Guyana Times 9 April 2018

Youths pivotal to crime P13 reduction

– Minister Ramjattan at CPG youth conference Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3528

Monday, April 9, 2018

GuySuCo’s $30B bond interest rate pegged at 4.75%

PRICE

Page 3

WHAT'S INSIDE: 2016 Auditor General Report

P10 Training, capacity building needed for regional auditors – IIA Chairman

…thousands of acres of prime land earmarked to be sold to cover bond

16-year-old recaptured

by Police after Page 8 escaping custody

…claims beaten, forced to give statement admitting criminality

$80 vat included

Private Sector to block parking meter project

Page 14

ICJ Border Case

P7 Guyana, Venezuela should continue diplomatic talks – Henry Jeffrey

“All options on the table” – GCCI President

Better Hope child dies after reportedly ingesting rat poison Page 8

P14 Trio who threatened to kill President to be charged this week P14 Former Policeman’s dismissal unlawful – Appeals Court rules

Page 15

Suicide prevention symposium hosted …dozens graduate after intense training

New contract for controversial Region 6 bulldozer P15 – RDC concerned over REO’s handling of issue – Company wants 60 per cent more to supply smaller bulldozer

The Guyana Learning Institute (GLI) on Sunday hosted a suicide symposium, with scores of young people participating with the aim of influencing an immediate reduction in the scourge

Coverage of Parliament

Media say no to proposed Page 13 code of conduct – as 2-day GPA/ACM workshop concludes

Businesswoman robbed at gunpoint Page 7

Probe launched after Linden P13 businessman allegedly sexually assaults delegates

2 news

monDAY, April 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

SLED Project provides assistance to new community businesses

MP Jennifer Wade during her address to the Women on the Rise Cooperative Society

S

everal small businesses within various communities throughout Guyana have been established following the Sustainable Livelihood Entrepreneurship Development (SLED) Project.

This is in light of the vibrant and thriving village economies that can be created via entrepreneurial activity.

SLED has recently provided micro assistance to several lucrative start-up businesses, which aim to cater for the needs of their respective communities. As such, skills are being developed and residents are gaining employment.

Initially, a fish processing facility was established in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), which proved to be successful. As such, four other co-operative groups were launched in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

Another three are currently taking shape in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

Recently, a third batch of birds was produced by the Women on the Rise Cooperative Society, located in Region Five, as a result of the SLED programme.

In light of this accomplishment, a small gathering was held in the company of Member of Parliament (MP), Jennifer Wade and Regional Executive Officer (REO), Ovid Morrison.

Morrison reminded the women of the important role of cooperatives in the history of regional development and

the future of its success which lay in the continuation of this vision.

Additionally, a sewing group was also introduced in Little Red Village, a community on the Essequibo Coast, which caters for the needs of students residing there while Lima Sands saw the introduction of a home-style bakery.

Leona Cornelius, the head of the sewing group, said she has been living in the village since it was established in 2009 and has been plying her trade as the community’s seamstress since. She stated that she was now happy to be involved in training with other women.

While many persons are interested in starting their own businesses, the acquisition of capital is seen as a major setback. The merging of community resources is sometimes incapable of creating these businesses. Hence, this project was developed to tackle this issue. With this initiative in place, many residents will benefit in tremendous ways and the communities will further increase their economies. The groups predominantly comprise women who seized the opportunity to pool their resources for their financial empowerment.

The Social Protection Department has completed 20 SLED Projects in nine regions across Guyana in 2017.

With an increased budget for the SLED programme for 2018, the Department envisages an increased number of SLED projects.

Linden gets asphalt plant

R

The asphalt plant being assembled

oads in the Linden community and other parts of Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) will soon benefit from an asphalt plant, which is currently being set up in the Christianburg-Blueberry Hill area at Wismar, Linden.

According to sources on the ground, the portable asphalt plant, which arrived in

the community on Saturday, compliments of the Public Infrastructure Ministry, is expected to service roads in the entire Region, including the Mabura and Ituni roads which are in need of upgrading.

The asphalt plant is presently being assembled and is undergoing test runs. It is expected to be in full operation soon.

news

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monDAY, April 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

GuySuCo’s $30B bond interest rate pegged at 4.75%

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

Monday, April 9 – 11:30h-13:00h and Tuesday, April 10 – a nighttime retraction at 01:00h and a daytime retraction at 12:30h-14:00h.

…thousands of acres of prime land earmarked to be sold to cover bond

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

By Michael Younge

Monday, April 9 – 11:35h-13:05h and Tuesday, April 10 – 12:45h-14:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light cloudy skies can be expected with light rain and thundery showers throughout the day. Thundery showers will prevail in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 11:02 reaching a maximum height of 2.06 metres.

Low Tide: 04:29h and 17:18h reaching minimum heights of 1.24 metres and 1.12 metres respectively.

SATURDAY, April 7, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

12

14 15

23

25

28

18 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 02 06 07 09 13 LUCKY 3 9 5 4 Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

01

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Evening Draw

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

G

uyana will have to pay approximately 4.75 per cent interest on the whopping $30 billion bond it secured recently to revitalise the operations of the three estates which fall under the management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) or all of the assets and companies owned by the National Industrial, Commercial and Investment Limited (NICIL) could be lost.

A source close to the Finance Ministry told Guyana Times on Sunday that while the interest rates secured would appear to be very favourable, the implications of failing to consistently repay the bond and related interest rates would be dire.

“This is a very serious undertaking and Guyanese must watch closely at the consequences for [Special Purpose Unit] SPU/NICIL, GuySuCo and the country if Guyana defaults on its payments to those local and regional commercial entities that granted the $30 billion bond,” the source emphasised.

When questioned during an exclusive interview on the repayment of the bond by GuySuCo, Board Chairman Colvis Heath-London insisted that the SPU and GuySuCo were committed to ensuring that all the necessary repayments were made and strict adherence to financial best practices were followed within GuySuCo to ensure that there was no wastage of revenues secured by the sugar company from its ongoing operations.

Heath-London declined to reveal the actual rate at which the bond was given to Guyana, but reassured stakeholders that a plan was in place for repaying the monies.

But the source revealed that GuySuCo, with the financial advice of NICIL and the SPU, would embark on a process that could see the company selling some $3 billion worth of spare parts that were currently lying in its storage bond.

Also, a proposal has been made to secure another $10 million by selling scrap metal sourced from around the company’s East Demerara

GuySuCo Board Chairman Colvis Heath-London

Estates.

This publication was told that over the next few months, GuySuCo would embark on the process of

situation where it was a fully self-sufficient, viable and competitive enterprise.

He had disclosed that the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture and all of the related industry partners were fully on board with the new Board of Directors’ vision for a new value-added industry and modernised company.

Heath-London, who is also NICIL’s Chief Executive Officer, explained that when the restructuring plans were at a mature stage, then the real benefits would be realised to ensure GuySuCo’s modernisation and return to profitability.

He spoke about the sale of prime GuySuCo lands around the country and the new approaches that were

GuySuCo Rose Hall Estate

selling prime real estate which were not being utilised. Some 4600 acres would be up for grabs. From that alone, the SPU and GuySuCo hoped to garner a whopping $50 billion if sold at different intervals.

Further, the Unit could seek to secure some $265 million by selling the lands in and around the Wales Estate owned by GuySuCo. Efforts by this newspaper on Sunday to confirm whether or not, GuySuCo and the SPU were seriously considering taking the aforementioned measures in order to pay back the bond were futile, as calls and texts to the GuySuCo Chairman’s mobile phone went unanswered.

Transformation

Heath-London had recently confirmed that over the next few months, special emphasis would be placed on transforming GuySuCo’s economic misfortune into a

being employed by his technical officers.

Since his announcement of the bond, concerns have been raised about Government’s vision for the industry and the genuineness of its actions thus far since that very $30 billion could have gone into restructuring the industry while keeping all of the es-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

tates open and GuySuCo’s workforce employed and engaged.

On Saturday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo expressed much concern over this development and the decision by the Government to borrow some US$900 million from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

The trained economist and former President referred to the plan as a failed approach to national economic management, and pointed out that the sum was almost equivalent to Guyana’s total external debt of $236 billion by 2015.

“The shocking revelation … is serious cause for concern,” he stated. “We had, however, predicted this.

The massive growth in the size of the national budgets, primarily on consumption, could not be financed by the hefty increase in taxation; so this hopelessly misguided [A Partnership for National Unity] APNU Government had to resort to large-scale borrowing.” turn to page 10

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

Reduced to handouts

W

hile it was a noble gesture for individuals and groups to organise themselves to offer hampers to some of the fired sugar workers in Berbice, it is a standing indictment of the callous treatment of this PNCled APNU/AFC coalition meted out to those ex-workers.

Everyone accepted the sugar industry was facing challenges, and as far back as 1998, the industry worked with the PPP government to craft a Strategic Plan for its viability.

Working within the constraints imposed by the IMF, which had to be brought in by Desmond Hoyte in 1989 because Guyana had been brought to its knees by the mountain of debt the PNC had racked up, the plan was basically to expand production in Berbice to bring down the overall high cost of production. The PPP argued that the IMF-proposed privatisation alternative, in an economic climate where there was no alternative employment for the then 20,000 sugar workers, was unacceptable.

Unfortunately, the centrepiece of the World Banksanctioned Skeldon Modernisation Plan for expanding Berbice production was hit by a non-performing factory that pushed costs up even further, even as the EU reneged on its Sugar Protocol that was supposed to last “in perpetuity, and slashed sugar prices in our largest market by 36%.

But through it all, the PPPC government persisted with diversifying and downsizing the industry, while balancing it with the need to keep workers off the bread lines.

As a country that evolved from a beginning in sugar, they understood -- through our own bitter history -- the fate of workers when the industry is left solely to “market forces”.

In 1838, Britain abandoned its mercantilist trading policies for “free trade”, and threw the newly freed slaves into a subsistence agriculture when Britain refused their demands for a living wage and imported Indentured labour to undercut those demands. The structural inequities inherent in the socio-economic relations of that time acted to stunt the development of the descendants of the African slaves, and have formed the basis of their present claims against Britain and Europe for reparatory justice.

Against that background, it was therefore extraordinarily callous of the PNC-led coalition government to reject the proposal of their own Commission of Inquiry into the sugar industry to continue subsidising the latter for three years, until it can be brought to a point of sale that would offer the greatest benefit to the country and the workers.

The Government, in an action reminiscent of the British Government of 1834, unilaterally threw 7700 workers (5700 from GuySuCo and 2000 from private farmers) into the streets, since Guyana does not even have “breadlines”.

There was a campaign promise by the Government that they would not “close” the industry, and they are attempting to convince the fired workers that, technically, they have not done so. But what they have done is worse; since, after the closures and firings, they have raised even more money than their CoI had suggested to keep the corporation afloat for three years.

Very unfeelingly, however, they have used the same argument that the closed estates must be brought to a viable point of sale. So what has been gained? Nothing, but bringing once proud workers -- who came out of a tradition of resistance to oppression, and through whose sacrifice Guyana earned its freedom – to their knees, where they now have to depend on handouts. By hiring contractors to selectively hire some workers to keep the enterprise going with skeleton crews, the Government has now forced the starving workers to accept wages far below what they were used to after their trade union mobilisation efforts for decades. This is identical to what occurred after slavery, when the gangs of freed slaves had to choose between lowering their wage demands and retreating into subsidence agriculture.

Unfortunately, there are no abandoned estates for the fired workers to purchase for subsistence agriculture, since the Government’s SPU is reserving the closed estates for big business.

Maybe their descendants will demand reparations.

Enigma Entertainment Group outdanced their competition to win the World of Dance Junior Division competition in Trinidad on Saturday. The local group, formed nearly a decade ago by director Lynn Medford-Ronnkvist, competed for the opportunity to be part of the US TV dance competition series hosted by Jenna Dewan Tatum with Jennifer Lopez as Executive Producer

GuySuCo’s turnaround plan which was in plain sight all along Dear Editor, Do you recall the GuySuCo Turnaround Plan which was introduced and implemented under the PPP back in 2010? By 2015, we recognized that the plan was sound, but we also realized the need for improvement in implementation. The 2015 production and performance of GuySuCo was evidence that we were in the right trajectory and that the 2020 goals and targets were realizable.

It was therefore unfathomable that APNU+AFC, using the Clive Thomasled GuySuCo Board, unceremoniously dumped the plan and treated it as a secret, even as the GuySuCo CoI adopted many of the elements of the Turnaround Plan.

But I was intrigued, the other day, listening to the plans that Mr. HeathLondon, the Head of NICIL and the Special Purpose Agency (SPA) established for the down-sizing and privatization of GuySuCo, outlined on the use of $30 billion that the SPA is borrowing on behalf of GuySuCo for improving production.

Even though skimpy on details, the plans for the expenditure of $30 billion appear to have been taken wholly and fully from the GuySuCo Turnaround Plan that the PPP had developed and was implementing, and that was abandoned

by APNU+AFC. While I continue to worry over APNU+AFC’s total lack of commitment to a strong sugar industry, I am cautiously supportive of the SPA’s $30 billion programme.

I confess encouragement that Heath- London had discovered a plan that APNU+AFC, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Clive Thomas-led GuySuCo Board treated variously as a mystery, a plan that never existed, or a secret plan.

In fact, this secret was always in plain sight while in possession of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Board and the Government, and the media. The Turnaround Plan was always in plain sight; ignored, but never a secret. That the Clive Thomasled Board and APNU+AFC abandoned the Turnaround Plan when there was sufficient evidence that it was sound and working testifies to a Government that is at best clueless in the management of sugar; or worse, reckless and malicious. It is to Heath-London’s credit that he recognized the efficacy of the PPP Turnaround Plan for GuySuCo. If indeed APNU+AFC allows the SPA/NICIL to use the $30 billion to resume implementation of the PPP Turnaround Plan for GuySuCo, then there is hope for sugar. Conversion of the fields to support mechanization; full mechanization in the fields and factories; improved agriculture practices; greater participation of private farmers in the agriculture component; diversification of the products, including production of energy and packaged and processed sugar, are important elements of a successful GuySuCo. Noteworthy in the Turnaround Plan’s diversification approach was a diversification of sugar prod-

ucts, not an introduction of non-sugar commodities.

In addition, the PPP’s Turnaround Plan was a deliberate and purposeful plan to reform the industry, shifting from a sugar industry to a sugar cane industry producing products that include sugar, but also using the bagasse and other parts of the cane plant. These were already elements being implemented, and that was torpedoed by APNU+AFC in 2015.

Heath-London’s SPA/ NICIL $30 billion influx into GuySuCo to resume the pre2015 plans follows a series of confusing moves by the Clive Thomas-led GuySuCo Board with the full complicity of APNU+AFC, spending $32 billion without telling the nation how the money was spent. While spending this $32 billion, that board ended up foolishly closing four sugar estates, laying off more than 7,000 sugar workers, and production plunged from 234,000 tons of sugar in 2015 to 138,000 tons in 2017, a 42% reduction.

The Clive Thomasled Board, the Ministry of Agriculture, and APNU+AFC had asserted that further subsidies to GuySuCo was throwing good money on a waste product, a “dead horse”, and was gross dereliction of duty.

Now they have a dilemma -- they must tell the nation why this “dead horse” can be brought alive with $30 billion.

Reading between the lines, the SPA is saying the $30 billion is to resume the PPP Turnaround Plan that APNU+AFC and the Clive

Thomas-led Board abandoned.

Not only are the Government borrowing an additional $30 billion, secured with NICIL assets, to invest in the three remaining estates -- Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt – they are also temporarily resuming operation of three of the closed estates because they need to offer operational factories in their privatization move and because they discovered that DDL, the producer of Guyana’s world-renowned rum, requires molasses for its effective operation.

GAWU/NAACIE, the PPP, I and others had told them all of this before they closed any estate. We knew, and we articulated plans to improve all the estates, and that is why the PPP had committed $20 billion annually to ensure the full and effective implementation of the GuySuCo Turnaround Plan in its 2015 election manifesto. We told them, and their own CoI had warned them, that closing estates was unwise, not supported by facts, and was reckless.

