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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 2888

Friday, June 17, 2016

PRICE

Core homes’ ‘corrective’ works

CH&PA Board sole-sourced contractor, inflated original estimate by 124%

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Mayor drives ahead with P9 parking meter plan despite calls for it to be scrapped

Page 3

Conflict of interest legislation needed in Guyana – US Embassy deputy

Election petition appeal

GECOM Commissioners suspect lawyer acted without permission from CEO Page 2

Page 11

Father of 2 dies after ingesting poison at P14 court

Hinterland Scholarship Programme

Students, technical scholars receive certificates for performance Page 10 Enmore Martyrs remembrance

Govt, Union trade barbs over future of sugar P10 industry Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock and social worker Rosamund Daly stand with graduates after the graduation exercise at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Wednesday evening

CJIA threatens to ban CAL flights over breach of duty-free pact Page 7

– airline given 21 days to restore agreement

Beekham convicted for threatening Jagdeo, PPP/C members Page 8

– fined $75,000

SASOD P2 holds vigil for Orlando victims

2 NEWS

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

SASOD holds vigil GECOM Commissioners suspect lawyer for Orlando victims Election petition appeal

acted without permission from CEO

P

eople’s Progressive P a r t y / C i v i c (PPP/C) nominated Commissioners within the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have reasons to believe that Roysdale Forde, the lawyer of the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the GECOM Keith Lowenfield, filed a Notice to Appeal to former Chief Justice Ian Chang’s ruling on the Elections Petition without Lowenfield’s permission.

Following the General and Regional Elections in 2015, PPP/C Executive Member Ganga Persaud filed an elections petition in the High Court, challenging the results declared by GECOM. After serving 23 consecutive years in Government, the PPP/C refused to accept

defeat to the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition and thus filed the petition.

GECOM’s CEO subsequently filed a summons to strike out the petition on the grounds that sections of the petition failed to disclose reasonable cause of action.

Then, less than two weeks before he retired, then Chief Justice Chang returned to the bench and overruled the summons to strike out the petition, paving the way for the elections petition to go to trial.

Chang stated that there is sufficient grounds for the petition to go to trial.

He also stated that in accordance with Article 163 of the Constitution, the court has no jurisdiction to strike out the petition. On that ba-

GECOM Commissioner Bibi Shaddick

sis he said the matter should go to trial.

Forde then filed the Notice to Appeal, contending that the ruling should be wholly reversed or set aside.

However, during a news

conference on Wednesday, Commissioner Bibi Shaddick disclosed that the lawyer may have acted without any direction from the CEO, in accordance to protocol. “… on inquiry about any more fees paid to the lawyer, the CEO responded that no other fees have been paid.

It is our belief that the lawyer filed the appeal on his own volition and not on the instructions of the CEO,” Shaddick stated.

She explained that the Commission has to approve any and all expenditure and therefore, if the CEO posited that no further monies were paid, then it is likely that the lawyer acted on his own desire.

Shaddick, who is also an Attorney noted however that the suspicion is yet to be confirmed.

I

n light of the 49 Orlando victims who were slaughtered in a mass shooting by a lone gunman in the United States, SASOD hosted a vigil in support of the families who lost their loved ones in such a brutal manner.

Managing director of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) Joel Simpson condemned the brutal act on the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community. He noted that while their communities are grieving they will bounce back from the adversities since they are a resilient and courageous group of people.

“The Orlando massacre was both an act of terror and a hate crime. It was the deadliest mass shooting in the United States of America and it was targeted specifically against the LGBT community. Our communities are struck with grief all around the world,” denounced Simpson.

He noted night clubs are very important since it is one of the safe spaces that the LGBT community can gain refuge. It is a time for us to come together and stop these acts of discrimination.

Simpson thanked the Guyanese community for their overwhelming support and solidarity during this bereaved period.

Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence expressed disappointment with the act that claimed so many lives at once, noting the potential that the world has lost in the Orlando Massacre.

“It is impossible to fathom the grief and trauma of what has been perpetuated but at the same time we have witnessed the outpouring of love and support in the aftermath. On behalf of the Ministry of Social Protection and on my own behalf I would like to lend my heartfelt support. It is difficult to imagine this era of Freedom of expression and tolerance for our sexu-

US Ambassador Perry Holloway

al preferences that such biases continues to exist,” lamented Minister Lawrence.

Former Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Alli disclosed that, “despite this act did not occur in Guyana, we have to remember that Guyanese usually go to these same places for vacations and possibility exists that Guyanese could have been in the midst of the shooting.

“We are living in what some described as dangerous times, in whatever challenge we face globally what occurred in Orlando cannot and must not be called anything but horrific, it is a terror act and it was done by someone who cannot be classified as having human attributes. I want to join with everyone in condemning this,” said Alli.

US Ambassador Perry Holloway condemned the act of terrorism and encouraged to answer the massacre with peace.

“The events that took place in Orlando was devastating to too many, our hearts go out to the families who have lost their loved-ones and to the ones who have been wounded” Holloway remarked.

Holloway noted that the Orlando massacre could have occurred anywhere in the US. However, he emphasised that the US insists that nobody should ever be targeted because of their preference in life.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, June 17 - 14:30h-16:00h and Saturday, June 18 – 14:30h-16:00h.

Core homes’ ‘corrective’ works

CH&PA Board sole-sourced contractor, inflated original estimate by 124%

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, June 17 - 14:30h-16:00h and Saturday, June 18 – 15:15h-16:45h.

yebrows are being raised over a decision by the Hamilton Green-headed Board of Directors of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) to single source a contractor to execute ‘corrective’ works on several homes under the Government’s Core Homes Project.

In documents seen by this newspaper, the board said that, by way of round robin, it selected Ivor Allen to execute the works on the

Allen was once the Chairman of Region Two under the People’s National Congress (PNC) and served as a Member of Parliament of that party up to 2006.

The PNC is the largest party in the APNU/AFC coalition government.

Meanwhile, further examination of several correspondences revealed a huge discrepancy in the cost for the works to be executed on the 11 homes.

A “Summary of Bills” seen by Guyana Times puts the cost for the works at $7,467,227. However the

homes it listed as “moderate income”.

The board in an internal memorandum, dated June 10, 2016, stated that it had considered and approved Ivor Allen to be awarded the contract to execute the corrective works to 11 houses (lot numbers provided) at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Based on the information seen by this publication, the Board of Directors of the CHPA handpicked Allen, a close associate of the coalition government, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC).

internal memorandum issued by the Secretary to the CHPA board put the cost for the same 11 homes (verified by matching lot numbers) at a whopping $16,727,623, a difference of over $9.2 million. This works out to an increase of 124 per cent.

When contacted, the Engineering Department of the CHPA which has direct responsibility for the project refused to comment and directed all queries to Minister within the Ministry of Communities Valarie Sharpe-Patterson or Permanent Secretary Emile McGarrel.

Efforts to contact McGarrel and Secretary

By Edward Layne

E

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery rain showers can be expected throughout the morning and early afternoon hours while heavy rainfall can be expected in the late afternoon. Light to partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 0.89 metre and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 02:13h and 14:39h reaching maximum heights of 2.42 metres and 2.37 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 8:13h and 20:28h reaching minimum heights of 0.79 metre and 0.83 metre respectively.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS H

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Wednesday, June 16, 2016

Daily Millions

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to the CHPA board Debra Edwards proved futile.

The Chairman of the CHPA Hamilton Green in April had declared that the Authority will be spending over $100 million on corrective works to core homes built by contractors under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

“Bad roofs, leaking roofs, walls that are twisted, paint peeling, septic tanks porous, floors that were doing a special dance, among other things,” was how Green described some of the defects found.

His claims were quickly rebuffed by former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali, under whose stewardship the programme was initiated.

Ali had said that Green’s statement was “shocking” as he questioned the quoted $100 million Green planned

to spend on fixing the ‘defective’ homes.

Ali said that CHPA had previously stated that corrective works on the Turnkey Homes would have cost about $20 million.

“How is this now estimated at $100 million plus?”

Ali had asked. Ali explained that new works in the 1000 Homes Project was projected at just over $50 million, which included the completion of more than 200 homes that were delayed for a substantial time by the current administration which was in opposition at the time.

Ali further contended that some of the homes were completed almost three to four years now, while each of the homes had a defect liability period of one year in which the beneficiary can report any faults.

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guyana-times.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 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

Editorial

Protecting vulnerable children

W

orldwide, it is estimated that some 132 million children are orphans with an assessed eight million living in institutional care.

In Guyana, child care institutions form part of the first level of response for children who cannot have parental care for reasons of orphanhood and other vulnerabilities such as poverty, abuse, family breakdown, parental neglect, disease and disability. In a report entitled, “Status of Child Protection and Foster Care in Guyana”, it was noted that in 2003, there were already an estimated 22,000 orphans in Guyana with an estimated 7000 due to HIV/AIDS. As such, this led to the previous Government partnering with UNICEF in establishing mechanisms so that families can be strengthened to provide care for children thus ensuring that institutional care is a last-resort consideration. The fruits of such partnerships were highlighted recently when the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) announced that children in institutional care dropped by 25 per cent. Statistics released by the CCPA reveal that some 165 children are being housed at the Sophia Care Centre and Half-way Home, the Mahaica Children’s Home and the Drop-in Centre. This is a significant reduction compared to earlier this year when it was reported that 700 children were in institutional care.

The decline in children in such care in Guyana comes at a time when the CCPA is working with the Social Protection Ministry to develop a national policy document for children in institutional care. According to CCPA’s Director, Ann Greene, that document will be completed by the end of 2016. The national policy will be focusing on supporting, protecting and caring for children who, due to their circumstances, are placed in institutional care.

Over the years, Guyana has made many strides with respect to protecting children as compared to many other countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.

However, these were not without their challenges and, as such, implementing a world fit for children has not been without challenges and setbacks, some of which are greater than those occasioned by financial and infrastructural constraints.

Certainly, this Administration should continue on the progress it inherited, as more needs to be done to protect children in vulnerable situations.

Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand, in her then role as Human Services Minister, had said that vulnerability can be considered in terms of geographic location and economy, as well as age. In the developed and developing countries alike, it is the children who are most vulnerable.

In the 2016 budget, the Child Care and Protection Agency received a budgetary allocation of $471 million and the utilisation of such will go an extensive way in ensuring that children in institutional care are placed in families, be it with the biological parents, or via adoption or foster care.

The care, protection and development of all our children, in whom lies the future of humanity, are objectives that demand pride of place on our national and global agendas.

Guyana, over the years, stood committed to those objectives.

In moving forward, the Social Protection Ministry should ensure that despite the circumstances which lead to a child being left in care institutions, his or her education should be a priority. Education is critically important to children’s social integration and psychosocial well-being. According to research conducted by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), school attendance helps children affected by any sort of trauma to regain a sense of normalcy and to recover from the psychosocial impacts of their experiences and disrupted lives. Orphans and vulnerable children stand in particular need of an education intervention as they are most vulnerable due to economic hardships, reduced parental care and protection.

In moving forward, the Ministry can begin to examine the possibility of deinstitutionalising orphanages and look to alternative forms of institutional measures that tend to recreate a family-like setting. Children’s group homes and children’s villages are the most popular forms developed which many other countries are adopting.

Students practise yoga during a training session ahead of World Yoga Day in Ahmedabad, India (Reuters/Amit Dave)

Are our leaders concerned about the plight of those voters?

Dear Editor, I would like to be a fly on the wall in the Office of the Presidency. The Prime Minister’s office is at the same address, so I would just fly between the two offices. I would like to know who advises the leaders of our country. Do they ever remember that people vote for them? Are they really concerned about the plight of those voters? If so, how do they muster the gumption to speak the way they do and say the things they say?

Without batting an eyelid the President said that Lazy man work will attract lazy man pay. President Granger has a great sense of humour and at first I thought he was joking. It cannot be that he was joking because it is over a month now that he made those remarks and he nor his folks have seen it fit to walk those comments back.

So I am left to believe that the President was serious in his remarks. The reason I asked about who advises our leaders (and all great leaders have advisers whom they listen to), is because by now, someone should have said to President Granger that he has bought into a long held racist belief that Black people are generally

lazy and that he should seek to reword those comments.

The President made those remarks as he was receiving the commissioned report on wages for the workers in Guyana’s public sector. The public sector in Guyana is dominated by Black workers; police, nurses, the army, the Government offices workers, etc. And for as long as there have been a public sector in Guyana, for just as long, those workers have been grossly underpaid.

Now the time has come to double their wages, or at least, significantly increase it, their President says to them, some of you are lazy, and I will reflect your quality of work in what I pay you.

Couldn’t the President have said, “Ladies and gentlemen, now that we have agreed to give you a significant raise of pay, we hope that your quality of work will also be significantly improved? Or, “Servants of the people, the government has decided to stretch our financial limits to accommodate an increase in your wages, we hope that you appreciate what we are doing, and that you will also stretch the standards of your work.” Or something like that. Why

did he not use the occasion to speak as a champion of the working class?

Then days later we heard the comments of our dear Prime Minister. He said that the doubling of the fees to cross the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) is a “slight” increase. And he did not stop there. It was as if he did not hear what he said. He went on to justify his remarks by comparing the Demerara Harbour Bridge’s toll with that of the Berbice Bridge toll. Now I would think that the Prime Minister would have still been furious with those who continue to poke out the financial eyes of those who are paying those exorbitant fees to cross the Berbice Bridge. After all, he did convince me that he was very angry with those tolls, when he was on the campaign trail. Instead, our dear Prime Minister is arguing that the Demerara Harbour Bridge’s toll needs to be increased so as to create some semblance of “fairness” for those who commute across the Berbice Bridge. Oh what a difference a year makes!

Editor, let’s go back to his “slight” remark.

Nagamootoo said that to him, there is nothing wrong

with the doubling of the fees to cross the DHB. He said that those fees will help with the maintenance of the bridge. Please do the math with me. If I pay $100 a day to cross the bridge for five days that is $1000 a month, extra, that I have to pay.

If I live in a double household and we travel separately, that is $2000 per month.

By any stretch of the imagination, that translates to a significant amount of money. That is gas, lunch, uniform, utilities, etc. Yet the man I voted for, hoping that he would lower my cost of living (a better life for all, wink wink), is promising to saddle me with another cost and he thinks so flippantly of me that he promises to take another $1000 a month of my money and calls it ‘slight’.

Additionally, what about those who inadvertently have to cross both bridges?

Do they qualify from some wavier? Finally, guess how much the Prime Minister spends in gas or tolls to cross any bridge. Should he not also contribute to the bridge’s maintenance?

Dear Editor, I was saddened by the news that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Myrna Pitt has tendered her resignation with effect from July.

While I served as the Minister of Housing and Water during the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s tenure in office, Pitt proved to be a competent, ardent

and committed public servant as well as professional.

She executed her functions with distinction and demonstrated very high levels of dedication despite the challenges faced by the entity while rolling out various policies and decisions as adumbrated by the government with collective and comprehensive input from the staff at the Central Housing and Planning Authority.

It was definitely an honour to have served alongside Pitt who proved concerned and truly committed to Guyana’s overall development.

After all, she was a stern and disciplined professional. I enjoyed our moments working round the clock during my tenure as Minister whether in the field, building Expo, during one of our many one stop shops or our

retreats.

Guyana should be proud of this daughter. I pray that God grants her the continued good health and peace.

