Guyana Times Daily August 29 2017

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First Lady’s ICT remedial programme graduates 57 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Issue No. 3316

PRICE

Road fatalities

WHAT'S INSIDE:

4 die in separate accidents over 2-day period See stories on pages 7,9&10

… says only guarantee of economic security

Minister Norton to head Culture, Youth and Sport Dept

Page 11

Page 7

…still holds Social Cohesion post

Business community now taxed with garbage collection fees

Bad weather, rough terrain delays P3 transport of pilot's body

… GCAA to increase inspection frequency

… Govt concerned about increased aviation accidents – Harmon

… highlight poor drainage, waste disposal issues

Page 9

Govt promises increased royalties over time

Region 8 plane crash

Vriesland P12 residents want village to become part of NDC

Jagdeo continues push for Norwegian SWF model Oil and gas contract

$80 vat included

Page 5

… as City Hall approves hefty payments

Armogan calls on Govt to hold off estate closure P12

3 children rescued from abusive home

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NOC currently in transition mode P13

2 News

tuesDAY, august 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Parking meter saga

City Council defers vote again

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he Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has further delayed discussions of the Parking Meter Project.

At the Council’s statutory meeting late Monday afternoon, Councillors heard that September 7 is the new date when the matter will be discussed. The announcement was disclosed by Mayor Patricia Chase Green, who told Councillors that come

next week Thursday; they must be fully prepared to discuss the project.

The Parking Meter Project attracted much controversy since its introduction in May 2016. However, it was when it officially rolled out in the latter part of January 2017, that citizens formed large protests where hundreds of people from various cross-sections of society gathered in front of

City Hall for several weeks, calling for a rescinding of the parking meter contract.

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

At Monday’s meeting, the Mayor clarified that it was the elected Council which agreed to suspend the

project. At the last meeting held on August 17, 2017, recommendations were compiled by the Parking Meter Negotiation Committee, headed by Councillor Malcom Ferreira, where it was suggested that the Council could discontinue the metered parking system with Smart City Solutions (SCS). Other recommendations had included continuing the metered park-

Georgetown Mayor, Patricia Chase Green

ing system in accordance to law – relating to a legal and transparent process as outlined in Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, and to continue the metered parking system independently or await the outcome of pending court proceedings on the subject matter.

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

Other issues that the Committee had noted high-

lighted that the contract include rates for residential parking, rates for commercial parking, group rates for taxis and minibuses, the revenue split of 80-20 per cent – with SCS holding majority – duration of the contract, tax concessions, monopoly on parking and location of meters. Additionally, transfer of time on cards, impact on income, parking spaces for parking not in good conditions, size of parking space, wages, exemptions, traffic congestion in city, car park issues, attitude of SCS staff, economic report, designated areas for schools/differently abled, distance of parking meters from spaces, placement of meters, and the fact that the main partner was a foreign company were all matters that received attention. According to the report, the Council can choose to continue the Metered Parking System with Smart City Solutions. However, to move forward under that option, the Committee must be mandated to renegotiate on Council’s behalf so as to address and resolve all of the points/findings listed in this report [concerns].

The original parking meter contract, which has to date not been publicly released, has a duration of 20 years, upon which the Council has the option to renew. Furthermore, it obligates parkers to pay $200 per hour of parking. Failure to do so will result in the respective vehicle being clamped, or possibly seized.

news

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tuesDAY, august 29, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, August 29 – 10:00h-11:30h and Wednesday, August 30 – 11:00h-12:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, August 29 – 08:55h-10:25h and Wednesday, August 30 – 10:15h-11:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, with partly cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East South-easterly and East Northeasterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 09:30h and 21:52h reaching a maximum height of 2.21 metres at each scheduled high tide.

Low Tide: 02:59h and 15:23h reaching minimum heights of 0.91 metre and 1.05 metres respectively.

Region 8 plane crash

Bad weather, rough terrain delays transport of pilot's body … GCAA to increase inspection frequency …Govt concerned about increase aviation accidents – Harmon

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he Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is expected to ramp up the frequency of its inspection of local aviation operations; and, in this regard, will be meeting on Wednesday with all operators to discuss safety issues in light of the recent spate of accidents that have occurred in the aviation industry.

In the meantime, the body of 41-year-old Captain Imran Khan, a resident of the Essequibo Coast, Region Two, is yet to be flown to the city from the crash site.

He had been attached to Air Services Limited (ASL), and had been flying from Chi-Chi

Transport Association, has said.

Investigation

Preliminary reports suggest that the aircraft may have crashed into a mountain before diving into the heavy jungle. The aircraft is badly mangled, and it is believed that Captain Khan may have been pitched from the plane following the impact.

Having launched an investigation into the fatal aircraft accident, the GCAA’s preliminary report has indicated that the plane was scheduled to land at Mahdia at approximately 08:47hrs, but failed to so do. A distress

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Cessna 206 (8R-GFM)

to Mahdia when the Cessna 206 (8R-GFM) aircraft went down on Sunday.

Flying solo, Captain Khan had reportedly been expected to arrive at Mahdia at 08:47h, but had been a ‘no show’. An emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal being emitted from the crashed aircraft and picked up at 09:08h was identified as coming from an area west of Mahdia.

A rescue operation involving the Guyana Defence Force’s 31 Special Forces Squadron was immediately mounted, but because of the mountainous terrain, searchand-rescue (SAR) operators had to trek to the crash site, where they found the lifeless body of Captain Imran Khan.

Because of time constrains, the rescuers had to stay with the body overnight at the crash site.

Captain Khan’s body was expected to be removed from the crash site and transported to Ogle, but reports out of the area indicate that weather changes have created difficulties for the rescue operators in transporting the body.

“We are awaiting word from the Special Forces, but there is heavy thunderstorm in the area and they are having difficulties moving with the body. They have to bring the body to a clearing where the helicopter could pick them up and fly them to the city,” Mrs Annette Arjoon-Martins, President of the National Air

signal received at approximately 09:08hrs initiated a search operation by all domestic operators within the vicinity of the last known location of the aircraft.

The crash site was positively identified at 12:56hrs,

Captain Imran Khan

and a team from the Guyana Defence Force was deployed to the area to recover the body

of the pilot. Due to the conditions of the terrain, the rescue team had to trek for approximately 3 hours, cutting through thick vegetation, to reach the crash site from the landing zone.

The investigation by the Accident and Incident Investigation Group (AIG) will examine all possible circumstances that could have contributed to the occurrence of this latest accident, including weather conditions, pilot’s flight and duty hours, and the type of operations the pilot was conducting, the GCAA has said in a statement.

TURN TO PAGE 14

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tuesDAY, august 29, 2017

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

GECOM chairperson

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ow that a third list of nominees for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been submitted to President David Granger, it is hoped that the President would move with haste in making the appointment to this important constitutional office.

As reported in the media, the list of nominees submitted last Friday, after another set of consultations and meeting with individuals and stakeholder groups, includes Major General (retired) Joseph Singh; Attorneys Teni Housty and Sanjeev Datadin; Businesswoman Annette Arjune-Martins; Pastor Onesi La Fleur, and former Magistrate Krishnadatt Persaud.

As one would expect, compiling this list has not been an easy task, as, for the third time, the Opposition Leader has had to solicit stakeholders’ views and seek nominations in efforts to ensure that the six names presented to the President satisfy the requirements contemplated by Article 161(2) of the Constitution.

GECOM has been without a Chairperson for several months now, and while the Government may want us to believe otherwise, no one can deny that important aspects of the work of the Commission are being held up unnecessarily. The process to appoint the GECOM Chairperson has for too long been protracted. We have seen the complications that have arisen from what in the normal course should have been a simple and straightforward process.

It could be recalled that, after rejecting the initial list submitted by the Opposition Leader, the President had outlined the qualities the GECOM nominees should possess. He had stated that the candidate should be qualified to be a Judge of the High Court, or should have been an attorney for a minimum of seven years. In the absence of those requirements, the President had said, any other “fit and proper person” could be considered, providing he/she is deemed to have wide electoral knowledge and is capable of handling electoral matters, since he/she is qualified to exercise unlimited jurisdiction in civil matters.

However, local businessman Marcel Gaskin had moved to the High Court in March to challenge the constitutionality of the President’s reasoning. And in handing down her ruling last month, the acting Chief Justice acknowledged that the President can determine whom he deems “fit and proper”, but she overruled the President’s interpretation of the Constitution by finding that there is no particular preference for the appointment of persons with legal training. The least one could expect, therefore, is that in making his decision, the President would take into consideration the ruling of the acting Chief Justice in regard to the constitutional stipulation governing the appointment of a GECOM Chairperson.

With Local Government Elections due in 2019 and National Elections in 2020, it is necessary that the President makes his decision soon, so that a full commission is in place to commence work for these important elections, and that all outstanding issues affecting the work of the electoral body be resolved.

The sooner the issue is sorted out, the better it would be for the new chairman to familiarise himself/herself with the entire electoral process and the running of the organisation (GECOM), which we know is very huge and complex.

Further, once made, the appointment would allow for the political situation in the country to settle itself, and avoid exacerbation.

If there is continued delay on the part of the President in making the appointment from the list provided by the Leader of the Opposition, it would give rise to suspicion that the President is bent on frustrating and complicating the process, so that he can proceed in naming someone of his own choice. Certainly this would lead to a barrage of criticisms against the Coalition Government, as it would clearly not be in keeping with the spirit and intent of the Constitution.

While the Constitution allows the President the option of appointing someone of his choice, this could only be on the basis that the Opposition Leader has failed to submit a list.

Indeed, the Opposition Leader has, to date, submitted three lists, and it is clear that every effort has been made on his part to fulfill his mandate as defined in the Constitution.

Many are anxiously waiting to see how the President would threat with the matter now that a third list has been submitted.

It would be in the Government’s own interest to prove to the nation that it is indeed serious about ensuring good governance; and, more particularly, abiding by the Constitution.

Bright smiles! Guyana Amazon Warriors Captain Rayad Emrit took some time to bring bright smiles to this family at the Eugene F Correia International Airport on Sunday (Akeem Greene Photo)

What is happening to our general aviation sector?

Dear Editor, General aviation is in crisis, and the President needs to get the general aviation sector reviewed from top to bottom. This is no joke!

My sympathy to the family, loved ones and friends of the perished pilots.

The lives of the flying public are at stake, and the affordability of flying is as well.

I shudder at the thought of flying and whether it is still safe within Guyana and the cost of insurance for the aircraft operators (due to frequent aircraft crashes resulting in many claims) which must be passed on to the public.

I say that general aviation is in crisis because we have had three airplane crashes with two fatalities by three operators, including another mishap and incident by an operator, all within a few months. This isn’t normal in a country with a very small aviation sector.

What is happening to

our general aviation sector? There is a problem, and it needs to be addressed immediately, before we have more significant losses of life.

These problems can be one or a combination of several factors, including training, morale, poor oversight, pilot error, mechanical, weather, air traffic, poor loading, aging aircraft, etc.