An example of the confused, clueless approach is the shifting of responsibility for sugar from the Ministry of Agriculture to the SPA/ NICIL. It was a reckless move to remove all responsibility from Agriculture.

To make matters worse, at this time -- in the midst of the confusion and cluelessness -- the situation is clearly compounded by a power struggle between a Clive Thomas-led Board and an SPA/NICIL-led Board.

Continued on page 5

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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

Playing politics with our security Why would WPA leaders heap scorn will not protect our borders (Pt 2) upon Roopnaraine? (Pt 1) Dear Editor, This Government has failed the nation in the only area that most people thought they specialized in, and that is security. The state of the economy and the increase in crime are intrinsically linked.

Since taking office in 2015, there has been a steady increase in the crime rate.

Under this APNU+AFC government, there are more taxes, ever-rising cost of living, fewer jobs, and a rapid decline in the standard of living; so much so that some desperate individuals believe they have little or no choice but to turn to drugs or crime in order to survive and support their families.

Despite some commendable efforts by the Police, we have seen an escalation in the drug trade, murders, assaults, armed robbery and burglary. And now the threat from the Sindicato gang exposes the weakness in our border security.

The final report of the Security Sector Reform Project (SSRP), which was prepared by British security expert Lt. Col (Ret’d) Russell Combe, is still to be discussed by Cabinet, although it was handed over to President Granger since January 18. How serious can this Government be on security matters?

According to my friend and Parliamentary colleague

Bishop Juan Edghill, “The Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), which is a department of the Guyana Police Force that was established to support and strengthen the investigative capacity of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), has now been politicized and used as a tool to target political opponents. It is lacking in operational independence…

“SARA is another political outfit masquerading under the guise of the recovery of state assets. There has been no investigation done

by SARA into the notorious Sussex Street Bond scandal; the $632 million drugs’ procurement scandal; and the $1.3 billion taken from the Treasury for the construction -- without any procurement process -- of the now infamous D’Urban Jubilee Park at Homestretch Avenue.”

In fact, the limited human resources of the Guyana Police Force continues to be wasted in trying to find what Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma was forced to admit publicly: that after spending more than $150 million, the 50 forensic audits have all failed to unearth any evidence of fraud and corruption by the former PPP/C Administration.

There is no doubt that the security threat to our miners and citizens in areas close to the Venezuelan border is real,

and must be confronted. The Government can start by defining clear policy guidelines to deal with foreign nationals, especially those involved in criminal activities and prostitution. Our security forces in Regions 1,2 8 and 10 must be given an adequate fleet of 4x4 vehicles, high-speed boats, radios, weapons, ammunition and body-armour. Then, as more accommodation is built to house additional members of the disciplined forces, more can be sent as needed.

It is also imperative to introduce a course in basic Spanish for all Police and military personnel, to alleviate the language barrier and to have them fully trained as first responders.

Our disciplined forces in the hinterland region are severely handicapped, and are mainly restricted to locations in close proximity to their base stations. I extend an invitation to Minister Harmon to accompanying us on our next visit to Police stations in the hinterland regions, where he can obtain first-hand information rather than relying on information given to him by someone sitting in a cosy office at Eve Leary or Camp Ayanganna.

Sincerely, Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

GuySuCo’s turnaround plan...

This power struggle appears to have the Ministry of Agriculture in limbo.

One day it is in charge, and the next day it is not in charge. The poor Minister of Agriculture is being treated like ping-pong.

There is another truth, however, that we must not ignore: the Minister of Agriculture has been a bystander, a rubber stamp, from day one. He was never in charge, and he acts only in accordance with instructions from higher authorities. As the Minister stares clueless into the heavens, Clive Thomas asserts that he is still Chairman, Health-London has published the profiles of the new Board, and Joe Harmon has announced that the matter

is still before Cabinet. Who is really in charge?

Now, as we try to decipher who really is in charge of GuySuCo and sugar, there is report that the shift of responsibility for sugar from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Special Purpose Unit (SPA) in NICIL, with an entirely new Board to manage sugar, is about to be reversed, shifting sugar back under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture.

FITUG/GTUC deems the back and forth madness and the indecisiveness as hopscotching. FITUG/ GTUC is right, but far too generous. APNU+AFC are clueless. Clueless is bad enough, but they are also reckless and malicious. In

From page 4

any other jurisdiction, this Government would have been impeached.

Regards, Leslie Ramsammy

Dear Editor, After carefully selecting the caption for his article, “Roopnaraine is the most honest activist the WPA produced”, Freddie Kissoon informs us that his original caption would have read “The tragic decline of a brilliant mind”, but he “thought readers could be misled into thinking it was Burnham or Jagan or Hoyte.”

He then goes on to justify his definition of “honesty.” Rather surprisingly, it is the last paragraph that reveals what the article was all about, captured in the sentence, “why would WPA leaders heap scorn upon him” (Roopnaraine). His last sentence claims, “History is more important than friendship.”

I am unaware of any WPA leaders heaping scorn upon Dr. Roopnaraine. On the contrary, it is precisely because of the great admiration and deep respect for Dr. Roopnaraine that there is total concern about the state of his health, and how it is affecting him in the performance of his public duties. In that sense, it can be claimed that the performance of his public duties becomes more important than friendship, since non-performance can jeopardize friendship.

That does not relegate friendship to secondary proportions. On the contrary, it is precisely because of that friendship that the person must be protected. His health issues should not be used to manipulate him into taking positions that are detrimental to the political party that he is representing in the current Government. It is tempting to see it as naked exploitation of the sick person by those who do so

in the name of friendship. It is because of this susceptibility to manipulation that WPA leaders have criticized him, without having to “heap scorn upon Roopnaraine,” as Kissoon claims.

Ethical norms protect persons who are sick from being exploited by professionals who are responsible for their well-being. There have been, in Guyana, cases of persons in power using their authority to exploit vulnerable persons who depend upon them for protection by the law.

Again, there are strict ethical norms in place to prevent such an abuse of authority.

Friendship does not permit for the violation of those ethical norms. Friendship actually demands that they be enforced, because it becomes a particularly vulnerable area when people are familiar with each other.

It is a well know maxim, “in sickness and in health, till death do us part.” This vow demands that persons who become sick should be protected, and not cast aside. It goes beyond friendship, and enters into the realm of ethical conduct, having the status of a sacred vow. Sir Thomas Moore lost his head on this matter.

President Granger, in removing Dr. Roopnaraine as the Minister of Education, a

role that the President himself had felt was suited to Dr. Roopnaraine’s brilliant mind, noted that his removal and re-assignment was premised on the findings of the Commission of Inquiry. The President, on face value, did not allow friendship to get into the way of public duty.

The WPA has argued that there is a fuzzy line between the claims of friendship and the interests of the WPA, sounding a warning bell that Dr. Roopnaraine was possibly being exploited by the Government to the detriment of the WPA. Kissoon’s observation that “Rupert always came across to me as a bohemian middle class intellectual with real and definitive flashes of elitism, who really didn’t care about grounding with the masses” is rather revealing.

The question must be posed as to whether Kissoon’s observation is indeed an accurate reflection of “Rupert.”

If it were at that time, did it evolve into a more working-class philosophy which represents the core value of the WPA as it changed from a pressure group into a fullfledged political party?

Sincerely, Rohit Kanhai Member, WPAOA

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Foundation

…5 ideas on how to get students to really read books – and enjoy themselves while doing so

By Jori Krulder

A

ll English teachers want their students to develop a love of reading, but this is anything but a simple endeavour. Although I used to give students time to read once a week in my English classes for several years, I always knew I wasn’t making the impact I was aiming for.

After a few years, I was able to get the whole class to be silent during the reading period, but I realised that not all of the students were actually reading – and that my reading programme was anything but a success.

A few summers ago, I read Donalyn Miller’s The Book Whisperer, and it made me rethink everything I did when it came to choice reading. Now, not only do I have far fewer students “fake reading” but I’ve had several students tell me that they’ve read their first book ever by themselves in my class.

While I’m still constantly on the lookout for better ways to help my students find books they love and develop a habit of reading, I’ve put together a toolbox of concrete ways to make choice reading work in my class.

5 tips to get students really reading

Make time for what’s important: One crucial understanding I gleaned from Miller is that real readers read every day. Of course I knew this from my own reading life, but somehow I had failed to realise that I was ignoring this essential fact when it came to my students. I meet with my stu-

dents for 54 minutes every day, and every last second of instructional time is precious. But making the decision to give my students 10 to 15 minutes a day to read choice books was easy once I thought about my priorities for learning.

Without a love of reading and the opportunity to practise reading skills, nothing else in my curriculum matters, and choice reading ev-

ery day is one of the most effective ways I’ve found to support students in developing these skills.

Give students ready access to books: There’s something powerful about having a good book immediately available to hand a student. I’m constantly on the lookout for books from yard sales, thrift stores, used bookstores, and student donations, but last year I discovered DonorsChoose. org, and it has vastly improved the health and appeal of my classroom collection of books.

I asked my students to list books they’d like to read on my classroom whiteboard and tapped into the young adult book recommendations of my teacher friends on social media. In less than half an hour, I set up a DonorsChoose project, and

with a little bit of social media sharing and the help of some generous donors, I had boxes of crisp, new books for my students to open with great anticipation.

Make reading visible: Students don’t always see the reading that’s going on all around them, so I’ve made it my mission this year to make reading more immediately visible.

At the back of my room,

there’s a whiteboard labelled “Books We’ve Read” that’s divided into four sections. There’s one each for the three periods of sophomores I teach, and one for the teachers – me, my student teacher, and the resource teacher who assists in one of my classes.

Everyone adds the titles of books as they finish them.

Recently, a student from one of my two sections of AP English asked me why their class wasn’t up on the board.

These more advanced classes don’t have as many struggling readers as my sophomore classes, but it’s just as important to celebrate reading with them, so I’ll be adding two more sections to my board.

At the start of each month, I take a picture of the previous month’s books and then clear the board to

begin again. Students are getting a little competitive – even though I’ve told them we all win in this scenario – and they’re very interested in what my co-teachers and I are reading.

They’re also fascinated with a bulletin board in my room covered in pictures of educators on our campus holding some of their favourite books, from the shop teacher with his copy of Catcher in the Rye to the vice principal holding Stephen King’s Christine.

Talk about books: Another way to make students aware of the reading all around them is to talk about it in the classroom. In addition to regular book talks, I make it a habit every day to ask the class, “How many people finished a book last night?” and “How many people read their choice books yesterday?” Although I know this isn’t a scientific measure of growth in my classroom, it does give students a quick, daily opportunity to see the reading happening among their classmates, and it’s a reminder of how much we value reading.

I’ve also started conferencing individually with students about their reading. Before we start our daily reading, I ask students to tell me what page they’re on in their book. Since I write this down each day, I can quickly assess which students may want to discuss a book they’ve just finished and which students aren’t making much progress in their reading – we’ll discuss their thinking about their book, and if necessary I can

suggest another that might better engage them.

I meet with approximately two to four students per day during our reading time. These discussions not only help students enjoy their reading more but also help me develop stronger relationships with them.

Be patient and relentless: The most valuable realisation I’ve had in this decades-long endeav-

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child’s success as a reader begins much earlier than the first day of school. Reading, and a love for reading, begins at home.

It’s never too early to read to your baby. As soon as your baby is born, he or she starts learning. Just by talking to, playing with, and caring for your baby every day, you help your baby develop language skills necessary to become a reader.

By reading with your baby, you foster a love of books and reading right from the start. The tips below offer some fun ways you can help your child become a happy and confident reader. Try a new tip each week. See what works best for your child.

Snuggle up with a book

our to help my students learn to love reading is to just keep trying. There are so many brilliant teachers out there with so many good ideas for making things better in our classrooms, and if we stay connected and keep suggesting new books, talking about books, and trying different techniques – both new and old – our students will respond. (edutopia.org)

Reading tips for babies Talk with your baby – all day long

Describe the weather or which apples you are choosing at the grocery. Talk about the pictures in a book or things you see on a walk.

Ask questions. By listening, your child learns words, ideas, and how language works.

Encourage your baby’s coos, growls, and gurgles

They are your baby’s way of communicating with you, and are important first steps toward speech. Encourage attempts to mimic you. The more your baby practices making sounds, the clearer they will become. Go ahead and moo, woof and honk!

Give baby a hand!

When you hold your baby close and look at a book together, your baby will enjoy the snuggling and hearing your voice as well as the story. Feeling safe and secure with you while looking at a book builds your baby’s confidence and love of reading.

Encourage your baby to pick up crackers or peas, touch noses and toes, point to pictures and grab toys.

The muscles in those little hands will grow strong, agile, and ready to turn pages.

Choose baby-friendly books

Routines can soothe a baby, and let a baby learn to predict what will happen next. The ability to predict is important when your child is older and is reading independently.

Books with bright and bold or high-contrast illustrations are easier for young babies to see, and will grab their attention. Books made of cloth or soft plastic (for the bathtub) or “board books” with sturdy cardboard pages are easier for a baby to handle.

Keep books where your baby can reach them

Make sure books are as easy to reach, hold, and look at as toys. Remember, a baby will do with a book what he does with everything else – put it in his mouth. And that’s exactly what he’s supposed to do, so you may only want to put chewable books within reach.

Develop a daily routine (and make reading a part of it)

Sing, read, repeat

Read favourite stories and sing favourite songs over and over again.

Repeated fun with books will strengthen language development and positive feelings about reading.

“Read” your baby

Pay attention to how your baby reacts to the book you are reading. Stop if your baby isn’t enjoying the story and try another book or another time. (readingrockets.org)

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monDAY, April 9, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ICJ Border Case

Guyana, Venezuela should continue diplomatic talks – Henry Jeffrey

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enezuela has called for the Guyana Government to resume talks about the border controversy even though the Good Offices Process has expired, and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Henry Jeffrey is of the opinion that talks between the two countries should continue on a diplomatic level.

Describing Venezuela’s proposal as bold, Dr. Jeffrey says that while he does not agree with the proposal, it would nevertheless be in the best interest of both countries to continue talks on a tactful level. This, he said, does not necessarily have to be purely on the basis of addressing the controversy.

“Guyana can’t stop talking to Venezuela, but what is it that they are talking about?” he asked rhetorically. “The Guyanese and Venezuelans will live together for the longest while, regardless (of) where the border is. Guyana has a position on the border, so there will always be discourse,” he opined.

Dr. Jeffrey said he views Venezuela’s request, or proposal, as one that does not have any bearing, and one that shows “advantage to mess around and exercise

unjust power.” But what Guyana is looking for, he said, is to bring a peaceful resolution to the century-old border controversy.

Revisiting his suggestion that talks between Guyana and Venezuela continue, the former minister said talks should never cease, because Venezuela has already made its position clear that it will not accept the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the border controversy. Within that context, he said, Guyana must still find a way to continue to exist within the same space that borders the two countries.

Apart from that, he said, both Guyana and Venezuela have embassies operating in each other’s country.

Dr. Jeffrey maintained that the credibility of the Nicolás Maduro Government of Venezuela will be tested now that a decision has been made to send the case to the ICJ. He believes the present Venezuela Government is too weak to carry the border controversy resolution decision to its people.

At present, Venezuela is facing several international sanctions over rights and corruption allegations.

Support for the Maduro

Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Henry Jeffrey

Administration has declined sharply, and Venezuela’s economy has plunged deeper into a crisis that is marked by widespread shortages and a rise in inflation.

Some two months after the United Nations Secretary General had handed over the GuyanaVenezuela border controversy case to the ICJ for final settlement, formal proceedings were filed on June 30, asking the World Court to confirm the legal validity and binding effect of the 1899 Arbitral Award.

Guyana’s application was submitted to the ICJ by Second Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister

Businesswoman robbed at gunpoint

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businesswoman of Chinese descent is now counting her losses after being robbed by two armed men in the presence of her private security detail.

According to the Police reports, the woman was returning to her Brickdam, Georgetown residence, escorted by operatives from a private security firm, when two armed men pounced on

the security officers.

