Guyana Times 31 July, 2017

5 THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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

Monday, July 31, 2017

Issue No. 3287

PRICE

Escapees manhunt

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

1 killed, another

surrenders – 5 still on the run

Woman perishes in fire at Enterprise, ECD P16

– recaptured Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander for court today Page 3

Region 6 businessmen given tour of CJIA expansion project P11

Clive Forde

Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander

GBCHA to strengthen HIV/AIDS response in Region 6

Financial paper No 2

Millions sought for Procurement Commission

Kerry Cromwell

Page 12

Page 9

– as Cabinet continues to grant ‘no objections’ to contracts

High schools to get Cadet P12 Corps

Improvised shotguns, P8 ammo seized in Mabura raid

– secures $7.8M in funding

Guyana heading towards dictatorship

– Jagdeo tells massive crowd at Leonora

Page 2 Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo told PPP supporters on Sunday at Leonora, West Coast Demerara that Guyana may be heading towards dictatorship because of the actions being taken by the coalition Government

Unidentified woman killed in Herstelling accident P8

More disaster relief needed in wake of Region 9 P13 floods

2 news Guyana heading towards dictatorship, says Jagdeo MONDAY, july 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has hit out at the coalition Government for allegedly making moves to control the legislature and the Judiciary, terming the acts attacks on democracy and saying that the country was heading towards dictatorship, which obtained in the past during the Forbes Burnham regime.

“If they succeed in that, then no Government action in the future we would be able to challenge in the courts and get a fair hearing. And they can do whatever they want to any citizen of this land,” Jagdeo told a public meeting hosted in Leonora, West Coast Demerara on Sunday.

Making reference to the Guyana Power and Light Inc

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo mobbed by supporters at Leonora, West Coast Demerara on Sunday

(GPL) metre case which is currently before the courts, Jagdeo claimed that the Government was given preference in that matter since the case was brought forward for an early hearing.

“We have seen cases where all the matters that we have before the courts now are deliberately delayed like the elections petition and so many other issues,” he explained.

Jagdeo continued: “We

have to be careful that this does not become a trend because in free societies, an independent judiciary is indispensable,” the former President said, explaining that even in the case that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) wins the next elections, there still could be what he termed a “perversed decision by a court”.

He alleged, “If they go to the court – if a private citizen has a civil matter with the Government, they can direct the Judiciary to give a particular ruling.” Jagdeo said it was, therefore, important that citizens paid close attention to what was going on and ensure that they watch the Government’s moves.

“And we have seen this

PPP/C Member of Parliament and Region Three Representative, Irfaan Ali addressing the meeting. Seated at right is Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

President for one year delaying the recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) until he had his design rolled out,” Jagdeo said, claiming that certain members of that new body were selectively chosen to be part of the team, which may have some preference for the Government.

The Opposition Leader also drew the crowd’s attention to recent comments made

by Attorney General Basil Williams, who allegedly said the Judges were put there by the Government and ought to rule in its favour. “We have heard the President (David Granger) say there is nothing wrong with the Attorney General threatening a judge in the court,” he added.

Speaking on the ongoing issue concerning the selection of a new chairman to head the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Jagdeo said citizens must not take lightly the words uttered

by President Granger following the acting Chief Justice’s ruling, when he said that despite the mostly favourable judgment in relation to the issue, he would act in accordance with his perception.

Jagdeo also accused Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland of being a partisan individual and possibly being easily seen as the 34th Member of Parliament of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) when in fact he should have been an independent arbiter.

“Almost any matter that seeks to question the Government, to hold them to account, he rules in their favour. Now when you look at the debates in Parliament, almost every single matter the Government gets its way,” he lamented, reminding supporters that Scotland did not find a debate on the future of sugar an issue of national importance. The Opposition Leader further pointed out that complex bills were also rushed through Parliament, while accusing Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo of being the lead person to guide that hurried process. He said these issues were important for everyone to pay attention to, because “they may be very well watching us too…This is how dictatorship goes too.”

news

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MONDAY, july 31, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, July 31 –10:30h-12:00h and Tuesday, August 1 – 12:00h-13:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

– recaptured Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander for court today

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions followed by heavy rain showers, with cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging between South South-easterly and East North-easterly from 0.89 metres to 2.68 metres.

High Tide: 10:22h and 22:48h reaching maximum heights of 2.21 metres and 2.22 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 16:17h reaching a minimum height of 1.02 metre.

SATURDAY, July 29, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS 13

09

16

10

14

24

17 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 02 05 10 08

04

LUCKY 3 0 6 0

0

Afternoon Draw

0

2

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

07

03

01 20

1 killed, another surrenders

– 5 still on the run

Monday, July 31 –09:50h-11:20h and Tuesday, August 1 – 11:10h-12:40h.

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Escapees manhunt

18 02 12

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

By Shemuel Fanfair

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usignan Prison escapee Clive Forde, called ‘El Sinkie,’ met his demise in the community of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown in a violent exchange of gunfire with ranks of the Joint Services in tense and unsettling circumstances in the evening hours of Sunday; while fellow escapee Kerry Cromwell surrendered to the law enforcement officers at the Brickdam Police Station and is currently back in lawful custody. Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine, confirming that the police acted on information supplied by the public, disclosed that at about midday on Sunday, the Joint Services operation in East Ruimveldt that was designed to apprehend Lusignan Prison escapee Clive Forde led to a confrontation with the late fugitive from

Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander

Clive Forde AKA El Sinkie

Kerry Cromwell

ensure that their doors were locked tight.

“You got to keep your door lock! I telling these children every day!” an agitated resident stated.

This newspaper was in-

The now deceased Forde was believed to have been openly walking around in the community. Late on Tuesday, ranks of the Police SWAT unit were deployed to the Le Repentir Cemetery in Georgetown be-

close proximity to where Forde was eventually found.

The late Clive Forde had been accused of the shooting death of Senasie Lewis, who was murdered near the Ghetto Flex Bar in Albouystown,

This is the area where Clive Forde was said to have been hiding out

justice, and he was “mortally wounded”.

Joint Services ranks had received information that the 29-year-old Forde was hiding out in a house in the area, and they surrounded the house. Forde, who had lived in Charlestown and Alberttown, was said to have attempted to flee the scene but ended up engaging the police in a firefight, Police later recovering a 9mm pistol with live rounds a short distance away from where his body fell.

Arriving on the scene moments after the shootout had occurred, this publication witnessed residents of that community on edge as they recalled the sound of rapid gunshots that represented the exchange between the fugitive and police. Some disclosed that they had been taking extra precautions over the last few days to

formed that when Joint Services ranks confronted the escapee, he fled through a narrow back alley that runs along Market Street, East Ruimveldt.

Some residents, however, suggested that the Joint Services ranks had fired their weapons indiscriminately, considering the number of children who traverse and play in the area.

Guyana Times was told that a male resident in one of the community’s range houses was allegedly harbouring the escaped prisoner, but the police have not disclosed whether this individual or any other accomplice was detained.

Many of the residents, moved with emotion, said they felt relieved that the prisoner had not been able to escape, and stressed the need for their children to live in a safe environment, especially given that it is the school holiday period.

Some residents believe the Police had shot indiscriminately

cause it was believed that an escapee, armed with gun/s, was hiding out in the area. However that search had turned up empty.

Guyana Times was informed on Sunday that after the escapee had been ‘sighted’ last Tuesday, law enforcement ranks had combed the East Ruimveldt area and had even allegedly scaled sections in

Georgetown on September 4, 2015.

Surrender Hours after Forde’s Sunday demise, Albouystown native Kerry Cromwell, accused of fatally shooting Linden bus driver Alvin Lorrimer, surrendered to law enforcement officials at the Brickdam Police Station in company of his mother. turn to page10

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, july 31, 2017

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

Prolegomena for Constitutional Design

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overnment has finally tabled a Bill for initiating its long-promised constitutional change. It will authorise a broadly-based Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission to accept submissions from across the country. Guyana has experimented with various constitutional arrangements, starting with the constitution it was given by Britain at Independence on May 26, 1966.

That it has become clear that further changes are necessary should not be surprising. As far back as the 18th century, the philosopher Immanuel Kant succinctly posed the dilemma of constitutional design in these terms: “The problem is, given a multitude of rational beings requiring universal laws for their preservation, but each of them is sincerely inclined to exempt himself from them, to establish a Constitution in such a way, although their private intentions conflict, they check each other, with the result that their public conduct is the same as if they had no such intentions.”

The initiative, or set of initiatives, that will be offered to address Guyana’s political crisis in the coming hearings will have to engender broad acceptance across the political, ethnic and other divisions in the people, and especially among the politicians. This implies that the various groups, as they define themselves, would have to agree on the proposals for establishing the institutions to govern them.

Guyanese are attuned to the British contractual tradition of Liberalism, which envisages individuals bargaining rationally to produce a “contract” that would protect their interests.

Kant, then, was proposing that the solution to the inevitable conflicts in organised human societies such as ours lies in the design of appropriate institutions. Kant proposed that institutions, as with all normative behaviour, would have to satisfy some moral principle to which all citizens can more or less agree. Unless we have this moral commonality, no constitution will be able to bring stability to Guyana. Kant called his touchstone moral principle the “categorical imperative” - a principle of justice.

Most commentators who followed him agreed with his stricture: that institutions constituting a state must be organised in accordance with the principle of justice; but there were interminable discussions as to whether particular proposals satisfied, or did not satisfy, the “categorical imperative”.

John Rawls, the most influential of modern liberal political philosophers, came up with another formulation to guide the formation of social institutions nearly two centuries later, in 1971. It had the great virtue of simplicity, and we commend it to Guyanese as they embark on their search for a more appropriate constitution.

In the opening line of his first section in his magnum opus, A Theory of Justice, Rawls boldly declared that the principle of “justice” is the standard that would generate the broad acceptability for the establishment of any institution necessary to implement any initiative for enduring stability: “Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought.” Recognising that Guyana does not even reach Rawls’s definition of a society as “a cooperative venture for mutual advantage, it is typically marked by a conflict as well as by an identity of interests.” His definition of “justice” is very pertinent to our effort to construct a democratic state in Guyana: “…a way of assigning rights and duties in the basic institutions of society, and they define the appropriate distribution of the benefits and burdens of social cooperation.”

More importantly, Rawls introduced a methodology for arriving at substantive principles for making decisions in divisive situations, such as we have in Guyana, where it is vital that the decisions are seen as not favouring any one constituency. Procedurally, Rawls proposed that we make our suggestions about the fundamental principles that would structure and govern society from behind a metaphorical “veil of ignorance”, which precludes us from taking into consideration our personal position, class, gender, race, religion, even intelligence or interests in the matter under consideration.

With such principles, we would be willing to go along even if our opponents assign us positions in the society arising out of the contract.

High school students cross the Ranteangin River on their way home in Maroko village in Kolaka Utara, Indonesia, on July 28, 2017 (Antara Foto/Jojon via Reuters)

Personal perceptions vs judicial pronouncements Dear Editor, President David Granger’s scathing remarks in reference to Chief Justice Roxane George’s ruling in the case filed by Marcel Gaskin was steamrolled to the back burner of the news cycle by the ongoing catastrophe involving prisoners.

However, as a nation, we cannot afford such an egregious assault by the Executive upon the Judiciary, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law to be swept under the carpet. The ramifications can be many times more calamitous to this nation than the current prisoners’ imbroglio.

The President is quoted in the press as saying of the Chief Justice’s ruling: “The Chief Justice gave an interpretation based on her perception of the law, and I will continue to act in according with my perception of the Constitution… If you can show me the article of the Constitution which requires me to give reason, I will comply with the Constitution; but I will not do what the Constitution does not require me to do.”

Just imagine for a moment the speed at which this nation will disintegrate into anarchy if every citizen of this land decides to emulate their President and adopt a similar posture in relation to rulings from our courts by regarding every court ruling as merely the judge’s opinion and refusing to obey the same.

I cannot recall any Head of State publically making such nefarious remarks in reference to a judicial pronouncement in the English-

speaking Caribbean; nay, the Commonwealth, in decades.

When I read the remarks, I was immediately reminded of the admonition of an outstanding Indian jurist, who posited thus: “Once a direction is issued by a competent court, it has to be obeyed and implemented without any reservation. If an order passed by a court of law is not complied with or is ignored, there will be an end of the rule of law. If a party against whom such order is made has grievances, the only remedy available to him is to challenge the order by taking appropriate proceedings known to law.

However, it cannot be made ineffective by not complying with the directions on a specious plea that no such directions could have been issued by the court. Upholding of such argument would result in chaos and confusion, and would seriously affect and impair administration of justice.” (C.K. Thakker, J. in Karnataka Housing Board v C. Muddaiah (2007) 7 SCC 689)

Comity should exist

It cannot be disputed that the sentiments expressed by Justice Thakker are applicable, without exception, to every democratic society governed by the rule of law. In constitutional democracies like ours, the doctrine of separation of powers is enshrined in our constitution, and acts as a glue which cements the distribution of governmental powers into three main arteries, and prevents each from overlapping into the func-

tional province of the other.

For the system to yield the conceptually desired results of public order, good governance and the rule of law, each is mandated to respect the role and functional responsibility of the other.

Justice Saunders, now sitting as judge in the Caribbean Court of Justice, articulated the principles quite graphically: “Our democracy rests on three fundamental pillars: the legislative, executive and the judicial. All must keep within the bounds of the Constitution. The judiciary has the task of seeing to it that legislative and executive action does not stray outside those boundaries onto forbidden territory.

If that occurs and a citizen with standing complains, the court declares the trespass and grants appropriate remedies... For our democracy to operate effectively, it has been said that it is necessary that a certain comity should exist between the three branches. Each should respect the role and function of the other. The court is subject to, and must enforce, laws passed by Parliament that are intra vires the Constitution. The executive should respect and obey the decisions, and accept the intimations of the court. If this comity does not exist, then the wheels of democracy would not turn smoothly. A jarring and dangerous note will resonate from them.

(Saunders J. in Benjamin et al v Min of Information et al, Suit No 56 of 1997).