I know the most glaring factor that came from these crashes and all the others in recent years is that the GDF has limited and almost no search and rescue capabilities, and arrive at the scene too late to save lives and extract any survivors. Let’s please don’t fool ourselves, those brave GDF Special Forces ranks risking their lives to get to the crash site are limited due to the lack of a large helicopter support to rappel and conduct any extraction at the crash scene of any critically injured persons.

The Government is responsible for search and res-

cue, and should immediate equip the GDF to perform this task. Do we know whether an earlier arrival with significant capabilities at the crash scenes could have saved lives? It is taking too long to get the courageous ranks to the crash scene without the typical search and rescue tools.

A failure to make it a Government priority and invest in the necessary search and rescue helicopters with equipment makes it highly probable that any crash with multiple survivors will be a national embarrassment for the coalition Government.

Since crash victims in our rugged hinterland will more than likely perish and be given no hope or chance of urgent medical. This is due to the tardy arrival at crash scenes owing to limited or no search and rescue capabilities by the GDF. I hope the Government sees the need to protect the tens of thousands of us flying

around the hinterland with the chance to live, if through no fault of our own we become a plane crash victim. The Government owes us a timely rescue with the best capabilities to improve our chances of survival. This is not the responsibility of a private company being paid to use their aircraft, or getting a contract, or asking private companies to use their aircraft gratis.

This is 2017, and the Government needs to take their search and rescue role and responsibility very seriously, and act now, before a major airplane crash. All Guyanese, should we ever become a plane crash victim, should be provided immediate and timely rescue, and critical medical care to save our lives.

A plane crash should not be a death sentence for the survivors awaiting urgent and timely medical care.

Dear Editor, This year’s published results of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE), and the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), with their respective pass rates of 63.39, 92.57 and 48.4 %, demonstrate that students writing these examinations, particularly those who wrote CAPE and the NGSA, have shown improvements in a number of subject areas.

The overall CSEC results for 2017, when compared with those for last year, were marginal, while those for NGSA

were significant (pass rate of 32.28 % in 2016 to 48.4 % in 2017). They have fallen short of what was desired. However, given the destruction of the educational system over the decades, these developments, in the view of the WPA, provide tangible evidence that decisions and measures implanted in the education sector by former Education Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine over the two years of his stewardship at the Ministry have begun to positively impact the situation.

WPA salutes the nation’s children for their success at the CSEC, CAPE and NGSA examinations, and calls on

students, parents, teachers, officials and workers in the education sector to redouble their efforts to assist Guyana in regaining its place as a leader in education in the region.

The WPA believes that, given the importance of the education sector to the nation’s development, it will be a grave mistake if partisan rather than objective considerations drive the work and development of this most important national Ministry.

WPA remains convinced that a mere change of minister is not the solution to the historic challenges that have affected the Ministry of

Education for decades. These challenges are a) financial; b) structural; c) deficiencies in human resources; d) wages and salaries constraints; and e) a damaged national education culture. These problems, given their longstanding historic presence, can only be fixed over the medium to long term.

WPA is committed to do its part in Guyana’s education drive. We therefore commit to be pro-active on educational matters in the coalition and Government.

Sincerely, Nicholas Rodrigues

Pro-active on educational matters

Sincerely, Working Peoples Alliance

tuesDAY, august 29, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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News Business community now taxed with garbage collection fees … as City Hall approves hefty payments

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he Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) on Monday approved proposals to implement new fees for the collection of commercial and industrial waste from business places in the capital city. Effective September 1, small business operators will pay a $5000 per month fee while medium businesses will contend with $8000 per month. However, large business operators across Georgetown will be required to pay the most significant figure of $12,000 per month for their waste collection. These soon to be implemented fees are separate from rates and taxes, which businesses are expected to pay each year.

Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green, who presided over Monday’s statutory meeting informed Councillors that the fees are “not too exorbitant” for the amount of waste that emanates from business places across the city. She emphasised the “cash-strapped” nature of City Hall has led to the need for more revenue. Moments before the proposal received its approval, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor, Bisram Kuppen moved that the matter be taken to a vote by Council but the Mayor retorted, saying that several consultations on the increases were held but many Councillors and business persons did not show

City Hall

up.

Nevertheless, Kuppen maintained his position that the fees should be taken to a vote, surmising that while he supports the work of Council, there should be additional consultations.

“I am not against the Council, I understand that we have a lot of expenses but a matter of this nature where fees are being charged, there needs to be further discussion by the Council,” he stressed.

His viewpoint was shared with fellow PPP Councillor Khame Sharma who raised objections to the fees, and expressed that he hoped City Hall did not have “rubber stamp” Councillors; a comment which the Mayor reprimanded him over.

APNU/AFC Councillor Junior Garret highlighted that the new fees were taken into the account when the budget was prepared,

which was approved by Councillors. Mayor Chase Green claimed that “everything is quite transparent” and said that the fees will go directly to the City’s Treasury.

Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikarran supported his superior’s position.

“I think it’s a fair fee,” he expressed.

Solid Waste Director, Walter Narine, in his presentation told the Council that while the originally approved fees for commercial garbage collection were $5000, $10,000 and $15,000; the latter two were reduced to $8000 and $12,000 after consultations.

When probed by Councillors at Monday’s meeting, the Mayor disclosed that road vendors will not be considered in the “small business”

category for fees.

The M&CC has long been saying that it operates as a cash-strapped body and in many instances, work around the city has had to be halted, since the municipality was unable to pay workers and waste disposal service providers.

Councillors heard Monday that salaries cannot be paid.

Puran Brothers Disposal and Cevons Waste Management withdrew services on July 30, 2017, as City Hall’s debts had risen to the multimillion-dollar

for keeping the city clean despite the withdrawal. A Councillor however noted reports that a truck (registration number provided) was going around and charging some residents $500 to empty their barrels – a service which currently attracts no additional fees for homeowners.

It was at a meeting with stakeholders in April 2017 that the Mayor informed the Council was cash-strapped; hence requested businesses to pay more for commercial waste disposal. Mayor

that even if citizens pay all of their outstanding taxes, the Council would still fall short of enough money to cover everything it has to do. King said the implementation of a new fee is in order because the service of waste disposal is a very expensive one that the Council cannot afford at the moment. At that time, Councillor Kuppen had held out that matter must be carried to a vote.

In July 2016, City Hall imposed a $25,000 container fee on container trucks

range. According to the companies, the issue of non-payment has been a long standing one, with many debts going as far back as 2015. Many Councillors at Monday’s statutory meeting commended themselves

Chase Green had told the businesses that City Hall cannot afford to keep up with the weekly amount of $1.8 million only to clear commercial waste.

Town Clerk Royston King has in the past said

each time they moved items across the city. After an uproar from the Private Sector, City Hall slashed the fee to $5000 as an interim measure after discussions with the M&CC and the Private Sector Commission.

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tuesDAY, august 29, 2017

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hether their children are just starting kindergarten or entering the final year of high school, there are many good reasons for parents to volunteer at school. It’s a great way to show your children that you take an interest in their education, and it sends a positive message that you consider school a worthwhile cause.

Many schools now have to raise their own funds for activities and supplies that once were considered basic necessities, and parent volunteers are essential to organising and chaperoning these fundraising events and other school activities.

Reasons to get involved Parent volunteers offer a huge resource and support base for the school community while showing their children the importance of participating in the larger community.

Not only will the school reap the benefits of your involvement – you will, too. By interacting with teachers, administrators, and other parents on a regular basis, you’ll gain a first-hand understanding of your child’s daily activities. You’ll also tap into trends and fads of school life that can help you communicate with your children as they grow and change (all without intruding on their privacy or personal space).

Even if you haven’t been involved in the past, it’s never too late to start. In fact, it may be more important than ever to get involved when children reach secondary school. Some parents may experience “volunteer burnout” by the time their children enter high school or

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Getting invloved in your childs school

decide that the schools don’t need them as much then. Many parents who volunteered a lot of time during their children’s elementary years return to fulltime careers by the time their children are teens, so there’s often a shortage in the secondary schools.

Finding the right opportunity One of the best starting points for getting involved is a parent-teacher conference or open house. These are usually scheduled early in each school year, and are a great opportunity to approach your child’s teachers or principal about volunteer involvement.

If you have something to offer, or if you just want to help out in whatever way you can, discuss the possibilities with teachers, who might arrange something with you personally or direct you to a department head or administrator who can answer your questions and make suggestions. It’s also a good idea to join the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) or parents’ advisory council.

Here are just some of the ways a parent volunteer can help: * act as a classroom helper * mentor or tutor students * help children with special needs * volunteer in a school computer lab * help organize, cater, or work at fundraising activities such as bake sales or car washes * act as a lunchroom or playground monitor * help to plan and chaperone field trips, track meets, and other events that take place away from

the school * help to plan and chaperone in-school events (dances, proms, or graduation ceremonies) * organize or assist with a specific club or interest group (if you have an interest in an activity that isn’t currently available to students, offer to help get a group started — for example, a chess club or cycling team) * assist coaches and gym teachers with sports and fitness programs or work in the school concession stand at sporting events * help the school administrators prepare grant proposals, letter-writing campaigns, or press releases or provide other administrative assistance * attend school board meetings * work as a library assistant or offer to help with story time or reading assistance in the school library * sew costumes or build sets for theatrical and musical productions * work with the school band or orchestra or coach music students individually * help out with visual arts, crafts, and design courses and projects * hold a workshop for students in trade or technical programs * spend some time with a specific club or interest group (ask the the teacher who sponsors the group) * volunteer to speak in the classroom or at a career day, if you have a field of expertise that you’d like to share * supervise or judge experiments at a science fair

Remember that not everyone is suited for the same type of involvement – you may have to “try on” a number a few activities before you find something that feels right. If you’re at a loss for how you can help, just ask your child’s teacher, who will likely be glad to help you think of something!

Questions to ask When you offer to help out, find out how much of a time commitment is expected and if it will be ongoing. Are you going to repair the costumes for the spring musical or will you be expected to keep the drama department’s supplies in good condition year-round? Are you chaperoning a track meet or coaching the whole season?

Be sure to ask if any financial costs are associated with your volunteer activities. If you’re chaperoning a field trip, for example, find out if you’ll be required to pay for transportation and admissions costs. Ask if you’ll need to transport students in your own vehicle or if a school bus will be provided.

If you’re organising or helping out with an activity that will take place off the school grounds, be sure to find out if there are any specific school regulations you need to keep in mind or any liability issues you should consider.

Getting started Here are a few tips to keep in mind when signing up to volunteer: Make it clear before you begin just how much time you’re willing to volunteer. Even stayat-home parents don’t have an

unlimited amount of time to volunteer – many parents have other activities and interests, as well as other children to care for. Don’t be afraid to say no if you’re being asked to do more than you feel comfortable with – just try to say it early enough so that someone else can be found to take your place, because many trips and activities can’t be taken unless the school has a certain number of chaperones or supervisors.

Start small. Don’t offer to coordinate the holiday bake sale, the band recital, and a swim meet all at once. If you’ve taken on too much, find out if you can delegate some duties to other interested parents.

