Guyana Times, Monday August 27, 2018

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, August 27, 2018

Planned teachers’ strike begins today guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3668

Page 2

…no genuine effort to bring relief to the teachers – GTUC

Airline slams “unlawful” blocking of launch in Guyana No word from

Chancellor, CJ posts

– says Govt’s legal window to object to airline name long expired Page 7

Granger on judicial appointments – Jagdeo Page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Murdered 3-year-old

Mother P8 should be incarcerated – psychologist

Superbet P3 agent robbed at gunpoint $132M non-payment to rice farmers

Panama buyers ‘sweet talk’ Rice Board – Essequibo P10 miller

Education Minister assesses schools’ readiness for Sept 3 opening P13

Aurora Gold P9 Mine conducts recruitment drive in Linden Ranks of the Guyana Police Force, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Maxine Graham, are in Calgary, Canada to attend the 56th Annual Training Conference of the International Association of Women Police. The opening of the Conference was held on Sunday at the Hyatt Hotel, and it was followed by the Parade of the Nations to the BMO Centre

Govt orders Hope rice farmers to appear in court Page 7

Finance Minister Jordan tours DDL operations P12 – holds wide-ranging discussions on initiatives to spur Private Sector manufacturing

2 news

mondAY, august 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Planned teachers’ strike begins today

No genuine effort to bring relief to the teachers – GTUC A

s teachers are likely to take part in a nationwide strike beginning today, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) impressed all, including civil society and the business community, to be in solidarity with the nation’s teachers as they seek improved working conditions. In a statement from the combined union body on Sunday, the GTUC outlined that “no genuine effort to bring relief to the teachers”.

“The struggle of the teachers for a living wage and the importance of sustaining themselves to perform require having their needs met and these can only be addressed at the negotiation table. Teachers are seeking an agreement with the employer, the Government of Guyana, after the last four-year agreement signed with the PPP/C

Government expired in 2015,” the GTUC reminded.

The Union expressed its dismay over Government’s non-implementation of the Task Force’s Report which recommended increases of 40 per cent. The GTUC is also perturbed by recent suggestions by Government that it would to employ substitutes should teachers proceed on strike.

The Carvil Duncan headed body feels Government should address the “lingering” grievances, having observed that strike action is consistent with the Collective Labour Agreement and Article 147 (2) of the Guyana Constitution. The body observed that teachers should be able to function in an environment where learning will benefit the students.

“Teachers are the backbone of a country’s develop-

GTU headquarters

ment. Their role is multifaceted and not confined to solely teaching and marking papers. Teachers also act as parents, mentors, custodians, counsellors, providers (meals, school supplies, etc) and a shoulder to cry on,

even as they have to meet their families’ psychosocial and economic needs,” GTUC outlined.

The GTUC says failure to arrive at resolution could result in the nation’s children suffering.

“We owe it to our children to enjoy a good environment of education. Where the teachers are happy, they will be more productive. It is our nation’s children that are at risk when the education system is adversely affected. When our children suffer, we suffer, the community suffers, and the nation suffers,” it noted.

The Union body called on the Government to “come to the bargaining table in good faith and address the teachers’ grievance. Three years is a long time,” GTUC said.

Strike relief

Meanwhile, GTU President Mark Lyte recently noted that the Union has established measures in place to provide some relief for teachers who will be on strike from today; one week from the September 3 opening. However, he says it will not be full compensation as the Union was initially thinking of doing.

Heads and other teachers are expected to be in school all week to prepare for the new school year.

“The relief that we were going to give was not to

give teachers a top up; we were going to pay them for the days they lost, so when teachers collected their salaries with the deductions, the Union was expected to pick up the difference and the Union hadn’t the capacity to do so. So I am declaring that the Union does not have the capacity to do so; so teachers have got to be prepared to make a sacrifice. However, I have gotten a commitment from some business entities that they will assist with food stuff and so on should the strike prolong,” Lyte told teachers in Berbice on Friday.

One of the main activities slated to be happening during this week is orientation for new students at all schools. If the teachers go on strike, that process might have to be shelved at all schools. Lyte had however noted that it is not written in stone that no monetary contribution will be made to the teachers who go in strike.

A second round of conciliation talks is scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) at 14:00h between the GTU and the Education Ministry.

This follows last Friday’s meeting which saw the absence of the union. The Education Ministry applied for conciliation to the Social Protection Ministry’s Department of Labour.

The GTU outrightly rejected Government’s request for teachers to agree to a debunching payoff of $200 million for 2018/19 and the $700 million cap that was placed on salary increases which was for 2018 only.

The Union is seeking 40 per cent salary increases for its 7000 members. School is scheduled to reopen on September 3.

news

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mondAY, august 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, August 27 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, August 28 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, August 27 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, August 28 – 05:20h-06:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers can be expected in the morning hours, followed by sunny intervals in the afternoon. Partly cloudy to clear skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Southerly to East North-easterly and Northeasterly between 1.34 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 04:58h and 17:17h reaching maximum heights of 2.65 metres and 2.62 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:53h and 23:07h reaching a minimum height of 0.57 at each scheduled low tide.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS J

04 12 18

19 24 28

FREE TICKET

22 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

LUCKY 3

2

6

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Afternoon Draw

8

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

03

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PAY DAY

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No word from Granger on judicial appointments – Jagdeo - throws cold water on prospect of reconsidering President’s nominees

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espite the need for the President and the Opposition Leader to consult before top judicial posts such as that of the Chief Justice and Chancellor can be filled, no contact has been made with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to set a date for a meeting.

This was conveyed by Jagdeo during a recent press conference, where he was asked about the status of this process. While Jagdeo had previously said that the two sides were unlikely to meet before Local Government Elections (LGE), he revealed that overtures to set a date for the meeting after the elections have not even been made.

In fact, Jagdeo said he has not heard anything from the President about the top judicial appointments since his public statement that the ball was in the Opposition Leader’s court. The last time the two did meet, which was last month, that meeting was intended to sort out the appointments of the Police and Public Service Commissions.

“I have no contact with the gentleman. So I don’t know what his state of mind is or what he wants to do or what he doesn’t want to do.

I do know, however, that the President outside of a public statement saying that the ball is now in Jagdeo’s court and that he doesn’t intend to withdraw his nominee, I’ve had no other contact outside of that,” Jagdeo

President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo during one of their meetings

said.

When asked if he would be inclined to reconsider his rejection of Justices Kenneth Benjamin and Yonnette CummingsEdwards for the respective Chancellor and Chief Justice positions, Jagdeo made it clear that he would not.

Back in February, Jagdeo had rejected the two nominees for the posts.

While the former President never stated his reasons publicly, there had been criticisms in the public domain of Justice Benjamin’s performance in Belize, where he served as the Chief Justice.

The Guyana Bar Association had even passed a motion calling on Granger to confirm Cummings-Edwards and Justice Roxane George in the acting Chancellor and Chief Justice positions they currently hold.

Acting appointments

There is a good reason for putting an end to acting appointments. Last year, former President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Sir Dennis Byron had zeroed in on the trend of persons being appointed to top positions in Guyana’s Judiciary but being forced to act for years while their confirmation remains in limbo.

Byron, who was at the time addressing the Guyana Bar Association, had condemned the fact that since former Chancellor Desiree Bernard demitted office; an agreement has not been reached for the substantive appointment of a Chancellor.

“This has brought us to the situation today where the number one and number two officials of the Guyana Judiciary have not been substantively appointed. This is a most unfortunate state of affairs,” the le-

gal luminaire had stated.

“This situation has moved well beyond what ought to be acceptable in a modern democracy where respect for the rule of law is maintained. The Constitution envisages the Judiciary of Guyana to be headed by officials who are substantively appointed and enjoy all the legal and institutional mechanisms to secure their tenure,” he continued.

Referring to Article 122 A(1); which states that “All courts and all persons presiding over the courts shall exercise their functions independently of the control and direction of any person or authority; and shall be free and independent from political, executive and other form of discretion and control.”

Byron had bluntly stated that the delay is a breach of the spirit and intent of the Constitution.

Edwards was appointed by President Granger in May of 2017 to act as Chancellor. Prior to that, she acted as the Chief Justice from December 2015. She was never confirmed to that substantive position.

Cummings-Edwards replaced Justice Carl Singh, who retired after acting as Chancellor since 2005. On the other hand, the current Acting Chief Justice, Justice Roxane George, was also appointed to her position on the same day as Cummings-Edwards.

Superbet agent robbed at gunpoint

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Chancellor, CJ posts

12 14 15 SUPER PAY DAY

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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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West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, businesswoman who operates a Superbet branch in front of her home, was on Sunday evening attacked and robbed of her earnings for the day by a lone gunman.

The victim, Tamilah Lowe, 25, was about to close her business for the day when she was attacked by the lone gunman who held her at gunpoint.

According to reports received, at about 19:35h, the woman had just placed her

earnings into a box and was about to enter her house when the perpetrator held

a gun to her head and demanded that she hand over same.

The frightened woman complied with the request and handed over the box containing an undisclosed sum of money. The man then made good his escape on foot.

A report was promptly made at the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost and the matter is presently being investigated. No arrests were made.

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guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, august 27, 2018

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

Autocratic government

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eporting on his meeting with the recent US Congressional Delegation (CODEL), President David Granger asserted: “From the point of view of governance, we were able to explain that Guyana is a stable, well-governed state.” It was very unfortunate no other views were allowed to be presented, since the worrying trend towards autocratic governance that we noted in this space over a year ago has intensified.

At that time, the political and social “explanatory” site VOX conducted an analysis that was particularly interesting, since it held lessons for Guyana. It explained how an autocratic government may slip into harness in a democratic country without carrying out coups, with which regime change are usually associated. The authors insisted -- showing evidence -- that while coups are decreasing worldwide, what they called “democratic backsliding” -- a slow descent toward partial autocracy -- is on the rise.

How is this backsliding achieved? The article offers a pithy summary: “The most important reason the sudden collapse of democracy is rare… is that a sudden derogation of democracy simply isn’t necessary. Would-be autocrats have a cheaper option to hand, one that is far less likely to catalyse opposition and resistance: the slow, insidious curtailment of democratic institutions and traditions. Autocrats often target the three pillars of democratic society using tools permissible under law.

“To understand democratic backsliding, it’s important to understand the essential components of a democracy. First, there must be elections, which must be both free and fair.

Elections by themselves are not enough: Both Russia and China, after all, have elections that formally reflect the choice of the people, but allow only limited choices.

“Second, democracy needs liberal rights of speech and association, so those with alternative views can challenge government on its policies, hold it accountable, and propose alternatives. Finally, democracy can’t work if the ruling party has the courts and bureaucracy firmly in its pocket. The rule of law — not just the rule of the powerful and influential — is essential. Take away one of these attributes and democracy might wobble. Sap all three and the meaningful possibility of democratic competition recedes from view.”

While the authors went on to apply the variables to the unfolding American scenario, it is instructive to apply those variables to our scenario in Guyana. Let us begin with elections. We know, to our cost, that not only can elections be rigged, but -- as the PPP claimed in an election petition that is still to be decided on, (so we cannot comment further) -elections can also be surgically manipulated so the outcomes are prefigured. In Guyana, objective observers have pointed out that the staffing of GECOM lends itself to manipulation, because of our ethnically polarised electorate.

In his farewell speech, the previous GECOM Chair, who had held that position for over 15 years, admitted that he could not explain how some “fake Statements of Poll” found their way into the ballot boxes; yet, the President went ahead and unilaterally appointed his own new Chairman by bypassing the constitutionally agreed consensual mechanism that the person should be selected from an Opposition Leader’s list.

The fears of GECOM partisanship were augmented recently by ministerial gerrymandering of constituency boundaries to favour the Government.

In terms of the “right to protest”, it will be very interesting to observe how the administration deals with the threat from their base in the GTU to protest their betrayal of promises to achieve the “good life” and clean governance. But more compelling is the evidence of the Government’s asserting control over the judiciary. The APNU/AFC Government has placed the Judiciary squarely in its sight, exemplified by the treatment of the previous Chancellor.

He was practically hounded from office, and the two vacancies were filled, with the mandated “meaningful consultations” with the Opposition Leader treated quite perfunctorily.

With the Bureaucracy, the Administration has appointed loyal, retired military officials in almost every Government agency; and, combined with the “contract” workers they once criticised but have now increased, the bureaucracy is firmly under their control.

The backsliding into PNC autocracy continues inexorably.

A scene from Naya Zamana 22, titled “Tere Bin”, which was held at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday evening before a sold out crowd. The event was a production of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (Photo by Amanda Richards)

We want the best for our patients Dear Editor, For over 10 days, I have seen a GPHC patient’s husband looking very sad in the ward. His wife was diagnosed with obstructive jaundice. A CT Scan was done, and referred that there was a tumor at the head of the pancreas.

She was waiting for surgery for almost 10 days.

During these days she felt more pain, and the jaundice became more severe due to bad medical conditions in Guyana.

I have arranged a team to come to GPHC because it is the best hospital in Guyana. However, if my team is on call the same day as we are operating, emergency cases take precedence over the patients for elective surgery, and attending to them is delayed and pushed back to another date.

I researched this case and found that it was very complicated due to the location of the tumor, and that the tumor has invaded the common bile duct and mesenteric vein. Her jaundice was worsening, and protein levels were low. Her pain was so severe we could not sufficiently treat it with only medication. Due to the lack of resources, such as MRI, contrast CT, albumin and plasma, we are unable to assess the patient preoperatively; and postoperatively, we are unable to give sufficient nutrients to aid in the duration of treatment. I did not want to operate due to the high risk; however, because of the patient’s pain and her family’s hopefulness in the doctors, we proceeded.

The night before the op-

The first case of nerve blocking in end stage pancreatic cancer to treat pain at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC)

eration, my team and I planned and read articles in preparation for surgery. We discussed all the possible outcomes that may happen during the operation. I even got advice from my teacher back in China.

On July 19, 2018, we began operating. We found that the situation was much worse than anticipated. The tumor was bigger, and had invaded the common bile duct and the mesenteric vein. Multiple lymph nodes were present, and organs were edematous; the liver had changed colour due to over-storage of bile. The decision was made to put in T-tube drainage and block

the abdominal nerve with 95% pure alcohol, which has never been done in this hospital.

It is dangerous to block this nerve because of its location. It is located next to the inferior vena cava and close to the aorta, which are the biggest vein and artery respectively. Also, if the alcohol goes into the patient’s blood stream, she could die immediately. Before injecting the alcohol, anesthesia was told to pay special attention to the patient’s vital signs. We located the correct point for injection of the alcohol, and proceeded. At first there was a complication with the injection, the

nerve was then compressed and position readjusted.

