “public officers and employees” based on the [Guyana] Constitution.

CCJ ruling

The CCJ ruling also referred to a Court of Appeal ruling that the “ …Guyana Electricity Corporation as a public corporation was mandated by section 9 (1) of the Public Corporations Act 1988 to employ its own officers and servants. The officers of public corporations appointed under these provisions were not or are not constitutional public officers nor were or are they public officers as defined in Article 232 of the Constitution.”

Specifically, the CCJ in its 2006 ruling in favour of the GRA states under paragraph 46, “This court is firmly of the view that the Revenue Authority is a new corporate entity distinct from the government although it is a public corporation. The employees of the Revenue Authority are not holders of any public

office nor are they employed in the service of the government of Guyana in a civil capacity; see also Chue and Hyman v Attorney General of Guyana (unreported, H.C.A. No. 6 of 1998) at pages 27 and 43 per Carl Singh J. (as he then was).”

Paragraph 47 of the same CCJ ruling states: “The Court of Appeal in Michael Scotland v Guyana Electricity Corporation (unreported, Civ. App. No. 122 of 2000) considered legislation which placed electricity under the management of a public body and held rightly that the employees of that public body were not public service employees within the meaning of Article 232 of the Constitution.”

of 2003), each defendant was charged with “misconducting himself whilst serving as a police officer by wilfully failing to take reasonable and proper care of [A], an arrested person in police custody”.

“Seeking no doubt to modernise the definition of the offence, the Attorney General sought the opinion of the court on the following questions: *What are the ingredients of the common law offence of misconduct in public office? *In particular, is it necessary in proceedings for an offence of misconduct in public office for the prosecution to prove bad faith, and if so, what does ‘bad faith’ mean? The court responded that the offence is committed when: (1) a public officer,

UK law

Ramkarran, in his column, provides useful information on the nature of the UK law. He said, “While the offence can be traced back to the 13th century, a definition, given by Chief Justice Lord Mansfield in the 1783 case of R v Rembridge emphasised its importance: “…. first that a man accepting an office of trust concerning the public, especially if attended with profit, is answerable criminally to the King for misbehaviour in his office; …. Secondly, where there is a breach of trust, fraud or imposition in a matter concerning the public, though as between individuals it would be actionable, yet as between the King and the subject it is indictable. That such should be the rule is essential to the existence of the country.”

Over the centuries, the crime was characterised by vagueness. Fast forwarding to the 21st century, in 2003 in the case of Attorney General’s Reference (No. 3

Former Executive Director of NICIL, Winston Brassington

acting as such, (2) wilfully neglects to perform his duty and/or wilfully misconducts himself, (3) to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust in the office holder, (4) without reasonable excuse or justification. It was made clear that it is an offence defined more by conduct than by results. turn to page 9

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

Whither the “Good Life”?

T

he PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition Government is now well past the halfway point of its term of office, in which it promised to deliver “the good life” to the citizens of Guyana. Sadly, by its own measure, that promise has receded even further under this regime, which is characterised more than anything else by the disjoint between its rhetoric and its actions.

The rhetoric for achieving the “good life” was captured in its “joint manifesto”, in which the goals were stated right up front. It began with the need for “healing and reconciliation”, and stated quite clearly this meant: “to acknowledge, embrace and celebrate our ethnic diversity”.

It was an acceptance that the plural nature of our society, characterised by ethnic blocks, had led to challenges and ruptures that needed to be “healed and reconciled”.

However, the Government’s PNC-dominated APNU block’s immediate miniaturising of its AFC partner -- which had given it a tenuous claim to bridging the ethnic divide -dimmed hopes of that “healing and reconciliation”. The hard line against a rapprochement with the PPP effectively destroyed those hopes.

The second goal was “good governance”. This did not so much focus on how the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition would actually utilise the institutions of government, as increasing the space for citizens’ participation in governance. In other words, it did not equate “good governance” with “good government”. But even by its sophistry, it has failed. To slip into a 21st century law on “cybercrime” the 13th century criminal common law of sedition, which forbids any criticism of the Government that might precipitate “disaffection” towards it, certainly does not deliver the promised “increase in the civil liberties of our people”. The less said about “eliminating corruption and Government waste” the better.

But it is the failure on its goal of “industrialisation and jobs” that the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition has failed to deliver the good life. While most citizens might not -like the Marxists -- scoff at “bourgeois rights” like “civil liberties”, they would overwhelmingly agree that for them, at a minimum, the good life is achieved through their own efforts, by having jobs. “Industrialisation” of our economy, which was founded to produce primary products during the colonial period, has been the mantra of every government since independence.

The first PNC government, between 1964 and 1992, rejected the then dominant “industrialisation by invitation” model, seized control of the economy, and attempted to squeeze profits from the agricultural sector through levies and export controls, to achieve that goal via “import substitution”; but ended up destroying the primary-productive sector without any industrialisation. Its present incarnation is yet to even suggest an “industrialisation” policy, and has emphasised taxing businesses without offering them incentives for industrialising the economy. In the meantime, the primary producing areas have been squeezed through political vindictiveness trumping economic rationality: throwing 7700 sugar workers into the streets, and conceding the loss of the lucrative Venezuelan rice markets.

In its articulation of the third goal of “Fair taxes”, the fundamental muddle of the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition’s thinking is revealed, and it guarantees that any hoped-for ‘good life” is sure to recede farther with every passing day.

The APNU/AFC promised the “fair taxes” would allow the pay checks of ordinary citizens to “go further” and allow “businesses to grow”. One would assume that this implied the Government would cut taxes significantly, but this was never done. Income taxes remain the same, while the 2% reduction of VAT is insignificant.

Under the goal of “fair taxes”, the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition also guaranteed a “safe and secure society” – which is certainly what citizens envisage as part of the “good life”. Did they mean they would spend the “fair taxes” to increase security? But why confine taxes to security? Is not all Government spending funded by the taxes on citizens and businesses? Even the loans borrowed by governments have to be eventually paid from taxes.

But even security has not been bolstered. Whither the “good life”?

Race for PACE Go-Kart Tournament is a UG fundraiser for its Student Support Fund (SSF). The SSF is designed to provide financial and other support to present students who may find themselves in exceptionally difficult circumstances which may require immediate short-term aid during their course of study. Students will be supported based on need, for equipment, books, accommodation, hardship, emergency or travel grants

Banning single-use plastics is a positive move

Dear Editor, The proposal by the Department of the Environment (DoE) to ban single-use plastics is a brilliant idea to promote a ‘clean and green’ Guyana and, to a large extent, a better world.

Single-use plastics cannot be recycled; when discarded as waste, they do not break down, and remain as permanent pollutants in the environment.

For example, a candy wrapper would take at least 100 years to decompose. In fact, it is felt that every bit of plastic ever made is still in existence.

It is therefore clear that such material has no place in Guyana; where, despite the emergence of environmentally damaging practices, our Godgiven gift of a fresh, beautiful and harmonious natural environment is still largely intact.

I was encouraged by Minister of State Joseph Harmon’s speech at State House to mark Earth Day 2018, because in no uncertain terms he reiterated Government’s commitment to protecting Guyana’s environment. Now it is time for Government to turn these words into action by enacting strong laws to protect the environment, like a ban on single-use plastics.

A lot of harmful things were invented, and came into popular use and were even considered blessings. People were completely unaware that they

were dangerous to the environment, and did not know the severity of their impact. Take DDT for example, which can still be found in our water system and earth, and causes the death of many babies, including my mother’s first daughter at the Skeldon Hospital.

People gravitated to these things because of convenience and cheapness, but these qualities are minuscule compared with the costs of the extreme harm these things cause to the environment and to human lives.

We now know the serious threat they present, but having knowledge without acting on that knowledge is futile. That is why it is important to support any progressive move by the Government of the day to protect the environment. It is also necessary to put pressure on them to ensure that they transform their verbal commitment into positive action.

Furthermore, if Guyana is to succeed in becoming an environmentally friendly nation, the people have to do their part by limiting or ceasing the use of products that destroy the environment, like plastic bags.

Years ago, everything we package in plastic bags today used to be packaged in material that did not destroy the environment, such as paper bags.

It is shameful and hurtful to me personally to see the vast amounts of smelly, unsightly

plastic waste being carelessly disposed of all over the country.

After careful consideration, it seems the campaign for hemp growth in Guyana and for hemp products is truly an excellent idea under the circumstances of the destruction of our country and our plight.

Hemp is ready for harvesting after just 120 days. The seeds are used to make paint, varnish, ink, detergent and fuel, and even biodegradable plastic.

Minister of Business with responsibility for Tourism, Dominic Gaskin, has spoken about Government’s goal to reduce or eliminate plastic waste by 2020. Therefore, I expect Government to put appropriate incentives in place to reward ‘green’ businesses, and also offer concessions like soft loans or tax breaks to bring new green businesses on stream. This would go a long way to show investors, the business community and the public at large that Government is sincere about creating a clean and green Guyana. There are persons with the means and know-how to move the nation forward in this area, if Government gives positive support, especially by providing suitable incentives.

Imagine how much Government can reduce Guyana’s ‘carbon footprint’ by promoting the use of these fu-

el-efficient vehicles in vital sectors of the economy.

Imagine how much added value businesspersons and patriots like me can give to the ‘greening’ of Guyana if Government would facilitate and support more green business projects.

I believe Government is truly committed to protecting the environment, and I look forward to the passage of a Bill in Parliament banning the one-use plastics, and even going further by implementing duties and taxes to discourage the importation, manufacture and consumption of environmentally harmful materials.

I also call on Government to give more support and guidance to businesses that promote environmental protection. I am ready, willing and able to accept such support from Government and do my bit to protect the environment of my beloved Guyana.

Apart from taking bold steps to save the environment, I have also noted Government’s efforts to enhance and showcase Guyana by selecting symbols of nationhood. I am referring to the Carifesta carriageway, the Kitty roundabout, erecting arches and more.

These are excellent initiatives, and I hope to see more.

Yours sincerely, Haji Roshan Khan (Sr)

Ministry responds to Concerned Citizen’s letter on mining licence Dear Editor, On April 22, 2018 a letter written by “concerned citizen” under the heading “This Government is ignoring the plight of the Marudi small miners”. Please allow a response to matters carried within that letter.

The writer stated that they were seeking to “reclaim what is rightfully ours”. According to the Mining Act of 1989; Section 6: “All minerals within the lands of Guyana shall vest in the State.” The State has delegated that authority to the Guyana Geology and

Mines Commission through the GGMC Act of 1979.

Section 7:3 of the said Mining Act states: “A licence or permit under this Act to enter on State lands and there search or mine for, take and appropriate, minerals may be granted by the Commission.”

In keeping with Section 7:3, the GGMC granted a Mining Licence to the company Romanex since 2009.

The Rupununi Miners’ Association in their proposal is advocating that the government give them Mazoa

Mountain and in addition, the government should excise the said lands from the Romanex Licence.

It would indeed “be bad for business” should the State arbitrarily revoke a licence issued to one person or company - a legitimate holder of a Mining Licence from the State - and give it to another. This would lead to a lengthy court battle where no one benefits.

Let us put the shoe on the other foot; if the Rupununi Miners’ Association were in possession of a Mining Licence for the area, would

they accept the Government revoking their licence to give the area to someone else?

In their letter, the Rupununi Miners’ Association failed to mention that they entered into a mediated agreement that they have now refused to honour. This is unacceptable.

Yours faithfully, Johann Earle Public Affairs and Communications Officer Ministry of Natural Resources

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Ft Wellington Police Prosecutor dancing to Abel Seetaram’s tune Dear Editor, In Region 5, the name Abel Seetaram is apparently synonymous with disorderly behaviour. He allegedly is a known trouble-maker who avoids prosecution because of his reputedly close friendship with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Corporal Rockel Mars, Court Prosecutor attached to the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court.

Although there is no evidence of the minister’s direct involvement, the same apparently cannot be said of Police Court Prosecutor Cpl Rockel Mars.

On Saturday, June 3, 2017, the APNU+AFC Region 5 RDC Councillor Abel Seetaram was taken to the Fort Wellington Police Station on charges made against him by his neighbour, Mrs. Meenawati Jainauth, for alleged threatening behaviour and indecent exposure. Abel Seetaram allegedly got home drunk the night before, and reportedly launched a verbal assault on his neighbour, accusing her of snitching on him. He allegedly dropped his pants and exposed himself to his neighbour and her 16-year old daughter, and allegedly threatened to have them raped. Seetaram was arrested and placed on $15,000 bail. Although both Mrs. Jainauth and her young daughter gave evidence to the Fort Wellington Police to this effect, when the case was called on July 12, 2017, it was discovered that Abel Seetaram was never charged with the more serious offences of Indecent Exposure and Endangering the Welfare of a Minor. Guess who the Police Court Prosecutor was, Cpl Rockel Mars. On March 23, 2017, Guyana Times reported, “APNU/AFC officials implicated in multimillion-dollar fraud”. It is alleged that Carol Joseph, while serving as a member of the MARDS Board of Directors, fraudulently wrote cheques totalling over $6 million. She was implicated along with Abel Seetaram for allegedly taking $2,108,000 to repair a Government- owned SUV and a fence he had crashed into at Bath, West Coast Berbice on May 8, 2016 while driving drunk.He was then charged with driving in a dangerous manner; being an unlicensed driver; and breach of insurance.

The money he allegedly had misappropriated was used to repair the MARDS vehicle and the businessman’s fence, which were both badly damaged.

Interestingly, the money that Seetaram claimed it cost

to repair the vehicle exceeds the original value of that very vehicle when it was imported duty free. Following the crash, Abel Seetaram was fired as the Region 5 Special Representative to the Prime Minister by none other than the Hon Moses Nagamootoo. To date, this money has not been accounted for in any way, and neither Seetaram nor Carol Joseph has been prosecuted for fraud and misconduct in public office contrary to the common law.

Then on January 21, 2018, Abel Seetaram’s son was involved in a physical altercation with Avikar Rabindranauth, whose father and Abel Seetaram are first cousins. Avikar’s father -- Natheram Rabindranauth, commonly known as “Diamond” -- was returning home after plying his plantain chips trade when he saw the two boys fighting. He stopped and allegedly told his son to go home. Abel Seetaram allegedly emerged from a nearby rum-shop, picked up a piece of wood, and lashed his cousin across the face, breaking his nose and fracturing his jaw. Diamond spent two days at the New Amsterdam Hospital while Seetaram was released on $100,000 bail.

During the trial before Her Worship Magistrate Rondel Weaver at the Ft. Wellington Magistrate’s Court, Court Prosecutor Cpl. Rockel Mars failed to produce Natheram Rabindranauth’s (Diamond’s) X-rays and medical records in court. She also failed to cross-examine a Police witness who testified under oath that Diamond had told her Abel Seetaram had cuffed him several times, when in fact Diamond told me he had never seen her before that day in court. The illegal entry she is believed to have made in the Occurrence Book was admitted as evidence, and is an attempt to have the court dismiss the more serious charges of Assault with Intent and Felonious Wounding for which Seetaram is charged.