Don’t give your child special treatment or extra attention when you’re volunteering at the school. Follow your child’s cues to find out how much interaction works for both of you. Most children enjoy having their parents involved, but if yours seems uncomfortable with your presence at the school or with your involvement in a favourite activity, consider taking a more behind-the-scenes approach.

Make it clear that you aren’t there to spy – you’re just trying to help out the school.

Get frequent feedback from the teachers and students you’re working with. Find out what’s most and least helpful to them, and ask what you can do to make the most of the time you spend on school activities.

It’s important to keep the lines of communication open among teachers, administrators, students, and volunteers, and to be flexible and responsive as the needs of the students and the school change.

Remember that volunteering not only benefits your children, but will enrich the classroom, the whole school, and the entire community by providing students with positive interaction, support, and encouragement.

And don’t underestimate the students – you may feel that what you have to offer might not interest them or might be above their heads, but you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised. You’ll help build skills, confidence, and self-esteem that will last beyond their school days. (KidsHealth.org)

Adjusting to preschool and overcoming separation anxiety (Continued from Monday)

BY GAIL O’CONNOR

How do you know whether regression is a sign of something other than a touchpoint, in this case the transition to preschool?

When do these behaviours signal something more serious?

Certainly the regression should not last more than a couple of weeks, at the most. And it shouldn’t be pervasive throughout the day, for days and days. So although new preschoolers may be talking some baby talk, or they may wet the bed or have more trouble separating to go to sleep, you shouldn’t see less of other normal functioning at other times of the day. And they shouldn’t lose interest in playing, for example, or having playdates with other children.

How can parents assess whether the preschool they’ve chosen is working for their child?

The first thing is to gauge whether the teachers understand that they’re not just there to support the child, but also the parent. Do they let parents stay in the classroom for the first several days, to help the child make the adjustment? How forthcoming are they about reporting both the ups and downs of the day? Again, you would expect a child to resist going for the first several days, maybe for the first week or two. And you might also expect him to have a temper tantrum at the end of the day when he sees you. But what’s really helpful is to sneak in and spot your child before she spots you.

See what she’s doing. If she’s on the teacher’s lap reading a story, or conversing and playing interactively with another child, or busily playing with something side by side with a child who’s playing with something else — those are all good signs. If she is wandering around aimlessly or sitting in a corner looking sad and not being attended to, those are obviously not good signs.

Some children have emotional outbursts when their parents pick them up from preschool. Are these a cause for concern?

When your child has a temper tantrum, that does not mean that he is not doing well. It tells you that he really missed you and can finally let go and be flooded by the feelings he was trying to fight back all day long. The fact that he misses you doesn’t mean preschool is not going to work for him. You can reassure your child and say, “I missed you too, and I’m eager to see you because we love each other and we have fun together.”

Once regressive behaviours – like trouble separating –subside and the child appears to have successfully made the transition to preschool, can parents expect those behaviours to occasionally return?

Yes. For example, if you go away on a vacation or the preschool closes for a break, your child may experience another, shorter adjustment period. If a teacher or someone the child is close to leaves the school, you may see these behaviours again. Then there are other things of course that can cause these regressive behaviours, like developmental touchpoints, or the birth of a new sibling, or a stressful time in the parent’s life. When you think about it, we all regress throughout our entire lives, whenever we do something new and challenging like move, or switch jobs, or get married. There will be things the child is working on, too. (scholastic.com)

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tuesDAY, august 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Buxton biker killed in Better Hope accident … woman loses eyesight, critical

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27-year-old biker from Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD), died on the spot after he collided with a car just after 23:00h on Sunday on the Better Hope Public Road, ECD. The passenger of the car he crashed into, lost her eyesight and is said to be in a critical condition

Cleon Perreira’s bike

The mangled car

at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

Cleon Perreira of Lot 119 Middle Walk, Buxton, lost his life when he collided with motor vehicle PMM 9206, driven by a 19-yearold Montrose, ECD resident.

Investigations revealed that the car was proceeding West along the southern carriageway of the Better Hope Public Road, when it suddenly turned North into the path of motorcycle CG 1872 that was proceeding in the opposite direction. The driver of car is

in Police custody assisting with investigations while his passenger, 52-year-old Seelochanie Dhanraj remains in a critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit of the GPHC. The driver of the car was tested and found not to have had any alcohol on his breath.

According to Perreira’s uncle, Charles Mc Garrell, the family received a call sometime around 01:00h Monday morning informing them of the accident.

“Sometime after one am this morning (Monday)

someone call and said Cleon been in an accident. I then visited the Georgetown Hospital where we were called in and informed that he is dead. At that period in time, it was sketchy to know what caused the accident,” he said.

“Subsequently we went to the Sparendaam Police Station where we learnt that he was proceeding home East on the Better Hope Public Road and the car he got hit was going West and it make a sudden turn North and he collided with the car and that is what caused his demise,” Mc Garrell added.

The grieving man related that his nephew had earlier in the evening dropped his mother to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and then took his bike out for a ride in the city. He further stated that he was returning home when the ac-

cident occurred.

Meanwhile, the family of the car driver told Guyana Times that they received a call sometime around 23:30h informing them of the accident. They said the driver was at the time on his way to drop food for his brother when the accident occurred.

According to eyewitnesses the sound of impact was so loud it covered the loud music played by a nearby bar.

“When we got on the

Minister Norton to head Culture, Youth and Sport Department

… still holds Social Cohesion post

Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton

S

Dead: Cleon Perreira

scene I saw the bike stick on the car and the lady inside had her jaw shift and there was plenty blood. The man on the bike had a big gap by he neck and them take a long time to get the bike from the car,” the bar owner related.

Police investigations are ongoing.

ocial Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton will from September 1 take on full responsibility of culture, youth and sport under the Education Ministry.

The announcement was made on Monday by Education Minister (ag) Nicolette Henry during a forum with staff members at the National Cultural Centre (NCC). Minister Henry said she will now be fully responsible for education. Under the stewardship of former Minister, Dr Education Rupert Roopnaraine, Henry was specially assigned to the culture, youth and sport department; an area she received heavy criticism for over her performance.

Norton’s new appointment was confirmed on Monday by President David Granger, who in a release said Norton will, as of September 1, assume responsibility for culture, youth and

sport, allowing Education Minister Nicolette Henry to focus on improving the quality of and access to education countrywide.

The release from the Ministry of the Presidency said Norton will remain Social Cohesion Minister, with the new addition to his portfolio. However, his office will now be housed at the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport on Main Street, Georgetown.

In an invited comment, Norton said he is thankful for the confidence reposed in him by the President and looks forward to the new portfolio, even while he continues to focus on building social cohesion in Guyana.

“I am very excited about this. There is no doubt about my interest in sports and I have been exposed to the various cultures across the country. In my role as Minister of Social Cohesion, I have been privileged to work with all the groups across the country and so I have an understanding of what is needed already. I have always been vocal about youth opportunities and... I certainly see the youth population as being the agents of change, who can make social cohesion a reality in Guyana and so I look forward to doing my best in both worlds,” the Minister is quoted by the Ministry of the Presidency as saying.

Before moving to the Social Cohesion Ministry in January of this year, Norton had served as the substantive Public Health Minister.

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tuesDAY, august 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Pork-knocker who fractured miner’s skull remanded Spinning

A

37-year-old miner of Mabaruma, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini) was on Monday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for unlawfully and maliciously inflicting injuries on another during a brawl.

Alex Bovell on August 24, 2017, at St Elizabeth Backdam, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), allegedly injured Clive Hope during a drunken brawl.

According to the prosecution’s case, an argument ensued between the two parties which quickly escalated

into a physical battle. Bovell reportedly grabbed a piece of lumber and dealt the complainant several lashes about his body before escaping.

However, he was appre-

hended shortly afterwards

by Police.

In court on Monday, Bovell denied the allegation read to him by Magistrate McLennan.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore in-

dicated that the victim suffered a fractured skull and remains hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Bail was objected to by the prosecution, taking into consideration the seriousness of the offence and the extent of injuries suffered by the victim as a result of the accused’s actions.

The unrepresented accused indicated to the court that he is employed as a miner in Mahdia, Region Eight.

Bail was refused and he was remanded to prison until September 18, when the case will be called again.

Man remanded for ganja in underwear

G

riffith Millington of Tucville, Georgetown was allegedly caught three days ago hiding marijuana in his underwear, and was on Monday remanded to prison after being arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

An unrepresented Millington denied the charge and told the court that the Police did not find the narcotics on his person. He claimed that ranks had “picked up” the drugs from the bottom flat of another house, which did not belong to him.

But Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore told the court that ranks had, on August 25, swooped down on Millington‘s residence following reports of drug traf-

ficking ongoing there, and had found the defendant in possession of 19 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

In objecting to the de-

fendant being placed on bail, Prosecutor Moore told the court that the illicit substance was found concealed in a transparent plastic bag hidden in the defendant’s crotch.

He also advocated that Millington be remanded to prison pending the outcome of his trial, considering that he had advanced no special reasons why bail should be granted him. Moreover, he said the analyst’s report is outstanding.

The matter will be called again on September 18.

wheels…

Y

…on GECOM Chief? our Eyewitness has to hand it to Opposition Leader Jagdeo: the fella’s certainly sticking to his constitutional duties on selecting the next GECOM Chairman!! Most others would’ve chucked it in and left it to the courts by now, after the first two lists were submitted and rejected by Pressie for all those reasons which were rejected by the said courts.

After all, parsing words like “or” and “is” to reject the meaning of the constitutional clause on criteria for selecting the GECOM Chair - which has been illustrated in action in at least six previous occasions - can get pretty tiresome, can’t it? We don’t even have to get into notions like “performativity” to assert that it’s the actions of folks that define their roles better than abstract “qualities”.

Quick now, wasn’t Rudy Collins a superb GECOM Chair in 1992 - the first to occupy the office after it was constitutionally broadened to include non-Judges?? What was there about his two predecessors, who WERE judges - especially Bollers - to commend that species as the ONLY one capable of being possessed of integrity, intelligence and impartiality? In fact, the CONSTITUTIONAL criterion was expanded to include “or any other person” just because they were found so wanting in PRACTICE. Anyhow, Jagdeo has now included an individual -Joe Singh -- who was actually one of those “Non-judge” Gecom Chair, who performed with distinction in the role. Meaning, he elicited complaints from BOTH sides of the political divide!! But Singh has more than that going for him; he’s actually a squaddie of Pressie!!! In an administration that has justified placing ex-army officers in positions where they have no explicit qualifications -- like Brigadier Lewis as GHPC head -- but do have administrative training, Major General Joe Singh has administrative qualifications coming out of his kazoos!!

Quite frankly, he seems to be a clone of Brigadier Granger, whom he pipped with one additional star. Both were born in the same year, attended Queen’s during the same time, went off to Mons in 1965, returned as Second Lieutenants etc, etc in Burnham’s new GDF. The only difference is Singh was made Chief of Staff of the Disciplined Forces in 1990, after Norman Mc Lean retired; while Granger was made “military advisor”. He basically used his free time to earn first and second degrees at UG. Singh also kept up his qualifications in management, and headed CI as well as GTT. Now that the Court has instructed Pressie that he must give reasons for rejecting any candidate, it’ll be pretty interesting to see what he does with Jagdeo’s Singh gambit.