The CH&PA and ministry has lost one of the best and brightest minds in its field of work.

Yours truly, Wendell Jeffrey

CH&PA outgoing CEO Myrna Pitt has served with distinction

Irfaan Ali Former Housing and Water Minister, current PPP/C MP

guyana-times.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

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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

We only hope the citizens of Guyana have now learnt their lesson Dear Editor, When the United Republican Party (URP) partnered with the Patriotic Coalition For Democracy in the early 1990s to bring Jimmy Carter to Guyana, we were patriotic in our behaviour to partner with all democratic forces to unite to restore democratic rule in our homeland.

The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) under LFS Burnham had become a dictator terrorising the country and bankrupting the economy during the 1970s and 1980s.

Burnham had consistently and deliberately forced the country into international isolation which eventually saw us becoming an impoverished nation. We all lived in fear as we dared not talk anything against “The Comrade Leader” - as he was fearfully termed.

The URP acknowledges the contribution that President Hugh Desmond Hoyte made in shying away from the austere

measures of Burnham, especially as it related to the food restrictions and shortages of every good and in restoring our relationship in the international community of nations, reversing the isolation.

After the 1992 elections under the leadership of Dr Cheddi Jagan, we saw signs of hope and prosperity. It became obvious that after the passing of Dr and Mrs Jagan, the PPP, like their daughter the PNC, became rogue.

The PPP got involved in cronyism and unabated corruption. They moved away from being interested in the working class.

The rich associated with the party automatically became much richer. And many who were poor when they became ranking officials of the PPP became filthy rich. All the while the citizens of Guyana – all the races – have remained underpaid and impoverished. We have not had access to proper healthcare, and neither have we ben-

efited from working for a living wage.

The citizens of Guyana watched in horror as the party hacks of the PPP and the PNC bought houses, vehicles and other pieces of tangible property. We saw them travel to different countries with their families. Many of them could not resist the temptation of posting those pictures on the social media sites. All the while the average Guyanese struggled to make ends meet.

The general consensus is that those closely related to the governing parties cannot afford these purchases and travel on their regular salaries. Their monies must be coming from ill-gotten means and methods.

We have yet to see the financial statements of our leaders. However, we do not expect any full disclosures from any of our politicians, not PNC, PPP, AFC, as we are convinced that they cannot be trusted.

The PNC and AFC are adamantly opposed to disclosing financial statements; this is a reversal of their position when they were in opposition.

We have come to realise that the delay in revealing their financials is a tactic employed to buy time for them to hide their ill-gotten gains.

Now the PNC and friends are in government and the exchange that the country voted for is becoming more and more obvious. Cronyism and corruption continue as normal.

The local municipal government in Georgetown that the PNC has put in place is beginning to show the PPP-type corruption, from the cleaning-up of the City, to the money spent for the Jubilee Park and related celebrations, to the brewing parking meter fiasco.

The country is again watching in horror as every day the same kinds of accusations are levelled at the government with equal

CIOG condemns Orlando massacre Dear Editor, The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) condemns passionately the murderous act of one individual that resulted in the deaths of 49 persons in Orlando, Florida.

The CIOG noted with dismay the several news reports, and statements made which insinuated that this act is sanctioned by our noble and great religion Islam. This is totally rejected by all God fearing Muslims who believes in the true teachings of Islam, and practices the teachings of God’s words as stated in the Holy Quran.

CIOG maintains that the individual who perpetrated this act, cannot be deemed a Muslim, and cannot subscribe to the teachings of Islam and the laws that govern the lives of Muslims (in) the Holy Quran. ISIS who later claimed responsibility for this reprehensible act are

not Muslims and the CIOG and all true Muslims do not affiliate them with anything to do with Islam. For those who claim they believe in the Holy Quran and Islam they must be aware of the quotation from Almighty God in the Quran which states: “He who kills a soul unless it be (in legal punishment) for murder or for causing disorder and corruption on the earth will be as if he had killed all humankind; and he who saves a life will be as if he had saved the lives of all humankind.” (The Qur’an, Al-Ma’idah, 5:32) Anyone defying this order cannot hold steadfast to the realms of Islam.

The CIOG will continue to advocate that all who practices Islam, and purports to be Muslims should hold strongly to the laws that govern our lives, propagate peace and harmony among all human beings and safeguard the

sanctity of all life. Nothing physical or mentally can justify this gruesome act of terror that was inflicted on our fellow human kind.

The CIOG wishes to extend to the families and friends of those who lost their lives our deepest and sincere condolences, and pray that

they will be granted patience and perseverance at this time as they mourn the loss of their loved ones.

Yours faithfully, CIOG (Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana)

displeasure as was meted out to the PPP. And what is scary, is the fact that this government is displaying the same kind of nonchalance as their PPP counterparts. There is no transparency and no accountability.

The URP is convinced more than ever before that this government is unable to manage this country and what is sickening, is the fact that they are displaying the worse of the traits that the previous government embodied. This has left the country feeling betrayed and dejected. The appreciated reality is that those who voted for and expected change are left feeling abused and slighted by those who con-

vinced them that things would have changed.

During our campaign in the 2015 general elections, the United Republican Party had warned the citizens of Guyana about this possibility. We are not the least proud to say, “We told you so.” We warned, “The PNC is not likely to change from its bad old ways”. So said and so it is.

The AFC has been morphed into the PNC as its executives seek wealth at the expense of the working class. We only hope the citizens of Guyana have now learned their lesson.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bandhu.

Leader URP

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

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guyana-times.com

Foundation

– 4 reasons why you should know what is important to you

By Matthew B. James, PhD

D

o you know what’s really important to you?

What you value most

“Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values.”

-Ayn Rand

in life?

I’d say that most people I meet haven’t spent much time on this question. They tell me they’re too busy coping with the busyness of life to stop and think about something as intangible as their personal values. Or they spout common phrases like “traditional family values” or “strong work ethic” without really considering what those phrases mean. (As Lewis Black notes, “Everybody's family has different values.”)

Becoming crystal clear on what is really important to you is the key to leading a happy, fulfilling life. Why? Here a few reasons:

Values make decisions eas

Indecision and confusion are often the result of not knowing the relative importance of things you want.

For example, say you’re trying to decide whether to take that new position where you’ll need to work 60-hour weeks.

If your highest value is spending time with your family, that’s clearly not your best option. If you value career achievement above all else, it may be a wise move.

Values help us through crisis

When the stuff hits the fan, many people panic and shift into survival mode.

But when your values are clear, they act as a guide and steadying hand. For instance, think of couples during divorce. Those who keep their values at the forefront – whether it’s being good parents to their children or being kind to one another –have a much smoother process.

Those who forget who and what they are often end up in bitter battles, realising only later that what they fought for really didn’t matter.

Values keep us on track

When we’re clear on our values, we’re more likely to act in ways that serve our highest good. I may feel tempted by a triple scoop of Jamaican Almond Fudge on top of an 8-ounce double chocolate brownie. But if I’m consciously clear that I value my health, I’ll probably pass. I may want to flip off the guy who just swerved in front of me in traffic, but if I value being a good example to the toddler in the back seat, I’ll keep my hand gesture to myself.

Values show us how to feel pono

Pono is the Hawaiian concept of feeling right with yourself and the world. It’s that feeling of being aligned with who you really are, calm, centred and at peace with everyone and everything around you. You feel pono when you live from your true values.

You don’t feel pono when you don’t. If you’re not feeling pono and you’re clear on your values, it’s easy to find out where you’ve gotten off-

track. Too many people only feel pono on very rare occasions. For the most part they feel un-

fear, poverty). Make sure that there is a positive quality on your desires list for every negative quality on your “don’t want” list. For example, if you don’t want illness, health should be on your de-

International Day of Yoga Tip

By Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh – Guyana (Hindus for Selfless Service)

PADMASANA

comfortable in their own skin and don’t know why. Most likely, it’s because they are acting in conflict with values they don’t even know they have!

In my Master Practitioners Trainings for NLP (neuro linguistic programming), we spend a good amount of time talking about values. We study how and when values are developed and review various systems like Claire Graves’ hierarchy of values.

We cover how values create underlying beliefs and how to work with values that contradict one another.

But unless you’re a therapist or practitioner, you really don’t need to know all of that.

You simply need to know what your true values are – and to distinguish them from values you may have adopted that no longer serve you.

In NLP, we use a simple exercise called “value elicitation”. It takes about 30 minutes, but it can make a huge difference to how you feel about and operate in your life.

First, write down everything you desire, like success or security or love. When you feel like your list is pretty complete, make another list of what you don’t want (illness,

sires list.

Next, looking only at your desires list, ask yourself, “If you could have only one of these qualities, which would it be?” Mark that one as #1. Next, if you could have only two of these qualities, which other one would you choose? Mark this as #2.

Continue until you have six or seven really important values.

Note: Make sure that the values you name and rank are your values, not the ones you think you should have!

Now looking at your most important values, think about each of the main categories of your life: health and fitness, relationships, career, personal growth and spirituality.

How are your values reflected in this area right now?

Are your values aligned with who you are being in that area?

Do your actions support your values in that area?

Do your goals in that area line up with your values?

If you find conflict – which most people do! –the next step is to figure out what needs changing. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com) TO BE CONTINUED

Today, we take pleasure in bringing you one of the most common positions in yoga: Padmasana (lotus pose). In Sanskrit, Padmasana is derived from the words padma (lotus) and sana (seat or throne). As simple as it may seem, Padmasana is considered to be an intermediate to advanced pose and may not be comfortable for beginners. In simple terms, Padmasana (lotus pose) is sitting cross-legged with the spine vertically straight, making it ideal for meditation and concentration.

Interestingly, the lotus, a sacred aquatic plant, is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols. Padmasana is significantly related to Buddhism in the religious arena. Buddha himself has even been shown standing with each foot on a separate lotus. Traditional Hindu texts claim that Padmasana destroys all disease and awakens kundalini (a dormant energy residing at the base of the spine that can be awakened through meditation and yoga).

Getting into Padmasana With palms down, sit on the floor with legs stretched straight out in front of you. Bend the right knee and bring the lower leg up into a cradle. The outer side of the foot should settle in the crook of the left elbow, while the knee should settle in the crook of the right elbow. Clasp hands outside the shin and hold this posture for a few moments.

To lengthen the spine, lift the front torso towards the inner right leg, but try not to round the lower back. Explore the full range of motion of the hip joint by gently rocking the leg back and forth. Repeat this process with the opposite leg.

Come back to sitting with the legs stretched out in front of you. Now, bend the right knee and bring the right ankle to the left hip crease, allowing the right foot to face upwards.

Settle the foot into the hip crease. Repeat this process with the left leg and right hip crease. Remember not to cross your legs the same way every time you try this pose. Make sure to alternate bringing your right and left legs in first.

Padmasana is a position which is said to have many benefits. Some of these benefits are: I. Opening up of the hips II. Stretching of the ankles and knees III. Calms the brain IV. Increasing awareness and attentiveness V. Helping to develop good posture VI. Keeping the spine straight VII. Helping to keep joints and ligaments flexible VIII. Stimulating the spine, pelvis, abdomen, and bladder IX. Restoring energy levels X. Easing menstrual discomfort Consistent practice of this pose throughout pregnancy is said to help ease the pains of childbirth.

Now, we are assuming that you would be getting on the floor within the next few minutes to practise Padmasana (lotus pose). Once practised, you would be able to enjoy the aforementioned benefits which would help you to lead a healthier lifestyle. We trust that you enjoy this tip while awaiting another.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh – Guyana (Hindus for Selfless Service – HSS) will be observing International Day of Yoga on Sunday, June 18, 2016 at Leonora Secondary School at 13:00h (1pm).Southland International is the official beverage sponsor. Their Moussy Malt Beverage, packed with B vitamins and natural flavours of strawberry and peach, is extremely refreshing after a yoga session. Sponsorship is also provided by M&M Snackette & Fastfood, home of a variety of healthy Guyanese food.

All are invited to our HSS programme.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

CJIA threatens to ban CAL flights over breach of duty-free pact – airline given 21 days to restore agreement

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aribbean Airlines (CAL) has been given an ultimatum of 21 days to restore an agreement it had entered with the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) regarding passengers who purchase at the Duty Free Shop in Guyana or have its flights to the airport discontinued.

This decision was made by management of CJIA on Thursday after the Trinidad-based airline failed to honour an agreement made at a previous meeting, which stated that airline passengers would be allowed to travel to their final destinations with their purchases from the Timehri Airport’s Duty Free Shop.

However, passengers began complaining that the airline prohibited them from travelling with their

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

Airlines, CJIA said: “Accordingly, take notice unless CAL remedies its aforesaid default and comply with the said notice of

under article 9.3 thereof.”

The letter highlighted that passengers, under CAL and CJIA security supervision, would be allowed to have their duty free items secured in their checked luggage. It was noted that before an agreement was made, numerous discussions were made involving local law enforcements, duty-free concessionaries and Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA) Caribbean Airline personnel and representatives.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson explained that the conflict stemmed from passengers being unable to exercise their duty-free concessions.

“The issue stems from duty free concessions. There has been a long-standing is-

Cheddi Jagan International Airport

duty free items. Due to this, the management of CJIA was forced to put an ultimatum before CAL. In a letter to Caribbean

June 15, 2015 within 21 Days of this notice to remedy default, CJIAC will be at liberty to proceed to cancel the air carrier agreement

sue with Guyanese whereas when we travel to Trinidad, we deplane and go through the security checks in Trinidad. What is being

implemented now is that when you go through, you’re asked to take out your baggage, and when you take out your baggage it will include the duty free concessionaries from Guyana.

Currently, the regulations are that you cannot carry anything over ten fluid ounces,” he related.

He explained that it became an issue of national interest after travellers complained that when they pass through security in Port of Spain, they are unable to carry their purchases from Guyana; particularly alcoholic beverages even though it is in compliance with the regulations.

As such, these passengers lose their products at security after it is rejected during screening.

He went on to point out that even though similar issues arise at other airports, those airports usually make accommodations for these passengers.

Minister Patterson added that on several occasions, the CJIA approached the airline company with several suggestions in attempt to resolve the conflict; however, these suggestions were ignored and the issue was left unresolved.

“What is being suggested is that Guyana, CJIA

and Caribbean Airlines reach some form of accommodation that if you bought products in Guyana legally, verifiably and it comes in a sealed package, the airport would collect it from you and turn it as you deplane at your final destination,” he explained..

This proposal, the minister revealed, was put to Caribbean Airlines and they attempted to implement it and in the end they refused to proceed.

“We do believe that Guyanese travellers have rights as well and we believe that what applies in any other airport and any other airline should apply to us. We do believe that we

can have a resolution; unfortunately none has been reached so far,” the minister stated.

Minister Patterson pointed out that the decision to present CAL with an ultimatum was made after months of deliberations

by CJIA’s Board, as none of the proposals made by the airport were finding favour with CAL. He further expressed hopes that CAL will seek to resolve the issue within the stipulated timeframe so as to avoid further conflicts.

In 2013, Guyana granted the Trinidad-based airline “flag carrier status”.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

IN THE COURTS Beekham convicted for threatening Jagdeo, PPP/C members

– fined $75,000

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ameshwar Beekham, the Berbice man who last month threatened to murder former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar and several members of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), including General Secretary Clement Rohee, was on Thursday fined $75,000 by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The 39-year-old farmer of Lot 2804 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that during the month of May 2016, using social media site Facebook, he threatened to murder Jagdeo, Ramotar, Rohee and Roger Luncheon.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that the defendant is a self-professed political activist who used his cellular phone to make several comments via Facebook, including threatening to murder the abovementioned persons, as well as other PPP/C supporters.

