Guyana Times, 18 August 2017

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, August 18, 2017

Issue No. 3305

PRICE

CPL gives boost to economy

WHAT'S INSIDE:

City hotels report high occupancy, increased bookings ─ from influx of cricketers, officials, fans, tourists

$80 vat included

Page 5

Guyana very prominent right now on global oil map P9 – expert says country can expect better oil deal next round

Alcoholic burns self in house after fight with P5 wife

Cricket fans came out in their numbers on Thursday night, where they watched an engrossing match on a challenging pitch at the Providence National Stadium in Match 15 of the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League. The Jamaica Tallawahs edged home against the Guyana Amazon Warriors in a thrilling final over (see back for story/photos)

No progress in gender equality in Guyana – UK diplomat bemoans Police promotions fiasco

President’s directive to PSC challenged in court Page 2

P8 Bartica miner shot

by Soesdyke businessman during scuffle

Sacked CANU head could P4 be rehired – Ramjattan

Page 3

Mother of 5 found dead, reputed husband implicated Page 7

UK expert to look P16 into prison reform

2 News

friDAY, august 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police promotions fiasco

Constitutionality of President’s directive to PSC challenged in court

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legal challenge has been mounted in the High Court challenging the constitutionality of President David Granger’s decision to request the Police Service Commission (PSC) delay the promotion of several senior officers of the Guyana Police Force.

The legal proceedings were filed by Rajendra R Jaigobin against the PSC. Jaigobin said he has a vested interest in ensuring that Guyana’s Constitution is not violated and that it is his national duty to ensure that those representatives who, and the democratic organs which, exercise the sovereignty of Guyana on his behalf act in due compliance with the said Constitution in the discharge of their public functions and constitutional duties.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has warned Government against any attempt to subvert constitutionally mandated commissions in wake of the alleged dispatch of a letter by President Granger to the PSC, directing a certain course of action on promotions.

The Party has dubbed this move vulgar and an authoritarian attempt by the President to trample upon the independence and functional autonomy

President David Granger

of a constitutional agency. “The President and his Government continue, on a daily basis, to violate the rule of law, assault important democratic institutions, and breach in the most egregious fashion the Constitution.”

The Opposition pointed out that Article 226(1) of the Constitution states: “In the exercise of its functions under the Constitution, a Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority”.

According to the party, the PSC is one of the Commissions to which Article 226 (1) makes reference. The Party noted that by these directions,

“it is clear that President Granger demonstrates absolute disrespect and disregard for the letter and spirit of the Constitution, and therefore continues to contravene its provisions with impunity.”

PPP/C Shadow Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall recently wrote Minister of State Joseph Harmon requesting that he withdraw the directive to the PSC or he will be moving to the court.

President Granger has made it clear that his Government has no intention of trampling on the constitutional rights of the PSC, but wants that whatever is done presents a positive image of the Police Force.

He said his office has received a number of complaints from aggrieved senior Police Officers and has asked that those claims be investigated.

“There have been some doubts and we are investigating the complaints that have been made to us and we have asked the PSC simply to delay so that we can answer those queries”. He said as soon as those questions are answered, “we will proceed.”

TURN TO PAGE 11

3 No progress in gender equality in Guyana – UK diplomat bemoans news

friDAY, august 18, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

Friday, August 18 – a night time retraction at 01:00h and a day retraction at 14:30h-16:00h and Saturday, August 19 – a night time retraction at 02:30h and a day retraction at 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

By Vahnu Manikchand

Friday, August 18 – 13:55h-15:25h and Saturday, August 19 – 14:55h-16:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, with clear skies expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from East South-easterly to Southeasterly and easterly between 2.23 metres to 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 01:08h and 13:53h reaching maximum heights of 2.41 metres and 2.36 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 07:18h and 19:44h reaching minimum heights of 0.71 metre and 0.86 metre respectively.

wednesDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS K

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FREE TICKET

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 08 15 19 23 25 LUCKY 3 2 9 7 Afternoon Draw

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DRAW DE LINE

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… says population lacks will to effect change

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

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ritish High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregory Quinn, has stated that there is an obvious lack of will in the fight against gender inequality amongst the Guyana population.

The British envoy made this blunt assessment on Thursday at a press conference held at his Bel Air Gardens, Georgetown, residence. He pointed out frankly that during his two plus years stint here, there has been “no progress in achieving gender equality in Guyana”.

“The reason for that is not a lack of will on the part of the Government but the reason is a lack of will on the part of the population, and the lack of will on the part of the people in the country to address the fundamental issues which exist,” the British High Commissioner declared.

According to the UK diplomat, there are far too many men and women in the country who believe that practices in the past are still acceptable today such as women being treated as second class citizens, husbands hitting their wives/ girlfriends or child. “…that is something which I think should bring shame to every man and woman who thinks that is acceptable so it is up to the population and the people to actually stand up against something which is fundamentally wrong on so many levels,” he posited.

The UK envoy outlined that while treating everybody equally is obviously the right thing, it is beneficial economically. “You can’t develop a country if 50 per cent of the population find themselves in a subservient position,” he contended.

The David Granger-led coalition Administration has been vocal about the fight against gender inequality,

as well as women and child rights matters. In fact, back in August 2015, the Head of State revealed a five-point plan to promote opportunities for women during the inaugural ‘National Conference on the Gender and Development Policy.’

Moreover, at this year’s International Women’s Day observance, President Granger implored the population to change their attitude towards gender equality. He had pointed out that while Guyana has made strides in terms of women empowerment, more efforts need to be undertaken to move the process much further, and much faster, in order to dismantle the structural impediments to gender equality so that Guyana can fulfil its commitment under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 5, which is to achieve “gender equality and empower all women and girls.”

“We have to change our attitude to gender equality… We can move much further by removing the barriers to gender equality by ensuring that geographic, occupational, political and racial differences are diminished. We can do so by empowering women by ensuring that our communities, committees, commissions and our councils at all levels are more representative. We can do so by providing more opportunities for women’s employment by developing small and micro industries in villages and communities and by encouraging corporations to promote qualified women to executive positions,” the President had stated back in March.

He had also assured that Guyana will honour its commitment to empower women and educate and protect girls, particularly in four key areas: empowerment, education, employment and gender equality.

According to the latest

British High Commissioner, Gregory Quinn

World Bank statistics on international levels of employment, the ratio of female to male labour force participation in 2013 showed that women globally are less likely than men to participate in the labour market, that is, less likely to be employed or actively looking for work.

The World Bank explained that “female par-

ticipation in employment is high and the gender gap low in many low-income countries where women are engaged in unpaid subsistence agriculture, although they are less involved in paid activities outside the household.

Women also tend to be active in high-income countries, where over two-thirds of the female adult population participate in the labour market and the gender gap in labour force participation rates is less than 15 per cent on average.”

The study placed Guyana at the 154th spot, which showed the country’s ratio increasing from 48.2 per cent in 2003 to 52.9 per cent in 2013. It was noted that while the figure is still lower than the average of 68.4 per cent for Latin American and Caribbean (developed) countries, it shows that Guyana is moving in the right direction.

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friDAY, august 18, 2017

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

Repercussions of violence in society

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n a case where relatives considered that the death of a loved one was the result of battery, but which neighbours and the suspect claimed was a case of an unfortunate incident, made credible by the post-mortem results, which indicated that death was from a heart attack, the jury is out on that one, because the injuries on the woman’s body were in no way compatible with the fall the abusive spouse said she hand, and a violent attack could very well have precipitated the heart attack from which she died.

However, with tragic regularity, cases of outright murder following years of spousal abuse surface almost as an everyday occurrence and, sadly, the situation seems to have become such an endemic phenomenon in the society that each instance of a life taken in violence seems to be quickly forgotten.

And who takes cognisance that the lives squandered were precious to their loved ones – children, parents, siblings, friends, et al? Children are often the victims and the aftermath oftentimes produces delinquents – which is an evolutionary cycle of violence and problem-prone relationships.

Many times young men are accosted by members of the security services, sometimes ensuing in violent confrontations, and oftentimes it turns out that the young men in question were perpetrators of violent crimes, sometimes leading to the demise of their victims, yet their family members encourage their criminal forays because these ventures often provide the families of the perpetrators with unimaginable riches.

There are many overnight millionaires living in this society, whose ill-gotten riches were obtained from someone else’s hard work, and if they have to kill their victims in the process, then so be it.

But when they are caught, many persons in the society become very vocal in their defence – until they themselves become victims to these predators.

In the nation’s schools, violent behaviour is escalating, and most often decent children bear the brunt. But the real tragedy is that this behaviour is a duplication of attitudes and actions witnessed in home environments.

Many females in society, including many teenage girls, have so little self-esteem that they allow themselves to be treated with great disrespect by their male counterparts, which can escalate into myriad problems, including teenage pregnancy and the contraction of sexually transmitted diseases.

Moral degeneracy has become so entrenched in the society that persons who refuse to participate in lewd and abominable conduct and conversation are seen as abnormal and not part of the team.

Unless communities begin to address these problems holistically, with everyone, especially the educational and religious authorities, as well as village elders and other authoritative figures playing an integral role in child development and the wellbeing of members of their communities, this scourge will perpetuate itself until persons and communities self-destruct.

Those who practice the standards of yesteryear are being mocked at today, but those standards were once the trademark of the Guyanese psyche.

The products of this system were decent, well-behaved law-abiding adults, who believed in the basic principles of honour, respect for their fellow humans, and compassion for the less fortunate in society.

The system practiced then in homes, schools and in entire communities involved training in decorum, deportment, and good manners, with the requisite and necessary inputs to achieving equitable intellectual, social and physical development. These behaviours and characteristic tendencies, as afore-mentioned, started from the home, and were strategically supported by a strong network involving the educational system and the community.

This was just part of the enthusiastic crowd that turned up to the National Stadium on Thursday to witness their the exciting match between the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Jamaica Tallawahs

Sacked CANU head could be rehired – Ramjattan

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ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said he could employ former Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) James Singh within his Ministry.

Singh was sent on immediate leave in March of this year and was later fired by Government in June.

Asked about the fate of the former anti-narcotics agency’s head, Ramjattan said Singh has a vast scope of experience and expertise that should not go to waste.

“I will make a decision in relation to rehiring him,

depending on the vacancies at the Ministry or in other units that come under Public Security.

But he comes with a tremendous amount of experience and expertise and I would like to have him rehired in some quarters in my portfolio function of Minister of Public Security,” Ramjattan said.

Singh who was appointed to head CANU in 2008, has qualifications in public security, business and engineering. On March 1, Government had announced that Singh had proceeded on

Former head of CANU, James Singh

leave due to the days he had accumulated.

At the time, Minister Ramjattan had also informed this newspaper that there was a deputy at CANU who would help retired Major General Michael Atherly in the administration of the Unit in the absence of Singh.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon had said that the decision was in line with Government’s policy of ensuring that officers did not accumulate annual leave and in turn request pay in lieu.

Region 9 residents disappointed with incomplete capital projects Dear Editor, Kindly permit me a space in your newspaper to bring to the attention of the general public an issue of four capital projects that were approved in 2016 by the National Assembly of Guyana for the enhancement and delivery of education in Region Nine, all of which yet remain incomplete, despite final payments having been awarded to the contractor. The projects were rolled over to 2017.

Editor, as aforementioned, in late 2016 four capital projects were awarded to a coastland contractor. These projects are the construction of Tabatinga Nursery School in the Municipality of Lethem, Baishaidrun Nursery School in Deep South Rupununi, Pipang Nursery School in South

Pakaraimas and Teachers Five Apartment Living Quarters in Sand Creek in South Central Rupununi.

Each project was costed at approximately G$18M. It is pellucid and public knowledge that the awarded contractor had sub-contracted these capital projects. The stipulated month of completion of the projects was May, 2017. Checks and follow-ups were made by the Public Works Standing Committee of the Regional Democratic Council of Region Nine as the work on these projects progressed.

It has been revealed that the awarded contractor had received final payments for the said projects, pending 10% retention, yet all four capital projects remain incomplete.

Editor, the opening of their new nursery schools and teachers’ quarters, respectively, in the new school academic year in September, 2017 was highly anticipated by parents, teachers and pupils and the collective disappointment is indescribable.

I call on the subject minister and relevant authorities, since they have promised transparency and accountability on public spending, to intervene forthwith in this matter so that the nursery schools and teachers’ quarters are completed at the earliest for its beneficiaries.

Editor, of major note, and immense concern, is the fact that the Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs and fourth Vice-President recently visited Sand Creek village but chose to turn a blind

eye on the incomplete and stalled teachers five-apartment construction. The people of Region Nine have seen and noted that government ministers frequently visit, lecture and make pronouncements, with none addressing needs and concerns, or finding solutions to existing problems of the villagers; but they instead choose to make glowing remarks in self-praise of the “Good life” the people now enjoy.

However, some persons may be enjoying ‘the good life’, but at the level of the communities, it is a different reality.

Regards, Alister Charlie Member of Parliament Region Nine

friDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

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News

CPL gives boost to economy

City hotels report high occupancy, increased bookings ─ from influx of cricketers, officials, fans, tourists

By Shemuel Fanfair

T

he Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket tournament could be described as “a gift that keeps on giving”.

Several hotels across the country -- both large and smaller establishments -have run out of space to accommodate the influx of overseas guests, and this is a sure indication that the local economy is slated to receive an additional boost from increased arrivals.

Guyana Times understands that accommodation establishments are booked out for this weekend as the Guyana Amazon Warriors take on their rivals in a set of exhilarating Twenty-20

confidently anticipating their home team would triumph over all opposition.

Reliable information reaching this publication details that well-known establishments like the Ramada Princess Hotel, Duke Lodge and Regency Suites Hotel are fully booked at least up to Monday. While the Regency was said to not have any extra accommodation for the next 6 days, the Guyana Marriott Hotel reportedly still has rooms available; but the general consensus is that increases were recorded.