It’ll be like disqualifying himself!!

…on logging

Remember the Ancient Mariner’s tagline, “Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink”? For us Guyanese the cry should be “timber, timber everywhere but not a log to profit by”! It was always a source of confusion to your Eyewitness why this was so, since the only reason offered was foreigners were shipping out our logs, THEN adding value by making furniture and stuff.

They made the big bucks while we were left with a few low-paying jobs and sawdust.

But wasn’t this the same with everything else we produced? We’ve been shipping bauxite for almost 100 years, could someone explain what we got out of that deal? Linden’s barely hanging on by its fingernails! Gold?

Sugar? Do we even have a refinery? At least with timber the trees grow back!

Well, now that Bai Shan Lin has been kicked out, we just learnt the Government is “conserving” a third of their mega concession, and divvied the rest between a local sawmiller and a Chinese company.

So, are we getting “value added”?

…Code of Conduct

Well, now we know why there’s no “Code of Conduct” for Ministers, even though one was promised within 100 days of taking office. There’s no need.

Like George Washington, who couldn’t tell a lie, they can’t be bribed!!

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

News

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tuesDAY, august 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jagdeo continues push for Norwegian SWF model … says only guarantee of economic security

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overnment needs to come clear on how it plans to manage the funds that are expected to flow from the emerging oil and gas sector, especially since Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has indicated that Government could be moving in another direction other than the Norwegian model of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

This is according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who said last Friday that countless economies were able to thrive using the Norwegian model of the SWF. However, Government here seems hell bent on going in another direction.

Jagdeo was again addressing the pitfalls in the oil and gas sector and Government’s seemingly inability to effectively manage what could eventually become a booming oil and gas industry.

Back in June during the debate of the Petroleum Commission Bill, Jagdeo had urged the fast tracking of the legislation that would

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

open the way for the establishment of the SWF. He had said that government needed to build the fund around the model which exists in Norway. However, Minister Trotman was totally against it.

“Mr Speaker, all those who lecture about Norwegian models obviously are in the dark ages because the new literature says that the Norway model cannot apply to countries that are develop-

ing like Guyana”, he had said in rebuttal to the Opposition Leader’s suggestion.

At his press conference on Friday, Jagdeo said the Norwegian model remains the most successful model that has separated the management of the oil resources from the politicians.

“It is done technically. So the procedure is clear so that political people do not get their hands on the money. It is the most successful model in the world and also avoided the destruction of the economy through the Dutch Disease. Most countries have gone down the path that has seen an increase in national wealth,” Jagdeo told journalists.

Jagdeo said if Government will not be “going down this road “then it needs to state clearly how it intends to keep safe the country’s oil reserves.”

The Sovereign Wealth Fund of Norway, officially known as the Government Pension Fund of Norway, is the largest in the world, at latest count worth more than a trillion dollars. The fund

was created on the back of the country’s vast oil wealth to provide its citizens with pensions.

The purpose of the petroleum fund is to invest parts of the large surplus generated by the Norwegian petroleum sector, generated mainly from taxes of companies but also payment for licence to explore as well as the State's Direct Financial Interest and dividends from the partly State-owned Statoil.

The current revenue from the petroleum sector is estimated to be at its peak period and to decline in the future decades. The Petroleum Fund was established in 1990 after a decision by the country's legislature to counter the effects of the forthcoming decline in income and to smooth out the disruptive effects of highly fluctuating oil prices.

Back in 2015 following the discovery of oil reservoirs

by ExxonMobil, President David Granger had said that his Government would be focusing on the establishment of the much-needed fund.

Better Hope man dies in hit-and-run accident

T

he Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man, who was found on the Vryheid’s Lust, ECD roadway with multiple injuries about his body early Sunday morning. However, a post-mortem examination conducted on Monday, concluded that 45-year-old Abdool Wahab Khan died of multiple injuries consistent with that of a motor vehicle accident.

The lifeless body Khan, of Market Street, Better Hope Scheme, was discovered by a passerby at about 06:00h on the eastern parapet of the Vryheid’s Lust access road.

According to information reaching this newspaper, the man was a heavy drinker and lived in the area for

would do odd jobs around the community.

The house for which Abdool Wahab Khan was caretaker

over 20 years. However, he is originally from Berbice and his family has been notified of his death.

Police initially reported that they were unable to say whether the man died as a result of a hit-andrun accident or if he was murdered. When Guyana Times visited the scene, residents said that the man

was discovered with several wounds about his body.

Upon visiting the dead man’s home, this publication was told that relatives requested that his body be transported to Berbice for funeral.

It was related that he was the caretaker of a property – since the owners are overseas on vacation – and

Father of 7 dies in EBD accident A 50-year-old man died in the wee hours of Monday morning on the Land of Canaan Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), after his car was involved in a collision with an oncoming vehicle.

Dead is Ferose Khan of Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, who was the driver of one of the motorcars involved in the accident.

According to reports, the accident occurred at around 04:25h when Khan was returning from the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital, EBD. This newspaper was told that motorcar HC 8204, which was being driven by a 33-year-old Forshaw Street, Queenstown, Georgetown resident, was proceeding North along the western carriageway of the road when it collided with Khan who was driving motorcar PGG 8696 and proceeding in the opposite direction.

This newspaper was told that Khan allegedly made a sudden U-turn into the path of the other vehicle, which caused the collision.

A relative of the dead man disclosed that family members received a call informing them that there was an accident involv-

ing Khan on the Land of Canaan Public Road and they rushed to the scene.

Upon their arrival, Khan was still pinned in his vehicle.

The relative disclosed that the only injury he noticed on the now dead man’s body when he was pulled from the wreckage was that his nose was “burst open” and he was bleeding profusely.

He was subsequently rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival at the facility.

The driver of the other vehicle escaped without injury and a breathalyser test administered showed no trace of alcohol in his system.

He is however in Police custody assisting with investigations.

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tuesDAY, august 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Biker dies after crashing into rice truck

T

he lifeless body of a biker had to be pulled from under a rice truck on Monday afternoon after he reportedly lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into the truck at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Dead is Arnold Tinnis, who was returning home from an event which was hosted in Suriname.

Guyana Times was reliably informed that Tinnis was making his way to Georgetown from

Dynamics on board the Indian floating prison: the sea voyage from India to British Guiana: Kala-pani

I

The mangled motorcycle under the truck

Corentyne, Berbice at about 16:00h when the accident occurred.

C Division (East Coast Demerara) Commander, Calvin Brutus confirmed that the man was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital.

Reports are Tinnis,

The rice truck after the accident

along with his team members, participated in a twoday drag racing event, called ‘Bracket War 2017’ in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The dead man, along with the other bikers, was all making their way home when the accident occurred.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Sweeper cleaners’ fiasco

Education Ministry presents counter-proposal to GPSU

I

n one week’s time, schools countrywide will reopen their doors to students for a new school year, but the situation regarding sweeper-cleaners – the people who play a crucial role in creating and maintaining a clean environment in educational establishments run by the Government – is at this moment still unresolved.

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), representative of this segment of the State’s workers, has said it is still trying to see “something positive” forthcoming from the State before commencement of the new school year.

The more-than-100 sweeper-cleaners who had earlier this month taken militant action to call Government’s attention to their situation had promised that they would not be cleaning the schools unless their issues were resolved; and that if their issues remained unresolved, students and teachers would be confronted with dirty classrooms when school reopens.

They had engaged in protest action first at the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP), then at the Ministry of Finance (MoF), then at the Ministry of Education (MoE) on at least two occasions. Their last protest action, taken one week ago, had seen officials of the MoE reaching out to the GPSU with a request for a meeting.

At that meeting, the GPSU

Sweeper cleaners’ on the protest line over wages

was asked to present a proposal for the sweeper-cleaners.

First Vice President of the GPSU, Mortimer Livan, has said that after the GPSU had submitted its proposal, the MoE -- apparently dissatisfied therewith -- had presented its own proposal. The two bodies had been expected to meet again on Monday, to consult on a way forward.

Livan has said that the GPSU has been in contact with the sweeper-cleaners, updating them on progress made in regard to their issues, and that the mounting protests would continue until someone listens to the cries of the sweeper-cleaners.

The sweeper-cleaners’ most recent protest action

was held last Tuesday, moments before the GPSU was invited to meet with an MoE official.

Just about three weeks ago, sweeper-cleaners from schools across the country protested in front of the Ministry of the Presidency in what would become the first of a number of demonstrations in front of government agencies. They had said they were tired of the system that was treating them “inhumanely”, and had complained about poor working conditions and very low wages.

While the MoE is currently engaging the GPSU, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had said that Cabinet has also been discussing matters regarding the state of affairs of the

sweeper-cleaners.

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has been calling for Government to implement some decisions made during a 2013 Cabinet meeting with the previous People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration.

GPSU’s first Vice President, Mortimer Livan, has said that neither the previous PPP Administration nor this current APNU/AFC Administration has implemented the decisions, which include that the wages of sweeper/cleaners be set in accordance with the minimum wage order, and that payment be timely. He said the matter was brought up again with President David Granger, but even with his directives, nothing has been done. (Alexis Rodney)

n the upcoming weeks, I will examine some not-too-explored themes, in what I term the Indo-phone zone of Guyana, in an attempt to foster a better understanding of an ethnic group that is not well understood. I begin this week with the exploration of some dynamics that transpired on the Indian sea voyage to the Caribbean.

The Indian sea voyage was the most mysterious and most dangerous aspect of the Guyanese Indian indentured experience. It was mysterious mainly because it happened on the high seas, away from public view; as well, only a handful of Indian passengers wrote about their sea voyage experience.

We are left to ponder. It was dangerous mainly because it was a voyage that had to cross the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, but more so the southern tip of Africa. The waves around the southern tip of Africa were notoriously high and rough, Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine rocking the ships like a baby in a hammock without that gentle feeling. When this was about to happen, a few Indians, some with previous experience, would shout Pagla Samoondar (the mad sea), informing the entire shipload of about 400 Indians that the mad sea is about to act up, and so that they would duck to the floor or run for cover from one end of the ship to the other.

In some ways, it seemed like they were trapped in a floating war zone, and had no choice but to wait it out. Unfortunately, we know very little of how traumatized these individuals were after their sea voyage experience.

What we do know more about is that, in the midst of this Pagla Samoondar experience, there was the presence of disease, death, rape, anxiety, fear, and feelings of separation from Darti Mata (home); then almost unbeknown to some, the appearance of new ones onto a new world -- the most appreciative aspect of the journey. I do not know if these new ones were giving any make-shift birth ceremony, as in India. However, Hindu babies born anywhere during the sea voyage were named Samoondar for male and Samoondari for female; which of course means born at sea. The name Samoondar has changed so much over the years to look differently, like Samsundar or Shamsundar; but, fundamentally, the name means your ancestors were born at sea, not in India or British Guiana. You have a unique historical sea/Samsoodar citizenship.

I am not sure how many babies were born on the sea voyage.