The gunmen were armed with what the victims described as ‘long guns’. Police investigations later revealed that those were actually rifles. The two assailants reportedly discharged several shots into the air before they proceeded to relieve the businesswoman of her valuables.

The two gunmen took from the victim $500,000

cash, an iPhone valued at $100,000, a bag valued at $50,000, and $300,000 in jewellery and other valuables before they made good their escape.

The Police were subsequently summoned to the scene of the crime, where they recovered three 7.62 spent shells. Police investigations are currently ongoing.

Carl Greenidge.

This application follows a decision by UN Secretary General António Guterres earlier this year to choose the ICJ as the next means of resolving the controversy, which arose as a result of Venezuela’s contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 in regard to the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela was null and void.

According to Guyana’s application to the World Court, Venezuela had, for more than 60 years, consistently recognised and respected the validity of the binding force of the 1899 Award and the 1905 Map agreed by both sides in furtherance of the Award.

Guyana maintains that the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award that settled the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela was full and final, but Venezuela has, for several decades, registered its diplomatic and military objection to Guyana’s

Former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met with President David Granger and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

development of its natural resources onshore and offshore.

Venezuela, with almost 40 times the population of Guyana and a territory that is several times bigger, has purported to claim, in 1968, the entire territorial sea of Guyana by means of the Leoni Decree, which has never been withdrawn.

Relations between Guyana and Venezuela have

worsened ever since oil giant ExxonMobil announced in 2015 that it had found oil offshore Guyana. Venezuela has staunchly been against oil exploration in Guyana’s Stabroek Block, where multiple oil deposits have been found by ExxonMobil.

In fact, Venezuela’s National Assembly had approved an agreement to reject the oil exploration activities in March 2017.

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monDAY, April 9, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Better Hope child dies after reportedly ingesting rat poison – relatives claim parents left area

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child from Better Hope, East Coast Demerara has reportedly died after ingesting a poisonous substance used to kill rats.

While details surrounding the incident -- which occurred late last week -- remain sketchy, relatives were on Sunday tight-lipped on the circumstances relating to the reported poisoning, telling Guyana Times that the parents of the child have supposedly left the area.

According to information received, the parents have several children who live in less-than-desirable condi-

The Better Hope, East Coast Demerara home where the child lived

tions. This newspaper was told that the child who died had been playing in the area and had come in contact with the substance and ingested it.

Some persons familiar with the matter have claimed that the parents are trying to cover up the incident.

Efforts to contact Acting Commander of ‘C’ Division, Edmond Cooper, on Sunday were futile. However, Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Shivpersaud Bacchus has said he would enquire into the matter with ‘C’ Division.

It is not clear if the matter is being duly investigated.

16-year-old recaptured by Police after escaping custody …claims beaten, forced to give statement admitting criminality

The 16-year-old teen

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he 16-year-old youth who found himself in hot water after Police ranks had discovered a firearm at his residence, escaped from the Cove and John Police Station on Sunday morning, only to be recaptured a few hours later.

The young man had taken the opportunity to bolt from lawful custody when he was using the washroom.

However, after making his way to Georgetown, and then to Sophia where he resides, his mother turned him over

to Crime Chief Paul Williams and ‘C’ Division Commander Edmond Cooper by informing them that her son was in the area.

According to Police reports, the young man had requested to go to the washroom, and was escorted there by a Police rank. After approximately 10 minutes, ranks became suspicious at the length of time he was taking to use the washroom. It was then that another officer observed the youth climbing over a fence. The officer tried to pull him down, but was kicked to his chest. The officer raised an alarm, which alerted the rank that had escorted the young man to the washroom, but when the other ranks arrived, the youth had already escaped.

On the other hand, the youth had a different tale to tell.

In a video posted on social media, the young man recalled that he was asking to use the washroom since the night before, but was prevented from doing so.

He related that after notic-

The illegal guns and ammunition which were found by Police

ing that a different officer had assumed duty in the morning, he decided to ask again, and was allowed out of his holding cell. Under the watchful eye of a rank, he proceeded to the washroom facilities and observed that there was a loose board in the bathroom area.

In a split second, he had made his way through the opening, and was unsuccessfully stopped by the Police officer.

In an interview prior to his arrest, the teenager vehemently denied any involvement in the crimes, stating that the accusations against him were false. The juvenile

also claimed that he was coerced by Police to give his statement, noting that a threat was made to his life.

“The gun that they find in the house down there, I don’t really be over there. But they try to claim is this man I get it from, this man they carry me by, that that’s the man I does rent it from. That’s what they make I say, and they make me mother sign it,” he stated. “Them tell me if I ain’t seh that, they gon kill me,” he added.

When questioned about the stolen cell phone that was discovered in his possession, the youth claimed, “The cell phone there, I buy it from a young man not too long ago, before the Police come by me, for one thousand dollars.”

In a surprising twist, the young man also admitted that he was involved in a previous gun crime, but stated that that was the only occasion in which he had done something to that extent.

The juvenile’s arrest came on the heels of a discovery made by ranks of ‘C’ Division (East Coast Demerara) at a Sophia house.

On Thursday evening, 34-year-old Abinda Accra, a painter of ‘C’ Field, Sophia, was robbed of his cellular phone and cash while in the Sophia area. The man reported the robbery to the Police, stating that the perpetrator was a teenager. Operating on intelligence, Police ranks swooped down on the home of this 16-year-old and found a .32 special revolver. During the interrogation, the youth disclosed that he had rented the firearm from another man in the area. That man’s house was searched, and an additional .32 special revolver was found along with a .40 pistol and a total of 10 live rounds.

They are now both in Police custody.

Paying…

C

...for slavery ariCom will be writing Britain and the other European countries that conducted and benefited from the African Slave Trade and plantation slavery, to remind them about the claims for reparations it made against them back in 2013.

It’s a shame they’ve had to do this at a time when the UN’s pushing its entire collection of 196 countries to “do something” about the dread status of Africans in this “International Decade of People of African Descent” (IDPAD).

Since it would be racist that this is due to just “being African”, it conclusively shows the world’s only willing to engage in empty rhetoric when engaging with the crime against humanity that was African Slavery. But rather than looking at all the European nations, let’s just consider Britain – the colonial power that tried to convince us that, out of the goodness of its heart, it ‘freed” the 650,000 slaves it owned in the “British” West Indies; 82,000 here -- and we should be eternally grateful for that act.

It’s like a criminal violently raping a woman and then telling her she should be grateful she could crawl away!!

And slavery was rape lasting for centuries; it so corrupted the minds and bodies of the slaves that their descendants are still to recover fully. Not to mention that slavery provided the profits from the plantations to establish the foundations for the development of Britain and Europe, which they still are enjoying. And it is this anomaly that the 10-point Reparation Demand by CariCom is asking to be addressed – but it yet has still to get an answer even on the very first one, which simply calls for an apology!!

How do you enslave a people by announcing they don’t even have a soul – and as such aren’t “fully human” – and not apologise for it? Or not make reparations for the lingering effects still playing out in the racist premise that people of African descent can be discriminated against by whites as a matter of course?

The closest Britain’s come to giving an official answer to CariCom’s demands is PM Cameron’s 2015 advice while visiting Jamaica: that slavery was in “the past” and the Caribbean should “move on”!! The irony of his making such a statement didn’t strike him, even though he was in Jamaica to help build a prison to deal with the high level of crime that became endemic to Jamaica in its post-slavery traumatic history.

But CariCom also asks for reparative justice for the Indigenous Peoples, who numbered 3,000,000 in 1700 but were reduced to 30,000 three centuries later – and are in even worse condition in every which way than the descendants of African slaves.

Your Eyewitness thinks CariCom should take Britain to the International Criminal Court for justice!!

…for validating the nouveau riche Your Eyewitness is quite confused about the fallout from the decision of the owners of Mae’s to raise the tuition fees by 42% or so. The parents are going to picket the school!! In some cases, we’re talking about a base of $60,000 per term, (Of course, they call it “semester”) so this merely confirms Mae’s claim that they’re an “elite” school. Now, how can you be “elite” if you don’t have a way of separating your kids from those from the hoi polloi?

Mae’s are simply raising the bar higher in preparation for the oil boom, which will dilute their present criteria.

They should simply give the striking parents the advice of the world’s first billionaire -- J. P. Morgan: “If you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it.”

…for being close The Chronic, we know, is close to the Government.

Very close. So it can’t just be the printer’s devil that’s responsible for the clarification on the IsDB’s US$900M loan.

Said the Chronic: “THE Ministry of Finance has pointed out that the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has made available US$900M for Guyana to BURROW.” “Burrow”. You know…like in “hide underground”!!

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

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monDAY, April 9, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Parliamentary Committee recommends

Reinforced anti-suicide drive, regular training for Police ranks

– finds Region Two has highest suicide rate in country

By Jarryl Bryan

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2017 visit to Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) by the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services (PSCSS) has found shortfalls in how equipped authorities are, not only to deal with domestic violence cases, but also in their efforts to sensitise the public on issues such as suicide.

This is contained in the PSCSS’ Seventh Special Report, which was presented to the National Assembly last month.

The PSCSS said in that report that it had paid a visit to the Police station at Suddie, Region Two. There, it was met by officer-in-charge, Sergeant Moore. The PSCSS recorded that Region Two has the highest suicide rate

in Guyana, but Sergeant Moore informed the delegation that while officers are trained in that area at the Police Training School, they rarely get calls on their hotline numbers.

“Commander Steven Mansell informed the committee that the Cop and Faith network was launched in 2011. He stated that every station has a list of Cop and Faith religious leaders (who) are active in the network, (but) at present, Christian leaders are the only names on the list. He posited that the system is working well,” the committee documented.

Issues regarding the ability of Police officers to handle cases of domestic violence were also raised.

While the committee was informed that ranks are not specifically trained to deal with domestic violence, they

The PSCSS is recommending more effort be put into anti-suicide efforts

were also told that officers are exposed to such cases during their initial training.

“During the interactions, the delegation enquired what occurs when women come to make domestic violence reports. Sgt Moore stated that there was no specific room for domestic violence victims. However, the Criminal Investigative Department or Operations Room was used to take that report. He further noted that there was no special unit to handle cases of domestic violence and child abuse. Nevertheless, the

Anna Regina Police Station has such a unit,” the committee recorded.

In cases of sexual offence, it was related that officers at Anna Regina are trained specifically to deal with these issues. The committee reported that in the event of such cases, those officers are informed to take the report.

Recommendations

Besides making recommendation for the Police to request new furniture, including chairs and a desk for their enquiry area, the com-

mittee urged that the region aggressively raise its suicide awareness campaign.

“Billboards depicting suicide should be created and erected around the region, and the hotline number placed on the television,” the committee advised. “The station should have monthly community meetings to sensitise the public of the law, and where victims could go to report cases of suicide, sexual offences, domestic violence, and occupational health and safety (issues).”

According to the PSCSS, “There should be continuous training for officers in areas of suicide, domestic violence, and road safety. Police officers should coordinate with the religious community to have a representative on the list of Cop and Faith.”

According to data from Suddie Public Hospital,

for the period January to November 2017, there have been 38 attempted suicide cases there, with 8 recorded deaths.

The Guyana Foundation under the Sunrise Centre, along with the Caribbean Voice, conducted several programmes along the Essequibo Coast to assist persons suffering from mental health issues. The Sunrise Centre is also open to those seeking counselling.

Besides the Sunrise Centre, there is the Guyana Interagency Suicide Prevention Help Line. It can be reached on telephone numbers (+592) 2230001, 223-0009, 600-7896, 623-4444, Email: guyagency@yahoo.com, BBM PINS: 2BE55649, 2BE56020 Twitter: guyanaagency; WhatsApp: +592-600-7896, 592- 623-4444.

“No more IMCs” – Communities Minister

Communities Ronald Bulkan speaking at the Council meeting in Region Five, Mahaica-Berbice

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here will be no more Interim Management Committees (IMCs); no more handpicking of councillors for Local Democratic Organs (LDOs) done by any Government.

This pronouncement was made by Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, on Saturday during a Local Democratic Organ Consultative Committee meeting in Region Five, Mahaica-Berbice.

Minister Bulkan said the coalition Government is committed to changing the political culture from one of centralised governance, where “the winner takes all”, to one of empowering democratically elected people with the right to make their own decisions, and to manage and develop their own areas free from outside control.

In his address on ef-

fective local governance, Minister Bulkan quoted from Article 12 of the Constitution, which states that a Local Government comprising freely elected representatives of the people is an integral part of the democratic organisation of the state.

The minister recounted that even though LDOs existed in the past, they were subject to pressures that degraded their limited capacity and left them largely dysfunctional.

“The political culture is changing, and we are moving to a position of decentralised government, in keeping with the provisions of the Constitution and with respect for the provisions of the Constitution,” he declared.

He stressed that Government’s mandate is to restore functionality -- which was so badly damaged -- to

the councils. “We will not go back to a situation that existed and reached its height in the first decade of this century, 2001 to 2011; particularly 2006 to 2011, (when) one individual, a micro-manager, felt that he alone had the right to make decisions, and whatever he saw or wherever his gaze extended was his domain.”

According to Minister Bulkan, local democracy is important when division exists in a society, since a winner- takes-all model makes politics confrontational.

He added, “But if, instead, you have this system with one Central Government, ten fully empowered regional Governments (and) municipal townships, then it is not so important who is President, because people will have a council in their area that has the fullest possible authority to look after their affairs. The stakes wouldn’t be so high; it wouldn’t matter who is in charge.”

In attendance at the meeting were staffers of the Ministry of Communities, councillors of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), and staff members of the regional administration, among others. The meeting was chaired by Regional

Some of the persons attending the Council meeting

Executive Officer of Region Five, Ovid Morrison.

The Regional Chairman of the PPP/Civic-controlled

Regional Democratic Council (RDC), his Vice Chairman and other PPP/C councillors were noticeably absent from the event.

Minister Bulkan held a similar consultation in Region Three, Essequibo Islands/West Demerara, on Wednesday, April 5. The meeting was intended as an interactive session with both regional officials and members of the NDCs, but was also boycotted by most of the PPP/C councillors. Only three were in attendance.

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monDAY, April 9, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2016 Auditor General Report

Training, capacity building needed for regional auditors – IIA Chairman

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ith several accounting officers admitting before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) when it recently met to various financial infractions, concerns are being raised that this points to a systemic lack of standards.

In an interview with Guyana Times, financial consultant John Seeram noted that capacity building among the various regional administrations would go a far way to minimising the flagrant abuses identified in the Auditor General’s 2016 report.

Seeram, who is also the Chairman of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Guyana chapter, acknowledged that the administrations of the 10 Regions have internal auditors. At the same time, he questioned their efficiency.

“They need more training. And in so doing, they must be able to know that they must work along with management in order to meet the financial goals of the Region. And that is where the Institute of Internal Auditors come in, because we normally mount at least three to four seminars a year on pertinent topics relating to the practice of accounting and auditing in the public service.

“And I believe that once they attend those seminars,

Institute of Internal Auditors Chairman John Seeram

that could be a way of professional development for our internal auditors. As it stands right now, I would venture to say that there is need for more training for the internal auditors so as to minimise the comments made by the Auditor General in his report,” Seeram stated.

Fiscal abuse

Recently, a showdown had ensued at the PAC between Committee Chairman Irfaan Ali and Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson over the Region Two administration’s financial indiscretions.

Prior to the meeting, Hopkinson had made an official response to the 2016

Audit Report’s findings. Ali had pointed to a number of disturbing trends from the explanations. He cited a section of the foreword of Hopkinson’s response, where he noted the administration was not disputing it used current allocations to fund capital projects.

Under fire from Ali, the REO had claimed that these were all projects of an emergency nature. At this point, Ali had slammed Hopkinson for being aware of breaches to the law yet going ahead with the projects out of the belief that they were in the best interest of the Region.

The projects included the construction of a bus shed at Dartmouth, construction of the Anna Regina Health Centre, construction of a fence at Unity Park Phase One, construction of a fence at Unity Park Phase Two, and construction of a sitting area at Cotton Field and landing at Liberty, Pomeroon.

Hopkinson’s contention is that the works were of an emergency nature, requested from the heads of programmes within the regional administration. In his official response, he has also stressed that the projects would have benefited residents.