Court Prosecutor Cpl. Rockel Mars also failed to give the court and Seetaram’s defence lawyers each a copy of Seetaram’s Police statement, which in effect prevented the newly appointed court prosecutor from cross-examining Abel Seetaram and pointing out inconsistencies in the statement he had given in the witness box against the written statement he had signed on the day he was arrested. A late application to get that statement admitted as evidence was denied by Her

Malice and harassment

Dear Editor, I wish to add my piece on the charges of “misconduct while in public office, contrary to common law”. A number of persons have allegedly already revealed verifiable information that is more than adequate to have the charges withdrawn. I will not repeat the information revealed by them, but rather add a new aspect.

Common law is based on custom and precedent. In view of verifiable information allegedly already revealed, there is nothing in custom or precedent that supports the charges.

Misconduct in public office is committed when the “office holder” acts (or fails to act) in a way that constitutes a breach of the “duties of that office.”

However, the duty of the chairman of NICIL was to preside over board meetings. He was not an executive chairman, and

therefore was not responsible for the day-to-day management of the company.

Even elementary knowledge of management would inform you that he had no executive authority, and therefore could not make any decision, alone or with any other person.

He was only one member of a broad-based board that made recommendations to cabinet.

He was not an office holder, had no executive authority, and could not make any decision by himself or with any other person. Finally, when all is considered, there is apparently no case of misconduct. It is apparently just a blatant case of harassment and malice. I think the case should be withdrawn and a public apology offered to the injured parties.

Yours sincerely, Rooplall Sooklall

Worship Magistrate Rondel Weaver, who said she would not allow the prosecutor to “ambush the defence.” It is evident that the Fort Wellington Police Prosecutor is dancing to the tune of Abel Seetaram in an apparent effort to pressure Natheram Rabindranauth (Diamond) to drop the case

against the Region 5 Bad Boy. This will not happen. For despite efforts by Cpl Rockel Mars to suppress evidence that would finally convict Abel Seetaram and make him accountable for his reckless behaviour, I am confident that Her Worship Magistrate Rondel Weaver will impose a sentence that is just

and fair, and send a strong message to Abel Seetaram and other public officials that they are accountable for their actions in upholding the Laws of Guyana.

I again call upon AFC Leader the Hon. Rafael Trotman and Minister Ronald Bulkan to condemn the continued despicable behaviour of this

Region 5 APNU+AFC Regional Councillor, who behaves like he’s above the law, and to do what the Honourable Prime Minister has already done -- cut him loose!

Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

A review of an excellent Guyanese book Dear Editor, The book “Educational leadership; A Guyanese Perspective” written by Dr Brian O’Toole and available from School of the Nations, Georgetown is one to make Guyana proud. Brian O’Toole has made Guyana his adopted home, and his 40 years of living there has resulted in a remarkable story; a story of how ordinary folk can conquer adversity and create a better life for themselves and their fellow citizens. Such change requires leadership, but not of the kind commonly found in business, politics, or even schools.

Rather, the book describes a different kind of leadership espoused by O’Toole and his associates. The focus is on leaders whose primary aim is to help communities to help themselves. Not directing, managing, telling and cajoling people what to do; but listening, sup-

porting, guiding and encouraging ordinary men and women to make the changes they want to make. Throughout the book, many practical examples are given of how this style of leadership was put into practice in all regions of Guyana. The success stories recounted here testify to the effectiveness of this approach; although Brian O’Toole would rightly give the credit to the Guyanese people, because they are the ones who made the difference. The word ‘educational’ in the title is another clue to the uniqueness of this book. The book is not just about leadership in education – although impressive examples are given of this – it is about leadership that educates. We still have much to learn about how best to help people acquire new knowledge and skills, especially men and women living in urban townships and rural villages, who have limited oppor-

tunities for learning. This book provides many examples of educational initiatives focused on disability, early childhood development, literacy, health promotion, and social problems.

The approaches used contrast markedly with those found in most schools and colleges. The learning was based around practical applications of knowledge, the provision of culturally appropriate resource materials -- such as locally produced video programmes -- and training local people to become trainers of others in their community. The educational leadership promoted in Guyana brings to life Nelson Mandela’s assertion that “education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world”. There is another dimension to the leadership described in this book that is worth highlighting; namely, it is rooted in moral principles and values. Brian came

to Guyana with strong personal convictions, and he makes no apology for basing his work on them; nor should he. Over the 40-and-more years he has spent in the country he calls home, these values have been confirmed and strengthened through sharing his life and faith with the many thousands of people who have been involved in the programmes you will read about in this book.

It has been my privilege to visit Guyana many times in the past 20 years, and experience at first-hand the various projects that Brian has instigated. Now a wider readership can share in his adventures, and discover for themselves Guyana’s greatest richness: its people.

Yours sincerely, Professor Roy McConkey, Ulster University, United Kingdom.

We need to focus on growing Guyana’s economy Dear Editor, After Guyana's 50-plus year history, the politics of the nation has an opportunity to move from politics based on race to politics focused on economic development. There are a number of reasons why the state of the economy and economic development will be more of a prominent feature as we continue to develop as a nation. The principal one is the nation's opportunity to experience an accelerated increase in growth in coming decades, if properly handled.

Hence it now becomes more important to go beyond who benefits economically while a particular party is in office, to an orientation which asks and addresses whether the party that will be voted into power is capable of maximizing the economic benefits for the nation as a whole. This orientation becomes vital as our population continues to remain small and the personal development of each successive generation progresses. Government's role is to provide the correct BALANCE of investment in both the productive sectors that generate income for the nation and the non-productive support & enabling sectors of the economy, such as health care, infrastructure, schooling and the legal system. Poor governance and corruption will hinder the nation's ability to achieve this developmental balance efficiently, as determined by debt levels, transparency in fiscal governance, and the strength of economic growth.

In addition, the social indicators of criminal activity and citizen satisfaction will be leading indicators as to where the nation will place internationally in its progress towards First World performance, as measured by various international organizations. Good economic management is the order of the day, as Guyana continues to compete on the international stage for resources and foreign direct investment. We

must ensure that each citizen has a promising outlook for the future, and the limited capital resources we have must bring clear returns that allow for long-term sustainable development that can capitalize on our limited human resource capabilities. In the productive sectors, some of the key considerations going forward are the following: 1. Will sugar rebound and reduce unemployment while fostering growth in the economy?

2. Will the nation choose and develop with international business partners who provide healthy and stable levels of return on our investments? This is a question that impacts the oil, rice and bauxite industries directly in the near and medium terms.

3. Will regulatory strength be added to the fishing, mining and forestry sectors that allow for long term sustainable investment and the continued development of the sectors? This is also another immediate concern.

4. How well diversified is each revenue stream, and how much risk has been reduced during the nation's development?

Our nation's ability to access international financial markets at low rates will help clarify progress made in this area, and will reflect the perception of the level of country risk associated with Guyana.

In 2020, a national debate among presidential candidates covering such key economic areas of development (both productive and enabling non-productive sectors) should be required, thus allowing the nation's citizens to better understand the ability of each candidate and their team to govern effectively. Also, it will make clear what each candidate's approach to these pressing issues has been and will be going forward. Candidates should also have the opportunity to ad-

dress new special circumstances such as national security in such a public debate. This will allow the country as a whole to hold each subsequent administration clearly accountable for their actions and performance while in office. The vote of the nation in 2020 should grab the opportunity to transition to a clear, competitive structure wherein each political party will be judged not only on their historical performance, but also on what they plan to do and how they plan to responsibly accomplish their goals while eliminating corruption.

Measuring an administration's performance while in office using such unbiased economic and social measures will show clearly what they have and how they have accom-

plished the nation's development. By using such an open and transparent forum, citizens will also be able to better determine the strength of new political parties and those parties' ability to set a clear vision for how they will govern. This is becoming more important as more citizens become independent voters with less traditional party bias. This would shift the historical norm in our political system, and make the electoral process more competitive going forward. With such an increased electoral competitive landscape, the citizens of Guyana would benefit from improved governance and improved economic development.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

…a teacher seeks answers from researchers and psychologists (Part 1)

By Andrew Simmons

“W

hy did you cheat in high school?”

I posed the question to a dozen former students.

“I wanted good grades and I didn’t want to work,” said Sonya, who graduates from college in June. [The students’ names in this article have been changed to protect their privacy.]

My current students were less candid than Sonya. To excuse her plagiarised Cannery Row essay, Erin, a ninth-grader with straight As, complained vaguely and unconvincingly of overwhelming stress. When he was caught copying a review of the documentary Hypernormalism, Jeremy, a senior, stood by his “hard work” and said my accusation

hurt his feelings.

Cases like the muchpublicised (and enduring) 2012 cheating scandal at highachieving Stuyvesant High School in New York City confirm that academic dishonesty is rampant and touches even the most prestigious of schools.

The data confirms this as well.

A 2012 Josephson Institute’s Center for Youth Ethics report revealed that more than half of high school students admitted to cheating on a test, while 74 per cent reported copying their friends’ homework. And a survey of 70,000 high school students across the United States between 2002 and 2015 found that 58 per cent had

plagiarised papers, while 95 per cent admitted to cheating in some capacity.

So why do students cheat— and how do we stop them?

According to researchers and psychologists, the real reasons vary just as much as my students’ explanations.

But educators can still learn

to identify motivations for student cheating and think critically about solutions to keep even the most audacious cheaters in their classrooms from doing it again.

Rationalising it First, know that students realise cheating is wrong – they simply see themselves as moral in spite of it.

“They cheat just enough to maintain a self-concept as honest people. They make their behaviour an exception to a general rule,” said Dr David Rettinger, professor at the University of Mary Washington and executive director of the Center for Honor, Leadership, and Service, a campus organisation dedicated to integrity.

According to Rettinger and other researchers, students who cheat can still see themselves as principled people by rationalising cheating for reasons they see as legitimate.

Some do it when they don’t see the value of work they’re assigned, such as drill-andkill homework assignments, or when they perceive an overemphasis on teaching content linked to high-stakes tests.

“There was no critical thinking, and teachers seemed pressured to squish it into their curriculum,” said Javier, a former student and recent liberal arts college graduate. “They questioned you on material that was never covered in class, and if you failed the test, it was progressively harder to pass the next time around.”

But students also rationalise cheating on assignments they see as having value.

High-achieving students who feel pressured to attain perfection (and Ivy League acceptances) may turn to cheating as a way to find an edge on the competition or to keep a single bad test score from sabotaging months of hard work. At Stuyvesant, for example, students and teachers identified the cutthroat environment as a factor in the rampant dishonesty that plagued the school.

And research has found that students who receive praise for being smart – as opposed to praise for effort and progress – are more inclined to exaggerate their performance and to cheat on assignments, likely because they are carrying the burden of lofty expectations.

A developmental stage When it comes to risk management, adolescent students are bullish. Research has found that teenagers are biologically predisposed to be more tolerant of unknown outcomes and less bothered by stated risks than their older peers.

“In high school, they’re risk takers developmentally, and can’t see the consequences of immediate actions,” Rettinger says. “Even delayed consequences are remote to them.”

While cheating may not be a thrill ride, students already inclined to rebel against curfews and dabble in illicit substances have a certain comfort level with being reckless. They’re willing to gamble when they think they can keep up the ruse – and more inclined to believe they can get away with it.

Cheating also appears to be almost contagious among young people – and may even serve as a kind of social adhesive, at least in environments where it is widely accepted. A study of military academy students from 1959 to 2002 revealed that students in communities where cheating is tolerated easily cave in to peer pressure, finding it harder not to cheat out of fear of losing social status if they don’t.

Michael, a former student, explained that while he didn’t need to help classmates cheat, he felt “unable to say no.”

Once he started, he couldn’t stop.

According to a survey of 70,000 students across the United States, 95 per cent of students admitted to cheating in some capacity. (Excerpt from edutopia.

org)

To be continued

Protecting children from parental alienation

…the trifecta of values that can help inoculate a child from parental alienation

By Amy JL Baker, PhD

I

n my coaching practice I have the opportunity to speak with hundreds of targeted parents, people who are really in the trenches of alienation, doing what they can to preserve, protect, or repair their relationship with their children. I am often deeply moved by their struggles and their valiant efforts to maintain a loving presence in the face of ongoing denigration, devaluation, and marginalisation.

Sometimes in my coaching I realise that I am saying the same thing to multiple parents. That usually means that I have stumbled on something that appears to be applicable to a number of targeted parents. Once it comes to my attention that I have found a new and hopefully helpful way to talk about alienation, I will then write about it with the hope that it will be of interest to readers as well.

The most recent example of this is my conceptualisation of three values as being central to the protection of a parent-child relationship. The first of these values is integrity, by which I mean, the child’s ability to know his own thoughts and feelings, to have a boundary between his truth and the distorted version presented by the favoured parent. The second value is compassion, by which I mean the child’s ability to be kind and considerate towards a parent even if the parent has hurt or disappointed him. The third essential value is forgiveness. If a

child embraces the value of forgiveness she will be able to accept that the targeted parent is an imperfect human being and is worthy of love and respect nonetheless. If a child embraces these values, it seems to me, it will be harder (if not impossible) for a parent to (1) convince the child of something that is not true, (2) foster a child’s cruel devaluation of that parent, and (3) have the child feel that a parent’s normative flaws are impossible to forgive. That is, a child who embraces these values will be true to himself, respectful and kind to a parent even when the parent frustrates or hurts him, and will accept that the parent is not perfect.

Once we know the essential role of these values in protecting a child from being alienated, the question for targeted parents is how to foster the development of these values in a child.

Here are some ideas to get you started. First, if you see your child already exhibiting an expression of one or more of these values, observe it and reflect it back to the child with praise and perhaps some discussion about the child’s thought process. Ideally, the child will own the value as something that is essential to his understanding of who he is.

Second, be a role model of the value and speak out loud about the choices you make to reflect that value in your own life. Third, observe and discuss characters in books and movies who do and do not embody these values and how that works for them. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

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monDAY, april 30, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cane harvester killed by 20 Community Health Workers speeding drunk driver graduate from specialised – 4 seriously injured

Maternal, Child Health course

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drian Alexander Downer, a 47-yearold cane harvester of Sixth Street, Fyrish Village Corentyne, is now dead, and four others have been hospitalised after a car being driven by a highly intoxicated man slammed into a utility pole at Cromarty Village, Corentyne on Sunday morning and ended up in a trench.

A Police release has said that at about 0:30h on Sunday, motor car PRR 8753, driven by a 37-year-old of Fyrish,

The car lying in the trench below the broken utility pole

Dead: Adrian Alexander Downer Corentyne Berbice, was proceeding west on the Cromarty Public Road when it became uncontrollable and collided with a utility pole before ending up in a trench. The driver and the car’s four other occupants were rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital, where Downer was pronounced dead on arrival. Guyana Times understands that the four other occupants of the car were transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, and two of them have subsequently been transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). The Police release also said the alcohol level of the driver of the motor

car was found to be exceedingly above the legal limit.