The records show that on most ships of about 350-400 Indian passengers, there were about 15 infants; half of the infants might have been born on the ships. An estimated 75-100 infants might have been born and survived the sea voyage from 1838 to 1917, and some of these infants grew up and started a new family in British Guiana, or went back to India with their parents.

I thought this information might be useful to contemporary Indians who wish to trace their roots and routes.

The mad sea produced another interesting dynamic. You are probably familiar with the nineteenth century Indian social caste structure wherein individuals were born to specific stations of life with limited opportunities for upward social mobility. On board the ship were high, middle and low castes, which was really an uncommon situation, since members of different castes did not mix and mingle. Limited space on board the ship did not allow for the social liberty of separation. As expected, one day a huge quarrel broke out among the castes about maintaining separate caste rules with regard to what, where and when to have meals. The high caste did not want to eat with, or share food with, the low caste; and then, in the midst of this quarrel, a huge wave hit the ship and all the food was mixed up. It then became a choice of sharing or starving. The different castes decided to share food, space, feelings and so forth, which led to the formation of Jahaja Bhai and Jahaja Bahin (ship brothers and sisters) across caste and religion, something they would take with them to the plantations of British Guiana.

I am baffled as to why the Indian Chapatti, a popular Roti staple in India, did not make it across the Kala Pani. There are, of course, Clap-Hand Roti in Guyana and Suriname, and Buss-UpShut Roti in Trinidad, but they bear no resemblance to Roti in India. In my many lengthy conversations with scholar Dr. Brinsley Samaroo, I gathered that the Indian sea voyage might have contributed to this rupture. What happened was that Indian cooks on board the ships found a short cut to their daily work routine. Instead of making over 600 chapattis every day, they decided to have a large cooking tawa, a round and flat cooking utensil, to make lesser larger Roties, which eventually led to a new tradition of making Roti in the Caribbean. The Indians preferred the new tradition because it was less time consuming for them. The outcome was that, like caste, fire-walking, hookswinging customs, the making of Chapatti never survived the sea voyage crossing.

Conversely, the Shraddha (dead work), a ceremony performed 13 days after a Hindu person has died, did not occur on the voyage. There might have been some Sannyasis who preferred no Shraddha ceremony upon death. Generally speaking, the deceased were wrapped in cloth and thrown overboard. Interestingly, however, the Shraddha ceremony has survived in the Indo-phone Caribbean. (lomarsh.roopnarine@ jsusm.edu).

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tuesDAY, august 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Oil and gas contract

Govt promises increased royalties over time

N

atural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has said that, over time, Government would be initiating moves to negotiate increased royalties and profits with US oil and gas company ExxonMobil, so as to benefit the people of Guyana.

Speaking to the online oil and gas news agency “Oil Now”, Trotman explained that when ExxonMobil first came to Guyana, in 1999, experts had at that time said the arrangement that Government had then entered with the oil and gas giant was not the best, but was fair, given the risks involved.

Now that it has been established that the basin has appreciable quantities of oil and gas, and new contracts are being signed, Government would seek to improve the terms of its agreement with Exxon, in order to obtain an increased share of the revenues flowing from that industry for the people of Guyana.

Government has justified the two per cent royalty it has negotiated by contrasting it with the 50/50 share of the profits that it has negotiated to receive. Government has said this arrangement is a reasonable one, arrived at through the advice of experts. Some had opined that

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

a revenue-sharing arrangement would be a better option than a profit-sharing one.

“Also, the royalties (are) no doubt going to be increased, and of course we will look to perhaps greater profits or greater recovery. At the end of the day, we have experts standing by who will advise and do the negotiations for us,” Trotman told “Oil Now”.

Just recently, responding to concerns about when profits would actually be split between ExxonMobil and Guyana, Trotman had said that Guyana would be paid its two per cent royalty and its percentage share of the

profits from the time Exxon first starts extracting oil.

“From the first barrel, Guyana will receive two per cent royalty. It will also receive a percentage of the profits. So 75 per cent of the profits will go towards (Exxon’s) cost recovery… So far, we’re looking at a $5 billion investment,” he had said.

Trotman noted that the remaining 25 per cent of the profits would be split between Guyana, ExxonMobil and its partners. “So 25 per cent will be shared between Government and the partners,” Minister Trotman has stated.

The world market price for oil presently stands at

US$50. The resource is, however, notoriously volatile and is vulnerable to the ripples caused by global politics and economics.

“So we’ve worked that out,” Minister Trotman has said. “And at about US$50 a barrel (of oil), Guyana is going to get a lot of money from day one.”

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (Exxon’s subsidiary) is the operator of the 6.6 million-acre Stabroek Block, and holds a 45 per cent interest therein. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds a 30 per cent interest therein, and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds a 25 per cent interest as well.

In May 2015, the oil giant ExxonMobil confirmed significant discovery of oil at its Liza 1 exploration well, where more than 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs were encountered.

In late June 2016, Exxon’s drilling results at Liza 2 revealed more than 58 metres of oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs in Upper Cretaceous formations.

Drilling results confirmed recoverable resources to be between 800 million and 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Nations to offer special education programme

F

ollowing their participation in a US-based special education programme, three educators attached to the School of the Nations have now returned home to implement a similar initiative at the institution here in Guyana.

Balinda Beckles, Florence Harris-Lewis and Karen Thomas Luckhoo; all of the local private academy, earlier this year attended a one-week intensive training through Brain Rx Institution for Special Education, stationed in Colorado Springs, USA. During their involvement in the BrainRx training programme, the teachers were exposed to the uses a unique blends of personal brain training (which will allow students to work one-on-one with their own brain training coach) and digital brain training (done on a computer).

Given that Brain Rx is founded on the understanding that the brain can be trained just as the body, they were also previewed to several intense mental exercises aimed at sharpening the core skills the brain uses to think, learn, read, reason and pay attention.

The methods surround the basis of changing how the brain grasps and uses incoming information. Both of these approaches will be used at the Brain RX centre

at the School of Nations here in Guyana.

The Brain RX programme zooms in on the seven cognitive skills namely: auditory processing, visual processing, long and short-term memory, processing speed, attention, logic and reasoning.

The programme is relevant to persons from four years old to seniors.

The Brain Rx programme was developed by Dr Gibson who began his career as an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Once implemented in Guyana, the Brian Rx approach will maximise the learning potential of students, while allowing them to master English studies with greater ease. At the same time, it will enable greater success records in school through enhancing the brain’s ability to think, read, learn, reason, remember and pay attention.

As such, this initiative is a welcome addition to the education system in Guyana and the School of the Nations is delighted to introduce such an advanced approach to learning to the country.

On that note, the school’s administration announced, “The Brain Rx programme is definitely a worthwhile investment for everyone, especially parents with children with special needs because a high percentage of them receive no help or little help for their particular challenges.”

12 news

tuesDAY, august 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Armogan calls on Govt to hold off estate closure

R

egion Six Chairman, David Armogan, is calling on the Government to postpone plans to close the Rose Hall Sugar Estate in East Canje Berbice.

Speaking at the launch of the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair late last week, when he addressed a gathering which included Government officials and members of the private sector, Armogan made the impassioned plea in regard to the foregoing, and said that even as Berbice is preparing for another Expo and Trade Fair, there is need for expansion in the business sector.

Congratulating the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) for ensuring that the event is held annually, the Regional Chairman said Berbicians look forward to the event not only to see businesses display their wares, but also because it doubles well as a family event.

This year, he announced, there will be a difference in the character of the event, because the expo is being held at a difficult period in the region’s history.

“Our businesses in Region Six [East Berbice/ Corentyne] have declined by almost twenty-five per cent in terms of sales, and we have seen many businesses laying off workers.

I hope some of these things can be looked at, so we can create employment opportunities in this region through manufacturing and other trade possibilities; so that we can create additional

Vriesland residents want village to become part of NDC …highlight poor drainage, waste disposal issues

By Shemuel Fanfair

S Region Six Chairman David Armogan

employment in this region,” Armogan declared.

As an agriculture-based region, he said, both rice and sugar are experiencing “hard times.” Rice cultivation has declined from the 52,000 acres of a few years ago to a current totality of 42,000 acres; and its husbandry has been hit by flooding, resulting in 3000 acres less being cultivated and a further 16,000 acres being damaged by flood waters.

Nevertheless, the chairman noted, there still is hope for rice cultivation to rebound. “…because of the Brazilian variety that we are planting here in the region. The yield might be greater, but the number of people actually involved in the process will be reduced.

I was told at a meeting with the RPA [Rice Producers Association] that over fifteen per cent of small farmers have come off the rice industry and are no longer planting rice. That is not a good sign for us,” the Region Six Chairman said.

Armogan said the future of sugar also does not look good, since the Rose Hall Estate is slated to be closed at the end of the year; and what is worrying is the negative impact its closure will have on the economy.

“We will have less income in the Berbice economy because, as you know, the Rose Hall (Estate) generates about $50 million in terms of wages every week, in terms of wages and salaries. Most of this is going to be taken out of the economy and withdrawn from the circulation system; and that, too, is not a good sign. So I am hoping that Government will use its good senses and delay the closure of the Rose Hall Estate until alternative employment for the displaced workers can be found within the region.

And this has to happen with the manufacturing of more goods and the provision of more services within the region,” Armogan announced.

(Andrew Carmichael)

eventeen months after Local Government Elections (LGE), several communities across the country remain without local representation. This is reflected in the plight of residents of lower West Bank Demerara (WBD) communities, who, after decades, still have not had their communities incorporated in the local government system.

Villages beyond Patentia -- which include Vriesland, Vive la Force and Free & Easy -- are not represented by a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC); and, in 2016, had complained of being disenfran-

status of the area, some individuals are not properly disposing of their sewage.

A mother of one claims that water from her neighbour’s septic tank flows into her yard, and this of course is jeopardizing the health of her family, especially her child. Her major concern was in regard to the non-existence of a representative individual or corporate body to address such issues; all because the community does not fall within the local government system.

“They nah gat nobody or no authority you could really go to!” she expressed. Her husband concurred with her opinion, telling this publication that he, too, hopes the

The peaceful, Vriesland, West Bank Demerara community

chised after they were debarred from voting at Local Government Elections (LGE). Reasons advanced for their debarment had included that many do not pay rates and taxes, since they do not hold titles for lands.

Residents of these villages have listed poor drainage and improper garbage and sewage disposal among the bugbears affecting them.

In a visit to Vriesland late last week, Guyana Times was told by residents there that their situation remains pretty much the same. Several residents told this publication that because of the unregulated

Their main concern was the health of young children, who are home on school vacation and can suffer from ailments brought on by smoke inhalation.

Many of the trench networks which run alongside sugarcane fields have been maintained by Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). Now that operations at the Wales Estate have scaled down, it is unclear if the sugar corporation would continue to invest in maintaining these waterways.

On a positive note, however, residents described their community as peaceful and quiet. They are hopeful that their needs would be better addressed once their village is incorporated into the NDC system.

In the run-up to last year’s Local Government Elections, it had been revealed that many of the newly created housing schemes and communities were not handed over to the relevant NDCs and Town Councils.