The nexus has been drawn that these increases fall in line with the current stretch of CPL games which conclude this Tuesday. The six teams contesting this year’s

The Ramada Princess Hotel is fully booked for the next few days

The Roraima Duke Lodge Hotel, Kingston

cricket matches. And the fans of those rival teams have descended on Guyana to root for their teams, even as thousands of Guyanese will be in the thick of things,

tournament are the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, Trinbago Knight Riders, Barbados Tridents, St Lucia Stars, and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

The Regency Suites in Georgetown

As reported, the CPL games have added significantly to the Guyanese economy over the years. In 2016, some US$17 million were added to the local economy as direct and spin-off effects from CPL. This net sum had

been calculated by assessing the influx of tourists to the country, hotel bookings, vending during the games, and the overall spending of persons during this period.

Guyana Times has also noted that, last year, ap-

dicated that the event generated US$102 million across all seven host venues.

St Kitts was last year’s biggest recipient, with US$22.7 million (EC$61.2 million) injected into its economy; while Barbados recorded an economic boost of nearly US$16 million (Bds$32 million). The Barbados Tourist Board’s shirt sponsorship deal with the Tridents franchise had managed to generate US$7.7 million in media value – representing a 128 per cent increase over the 2015 numbers.

Trinidad and Tobago had also benefited to the tune of some US$14 million (TT$93.6 million) from the CPL, although total visitor spending had declined to US$2.9 million, some 25 per cent less than the 2015 figure.

The Guyana Marriott HotelSt in Georgetown Lucia, which

proximately US$90 million were poured into the entire Caribbean region as a result of the CPL tournaments.

United Kingdom-based research firm SMG Insight/ YouGov had carried a study on the tournament which in-

witnessed the St Lucia Zouks reaching the playoffs for the first time, saw US$10.8 million flowing into its economy, with visitor spending and media value also rising significantly over last year’s figures.

Alcoholic burns self in house after fight with wife

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isnauth Baldeo Ram of Lot 37 Section ‘A’ Cotton Tree Village, WCB reportedly turned the family’s single-storey wooden structure, measuring 20ft by 18ft, into a pyre in which he perished following hours of dispute with his wife on Thursday.

This publication was told that resulting from this dispute, Ram’s wife had earlier departed the home, claiming she was going to the city to stay with a relative; and neighbours had last seen the 52-year-old Ram standing in front of his gate on Thursday at about 10:45h, when he was overheard saying that he had had enough of his wife walking out of the house, and was going to burn the house and kill himself in the process.

The aftermath of the deadly Thursday afternoon fire at Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice

Smoke reportedly began emanating from the front of Ram’s house at about 11:00h, but by the time the Fire Service arrived on scene some 30 minutes later, the entire building was engulfed. A fire unit from GuySuCo’s Blairmont Estate first responded, and then the Onverwagt Fire

Station sent a unit.

And when the fire was extinguished, Ram’s charred remains were found among the debris. He reportedly had been unemployed, and was said to have been an alcoholic.

According to a source from the New Amsterdam Fire Service, Ram had

locked the door and had placed a table to prevent anyone from entering the building in the initial stages of the fire.

Ram’s body is currently at the Fort Wellington Hospital Mortuary, awaiting a post mortem. (Andrew Carmichael)

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Dinner: 30 minutes to a more connected family

BY DR LAURA MARKHAM

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xtraordinary moments often masquerade as ordinary life. So look around the pandemonium and remind yourself to be grateful for every minute you get to spend with your children as they grow. These years pass more quickly than we can imagine, and when children look back, these are the memories that will define family for them.

Why do families need rituals?

What's a ritual? It's a routine with meaning. Children love ritual. Repetition, the comfort of belonging, the sense of wonder, magic, and celebration – all create a bonding experience that nurtures both children and parents. Rituals hold families together.

Why do we need rituals? It's primal. They help us move emotionally from one place to another; they ease pain, acknowledge growth, and create connection.

Most parents discover early on that daily rituals like bedtime stories and goodbye hugs make separations easier and provide security. Traditions like taking a picture on the first day of school and carving pumpkins together at Halloween help children integrate the changes of the year.

Rituals like building a sukkah together and Christmas Eve Mass communicate religious meaning in a visceral way. In our secular culture, many parents who don't relate to organised religion develop traditions such as Thanksgiving gratitude practices to transmit their values.

Studies show that happy families not only have treasured traditions, they constantly evolve new ones that help them find their way through the inevitable changes of growing up. But don't worry if you aren't consciously "creating" traditions. Your family is naturally developing them, from Sunday morning pancakes to bedtime blessings. The way you celebrate birthdays or mark anniversa-

ries, the way you say goodbye to each other every morning or shop for fall clothes each school year; anything repeated is a tradition, the stuff of which memories are made. You don't need anything fancy, just love. What creates a tradition is revisiting it year after year, updating as your child gets older.

In a secular culture, many parents who don't relate to organised religion find that rituals and traditions give the sense of meaning and anchoring they seek. All rituals reinforce values and create connection.

It's a cliche that children grow up too fast, though it sure doesn't seem like it on those long days when you just can't wait to get them to bed. But when your children look back, these are the memories that will define family for them. One way to insure that warm moments outweigh hard ones is to build traditions and rituals into your family life.

The idea of starting a family tradition sounds overwhelming."

Don't worry, your family already has its own traditions, from Sunday morning pancakes to observing holidays in a certain way. The way you celebrate birthdays, mark the passing of pet or observe a special day, the way you say goodbye to

each other every morning or shop for fall clothes each school year; all are the stuff of which memories are made.

Ok, but how do I create traditions that nurture family connected-ness?

Creating new traditions that work for your family is a simple matter. Try something new, and if you like it, repeat it. Then begin to talk about it and look forward to it with the whole family.

Eventually, that tradition will take on a life of its own and will become a sustaining part of your family's culture.

"And what about rituals? Are they different?"

We might think of rituals as a tradition carried out in a more sacred way, usually the same way every time. Singing the Chanuka blessings or saying Grace before meals are obvious examples, but so are singing Happy Birthday and blowing out candles. It may not seem that "Sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite!" is sacred, but all repetitious chants are essentially prayers, satisfying a primal human need. Children love rituals and gain a sense of safety from them.

"Are rituals easy to create?"

You don't need to do anything fancy. Most rituals use either the lighting of candles or the repetition of a phrase or song as an invocation, or a beginning.

Sometimes that's all there is to them, as in the case of a particular goodbye saying. Other rituals, like going around the table at Thanksgiving to say what we're thankful for, have "content." And virtually all have a closing, signalling that sacred space is over and we return to daily life, as when the birthday candles are blown out, or we say "Amen" at the end of a prayer. (Excerpted from Aha Parenting)

"Surrounded by the people who matter, gazing into the faces we love, we count our blessings and share our burdens, reliving the daily dramas of missed buses and skinned knees. We raise jelly glasses and champagne flutes, toasting accomplishments in classrooms and boardrooms.

The table is where we mark milestones, divulge dreams, bury hatchets, make deals, give thanks, plan vacations, and tell jokes. It’s also where children learn the lessons that families teach: manners, cooperation, communication, self-control, values. Following directions.

Sitting still.

Taking turns. It’s where we make up and make merry. It’s where we live, between bites."

– Doris Christopher

Y

dinner as a family on a regular basis, it's worth re-examining why, given how important it is.

What's a regular basis?

The research shows that the more meals together, the better, meaning that two is much better than none, and four is much better than two.

Obviously, it's ideal if both parents – when they live together – can have dinner with their children every night.

But we don't live in an ideal world, and by definition no human is an ideal parent. So we do what we can, which can often mean one parent holding down the fort at many weeknight dinners. That gives Friday, Saturday and Sunday a celebratory tone as everyone sits down to savour the meal together.

ou’ve probably heard that having dinner together as a family is a good thing for your children, but you may not realise that it could change your child’s life. Dinner is the best predictor we have of how children will do in adolescence. The

"I eat with the children every night, but my husband can't get home till later. Does that matter?"

Sometimes that's the best a family can do during the week, and you make it work.

But it becomes all the more important that the whole family have time together on the

more frequently children eat dinner with their families, the better they do in school, and the less likely they are to get involved with drugs or alcohol, suffer depression, consider suicide, or become sexually active during high school.

Why? Maybe because families who eat together talk more, which helps them stay connected and build better relationships. * Maybe because parents who show up to eat with their children are more likely to express their love constructively in other ways, too, in the form of both attention and supervision. * Maybe because families who offer children more structure are more likely to keep children attending to their homework as well as out of trouble. * Maybe because dinner transforms individual family members into a "group," which gives parents more clout to rival the power of the peer group. * Or maybe because children, even more than the rest of us, need something to count on every day, the tangible security of belonging and being nurtured that is represented by the ritual of sharing food with those we love.

Whatever the reason, dinner is a pretty easy insurance policy to build into your home life. If you’re too busy to have

weekend. There’s something magical for building family identity when all members of a household share meals together, at least some of the time.

What about children's sports schedules that keep them away at dinner?

Once a week of dinners on the run is inconsequential, but if conflicting schedules mean your family can't sit down at least a few times during the week for dinner, it's worth some creative thinking. Can the schedule be changed so that you all eat earlier or later? Can a child switch to after-school rather than evening activities? Can you all at least gather together for fruit and tea before bedtime so that you get some family time that evening?

We eat together, but we eat in front of the TV. Does that count?

Does it make you feel more connected to your family? Not as much as a conversation, I suspect, so the short answer is No. It's challenging to make dinner fun and relaxing when everyone is pressured and tired, so it can be a lot easier to turn on the TV at the end of a long day than to interact with your children. But eating in front of the TV builds your relationship with the screen, not with each other.

(Aha Parenting)

TO BE CONTINUED

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friDAY, August 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mother of 5 found dead, reputed husband implicated the UG road.

“By time I left here to go on the scene, it was nothing; no bike, I didn’t see he, I didn’t see she. But I left to come home back and after we reach was made to understand she was at the hospital.”

The close acquaintance went on to say, “When we left and go to the hospital, the doctor tell me that there is nothing they could’ve done; before she reach the hospital she done dead already.”

Meanwhile, this publication understands that the reputed husband of the now dead woman had fled the scene of the accident and was only discovered after he showed up at the hospital on Thursday morning.

By Ashraf Dabie

T

he reputed husband of a mother of five was taken into Police custody following the death of the woman whose body was found on the East Coast of Demerara on Wednesday evening with numerous injuries about her body.

The dead woman has been identified as 38-yearold Janice Edwards, of lot 121, C Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, while her lover was named as King Gerrad.

According to reports reaching Guyana Time, the mother of five and her reputed husband were on Wednesday evening proceeding along the UG Access Road, on motorcycle CJ 1830, when the light of an oncoming vehicle forced the man to swerve further, resulting in the motorcycle collided with a pile of mud.

As a result of the impact, Edwards was flung off the cycle and sustained severe injuries about her body.

The woman was picked up with multiple injuries and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

This publication on Thursday visited the residence of the couple, during which her mother-in-law, Ann Garnette, relayed her

The now dead woman Janice Edwards and her reputed husband, King Gerrad

understanding of Edwards’ demise.

Outlining a partially conflicting report from that which was published by the Guyana Police Force, Garnette noted that, “Right through of UG road full of hard mud, and he going and I just hear a message that a car hit he, hit the back of the bike and pitch he off and the two of them lying down on the road.”

The mother-in-law further relayed, “Some pickup (vehicle) then rush she

to the hospital cause like he (husband) halla for help.”

Continuing on the accident, a family friend of the couple who identified himself as “Buck”, indicated that he was informed of the incident shortly after the duo had left home, early Wednesday evening.

Moreover, Buck pointed out what took place after he had rushed to the scene, but indicated that there were no signs of the reputed husband, King Gerrad, when he arrived at scene on

This was after Police had ransacked the house of the couple, in search of the then missing man.

However, the family members are refuting all claims that foul play was involved.

“Because he move off from the scene, people got it looking like it’s a murder but I don’t want people feel it’s a murder,” one close relative declared.

The relative justified his statement by positing, “I just assuming based on what people told me and how I go and see the scene that after the accident, he attend to her and realise it was no life so he just panic and he move off the scene.”

With that, the relatives of the couple held out that the two had no ongoing dis-

putes and are known to resolve their disputes in a civil manner.

Of the five children mothered by Edwards, the duo shared five-year-old twins, while the remaining three were prior to their relationship.

The couple had been residing at their Sophia home for about 9 years, at which they operate a vending establishment.

Despite the family’s efforts to erase any thought of murder, Gerrad has been implicated in the death of his longstanding lover and mother of his children.

As such he was taken into Police custody where he remains as investigations into the matter continue.

8 news

friDAY, august 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

“Handicapped” Berbice man jailed for 6 pounds ganja in suitcase Not just a game…

By Paula Gomes

M

ark Anthony Tim, a “partially handicapped” man (as described by his Lawyer), of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice made his second court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday, where he was remanded to prison for trafficking in over six pounds of cannabis, almost a month after he was charged for uttering false information to the Police.

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan read the allegation to the effect that the accused that on July 24, 2017, at Evans Street in Charlestown, Georgetown, in possession of 2870 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The defendant who was represented by Attorney-atlaw, Jed Vasconcellos, denied the allegation and opted to enter into a not guilty

Accused: Mark Anthony

plea while his lawyer in a lengthy application for bail, stressing on his client’s physical defect, no knowledge and non-possession of the alleged illicit substance, as grounds for his submission to the court.

Vasconcellos further added that the defendant was involved in an accident on July 22, 2017, and was

arrested by Police in relation to the traffic offence.