Notably, Hopkinson, in his explanation, had stated: “We seek pardon for

any contravention of policy, on the grounds that the Region saved $500 million from 2016 to date… on this score, the administration of Pomeroon-Supenaam Region is of the opinion that the Region should be commended for its judicious spending of Government budgetary allocations…in the face of a culture of dishonesty.”

City Hall was also placed in the limelight earlier this year after complaints from Auditor General Deodat Sharma over his inability to access certain documents during a previous audit. Following threats to seek criminal charges, the Council provided these documents at a subsequent PAC meeting.

Under a barrage of questions, City Treasurer Ron McAlmont had resolutely refused to provide an explanation for the delay in the handing over of information auditors have been after since the initial audit in 2017.

The Audit Office of Guyana had found that as at December 31, 2016, $396.5

The Public Accounts Committee has been the scene of several showdowns over the 2016 Auditor General Report

million was expended. From the start, City Hall’s financial status, how it spent almost $175 million and its failure to submit documentation dating from 2005 posed a challenge to the PAC. Then, the PAC had clashed with the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) last month over the fact that a programme that was approved by the National Assembly was revised despite works

already commencing.

GWI Executive Director for Project Implementation, Ramchand Jailal had faced the brunt of questioning from the PAC. He related that during 2016, the original programme was revised.

While GWI and the Communities Ministry had held out that no wrongdoing was done when it revised the terms of the Hinterland Water Supply programme, the Auditor General had informed them of their liability in the matter.

“Mr Chair, that’s a breach of the Fiscal Act. The FMA [Fiscal Management and Accountability] Act says unspent balances must be refunded to the Consolidated Fund. But you only got the approval on 29 of December.

So you are covering yourself afterwards. So that’s a breach,” Sharma had explained.

PAC Chairman Ali has already made calls for harsher penalties for those who commit financial crimes, besides what the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act already provides for.

GuySuCo’s $30B bond...

He added that this failed approach to national economic management was tried in the past and it led to a bankrupt country and resulted in devastating consequences for Guyanese.

“I am sure everyone would recall that the external debt was over 900 per cent of [Gross Domestic Product] GDP in 1992, which was reduced to 36 per cent of GDP in 2015. They plan to double it again within five years.”

According to Jagdeo, bor-

rowing monies without feasibility studies, vision or plans will not solve Guyana’s economic woes. He expressed fears that this would have a long-term effect on the wellbeing of current and future generations of Guyanese.

It was announced that the IsDB has, for the period 2018 to 2020, committed to providing Guyana with financial and technical assistance to the tune of US$900 million. This, it was made known, would be directed into the country’s key devel-

from page 3

opment areas to assist with its plans for continued social and economic development.

This disclosure was made by Finance Minister Winston Jordan during his address at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the IsDB Group in Tunisia. According to the Minister, this money will aid Government’s plans in a meaningful way, as it would give direct support to several Government programmes in many developmental areas.

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monDAY, April 9, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Partnership between Mellon Bank, USA and Citizens Bank sign of investors’ confidence – Minister Harmon

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he recent move by the Mellon National Bank in the United States of America (USA) to partner with the indigenous Citizens Bank is described by State Minister, Joseph Harmon as a sure sign of the confidence reposed in Guyana’s investment climate.

Minister Harmon speaking at the official opening of the Banks DIH new vehicle workshop, noted that this is happening at a time when the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) are taking steps aimed at curbing and reducing relations between international banks and those in the region.

He noted further that “when out of all of that, we can actually step out of the black list, the grey list, the white list and whatever other list that exists, I believe Guyana is on the right path of development.”

The State Minister deemed this step as “a vote of confidence” since Mellon Bank is one of the largest banks operating in the United States and the fact that relations are established with Guyana demonstrates that the country is moving in the right direc-

Citizens Bank Headquarters, Camp Street, Georgetown

tion.

It is this same confidence, Minister Harmon said has motivated American Airlines to announce the commencement of flights from the US to Guyana from December,2018.

Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson noted that all measures will be in place to facilitate this.

“Guyana is the right place to invest and I am proud that the private sector is beginning to embrace that reality. I am proud that Banks DIH as a lead-

ing member of the private sector continues to invest in Guyana,” the minister pointed out.

Meantime, Minister Harmon said the investment

by Banks DIH in the establishment of a waste water treatment plant and a waste plastic treatment facility at the new vehicle workshop, is another sign of its confidence in the investment climate of Guyana.

“While some sections of our population complain about this and complain about that, I am happy to

More Police ranks sent to Cuyuni after robbery …aerial support provided by camp

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ore Police ranks have been sent to Cuyuni, Region Seven, as the Guyana Police Force intensifies its manhunt for the perpetrators of a dastardly armed robbery that took place at a mining camp at Black Water Backdam and left one man dead.

According to Police Public Relations Officer (ag) Shiv Persaud, the GPF has amplified the number of ranks in the area in order to move the investigation swiftly along.

“A team of additional detectives and ranks (has) been dispatched to the location,” Persaud disclosed. He also disclosed that the owner of the plundered mining camp

has greatly assisted the Police Force by providing aerial support, so the ranks can carry out their duties and investigations.

The deceased man’s body was air dashed to Georgetown, and a post mortem will be conducted today.

The Cuyuni riverine area of Black Water Backdam was plunged into a state of shock when a night supervisor, Dominican Republic national Pedro Pablo Rosario, was shot and killed by masked bandits at about 02:00h on Friday.

The three armed bandits subsequently held the other miners at gunpoint before carting off two gold mats from the sluice box.

In an estimation of his losses, the owner of the camp related to investigators that the mats contained some 100 ounces of raw gold.

This incident comes after miners and residents in the area had voiced concerns about the Sindicato gang reportedly operating around the Guyana/Venezuela border.

Divisional Commander Kevin Adonis noted that because the gang is based on the Venezuelan side of the river, it is placed out of reach of the Guyanese arm of the law. However, he urged Guyanese nationals in the area to be careful and to avoid the Venezuelan side of the border.

know that the majority of our private sector is out there doing things and taking advantage of these glorious opportunities which

now present themselves,” the minister said.

He expressed confidence that the collaboration between the private sector and the Government of Guyana will take the country further along its development trajectory.

Investment by the private sector now is also an investment for future generations in Guyana, the State Minister highlighted.

A call was made to the wider private sector, particularly those companies involved in commerce and manufacturing to “take a page out of Banks DIH’s book”, noting that investments similar to the one made by Banks DIH is worthy of emulation.

Co-Managing Director, Banks DIH, George McDonald noted that the establishment of the waste water treatment plant is a requirement of the Coca

Cola company, which stipulates that all waste water of manufacturers be treated before being released into the waterways so that there is no damage to the natural flora and fauna.

In proximity is a public waste plastic treatment facility, the collection and treatment point for the company’s waste plastic generated from PET containers and decommissioned beverage cases.

The plastics are chipped, crushed and shipped to recycling plants overseas and according to McDonald is an effort to prevent the negative impacts of these products on the environment.

This is coming at a time when the government continues to push for safer environmental practices, which is one of the main focus areas of the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).

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monDAY, april 9, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Number of children reduced at GPHC’s paediatric ward – Minister Garrido-Lowe

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uring one of her visits to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Wednesday, Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe announced that there has been a reduction in the number of children at the institution.

According to GarridoLowe, during her previous visits, there were a large number of children who were receiving treatment at the medical facility.

“There are fewer children on the ward, because on my previous visit, there were so many children and I ensured that I saw all of them. I am also happy to see that they’re well-cared for by the nurses,” she stated.

During her visit, 27 children, including two cancer patients at the paediatric ward, were the recipients of hygiene hampers on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry.

Accompanying the team

was the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Elizabeth Gonsalves, who noted that the institution was looking forward to the continuous support which it has received over the years from the Ministry.

“It’s a very good gesture to reach out to the kids, because when kids are hospitalised, it’s a lot different to when adults are, it’s not only that they are uncomfortable, but their freedom is taken away also,” she stated.

Trial continues into death of elderly pedestrian ... Police Sergeant cross-examined

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s the trial continued into the death of an elderly pedestrian, Police Sergeant Thunia on Friday took the witness stand in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Sergeant Thunia was cross-examined by Attorneyat-Law Leslie Sobers.

However, the matter was adjourned until April 10, 2018 for the caution statement to be tendered.

Fifty-two-year-old Cleveland Softleigh, a grocery store owner of Mocha, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was charged with causing death by dangerous driving on July 29, 2017, at Herstelling Public Road, EBD. It is alleged that he drove motor car PKK 3251 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of

Accused: Cleveland Softleigh

Ingrid James.

Softleigh denied the charge that was filed against him and was granted bail in the sum of $1 million.

Moreover, his lawyer indicated that his client strongly denied any guilt or fault on his part.

According to the prosecu-

tion’s case, on the day in question, around 20:20h, the vehicle driven by Softleigh was proceeding south along the eastern carriageway of the East Bank Public Road when it struck the deceased, who was in the process of crossing the road from the western side.

The victim’s body, which was tossed some distance away owing to the impact, was taken in an unconscious state by the accused to the Diamond Hospital, where she died.

The driver was then arrested and taken into Police custody, where he was charged with the present offence.

At the time of her death, the then 64-year-old woman resided at Lot 1294 Section C, Block Y, Golden Grove, EBD.

Last year, Minister Garrido-Lowe also made several visits to the paediatric ward at the GPHC where contributions were made to the children.

Under Minister GarridoLowe’s supervision, scheduled visits began over the past year to the institution, which ensured regular support – financial and otherwise – was given to persons in the Hospital.

In 2017, $12 million was allocated towards support to Indigenous patients seeking financial assistance, either in part or full, for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (RI), ultrasound, and Computed Tomography (CT) scans; radiation treatment; hygiene kits; funeral expenses, etc.

In 2018, in excess of $12 million will be spent on financial assistance for Indigenous people.

One of the patients visited by Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe

Region 4 personnel to get increased medical training – RHO

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s the Regional Democratic Council’s Regional Health Department forges ahead with an aggressive plan for 2018, the Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Quincy Jones has promised that there would be an increase in training opportunities for medical personnel within the Region.

Dr Jones said that this was part of the RDC’s vision of further strengthening and improving the effectiveness of medical personnel working at the various health centres through-

out Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), thus ensuring that patients seeking various services could be effectively treated.

“Since assuming the office of Regional Health Officer, it has been part of my overall vision and mandate to increase training, as with improved and increased training, then there will certainly be an overall improvement in the health care that is given to the general public,” he said.

Dr Jones noted that a number of persons continue to seek medical attention at the two premier public hospitals – Georgetown Public Hospital and Diamond hospital – noting that in many circumstances the services they sought were offered by their respective health centres.

“You have situations whereby persons go to either GPHC or Diamond hospital for services that they could have received at their health centres and as such, they are forced to wait for long hours because of the immense pressures on the medical personnel at these two hospitals. However, we are seeking to bring our medical personnel at the various health centres up to par and to ensure that they are trained effectively in a number of areas and ways, thus ensuring that they can render some of the services that they [members of the public] are seeking elsewhere,” he said.

However, REO Pauline Lucas, in commending Dr Jones for his aggressive plan, said quality and enhanced health care would certainly help in boosting the productivity level of all. He further noted that once patients and residents could access improved health care holistically, the country’s human resources would improve. He added that this could only be possible with the appropriate training of medical personnel.

Dr Jones reassured the public that persons seeking services at the various health centres in Region Four could be assured of sustained development and improved results, adding that he

Region Four Health Officer, Dr Quincy Jones

continued to meet with all levels of medical personnel operating at the health centres.

“It’s no secret that the general public has concerns over the health-care services that they receive from the Governmentrun institutions, thus resulting in some seeking private services, but I want to assure all that we within the region with the RDC’s support are working towards holistic development,” he declared.

REO Lucas, in commenting on the many training opportunities that would be made available to staff with the Regional Health Department, urged those benefiting to be dedicated, committed and, most importantly, disciplined. He said that they must be cognisant of value for money via demonstration of the skills and knowledge that they would gain from all the training programmes.

“As the REO, I have and will continue to stress the importance of equal opportunities and to say that my office will continue to support the programmes and mandate of the Regional Health Officer as he continues to enhance and further develop our health sector,” she said.

Dr Jones said that while they have already completed several training programmes thus far for the year, there were quite a number of additional training programmes that would be implemented. He also noted that another four doctors have been added to the Region’s health personnel.

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monDAY, april 9, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Coverage of Parliament

Media say no to proposed code of conduct

Youths pivotal to crime reduction

– Minister Ramjattan at CPG youth conference

– as 2-day GPA/ACM workshop concludes

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Youths gathered at the conference

Some of the participants in the two-day GPA/ACM training programme on coverage of Parliament pose for the cameras on Sunday (Association of Caribbean Media Workers photo)

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he National Assembly’s proposed draft code of conduct for Journalists who cover matters related to parliamentary sittings is being staunchly opposed by members of the local media fraternity, as consultations proved over the weekend.

The consultations and media training workshop were facilitated by the Canadian High Commission, the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM), and the Guyana Press Association (GPA) in the parliamentary chambers on April 7 and 8.

At one point during the penultimate day of training, the attendees were separated into two groups. While one group was chaired by veteran Journalist and Editor-in-Chief of the Trinidadian newspaper Newsday, Judy Raymond, the other group was chaired by founding ACM President Wesley Gibbings.

It was subsequently revealed that the parliamentary chambers were formulating a draft code of conduct, as well as mulling the introduction of accreditation for parliamentary reporters. Subsequent reports from the chairpersons of these sub-meetings showed that the attending media personnel were unanimously against the measure.

During her presentation on her group’s discussions, Raymond related that the media personnel were opposed to the draft code on the grounds of its potential to be used punitively. She reported that it was felt that since Journalists were already guided by ethical principles from the profession and workplace, additional codes of practice would be wholly unnecessary.

“There was a concern, with regard to both issues, that conditions or penalties might be imposed which could affect individual Journalists, to their detriment and possibly detract from the range and quality of coverage in Parliament,” Raymond reported.

Voicing similar views,

GPA Executive Royden James reported that his group also felt that such measures should come from the media houses and not the National Assembly.

Concerns were also raised about the purported security rationale behind accreditation.

Last year, the National Assembly saw two breaches; one where a woman attired as Santa Claus gained access to the chambers during a presentation from Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

In another breach, a spectator began singing “God is watching you”, a line from a famous Nanci Griffith song, during a sitting of the National Assembly late last year. Further, there was a case of undercover Police ranks posing as media operatives and sitting among media personnel…until they were exposed.

According to Public Relations Officer of the National Assembly, Yannick December, the need for accreditation of media personnel covering parliamentary matters is made greater by these instances.

“What you had there was a miscommunication,” December related, in brief comments on the undercover Police controversy.

“They’re supposed to notify us in advance and we would know that these persons

would be here.”

Far from the media having to be subjected to security measures, former GPA President Dennis Chabrol stressed that it was the media who actually needed protection. Here, cases of the undercover ranks shadowing the media in the National Assembly were cited.

Concerns were also raised by Guyana Times Journalist Jarryl Bryan about the National Assembly’s failure to aggressively update documents accessible online, such as its Hansards. The latest Hansard dates from the 71st sitting of the Assembly in November 2017. While noting that hard copies of Hansards can be provided by the library, Assistant Clerk of the National Assembly Deslyn West promised to look into the matter.

The two-day media training had started on Saturday, with the aim to improve the media’s knowledge of parliamentary practices and procedures, improve the media’s understanding of its role in an evolving democracy and consider the tenets of journalistic ethics vis-àvis parliamentary coverage.

At the end of the session, media operatives received a certificate of participation.

oung people from across Regions Three, Four, Five, and Six on Sunday benefited from a youth conference organised by the Community Policing Group (CPG), held at the Mahaicony Community Ground. The meeting forms part of the CPG’s 42nd anniversary celebrations.

During the conference, youths were educated on the role they could play in reducing violence and crime in various communities; anger management and conflict resolution; career guidance and gender-based violence.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, in his feature address, reiterated the critical role youths could play in crime reduction and mentioned that studies have indicated if negative practices and influences were arrested at an early age, there would be a reduction in crime in society.