Reports are that the occupants of the car, residents of Fyrish and nearby villages, were at a wedding at Fyrish, and had all joined the car, which took a sixth person home and was returning to Fyrish when the accident occurred.

Impressions at the scene of the accident suggest that the driver had run into a heap of sand at the side of the road and lost control of the vehicle, which became airborne before slamming into a utility pole, breaking it half way up before the vehicle plunged into a trench. Eyewitnesses say Downer was motionless and appeared to be dead when he was pulled from the wreckage.

While some residents of Cromarty said they had heard nothing, others said there were several loud sounds, and then silence. “The driver, he didn’t really get no injuries. One of them, he did bleeding through he nose; it look like he jaw break,” one eyewitness related. Meanwhile, the dead man’s wife, Nerisa Cort-Downer, a security guard, told this publication that on Saturday evening, as she was about to leave for work, her husband told her

he was going to a wedding in the village. She said they were both riding bicycles, and parted company at the Corentyne Highway.

At about 1:15h on Sunday, she received a telephone call from a sister, informing her about the accident. She said she then went to the Port Mourant Hospital, where she saw her husband lying in the tray of a Police vehicle. She said she was asked to identify him. No information was provided to her about the other passengers; however, she had known the vehicle driver since she was a child. “He and my husband is friends because they does cut cane together,” she explained. Villagers say the 37-year-old driver had been involved in several accidents in the past. “Only this month he run off the road and end up on a lady bridge right in Fyrish. How he get there I don’t know, and then last month he run off the road and run over a boy foot,” one villager reported. There are also reports by villagers of two other accidents that the same driver was involved in last year.

The driver is currently assisting Police with their investigations into Sunday morning’s accident.

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence presenting the trophy to best all-around graduating student of 2017-2018, Michael Johnson

P

ublic Health Minister Volda Lawrence has said the Ministry of Public Health’s (MPH’s) Community Health Worker (CHW) Programme allows the administration to tap into the human resource within the respective communities, thereby reducing the need to “send large numbers of persons into regions, who are totally out of sync with the cultural habits and the way of life of the residents.”

The CHW Programme, the minister said, is also the first step in eliminating ma-

ternal and neonatal deaths in hinterland regions.

“Having a (Community) Health Worker in every village in these regions means mothers have ready access to basic and essential neonatal services, guaranteeing them healthy and safe deliveries,” she said.

Minister Lawrence addressed the graduation ceremony for 25 CHWs on Saturday at the Amerindian Residence in Lethem, Region Nine. The graduates, from the villages in the five sub-districts in the Upper Takutu-

Upper Essequibo region, had completed six months of training that focused largely on maternal and child health.

“I hope that you understand it is now time for you to give back to your people,” Minister Lawrence told the graduates.

Best All-round Student, Michael Johnson of Baishaidrun Village, explained that despite having not completed secondary school, he was chosen by his village leaders to complete the training. He said serving as a CHW is his way of giving back to his community, which had offered him the opportunity to benefit from “quality education.”

Desiree Ayow of Gunn’s Strip, from where it had taken her two weeks of travel by land and sea to get to the training programme, said she would be returning to her village to “promote proper health.”

The training, funded by an Inter-American Development Bank $8 million loan, aims to ensure equity in healthcare services across Guyana’s ten administrative regions. The loan also covered the expansion cost of the Maternity Waiting Home at Lethem.

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monDAY, april 30, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Largest march held to end domestic violence against women in Guyana

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s concerns continue to rise over the upsurge of domestic violence cases in Guyana for the year thus far, the largest march in support of raising awareness on the issue was yesterday held.

Hosted by the Guyana Stop Violence organisation under the theme “Break your silence, let’s stop the violence”, the march commenced before Parliament Buildings on Brickdam at 15:00hrs. Clothed in white and purple, the marchers then proceeded south into Avenue of the Republic, east into Durban Street, south into George Street, east into Norton Street, north into Creen Street, east into Durban Street, north into Louisa Row, then Cummings Street, east into Church Street, south into Albert Street, Into Sandeman Place, east into Brickdam, and concluded at the Square of the Revolution, where a rally was held.

A section of the participants in Sunday’s march

Live entertainment and moving tributes were all part of the event, as the organisation worked to end the crisis.

According to the organisation’s president, Bonita Montague, “We need everyone out here because too many women are dying, too many children are suffering, and too many families are in pain.”

Montague noted that the march is not against men,

but against domestic violence, which affects everyone.

“We need to activate the button of action. The impact this has on our youths, everyone needs to get involved.

This is not action against the man, but all Guyanese, because domestic violence affects everyone. It’s important that we change the trend of violence in Guyana,” she declared.

Also lending support and

marching in solidarity with the hundreds of attendees, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence called for an end to women being brutalised.

“We will not allow our women to continue to be brutalised. We need to let our men know that we will not continue to let our women be mistreated,” the minister declared.

She further called for parents to teach their children to show love and respect at a young age.

Lawrence said, “We need parents to teach their children to show love, so we are asking all to come out and let’s march together, this has to stop”.

Georgetown Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green, voiced similar sentiments in calling for both men and women to show love. She said, “Stop the violence! Love each other! We need both our men and women to show each other love… show support, we need to put an end to violence”.

Several injured in Linden Highway accident

One of the unhurt passengers assisting to extract the driver from the vehicle

S

everal persons were injured on Sunday at about 10:15hrs when motor car PVV 5602 became uncontrollable and slammed into the Digicel signboard at Millie’s Junction on the

Soesdyke/Linden Highway near Amelia’s Ward in Linden, before destroying a wooden barrier on the eastern side of the road and ploughing its way into a clump of bushes.

The vehicle was at the time being driven by 49-year-old Beresford Harry of Lot 16 Water Lilly Road Wismar, Linden. He reportedly sustained serious traumatic injuries to the head, and was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) in an unconscious condition.

The other occupants of the car were 21-year-old Shakel McAlmont of Lot 19 Amelia’s Ward, Linden and 28-year-old Trecia Aulder of Mocha, East Bank Demerara. They also sustained injuries, and were reportedly examined and admitted by a doctor on duty at the same hospital complex.

The driver and Shakel

McAlmont were later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) for further medical treatment.

A Police report said motor car PVV 5602 was proceeding east along the northern side of Amelia’s Ward Public Road, Linden at a fast rate of speed when the driver lost control of the vehicle. Investigations are ongoing.

Labourer slapped with felony charge

L

abourer Clifford Rodney of Lot 19 Savannah Park, New Amsterdam appeared last Friday before Senior City Magistrate Leron Daly on a charge of attempting to commit a felony.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on April 25, 2018, he gained forceful entry into VJ’s Fashions, the Avenue of the Republic business premises of Albert Ramlakhan, with intent to burgle same.

Objecting to Rodney being placed on bail, the prosecutor told the court that on the day in question, Ramlakhan secured his place of business at 16:00h and left. He subsequently received a phone call from a security guard, who related that the accused was breaking into the building, but he was able to apprehend him.

The Police were summoned and the accused was arrested and charged.

Magistrate Daly placed Rodney on $100,000 bail, and ordered that he return to court on May 18, 2018 for statements in relation to his matter.

All connected…

T

…on bauxite he PNC and the bauxite unions have been beating up on the PPP for the travails of the bauxite industry after they took office in 1992. Nothing much is said, of course, about why the industry - which was NUMBER ONE in the world when the PNC nationalised it in 1970 had collapsed by 1992. The short answer is that of Walter Rodney: anything touched by Burnham’s turned to sh*t!!

But, really, it was a bit more complex than that, since reasons varied for the transmutation into doo-doo.

However, the reasons should be of interest to us once again, now that bauxite is again on the line. Burnham removed the professionals who had the institutional memory to run the industry, and placed it into the hands of party faithful, who could only run it into the ground.

Burnham suffered from the colonial disease prevalent in natives -- assuming all you needed to run things was “being smart”. Academically!!

Haslyn Parris might’ve been a smart fella... but he didn’t know squat about bauxite. So it wasn’t surprising that production started to fall after the lack of capital investment under his watch kicked in. And the fall of production led to missed shipments – which the efficiency demands of the aluminium industry in the developed world just couldn’t accept. They turned to other (more reliable) suppliers – like China, whose bauxite wasn’t as “sweet” as ours. By 1985, even though Desmond Hoyte stood on his head, he couldn’t entice investments to turn around the bauxite production. He started the IMF privatisation programme.

The PNC and the unions will never accept it was the PPP that stabilised the industry after 1992. They’ll never concede that Jagdeo and company also had to stand on their heads to save jobs in Bauxite. And this is where the present flap over Rusal comes in.

The Opposition might pretend to forget, but it took Jagdeo’s personal intervention with Putin back in 2004 to have Rusal pick up the Berbice bauxite operations from an alphabet-soup series of companies that kept merging to survive.

And we come to the 4.7 acres of land Brassington and Singh were dragged to the courts over. This was land sold to Rusal’s Deripaska. Why question THAT US$1 million sale and not the US$20 million debt Russia wrote off to sweeten the deal? Or the US$20 million injection Rusal immediately made?

This government hasn’t a clue as to how real businesses operate. They’ll soon find out, as our BCGI bauxite deliveries falter and Rusal’s forced to reduce production of aluminium due to Trump’s sanctions.

And they have to offer “inducements” to make them stay, in order to keep their supporters happy. …on sugar?

Looks like there’s the need for another Solomon on this matter of forming a GUYSUCO Board. We have the one already announced – (in three newspapers, with pictures and all!!) – by the head of the SPU, seemingly with the blessings of Finance Minister Jordan. Then there’s the one that Agri Minister Holder promised to announce after announcing the SPU Board wasn’t authorised. Now Minister of State Harmon – who’s supposed to reflect Cabinet’s thinking – says all the names for the Board haven’t been finalised!!

So what is it going to be?? Are we going to have the Solomon-like decision to divide the two boards and merge their rump elements? Not likely, ‘cause we know the real question that needs to be answered is whether Thomas would be back, don’t we?

But that’s where the President has to come in, doesn’t he? With him mum, his administration’s not only drifting, but segments of it are on collision courses with each other!!

PNC vs AFC!!! WPA taken hostage!! …on infinite regression First, the PNC hauled PPP officials to the courts on “misconduct in a public official” charges. Then the PPP reciprocated with two PNC ministers – but the DPP dropped the latter charge.

Now AG Williams threatens “civil actions” by PNC ministers against PPP chargers.

Then the PPP will file charges…??

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

News

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monDAY, april 30, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GRA recovers millions lost in heavy-duty machinery scam

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he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has managed to collect millions of dollars since it cracked down on the heavy-duty vehicle racket, which was discovered in 2017.

GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia said that the Authority went out of its way to make it known that it was prepared to visit the interior locations where persons were using heavy-duty vehicles.

“We sent our officers out there, so they would be able to take the necessary photographs and then proceed to register those vehicles. But there has not been a great response in this regard,” he stated.

The GRA boss said that the Authority has been going from village to village, house to house, and actually levying fines. “There has not been a great type of a response as we should have seen,” he explained.

Nevertheless, once these persons are found culpable, the GRA would apply a conveyance charge of $150,000 in

but when checks were made, there was no record of them in the system.

“It was on the cards for a little while, but then what we found is that there was one particular excavator that was imported and we could not have found it, it was cleared and we could not have found it until now. And now that we have gone through additional

GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia

addition to the taxes required on each of these vehicles.

It was reported that the State has been losing billions annually over excavators and other heavy-duty machinery and equipment that were not registered. This was first discovered during 2017.

Statia reminded that this scheme has been on GRA’s radar for some time now. He outlined that exercises were carried out, monitoring vehicles that had been moving within the country, especially excavators and draglines,

transactions,” he noted.

The GRA Head had pointed out the problem was as long as these machinery and heavy-duty equipment were not registered, the Authority would be in a position to find or trace them.

“It is not only with the heavy duty…Heavy-duty [machinery] has just been on the forefront for us…so when

these excavators go into the interior, if they are not registered then, they cannot be traced.”

Further asked about the scale of the scheme, the GRA Head had said that it was not all importers of heavy-duty machinery and equipment who were involved in the racket.

Heavy-duty equipment

and machinery are utilised by most sectors in Guyana.

The mining sector and Government are the biggest importers of these.

Statia pointed out that “somewhere along the line, the system went lax and allowed these excavators to be roaming free without numbers and without registration.

We need to regularise them.”

GRA, GEA capably handling fuel smuggling cases – Harmon …unable to verify claim senior official linked to recently seized vessel

M

inister of State, Joseph Harmon on Friday during his post-Cabinet press conference was unable to confirm or deny speculation that a senior Government official is linked to the recently seized vessel as he reassured the public that the matter of fuel smuggling was actively engaging the attention of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA).

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

The Minister expressing confidence in the capabilities of the agencies in the campaign against fuel smuggling, reminded of the scope of Guyana’s borders. He noted that while it was difficult to patrol every square inch, there were protective measures such as the fuel marking system. “From time to time, vessels will actually come into the country with contraband items, it is important, however, once they come

to a port that we are able to inspect, once it is determined these items are contraband that the Revenue Authority does what it has to do,” he stated. It was announced by GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia at an April 24, 2018 press conference that the agency had launched an extensive investigation to determine the prior movements of MV Jubilee that was caught last weekend with undeclared fuel.

Charges against Ashni Singh and ...

This definition of “public trust” remained at large,” Ramkarran noted.

He continued: “In 2008, Christopher Galley, a civil servant in the Home Office, was arrested for misconduct in public office for allegedly passing confidential and restricted documents to Damien Green. Green was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit, and being an accessory to, the alleged offence by Galley.

The [Director of Public Prosecutions] DPP decided not to prosecute because, whilst there was damage to the Home Office’s arrangements for handling such documents, there needed to be additional damage, such as harm to national security, and in the absence of such evidence, there were no realistic prospects of conviction. The DPP’s decision highlighted the departure in practical terms, from the notion that the conduct, not the results, define the offence.

The DPP’s decision empha-

sised that in prosecutorial decision-making, the results of the impugned acts are a critical element in determining whether a conviction is likely.

And if it is not, the State’s resources should not be wastefully expended in vainly pursuing a conviction. Although “public trust” was not an explicit issue, an understanding of it, in the sense of harming the public, was taking shape in legal circles.”

He reminded that “in the more recent case of R v W (2010), the Court of Appeal of England broadened and expanded the definition of the offence, exacerbating the existing confusion. Included were: frauds and deceits (in office); wilful excesses of official authority (malfeasance); the international infliction of bodily harm, imprisonment or other injury upon a person (oppression). Notwithstanding this decision, the House of Lords in R v Rimmington, R v Goldstein (2005) has sug-

gested that the charge of misconduct in public office should be imposed only where there is no statutory offence, but where the behaviour should nevertheless be considered as criminal”.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo has pointed out that all three charges against Singh and Brassington are frivolous and all three matters were approved by the Cabinet.