According to defence counsel, his client was kept in Police custody for an excessive period of time (exceeding 72 hours) and was taken before the courts on July 27 where he was charged for uttering false information, some five days after his arrest.

The man was reportedly re-arrested despite being granted $50,000 bail by the court, three weeks ago, and was released on July 31, 2017. The lawyer requested bail in the above circumstances and considering the fact that his client had at all times cooperated with Police during the course of the investigation.

Moreover, the court heard that the defendant poses no risk of flight, as he is not the owner of any travel document (passport).

Contrary to Defence counsel’s version of the incident, Police Prosecutor

Arvin Moore, attested that the narcotics was found in a suitcase in the motor car involved in the said accident, which was driven by the defendant.

According to Police facts, the accused attempted to “conceal the suitcase” post-accident by taking it out of the car. His efforts were aborted by a nearby Cop who summoned backup and conducted searches on the accused and the travel luggage, unearthing the narcotics in his presence.

The Prosecutor posed a strong objection to bail on the grounds that no special reasons were advanced by the defence; also emphasising on the high possibility of flight the accused poses, who may evade trial in the event that he is released on bail.

The court heard that the analyst’s report is yet outstanding and the matter stands adjourned to September 8, 2017, in these circumstances.

Patentia man denies threatening to kill neighbour

– tells court, “I curse, but I never threatened to kill he!”

N

andkishore Singh of Patentia, West Bank Demerara was on Thursday arraigned before Wales Magistrate Rushell Liverpool on an allegation that, on August 8, 2017 at Patentia, WBD, he threatened to kill his neighbour,

Rajendra Rajkumar, and used a series of expletives at him.

Police allege that the 56-year-old defendant threatened to kill the virtual complainant, and swore at him using a series of “F” and “S” expletives.

Nandkishore admitted that he did swear, but stressed that he did not threaten to kill Rajkumar.

He said he was under the influence of alcohol when the incident was committed. “I curse, but I never threatened to kill he!” the defen-

dant told the court.

This explanation caused Nandkishore’s initial guilty plea to be changed into a notguilty plea, and the magistrate placed him on $10,000 bail. His next court appearance is slated for October 26, for trial.

Bartica miner shot by Soesdyke businessman during scuffle

A

Bartica miner is currently hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), nursing a gunshot wound to his abdomen after he was shot during a scuffle with a Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara businessman.

The incident occurred sometime around 14:15h on Thursday. The injured man has been identified as Anthony Rogers, 26, of Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Based on reports received, businessman Lloyd Thomas,

the owner of Blue Mountain Night Spot at Grant Sand Road, Soesdyke, is claiming that he had just returned home and exited his vehicle to open the gate so that he could drive his vehicle into the yard, when an armed man confronted him.

Thomas told investigators that after he exited the car, a white 212 motor car with two female occupants pulled up and Rogers disembarked and confronted him.

At the time, the miner allegedly had a firearm in his pants waist and told the businessman, "is you I come for" as he withdrew the weapon.

He reportedly then grabbed Thomas’ gold chain, valued some $620,000, from his neck resulting in a scuffle between the two.

The businessman further claimed that during the process of trying to disarm his alleged attacker, the firearm went off and Rogers was hit in the left region of his abdomen.

On the contrary, however, Rogers’ fiancé told investigators that they had gone to Kuru Kururu to return his son to the child’s mother when the woman choked and stabbed her in the left arm.

She added that Rogers went

to her rescue and pulled his child’s mother out of the car before driving off to his cousin’s home at Grant Road, Soesdyke. Denise Ceres, the cousin, joined them as they headed to the hospital.

However, on their way, they saw Thomas’ car parked on the road blocking their path.

Rogers reportedly exited the car to confront Thomas and they started arguing. The fiancé further claimed that a fight ensued during which Thomas pulled out a firearm from his pants waist which was wrapped in a black cloth and dealt Anthony a lash to his head before firing a shot at him.

The woman claimed that she rushed to Rogers and saw blood oozing from a wound to his abdomen. With the assistance of public spirited persons, the injured man was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre then transferred to the GPHC, where he was admitted as a patient.

Investigators have since found one spent shell and two live rounds at the entrance of Thomas’ gate and lodged same at the Timehri Police Station.

Several persons have since been questioned as investigations continue.

B

…it’s T-20 Cricket!!

y the time you (dear readers) read this, the first game of the Hero CPL 2017 season in Guyana would’ve been played already. You would have known whether the Warriors won or lost. But let me state here and now that this Eyewitness is convinced the Warriors will emerge victorious!! He’s putting his reputation on the line! But he has to admit that, like it is with cricket fanatics, his convictions aren’t all based on rationality or logic.

Now, it might be the same with fans of all sports, but your Eyewitness wouldn’t know. All he knows is cricket, and, over the last decade, T-20 Cricket. To paraphrase the doyen of Caribbean writers (not just CRICKET writers!), CLR James, your Eyewitness asks, “What do they know of T-20 cricket who only T-20 cricket know?”

While James wrote about Test Cricket, giving us then colonial West Indians a powerful weapon in our struggle for independence from Britain; on the cricket field, we showed THEM who was man!!

Times have changed. The world has become a much more frenetic place in the last half-century.

For one, all the colonies in the West Indies are independent, and are being pushed to higher levels of achievement by different forces.

If Test Cricket allowed us to show our worth as “a people”, T-20 in general -- and CPL T-20 in particular -- has allowed us to show our worth as individuals, both off and on the field. Look at it from the perspective of the players in Test Cricket. The WICB just stepped into the shoes of the departed British administrators, who didn’t think players like Worrel and other “coloureds” were fit to captain an international cricketing team!

Have you followed the tone and actions of the present WICB Board chairman towards West Indian players? “Boy, you better doff your cap and look at the ground when you speak to me!!” Well T-20 gave those players the opportunity to tell the WICB where to get off with that kind of attitude!

Don’t get your Eyewitness wrong…the independence of the players to be given their dignity as human beings still has a way to go; but after the removal of the ban from Bravo, we know where this will end, don’t we?

So your Eyewitness returns to his prediction -- that his Warriors will win the game against the Tallawahs. As he said before, there is no analysis and logic about that prediction; just his knowledge that the cliché “cricket is a game of glorious uncertainty” has, like all clichés, more than a grain of truth.

And that truth is: “faith can move mountains”!!

…it’s people’s lives!

This inability of the authorities to stem the flow of contraband into Lot 12 Camp Street is getting more serious by the minute. Last year it led to the death of 17 prisoners; last month to the torching of the wooden buildings built back in the 19th century, and the escape of four convicted murderers - one being involved in the mass murders at Lusignan (13 dead, including kids) and Bartica (15 dead).

We won’t even mention the Lusignan PRISON fiasco. Cause now, with only 85 prisoners from the original 1000+ hosted at Camp St returned to the single concrete structure at Camp St, all sorts of contraband -- including improvised weapons and phones -- have again been unearthed.

Now, it doesn’t need a rocket scientist to conclude (3 CoIs have already so concluded!) that something is rotten at the core of our prison system.

Will it take an armed assault by the army -- like just happened in Venezuela -- to retake our main prison?

…destruction of lungs

In early June, Minister Patterson promised to “fix”-- the very next day -- the East Canje Public Road. Seems all he did was drop off “crusher run”, which has now turned to dust that’s invading the people’s lungs.

Ah, what a tangled web….!

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

News

9

friDAY, august 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana very prominent right now on global oil map – expert says country can expect better oil deal next round

By Samuel Sukhnandan

A

Caribbean expert in the oil and gas industry believes Guyana has the opportunity to get a better deal when finalising a contract for the second oil find, and will stand a greater advantage given the global name it has made for itself, due to the hold-massive oil discoveries made here.

While there are many concerns regarding the Government’s reluctance in releasing the contract signed between them and US oil giant ExxonMobil, the Trinidadian oil and gas expert said the time has come for everyone to stop dwelling on the past and focus on the opportunities that lies ahead.

Baldeosingh, a former Chairman of the Petroleum

While Guyana will be receiving a two per cent royalty on gross earnings and 50 per cent of the profits of the oil proceeds when production begins, some people feel that is not enough.

He said there are several options that are available to Guyana to change the contract, but he feels given that the first contract has already been inked; doing that could

He said while it may be good to use this money to assist with the development of infrastructure and telecommunication, if the money is not appropriately spent, Guyana could experience the same issues as Trinidad and Tobago.

“There is not always going to be a feast, but there are famines too. So, Guyana needs to set up a regulatory framework and a good step in that direction of course is a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF). But that’s not all, setting it up is fine, but you need to ensure that it is properly managed,” he added.

Making reference to the Trinidad experience, the former Petrotrin Chairman highlighted to guests at the lecture that Guyana needs to look carefully at the negative effects oil had on

that small island economy.

Baldeosingh said that even though Trinidad has a SWF, the money in that fund could hardly manage to offset the current and capital expenses that that country has over a long period.

Even though Guyana is expected to become a firsttime oil producer by 2020, he said that Government must ensure that competent people are placed in key positions to make proper decisions, so that the country would be able to withstand gaps and fluctuation in the international price for oil. This is an important factor, especially since oil and gas will play a major role in the local economy.

Baldeosingh also spoke about the opportunities that will be available to, or should be made avail-

T&T oil and gas expert, Donald Baldeosingh

able to Guyanese. While a number of Guyanese and Guyanese businesses will directly benefit from jobs and business partnerships through this new sector, he said Government should also demand that more Guyanese continues to be trained to take over the sector and more jobs made available to them.

An attendee of the lecture directing questions at the Trinidadian oil expert in an attempt to get a clearer understanding of how much Guyana could benefit from this new sector

Donald Baldeosingh who delivered a lecture on oil and gas, using the Caribbean context at the Nations University on Wednesday evening, said there are a lot more opportunities to be garnered from the recent oil discoveries and other potential discoveries both onshore and offshore Guyana.

“Guyana is very prominent on the world oil map right at this moment. There is a lot of hype and a lot of interest. So, Guyana would be in a better position to negotiate another contract now in another block based on what is going on and what is happening in this phase,” he said.

Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (Petrotrin) and the current President of the ENMAN Group said that Guyanese need to be patient because information regarding how much Guyana gets and spends from its oil revenues will be made public.

He said, “They will be able to do their own arithmetic to figure out what that means in relation to production of the oil. I also feel as more and more Guyanese go up the learning curve, understanding the contracts, there will be less and less unease about how they are currently structured.”

only lead to uncertainty in the future with other companies. Baldeosingh warned the Government not to pursue this matter.

“I think we just have to accept that this is what is happening,” he said, while asserting that Guyana accepted a deal based on limited experience.

Discipline

Another important factor that Baldeosingh spoke about is the fact that the Government of the day needs to exercise a high level of discipline, when dealing with the oil revenues.

Former petroleum company of T&T (Petrotrin) Chairman, Donald Baldeosingh, responding to a query from Guyana Times’ Associate Editor, Mark Ramotar, following his lecture on oil and gas at Nations University on Wednesday

10 news

fridAY, august 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Success woman succumbs days after struck down by Cop

…allegedly speeding Constable arrested

By Ashraf Dabie

F

ifty-eight-year-old Pulmattie Ramotar of Lot 290 Sixth Street Success, East Coast Demerara, run over by a speeding car as she attempted to cross the village public road on her way to the Mon Repos Market two days ago, succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

The domestic worker and mother of three had been listed in critical condition, and had, for approximately two days, been under observation at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Police investigations reveal that at about 08:00hrs on the morning in question, motor car PVV 8233 was proceeding east along the northern carriageway of the Success Public Road when

Dead: Pulmattie Ramotar

the pedestrian attempted to make her way over the roadway (from south to north) and ran into the path of the vehicle, which was said to be speeding. She was flung into the air, and landed a short distance from the point of impact, where she remained unconscious until removed

from the scene.

When this publication visited the residence of the late Pulmattie Ramotar, family members relayed their understanding of what had transpired. Bhagmattie Edwaroo, also known as Janeo, the late Pulmattie’s sister, relayed that based on eyewitness reports, “She already done cross (the roadway), but after (the driver) coming with the speed, he couldn’t stop and do nothing; he had to hit she. She almost at the corner already when he hit she and pitch she, and she fall on the ground and she left right there.”

Edwaroo detailed that doctors attached to the GPHC had indicated that her sister’s injuries were not life threatening, and had requested her transferral to the Female Surgical Ward, but Pulmattie had remained unconscious all the while.

Edwaroo highlighted that during her visit to the hospital yesterday morning, she was sadly informed of her sister’s demise; this even after previous inquiries in regard to her sister’s condition had been greeted with positive responses.

The grieving Edwaroo explained: “It very hard! Very hard for me now! Like I can’t take it!” The late Pulmattie Ramotar is survived by her three children and two remaining siblings.

This newspaper understands that the driver of the allegedly speeding car is a serving constable of the Guyana Police Force. A breathalyzer test administered to this policeman after the accident had found no trace of alcohol in his breath.

He, however, was placed under close arrest, pending the outcome of the investigations.

Pulmattie Ramotar and her three children

Parking meter saga

Final report recommends contract be cancelled – among options

B

oth Georgetown Mayor, Patricia Chase Green, and the majority of City Councillors have, on Thursday afternoon,

agreed to have the parking meter discussions differed until August 25, 2017.

However, in the recommendations compiled by the Parking Meter

Return or no return? That is the question

Negotiation Committee headed by Councillor Malcom Ferreira, it was suggested that Council could discontinue the metered parking system with Smart City Solutions (SCS).

Other recommendations included continuing

the metered parking system in accordance with the laws relating to a legal and transparent process, as outlined in the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01; and to continue the metered parking system independently, or await the outcome of pend-

ing court proceedings on the subject matter.