The victims made a complaint to the Police and he was arrested and charged.

Subsequent to his arrest, he was taken to

Dr Byron Harry at the Psychiatric ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital for a mental evaluation and it was found that he was of a sound mind.

According to Beekham, it started out when he made a comment about independence and praising the Government. He said because of speaking the truth on Facebook, he was attacked by “PPP supporters” who made ridiculous and threatening comments.

“I was not strong enough to take those comments, which I regret. I am sorry,” he told the court.

The Prosecutor indicated that the defendant was jailed for 14 months in 2005 for 14 counts of forgery. A failure to pay the fine will result in him spending six months in prison.

Beekham had posted, “I will one day with my gang I am equipping and training will walk in Freedom House and murder Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP/C top brass”.

An East Bank Essequibo woman was charged under Chapter 23 of the Racial Hostility Act for attempting to incite racial hostility or ill will against President

A

Epson, Corentyne, Berbice, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

The particulars of the charge stated that on June 12, at A North West District, Region One

Misdirection... ...In Housing ou just knew as soon as the PPP was attacked by the PNC-led Coalition APNU/AFC Government on their achievements in the area of housing, something wasn't regulah! After all, the PNC did have as their aspirational slogan for all their years in office (how much was that again?) "Feed, HOUSE and Clothe the Nation", didn't they? And yet, by the time they were voted out in 1992, the nation had been hungry, homeless and naked for years! In 1980, the PNC estimated there was a deficit of 137,000 housing units!

In the area of housing, with Guyana having the lowest population density in the Caribbean, we'd witnessed under the PNC the largest increase in squatting in the entire history of the country. The houses they built were just for their insiders. They created more squatters than all those that squatted on Crown Lands after the abolition of slavery – when the planters just refused the freed slaves to occupy their previous hovels.

Whatever one may think of the PPP – and enough people figured they needed to be voted out of office –you can't deny they completely turned things around in the area of house lots and houses. Over 90,000 house lots were distributed and at least 60,000 houses constructed.

And to get those houses built meant directing billions and billions from the banks into the sector. Guyana witnessed a building boom that helped to catalyse the economy into delivering a consistent 5% growth rate while soaking up the unemployment that was a holdover from the PNC days. The PPP provided the three things for growth: Incentives! Incentives! Incentives!

So, since the pure quantum of the houses provided couldn't be attacked, the Government attacked the people who executed the housing revolution. This, of course, is the old logical fallacy – the ad hominem "argument". Which is – if you can't attack the argument, you simply sidetrack it and attack the PERSON making the argument. And, of course, against the background of their outrageous claims that the PPP'd siphoned off "$500 BILLION" from the public treasury – which $153 Million worth of audits can't identify – they screamed "CORRUPTION!!!" in housing.

Now they've driven off several upstanding public servants with decades of service in Housing, we can see it was all a misdirection. All along they simply wanted to raid the treasury. Check out the story in today's paper of one old-time PNC MP making millions and millions for supposedly "fixing" some turnkey houses. Sole sourcing, baby!!

In addition to the "corruption in housing" misdirection gambit...it's also a projection of the larcenous intent residing in so many in the new government.

Y

Convicted: Tameshwar Beekham

David Granger following a post on Facebook which was deemed threatening.

Bibi Safora Salim, 52, of Vergenoegen, East

Bank Essequibo, who is on $200,000 bail posted, “Granger want a bullet in head… I am out of a job now because of them”.

Miner remanded on marijuana trafficking charge miner was on Thursday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after being charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Steve Caesar, 26, of 12

Eyew tness

(Barima-Waini), he had in his possession 453 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court the analyst report for the matter is still outstanding.

Caesar who was unrepresented, was remanded to prison and will make his next court appearance on August 2, at the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court.

...on leftists Now your Eyewitness has to secure his "humility" credentials...but he can't help reminding you, Dear Readers, he did tell y'all the lynching party over in Brazil was all a setup. We've just heard Rousseff's chief persecutor – oops! prosecutor – Tenner has now been removed for ....you guessed it! – corruption! The old oligarchy's smelling blood so we'll just have to see what device they'll concoct to "impeach" the legally elected President of Brazil.

We've been following that story over in our southern neighbour for several reasons - one being that we might just be witnessing a whole new technique for effecting regime change. Have you noticed the similarities with the techniques the old oligarchic Opposition is also trying over in Venezuela to get rid of Maduro and his leftist govt? And it was all done in the same manner in Argentina when Macri replaced left-leaning Kirchner.

Now do you get the drift? Or is your old Eyewitness being paranoid about what happened to the PPP back in May 2015?

Visas everybody? Or just SOME bodies? ...on Harmon Have you noticed the Muckraker's singing a different tune now that its dirty smear job against Harmon's gone sour? Way back, Burnham refused to be bought out by D'Aguiar "like a carton of used bottles".

Looks like Harmon's not gonna be bought like used newspapers!

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

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Mayor drives ahead with parking meter Assistance needed in Upperplan despite calls for it to be scrapped Berbice communities, say Region

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he Mayor and her team will be ignoring an avalanche of concerns regarding the controversial parking meter project, which many believe to be a shady deal aimed at exploiting the public.

The Mayor, Patricia Chase Green, Town Clerk Royston King and a team are currently in Mexico City to wrap-up the final rollout schedule of the parking meter project even as criticisms continue to pour in from individual commentators, transparency advocates, the parliamentary opposition and the Deputy Mayor himself, Sherod Duncan concerning the project.

Concerns include the total lack of transparency surrounding the project, the legitimacy of the company contracted, the price proposed to be charged, the fact that no prior public consultations were held with stakeholders, and the overall secrecy and constant inconsistencies that surround the undertaking.

But those concerns were blatantly disregarded when Town Clerk King made it clear the project is still on stream.

“While it is unfortunate that certain individuals have taken advantage of the absence of the Mayor to advance negative, divisive and completely untrue narratives, the Mayor and the travelling delegation plan to hold a press conference upon their return to provide updates on this very important and productive trip,” King said in a statement released from Mexico.

King maintained that this project will become the pioneering centre of wider modernisation and improvements coming to the

10 Chairman, Vice Chairman

A

Mayor Patricia Chase Green inspects a parking meter in Mexico City

City that will accelerate it towards parity with the other great capital cities across the world.

On the other hand, many stakeholders believe this secretive parking meter project which was inked with the controversial National Parking Systems/Smart City Solutions should be immediately scrapped.

Former 1st Vice President of Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) and Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram said that, “it’s very troubling indeed” for a project of such magnitude, information is hardly available.

He lambasted M&CC for failing to follow proper public procurement procedures for the multimillion-dollar parking meter initiative.

Additionally, commentator and transparency advocate Ramon Gaskin described the entire controversy as “very, very fishy”.

“The only information that is available is what’s in the press… nobody has seen any contract of anything.

The whole thing as my friends said has the smell of unrefrigerated fish. The whole thing sounds very funny, not transparent, it didn’t go to tender, it’s a big problem,” he remarked.

On Sunday last, former

Speaker of the National Assembly and commentator Ralph Ramkarran said the undertaking seems to be nothing but a “get-richquick scheme”, given the capricious and tenuous strategies and justifications provided for some aspects of the project.

Cultural Policy Advisor to the Education Minister, Ruel Johnson also criticised the manner in which the project is being executed.

Johnson also called on the public to use this opportunity to hold the government accountable and demand better governance.

The short-lived excitement of the parking meter project was eclipsed by controversy and accusations of corruption after some city councillors, including the Deputy Mayor refused to endorse the project on the grounds that the council was not provided with enough information on the project and its contractor, including the contract with the council inked with National Parking Systems/ Smart City Solutions to install and operate the meters.

There are also questions about the companies’ track record in parking meter installation.

recent visit to areas in the Upper Berbice Region (Region 10) has revealed that the communities are in dire need of improvement in the areas of education, health, agriculture and physical infrastructure for the benefit of youths. The issues were highlighted by Regional Chairman Renis Morian and Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph during a press conference. The region’s leaders stressed that in the area of agriculture, an important point to note is that a community boat which was initially intended to provide assistance for farmers in transporting their produce is presently “parked” and remains non- operable at Sand Hill. Morian said this is the case, even as farmers in the area are suffering tremendously in transporting their produce to be marketed.

“What really caught us is that there is a huge boat parked in the Berbice River and it is reported that this boat was built and taken there a week before elections and they’re saying it’s an election gimmick. Whether it’s an election gimmick or not the past Government had removed the boat which

had transported persons to New Amsterdam with their agriculture produce.

Now we have a huge boat parked there… I am approaching the Office of the President, Ministry of Public Infrastructure, so that that boat… could be put into use. We see it as a boost to enhance agriculture and the movement of persons within the Berbice River,” he stressed.

Additionally, it was noted that the boat is missing just one crucial element, however Morian said a diagnostic test needs to be done to ascertain the situation with the said boat.

“We’re going to go through the right channel to make sure that that boat is commissioned under the right Ministry. We have millions of dollars in tax payers money lying there…not being used and farmers want to get there produce to market and this is not being done,” he said.

In addition, the Regional Chairman said it was observed that there is a huge generator at Muritaro presently parked in the bushes. According to Morian, information received suggests that it has never been in operation but was placed there under the previous Administration.

He said he is seeking to have it moved and taken to Linden to be serviced so that it can be beneficial to communities without electricity and solar.

Meanwhile, Regional Vice Chairman Adolph said a visit to several schools revealed deplorable washroom facilities, which are out of service. At Sand Hill, he said the teacher’s washroom facility has been out of order for over two years.

He added that requests were made for more health personnel to visit the communities since it was highlighted that residents find it is too expensive to travel to New Amsterdam.

“The people in the Berbice River are requesting some more help from the Ministry of Health.

So we are calling on the Ministry of Health to deliver a little more… We also discovered shortage of drugs… nurses and health workers, doctors if possible need to visit the areas more often… farming is not payable like before because they don’t have transport for [their] produce. When they hire transportation it’s very expensive…so life becomes more difficult everyday for the folks in the Berbice River,” Adolph said.

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guyana-times.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

News

US military donates Hinterland Scholarship Programme suicide prevention Students, technical scholars receive certificates literature to GDF for performance

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he United States (US) military on Wednesday donated a series of literature on suicide prevention in the military to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

The books which were donated focus on training standards, Leaders’ Guide to Suicide Prevention and a series of pamphlets and information on warning signs and risk factors of suicide.

The donation was made after a Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) conducted by the Florida Army National Guard in early March, saw personnel from the Guyana Defence Force participating in sessions aimed at developing a tactical programme that applies to military operations, regarding suicide prevention and Force resilience.

The US Military’s Liaison Officer, Captain Christopher Hill during the handing over ceremony said that the donation was made by the Military after the SMEE, so as to aid the GDF in preventing and dealing with the issue of suicide which has become more prominent in the Guyanese

By Shemuel Fanfair

O US Military’s Liaison Officer, Captain Christopher Hill presents the donation to GDF Welfare Officer, Captain Deon Heyligar

society.

“During that training there was a lot of new material and suicide is a big issue and we wanted to expand on what was learnt during those sessions,” he explained.

He also stated that the United States Ambassador Perry Holloway has taken it upon himself to ensure that Guyana’s capacity for suicide prevention is improved.

Meanwhile, GDF Welfare Officer, Captain Deon Heyligar in accepting the donation expressed appreciation for the thoughtful initiative.

“This information will go

a far way in helping us to boost the knowledge of our soldiers,” she posited.

Captain Heyligar stated that the US Army and GDF share a great relationship, particularly as it relates to information sharing from a welfare perspective.

It was pointed out that the Guyana Defence Force effective suicide prevention requires everyone in the Unit to be aware of the risk factors for suicide and know how to effectively respond to such; and Commanders, Non Commissioned Officers and Supervisors all play an integral part in this regard.

n a night that offered poetry, dance, song and reflections, 85 students and two technical scholars who were beneficiaries of the Hinterland Scholarship Programme were honoured for their performance at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) in 2015.

Successful students were issued certificates in a graduation exercise at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Wednesday evening.

In this year’s annual report, social worker Rosamund Daly noted that in the 2014-2015 period under review, 74 students were awarded places at secondary schools while 28 technical students were given scholarships to attended tertiary learning institutions. Daly observed that there was a two per cent decline in results when compared to the previous year.

“Our CSEC results from [2015] saw a slight decrease from 90 per cent to 88 per cent,” she noted.

Outstanding CSEC performers were St Ignatius resident Jonathon Jacobus who attended

Queen’s College, Santa Rosa Secondary student Alesia Harris and Carrissa Kissoon of Mabaruma who attended the Bishops’ High School. Paula Gomes was identified as the best graduating Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) student with passes in 5 subjects.

In his remarks, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock praised the students for their successes and urged them to strive harder as they continue to play their role in nation-building. He also noted the importance of preserving one’s heritage.

“Your destiny is in your hands; never forget who you are and where you came from. Know and value your identity [and] resist the lure of abandoning your heritage,” the Minister urged the hinterland students.

Allicock further noted that the younger generation would be the ones to grasp the opportunities that the country has to offer, especially with the recent oil discovery.

Fifteen students were awarded for consistent academic performances, while

six students were awarded for consistent participation.

The Hinterland Scholarship Programme, which was previously known as the Amerindian Scholarship Programme, was first introduced in 1962, some 54 years ago.

The first six students were placed at secondary schools in the capital city based on the results of the Common Entrance Examination, which was placed by the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

School placement is determined by student performances in Grades Two and Four (a small percentage) and the NGSA. The programme caters to students at the secondary and tertiary levels allowing opportunities for a sound secondary and technical education. The awardees are housed in dormitories, and given a monthly stipend and meals. The Scholarship Programme falls under the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry and the graduates hailed from Moruca, Mabaruma, Anna Regina, Aishalton, Lethem, Linden and Kwakwani in Regions One, Two, Six, Seven, Nine and Ten respectively.

Enmore Martyrs remembrance

Govt, Union trade barbs over future of sugar industry

A

s Guyanese observed Enmore Martyr’s Day on Thursday, the premier sugar workers representative body, the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU), and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo took on each other on the future of the sugar industry.

This was at the annual remembrance rally at the monument site in Enmore, East Coast Demerara, where dozens of persons, including relatives of the martyrs, gathered to pay homage to the five sugar workers who were killed while fighting against working conditions.

Addressing the gathering, General Secretary of GAWU Seepaul Narine, noted that while the brutal killing of the sugar workers at Enmore some 68 years ago gave an impetus to the political struggles for freedom, struggles and sacrifices of sugar workers for betterment should not be downplayed, especially since that struggle continues to date.

Narine expressed concerns over the events taking place within the sugar industry and the impact

they are having on the standard of living of thousands of workers and their dependents. “Here we can say with certainty that the workers struggles are continuing.

New challenges have been thrown up and workers felt compelled to defend and safeguard their interests,” he stated.

The General Secretary pointed to the fact that for the first time in over 30 years, sugar workers were the only category of the State’s workers that did not receive a pay rise last year.

He then went onto mention the “vexing” issue of the closure of both the Wales and La Bonne Intention (LBI) Estates, which he said threatens the jobs of onetenth of the country’s workforce.