Minister Ramjattan also made reference to the findings of two recent surveys conducted in Guyana – the Household Drug Prevalence Survey and the Secondary School Drug Prevalence Survey which he described as troubling.

“It was startling the findings of these two reports.

Young people at the age of 11 smoking cigarettes, smoking cannabis and marijuana and even indulging in ecstasy… now that we are getting the results from these surveys and findings, we have to target our young people,” the Minister stated.

He advised the participants to ensure they seize every opportunity to be educated, noting that it has more benefits than a life of crime.

“What lasts and what

makes your society a better society is when you pick up your books, when you read, when you become a professional. Whether it is a lawyer, doctor or even a mechanic or a professional in the sense of being a farmer that knows how to do farming or livestock; whatever it is, all of these matter because you will be providing a

of the Public Security Ministry’s Citizen Security Strengthening Project (CSSP), a $3 billion five-year programme, which has three components and is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank. The conference falls under component one “Community Crime & Violence Prevention”.

This component will see

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

legitimate service to your society and you will be a unit in the population that is going to ensure that we live the happy life that all of us want,” Minister Ramjattan explained.

The Public Security Minister also called on parents to play a more integral role in the lives of their children. He asked that parents reacquaint themselves with the practice of purchasing books for their children to read. Minister Ramjattan reminded that “better readers make better leaders”.

He concluded by encouraging the participants to share the knowledge, which they would have gained from the conference with others in their respective communities.

The conference is part

preventative strategies to reduce crime and violence in 20 targeted communities across five administrative regions. The communities include Buxton and Friendship and Vigilance, Vreed-en-Hoop and Westminster, Albouystown, Charlestown, Sophia, South Ruimveldt Park and Gardens and North Ruimveldt, Alberttown and South Cummingsburg, Kingston and Lacytown, La Penitence and West Ruimveldt, Agricola and McDoom, Mocha and Providence, Annandale and Lusignan, Wismar, Angoy’s Avenue, Rosignol, Enmore and Haslington, Friendship and Kildonan, Albion and Fryish, Port Mourant and Rose Hall, and Adelphi Village and Canefield.

Probe launched after Linden businessman allegedly sexually assaults delegates

By Utamu Bell

A

n investigation has reportedly been launched into allegations of sexual misconduct involving a popular Linden businessman and 3 delegates of the Miss Linden Town Week (LTW) 2018 pageant.

It is alleged that the delegates were taken to the home of the businessman who was a potential sponsor, and were there reportedly given alcoholic beverages; and at least one of them was coerced to perform a sexual act while the others requested to leave.

At least 2 Linden councillors and a young woman attached to the pag-

eant have been implicated in the allegations.

It is also alleged that one of the alleged victims, who managed to escape from the home of the businessman after refusing to perform the act, was given hush money to settle the case after a report was made.

The Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC), responsible for this year’s LTW event, is expected to issue a statement in relation to the allegations.

Meanwhile, pageant coordinator Crystal Lam, in a statement, noted that the issue of a few of the Miss Linden 2018 delegates being taken to the home of a potential sponsor was a

breach of protocol.

“The governing bodies (myself and the Mayor and Town Council) had no knowledge of this visit, and did not, and would never, give consent to such a proposal. What transpired that evening is unfortunate and does not represent CLD’s philosophy. Upon learning of this tragic incident, a report was made to a Government official and the issue has (been), and still is being, investigated.

“I became involved in the organisation of this event amidst my already crowded schedule because I saw it as a way to build, mould and empower young women. The vision was to get young women who would be ambassa-

dors for their community, their country, and push them. I have met all kinds of challenges and unexpected roadblocks in the pursuit to this end.

However, above all, I have met a group of young women I am extremely proud of -- young women who are passionate about making a positive difference; young women who refuse to sell their pride and dignity for financial gains.

“Rest assured that whether there is a Miss Linden 2018 Pageant or not, you have not heard the last of these queens. We intend to be the voices for the voiceless. Being a queen should never come at the price of selling yourself. This is not a true representation of pagentry”, Crystal Lam noted.

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monDAY, april 9, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Private Sector to block Guyana to attend OAS Summit, parking meter project other international forums “All options on the table” – GCCI President

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mplementation of the much panned parking meter project is imminent, but the private sector and civil society have indicated they would employ measures to resist the initiative.

This was on Sunday confirmed by recently elected President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Deodat Indar, who told Guyana Times there must be in-depth analysis before such a project could be accepted.

“We are saying that the contract of this parking meter was not awarded properly. There were no studies done, no impact assessments...the entire thing should be wiped clean, and go back to the drawing board and make sure that they do proper analysis,” Indar observed.

His comments follow the action of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC) last week, voting to adopt the amended by-laws for the controversial parking meter project, thereby signalling that Guyanese will soon have to contend with paid parking once again.

In its previous incarnation, the project was the subject of multiple court actions, including a case brought by the New Building Society (NBS) Limited and another by a private citizen against the legality of City Hall’s multiple-decade contract with Mexican company Smart City Solutions (SCS).

Guyana Times on Sunday questioned the GCCI President on possible legal action that could be taken to prevent the initiative from returning, and Indar stressed: “All options are on the table.” He, however, cautioned that the private sector would first have to assess the amended by-laws before measures in regard to blocking could be initiated.

“We are against the parking meters, and we will be working with others, including the Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM) and other civil society groups to mount resistance towards the implementation of parking meters,” he noted.

Guyana Times understands that operatives within the private sector will be meeting this week to determine their options and craft plans for advocacy against parking meters.

When City Councillors had voted on the measure, Mayor Patricia Chase-Green had restricted them from discussing the contract and concessionaire. People’s Progressive Party

GCCI President Deodat Indar

(PPP) Councillor Bishram Kuppen had argued that since the by-laws are linked to the contract with Smart City Solutions, the council was attempting to move forward with a contract the legality of which was still under question.

Kuppen told all the councillors present that if they support the amended by-laws, they in essence were forcing the citizenry of Georgetown to accept an illegal 40-year contract.

Additionally, Councillor

Malcolm Ferreira had called for the decision to be put on hold until all court issues regarding the controversial project had been addressed.

People’s National Congress Councillors Akeem Peter, Winston Harding, Yvonne Ferguson, Welton Clarke, Oscar Clarke, Noelle ChowChee, Heston Bostwick, James Samuels, Trichria Richards, Lyndon Hilliman, Ivelaw Henry and Mayor Chase-Green, along with Team Benschop’s Jameel Rasul, voted to adopt the Bylaws.

Councillors Kuppen and Sharma voted against, and Ferreira and the PNC’s Carlyle Goring abstained.

Meanwhile, former Deputy Mayors Lionel Jaikaran and Sherod Duncan – both of the Alliance For Change (AFC) -refused to participate in the

process.

Following a 14-day public display, the adopted bylaws will be forwarded to Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan for his approval; and if given, the by-laws would be gazetted.

Under the new agreement, persons will be paying $150 per hour, and $800 for eight hours of parking in the city. Residents of the city would, however, be issued with a restricted residential pass for free parking from 17:00h-19:00h Monday to Friday, while parking will be free on Saturdays.

When the project was first implemented in 2017, it attracted sustained protests for several weeks, and was eventually suspended by the Communities Minister.

While it is expected that the Private Sector will receive support for their position on the Parking Meters Project, it is being argued that it is worrying the same type of support was not given to thousands of protesting sugar workers who were thrown on the breadline after Government’s decision to

close three estates and dismiss over 5000 sugar workers.

One public commentator, in an invited comment, said that it was unfortunate that there were a few isolated groups championing the cause of the sugar workers from the business and Private Sector Commission (PSC) while countless others, who were not directly affected by the move to shut down the industry, stood and watched from the sidelines.

“Now that everybody knows that their business will be negatively affected if City Hall reintroduces the project, every man is on board to lobby and fight to resist the Project. Our sugar workers deserved better. The parking meters project and our collective response should be an eye opener for many people,” the commentator said.

Trio who threatened to kill President to be charged this week

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hree persons who were arrested for threatening the life of President David Granger are expected to be slapped with criminal charges in this week.

This was confirmed by the Police Public Relations Department on Sunday.

“Yes, they will definitely be charged,” a rank stated.

However, the rank disclosed that the exact day of arraignment has not been finalised.

The trio, inclusive of a 65-year-old pensioner, was

President David Granger

detained by Guyana Police Force (GPF) ranks last week for several calls made to a ho-

tline where they threatened the life of President Granger.

The calls were received and recorded by the recently-initiated 911 emergency system at Brickdam on March 20, 2018.

This is not the first instance in which a citizen has been charged for similar crimes.

Back in 2016, 52-year-old Safoora Salim of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was charged for using Facebook to issue threatening and derogatory statements against the Head of State.

G

uyana will, in the coming weeks, be represented at several international forums, the first being the 72nd Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, to be held in London, United Kingdom (UK) from April 9-13, 2018.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who made the announcement recently, said the remit of the Marine Environment Protection Committee includes the control of ship-sourced pollution, such as sewage, garbage, and greenhouse gas emissions.

The committee is also concerned with water management and pollution preparedness and response.

The meeting, Minister Harmon noted, will address issues such as international certification for the carriage of dangerous chemicals, and will provide a forum for knowledge- sharing on the environmental impact of oil spills and the mitigation of its adverse effects.

Director General of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Claudette Rogers, and Director General of the Frontiers Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Barbara Haley, are attending the meeting.

This is followed by the country’s participation at the 8th Summit of the Organisation of American States (OAS), slated for April 13-14, 2018 in Lima, Peru, and being held under the theme “Democratic Governance against corruption”.

The summit is aimed at coordinating concrete action among member states in the fight against corruption,

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

which hinders sustainable development; and at transnational threats across the Western Hemisphere.

“Guyana’s participation will reiterate the Government’s continued commitment to fight corruption at the national and regional levels,” Minister Harmon noted.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge; Guyana’s Ambassador to the OAS, Dr. Riyad Insanally; and Guyana’s Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Charlene Phoenix, will comprise the Guyanese delegation.

Cabinet also granted approval for attendance at the World Bank’s 9th Forum of the Debt Management Facility in Brussels, Belgium, from May 28-29, 2018.

Focus will be placed on policy-relevant research, topics related to debt policy and management, and the current challenges faced by developing countries with respect to debt policy, sustainability and management.

The growing complexities of portfolios and uncertain market conditions, the State Minister pointed out, will be addressed.

Head of the Debt Management Division in the Ministry of Finance, Donna Heywood, will be representing Guyana.

Guyana also participated in the 9th Mid-term Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, which was held from April 4-6, 2018 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

It allowed participants to exchange views on how to respond to challenges facing member states individually and generally, due to the changing economic, social and security environment.

Minister Harmon said participation at the Ministerial Conference allowed Guyana opportunity to demonstrate its continued and strong interest in the founding principles of the Non-Aligned Movement, and engagement in proactive diplomacy with regard to the preservation and sanctity of our borders.

Minister Greenidge, along with the Director of Multilateral and Global Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Troy Torrington, and First Secretary of Guyana’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN), Marissa Edwards, attended the conference.

A d d i t i o n a l l y , Preparedness and Response Manager of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Sean Welcome, participated in the Regional Summit on Disaster Risk Management held in Dominica from April 5-6, 2018.

The summit involved the sharing of lessons learnt during the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season, especially the effects of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Appeals Court deems former Police Superintendent’s dismissal unlawful

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ormer Police Superintendent Simon Mc Bean, who took the Police Services Commission (PSC) and Attorney General (AG) to Court for wrongful dismissal in 2009, was able to breathe a sigh of relief late last week following an Appeals Court ruling that agreed with his civil suit.

Justices Rafiq Khan, Arif Bulkan and Rishi Persaud ruled in favour of Mc Bean, who appealed former Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang’s decision to dismiss his case against the PSC when the matter came up at the High Court.

Having declared that his dismissal was unlawful, the court will soon make a determination relative to how much the former senior rank will be paid in damages and benefits.

Mc Bean was represented by attorneys Patrice Henry and R. Satram. The appellant’s legal team argued that their client was not afforded

Former Police Superintendent Simon Mc Bean

a hearing, as provided for under the Police Disciplinarily Act, Chapter 17:01.

The State was represented by State Counsel for the Attorney General’s Chambers, Judy StuartAdonis. She related the State’s contention that Mc Bean had effectively terminated his employment by leaving the country.

In 2009, Mc Bean received a dismissal letter months after his return to Guyana.

The letter was backdated to December 25, 2007. The civil case stemmed from him reading for a Master’s Degree in Global Security and Policing at the United Kingdom’s University of Leicester, having studied there from October 2007 to September 2008. His legal documents detailed that, before leaving, he had applied for leave via request to the PSC, but never got a response. It was stated that Mc Bean then asked to be granted no-pay leave, but that also was not granted. He did, however, receive three-month accumulated leave.

After his one year study, the applicant resumed duty in September 2008, until he was dismissed in September 2009, with the letter dating back to Christmas Day 2007.

The PSC had contended that Mc Bean was not authorised to participate in the UKbased programme.

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monDAY, April 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

I SAY...

What the people say

In light of two women being killed recently by their partners, what measures do you think should be put in place to address this issue?

Jeevanand Chanderpaul “Those persons who are guilty of the offence should receive penalties for their conduct. Stronger laws should also be enforced to deal with the issue and workshops with visual presentations on the effects of domestic violence should be implemented, since people tend to grasp the concepts better when they see things. Those that are victims will also be able to speak about their experience in this way.”

Tracy Johnson “I think one of the things we have to get back to as a society is marrying into a family, instead of just being with the individual. When we marry into a family, that way if there is an issue, everyone knows and can tender assistance. These days, we find that people enter relationships and are not acquainted with the person’s family, so the family doesn’t know what is happening if there is an issue.”

Nateshia Isaacs “It sucks to believe that in 2018, intimate partner violence is really still a thing. Educating and resocialising our children to respect their romantic partners by demonstrating respectful, healthy relationships with our spouses and partners is step one. Teaching our friends, children, and family about toxic hypermasculinity is what we as regular people NEED to do. Comprehensive sex education in schools deals with gender-based violence and it’s ludicrous that adults don’t want their children exposed to these topics. It should be made as mandatory as Maths and English in schools. We raise the abusers and we see the abuse and we say nothing. Even when we do, the Police does nothing, often times, because the woman lies out of fear. Too many people knew that those women were being abused and it is all their faults that those women are now dead. Mark Luke Edwards recently performed a poem on domestic violence awareness called ‘useless man’ , a powerful piece that needs to be plastered and preached to perpetrators who use their hands or ‘power’ to control and demean women.”

Kemol King “Something I’ve always been in favour of is the implementation of a progressive, comprehensive sexuality education curriculum in all schools from the primary to

the secondary level. For a society suffering from so many issues intersecting with sex, sexuality and gender, such a curriculum would benefit the younger ones so that they don’t repeat our mistakes.

Some of those mistakes include toxic versions of masculinity, which influence men to be violent and stoic, as well as … [feel that they have an] entitlement to women’s bodies, which, when contradicted, causes them to act violently. I think that our society needs to be socialised to push back, not just against male violence and entitlement to women, but against the mindsets that refuse to hold men accountable for their actions, and instead, blame women for violence committed against them.”

Analecia A Foster “The Government should invest in mental

health awareness-focused educational programmes and initiatives countrywide, especially through dedicated youth groups like ASPIRE. In addition, workplaces, especially places where employees have access to loaded firearms, should have at least quarterly mandatory psychiatric evaluations that must be passed, especially before hiring and promotions.

Licensed gun owners should also have to pass mandatory psychiatric evaluations as well, under risk of revocation of their licence for failure or noncompliance.”

New contract for controversial Region 6 bulldozer – RDC concerned over REO’s handling of issue – company wants 60% more to supply smaller bulldozer

By Andrew Carmichael

I

t would appear that the Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) administration has signed a contract for the supply of a bulldozer without the required tendering process.

This was the conclusion made after documents were produced when the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) met last Thursday.