Former President Donald Ramotar has also come out strongly in defence of Singh and Brassington.

In concluding on the charges, a legal scholar has posited that this is “an open and shut case”. Neither Singh nor Brassington are “public officers” and as such. the law under which they are charged (based on both the Constitution and legal precedents all the way to the CCJ) cannot be applied to them.

Even without this point, both Brassington and Singh can strongly argue that any ac-

tion related to the charges is excused or justified, having obtained Board and Cabinet approvals for each of the transactions – strong evidence of oversight, supervision, and authority to act. On the other elements of the offence, the DPP would have difficulty showing that the actions that are almost a decade old,

“amount to an abuse of the public trust”, or “reflect one who wilfully neglects to perform his duty.” Lack of a valuation, particularly when compared with a public tender and lacking any basis in law, can hardly be criminal, particularly when there is Cabinet authority and approval, for each transaction.

from page 3

The DPP is yet to respond to a written request by former AG Anil Nandlall to review the charges against Singh and Brassington. Yet, similar charges instituted by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) against five sitting Ministers, on the other hand, have been thrown out by the DPP.

10 news

monDAY, april 30, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Man shot, killed in Better Hope TUC, FITUG, Opposition to

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29-year-old man was fatally shot on Saturday at his residence in Better Hope, East Coast Demerara.

The victim has been identified as Denis Nandlall of 21 Lalchan Street, Better Hope South.

A relative of the deceased, Alicia Douglas, told Guyana Times on Sunday that she, Nandlall and a few others were chatting in the yard of their family home when the incident happened.

“I heard him talking to someone on the road. I heard him saying ‘come back tomorrow, the guy is not at home’ and before you know it, things happened so fast,” she recalled.

Douglas then recalled hearing a loud explosion and soon after, she saw her cousin fall to the ground. Upon inquiring, relatives discovered that Nandlall had been shot in the back.

According to her, no one saw who fired the shot, but neighbours claimed that they saw two strange men on bicycles, wearing hoodies in the street around the same time that the incident happened.

Nandlall was rushed to the Woodlands Hospital for emergency medical treatment. “They said he had to get emergency surgery.

They asked us to pay down the ward fee. When the doctor examined him, they told us to lodge down $550,000,”

Dead: Denis Nandlall

Douglas stated.

Since the family did not have that amount of cash on hand, they were presented with no choice but to transfer Nandlall to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

“By time that, he had major internal bleeding, which resulted in his death.

The bullet was lodged in his back on the left side, which according to the doctors caused the internal bleeding,” she added.

While some are still finding it hard to believe that someone would just show up at Nandlall’s home and shoot him, others believe that something may have led to this unfortunate incident.

Asked whether Nandlall ever interfered with anyone, Douglas doubted that her cousin would attempt to create trouble with anyone. She also claimed that he was never involved in any criminal activity. “He is a very

good human being. I’ve never knew him to be a bad person or somebody that would do something wrong. He was a decent person. I know him well and he is a good person,” she stressed.

An aunt of the deceased, Joyce Nandlall, told this newspaper that she was very saddened and shocked by what transpired. She claimed that her nephew was a decent individual who was never a troublemaker.

“He don’t drink and smoke and fight and make trouble with anybody. I don’t know if people don’t like him. I can’t say. What I know is he is not a trouble-making person and he don’t fight with anybody.”

Joyce said the incident has brought to bear the question of how safe neighbourhoods were these days.

“It’s like we are not safe anymore. Just imagine this happened in our own home.

Because the person just came and asked him for somebody, they shoot him.

Life doesn’t have a value anymore?”

While some are speculating that it could have been an attempted robbery, others are of the opinion that Nandlall was specifically targeted and his murder was carefully planned and executed. The man was expected to get married later this year. The matter is currently being investigated by the Police. Nandlall will be laid to rest today.

address May Day rally

– as wreath-laying ceremony commences Labour Week observance

T

he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG); the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the Government will address Tuesday’s Labour Day, while the joint representatives of the Unions will this morning take part in a wreath-laying exercise at the monument of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow in the compound of the Parliament Building.

Critchlow is widely seen as the father of trade unionism in Guyana, having championed workers’ rights in the 20th century.

“The honouring of this outstanding Guyanese labour leader will see tributes to his exceptional work in the course of his trade union career and his advocacy and active involvement in securing rights and higher pay for stevedores and other workers,” the bodies disclosed.

In the joint press statement by the Unions, it was also noted that today’s exercise will be the first of several observances to mark Labour Week.

Acknowledging the “increased pressures” that working-class persons are facing, the bodies observed that they would continue support of the initiatives taken to move the sugar industry forward.

To this end, GTUC and

The monument of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, the father of trade unionism in Guyana, at Parliament Building, Georgetown

FITUG said that the organisations were engaged in discussions on submitting three nominees to sit on the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB), a body which has been inactive for the last several months.

FITUG and GTUC added that Government has been written urging Guyana’s participation in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) International Labour Conference at which the country has not been represented for the past three years.

The bodies renewed their commitment to advocating for unity and cooperation in the trade union movement, and contended that this must be “diligently pursued”.

“It is hoped that the united work and actions by the

FITUG and the GTUC on common issues will lead to the realisation of betterment for our working class and which will certainly benefit the country as a whole.

In the immediate period approaching this year’s Labour Day celebrations, the two bodies conducted a joint seminar under the auspices of the ILO on April 24, 2018.

The seminar, held at the Critchlow Labour College, focused on “Green Jobs, Just Transition and Decent Work”, the press statement pointed out.

On Tuesday, May, 1, 2018, the two federations will join with stakeholders and march through the city; the march will begin at Parade Ground and culminate in a rally at the National Park.

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monDAY, april 30, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WGE Commissioner slams bias in GDF ‘male only’ recruitment

– cites previous “responsible pregnancy” comments of Chief of Staff

Women’s rights activist Nicole Cole

A

recent advertisement by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) specifically inviting only suitable males to enlist in its officer training course has raised concerns about that institution possibly practising bias in its gender policy.

In an interview with this publication, veteran social and women’s rights activist Nicole Cole expressed concern that the advertisement was in fact discriminatory in nature. According to Cole, a member of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, the act raises suspicions of implicit bias within the upper echelons of the GDF. “It’s wholly discriminatory because it seeks suitable males only!”

Cole stressed. “To place such an ad is a gross violation of the CEDAW Convention (Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women) which is enshrined in the Constitution.”

“The Ad also violates women’s right to work without being discriminated against based on their sex, hence it also violates the ILO (International Labour Organisation) Convention as well as the Prevention of Discrimination Act of 1997.”

Cole, moreover, pointed to remarks made

by GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West, at a Thanksgiving ceremony that marked the 50th anniversary of the Women’s Army Corps, on February 6.

West was then quoted by an online media outfit as saying, “We want responsible behaviour, that it must be planned, we don’t want

every year a female soldier to become pregnant. It adds to her own social burdens and it creates challenges for the Force and in the morale of the female ranks too.”

West had also said at that ceremony that the “situation” of a pregnant female soldier could result in an “off spill of all the issues she’s having to other female(s).” At the same time, he then went on to say that he was not advocating the stopping of any pregnancy, but rather “responsible” pregnancies.

Cole, however, reminded that family planning falls on the shoulders of both sexes.

This publication made contact with Brigadier West on Saturday in an effort to ascertain the reasoning behind the policy. However, he declined to speak to the media outside of the army’s Public Affairs Unit and the ambits of the working week.

Efforts to contact head of that unit, Colonel Michael Shahoud, were unsuccessful.

The law

The laws of Guyana are clear on the illegality of discrimination. Part two of the Prevention of Discrimination Act of 1997 states thus: “For the purposes or this Act, a person discriminates against another person if the first mentioned person makes, on any or the grounds mentioned in subsection (2), any distinction, exclusion or preference, the intent or effect of which is to nullify or impair equality of opportunity or treatment in any employment or occupation.”

It further specifies that discrimination can occur on the grounds of sex, race, religion, colour, ethnic origin, indigenous population, national extraction, social origin, economic status, political opinion, disability, family responsibilities, pregnancy, marital status or age, except for purposes of retirement and restrictions on work and employment of minors.

The Act goes on to say that discrimination cannot occur based on any characteristic which “appertains generally, or is generally imputed to persons of a particular race, sex, religion, colour, ethnic origin, indig-

Chief of Staff Brigadier Patrick West

enous population, national extraction, social origin, political opinion, disability, family responsibility, pregnant state, marital status, or age, except for the purpose of retirement and restriction on work and employment of minors.” continued on page 12

The Advertisement in question

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monDAY, april 30, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WCD-EBE road project substantially completed J

ust over three years ago, works commenced to upgrade the twolane West Coast Demerara/ East Bank Essequibo (WCD/ EBE) road. This project has now been “substantially” completed, with just some road markings and traffic signs’ installation to the done.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Senior Projects Engineer attached to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Kester Hinds, who has oversight responsibility for the $9.2 billion project, explained that the road expansion project is about 98% complete.

“The project is substantially completed. There are just a few little road markings, installation of the road rails and the traffic signs to be installed. So those are

the only things that are outstanding. All construction works have been completed,” Hinds told Guyana Times.

Head of the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s Works Services Group (WSG), Geoffrey Vaughn, had last week told this newspaper that since the project is in its final stage, a recent decision was made to reissue the practical completion certificate to the contractor.

“The consultant is looking at any remedial works that need to be done before we can do the handover. As you know, most of these contracts would have a one year defects liability period, so there is still that defects liability period that we have to look at to see that the road is operating at what it has been constructed for,”

Vaughn explained.

The $9.2 billion (US$44.3million) contract for this project was awarded to Jamaican company Surrey Paving and Aggregate (SPA) Limited, which has partnered with BK International.

The contract was signed in November 2014, and works commended in January 2015.

In addition to the twolane upgrade, the project, which has a 36-month timeline, also includes pedestrian facilities in the form of sidewalks, and in some sections, facilities for cyclists will be made. There is also a road safety sensitisation aspect to the project.

According to Hinds, these few works -- installation of rails and traffic signs -- could not have been com-

Works being done on the WCD/EBE road

pleted, since there were some procurement issues.

“The acquisition of those items took some time (in regard to) being delivered in Guyana and getting the necessary customs clearance.

So it was completed within the 36 months’ time substantially,” he posited.

Hinds went on to explain that the January 1, 2018 deadline for the project had to be extended due to the setbacks and delays experienced as a result of the relocation of the utilities, and the influence of inclement weather.

“Some of the setbacks included delay in the relocation of utilities, and of course

rainfall would have contributed to some of the delays as well. And in the early phase of the project, there was some delay in the contractor acquiring all the resources to execute the project,” Hinds explained.

According to Hinds, while construction works did not go over the $9.2 billion budget, the delays and extension of time can have financial implications. To this end, he noted that the Ministry and the contractors are trying to iron out the issue to have all the extra time addressed within the contract.

“The project was within budget. It did not go over the

contract sum, but remember we would have had some extra time, which may have incurred some cost, which wouldn’t be anything significant; but we are looking to see if it can be addressed within the contract sum and not require additional sum.

So I can’t say at this point in time if those delays and extension has incurred additional costs or if it will be addressed within the contract,” he explained.

Nevertheless, the Senior Projects Engineer posited that he is satisfied with the expansion works done to upgrade the 30.7 kilometre stretch of road from Vreeden-Hoop, WCD to Hydronie, EBE. In regard to the Road Safety Awareness component of the road project, these works have been completed, Hinds said. There were three sub-components: the school road safety educational programme; the community and driver road safety communication, and the road safety/public relations and communications.

According to the Senior Projects Engineer, while the works have been completed, the report on the Road Safety/Public Relations and Communications is outstanding.

WGE Commissioner slams bias in...

from page 11

According to the Act, any omission, practice or policy that directly or indirectly results in discrimination against a person on the grounds referred to in subsection (2) is an act of discrimination, regardless of whether the person responsible for the act or omission or the practice or policy had intended to discriminate.

The Act does make a few exceptions for per-

ceived bias. For instance, Part VII (19,1) “Nothing in Parts III and IV shall affect (a) a provision of a deed, will or other document, whether made before or after the coming into operation of this Act, that confers charitable benefits or enables charitable benefits to be conferred on persons on the basis of the grounds set out in subsection 4. (2) of

this Act; or (b) an act that is done in other to give effect to such a provision.”

The Act goes on to state that, on a religious basis, the Act exempts the ordination of priests, ministers of religion or members of that body; as well as the training or education of persons seeking ordination or appointment as priests, ministers of religion or members of a religious order.

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monDAY, april 30, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 540 attend Region 9 PPP congress D

elegates of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) from Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) came out in their numbers to partici-

promises.

Some of the delegates pointed to the promise made by the coalition in relation to increased financial grants, large solar panels, and improved social services, among others.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Alister Charlie told Guyana Times that the delegates were pleased with the meeting and they were drawn from some of the most remote villages in the Region.

pate in the Party’s congress, which was held on Saturday.

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo urged the delegates to continue working hard to mobilise every-

He said the attendance of these villagers, particularly those from the Wai Wai villages, was extremely pleasing, as it showed their commitment to the PPP and their own development.

Charlie said the delegates also used the opportunity to raise several other concerns with Jagdeo and the leadership of the PPP, and have given their full commitment to get the message of the PPP out.

Jagdeo speaking to another villager

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo having a casual conversation with elder women of Region Nine at the conclusion of the congress

one to join forces with the Party, as it prepared for the 2020 General Election.

Jagdeo reminded the attendees of the failed promises made to them by the coalition Government. He urged them to hold the Government accountable

Health Ministry hosts reintegration workshop for sugar workers

T

Consultant/Educator Bonita Harris and Dr Bassier pose with workshop participants

he Men’s Health Unit of the Public Health Ministry (MoPH) teamed up last week with GuySuCo to train GuySuCo’s medical, clerical and administrative staff to help ex-sugar workers reintegrate into the society.

The ensuing workshop was part of broader initiatives targeting some 4000 recently-retrenched Guyana Sugar Corporation

(GuySuCo) workers, some of whom the MoPH Men’s Health Coordinator, Dr Dennis Bassier, said have fallen into a destructive lifestyle.

Dr Bassier said although the number of unemployed former GuySuCo employees has decreased with the reopening of one of the sugar estates, the programme is gathering momentum, because the MoPH realises that some affected per-

sons have “gone on to engage in lifestyles that are not desirable as it relates to their health.” Dr Bassier and Ms Bonita Harris, a Consultant/Educator who has done extensive work in men’s and adolescent health over the last years, spearheaded the 5-day MoPH/GuySuCo training scheme which was held at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory. continued on page 14

for its actions and to ensure that their voices were heard.

The Party’s leader also promised to do more for Indigenous people if the Party returned to office. He said that regardless of the election’s outcome, the PPP would always fight for the rights of Guyana’s first people.