“Until now, neither the Unions nor the public have been informed of properly studied proposal that the authorities hope to implement on the impending closure of Wales Estate. Also of importance to our Union, is the fate that awaits the scores of workers linked to the soon to be closed LBI Estate… The Government seems not to be listening to the voice of

the working people,” he remarked while recalling the resolution unanimously approved on last Labour Day by workers of the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) calling on Government not to close the estates.

According to Narine, while the sugar industry is confronted by challenges, GAWU is optimistic that it can be viable again, that is, with the adequate resources, a motivated workforce and a knowledge management.

Moreover, GTUC’s General Secretary Lincoln Lewis posited that the sugar industry has been mismanaged over the years with no concrete sustainable developmental plan to keep it afloat. He added too that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Board had become an institution for political patronage and not the development of policies to safe guard the industry or ensured the continued gainful employment for workers.

On the other hand, during his feature address, P r i m e TURN TO PAGE 12

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

guyana-times.com

News

Conflict of interest legislation needed in Guyana – US Embassy deputy

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utgoing Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) of the United States Embassy, Bryan Hunt, is of the view that there needs to be adequate conflict of interest legislation in place for Guyana to be deemed transparent and accountable.

His comment comes one month after criticisms were levied over Junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes’ current oversight of the mining sector, knowing that she has a history in mining and that upon taking office, she divested ownership of her mining operations to her children.

The US Diplomat during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times said he believes Guyana needs to have ‘conflict of interest’ legislation that applies to all elected officials and senior public servants in order to ensure that conflicts of interest do not exist in the execution of their duties as well as to avoid perceived conflicts of interest from arising.

“So I would urge the government, which has made a commitment to looking at these issues, to move forward as quickly as it possibly can, to put in place conflict of interest legislation that would apply to all public office holders, not only those in executive branch but members of the parliament, members of the judiciary, the senior public service, to make sure that we deal with this problem of perceived conflict of interests between people’s personal lives and their public responsibilities,” he outlined.

Hunt went on to say that until this is done, there will continue to be problems regardless of which administration is in power in Guyana.

Minister Broomes mining interests came under scrutiny last month after information surfaced suggesting she was granted another Mining Permit H43/MP/000 by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

However, Broomes at a subsequent press conference

11

US Deputy Chief of Mission Bryan Hunt

clarified that no new mining permit was granted, noting that it was a transfer of her dredge to her daughter, whose name is also Simona Broomes.

While Broomes, who spent some 28 years as a miner, is maintaining there is no conflict of interest since her mining interests are now being handled by her children, many still believe that once she is the government minister responsible for the mining sector, her presence could influence decisions in her children’s favour.

However, when questioned about these public concerns, President David Granger had told this newspaper there is no need for the minister’s removal, noting that this will be done only if a conflict of interest situation arises.

“We have a draft code of conduct and if any situation (of conflict of interest) were to arise, I’m very confident that she’d either be put in another place or she would demit office but that situation hasn’t arisen at the present time,” the Head of State remarked in response to the calls for Broomes’ removal.

However, while the president has said he awaits a clear case of conflict of interest involving the minister, Guyana Times was able to obtain a copy of an ‘application for permission to operate dredge or specified machinery’ dated March 4, 2016, in the name of Simona Broomes. The document contained National

Identification Number 11383803.

Upon investigations this publication was able to confirm that the ID number is that of Simona Judie Broomes, the full name of the Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, contradicting what Broomes had earlier said, that it was her daughter who was named in those documents.

On the other hand, the US official further underscored the importance to have public disclosure legislations to enhance transparency and accountability.

“We need to see public disclosure legislation that is not only on the books but is actively enforced, again not just for the executive branch officials but across the board for all public office holders at all levels, all public servants at all levels, the judiciary, etc, so that we can be confident that people are fully disclosing what outside business interests they have and that they are taking the necessary steps to either divest themselves of those business interests or ensure that their public duties do not in any way benefit their personal business interests,” Hunt posited.

He added too that such legislation is just as critical for members sitting in the Opposition as it is for those in Government.

According to the outgoing DCM, Guyana has had a long-standing problem with transparency and in his opinion, among the basic problems is the fact that there is no Public Procurement Commission.

He said that it is absolutely critical, as the country moves forward, to see the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) move immediately to appoint the membership or to put forward the names of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Opposition’s membership so that Parliament can move expeditiously to approve the members put forward.

“Without that Public

Kwakwani residents benefit from GRO registration exercise

E Junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes

Procurement Commission, it is going to be exceptionally difficult to ensure transparency throughout the procurement system here in Guyana,” he remarked.

Moreover, Hunt posited that with Guyana entering phase where it is going to have a significantly increased state resource-base that needs to be managed effectively, government should not procrastinate on putting such measures in place.

“We need to see some very quick forward action on these issues especially with the sector of increased oil and gas development, increased resources coming into the State’s treasury; we can’t afford to continue to operate as if these are not serious issues in Guyana because I think they have been serious issues for a long time, and the importance of these issues are going to grow” the outgoing US diplomat stated.

arlier this week, residents of Kwakwani, Berbice River were able to get registered for birth, marriage and death certificates hassle free when the General Registrar’s Office (GRO) held a registration exercise in the community.

The residents were also able to do late registrations and have the minor errors on their existing certificates corrected. The registration exercise was undertaken by the GRO so as to save the residents the time, money and hassle of travelling to Linden or Georgetown to have this done.

GRO Searcher Transcribers Lisa Major, Arianne Williams and Sherry Jerome were responsible for this venture, and they related that the initiative which lasted two days, saw many residents coming from near and far to apply for their various certificates. Major related that such an exercise has not been conducted in quite some time, and that she was very happy to be able to assist the residents. “We achieved what we came to do. People are happy and we are happy,” the woman stated.

Many residents who were never registered, and as such never possessed a birth certificate, took the

opportunity to apply for the crucial document. The registration exercise will continue and these services will be made available to communities along the Berbice River. Those persons interested in applying for a certificate; be it birth, marriage or death, will have to pay an application fee of $300 per certificate.

The GRO is a body which falls under the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Ministry of the Presidency that aims at maintaining and securing national registers and registration forms of birth, death and marriages of Guyanese people, and of foreigners living in Guyana and to supply members of the public with these document upon request with minimum delay.

12 NEWS

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Enmore Martyrs remembrance

Govt, Union trade ...

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Minister Mosses Nagamootoo defended the closures, outlining that the industry has been making tremendous losses and to survive it cannot rely solely on sugar anymore. He explained that plans to diversify the sector dated back since the 1980s and not 2015 as claimed.

“In the 1980s, there were plans for other crops, for aqua-culture, for fish farms, for dairy industries within the land owned by GuySuCo. A part from diversification, the option for privatisation was also on the table. After nationalisa-

tion, Booker Tate Limited was brought back to prepare the industry for privatisation; and that was after nationalisation, it was not the (David) GrangerNagamootoo Government that was preparing it for the slaughter,” he remarked.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister remarked that his Administration does not want to put any sugar worker on the breadline, but noted that they are placed at a cross road. “We will be damned if we don’t do anything and damned if we do something but doing nothing will spell disaster (for

Background to Constitutional revision

T Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo laying a wreath at the Enmore Martyrs’ Monument in remembrance of the sacrifice of the five sugar workers

GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine addressing the gathering at the remembrance rally for the Enmore Martyrs

the industry),” he noted.

Nagamootoo went on to say that the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that was conducted into the sector has warned that if nothing is done soon, not only will sugar perish but it could take the entire economy down with it.

To this end, the Prime Minister posited that the all stakeholders should play a part in reviewing the recommendations coming out of the CoI, noting that an all

party consensus is need to determine the future of the sugar industry.

Moreover, the Prime Minister pointed out that in order to survive, GuySuCo existed on credit and borrowing, with the sugar debt raising from $55.3 billion in 2006 to a whopping $118 billion. He argued that this is not a cash strapped industry but one that is in up to its nose in indebtedness and so it is not wise to tread forward in this path.

Despite several setbacks which caused some delay to the commencement of the programme, Adams said the community would soon benefit from its return. The programme will involve

cleaning of drains and desilting of creeks throughout Linden, among other cleaning exercises.

“We had some setbacks, not from the Regional level but from the Ministry of Agriculture. Delay in signing documentations and all of that but I wish to say… people can expect that a number of people across Linden, including up to Three Friends Mines, will be put to work via the Drainage programme, which is the D&I programme… We hope to employ at least 300 people on that programme across Linden,” Adams stated.

In providing some clarity, Adams said the Community Infrastructure Improvement Programme (CIIP), which is presently being conducted via the Linden Mayor and Town Council, is a separate clean-up initiative. The CIIP programme recently came into existence after years of the D&I programme.

Additionally, Adams disclosed that two new CDC’s were recently formed in the community of Kwakwani; one at the Kwakwani Waterfront and another at Kwakwani Park. She said these new CDCs would also benefit from drainage and irrigation works. Adams further alluded that she had the opportunity to meet with the Kwakwani Neighbourhood Development Council where discussions were held on a number of issues.

300 to be employed under Linden D&I programme

A

t least 300 persons from the Linden community, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) are expected to be employed within the next week following the return of the

Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) programme to the community. This was confirmed by Deputy Director of Community Development Councils (CDCs), Sandra Adams.

he philosopher Immanuel Kant succinctly posed the dilemma of organising a just state, two centuries ago, in these terms: “The problem of organizing a state, however hard it may seem, can be solved, even for a race of devils, if only they are intelligent. The problem is, given a multitude of rational beings requiring universal laws for their preservation, but each of them is sincerely inclined to Ravi Dev 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.”

Kant’s concrete solution to the inevitable conflicts he identified in organised human societies was that institutions, as with all normative behaviour, would have to satisfy the “categorical imperative” to be moral and just. In one popular formulation, this categorical imperative states: act in accordance to rules that you would wish applied to everyone as if they were universal laws.

Mos commentators who followed him agreed with his stricture that institutions constituting a state must be organised in accordance with the principle of justice, but his criterion of the categorical imperative, proved nettlesome in real life.

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.

In the opening line of his first section in his magnum opus "A Theory of Justice", Rawls boldly declared only the principle of “justice” would generate the broad acceptability for the establishment of institutions necessary for societal stability: “Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought.”

Recognizing that Guyana probably does not even reach Rawls’ 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 yet 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.”

In Guyana we all have to appreciate that the existence of the state itself is for the furtherance of the societal good – the public interest. Ultimately we believe that all Guyanese are looking to be culturally authentic, politically secure and economically sound. In the furtherance of these “public goods”, the people promulgate a constitution through which the government directs the state through policies and programmes in consonance with the prime directives of the Constitution.

In modern democracies, under the liberal paradigm, equality of treatment and equality before the law of the citizens stands at the very top of the imperatives.

We have proposed that under a federalist state institutions will be created to implement the policies of Ethnic Impact Statements, multiculturalism, federal form of government, Government of National Reconciliation, Catalytic Economic State, Affirmative Action, etc in the fulfilment of the national goals.

However, because each individual citizen or group of citizens are situated differently (according to specific criteria) governmental policies and programmes will inevitably have a different impact on different citizens.

The task of the government is to ensure that their differential treatment is not arbitrary and capricious and irrational – and that they further some societal good. There should be a correlation between the classification and the purpose of the statute so that citizens can presume the impartiality of the legislators. Thus even those adversely impacted may consider it an acceptable cost of achieving a larger societal goal.

In Guyana we would have to derive our substantive principles of justice for ourselves based on our history and present realities. Out of our experiences during slavery and Indentureship where they were denied, the values of liberty and equality are central to what we desire for the “good life”.

These values must be central to any institution that seeks to address any aspect of our national life.

NEWS

13

GTT under fire from Union

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

... as CEO affirms dialogue and fair bargaining

J

ust before negotiations between the Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers’ Union (GPTWU) and Guyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT) is set to commence, the Union members and workers gathered in front of the company’s 79 Brickdam, Georgetown head office, and while it was not a raucous demonstration, they demanded that the official either begin looking into the affairs of every employee, or pack up and leave.

GPTWU President Harold Shepherd said the company over the last couple of months has been breaching the Collective Labour Agreement it had signed onto with the Union and had begun violating the labor laws of the country.

On several occasions, he said, the Union had cause to refer some labour breaches to the Labour Ministry (now the Social Protection Ministry). What is very disturbing, Shepherd said, are the bouts of meetings the HR Manager, along with the industrial officer have been conducting with workers of the company. He said

while the Union does not have any issues with that per se, “when it comes to the condition of service, those issues must be dealt with by the Workers Union”.

Shepherd voiced his grave concern over what he said is a new trend being undertaken by the company, where it is “taking on lot of temporary employees”, who, in the end, will have nothing to benefit from.

“You find that contract employees are not benefitting from anything besides their salaries. They are not entitled to the group pension plan, because they have not been regularised...

They cannot go to the bank for loans, they cannot go to courts for a hire purchase, because they are not permanent”, he told Guyana Times. He said the company needs to respect workers rights and confirm those contract workers.

Shepherd also addressed the issue of the merging of the service centre staff with the call centre. His contention is that the two are different altogether.

“Now to merge the two and going to the extreme to be asking the service centre

Workers protesting

staff who are on fixed shift to start working rotating shift, the Union has to be involved, and that is what we are not getting”, he said.

The situation seemed to have spread to branches across the country as suggested by New Amsterdam board member Eli Hazel.

“Our problem is justice. All that we need is for the persons in authority to come and sit with us and talk. We found out here that the senior persons here are doing things on their own... this thing has been going on for a very long time, and it must stop… all we want is for them to come and talk with us, so that we could

make our company a loving company”, Hazel told Guyana Times.

Another employee, Leslyn Harris, who is also General Secretary of the Union, said members of the public would believe that employees are enjoying a good life under the current state of the affairs. She said this is far from the truth.

“We are beyond frustration; the members are at a boiling point. They were at the point where they were willing to come out and protest. Most of the time the public believes that the employees are treated nicely… We have technicians who are not only working

as technicians but by a “one man team”... They drive, look after the security of all the things in the vehicle, throw wires across the road, and sadly, they are only paid as a technician” said Leslyn.

She also noted “We have worked for years to build this company … they need us to keep the wheels of this company turning. GTT cannot survive without us.”

Meanwhile, following the demonstration, the telephone giant said it will not be intimidated by the protest action.

Immediately after the protest, the telephone company said, while it supports the rights of the workers and joins its Union in rallying for continuous, improved working conditions; it has already made it clear that it would not be intimidated when it comes to striking a balance between rights and the long-term sustainability of the company.

GTT said it is about to commence Collective Labour Agreement discussions and as such, will engage in dialogue when at the bargaining table.

The CEO said the com-

pany is about its employees and that it has been actively working with them and with the GPTWU, listening to and addressing concerns.

As such, he said GTT looks forward to its ongoing meetings and collaboration with the Union in implementing changes that would benefit both employees and the company as a whole, especially as it prepares to enter a more competitive environment.

With more than 650 direct employees and offering indirect employment to over 2000 persons, GTT is one of the largest private employers in Guyana.

The company said it has continued to show its commitment to its employees by implementing improved health and safety measures and making investments where necessary, including specialised training for safety and operational personnel.

The company said it is also guided by its Health and Safety Officers to uphold requirements and regulations and continues to reach out to the GPTWU in those areas which are collectively agreed.