Initially, the National Tender Board had issued a contract to K and P Project Management to supply a D43 Caterpillar bulldozer to the tune of $14.8 million.

The company had received $8 million as an advance to mobilise in June last year, but never delivered the equipment until the end of December. The balance was then paid.

Subsequently, it was discovered that the bulldozer did not match the specifications stipulated in the contract.

After the issue was made

public in January of this year, both the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Kim WilliamsStephen and the Regional Chairman, David Armogan held separate press conferences at which they announced that the contract was null and void, since the contractor did not supply what he was contracted to.

However, last Thursday when the RDC met, a letter was produced in which the REO submitted a document stating that the very contractor was now contracted to supply a D3 Angle Blade bulldozer.

Under the new arrangement, the contractor has until June 13 to deliver the equipment.

The REO had written a letter to Councillor Haseef Yusuf accusing him of misrepresenting the facts.

Yusuf is quoted in the press as saying that the regional administration failed to secure a bond when the contract was is-

sued.

However, the REO produced documents to indicate that the administration has secured a bond.

However, Yusuf revealed the document only proved more corruption coming from the REO. “My letter in the press was published on March 17, 2018. This bond is dated March 14, 2018, so it means that this bond is for a new contract… therefore, this does not cover that bulldozer that is sitting out there. There is no bond for that bulldozer,” the Councillor said.

Yusuf had in the past questioned what mechanisms were in place for the administration to get back the almost $15 million of taxpayers’ money that it had paid to K and P Project Management.

Meanwhile, Regional Vice Chairman Dennis De Roop, weighing in on the issue, noted that there should have been a bond so that the administra-

tion could recoup the $14.8 million.

Addressing the issue of the bond under the new contract, he pointed out that the performance guarantee, which has been issued by Caricom General Insurance Company Inc, expired on March 10.

Speaking to reporters on the issue, Regional Chairman Armogan said the contractor should not have been paid unless the bulldozer was certified.

He said the RDC was now recommending that a manager’s cheque be deposited to serve as a bond if the contractor failed to deliver after receiving some of his money.

Meanwhile, in a letter issued by the CEO of K and P Project Management, Terry Thomas, he said the company could only source the specified equipment at a price that is more than 60 per cent of the agreed contracted price.

Ian Campbell “I think that there needs to be more education not just in the form of academics, but more over in the form of self-worth and at least having an idea of your desired purpose on earth. Most likely, an uneducated woman is dependent which makes her an easier target for exploitation and to be taken advantage of.”

Kobe Smith “From a youth perspective, we must challenge offensive, restrictive gender norms through comprehensive sexuality education. We must empower our girls through education, we must allow our men and boys to freely express themselves [positively], and seek help when needed. Women and girls are hurting. Men and boys are hurting. The reality is that we have a long way to go before all people can realise dreams beyond what is deemed appropriate for their gender. One of the clearest pieces of evidence we have that demonstrates how patriarchal values that allow men to control sexuality persist [is] in the high rates of gender-based violence, including sexual violence. In our schools and universities, we must create safe spaces where students can engage and share stories and experiences of sexual harassment and abuse. We have a responsibility to ensure critical, life-saving psycho-social support is provided through counselling for victims of abuse. We must educate our women and girls on their rights and responsibilities. In the same light, we must engage our men and boys to respect these rights and what they stand for. We must resocialise our men and boys to love and respect and honour and appreciate our women and girls. We must reach out to those men and boys who are broken and have been abused themselves.”

Marcy Liddell “I think there should be stricter penalties for such crimes. It is sad that our young women are losing their lives in such manner.”

Guyana Learning Institute hosts suicide symposium

T

he Guyana Leaning Institute (GLI) on Sunday hosted a oneday suicide symposium at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) in Kingston, Georgetown.

Scores of mainly young participants attended, and at the end of proceedings received certificates for their participation in the event. The GLC Principal, Opposition Parliamentarian Ganga Persaud, called for more programmes to be implemented to tackle the scourge of suicide, as he observed that suicide is one of the leading causes of death in Guyana.

Jennifer Persaud gave an overview of the various forms of suicide and their accompanying statistics. She noted the high numbers that relate to Guyana, with latest reports indicating that one person attempts suicide every 5 hours in Guyana.

It was also highlighted

that between 1,500 and 2,000 persons attempt suicide each year in Guyana.

This country currently ranks fourth for highest suicide per capita, and has the highest rate among people in South America and the Caribbean. Persaud iterated that the male suicide rate is higher than that for female.

She highlighted that suicides are frequently attempted by age groups 12-18 and 9-25.

Other speakers underscored how suicide affects wide sections of the social classes.

The participants also gathered in four groups and engaged in spirited discussion, and two presentations on suicide-related issues were followed by a panel discussion facilitated by Sheila Veersammy. A representative of the Caribbean Voice was also present at Sunday’s symposium. A similar exercise was held in Berbice on Sunday.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, april 9, 2018

Regional

Brazil’s Lula spends 1st nights Judgement day for University of T&T? in jail amid fight for freedom S taff at the University of T&T (UTT) are anxious about the future of the institution as they prepare for what is believed to be a “final” meeting at the Education Ministry’s headquarters in Port-ofSpain with UTT’s Board of Governors and the representing union, the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) today.

The UTT Branch published a two-page "Plain Talk" document on Friday titled “Sustainability and Viability of UTT as at April 2018.”

In that document to UTT staffers, it disclosed a re-

F

ormer Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spent his first night in jail on a corruption conviction on Sunday as his allies hoped future protests and court decisions would free him.

The imprisonment of Lula, Brazil’s first working-class President, throws the October presidential election wide open as he leads the race in opinion polls. His conviction likely bars him from running.

But this week the Supreme Court may re-examine its own 2016 ruling that said the condemned could begin serving prison sentences if their conviction was upheld on a first appeal, the decision that made it possible for a Brazilian Judge to order Lula jailed.

If that ruling were reversed, Lula would be freed.

Several justices on the top court have publicly clamoured in recent weeks to revisit that ruling and overturn it, a move critics say would be a massive blow against Brazil’s unprecedented anti-corruption efforts of the last four years.

The appeals process can take years or even decades

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends a protest in front of the metallurgic trade union in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, April 7, 2018

in Brazil’s complex and backlogged legal system, essentially guaranteeing impunity for those rich enough to afford lawyers who could launch countless technical appeals.

Lula, who still faces six more trials on corruption charges, turned himself in to Police Saturday evening, ending a daylong standoff.

Brazilians watched images televised nationwide of a convoy of Police SUVs shepherding Lula to a helicopter and then a jet at a São Paulo airport, from where he was

flown to the southern city of Curitiba to begin serving his sentence.

He spent the first night of his 12-year sentence in a special 15-square-metre cell in Curitiba’s federal Police headquarters, where most high-profile politicians and businessmen convicted in the “Car Wash” corruption probe have served their sentences. Lula will not be allowed to interact with others being held in the building, including his former Finance Minister Antonio Palocci.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Trinidad: Wreckage from Russian rocket washes up on Mayaro shore

W

hat was believed to be wreckage from an aircraft that washed ashore in Mayaro, Trinidad on Saturday has been identified instead as parts of a stage rocket.

Retired T&T Civil Aviation Authority Director General Ramesh Lutchmedial positively identified the debris as parts from a rocket that was launched by the Arianespace Company, a commercial launch service provider, in French Guiana.

Lutchmedial, who now practises as an aviation safety and security consultant, said: “For years rocket parts have washed ashore in T&T as the Arianespace Company often launches rockets from the Spaceport in Kourou. They normally wash up on the south-eastern coast such as Mayaro and Manzanilla.

“A rocket is made of different stages; as it goes up into orbit it will jettison its various stages as the fuel is exhausted, when they fall to Earth, ocean currents bring them all the way to T&T.” He said they were not aircraft wreckage as there were no reports of missing aircraft or black boxes.

Nirmala Singh, a local amateur astronomer, said the debris with Russian script was most likely from a Russian Soyuz 2 rocket booster that would have originated from the Guiana Space Centre.

sponse given to the Union, a letter dated March 12 from the University’s President Sarim Al-Zubaidy in relation to the Union’s proposals that were made on January 31 to cost reduction and the UTT restructuring.

“This proposal was brought to the attention of the Board at its February meeting. After deliberations, however, such proposal was not agreed to.

However, the Board noted that the severance proposals of the University submitted on January 11 did include more than 60 per cent of the counter proposals of the Union related to man-

agement-level staff as presented to the Minister on January 31,” the statement read.

The University’s proposed restructuring plan included the retrenchment of 287 workers in the first instance that would realise an estimated cost savings of TT$41 million. Most of the workers proposed to be retrenched are junior–level workers, in that a particular department that was left with mostly managerial staff and others that were left with no junior–level workers on some campuses to provide a service to the students. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Anti-visitor harassment measures bearing fruit – Jamaican Tourism Minister

J

amaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says anti-visitor harassment measures being implemented in resort areas are bearing fruit.

These include training programmes and sensitisation workshops for frontline industry representatives interacting directly with visitors; and heightened vigilance and patrols by resort security officers.

Bartlett said the positive outcomes are evidenced in Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) visitor opinion surveys which show that 60 per cent of the tourists visiting Jamaica recently were satisfied with their experience.

“Also noteworthy is the fact that 42 per cent of our visitors are repeat guests.

Our intention is for those numbers to be even higher as the visit should resonate

Jamaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett

so well with those who land on our soil, that they will unhesitatingly and consistently give us an A+ rating,” the Minister added.

The anti-visitor harassment measures are enabling guests to move around more freely, which contributed to Jamaica being recently voted the number one Caribbean destination and among the top 20 globally, by the high-

ly respected American travel and restaurant website company, TripAdvisor, Inc. These developments are welcomed news for the Administration, in light of industry stakeholders’ concerns that unless visitor harassment is decisively addressed, it could potentially erode brand Jamaica’s renown as a highly sought-after destination of choice for tourists, and overshadow the sector’s record visitor arrivals and foreign exchange earnings.

While acknowledge the positive outturns emanating from the interventions, sector interests also urge that these be sustained and others introduced, so as to avoid the onset of complacency that could give rise to a resurgence in the prevalence of visitor harassment. (Excerpt

from JIS)

Antigua: More than 30 detained in anti-human trafficking operation

M The wreckage that washed ashore

On Arianespace's website listed the launch of the Russian rocket Soyuz Flight VS 18 on March 9, 2018.

When Alina Trimbovetchi, a Russian

national was contacted to translate the Russian writing, she said the name “Ballona” was written on it, followed by “restricted or prohibited area”. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

ore than 30 people are in the custody of several law enforcement agencies following a joint anti-human trafficking operation at two strip clubs Saturday night.

Their detention came after searches at the Cheetah Night Club on Joseph Lane and G Spot Night Club on Independence Avenue during the operation called Libertado.

The daughter of the woman who owns the Cheetah Night Club is among those in custody while no one from the management of the G-Spot Nightclub is in custody yet.

Most of those in custody have been identified as pos-

sible trafficked persons. A few others are believed to be in breach of the country’s immigration and labour laws.

While, another few are suspected offenders of the country’s human trafficking and immigration laws.

The majority of those in custody, who are Jamaican nationals, identify as dancers and strippers working at the clubs and they are all being held at the Immigration Detention Centre in Coolidge, at the former “Panam Base”.

The Public Safety Ministry issued a statement Sunday morning saying operation “Libertado” is the name given to Region-wide joint Action

Day Operations which are in collaboration with Interpol.

The operation seeks to free as many victims of human trafficking as possible.

As such, the joint operation targeted these establishments based on information and intelligence.

The operation was spearheaded by the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Committee, within the Ministry of Public Safety and Labour.

The operation comes two months after a similar raid was carried out at Jam Dung Night Club and Wendy’s Bar and over 20 people were detained. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

St Kitts and Nevis PM in Dubai to discuss new investment opportunities

S

t Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr Timothy Harris is in Dubai to discuss the new investment opportunities available for Middle Eastern investors looking to gain a second citizenship.

The St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme , which enables applicants to gain cit-

izenship in the twin-island nation by investing in the country's booming economy, is the world's oldest offering of economic citizenship.

On March 29, 2018, Prime Minister Harris announced a new mode of investment for the Citizenship Programme – the Sustainable Growth

Fund – offering investors a stable and secure method to achieve a second nationality, while ensuring the nation continues its strong development.

The Prime Minister is expected to meet with a number of key stakeholders on his visit to introduce the Sustainable Growth Fund, as well as provide

further information on the recent changes made to the real estate investment option for the Citizenship by Investment Programme.

The Prime Minister will be joined on his trip by CEO of the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit, Les Khan. A breakfast briefing for agents, to be hosted by global inves-

tor immigration advisory CS Global Partners, will be part of the itinerary.

The St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme has long been regarded as the platinum standard of the industry, known for its discreet approach, streamlined processing, and strict due diligence procedures. (PR/Newswire)

monDAY, april 9, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Syria war: Trump condemns Syria for “chemical attack” on Douma

U

nited States President Donald Trump has lashed out at Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies Russia and Iran over a suspected chemical attack, saying there will be a "big price to pay".

Medical sources say dozens of people were killed in an attack on the rebel-held town of Douma on Saturday.

The United Nations Security Council may debate the attack today after nine of its 15 members called for an urgent meeting.

Both Syria and Russia deny a chemical attack took place.

The European Union has called for an "immediate response by the international community".

17

The United Nations Security Council may debate the attack today after nine of its 15 members called for an urgent meeting

At the Vatican, Pope Francis said: "Nothing, nothing can justify the use of such devices of extermination against defenceless people and populations."

Trump described President Assad as an "animal" in a series of tweets.

As details of the attack emerged, the Russian military reached a deal with the

rebels controlling Douma, the Jaish al-Islam group, on a partial evacuation to end the fighting there.

Russian military police will be admitted to the town while the rebels will be allowed either to leave or stay with a guarantee they will not be pursued by Syrian security forces, local negotiators told Reuters news agency.

Syrian State media said earlier that a deal had been struck with Jaish al-Islam to allow them to leave Douma within 48 hours in return for them freeing prisoners.

Douma is the last rebel bastion in the Eastern Ghouta region outside the capital, Damascus, following a Government offensive.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Hungary elections: High voter turnout as polls close

H

ungarians have voted in high numbers in a closely-watched election that has been billed as a test for the country and Europe.

Voting officially ended at 19:00 h local times (17:00 GMT) on Sunday, but numerous polling stations remained open to accommodate long lines of people waiting to cast their ballots to elect representatives in the country's 199-seat Parliament.

Figures from Hungary's National Election Office half an hour before polls closed showed that 68.13 per cent of 7.9 million eligible voters had cast their ballots by 18:30h (16:30 GMT).

The figure was higher than the final turnout of 61.73 per cent in the last election in 2014, which gave Prime Minister Viktor

Orban, of the right-wing Fidesz party, a landslide victory.

Opposition Leaders hope a large turnout improves their chances against Orban, who is seeking his third consecutive term and fourth overall since 1998.

Opinion polls have consistently put Orban and Fidesz 20 or more points clear of their nearest rivals, Jobbik, a far-right party that has been moving towards the centre, and the centre-left Socialists.

With far-right and populist parties making gains in a spate of recent European elections, including in Italy and Austria, analysts have speculated that Orban's anti-migrant and "illiberal" policies could have long-lasting implications for the European Union (EU). (Excerpt

North Korea tells US it is prepared to discuss denuclearisation – source Berlin Police arrest

N

orth Korea has told the United States for the first time that it is prepared to discuss the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets President Donald Trump, a US official said on Sunday.

US and North Korean officials have had secret contacts recently in which Pyongyang directly confirmed its willingness to hold the unprecedented summit, the official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Until now, Washington had relied mostly on ally

South Korea’s assurance of Kim’s intentions.

South Korean envoys visited Washington last month to convey Kim’s invitation to meet. Trump, who has exchanged bellicose threats with Kim in the past year, surprised the world by quickly agreeing to

meet Kim to discuss the crisis over Pyongyang’s development of nuclear weapons capable of hitting the United States.