Mayor Chase Green thinks the deferral will allow members of the public to become acquainted with reported recommendations. She explained that the final report would be placed in the public domain, including at the National Library and at City Hall, to facilitate persons wishing to peruse its contents.

Chase Green further noted that, on August 25, stakeholders and other members of the public would be welcome to submit to the Mayor and City Council their suggestions and opinions on the report, for a thorough discussion.

Further discussions on the topic would continue during a statutory meeting on August 28, where a vote on the matter is expected to be taken.

Ferreira engaged the council, the media and

some members of the public on his verbal presentation of the anticipated parking meter report.

It was revealed that numerous concerns were raised by members of the public regarding the Parking Meter contract between the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and contractor, Smart City Solutions. It was explained that many persons disputed the legality of the contract on the grounds that it is illegal and contravenes various sections of the law.

“It was the candid view of some stakeholders that the council did not operate within the confines of the law,” the report said.

Other concerns included the transparency of the process; whether due diligence was observed – especially since the Council’s Legal Advisor had indicated that he was not part of the initial process of the formation of the contract; the termination clause; the dispute resolution/jurisdiction, since the contract in its present state calls for arbitration to be conducted in a foreign court; the seize-andsell clause; harsh penalties, and booting.

Other concerns with the contract include rates for residential parking; rates for commercial parking; group rates for taxis and minibuses; the revenue split of 80:20 per cent ratio, with SCS holding majority; duration of the contract; tax concessions; monopoly on parking; and location of meters. turn to page 15

S RAIGHT What has Govt done to diversify the production profile of Guyana?

I

f one were to read the Granger Manifesto from 2015, one would see that he declared, on Page 13 of that book of promises, that the “APNU+AFC will institute a macroeconomic policy framework that promotes externally- and internallybalanced outcomes, along with a more diversified economic structure, so as to ensure economic stability.”

Actually, Team Granger wrote a whole chapter devoted to “Production Transformation and Economic Diversification”; but if one were to check the records, not one of these transformative initiatives has been incubated after Team Granger has been 26 months in office. The 2017 Mid-Year Report produced by the Ministry of Finance confirms this statement of fact when it acknowledged that Guyana still has a “relatively undiversified production profile”.

Such a situation begs the question: What on earth was Team Granger doing over the last 26 months -- jetting off to Texas while Guyana sinks in blackouts?

The evidence is there to illustrate that Team Granger’s members offered themselves various sizes of personal salary increases, including 50% increases for certain categories of ministers; but they had no money to pay the displaced sugar workers at Wales a small severance package. They also squandered in excess of Gy$15 billion over 20 horrible deals over these past 26 months; but they had no money to pay policemen, nurses and teachers a proper increase, to take them closer to a living wage.

One must not forget the showpiece of the looting machine, the Durban Park Parade Ground (now dubbed Granger Park), where some Gy$600 million were leaked deliberately from that Gy$1.3 billion Ponzi scheme. But when you thought these people had a cap on their financial recklessness, you can find even more evidence -- in the budgets presented by Minister Jordan -- that more than a billion dollars were spent on their personal executive travels overseas, and on funding their personal perks, like the Gy$500,000 sweetheart rental for special ministers over these past 26 months.

So while this ‘Gang of 8’ in the PNC-led Granger regime is taking care of itself in Cadillac style, its members have failed resoundingly to do their job. The outcome is that they have made very little progress in diversifying the economy.

But there are consequences for such policy paralysis.

In June 2017, the balance of payment (BoP) of the entire nation worsened from a surplus of US$12.1 million in the first half of 2016 to a deficit of US$46.1 million. Let me be absolutely clear: the BoP is a statement that summarizes the economic transactions that Guyana does with the rest of the world over a given period. So, moving from a surplus to a deficit clearly means that the world is drawing from our foreign reserves in the first half of 2017; thus the deficit. Guess what would be the impact on the nation’s international reserves in 2017?

Depletion!

If it were not for a US$30.9 million increase in rice exports in the first half of 2017, compared to the first half of 2016, the foreign reserves would have been less than US$550 million in June 2017, which would have been the worst stock of foreign currency in a decade. Yet President Granger referred to the problems faced by the rice farmers in October 2015 -- at his one and only press conference -- as a “private arrangement”. But it is these same private people, in their private arrangements, with a little help from the Granger Administration, who are now baling out this failing Government and saving the entire public sector, and by extension the nation as a whole.

This experience clearly indicates that President Granger has much to learn on how to manage the Guyanese nation, as he floats along in his clueless condition.

A major contributor to the weakening of the nation’s financial condition was the material decline in gold exports.

Declared gold exports declined by US$33.3 million in the first half of 2017, compared to the first half of 2016. That is a significant number; so significant that it almost equals all the foreign sales from the forestry sector. The foreign reserves are diving, and are not set to recover this year, because of poor gold, bauxite and sugar exports projected for 2017. There goes the exchange rate again!

Many to whom I have spoken in the analyst community are amazed that the Granger Administration got so much so wrong so early. Their entire transformational framework is, in reality, a far cry from what they had written in their manifesto.

This disparity between their words and their actions again begs another question: What was their intention all along -getting power using empty promises on the campaign trail, accentuated with gross untruths?

But do not worry about a thing, because Granger is going to Please sharelife your thoughts at NOT! sasesin1@yahoo.com. bring the good to you.

I THINK

news

11

friDAY, august 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

CXC results expected online today, schools on Tuesday S

tudents who had sat the May/June Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations will today be able to access their grades, both online and through the recently launched mobile application “CXC Connect”.

The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has already released the official results to the Ministry of Education, but students seeking their physical results will have to wait until Tuesday, August 22, before they could uplift same from their respective schools.

Expected since Monday, July 14, there has been no indication as to what might have caused the delay in publicising the CXC results.

The CXC administrative body advised on Thursday that results for all May/June examinations would be released to candidates online at 10pm on Friday.

The CSEC results following the 2016 examinations had shown an overall pass rate of 64 per cent of students scoring between Grades One and Three. An analysis of the examinations had also shown that despite a decrease in the number of

persons writing the exams, there was an increase in the number of subjects being written by students.

During presentation of those results, it was noted that 55,130 males had written the exams, compared to 77,544 females.

However, there was a decline in the performance in Mathematics, when compared to the previous year.

Overall performance in Mathematics saw a 13 per cent decrease. Candidates recorded a 44 per cent pass rate in Mathematics this year, as opposed to 57 per cent in 2015.

Glenroy Cumberbatch, a Registrar at CXC in Barbados, noted that there has been a general decline in the Science subjects over the past two years. A decline in Information Technology was also recorded.

On the other hand, English Language saw an improvement from 60 per

cent in 2015 to 67 per cent in 2016.

Meanwhile, the performance in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) saw the region attaining a success rate of 90 per cent.

Guyana has been struggling to boost its students’ performances in Mathematics and English, and the country saw improved pass rates at the level of CXC and CAPE in 2015. This had prompted former Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine to register commendations to the students for their overall performance.

Constitutionality of President’s...

FROM PAGE 2

According to President Granger, with the complaints, there is evidence that injustices might have been done. “We just need time to have the complaints from aggrieved Police Officers thoroughly investigated,” he said.

He stressed that Government is not seeking to trample on the constitutional rights of the Police Commission, but noted that damage could be done by persons who are not “fit and proper “to make decisions and which can be injurious to public security. The Head of State said every effort should be made to prevent damage to the security infrastructure of the country and noted that while Government wants the

constitutional commission to function, the Administration is paying attention to the situation.

Last week, a letter dispatched to the PSC, instructed the body to put a hold on a list of promotion for senior Police Officers, a move that was readily criticised by the political Opposition.

The President’s decision was made at a time when the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been placed under the microscope during the Commission of Inquiry set up to probe allegations of a plot to assassinate him.

The case comes up for hearing before the Chief Justice on August 28.

12

friday, August 18, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

T

he stage is set and the delegates have arrived in the United States for the highly competitive Miss Universe Guyana Pageant, billed for the York College in Queens New York. The 15 delegates were part of several photo shoots leading up to the grand coronation on Saturday evening.

The delegates are Maria Singh, Vicario Rogers, A s h l e y Lofters, Altea Kelly, Rohana Carryl, Amanda Dass, Sharisse Victor, Oriane Welch, Rafieya Husain, Nalicia Ramdyal, Sarah Basdeo, Maria Rosheuvel, Melanie Boodhoo, Marva Mittelholzer and Alexandria Lofters.

While some are new to pageantry, a few are seasoned campaigners and all eyes will be on them, as they take with them a wealth of experience. Former Miss World Guyana, Rafieya Husain is one such delegate.

She was the first runner-up in the Miss Universe Guyana Pageant in 2016.

T

However, the delegates are ready to thrill the audience as they compete for the coveted title. This is the first time the local leg of the pageant is being hosted in the US and based on feedback, support has been overwhelming.

While the delegates will be prejudged in swim wear, talent, evening gown, fitness and intelligence; they will be once again judged on the night of the pageant. This year, the panel of judges is well exposed to pageantry.

In the list of judges is Miss Universe Antigua 2015, Shermain Jeremy and according to the franchise holder, Miss Universe Guyana 2017 Soyini Fraser will not be present to hand over the crown to her successor.

Also making an appearance at the pageant is Miss Universe 2016, Iris Mittenaere and other dignitaries. The pageant is set to commence at 19:00h but doors will be opened at 18:00h.

wenty-five-year-old Amaniah Cort was on Saturday evening last crowned Miss Emancipation 2017, when the Pageant was hosted at the National Cultural Centre.

Cort is a Sociologist who announced during her STEM Project interview that she was fortunate to have been given the opportunity to continue in the pageant after she discovered that she was pregnant.

She went on to explain that the she was grateful for the opportunity to promote STEM within her community of Kuru Kururu where she partnered with STEM Guyana.

Coming in as first runner-up was 18-year-old Scentell Alder who is pursuing a degree in Marketing at the Nation’s University, while Ayana Glasgow, 18, a CAPE student was the second runner-up.

Dr Melissa Varswyk, President of the Miss Emancipation committee emphasised that the objectives of the show is to promote African culture and STEM. She informed that delegates are not chosen based on common criteria for pageantry, but on their ability to fulfil the show’s objectives.

The pageant which came to an end just before the stroke of mid-night, started with an introduction segment of spoken words on the theme for the Decade for People of African Descent.

This was followed by the African business wear seg-

ment, STEM Project presentation and African evening gown segments. The question and answer segment stemmed from lectures given by Dr Ng-A-Qui of the Cuffy 250 committee.

The judges for the show were Dr Dawn Stewart, Dr David Hinds, Nicole Ng-A-Qui, Shammane Joseph-Jackson and Robert Forrester.

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, August 18, 2017

13

on this Saturday at the NCC O

Carolyn Legall

n Saturday, August 19, the National Cultural Centre will be a buzz of activitiy as the 8th annual Miss Renaissance Pageant is hosted in grandeur. This year, 12 contestants will be vying for the title and bragging rights for the next year.

Those who will take to the stage on Saturday are Jennifer Lall, Teona Greene-Eririogu, Marcia Edwards, Carolyn Legall, Bevon Austin, Aletta Alleyne, Deon Jewel Smith, Stacy Carmichael, Odessa De Barros, Viola Jillian Moore, Nokola David and Tessa Eileen Fernandes.

The pageant serves as a catalyst to re-educate the public about their inner beauty, creativity, cultural awareness and accomplishments of matured Guyanese women 30 years and older. Women are leaders, pinnacles in politics, at the forefront for equal rights, mothers and wives and it is behind this backdrop that the Miss Guyana Renaissance Pageant came into being.

It is used to give woman the opportunity to celebrate Guyana cultural diversity, intelligence, beauty and style. The pageant is set for 20:00h and will see the delegates displaying various outfits, as well as compete in the highly anticipated intelligence segment.

Jillian Moore

Bevon Austin

Stacy Carmichael

Nokolo Aresa David

Tessa Fernandes

Deon Smith

Jennifer Lall - Shiwbalak

Marcia Edwards

Oletta Alleyne

Odessa De Barros

for PC on Saturday evening

T

he ‘biggest party in sport’ in finally here, with four exciting matches at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara over the weekend and culminate on Tuesday.

The games started last evening and will continue on Saturday with the Guyana Amazon Warrior (GAW) taking on the Trinbago Knight Riders at 12:00h.

Then on Sunday, the GAW will play the Barbados Tridents also at 18:00h and the final match is set for Tuesday, with the home side coming up against the St Lucia Stars at 18:00h.

However, after the games there will definitely be the after parties at the various night clubs. One of such party is titled, “Return of the Champion” at Guyana’s Premier Party Spot, Palm Court, Main Street, Georgetown on Saturday, August 19.

The much anticipated concept party will feature Tribago’s Captain, Dwayne J Bravo, who is known not just for his vocal anilities but also his excellent dance moves and his ability to work a console.

This party is expected to be “jammed” with cricketers, as several regional teams are her for the Hero Caribbean Premier League. Apart from the live performance by DJ Bravo, DJ Ana out of the twin island republic will be heating up the dance floor and keeping patrons entertained. In addition, Guyana’s own Gully Ras out of Fusion Family as well as Selector Diamond and the Boom deejays will be in the house. Admission to the event is $3000 at the gate and $2000 in advance. Gates open at 20:00h. The event is promoted by V-Net and sponsored by HJ Entertainment, Bank DIH Limited, Winsor Estates and others.

Jumo

Denise Belfon

I

Allison Hinds

Ravi B

Destra Garcia

n less than a week, Guyanese will experience one of the biggest shows to be held on local shores, featuring a combination of chutney and soca artistes.

It is the first time in the history of Guyana that more than 20 chutney and soca artistes will take the stage at the National Park tarmac on Wednesday, August 23, and this phenomenon is expected to be epic.