And former squatting areas which had long been regularised were also left out of the local government system.

This scenario deprives

One of the Vriesland trenches that have traditionally been maintained by GuySuCo

problems of the community would be addressed soonest.

Many of the houses in the area are in close proximity to each other, and a group of housewives expressed their disdain for repeated burning of garbage on the roadside.

many of the local democratic organs from the requisite finances which can be garnered through rates and taxes and used to foster development of the communities and improve the quality of life of residents.

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tuesDAY, august 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

NOC currently in transition mode

… administration working to improve reformative approach

I

n light of recent reports of juvenile detainees escaping from custody after being institutionalised at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) at Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast, the administration there has indicated that the institution is currently in transition mode, and is set to undergo a number of changes, determined following a visit to the institution by President David Granger earlier this year.

NOC Administrator Mark Dover said over the weekend that, stemming from this transformation, the NOC will see a number of enhancements, including a shift to a more reformative curriculum, rather than just providing rehabilitation.

Formerly under the jurisdiction of the Education Ministry (MoE), the NOC now falls under the umbrella of the Social Protection Ministry (MSP), through its Department of Social Services (DSS, MSP).

In an interview with Guyana Times Dover detailed that aspects of the NOC’s impending transformation provide a much welcomed boost to the Centre’s

Rayad Emrit hands over a donation of cricket gear to the New Opportunity Corps on behalf of the Guyana Amazon Warriors. The initiative was made possible by GTT on Saturday

operations.

He outlined what those changes would mean for the NOC, and posited, “Because we come under Social Services, they will pay more interest in training, teaching…,” The result, he said, would be that “Every child that comes in will be able to go to remedial literacy class, because the level of the students when they come in is always below (acceptable levels).”

The Head of the NOC relayed that, prior to the shift in management, the institution already had in place a number of capacity building opportunities available to the detainees, so

as to ensure their successful reintegration into society while paving a way for them to have a fairly successful future after serving their terms. These, he pointed out, are courses and skills training in areas such as Information Technology, Agriculture, Catering and Home Management, Welding and Fabrication, Electrical Technology and Joinery.

It was also highlighted that some of the NOC juveniles are allowed to pursue formal education at nearby schools.

Dover also said, “We normally have children that go out and take part in all oth-

er national activities during the year, like Mashramani, football and cricket competitions.”

Despite the many efforts undertaken by the institution and its governing ministry, the NOC continues to record a number of misdemeanors, especially in the area of absconding.

Responding to inquires as to why such cases continue to persist, Dover explained that the inmates, from time to time, take advantage of periods during which the staff on ground are not at full capacity. In doing so, the juvenile detainees abscond beyond the permitted boundaries, and are aided by the

poor reinforcements in place to restrict their wandering.

A total of 56 workers are stationed at the facility.

The NOC sits between the community of Adventure on the right and Sand Pit village on the left. The compound is bordered on the right by an accessible trench, but is merely secured by a penetrable fence to the left.

The backlands to the south remain open as a vast field taken over by vegetation.

Dover noted, “You can only minimize the absconding, but can’t eradicate it because of how they abscond.

At any time students can run away. On the weekends is when most of the abscond-

ing happens, when we’re at a small amount of staff supervision.”

Nevertheless, the administrator went to say, “In terms of trying to minimize (absconding), what we do is give them games, keep them occupied; have more people looking at them. In terms of keeping them in, we try to convince them that, once the court sends you here, you have to serve the time.”

Dover said he looks forward to the NOC completely transitioning to the Social Protection Ministry, and he sincerely hopes that occurrences of absconding would gradually be erased as more doors for positive outcomes stem from juveniles being detained at the NOC. The New Opportunity Corps houses underage offenders who are institutionalized for breaking the law, rather than being subjected to the harsh conditions of adult prisons. NOC presently houses a total of 71 juveniles, comprising 32 males and 39 females all between the ages of 13 and 17, but the Centre can legally admit offenders from as young as the age of 10.

First Lady’s ICT remedial programme graduates 57 Friendship Primary School has moved from 57 per cent two years ago to 87 per cent this year,” she said.

Delivering the feature address, head of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Guyana, Andreasa Morris-Martin commended the First Lady

From left: Coordinator of the Buxton ICT workshop, Fitzroy Younge, Joycelyn Wilson, First Lady Sandra Granger, trainer Ovian Austin and Lieutenant Colonel Yvonne Smith of the Office of the First Lady along with the graduates

T

he First Buxton Information and Communication Technology (ICT) workshop and Buxton Youth remedial programmes graduated 57 youths.

Held at the Friendship Primary School, East Coast Demerara (ECD) the ceremony saw the ICT workshop graduating 24 youths, including high school students as well as school drop-outs while the remedial programme graduated 33 high and low Grade Two to Grade Six students – all hailing from the communities of Buxton, Company Road and Friendship primary schools.

The ICT workshop is certified by the Board of

Industrial Training (BIT) and equips graduates with basic ICT skills.

Its curriculum also includes instruction in remedial Mathematics and English courses as well as sessions in sexual and reproductive health, training in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, micromanagement development and soft skills; including ethics and time management.

Graduating the valedictorian out of the workshop is Dinelle Blair while Kenzia King capped the Salutatorian position.

Addressing the gathering, First Lady Sandra Granger applauded the

graduates and revealed that some of the ICT graduates have already been employed by the National Data Management Authority.

“The world is open to you because computer skills will be required for 75 per cent of the jobs in the world. So think about it and keep that skills going, use it or lose it,” she said.

According to the First Lady, the beneficiaries of the remedial programme are doing better in school than previously.

“Mothers were proud that their children, who had entered Grade Four unable to read were reading by the end of the school year. I have been advised that the literacy rate of the

and the organisers for recognising the necessity of this type of training in a fast-paced, technology driven world.

“I really do feel that ICT and anything computing really is the sort of knowledge we need to impart in our young people because really

and truly if they don’t have those skills it is very likely that they are going to be left behind,” she said.

The closing ceremony featured an IT skit performed by the ICT graduates and a musical rendition by graduate Shenika Griffith.

14 news

tuesDAY, august 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

President pledges support for Diocese of Guyana’s education programmes – at 175th anniversary

P

resident David Granger has pledged Government’s support for ongoing educational programmes being implemented by the Diocese of Guyana, and has noted that religious organisations can play an integral role in the development of communities, and by extension the country.

The President made these remarks at a special church service held to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Guyana, on Sunday at the Christ Church Parish on Waterloo Street.

He has said the Diocese has been making strides in terms of education delivery since its establishment, and this coincides with his goal of improving access to education for all the children of Guyana.

“The Diocese, through

the foresight of our first Bishop, established Queen’s College as early as 1844, and later the correctly-named Bishops’ High School, both of which still reflect the high standards set by their Anglican founders...

“The Diocese can be assured of my Government’s support for the Church’s educational efforts, as I have supported Hindu and Islamic schools through the National Endowment for Science and Technology (NEST),” the President said.

President Granger also said the Diocese has always played a role in the promotion of peace, in assisting the poor and impoverished, and in bringing together people of different backgrounds.

“The Diocese came into existence on August 24, 1842 with the consecration

President David Granger, First Lady Sandra Granger at the church service on Sunday. Also in photo is Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

of Right Reverend William Austin as the first Bishop of Guiana… The Diocese deserves our gratitude for its service to women, youth, the poor and needy. We applaud the episcopacy, clergy and laity for the propagation of the Gospel in Guyana… The State looks forward to working with

the Diocese towards making Guyana a better place, and to providing a good life for all in the years ahead,” the President has said.

The Head of State noted that the Diocese occupies a prominent place, and plays a pivotal role in public and private life. He noted that Anglicans constitute almost

seven per cent of Guyana’s population.

Anglicanism, he said, has transcended race, class and creed, and has deep roots in almost all communities, with churches in every hinterland and coastal region. “Growing up in Essequibo, Berbice and Demerara, I never had to travel more than 30 min-

utes from my home to reach an Anglican Church, so ubiquitous were they then.

The Diocese of Guyana is home to some of Guyana’s most historic churches, the most spectacular of which -the Cathedral of St George -- adorns our $100 currency note,” President Granger said.

Bad weather, rough terrain...

FROM PAGE 3

Upping the ante

The Director General of

the GCAA, Lt. Col. (ret’d) Egbert Field, has said that

surveillance and inspection of air operators, aircraft and other aspects of aviation operations will continue with more frequency.

The GCAA has commenced the State Safety Programme (SSP) as mandated by the International

Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and is presently at the implementation stage.

The elements of the SSP were introduced to service providers at a workshop held in July 2017 as a precursor for the Safety Management System

(SMS) which all operators are expected to implement.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, has said Government has mandated the GCAA to up its ante in relation to the inspections of aircraft and facilities.

“We have asked the Director of Civil Aviation for there to be more frequent levels of inspection of these aircraft, of the pilots and the facilities they use, to ensure that there is a higher level of safety in these operations. We, as a small country, cannot continue to lose young men in the prime of their lives to accidents. We are calling on the Director to increase [the] level of investigation and oversight over all of the operators, to ensure that the serviceability of these aircraft is checked, that the time and hours of the pilots

which they fly, must also be checked, and this must not just be a one-off check, but a regular check and (done) also time and again; what we call ramp checks [random checks],” Harmon has said.

The Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Department has registered its concern “regarding the recent spate of industrial accidents which have afflicted the local aviation industry during the past 6 weeks.”

Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, in a statement, said the law provides for the department to investigate and report on all accidents, whether fatal or not.

On August 8, a single-engine Cessna aircraft piloted by Captain Dominique Waddell was taking off from the Eteringbang airstrip in Region 7 when it crashed.

The Wings Aviation plane was on a shuttling mission from Eteringbang to Ekereku when the incident occurred at around 11:00hrs.

A source close to the GCAA’s investigative team has said the recent plane crash at Eteringbang airstrip in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on August 8 may be due to overloading.

On July 25, Captain Collin Martin, a retired Guyana Defence Force Major, was piloting a Roraima Airways aircraft when it crashed, killing him almost instantly.

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tuesDAY, august 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

3 children rescued from abusive home T

he Child Care & Protection Agency (CCPA) has rescued three children -- two girls respectively aged 12 and eight, and one boy aged eight -- from a home in which they may have been sexually abused by their father.

Acting on reports made by village leaders, including school teachers in Quarrie,

a satellite of St Ignatius Village in Region Nine, CCPA officials on Monday took the children from the home in which they resided with their 49-year-old father, and carried them to the Lethem Police Station in an effort to have that entity assist with investigations.

This man had allegedly sexually abused two of his

…60 more for Wisroc

M

Valerie Adams Yearwood

Patterson-

Wismar and Mackenzie to facilitate enrollment of persons desirous of acquiring these homes, while she explained that letters will be given on the spot.

“On spot we’ll give you a letter because it has to go through the bank. We’ll give you the letter to go to the bank. If the bank qualifies you, what I’m doing I’m not waiting for the house to done build and then qualify people... Like every five (houses) that finish building, you move in...”, the Minister added.

The Minister stressed that access to the land has

presented some difficulty.