It must be clear to the rational mind that President Granger abysmally failed to exhibit the comity and

respect to which Justice Saunders made reference.

Consequently, a jarring and dangerous note now resonates. The insistence by the President to hold obstinately to his obdurate “perceptions” of what the constitution means, in disregard of the Chief Justice’s pronouncement on these identical issues, strikes at the very heart of the separation of powers doctrine.

Just last May, the Privy Council reiterated that, “it is the task of the judiciary to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution, and thereby the rule of law.” (AG of T&T v Dumas [2017 UK PC p. 6].

In that case, their Lordships embraced the seminal dictum of Bhagwati J of the Supreme Court of India, in State of Rajastan v Union of India AIR [1977 SC 1361] in which he stated: “The court is the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution, and to this court is assigned the delicate task of determining what is the power conferred on each branch of Government, whether it is limited, and, if so, what are the limits, and whether any action of that branch transgresses such limits. It is for this Court to uphold the constitutional values and to enforce the constitutional limitations. That is the essence of the rule of law.”

A bull in a china shop

A subsequent statement from the Ministry of the Presidency, which attempted to justify, rather than apologise for, and withdraw, the President’s remarks, simply exacerbated the situation. continued on page 5

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MONDAY, july 31, 2017

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

Cricket Act being honoured in the breach by Guyana Govt Dear Editor, I note, with great interest, the big media frenzy and hype that accompanied the release of the injunction that prevented elections of the Guyana Cricket Board in the past few years after the Cricket Administration Act was enacted in May 2014.

It should be noted that this Act was challenged by the Guyana Cricket Board, since it was found to be deeply flawed and contradictory. The GCB, in its submissions to the Court, had never requested that elections be stopped for any Board, but the Chief Justice made the interim decision to issue such an Order. I am penning this letter just to refresh the memory of everyone on the issues and facts surrounding this very controversial Cricket Act. In the lead-up to the passing of this Act, there was a special Select Committee of Parliament that met over 20 times with all the valid stakeholders in the administration of cricket, which included the GCB, the DCB, and other cricket-related individuals. The GCB and the DCB made written and oral submissions to this Select Committee, but not a sin-

gle item of its submissions was taken on board by the Committee in the drafting of this Act; hence its lopsidedness, which was eventually enacted. In fact, several of the said Select Committee members never even took the time to read the said Bill that was being debated and voted. It seems that voting was mainly on political grounds.

The Select Committee recommended to Parliament that the constitutions of the Guyana Cricket Board and the Demerara Cricket Board be rewritten without any contribution from the membership of these two Boards.

This Act in itself is enough to render this Cricket Act unconstitutional.

In late June 2014, after a heavy outpouring of protests from the GCB and the West Indies Cricket Board, about the content of this Act and the manner in which it was introduced, there was a special meeting arranged between the Government of Guyana, represented therein by Ministers Nandlall and Anthony; the WICB; the Guyana Cricket Board, and some representatives of the disgruntled group now calling themselves ‘stakeholders’. Attorneys for all parties

were also present, with the GoG attorneys also seemingly representing the ‘stakeholders’.

It was UNANIMOUSLY AGREED that the Cricket Act was indeed deeply flawed and needed amendments.

All of the amendments were discussed and agreed upon by everyone present at the forum. It was further agreed that, since the Act was not yet assented to, the agreed amendments to the Act would have been tabled in Parliament in mid-July 2014. A draft amendment to the Act was completed and circulated to all the parties.

The team from the Cricket Boards and their attorneys met with the other parliamentary parties, APNU and AFC, and sought to obtain their agreement on the draft amendment to the Cricket Administration Act. The other parties agreed to the amendments that were proposed, and were willing to append their signatures to the agreed-upon document. The GoG became very incensed with the intervention of the other Parliamentary parties, and refused to sign off on the agreed-upon document with the other Parliamentary parties included therein. It was

Personal perceptions vs...

As if enough damage were not done, and apparently feeling left out, the Attorney General rushed in like a proverbial bull in a China shop.

Characteristically, he aggravated the President’s conundrum by introducing a wholly new concept, hitherto unknown to the English law and jurisprudence inherited by us. In a letter published in the press written by the Attorney General, in which he referred to himself in the third person, he argues that the Chief Justice’s ruling is not “finally binding” because it is open to an appeal. That a ruling of the High Court loses its binding force because it is appealable is an alien proposition to the jurisprudence of the English-speaking Commonwealth. The true position, with which most first year law students are conversant, is that a ruling of a judge remains in force unless and until it is vacated by another ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction.

Unfortunately, no statement which has emanated from the Government since suggests that the President has recanted, will recant, or is likely to recant, from his steadfastly held person-

al views of what Article 161 (2) means, notwithstanding that those views have been established to be demonstrably erroneous by the Chief Justice’s ruling.

So the nation is no better off with the Chief Justice’s ruling, and there appears to be no guarantee that the principles enunciated therein will be used by the President to inform his deliberations on the third set of names which will be submitted to him shortly by the Leader of the Opposition.

This state of affairs is simply unacceptable. Is this how the President and his Government will treat rulings from the Judiciary in the future? This must be immediately clarified. If this is not the position, then it is incumbent upon the President, and indeed it is his constitutional duty, to publically admit that he erred in the remarks uttered on the 19th of July 2017, and to publically reiterate his and his Government’s commitment to respect and abide by the Constitution and the rule of law. Nothing short will suffice.

A failure to do so will conduce to the citizenry making inferences and drawing con-

from page 4

clusions, which can only result in irreparable damage to the national, constitutional, and democratic polity of this nation.

This issue can very well determine in which direction this nation traverses over the next few years.

Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP Attorney-at-Law

then agreed to exclude the other Parliamentary parties from the document.

The GoG NEVER signed that document, and have allowed this confusion to continue unhindered. The honourable ministers that attended this meeting never took any further step to have this lopsided Act corrected, and it is incumbent on the present administration to investigate this matter and have it corrected, or await the verdict of the Court in the legal challenge mounted by the GCB. Actually, that was the second time the previous administration had walked away from a proposed settlement on this manufactured cricket crisis. The other time was with Caricom’s intervention, when Clive Lloyd was appointed as head of the IMC.

Here again, an agreement was hammered out, but the same two honourable ministers who represented the GoG walked away from that resolution. How can anyone blame the GCB for this impasse? Investigative journalism needs to be exercised and blame placed where it is due.

The GCB has been made the unwitting scapegoat in this entire fiasco.

It is really hypocritical of these same persons, who attended this forum in June 2014 and agreed with the blatant flaws of the Act, to be now publicly supporting this piece of legislation as the cure all for the purported ills of cricket administration in Guyana.

In another very blatant act of illegality since, the Sports Minister of the previous administration proceeded to appoint an

Ombudsman, in clear violation of the very Act that he assisted to pilot through Parliament. How can our leaders act in such grave violation of the very laws that they enact? The current Sports Minister may not be familiar with the history of this matter, and it would be in her best interest to research and acquaint herself with this situation, before she is deemed to be acting in contravention of the laws of Guyana by blindly following in the footsteps of her predecessor from the previous administration. The first step in this process would be for her to obtain a copy of the said Act, if she has not already done so.

Yours faithfully, Raj Singh Marketing Manager, GCB

Moraikobai residents urged to reject any instructions from Region 5 REO Dear Editor, Residents of the Moraikobai Amerindian village of Region 5 (MahaicaBerbice) complained bitterly to me when I visited that village on 28-29th July, 2017 that the regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region 5 wants to take over the village’s guest house through the passing of instructions to the management of that guest house.

This is a gross violation of the Amerindian Act 2006, since it is only the Moraikobai Village Council that has this right, and no other entity or person; and, more specifically, Moraikobai is a titled Amerindian village governed by the Amerindian Act 2006. I wonder if the Region

5 REO knows about this? It doesn’t seems so. On the basis that Moraikobai is a titled Amerindian village governed by a village council, I advised village residents to reject any instruction or instructions handed down to them by the REO. And I further advised that anyone who wishes to enter village lands must first apply and receive the permission of the village council (section 5 of the Amerindian Act 2006). And if that person contravenes this section of the Amerindian Act, that person is guilty of an offence, which guilt carries a penalty (section 5(2) of Am. Act 2006).

But can the Region 5 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) say if it is aware about

the actions of its REO that pertain to the Moraikobai Village Guest House? If not, can the Region 5 RDC ensure that instructions by its REO to the Moraikobai Village Guest House be ceased immediately?

I am aware that Guyana’s 10 RDCs (not all of them) provide for Amerindian village development in their Regional Budgets for submission to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for the compilation of Guyana’s National Budget, but this does not mean they have to micro-manage, own and control any development project built by state funds.

Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud

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By Mark Gregston

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Teen suicide facts you need to know Part 2

ost teens contemplating suicide give some type of warning to friends or loved ones ahead of time. It can be subtle and or it can be blurted out in a rage. Either way, it’s important for parents to watch for those threats or warning signs and take them seriously, so their teen can get the help they need.

Parents should be aware of these other warning signs that their teenager may be having suicidal thoughts: They may begin to isolate themselves, pulling away from friends or family; they may no longer participate in what was their favourite things or activities; they may have recently developed trouble thinking clearly; they may have changes in their personality (darker, more anxious, or non-caring); they may be experiencing changes in eating or sleeping habits; they may talk about suicide or death in general; they may express feelings of hopelessness or guilt; they may exhibit self-destructive behaviour (substance abuse, dangerous driving, recklessness, excessive risk taking); they may have changes in their personal hygiene and appearance; they may complain about anxiety-related physical problems (stomachaches, headaches, hives, fatigue, blurred vision) and they may have difficulty accepting praise or rewards.

If you see any of these signs in your teen, talk to them about your concerns and seek professional help from a physician or a qualified mental health professional. With the support of family and appropriate treatment, teenagers who are suicidal can heal and return to more healthy thinking.

If you ever hear your teen say, “I’m going to kill myself,” or “I’m going to commit suicide”, always take such statements seriously and immediately seek assistance from a qualified mental health professional. Don’t walk away. Don’t wait. Get them to a hospital immediately, even if they don’t want to go or say they were just fooling with you. Hospitalisation is needed whenever a teen is a danger to himself. Extreme cutting, bizarre behaviour,

extreme depression, suicidal thoughts, or excessive drug or alcohol use coupled with emotional issues are just a few of the symptoms that might warrant hospitalisation. A parent shouldn’t hesitate to hospitalise their child if they fear for their life. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

It’s also important to be proactive in regard to making sure that the main tools of committing suicide are not readily available to a suicidal teen. Lock up poisons, drugs like sleeping pills and pain killers, guns in the house so they are not accessible. . You may need to regularly go through their dresser, purse, backpack

and closet to make sure they aren’t storing any.

Be sure to talk about it

If you see mild warning signs, asking your teen if he or she is depressed can be helpful. Such questions filled with love and concern will provide assurance that you care and will give them the chance to talk about their problems. Get them to commit to you that if they ever do have those thoughts, they’ll let you or someone else know. If your teen doesn’t feel comfortable talking with you, suggest a more neutral person, such as another relative, a counsellor, a pastor, a coach, or your child’s doctor. It’s important to keep the lines of communication open and express your concern, support, and love. If your teen confides in you their loss of hope or control of their life, show that you take those concerns seriously. It’s important not to minimise, mock or discount what your teen is going through, as this can increase his or her sense of hopelessness.

What’s a parent to do?

If you are the parent of a depressed or suicidal teen, it’s important that you try to understand them, listen to them and try not to be accusing. Respect your teen’s opinions and problems and avoid blaming them or yourself for their feelings.

Being a teenager is hard today and your child is justified in their feelings, even if you may not agree or understand. When you realise this, you can help your child.

Remain in contact; even if you no longer have any control over your child’s life.

It can make all the difference. Do what you can to bring family members and the friends they’ve abandoned back into their life. Get out family pictures and videos to show them better times.

No matter what mischief your child is doing in their life, hope is needed more than judgment at this time. So encourage them by getting them out to experience good things that can add abundance to their life.

Sometimes it helps to ask a positive-thinking relative to take them into their home for a time to give the teen a change of scenery. Get them on a good diet. Get them outdoors to soak in some vitamin D. Regular exercise really helps. And find a loving pet that they can take care. Having the responsibility for a pet can sometimes cause a teen to think twice before taking themselves out of the picture. It also gives them a “pal” to talk to who is totally loyal and non-condemning. Finally, plan fun events several months in the future that they can look forward to, and keep reminding them of that date. For teenagers, the point is to create a bridge to help them get past this period of hopelessness and into a better mindset.

Please don’t be slow in getting professional help. I’ve seen many hundreds of teenagers who have become different people from medication designed to correct a deficiency in their developing brain.

Others are helped by regular counselling to deal with their inner issues, or with treatment for their drug habit or other addictions in their life. Get the help your teen needs, before they become a statistic. (christianpost.com)

– how the occasional argument can help improve your parent-teen relationship

By Adam Price, PhD

T

he call would come most Saturday nights, like clockwork. “Can I sleep at Spencer’s tonight?” Then, even though we had already told our high-school junior “no sleepovers”, a discussion ensued. Sometime we would hold our ground, but often we would give in, not so much because we were pushovers but because we realised our initial decision was made arbitrarily.

For parents, arguing is stressful, and makes us feel disrespected.

We worry that giving in means we have given our children too much power and that they will grow up to be entitled. This is definitely a concern, but there is some interesting research to suggest that, within limits, all this arguing, complaining, and negotiation may actually be good for your teen.

In their fascinating book Nurtureshock, Bronson & Merryman cite research to show that teens do not see arguing as negatively as their parents do.

In fact, many feel it strengthens their relationship because it allows them to see things from their parent’s perspective.

Families where there is moderate conflict are actually better adjusted than those who either fight too much with their parents, or not at all. One investigator, Tabitha Holmes, found that although 46 per cent of the mothers they surveyed felt that arguing with their daughters was destructive, only 26 per cent of the daughters agreed. And here is something else – even though they might ask for a yard, teens are often satisfied if you give them an inch. For example, although one daughter in the study was not allowed to get a tattoo, she felt completely satisfied when her mother let her buy a coveted pair of “wild” shoes instead. That is because it’s more important for teens to be heard than to win the argument.