I advised anesthesia once more, and at last the operation was finished.

Anesthesia told us that the vital signs were all normal. I knew I had succeeded. After I was finished, I found that my scrubs were wet from sweat.

The next morning, even though it was only one day post-op, the patient told us she was feeling much better, and we knew the surgery was a success. All the doctors described the outcome as “Amazing!”

My colleague, Dr. Motilall, told us there are many patients in similar condition, and this operation would be very useful for those patients. An operation like this had never previously been done in Guyana.

Even though I was smiling at the time, I regretted in my heart that we could only relieve her symptoms and not cure her. Only thing we can do is to relieve her pain and help her live the rest of her life with respect. If these patients came to hospital earlier, and the medical condition is much better so that we can assess the patient’s situation correctly, we would have a chance to resect the tumor completely; and after operation, the patient can receive sufficient nutrition to sustain their life.

It was perfect, and the smiling of the patient and her family will be with me forever. That’s all we want as doctors.

Sincerely, Zhang Biao Chinese Medical Team

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, august 27, 2018

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

Teachers, GTU need to be What should happen with firm with the coalition Guyana’s oil money?

Administration Dear Editor, With America and the United Kingdom having vested interests in Guyana, for strategic geopolitical reasons and as a former colony respectively, these countries, particularly the United Kingdom, must be shaking their heads at what continues to obtain in Guyana in our political and economic affairs.

Not only they, but Guyanese can very probably attest for themselves that granting Guyana independence in 1966 was premature; because while there was no doubt a need to curtail the extraction of our wealth while we were a colony as a means of promoting development locally, releasing Guyana as an independent nation has, in retrospect, been disastrous.

After 52 years of economic mismanagement and retrograde politics, many Guyanese workers and their families survive on depressed incomes while our Government ministers, with the approval of the President himself, recently made themselves right by granting themselves multi-million-dollar annual salaries, deliberately ignoring public servants on the lower salary scales.

It is eye-opening to note that the Coalition was willing to extend a $450 million contract as a reward for ‘political favours or support’, while the people whose votes brought the administration into power are being treated like fools. I was made to understand that the Police Force did not receive an increase in their salaries in one of the more recent years. It is my considered opinion that underpaying workers is equivalent to robbing them.

The last three years of the PNC-led coalition’s administration have been a display of utter ignominy, having learnt nothing from its previous misadventure in the political economy of Burnhamism. It is impossible for an economy to prosper, or a Government to survive, by casting aside the private sector and marginalising close to 50% of the population. These, I think, were thoughts of Dr. Cheddi Jagan on Burnhamism. This aside, I wish to address the concerns of our teachers and public servants in general.

The current administration has adopted measures which clearly demonstrate that it intends to de-emphasise workers and their rights both in respect to working conditions and compensation. I reiterate

Dear Editor, I see the British High Commissioner to Guyana (Gregory Quinn) has waded into the discussion on how Guyana should spend its oil money.

On the face of it, High Commissioner Gregory Quinn’s suggestion to use Guyana’s oil money for infrastructural work does not seem like a bad idea. However, regarding this infrastructural work that is being peddled: Can Guyanese actually do infrastructure work? Or will it have to be done by foreign companies (which would make it spending Guyana’s

oil money on imports of goods and services)?

If the answer is the latter, then even Guyana’s pittance of an oil revenue (pittance, because when ExxonMobil is finished with Guyana, it will be a pittance) will be spent on importing infrastructure projects. And let’s not talk about the maintenance costs.

As for Professor Clive Thomas’s idea about direct cash transfers to individuals to alleviate poverty, this is just a vote-buying scheme; as you need to work your way out of poverty, not buy your way out of poverty. Being in poverty is not

just about lacking money; it is also about lacking the education and skills necessary to progress.

Saying that, direct cash transfer may work as a ONEOFF cash injection, as it does not create a dependency syndrome.

What should happen with Guyana’s oil money is that the private sector should become more empowered to create jobs. This may mean lowering the Personal Income Tax to 25% and the Corporation Tax to 25%.

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

Only a fraction of Guyanese go into crime (part 2)

that public servants and workers in general have to make their welfare a priority of this Government; and for that matter, any Government.

In respect of salaries for teachers and public servants in general, I have already demonstrated that G$146,000 leaves workers with just over G$12,000 per week to look after food, their dependents and other miscellaneous needs; and this is clearly inadequate to those familiar with our cost of living. This is not even considering the impending impact of the recent increase in bus fares.

I have consistently maintained that the salaries of all public servants should be adjusted by an amount which brings the salary of the lowest paid worker up to an acceptable ‘living wage’. While there has been no agreement as yet on this figure, the adjoining table places the current demands of the Teachers’ Union in context, excluding miscellaneous items.

These I suggested should be dealt with subsequently, since I think that ensuring all workers receive at least an acceptable living wage is more important. The annual increases

have been applied to the base figures alone, since this method produces reasonable numbers.

Examination of these figures, the base numbers of which are estimates, reveals that the union was correct, at least with respect to addressing the needs of teachers on the lower salary scale, in its demands in respect of its proposed annual salary increases. It is only in 2019, using these salary adjustments alone, that the salaries of the lowest paid teachers approach anything close to acceptable.

Further, $1.2 billion would more than comfortably cover increases for all teachers (estimated at 9,500) if based on the salary of $67,000 on lowest scale, up to 2019. Teachers should be comfortable with the proposed increases as presented here, and should clarify these numbers with their union.

Applying the percent increases to all teaching salary scales pushes up the annual cost by a not insignificant amount, which makes it more onerous to be applied to all public servants.

Yours faithfully, Craig Sylvester

Dear Editor, Through survival instincts and experience, humans know that it takes good moral values to survive under conditions of poverty and to successfully climb out of it.

Also, nature has designed and engineered humans with the most complex and sophisticated intellectual powerhouse, known as the human brain, to intelligibly self-construct mental ladders with good moral values to exert appropriate behaviours necessary to survive in poverty and to climb above it as decent human beings with a conscience. Good moral values drive adaptive behaviours necessary for survival, but sadly and unfortunately, criminals fail to make the connection.

Moreover, criminals are heavily influenced by bad values, which drive them into crime. Even though our brains are highly capable of instantly generating infinite survival strategies in response to poverty, crime can't be one of those strategies, because it results in harm, death, and destruction. Crime is highly abnormal. For example, we all watched how five criminals were instantly killed in a brazen robbery about a month ago. And just about a week ago, we witnessed how a hard working cheese vendor was senselessly gunned down for his own sweat.

Moreover, we witness daily how criminals brutalise, rape and murder hardworking citizens in the most inhumane ways for their sweat.

Humankind is efficiently designed for survival, and this means that criminal behaviours will be forced into extinction by the forces of survival. Of course this will be realised under a Government that respects its people enough to set zero tolerance on such a destructive phenomenon as criminal behaviour. But, for now, the crime rate continues to climb because our Government refuses to understand the

crime dynamics. And also, its silence on this problem is certainly an endorsement.

At this juncture, another relevant and important question needs to be addressed: So why do criminals fail to see good values as necessary tools required to handle poverty? Unfortunately, the reality is that criminals are created by the wrong values they internalize, primarily from caregivers who are most often parent figures and members of our larger society.

More often than not, criminals are raised in dysfunctional and broken homes, where bad values are instilled and reinforced. Also, members of society, including politicians and local activists, send the wrong message to criminals by remaining silent when criminals murder hard-

working Guyanese, but become activated when criminals are taken down by the Police. This has got to be hypocrisy to the max. Where is the logic in this? This is unkind to every Guyanese, including criminals.

Society must understand that the Guyanese people do not deserve to be murdered at the brutal hands of criminals. And society must also stop failing criminals.

After all, crime is a dangerous business, and it is the nature of such a business that criminals will likely be killed. And so, if you want to save the lives of criminals, then teach people good values, instead of misleading them and visiting them in jail and attending their funerals.

Sincerely, Annie Baliram

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W

hether their summer was jampacked with activities or filled with complaints about being bored with nothing to do, children often have a tough time making the back-to-school transition.

Battling the butterflies

As with any new or potentially unsettling situation — like starting school for the first time or entering a new grade or new school — allow children time to adjust. Remind them that everyone feels a little nervous about the first day of school and that it will all become an everyday routine in no time.

Emphasise the positive things about going back to school, such as hanging out with old friends, meeting new classmates, buying cool school supplies, getting involved in sports and other activities, and showing off the new snazzy accessories.

It's also important to talk to children about what worries them and offer reassurance: Are they afraid they won't make new friends or get along with their teachers? Is the thought of schoolwork stressing them out? Are they worried about the bully from last year?

Consider adjusting your own schedule to make the transition smoother. If possible, it's especially beneficial for parents to be home at the end of the school day for the first week. But many working moms and dads just don't have that flexibility. Instead, try to arrange your evenings so you can give children as much time as they need, especially during those first few days.

If your child is starting a new school, contact the school before the first day

Foundation to arrange a visit. And ask if your child can be paired up with another student, or "buddy," and if you can be connected with other new parents. This will help both of you with the adjustment to new people and surroundings. Some schools give children maps to use until things become more familiar.

To help ease back-toschool butterflies, try to transition children into a consistent school-night routine several days before school starts. Also make sure that they: get enough sleep (establish a reasonable bedtime so that they'll be well-rested and ready to learn in the morning) eat a healthy breakfast (they're more alert and do better in school if they eat a good breakfast every day) write down the needto-know info to help them remember details such as what time classes and lunch start and end, teachers' and/or bus drivers' names, etc use a wall calendar or personal planner to record when assignments are due, tests will be given, extracurricular practices and rehearsals will be held, etc have them organise and set out what they need the night before (homework and books should be put in their backpacks by the door and clothes should be laid out in their bedrooms) Although it's normal to be anxious in any new situation, a few children develop real physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches, associated with the start of school. If you're concerned that your

child's worries go beyond the normal back-to-school jitters, speak with your child's doctor, teacher, or school counsellor.

a new lunchbox and a set of pens, pencils, binders, etc, helps get them geared up for going back to school.)

Back-to-School To-Do's

Have your children received all necessary immunisations?

Have you filled out any forms that the school has sent home, such as emergency contact and health information forms?

Do the school nurse and teachers know about any medical conditions your child may have, particularly food allergies, asthma, diabetes, and any other conditions that may need to be managed during the school day?

Have you made arrangements with the school nurse to administer any medications your child might need?

Do the teachers know about any conditions that may affect how your child learns? For example, children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should be seated in the front of the room, and a child with vision problems should sit near the board.

Parents themselves can be a little nervous about the first day of school, especially if they're seeing their little one off for the first time or if their child will be attending a new school.

To help make going to school a little easier on everyone, here's a handy checklist:

What to wear, bring, and eat:

Does the school have a dress code? Are there certain things students can't wear?

Will children need a change of clothes for PE or art class?

Do your children have a safe backpack that's lightweight, with two wide, padded shoulder straps, a waist belt, a padded back, and multiple compartments?

Do children know not to overload their backpacks and to stow them safely at home and school?

Will your children buy lunch at school or bring it from home? If they buy a school lunch, how much will it cost per day or per week?

Have you stocked up on all of the necessary school supplies?

(Letting children pick out

Medical issues:

(Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

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s school approaches, music is a great way to introduce children to sounds and words! Research indicates that exposure to music has numerous benefits for a child's development.

Music promotes language acquisition, listening skills, memory, and motor skills. Songs introduce new words, often ones that rhyme or repeat, which makes them easy to learn. Singing also facilitates bonds between adult and child.

Here are some helpful hints on making music a part of your daily life as well as a list of recommended musical recordings and songbooks for you to try.

Make music a part of your daily life The following are suggestions on how to make music a part of your child's everyday life.

Sing to your baby any chance you get. Smile while you are singing. Sing any song you know.

Encourage your child to join in. Singing introduces words, nonsense sounds, rhymes and rhythms, all in an enjoyable package.

Play music CDs or audiotapes to inspire your child to listen, move, dance, and sing along. Play them in the car or at home.

Singing to your baby even while changing a diaper is a wonderful way to communicate and bond with him or her. Here's a song to try, sung to the tune of "This is the way we…"(which can be used at any time of day by changing the lyrics to fit the activity): This is the way we change your diaper Change your diaper Change your diaper This is the way we change your diaper And now you're clean and dry – hey!

Fit songs into your daily routine, before and during mealtimes, and at bedtime.

Encourage your child to feel the rhythm of the music. Dance, clap, and sway to the sounds.

Join your toddler while watching quality children's videos – A Young Children's Concert with Raffi is great fun.

Look at songbooks together.

If you play guitar or piano, get one with musical notations so you can play while you and your child sing.

Look at illustrated versions of songs. Toddlers and preschoolers can open flaps, for example, while singing along.

Recommended music recordings for babies and toddlers 40 Winks by Jessica Harper An award-winning recording, this will please parents as well as young children.

Classic Nursery Rhymes by Susie Tallman Remind yourself of familiar nursery rhymes and learn new ones from this fine collection.

Don't limit these great songs to bedtime; listen whenever quiet music fits your child's day.

Mozart Effect: Music for Babies from Playtime to Sleepytime by various artists A variety of Mozart's music chosen especially to soothe young children.

Recommended music recordings for toddlers and preschoolers: Come Dance by the Ocean by Ella Jenkins These songs include those that celebrate the environment as well as those that reinforce concepts such as numbers and the alphabet.

Let's Play by Raffi From the traditional "If You're Happy and You Know It" to the pop hit "Yellow Submarine," this collection is another great one by this favourite children's performer.

Recommended songbooks: If You're Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands: A Pop-Up Book by David A Carter Your child will enjoy pulling tabs to make a chicken flap its wings, an owl wink, and other actions in this lively children's song.

The Kingfisher Nursery Rhyme Songbook by Sally Emerson One of the few large collections available, this valuable resource features 40 songs with lyrics and music for piano and guitar.

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback This silly, familiar folk song takes on new life with awardwinning illustrations that offer humour for adults as well as children.

The Wheels on the Bus by Paul O Zelinsky This pop-up book has tabs, flaps, turning wheels, and whooshing wipers that add another dimension to this popular song. (Excerpt from readingrockets. org)

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mondAY, august 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt orders Hope rice farmers to appear in court – over unpaid 2017 rent; former AG vows to seek adjournment, return these farmers to appear in court tomorrow.”

The case

Hope Estate farmers with Members of Parliament Anil Nandlall (centre in suit) and Dharamkumar Seeraj (right) earlier this year

G

overnment has moved against rice farmers of Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who have not been paying the increased land rental rates for the year 2017, with tenants being ordered to appear before the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court.