Nevertheless, PattersonYearwood said she has since received word from Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira that plans are moving apace in this regard.

“By the middle of next month (September), we should be able to have access and start doing work and I’m hopeful that at least half of that amount we can finish by Christmas.

So if we can do that, it’s ninety people moving in homes,” she said. PattersonYearwood said similar work is presently being conducted at Perseverance, East Bank of Demerara, in relation to turnkey houses.

The Minister said that 20 three-bedroom houses and roads are being constructed to facilitate 40 duplex concrete houses.

“Immediately after that, we’re doing the roads behind that in Perseverance too, where we’re going to do some of the same houses that we’re doing in Linden, we’re doing 173 houses there. So we hope by December we can finish 50 of those along with the forty duplexes”.

She further added that other areas to benefit include New Amsterdam and Onderneeming.

UAE cuts sentences for jailed cross-dressers

A

pre-operative transgender woman and a man, both from Singapore, jailed in the United Arab Emirates for cross-dressing have had their sentences reduced to a fine and deportation, officials say.

Nur Qistina Fitriah Ibrahim and Muhammad Fadli Bin Abdul Rahman were arrested in Abu Dhabi on 9 August for "wearing women's clothes in public".

A court found them guilty last week and sentenced them to a year in prison.

But UAE officials now say they will only have to pay $2,720 (£2,110) fines.

Article 358 of the UAE's

penal code criminalises "indecent attire" as an act of public indecency.

It also criminalises sodomy, as well as sex outside marriage.

Ibrahim, 37, and Fadli, a 26-year-old freelance fashion photographer, were stopped by police at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi as they tried to eat at a food court, the campaign group Detained in Dubai said on Tuesday.

Fadli was wearing a white T-shirt, a bow tie and earrings at the time, his brother Muhammad Saiful Bahri Bin Abdul Rahman was quoted as saying by the Associated Press on Thursday.

…Trinidad and Tobago next host

older daughters -- now aged 20 and 14, and having since relocated from that home.

The children allegedly told the Police that they had been abused physically. However, they did not say anything about being abused sexually.

The father continues to be questioned by Police, and investigations are ongoing.

Plans moving apace for construction of 60 houses at Amelia’s Ward inister with responsibility for central housing and planning, Valerie PattersonYearwood has noted that steps are presently being put in place to facilitate the construction of 60 homes at Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The Minister made the disclosure over the weekend while also announcing that a huge portion of land is presently being cleared at Phase 3, Amelia’s Ward in this regard. Another 60 homes are also expected to be constructed at Wisroc, Wismar, Linden, and according to the Minister, if all goes well, at least 90 homes may soon be completed.

“As soon as that land clearing (at Amelia’s Ward) is finished, we’re going to put some internal roads in and we’re going to start – we’re building 60 houses on that plot of land. Thirty of them would be flat, two-bedroom concrete houses. Flat, like three feet off the ground and 30 will be the ones built on stilts which give you the option to enclose the bottom,” the Minister said.

She added that two outreaches will be held on September 21 and 22 at both

Carifesta XIII concludes

It is not clear what Ibrahim was wearing, but her younger sister told the Straits Times that her documents stated her gender as male because she had not undergone reassignment surgery.

Neither of the Singaporeans was represented by a lawyer in court on 20 August, nor was there anyone from the Singaporean embassy, according to Saiful.

Singapore's ministry of foreign affairs said diplomats had held four meetings with them since their arrest, the first taking place on 10 August after the embassy was notified of their case.(BBC.

Com)

A cultural dance being performed at the closing ceremony of Carifesta XIII at the Kensington Oval Ground, Bridgetown, Barbados

T

he curtains came down on the thirteenth edition of the Caribbean Festival of Arts Carifesta XIII on Sunday evening.

The 10-day mega cultural event ended with a closing ceremony at Kensington Oval Ground, President Kennedy Drive, Bridgetown, Barbados. The night’s activities included a culmination of performances from various Caribbean countries that performed throughout the festival and the passing of the baton to next host country of Carifesta XIIII, Trinidad and Tobago.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Assistant Secretary General in charge of Human, Social Development at the Caricom Secretariat, Dr Douglas Slater told the large gathering that once again Carifesta has given the Caribbean an exquisite and diversities of

wonderful performances of cultural expressions from visual and performing arts to film, fashion, literary arts and symposium series.

The Assistant Secretary General extended his regards on behalf of the Caribbean community for the hospitality received.

He also expressed his condolences to the family and friends of late Guyanese participant Petal Frank who passed away during Carifesta.

Meanwhile, Barbados’ Culture Minister, Stephen Lashley noted that even though there was not a perfect start to Carifesta due to tropical storm Harvey, the team pulled together and “Carifesta XIII was a resounding success” with the participation of the 22 Caribbean countries.

Lashley proudly reported that the critical objectives of the festival were indeed met. “From discus-

sions held with Ministers who were present and directors of culture we were able to recognise the ongoing importance of the culture industries to the development of national economies and the enrichment of culture capital. We were also able to promote the sustainability and competitiveness of the region’s creative industries and talent as significant forces in the modern economy.”

The Minister praised Guyana for its continued participation during the passing of its member Petal Frank. He then passed the baton to 2019 host country of Carifesta XIIII Trinidad and Tobago.

The Minister of Culture and Art of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Nyan Gadsby Dolly accepting the baton, thanked the host country Barbados for hosting an enjoyable and successful Carifesta XIII.

Guatemala President under fire for UN expulsion

G

uatemala's President Jimmy Morales has been condemned for his order to expel the head of the UN's anti-corruption mission in the country.

The US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said the decision to expel Ivan Velasquez was profoundly worrying.

Guatemalan prosecutors have accused Morales of funding irregularities in the 2015 election.

The UN has backed calls for the removal of Morales' immunity so he can be investigated.

Haley said that Ivan Velásquez had the "total support" of the US. "As the head of the United Nation's International Commission Against Impunity (CICIG), Velásquez is an essential voice in calls against corruption" she said.

Morales has said he ordered Velásquez's expulsion on the grounds he had "meddled in domestic affairs that are the sole responsibility of the Guatemalan state".

There have been protests against President Morales - this sign calls for his resignation

The decision to expel Velásquez has created a crisis in the country, with at least eight high-level government officials resigning and two being sacked.

The move was temporarily halted by the Constitutional Court in Guatemala but Morales said it did not have the power to overrule his decisions on foreign affairs. Adding to the pressure on Velásquez, the European Union said that

the expulsion order "put at risk all the work by CICIG to strengthen the law".

There have also been street protests with demonstrators demanding Morales' resignation.

Morales is a former comic actor who had never held public office before becoming president. He surprised traditional politicians and won the 2015 election promising to tackle corruption and impunity. (BBC.com)

16

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, august 29, 2017

Regional

Barbados Venezuela ex-Attorney General says contract killers sent after her implements fee on foreign purchases V enezuela's former Attorney General, Luisa Ortega, accused the government Monday of hiring contract killers to go after her and other justice officials denouncing alleged abuses committed under President Nicolás Maduro.

"I have come specifically to lodge a complaint before the Costa Rican justice ministry and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights," she told a news conference in Costa Rica's capital of San Jose alongside that country's chief prosecutor, Jorge Chavarria.

"I have information that the persecution is continuing against me and that the government has contract-

Venezuela's fugitive former top prosecutor Luisa Ortega speaks during a press conference in the General Prosecutor's office in San Jose on August 28, 2017. Ortega said that the Venezuelan authorities had hired hitmen to kill her and other prosecutors who might expose their abuses

ed hitmen to end my life."

Ortega, 59, is a fugitive from Venezuela. She fled with her husband on August 18,

two weeks after a new loyalist assembly established by Maduro booted her from office.

She had been a fierce critic from within Maduro's regime, and had continued to make allegations against the Venezuelan leader from abroad, in several Latin American cities.

Ortega arrived Monday in Costa Rica, where she was to visit the Inter-American Court of Human Rights that is based in the country. Her itinerary was not given for security reasons. The ex-Attorney General said the trip was part of her efforts across Latin America to highlight alleged abuses by Maduro's government and to seek support to restore democratic order to her country. (Excerpt from

Jamaica Observer)

Dom Rep seeks trade links with English speaking Caribbean

T

he Dominican Republic is looking at ways to revitalise exports and investments with Jamaica and other countries in the English speaking Caribbean.

According to the President of the Roundtable of Commonwealth in The Dominican Republic, Fernando Gonzalez Nicolás, the English speaking Caribbean consumes around US$30 billion in imported products and ser-

vices yearly.

Speaking at the opening of a seminar – “How to do business with Jamaica”, Nicolás said the Dominican Republic exports only US$180 million in products to Jamaica and other English speaking countries in the region.

He said there is need for strong ties with the main economic conglomerates in the region. Gonzalez also said that in recent weeks the government has pri-

oritised trade relations with member states of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and expressed support for president Danilo Medina’s new policy towards the Caribbean.

“This seminar is an initiative to contribute to raise awareness in the Government and the Private Sector that the Caribbean markets are natural with those of the Dominican Republic, and that the experiences we

acquire with them can be valuable to conquer other international markets in more distant places in the world,” he said.

Among the measures González cited to revitalise exports and investments in the Caribbean figure the organisation of more joint official-Private Sector trade missions, as well as organising Santo Domingo events to attract buyers and investors from the region. (Excerpt from

Trinidad Guardian)

Colombia's FARC begins first congress after peace deal

President Santos (left) and Timochenko met at the FARC's final disarmament ceremony on June 27

M

embers of the FARC in Colombia have begun discussing the group's future in its first congress since the conclusion of a historic disarmament process.

Some 1,200 delegates from the recently demobilised group have attended the first day of the congress in Bogota.

By the end of the congress on Friday the dele-

gates will have chosen a new name for the FARC. The rebel group will become a political party and it will take part in next year's general elections.

"At this event we are transforming the FARC into a new, exclusively political organisation," said its leader, Rodrigo Londoño, known as Timochenko.

The delegates will also select the names of the main candidates who will run for office at the 2018 poll. Under the terms of the agreement, the new party will have a number of guaranteed seats in Congress after the first election they

contest. "We are going to define the character of the political party that we aspire to build," former commander Carlos Antonio Lozada told the AFP news agency.

It became Colombia's largest rebel group and one of the main parties in a bloody conflict involving other left-wing guerrillas, paramilitaries and the armed forces.

The rebels signed a peace accord with the Government in November last year, after four years of comprehensive negotiations that were held in Cuba. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Chile's Bachelet sends gay marriage bill to Congress

C

hilean President Michelle Bachelet has sent legislation to Congress seeking to legalise gay marriage, a move that follows a string of social reforms in one of Latin America's most conservative nations.

The bill submitted on Monday would allow gay couples to adopt children and would denote marriage

as a "union between two people" rather than between a man and a woman, according to reports.

"We do this with the certainty that it is not ethical nor fair to put artificial limits on love, nor to deny essential rights just because of the sex of those who make up a couple," Bachelet said in La Moneda presidential palace.

In a post on social media, the president wrote: "There are no conditions to love. To keep moving towards an inclusive Chile, today I signed the Equal Marriage bill."