Another insight comes from the work of sociologist Annette Laureau. Laureau wanted to know if middle-class parents approached parenting differently than workingclass and lower class parents.

The results, presented in her book Unequal Childhoods, are fascinating. Laureau found that parents from different socio-economic classes had distinct philosophies about rearing their young, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Parents of lower and working class children generally adopted a “go out and play” attitude. As a result, these children were much more independent than their middleclass counterparts. They could entertain themselves and also fought less with their siblings.

Taught to respect authority, these children were also more obedient than youngsters raised on the other side of the tracks.

On the other hand “Mommy, I’m bored” seemed to echo in the streets of the more affluent neighbourhoods. There, parents saw their children as a project.

They played more with their children, signed them up for after school activities, and oversaw their studies. Not only were these children less independent, but they also argued a lot more with their parents. However, here is the kicker. As adults, the more affluent children were much more likely to demand of life what they wanted than workingclass children. All that arguing as children taught them not to take authority for granted and to negotiate a better outcome for themselves. Laureau found this effect to be true even when she controlled for race and accounted for the other obvious advantages afforded the middle class children.

Obviously too much arguing is not good for anyone, and there is a risk that children who get their way too often will grow up to be entitled adults. But the next time your teen challenges a curfew or does not want to go visit his grandmother, keep in mind that that the ensuing argument can be valuable to both his development and to your relationship.

In order to reduce the stress use this simple technique developed by psychologist and author Ross Greene. Before taking a position, categorise the issue in one of three baskets.

Anything that compromises your teen’s safety goes in Basket A – these decisions are nonnegotiable, like a new driver taking a road trip. Basket B is filled with circumstance-dependent events: While an eleven o’clock curfew is appropriate for most weekend nights, there are occasional exceptions. Basket C contains all the issues you initially think are important, but really don’t matter – like that extra piercing your daughter is dying for. The mistake my wife and I made was to initially treat our son’s sleepovers as a Basket A decision, when it really fell in Basket B. When it comes to parenting, flexibility is key. It turns out that the children of flexible parents grow up to be better adjusted than those of either rigid or permissive parents. Better adjusted means that they are happier, do well in school, and report being closer to their parents than children of parents who either took a “my way or the highway” approach or tried too hard to be their child’s friend.

Whether it’s going to a party, their curfew, wearing the latest fashion accessory, playing video games during the week, or even sleeping over at a friend’s house, remember the wise words of Rick Lavoie: “A teen does not want your authority, just some of his own.” (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

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MONDAY, july 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana to participate in regional environmental policy, action plan discussions

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uyana is among a list of Caribbean countries that would, over the next few weeks, benefit from wide-ranging consultations on environmental policies.

The Caricom Secretariat in Georgetown has opened the draft Caricom Environment and Natural Resources Policy, as well as the Action Plan for national, sub-regional and regional discussions, beginning early August.

The consultations have been planned for Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, the OECS sub-region and Trinidad and Tobago, involving wide-ranging stakeholders drawn from the public and private sectors, civil society, Caricom institutions, and academia. Discussions are scheduled for August 3-4 in Barbados; 7-8 in Guyana; 14-15 in Jamaica; 17-18 in Saint Lucia; and 21-22 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Under review are the Draft Caribbean Community Environment and Natural Resources Policy Framework, and the First Environmental and Natural Resources Action Plan of the Caribbean Community Environment and Natural Resources Policy Framework, from July 2017 to June 2022.

The Policy Framework articulates a regional ap-

The Caricom Environment Policy has been formulated with the awareness that unsustainable use of resources could undermine regional sustainable development options within the context of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

It

The Caricom Secretariat at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown

proach to the sustainable management of the environmental and natural resources of the Caribbean Community and its member states.

The Caricom Environment and Natural Resources Policy Framework has its genesis in a 2008 decision of Ministers of Environment at the Twenty-Fifth Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) – Environment.

The Caricom Secretariat was mandated to mobilise resources to proceed with the development of the Policy Framework. In pursuit of that mandate, the Caricom Secretariat conducted assessments of the environmental governance structure of member states. It also examined the environmental dimen-

sions of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. A number of regional consultations followed. The outcomes served as the foundation for the design of the Draft Caricom Environmental and Natural Resource Policy Framework, and First Action Programme (2017-2022), which will be reviewed in August.

This round of discussion is important in advancing the process towards presenting the Policy Framework to the Caricom Ministers of Environment. Further, successful implementation will be predicated on regional ownership of the Caricom Environment Policy. A collective regional response will also be required to promote the prudent, rational management and conservation of the region’s environmental and natural resources, the Policy envisions.

therefore proposes a structure for environmental and natural resources management in Caricom, balancing the need to exploit the land, air, water and oceans for economic development, while maintaining healthy environments in the Community.

The Caricom Environment Policy Action

Plan is viewed as the first step in making the policy actionable. It provides a basis for a collective regional response to the environmental and sustainable development revolution, which is underscored by the adoption of the international community sustainable development agenda.

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MONDAY, july 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Improvised shotguns, ammo seized in Mabura raid

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hunter from Anarika, Essequibo River, whom police found to be in possession of two improvised guns and a quantity of ammunition at a camp along the Mabura Access Road in the mining town of Linden, has been detained by police over the weekend for illegal possession of arms and ammunition. It was disclosed that Joint Services ranks deployed to a ‘Clean Sweep’ operation searched the area at Twenty Miles, Mabura Access Road and unearthed the prohibited items. Guyana Times understands that the suspect was caught with the improvised shotguns and seven live cartridges at about 17:30h on Saturday. Cautioned and detained in police custody, the man will be arraigned before a magistrate this week. The shotguns and ammunition

Destroying…

O

Unidentified woman killed in Herstelling accident

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woman, believed to be in her late forties, is now dead after she was struck down by a speeding car at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The woman’s body is at the Lyken Funeral Parlour awaiting identification and a post-mortem examination.

According to the Police, motor car PKK 3251, driven by a 45-year-old resident of Burnham Boulevard, Mocha, EBD, was proceeding south along the eastern carriageway of Herstelling Public Road at a fast pace, when the pedestrian allegedly crossed the road from West to East in the path of the vehicle. As a result, it struck her, severing her left leg. She also sustained severe head injuries and lacerations about her body. The woman is said to be of African descent and suspected to be in her late forties. Following the impact, she was rushed to the Diamond Hospital, in an unconscious state, and was pronounced dead on arrival.

A breathalyser test administered to the driver proved that he had no alcohol in his system, and he is currently in custody assisting the Police with their investigation.

…democracy ver the last few centuries, there’s been much discussion as to why England, a small island on the periphery of the then developed economies in Asia (China and India), was able to incubate the “industrial revolution” that made that country leapfrog over them all. England, then Europe, and then the US, was able to sustain economic growth rates that had never been achieved by mankind.

You’d think our leaders in Guyana would’ve followed that discussion and tried to apply the lessons here, wouldn’t you? Well, if you did think that but read about the latest law passed by this Government, you’d realise you wasted a thought. Imagine, this PNC-led coalition government had the temerity to mandate that PRIVATE BROADCASTERS -- who pay and therefore own their assigned portion of broadcast spectrum -- must hand over one hour of programming every day to content that they -- the Government -- would designate!!

Now this one hour is above and beyond emergency broadcasts -- like if the Venezuelans are attacking, or the escaped bandits are sighted in Buxton, or such like.

Folks need to know about that, and broadcasters could understand. It’s even above and beyond broadcasts of Presidential messages to the nation -- those must be carried, and those times do not count. This onehour that’s being expropriated is for WHATEVER the Government says must be broadcasted.

And your Eyewitness arrives at connecting this action to the undermining of development. When England and Europe forged ahead developmentally back in the day, it was all based on three principles that had been made sacrosanct: life, liberty and PROPERTY! It was only when property could be owned privately by individuals, and the government couldn’t arbitrarily seize it, that selfsustaining growth and development was possible.

The USSR tried a different way, in which there was no respect for private property, didn’t they? They called it ‘communism’. Look where it got THEM! While the Chinese give lip service to communism, ask why they have the most billionaires on Planet Earth today! Heck, why even look abroad?? Didn’t Burnham also had his government interfere with private ownership of property, which torpedoed our economy?? From which we still haven’t recovered?

And in fact, his seizure of private property included several media houses -- now “the Chronicle”, Guyana Broadcasting Services and NCN -- so his successor’s seizure of private broadcasting rights is just rubbing salt into the wound of the bases of democracy and the free enterprise system.

Where will this end? Taking over businesses to serve as Knowledge Sharing Institutes? This recent attack on our right to property puts us on the road to serfdom.

We must stand together to defend property and democracy!

…security credibility While there have been strident calls for Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan to resign in the wake of three prison breakouts from “big jails” -- and one from the “trainee” one at Onderneeming -- the problem goes way beyond him. Maybe he SHOULD commit political hara kiri -- which has precedence in the British Parliamentary system -- but we’d still have the structural problems that caused the breakout, wouldn’t we?

And from the role Pressie played on the Disciplined Forces Commission back in 2004, he knows what those problems are. Heck, even back when he headed the army as a Brigadier, he knew. Fundamentally it all comes back to the deprofessionalisation of our security forces through their politicisation. For instance, Burnham inherited the nucleus of an army from the British; it was constituted just two years before independence -- the Special Forces Unit.

This was ethnically representative of the country’s population. But Burnham disbanded it and formed an army in his image.

As he told them -- and by default the other forces -the “professionalism” of the British had to go!

…the nation’s spirit The blackouts of the Burnhamite years symbolised the political darkness into which the nation had been plunged.

Is the present spate a harbinger of a new political darkness?

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MONDAY, july 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Financial paper No 2

Millions sought for Procurement Commission – as Cabinet continues to grant ‘no objections’ to contracts

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he Government has moved to the National Assembly to seek some $54.1 million in supplemental funding for the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). The money is intended to pay the salaries of the Chairperson and other officials, among other expenses.

This was revealed when Finance Minister Winston Jordan laid Government’s financial paper Number Two in the National Assembly on Thursday last. The requests form part of the schedule of supplementary provisions totalling $2.5 billion for January to December 2017 and come under line item three of the current estimates.

An examination of the financial paper reveals that funds are being sought to pay the salaries of the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and three Commissioners. A request was also made for funds to pay auxiliary staff, including those from the accounting and engineering sections.

Requests were also made for funding to cover expenses related to the rent, security, telephone, electricity, water, materials, equipment and supplies incurred by the

From left: Carol Corbin; Sukrishnalall Pasha; President David Granger; Ivor Burnette English; former Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Kishore Gopaul and Emily Dodson at the Ministry of the Presidency when the Public Procurement Commission was sworn in last year

Commission.

Fuel, local travel and subsistence, as well as vehicle spares, janitorial and cleaning supplies, equipment maintenance and cleaning, extermination and training for the months August to December 2017 also factor into the request.

According to the financial paper, the PPC was in the process of being established during the 2017 budget preparation and was not functional at the time.

Procurement Act The PPC was established last October. It is tasked, as set out by the Procurement Act, to “monitor and review

the functioning of all procurement systems to ensure that they are in accordance with law and such policy guidelines as may be determined by the National Assembly”, among other duties.

It is also tasked with promoting “awareness of the rules, procedures, and special requirements of the procurement process among suppliers, contractors and public bodies, and safeguard the national interest in public procurement matters, having due regard to any international obligations”.

The Act also stipulates that “it will, as well, monitor the performance of procurement bodies with respect to

adherence to regulations and efficiency in procuring goods and services and execution of works; approve of procedures for public procurement, disseminate rules and procedures for public procurement, and recommend modifications thereto to the public procurement entities”.

Specifically, section 54(6) of the Procurement Act, Chapter 73:05 states, “Cabinet’s involvement under this section shall cease upon the constitution of the Public Procurement Commission except in relation to those matters referred to in subsection (1) which are pending.”

The members of the Commission currently

are Emily Dodson, Carol Corbin, Ivor English, Nandkishore Gopaul and Sukrishnalall Pasha. When the Commission was installed last year, President David Granger had said, at that time, that it would take the brunt of work off the shoulders of Government Ministers. The Alliance For Change (AFC) has been vocal against Cabinet continuing its no-objection’ arrangement.

However, although the Commission has settled in, Government continued to grant its no objection to contracts. When he was asked about the situation earlier this year, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had said the group had indicated that it was not in a position to begin its work.

“The Public Procurement Commission indicated that some time in January they will be ready to execute their mandate. Right now, they are not ready, because there are still some critical appointments to be made in the Commission and, therefore, the role of granting no objection to contracts remains with Cabinet,” he told the media.

In an about-turn soon af-

ter, however, the PPC had indicated that a literal interpretation of the Constitution would not allow it to take over the Cabinet’s function in giving approval to contracts.

It had zeroed in on Section 54 of the Act. “A literal interpretation of this section directs the immediate cessation of Cabinet’s role once the PPC is constituted. (It does not), however, provide for the PPC to take over that function from Cabinet. The role of the PPC is limited to approving the format of the streamlined report to be sent to Cabinet and if all of Section 54 (1) is to prevail, reviewing the threshold of the value of contracts to be reviewed by the Cabinet,” it had said in a statement.

“Based on the foregoing, the Commission is not empowered by the Constitution or the Act to grant no objection or to award contracts. The awarding of contracts is the responsibility of the Procuring Entities and the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board. These agencies are responsible for the public advertisements of contracts, evaluation of bids and ultimate approval and award of contracts.”

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MONdAY, july 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

“Replace Dr Roopnaraine now” – Gaskin ...says even though a highly-respected scholar, he has failed as a minister

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utspoken political and social commentator Ramon Gaskin has said the time has come for Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine to step down from Government and allow for a more competent individual to take over his position. Gaskin’s rationale is that Dr Roopnaraine’s performance as a minister has been “extremely poor”.