In a letter seen by Guyana Times, one of the farmers was ordered to make an appearance at the court, where she would appear before an Assessment Committee examining the matter. It was

noted that an investigation would be carried out irrespective of whether they showed up or not.

In a statement on the matter, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall derided the fact that the farmers were summoned while he was out of the country.

Nandlall reminded the procedure that must be followed when increasing rentals.

“Rice farmers at Hope Estate are being taken to court by this Government for failing to pay a unilateral im-

position of increase in land rents by several hundred per cent. Rents for rice lands can only be lawfully increased with the mutual agreement of both the Landlord and the Tenant.

“Unilateral increase of rents for rice lands is in violation of the Rice Farmers (Security of Tenure Act). I wrote Hope Estate for these farmers last year explaining the legal position.

A year after and while I am out of the country, they have issued summons to

Airline slams “unlawful” blocking of launch in Guyana

– says Govt’s legal window to object to airline name long expired

W

A Guyana Airways plane

ith the prospect of a legal challenge looming, authorities of the Guyana Airways Corporation Inc are questioning Government’s motive for blocking its entrance to the market…over a name.

In a statement issued over the weekend, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Colin Abrams, revealed that his company has so far hired 120 Guyanese, and has a robust hiring programme for local youths as flight attendants.

In addition, his hiring programme includes Dispatchers, Aircraft Engineers and Air Marshals.

With the opportunities for these individuals now held up, Dr Abrams is demanding

answers on the recent move by the Deeds and Commercial Registry to have the company de-registered because its name coincides with the former Guyana Airways.

“Can someone please explain to me why this Government is blocking their youth from starting their high paying airline jobs? The youth of Linden, Georgetown, Buxton and everywhere else in the country, who have been placed in our hiring pool, cannot start working simply because the Government is hung up on our name. “The Government had the legal right to object within the 6-month time period after we received our corporate registration, (but they) failed to do their due diligence,” Dr

Abrams has said.

“Fast forward two years, they illegally and lawlessly unregistered my company just like that, without prior notification,” Dr Abrams complained.

“It’s similar to a priest asking the congregation if there were any objections before he pronounced the couple man and wife. Then, two years later, after the couple were married and had kids, revoked their marriage certificate for frivolous reasons,” Dr Abrams explained.

He is questioning whether the competition fears Guyana Airways Corporation Inc entering the market.

He noted that the airline is made up of Guyanese, and moreover, offers affordable rates.

“The legacy carriers do not have an AB Initio pilot program offering our local pilots an opportunity of advancement flying heavy jets. The legacy carriers do not have a hiring program for our local youth as flight attendants; and also, (there is) nothing for Aircraft Dispatchers, Aircraft Engineers or Air Marshals. We do. We have so far hired 120 Guyanese citizens, with more interviews and hiring to come in all of the above categories,” Dr Abrams explained. turn to page 10

Earlier this year, the Government had given notice of its intention to repossess land being leased by a number of these farmers at Hope Estate, ECD, for falling behind in their rent.

In a letter seen by this publication, farmers were instructed by Attorney and Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) Chairman Omadatt Chandan to “quit and deliver possession” of their land.

But these requests resulted in these farmers and their legal representatives taking a stand.

In one case, Khemchan Sukhlall, a tenant of De Hoop, Mahaica, was ordered to hand over 16 acres of rice land situated at Nooten Zuil… all within one month of receiving the notice. The notice, dated January 16, 2018, was signed by Chandan who identified himself as an agent of Hope Estate Coconut Industries Ltd. Back then, Nandlall, who had visited several of the farmers alongside fel-

low Member of Parliament Dharamkumar Seeraj, had issued a warning to the Agriculture Ministry via letter; stating that the farmers are protected by the Rice Farmers (Security of Tenure) Act. Section Five (1,d) stipulates that a notice to eviction cannot be issued outside what the Act permits.

Nandlall had informed the Ministry that he instructed the farmers to ignore the notice since the law gives them a regime of security of tenure. He had informed the Ministry that its letter is not only premature and precipitous, but it flies in the face of the Act. “In short, rents chargeable for rice lands cannot be increased and a tenant of rice lands cannot be removed from possession except by the procedures outlined by the Act. We are not aware that any such procedures have been initiated or undertaken,” Nandlall stated.

Nandlall further explained to Guyana Times that these farmers have been in possession of their land for several years. These lands, he noted, provide the only source of livelihood for them

and their families.

It is understood that farmers were paying $3000 per acre in 2015. But in the ensuing years, the farmers’ rents were increased to some $15,000 per acre. But with many contending that rice has fallen on hard times, they have already indicated that this increase will be hard to pay.

In 2016, the Government in a well touted deal had arranged to export rice to Mexico. The Agriculture Ministry subsequently disclosed that 17,000 tonnes of paddy were shipped to Mexico in a deal said to be worth some US$17 million (GY$3 billion), and 43,000 tonnes more will be shipped to the Central American country over the next few months.

However, the days of farmers getting premium rates for their paddy crops have since passed, following the end of the PetroCaribe (rice-for-oil) deal which was cancelled by Venezuela in 2015. Under that arrangement, farmers accrued some $9000 per bag of paddy, but this has been reduced to between $1800 and $2500, depending on location.

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mondAY, august 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Murdered 3-year-old

Mother should be incarcerated – psychologist Meltdown… …but should also receive necessary treatment I I n light of the recent tragedy where threeyear-old Ramdeo Ferriera of Lot 585 15th Street, Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was brutally stabbed to death by his mother; Psychologist, Dr Dawn Stewart is holding out that the woman should be incarcerated for committing the heinous crime.

In the same breath, she added that the woman should be psychologically evaluated and the necessary treatment provided.

Weighing in on the issue, Stewart told Guyana Times that it is a form of mental illness to believe that it is in the best interest for someone’s child or children to die.

“There is a category of mental illness where a parent can suffer a psychotic episode and actually believe that it is in the child’s best interest to die” the doctor disclosed.

The psychologist stated that these episodes such as maltreatment, overzealous discipline or neglect could be brought on as a result of severe depression or worry in addition to other factors.

26-year-old Brenda Ferreira murdered her three-year-old son

Making an inference, Dr Stewart explained “Things could be such like, parents that are angry over another parent that would prompt them to want to kill their child… the signs are in most cases persons are depressed, they are worried about something, they are fermented so to speak but most of the times; they are under a great amount of stress”.

The psychologist further noted that another sign that should be searched for to de-

termine whether someone indeed suffered a mental episode is the fact that the frustration in most cases is usually directed to children under the age of five.

She explained “Sometimes the child’s death is not to be the goal of the parental action but it is an action of the parent to kill the child and usually, these children are under the age of five. Often times, they beat them to death rather than actually stabbing or shooting them.

An actual psychotic episode brought on by some schizophrenia or some postpartum depression or some type of depression could also lead to that… those are some of the things that you see in research that actually coordinate with the killing of children”.

However, Dr Stewart posited that if found guilty of the crime, they should be incarcerated but should also have a psychological assessment…“not to deter the incarceration but to assist them in knowing what type of treatment is needed”.

It was reported that the lad was killed after his mother pursued him with a knife and later stabbed him to his neck and back.

He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) by ranks attached to the Enmore Police Outpost who were called to the scene by neighbours who were informed of what transpired by the child’s four-yearold brother but succumbed to his injuries at around 12:00h.

His 26-year-old mother, Brenda Ferreira, after her arrest told Police that she dreamt she was going to die on Saturday and as such, did not want to leave her favourite child (Ramdeo) behind. As such, she decided to kill him.

According to the woman’s 50-year-old reputed husband, Shamlall Mahadeo, his wife started to act strangely on Tuesday last however, after reporting this to the Police, no one showed up.

“Since Tuesday night like she start trip out, and she talking all kind of thing and making plenty noise. I went to the Enmore Police Station and report it, and them never come! The neighbours all report it, but (Police) nah come! Them only come after she done kill the boy!

That was she favourite one. Just this morning (Saturday) he was telling me ‘Daddy, bye-bye’, when I was going to work,” the man said amidst his tears.

He added that his wife was in the habit of neglecting the children, which would cause them to have arguments. The Childcare and Protection Agency (CC&PA) was even called in on one occasion but found no one at home on the day of their visit and never returned to the East Coast home.

If incarcerated, the Guyana Prison Service would be unable to treat the young mother as it was recently revealed at a Commission of Inquiry that no resources, financial or human, is available to deal with mentally ill prisoners.

(Kizzy Coleman)

…in Venezuela

f there was any doubt that Venezuela’s meltdown had reached a point of no-return, it was put to rest by the US Congressional Delegation’s visit to Guyana and its other neighbours. With 2.3 million refugees having fled a country with the largest reserves of oil in the world – even more than Saudi Arabia! – neighbours like Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia may be more willing to consider the most radical ‘solution” to this regional crisis: regime change via military intervention.

When President Trump suggested that option last year, Caribbean and Latin America quickly objected, but a lot of water has since flowed under the bridge. Over in Brazil, locals in Roraima state, bordering Venezuela, have turned violent against Venezuelan refugees after their services were overwhelmed. Roraima, after all, earned the reputation as “the armpit of Brazil” because it’s the most underdeveloped state in that country – a thousand miles from glittering Sao Paulo and Rio. While the world has become transfixed by refugees streaming from the Middle East into Europe, 1.5 million Venezuelans have ended up in Colombia, a country already wracked by poverty and drugs. Across one bridge alone, over 35,000 Venezuelans trek across daily with their miserly possessions slung across their backs. After accepting 400,000 refugees, Peru has started to tighten up on its regulations. Ecuador has already done the same.

And it’ll only get worse. Venezuelan inflation has crossed the ONE MILLION PERCENT mark, and Maduro has had to lop off five zeroes from the value of the Bolivar! That’s 100,000% devaluation, which has wiped out the value of all savings!! Floating a crypto currency is an act of desperation! Venezuela can’t meet its contractual obligations to ship its oil to customers to the tune of 600,000 barrels per day!! In the meantime, there are shortages of even basic foodstuffs in the country – much less pharmaceuticals.

And how did all of this start? With the presumably “good” intentions of Hugo Chavez, who railed against “American Imperialism” and nationalised a wide swathe of foreign businesses in Venezuela – including Exxon’s.

He wanted to “help the poor” by directing oil revenues directly to them – and even tweaked the US’ nose by offering free oil to US inner-city ghettoes!!

Venezuela developed the classic Dutch Disease when the nationalised businesses collapsed and oil revenues were used to fill the gap.

When oil prices collapsed by 2014 – by which time Chavez had unexpectedly died and his successor was the inept Maduro – the Venezuelan economy imploded.

Your Eyewitness is worried that Maduro might try to rouse nationalistic sentiments to gain support by invading Essequibo.

As such, he supports that military intervention to staunch the implosion of Venezuela. But it must be led by regional forces.

…and Guyana déjà vu

Older Guyanese reading the above – or younger ones who know their history – would be struck by the parallels between the present collapse of the Venezuelan economy and that of ours under Burnham back in the 1970s. Like Chavez, Burnham was a “socialist” who wanted to “help the poor”, and railed against US and British “imperialism”. He nationalised foreign firms, and saw them collapse after he placed them in the hands of his ideologues!! Refugees poured out of Guyana, and we now have large communities in Suriname, Venezuela, New York and Toronto. We ended up with one of the largest per capita debt burdens in the world. Rats started eating babies’ toes at GPHC! Luckily, the Cold War ended and the PPP Government painstakingly rebuilt the economy, to move us from being a Highly Indebted Poor Country into a Middle Income Country. But now that the PNC’s back in office and oil has been found, its socialist proclivities have resurfaced.

Witness the crescendo of demands that oil revenues flow directly to the poor!! While sugar is killed!!

…and confrontation?

USAID has pumped in $56 million to assist with the refugees…but it’s a drop in the ocean. The US also deployed a Naval Medical Ship off Colombia to help. But so have the Chinese!!

And they’ll oppose military intervention for sure!

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

News

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mondAY, august 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jagdeo slams Govt for ‘hostile rhetoric’ towards GGDMA O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has dubbed the coalition Government’s response to concerns expressed by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) as unhelpful ‘hostile rhetoric.’

Jagdeo was referring to a recent statement issued by the GGDMA where it called for an immediate investigation into the execution of a miner who was working legally on a legal claim, among other issues.

The former Head of State said, “I am concerned about the hostile rhetoric

by Government in response to GGDMA… The GGDMA was factual… talked about the state of the road, taxes, harassment of miners, corruption in the sector and bullyism.”

Jagdeo said rather than responding to the concerns raised by the Association, the Government, he said, “we saw threatening rhetoric coming from the Government.”

Jagdeo repeated his call for Government to pay attention to the concerns of the miners, given the importance of the mining sector to Guyana’s economy.

“It seems that some people are totally seduced by the lure of oil, that they believe that we can just wait for oil to save use,” the Opposition Leader opined.

The GGDMA had called for a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to be launched into the death of a Brazilian miner who was shot and killed by two Police Officers in Puruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The Association made calls via a strongly worded statement to the media on Wednesday which highly condemned the action, and more so the officers, who committed that act.

“No one in the Government is doing anything to help miners, they

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

are just applying pressure.

We are demanding our respect… there seems to be no one in charge of the mining sector and the Government is yet to articulate its policy on continued mining in Guyana,” the GGDMA stated in the release.

The organisation bashed the Finance Ministry for not addressing issues within the sector.

“When the Minister of Finance takes to the media to bemoan and lament the dismal performance of the Guyanese economy, he must address the outstanding issues under his portfolio that are negatively impacting the industry and then look squarely in the face of his colleagues who, for the last four years, have mismanaged and neglected the industry which carried Guyana on its back,” the GGDMA added in its release.

In addition, the body said it has taken note of the increasing levels of bullyism which is seemingly going unnoticed by the Government, which is clearly responsible for the downturn in the mining sector.

“There is an increasing level of bullyism taking place and public officers are clearly operating outside the law without conse-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

quence… death, corruption and frustration are now the pillars on which the current Government seems to be moulding the industry”.

Against this backdrop, the Association said “Mining is surely on the down turn and the blame for this lies squarely at the feet of the current Government”.

It complained that is has now been more than three years since the coalition Government took office and the President is still refusing to meet with the largest Private Sector employer in the country. “We will not take it anymore.”

Government, through the Natural Resources Ministry, responded stating its concern regarding the miner’s death. “We trust that there will be an expeditious and fair hearing to determine all of the relevant facts and that justice will be served,” it said.

However, in response to the criticisms over the purported failure of Government to address the concerns of the industry, it said that was far from the truth.