The show is the brainchild of Trinidad and Tobago’s soca sensation, Destra Garcia – a show that is being held the Wednesday before Carnival in the Twin Island Republic and has received overwhelming reviews.

Performing at the event are reigning Chutney Monarch, ; former International Chutney Monarch KI; The queen of bacchanal, Destra Garcia; Nadia Batson; Kerry John; Orlando Octane; Barbados soca queen, Allison Hinds; Denise Blefon; Freezie; Falty; Swappy and others.

In the local line-up are Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo; Temika Marshall; Michelle “Big Red” King; Kwasi “Ace” Edmondson; Shelly G and other top Guyana artistes. Tickets for the event can be won during various promotions by GTT and Stag.

However, days leading up the event a small amount of tickets will be available at a cost of $3000 each and will only be available at That Look Boutique, Exclusive Styles, Nigel’s Supermarket and Church’s Chicken outlets.

Temika Marshall

KI

Orlando Octane

Big Red Swappy

Nadia Batson

Shelly G

Kwasi “Ace”

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friDAY, august 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

UG launches Social Work Masters programme

Students, officials and media personnel at the launch of the Social Work Master’s programme at the University of Guyana

T

he Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Guyana (UG) -- in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection (MSP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and York University (YU) -- has launched a Master’s in Social Work programme at the Turkeyen Campus in Demerara.

Launched on Wednesday, August 16, the master’s programme will enable 26 social work graduates to further their studies and obtain a second-cycle master’s degree representing a high-order overview of a specific field of study.

The Ministry of Social Protection will sponsor eight of the 26 students participating in the one-year programme.

“The importance of Social Work cannot be underestimated,” remarked Mohan Ramrattan, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Protection. “It operates as the boundary interface between people and their social, cultural and physical environment, and is part of the template that moulds right from wrong and protects our people through institutive, administrative and other measures.”

According to the Department of Public Information, Ramrattan explained that support for the programme would create a larger social worker populace, and by extension “guarantee the prevention of social dysfunction and the protection of our vulnerable and groups at risk.”

This is in keeping with the MSP’s mandate “to contribute to economic and social development by maintaining a stable industrial relations climate, formulating policies, and providing integrated employment, training, social and welfare services”.

Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Guyana, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, quoted the poet Rabindranauth Tagore in declaring, “You cannot cross any sea simply by standing and staring at the water”.

He did this as a reminder to the students and groups involved that, although the journey may be long, they should not surrender, for they are fighting for a greater cause.

He also reminded the Social Workers to always be

respectful, and pursue excellence.

Monica Miller, Head of the Sociology Department, recalled that the journey to having such a programme began some four years ago.

“This is only the beginning.

We will strive to have a PhD programme,” she posited.

Barbara Heron, coordinator from York University, noted that the level of organisation and support from all parties involved was overwhelming. Heron and six other professors will be lecturing in the Master’s programme over the coming months.

Deputy Representative of UNICEF, Paolo Marchi, congratulated the University on this milestone, and urged the students of the programme to be committed.

He also commended them for their desire to want to develop Guyana.

Last year, the Ministry of Social Protection hosted a conference for social

Barbara Heron, the Coordinator from York University, giving her remarks

work administrators, practitioners and educators to explore thematic issues within the realm of their professional practice, and facilitated the exchange of ideas among them.

Resulting from that conference, there is now a working draft of the Guyana National Standard for Social Work, a document contain-

Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Protection, Mohan Ramrattan, delivering the feature address

ing research material and a list of registered social work professionals.

Ramrattan reiterated that the Ministry of Social Protection remains committed to collaborating with organisations in support of social work, and to working in every area that falls under its purview for the development of Guyana.

“Youths in Natural Resources” visits Aurora Gold Mines

The “Youths in Natural Resources” participants observing milling operations at the AGM

A

s part of their scheduled learning experience, 16 young men and women participating in the Ministry of Natural Resources’ apprenticeship programme dubbed “Youths in Natural Resources” were given an up-close look at mining when they toured the mining and milling operations of the Aurora Gold Mines (AGM) on Wednesday, after accordingly being briefed by staffers of the company.

Fatima Karim, an aspiring petroleum engineer, said the experience has left

her somewhat uncertain about which of the natural resources’ industries she should choose to work in.

“What this trip has done is that it has made me become more interested in the field of mining, and I’m thinking that maybe it has changed my career path,” Karim was quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information.

Karim explained that she would like to develop a form of technology that would make mining environmentally safe. More importantly, this visit has clar-

ified for her misconceptions in regard to the mining industry. “(Mining is) not a very environmentally dangerous (industry). They do their best to make sure that the environment is kept in the same (condition),” she opined.

The AGM is one of the sponsors of this Ministry of Natural Resources’ inaugural apprenticeship programme. “We were very enthusiastic about participating in that programme, primarily because one of our mandates from a CSR (corporate social responsibility) perspective is to make an onboarding of skills and interests in the industry,” Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Officer of AGM, Leon Roberts, said.

“Youths in Natural Resources” is a three-week programme designed to reverse the negativity associated with the extractive sector, while simultaneously stimulating interest among young people in the work of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The “Youths in Natural Resources” participants being briefed by AGM officials before touring the mines and mill

news

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friDAY, august 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Removal from farmlands

More West Berbice farmers await court’s decision

Gold miner remanded for pork-knocker’s alleged murder

…frustrations over reduced finances expressed

By Shemuel Fanfair

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est Coast Berbice farmers Phillip Johnson, Rupert Blackman and Rawle Miller – the first farmers to have mounted legal challenges against the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) cancelling State land leases granted them by President Donald Ramotar in 2014 and 2015 in the backlands of Seafield Village, West Coast Berbice – are pondering when a decision will be handed down in their matter.

Their anxieties in regard to this matter have been compounded by their leases being among those published in two schedules that detail the leases that have been cancelled; and they say they have been removed from the rice lands they had been occupying.

They note that six West Coast Berbice (WCB) farmers had mounted a successful legal challenge against the revocation of leases similarly granted them by former President Donald Ramotar for rice lands at Seafield and No 40 Village, and now retired Chief Justice Ian Chang had, in February 2016, quashed the cancellations in favour of those farmers.

However, those farmers had to again move to the courts, in April 2016, after President David Granger had cancelled the leases in March of that year.

A newspaper publication had stated: “Notice is hereby given that His Excellency, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, has cancelled all State land leases as described in the Schedules.”

The matters of these three farmers were be-

Some of the Region Five rice farmers with Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall

fore former acting Chief Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, whose service was earlier this year elevated to acting Chancellor of the Judiciary.

Guyana Times understands that counsels for both sides – Anil Nandlall, representing the three farmers, and lawyers from the Attorney General’s Chambers, representing the MMA/ADA – have already tendered submissions to former Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and it is now left for her to give a ruling in this prolonged matter.

One of these three farmers, Rawle Miller, confirmed to Guyana Times on Tuesday that he and the other rice farmers are anticipating the court’s decision.

“About a year now, [the judge] hasn’t given [us] any decision, and other farmers come after we and get their decision this month, and we still waiting,” he declared.

Miller disclosed that for the last crop he planted only two acres, whereas he would

have planted four acres if he still had access to the MMA lands which were repossessed. He explained that this has brought about financial challenges that have befallen him and his family.

“We struggling in terms of getting money. They take away the land, we are trying to survive with what we can get. My wife [said], ‘Whatsoever you get, you have to make use of it’,” Miller explained, even as he disclosed that the Miller family has no intention of giving up hope. “Two of meh grandchildren [ages three and four] living with me, and they depend on me. The little you get you have to make do (with),” he noted in a softer tone.

Miller stressed that the farmers are engaging their attorney to get word on when the matter will move forward.

According to court documents, this farmer is seeking $346,500 in special damages and continuing for every rice crop; while fellow rice farmer Johnson is ask-

Final report recommends... from page 10

Additionally, transfer of time on cards, impact on income, parking spaces for parking not in good condition, size of parking space, wages, exemptions, traffic congestion in city, car park issues, attitude of SCS staff, economic report, designated areas for schools/differently abled, distance of parking meters from spaces, placement of meters, and the fact that the main partner was a foreign company were also concerns.

According to the report, the Council can choose to continue the Metered Parking System with Smart City Solutions, but to move forward under that

option, the committee must be mandated to renegotiate on council’s behalf, so as to “address and resolve ALL of the points/findings listed in this report [concerns]”.

The parking meter project attracted much controversy when it was introduced to the nation in May 2016. However, it was officially rolled out in the latter part of January 2017, much to the dismay and disdain of many citizens.

Large protests followed, wherein hundreds of people from various cross-sections of society had gathered in front of City Hall for several weeks, calling for a rescinding of the parking meter contract.

Those sustained protests resulted in the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, ordering that the paid parking initiative be suspended and a committee be formed to have the contract revised.

The original Parking Meter contract, which has to date not been publicly released, has a duration of 20 years, upon expiry of which the council has the option to renew.

Furthermore, it obligates parkers to pay $200 per hour of parking.

Failure to do so would result in the respective vehicle being clamped, or possibly seized. (Ramona Luthi, Shemuel Fanfair)

ing for $692,500 and continuing for every rice crop, and Blackman is seeking $619,000 and continuing for every rice crop.

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, ruled on August 10 that the President’s revocation of leases for lands belonging to the other set of farmers – Brian George and Tiffany Hubbard; Vaughn Aaron; Joylyn, Gratien and Herman Nicholson, farmers who had moved to the High Court in May, 2017– was “unlawful, null & void”.

In her ruling, Chief Justice George determined that the leases constitute property under Article 142 of the Constitution, and the President’s revocation of those leases amounted to depriving the holders thereof of property without compensating them, as noted in Article 142 of the Constitution.

The Court further ordered that costs be paid to the six applicants in the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) each. Those costs have to be paid through the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Naresh Baldeo, aka “Black Boy”, being escorted to the court lockups by Police officers

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aresh Baldeo, also known as “Black Boy,” of the community of Yarrowkabra on the SoesdykeLinden Highway -- prime suspect in the recent alleged beating death of Mohabir Gangadeen of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, a miner in the Potaro Backdam (RegionEight) – was on Thursday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on the capital offence of murder, and was remanded until October 17, 2017.

The indictable charge, to which Baldeo was not required to plead, alleges that he murdered Gangadeen on August 13, 2017. According to Police reports, on the day in question, Gangadeen and Baldeo were involved in a drunken argument which quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, during which Gangadeen was badly beaten and subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

Deceased: Mohabir Gangadeen

Baldeo, a 35-year-old father of one, was represented

by Attorney Tiffany Jeffery, who related that her client is a first-offender with no previous or pending matters before the courts.

She also indicated that her client was injured during the altercation with the deceased, and requested that he receive medical attention for his injuries.

‘Baldeo’s case has been transferred before the Mahdia Magistrate in Region Eight.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, august 18, 2017

News

UK expert to look into Sleepin Hotel Guyana’s prison reform losing millions – owner threatens legal action over ‘false’ newspaper article

Prison reforms are to focus on overcrowding among other areas

UK Security Expert, Russell Combe

By Vahnu Manikchand

T

he security expert from the United Kingdom that is here assisting Government with its Security Sector Reform Programme (SSRP) will be looking into the local prison systems in the coming months.

This is according to Head of the British Mission in Guyana, Gregory Quinn. He told reporters during a press conference on Thursday that UK Security expert, Russell Combe, has completed and handed over his preliminary findings as it relates to the Security Sector Reform Programme to the Guyana Government in June.

However, that report focused on reforms within the local Police Force, Quinn noted.

To this end, he added that when Combe, who is currently on leave, returns, he will turn his attention to reforms within the prison system.

“His plan, when he came back, was actually to start working on the prison service and that predated

the events at Camp Street (Prison) so actually he had already intended to look into the Prison Service whenever he returns and of course that is being given some amount of increased importance after the events at Camp Street,” the British envoy stated.

According to the British High Commissioner, while he is not sure what areas the security expert will focus on in terms of prison reforms, he believes that work needs to be done with regards to the treatment of prisoners.

“One of the fundamental problems with the prison system is the fact that there are prisoners on remand there who have been on remand for longer than the prison sentence they would receive if they were convicted. But the Prison Service is sort of held hostage by other parts of the system so there is definitely a need to reform and to speed up some of the judicial processes,” he pointed out.

Quinn went on to add that work can be done on alternative sentencing. He said it does not have to automatically be custodial, adding that in the United Kingdom fines and probations are also used as forms of sentencing.

“So I think a lot of where we would come from would

be aimed at addressing an issue which exists on overcrowding. Also, if you have a prison like Camp Street, should you actually have high risks, highly dangerous prisoners in exactly the same location as remand prisoners? So I think there is work to be done on that as well,” he contended.

On this note, the British High Commissioner lauded Government’s plans to set up a state-of-the-art prison at Mazaruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Following the July 9, 2017, jailbreak and fire that flattened the Georgetown Prison, Government revealed plans to construct a new prison at Mazaruni – a project that will cost some $2 billion.

According to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, this project will streamline the local prison system as well as reduce the overpopulation.

Meanwhile, with regards to the preliminary assessment report on the SSRP, Quinn disclosed that Combe’s findings focuses on the processes and procedures across the Police Force. However, he noted that while the training was recommended for the Police, certain broad aspects will see other security sectors benefiting such as strategic

policies and maritime capability.

“I don’t think there is anything which (Combe) has found which has not been seen in any of the many reports which has actually been done. I think a lot of that stuff goes around, making sure the proper people are in the proper positions with the proper skills, that promotion is based on merit, that accommodation and Police stations are up to scratch, that processes for discipline exists, that Standing Orders exists,” the UK Diplomat stressed.

During a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron in September 2015, President David Granger had requested that the multimillion-dollar security sector reform programme be revived.