Conceding that Dr Roopnaraine is the most highly educated person in the Cabinet, Gaskin says his extremely poor performance has in many ways outweighed his academic achievements. Dr Roopnaraine is a highly-respected Guyanese scholar who was educated at both the University of Cambridge and Cornell University.

“He has been a total failure as a minister. He is a bright person, he has written a lot, he is academically accomplished, but he has failed as a Minister. And he should be replaced of course,” is Gaskin’s expressed opinion.

Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

The outspoken social commentator believes that Dr Roopnaraine had realised he was not performing, and that may have been the chief reason why he had submitted his resignation to President David Granger. However, the President later talked Dr Roopnaraine out of resigning, and he rescinded his resignation a few days later.

Gaskin said, “The President doesn’t want him to go, although he demoted him (Dr Roopnaraine) to a senior clerk in State Minister Joseph Harmon’s ministry. Granger must have encouraged him to stay on because it wasn’t looking good. This is although his party, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), might have had different views. But the man actually does nothing.”

Executive members of the WPA were recently asked at a press conference whether they believe the President had refused to accept Dr Roopnaraine’s resignation because the President was afraid that Dr Roopnaraine would have been replaced by a more radical-thinking candidate.

Gaskin is of the opinion that this might have been one of the reasons. “Granger, in his mind, must have said that if Rupert did go and he needed to put somebody there to replace him, then he (Granger) might have ended up with

Political and social commentator Ramon Gaskin

someone whom he (Granger) is not comfortable with.”

And that argument could be true, according to Gaskin, because, over the years, the public had seen how Dr Roopnaraine and the President had become close, and worked well together as a team despite their different political ideologies.

But Gaskin told Guyana Times that if Dr Roopnaraine were to take advice and step down from Government, the next WPA candidate would have become as comfortable working with the President as Dr Roopnaraine presently is.

“Once you go there you get just as comfortable; because the perks are nice, the ambience, the environment is conducive, and you get a new Prado. So everything becomes relaxing,” he explained.

Gaskin is also convinced that the sudden meeting that was called by the constituent parties of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) was meant to address the Dr Roopnaraine issue -- nothing more nor less. He said what is even more embarrassing is that he has never heard of a WPA congress.

Gaskin is of the firm view that the APNU meetings, if there are any other going forward, would not produce any success, because there still remain several major differences among parties within the coalition, and that is not an issue that could be ironed out easily.

It was announced on June

13, 2017 that Dr Roopnaraine would be removed from his post as Education Minister and reassigned to head the Department of Public Service within the Ministry of the Presidency. While no reason for this relocation was given, many had speculated that it had to do with Dr Roopnaraine’s deteriorating health.

However, some days after being reassigned, the senior minister refuted those claims and said “nothing” was wrong with his health. Most recently, the minister defended his decision to remain in office and Government. He has made this clear: “I’m not at death’s door”, and assured that he is in perfect form and order to undertake the responsibilities of his new portfolio — Minister of Public Service.

Dr Roopnaraine, one of the longest-serving WPA members, has served as one of the leaders of that party, along with founder Dr Walter Rodney, Dr Clive Thomas and Eusi Kwayana. Despite the ongoing issue, the party has said it would continue to support him as their candidate in Government.

Escapee killed...

According to information sourced from the Department of Public Information, Cromwell’s mother contacted a “senior” Government functionary and disclosed that the family was willing to turn the fugitive in.

Other relatives of Cromwell were allegedly present when this happened.

Last Saturday night, notorious criminal Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander, who had escaped from the Camp Street Prison on July 9, was recaptured at Topoo, in the northern section of the Region Six village of Albion on the Corentyne Coast in East Berbice. This village is situated to the south of Rose Hall Town.

He was among those who had escaped during the fire which reduced the Camp Street penitentiary to rubble and left prison officer Odinga Wickham dead. The Police have disclosed that there have been several sightings of Alexander along the Corentyne Coast in recent days prior to his recapture. This newspaper has been told that ranks concealed themselves in an abandoned house in the village, and when Hopkinson walked into the building, it brought an end to a 16-hour stakeout. Residents of the Williamsburg/Hampshire Squatting Area on the Corentyne Coast have said that Joint Services ranks searched several houses on Friday and Saturday. On July 19, there were reports that Hopkinson had been spotted and shot at, but had eluded capture. He was at the time sleeping in a hammock in the backlands of Port Mourant.

Hopkinson has been implicated in several robberies that occurred along the Corentyne Coast, and several of his alleged Corentyne associates have been under Joint Services’ surveillance in recent days, this publication was told.

Court appearance

A police source has dis-

from page 3

closed that Alexander will be arraigned in court this morning on several charges, including escaping from unlawful custody. Meanwhile, efforts are continuing to recapture the remaining three fugitives who escaped from Camp Street. These are Mark Royden Durant, aka Smallie; Uree Varswyck, and Cobena Stephens. The Lusignan escapees who remain at large are Shawn Harris and Paul Goriah, which reflects a grand total of five fugitives from justice still remaining at large.

In the late hours of Sunday turning into the wee hours of Monday last, 13 prisoners made their way out of the Lusignan Prison by digging a hole under the perimeter fence even while under the watchful eyes of members of the Joint Services.

Those men were deemed the “real bad” prisoners and were left in the pasture.

Three were later arrested along the East Coast of Demerara, while four were recaptured in Georgetown on Monday evening. Another, Kendall Skeete, was on Wednesday last recaptured hiding in an abandoned house in Wisrock, Linden; and another, Pascal Smith, was nabbed

by Police ranks hiding in a pit latrine at his residence, Barr Street, Kitty Georgetown.

22-year-old Jamal Forde, Jamal Joseph, and 19-year-old Winston Long pleaded guilty and were each sentenced to one year’s imprisonment; while Teshawn McKenzie, Royan Jones, Jason Howard, and Odel Roberts pleaded not guilty and were remanded until their case is called again in August at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court. Following a fresh riot at Lusigan Prison, 16 inmates were shot and injured at the correctional facility on Saturday. In addition, four inmates were also injured during a brawl among themselves. It was explained that force had had to be used to restore order at the facility.

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MONDAY, july 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 6 businessmen given tour of CJIA expansion project the existing building.

Mohammed Raffick, President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, was impressed with what he saw. “It was a very informative tour. It was an eye-opener for us.

The travelling public will

Representatives from two Region Six Chambers of Commerce during a tour of the airport expansion project on Sunday

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ixteen representatives from two Region Six Chambers of Commerce were on Sunday briefed on the challenges, scope and progress of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) expansion project during a tour of the CJIAC facilities.

The site visit, facilitated by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson following requests from the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association and the Central Corentyne Chamber of

Commerce during recent meetings, was spearheaded by Project Engineer Carmichael Thorne and Consultant Tom Rosiewich, and included a visit to the temporary Arrivals Building.

Prior to the tour, the representatives were informed on key elements of the project, including its scope of works; and according to a statement from the CJIA, the representatives also took the opportunity to broach numerous critical questions, such as the compacting process and speci-

Currently, works are moving apace on the new Arrivals Terminal Building, the extension of the runway, and rehabilitation of the existing building at the CJIA

fications of the runway expansion.

In return, they were told of the successes and setbacks of the project, such as the demolition/relocation of existing structures and utilities; unforeseen ground conditions; renovation of the existing terminal building while in use; and extension of the runway while maintaining operations.

Currently, works are moving apace on the new Arrivals Terminal Building, the extension of the runway, and rehabilitation of

have lots to enjoy when the airport is completed.

I must commend Minister Patterson on what he is doing,” Mr Raffick said in an invited comment.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Ryan Alexander, President of

the Berbice Chamber of Commerce. “We understand the complexities being experienced to complete the project….we have heard the frustrations from the travelling public, but it’s just a little pain for a lot of gain,” he said.

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MONDAY, july 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GBCHA to strengthen HIV/AIDS response in Region 6

–secures $7.8M in funding

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uyana Business Coalition on Health Awareness (GBCHA) Board Chairperson Donna Roberts-Benjamin said the group has secured $7.8 million in funding to strengthen the national response to HIV/AIDS particularly in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

“This year, the GBCHA was awarded the Global Fund Project for $7.8 million. This project will commence on August 1 and will last for five-and-ahalf weeks. The project continues to strengthen the national response to HIV/AIDS in Region Six, Berbice,” Roberts-Benjamin said.

She made the announcement at the GBCHA Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Thursday last.

She said the group was recognising individuals and companies that have given

outstanding service in improving health and awareness. She added that the GBCHA has continued to meet the needs of its members in keeping with its responsibility to mobilise its partners in response to HIV and non-communicable and chronic diseases as well as health awareness.

Roberts-Benjamin said the GBCHA continued to partner with its members, the Public Health Ministry and both governmental and Non-Governmental Organisations to raise health awareness.

The Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) Health @ 50 Report disclosed that in the initial stages of the epidemic, AIDS was a reportable condition. Guyana recorded its first case of AIDS in 1987, and AIDS cases have since progressively increased, reaching a peak

The awardees along with British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn and GBCHA Board Chair Donna Roberts-Benjamin

of 435 in 2001. Thereafter, there was a decrease in the trend until 2015, when WHO made HIV infection a reportable condition and Guyana concurred with the need to report HIV infec-

tion.

Looking back on the fight against the virus as Guyana progressed, the country reported on AIDS cases diagnosed mainly in the public health sector. From the

beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Guyana until 2008, when CD4 testing became routinely available, the National AIDS Programme (NAP) used the Caribbean Epidemiology

Centre (CAREC) clinical criteria to diagnose AIDS cases.

In May of 2016, it was reported that over 1000 new HIV cases have been recorded in Guyana during the past six years. On average, 85 per cent of all infected persons are on the Government-run treatment programme. After peaking in 2006, HIV/AIDS cases stabilised to approximately 1035 in the last six years (2010-2015).

The GBCHA is an NGO which aims to increase health awareness through coordinated programmes and activities conducted by its members and partners. The organisation was formed in 2008 with HIV/ AIDS as its primary target.

At the recent ceremony, the GBCHA thanked its members for their stellar contribution to enhancing the work of the organisation.

High schools to get Cadet Corps

Education Minister (ag) Nicolette Henry being briefed by Army officials last Friday

F

ollowing up on a commitment made

by President David Granger, secondary schools in Guyana could soon see the implementation of the National Cadet Corps, an initiative to be spearheaded by the Education Ministry and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

The reimplementation of the National Cadet Corps is the brainchild of President David Granger, who was himself a member of the Queen’s College Cadet Corps while a student there.

The objective of the programme is to provide students with basic leadership skills, while affording them the opportunity to travel the country.

The process commenced on Friday in the boardroom of the GDF headquarters, Camp Ayanganna, where acting Education Minister Nicolette Henry was briefed on the programmes by Chiefof-Staff (CoS) Patrick West and other military officials.

Last year when President Granger announced the re-introduction of the programme, he said his intention was not militarisation,

but giving the youth an opportunity to explore the country.

“I do believe that in secondary school youngsters should be exposed to leadership skills, teamwork, to sport, (and) to travel.”

All these, the President said, could prepare them for a military or civilian career in the future, as the experience they would gain will take them through life.

The Corps will also provide recreational and learning opportunities for youths between the ages of 12 and 18 during the August holidays.

President Granger said too that the Corps would also play up the importance of teamwork, and all the good traits which come with public service.

The Head of State noted, however, that the National Cadet Corps would not be compulsory, but would be open to all youths.

Over the years, at least three Cadet Corps – the Army Cadet Company, the Queen’s College Cadet Company and the National Cadet Corps were formed, but all had been dissolved.

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MONDAY, july 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

More disaster relief needed in wake of Region 9 floods – says Regional Chairman

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egion 9 Chairman Brian Allicock is requesting further assistance to supplement recovery efforts being undertaken in that region in the aftermath of the recent flooding that had been occasioned by severe rain storms.

Allicock told Guyana Times that while several organisations, including the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), has been rendering support, a dire need still exists for more supplies. Other organisations have also given their commitment to assist with relief supplies. The Regional Chairman has said outsiders may have underestimated the magnitude of the recent floods, but many people’s livelihoods have been adversely affected and homes have been destroyed. Some 42 villages have each so far submitted to the regional office a list of the names of farmers who have been affected by the floods. These farmers are each expected to receive some relief effort.

“So we started distributing food items. We distributed food and other items to at least six villages. And we looked at the most needy of the lot,” he stated.

Region 9 Chairman Brian Allicock

Allicock said the flooding has also weakened the region’s infrastructure, leading to some 18 buildings in three different communities being destroyed; and parts of the Linden/Lethem Road have been rendered impassable, somewhat affecting business in the region, particularly in the densely populated areas.

“At one time, we had seven lorries and two tankers waiting to cross at a portion where the culverts are broken…,” he explained.

Allicock recently sought an audience with Public

Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, to get Government’s assistance to repair some of the damaged roads. He Told Guyana Times the meeting was held on Friday, and Patterson has given some assurance that a team of engineers would join the one that is already there on the ground.

Calling this a step in the right direction, Allicock laments that many roads, particularly those in close proximity to river banks, will languish in a state of dilapidation before being fully repaired.

“We are hoping that works will commence. We had two (roads that) broke away in the South, but we (the region) got a contractor to repair two culverts. They are working on that, and we hope they will be finished shortly,” he expressed.

While some communities are not severely affected, some are; for example, Karasabai is completely cut off from vehicular traffic.

At present, supplies are being sent to that community via boats. The Regional Chairman noted that while the repair of these roads may take some time, he is hoping

that all of the infrastructural repairs would be completed before year-end. A Regional Disaster Management Plan was activated in early July following the floods in that region. In excess of 2000 persons were affected, and close to three dozen homes were destroyed. The Takutu and Rupununi rivers overtopped their banks, resulting in several creeks overtopping as well. Emergency shelters have been activated at various locations, including the Arapaima Primary School. Hotlines were later set up, and drivers were put on standby to evacuate

affected persons. Since commencement of the May-June rainy season, citizens have been warned to expect higher-than-normal rainfall and to take the necessary precautions to deal with the situation. However, since the rainy season began, several villages have experienced major flooding, and some are still trying to rebuild after the floods. Several communities along the East Coast of Demerara and in Georgetown were also flooded a few weeks ago. This was as a result of heavy rainfall and poor drainage infrastructure in some areas.