Wales Estate closure

Deplorable conditions Sugar workers’ treatment a “repeat” of at Region 3 1948 struggle – GTUC General Secretary Social Protection Ministry office

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he non-consultative approach taken by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) regarding the severance payment for Wales sugar workers is reminiscent of the struggles associated with the Enmore workers in June 1948.

This was the view of Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) General Secretary Lincoln Lewis in an interview with Guyana Times on the observance of Enmore Martrys Day Thursday.

“The struggle of ‘48 has been on the question of rights – right to choose, right to a union of your choice – there were a number of issues all bordered on rights [and] cut and load was the issue that brought them to fore, the point here now is how GuySuCo treats the [rights of workers],” he noted.

Lincoln referenced the laws and conventions as stipulated in Chapter 23:01 of the Trade Unions Recognition laws which speak to how an employer must deal with unions and workers.

“When a trade union has been given recognition, the employer has to deal with that trade union in good faith; in their case

(GuySuCo), they are not prepared to talk to the trade union on the whole question of redundancy – they are in breach of the law and what we are having is a repeat of what took place in 1948,” the veteran trade unionist emphasised.

He reiterated that the only way the well-being of workers could improve was if the requisite laws were respected. “We have to respect laws and conventions; these are the things that are premised on which good governance has been built.”

Earlier this year, the General Secretary disclosed that the closure of the Wales Estate was an “injustice” and had called on Government to engage in dialogue with the parliamentary Opposition on the matter. At a solidarity protest at Belle West, West Bank Demerara, Lewis told the gathering that the rights of workers were at stake.

The plight of sugar workers was highlighted in a statement that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) issued on Tuesday in memory of the five sugar workers who were gunned down by colonial Police in British Guiana on June 16,

I

naction by officials of the Ministry of Social Protection has reportedly left its office in Region Three (Essequibo-Island West Demerara) in a deplorable condition. According to reports, residents in the district have been obtaining the services offered by the office in undesir-

facility are missing. Some of the rooms in the building are bat-infested, including two which have non-functioning toilet facilities.

More alarming were reports that a leaking pipe is causing water to lodge under the wood flooring which has caused many of the floorboards

GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis at a protest against the Wales Estate closure in February

1948. The workers who died were later known as the Enmore Martyrs: Lallabaggie and Dookie from Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and Rambarran, Harry and Pooran from Enterprise/ Nonpareil, ECD. According to the Party, sugar workers today face an uncertain future with the decision to close Wales Estate and the impending closure of the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Estate, adding that workers were denied their Annual Production Incentive (API) and the fruits of other collective bargaining agreements with their union.

“The gains made for sugar workers and work-

ers on the whole are gradually being whittled away by an unsympathetic and uncaring regime which is more concerned about feathering its own nest rather than that of the working class,” the political Party noted.

The PPP also said that the Administration needed to stop “playing politics” with the livelihoods of sugar workers and the decision to close sugar estates should be rescinded.

“This disrespect and callous attitude displayed by GuySuCo is a clear violation of industrial relations enshrined in the Conventions of the International Labour Organisation,” the PPP added.

The state of the rotting ceilings

able conditions. According to reports received, probation and counselling services, among other matters are done in a non-confidential environment as there are no private offices available.

Guyana Times was told that the staff at the Region Three department is under immense strain and health risks due to the deplorable conditions at the office which is located at the bottom flat of the Best Klien-Pouderoyen Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

In footage seen of the building, several sections of the ceiling are rotting while many of the window panes around the

to rot. Persons told this publication that at one point, two staff members reportedly fell through while attempting to use the dilapidated lavatories, some of which have to be manually flushed using buckets of water. Reports also state that some of the toilets leak while being flushed.

According to information received, both Permanent Secretaries of the Social Protection Ministry were allegedly made aware of the conditions but to date, no action has been taken. The office has been in operation since 2009.

Pension services are also dealt with at the office.

14

guyana-times.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

News Alarming increase of youths in crime ... traditional approach to crime solving no longer sufficient – Ramnarine

H

aving recognised that most perpetrators of criminal activities are young persons, acting Top Cop David Ramnarine said the Force will continue to work diligently with youths as part of its Social Crime Prevention programme.

He made this comment during a press briefing in his Eve Leary Office, where he spoke about the investigation into the grenade attack on Kaieteur News’ Publisher Glenn Lall, highlighting that many of the suspects in the matter are young persons.

“If you look that our prison population, the majority of persons are of a tender age, whether they are adults or not they are pretty young and are incarcerated for lengthy periods,” he said.

Ramnarine noted that one of the factors that impacts crime in Guyana is

Acting Top Cop David Ramnarine

the fact that the country has a youth population that is bent on having things instantaneously without wanting to put in the work to acquire those things.

“They are not being guided, they are not being supervised, they are not being taught in very strong ways

that if you need something you have to work for it and make the sacrifice to earn it. It is evident that many young people want something and want it now and that’s where the challenge lies,” he pointed out.

To this end, the acting Police Commissioner pointed out that this issue needs to be dealt with from a prevention standpoint, something which all sections of society need to play a part in.

“Forces across the world and here in Guyana it’s no less, the thinking and the belief and the actions all surround the fact that the traditional approach to solving crime – that is, arrest and prosecute – is no longer sufficient because it’s a social problem and it has to be dealt with in a social manner,” he stated.

On this note, he outlined that the Police is basically a microcosm of the wider soci-

ety and therefore, the other support systems within society have their parts to play.

In this regard, Ramnarine lauded the efforts of the Divisional Commanders in working with youths and older members of the community.

Only last week, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan posited that the country is going through some bad economic times which resulted in increased unemployment, especially among youths. This situation, he noted, has led to high criminality rates.

A 2015 study conducted by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) found that Guyana’s unemployment rate was at 40 per cent and based on a quantitative assessment, the cost of excess youth unemployment runs into millions of US dollars for Government.

9 Central High School students busted at Diamond “hotel”

…“no one was found in a compromising position” – A Division Commander

P

olice on Wednesday afternoon detained five female and four male students of the Central High School at a house known for operating as a hotel, in Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

Reports were made by residents in the area after they noticed the group of students entering the house.

According to A Division (Georgetown-East Bank) Commander Clifton Hicken, on Thursday, the students were not found in compromising positions. However, they were apprehended and taken to the Diamond-Grove Police Station where their parents and school authorities were informed. It was relayed that the students were questioned while the Police compiled a report of the incident in the presence of their respective parents.

Hicken noted that the

A Division Commander Clifton Hicken

main issue revolved around the reason for the children ditching school and this was being addressed by the relevant authorities. It was highlighted that the students in providing a reason for being out of school related that they had nothing to do, since examinations were in progress.

Investigations are continuing into the matter.

Canadian nationals heading to Guyana Police destroy marijuana farm in Rockstone, cautioned over high crime rate

C

anada is warning its nationals to “exercise a high degree of caution” when travelling to the Caricom South American nations of Guyana and Suriname due to high crime levels in both countries.

Highlighting Guyana, the Canadian Government cautioned nationals to be wary of assaults, pickpocketing, purse snatching, break-ins, armed robberies, car thefts and carjackings particularly in Georgetown, including Stabroek Market, Tiger Bay and South Georgetown.

The government statement also warned that the sea wall, from east of the Pegasus Hotel extending to Sheriff Street and adjacent areas, has been the site of several crimes and should be avoided during dark.

Nationals were also

urged to avoid other dangerous areas including the East Coast Demerara region (especially near the villages of Buxton, Lusignan, Friendship and Annandale), the East Bank Demerara region and the New Amsterdam area.

According to the Canadian warning, violent attacks have also occurred on the road to and from Cheddi Jagan International Airport and on the Linden Highway, especially at night.

According to the government statement “foreigners and returning Guyanese citizens are favourite targets for criminals. Canadians have been injured while being robbed at gunpoint, and some have reported being attacked after withdrawing money at financial institutions. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.”

The warning further

added they should “pay attention to your surroundings, especially when entering or leaving vehicles, residences and public places. Ensure that your personal belongings, passports and other travel documents are secure at all times. Do not show signs of affluence. When approached by a police officer, always ask to see identification.”

Canada’s warnings solidify the contentions that many observers have been expressing that the present crime rate in Guyana is worrying. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) however, has played down the crime situation by citing comparative statistics which showed that crime in 2015 was more prevalent than in 2016.

The recent statistic released by the GPF recorded a 16 per cent decrease in serious crimes at the

end of May this year when compared to the same period last year.

The Police also highlighted that there was a seven per cent reduction in reports of murder; 10 per cent decrease in gunrelated robberies; seven per cent decrease in armed robberies where other instruments were used by the perpetrators.

In addition, a 26 per cent decrease was recorded in robberies with violence; a 14 per cent decrease in robberies with aggravation; a 27 per cent combined decrease in break and enter and larceny and burglary and a 14 per cent decrease in rape.

There is also a 52 per cent decrease in larceny from the person. Robbery where guns or other instruments were not used showed an increase by 17 per cent.

Father of 2 dies after ingesting poison at court

A

43-year-old East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident died just mere hours after he ingested a poisonous substance while in Police custody.

Michael Persaud, a father of two, of Diamond New Housing Scheme, EBD, succumbed at about 08:30h on Thursday in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Just after lunch on Wednesday, Persaud was rushed to the medical facility after he ingested a quantity of an unknown poisonous substance. Moments before

consuming the poison which he reportedly kept in his possession, he appeared before a Magistrate to answer several counts of fraud charges after he allegedly obtained money under false pretense.

The man’s wife was overheard shouting on her mobile phone to her daughter, “…you daddy just drink this poison in the lock up “.

It was the Police who became alarmed after they notice Persaud vomiting and convulsing. After checks were made, the Police realised Persaud had consumed the liquid and reportedly managed

Ranks ushering Michael Persaud out the courthouse on Wednesday, moments before he reportedly ingested the poisonous substance while in Police custody

to wrestle the bottle from his tight grip.

He was place in a Police vehicle and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital for medical attention.

It is still unclear how the man obtained the substance even though he was in Police custody. However, investigations are continuing into the matter.

In January 2016, Police had issued a wanted bulletin for Persaud along with Gunraj Raghubir of Kitty to answer charges of fraud. (Shemuel Fanfair)

2 in custody

The marijuana field found and destroyed in the North West District earlier this week

R

anks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Thursday conducted a drug eradication operation at Rockstone Backlands, Upper Demerara River, during which a cannabis farm was destroyed.

According to reports, the ranks, acting on information received, went to the area where they found half an acre of land, with approximately 1000 marijuana plants, three nurseries and in excess of 50 kilograms of dried cannabis.

The nurseries, along with the dried cannabis and the plants, which ranged between one foot and six feet

in height, were all destroyed by fire.

The ranks have so far arrested two males who are in custody assisting with the investigation.

Only Monday last, ranks in the North West District (NWD) conducted a similar drug eradication exercise at Arukamai Backdam, Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) and unearthed a quarter-acre field with about 300 marijuana plants, ranging in height from one foot to six feet, along with a camp.

The field and camp were destroyed by fire. No one has been arrested.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

guyana-times.com

Around the World

British MP dead after shooting attack, EU referendum campaigns suspended

A

British Member of Parliament has died after she was shot and stabbed in a "horrific" assault in her constituency, Police have said.

Jo Cox, Labour MP for Batley and Spen, was left bleeding on the ground after the attack in West Yorkshire. A 52-year-old man was arrested nearby.

One eyewitness told the BBC they heard her attacker shout "put Britain first" at least twice beforehand.

Tributes flooded in from politicians including PM David Cameron, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and US Secretary of State John

British MP Jo Cox was the Labour MP for Batley and Spen

Kerry.

Cox's husband Brendan said she would want people "to unite to fight against the

hatred that killed her".

Vote Leave and Remain have both suspended campaigning in the EU referendum in light of the attack.

Mrs Cox is the first sitting MP to be killed since 1990, when Ian Gow was the last in a string of politicians to die at the hands of Northern Irish terror groups.

The arrested man was named locally as Tommy Mair.

Labour leader Corbyn said the country would be "in shock at the horrific murder", describing the MP as a "much loved colleague".

He added: "Jo died doing

her public duty at the heart of our democracy, listening to and representing the people she was elected to serve.

"In the coming days, there will be questions to answer about how and why she died.

"But for now all our thoughts are with Jo's husband Brendan and their two young children. They will grow up without their mum, but can be immensely proud of what she did, what she achieved and what she stood for."

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the Queen will write privately to Cox.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

9 killed as Congo troops clash with ex-militia fighters – NGO

A

t least nine people died in clashes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that erupted when Government soldiers prevented former fighters from leaving a camp for demobilised militia groups, officials said on Thursday.

The camp houses exfighters from the Rwandan-

15

backed M23, which participated in rebellions against the Government of President Joseph Kabila in 2012 and 2013, and the Mai Mai militia, whose allegiance fluctuated during the conflicts, a United Nations official said.

Emmanuel Cole, President of the Bill Clinton Foundation for Peace, a human rights NGO in

Kinshasa, said six ex-militia fighters and three soldiers died in Wednesday's clashes.

Congo's east has been plagued by instability and conflict for two decades. The region suffered the worst of the fighting during a war between 1996 and 2003 that sucked in half a dozen African countries and left

millions of people dead.

World powers fear a repeat of that violence as Congo approaches a contentious election period with Kabila, in power since 2001, accused of seeking to delay the poll or change the Constitution to extend his mandate for another term.

Kabila has not commented.

Orlando shooting: US Democrats push for gun control

D

emocrats in the US Senate have held the floor for nearly 15 hours through the night to demand a vote on gun control after the killing of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Florida.

The marathon session ended after Republicans agreed to hold votes on measures to expand background checks and prevent people on US terrorism watch lists from buying guns, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said early on Thursday.

The move could break a years-long deadlock on gun control and follows demands for action after the worst mass shooting in US history.

Murphy took to the floor of the Republican-

controlled Senate on Wednesday morning to launch a procedural obstruction, known as a filibuster, to press colleagues to accept so-called "no-fly no-buy" legislation.

Under the measure, people on watch lists or no-fly lists would be barred from buying firearms. Omar Mateen, the Orlando gunman, had been on such a list.

"I'm at my wits' end," said Murphy, as he began on Wednesday morning his hours-long takeover.

"I'm going to remain on this floor until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together," added the Senator of Connecticut, where a 2012 school shooting left 20 children dead.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Hong Kong bookseller: China TV confession Students, teachers ditch school was “forced” (Excerpt from Reuters)

as crisis engulfs Venezuela

M

ariangel Caceres' teachers, whose salaries do not buy enough food to live on, stopped showing up for classes early this year.

The State school in the verdant Andean state of Tachira in Venezuela also had to cut back on providing meals due to nationwide food shortages.

So when the leftist Government in April decreed Friday school closings to save electricity, it was the last straw.

"I left school a week after Easter," said Caceres, a sports-loving 13-year-old who now spends her days travelling to neighbouring Colombia with her mother to buy flour, rice or sugar they

Supporters of the Government accuse opponents of exaggerating social problems as part of a campaign to undermine socialism in Venezuela

can no longer find or afford at home.

While Caceres hopes to enrol again in the next school year, she may find the oil-rich nation's economic crisis makes that difficult.

Education is no longer a priority for many poor and

middle-class Venezuelans who are swept up in the allconsuming quest for food amid a wave of looting and riots.

Between 30 per cent and 40 per cent of Venezuelan teachers fail to show up at

school each day, mainly because they are standing in lines for food or medicine, their biggest union estimates.