“The miners in particular, and the public in general, will recall the numerous efforts made by various Ministries to support the mining community by pro-

viding greater incentives for fuel and spares, granting duty-free concessions, assisting with the establishment of the National Mining Syndicate and providing mining lands to name but a few of the initiatives that have been introduced and are ongoing.”

Further, the Ministry said the GGDMA speaks of respect and yet has publicly challenged President David Granger on issues such as mercury eradication following his attendance at the First Conference of Parties for the Minimata Convention, and given ulti-

matum for a meeting to be held.

“The Government of Guyana takes issue with the insinuation that the GGDMA has been disrespected by it and wishes to place on record that it endeavours to treat respectfully, all persons, group and organisations in its interfaces.

Respect begets respect and if respect is demanded, it first has to be given and be deserving,” it added.

Government said too that it can well appreciate the nervousness of some miners that the emerging green economy and imminent oil

production will displace their standing and wishes to assure that the gold mining industry will remain an indelible feature of Guyana’s economy and culture.

“It is time the GGDMA decided whether it is a political pressure group and a body representing the interests of an elite group, or a partner in national development. The Government of Guyana waits with great expectation for meaningful and respectful engagement, and meanwhile, will continue its efforts to ensure a better organised and regulated mining industry.”

Aurora Gold Mine conducts recruitment drive in Linden

S

everal Lindeners have benefited from a recent recruitment drive exercise conducted by Aurora Gold Mine (AGM) Inc. The exercise which was conducted at the Linden Technical Institute (LTI) saw over 200 persons in attendance.

The company’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Leon Roberts said while the exercise was conducted in several other regions, the opportunity was also extended to Linden, given its wide array of skill set in the mining area.

He noted that recognising there was a pool of skills available in communities where the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) would have laid off employees or when the estates would have either closed or downsized, the company felt it represented a great opportunity to update its skills database.

Roberts said this was done in an effort to have an idea in terms of what skills were available from those areas.

“And as those vacancies

Aurora Gold Mine Public Relations Officer, Leon Roberts

become available we would have persons who we could call on to fill those positions.

But, we wanted to extend that opportunity not only to the employees along the sugar belt but also from other areas across Guyana,” he indicated.

The PRO added that AGM has a variety of job opportunities suitable for the interests of many, including cooks, heavy-duty operators, lab technicians, water plant

operators, security operators and others.

He said the exercise allowed persons to highlight their skills, which is matched by the company.

“Linden is traditionally a pool of skills, readily available to the mining industry and so we wanted to also give our potential employees from this area a chance to indicate what their skills and interests are. So that when those positions become available we can match them to the persons,” he noted.

“If there’s a particular vacancy for a particular skill that you have right now then you’ll be employed on the spot...if not...then we’ll add you to our skills database,” the PRO added.

At the exercise, officials interacted with those in attendance, as they explained the guiding principles and operations of the company as it relates to safety.

According to Roberts, as the company seeks to expand, it is set to become Guyana’s largest mining company. turn to page 10

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mondAY, august 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

$132M non-payment to rice farmers

Panama buyers ‘sweet talk’ Rice Board – Essequibo miller – miller denies victimising farmers

L

ongtime Essequibo rice miller Wazir Hussain was recently cited as being the ‘chief offender’ with regards to the over $132 million that farmers are owed in outstanding payments for their produce. During last week, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder slammed the prolonged delay and even signalled that sanctions should be brought against errant millers since the extended period of non-payment violates the Rice Factories Act. However, in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times, Hussain absolved himself of the blame, telling this publication that the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is largely responsible for the delay.

“As millers, we told GRDB don’t sell the rice to Panama. The Panama people come in and swar GRDB again and they sign the contract for millers to supply but I did not supply back because I didn’t get paid,” he noted.

In 2014, the previous Administration inked a rice deal in a Government-to-

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

Government arrangement with Panama which was expected to reach 600,000 tonnes by 2020. However, over time, some millers have lost favour with the deal, owing to what they contend is the GRDB’s inaction to garner the payments within a stipulated time frame.

This position was reiterated by Hussain, whose family has been in rice production for 25 years. He said because buyers are not

Airline slams...

from page 7

This publication, in its quest to seek answers on the controversy, reached out to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and his deputy, Annette Ferguson. However, calls to the Ministers went unanswered.

When contacted on Sunday, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Director Egbert Fields distanced himself from the matter. He noted that getting the airline registered falls between the Registrar and the company.

“I wait for them to sub-

mit their paper work based on if it is proven that the business is legitimate, and then I proceed. But what is happening is between the registrar and (company).

When they sort out the matter, then I proceed after,” he related, declining to comment further.

The Airline, two weeks ago, held an open day wherein it was announced that operations are expected to commence in October, with several Caribbean destinations and ultimately the United States of America being targeted.

Aurora Gold Mine... from page 9

“The type of underground mining we’re considering allows a truck to drive down the shaft...and it allows you to go down maybe a kilometer...So that shift in the orientation of your thinking when it comes to understanding what underground mining will entail and what would become necessary, that’s what we want to address...,” he added.

In this regard, he noted that underground miners and safety personnel as well as engineers are definitely needed. AGM’s Administration Manager Peter Benny stated that the company was hoping to acquire a wide array of skills throughout the country as he noted that the response so far has been overwhelming.

He said Linden alone,

which has proven to have a significant amount of skills for mining, saw over 200 applicants. “...it has been a very good turnout from the young people, lots of men and several women. We hope that in the not so distant future we will be engaging some of those skills to work permanently or temporarily...,” he explained.

In addition, he stated that the company started a programme to encourage more women in the areas of mechanics, electric work and operations, which he pointed out has already seen some women from Linden on board. He also encourages more women to get on board as he noted that there are strict policies in place to protect them.

handing over all of the payments to the GRDB to pay millers, they in turn owe the farmers.

“We got a contract with the GRDB, we didn’t have a contract with Panama and when GRDB doesn’t pay us, we owe the farmers. If GRDB pays us, we didn’t hold the farmers at ransom; it’s directly that we didn’t have the money after selling the product to GRDB,” the miller said.

However, rice farmer and Essequibo Paddy Producers’ Association Head, Naithram, observed last week that rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast “are being held at ransom by many millers.”

Ram said too that farmers are fearful of taking millers to court out of concern that they would be victimised. He lamented that

firm actions were needed, suggesting that some farmers were having difficulties sustaining their families. Nevertheless, miller Hussain denied claims of victimisation.

“There is no victimising.

Its 25 years we are milling and farmers support us with paddy. We wouldn’t want to victimise the man who doing business with us. We want farmers as customers.

GRDB never tries to pay us,” he noted.

The popular Essequibo miller went on to say that the GRDB had called him and fellow millers to a meeting with representatives from Panama.

“We explained that we will not supply rice until we get paid and people said within three weeks, they would pay off the money on contract 22. They paid some

on contract 400 and GRDB put it in the newspaper that millers get paid all the money on contract 400; now the famers will feel that (millers) get paid because they don’t understand the contracts have numbers so any persons who is not a miller or doesn’t understand the industry will say ‘millers get paid’,” Hussain explained.

“Naithram doesn’t understand the industry or which contract he’s talking about... millers did not get paid on contract 22 and we crediting rice for one year to Panama,” the miller further added.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) had quoted Naithram as saying that the non-payment was “negatively affecting the rice industry and the livelihood of rice farmers.” According to Government information,

the GRDB noted that millers on the Essequibo Coast owe farmers more than $132 million for paddy supplied from the first crop, with a popular Essequibo miller owing “97 per cent of that figure”.

In response, Minister Holder said millers must not be allowed to mistreat rice farmers and withhold payments. He pointed out that if millers are not treating the farmers justly, then the GRDB could explore withholding milling licences as the law stipulates.

However, the Guyana Rice Millers Association (GRMA) has steadily maintained that millers are signing agreements with the GRDB and not with the buyers in Panama. On this basis, GRDB has an obligation to pay millers, the body contended.

news

Uitvlugt flying knives incident

Low-quality of sugar allegedly produced from spoilage

Uitvlugt Estate

A

head of the start of this week’s investigation into the recent flying knives incident at Uitvlugt Sugar Estate, West Coast Demerara, the impact of the cane shredder breaking has reportedly extended to a substandard quality of produce.

On August 11, 2018, workers fled for their lives when the cane shredder became uncontrollable and 64 of 70 knives became airborne. The machine was down for over a week and $18 million worth of reaped cane was said to be spoiling. However, several tonnes were salvaged after the estate’s turbine had to be replaced with one from the defunct La Bonne Intention (LBI) factory.

Guyana Times learnt that of the cane that was salvaged, 110 tonnes was produced

last week. However, according to information obtained, the grains were “grainy” as opposed to coarse crystals which are consistent with a higher quality of produce.

While the two-week investigation will garner answers into what led to the breakdown; the preliminary assessment is that the recent mishap caused the reduction in the quality of sugar produced.

“They get sugar but it’s not in the right form,” a Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) employee related.

From Tuesday, GuySuCo’s Chief Industrial Relations Manager, Deodat Sukhoo will head an investigation into the incident. On the day in question, workers at the Uitvlugt factory ran for cover after 64 out of 70 knives

became dislodged and were flying through the air.

There were initial inquiries by senior officers of GuySuCo who visited the Uitvlugt factory when it broke down and millions’ worth of cane was left to spoil. This newspaper reported that the Chief Industrial Relations Manager will be making periodic visits to the factory, where he will meet the workers involved and obtain their version of events and how it unfolded when the Number Two turbine lost control. His report could outline possible sanctions if “negligence” is determined. The damage to the cane shredder resulted in millions of losses, at the expense of the State.

The knives, weighing approximately 20 lbs each and made out of carbon steel, came flying out of the knife shaft. Two Sundays ago, it was stated that over 300 tonnes of sugar canes in punts were seen waiting to be processed and that some of the canes began to smell.

It was reported also 10 parts from the turbine were destroyed.

Guyana Times reported too that management at Uitvlugt attempted to salvage the situation by opting to produce molasses which is a key ingredient in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages.

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mondAY, august 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

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mondAY, august 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Finance Minister tours DDL operations

– holds wide-ranging discussions on initiatives to spur Private Sector manufacturing ses; the company’s ongoing efforts to increase exports of its premium branded rum on the international market; the intensification of its di-

to widen the range of fruit juices it offers to include more locally grown fruits and even vegetables. As a result, it was agreed that

Samaroo informed Minister Jordan that DDL last week held discussions with Agriculture Minister Noel Holder and a pro-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan examines a bottle during his visit to the DDL bottling plant

F

inance Minister Winston Jordan and a team from his Ministry on Thursday toured the operations of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, during which he held wide-ranging discussions on initiatives to help spur local manufacturing, including expansion of the company’s manufacturing operations.

To this end, Minister Jordan reiterated Government’s commitment to enhanced collaboration with the Private Sector to ensure an enabling environment that would facilitate the success, not only of DDL’s development programme, but of Private

Sector manufacturing initiatives in general.

According to a report from the Department of Public Information (DPI), the Finance Minister pointed to the need for increased local manufacturing that utilises local produce and raw material so that small farmers and other suppliers who meet the required quality standards can be assured of guaranteed markets for their supplies.

DDL’s Executive Chairman, Komal Samaroo, briefed the Minister on the company’s current and planned projects which include the expansion of the its packaging plant to facilitate the introduction of a variety of new products; the

relocation of its Topco juice plant; the opening of its new 45,000 square foot warehouse in late October that will serve as the new headquarters of Distribution Services Limited (DSL); and the introduction of a solar farm to meet the energy needs of the company.

Minister Jordan also had an on-the-spot look at the proposed new land use programme for the area which was approved by Cabinet last week following discussions between Public Infrastructure Ministry and DDL. During a working lunch at the company’s Heritage Centre, the teams discussed the current situation regarding the supply of molas-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan and DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo listen as DDL Projects Manager Kenneth Ragnauth explains the layout of new facilities in the DDL expansion programme

versification programme; measures that would enhance the competitiveness of local products seeking export markets; and the training of required skills in science and technology to meet the future demands of the manufacturing sector.

Minister Jordan also pointed to the need for DDL

one area of collaboration between the Government and DDL should be the mobilisation of farmers by the Agriculture Ministry to grow and supply fruits and vegetables which would meet the required standards for processing, packaging and sale on the local and international markets.

gramme of action is to be developed to move this process forward. This included that DDL also meet with Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Ivelaw Griffith to discuss DDL’s support for a food technology laboratory at the country’s leading tertiary learning facility.

‘G’ Division leading the way in community engagement projects

Deputy Superintendent Patrick Todd and Senior Superintendent Rishi Das, along with recipients at the La Grange exercise

“P

art of our mandate is to have meaningful engagements with our community and ensure that public trust is maintained.”

This statement was made by ‘G’ Division Police Deputy Superintendent Patrick Todd at a simple ceremony held at Pouderoyen Village, West Bank Demerara, where less-fortunate children were presented with school bags in an exercise arranged by the No. 2 Subdivision of ‘G’ Division, Guyana Police Force.

The Department of Public Information reported that Superintendent Todd,

in his address to the parents and students, said, “We recognised a long time ago that, as Police officers, we need to be more involved in the lives of our residents. Our gesture this afternoon is fruitful because junior and senior officers of this subdivision pooled their resources together and decided to engage our children, who are the future of tomorrow.”

Commander of ‘G’ Division, Snr Superintendent Rishi Das, in an invited comment, commended the officers for such a noble gesture. “This is not the first engagement we have had with our communi-

ties. We have a track record when it comes to engaging our citizens, and I will continue on the foundation laid by my predecessors,” Das pledged.

“There is a playground at Cornelia Ida which we are currently upgrading for the benefit of our people; and in the not-too-distant future, I plan to hold scheduled community outreaches so as to maintain the public trust and solicit their advice on the way forward,” Das promised.

Students of schools at Wales and La Grange have benefited from a similar exercise. continued on page 13

news

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mondAY, august 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Education Minister assesses schools’ readiness for Sept 3 opening

Education Minister Nicolette Henry being briefed by Special Projects Officer, Ron Eastman on the ongoing works at Cummings Lodge Secondary

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he positive minded Education Minister, Nicolette Henry, on Saturday visited a few schools around Georgetown and on the East Coast of Demerara to assess their readiness for the new school year scheduled to begin on Monday, September 3.

This was according to a statement issued by the Ministry which detailed a report of each of the schools’ readiness.

The Minister’s visit

comes at a time where education officials across the country are sitting at the edge of their seats, with their fingers crossed since more than 7000 teachers are expected to go on strike from today.