During the congress, Jagdeo and other PPP officials also heard from the delegates who complained about the Government not being able to deliver on its

Jagdeo being presented with a token by a resident of Region Nine upon his arrival in Lethem on Saturday

14 News

monDAY, april 30, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Buy local,” agro-processors urge Guyanese – as ‘Uncapped’ exhibition and marketplace gets underway

By Jarryl Bryan

“B

uy local” was a prevailing theme of the ‘Uncapped’ agro processors expo as it got under way on Sunday.

There were several local exhibitors urging locals to support local items while reminding supermarkets of their local obligations.

The ‘agro-processors exhibition and marketplace’ held at the National Stadium had the backing of several companies, including Sterling Products, Edward

uct, the Vanilla cake flour.

We have free samples. Right now NAMILCO is coming up with these health products.

We are promoting healthiness. We have the whole wheat flour in a packet, and we also have multi-grain and wheat germ.

“We have roti mix and polouri mix. The polouri mix is quick and easy for customers to make a fast meal. The roti mix, to make work easier, you just have to add water to get that perfect roti.

We want you to support local,” she said.

Government entity’s booth featured several sections of produce, ranging from packaged plantain chips to packaged coconut cream and honey -- all stocked by the Guyana shop, itself stocked by agro processors.

Explaining the process, a representative noted that to be a supplier to the Guyana Shop, products must be agro-processed, and the supplier business must itself be registered in Guyana.

In addition, each processor must have a valid certificate of inspection from the

“The consumers in our country have a lot to do with this. They have to start getting serious and buy local products. Go into the supermarket you buy from and ask the supermarket owner, ‘Why you aren’t stocking local products?’ If you keep buying foreign products, the supermarket owners are going to continue stocking foreign products. So consumers have a lot to do in moving Guyana and its agro processors forward” – former GCCI President very own farm.

“The company is owned by Roopan Ramotar,” Farzad Ally, a representa-

Doerga noted the importance of events such as Uncapped to give agro-processors a chance to shine.

cal products?’ If you keep buying foreign products, the supermarket owners are going to continue stocking for-

According to the businessman, it provides a platform to introduce consumers to the products and brands of agro-processors. Doerga urges consumers to actively support local producers.

“The consumers in our country have a lot to do with this. They have to start getting serious and buy local products. And if the product is not up to standard, you tell the persons their packaging is not where it’s supposed to be, their product quality needs to improve,” Doerga urged.

“Go into the supermarket you buy from and ask the supermarket owner, ‘Why you aren’t stocking lo-

eign products. So consumers have a lot to do in moving Guyana and its agro-processors forward,” he explained.

It is understood that the GMSA had collaborated with the Government and private enterprises in order to host the first ‘Uncapped’ last year at the Sophia Exhibition Complex. That three-day exhibition had also featured a food festival that saw some 60 exhibitors and thousands of patrons.

This year, there was a noticeable crowd at the National Stadium. It is expected that Uncapped will be held in other regions of the country throughout the year.

Scenes from the Uncapped exhibition

B. Beharry and Sons, Banks DIH and Exxon Mobil. This publication caught up with several agro processors.

According to Rihanna, a representative of the National Milling Company of Guyana, (NAMILCO), the onus is on Guyanese to buy local. NAMILCO’s products are stocked across Guyana, and she stressed the importance of consumers paying attention to what they buy.

“We have a new prod-

Noting that there is foreign flour on the local market, she urged customers to read labels intently.

Pointing to the importance of adhering to expiry dates, she stressed that NAMILCO provides quality. Added to that, she noted, is the inclusion of recipes on the packages.

Other products The Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) was also out in full force. This

Government Analyst—Food and Drugs Department and a valid food handler’s certificate.

“We are displaying here the (products) offered

by GMC, particularly the Guyana Shop, where we have all the local agro processed products in Guyana.

We have most of the agro processors here, but some couldn’t make it. So we’re supporting,” the representative said.

“Most of them have their own farm, but some of them would buy from other farmers and process it -- slice it, fry it, and package it. And then they bring it to us.

These are things we sell every day, including cassava breads, cassareep, and honey.”

At another booth, exhibitors hailing from Essequibo had packaged coconut water on sale for $300 a bottle.

Roosters Coconut, the company selling the beverage, use coconuts reaped at its

tive of the company, related.

“I do distribution and sales.

I recently joined the company, but they’ve been in existence before. We have our own factory, we do our own bottling, our labels. And we do export.”

Value of the Expo Dr. Vishnu Doerga, a former President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), was there in his capacity as the face of Action Coach Guyana -- a company that not only offers complementary entrepreneurship training, but also professional support services for business owners looking to grow their companies.

Health Ministry hosts...

from page 13

The skills-enhancing workshop targeted workers attached to various health centres and sugar estates in Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara (Region 3); Demerara/Mahaica (Region 4); Mahaica/ Berbice (Region 5) and East Berbice/Corentyne (Region 6). In his assessment of the programme, Dr Bassier said, “We actually see this programme as necessary going forward, to actually assist them (sugar workers) in their specific health needs as well as their social lives, which will be impacting them more than their physical health.”

He said the workshop, the first of its kind, would better prepare participants and make them more tolerant of the issues facing men, not only in the sugar industry, but those accessing health care from the broader health sector.

Bassier is confident the beneficiaries of the work-

shop are now skilled to organise in-house training and offer sensitisation sessions on men’s health at their workplaces.

One of the participants, Roy Porter, a Field Auditor from Enmore Estate, described the workshop as impactful and able to raise awareness on a number of issues, which will aid his personal growth and development and transform him into a better employee.

“From this men’s health work, I’ve learnt a lot, especially about self-awareness. Coming into this workshop, I thought I knew a lot about myself, but in the end I found out I didn’t.

Being self-aware is the first step in helping people, and self-management is important,” Porter acknowledged.

He is hopeful that GuySuCo and the MoPH would sustain the current programme and offer more training/workshops

on health-related issues affecting men.

Meanwhile, Samantha De Freitas, Midwife attached to the Cotton Tree Health Centre in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice), said the workshop has equipped her with a wide array of knowledge, and she is now motivated to launch a men’s health clinic at the health centre by mid-May 2018.

“This workshop is very beneficial to me. I thought I was coming to do chronic illness and diabetes that affect men, but instead we had presentations on erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer, which are very common among men”. De Freitas said.

The Men’s Health Unit was first established in 2015 through the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Programme at the MoPH. One of its major roles is to help sensitise men nationwide about their health.

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monDAY, April 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

What more could be done to curb domestic violence in Guyana?

Denzil Boyce “Domestic violence often occurs because of the lack of communication between partners, so I would suggest family counselling and teaching both male and female ways in which they can have good communication with each other.”

Tasie Seepaul: “I think that a lot of the domestic issues can be resolved at a much younger age. Whenever there is an opportunity for males and females to take part in teamrelated activities like sports or scouts, this can teach them the values of working together and caring for others. I believe that such behaviours will trickle down in their later years even if they don’t stick with the sporting activities. This will help them with the ability to resolve issues as I have done many times in those activities.”

Avril Samuels “We need more awareness programmes and we need them around the clock not only when a woman gets murdered and then a few weeks after, everyone forget about it and go back to normal. We need to KEEP educating the public of this ongoing issue.”

Kimberley Ferreira “I think education is important. There should be active violence awareness in the country and workshops where men and women are counselled. Persons can also be educated via television programmes. This will help men in controlling their emotions when situations arise and the domestic violence rate will be reduced.”

Denisia Liddell “According to the ‘Big and Bold’ pageant queen, women need to set their standards high, raise their self-esteem and come out of abusive relationships.”

Shaunell Wilson “Up to this day and age in Guyana, domestic violence isn’t being taken seriously, not by the authorities or people.

The only time you hear about it, is when a women gets murdered, but nothing is being done. So, I think we need this issue to be taken seriously.”

Yash Veerasammy “Men who are guilty of domestic violence should be imprisoned which will state that the country is serious about these kinds of offences.

It will send a message to others that women should not be victims of domestic abuse.”

Minister Broomes visits Linden woman burned by reputed husband – issues call for abused women to “speak out and get out”

M

inister within the Natural Resources Ministry, Simona Broomes has issued an urgent call to women in domestic violence situations to “speak out and get out”, noting that often times, as is being shown, the abuse ends in death.

The Minister, currently assigned to undertaking development activities in Linden, made the call on Friday, after visiting 38-year-old Onika Kingston who was seriously burnt about her body with hot rice water by her reputed husband, Leslie Woolford on Thursday.

Kingston, of Silvertown, Wismar, Linden, remains a patient at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), where she was admitted after suffering first- and second-degree burns to approximately 28 per cent of her upper body, including her back, chest, and arms.

The incident occurred at the couple’s home after an argument ensued. Woolford who then rushed to the Police station to report what transpired has since been taken into custody. During the visit, Minister Broomes offered words of encouragement to the mother of five and wished her a speedy recovery, as she posited that justice would be served.

Issuing an encouragement to women, the Minister noted that she too has had challenges in life as a woman, but noted that she has always stood her ground.

“Had I not, maybe I would have been just like another woman,” she said, adding that abuse was a topic many women did not want to address. “I’m saying to women, we have to have the strength to walk away...to find independence in ourselves,” she said.

The Minister said while

Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry, Simona Broomes and Region 10 APNU Party Chairman Deron Adams during the visit to the hospital

she understood that women may want to stay because of their children, children were not happy in abusive relationships. Often, she said, in these situations, the father ends up in jail and the mother dead, leaving the children behind. As such, she urged women to mobilise and draw strength in each other to break the cycle, noting that there was no excuse for the level of violence being meted out to Guyanese women.

Minister Broomes noted that initiatives such as “Girl Power” were started in Linden to empower women. She pleaded with women to look for the signs of abuse, and urged them to be strong and not encourage such behaviour.

“I still think as women, we need to put our bars and put it a bit higher...the question is, ‘are you going to stay there and die?’...the time in Guyana, it is sickening to see what is happening,” she noted, as she questioned, “Where are the voices of all

the women organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations” at this time?

“I want to move motions ... I would really want to see us as women in Guyana raising the bar and pitching, not only pitching our voices but ensuring that we put an end to it, that we put a stop to it.”

She said in some places women were abused by men, who were then charged by Police, but the women would refuse to give evidence against the men. In such cases, she said “maybe” the laws could be pushed so that men are charged regardless.

The Minister noted, however, that she was happy that Magistrates were putting just sentences in place for perpetrators. “I want to continue to support the judiciary system and these judges that are taking control and looking at this matter and dealing with it in the way that it needs to be dealt with. That is a positive sign for me,” she said.

Broomes further stated that she was appalled by the level of rape in society, noting that through the movement and via social media, many Linden women have reached out to her with regard to rape, which she said is an issue people are “covering up”. She called on leaders, Police and all sectors to play a part in making a difference, adding that a women’s forum is being planned for Linden. She also pointed to the need to ascertain the level of domestic violence and reports, as that would assist in pushing for various policies and institutions. The Minister also spoke on the issue regarding the Linden Town Week pageant scandal as she urged women to speak out and make reports.

She opined that contestants should not be the ones to go out to seek sponsorship. “A lot of women have contacted me over this story also in Linden to say how many years it is happening.

And so, at all levels in society and more so Linden, I think we got to come together to deal with it. I have engaged the church. We had a wonderful prayer session with women,” she noted, adding that she would be going back into schools to speak with girls.

She said sessions were also being organised for men, through the ‘Be the one’ campaign, since they too needed to be heard. The Minister posited that a difference could be made with the help of all stakeholders.

“I want to encourage the women that domestic violence is something you should not accept, speak out and get out; don’t compromise with it, don’t hold it, report it to the Police, bring it to the authorities and let us push for action,” Minister Broomes said.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, april 30, 2018

Regional

Antigua PM says ‘no justice’ in Migrant caravan gathers on USMexico border before asylum bids de-banking C’bean countries

P

rime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne says there is no justice in the de-banking and barring of small Caribbean States from the international payment system.

“De-banking and de-risking undermines the ability of small countries to meet their development agenda and injures them without any mechanism for remedy,” Browne told an audience of fellow Caribbean Prime Ministers, central bank and financial officials, and Private Sector representatives in addressing a recent forum in St Lucia organised by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Browne’s remarks were part of a wide-ranging discourse on the severe challenges that Caribbean countries face in the financial services sector as a consequence of actions of the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation

Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne

and Development (OECD), the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the European Union Commission, and the United States Government.

Browne, who has lead responsibility for financial matters in the quasi-Cabinet of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Government, said that de-risking, which involves the loss of banking relations between Caribbean banks and international banks, “remains a looming threat that could create financial instability, plunging our countries into poverty,

chaos and confusion.

“The consequences of de-risking – intended or unintended – could be more devastating than any natural disaster,” said Browne, a former banker and financial manager.

Recalling that “de-risking is utilised as a policy tool of financial warfare, to sanction rogue or uncooperative states”, the Antigua and Barbuda leader argued that it “should never be utilised as a tool to punish innocent people in cooperative and compliant countries in the Caribbean. (Excerpt from CMC)

People in Mexico climb the border wall fence as a caravan of migrants and supporters reached the United States-Mexico border near San Diego, California, US, April 29, 2018

H

undreds of people from a Central American migrant caravan rallied on Sunday at the US-Mexico border, many preparing to report to US authorities later in the day to make asylum claims that may land them in detention centres.

The month-long caravan that at one point gathered 1500 immigrants from Honduras, Guatemala and

El Salvador drew the wrath of President Donald Trump during its journey through Mexico. Trump pressured Mexico to stop the migrants before they reached the border, linking Mexican efforts to stem the flow of Central Americans to the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) currently being renegotiated in Washington.

The remaining 400 or so

members of the caravan now face hard choices, whether to cross illegally into the United States, ask for asylum at the border, or try to remain in Mexico. “I feel a little cold.

I feel anxious,” said Jaime Alexander from El Salvador in the morning, shaking slightly on his way to the Tijuana, Mexico side of the border fence on a Pacific Ocean beach. Some young men clambered up and straddled the fence, legs dangling into California.

The migrants were cheered on the San Diego side by US immigration activists. The rally was a final public act after a roller-coaster few weeks for the caravan and was intended to raise awareness about the fate of migrants in Latin America, organisers said.

On the US side, the March Without Borders group trekked from Los Angeles to greet the caravan. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Bulgarian jailed in Bermuda Thousands of Nicaraguans demand after raids on cash machines justice for killing of protesters A

T

housands of Nicaraguans have taken part in a protest demanding justice for the killing of anti-Government protesters.

At least 43 people died during demonstrations against the Government’s proposed social security reforms.

The protesters marched peacefully through the capital Managua on Saturday in a mass demonstration to demand justice following the violent suppression of a wave of protests that left 43 people dead.

During the rally, which was called by the Catholic church, Managua’s bishop issued a deadline of one month to see if there was a serious intention to achieve change through a national dialogue aimed at resolving issues that triggered the country’s worst unrest in 11 years.