Pupils' attendance is also dropping because children have not eaten, know there will be no food at school, or must line up and help their parents shop, according to the union.

Frequent power and water cuts are disrupting classes, and schools have been closed on Fridays for about the last two months.

The country's Education and Information Ministries did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, Venezuelan Police have arrested 400 persons for looting. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazilian President Temer drawn into Petrobras bribery scandal

B

razilian interim President Michel Temer has been drawn into the bribery scandal at State oil company Petrobras.

The latest allegations were made by a former Petrobras executive, Sergio Machado, who has been giving plea bargain evidence to prosecutors.

He said Temer, among others, had asked him for illegal campaign contribu-

tions for a political ally.

Temer has denied doing so. Reuters quoted his office as saying he had always observed campaign finance laws.

Machado, who is himself accused of corruption, said Temer had requested a donation of about US$440,000 for his PMDB party candidate's campaign in the mayoral elections in Sao Paulo in 2012.

The allegations against

interim President Temer are being treated with some caution in the Brazilian press.

Many outlets are focusing on the scale of accusations by whistleblower Sergio Machado, and not on President Temer himself.

The headline of rightleaning news outlet G1 (Globo) reads: "Sergio Machado says he handed over bribes to more than 20 politicians."

Temer's name is not mentioned until the fifth paragraph.

Centre-right daily Correio Braziliense highlights the fact that eight political parties are implicated, but that Temer's PMDB party "leads the ranking in bribery".

Centre-left news portal Carta Capital is one of the few outlets to focus on the interim president's alleged involvement. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Lam Wing Kee was seized in the Chinese city of Shenzen in October 2015

O

ne of five Hong Kong booksellers who disappeared last year says he was forced by Chinese agents into a confession of "illegal trading".

Lam Wing Kee was seized in the Chinese city of Shenzhen last October.

He and the four other men worked at a publishing house that sold books critical of China's leaders.

Lam said a confession broadcast on Chinese television in February, featuring four of the men, had been scripted.

"It was a show, and I accepted it," he told a news conference on Thursday, according to the South China Morning Post.

"They gave me the script.

I had to follow the script. If

I did not follow it strictly, they would ask for a retake."

Four of the men from Mighty Current publishing house, Lam, Gui Minhai, Lui Bo and Cheung Jiping, gave details of their alleged offences during their appearance on Phoenix TV in February.

Lam Wing Kee returned to Hong Kong on Tuesday.

Only one of the men has yet to return from the mainland.

Some people in Hong Kong believe the four were detained by China because of a book about President Xi Jinping.

They said they had sold 4000 "unauthorised" books to 380 customers in mainland China, Phoenix TV reported. (Excerpt from BBC News)

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Berbice High School to mark 100th anniversary in grandeur

T

he Berbice High School will be celebrating its centenary in grand fashion on September 5, 2016 under the theme, “Seizing the opportunity to train and build a cohesive society.”

Planning Committee Chairman, Dr Grantley Walrond and Treasurer Roxanne Thomas- Alleyne, in a press conference on Tuesday, outlined a series of commemorative activities, which began in September 2015, in observance of the school’s 100th Anniversary.

Dr Walrond disclosed that there were five objectives the School’s Planning Committee hoped to achieve at the end of the year-long observance: raising the profile of the School in the community and the country at large while contributing to the enhancing of facilities and the learning environment; highlighting its impact as reflected in the notable achievements of the current students and alumni at home and abroad; encouraging current and future students to attain greater

achievements; facilitating fellowship among alumni, current students and staff while creating an opportunity to mentor the young and contributing to the national dialogue on social cohesion, the lack of which continues to stymie the growth and development of the country.

The Chairman cited among the list of celebratory events: general and class reunions, a day of international sports, a major cultural extravaganza and fair with exhibition of art from various contributors, a career fair including major employers and distinguished alumni, visits and sponsored tours to places of interest, and the centenary day programme on September 5.

He also pointed out that the organising committee, in collaboration with the Education Ministry, has instituted an essay competition for Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne), with secondary school students writing on different aspects of “Social Cohesion”.

These essays will then be evaluated by the alumni and

Berbice High School Planning Committee Chairman, Dr Grantley Walrond

social cohesion specialists, and the top three essays from each of the lower, middle and upper schools will be identified and published, with the first-place winner being awarded US$1000, second, US$750 or a laptop and third, US$500 or a digital device.

At the big gala to conclude the celebrations, persons who have distinguished themselves by their contributions in various areas

including politics, entrepreneurship, humanities, science and technology will be recognised. A significant feature, according to Dr Walrond, will be the “Lifetime Achievement Award”.

“Centenary Day will see a dignified programme with His Excellency, President David Granger delivering the feature address in a ceremony befitting the occasion.”

At the press conference, it was pointed out that one of the major focuses of the centenary observances was seeing the school and its population benefit from increasing opportunities and improved facilities through the fund-raising and direct contributions of alumni. It was added that at least 10 permanent scholarships would be established and monies would be provided to equip and upgrade all the laboratories. Further, it is expected that the partnership with the Government will see a much-needed facelift for the School’s compound and some of its classrooms.

US university teams up with NAREI, UG to bolster sweet potato production

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weet potato production in Guyana will be enhanced thanks to collaborations between the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), Partners of America (Local Chapter), the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the University of Guyana.

A two-member team from UAPB comprising of Sweet Potato Specialist Dr James Garner, and Dean of School of Agriculture Dr Edmund Buckner, recently visited Guyana to initiate the project implementation.

They met with Agriculture Minister Noel Holder and other key stakeholders, including Chief Executive Officer of NAREI Dr Oudho Homenauth.

Minister Holder expressed gratitude to the

Sweet potato production

UAPB team for selecting Guyana to be part of this important activity and pledged the Ministry’s full support for the project, which will run for five years.

The project, which is being funded by the United

States Department of Agriculture (USDA), will focus on improving seed quality in order to boost production and yield.

Emphasis will be placed on the development of superior sweet potato lines as

measured by horticultural quality, reduced virus infection and increased yield and soil pest resistance.

Additionally, two local scientists would be trained in the areas of micro-propagation and biotech procedures needed to establish a virus tested sweet potato foundation seed programme.

The successful implementation of this project will add to NAREI’s efforts in advancing sweet potato production. NAREI is currently conducting sweet potato trials at Mon Repos and Parika.

The aim of the trials is to determine whether the use of sprinkler irrigation would increase yields. Further, NAREI is also engaged in the multiplication of different varieties of sweet potatoes.

President, Harmon engage Permanent Secretaries – discuss strategic plan for Ministries, green economy

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resident David Granger and Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday met with the permanent secretaries (PS) of the various ministries to discuss a number of issues, including ensuring that their work is in line with the policies of the government, a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) said.

The meeting was held at the MoTP. The statement said both the President and Minister called for meetings of this nature to become a month-

Dharamlall, IDB official settle “threat” matter A fter having the Police file for almost two weeks, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers on Wednesday returned the document to the Criminal Investigations Department without any recommendations for charges to be filed against People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Nigel Dharamlall, who had threatened to shoot an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) official.

Guyana Times was made to understand that DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack did not make any recommendations on the issue since the lawyers for the two parties have decided to settle the matter and not go through the judicial process.

Dharamlall recently came into the limelight after a Police complaint was filed that he allegedly whipped out his gun and threatened to shoot the official after the individual was seen communicating with his (Dharamlall’s) exwife.

The Police had confirmed the report and launched an investigation into the matter. The case file was subsequently sent to the DPP chambers on May 27.

After the matter was publicised, Dharamlall was advised by his attorney, Glenn Hanoman, not to comment on the issue as to not interfere with or prejudice the investigation.

The Attorney further noted that given the sensational speculations and

ly feature, so that public officers can communicate and interact more, exchange ideas and sort out differences that will arise from time to time.

President Grange, according to the MoTP statement, said that the position of permanent secretary is the pinnacle of the professional career of a public servant and, as such, his government will ensure that the conditions under which they function are as close as possible to ideal and that there is a high level of satisfaction and commitment among them.

He explained that like law and medicine, public service is a profession that requires a high level of competency and professionalism.

“Ministers may change, but permanent secretaries are meant to be permanent…to run a ministry continuously for a long period of time, every day and

PPP/C MP Nigel Dharamlall

inaccurate information in the public domain, it must be made clear that his client was “unequivocally” denying any involvement in any criminal act.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had told a news conference that the Party would be expecting an explanation from its MP. “Clearly, he has to give solid explanations, believable explanations to the executive of the Party and to us. He has to give those because it is a serious matter, the allegations are serious,” Jagdeo posited.

The Opposition Leader went on to say that the matter would be discussed at the Party’s executive meeting, which was scheduled for last Friday.

However, when contacted over the past weekend, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee said that the matter was not brought up. whoever the minister is, the permanent secretary must be able to discharge his/her function in an efficient manner but they cannot do that unless they are educated,” President Granger said.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Minister Harmon, who emphasised that permanent secretaries have a critical role to play in the functioning of ministries. He informed the permanent secretaries that the President will soon introduce a draft strategic plan for the various ministries, which outlines a broad framework within which each ministry will function and what they should focus on.

This draft plan also highlights the government’s green agenda.

Minister Harmon said that, “the first and foremost responsibility of every government ministry is to push that green agenda.”

guyana-times.com

A mammoth parade through the streets of Brooklyn and a massive Unity Concert at South Shore High School Park, Brooklyn, brought the curtains down on the oneweek New York celebration of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee of Independence.

The New York Guyana Jubilee celebration from June 4-12 was organised by Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration Committee.

The parade commenced at Church and Utica Avenues in the heart of the GuyaneseAmerican community in Brooklyn and ended at the South Shore High School Park.

Thousands of proud Guyanese revellers danced and gyrated to Adrian Dutchin’s “Show Me Yuh Flag,” and several other Jubilee songs by

Guyanese artistes and soca music from around the Caribbean.

T h e parade flowed up Church Avenue, South into Ralph Avenue and ended at the South Shore High School Park at Glenwood and Ralph Avenues. Hundreds of NYPD

officers

lined the barricaded route as Police Officers on motorcycles and in marked vehicles steered through the Brooklyn streets lined with spectators waving Guyana flags.

The parade reflected diversity and Guyanese

unity. The Indo-Guyanese community in Queens led the parade with a float promoting Lakshmee Singh’s Radio

a n d TV shows. The talk show host herself, flanked by several beauties and dancers, waved to the overjoyed crowd. Singh is the organiser

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

of the annual Diwali parade and cultural show in

Richmond Hill, Queens.

Another float, on a decorated giant 18 wheeler tractor trailer, blasted soca music which electrified the massive crowd of thousands of Guyanese of all ages. The

parade was a picturesque carnival scene with a sea of Guyana flags and revellers decked in colours of the flag.

Passersby stopped and waved. Some joined the celebration, which also attracted many other West Indians. The after parade Unity Concert at South Shore attracted a massive turnout, causing the New York Police Department to mobilise additional personnel and close entrances.

Hence, thousands of persons, including Jubilee Celebration Committee members, could not gain entry. Patrons who were locked out of the park were however undaunted. They continued the festivities on the street which was blocked off by Police. The concert was sponsored by El Dorado Rum.

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he winner of the second edition of GT&T Jingle Competition, Shawn English will on Saturday launch his new music video and song titled “Let Your Light Shine” on several radio stations in the Caribbean, Europe and Africa.

The video was recorded in St Kitts during the singer’s recent Gospel Festival experience in that country. It was produced by UpPhrunt Productions in St Kitts. However, the song was written by the artiste on the Messenger Rhythm and was produced by Future Records in Barbados. The engineer who worked with English on the final product is Jamal Newton.

This song was written with society in mind and it encourages everyone to pay more attention to the people who love and support each other. It is a fusion of Reggae and Hip Hop and it is absolutely unique in the way it was produced.

This talented artiste is a man of God and an accomplished musician.

He is well-known for spreading his passion for inspiring young people with his upbeat and diverse lyrics, in songs like “Trixx” and “Awesome God”.

Although his songs are used as a youth ministry, his sound is timeless thus influencing all generations who hear and identify with his positive messages.

As we look forward to the future, we wait with bated breath to see how this talented young man will be used by God as he walks into fulfilling purpose and destiny.

For more of his music, exclusive interviews and free downloads, visit www.soundcloud.com/shawnEnglish; http://www.reverbnation. com/shawnenglish or his Facebook musician page www.facebook.com/ carihiphop and www.facebook.com/focusproject (like the pages to become connected.)

ookah smoking is one of the new trending activities by partyholics as they visit night spots in the city. This new trend has definitely added some excitement to the way Guyanese party. It is with this in mind, an overseas-based Guyanese, Tamasha Johnson made the decision to open a hookah bar that caters primarily for those who enjoy hookah smoking.

The Mist Hookah Lounge is located at 77 D Light Street, Alberttown, Georgetown and is open seven days a week from 17:00h.

However, on Tuesdays, patrons can enjoy a wide range of cocktails from some of the most experienced mixologists in the country.

Johnson recalled trying out hookah for the first time in the US and being blown away. She immediately thought that opening an ultimate hookah bar would be welcomed in Guyana. Since it opened its doors to the public, the response has been satisfying and plans are in the pipeline to expand in the near future.

The proprietor is also thinking seriously about opening other Mist Hookah Lounges in

the certain Caribbean islands, but, for the next few months, more focus will be placed on advertising and promoting the business.

The young entrepreneur was born and raised in East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, but presently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

The 26-year-old was determined

to become a successful businesswoman after witnessing her mother raise five children as a single parent.

She sees her mother as a hero, stating that despite the struggles and challenges, she managed to instil good family values in her children. As the eldest child, Johnson now assists in providing the necessary support to her mother and siblings.

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guyana-times.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

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n observance of International Yoga Day, which is celebrated on June 21, worldwide, the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (Hindus for Selfless Service) Guyana will be hosting its second annual day of activities on Sunday, June 19 at the Leonora Secondary School, West Coast Demerara.

The day of activities, which commences at 13:00h, will see presentations by the Bramah Kumaries, the Art of Living and the Hague Peace Corps among others on the importance of exercise for the human body.

Last year, scores showed up at the Everest Cricket Ground on Carifesta Avenue to join some 170 other countries in celebrating International Yoga Day. The event in 2015 was held under a special project hosted by the group titled “I love Guyana”.

However, this year, the event is being held under the theme “Physical and spiritual enhancement through Yoga”. It is free of cost and participants are urged to wear loose clothing.

Yoga is a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, part of which includes breath control, simple meditation,

and the adoption of specific bodily postures, which originated mainly in India. It is widely practised for health and relaxation.

Yoga is said to be as old as civilisation with evidence of this being seen in stone sculptures which archaeologists dated to over 3000 BC. Yoga has been known to produce many health benefits, such as all-round fitness, stress relief, weight loss, increased energy and

much more.

Scientific research has shown that yoga helps to stabilise the mind and brings relief to chronic illness, contributing to proper blood circulation and inner peace. This can be practised by anyone despite of age and gender and can be done at anytime.

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amaica Reggae SumfestIt is almost summer time which means vacations, beaches, bikinis, tan lines and memories to last a lifetime.

This time around, Hits and Jams Entertainment is partnering with Fly Jamaica Airlines to kick start the summer for two persons winning two airlines tickets to the Jamaican Reggae Sumfest slated for July 17-23.

Listeners are urged to tune into HJ Boom FM all day for a chance to win an entry into the grand draw by correctly answering one simple question about Fly Jamaica Airlines.