The proposed strike is expected to start one week before the new school term begins, during schools’ preterm activities. According to the President of the Guyana Tachers’ Union, Mark Lyte, if head teachers are going

to be on strike then they need to hand over the school keys to the Department of Education before actions commence.

Meanwhile, some temporary teachers are of the view that if they were to go on strike, they will be replaced by trained teachers who are waiting to get into the system. Lyte added that they could go to work and still be laid off because they are temporary.

Minister Henry did say measures will be put in place if the teachers strike.

Some of those measures she outlined are working a shift system in schools and having volunteers take over schools among others.

However, on Friday, Lyte said he finds the Minister’s proposal hilarious.

“I don’t know if the Minister understood what it took for us to have teachers.

We are not replaceable. Let us see what this emergency plan is because somebody will have to conduct my orientation when the parents show up on Monday; me nor none of my teachers will be in school,” Lyte said after being assured that many of the head teachers had already

‘G’ Division leading...

A total of 100 bags were distributed at the three locations. Speaking at both Wales and La Grange, Snr Superintendent Das said service to the people is the primary objective of the Force, and protection is a must.

“We at the ‘G’ Division believe strongly in community development, and we know that we must play a role in ensuring our people benefit.

Since I have assumed office here in Region Three, I have noticed the need to continue engaging you, our most valuable stakeholders; and let me assure you that once you work with me as I work with you, our region will be the best,” Commander Das stated.

Parents of students receiving backpacks thanked the Police Force for what they consider a timely and

from page 12

meaningful engagement.

Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara, Region Three, has, over the last two months, seen similar exercises, including the Regional Administration making timely donations (school bags and academic accessories) to students. The Private Sector Association of Region Three has also recently been doing its part.

handed in their keys to the Department of Education.

Lyte was on Friday absent from the conciliation talks, which were organised by the Social Protection Ministry’s Department of Labour for the Union and the Education Ministry to meet and discuss a way forward.

According to Lyte, he was unable to attend the meeting since he was out of the region on duty and only received an official invite on Friday morning.

He indicated that he would have received yet another invitation for a meeting with the same parties, which is now expected to be held on August 28; day two into the strike action.

Lyte said he is yet to confirm his attendance to that meeting.

The GTU has rejected Government’s request for teachers to agree to a debunching payoff of $200 million for 2018/19. Lyte said the Union similarly rejected the $700 million cap

that was placed on salary increases which was for 2018 only. Government also wants the clothing allowance to remain at $8000; a figure Lyte said was given in 2011.

He said, too, that for the Whitley Council Leave, teachers still have to wait four years before getting their one month off, even though the GTU appealed for three years. The Union is seeking 40 per cent salary increases for its 7000 members.

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mondAY, august 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 5 RDC fail to resolve impasse R

egional Councillors on both sides of the house on Thursday last made an attempt to resolve the current impasse which has been affecting Region Five (Mahaica-

Berbice), thus preventing it from having any meaningful meeting since the year commenced.

The tension at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) between the

two sides is not as hostile as it was earlier in the year but the Council still cannot see eye to eye.

At Thursday’s RDC meeting, Councillors admitted that their actions had

Top NGSA students of Canje honoured Acting Regional Chairman Rian Pieters

not been in the best interest of the People of Region Five; and as such, a motion was moved to establish a committee to examine the situation.

However, Guyana Times was told that the two sides could not come to an agreement and the RDC was once again adjourned.

The two sides are at loggerheads over the February meeting. On March 15,

S

2018, when the Council met, Regional Executive Officer Ovid Morrison walked out of the meeting after he tried to evict a media operative from the RDC meeting but his action was viewed as an illegal act and he failed in his bid.

Morrison then staged a walkout and was followed by the coalition Councillors.

After more than an hour, the then Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal, adjourned the meet and the People’s Progressive Party Councillors also left.

After that meeting was adjourned, Morrison returned to the building and appointed a Chairman to continue the meeting.

When the Councillors met for the April meeting, the minutes of the March meeting was looked at since the February minutes were already dealt with. Since then, there were no meaningful discussions between the two sides.

Acting Regional

Chairman, Rian Pieters told media operatives that the meeting which was convened by the REO is being deemed an illegal one.

“The APNU Councillors continue to hold onto their position which is for us to examine the March minutes and refused to allow for the February minutes to be examined which are legally the last minutes of the RDC.” The acting Chairman says Councillors have been advised to attend a meeting before the next RDC in an attempt to arrive at a mutual understanding. He also noted that the substantive Chairman has contacted the Communities Ministry on the issue.

“I believe that once Councillors make a decision; especially the APNU Councillors and allow good sense to prevail and for us to put the people’s business before their narrow political agenda, I am sure that we will be able to move forward.

Some of the recipients pose with their teachers

everal students from primary schools in Canje, Berbice, were honoured by a New York organisation for their exemplary performances at the recently concluded National Grade Six Assessment.

The children each received monetary donations aimed at assisting them with their school materials as the new school year approaches.

Those who benefited from the donation were from Zorg, Gangaram, Adelphi, Rose Hall, Cumberland, Fort Ordinance and Number Two primary schools.

US$150 was given to the top student of each school,

while the second place student in each school received US$125. The third and fourth place students were awarded US$100 each.

The East Canje/New York Organisation consists of persons who are former residents of Canje but are now residing in the United States. The organisation has been making the donations for the past 11 years.

Local representative, Anil Beharry thanked the education system which he said was responsible for the children’s success.

“We want to wish these children well and hope as they get older, they will get

better because our future lies in the hands of these young people,” he said.

Saturday’s project was not the only charitable project for the community undertaken by the East Canje/ New York Organisation but rather, funds are being raised to assist in the development of the Rose Hall Estate Cricket Ground.

Beharry noted that a domino competition is expected to be held in New York and the proceeds will go towards developing the Rose Hall Community Centre Ground; one that was used as a first-class ground for cricket.

Councillors during the last statutory meeting at the RDC Office

Children benefit from social cohesion camp in Region 6

Georgia Mayor visits New Amsterdam

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he New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council on Monday last hosted a welcoming party in honour of the serving Mayor of Stone Crest, Georgia, USA, Jason Lary Snr. The aim of the visit was to have discussions to twin the two towns.

Only recently, Georgia’s Mayor Lary had visited the Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase Green, where similar sentiments were shared.

In New Amsterdam, the Mayor of Georgia told the Town Council there are three keys that can be shared across the nation, which signify political, economic and cultural relationships.

He stressed that if those three keys are truly considered, then “it will change your future forever.”

At a simple ceremony, he advised those in attendances to focus and concentrate on those areas. The visiting Mayor also handed over a key to his City to New Amsterdam Mayor, Winifred Heywood, along

Participants of the social cohesion camp in Canje, Berbice

“T

Mayor of Stone Crest, Georgia Jason Lary Snr handing over a key to New Amsterdam Mayor Winifred Heywood

with a city pin.

Mayor Heywood expressed her gratitude to Mayor Lary and his team for such a timely visit, while noting that she will continue to work toward upholding their twining status.

Heywood is the 66th

Mayor of New Amsterdam which is the oldest town in the country. She is also the second female to hold the post.

New Amsterdam will be celebrating its 127th anniversary in September.

wo is better than one,” and “We cannot do it alone,” were two of the many phrases echoed by the social cohesion officer of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Shurla Scott, as she addressed close to 100 children at the Cumberland Primary School, East Canje, Berbice, on Thursday last.

The children were part of a one-week literacy camp, which aimed at improving the literacy standard of youths in the region.

Scott pointed out that the initiative is one which is being organised by the Canje chapter of the so-

cial cohesion ambassadors. Those ambassadors, she added, were trained at the Ministry’s Diversity, Education and Inclusion Workshop.

At the workshop, the participants were tasked to come up with projects which allowed them to exhibit their understanding of social cohesion. The regional social cohesion officer encouraged the members to work together since it will provide healthier communities, families and friends.

She also mentioned that as a unit they can accomplish anything.

“We are better together and there is strength in

unity,” she said, while explaining the importance of having a good relationship.

“Social cohesion is nurturing individuals and community relationship, in building a unified Guyana,” she added.

Scott engaged the children in games which practically demonstrated ways in which activities can be accomplished when people work together.

She thanked the teachers and parents for their time dedicated, and their efforts made to be part of the training. The camp targeted children between the ages of four to 12.

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VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

Given the $20 increase in minibus fare starting in September, what are your thoughts on the conduct of these operators?

Tiffany Halley “If they want to increase fares, they need to increase service as well. At some point in time, we will need to increase the standard overall. Let’s start with our bus services; let them wear uniforms and let them be trained in customer service so that they can conduct themselves in a proper manner and then we will think about increase of fares.”

Eon Newlon “An increase is always good in pay, especially since these people are providing a service for the various communities in Guyana.”

Eric Gordon “Most of us have been paying that extra $20 for years. Only thing changed is now we can’t argue when the conductor takes it. Short drop has been $60 for a number of years. Almost everything else raise, I think it’s time, everybody has to live.”

Paula Gomes “While I believe that the increase is justified in light of the fluctuating fuel prices among other factors, surely if we as commuters are going to pay more for transportation services, we need to get our

monies worth. Given this, I fully support the move by the Ministry of Business and the United Minibus Union to implement a standard code of conduct for operators as at present in absence of such regulations, commuters are not only exploited but subjected to harassment at the hands of (most) minibus operators and conductors who overload their buses, literally “manhandle” their passengers and subject them to excessively loud vulgar music against their will. By far, the most accommodating and hassle-free transportation I’ve had is with the UG/Industry buses and I support the move to implement same across the board.”

Shabba Atkins “I think they need to adapt a system I see on the West Coast, first come first serve; this will eliminate the rush and tussle.”

Edward Broomes “An operating standard needs to be developed.

However, there is no one to enforce such. It’s just what you say in colloquial terms ‘fight fuh self’.”

Delroy Johnson “The increase will ease a lot of hassle with these conductors because then there wouldn’t be all these arguments; because while some persons will willingly give them the $100 for the short drop, others would want their $20 change so the clarity is welcomed.”

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mondAY, august 27, 2018

Regional

Trinidad and Tobago signs secret gas deal with Venezuela W

ith local reporters barred from entering the room to witness or ask questions about an agreement between the governments of Trinidad and Tobago’s and Venezuela to process and export natural gas from Venezuela’s Dragon gas field, Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley said the details of the deal are “confidential”.

The secret deal will allow Trinidad and Tobago to access gas through a direct line from Venezuela through a joint venture between energy giant Shell, the Venezuela State-owned Petróleos de Venezuela and local company National Gas Company which will create the infrastructure.

Current US Treasury Department sanctions imposed on Venezuela, among other matters, prohibit transactions by a US person or within the US related to the sale, transfer, assign-

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley (left) and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

ment, or pledging as collateral by the Government of Venezuela of any equity interest in any entity in which it has a 50 per cent or greater ownership interest.

In the absence of any detail, it is not known if the new agreement is an attempt to bypass US sanctions and designed to avoid the US banking system entirely, not an easy task in

the energy industry.

Shell’s pipelines, including those in the North Coast Marine Acreage, will be used to transport Dragon’s gas to the Hibiscus platform off the northwest coast of Trinidad, some 11 miles (18 kilometres) away from the gas field. The Hibiscus platform is jointly owned by the Trinidad and Tobago Government and Shell.

The signing of the agreement took place at the Placio de Miraflores in Caracas, with Trinidad and Tobago’s Cabinet ministers there as witnesses, including Energy Minister Franklin Khan; Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Denis Moses; Finance Minister Alyson West; National Security Minister Stuart Young; and Sport Minister Shamfa Cudjoe, as well as executives from Shell and NGC and Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and his officials. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Venezuela migrant crisis: Peru receives asylum requests

Venezuelans are fleeing their country’s political and economic crises. Ecuador provided buses to take Venezuelans across its territory from the Colombian border to the Peruvian border

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undreds of Venezuelans have requested asylum in Peru, an official has said, just hours after the country tightened its entry requirements. New rules require Venezuelans trying to enter Peru to have a passport, and not just an identity card as before.

Similar regulations were introduced in Ecuador last week, only to be overturned by a court. Tens of thou-

sands of Venezuelans are fleeing their country amid chronic shortages of food and medicines.

The country’s longstanding economic crisis has seen more than two million citizens leave since 2014, causing regional tensions as neighbouring countries struggle to accommodate them.

Like other South American nations, Peru is trying to control the in-

flux of people escaping Venezuela’s economic crisis. The UN – whose migration agency has warned that the continent faces a refugee “crisis moment” similar to that seen in the Mediterranean in 2015 – is setting up a special team to co-ordinate the regional response.

The authorities in Lima set a deadline of midnight on Friday for the new passport rules to come into

force. Many Venezuelans have been looking to start a new life in Peru – which has one of the region’s fastest growing economies – travelling there via Colombia and Ecuador. On Friday there was a rush of people heading to the Peruvian border and Ecuador created what it called a “humanitarian corridor” by laying on buses to take migrants through the country. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Colombian anti-corruption referendum fails to meet quorum

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referendum vote on seven anti-corruption measures failed to meet quorum in Colombia on Sunday, nullifying the results even though each of the measures, including a reduction in lawmakers’ salaries and term limits for public posts, got at least 99 per cent support.

Corruption has become a hot topic in the country in

recent years as security has improved and Colombians have increasingly turned their attention to headline-grabbing cases, including vote-buying, graft to obtain public contracts and the extradition of the country’s anti-corruption czar for allegedly taking bribes.

Graft costs the country US$17 billion a year, equivalent to 5.3 per cent of GDP, the country’s comp-

troller has said.

To be valid each question needed just over 12.1 million votes cast. With nearly 100 per cent reporting, just 11.6 million people had voted, under a third of the 36.4 million eligible voters.

Each of the seven questions, including bans on house arrest sentences for corruption, forcing elected officials to publish tax re-

turns and a three-term limit on lawmakers, had more than 99 per cent support.

Voters also backed limiting monthly salaries for lawmakers and other high-ranking officials to the equivalent of 25 minimum salaries, or nearly $6600. Lawmakers currently earn more than $10,500 per month, compared with a minimum wage of about $260. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Oldest living Jamaican turns 117

Stephen Wright, now 117, poses with his daughter Hilda Wright Richards

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ive years ago when Stephen Wright first shared his story with the Jamaica Observer, he had just turned 112, and recounted stories from his ‘young boy days’ of licking back his white rum.

On Friday, this time exactly on his 117th birthday, the Sunday Observer visited Wright at his home in Sanguinetti, Clarendon. He now speaks more soberly, but at a higher pitch due to poor hearing, about the good times and some bad ones “inna dem deh days.