An analysis was subsequently done on the current state of the local security sector and contains an action plan going forward as well as how the UK Government can assist in executing the plan.

As part of the implementation phase, the UK Security Expert was recruited on a one-year programme to guide and advise the Guyanese Government on reforming the security sector.

Cummingsburg Accord review

AFC demands more meetings with APNU coalition partner in Govt

M

embers of the Alliance For Change (AFC) are calling for Government to hold more meetings with leaders of parties that make up the Coalition Administration.

The call was made by an eight-member body that is currently reviewing the Cummingsburg Accord.

The agreement between ‘A Partnership for National Unity’ (APNU) and the ‘Alliance For Change’ was signed in February 2015, weeks before national and regional elections were held in May 2015.

On Thursday, executive members of the AFC party, during a press conference, alluded to suggestions made by the review team

during the party’s National Executive Conference (NEC) on August 5. Among the issues raised is the need for the governing Administration to hold more meetings with its constituent parties.

“There was a review of the agreement where several suggestions were made, among them the need for better mechanism of interparty discussions and the introductions of boards at the regional level… There are suggestions on how cabinet should be reporting back to the various parties; that Government should hold more meetings with the Heads of the various parties”, AFC executive member David Patterson told journalists.

He said that follow-

ing an analytical report of the Cummingsburg Accord, done at the AFC’s National Executive Meeting, the party reaffirmed its commitment to the Coalition Administration and committed to the continuity of the “Accord”.

The review team had also identified several defects in the Cummingsburg Accord, and has been encouraged to continue looking over that document. Another report is expected at the next NEC Conference, Patterson said.

Concerns raised by the AFC are similar to those raised by the Working People’s Alliance, another member political unit within the APNU. Back in June, that party had raised eyebrows when it came

out publicly condemning Government for side-lining it, and for not meeting with members of the WPA -- which forms part of the APNU coalition. The outcry saw President David Granger expressing disapproval at making the issue a public spectacle.

The Working People’s Alliance had, in 2011, joined forces with the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the Guyana Action Party (GAP) and the Justice for All Party (JFAP), among others, to form A Partnership for National Unity coalition.

The APNU coalition met in July last, for the first time in two years. (Alexis Rodney)

Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall

T

he owner of Sleepin Hotel has threatened legal action against the publishers of the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper over an article which appeared in its Thursday, August 17, 2017 edition under the caption: “The Dutch Connection…

Sleepin Casino Surinamese partner was jailed for money laundering,” stating that the article is not only sensational but damaged the image of the company and its owner.

Attorney representing Clifton Bacchus, Anil Nandlall, said the majority shareholder of Sleepin Hotel claimed that the publication has and is likely to cost his client hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and possibly, financial ruination.

The Attorney has since urged the newspaper to issue a public apology to his client, “Giving same equal prominence which the offensive article enjoyed along with a retraction of the said article.

The same will certainly be of some mitigating effect in legal proceedings which shall ensue.”

More significantly, the offensive publications, according to the attorney, have significantly tarnished and irretrievably stained his client’s business, as an international hotel. As a result of this, the company may incur further financial damage. Already, cancellations of reservations have begun and are expected to continue, unabated.

“We must also inform you that the aforementioned publications may have also damaged our client’s prospects of being granted a casino licence for which an application has been made and is pending before the relevant authority,” he stated.

In a letter to the media, Nandlall, said the entire meaning, purport and intent of the article was to convey to the reader that Bacchus, his company and their operations are funded and financed from criminal proceeds, more specifically, drug trafficking, money laundering and forgery.

Zeroing in on the details of the article, Nandlall has said information published about his client, his company

Majority shareholder of Sleepin Hotel, Clifton Bacchus

and its operation being funded by Bhagwandath “Bidjay” Parmasar, whom the article describes as the owner of Yokohoma Trading Company, the parent company of Pasha Global Group, and one of the main players in the setup of the Clifton Bacchus owned Carnival Casino, is false.

Nandall in his missive also claimed that the Chronicle article maliciously and libelously refers to an alleged Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) probe involving his client, which clearly tried to create a nexus between Bacchus and Parmasar’s legal wrangle. This happened although Bacchus has already issued a public statement denying any knowledge of this alleged investigations

by SOCU. “In short, the clear intent of this article is to convey the clear and unequivocal impression that our client and his company are connected to, engaged in, associated with and funded by, illegal monies and proceeds of international crimes,” Nandlall further added. More so, the Attorney said that his client has never received funding from any “Bhagwandath ‘Bidjay’ Parmasar” or any “Yokohama Trading Company” as is alleged in the said article. “Our client’s financing are from Trust Company (Guyana Limited) and Scotia Bank (Guyana), Wide Grace Limited and Global Trading Company Limited.

Bhagwandath “Bidjay” Parmasar and Yokohama Trading Company are not directors or shareholders of any of the aforementioned companies,” the statement said.

Additionally, Nandlall said his client has a rental arrangement with Pasha Global Inc, a Guyanese company which is neither owned by nor connected to Bhagwandath “Bidjay” Parmasar.

“We are to further inform you, that the aforementioned damning and defamatory publications have damaged our client’s character and reputation. They have also caused him and his family immeasurable pain, suffering, trauma and public humiliation,” it added.

friDAY, August 18, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Van ploughs through crowd in Barcelona, killing at least 13 A

manhunt is underway for the driver of a van that mowed through crowds of tourists on Barcelona's most famous avenue on Thursday, killing at least 13 people in an attack that was claimed by Islamic State.

Authorities said the death toll could rise, with more than 100 people injured, some seriously.

Police said they arrested two men, a Moroccan and a man from Spain's north African enclave of Melilla, though neither was the driver. Witnesses said the driver fled on foot.

Also on Thursday, hours beforehand, a person was killed in an explosion in a house about 100 km (62 miles) southwest of Barcelona, in an incident linked to the attack, Police added.

17

Mossos d'Esquadra Police Officers attend injured people after a van crashed into pedestrians in Las Ramblas, downtown Barcelona, Spain, August 17, 2017

It was still not clear how many attackers had been involved. In another incident, Police shot dead a man who had driven a car

into a Police checkpoint in Barcelona, though they had no evidence that this, too, was connected with the van attack.

Witnesses said the white van zigzagged at high speed down Las Ramblas, a busy avenue thronged with tourists, knocking down pedestrians and leaving bodies strewn across the ground.

Islamic State's Amaq news agency said: "The perpetrators of the Barcelona attack are soldiers of the Islamic State and carried out the operation in response to calls for targeting coalition states" – a reference to a U.S.-led coalition against the Sunni militant group.

The claim could not immediately be verified. If the involvement of Islamist militants is confirmed, it would be the latest in a string of attacks in the past 13 months in which they have used vehicles to bring carnage to the streets of European cities. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Guatemala City hospital 'gang attack' leaves 7 dead

S

even people have been shot dead and twelve others injured in a hospital in the Guatemalan capital, Guatemala City.

Police suspect the attackers were members of the Mara Salvatrucha criminal gang who were trying to free one of their jailed leaders.

The leader had been taken under armed guard to Roosevelt Hospital for tests.

The gunmen opened fire outside the emergency department killing two guards, two hospital workers, a bystander and two children.

Another child is among those injured and in critical condition, the hospital's deputy director said. Five suspected gunmen were arrested at the scene but the gang leader they were trying to free managed to escape.

Anderson Daniel Cabrera Cifuentes, 29, was serving a

sentence for murder. He is believed to be the leader of a local Mara Salvatrucha cell.

The gang, which is also known as MS-13, operates across Central America and in the United States.

Confusion reigned at the hospital in the hours after the shooting.

Local media reported that a medical student had suffered a nervous breakdown after a bullet hit his rucksack and got lodged in his 500-page Clinical Anatomy text book.

The maternity ward was surrounded by at least 50 Police Officers after reports that one of the fugitive gunmen was hiding inside. Officers arrested a man but released him again after confirming he was visiting his wife who had just given birth to twins in the maternity ward. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Mass burial for Sierra Leone Venezuela prison mudslide victims Prison riots

'massacre' kills 37

… Haitians killed in Dominican Republic prison riot

A

t least 37 people have been killed in a prison riot in southern Venezuela, prosecutors say. Special Interior Ministry forces were sent in to regain control of the jail in Puerto Ayacucho, the capital of Amazonas state.

Witnesses reported hearing shots for several hours and the state governor Liborio Guarulla called it a "massacre". Prosecutors said 14 officials were wounded in the violence.

Two prison-monitoring groups, A Window to Freedom and the Venezuelan Prisons Observatory, said the 37 dead were all inmates.

The prison was holding 105 inmates at the time of the riot. Many Venezuelan prisons are understaffed and are in effect run by gangs of inmates.

Meanwhile, Four Haitians who were inmates at the notorious La Victoria prison here, died on Thursday during an early morning riot.

The Ministry of Justice reports that the incident occurred in a prison cell, but the details of what actually happened are not known. The four Haitians, up to Thursday afternoon, had not been identified.

The historically overcrowded La Victoria prison is also known as the “cemetery of living men”.

Meanwhile, the Director of Prisons Tomás Holguín, and the prosecutor of the province of Santo Domingo Olga Diná, have since visited the correctional facility.

An investigation has also been launched into the circumstances that led to the riot. (BBC News and Jamaica

Observer)

A

mass burial for about 300 people killed by a mudslide and flooding has taken place on the outskirts of the capital Freetown. President Ernest Bai Koroma attended a multi-faith memorial service at the burial site in the city of Waterloo.

Some 600 people are still thought to be missing while more than 400 people are known to have died.

About 3,000 people are homeless in what is being described as a humanitarian emergency. There is also growing concern about the risk to public health from water-borne diseases.

Mortuaries have been overwhelmed by the number of bodies they have received - more than 100 of them are children. Freetown's chief pathologist, Dr Simeon Owizz Koroma, said those buried were people who had been identified or whose bodies were badly decomposed.

Mr Koroma told the BBC that the number of bodies he had cer-

The graves were prepared at Waterloo, 30km from Freetown

tified was "approaching the 350 marker. But we're still expecting more coming, yes.... up to a month or two months, and I believe some are buried with the collapse of masonry, buildings".

The mass grave in Waterloo is known as the Ebola cemetery after the 2014 disease outbreak, which killed nearly 4000 people in the country. (Excerpt from BBC News)

10-year-old rape victim delivers baby in India Jamaican man dies in Canada A farm accident 10-year-old sexual abuse victim in India whose abortion plea was turned down by the country's Supreme Court has delivered a baby.

The child, who was repeatedly raped, had a Caesarean section on Thursday. The girl did not know she was pregnant and was unaware she had delivered a baby.

Her parents told their daughter she was undergoing stomach surgery to remove a stone.

"The girl is doing fine, she is recovering. We expect she will be discharged early next week," said Dasari Harish, a physician who heads a committee overseeing the girl's care.

The minor, whose identity has been kept secret, delivered a baby girl in a state hospi-

The case has drawn outrage about the sexual abuse of children in India

tal in the North-western city of Chandigarh, Harish said.

The girl was repeatedly raped by her uncle over seven months.

The crime came to light when

the girl was taken to hospital complaining of a stomach ache last month, and was found to be around 30 weeks – or around seven months – into the preg-

nancy. Her uncle was arrested shortly afterwards.

"The parents of the girl have refused to take custody of the child, and have agreed to her adoption through the state agency. They said they don't even want to see the child," Harish told Thomson Reuters Foundation.

A local court refused to grant the child an abortion, saying it was too risky at such a late stage.

A plea in the Supreme Court was dismissed for the same reason on July 28.

Indian law prohibits terminations at more than 20 weeks unless the mother's life is in danger or in exceptional circumstances.

An increasing number of such cases have come to the courts in recent years. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

A

Jamaican farm worker, who was working in Teeterville, Cananda, died on Tuesday when he became trapped beneath a tractor he was driving.

According to Canadian reports, around 9:00 am, 43-year-old Ernest Williamson was on a routine trip to pick up a fuel tank when the tractor rolled into an embankment, wound up in the water and some how resulted in him being trapped under water beneath the back tire.

His employer, Mike Bergman, reportedly tried to free him but was unsuccessful.

The reports added that Teeterville firefighters were summoned but Williamson was dead by time they arrived.

The Ministry of Labour in Ontario and the Jamaican Liaison Office is investigating. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

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friDAY, august 18, 2017

ARCHIE

Changes at home will lead to emotional outbursts. Be (March 21- reasonable and try to amicaApril 19) bly work through any problem that arises. Let your experience help you make the right choice.

ARIES

Time and effort put into TAURUS improving your environment (April 20- will make your life better.

May 20) Fixing up your space or making special plans with the ones you love should be on your agenda.

dilbert

Find a way to give back.

GEMINI (May 21- Volunteer to help a cause or June 20) do something to make the lives of the people you live with easier. Whatever you contribute, do so with love.

Channel your emotions into

CANCER something that is practical and (June 21- creative or has the potential to imJuly 22) prove an important relationship.

Peanuts

A physical change will enhance your appearance and boost your morale. Romance is highlighted.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Express the way you feel about situations that concern you. Your input and persuasive tactics will affect the solutions that colleagues come up with.

Your desire to help othVIRGO (Aug. 23- ers will lead to the making Sept. 22) of new friends, but could also result in your being taken advantage of. Strive for equality and truth in any relationship you develop.

Situations will spin out of LIBRA control if you or someone else (Sept. 23Oct. 23) acts out of character. Relax and refuse to go overboard or put up with anyone else making a fuss.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Set up an interview or SCORPIO meeting and sign up for a (Oct. 24demonstration or course.

Nov. 22) Make personal changes that will push you to go after your dreams. Celebrate with someone you love.

Invest more time and enSAGITTARIUS ergy into self-improvement.