The grand drawing will be held at the Sun Water and Sand event slated for

July 4 at the Hits and Jams Water World. The names of the lucky winners will be

revealed at the event. They will win a round trip for themselves and a guest to

attend the Sumfest, complements of Fly Jamaica.

ineteen-year-old Hardesh Singh, also called “HD”, a DJ attached to the Blazing Sound Music System in Enmore, East Coast Demerara, has recorded his first single as he continues to work on his musical career.

The track, titled “Dangles She Way”, was written by the talented young man and was recorded in the BKVJ Studio in Berbice. He was influenced to record his first tune by his good friend Vicadi, a chutney singer, and more so, his experience as a deejay.

Singh started his career as a DJ at the age of 11 when his relatives constructed the Blazing Sound Music System. On account of his love of music which struck at the age of eight, he dropped out of Enmore Government School and started to deejay with several high-ranking selectors on the East Coast of Demerara. His love for the art form grew and within a matter of months, he was ready to deejay at weddings, birthdays and other events.

Now, as one of the best DJs on the East Coast of Demerara, he is ready to branch out into singing Chutney music. With one song already to his name, he is writing a few others that will be recorded.

He thinks one day, he will be performing on the same stage as some of the international artistes, including reigning Chutney King KI. Singh is also optimistic that sooner or later, he will be ready to take on some of the best in the local industry. Chutney/Soca artistes serve as his inspiration to pursue his singing career, although he does not have any particular singer as a role model to emulate.

Singh, who grew up in the humble village where he saw everyone as equal, is the second of three children whom his parents well provided for, especially when it came to music and equipment in his case. His favourite colour is white, while Chinese food is his favourite.

During his spare time, he plays pools, football and cricket.

As to his relationship status, with a grin, he told Guyana Times Entertainment that he is single and ready to mingle.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016

guyana-times.com

Parmeshwarie Seodat

Ritesh Tularam

Karamchand Sugrim

Altaf Hamid

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Vidya Ram

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hirteen talented young men and women were selected to compete for E-Networks’ “Emerging Voices” Season 2 crown following several intense auditions across the country.

Almost 100 persons, hailing from all over Guyana, auditioned before judges Purnash Durgaprasad and Dr Vindhya Persaud in a bid to be part of this year’s competition.

E-Networks was extremely

Hemraj Rasulan pleased with the level of interest shown by young Guyanese in the singing competition, which created waves among Guyanese and Youtube fans when it was first held in 2014.

Those chosen for this year’s competition are

Shivanand Singh

Dharamraj Mohabir

Elizabeth Wong Parmeshwarie Seodat of Tuschen, West Coast Demerara (WCD); Andy Rattan of Nonpareil, East Coast Demerara (ECD); Karamchand Sugrim of East Canje, Berbice; Altaf Hamid of Annandale, ECD; Trisha Persaud of Parika, East Bank Essequibo; Ritesh Tularam of

Trisha Persaud

Andy Rattan

Nonpareil, ECD; Vidya Ram of Best Village, West Bank Demerara; Shivanand Singh of Handsome Tree, Mahaica River; Hemraj Rasulan of Number Two Village, West Berbice; Sashwatie Harrichan of Unity Village; Elizabeth Wong of Anna Catherina, WCD; Keshav Rampersaud of

Vryheid’s Lust, ECD and Dharamraj Mohabir of Hampshire, Corentyne.

In addition to the great prizes, including the first prize of $1 million, the competition provides the valuable opportunity for the contestants to be trained by judges Purnash Durgaprasad

Sashwatie Harrichan and Jeffrey Iqbal, both of whom are accomplished singers and musicians with a wide range of experience on the international scene.

Indeed, Durgaprasad started working with the contestants soon after the audition results and, in addition to working on their

Keshav Rampersaud songs for the competition, they have been given a daily regimen of vocal exercises to increase their capabilities.

Training will continue for the next two months. The show will be aired in September and promises excellent entertainment, great production value and some surprises, including possible wildcard entries.

The event is sponsored in part by King’s Jewellery World, NTN and the Continental Group of Companies.

Persons interested in tracking the progress of the contestants as they move towards competition stage can follow E-Networks’ “Emerging Voices” Facebook page.

Saturday, June 18 at 14:00h. The rehearsals will take place at the Reliance Mandir. Those who wish to participate in the duet category of the competition will be given four minutes for their presentation.

Singers will be judged according to voice control, emotion, pronunciation, posture and presentation, timing, pitch and synchrony/harmony.

The competition is one out of many planned by the Sabha to give youths the opportunity to build their confidence. Tickets for the competition are presently in circulation at the cost of $500.

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he Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha Essequibo Praant will be hosting a singing competition titled “Meethee Aavaaz” on June 25 at the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School commencing from 17:00h.

The competition is open to young people between the ages of five and 25 and will be judged in three categories – Kirtan, Individual and Duet. The best singer in each category will be selected to represent the Praant in Georgetown at Kala Utvas.

Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners. All participating mandirs are asked to register their participant/s at the earliest opportunity since rehearsals are scheduled to commence on

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friDAY, june 17, 2016

International Olympic Day Guyana Blind cricket team activities set for June 26 seeking assistance for T West Indies assignment

he Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), in observance of “International Olympic Day,” will be organizing a number of activities with the highlight being the “10km fun run, Jog and Walk” and the “10 km team Run Competition” on Sunday June 26 from 06:00 hrs.

The 10km fun run, Jog and Walk will commence at the YMCA, Thomas Lands and head north along Camp Street then east along Carifesta Avenue onto the Rupert Craig Highway. The athletes will then turn back in the vicinity of the Liliendaal Access Road then continues west via Kitty Public Road, south into Vlissengen Road.

They will then head east

into Thomas Lands to finish at the start point (YMCA).

This event will cater for any individual ten (10) years and older and on completion participants will each receive an International Olympic Committee Certificate and T-Shirt.

The 10 km team Run Competition will commence at 06:30 hrs and will start outside the YMCA and will follow the same course as the fun run. A team must consist of four (4) Males and Two (2) Females all of whom must complete the course in order to gain points for their team. Participation forms can be uplifted from Olympic house, 76 High Street, Kingston and must be duly stamped and signed by

an authorized official of your organization and should be returned to Olympic House along with an application to participate no later than 15:00hrs on Wednesday June 22, 2026.

Monetary awards will be made to the first three (3) teams to finish as follows, 1st place $72,000, 2nd place $48,000 and 3rd place $36,000.

No association, Club, School, Business Enterprise, Diplomatic Mission etc. will be permitted to field more than two (2) teams.

Completed Entry forms must be returned to Olympic house no later than 15:00 hrs on Wednesday June 22, 2016 and will not be accepted after the stated due date.

Digicel Schools Football Championship....

Ann’s Grove cruise to 4-0 win over Beterverwagting T he action continued in the sixth annual Digicel School’s Football Championship, with Ann’s Grove Secondary easing to a comfortable 4-0 win over Beterverwagting Secondary (BV) on Thursday at the Victoria Community Centre Ground, East Coast Demerara.

Watched by a small but boisterous crowd, a second half double by Peter Heady and braces by Shemar McPherson and Jeremiah Bowman inspired the one sided victory.

McPherson was the first to open the scoring with a powerful shot from the left wing which burst through the hands of the goalie in the 25th and was the lone goal in an eventful first half.

Heady’s first goal occurred in the 5th with a shot off his right foot goal from

Ann’s Grove Secondary School goal scorers from left: Peter Heady, Shemar McPherson and Jeremiah Bowman

18 yards from goal which was the precursor for the second half route.

Beterverwagting had some spirited chances but were unable to produce any conversions.

Heady again was on point in the 60th when he collected a cross from the wing a simply dabbed it into the net.

The diminutive Bowman inflicted the last blow into the BV side with a stylish kick past the keeper from inside in the 75th minute.

Matches are slated to continue today from 15:30 Hrs throughout the country in the knockout tournament in which more than 150 schools started.

T

he Guyana Blindcricket team is currently in preparation mood ahead of the Ninth West Indies Cricket Council for the Blind and Visually Impaired Regional Tournament to be hosted

by Trinidad & Tobago next month.

Under the guidance of experienced national blind-cricket coach Bharat Mangru, 20 blind and visually impaired cricketers are going through their paces at the national gymnasium and national stadium on Sundays.

A final squad of 14 will be selected after a period of encampment from June 24 to 27 at the national gymnasium and national stadium before the team depart for the July 8 to 16 tournament.

The players who are B-1, B2 and B3 are from Essequibo, Berbice, Linden and Georgetown are trying their best to be match ready while at the same time raise the much needed funds to travel to the twin island republic.

A B3 player plays the most effective shot in blind-cricket, the sweep

The total budget is just about $2.5M and to date the team has only raised just about $700,000.

The squad comprises of individuals who are always going the extra mile but badly need the assistance of government and the business community but not limited to.

The team don’t just see blind-cricket as a competitive sport but also a vehicle for the empowerment of persons who are blind and

visually impaired.

Last year the Guyana Blind-cricket team ventured to St. Lucia where the government contributed $2M. towards the trip.

The team will welcome similar assistance as they seek to compete and empower themselves to greater heights.

A B1 player is on who is totally blind, B2 is a player is partially sighted while a B3 player is partially blind.

Bolt to compete in 200m at London Anniversary Games

Murray beats Aljaz Bedene in Queen’s Club second round D

Usain Bolt ran 9.88 to win the 100m in Kingston last weekend

A

ndy Murray came through his first allBritish contest for 10 years as he saw off Aljaz Bedene in straight sets at Queen’s Club.

Top seed Murray won 6-3 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals - and will next face another Briton in Kyle Edmund.

Murray, 29, last played a compatriot when he lost to

Tim Henman in Bangkok in 2006.

The world number two is trying to win a record fifth Aegon Championships title this week.

Edmund, the British number three at 85 in the world, made progress when France’s Paul-Henri Mathieu withdrew because of a wrist injury.

Asked if facing anoth-

er British player had added pressure, Murray told BBC Sport: “Not for me.

“It was better that all of the British players were doing well and I play Kyle in the next round.

“It’s been a long time, I’m happy there are more Brits around in the big events now. I actually had a feeling I was going to play one here.

It was good.” (BBC Sport)

ouble Olympic champion Usain Bolt has confirmed he will run in the London Anniversary Games 200m on 22 July.

The 29-year-old Jamaican, who holds the world 200m record with 19.19 seconds, will line up against Britain’s European 200m champion Adam Gemili.

Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, fifth in last year’s World Championship 200m,

also runs in the event, which serves as the London leg of the Diamond League.

Bolt holds the London Grand Prix record (19.76), set at Crystal Palace in 2008.

Nethaneel MitchellBlake, 22, the second fastest Briton of all time with a personal best of 19.95, is also expected to compete.

It will be Bolt’s eighth appearance at the London leg - he first appeared in the

former Golden League in 2005, aged 18.

He has twice competed in the 100m under the floodlights on the Friday night of the London Anniversary Games, winning in both 2013 and 2015 with times of 9.85 and 9.87 respectively.

Bolt said: “The London Anniversary Games will be one of my last races before Rio and running in the 200m will hopefully set me up for a successful Olympic Games.”

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McCullum crucial to title defence, says Bravo

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wayne Bravo says the presence of New Zealand batting star Brendon will be a major boost to Trinbago Knight Riders in the defence of their Caribbean Premier League title.

McCullum, a hard-hitting opener, is one of the new acquisitions for the franchise along with South African opener Hashim Amla and champion West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine, who has moved from Guyana Amazon Warriors after three seasons in Georgetown.

“They’re all world-class players. I’m very happy to pin down McCullum,” said allrounder Bravo.

“He’s one of the world’s most dangerous players and a few years ago, when we were both playing for Chennai (Super Kings), I even asked him to come and play for Red Steel back then! Now the name has changed.

“He was part of the KKR (Kolkata Knight Riders) family back in IPL and it’s good that he joined the TKR team. So I’m happy to be team-mates with him, also with Hashim Amla who is another great player.”

Knight Riders – formerly Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel – will open the new CPL season on June 29 here when they clash with the Darren Sammyled St Lucia Zouks in a 9 pm

fixture at Queen’s Park Oval.

Two days later, they clash with Barbados Tridents in a repeat of last year’s final and close out their home leg with games against Amazon Warriors on July 2 and 2013 champions Jamaica Tallawahs on July 4.

And Bravo said the side was keen on repeating their success especially with the joy of last year’s win still very fresh in their minds.

“It was a great feeling and a great atmosphere last year.

Trinidad & Tobago is known as one of the most carnival-like atmospheres when it comes to cricket,” the West Indies player pointed out.

“We’re a very patriotic country where cricket is concerned and to play the finals in your home ground, and to also go on and win the finals, was a great achievement by the guys.

The fans really get behind the team.

“We had a really good tournament last year, so we always enjoy playing at the Queen’s Park Oval, and last year the entire place was red and black.

It was a crazy atmosphere! And to go out there and do it for the fans was very important, also because it was the first time for us to win the tournament was a great achievement.”

This year, all of the sides have strengthened. Two-time

Brendon McCullum

finalists Amazon Warriors have acquired the likes of Dwayne Smith and Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa, while Tallawahs have managed to snare South African fast bowler Dale Steyn. Bravo, a seasoned campaigner with over 300 Twenty20s to his name, said facing fellow world class players provided great competition but also good camaraderie. “Playing against the likes of Dale Steyn and Dwayne Smith and these guys, I mean as international players, we face these challenges often,” he said.

“But being in the same dressing-room, you get to know them on a more personal level, which is good. Despite whichever team we play for, we know that it’s a good bonding and friendly relationship.”

The CPL wraps up August 7. (CMC)

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League Player Draft

– Griffith seeks best composition

C

hairman of national selection Rayon Griffith says he will opt for the best team composition at West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League Player Draft set for Friday.

“I am adamant to pick up the ideal players, to get the best team composition in order to create history and complete a three-peat,” Griffith said in a brief interview with Guyana Times Sport on Wednesday the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.

The former fast bowler, who has gotten it correct on two previous occasions, winning two successive PCL tournaments and making it to the semifinals of the limited over version, said getting the best players from the draft could be a challenge.

“Selectors get to choose their players based on where their team finish the competition the previous year, so since Guyana finish in first place they will have the last purchasing option. It also has to do with the list of players presented by the other territories,” Griffith noted.

In his perspective Guyana has some strong contenders in its players but due to the selection policy he has to look outside the home players.

However, he did not want to disclose which department he is looking to strengthen, but stated it would be in the best interest of the team.

Guyana Jaguars have won the inaugural title and the second installment under the leadership of Leon Johnson. The batting department is still to

mature but has been producing the goods. The spin bowling facets has been the dominant factor while the team has resorted to several all-rounders mainly Christopher Barnwell and foreign player Raymon Reifer.

However, the fast bowling department is still to make an impact.

Therefore there is more than likely a place(s) for an experience fast bowler(s) or a genuine opener, especially since makeshift starters were used in the previous editions.

Noticeable all three of Guyana’s overseas players are Barbadians, with only Reifer staying on to play and has so far performed satisfactory. Ryan Hinds opted out of his contract for personal reasons while Searles-Scanterbury Javon who is more known for his limited over attributes ask for his contract to be terminated. Only Reifer was picked up in the first draft, the others were purchased in the second.