“Well, I tell you mi spend good time inna mi life and mi spend rough time in-between. When mi a young boy I grow up a come up, from weh mi cudda remember, mi see some tough life in a dem days. But mi still give God the praise mi still deh yah till now,” he related.

Wright, whose mother and grandmother lived to 105 and 111 respectively, was born in Junction, St Elizabeth, but grew up in

Clarendon. He shared that he left school at an early age because in those days, the trek to school was too arduous.

But Wright has crossed many more rivers since then, working briefly as a district onstable, and then on his uncle’s farm as well as his own, before travelling to and from the United States of America during World War II. His years of travelling to and from America were filled with much enjoyment, but Wright indicated that his fondest memories happened right here in Jamaica.

One such moment was his marriage to his wife Alvira Wright, who died 25 years ago.

Wright said he has 10 children, although his daughter, Hilda Wright Richards who has been home for his hallmark birthday, to be celebrated at a function today, corrected him to say he actually has nine. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Structure of Barbados’ military to be reviewed

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he structure of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) will be reviewed in the coming months to ensure that it is best placed to deal with current and emerging threats to the island’s national security.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Dale Marshall says the exercise will result in a revised Force structure and the streamlining of ranks, “to ensure that the Force is organised and has the human resources that will be necessary to defend Barbados and to assist other agencies in the maintenance of a safe and secure environment that is conducive to national development”.

He added that it was Government’s intention to improve the BDF’s capacity in the areas of disaster response, engineering, youth development and maritime

dominance.

In addressing the military troops, Marshall said the phased, focused and sustainable modernisation of the BDF would improve Barbados’ unified inter-agency national security risk mitigation efforts.

“This is not a luxury, it is an insurance policy and an investment in the charting of the future of this country,” he said. Marshall noted that the BDF, through its joint tourist protection patrols, counter-trafficking and contraband interception operations, contributed “immeasurably” to the preservation of the national security of Barbados.

He added that the BDF was also preparing to make space available for the functioning of part of the judicial system, through the provision of spaces for two criminal courts. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

mondAY, august 27, 2018

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17

Around the World

Myanmar Reuters Jacksonville: 3 dead including Wa Lone gunman in shooting at gaming event journalists and Kyaw Soe Oo await verdict

T

T

Police gather after an active shooter was reported at the Jacksonville Landing

hree people died in a shooting at a video gamers’ competition in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday, police said. The lone suspect was among them.

Jacksonville sheriff Mike Williams confirmed on Sunday evening that two people were shot dead and nine suffered gunshot wounds.

The gunman killed himself. Two others were injured during chaos as people fled, Williams said.

Officials did not immediately name those who died.

The gunman was named but not confirmed by Williams as David Katz, 24, from Baltimore, Maryland, where an address was reportedly raided. The sheriff said the gunman “was here for the competition”.

Asked if FBI and ATF agents were investigating the home in Baltimore believed to be connected to Katz, Williams said: “We are having … there is some cooperation going on in Baltimore.”

Several dozen gamers had been playing or watching oth-

ers play the Madden NFL19 football video game, which simulates American football.

“The suspect used at least one handgun to commit this act,” said Williams.

The shooting took place at a popular complex called the Jacksonville Landing.

Searching the shops and restaurants in the aftermath of the shooting, the local sheriff said armed response officers found “many people hiding in locked areas”.

Of the nine people with gunshot wounds, Williams

said, seven were taken to hospital and two transported themselves. Mayor Lenny Curry also spoke at the briefing, saying: “Jacksonville is in mourning.”

The Jacksonville Landing area contains restaurants and shops and is situated along the St Johns river. A notice on the website of EA Sports stated: “This weekend, the first of four Madden NFL 19 Classic qualifier events will take place at the GLHF game bar in Jacksonville, Florida.” (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Zimbabwe's President takes oath as US censure hangs over vote

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mmerson Mnangagwa urged Zimbabwe to unite behind his presidency on Sunday, as he took the oath of office following a divisive election that US observers said had called the country’s democratic credentials into question.

The Constitutional Court confirmed Mnangagwa as president on Friday, dismissing a challenge by the man he beat in the July 30 ballot, Nelson Chamisa.

Thousands of Zimbabweans, some bussed in, and foreign leaders including South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa and Paul Kagame of Rwanda gathered at Harare’s national stadium for Sunday’s swearing-in.

“I exhort us to commit ourselves collectively to develop our motherland... what unites us is greater than what could ever divide us,” Mnangagwa told election participants in his inauguration speech.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is sworn in during his presidential inauguration ceremony in Harare, Zimbabwe

He also reaffirmed pre-election pledges to revive Zimbabwe’s crippled economy and settle outstanding debts with foreign lenders, and reiterated he would call an independent inquiry into a “re-

grettable and unacceptable” army crackdown following the vote in which six people died.

He took the oath before Chief Justice Luke Malaba who, together with eight other judges, had ruled on Friday against Opposition Leader Chamisa’s petition.

In the election, Mnangagwa just reached the threshold of 50 percent of votes that he needed to avoid a runoff.

The ballot was touted as a crucial step toward shedding the pariah reputation Zimbabwe gained under Mnangagwa’s predecessor Robert Mugabe, and securing international donor funding.

But hours before Mnangagwa’s inauguration, the International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute said the country lacked a “tolerant democratic culture” in which political parties were treated equally and citizens allowed to vote freely. (Excerpt from

A

On Saturday, Francis met privately with eight victims of clerical, religious and institutional abuse in Ireland

good.

Media access to Rakhine is strictly controlled by the government so it is difficult to get reliable news from the region.

Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, had been collecting evidence about the execution of 10 men in the village of Inn Din in northern Rakhine on September 2 last year. According to Reuters, a group of Rohingya men seeking safety on a beach were singled out and killed – at least were two hacked to death by Buddhist villagers with the rest shot by the Army.

On December 12,2017, the journalists were invited to dinner with two Police Officers who handed them documents about the massacre.

They were arrested when they left the restaurant.

They were charged with "possessing important and secret Government documents related to Rakhine state and security forces".

Police said the information had been "illegally acquired with the intention to share it with foreign media". (Excerpt

from BBC News)

WWII bomb defused in Germany after 18,500 evacuated

Reuters)

Ex-Vatican envoy urges Pope Francis to resign over abuse case senior Vatican official called on Pope Francis to resign, accusing the pontiff of failing to act sooner on sexual abuse allegations against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

In an 11-page statement, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano said sanctions imposed on McCarrick by Pope Benedict XVI over sexual misconduct were lifted under Francis, despite reports about his "gravely immoral behaviour with seminarians and priests".

Vigano said he informed Francis in person in 2013 of the sanctions and how McCarrick, ex-archbishop of Washington, DC, "corrupted generations of seminarians and priests".

wo Reuters journalists who documented a massacre of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar are due to hear whether they will be jailed for violating a state secrets act.

Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were arrested in December while carrying secret official documents they had just been given

by Police Officers. The men face up to 14 years in jail if found guilty. They deny the charges.

Their lawyer said they would be freed "if the Judiciary is free and fair".

Wa Lone has said their work followed all media ethics.

"We tried to tell the truth based on the real situation," he said previously.

The verdict comes a year after the long-running crisis in Rakhine state came to a head when a previously unknown Rohingya militant group staged deadly attacks on Police posts.

The military responded with a large-scale deadly operation against the Rohingya, which the UN has said was intended to drive them out of the country for

Pope Francis "continued to cover" for McCarrick despite the sanctions and even made him "his trusted counsellor", Vigano alleged. The Vatican had no immediate comment on the allegations.

Vigano, 77, a conservative whose hardline anti-gay views are well known, has long been seen as a critic of Pope Francis, who is viewed as more moderate.

His letter also contained a lengthy diatribe about homosexuality and liberals in the Catholic Church.Colm O'Gorman, an author, activist, and church abuse survivor, said the letter from Vigano was a "fairly shocking development".

"In the 2,000-year history of the church, no senior church official has ever come

out and called on a pope to resign," O'Gorman told Al Jazeera.

Vigano's criticism came as Pope Francis made a twoday visit to Ireland, where he addressed sex abuse scandals and "begged for God's forgiveness" for the "betrayal" by the church.

On Sunday, Pope Francis told tens of thousands of people gathered in Dublin: "None of us can fail to be moved by the stories of young people who suffered abuse, were robbed of their innocence and left scarred."

Francis met privately on Saturday with eight victims of clerical, religious and institutional abuse, saying he would seek greater commitment to eliminate the "scourge". (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The 500-kilogramme (1100-pound) aerial bomb, thought to have been dropped by American forces, was discovered

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German bomb disposal team on Sunday successfully defused an unexploded World War II bomb that had forced the evacuation of 18,500 people in the city of Ludwigshafen.

The 500-kilogramme (1100-pound) aerial bomb, thought to have been dropped by American forces, was discovered during construction work earlier in the week.

It also posted a picture of the freshly unearthed, corroded bomb, strapped to a pallet before being removed from the area.

Authorities in the western city had ordered all those living within a 1,000-metre (0.6-mile) radius of the bomb site to leave their homes from 08:00 am (0600 GMT) as a precaution ahead of the defusing operation.

It took the bomb squad just over an hour to complete the delicate task, and the all-clear was given shortly after 2:00 pm.

More than 70 years after the end of World War II, Germany remains littered with unexploded ordnance, a legacy of the intense Allied bombing campaign against Nazi Germany.

In the biggest post-war evacuation to date, some 60,000 Frankfurt residents were evacuated last year so that an unexploded 1.8-tonne British bomb dubbed the "blockbuster" could be defused.

In April, thousands had to clear an area around Berlin's central railway station after another British bomb was discovered on a building site. (Excerpt from MSN)

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mondAY, august 27, 2018

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Keep your personal secrets locked up. Don’t give anyone information that can jeopardize your career, position or reputation. Focus on self-improvement and important relationships. Make positive and progressive changes at work.

If you want something, go after it. Physically do what’s necessary to advance. Success comes with a price. Come up with a solid plan and follow through.

Personal gains should GEMINI (May 21- be your goal. Fixing up your June 20) space or updating your appearance will give you a boost that will motivate you to take on greater tasks.

A unique offer will come your way. Consider the chang(June 21- es you must make to take adJuly 22) vantage of a situation. Don’t hesitate when you should be moving forward.

CANCER

Peanuts

Exaggeration will lead to trou-

LEO ble. Don’t promise something you (July 23- cannot deliver. Taking physical acAug. 22) tion and following through on your plans will show others that you mean business. Personal improvements and romance are favored.

Network, make financial VIRGO and contractual changes and (Aug. 23follow your dreams. Taking Sept. 22) on a new role or position will expand your mind as well as your qualifications.

Calvin and Hobbes

Look for a way to bring LIBRA (Sept. 23- tranquility and peace of Oct. 23) mind to your personal life.

Make it clear that you expect equality. Bring about change instead of enduring unfairness.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD – CONCUSSION (CONCUSSION: kun-KUSH-un: Ahead injury followed by temporary or prolonged loss of function.)

Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 22 or more words in CONCUSSION? The list will be published tomorrow.

SATURDAYS WORD – JEALOUSY lase lose louse lousy lues

lyse sale seal slay sloe

slue sole soul soya yule

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

to respond to what transpires.

Greater opportunities will develop if you exhibit professionalism. Make your actions count.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Average mark 16 words

jealous joule easy aloe also

Listen, but don’t overreSCORPIO act. Assess situations careful(Oct. 24ly and formulate the best way Nov. 22)

solution for last published puzzle

You’ll face interference if you are too open about your plans. Share with people you can trust to work with you instead of against you.

Choose your words wisely.

Someone will make you CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- an unusual offer that touchJan. 19) es you emotionally. Getting together with old friends or co-workers will spark an idea that can turn into a moneymaking venture.

Think big, but take baby AQUARIUS steps. It’s fun to dream, but (Jan. 20- don’t go into debt if it isn’t Feb. 19) necessary. Take time to assess your personal finances and health. Romance is highlighted.

Emotions will surface PISCES (Feb. 20- and bring out all sorts of feelMarch 20) ings about past relationships.

Address situations head-on, keeping in mind what’s happened in the past. You can make amends if honesty prevails.

monDAY, AUGUST 27, 2018

19

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018…

Tallawahs back to winning ways in St Lucia J

amaica Tallawahs put their Florida disappointment behind them and got back to winning ways in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a 21-run victory over St Lucia Stars at the Daren Sammy Stadium on Saturday.

After a three-game winning run to start the season, the Tallawahs had lost all three of their games at Lauderhill.

A trip to St Lucia to face the Stars enabled the Tallawahs to get back on track, though, as Rovman Powell’s high-class 64 from 37 balls set the platform before some late hitting from David Miller (32* from 13) extended their total beyond 200 after taking the unusual step of winning the toss and batting first.

And despite the best efforts of superstars David Warner and Kieron Pollard, the Stars were always struggling to get up after losing two wickets in the first two overs. The decisive moment, fittingly, pitted skipper against skipper in the battle of the big all-rounders as Andre Russell bowled Pollard for 46 from 27 balls to leave the Stars’ lower middle-order just too much work to do.

The Stars had shuffled their pack again for the runchase and came up with Mark Chapman as opening batsman as well as bowler.

His two overs with the new

Glenn Phillips, who faced only eight ball but sent three of them to the boundary in his 17, while Johnson Charles made 34 from 24.

Kennar Lewis then offered the free-flowing Powell solid support in a 100-run stand for the third wicket before Miller provided the finishing touches.

Kesrick Williams picked up three wickets – includ-

ing the dangerman Andre Russell for just five – and could have had four had he not overstepped when having Charles caught at point.

Obed McCoy, though, was arguably the pick of the attack, taking out Powell at a time when he could have gone berserk, and the only one of the seven bowlers used by Pollard to return an economy below eight.

SCOREBOARD

ball had cost 25, and he fell to the second legal delivery he faced with the bat, carving Oshane Thomas to thirdman to be brilliantly caught just above the turf by Adam Zampa.

Rahkeem Cornwall fell soon after, trying and failing to hit Imad Wasim over Russell at mid-off to leave the Stars 8/2. Andre Fletcher and David Warner rebuilt in a busy partnership of 44 before Fletcher slogged Powell’s first ball of the night high into the St Lucia sky to give Russell a second catch of the innings and Powell a wicket to go with his runs.

That brought Warner and Pollard together. They

added 45 in just four overs, but just when it looked like a Stars win was a real possibility Warner was gone.

Zampa’s first over of the night, the 11th of the innings, had yielded 16 runs from the first five balls before he struck gold with the sixth as Warner top-edged a sweep and was well caught on the run by Johnson Charles at short fine-leg.