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News Miss Moruca 2017 crowned at Annual Expo copped several awards.

The young Marslowe had developed a fascination with sea creatures and had since desired to become a marine biologist. Since graduating from President’s College, she has been gainfully spending her time volunteering and working with underprivileged youths across the country, an initiative which she embarked on over the past few years. She believes that she can make an impact on their lives by sharing her own past experiences. The Amerindian beauty queen idolises and holds in high esteem, Marti Desouza. “His legacy as an Amerindian descendant has shown the world that it doesn't matter where you came from, you can be suc-

By Paula Gomes

H

ead held high, in her signature sixinch stilettos – to compensate for her exquisitely petite build – she serenely walked with a regal air into the Annual Moruca Pageant and effortlessly stole the much coveted title of 2017 as the curtains drew on July 22, 2017 at the 13th Annual Moruca Expo in Region One (BarimaWaini).

Resilient-spirited Andrea Marslowe could not have asked for a better 20th birthday present, being conveniently crowned on her birth night by Business Minister Dominic Gaskin.

The pageant diva of mixed Indigenous ancestry, despite having roots in the North West District, was born in Suddie on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), to parents Gary Marslowe and Lucy Wilson; she is the third of eight siblings. Marslowe began her nursery education in Bethany, Essequibo, and moved to attend Santa Rosa Primary School where she emerged as a top student at the National Grade Six Assessment in 2008. Her shine did not stop here as she proceeded to sit nine

Andrea Marslowe was crowned Miss Moruca 2017

subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level and qualified to attend Sixth Form at President’s College in 2014.

The Santa Rosa beauty wrote a total of 12 units at the advance level gaining passes in all and graduated from the senior secondary

institution in 2016. During her time at President’s College, Marslowe was actively involved in the President’s Youth Award of the Republic of Guyana (PYARG) Association and was selected to represent President’s College in the regional pageant in 2015; she placed second and

cessful once you put your all into it,” she says.

Marslowe took much pleasure in walking Guyana Times through her pageant journey in an exclusive interview on Sunday.

“My journey was one to always remember, since it’s one of the best birthday presents ever received – becoming Miss Moruca. I could not have done it without my mom and my sister, who believed in me even when I didn’t. My challenges were more of a personal one since I had a lot of selfdoubt,” she disclosed.

Responding to some criticism on social media, Miss Moruca maintains that she believes that the judges’ decision was an impartial one.

“While people out there

thought I was fearless and buoyant, I was scared out of my mind…but I worked hard and hence, the outcome was more than I could’ve ever thought it would be.”

The reigning queen spoke on her passion for pageantry while relaying that it was always her dream to follow in her elder sister’s footsteps as she extended heartfelt gratitude to her family, more specifically her mother and sister who have provided invaluable support throughout her journey. As the reigning Miss Moruca 2017, Marslowe is seeking to launch a project geared at targeting youth empowerment in all communities throughout the Moruca District.

Sparendaam man hospitalised following ECD collision

T

wenty-six-yearold motorcyclist Timothy Marshall of Sparendaam, ECD was involved in a vehicular accident with a motorcar at Ogle, East Coast Demerara on Sunday shortly after 1:00h; and had to be rushed to a city hospital, where doctors immediately performed surgery on him for the injuries he sustained in that encounter.

Guyana Times was told the preliminary investigations revealed that motor-

car PLL 7939, being driven by one “Franklin”, a 34-yearold resident of Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was proceeding in a westerly direction along the southern side of the southern carriageway of the ECD highway when motorcycle CG 7393, being driven by Timothy Marshall, allegedly drove out of a yard and turned east.

In so doing, the motorcycle hit the left front section of the car, and Marshall fell on the road surface. Public spirited citizens picked up

Marshall in an unconscious state and rushed him to a city hospital, and the Police were on the scene moments afterwards.

At the hospital, Marshall was examined and was admitted to the male surgical ward, while the driver was taken into police custody to assist with the investigations.

Guyana Times understands that Marshall’s condition is regarded as seriously injured.

news

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MONDAY, july 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Paternity leave among recommendations from Gender Commission – as 5th and 6th annual reports tabled in National Assembly

By Jarryl Bryan

T

he fifth and sixth annual reports of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, covering 2015 to 2017, was recently tabled in the National Assembly.

Paternity leave for men is among the 22 recommendations the Commission wants the Government to take action on.

According to the reports, the Commission wants the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to implement this measure, a move that will be seen by many as a progressive one. At present, only women benefit from any leave covered under the law, specifically for early child care.

In fact, even the threemonth maternity leave currently being offered runs counter to calls from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for six months’ leave.

Last year, then Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence had identified the extension of maternity leave and the provision of paternity leave as two likely items on the parliamentary agenda for this year.

Better for all In 2015, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) had

called for more employers to support breastfeeding mothers in the Caribbean and the Americas. The Organisation stated that the employers were more than likely to reap the benefits for their businesses and their countries’ economies.

PAHO had stressed the need to support women in balancing work and family, especially where breastfeeding their babies was concerned. Empirically researched public health recommendations have articulated the health benefits of breastfeeding, which ranged from reduced infections and improved IQ (intelligence quotient), in babies, to lowering the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in mothers.

The Health Organisation stated that promoting breastfeeding in the workplace increased benefits for employers, including employee loyalty to companies as a result of gratitude and satisfaction, and reduced absenteeism because breastfeeding employees’ babies get sick less often and less severely.

Therefore, it recommended that employers employ policies, specifically paid maternity leave, paid breaks for breastfeeding, a dedicated room for breastfeeding in the workplace that is private and hygien-

The Commission is chaired

by Indranie Chandarpal

ic, and flexible or reduced working hours for breastfeeding mothers.

Domestic violence and juvenile justice In the wake of the recent murder of 17-year-old Parbattie Lakhpal, allegedly at the hands of her paramour; the additional recommendation from the Commission for the full enactment of the Domestic Violence Act gains added weight.

The Commission also recommended the vigorous enforcement of protective orders and that breaches be dealt with accordingly.

In April, a protective order was not enough to save 29-year-old Dhanwantie Ram of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, who was found strangled with a bed sheet.

Her husband has since been charged. Her case is not an isolated one.

The Commission also urged the speedy enactment of the Juvenile Justice Reform Bill. The Government has taken action on this, as it is expected to be laid in the National Assembly in October.

There were also recommendations for Government to sign on to the optional protocol of women. The Commission also recommended that Government initiate pilots of Counselling Centres and Friendship Benches in communities.

Other recommendations The other recommendations from the Commission are for Government to enact legislation and formulate policy that caters for sexual harassment in the workplace and to strengthen gender focus in the Public Service. In fact, all programmes and pol-

icies should reflect gender mainstreaming for all Government employees.

Parliament is not left out, however. According to the Commission, it wants gender parity in both Parliament and Local Government bodies to be instituted and maintained.

This, it stated, is in keeping with Guyana’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number five: achieving gender equality.

The Commission also wants more comprehensive sexual and reproductive age-appropriate health and rights education to be included in schools. It also called for “gender mainstreaming” to be incorporated into the school curriculum.

“Promote parenting skills training in pre- and postnatal clinics in all health centres,” the report urges. “(And) encourage more male-friendly health centres such as the pilot project in Region Five.”

“Gender sensitivity training should be mandatory for all judicial, protective services, health and social services personnel,

especially those who interact with the public as part of their job,” the report recommends.

The report also chronicles the need for a National Gender Advisory Committee to be established, for Government to implement more “gender responsive” budgets and for a workplace policy on flexible working hours for all caregivers.

Not forgetting those with disabilities, the Commission recommended that all public buildings should be made accessible to persons with disabilities. In addition, it called for all Government documents to be clearly understandable. It identified the use of braille as an example.

The Commission is chaired by Indranie Chandarpal of the Women’s Progressive Organisation.

The Deputy Chairperson is Cheryl Sampson from the National Congress of Women.

The other Commissioners are drawn from the labour unions, regional women’s affairs committees, culture and ethnic groups and the Private Sector.

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News

Woman perishes in fire at Enterprise, ECD

P

olice, in a statement, have said that 56-year-old domestic worker Amilia Sookdeo perished in a fire of unknown origin which completely razed her 16’ X 10’ dwelling house at Enterprise, East Coast Demerara at about 16:00h on Sunday.

This victim is said to have had domestic problems.

50-year-old Terrence Prescott, a cane harvester of Enterprise Gardens Reserve, ECD, has allegedly described his wife – the victim -- as having been an alcoholic. He said she had, since last Sunday, left the house, as

The deadly blaze that claimed the life of one (Photos by John Ramsingh) The woman’s husband, “Bachi” in apparent disbelief over his wife’s demise

was her usual habit.

He alleges that he had

locked the house at about 13:30h and had gone into the backlands to pick green mangoes; and while there, he received a call that his house was on fire.

He said he immediately rushed home, only to find that the house, which had no electricity, had been completely burnt. Ranks of the Guyana Fire Service

had responded to the call and had gone into action.

A charred body suspected to be that of his wife, Amilia Sookdeo, was discovered among the ash-

es, and is presently at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

Investigations are in progress.

T&T business groups working on President’s College student confirmed dead anti-crime plan to present to Govt – body recovered, no marks of violence found

T

he worst fears of a Number Nine Village, West Coast Berbice family were confirmed after the body of Akeem Mangar, a student of President’s College, was pulled from a canal in the Village at 10:15h on Sunday. Police in Berbice confirmed the lad’s death is being treated as a drowning incident, as there were no marks of violence on the body. Preliminary investigations suggested that there was no foul play involved.

Reports are that young Mangar and some other teenagers were in the midst of enjoying their school holiday vacation by catching crabs on the foreshore on Saturday after-

Dead: 14-year-old student Akeem Mangar

noon. However, tragedy unfolded upon the youngsters when they had reportedly attempted to cross the canal. Media reports noted that Mangar’s friends tried to rescue him, but could not prevent his drowning.

Reports indicate that all those present at the drowning site were questioned

by Police. Mangar’s parents, Parbatan Mangar and Jennel Semple were overcome with emotion on the removal of their son’s body out of the canal on Sunday. The removal of the lad’s body by boat operators was broadcast live on a social media website. The President’s College student would have turned 15 next month.

T

he business sector has had enough of crime’s effects on Trinidad and Tobago. Consequently, several leading business entities – including the T&T Chamber, American Chamber of Commerce and others – are coming together to devise an anti-crime plan with multi-lateral agency assistance.

And they are hoping their plan can supplement Government’s anti-crime thrust.

Groups wrote Prime Minister Keith Rowley, National Security Council head, three weeks ago, indicating a willingness to assist Government in this critically troubled aspect of national challenges.

It is akin to moves made during the former People’s National Movement (PNM) Patrick Manning Administration when crime and kidnappings especially were at all-time highs.

Then, business groups had banded together to approach Government on the situation.

Now, in the current highcrime landscape, groups are determined to assist.

T&T Chamber Chief Executive Officer Gabriel Faria confirmed the groups’ initiative last Thursday – a day before former Chamber President and Sagicor Executive Vice President/ General Manager Robert Trestrail lead a candlelight vigil walk in memory of young Videsh Subar.

Subar, 13, was killed three weeks ago together with his caregiver, Haffiza Rose Mohammed at Mohammed’s Malabar home.

Subar’s mother, Veena, works at Sagicor.

Last Friday’s walk – where participants in white carried candles – took place at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima.

Amcham President Mitchell de Silva said Private Sector groups had signed communication which was sent to the Prime Minister, indicating a willingness to see how they can help Government’s plans against crime. “We’re not pointing fingers; however, we’re all in this together and we hope to contribute to solutions. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Deadly protests mar Venezuela ballot Mexico rescues 147 Central American as voters snub Maduro assembly

migrants headed for US

D

eadly protests rocked Venezuela on Sunday as voters broadly boycotted an election for a constitutional super-body that unpopular leftist President Nicolás Maduro vowed would begin a “new era of combat” in the crisis-stricken nation.

Opposition parties sat out what they call a rigged election aimed at consolidating Maduro’s power, leaving streets deserted and polling stations largely empty and dealing a blow to the legitimacy of the vote.

Anti-Maduro activists wearing hoods or masks erected barricades on roads and scuffles broke out with security forces who moved in quickly to disperse the demonstrators. Authorities said seven people were killed in the unrest and the Opposition said the true death toll was around a dozen people, which would make Sunday one of the deadliest days since mas-

M

Opposition supporters stand near a barricade as clashes break out while the Constituent Assembly election was being carried out in Caracas, Venezuela, July 30, 2017

sive and sustained protests kicked off in early April.

Maduro, widely reviled for overseeing an economic collapse during four years in office, has pressed ahead with the vote to create the all-powerful assembly despite the threat of US sanctions and months of Opposition protests in which around 120 people

have been killed.

Critics say the assembly will allow Maduro to dissolve the Opposition-run Congress, delay future elections and rewrite electoral rules to prevent the socialists from being voted out of power in the once-thriving nation.

In what could be the spread of more aggressive

tactics, a bomb exploded in Caracas and injured seven Police Officers.

The Opposition has vowed to redouble its resistance and US President Donald Trump has promised broader economic sanctions against Venezuela after the vote, suggesting the oil-rich nation’s crisis is set to escalate further. (Excerpt from Reuters)

exican authorities said on Sunday they rescued 147 Central Americans abandoned in the wilderness of Veracruz state after suspected human smugglers forced them out of the cramped tractor trailer they were travelling in on their way to the United States.

The migrants, 74 from Honduras, 59 from Guatemala, 13 from El Salvador and one from Nicaragua were in the back of the poorly ventilated vehicle as they travelled to the border state of Tamaulipas, where they would eventually be smuggled into the United States, Mexico’s national immigration institute said.

Among those rescued were 48 minors, including 14 travelling without an adult companion.

They were abandoned near a highway in the city of

Ozuluama, Veracruz.