The third player draft will be staged in the Media Lounge on the first floor of the Coppin/Cozier/Short Media Centre at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, starting at 10a.m. R The following persons will be in attendance for their respective franchises; Hamesh Anthony, Chairman of Selectors, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Charles Walter, Chairman of Selectors, Windward Islands Volcanoes, Gus Logie, Head Coach, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, Robert Samuels, Coach, Jamaica Scorpions, Hendy Wallace, Chairman

of Selectors, Barbados Pride, Hendy Springer, Head Coach, Barbados Pride, Rayon Griffith, Chairman of Selectors, Guyana Jaguars The Player Draft has been organised with the goal of achieving an equitable distribution of the available player talent in the Regional 4-Day and NAGICO Super50 tournaments.

Each Franchise will contract a minimum of 15 players, as follows: ? 10 players pre-selected from the Home Territory; ? 5 players drafted from the Player Pool with a minimum of 2 from outside the Home Territory; and ? Each franchise can have 1 international player (i.e. non-eligible West Indian player) at its own cost.

The six franchises shall participate in the Player Draft through the Chairman of Selectors or Head Coach.

The Player Draft shall be conducted over five rounds.

Each franchise must pick a player in each round and will have two minutes to select the player. Where a selection is not made within the stipulated time, the offending franchise will miss their turn and must wait until all other franchises have made their selection in that round before making its selection.

The selection order for the Player Draft is linked to the final league position and performance of the franchise in the 2015-16 WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament.

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

friDAY, june 17, 2016

CPL Chief excited by US expansion C

aribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 chief executive officer, Damien O’Donohoe is hoping that in taking the tournament to the United States, doors will be opened for it to be bigger and better.

The league, which bowls off in two weeks’ time, will for the first time be staged in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the Central Broward Stadium with a total of six matches down to be played by its six competing teams.

“One of the biggest moves that the league will make this year is playing in the United States,” O’Donohoe told The Gleaner.

“The US is one of the biggest sports market in the world, and to know that we will be making strides to tap into it is really exciting for us.”

“All the teams with their top international players will be involved, and it should be a funfilled couple of weeks.”

The Florida leg of the tournament, which will be the final leg before the start of the semi-final playoffs and final, is set to bowl off on July 28 with perennial title challengers Guyana Amazon, led by New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, going up against the Kieron Pollard-captained, Barbados Tridents.

O’Donohoe, in the meantime, who has also expressed pleasure at the pace of ticket sales for Florida, is also hopeful that expansion will increase television viewers worldwide.

“We will be going there with hopes of grow-

Sunil Narine

ing the league, particularly as it relates to television rights,” he explained.

“The Caribbean television market alone is such a small market, and difficult to break even with, we need to expand. The hope therefore is that with the United States now a part of the mix, we will be able to improve our television offerings.”

He added: “The league going to Florida will also give Caribbean diaspora cricket fans, as well as diaspora fans from other cricket playing countries the chance to witness a number of their favorite players up front and personal.”

The Central Broward County ground has hosted four International T20’s between 2010 and 2012 with overwhelming support from the local fans. In 2010 New Zealand and Sri Lanka shared the 2-match series while in 2012 West

Indies won both matches against New Zealand.

In the opening series the batsmen struggled with New Zealand’s 120/7 being the highest score in four innings. On that occasion the Kiwis’ won the match by 28 runs having bowled out Sri Lanka for 92. The next day, Sri Lanka flipped things around by bowling out New Zealand for 81.

In 2012, the West Indies with an aggressive 85 from Chris Gayle made 209/2 to beat New Zealand (153 all out) by 32 runs.

The next day West Indies also made a healthy 177/5 with another half century to Gayle, 53. New Zealand replied with 116 all out.

Gayle is the only batsman with two half centuries at the venue and his 85 is the highest individual score.

Sunil Narine’s 4 for 12 is the best bowling figures at the ground his seven scalps overall is the most by any bowler.

With fond memories of the ground, Chris Gayle will be looking to continue with the bat when the Jamaica Tallawahs take on St. Lucia Zouks on July 30 and 31 while Narine will look to continue his dominance when the Trinbago Knight Riders paly the St. Kitts Patriots on July 29 and 31.

The CPL, now in its fourth year, is scheduled to bowl off with defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders, captained

by Dwayne Bravo, taking on the Darren Sammy-led St Lucia Zouks at Queens Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago on June 29 at 20:00 Hrs. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Aliyah Abrams arrives for Allian Pompey Invitational – Athletes confident of Olympic Games qualification

I

nternational athletes continue to pour in for the inaugural Aliann Pompey invitational to be held on Saturday June 18 at the National Track & Field Facility, Leonora and heading the list is Guyana’s latest Olympic Games qualifier Aliyah Abrams.

The overseas based Guyanese expressed confidence ahead of her participation at the meet. “I’ve been running pretty consistent so I’m confident that I’ll run a good race and my confidence is pretty solid,” said the 19 year old South Carolina University first year student who spoke to Guyana Times Sport at Olympic House on High Street, Kingston.

Aliyah who ran a personal best of 52.04 in the 400m last month to qualify for the Olympics also discussed her strategy for her upcoming race and spoke about her recent experience of marginally miss-

ing out on the finals of the NCAA Track & Field Championships last week in Eugene, Oregon.

Aliyah’s sister 22 year old Jasmine Abrams, also in Guyana for the very first time spoke of her excitement of being in Guyana, the birthplace of her parents. She would also reveal her plans to push for Olympics qualification when she competes in the 100 and 200 meters. “My fastest 100m is 11.70 and my fastest 200m is 24.04 so hopefully I’ll bring my time down and qualify for the Olympics,” said the smiling Jasmine.

Twenty three year old Bahamian Katrina Seymour a student at East Tennessee State University with a personal best of 56.86 will compete in the 400 meters Hurdles against Janeil Bellille of Trinidad and Tobago, along with Guyanese, Jenea McCammon and Jaivairia Bacote also ex-

pressed full confidence at Olympic qualifications.

The Olympic qualifying time for the Women’s 100m, 200m and 400m hurdles are 11.32, 23.20 and 56.20 respectively.

Athletes from Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Haiti, Ireland, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America and the US Virgin Islands are expected to compete among the Guyanese athletes in 15 events this Saturday from 15:00 Hrs. Admission is $1,000.

Sponsors of the event include Digicel 4G, Fly Jamaica, Quality Plus Fast Foods and Bakery, Ramada Princess Hotel, GUYSUCO and Banks DIH under their Rainforest water and Powerade sports drink brands.

(RENE STOBY)

RHTY&SC extends deadline for nominations for awards

B

erbicians have been given more time to make nominations to the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S for the fourth edition of the Gregory Gaskin Memorial Berbice Sports Award and the Ansa Mcal Award of Excellence.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the deadline has been extended to the July 2 from the original date of June 15.

He noted that the Club has already received a combined 36 nominations for both awards but wanted to give others the opportunities to nominate heroes from their area.

Foster stated that the Ansa Mcal Award of Excellence honours four outstanding Berbicians of service of the highest standard in the fields of Sports Administration, Education, health and Community Development.

All of the nominees shall have to be Berbicians, be positive role models to youths, have completed over 20-30 years of dedicated and out-

Hilbert Foster

standing service in the four fields listed above. The Club would like to inform the general public that functioning as a member of Parents/ Teacher Associations does not count as dedicated service in the field of education.

The Gregory Gaskin Memorial Berbice Sports Award would see a total of four major awards being shared out. Nominations are invited for the Berbice Sportsman of the Year 2015, Berbice Sportswoman of the Year 2015, Berbice Sports Personality of the Year 2015 and the Berbice Sports

Association of the Year 2015.

The two individual sports award would be selected based on outstanding performances during 2015 while representing Berbice, Guyana or the West Indies while the Sports Personality award would be given to the individual who worked beyond the call of duty to promote their sports throughout the ancient county while the Sports Associated Award would honour the Association that organise tournaments and training programmes to promote their sporting discipline the most.

Foster is encouraging Berbicians to submit their nominations before the 2nd of July and could be done via registered mail to the RHTYSC, M.S Office, Area ‘H’ Ground, Rose Hall Town or to fosterhilbert@yahoo. com.

The name of the nominator, address, telephone number and email address must be included along with a detailed reason why the nomination was made.

MoH/Petra Organisation/Busta Soft Shoe...

North Ruimveldt surge to 4-2 win over Festival City

Some of the action during the evening proceedings (file photo)

N

orth Ruimveldt notched their first win in the Ministry of Health/Petra Organisation Soft Shoe Tournament on Wednesday when they defeated neighbours and arch rivals Festival City at the Santos Training Area, Square of the Revolution.

Veteran player Gerald Gittens recorded a double with conversions coming in the 15th and 30th minutes, to power his side to a 4-2 win over Festival City.

Anthony Sancho in the 9th and Joshua Browne in the 16th added the final touches to the comfortable win while the lone scorer for Festival City was Eon Alleyne who hit the back of net in the 14th and 19th.

Another exciting match was Channel 9 Warriors and West Back Road, with the latter edging to a 2-1 victory.

Jamal Haynes recorded braces in the 17th and 27th while Keemo Lawrence scored in 6th in a losing

cause.

In the other matches, Tucville were held by East La Penitence in one all draw. Calvin Moore in the 3rd and Dennis Edwards of Tuvcille scored the two goals.

Globe Yard beat Cross Street 2-1 by virtue of goals from Andrew Murray in the 17th and Rolex Smith in the 28th; Shalomo Hunte was Cross street lone scorer in the 3rd.

A high scoring draw occurred between Campbellville and Laing Avenue, as both side were locked on four goals. Roy Cassou scored twice while Orlando Ricketts and David George scored one each. On the other side, Okeri Codrington recorded a double and received support from Ozeal Small and Kenneth Jackson who each scored once.

Holmes Street won via walkover against California Square.

Upon the conclusion of

the group stage, the top two finishers from each group along with the four best third place finishers will advance to the knockout round.

Action continues on Saturday at the same venue from 19:00 hrs The championship features 24 community based teams competing in an initial group stage in a round robin format before moving on to the knockout phase.

The winner of the event will collect $300,000 and the championship trophy while the second placed side will receive $200,000 and the runners-up accolade.

On the other hand, the third placed side will receive $100,000 and the respective trophy while the fourth place finishers will pocket $50,000 and the corresponding title.

On the individual side, prizes will be awarded to the event’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Highest Goal Scorer.

guyana-times.com

fridAY, june 17, 2016

23

WICB to discuss T20 leagues and home series clashes with contracted players

GCB assists with Berbice grounds maintenance

West Indies Cricket Board top brass: from left, CEO Michael Muirhead, President Dave Cameron and Director of Cricket Richard Pybus

(Standing) Representatives of the various cricket clubs in Berbice with (from left) Umpire D Somwaru, Colin Stuart, Raj Singh, Anand Sanasie and Drubahadur

ichael Muirhead, the West Indies Cricket Board CEO, said the board plans to meet with the contracted players in August to discuss next year’s international home season clashes with Twenty20 leagues.

Richard Pybus, the Director of cricket, in his 19-point plan to revamp West Indies cricket in 2014 stated that the WICB has opened up the Indian Premier League (IPL) months for the players to play and this point was reiterated by Dave Cameron, the WICB president, two months ago.

“We have given up the two best months of our year for cricket - April and May. We are not playing any cricket because we have allowed them to come over to India and play in the IPL,” stated Cameron in April.

However, the board is set to go against its policy for the second time in three years.

The last time it happened was for last year’s home Test series against England.

n an effort to assist with ground preparation at clubs in the Ancient County the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) presented a brush cutter each to thirteen cricket clubs.

According to a release from the GCB, a contingent consisting of President Drubahadur, Secretary Anand Sanasie, Marketing Manager Raj Singh and Territorial Development Officer (TDO) Colin Stuart, met with representatives of the clubs at the Albion Community Development Centre on Wednesday and presented the equipment.

Drubahadur told the clubs that he is heartened that they saw this intervention as important, noting that he is even more happy that they have endeavored to maintain and upkeep the equipment so that the club grounds can have maximum utilization of them.

Sanasie sees it fitting to assist clubs in its ground preparation, especially during the bad (rainy) season.

“GCB recognised that

M

Also, after recently announcing contracted players will get to play some part of this year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) after initially preventing them due to clashes with the India Test tour, this delicate issue will be repeated next year when India visits again next for 5 ODIs and a T20I. “It’s early days, but we are very much cognizant of these clashes next year,” stated Muirhead. “Following the last ICC meeting they are looking at ways to bring more context to international cricket and how they deal with T20 leagues. We have no intention to bully anybody even though of course our West Indies first policy will still be in place.

“However, we hope to meet with contracted players in August after the CPL looking ahead to next year, so that we can find the best solutions and compromise in the best interest of West Indies cricket.”

Since the inception of IPL in 2008, it has clashed with

the prime months of West Indies’ home international season, thus affecting the domestic season more than any Test-playing nation’s, with the best players inevitably going to participate in the IPL. The board’s history of intransigent policies with the players has not helped, which has seen many of the senior players like Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons and Samuel Badree declining or not being offered national contracts.

Whether the WICB can come to a compromise with players will be an intriguing viewing, considering that two significant players in Carlos Brathwaite and captain Jason Holder are going to be wanted by their respective IPL and CPL teams Delhi Daredevils, St.Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Kolkata Knight Riders, Barbados Trident respectively. (Cricbuzz)

I

cricket clubs need help preparing grounds, especially when the weather is bad. He stated that today the GCB is reaching out to Berbice, a continuation from last year when the GCB assisted clubs in Berbice with cricket nets and cash. Sanasie said GCB would continue to help clubs in Guyana in enhancing and developing their facilities. He called on the clubs to take good care of the brush cutters and asked Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) to check them from time to time”, said Sanasie Angela Hanniff, Secretary of the (BCB) thanked GCB for this initiative, noting that the cutters would help a great deal in getting grounds prepared and ready for first division and other cricket in Berbice. Haniff stated that BCB would take full responsibility of keeping the brush cutters in proper conditions.

The brush cutters are seen as valuable assets to cricket clubs since it greatly assist curators in maintaining high standards of pitch squares an aspect of the ground that

has been the subject of vital importance. Further the cutters would undoubtedly assist in the maintenance of the outfields, especially during unfavourable weather conditions.

The capability of keeping outfields at a lowered level during both favourable and unfavourable conditions adds to the overall suitability and efficiency of the ground preparation.

The GCB having agreed with its affiliated clubs on the conceptualization benefits of the brush cutters, found it extremely critical to present the named clubs with such an invaluable and irreplaceable tool. This is another essential contribution by the GCB in an effort to uphold the highest standards of cricket clubs facilities across Guyana.

The clubs that received brush cutters are West Berbice, Upper Corentyne, Blairmont, Tucber Park, Rosehall Town, Police, Young Warriors, Edinburgh, Port Mourant, Albion, Skeldon Community Development Centre, Rosehall Estate and Bush Lot.

FridAY, june 17, 2016

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

CPL Chief excited by US expansion

Pg 22

The Central Broward County Ground in Fort Lauderdale is a familiar hunting ground for CPL stars

Pg 22

Pg 23

Aliyah Abrams WICB to discuss T20 leagues arrives for Allian and home series clashes Pompey Invitational with contracted players – Athletes confident of Olympic Games qualification

Aliyah Abrams, Jasmine Abrams and Katrina Seymour

WICB's history of inflexible policies with the players has seen players declining or not being offered contracts

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