The Stars came again, though, with a target of 89 from the last six overs whittled down to 54 from four as Pollard hit Zampa for two sixes and a four before Lendl Simmons joined the fray with a carved six followed by two fours off Oshane Thomas.

Enter Russell to turn things decisively back the Tallawahs’ way, removing Pollard and then adding Daren Sammy’s wicket for good measure.

Simmons continued to flay his way to 45 from 26, but was by now fighting alone. The task was just too big with 26 needed from the final over, and he ran himself out in a desperate quest for the strike with 24 needed from four deliveries.

Thomas picked up his second wicket of the night when Qais Ahmed was caught behind off the final ball of the match with the Stars still 22 runs short of their target.

The Tallawahs’ innings was given a fast start by

Jamaica Tallawahs Innings (20 overs maximum) GD Phillips † c Warner b Williams 17 J Charles c Simmons b Qais Ahmad 34 K Lewis c †Fletcher b Williams 33 R Powell c Warner b McCoy 64 AD Russell (c) c Sammy b Williams 5 DA Miller not out 32 LRPL Taylor not out 4 Extras: (lb 3, nb 3, w 9) 15 Total: (5 Wickets, 20 Overs, RR: 10.2) 204 Did not bat: A Zampa, Imad Wasim, S Badree, O Thomas Fall of wickets: 1-34 (GD Phillips, 3.4 ov), 2-56 (J Charles, 6.1 ov), 3-156 (K Lewis, 16.1 ov), 4-162 (AD Russell, 16.6 ov), 5-164 (R Powell, 17.2 ov) Bowling: MJ McClenaghan (40-43-0), MS Chapman (2-0-250), KOK Williams (4-0-34-3), Qais Ahmad (2-0-21-1), RRS Cornwall (1-0-9-0), KA Pollard (30-38-0), OC McCoy (4-0-31-1) St Lucia Stars Innings (target: 205 runs from 20 overs) MS Chapman c Zampa b

Thomas 4 ADS Fletcher † c Russell b Powell 21 RRS Cornwall c Russell b Imad Wasim 2 DA Warner c Charles b Zampa 42 KA Pollard (c) b Russell 46 LMP Simmons run out (Thomas) 45 DJG Sammy c & b Russell 2 Qais Ahmad c †Phillips b Thomas 1 MJ McClenaghan not out 0 Extras: (b 7, lb 3, w 10) 20 Total: (8 Wickets, 20 Overs, RR: 9.15) 183 Did not bat: KOK Williams, OC McCoy Fall of wickets: 1-5 (MS Chapman, 0.2 ov), 2-8 (RRS Cornwall, 1.2 ov), 3-52 (ADS Fletcher, 7.1 ov), 4-97 (DA Warner, 10.6 ov), 5-156 (KA Pollard, 16.3 ov), 6-175 (DJG Sammy, 18.4 ov), 7-181 (LMP Simmons, 19.3 ov), 8-183 (Qais Ahmad, 19.6 ov) Bowling: O Thomas (3-0-272), Imad Wasim (4-0-24-1), S Badree (3-0-26-0), AD Russell (3-0-15-2), R Powell ( 4-0-42-1), A Zampa (3-0-39-1)

Late own goal gives Chelsea win over Newcastle M aurizio Sarri’s Chelsea maintained their winning start to the Premier League season with victory over Newcastle United in a match featuring three goals in 11 second-half minutes.

Eden Hazard, on his first start this season for the Blues, netted from the penalty spot in the 76th minute before substitute Joselu levelled with a brilliant header at St James’ Park.

But, having been resolute in defence for the majority of the game, Newcastle failed to clear their lines and Marcos Alonso’s shot took a deflection off DeAndre Yedlin.

Chelsea dominated the game with 81% possession and Pedro, Cesar Azpilicueta and Alvaro Morata missed chances.

Antonio Rudiger rattled the crossbar in the 70th

minute but Newcastle contained the pressure until Fabian Schar tripped Alonso in the box.

Chelsea’s third win in as many matches moved them level on points with Liverpool and Watford at the top of the table, while Rafael Benitez’s Newcastle have only one point.

Benitez was forced to make six changes to the side that drew with Cardiff last weekend, with captain Jamaal Lascelles and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey among those absent.

There were reports before the game that Lascelles had been dropped after an argument with Benitez but he insisted the defender was out with a thigh problem.

Benitez’s starting XI, featuring three debutants, held their own as a five-man defence but never looked a threat up front.

Eden Hazard scored his first goal of the season at St James’ Park

Salamon Rondon, making his first start since arriving from West Brom, headed wide in the first half, while Joselu’s 83rd-minute header

was one of only two shots on target for the hosts.

The substitute’s goal caused controversy, with Chelsea substitute Olivier

Giroud claiming he was elbowed off the ball by Yedlin in the build-up.

After a World Cup summer and reports of interest

from Real Madrid, Belgium forward Hazard had to settle for two appearances from the bench before this match.

He received a less than friendly welcome by the hosts on his return to the starting XI. In the first minute, he was caught on the back of the ankle by the studs of Matt Ritchie, and was then clattered on the right leg by Mohamed Diame.

Off the ball Hazard moved gingerly at times, but for the most part he was the driving force for Chelsea, whose dogged and unrelenting attack finally came to fruition in the latter stages.

Hazard’s well-taken penalty was his 70th Premier League goal for Chelsea, which puts him behind only Frank Lampard (147) and Didier Drogba (104) in the club record books. (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, AUGUST 27, 2018

Team Mohamed's reigns at GMRSC KOTS–3 T

eam Mohamed’s has once again demonstrated its power and endurance when the Guyana Motor Racing and Sport Club (GMR&SC) hosted its 3rd Edition of King of the Strips at the South Dakota Circuit on Sunday.

With an excellent performance on Sunday, Team Mohamed remains on course for the drag racing throne.

The team’s GTR did not disappoint as they treated spectators to two high –powered drags.

Poised at retaining the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) Super Bike title, Team Mohamed’s

Team Mohamed’s owner, Azzrudin Mohamed posed with his team members

owner, Azzrudin Mohamed was drenched in delight while noting his team always delivers. He added that his team is committed to stay on top both here in Guyana and in the Caribbean.

Mohamed noted his disappointment in the now show

by Shawn Persaud in the finals but was satisfied that his team was able to impress the fans and give them their money’s worth.

However, in the unlimited class final Shawn Persaud and his Toyota Caldina failed to take to the starting line due to circumstances beyond their control thus giving Terrence Cox with his GTR 'Goliath' an

automatic victory.

Nevertheless, Randel Daby was unmatched in the nine-second class but was not competition for the GTR 'Goliath' in the final exhibition race of the day.

On the other hand, Damion Persuad defended his 10-second class in his Toyota Caldina. Other winners include, Chet Singh who took the win in the 11-second class; Pierre Singh in the 12-second class and Narindradutt Mangar in the 13-second class.

Balram Ramdeo took top honours in the 14-second class. Akram Subhan was the winner in the 15-second class.

Vettel wins in Belgium after dramatic crash C

linical and flawless, Sebastian Vettel’s win at the Belgian Grand Prix was reminiscent of some of the German’s untouchable victories during his championship-winning years at Red Bull. He has narrowed the points gap to Lewis Hamilton, who was left expressing not a little concern at the pace Ferrari were able to demonstrate on a circuit where he and Mercedes have previously been so dominant.

Hamilton insisted he did not believe Ferrari’s advantage was due to anything illegal but referred to “a few trick things going on in the car” that Mercedes badly need to match.

Vettel won by 11 seconds from Hamilton, having taken the lead on the opening lap, after which the superior pace of the Ferrari left the German untroubled at the front. Max Verstappen came up from seventh on the grid to take a well-deserved third place for Red Bull, his best finish at Spa. Vettel has reduced Hamilton’s lead in the title race from 24 points to 17. The

McLaren’s Fernando Alonso and Sauber’s Charles Leclerc crash at the first corner of the Belgian Grand Prix, later won by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel with Lewis Hamilton finishing second

German won here for Red Bull in 2011 and 2013, both years he went on to win the title in a car that was the class of the field. He might be forgiven for believing the Ferrari under him now has proved to have a similarly impressive edge, something Hamilton readily acknowledged as he called on greater efforts from his team.

“I did everything I could and we ultimately did well, but he drove past me like I was not there,” he said. “We have to keep pushing to see what we

can do. They have got a few trick things going on in the car, I did what I could, we did what we could so we have to keep working.”

Both Ferrari and Mercedes brought new engines to Belgium and the Scuderia already possessed a straight?line speed advantage.

But at Spa it looked to have become of a different order altogether, prompting Hamilton’s concern. Asked if he believed it was legal he said: “I don’t know what is on

their car so I couldn’t tell you either way.”

However, when pressed the British driver was adamant he believed Ferrari had simply done a better job. “I’m not saying there is anything illegal,” he said. “We all have something, tricks, a trick is just something that helps you bring that extra performance.

Please don’t twist my words to say that I say they are doing it illegally, because they are not. They just outperformed us today and we have to work harder.”

This was Ferrari’s first win here since 2009. Vettel was hugely pleased by his team’s performance, especially in light of their failure to match Mercedes’ development last season. “I hope we have more power, that’s what we are working for,” he said. “If that is the case then well done to our engine guys. We have been making progress in the last two years and that’s good news.

I wouldn’t disagree that this year in terms of power we are a lot closer than last year. Last year we didn’t have a chance here.”

He had not been able to match Hamilton in qualifying in the wet and was second on the grid. But the Ferrari had been very strong all weekend in the dry conditions that were repeated on Sunday and Vettel made the most of it.

The power-dependent Spa fell to a resurgent Scuderia who look ominously strong for the next rounds at Monza and Singapore.

Last year Hamilton was able to skilfully deny Vettel with his track position from pole, backing the German up through Eau Rouge when he challenged, but the superior pace of the Ferrari this year meant Vettel would not be denied.

The front runners had got away cleanly but Nico Hülkenberg shunted Fernando Alonso going into La Source, sending the Spaniard airborne and into the top of Charles Leclerc’s Sauber. His halo cockpit protection took some of the impact which will perhaps end any further speculation on whether the device should have been imposed.

The safety car was deployed as a result but crucially Vettel had already made his move.

The German successfully slipstreamed Hamilton on the Kemmel Straight and had the job done going through Les Combes. The overtake he was denied last year was executed perfectly, with nothing Hamilton could do. Vettel had established a lead and went on to win with a consummate run reminiscent of those heady days at Red Bull.

Hamilton admitted that while he briefly tried to push, he ultimately had to accept the German could not be caught.

“He was doing times I could not match,” he said. “So it came to a point where it was sensible to save the engine and get to the finish line.”

He leaves to lick his wounds before Monza next weekend, where he must hope Mercedes can extract more from their car. Vettel, in contrast, goes into the final eight-race runin, still behind on points but having given definitive notice that on track he is now the man in front. (The Guardian)

British Grand Prix…

MotoGP boss blames new Silverstone track for cancellation S

unday’s British GP at Silverstone was cancelled as “a direct result” of a new track surface laid in February, MotoGP race director Mike Webb has claimed.

The race, scheduled for 11:30 BST, was called off just after 16:00 because of heavy rain and standing water.

“We’ve had a number of years’ experience here in very wet conditions recently with the old surface and have been able to run races,” Webb said.

Silverstone’s management says a full investigation will be launched. The circuit’s managing director, Stuart Pringle, added: “All the work we have done here to make Silverstone a better place for motorcycle racing has been done with the best of intentions.

“We will be making further investigations into this matter immediately after the

Bank Holiday to understand whether our newly resurfaced track played a part in today’s inability to stage races.

“We will be reviewing all the data we have on the track and gathering more, and together with the contractor, Aggregate Industries, a full investigation will be carried out.”

The start time of Sunday’s race had been brought forward by 90 minutes to 11:30 because of a forecast of heavy rain, but after several hours of delays the decision was finally taken to cancel. MotoGP also confirmed that there was “no option” to hold the race on Monday.

Webb added: “This year, with the new surface, is the first time we’ve encountered quite so much standing water in critical places on the track.

So yes, it’s a direct result of the track surface.

“The staff have done an

Intermittent downpours disrupted Saturday’s qualifying sessions, after earlier track flooding led to several riders crashing in practice

unbelievable effort over the whole weekend to try to make the track safe and until the last minute they were still working, but unfortunately we couldn’t battle nature.

“We obviously want to have a British Grand Prix. The climate of the area means we’ve got to expect rain and

the surface has to be able to handle it.”

It has been a long, unusual, tiring day that we hope won’t happen again Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo was set to start on pole at the Northamptonshire track after beating fellow Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso, of Italy, by 0.015 seconds in

qualifying.

However, the race was then delayed for safety reasons as heavy rain fell 10 minutes before the revised start time after the riders had completed their sighting lap, before it was cancelled.

“I am truly sorry this has happened,” added Pringle. “If I had known fans would have to wait for six hours in these conditions with this outcome, I would have taken the decision to cancel the event at midday.

“We were willing to cancel the meeting much earlier but I was assured by [MotoGP organisers] Dorna that the teams were willing to race if conditions improved.

“I’m very conscious of the amount of money people have spent on this event. We will be contacting all customers next week to explain what we are doing about the cancellation of this event.”

The cancellation came after

a fraught day on Saturday, with Tito Rabat suffering a broken leg during the fourth free practice session.

Spain’s Rabat, who had come off his Avintia Ducati in heavy rain, was walking away in the gravel at Stowe corner when he was hit by Italian Franco Morbidelli’s bike.

Rabat had surgery at the University Hospital of Coventry, with his team later confirming “fractures of right femur, tibia and fibula have been fixed”.

“It has been a long, unusual, tiring day that we hope won’t happen again,” said championship leader Marc Marquez.

“I think the race direction has to be thanked; they listened, and in the end, safety was everybody’s main consideration. One of us riders is in hospital already.

Sometimes we must keep a cool head and think.” (BBC Sport)

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sports

21

Police refuse Flying Ace approval for road race – coach decries victimisation

T

he Flying Ace Cycle Club was denied permission to hold a 10-lap race around New Amsterdam last Sunday. Several cyclists had turned up to participate; and the club’s coach, Randolph Roberts, believes this proves he is a victim of discrimination.

Roberts told Guyana Times he had gone to the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam to uplift the written permission for Sunday’s race, but was told that the Commander had decided against giving permission.

Having organised cycle races in Berbice for the past 32 years, Roberts says, this has been the first occasion when the Police have opted not to permit a cycling event in Berbice.

“I think he (Commander) is victimising me because I spoke out about him asking for the club to pay the Police $15,000 to stage a sports event,” Roberts has opined.