Earlier this month, 10 people died and 29 were hospitalised after more than 100 illegal immigrants were packed into a stifling tractor trailer for a 240-kilometre (150-mile) drive from the US-Mexico border to San Antonio, where survivors spilled out into a Walmart parking lot in the Texas city.

“According to the testimony of migrants, the alleged traffickers, who used the Veracruz-Tampico route, in order to reach the United States, abandoned the migrants in the wilderness, where they were forced to hide in the bushes” without food or water, the immigration institute said.

Personnel from the immigration institute gave medical attention, food and water to the rescued Central Americans and contacted their respective embassies.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

monDAY, july 31, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Russia's President Putin orders 755 US diplomatic staff to leave

R

ussian President Vladimir Putin has announced that 755 staff must leave US diplomatic missions, in retaliation for new US sanctions against Moscow.

The decision to expel staff was made on Friday, but Mr Putin has now confirmed the number who must go by September 1.

It brings staff levels to 455, the same as Russia's complement in Washington.

This is thought to be the largest expulsion of diplomats from any country in modern history, says the BBC's Laura Bicker in Washington.

The number includes Russian employees of the US diplomatic missions across Russia, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow adds.

Staff in the embassy in Moscow as well as the consulates in Ekaterinburg, Vladivostok and St Petersburg are affected, she

The ejections will bring the embassy numbers in Moscow and Washington to 455

says.

Putin did strike a conciliatory note, saying he did not want to impose more measures, but also said he could not see ties changing "anytime soon".

Putin told Russian television: "More than 1000 people were working and are still working" at the US Embassy and consulates, and that "755 people must stop their activities in Russia."

Russia has also said it is seizing holiday properties

and a warehouse used by US diplomats.

Putin suggested he could consider more measures, but said: "I am against it as of today."

He also noted the creation of a de-escalation zone in southern Syria as an example of a concrete result of working together.

However, in terms of general relations, he added: "We have waited long enough, hoping that the situation would perhaps change for the better. (Excerpt from BBC News)

North Korea: US says 'no value' in UN Security Council meeting

T

he United States says it will not call for a United Nations Security Council meeting over North Korea's missile tests because it would produce "nothing of consequence".

Such a meeting would send a message to North Korea that the international community was unwilling to challenge it, US Ambassador Nikki Haley said.

Pyongyang said its tests proved that the entire US was within range.

The US has responded by

17

testing an anti-missile system and flying bombers over the Korean peninsula.

Haley said in a statement that North Korea was already subject to numerous Security Council resolutions that they "flout with impunity".

"An additional Security Council resolution that does not significantly increase the international pressure on North Korea is of no value," she said.

"In fact it is worse than nothing because it sends the message to the North

Korean dictator that the international community is unwilling to seriously challenge him."

She urged China to rein in North Korea.

"China must decide whether it is finally willing to take this vital step. The time for talk is over," she added.

On Friday, North Korea test-fired a second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

The launch came three weeks after the state's first ICBM test. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Saudi Arabia says calls for internationalisation of holy sites 'a declaration of war' S audi Arabia's Foreign Minister called Qatar's demands for an internationalisation of the Muslim hajj pilgrimage a declaration of war against the kingdom, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television said on Sunday, although it was unclear whether Qatar had actually made any such demand.

"Qatar's demands to internationalise the holy sites is aggressive and a declaration of war against the kingdom," Adel al-Jubeir was quoted saying on Al Arabiya's website.

"We reserve the right to respond to anyone who is working on the internationalization of the holy sites," he said.

However, it was unclear whether Qatar made the demand. It did accuse the Saudis of politicising Hajj and addressed the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion on Saturday, expressing concern about obstacles facing Qataris who want to attend hajj this year.

No one from the Qatari Government was immediately available for comment.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain have previously issued a list of 13 demands for Qatar, which include curtailing its support for the Muslim Brotherhood, shutting down the Dohabased Al Jazeera channel, closing a Turkish military base and downgrading its relations with Gulf enemy Iran.

On Sunday, Foreign Ministers of the four countries said they were ready for dialogue with Qatar if it showed willingness to tackle their demands. (Reuters)

India heroin bust: Coastguard seizes 1500kg of drugs

I

ndian authorities have seized a massive 1500 kilograms (3300lb) haul of heroin from a ship off the coast of the western state of Gujarat.

The narcotics were found on a merchant vessel, and were worth almost US$550 million, a statement from the coastguard said.

Navy spokesman D K Sharma described it as "the largest single haul of narcotics to date".

The vessel has now been taken to the western city of Porbandar.

India is part of a transit route in the lucrative drug smuggling trade, due to its proximity to Afghanistan, which is the world's largest producer of opium – the

India's proximity to Afghanistan means it is part of a drugs transit route (file photo)

main ingredient in heroin.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says large shipments of Afghan heroin are smuggled across the Indian Ocean to east and southern Africa.

India has a serious her-

oin problem in the northern state of Punjab.

A study suggests that more than 860,000 men between the ages of 15 and 35 there take some form of drugs, with heroin afflicting 53 per cent of addicts. (BBC News)

Israeli court upholds jail term for South Korea birth rate ex-soldier in Hebron shooting

plunges to record low A

T

he growth of South Korea's population this year will be the slowest rate ever recorded, despite efforts to boost it, officials say.

About 360,000 babies

Officials blame rising youth unemployment.

But couples say the rising cost of living, including housing and soaring education prices, means that having a large family is not an

The country has spent billions trying to encourage people to have more children

will be born, leading to concern over the effect of an ageing population on the economy.

option.

Women have additional concerns over weak maternity-leave policies and a

stubborn resistance by men to help with the housework, BBC World Service AsiaPacific editor Celia Hatton says.

It is the first time the number of births in a year has fallen below 400,000.

South Korea has spent about US$70 billion trying to boost the country's birth rate over the past decade, handing out baby bonuses, improving paternity leave and paying for infertility treatment. Officials fear that a low birth rate could reduce the number of people in the workforce and drive up welfare costs for the increasing elderly population, undermining the potential for economic growth.

South Korea's death rate in 2016 was estimated to be 5.8 people per 1000 of the population, or about 295,000. (BBC News)

n Israeli military appeal court upheld a manslaughter conviction and 18-month jail sentence on Sunday for a former army conscript who killed an incapacitated Palestinian assailant in the occupied West Bank. In one of the most divisive trials in the Israel's history, the panel of judges, including field generals, rejected challenges lodged by Elor Azaria, who says he had acted

in line with defence doctrines.

"Values have been greatly damaged by the defendant's actions," the Chief Judge, Major-General Doron Feiles, said in reading out the ruling.

"This was a forbidden and immoral act." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman, however, said the ex-soldier should be pardoned. In March 2015, Azaria was serving as an army med-

Former Israeli soldier Elor Azaria (centre), who was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for killing a wounded and incapacitated Palestinian assailant

ic in the town of Hebron in the occupied West Bank when two Palestinians stabbed and wounded another soldier. One of the assailants was shot dead by troops. The other was shot and wounded.

Eleven minutes later, as the wounded man, Abd Elfatah Ashareef, 21, lay on the ground unable to move, Azaria, then 19, took aim with his rifle and fatally shot him in the head. The incident was captured on video by a Palestinian rights activist.

Azaria became a cause celebre, backed by right-wingers in Israel, where most Jewish men and women are drafted at 18 for military service. One poll found that nearly half of the Jewish majority believed any Palestinian attacker should be killed on the spot.

The Palestinian Government said the 18-month jail term had given Israeli soldiers a "green light" to kill with impunity. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

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monDAY, july 31, 2017

ARCHIE

Get involved in activities that require energy and en(March 21- thusiasm. Your potential will April 19) be impressive and will attract an influential someone to your cause.

ARIES

Acceptance and a willingTAURUS ness to work alongside others (April 20- will help you avoid an arguMay 20) ment. Patience, practicality and an expressive point of view will keep you moving forward.

dilbert

You can bring about GEMINI (May 21- change, but check the details June 20) thoroughly before you do so.

Knowing what you are up against will help you navigate your way through any opposition you encounter.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

WORD GAME

An innovative approach to a job you are asked to do will result in recognition. Keep your distance from anyone who tends to be a poor influence. Indulgence or overreaction will spoil your victory.

Settle into a pattern or routine that will help you secure your position and cement your plans. Don’t allow an emotional situation to sidetrack you.

Being practical is good, VIRGO (Aug. 23- but don’t limit what you can Sept. 22) accomplish for fear of trying something new or using unusual ideas to reach your goals. Romance is highlighted.

Stop talking and start LIBRA doing.

Take the initia(Sept. 23tive and make a difference.

Oct. 23) Overreacting or being indulgent won’t work out well. Aim to stabilize, not to disrupt, your situation.

SUDOKU

Step away from a stressful SCORPIO situation and put your time, (Oct. 24energy and effort into a relaxNov. 22) ing, creative pursuit or something that will contribute to greater self-awareness and personal growth.

Maintain secrecy when it SAGITTARIUS comes to personal informa(Nov. 23- tion, passwords or your finanDec. 21) cial status. Someone is likely to go behind your back or use misinformation to manipulate you.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Listen to good advice.

CAPRICORN Back away from anyone who (Dec. 22- is inconsistent or tends to be Jan. 19) indulgent. Surround yourself with people you know you can trust and who share your views.

There is money to be made AQUARIUS and there are opportunities to (Jan. 20- be had. Changes at home will Feb. 19) encourage you to put greater effort into your appearance and health.

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

Check out the job market PISCES and look for opportunities to (Feb. 20March 20) bring in extra cash. A unique idea will encourage you to take on more responsibility.

Nurture an important relationship.

monDAY, july 31, 2017

19

Bravo happy saga with Fellaini, Lukaku and McTominay younger brother is over seal routine win M

E

mbattled West Indies batsman Darren Bravo will be allowed to play the entire Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) after apologising for an offensive Tweet and pulling it from Twitter.

The news, for his captain with the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) and older brother, Dwayne Bravo, is good.

According to the older Bravo, Darren’s input in the TKR is invaluable and he’s happy to have him.

“Darren is a very key member of the TKR team.

The year we won he was the main batsman for us.

Last year we had him for four games, this year we have him for the entire tournament which is a bonus,” said Dwayne Bravo.

Darren Bravo was sent home from a tour of Zimbabwe late last year after the batsman responded angrily to a comment from Cricket West Indies president Dave Cameron on the SportsMax Zone with a tweet.

Bravo had earlier turned down a ‘C’ contract, offered by the West Indies Cricket Board (now Cricket

The Bravo brothers! Darren and Dwayne

West Indies), and Cameron had responded on the popular talkshow, saying Bravo couldn’t continue on an ‘A’ contract because his performances had been on the decline.

The younger Bravo responded with a tweet that said Cameron should resign because he had been failing, and that he was never on an ‘A’ contract, before calling the president a big idiot.

The batsman was asked to remove the tweet and to apologise. Neither was forethcoming until very recently and he has been out of West Indies cricket since

that time.

Bravo may now be free to play cricket after the CPL as well, and that, according to Dwayne Bravo, is another plus.

“I am happy Darren could come back and play cricket and continue his career. After CPL there is a lot of cricket, so where he chooses to go, whether he gets selected or not that’s up to those who are in charge. The most important thing is that he apologised and he is ready and focused on playing cricket again,” said Dwayne Bravo.

(Sportsmax)

arouane Fellaini scored on what could prove to be one of his last Manchester United appearances in a friendly win over Valerenga.

Manchester United got back to winning ways in pre-season with a 3-0 victory over Valerenga in Oslo on Sunday.

Headers either side of half-time from Marouane Fellaini and Romelu Lukaku, followed by a Scott McTominay strike, enabled Jose Mourinho’s side to bounce back from their International Champions Cup loss to Barcelona on Thursday.

Fellaini was something of a surprise starter in Norway, Galatasaray having confirmed they are in talks to sign the 29-yearold, with United expected to finalise a deal for Nemanja Matic in the coming days.

A relatively strong United line-up controlled the early possession and Paul Pogba was inches from giving them a prompt lead, cutting inside to the right of the penalty area before curling a left-footed shot off the far post.

Mourinho’s side continued to dictate the play but chances were scarce against a compact Valerenga defence, with a speculative effort from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and a teasing Daley Blind cross looking likely to be the closest they came to a first-half breakthrough.

That was until Fellaini struck with just over a minute to go before the break, the Belgium international’s header from a Mkhitaryan cross deflecting past goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey and into the net.

Mourinho made nine changes to his side at half-time and it was two of his substitutes who combined to double the lead in the 48th minute, Andreas Pereira bending in a corner that was powered into the net off the head of Lukaku.

Sergio Romero and the excellent Pogba were withdrawn for Joel Pereira and

Marouane Fellaini

McTominay as Mourinho made good on his promise to give everyone a chance to impress, just before Valerenga missed their first clear chance of the opening hour, Ghayas Zahid blazing over from 12 yards out.

United made the win safe with 20 minutes to play, as McTominay collected a deflected Anthony Martial throughball before turning and curling home his first senior goal from inside the penalty area.

The visitors now travel to Dublin for a meeting with Sampdoria on Wednesday – their last pre-season game before the UEFA Super Cup clash with Real Madrid on August 8. (Sportsmax)

Van NiekerkMakwala rivalry to replace Bolt-Gatlin?

T

he world of big sprinting has forever been about classic battles.

In recent times there has been the relative dominance of one Usain St Leo Bolt, but throughout that 12-year period, there has come and go a number of battles, though short-lived that have enticed.

First there was the battle between Bolt and sub10 king Asafa Powell. That didn’t last long. Then there was the challenge of Tyson

Gay, who followed Bolt into rarified air, clocking sub-9.7 times and even beating the big sprinter in a one-off race.

That was not to last either.

Then Bolt faced competition from within, heir-apparent at the time, Yohan Blake.

Blake has the second fastest times in history over both the 100 and 200-metre sprints, clocking 19.26 in the halflap event and 9.69 in the

Isaac Makwala (centre) & Wade Van Niekerk re-ignite rivalry as Usain Bolt headlines London Diamond League

shorter of the sprints.