But Pyongyang has not broken its public silence on the summit, which US officials say is being planned for May. (Excerpt from Reuters)

from Al Jazeera)

6 over 'cityendangering' plot

Canada crash: Country mourns Humboldt Broncos bus dead

C

anadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend a vigil on Sunday to honour the 15 killed in a crash involving a bus carrying a junior ice hockey team.

Canada has seen an outpouring of grief following Friday's collision.

Ten players on the Humboldt Broncos team, aged between 16 and 21, died when their team bus collided with a semi-trailer in Saskatchewan.

Police are still trying to determine the reason for the crash. The lorry's driver was

Ten players on the Humboldt Broncos team, aged between 16 and 21, died when their team bus collided with a semi-trailer in Saskatchewan

not hurt.

Trudeau's

office

con-

firmed he would attend the small town of Humboldt's

prayer vigil, which will begin at 19:00 local time (01:00 GMT Monday).

Three former National Hockey League players have also travelled to Humboldt to support players and families, including Sheldon Kennedy who survived a fatal bus crash in 1986.

Teams around the country paid tribute to the dead during weekend fixtures.

Many have pledged donations to support their families and the surviving players. Online fundraising pages have raised millions of dollars. (Excerpt from BBC News)

China objects to India's 'transgression' in Arunachal; India rejects protest

"China's protest to our patrolling in Asaphila is surprising," said a source

I

n yet another incident of discord, the Chinese military last month strongly protested against what it called the Indian Army's transgressions into the stra-

tegically sensitive Asaphila area along the border in Arunachal Pradesh, but the Indian side roundly dismissed the complaint, official sources said.

They said the Chinese side raised the issue at a 'Border Personnel Meeting' (BPM) on March 15 in India, but the Indian Army rejected it, saying that the area in the upper Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh belongs to India and it has regularly been carrying out patrols there.

Sources told PTI that the Chinese side called India's patrolling in the area a "transgression" and the Indian Army objected to the terminology.

"China's protest to our patrolling in Asaphila is surprising," said a source, adding that there were several

instances of Chinese intrusions in the area which had been seriously taken up by the Indian side in the past.

(Excerpt from Times of India)

B

More than 30,000 runners took part in Sunday's half-marathon

erlin Police have arrested six people who they suspect of "preparing a grave city-endangering violent act".

The arrests, of people aged between 18 and 21, came amid German media reports of a knife attack being foiled against Sunday's half-marathon in the city.

A Police spokesman said on Sunday there was no conclusive evidence the run had been the target of the alleged plot.

Police say a number of searches have been made, with some electronics seized for further examination.

Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller thanked the city's security forces for preventing an "impending attack with their vigilance and police work".

Die Welt newspaper earlier reported that one man detained had planned to mount a deadly knife attack on participants and spectators at the half-marathon.

The newspaper reported that those arrested were suspected of having links to a Tunisian Islamist who killed 12 people in the city in a December 2016 truck attack. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Vatican Police arrest ex-diplomat over 'child pornography'

P

olice at the Vatican have arrested a priest who previously worked at the Holy See's US Embassy on suspicion of possessing child pornography.

Carlo Alberto Capella was taken into custody after an investigation.

Monsignor Capella was recalled from the US in

September 2017 after US authorities told the Vatican about a possible violation of child pornography laws by one of its diplomats.

He was ordained in 1993 and joined the Vatican's diplomatic corps in 2004.

The arrest could draw fresh attention to Pope Francis's efforts to snuff out

child abuse in the Catholic Church. He has pledged zero tolerance, but critics say he has not done enough to hold to account bishops who allegedly covered up abuse.

Monsignor Capella's career took him to India and Hong Kong before his brief stint in the US, which lasted less than a year. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, april 9, 2018

ARCHIE

Take care of your responsibilities. If you fall short, you (March 21will face complaints and critiApril 19) cism. If you want to excel, use your intelligence and control your temper.

ARIES

Don’t think out loud. Keep TAURUS your opinion to yourself and (April 20- seek out like-minded people May 20) to get the most out of your day. Learn from your experience and mistakes.

dilbert

Share your experience GEMINI (May 21- and skills, and help those in June 20) need. What you do for others will encourage the same in return. A physical act will do more good than would a cash donation.

Tread carefully when dealing with sensitive issues (June 21- at home or work. Be aware of July 22) how others feel, and grant everyone the right to have an opinion. Focus on your own behaviour.

CANCER

Peanuts

Share your feelings and LEO take an intellectual approach (July 23- when voicing your opinion or Aug. 22) asking for something. Living within your means will help you avoid stress when the bills arrive.

Calvin and Hobbes

You’ve got the right idea, VIRGO so don’t let insecurity stand in (Aug. 23your way. Speak up and parSept. 22) ticipate to gain experience as well as confidence. Physical improvements are encouraged.

Make the most of what LIBRA you’ve got. Discuss your in(Sept. 23Oct. 23) tentions with someone you share responsibilities with or care for. Being open about your situation will help alleviate stress.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — DISABUSE (DISABUSE: dis-uh-BYOOZ: To free from a falsehood or misconception.)

SUDOKU

Connect with an old SAGITTARIUS friend to pick up where you (Nov. 23left off.

Creating a homier Dec. 21) atmosphere in your place of residence will make a difference to someone who depends on you.

Average mark 21 words Time limit 35 minutes Can you find 33 or more words in DISABUSE? The list will be published Monday.

SATURDAY’S WORD — LAYOUTS last outlay talus lost lotus salt lousy salty lout slat slaty lust lusty slay also slot alto soul auto soya oast stay oust stoa RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

The voice of reason is the SCORPIO best antidote to someone (Oct. 24showing overly emotional Nov. 22) tendencies. Offering stability, support, love and understanding will be appreciated and reciprocated.

solution

Quiet and comfort should CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- be your goals. Refuse to let Jan. 19) anyone upset you, goad you into an argument or persuade you to make a decision that you don’t feel good about.

Being open and honest AQUARIUS about your feelings will help (Jan. 20- you cut through any tenFeb. 19) sion that’s building between you and a friend, relative or loved one.

Show compassion when PISCES (Feb. 20- dealing with people less able March 20) than yourself. Taking on extra responsibilities will be satisfying and rewarding.

What you learn will help you excel in life.

monDAY, APRIL 9, 2018

T

No Chris Gayle as Rahul hits fastest IPL half-century

here was no Chris Gayle in the lineup as KL Rahul blasted the fastest Indian Premier League half-century and teenager Mujeeb Ur Rahman excelled on his debut to help Kings XI Punjab beat Delhi Daredevils by six wickets.

Kings XI recruited Rahul after Royal Challengers Bangalore opted against retaining the India batsman and he showed why they forked out INR 11 crore for his services by smashing 51 off only 16 balls at PCA Stadium.

Rahul took just 14 deliveries to reach 50 and Karun Nair also made a half-century as the new-look Kings XI reached their target of 167 with seven balls to spare in the second game of the tournament.

N e w Daredevils skipper Gautam Gambhir top

KL Rahul

19

Rana makes surprise impact as KKR sink RCB

scored with 55 as his side posted 166/7, but 17-year-old Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb delivered on his IPL bow in a promising start for Kings XI.

History-maker Mujeeb hits the ground running

Mujeeb is now the youngest player to feature in the IPL aged 17 and 11 days and he could be around for some time on the evidence of his debut.

The tweaker wasted no time in making an impact, trapping Colin Munro leg before wicket when the New Zealand batsman got himself in a mess attempting a switch hit.

After striking with only his third ball, Mujeeb ran the well set Gambhir out and removed Rishabh Pant for 28 when the wicketkeeper-batsman was going along nicely to reduce Delhi to 111-4 in the 14th over.

Mujeeb finished with impressive figures of 2-28 from his four overs, while captain Ashwin took 1-23 and Mohit Sharma 2-33.

Gambhir gives it away

Evergreen opener Gambhir led by example at the top of the order, timing the ball exquisitely to make a half-century for his new side.

The former India opener took a liking to Axar Patel, smashing the spinner for a huge six over mid-off and hitting 14 off just three

balls of the fourth over.

Gambhir’s excellent knock came to an end with a soft dismissal, the left-hander ambling through for a single and failing to make his ground as Mujeeb ran him out with a direct him from short fine leg.

Chris Morris flexed his muscles with a quickfire unbeaten 27 to give new Daredevils coach Ricky Ponting hope of making a winning start.

Rahul runs riot

Ponting could only watch on as a brutal onslaught from Rahul left the Kings XI wondering what had hit them, the opener dealing in boundaries as he raced to a half-century in a flash.

He took only two off the first three deliveries, but struck Trent Boult over the ropes with disdain and hit the next two balls for four in an opening over which cost 16 runs.

Mohammed Shamil also came in for some treatment and Rahut was raising his bat in the third over after dispatching Amit Mishra (0-46) for two sixes and three fours.

Boult returned to bring an end to the Rahul fireworks, but Nair (50 off 33) took the baton with a great display of clean striking before David Miller (24 not out) and Marcus Stoinis (22) got Kings XI over the line. (Sportsmax)

Ronaldo scores for tenth straight Real game

P

art-time spinner Nitish Rana made an unexpectedly decisive impression with the ball as Kolkata Knight Riders beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by four wickets, dismissing AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli in his solitary over.

Sunil Narine thumped 50 off just 19 balls at the top of the order to help Kolkata hunt down a target of 177 with seven balls to spare, but Rana was the star of the show at Eden Gardens.

Better known as a batsman, Rana had just four Twenty20 wickets to his name before he was surprisingly called upon to bowl the 15th over of the RCB innings. He duly broke a third-wicket stand of 64 by having De Villiers (44) caught at long-on off his second ball, before stunningly yorking Kohli (31) with his next delivery.

Not content with dismissing two of the world’s best batsmen as RCB were limited to 176-7, Rana went on to make a valuable contribution in Kolkata’s chase, striking 34 off 25 deliveries after Narine’s brutal innings, which featured five sixes.

The Knight Riders were also grateful for an unbeaten 35 from skipper Dinesh Karthik. “We were 15 short with the bat, myself included. I played too many dot balls,” said RCB captain Kohli. “Me and AB getting out in two balls to a part-timer was game-changing as well.” (Sportsmax) Sunil Narine celebrates another whirlwind fifty for KKR

C

ristiano Ronaldo scored in a 10th straight game for Real Madrid - but they were held to a derby draw by Atletico Madrid.

Real had the better chances and Marco Asensio and Marcelo hit the woodwork at 0-0.

Ronaldo volleyed home Gareth Bale’s left-wing cross for his 20th goal in 10 club appearances.

But Antoine Griezmann equalised on the rebound after Vitolo’s shot was saved by Keylor Navas.

The last time Cristiano Ronaldo did not score in a Real Madrid game he played in was February 3

The result keeps second-placed Atletico four points above Real - but 11 points behind leaders Barcelona, who beat Leganes 3-1 on Saturday.

Ronaldo was surprisingly replaced by Karim Benzema for the final 26 minutes, perhaps with Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Juventus in mind.

Real won the first leg 3-0 in Turin, with Ronaldo scoring twice, including an excellent bicycle kick.

The Portuguese has now

scored 26 goals in his past 14 games for Real and Portugal - and 40 for his club this season in 37 matches.

“We’ve got a lot of games and from time to time he has to rest,” said Zidane.

“He’s clever and there are times when you have to rest.

Nowadays he needs it and every time it does him good.

“I’m happy with the match and how we performed because we clearly deserved more. It was a shame we didn’t get more from it but we could have even lost the game at the end.”

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, APRIL 9, 2018

"The Eagle" is new UFC lightweight champion

T

he scoreline on Khabib Nurmagomedov’s victory over Al Iaquinta in Saturday night’s UFC 223main event read 50-44, 50-43, and 5043.

And some people weren’t impressed.

The victory improved the Dagestani standout’s record to 26-0, 10-0 inside the Octagon, and made him the UFC lightweight champion.

And some were underwhelmed.

He also put up one of the most lopsided scores in a title fight in UFC history after being hit with an unprecedented wave of potential distractions. Iaquinta was Nurmagomedov’s fifth potential opponent in six days, and he was in the van for Conor McGregor and company’s attack which turned fight week in Brooklyn into Bizarro World and put McGregor behind bars.

None of this fazed Nurmagomedov, who went 25 minutes for the first time in his career. And still, some shrugged.

Exactly how high of a bar are we setting for this guy?

Part of this is down to color commentator Joe Rogan, who went off the deep

end in his criticism of Nurmagomedov in the late rounds. You would have thought the standup of Glass Joe from PunchOut!! was being critiqued, not a fighter who has never been knocked down in his UFC career. The segment of the audience that takes Rogan’s word as gospel helped amplify the criticism.

Not that Rogan’s commentary was entirely without merit. Nurmagomedov did hold his chin high and lacked movement in those third and fourth rounds. But this also presupposes a fighter as intelligent as Nurmagomedov can’t correct this. It also assumes that he’ll someday be facing the hungry McGregor of 2015, not the parody who has taken a powder on his MMA career and hasn’t competed in 18 months, while behaving like a lunatic every time he’s in public.

Even at his peak, McGregor was a fighter who faded sometime in the second round, which is when Nurmagomedov is usually at his strongest. You really think Nurmagomedov doesn’t take a rusty McGregor to the ground and maul him?

And here’s another thing: Maybe that Iaquinta guy is better than he’s getting

credit for. He comes from SerraLongo’s championship pedigree and he won five straight and eight of nine heading into this fight. This wasn’t exactly a remake of T.J. Dillashaw vs.

Joe Soto.

Of course, the idea Nurmagomedov is vulnerable is going to help sell a ton of pay-perviews, whether it’s a McGregor showdown or whether we actually get the Tony Ferguson fight one of these days. But it’s just as plain that expectations for the new lightweight champ are so high that anything short of grinding his opponent through the canvas to the arena floor is going to leave some people underwhelmed. And that’s a testament to just how good “The Eagle” has become.

World champion Sagan wins 1st Paris-Roubaix title P eter Sagan, 28, made the decisive move with 54km of the 257km oneday classic to go, leaving the peloton behind to join a breakaway group containing Dillier.

The pair stayed away to the finish in the outdoor velodrome in Roubaix, with Sagan kicking clear on the final bend.

The Slovak is the first reigning world champion to win Paris-Roubaix since Bernard Hinault in 1981.

It is his second win in the ‘monuments’ - cycling’s five most prestigious one-day races - following his Tour of Flanders victory in 2016.

“I feel amazing. I’m so tired but I was involved in no crashes, had no flat tyres and I just kept going,” said Sagan.

“Thank you to all my team-mates - they did a great job keeping everyone together and in the end I made the winning move.”

Dutch rider Niki Terpstra, the 2014 Paris-Roubaix champion, broke clear of the chasing group to finish third, with defending champion Greg van Avermaet fourth.

Belgium’s Michael Goolaerts was taken to hospital after crashing earlier in the race.

British Team Sky riders Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe were forced out following crashes.

Compatriot Lewis Askey, 16, won the junior race, making it back-to-back titles for Britain after Tom Pidcock’s victory last year.

Paris-Roubaix, also known as the ‘Hell of the North’, is one of the toughest races in cycling, featuring 29 cobbled sections.

Swiss champion Dillier, 27, was part of a six-man group that got clear of the

peloton after around 50km of racing before three riders dropped back, leaving Dillier, Sven Erik Bystrom and Jelle Wallays at the front with 65km to go.

With 55km remaining, Belgium’s van Avermaet attacked the group of favourites that were chasing that trio, but was closed down before Bora-Hansgrohe rider Sagan surged clear just as the group came back together.

As his rivals hesitated and failed to organise themselves, Sagan hauled himself up to the leading three. Bystrom cracked but Sagan, Dillier and Wallays carried on to establish a gap of one minute with 35km to go.

Wallays was the next to fall back, leaving Sagan and Dillier out alone, but they worked well together to extend their lead to one minute 30 seconds.

Only four men were left to frantically try and catch back on - van Avermaet, Terpstra, Jasper Stuyven and Sep Vanmarcke - and, although they halved Sagan and Dillier’s advantage, the gap stabilised at about 45 seconds inside the final 10km.