The rally took place just hours after university students at the forefront of anti-Government unrest issued conditions for talks with the Government of embattled President Daniel Ortega.

There was a sea of blue and white flags as the crowds massed outside the city’s cathedral, among them young people, the elderly and farmers protesting against plans to construct a canal linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific.

“We have come on a pilgrimage as one people, brothers in the faith of the Lord Jesus, brothers in suffering for so many lives lost. desiring justice, peace and reconciliation,” Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes told the crowds. (Al Jazeera and Gulf News)

37-year-old Bulgarian national has been jailed for two years by a Supreme Court judge for conspiracy to commit theft by rigging cash dispensers in the island.

Danail Damov was also sentenced to six months for damaging an ATM in the community of Collector’s Hill and four months for damaging another at Paget Plaza.

Prosecutor Alan Richards said Damov came to Bermuda as a visitor from Bulgaria to carry out a “sophisticated criminal enterprise” that required “understanding and determination”.

Richards said the crimes

spanned a “significant” period of time and involved two separate visits to the island for the “purpose of fraud”.

He added that “acts of this nature appear sadly to be increasing” and that society needed to be protected from like-minded individuals.

The court heard that Damov arrived in September 2016 and was caught on closed-circuit television tampering with a Butterfield Bank ATM at Collector’s Hill with another man.

Butterfield’s head of electronic banking was alerted to fraudulent transactions on the accounts of three customers, who had used the

ATM, in December 2016.

Cash was later withdrawn in the Dominican Republic. The bank machine was inspected and two small drill holes were found in the card reader.

Damov returned to Bermuda on October 10, 2017 and a skimming device was found at the Paget Plaza ATM three days later.

The court was told it cost the bank US$535 to repair the ATMs and replace the test card. It cost another US$1000 to replace customer’s cards.

Damov, represented by lawyer Richard Horseman, admitted to the three offences. (Excerpt from CMC)

thanks to political Trinidad: National Insurance Give leaders – Barbadian Priest Board scam unearthed B

A

n internal audit into the operations at the National Insurance Board (NIB) has uncovered a scam involving the payout of close to TT$3 million in maternity benefits.

Four workers from the Insurance Operations Department at NIB offices in north Trinidad have been sent home with full pay pending the outcome of the investigations.

According to a source at the NIB, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, mid last year, a woman visited the office of the Executive Director, Niala Persad-Poliah, situated at NIB’s head office at Queen’s Park East, Port-of-Spain, and reported that she discovered approximately TT$30,000 in her bank account. The woman in her report stated that upon an inquiry with her bank on the origin of the hefty sum of money, she was told that it was her maternity

NIB Executive Director Niala Persad-Poliah

benefit that was paid by the NIB. However, the woman said she was never pregnant and therefore never

applied for such benefit.

On the heels of her report, an internal auditor was mandated to carry out an audit of maternity benefit payments after it was brought to the attention of the audit committee of the Board and to the Board of Directors.

Almost one year later “no action has been taken,” according to NIB sources.

Employees claimed that one executive member is being “wrongly targeted” while those who are allegedly part of the scam “remain on the job”. Employees are now calling on Persad-Poliah “to give the public answers”.

In an immediate response, PersadPoliah told the Sunday Guardian that whilst this was an ongoing investigation and the NIB could not directly comment, “the NIB takes a zero-tolerance approach to fraud.” (Excerpt from

Trinidad Guardian)

arbadians have been urged to thank their political leaders for their service to country.

The encouragement came from Priest-in-charge at The Church of Christ The King, Reverend Father Robert Luther Johnson, who while admitting that some of the licks they received were deserved, posited that likewise, the good they contribute to society must also be applauded. His comments were made during a special service held at the Rock Dundo Park, St Michael Church to conclude the Democratic Labour Party’s week-long activities to celebrate its 63rd anniversary.

In attendance at the service was Prime Minister Freundel Stuart; members of his Cabinet, including Finance Minister Chris Sinckler, Education Minister

Ronald Jones, Commerce Minister Donville Inniss, and Health Minister John Boyce; members of the executive and general council of the DLP, and other members and supporters. “. . . Every single one of us should be thanking them for offering themselves for service. These persons on both sides give much and they try to do a whole lot for us. And one of my problems is that we have become such a thankless society. When was the last time you thanked your constituency representative on either side? . . . As I said, they get licks and very often they deserve it, but they also deserve our heartfelt thanks for the kindness . . . . So on behalf on myself and this congregation we want to thank you for the service that you render,” Reverend Johnson said. (SDB Media)

monDAY, april 30, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

France and Germany North Korea: 'Real opportunity' Britain, agree on support for Iran for nuclear deal, Pompeo says nuclear deal B U S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says there is a "real opportunity" for a deal when President Donald Trump meets the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Interviewed by ABC News, he said North Korea must take "irreversible" steps to get rid of its nuclear arms programme.

Pompeo met Kim secretly in Pyongyang earlier this month as CIA Director.

Details only emerged later.

Trump is expected to meet the North Korean leader next month to discuss denuclearising the Korean peninsula.

Pompeo said Trump had clearly told him to

A satellite image of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in North Korea

raise the issue of a verifiable mechanism to make sure North Korea does denuclearise. He also raised the topic of US citizens held by the North Koreans.

Separately, new US National Security Advisor John Bolton told Fox News

that an agreement with Libya on eliminating its weapons of mass destruction programme could serve as a model for a North Korea deal.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi agreed with Western powers in

2003 to dismantle his programme in return for the lifting of sanctions.

"There are obviously differences. The Libyan programme was much smaller, but that was basically the agreement that we made," Bolton said.

South Korea has said that North Korea's main nuclear testing site – Punggye-ri – is to close.

Presidential spokesman Yoon Young-chan said that Kim had stated he "would carry out the closing of the nuclear test site in May".

Experts from South Korea and the US would be invited to witness it. North Korea has so far made no public comments on the issue. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Thailand protesters in rare rally over Chiang Mai development

P

rotesters in Thailand have staged one of the country's biggest demonstrations since the 2014 military coup as they campaign against a luxury housing development on forested land.

More than 1000 people gathered in the northern city of Chiang Mai. They rallied against a housing project being built for judges and officials in the foothills of a sacred mountain.

The march went ahead in defiance of a ban on public gatherings imposed by the junta, which seized power in 2014.

Environmental protesters wore green ribbons at the rally

"Around 1250 people took part in the protest," Police Colonel Paisan, deputy commander of Chiang Mai Police, told Reuters news agency.

"The protesters were focused on environmental issues and not politics, and they cleaned the street afterwards."

Demonstrators, many

wearing green ribbons, demanded the dismantling of new buildings that encroach into the mountain, Doi Suthep. The forested area contains a popular temple and is considered by some to be sacred.

They gave the Government seven days to comply or face more protests.

But the authorities have defended the development, insisting it was erected legally on Governmentowned land that does not infringe on the national park covering the rest of the mountain. (Excerpt from BBC

B

British Government official who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed a BBC report that Home Secretary Amber Rudd had resigned.

For two weeks, British Ministers have been struggling to explain why some descendants of the so-called “Windrush generation”, invited to Britain to plug labour shortfalls between 1948 and 1971, had been la-

belled as illegal immigrants.

The Windrush scandal overshadowed the Commonwealth summit in London and has raised questions about May’s six-year stint as Interior Minister before she became Prime Minister in the wake of the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Rudd, 54, had faced repeated calls from the Opposition Labour Party to

resign after she gave contradictory statements over whether the Government had targets for deportations.

The Guardian newspaper reported a letter from Rudd to May last year in which she stated an “ambitious but deliverable” aim for an increase in the enforced deportation of immigrants. (Excerpt from Reuters)

China and India push to improve strained ties

C

hina’s President Xi Jinping and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi agreed to maintain “peace and tranquillity” along their disputed border and enhance “strategic communication” to prevent tension from escalating, during a summit intended to improve fraught relations between the Asian neighbours.

During two days of talks, the leaders also agreed to “handle all our differences through peaceful discussions”, said Vijay Gokhale, India’s Foreign Secretary, adding that they would of-

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to maintain “peace and tranquillity” along their disputed border © AFP

This comes as a deadline looms next month for Trump to decide on whether to restore US economic sanctions on Tehran – something which could destroy the 2015 agreement which lifted some sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Speaking on a whistle-stop Middle East tour on Sunday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington would abandon the nuclear deal unless talks with European partners yield improvements.

“We’ve certainly made some (progress with the Europeans),” he said. “There is still work to do. They said: ‘Great, we will support you if you get the fixes’.”

Macron later spoke with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani and agreed to work with him in coming weeks to preserve the nuclear deal, his office said in a statement.(Excerpt from Reuters)

Rwanda's Paul Kagame accuses ICC of bias against Africa

News)

British Interior Minister resigns after immigration scandal ritain’s Interior Minister has resigned on Sunday after Prime Minister Theresa May’s Government faced criticism for its treatment of some long-term Caribbean residents who were wrongly labelled illegal immigrants, a Government official said.

A spokesman for May was not immediately available for comment, but a

ritain, France and Germany have agreed that the nuclear deal that US President Donald Trump has threatened to scrap remains the best way of stopping Tehran getting nuclear weapons, British Prime Minister Theresa May’s office said on Sunday.

May had phone calls with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel where they agreed the deal may need to be broadened to cover areas such as ballistic missiles, what happens when the deal expires, and what they consider Iran’s destabilising regional activity, a statement said.

“They committed to continue working closely together and with the US on how to tackle the range of challenges that Iran poses – including those issues that a new deal might cover,” the statement said.

fer “strategic guidance” to their respective militaries to avoid further friction.

The informal summit was intended to clear the air and infuse a positive energy into ties between the Asian neighbours after one of the worst years in their bilateral relationship since 1962, when Chinese troops invaded India.

But despite the overt display of mutual goodwill, analysts expressed scepticism that the growing strategic rivalry between the two ascending Asian powers would be fundamentally altered. (Excerpt from Financial Times)

Rwandan President Paul Kagame's remarks come at a time when several African countries, who are signatories to the Rome Statute that gave birth to the ICC, have said they would pull out [File: EPA]

R

wandan President Paul Kagame has repeated his harsh criticism of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for what he calls open bias against Africa, saying it has failed to mete out justice in any other part of the world.

"The ICC was supposed to address the whole world, but it ended up covering only Africa," Kagame said on Saturday at a meeting with British-Sudanese telecoms tycoon and philanthropist Mo Ibrahim in Rwanda's capital, Kigali.

"From the time of its inception, I said there was a fraud basis on which it was set up and how it was going to be used. I told people that this would be a court to try Africans, not people from across the world.

"And I don't believe I have been proven wrong."

The permanent court in the Netherlands was established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court treaty in 1998 in order to prosecute

and punish individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.

It entered into force in 2012.

But in recent years a number of African countries have threatened or announced plans to withdraw from The Hague-based court over what they call its disproportionate targeting of the continent.

To date, all but one of the ICC's 10 investigations have been in Africa and its five convicted suspects are from Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and Mali.

"There are many people across the world who should be tried by the court," Kagame said.

“Some leaders from African countries who are being tried by the ICC, whatever they are being tried for, [their crimes] have been committed in partnership with other countries, which the ICC don't try."

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, april 30, 2018

ARCHIE

Think twice before you take on a challenge or initi(March 21ate a change. Concentrate on April 19) self-improvement and personal gains instead of trying to change others. Choose peace and love over discord.

ARIES

How you respond to what TAURUS others do and say will make a (April 20- difference. Stand up for your May 20) rights and don’t be too shy to take a leadership position.

dilbert

Refuse to be bought. If GEMINI (May 21- someone is trying to manipJune 20) ulate you, use diplomacy and intelligence to outsmart them. Avoid exhausting people.

Get involved in organized ac-

CANCER tivities or events that will bring (June 21- you in touch with like-minded July 22) people. Collaborating with oth-

Peanuts

ers will lead to something special. A partnership will help you gain greater prosperity.

You may be willing to stick LEO your neck out to bring about (July 23- change, but consider what’s Aug. 22) entailed and if you have the time and patience to follow through before making promises.

Calvin and Hobbes

Get yourself out there and VIRGO take a business trip or attend (Aug. 23a trade show, lecture or gathSept. 22) ering with people who share your sentiments. Listen to good advice offered by a friend or relative.

Think before you reLIBRA (Sept. 23- spond. Not everyone will be Oct. 23) easy to get along with, and when it comes to joint ventures, you are best off avoiding anything risky.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — CHOLERA (CHOLERA: KAHL-er-uh: An acute infectious disease of the small intestine.)

Protect your position and SAGITTARIUS future.

Look at any changes (Nov. 23taking place around you as Dec. 21) an opportunity to try something new. Sharing something special with a loved one is favored.

Average mark 31 words Time limit 50 minutes Can you find 49 or more words in CHOLERA? The list will be published Monday.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SATURDAY’S WORD — PADLOCKS pack plod pock polka also dock dopa lack load lock

opal calk capo cask clad clap clasp cloak clod clop

coal coda cola cold kola sack scad scald scalp scold

skoal slack slap slop soak soap sock soda sold

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

Stop worrying about SCORPIO what others are doing, and (Oct. 24concentrate more on what Nov. 22) you are trying to accomplish. Your competitive nature and intense drive will lead to victory.

solution AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Concentrate on how to best use your skills. Keep up with changing technology to remain competitive. A positive change at home will ease your stress.

You’ll be dragged into something you probably should avoid if you aren’t quick to walk away from someone forcing his or her will on you. Reject indulgent behavior.

Money matters should be resolved. A joint venture will only work if you are willing to do your share and demand the same from your partner.

monDAY, april 30, 2018

19

KKR's batting might too much for de Villiers-less RCB to employ a less attacking approach, aiming for par or slightly above instead of a 200plus

Andre Russell is chuffed after picking up a wicket

K

olkata Knight Riders gained two influential advantages without a ball bowled in Bengaluru. First, Dinesh Karthik chose to bowl at a favourable chasing ground.

Then, Knight Riders found out that AB de Villiers was out with a viral fever. Both

those factors had a decisive impact as Knight Riders chased down 176 with relative ease, with five balls to spare, consigning Royal Challengers to their fifth loss in seven games.

Without their highest run-scorer of the season, Royal Challengers had

score, l i k e they did in the previous game against Chennai Super Kings after losing the toss. All they could manage is 175 - the par score in daynight games at this ground was 172 in the IPL since 2015 - even with a terrific, 44-ball 68 from Virat Kohli.

Even on a pitch that was turning appreciably, Knight Riders had too much firepower. Led by Chris Lynn’s 62, along with rapid cameos from Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa and Dinesh Karthik, Knight Riders cruised home against a bowling attack that lacked penetration and sufficient defensive skill.