Blake became world champion in the absence of a false-starting Bolt, and beat the big man twice at the National Championships in Kingston, Jamaica before that.

Injury put paid to that

rivalry but then came Justin Gatlin.

At 30+, Gatlin was running as fast as he had ever run and dismissed strong fields with the same kind of authority that Bolt did.

At the 2015 World Championships, Bolt clipped him by a whisker,

maintaining his legend but not putting out the fires of his mortality.

A dominant 200-metre victory would quiet those fires a little, but Gatlin is still around and believes that maybe, he can eclipse Bolt this time around.

What is next in the

world of battles.

The most dominant sprinter on the eve of Bolt’s retirement is a South African by the name of Wayde van Niekerk.

Van Niekerk, won th 2015 World Championships in impressive fashion, before scuppering Michael Johnson’s 43.18 World Record with a blistering 43.02 at the Olympics the following year.

Enter stage left, Isaac Makwala.

The runner from Botswana was always a phenomenal talent, however, this season he has gotten stronger, faster, and seems to be timing his runs over 400 metres better, as was the case in a sprint for home against van Niekerk at the Monaco Diamond League.

Van Niekerk was pushed and pushed hard.

Could this be the rivalry that captivates track and field fans over the next few years? Could it be the battle that keeps a struggling sport above water? (Sportsmax)

20

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Stokes’ burst leaves South Africa facing defeat E

ngland ripped apart South Africa’s top order in Sunday’s final session at the Oval to bear down on a victory that would put them 2-1 up with one to play in the four-test series.

Two wickets from successive balls in Ben Stokes’ third over removed Quinton de Kock (5) and Faf du Plessis (0) and ended faint South Africa hopes of mounting a rearguard action in pursuit of their nominal target of 492.

Although Stokes failed to record what would have been the first-ever test hattrick at the Oval, the damage was done. Du Plessis’ wicket, lbw without playing a shot to a first-ball inswinger, was a particular blow, with South Africa needing their captain to survive at least into Monday.

The tourists limped to the close on 117-4, still 375 short of their target with a day’s play remaining.

The battling Dean Elgar was unbeaten on 72 despite a painful blow to his finger, and Temba Bavuma on 16, as England turned to Moeen Ali to try to secure another breakthrough.

Elgar had been fortunate to survive on nine, dropped

by Keaton Jennings at third slip off Jimmy Anderson,

lusty blows as England’s lead extended way beyond the test record for a successful final innings run chase of 418.

If South Africa fail to survive on Monday, it will complete a one-sided sequence in each of the tests.

England won by 211 runs at Lord’s before South Africa hit back with an even more emphatic 340-run victory at Trent Bridge.

The final test starts in Manchester on Friday, Aug. 4. ( Reuters)

SCOREBOARD

Hashim Amla of South Africa bats as Jonny Bairstow of England appeals for lbw

and went on to strike seven fours in his 77-ball half-century.

No one else provided much resistance. Before Stokes struck, Stuart Broad removed opener Heino Kuhn for 11 and Toby RolandJones dismissed Hashim Amla for the second time in the match, this time having South Africa’s danger man sharply caught by Joe Root in the slips for five.

England have a further 98 overs available on

Monday to complete the victory and vindicate Root’s decision to delay his declaration to apply maximum pressure to South Africa.

England’s new captain eventually called time when Jonny Bairstow was dismissed before tea after a breezy 63 which lifted England, who had resumed on 74-1, to 313-8.

After Jennings departed early for a painstaking 48, debutant Tom Westley pushed on to a maiden

half-century, an innings that should ensure an extended run at England’s problem number three spot.

Westley went on to make 59 before he was stumped misjudging a dash at Keshav Maharaj. Root (50) followed soon afterwards, top-edging the same bowler after recording a half-century for the ninth successive match.

England gradually accelerated with Stokes (31) and Roland-Jones (23 not out) joining Bairstow in some

England 1st innings 353 South Africa 1st innings 175 England 2nd innings (Overnight: 74-1) A. Cook b M. Morkel 7 K. Jennings c Morris b Rabada 48 T. Westley st de Kock b Maharaj 59 J. Root c M. Morkel b Maharaj 50 D. Malan lbw b Morris 10 B. Stokes b Morris 31 J. Bairstow c Rabada b Maharaj 63 M. Ali run out (, Bavuma) 8 T. Roland-Jones not out 23 Extras (lb-11 w-3) 14 Total (for 8 wickets declared, 79.5 overs) 313 Fall of wickets: 1-30 A. Cook,2-92 K. Jennings,3-170 T. Westley,4-180 J. Root,5-202 D. Malan,6-251 B. Stokes,7-265 M. Ali,8-313 J. Bairstow Did not bat: S. Broad, J. Anderson Bowling: M Morkel 19 - 6

- 44 - 1(w-1), Philander15 - 3 - 54 - 0(w-2), Rabada 18 - 4 - 56 – 1, Morris 11 - 0 70- 2 Maharaj 13.5 - 2 - 50 – 3, Elgar 3 - 0 - 28 - 0 South Africa 2nd innings (Target: 492 runs) H. Kuhn b Broad 11 D. Elgar not out 72 H. Amla c Root b RolandJones 5 Q. de Kock b Stokes 5 F. du Plessis lbw b Stokes 0 T. Bavuma not out 16 Extras (lb-5 nb-3) 8 Total (for 4 wickets, 38 overs) 117 Fall of wickets: 1-21 H. Kuhn,2-47 H. Amla,3-52 Q. de Kock,4-52 F. du Plessis To bat: V. Philander, C. Morris, K. Maharaj, K. Rabada, M. Morkel Bowling : Anderson8 - 0 20 – 0, Broad 10 - 3 - 27 – 1, Roland-Jones 7 - 1 - 20 – 1, Stokes 8 - 0 - 29 2(nb-3), M. Ali 5 - 2 - 16 - 0

Chelsea midfielder Matic Barca beat Madrid to win International Champions Cup has medical at United

C

B

arcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2 in the first friendly El Clasico since 1991 - and only the second meeting of the clubs outside Spain - to win the International Champions Cup. A crowd of 66,014 in Miami on Saturday watched goals from Lionel Messi and Ivan Rakitic give Barca an early lead before Mateo Kovacic and Marco Asensio pulled Real level.

The spectators at the Hard Rock stadium were then treated to a prolonged half-time break with music, lights and fireworks more akin to the Super Bowl.

When the game eventually restarted, Gerard Pique steered in a Neymar freekick to give last season’s Copa del Rey winners victo-

ry over the reigning Spanish and European champions.

Brazil forward Neymar played for 72 minutes as speculation continues about a world record 220m euros (£197m) move to Paris StGermain.

The 25-year-old was left clutching an ankle in the opening minutes of the game. However, he recovered to set up Rakitic after just seven minutes, before delivering a pin-point freekick for Pique in the second half. “I don’t want to speculate about Neymar,” said Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde after the match. “I always try to talk about things that happen rather than things that might happen.

“We are going to wait.

From my perspective, we

have Neymar in our team, we count on him and we have to see.”

PSG full-back Dani Alves, a former Barcelona team-mate of Neymar, has urged his compatriot to “be brave” when making a choice about his future.

“It’s an important decision for him and it’s the kind of decision men have to make,” said Alves.

“I helped him come to Barcelona. I did not make the decision for him, but I told him what Barcelona was like and he decided to move there. Decisions are for the brave.

“Obviously if he were here that would be much better. It’s a decision you have to make carefully - but you have to be selfish.”

While Barcelona had al-

ready beaten Manchester United and Juventus in the International Champions Cup, Real had failed to win a game in the friendly competition.

A penalty shootout defeat by United was followed by a 4-1 loss to Manchester City in Los Angeles.

However, Zinedine Zidane insists his side will be ready for the Super Cup meeting with United in Skopje in just over a week.

“This is pre-season and this doesn’t alter anything.

The important thing is to be ready for August 8,” said the Frenchman.

“I saw some good things, but also some things I didn’t like. I’m not bothered by the defeat. We don’t like to lose but that’s not the most important thing.” (BBC)

helsea midfielder Nemanja Matic has undergone a medical at Manchester United ahead of a 40-million-pound ($52.53-million)move that will reunite him with former manager Jose Mourinho, British media said.

The midfielder was pictured at the club’s Carrington Road training complex on Sunday, with media reporting that a deal would be announced on Monday. It will be the second time that Matic, who turns 29 on Tuesday, has played under Mourinho. The Portuguese first signed him when he was Chelsea manager, for 21 million pounds in Jan. 2014.

Matic, who had originally joined the Blues in 2009 before moving to Benfica in 2011, became an influential part of Chelsea’s title-winning side under Mourinho in 201415. However, the 32-times capped Serbian international was among those underperforming badly in Mourinho’s final season at Stamford Bridge before becoming a regular as new manager Antonio Conte took Chelsea to another title last season.

This month Chelsea have signed Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko and, probably sensing his place was under threat, Matic declined to sign an extension to his contact

which had two years left to run.

At Old Trafford, Matic will be reunited with another former Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata and compete with Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini for a first-team spot.

Matic’s arrival follows Mourinho’s unsuccessful move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier as United seek to mount a serious Premier League challenge for the first time since the departure of Alex Ferguson in 2013.

United have already signed 30-million-pound defender Victor Lindelof from Benfica and paid Everton 75 million pounds for striker Romelu Lukaku. (Reuters)

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ScotiaBank continues Regional blind and visually

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Robb Street Branch Manager Brian Hackett handing over the cheque to GRFU’s Troy Yhip as some of the participants of the youth camp look on

S

cotia Bank Guyana, the corporation that has been a longtime supporter of youth rugby development in Guyana, on Friday demonstrated continued support for this endeavour with the donation of a cheque to Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU)? to run the youth programme ?for another year.

The funds will go toward the local rugby governing body’s weekend youth programme as the GRFU continues their drive to build their nursery for the sustained success of the national ruggers.

Brian Hackett, Scotia’s Robb Street branch manager, has said that the bank recognises that rugby is not heavily funded, hence they saw the need to help maintain the country’s success in the sport by “empowering the players of tomorrow”.

“This is our third presen-

tation to the Guyana Rugby Union (GRFU), in preparation of the youth for development of rugby in general. We support them in their community programmes in which about thirty or more children participate in every weekend, learning the sport and having an opportunity to have something different,” Hackett maintained.

He continued, “We trust that we will continue to support them. We love the idea of working with the kids and ensuring they have the ability to develop themselves and this sport in general, as this sport has seen very little support generally; and we thought it would be a good opportunity to invest our time and money in developing these kids.”

GRFU Representative and Development Officer Troy Yhip acknowledged that Scotia Bank’s support has made a tremendous dif-

ference in the GRFU’s weekend and schools rugby programme.

“I would like to thank Mr Hackett and his Scotiabank team for being on board with us with such a big offer for the last three years. But basically, they have been on board for the last 7 years,” Yhup noted.

He revealed, “With their generosity the programme has grown, the summer camp has grown from 50 to 120 children this year because of Scotia Bank, and we plan to use the money to host a school tournament.”

The GRFU recently concluded their 7th annual rugby camp, designed to teach and further enhance the country’s rugby programme. The camp saw more than one hundred young people between the ages of 7 and 11 participating in the Scotiabanksponsored event.

From left: Leroy Phillips, Kevin Douglas and Ganesh Singh are the Guyanese who were part of the West Indies T20 World Cup squad earlier this year

as three teams will defy all odds on a battlefield where grace is expected to prevail over all.

Over 42 of the Region’s best will be on show for top honours and spots on the West Indies Team for the limited overs World Cup in Dubai and Pakistan in January 2018.

Guyana, Barbados and Jamaica are the teams that will be vying for top hon-

most welcome due to the nature of the event, which is heavily dependent on contributions from outside the special community.

For more information in relation to the tournament, interested persons could contact Treasurer of the Guyana Council for the Blind Treasurer, Theresa Pemberton, on 670-3535; or captain of the Guyana team, Ganesh Singh, on 652-8975.

Hamilton gives up 3rd in Hungary as Vettel wins S

ebastian Vettel hung on to win a tense Hungarian Grand Prix despite problems with his Ferrari and a valiant attack by title rival Lewis Hamilton.

In a nail-biting finish, Vettel had his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen behind complaining that he could go faster but being used by the team as a buffer against Hamilton.

The Mercedes driver closed in but was unable to overcome the

problems created by losing grip in the wake of another car.

And he let team-mate Valtteri Bottas past into third place, honouring a promise he made earlier in the race when the Finn moved aside to let Hamilton attack the Ferraris.

Vettel’s victory with Hamilton in fourth extended his championship lead to 14 points as Formula 1 heads into its four-week summer break.

Hamilton’s challenge for victo-

Sebastian Vettel

ry was unexpected after a weekend in which he and his Mercedes team had struggled for pace compared to Ferrari.

Vettel and Raikkonen dominated the first half of the race, in which it was already clear that the German was managing some form of handling problem and that the Finn was being asked to hold station behind.

It emerged that his steering was not working properly in left-handed corners.

The switch to harder tyres at the pit stops changed the complexion of the race and gave Mercedes the pace to challenge.

Hamilton had suffered with radio problems in the first part of the race, unable to consistently hear his team.

It righted itself after the pit stops as Hamilton was closing on Valtteri Bottas as the Finn was doing the same to the Ferraris.

Hamilton asked to be allowed past his team-mate to attack the Ferraris, saying: “OK, man. I’ve got a lot of pace. You’ve got to let me use it. And this radio rubbish sucks.”

Hamilton pledged that he would allow Bottas back past him if he could not overtake a Ferrari.

Bottas complied and Hamilton set about the Ferraris, but although he closed on Raikkonen he was unable to pass, his car’s aerodynamics too badly affected by the wake of the Ferrari on this tight and twisty track for him to get on to Raikkonen’s tail.

Raikkonen complained that he was “uncomfortable” with the situation but he played his role perfectly, with Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne watching from the pits.