(Nov. 23- Now is not the time to critiDec. 21) cize others. Hone your skills, update your appearance or reassess your current position and situation.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

If you don’t make time to CAPRICORN nurture your relationships (Dec. 22- with others, you may end up Jan. 19) being accused of neglect. Find out what’s required to keep the peace. Romance will improve your life.

Money, contracts and leAQUARIUS gal matters should be han(Jan. 20- dled carefully. A moderate Feb. 19) approach will help you avoid loss and added stress. Take proper care of your health.

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Social interaction, deep conPISCES versations and creative endeav(Feb. 20ors are favored. Walk away from March 20)

anyone using emotional manipulation or who overreacts or has indulgent tendencies. Make personal growth a priority.

FRIDAY, august 18, 2017

Antigua must take better care of athletes

Messi, Ronaldo, Iniesta and Kane among nominees for Best FIFA Men's Player award

L

ionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo join Andres Iniesta and Harry Kane on the Best FIFA Men's Player 2017 shortlist.

Andres Iniesta is one of the more surprising names on the 24-man shortlist for the Best FIFA Men's Player award for 2017.

The Barcelona captain has been included despite having been restricted to just 13 starts in LaLiga last season, largely due to injury problems.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane is on the list, having finished top of the Premier League goalscoring charts for the second campaign in a row, although Spurs' season ended in disappointment, as they failed to win a trophy.

Real Madrid full-backs Dani Carvajal and Marcelo have been included after

and Eden Hazard are the other nominees who played for Premier League clubs last term.

The list was compiled by a panel of former football greats including Diego Maradona, Cafu, Carles Puyol, Edwin van der Sar and Jay Jay Okocha.

Lionel Messi

consistently strong displays in their side's league and Champions League double in 2016-17.

Holder Cristiano Ronaldo, Barca star Lionel Messi and Juventus duo Paulo Dybala and Gianluigi Buffon are also on the list.

Alexis Sanchez, N'Golo Kante, Zlatan Ibrahimovic

SHORTLIST IN FULL: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund) Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan, Juventus in 2016-17) Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Paulo Dybala (Juventus) Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Free agent, Manchester United in 2016-17) Andres Iniesta (Barcelona) Harry Kane (Tottenham)

A final trio of nominees will now be decided by a combination of a public vote, which runs between August 21 and September 7, as well as input from national team captains, coaches, and a panel of media representatives. (SportsMax)

N'Golo Kante (Chelsea) Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) Marcelo (Real Madrid) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Luka Modric (Real Madrid) Keylor Navas (Real Madrid) Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona in 2016-17) Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) Luis Suarez (Barcelona) Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich)

England are beatable

─ Richards encourages Windies to have belief ahead of series

W

est Indies batting legend Vivian Richards has encouraged the team to put up a strong performance against England in upcoming day/night series despite being cast in the role of heavy underdogs.

An inexperienced Windies team, currently ranked eighth in the world, is for the most part expected to offer very little resistance to the English team on its home soil as the first of a three-match contest starts at Birmingham's Edgbaston ground on Thursday.

England come into the series fresh from a 3-1 home Test success against South Africa. The West Indies have not won a Test series since 2014 against Bangladesh in the Caribbean and have not won a Test match in England since 2000, just part of a miserable overall away record during the last 20 years. Despite the overwhelming odds Richards believes that

19

... says World Champs head coach

C

arl Casey head coach of the Antigua and Barbuda team to the IAAF World Championships has called for better treatment of the country’s athletes following another disappointing showing at the event which concluded last week.

Sprinter Cejhae Greene was the only athlete who made any sort of mark for the nation at the World Championships, reaching the semifinals of the 100 metres sprint.

The team was prevented from making any further impact after being forced to pull out of the 4x100m relays after later injuries to Green and Richardson. The twin island nation recently lost the services of promising sprinter Miguel Francis who stated problems with the association and poor treatment as the primary reason for switching allegiances to Great Britain.

“We need to come up with a plan and take care of these athletes because there are problems with the athletes and you might hear differently but they’re not being treated properly. We need to

sit down and come up with a plan where we can monitor these athletes because it is not a wide pool,” Casey told the Antigua Observer.

“We’ve been at this since 1976 and when you look around, almost every Caribbean country has a kit sponsor and we, for some reason, cannot come up with a proper uniform and I always believe that people should know you by how you look and your identification [via uniform] but it’s just not happening,” he added.

Another issue for the athletes stems from the poor condition of the YASCO Sports Complex the country’s primary track and field facility. The stadium has been targeted for renovation, but the project is yet to get off the ground.

“Chevaughn Walsh had to train for six weeks in Antigua on that track before the World Championships and hence, some injuries so we have to really sit down and see where we really want to go because track & field is moving ahead of us and we have been at this too long.” (SportsMax)

Bolt reveals injury details and rounds on doubters L

Vivian Richards

the English are beatable, particularly due to what he believes is a propensity to fold when listed as heavy favourites.

"Over the years, it’s always amazed me with England,” Richards told The Times. "They never win as much as they should. I look at the Champions Trophy, there was no better team for that format but they still fell short,” he added.

"England have the right stuff in their teams but then they fall down at some hurdle or just don't jump high enough." (SportsMax)

ONDON (Reuters) - Usain Bolt delivered a rebuke to those who questioned whether he really suffered an injury in his farewell race at the World Athletics Championships by revealing details of his hamstring tear on Thursday.

The Jamaican, stung by speculation that he had pulled up in the anchor leg of the 4 x 100 meters relay final in London on Saturday because he

was too far behind to win the race, said the injury would need three months of rehabilitation.

Accompanied by an x-ray of the injury to his left hamstring, the eighttimes Olympics gold medalist was also adamant in social media posts that he never cheated his fans.

The 30-year-old explained on Twitter: "Sadly I have tear of the proximal myotendineous junction of biceps

femoris in my left hamstring with partial retraction. 3 months rehab.

"I don't usually release my medical report to the public but sadly I have sat and listened to people questioning if I was really injured.

"I have never been one to cheat my fans in any way & my entire desire at the championship was run one last time for my fans. Thanks for the continued support my fans and I rest, heal and move onto the next chapter of my life #Love&LoveAlone."

The posts on Twitter were removed shortly after they had been posted.

Bolt had been three meters down on the two leaders as he took on the last leg of the relay, which was won by Britain, only to pull up sharply and fall to the ground, coming to a halt after a forward roll on the track.

He speculated on Sunday that the injury, which ended a wretched final championships for him after he only managed to win bronze in the individual 100 meters the previous weekend, might have been caused by having a long wait before the race.

Bolt, who won 19 global championship golds, is widely considered the finest sprinter in athletics annals.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

FRIdAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

WI U-19s to open 2018 World Cup campaign against hosts NZ D

efending champions West Indies will begin their 2018 Under-19 World Cup campaign against hosts New Zealand in Tauranga on January 13, the opening day of the tournament. West Indies and New Zealand have been placed in Group A, along with South Africa and the Africa qualifier, Kenya.

Tauranga will also host the tournament final, on February 3.

Sixteen teams will participate in the 2018 edition, including the five qualifiers - Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Afghanistan and Ireland.

The ten Test teams [prior to Afghanistan and Ireland's elevation] and Namibia, who finished as the best Associate team in the 2016 edition, had gained automatic qualification.

Runners-up of 2016 and three-time champions India, who blanked

League semi-finals will be held at Christchurch's Hagley Oval. The 11th edition of the Under-19 World Cup will be played across seven venues in four cities - Whangarei, Tauranga, Christchurch and Queenstown - over 22 days. This is the third time the tournament is being held in New Zealand, after 2002 and 2010. (Cricinfo)

The West Indies U-19 cricket team lifted the championship's trophy in its 2016 edition

England 5-0 in the recently-concluded series, have been slotted into Group B with Zimbabwe, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Australia will make their return to the tournament, having pulled out of the

The wait is over!

2016 edition in Bangladesh due to security concerns.

Bangladesh, who were semi-finalists in 2016, will compete with England, Namibia and Canada in Group C. Two-time champions Pakistan and 2016

semi-finalists Sri Lanka are in Group D with Afghanistan and Ireland.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super League, while the remaining eight teams will feature in the

Plate competition. Twenty matches, including the Super League quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final, will be televised, with the final scheduled to be played at the Bay Oval in Tauranga. Both Super

'3 hamburgers a week, but no fries' B

Frankie Fredericks

─ Usain Bolt receives irresistible ─ Steyn teases comeback offer to play professionally!

I

t seems like the offers are already flying in for aspiring professional footballer Usain Bolt, as Beira-Mar's amazing

S

outh Africa's bowling attack could have Dale Steyn in it for the upcoming series with Bangladesh after his positive Instagram post.

Batsmen beware! Dale Steyn is on the comeback trail after missing almost a year of Test cricket with a troublesome shoulder injury.

Steyn has not featured for South Africa since the Perth Test of the Proteas' tour of Australia in November 2016.

The 34-year-old was initially ruled out for six months, but his attempts to return were postponed as his recovery from surgery

took longer than expected.

And South Africa have missed him in their attack - particularly in the recent 3-1 series defeat to England where Vernon Philander and Chris Morris both struggled with injuries of their own.

The forthcoming Tests with Bangladesh could see Steyn return, though, after he posted a picture of him celebrating a wicket captioned "the wait it over" on his Instagram account.

Since making his international debut in 2004, Steyn has taken 417 wickets at 22.30, just four behind all-time record holder Shaun Pollock. (SportsMax)

Fredericks' temporary ban upheld

by IAAF tribunal

contract proposal demonstrates!

The legendary Jamaican sprinter hung up his track shoes for good following this year's Athletics World Championships in London, where injury ruined his swansong.

He is now setting his sights on making it in football, with his agent assuring he has received a variety of offers to go pro. It remains to be seen, however, if the bid made by BeiraMar, currently in the fourth-tier Aveiro first division in Portugal and briefly the home of Eusebio in the twilight of the striker's career, turns the idol's head.

"Usain Bolt, you'll keep the yellow, we'll keep you a champion," the club proclaimed on Facebook as they rolled out the red carpet.

"Beira Mar, a club where dreams come true, announce that we are ready to make the dream of one of the best athletes of all time come true! "Usain Bolt, come and make your dream come true, come and play for Beira Mar." The club are nevertheless aware of their financial limitations, and stop short of promising Bolt the riches he enjoyed as the world's fastest man. Among the perks offered in lieu of salary are "the honour of putting on our shirt, the world's best fans," and three steak sandwiches or hamburgers a week, depending on the time of year. Beira Mar do point out that the offer does not include French fries, as "times are hard for everybody," but do throw in the generous (literal) sweetener of 12 'ovos molos', a meringue-type confectionary, a day — "provided nobody eats them all first in the dressing room," they helpfully add.

With that unbeatable package, plus the offer of a free boat ride around the city, a Portuguese cellphone and all the beer he can drink in the stadium bar, there is no way Bolt can turn them down! (YahooSports)

ERLIN (Reuters) - An athletics disciplinary tribunal upheld on Thursday a ban on former Namibian sprinter and IAAF Council member Frankie Fredericks pending an investigation into potential ethics violations.

Fredericks, a multiple Olympic sprint silver medalist and a rising star among international sports administrators until this year, was temporarily banned in July.

He is being investigated by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) over payments he received from Papa Massata Diack, the son of former IAAF president Lamine Diack, on the day Rio de Janeiro won the vote to host the 2016 Olympics. Fredericks has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He admitted having received money from Massata Diack, but said it was payment for legitimate work he had done.

"Mr Fredericks appealed against the order for provisional suspension and his appeal was heard by an enlarged panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal," the AIU said in a statement.

"Having heard from both parties, the enlarged panel agreed with the AIU's submissions and it declined to lift the order for provisional suspension."

Earlier this year Fredericks, an International Olympic Committee member, stepped down as head of the team evaluating bids to host the 2024 Olympics.

He also removed himself from the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) task force investigating doping allegations in Russia, after the corruption allegations involving himself surfaced.

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Leon Seaton (starting block three) will be leading the Guyanese charge in the pool

G

uyana will be hoping for a change in for fortune when the 23rd Goodwill Swim Competition opens today at the National Aquatic centre, Liliendaal will conclude on August 20.

Swimmers will come from the meet’s core countries – Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Barbados, and St Lucia.

Defending champions Trinidad and Tobago, have been known to always aspire to take the full complement or at least to come as close as possible.

The same goes for Suriname, who have been in a constant battle against Trinidad and Tobago for the title. Bahamas and Grenada will be participating based on invitations extended by Guyana.

Last year when the event was held in St Lucia, Guyana produced a team of 29

swimmers. The team came back with 15 medals, including three golds. However, Guyana finished sixth, out of six countries.

The Land of Many Waters has a dismal performance history at the developmental event, which was originally designed for swimmers from the participating countries who have not yet competed at higher levels of regional competition.

The 40-member team has been going through gruelling preparations for the last three weeks.

Today, warm ups will begin at 14:00 hrs followed by the actual event from 15:30 hrs.

The full Guyana team is as follows Girls: 8-and-Under: Andica Vieira, Kyra Soares, Shareefah Lewis, Jovana Goodridge 9-10: Aleka Persaud,

Patrice Mahaica, Monique Watson, Ariel Rodrigues 11-12: Lian Winter, Amber De Goeas, Giselle Crane, Nia Fraser 13-14: Jadyn George, Danielle George, Donna Carter, Sofia Pinol 15-17: Nikita Fiedtkou, Kenita Mahaica, Accalia Khan, Teshanna Hunter Boys: 8-and-Under: Jeremy Sookram, Jonathan Lewis, Safraaz Mohamed, Aarav Singh 9-10: Paul Mahaica, Jaleel Anderson, Vladimir Woodroffe, Elliot Gonsalves 11-12: Leon Seaton, Raekwon Noel, Ejaz Mohamed, Ethan Gonsalves 13-14: Sekhel Tzedeq, Sion Jeffers, Rayvon Pires, Jonathon Sookram 15-17: Daniel Scott, Antonio Rodrigues, Joseph DeNobrega, Alex Winter

Rugby action is set to make a grand return this weekend in the National Park

Park.