Roberts and several other spots personalities were recently featured in the media, being up in arms after the Berbice Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Lyndon Alves, had announced that the Police would have to be paid to provide security at sports events.

Alves had told the media that this is a policy of the Guyana Police Force, and while it was never implemented, it would now be the procedure.

Several persons had voiced their concerns using various forms of media as they lashed out at the position the Police had adopted.

Roberts had said the club could not afford to pay the required $15,000, because the races were not money-making affairs, but mere events to assist in further developing sport in Berbice and keeping youths off the road.

“All the cyclists (were) trained and prepared for this event, and it is very sad to know that the cyclists put so much of effort in terms of nutrition and other things, and when race day comes there is no race because the Commander

From left to right: Coach of the Flying Ace Cycle Club, Randolph Roberts, in company of cyclists Donavon Fraser and Nicholas Emanuel

did not approve the race,” Roberts has declared.

He referred to the club as being a non-profit organization, noting that businesses donate prize money for races.

“The money is for cycle racing, and not to pay Police; and with this type of behaviour, it will kill the sport and kill the spirit of the cyclists, because they

train hard,” Roberts has said.

Roberts noted that some cyclists had come to participate in Sunday’s race from as far away as Skeldon (Corriverton), 50 miles away, but had to leave disappointed because Police permission had not been granted for the race.

Sunday’s event was expected to be a warm- up race for the Buster 50-Mile in Berbice on September 2.

Heavyweights Regal Masters take on upsetters HS Masters

O

nly four teams are standing in the Ink Plus, Crown Mining Supplies and Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop softball tournament, and this number will be further trimmed to two after today’s semifinals at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

The match of the day will begin at 10:00h when powerhouse Regal Masters will step up against HS Masters, who may be described as the dark horses.

Earlier in this tournament, HS Masters stunned the well decorated Regal Masters with a 5-wicket victory off the last ball, while Regal turned the tables a few weeks ago to set up today’s battle in a mouthwatering final.

For HS Masters, Danny Mohamram and Samuel Kingston are the men to look at with the bat, while Manoj Arjune and Hanoman Singh could be lethal with the ball.

In green and yellow are the likes of Eric Thomas, Eoin Abel, Parsram Persaud, Mahendra Hardyal, Mohendra Arjune, Fazleen Mohamed, Saheed Mohamed and Mahesh Chunilall, who are all match winners.

Meanwhile, semifinal number two will be at 13:00h and will see RR Masters challenging the fancied

Opening bowler Parsram Persaud (left) and opening batsman Mahesh Chunilall could give Regal Masters the start they need

Wellman Masters.

With Wayne Jones, Lakeram “Mike” Singh, Lloyd Ruplall, Nandram Samlall and Greg DeFranca in their line up; Wellman will be heavy favourites, but will need to be aware of the form of RR Masters, who narrowly beat Parika Masters in the quarter finals last week also at Everest.

Parika Masters made an even 100 from 19.2 overs with S. Devanand scoring 23, while Raymond Harper picked up 3/23 bowling for RR Masters, who replied with 101 for 9 off 19.5 overs, to win by two wickets with just one ball to spare.

Peter Persaud showed his temperament with a patient unbeaten 25.

The final is set for Sunday September 9 at Everest, where live commentary, live music and other entertainment await the softball cricket enthusiasts.

The tournament is organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL) and is being used are preparation for the second edition of the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup, set for October 19 to 21 with an influx of teams from North America competing against the locals for lots of exciting prizes and bragging rights.

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monDAY, AUGUST 27, 2018

Guinness Cage Streetball C/ship

Uprising survives!

T

he semi-finalists of the Guinness Cage Streetball Championship were decided after an intense night of action at the Haslington Tarmac.

Uprising remain the only home team in this event, ironically themed “East Coast vs the Rest”. Uprising squeezed past BV Blazers 3 – 2 on sudden death penalty kicks to cement their place in the semi-finals.

The quarter-final showdown went into penalty shootout phase after scores were still at nil at the regulation time whistle.

In the championship match, Uprising will take on Broad Street, who needled (1-0) North East La Penitence in their match.

Earlier in the night, Cozier, the event’s joint leading scorer with six goals, tallied a double in the ninth and 11th minutes to sink the Alexander Village side 2-0.

Leopold Street elimi-

– Sparta faces Leopold in semis

Cast Iron Foundry [BACIF], Ray’s Auto Sales, Insurance Brokers Guyana Limited [IGBL], Y.K. Investments, Trophy Stall, Express Shipping, Woodpecker Products, National Sports

Commission, ‘C’ Division of the Guyana Police Force, Jai Signs & Auto Designs, Gaming Authority, Julius Variety Store, and C & C Prestigious Styles.

Round of 16 Results: Hustlers - 0 vs North East La Penitence -1 Calvin Moore -10th Broad Street -2 vs Alexander Village -0 Jamal Cozier -9th and 11th nated defending champions Ol Skool Ballers in another quarter-final fixture to set up a major clash with Sparta Boss for a spot in the final. It was Leopold Street’s second win for the night, their having already defeated Albouystown in the earlier round of 16 clash.

Sparta Boss made their way into the final by nee-

dling (1 – 0) Avocado Ballers when Jermin Junior scored the decider in the ninth minute. This victory preceded their defeat of Back Circle by the same margin.

The semi-final and championship matches will be staged at the same venue on August 31st. The tournament is being organised to forge integration among the

participating communities in an effort to create a better understanding among its inhabitants.

Among the entities in support of the cause are: Banks DIH under its Guinness and Power Wine brands, Clarks footwear giants Chetsons, E- Networks Inc., KSM Investments, Yhip’s Bakery, Brass Aluminum &

Mangal, Prashad triumph in Trophy Stall Golf Tourney

Tiger Bay -0 vs Avocado Ballers -1 Mario Heywood -11th

Ol Skool Ballers -6 vs BV:B - 4 Ol Skool Scorers Roy Cassou -1st, 7th, 11th and 14th Beres Parkinson -3rd and 15th BV Scorer Erin Fraser -5th, 6th, 8th and 13th

Leopold Street -1 vs Albouystown -1 Leopold won 2-1 on penalty kicks

Blazers -2 vs Vryheid’s Lust -1 Blazers Scorers Delroy Dean - 2nd Desmond Cottam - 4th Vryheid’s Lust Scorer Sean Semple - 11th

Sparta Boss -1 vs Back Circle -0 Eusi Phillips -9th

Uprising - 2 vs Plaisance - 0 Shamar Scott -10th David Wilson -13th

Everton defender fractures skull in collision

The tournament’s top performers. (From L-R): Kevin Dinanauth, Mahesh Shivraj, Mike Mangal, Rabi Sukul, Bridgelall Harry, Patrick Prashad, Richard Haniff, President Aleem Hussain, Robert Hanoman, Dr Joaan Deo and Maurice Solomon

M

ike Mangal and Patrick Prashad, contenders who had for some time been knocking at the proverbial door, seeking admission among the accomplished golfers on the local scene, were finally able to triumph over their competitors in the Trophy Stall Golf Tournament held on Sunday at the Lusignan Golf Course, ECD. Maurice Solomon though, in his usual inimitable style, continued his winning streak to emerge first in his category of the tournament.

The weather was good, the golf course was in excellent condition, and so was the mood of the golfers as they vied for supremacy in one of the usual highlight tournaments of the year.

In the ‘A’ or Championship Flight (handicap 0 – 9,), winners were Mike Mangal 72/80 – 1st place, and youthful Kevin Dinanauth (son of the former Guyana Open champion Mohanlall Dinanauth) 78/81 – 2nd. Receiving honorable mention in this category were Nazeem ‘Papo’ Haniff 81/88, and Richard Haniff, 82/91.

In the ‘B’ Flight (handicap 10 – 18), the winners were Patrick Prashad 69/79 – 1st place, and Lekhnarine ‘Mahesh’ Shivraj 71/88 – 2nd place. This category, which has the most golfers of the three categories, usually has as keen competition as the Championship Flight. Other golfers who played well but did not reach the winners’ row were (Club President) Aleem Hussain 73/83; Parmanand ‘Max’ Persaud 75/89; Joaan Deo 75/91; Kalyan Tiwari 76/89; (winner of the Flight in the Crown Mining Tournament of Wednesday, August 22,)

Aasrodeen Shaw 77/91, and Gavin Todd 79/96.

In the ‘C’ Flight (handicap 19 – 28), winners were Maurice Solomon, 79/100, and Robert Hanoman, 80/128.

Mark Lashley, 91/115, also performed creditably in the ‘C’ Flight.

Two additional prizes were awarded to Patrick Prashad - one for the Best Gross of 79 and the other for the overall Best Net of 69.

Nearest to The Pin was won

by David Harry, while the Longest Drive was won by (the often winner) Richard Haniff.

E

Michael Keane was treated on the pitch before being taken off on a stretcher

verton defender Michael Keane suffered a hairline fracture of his skull during Saturday’s draw at Bournemouth.

The England centre-back clashed heads with teammate Idrissa Gueye in injury time and was taken to hospital after six minutes of treatment on the pitch.

“Michael Keane has sustained a small hairline fracture of the skull but suffered no other complications,” said an Everton statement.

Keane, 25, said he must

avoid head contact for three to four weeks.

The defender had earlier scored to put the Toffees 2-0 up in their Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium, before the Cherries fought back to earn a point.

“I will be back with my team and back on the pitch as soon as I can,” Keane posted on social media on Sunday.

“I’m OK but suffered a small hairline fracture of the skull, which will heal itself.” (BBC Sport)

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, AUGUST 27, 2018

23

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018…

Watchful TKR squeeze past the Tridents

McCullum’s defiant knock of 66 kept the Tridents in check and earned him the man of the match. Darren Bravo (2) also went cheaply while Denesh Ramdin (20) and McCullum almost survived to the end, both being removed with the score on 126, 3 runs short of victory.

Skipper Dwayne Bravo drilled Steve Smith through cover for a boundary to bring the match to a close as TKR

B

arbados Tridents (BT) recovered from a marvelous opening over from Khary Pierre but still were not able to hold off defending champions, Trinibago Knight Riders (TKR), from securing victory on Sunday evening at the Kengsinton Oval.

After electing to bat first on home turf, Tridents survived a top order rocking to crawl to 128 – 8 in their 20 overs, a target which proved somewhat challenging for the visitors, who eventually won by four wickets in the 18th Hero Caribbean Premier League fixture of the season.

With 129 set to win, Knight Riders were expected to begin pursuit quite confidently but when Chris Lynn (8) and Sunil Narine (13) were dismissed

by Mohammad Irfan and Ashley Nurse bowled Colin Munro for 14, it looked like Tridents were back in the game for a moment.

However, Brendon

SCOREBOARD

Barbados Tridents Innings (20 overs maximum) DR Smith b Pierre 2 SD Hope b Fawad Ahmed 42 SK Springer run out (Pierre/†Ramdin) 0 SPD Smith st †Ramdin b Pierre 0 N Pooran † b DJ Bravo 34 JO Holder (c) c & b DJ Bravo 30 T Webster st †Ramdin b Fawad Ahmed 1 RA Reifer c DJ Bravo b Ali Khan 10 AR Nurse not out 3 Wahab Riaz not out 2 Extras: (w 4) 4 Total: (8 Wickets, 20 Overs, RR: 6.4) 128 Did not bat: Mohammad Irfan Fall of wickets: 1-3 (DR Smith, 1.1 ov), 2-3 (SK Springer, 1.2 ov), 3-3 (SPD Smith, 1.4 ov), 4-73 (N Pooran, 8.5 ov), 5-90 (SD Hope, 12.1 ov), 6-92 (T Webster, 12.6 ov), 7-114 (RA Reifer, 17.5 ov), 8-122 (JO Holder, 18.5 ov) Bowling: Ali Khan 4-0-22-1, K Pierre 4-0-29-2, SP Narine 4-027-0, JPR Scantlebury-Searles 1-0-14-0, DJ Bravo 3-0-232, Fawad Ahmed 4-0-13-2

Trinbago Knight Riders Innings (target: 129 runs from 20 overs) CA Lynn c Holder b Mohammad Irfan 8 SP Narine c Wahab Riaz b Mohammad Irfan 13 C Munro b Nurse 14 BB McCullum c & b SPD Smith 66 DM Bravo c DR Smith b Reifer 2 D Ramdin † c Wahab Riaz b Springer 20 DJ Bravo (c) not out 4 JPR Scantlebury-Searles not out 0 Extras: (w 3) 3 Total: (6 Wickets, 16.3 Overs, RR: 7.87) 130 Did not bat: Fawad Ahmed, Ali Khan, K Pierre Fall of wickets: 1-18 (CA Lynn, 2.5 ov), 2-30 (SP Narine, 4.1 ov), 3-37 (C Munro, 5.4 ov), 4-60 (DM Bravo, 9.1 ov), 5-126 (D Ramdin, 15.6 ov), 6-126 (BB McCullum, 16.1 ov) Bowling: Mohammad Irfan 4-0-24-2, Wahab Riaz 3-035-0, AR Nurse 2-0-17-1, JO Holder 4-0-13-0, RA Reifer 2-0-20-1, SK Springer 1-017-1, SPD Smith 0.3-0-4-1

reach 130 – 6.

In Tridents’ bowling effort, Irfan led with two wickets while Nurse, Raymon Reifer, Shamar Springer and Smith had a wicket each.

Pierre, was all over the scoreboard following the conclusion of a very eventful opening over to his spell. Dwayne Smith was bowled for two on the first ball, Shamar Springer was runout by a brilliant piece of fielding from Pierre without scoring the next ball then Steve Smith misjudged ballfour and was stumped by

Denesh Ramdin.

Tridents, with 3 – 3 on the board were saved by a recovery effort from Nicholas Pooran (34) and Shai Hope (42), who decide to open the batting.

Pooran’s quick-fire innings lasted 21-balls as he picked up two sixes and three boundaries before being bowled by the Trinbago captain. Even though the runs kept coming, wickets kept falling at regular intervals which impeded the run rate.

Hope’s missed out on his half century when Fawad Ahmed struck on the first ball of the 13th over as Tridents’ score ticked over to 90 – 5.

The skipper, Jason Holder contributed a welcomed 30 even though he was striking at under 100.

Raymon Reifer (10) was the only other batsman to reach double figures while Pierre, Bravo and Ahmed each had two wickets and Ali Khan, just one.

monDAY, AUGUST 27, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018…

Watchful TKR squeeze past the Tridents Page 23

Brendon McCullum

Guinness Cage Streetball C/ship

Uprising survives!

– Sparta faces Leopold in semis

Page 22

Team Mohamed's reigns at GMRSC KOTS–3 Page 20

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