Brendon McCullum was rushed into the XI after de Villiers’ sickness. Quinton de Kock, despite coming off a half-century in the previous game, hadn’t quite found his fluency. For Royal Challengers’ batting lineup, weakened significantly by the loss of their highest run-scorer this season, a strong start was imperative, at least in terms of resources in hand.

Therefore, McCullum and de Kock scored 40 runs in the Powerplay, 11 runs below their average score in the period this season. McCullum soon found his hitting rhythm, with two fours and two sixes in two overs after the Powerplay, lifting the scoring rate to over eight.

Soon after the time-out,

though, Royal Challengers lost their way. De Kock holed out to deep cover. McCullum toe-ended a pull to the keeper. Two balls later, M a n a n Vohra was bowled off the inside edge.

A score of 67 for 0 quickly turned to 75 for 3. De

3 in 14 overs at that point, Kohli couldn’t wait longer.

Royal Challengers hit nine boundaries in six overs thereon; Kohli hit six of them. Royal Challengers scored 75 from there; Kohli hit 48 of them. His innings included three sixes, two of which were a direct result of a strong bottom hand

SCOREBOARD Royal Challengers Bangalore Innings (20 overs maximum) Q de Kock † c Shubman Gill b Kuldeep Yadav 29 BB McCullum c †Karthik b Russell 38 V Kohli (c) not out 68 M Vohra b Russell 0 Mandeep Singh c Shivam Mavi b Russell 19 C de Grandhomme not out 11 Extras (b 1, lb 4, w 5) 10 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 8.75) 175-4 Did not bat: M Ashwin, TG Southee, UT Yadav, YS Chahal, Mohammed Siraj Fall of wickets: 1-67 (Q de Kock, 8.1 ov), 2-74 (BB McCullum, 9.5 ov), 3-75 (M Vohra, 9.6 ov), 4-140 (Mandeep Singh, 17.3 ov) Bowling: PP Chawla (3-0-220, SP Narine (4-0-38-0), MG Johnson (3-0-38-0), Shivam Mavi (3-0-21-0), Kuldeep Yadav (40-20-1), AD Russell (3-0-31-3)

Villiers’ absence also hampered Kohli’s scoring template. Aware that his presence in the death overs could marginally increase the utility of Royal Challengers’ score, Kohli was cautious early in his innings. He took 18 balls to score 20, but with Royal Challengers at 100 for

Kolkata Knight Riders Innings (target: 176 runs from 20 overs) CA Lynn not out 62 SP Narine c de Grandhomme b Ashwin 27 RV Uthappa c Southee b Ashwin 36 N Rana retired hurt 15 AD Russell c †de Kock b Mohammed Siraj 0 KD Karthik (c) † c Kohli b Mohammed Siraj 23 Shubman Gill not out 5 Extras (b 1, w 7) 8 TOTAL (19.1 Overs, RR: 9.18) 176-4 Yet to bat: Shivam Mavi, PP Chawla, MG Johnson, Kuldeep Yadav Fall of wickets: 1-59 (SP Narine, 7.1 ov), 2-108 (RV Uthappa, 12.2 ov), 2-139 (N Rana, 16.2 ov), 3-139 (AD Russell, 16.3 ov), 4-171 (KD Karthik, 18.5 ov) Bowling: TG Southee (4-0-34-0), UT Yadav (3.1-0-36-0), YS Chahal (4-0-29-0), Mohammed Siraj (40-40-2), M Ashwin (4-0-36-2)

through the line of the ball, hit in the arc between longon and deep midwicket.

Royal Challengers had 175, a score that seemed below par given the ground dimensions.

Before the start of the chase, Knight Riders’ target of 176 - one less than the

Virat Kohli attacks on his way to an unbeaten 68

score Royal Challengers needed to beat Delhi Daredevils earlier this season and one more than the score Knight Riders needed in the reverse fixture against Royal Challengers at the Eden Gardens - seemed insufficient.

Lynn and Narine made a strong start before a brief rain interruption that lasted 30 minutes. Then, with Knight Riders seemingly in control, the game drifted on with the illusion of control. Royal Challengers made a strong comeback in that period, including having Andre Russell caught for a golden duck on his 30th birthday.

The equation quickly came down to 43 off 24 balls. But just when the game seemed in the balance, Knight Riders broke the chase open, much like those two previous games Royal Challengers were involved in.

Nadal beats Tsitsipas to win 11th Barcelona Open title

W

orld number one Rafael Nadal produced an imperious display to win his 11th Barcelona Open title with a 6-2 6-1 win over Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Nadal, 31, who won his 400th clay-court match to reach the final, claimed two rapid breaks to take the first set in 40 minutes against the 19-year-old.

World number 63 Tsitsipas, playing the Spaniard for the first time, succumbed in 77 minutes.

Nadal has won 19 successive matches, and 46 consecutive sets, on clay.

After winning his 11th Monte

Carlo title last weekend, this was his 55th title on clay - and the 77th overall in his illustrious career.

The crowd were later shown a compilation of Nadal’s successes in the event.

He said: “It was emotional. I could never have

dreamed of having a career like this.

“It is truly special to play here on this court. I really appreciate the support and hope it will happen for many more years.”

Light drizzle interrupted the match in the first and second games and Tsitsipas, who will become the first Greek player to break into the world top 50, held to love in his opening service game.

But that proved to be as good as it would get for the the youngest Barcelona finalist since Nadal in 2005.

Tsitsipas beat world number seven Dominic Thiem and world number 10 David Goffin and did not drop a set en route to Sunday’s showpiece, but committed 15 unforced errors in the first set alone.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates with the trophy after winning the final against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas

20

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, april 30, 2018

he surprise victory, after team mate Valtteri Bottas suffered a puncture with three laps left while leading, ended a six race drought for the four times champion dating back to last October.

It was the first victory of the season for champions Mercedes.

In a race where the safety car again played a major part, with a series of crashes and smashes, Kimi Raikkonen finished second for Ferrari while Mexican Sergio Perez was third for Force India.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who had led the championship before Baku and looked to be on course for a 50th career win and third out of four this season, started on pole position but finished fourth.

Hamilton now has 70 points to Vettel’s 66.

Red Bull’s Australian Daniel Ricciardo, last year’s

Lucky Lewis ends win drought in Azerbaijan

winner in Baku and also in China two weekends ago, smashed into the back of team mate Max Verstappen in a lap 40 collision that ended the race for both of them.

“It was quite an emotional race. Valtteri did an exceptional job and deserved to win, Sebastian also did a great job so it feels a bit odd to be up here,” commented Hamilton on the podium.

“Definitely an untidy race for me.”

The Briton had started on the front row for the first time since he took pole in the Australian season-opener but never looked like winning until Lady Luck removed both Vettel and Bottas from the equation.

“It was such a crazy race, such an exciting race...to come out with a win, I feel incredibly grateful,” said Hamilton, who went to commiserate with Bottas afterwards.

Spaniard Carlos Sainz

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates with a trophy on the podium after winning the race

was fifth for Renault with Monegasque rookie Charles Leclerc sixth for Sauber, his first points in Formula One. “It felt like a win, I’m on a cloud now, it has been an amazing race,” said Leclerc.

New Zealander Brendon Hartley was also celebrating his first point after taking 10th for Toro Rosso.

McLaren, who had their worst qualifying of the season on Saturday, ended up

with a double points finish — Fernando Alonso seventh and Stoffel Vandoorne ninth.

Canadian teenager Lance Stroll, third in Baku last year, finished eighth to give struggling former champions Williams their first points of the year. Only 13 cars finished the race.

While Vettel made a clean getaway, there was immediate carnage be-

hind and the safety car was swiftly deployed.

Raikkonen and Force India’s Esteban Ocon collided, ending the Frenchman’s race and sending a shower of debris across the track.

Williams’s Russian rookie Sergey Sirotkin ran into the back of Perez, who nudged Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg into Alonso — the Spaniard limping back to the pits on two tyres and rims.

Hulkenberg then hit the wall on lap 11 while in fifth place, retiring, after he and Sainz had battled the Red Bulls.

Ricciardo and Verstappen could have collided several times before they eventually did, Ricciardo running into Verstappen while trying to pass at the first corner.

Retired triple world champion Niki Lauda told reporters the blame lay 70 percent with Verstappen, whose season has been full of collisions, but Red Bull principal Christian Horner

said they shared it equally.

“They are both in the doghouse. They will apologise to all of the staff before Barcelona,” he said.

Stewards later reprimanded both drivers.

The ensuing safety car played into Bottas’s hands as the Finn had yet to pit.

While it was out, with marshals cleaning up debris, Romain Grosjean crashed his Haas while warming his tyres.

That kept the safety car out for even longer and when racing resumed Vettel passed Bottas but then ran wide as Hamilton and Raikkonen swept through.

As Bottas headed for victory, he ran over a piece of debris that had been left behind and the race took yet another unexpected twist.

“I’m absolutely heartbroken. It hurts a lot. But this is racing; some days are good, some days are bad — and some days are very bad. A small piece of debris destroyed my entire weekend,” he said.

Cook concerned by ICC and ECB attitudes to Test cricket F

Celtics’ Brown set for MRI on hamstring ahead of 76ers series

J

aylen Brown is set for an MRI scan on his hamstring on Sunday as the Boston Celtics look to have him available for their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final opener against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Brown has picked up the mantle in terms of scoring since Kyle Irving was ruled out for t h e

postseason with a knee injury, averaging 20.5 points across the first six matches against the Milwaukee Bucks.

But the 21-year-old hobbled out of game seven, revealing after the 112-96 win that he is set for tests on the issue ahead of the Celtics’ next game on Monday.

“It’s a little sore. It could be worse,” Brown said. “Get an MRI [on Sunday] and see how it feels and go from there. “I just did a move and it just popped a little bit, pulled it a little bit, but it’ll be all right.”

He added that he will do “whatever it takes” to be fit, saying: “I wouldn’t miss this next series for the world.” This is just the latest blow for the Celtics, who have also been without Gordon Hayward for all but two minutes of the season, although Marcus Smart is now back from his thumb injury. (SPORTSMAX)

ormer England captain Alastair Cook has questioned the ICC’s desire to protect Test cricket and is concerned the ECB’s new 100-ball format means it is not one of their priorities either.

Cook - England’s leading run scorer in the longest format - last featured in a oneday international for England in 2014, while he has not made a Twenty20 appearance since 2009.

The ECB this month announced the introduction of a domestic competition consisting of 100 deliveries for each team from 2020.With plenty of focus being put on the limited-overs arena, Cook is worried that ensuring Tests also remain popular is being forgotten.

Asked if he thought the ICC and ECB care about Test cricket, the left-hander told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek: “Ultimately I don’t think they do at the moment.

“I don’t know that [is the case] for the ECB, because a lot of revenue comes in from Test cricket in our country. We’re different to every other nation. We’ve got unbelievable support in our country for Test cricket everywhere.

“I think we are very different and that’s the problem I see, that we see a very different side of Test cricket to the rest of the world. But as we know money does speak and it’s going to be very interesting in the next 10 years.”

On how to persuade children about the merits of Test cricket, Cook added: “I think the question is, ‘Does cricket want that?’ If cricket general-

ly does want to preserve Test cricket and the traditions of it and the 100-year history then there needs to be thought about it.

“But if it doesn’t, because that’s what happening in the modern day and times change, then that’s fine. It’d be sad in my opinion. I know a lot of people say that because I don’t play that much T20 of course I’m going to say that and protect Test cricket, but at the moment I think there’s still a lot of love towards it, especially from the players.

“What I love, and a lot of people love, is the pure satisfaction of winning like Essex won the other day, over three days of hard cricket, a Test match hundred where you fight six hours for it - do we want to lose that from our game?

I don’t think we do, but obviously the way we’re going, all this stuff its hard not to.

“The question is, ‘Does cricket want to save Test cricket?’ And then it’s, ‘How do we do that?”. (SPORTSMAX)

Alastair Cook

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Fellaini heads late winner for Man Utd over Arsenal

sports

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A

rsene Wenger’s final trip to Manchester United as Arsenal manager ended in an agonising defeat after an injury-time winner from Marouane Fellaini.

The Belgium international flicked a header past Gunners goalkeeper David Ospina from an Ashley Young cross.

Just three minutes earlier he had headed against the post, with Marcus Rashford bundling home the rebound from an offside position.

United had opened the scoring on 16 minutes when a header from former Arsenal player Alexis Sanchez was knocked on to the post by Hector Bellerin and Paul Pogba stabbed home the rebound for his third goal in four league games.

The hosts lost striker Romelu Lukaku to injury early in the second half, and moments later Henrikh Mkhitaryan was left in plenty of space to weave and strike through the legs of Victor Lindelof.

The game’s tempo petered out after the equaliser - until Fellaini popped up to snatch the win for United, and secure Champions League football for next season.

Wenger had joked before

Marouane Fellaini beat three Arsenal defenders to head in the winner for Manchester United

Sunday’s match that he “always got a great reception at Old Trafford” - referring to his longstanding rivalry with United.

On this occasion, it was true. Old foe Sir Alex Ferguson was master of ceremonies in a pre-match presentation for the Frenchman, who will leave Arsenal at the end of the season after 22 years as manager.

The crowd applauded as Wenger was given a silver vase by former United boss Ferguson, and the pair embraced during a photo opportunity in which they were briefly joined by current Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho.

The atmosphere returned to normal after Pogba’s opener, with the home

Man City reach 100 PL goals, crush West Ham

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anchester City manager, Pep Guardiola hailed the “incredible” numbers produced by his side as they reached 100 Premier League goals for the season with a 4-1 win at struggling West Ham. The champions’ emphatic victory at London Stadium left the Hammers in a precarious position above the relegation zone.

“The numbers are a consequence of what we have done,” Guardiola said.

“We are so happy to be getting close to history. We will try to surpass the number of goals and points.

“We wanted to win today so that we can get the record of 96 points at home when we get the trophy in front of our people next week.”

City - who are now on 93 points - took the lead when Leroy Sane’s shot deflected off the head of Patrice Evra and wrong-footed Hammers goalkeeper Adrian.

A series of West Ham defensive mishaps culminated in a Pablo Zabaleta own goal which gave City a two-goal advantage and saw them reach the landmark century.

Aaron Cresswell gave the Hammers a foothold in the

game shortly before the break when he curled home a freekick inside Ederson’s near post.

However, inspired by a brilliant performance from Raheem Sterling, City reasserted their control of the

crowd chanting ‘we want you to stay’ and the Arsenal fans responding: ‘Arsene Wenger, he won the league here.’

Wenger - whose team won the title at Old Trafford in 2002 - started the game smiling, but left disappointed after his side stretched their winless run here to 11 matches.

Arsenal’s winless away run goes on Wenger opted to make eight changes to his team, with one eye on Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg at Atletico Madrid,

clear o f 18thplaced Southampton, who occupy the final relegation place.

West Ham kept City at bay for nearly an hour when the sides met at Etihad Stadium last December, as Guardiola’s side came from behind to win 2-1.

In this encounter a slick City team possessed the creativity

which is poised at 1-1.