The resumption will take place with the GRFU Seven’s Men & Women tournament at the National Park Athletics Field.

The one-day tournament will see play commence from 11:30 and features seven teams, namely Caribs, Guyana Defence Force, UG

CONCACAF U-15 Championships

U-15 Jaguars beat St Lucia 1-0 in final group match

T

he National Boys Under-15 football team secured a 1-0 victory over St Lucia in their final group D match in the CONCACAF U-15 men’s football tournament being held in Miami, Florida. However, the result was not enough to help them progress to challenge for a title bid.

Playing at the IMG Academy, the unit registered their first win of the round over the

Island team thanks to an Omari Glasgow strike in the 55th. They had earlier lost Suriname 3-1 in the second game with the first fixture being a 1-1 draw with St. Kitts 1-1.

The starting line-up featured Shawn Adonis (GK), Jermaine Padmore, Troni Semple, Okifi Patoir, Joshua Braithwaite, 6.

Marcus Wilson, Tyrel Khan, Isiah James, Orville Daniels, Glasgow and Jermaine Garrett.

The Guyana U-15 male Football team

men and women will be in action at the same time at the same venue.

Both tournaments will conclude the 2016 domestic season with a release from the GRFU saying inclement weather conditions caused many postponements of tournaments, thus causing the season to extend into 2017.

Following that weekend of action, the Bounty Farm 15’s will commence and runs from September 2nd to November 5th at the National Park from 16:00.

Meanwhile, training days for the men and women continues with the males practicing Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays every week from 15:30 to 18:00.

The women will practice on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays every week from 16:30 to 18:00.

Corona Invitational football resumes today at GFC

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The exciting action will return this evening at the Georgetown Football Club, Bourda with three matches

T

hree exciting football matches will occur this evening when the Corona Invitational Tournament resumes at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground, Bourda.

The first match which kicks off at 17:00hrs will feature Police FC and Black Pearl. That will followed

by Pele and Northern Rangers FC from 19:00 hrs. The final match will

pit Riddim Squad against Santos from 21:00 hrs.

Organiser Troy Mendonca while speaking to the media on Thursday, said the matches are what fans should look forward to given that they will engage some youth against experience. With rain causing the frequent postponement of the earlier rounds, Mendonca expressed great enthusiasm and hope that the

weather remains as it is now so that momentum can build and fans enjoy football where it belongs, on the field.

The tournament will be played on a round-robin knock-out phase with two groups of six teams. The top four from the respective groups will advance to the knock-out phase.

The teams are playing for first place prize of one million dollars and championship trophy while sec-

ond to fourth will pocket $400,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding accolade.

The other participating are: Campton FC, Georgetown Football Club, Beacons FC, Western Tigers, Flamingo FC and East Ville FC. Organisers are reminding patrons that ladies are free for all matches and they are several promotions for Corona.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

fridAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2017

Tallawahs stun Warriors in last over thriller

By Akeem Greene

G

uyana Amazon Warriors snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against Jamaica Tallawahs in front of an almost capacity crowd at the National Stadium, Providence Thursday evening.

Needing eight to win from the last over, Kesrick Williams reduced Warriors to a painstaking 2-run defeat in pursuit of 129 in Match 15 of the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Entering a chase with limited score board pressure, openers Chadwick Walton

tension of home fans.

Seamer Williams got a chance to showcase his signature sign-off when he induced Walton into a loose shot after stroking three fours in his 32-ball 37.

It was a double strike for Tallawahs as Skipper Guptill was bowled with a rank longhop from Mathurin in the next over for just 33 (2x4s) from 41 balls.

Babar Azam, who was yet to hit his stride in the series, took some time at the crease and along with Jason Mohammed looked to be steering the chase into the closet. Albeit with some nerve wrecking movements.

Opener Glenn Phillips played a patient but vital role with his 47ball 51

and Martin Guptill took their time reaching 33 without loss after six overs. However, the shackles were soon broken when Walton cut-lose against his former team, playing sumptuous square-cuts and elegant drives especially of the bowling of leg-spinner Gary Mathurin.

With caution, the duo’s progressed to 50 in eight overs and eleven more by the half way stage, easing the

With 25 needed from 17 balls, Mohammed launched a gigantic six off the bowling of Krishmar Santokie to the back of the Red Stand.

Tallawahs had their chance to sneak back into the match when Azam flicked Mohammed Shami into the hands of Glenn Philips when they needed 13 from 10. *Last Over Nerves Azam who continued to lack fluency in his innings

punched Williams down the ground for one off the first ball.

The second was then a dot after Mohammed was beaten a slower ball. The next ball Mohammed burst the skies with a miss-cued hit only to be dropped at long-off Phillips and allow the Warriors to gather three.

It was now four needed from three balls. Azam painstaking innings of 23 from 27 balls came to an end when he picked out long-on.

Mohammed retuned to the strike but only score one leaving Roshon Primus to do the job of hero or villain.

Primus responded with a wild slog and skied the ball for a catch taken by Guyanese and substitute fielder Trevon Griffith, sealing one of the electrifying come backs for his team.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Warriors held control of the power play overs where only 35 runs were scored with the loss of the dangerous Lendl Simmons (20).

In the sixth over, Simmons greeted leg-spinner Rashid Khan with a towering six over long-off but next delivery Khan had the last laugh as Simmons defended the wrong line and had his middle stump disturbed.

The home side continued to keep a tight lid on proceedings even after the field restrictions, with off-spinner Steven Jacobs, who replaced Keemo Paul in the final eleven just conceding four in the seventh over.

His next over he brought a monstrous cheer around the Stadium when he bowled the in-form Andre McCarthy (8) attempting to play a sweep shot. This left the visitors on 52 for 2 at the ten over mark.

Jacobs seemed to have the golden arm of the evening

Steven Jacobs put the screws on the Tallawahs innings with 2 for 18 from four overs

when he got the prized scalp of captain Kumar Sangakkara.

The left-hander gave himself some room, playing down the wrong line to be clean bowled.

Tallawahs continued to slip further into trouble with the dismissal of the big-hitting Ravmon Powell, who fell via an excellent diving catch

by Khan off the bowling of Rayad Emrit in the 15th over.

Powell had hit the first ball of the over for a six and the second for a boundary. Opener Phillips kept calm given the fall of wickets to progress to this maiden CPL fifty which came off 45 balls and included fours boundaries and two sixes. The Tallawahs reached 100 for 4 in the 17th over.

Jonathon Foo began a late innings onslaught taking Khan to the cleaners. He scored 14 runs in three balls of the spinner but the fourth ball proved to be his undoing, with the leggie getting one to crash into his middle stump to end his 12-ball 20.

Philips’ stabilizing innings of 51 (47 balls) came to end in the 19th over, edging behind to Walton after attempting a reverse sweep.

Warriors kept the wraps on any lower-order surge with

Emrit bowling Imad Wasim when he attempted an innovated flick over fine-leg. His demise encapsulated a poor batting performance against smart and consistent bowling.

Tallawahs will now move to St Kitts and Nevis where they play host team Patriots on Monday while the Warriors will be in action on Saturday against Trinbago Knight Riders from 12 noon.

SCOREBOARD Jamaica Tallawahs 128/7(20.0 overs) L Simmons b Khan 20 G Phillips lbw Tanvir 51 A McCarthy b Jacobs 8 K Sangakkara *† b Jacobs 5 R Powell c Khan b Emrit 7 J Foo b Khan 20 I Wasim b Emrit 3 K Santokie Not out 1 G Mathurin Not out 3 Extras (6 wd,4 lb) 10 Total (7 wickets, 20 overs) 128 Did not bat : M Sami, K Williams Fall of wickets : 1-30 (L Simmons,5.2), 2-50 (A McCarthy,9.3), 3-62 (K Sangakkara,11.4), 4-85 (R Powell,14.5), 5-118 (J Foo,17.6), 6-120 (G Phillips,18.3), 7-124 (I Wasim,19.3) Bowling: S Tanvir (4.0, 0, 14, 1) V Permaul (4.0, 0, 19, 0) R Emrit (3.0, 0, 24, 2) R Khan (4.0, 0, 38, 2) S Jacobs (4.0, 0, 18, 2) R Primus (1.0, 0, 11, 0)

Guyana Amazon Warriors 126/4(20.0 overs) C Walton † c sub (Griffith) b Williams 37 M Guptill * b Mathurin 33 B Azam c Powell b Williams 23 J Mohammed Not out 24 R Primus c sub (Griffith) b Williams 0 Extras (7 wd,2 lb,) 9 Total (4 wickets, 20 overs) 126 Did not bat : G Singh, S Tanvir, R Emrit, S Jacobs, R Khan, V Permaul Fall of wickets : 1-67 (C Walton,11.3), 2-76 (M Guptill,12.4), 3-125 (B Azam,19.4), 4-126 (R Primus,19.6) Bowling: I Wasim (4.0, 0, 15, 0) K Santokie (4.0, 0, 24, 0), G Mathurin (4.0, 0, 29, 1) M Sami (4.0, 0, 26, 0), K Williams (4.0, 0, 30, 3)

Hard day-night for Windies as Cook and Root dominate A lastair Cook and Joe Root each compiled centuries and shared a record third-wicket partnership at Edgbaston as England dominated the opening day of their first day-night Test against West Indies.

The Windies enjoyed early success with the pink ball on Thursday after losing the toss, debutant Mark Stoneman and Tom Westley each falling for eight in a continuation of England’s top-order struggles.

With the Ashes just three months away, there remains considerable uncertainty over the make-up of England’s top five, but Root and his predecessor as captain were able to provide reassuring stability in a stand of 248 that helped the hosts reach 348-3.

Root, who set an England record by passing 50 for the 11th Test in succession, was bowled by

Kemar Roach (2-72) for 136 in the day’s final session as batting predictably became trickier under floodlights, but Cook remained unde-

tury-maker in the five-day game, Cook now has 31 Test hundreds, putting him one shy of former Australia skipper Steve Waugh, who

Joe Root slammed his 13th ton as England dominated on the first day of the first Pink Ball Test against West Indies

feated on 153 at stumps, with Dawid Malan 28 not out.

Comfortably England’s leading run-scorer and cen-

sits 10th on the all-time list.

West Indies’ one-dimensional attack, lacking a frontline spinner, struggled to apply pressure following

their early breakthroughs.

On an easy-paced surface offering predictable bounce, the two centurions were barely troubled - their partnership topping the previous best for the third wicket in Edgbaston Tests, an alliance of 227 between Robin Smith and Alec Stewart for England against Pakistan in 1992.

As Cook and Root cashed in, Stoneman and Westley must have rued their own failings to make a telling score.

Stoneman - Cook’s 12th opening partner in Tests since the retirement of Andrew Strauss - made a confident start with fours either side of the wicket off Roach in the opening over of the match.

However, Roach responded in his next set of six with a superb delivery that seamed away to take off stump. Stoneman could consider himself unfortu-

nate given the quality of bowling that followed.

Miguel Cummins did produce a fine delivery to trap Westley plumb lbw - a review required to send the number three on his way after umpire Marais Erasmus surprisingly turned down the Windies’ initial appeal.

From that point on, however, the tourists offered little threat and Cook and Root were each able to cruise along at tempos that have become so familiar the latter predictably scoring at a quicker rate than his partner.

The Windies finally claimed a third scalp when Roach breached Root’s defences and Malan survived an early scare on two when a thick edge off Kraigg Brathwaite evaded slip.

Malan negotiated Thursday’s remaining overs, though, and there was to be no shifting the obdurate Cook as England re-

mained in command.

To make matters worse for West Indies, skipper Jason Holder – who bizarrely declined to immediately take the second new ball – left the field midway through his 16th over having appeared short of full fitness earlier in the day.

(SportsMax)

SCOREBOARD England Alastair Cook not out 153 Mark Stoneman b Kemar Roach 8 Tom Westley lbw Miguel Cummins 8 Joe Root (c) b Kemar Roach 136 Dawid Malan not out 28 Extras 4nb, 3w, 8lb 15 Total (90 overs) 348 for 3 Bowling: Kemar Roach (20, 5, 72, 2), Alzarri Joseph (17, 2, 85, 0), Miguel Cummins (19, 3, 61,1) Jason Holder (15.3, 3, 58,0) Roston Chase (12.3, 0, 58, 0) Kraigg Brathwaite (6, 0, 6, 0)

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friDAY, august 18, 2017

Scenes from

23

Hero CPL Match 15 Amazon Warriors vs Tallawahs

In-form Andre McCarthy was not at his best Thursday evening (CPL T20 via Getty Images)

The fans were on the top of their voices screaming for their home side (Dexter Ceres photo)

Rashid Khan (R) of Guyana Amazon Warriors celebrate the dismissal of Lendl Simmons (CPL T20 via Getty Images)

The human drag! These dancers entertain the packed National Stadium on Thursday evening (Dexter Ceres photo)

Chadwick Walton was Warriors best batsman once again (CPL T20 via Getty Images)

Cricket with my crew! This group are in all smiles after withnessing a trilling match (Dexter Ceres photo)

Some of the many passionate Amazon Warriors fans that were in attendance (CPL T20 via Getty Images)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

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

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Hero Caribbean Premier League 2017

Tallawahs stun Warriors in last over thriller

Pg 23

CONCACAF U-15 Championships Pg 21

U-15 Jaguars beat St Lucia 1-0 in final group match

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