AG2R La Mondiale rider Dillier led Sagan into the velodrome and around the penultimate lap, but Sagan timed his dive to the inside line superbly to s e c u r e victory.

“I broke a finger recently and didn’t think I’d make Paris-Roubaix because of that,” said Dillier.

“Sagan is an angel and a devil in the same person - an angel because he took me with him and a devil because I had to go man-to-man with him.

Congratulations to him.”

Paris-Roubaix is the third of the five monuments this season following Milan San-Remo, won

by Vincenzo Nibali, and last week’s Tour of Flanders, won

by Terpstra.

The next is LiegeBastogne-Liege in Belgium on 22 April, before Il Lombardia in Italy on 13 October.

Peter Sagan sprinted clear of Swiss champion Silvan Dillier in the Roubaix velodrome

The new UFC Lightweight Champion took his record to 26-0

Vettel wins despite stunning Hamilton overtake

F

Sebastian Vettel wins it for his stunning, measured drive but Pierre Gasly deserves an honourable mention for Toro Rosso’s amazing performance

errari’s Sebastian Vettel drove a masterful race to fend off Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas to win a nail-biting Bahrain Grand Prix.

Vettel hung on ahead of the charging Mercedes on the final lap to take his second win in two races this season and one of the best of his illustrious career.

In a dramatic, strategic and unpredictable race, a Ferrari mechanic was injured when he was run over

by Vettel’s team-mate Kimi Raikkonen at a pit stop.

Lewis Hamilton recovered to third place after starting ninth, including one stunning moment when he passed three cars in effectively one move early in the race.

Vettel now has a 17-point lead over Hamilton after two of 21 races this season.

Vettel’s amazing save Vettel whooped in delight after crossing the line, his glee at winning a race he arguably should have lost

clear.

“These tyres were done, done, in the last 10 laps,” Vettel told his team over the radio.

Bottas had closed five seconds in five laps and was right on Vettel’s tail as they entered the final lap - but a half-hearted move into the first corner was not enough and Vettel was able to hang on.

The German looked in total control of the race in the opening laps as he led away from pole position, after Bottas passed Raikkonen into the first corner.

But Mercedes employed clever thinking to force Ferrari into an agonising choice between hanging on with fading, fragile tyres or sacrificing the lead for a stop for fresher rubber and attacking.

Mercedes appeared to be readying to pit Bottas, but changed their minds when Vettel made his pit stop ahead of them on lap 18, with 39 to go, the Ferrari fit-

ting soft tyres.

Bottas stayed out for two more laps and changed to mediums.

Ferrari were now under pressure, with Bottas clearly going to the end on those tyres, and in a quandary.

They chose to stay out, going for track position rather than risk any aggression, and it paid off thanks to Vettel’s ability to manage the tyres while also keeping a strong pace.

As the strategies played out, Mercedes initially assumed Vettel would pit and were telling Hamilton, now in third place after Raikkonen’s problem, that the German would come out behind him.

Radio exchanges became fraught as Mercedes and Hamilton discussed the scenarios with a crackling signal.

In the end, Hamilton’s pace became moot as Vettel hung on to set up what promises to be a great season.

sports

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21

GCA/New York Tri State 50-Over U-19

Beaton, Torrington, Nedd flatten MSC

N

kosie Beaton’s vicious ton flattened Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) by a mammoth 213 runs, as Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) were crowned champions of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/New York Tri State 50-Over U-19 Tournament.

In a one-sided affair played Sunday, the eventual champs playing at home, brutalized the MSC bowlers as they racked up a massive 363 all out in 46.5 overs, thanks mainly to Beaton’s majestic 120 off 110 balls with 17 eye-catching fours and three sixes.

West Indies youth pacer Qumar Torrington continues to flex his all-round abilities as he punched a 54ball 93, sadly missing out on a well-deserved ton but not before hammering six fours and eight huge sixes, while

Ashmead Nedd

West Indies U19 spinner Ashmead Nedd showed his class with the bat during his knock of 62.

Medium-pacer Ntini Permaul was the pick of the MSC bowlers with 4-59 while Jeremiah Scott, Malteenoes top-scorer with 59, earlier grabbed 2-49.

MSC’s batting outing was a complete disaster as they were kept to an even 150 in 32 over with just some fire from the half-centurion Scott and meagre resistance from Tuen Hick who hit five boundaries in his 43.

Windies U19 off-spinner Sagar Hertheramani was again the tormentor with figures of 4-19 while Nedd duly supported with 3-28 and Beaton, the hero of the match capping things off by claiming 2-17 from his handy off-spin.

Earlier, it was Beaton who shouldered the responsibility of aiding his team’s quest for a huge total, after he looked well to score his fifty off 70 balls. He upped the ante however, The centurion and Nedd then teamed up to further frustrate the MSC bowlers as they weighed in with record lower-order partnership, sharing 122 for

the 7th wicket.

After Nedd departed, Torrington then came to the middle and imposed himself as he shared a record 8th wicket157-run partnership with Beaton.

Torrington’s fifty was brisk as he reached his milestone in just 30 balls as his p a r t n e r notched up his three figure score off 110 deliveries.

Qumar Torrington

Debutant Eagles taste victory T

he fifth Edition of the Guyana Armature Basketball Federation Road to Mecca V Club Championship 2018 got off to an excited start on Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Mecca V promises to be a very competitive one as victories went

to for defending champion Colts, debutants Eagles, Royals and Ravens.

In the opening match, Eagles defeated Kobras 63-51, then Colts trounced Bulls 99-50, Royals sank Nets 78-61 while in the feature game, Ravens defeated Guardians 65-57.

Action in MECCA V entered its second day on Sunday will see the tournament progress on Wednesday April 11.

The 12 teams will battle for the coveted title and winner’s purse of $600,000 while second takes home $400,000 and third $200,000.

“Guinness Greatest of the Streets”

Uprising claim East Coast title

G

uinness of the Streets brought the curtain down on its East Coast leg with Uprising being led by Les Charles Critchlow in the Championship final, beating Paradise A 3-0.

Charles scored a “Guinness Goal” which is equal to two; in the 18th minute as Paradise went down without scoring. Quincy Semple sank the opener in the 6th to cap things off for Uprising.

Uprising took home the $400,000 top prize and East Coast title while the runners up claimed $150, 000.

In the third place playoff Melanie B needled Buxton Diamond to cart off with the third place prize of $100,000 while Buxton settled for $75,000.

Meanwhile, the Plate final saw Belfield Warriors ease past Mahaica to claim the $50,000 top prize. Akeem Holder led the way with a 20th minute Guinness Goal while Keyron Johnson chipped in with a 5th minute goal.

Part of the sizzling action on the final night of the East Coast leg of the Guinness Greatest of the Streets

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, APRIL 9, 2018

BV/Triumph 8th of May Movement

NSC donates floodlights, balls fully embraced while building this community. Latecia Stuart mentioned, that the Beterverwagting/Triumph 8th of May Movement has an elaborate vision for the implementation of development programmes in the areas of education, sports, culture and skills training.

She highlighted that a part of this programme includes the proposed establishment of a major multi-sports complex, a heritage park for the preservation of the communities’ tangible and intangible culture and a community skills training centre. She also used the forum to reaf-

D

Chairperson Latecia Stuart and members of 8th of May Movement received the floodlights from Director of Sport Christopher Jones

irector of Sport, Mr. Christopher Jones on Saturday donated floodlights and soccer balls on behalf of the National Sports Commission (NSC), to the BV/Triumph 8th of May Movement. The presentation ceremony took place at the Beterverwagting Community Centre ground, on Republic Drive situated between the East Coast highway and Railway Embankment.

Jones asserted that the NSC is pleased to make this contribution at this time to the BV/Triumph 8th of May Movement, as the committee hosts its Annual Village Anniversary Celebrations.

The Director, who appeared impressed with the initiative undertaken by

the 8th of May Movement, stated that he had earlier pledged his commitment to execute enhancement works to the Beterverwagting Community Centre ground.

While these works were not executed in 2017 as planned, the NSC is honored to fulfill its promise as it relates to the “Light It Up Campaign.” He stated that the BV Community Centre ground is the very first ground country-wide to benefit from the “Light It Up Campaign.” He further indicated that the NSC trusts that this valuable donation will help to encourage more effective utilization of the ground by residents.

Chairperson of the 8th of May Movement, Latecia Stuart took the opportunity

to thank the NSC on behalf of the residents of the communities of Beterverwagting and Triumph. She noted that the contribution will indeed aid in the successful execution of the activities planned to commemorate the village anniversary.

Stuart also indicated that the donation will help in advancing the community’s quest to revitalize sports as an avenue to reducing the social ills currently faced by the community.

Further, she noted that in keeping with the Movement’s intention to promote community development, this anniversary celebration will be used as a catalyst to continue the spirit of cooperation and togetherness which their village ancestors success-

firm the Movement’s dedication to working with the residents of the community, the National Sports Commission, the Regional Democratic Council, the Neighborhood Democratic Council and all other relevant entities in the development process of BV/ Triumph.

Stuart concluded by once again, thanking the National Sports Commission for signaling its interest in the Movement’s vision and hope for the community of BV/Triumph. She also indicated that the 8th of May Movement hopes that this marks the begin-

ning of a progressive and enduring partnership to empower Beterverwagting and Triumph as pilot communities for the implementation of sustainable people-centered development programmes geared at improving the wellbeing of all persons regardless of age, gender, socio-economic status, etc. The Movement re-emphasized its commitment and eagerness to collaborate with all stakeholders in chartering the communities’ course towards continued advancement.

Regal to the rescue Saheed Mohamed (centre) and Anthony Khan (2nd from right) receive the covers from staff of Regal Stationery and Computer Centre and Regal Sport (from left) Mario Allicock, Russel Jagbeer and Romesh Boodhoo (Freelancer photo)

L

ocal businesses, Regal Stationery and Computer Supplies and Regal Sport has injected new life into two city cricket clubs with projects that will last for years to come.

Through Managing Director, Mahendra Hardyal the business chain donated three heavy duty covers to

tion, I hope we don't hear these excuses again."

Each of the three covers measure 33x43 feet and together will comfortably cover the centre square and should minimize seepage once used properly at the club's Camp road and Carifesta avenue location.

However, Hardyal only

ground including the trench in preparation for the erection of the new fence.

Hardyal said, "For too long the fence has been down. We (Regal teams) use the facilities and we want to do so in a safe and comfortable environment also, it's an eye sore to the area. So we will fix it and hope it's

Staff of Regal and members of GNIC during the clean-up on Saturday on Woolford Avenue (Freelancer photo)

the Everest Cricket Club on Friday and has begun repairs to the perimeter fence at the GNIC Sports Club ground on Saturday.

Hardyal who is a sports enthusiast said "It has been too long that we have been going to Everest only to hear matches are called off or delayed because of inadequate covers. So with this dona-

has one request to go with the donation, "I hope every club member play their part in ensuring that the covers are taken care of properly and that they are used for the intended purpose."

Meanwhile, over on Woolford avanue members of the GNIC Sports Club joined staff of Regal stores to clear the eastern part of the

maintained."

Hardyal who is the owner of the Regal Masters and Regal All Stars teams noted that after the fence, the next project will be the installation of floodlights at GNIC. The successful businessman stated that "Night time sports including cricket is the future so we are working towards that."

monDAY, APRIL 9, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

23

Corona Futsal Tournament

A

nother action-packed evening engrossed the capacity crowd that filled the National Gymnasium on Saturday to witness the semi-finals of the Corona Futsal Tournament. At the end of the all absorbing display of talent, Bent Street and Sparta Boss secured their spot in what fans call a “dream final” on Saturday.

Both cliff-hangers needed extra time to determine a winner with Bent Street

Bounty Paper Towels Second Division Leagues

The top two teams remain and will go headto-head on Saturday for the title

edging Leopold Street 6-5.

Ryan Hackett gave the title favourites the lead in the 7th minute and teammates Kelsey Benjamin (8th) and Pernell Schultz (10th) making it merrier.

Leopold found some fight and hit back with Omari

Williams scoring his of three goals in the 14th followed by another five minutes later and the third in the Eon Alleyne joined with goals in 18th and 24th. But Job Caesar (23rd & 25th) and then Andrew Murray Jr (28th) took the match out of

the opposition’s grasp.

In the other match, defending champions Sparta pipped Alpha Warriors 5-4 led by a Jeremey Garrett hat-trick (10th, 18th, 28th) after earlier goals from Jermin Junior (1st) and Gregory Richardson (8th). Daniel Favourite (9th & 23rd), Sheldon Holder (9th) and Vurlon Mills (14th) kept Sparta on their feet.

All attention will turn to who will win the purse of $600,000 and the championship trophy. The collaboration with NAMILCO Wheat Gem sees Second to fourth being rewarded $300,000, $150,000 and $75,000 along with the corresponding accolades.

Meanwhile, Philip Erminstine was the lucky fan who won one of the Hero Motorcycles. The other will be given to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the final.

Hussain maintains lead in race to LGC Club title The Sequel’s Alan Fernandes on counterattack being challenged by Omar Hopkinson

O

ld Fort pulled off the first upset victory of the competition in their opener on Saturday against defending champs the Sequel. The pace of the youthful Old Fort gave the aging Sequel no end of trouble in the first half of the match which resulted in Old Fort scoring four unanswered goals.

Young striker Warren Williams scored the opener for Old Fort just two minutes in, as a long pass beat the Sequel deep defence and gifted Williams an easy one on one with goalkeeper Dwayne Scott. Old Fort’s most prolific midfielder, junior national Omar Hopkinson added a second six minutes later en route to a first half hattrick with two more goals in the 15th and 16th minutes.

With the Sequel facing a 0-4 deficit at

the half, Scott opted to remove his goalkeeping gear and play as a kicking back.

The tactic proved to be on the

money as the Sequel turned the game on its head by denying any further goals while producing two of their own. It was overlapping right back, Damon Woodroffe, who opened the GCC account with a well-placed strike to the far post three minutes into the second half and striker Devin Hooper added a second 9 minutes later.

While the Sequel certainly had their chances, Jason Clarke in deep defence for Old Fort put in a sterling performance to thwart several raids on goal. The 4-2 victory immediately sets eyes on Old Fort as the team to beat in this year’s competition.

In the other men’s second division clash, Saints u19s pulled off a surprise 1-0 victory over the Hikers Cadets with midfielder Edmund Chinian scoring the lone goal of the match just before halftime.

The youthful Saints side were relentless in pursuit of the ball and despite Hikers being the more experienced side, they found it difficult to make meaningful attacks.

Hikers Cadet defender Tivesard Garnett tries to escape from Saints goal scorer Edmund Chinian

L

Winners pose outside the Clubhouse with the Captain. From left: Captain Chen Deo, Joaan Deo, Patrick Prashad and Club President Aleem Hussain

usignan Golf Club (LGC) President Aleem Hussain maintained his grip on the competition, emerging victorious in the 4th Club Tournament played last Saturday.

The President, who continues to up his form with every tournament, added another win under his belt

for 2018. Hussain endured some stiff competition from Guyana Open female champion Joaan Deo and former Captain Patrick Prashad among others.

Best Gross went to Hussain (65/12), while Nearest to the Pin went to Deo. Best Net and 3rd place went to Patrick Prashad

(70/8) while 2nd place as well as the Best Net awards went to Deo (66/19).

Others who endured a good time on the Greens this past weekend, were 4th place Parmanand ‘Max’ Persaud (74/12), 5th place Mike Mangal (75/8) and 6th place Rabindranath ‘Pandit Ravi’ Persaud (75/18).

monDAY, APRIL 9, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 21

Guinness "Greatest of the Streets"

Uprising claim East Coast title East Coast’s Greatest of the Streets, Uprising, the new champions

Corona Futsal Tournament

Thrilling semi-finals leave Bent St & Sparta standing Pg 23

GCA/New York Tri State 50-Over U-19

Beaton, Torrington, Nedd flatten MSC Pg 21

Debutant

Eagles Philip Erminstine collects his new Hero Motorcycle from Petra Organisation’s Jacklyn Boodie on Saturday evening at the National Gymnasium

Pg 21

taste victory

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