With an average age of 24 years and 67 days, it was Arsenal’s youngest starting XI in the Premier League since August 2011 - in their infamous 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford.

It was a different story this time around. The Gunners made few mistakes and looked lively in parts, with Ainsley MaitlandNiles and Danny Welbeck testing United keeper David de Gea. Mkhitaryan produced a cool and accurate finish for his goal, before being taken off with a knee injury which will be assessed before Thursday.

But three defenders failed to deal with a rising Fellani in the box as he headed home a winning goal that meant

slapstick.

Adrian rushed off his line but failed to win the ball, Angelo Ogbonna botched a headed clearance and then Declan Rice and Zabaleta contrived to put the ball into their own net.

West Ham had nine players in the penalty area yet still conceded.

Moyes, arms folded with a furrowed brow, cut a nervous figure on the touchline, aware of their position in the table.

“When we came in here, we were in the bottom three.

We’re not now. There are other teams who would rather be in our position,” said the

Pablo Zabaleta was the first player to score an own goal against a side he has previously played for in the Premier League since Jonjo Shelvey against Liverpool in December 2014

contest early in the second half.

Having earlier teed up Sane, Sterling claimed a hattrick of assists after the break when he set up Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho to finish clinically from inside the box.

West Ham are three points

to open the Hammers up at will, with the home side’s defenders left dazed and confused.

David Moyes’ side did not help themselves with an error-strewn defensive display, epitomised by City’s second goal, which bordered on

Scot.

“We are good enough to win another game at least and let’s hope we can do that.”

Hammers fans will also be tense, especially given this is the second 4-1 defeat in as many weeks to damage their goal difference.

Arsenal remain the only team in England’s top four tiers without an away win in 2018.

United’s final chance for silverware this season comes on 19 May, when they face Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

Victory over Arsenal means they will definitely finish in the top four in the league, but Mourinho is adamant they are aiming for second behind champions Manchester City.

“We won three points and that kills the Champions League story,” he said after the game.

“But we still need four points to finish second which is what we want.”

United now have a five-point advantage over third-placed Liverpool with a game in hand.

West Ham (-23) have worse goal difference than relegation rivals Southampton (-19) and are only two better off than Swansea (-25).

With things so tight at the bottom of the table could it prove crucial in the final reckoning?

City’s second goal took their tally to 100 goals in 35 games this season as they became the fastest team to the milestone since Everton achieved it in 32 games in the 1931-32 season.

It was perhaps a little unfortunate the landmark moment came courtesy of some shambolic West Ham defending rather than a piece of City play.

Guardiola said in the wake of City’s 5-0 thrashing of Swansea that chasing records would keep them focused on the remainder of the season.

City’s players were true to his word as they continued to play with swagger and determination despite the title being won.

The margin of victory could have been greater, with Sterling denied what looked a clear penalty after a mistimed challenge from Cresswell.

Two more goals and three more points and City will break two of Chelsea’s Premier League records.

Equally sweet for Guardiola will be the fact he takes them from two of his managerial rivals.

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea won 95 points in 2004-05 while Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues netted 103 goals in the 200910 season.

At London Stadium, City showed no signs of easing up.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, april 30, 2018

CFU Women’s Challenge Series…

12 debutantes in Lady Jags’ squad

Lakeisha Pearson tries to navigate the field against Suriname

“W

e’re exactly where we need to be. In fact, we might be ahead of the curve, as I didn’t realize how young the players were; the future is very bright for Guyana’s football,” said Dr. Ivan Joseph, Head Coach of the national senior women’s football team.

Guyana has 12 debutantes in the squad participating in the CFU Women’s Challenge Series in Trinidad and Tobago.

These are: Aneesa O’ Brien, Natalie Nedd, Sasha James, Rylee Traicoff, Jessica Myers, Jade Vyfhuis, Nailah Rowe, Siacy Adams, Shontel Greene, Tiandi Smith, Jimmaica Hunte and Annalisa Vincent.

Some of these debutantes, including Tiandi Smith, Siacy Adams and Lakeisha Pearson, have to date displayed their talent, and Dr. Joseph has been im-

pressed with the showing.

“Lakeisha Pearson did a really nice job,” he said.

“She’s shifty on the ball, she’s pretty silky, had two great opportunities, she hit a crossbar from up-close, created several goal-scoring opportunities; that’s somebody we’ll keep a really close eye on,” Dr. Joseph disclosed after the first game against Grenada.

“Annalisa also did a really nice job, and got some starts. Young keeper, 15 years old, did an exceptional job. Tiandi came off the bench and did a pretty good job,” he further stated.

Dr. Joseph said the team is evolving, and the focus during this tournament is on building team cohesion as well as providing playing opportunities, to enable the staff to evaluate the players.

“Several players have displayed their ability to

play at this level. We’ve been able to blend and gel as a unit; and finally and most importantly, we are able to see the level of competition, and develop a game plan that will enable us to ensure our success during our qualifiers in May. I’m pleased at where we are at this stage of our training camp,” he concluded.

GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood also echoed the sentiments of the Head Coach of the national senior women’s team, and said the international exposure gained by the players will contribute to a stronger national programme.

“The future is extremely bright for the GFF women’s programme with the number of young debutantes that have gained valuable international experience and exposure in this CFU competition,” he has declared.

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World Archery Americas, Archery Guyana commence coaching clinic

orld Archery Americas’ renowned Coach Phillip Graves has recently arrived in Guyana. He has begun conducting an 8-day, Level 1 Archery Coaching Course, which commenced on Sunday at the National Racquet Center.

Graves, who boasts a long resume, is a Certified USA Archery Level 4 Coach, National Training System and Coach Trainer, USA Archery National Judge, USA Archery International Team Staff, and Team Manager.

He has coached the US team that won more than 120 international medals over the past two years. He sits on the USA Archery Nominating and Governance Committee, and the World Archery Americas Development Committee, and is currently involved in development of a Coach Assessment and Certification procedure for the Americas.

Participants in his Level 1 Archery Coaching course include members from Archery Guyana and other sports personnel from Regions 1, 3, 8 and 9, who are here in Georgetown for the event after another successful collaboration with the National

Archery Guyana’s Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon handing over a Welcome Package to Coach Phillip Graves

Sports Commission.

The course aims to strengthen the level of knowledge of the sport while equipping participants with an invaluable amount of knowledge regarding archery. As a result of this current project, the fraternity has benefited directly from Graves’s coming to Guyana.

As a member of the World Archery Americas Council, American Sports Education Program Certified Coach USOC/USA Archery SafeSport Certified, Owner of Geneva Archery Club and Archery Range, Head Coach of Geneva Archery Junior Olympic Archery Development Club, the seasoned archer will impart a huge amount of knowledge

to participants of the course over the next few days.

Meanwhile, the executives of Archery Guyana wish to acknowledge support for this event coming from the Honourable Minister of Social Cohesion/Sport, Dr. George Norton; Ministry of Social Cohesion; Director of Sport, Mr. Christopher Jones; the National Sports Commission; Mr. Shameer Mohamed; the Management of Ocean Spray Hotel; the Management of Carib Foods; Demerara Distillers Limited; Mr. Ramesh Ghir; Infotrans Guyana Inc., and the Guyana Tourism Authority.

The clinic will commence from 8:00h daily and will end next weekend.

Mahaica optimistic for Goodwill 2018 A fter a busy weekend of swimming at the National Aquatic Center at Liliendaal, ECD, the event coordinator, Swim Coach Paul Mahaica, has expressed optimism for a good performance by the Guyanese contingent at this year’s Goodwill Games.

“We’ve seen some good overall performances from all of the clubs, and we’ve seen some children do some remarkable times,” Mahaica told the Guyana Times Sport.

Touching on Guyana placing third at last year’s games, Mahaica explained that owing to the level of competition exhibited over the weekend, he is sure of producing a better team and better results this year.

“This year, I know that we’re going to send a stronger team to Barbados,” he said.

Despite remarkable swimming over the weekend, Mahaica noted that the contingent will have to make up greatly for the lack of Leon Seaton and Raekwon Noel, who cannot participate at this year’s games because they have already graduated to the CARIFTA

Goodwill silver medalist Lian Winter receiving one of her prizes for this weekend’s performance

level. Both young men have copped multiple gold medals over the weekend.

The weekend’s event concluded with a prize giving ceremony for those who were outstanding at the meet, organized by the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) and the Dolphin Speed swim club.

Mahaica expressed his profound gratitude to all the sponsors, noting that without them the event could not have been a suc-

cess. Those sponsors include Banks DIH, Bounty Farm Ltd, Chris Auto Spares, Maggie’s Snackette, Massy Inc, Umami, House & Bolts, Fair Field Rice Inc, Net Link Plus, Clear Waters and Dapper Technology.

The 40-member contingent will depart Guyana on August 17 for Barbados, where the competition is expected to kick off on the following day. The swimmers will range from 8-and-under to 17 years old.

monDAY, april 30, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Colts crowned 3-time Mecca champions

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game of the night.

Colts seemed to have the ball in their court from the onset of the game, with impressive performances from the usual stars, like Stanton Rose, Shane Webster and Shelroy Thomas, who recorded 25, 15 and 20 points respectively.

The Ravens were no match for the pacey Colts team, and found themselves lagging by the third quarter. Colts ended the night with 86 points, 20 ahead of their opponents.

In the presentations for the night, Domair Gladstone was adjudged

he dynamic Bounty Colts team on Saturday evening outplayed the experienced Dyna’s Ravens to lift the “Road to Mecca” basketball championship trophy for the third time in a row.

The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) was buzzing with excitement after a thrilling third place playoff which saw Linden’s Victory Valley Royals thrashing the Kobras 83-57.

After a captivating performance from Guyanese international artiste Timeka Marshall, the fans were pumped and ready for the

International coach excited about Archery programme

the most improved player for this year’s tournament, whilst last year’s most valuable player (MVP), Shane Webster, took the coveted prize once again, accumulating 124 points for the season. Webster also walked away with the prize for the most rebounds, that number being 101.

President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds, acknowledged the massive turnout of supporters despite the inclement weather prior to the game, noting that the entire tournament was a success.

Anna Regina Secondary upset Charity in Essequibo school tourney

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nna Regina Secondary got the better of Charity Secondary by 75 runs this past Saturday when the Secondary Schools Cricket Tourney continued in the Cinderella County.

In the match, played at the Anna Regina Secondary School Ground, the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first, making a decent 137 all out in 21.3 of their 25 allotted overs.

Kamesh Lall led the way with 24, and was supported by Raphael David with 21 and Aarkelly Williams with 11 not out.

Charity’s bowling was led by Ariel

23

Chester, who took 3-19 from 5 overs.

In reply, Charity Secondary was kept to 62 off 10.1 overs, with Ariel Chester top scoring with 13. Bowling for Anna Regina Secondary, Raphael D a v i d snared 3-9 off two overs, while Havinesh Persaud grabbed 2-11, and a wicket each came from Raj Rambally and Samuel Narine.

The action continues this week.

Participants of the 8-day course posing for a photo

A

s the Archery Coaching Course kicked off on Sunday at the National Racquet Center, World Archery Americas’ renowned Coach Phillip Graves declared that the first day of activities has been great, and he is looking forward to the remainder of the week’s proceedings.

The USA Archery Level 4 Coach disclosed that he has a packed 8-day curriculum to share with the archers who have travelled from all across the nation to participate in the seminar. This fact is one of the dynamics that impressed Graves, after learning that most

of the archers hailed from Region 1 (Barima-Waini), Region 3(Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni) and Region 9 (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).

He is confident that those benefitting from the course will disperse their knowledge in their respective regions.

“They all understand that what they learn here, they’re going to take it back and teach to others, which means it’s going to spread like wildfire,” Graves stated. “Today’s programme basically talked about the administrative side, coaching

structure, requirements and knowledge that they need.”

Disclosing some of what is being taught in the course, Graves noted that he is focusing on creating a foundation for the shooters, and then build on that. “But as we go deeper into this seminar, we will be getting into specifics: the biomechanics of shooting, preparing a shooter, and becoming competitive,” he indicated.

Additionally, the participants will benefit from teachings on how to move from recreational shooting to developmental shooting, and eventually on how to reach the competition stage.

LeBron

LeBron leads Cavs through into NBA play-offs

GCB/Hand-in-Hand 50-Over Inter-County U-19 finals

Weather forces indefinite delay of finals – alternative date to be announced

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ain ravished the city this past weekend, forcing the highly-anticipated finals between Berbice and the Under-17 XI Select to be pushed to a future date, which will be announced in the near future.

After Saturday’s proposed date was called off without a ball being bowled, the contest was pushed to Sunday, April 29. However, with the imminent May/ June rainy season, overnight and morning showers have left the Lusignan Community Ground un-

playable, thus resulting in the GCB confirming via release that the match will now be pushed to an unconfirmed date.

Berbice and a National U-17 team have battled and clawed their way through some stiff competition in order to reach the finals. Berbice will rely on their in-form players, the likes of Alex Algoo, Junior Sinclair, Kelvin Umrao, Kevlon Anderson and Kevin Sinclair, among others.

National youth and Windies’ ex U-16 skipper, opener Singh, and

his team of young players have been showing glimpses of something big coming in the near future. The U-17s’ will want much from Singh, Nigel Persaud, Mavendra Dindyal, Andre Seepersaud, Seon Glasgow and Marvin Prashad -- all of whom have been making starts, and are capable of winning matches for their team.

As a result of the weather, the teams will now have some extra time -- until the finals are announced -- to get organized ahead of the final encounter.

Points Table at the end of round 3: Guyana Cricket Board/ Hand-In-Hand Under 19 one day inter-County 2018 Points’ Standing Name of Team

Demerara Berbice Essequibo Select Under 17

Win

0 1 0 1

Loss

0 0 0 1

Tie 0 0 0 0

No Results 2 0 2 0

Points Bowling 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.5

Batting 0 1 0 0

Wins 0 16 0 8

Total

2.4 17.4 2.1 8.5

LeBron James has won four NBA MVP awards

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eBron James scored 45 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 105101 win over the Indiana Pacers and into the second round of the NBA play-offs.

The 33-year-old, who has won three NBA Championships, faced elimination in the first round for the first time.

But he produced his third 40-point game of the series as Cleveland wrapped up the best-of-sev-

en Eastern Conference series 4-3.

It earned them a second-round meeting with East top seeds Toronto.

The Pacers had ensured a tense deciding contest with a comprehensive 121-87 victory in game six on Friday.

But James made his first seven shots of the finale from the floor, and finished the first half with 26 points, five assists and four rebounds.

monDAY, april 30, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Colts crowned 3-time Mecca champions Pg 23

Pg 23

GCB/Hand-in-Hand 50-Over Inter-County U-19 finals

Pg 22

Weather forces indefinite delay of finals Pg 23

– alternative date to be announced

Action in the GCB/Hand-in-Hand 50 Over Inter-County U-19 tournament

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