It affirmed Raikkonen’s position as a team player and will only make it more likely that he will be retained for next year as long as Vettel also stays. (BBC)

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No surprises in qualifying line-up for Guyana’s Inter-Guiana Games team

By Michelangelo Jacobus

D

aniel Williams, Tyrell Peters, Samuel Lynch, Joanna Archer and Chantoba Bright, among others, have all qualified for inclusion on the Guyana’s Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) squad to compete at the upcoming games in Suriname.

The athletes competed successfully in the Athletics Association of Guyana’s (AAG’s) trials held on Saturday at the Synthetic Track at Leonora, WCD. With the notable absence of sprint ace Compton Caesar, who is no longer in school and thus cannot compete at the games, Tyrell Peters is set to defend Guyana in the 100 metre event, as he qualified with the fastest time of 10.71s in the 100m, while Umkosi Vancooten will be his partner, as he clocked the second best time of 11.04s.

In the 200m, World U-18 400m silver medalist Daniel Williams had the fastest time -- 21.52s -- while Peters was second in 22.34s.

Toyan Raymond will be representing Guyana in the females’ sprint events of 100m and 200m, as she won both events, clocking 24.66s in the 200m. DeShauna Skeete of Wismar, Linden will be her partner, as she was second, in 25.75s.

Kenisha Phillips, the goto girls’ representative, is currently out of action, having picked up an injury re-

Daniel Williams easily won the Boys’ 200m event, without any real challenge

5.22m.

Joana Archer easily won her pet event, the Girls’ 800m, in a time of 2:26.79s; while Kezra Murray was her closest challenger, with 2:27.99s.

Samuel Lynch was first in the boys’ 800m event, clocking a time of 1:59.59s; while Daniel Melville was second in 2:02.30s.

Williams, in an interview after his 200m run, said he is expecting a good performance despite not being on

Tyrell Peters will take on the mantle of representing Guyana in the 100m race at the IGG

cently.

In the Boys’ 1500m, Murphy Nash of Christianburg qualified in first place in a time of 4:30.47s, while Running Braves’ athlete Ronaldo Wishart was second in 4:34.91s.

Samuel “Sammy” Lynch surprisingly finished in first place, ahead of Daniel Williams in the Boys’ 400m event, in a time of 50.06s.

Williams clocked 51.63s.

In the Female 1500m, Police athlete Joana Archer

was first in 5:03.21s, while Shaquka Tyrell was second, in 5:04.67s.

GDF athlete Anthony Williams earned the right to represent Guyana when he won the Boys’ long jump with a leap of 6.52m, while Ronaldo Greene was second with 6.51m.

As has been the norm in recent times, Chantoba Bright had no real challenge in the Girls’ long jump, and she won easily with a jump of 5.62m; while Toyan Raymond was second with

a synthetic track. He promised to do his best to bring home medals for Guyana.

The Inter-Guiana Games is the brainchild of Guyana’s first Executive President, Forbes Burnham, and is in its 50th year of existence.

This year’s games will be held in Suriname.

The Games usually involve competition in basketball, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, chess, athletics, swimming, and table tennis.

Uganda’s 800m Olympian Mutenkanga to highlight Boyce & Jefford Classic VIII

T

he Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic VIII will be staged at the MSC Ground in Linden on August 12-13, and a major event will be the International Men’s 800m race, as one of Uganda’s top middle distance athletes, Julius Mutenkanga -- who represented his country at the 2012 Olympic Games in London -- will be competing therein.

USA-based Guyanese athlete Kevin Bayley is the defending champion in this event, and he has every intention of defending his esteemed title, even with the inclusion in this event of Trinidad and Tobago’s Ashton Gill, who was second to Bayley last year.

With Mutenkanga in the mix, a mouth-watering prospect of fantastic performances promises to be one of the highlights of the 2017 Championships in Linden.

Mutenkanga runs the 800m in a time below 1:50.00; and just last year, he broke Uganda’s national 600m record. His personal best time is 1:46.30, which he ran to qualify for the International Association of Athletics

Federations’ (IAAF’s) World Championships in Daegu in 2011.

Ironically, 2011 is the year that Dennis Horatio established the Boyce and

Olympic Games, the 29-year-old Mutenkanga also ran at the World Indoor Championships. He competes as an elite athlete for the Central Park Track

Headecker, along with the GPF’s Quacy Morian and Samuel Lynch, cannot be ruled out of the top three finishers. The race is also likely to include Desmond

Uganda’s Julius Mutenkanga (left) is coming to Guyana to compete in the 800m event at the Boyce & Jefford Track and Field Classic VIII, set for August 12-13 at the MSC Ground in Linden

Jefford 800m record with a time of 1:55.90.

With such an international field in the race this year, along with the quality of local athletes, Horatio’s record seems to be under serious threat.

Apart from the World Championships and

Club in the United States, which is sponsored by New Balance.

However, Guyanese contenders in this event would be eager to ensure that the prize money up for grabs stays at home. As such, Guyana Defence Force standout athlete Anfernee

Amsterdam and Daniel Melville. The winner of the race pockets US$250, while second and third place finishers get US$150 and US$100 respectively.

The male 800m event is one of six international events scheduled for this meet.

GT Beer ‘Keep Ya 5 Alive’

Future Stars, Goal is Money prevail in high-scoring semis T

he youthful duo of Kevin Cummings and Chase Academy’s U-18 captain Jeremy Garrett struck a hat-trick each for Future Stars to knock out veterans Sparta Boss in a high-scoring semi-final encounter on Saturday night at the National Gymnasium.

The game started at a frantic pace in front of a sizable crowd that was partisan to Sparta Boss; and Sparta Boss had threatened to run away with the game through two early strikes from Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson, in the 6th and 8th minutes, to give his side a 2-0 lead.

Cummings, however, hauled one back for Future Stars, in the 10th minute, and from that point onwards it was a back-andforth game, as both teams began scoring at

one back for Sparta; but by then it was too late, as Future Stars held on to win 7-6.

Earlier, in the first semi-final of the night, West Front Road’s “Gold is Money” outscored a resistant Back-Circle 7-5 to book a spot against Future Stars in the final.

“Gold is Money” captain Hubert Pedro led from the front with a helmet-trick of goals. He opened the scoring in the 8th minute, while Carl Tudor increased the lead in the 10th minute, and Pedro made it 3-0 just a minute later.

Back-Circle’s Stephon McLean in the 13th and Jermain Beckles in the 15th and 19th minutes respectively would equalize for their team, but Randolph Wagner would restore West Front Road’s advantage in the

frequent intervals.

D e v o n Millington extended Sparta’s lead to 3-1 in the 15th minute, while Cummings added his second in the 21st, to keep Future Stars in the game at 3-2.

Garrett struck his first of the night just a minute later, to equalize for Future Stars; but Sparta’s Eusi Philips struck immediately after, to make it a 4-3 game in favour of Sparta.

Millington had his second of the night in the 25th minute, to extend his side’s lead to 5-3; but Garrett had other ideas, and struck one from a distance in the 26th minute, while Cummings completed his hat-trick in the 30th minute to draw the game level at 5-5.

Future Stars’ Curtez Kellman was the next to score, netting in the 44th minute, while teammate Garrett completed his hattrick in the 46th minute, to make it 7-5 for their side.

Richardson would score his third goal of the game in the 47th minute, to haul

25th minute.

It was end-toend action, as Beckles equalized for Back Circle for the second time in the game when he poked one home in the 30th minute.

However, Pedro struck in the 33rd minute, and Wagner added his second of the game in the 36th minute, to leave the game at 6-4.

Back Circle’s McLean scored his side’s final goal of the game in the 37th minute, while Pedro struck his fourth for West Front Road in the 39th minute, to seal the deal for his side.

Future Stars will do battle with West Front Road’s “Gold is Money” on August 5 at the National Gymnasium. At stake is the top prize of $500,000; runner-ups will cop $250,000.

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monDAY, july 31, 2017

23

Warriors’ Khan eager to inflict more misery on opponents

By Akeem Greene

S

ince his introduction on the international scene for Afghanistan, Rashid Khan has been touted as the teenage leg-spinning sensation who bamboozles batsmen with cutting edge accuracy and guile.

Now suiting up for the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the fifth edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which begins on August 4, Khan is planning on causing more nightmares for opposition batsmen.

Khan’s career has been on the upswing since making his T20 International debut in October 2015. He boasts figures of 5 runs for 3 wickets from 2 overs in an Afghanistan match against Ireland.

The precocious leg-spinner fetched the highest ever bid for an Associate player in the 2017 Indian Premier League Auction. He was

snapped up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 4 crores (US$597,000), and performed exceptionally, as was expected.

From 14 matches, he snared 17 wickets at an economy rate of 6.62; and has had a best showing of 3 for 19, which placed him sixth on the leading wicket-takers’ list.

“What I did for the last two years I will try my best and do the basics right, and let’s see what happens.

Hopefully, this will be a good year”, the 18-year-old disclosed in an interview with Guyana Times Sport “It is a pleasure to be a part of the Amazon Warriors. They took me in, and having teammates like [Sohail] Tanveer and Babar Azam is really good”, he added.

Most recently, in the 50Over format, he etched his name in the annals of history by ripping West Indies to shreds in St Lucia with figures of 7 for 18, the fourth

best in the format.

“It was good for me playing against West Indies; I performed well in St Lucia.

What I did was try to bowl the basics right based on the conditions, and it brought

bit different from the other leg spinners. I’m too quick in the air, with a quick-arm action which makes it difficult for them [batsmen] to pick the spin; and that is helping me to get lots of

a festive atmosphere, and Khan has promised to bring his ‘A-Game’ to the party.

“For the debut season, I’m really looking forward to deliver good performances and to be (at my) best in

ing us. Inshallah, we will do the best to perform well and win (the) title. And don’t forget us in your prayers!”

Along with Steven Jacobs and Veerasammy Permaul, Khan will form

Rashid Khan bowling in the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ practice sessions at the National Stadium (Dexter Ceres photo)

wickets,” he explained.

But what makes his leg spin so special? According to the player, it is the quickarm action. “I think it is a

wickets and (to) trouble the best,” Khan explained.

“The Biggest Party in Sport” is known for having mammoth crowds enjoying

CPL”, he disclosed.

His message to the fans is: “Well, all fans of Guyana Amazon Warriors, wherever you are, keep support-

the core of the Warriors’ talented spin attack. The trio should receive great assistance from the Caribbean pitches.

Digicel Schools Football Championships

Chase still the Champions! ‒ inflict 6-2 hammering on Annai

By Akeem Greene

C

hase’s Academic Foundation have retained their Digicel Schools Football Championship title in emphatic fashion, hammering Annai Secondary 6-2 on Sunday evening at the National Track and Field Facility at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

The Annai rout was led

by Stephon Reynolds, who netted a hat-trick; Nicholas McArthur with a double, and Ryan Stephon Reynolds and Ryan Hackett in front of a massive and partisan crowd, which was graced with the presence of Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Sydney Allicock; Director of Sport, Christopher Jones; Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde, and several senior officials from Digicel.

Chase’s were immediately on the pounce, with winger McArthur being a constant threat with his somewhat menacing runs down the left.

His efforts paid off in the 9th minute, when he nipped his way behind the back line after collecting a pass from Hackett to slot home what proved to be the beginning of the end for Annai.

Weaving his way down, Reynolds placed his shot outside the reach of custodian Leston Smith in the 17th minute.

Annai’s Orville Daniels and Rushan Ritch engaged in an intense battle for ball possession (Akeem Greene photo)

Things went from bad to worse for Annai when their backline kept losing the ball in precarious areas because of the intense physical battle with Chase’s, which saw them being clearly mismatched.

Another Chase’s set piece came to fruition when Hackett hit a bullet-like shot that rebounded into the path of McArthur, who had no issue sealing his second goal in the 20th minute.

The odds were mounting against Annai, and a change in tactics saw them playing more of a “long ball”. Sherral Daniels brought Annai’s supporters to their feet with a brilliant effort which hit the cross bar.

Even though there were moments of lapses in play, Chase’s continued to look the more dominant team, and their superiority was solidi-

fied when Hackett etched his name on the score sheet with another of his classical leftfoot shots; this one curling into the low right in the 37th.

A lapse from Sessi Norville in the 41st minute saw Orville Daniels releasing a right-foot missile from 25 yards out and Norville palming the ball into goal.

The second half saw a different Annai team, playing more compact and looking ominous.

The pressure they built burst into an opportunity for goal, with Sherral forcing his way into the penalty area and slipping one past a diving Norville in the 56th minute.

It was long after Chase’s that reminded the opposition who is boss via another skillful goal from Reynolds.

The battle had more see-saw moments, as the fi-

nal play in the 85th minute brought another rousing applause from the audience when Reynolds made a dash down the right to whip the ball into the top right.

The final whistle was soon blown, and the players sprinted into a huddle of jubilation as they knew they had solidified their dynasty in school football and had pocketed $1,000,000 to go towards a school project of their choice besides the coveted championship trophy.

The dream run for Annai

did not end in fairytale fashion, but they took home $700,000 and the corresponding accolade.

In the third place play-off, D.C Cesar Fox Secondary (commonly called Waramadong Secondary) got their first win over Christianburg/Wismar Secondary with a 3-1 scoreline in their favour.

Reon McNaughton (11th), Whitker Paul (25th) and Kevin Hastings (43rd) did the damage for the Region Seven unit, while Darwin Adolphus

scored the consolation goal in the 67th.

The third and fourth placed teams won $400,000 and $350,000 respectively for a school project of their choice. Annai’s Sherral and Naidison Daniels won the Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot prizes, while Sesi Norville was deemed the best goalkeeper.

The seventh edition of the nationwide championships attracted more than 150 schools and catered for pupils under the age of 18.

Part of the action in the Guyana Amazon Warriors' first of three practice matches at Providence before jetting off to Florida for their opening match in the Hero Caribbean Premier League 2017

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

MONDAY, JULY 31, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Warriors’ Khan eager to inflict more misery on opponents Pg 23 This leg spinner has shown great enthusiasm during the simulation sessions

Digicel Schools Football Championships

Chase still the Champions! ‒ inflict 6-2 hammering on Annai

Pg 23

Champions! Champions! Chase Academic Foundation celebrate their sweet success

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