In March, Bachelet, a centre-left politician, pledged to send a full marriage bill to legislators before the end of the year.

But it was not immediately clear if Bachelet would

be able to push the gay marriage bill through Congress before she leaves office in March 2018.

Though her Nueva Mayoria coalition has a majority in Congress, it is severely fractured ahead of elections in November and several members of the coalition hold socially conservative views. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

using cards

T

he Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) on Monday said that a two per cent fee on foreign purchases and payments made using credit, debit and travel cards goes into effect from Friday, September 1.

It said the Foreign Exchange Fee (FXF) is applicable to purchases made while overseas, as well as to items purchased from companies outside of Barbados.

But it noted if the transactions are cancelled, the fee is refundable.

The CBB said that the fee will be calculated on the Barbados value of the transaction using the exchange rate on the date that the transaction was processed, not on the date that the bill is paid and will be applied even if customers choose to be billed in Barbados dollars (One Barbados dollar=US$0.50 cents).

“This is because whether the transaction charge

is executed in Barbadian or foreign currency, it is ultimately settled using foreign currency,” the CBB said in a statement.

The FXF, which Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Christopher Sinckler, announced during the 2017 Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals, has been in effect on cash, bank drafts and wire transfers since mid-July.

Sinckler had during his budget address urged Barbadians to make “major sacrifices” to rescue the ailing economy. The CBB said that the foreign exchange fee does not affect a person's annual foreign currency allowance.

The FXF was originally due to have gone into effect from July 17, but the CBB said then that the delay was to allow the public to become familiar with the new fee.

(Jamaica Observer)

Jamaica to stage first natural gas conference

Jamaica’s Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr Andrew Wheatley

J

amaica, which says it stands to gain a great deal from the uses of liquefied natural gases (LNG), will stage its first conference on the commodity in October.

The government said that it is hoped the October 4-6 event is aimed at exploring the economic, commercial, legal and regulatory implications of the development of the local natural gas industry.

Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr Andrew Wheatley, said the island stands to gain a

great deal from the uses of LNG “particularly as it relates to the electricity sector.

Wheatley said that if more LNG is used, a reduction in the cost of electricity will be achieved, adding that the effects of the reduction in the cost of energy will not only be felt by consumers but also by manufacturers, who will be able to boost their production.

He said the government is committed to diversifying Jamaica’s energy source so that “no one fuel source contributes more than 42 per cent”, which will result in a “secure build out of the energy infrastructure”.

Speaking at a ceremony where the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) and the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a partnership to host the conference, Wheatley urged the PCJ and the OUR to extend invitations to other Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries to participate in the conference in order to appreciate the benefits of LNG. (Excerpt from

Trinidad Guardian)

tuesDAY, august 29, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

North Korea Divers recover remains of US fires missile over sailors missing after ship collision Japan, sharply T escalating tensions he US Navy on Monday confirmed recovery of the remains of all 10 sailors killed after the warship USS John S McCain collided with a merchant vessel in waters near Singapore and Malaysia.

The guided-missile destroyer collided with the Alnic MC East of Singapore last week while approaching the city state on a routine port visit. "The US navy and marine corps divers have

A Japan Self-Defence Forces (JSDF) soldier takes part in a drill to mobilise their Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile unit in response to a recent missile launch by North Korea, at US Air Force Yokota Air Base in Fussa on the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan August 29

N

orth Korea fired a missile that flew over Japan and landed in waters off the northern region of Hokkaido early on Tuesday, South Korean and Japanese officials said, marking a sharp escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula.

The test, which experts said appeared to have been an intermediate-range Hwasong 12 missile, came as US and South Korean forces conduct annual military drills on the peninsula, against which North Korea strenuously objects.

Earlier this month, North Korea threatened to fire missiles into the sea near the US Pacific territory of Guam after US President Donald Trump warned Pyongyang would face “fire and fury” if it threatened the United States.

North Korea has con-

ducted dozens of ballistic missile tests under young leader Kim Jong-Un, the most recent on Saturday, but firing projectiles over mainland Japan is rare.

“North Korea’s reckless action is an unprecedented, serious and grave threat to our nation,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters. Abe said Japan was seeking an urgent meeting at the United Nations to strengthen measures against Pyongyang. The test was a clear violation of UN resolutions and the government had protested against the move in the strongest terms, he said.

North Korea fired what it said was a rocket carrying a communications satellite into orbit over Japan in 2009. The United States, Japan and South Korea considered that launch to have been a ballistic missile test.

A

funds and money laundering cases in Nigeria, Britain, Italy and the United States.

Alison-Madueke – the former president of the global oil cartel OPEC, and the first woman to hold the post – has always denied the allegations which involve billions of dollars syphoned from oil deals and state accounts.

Monday's ruling followed two applications by the EFCC which earlier this month successfully seized properties worth US$44 million that Alison-Madueke allegedly purchased with the proceeds of corruption.

The court had also ordered an interim forfeiture of 56 houses linked to the former minister valued at US$9 million. Nigeria is reeling from a series of corruption scandals by top officials. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

ship, which is moored at Singapore's Changi Naval Base.

"The incident is under investigation to determine the facts and circumstances of the collision," the statement added.

Aircraft, divers and vessels from Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States joined a search-andrescue operation for the missing sailors over an area

of about 5500 square kilometres (2124 square miles) around the crash site.

The pre-dawn collision, the fourth major accident for the U.S. Pacific Fleet this year, has prompted a review of its operations.

The Navy has removed Seventh Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin from his post, citing "a loss of confidence in his ability to command" after the run of accidents. (Excerpt from France24)

Thousands driven from homes, 7 dead, as Harvey hammers Houston

F

loodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey, which has already killed at least seven people in Texas and was expected to drive tens of thousands from their homes, will likely rise in the coming days, officials warned on Monday as heavy rains continued to pound the US Gulf Coast.

National Guard troops, police officers, rescue workers and civilians raced in helicopters, boats and special high-water trucks to rescue the hundreds of peo-

ple still stranded in and around Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city.

The storm was the most powerful hurricane to strike Texas in more than 50 years when it came ashore on Friday near Corpus Christi, 220 miles (354 km) south of Houston and the worst was far from over as the National Weather Service issued numerous flood warnings across the region.

US President Donald Trump plans to go to Texas today to survey the damage and may in the future visit

China claims victory over India in Himalayan border row

Residents use boats to evacuate along Tidwell Road east Houston, Texas, US, August 28

Louisiana where the storm is now dumping rain. Trump, facing the biggest US natural disaster since he took office in January, has signed disaster proclamations for Texas and Louisiana, triggering federal relief efforts.

Harvey has killed at least six people in Harris

County, where Houston is located, said Tricia Bentley, a spokeswoman for the county coroner’s office, including a man who died in a house fire on Friday night and an elderly woman driving through flooded streets on the city’s west side the next day. (Excerpt from Reuters)

India guru rape: Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh jailed for 20 years

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Nigeria seizes US$21M linked to former Oil Minister Nigerian court has seized US$21 million from bank accounts linked to Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Oil Minister who faces corruption allegations.

Abdulazeez Anka, federal High Court Judge, ordered on Monday the immediate forfeiture of the sum allegedly held in local bank accounts by AlisonMadueke, who was once one of Africa's most prominent female politicians.

Nigeria's anti-graft Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which accuses Alison-Madueke of corruption, argued in the Lagos court that she had illicitly laundered the funds with the help of top oil officials.

Since leaving office in 2015, Alison-Madueke has been implicated in bribery, fraud, misuse of public

now recovered the remains of all 10 USS John S McCain sailors," the Seventh Fleet said in a statement on its website. The news follows the navy's Thursday announcement that it had suspended wider search and rescue operations after finding and identifying the remains of one sailor.

The navy found the remains of missing sailors inside sealed sections of the damaged hull of the war-

An Indian soldier on the China border – Beijing has reiterated what it says is its right to territory

C

hina says India has withdrawn troops from a disputed Himalayan border area, ending a tense stand-off lasting weeks. The Foreign Ministry in Beijing said it was pleased that "trespassing Indian personnel have all pulled back to the Indian side of the boundary".

India's foreign ministry confirmed troops were "disengaging" at Doklam after agreement between the countries. The row began in mid-June when India said it opposed a Chinese attempt to extend a border road on the plateau. The area is known as Doklam in India and Donglang in China.

The news comes a week before a visit to China by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The plateau, which lies at a junction between China, the

north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim and the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, is disputed between Beijing and Bhutan. India supports Bhutan's claim over it.

Earlier on Monday China made clear it would "continue its sovereignty rights" in the area. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Chinese troops had verified on ground that Indian personnel had withdrawn in the morning.

In the weeks since the row broke out in June, both countries increased troop numbers and even engaged in several minor confrontations in the area.

Both countries also called on each other to back down, with China in particular warning of "serious consequences". (Excerpt from BBC News)

A

controversial Indian guru convicted of rape on Friday has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Indian media reported that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's followers set a vehicle alight just ahead of sentencing.

Violence after Friday's verdict in Panchkula in northern Haryana state had killed some 38 people.The self-styled holy man was found guilty of sexually assaulting two female followers and jailed for 10 years for each, to run consecutively.

There were initial reports of a 10-year sentence but his lawyers confirmed the sentencing was of consecutive, not concurrent, terms.

Prosecutors had called for a life sentence. A lawyer for the victims said 50 women had come forward with

allegations of rape and they would be seeking further investigation in the case.

"We believe there are at least 48 more victims who were sexually abused and who may have been killed or are too scared to come out and testify against Ram Rahim," lawyer Utsav Singh Bains told AFP. Ram Rahim Singh denies charges of murder in two cases due to be heard next month. Following the sentencing, the chief minister of Haryana state, where Singh's ashram is located, called an emergency meeting.

A curfew has already been imposed in several areas of Haryana and Punjab states, while the capital Delhi is on alert. The army has been put on standby and police say they have been given "shoot on sight" orders in case of trouble. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, august 29, 2017

ARCHIE

ARIES

Share your plans and en-

(March 21- gage in events that will put April 19) you in a good position to ad-

vance. An energetic approach to life, love and financial pursuits will encourage positive change.

Don’t count on anyone but TAURUS yourself. Disappointment will (April 20- lead to an argument. Learn May 20) from experience and keep the doors of communication open.

Channel your energy into personal pursuits.

dilbert

You’ll be fed information GEMINI (May 21- that contradicts your beliefs.

June 20) Keep your distance from anyone using emotional tactics to get you to agree. Deception will lead to disappointment.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Business talks or arrangements will not be straight or easy to follow. Don’t let confusion set in. If something doesn’t feel right, ask questions and make amendments.

Your involvement in functions that give you the opportunity to share what you have to offer will lead to an appointment you won’t want to miss. An income boost looks promising.

The changes you want to VIRGO make may not be feasible.

(Aug. 23Don’t make an impulsive deSept. 22) cision that will be hard on your bank account. Say no to emotional spending or paying for others.

Don’t mix money and emoLIBRA (Sept. 23- tions. If you feel the need to Oct. 23) spend cash, make sure you are investing in something that will help you get ahead.

Talks will encourage positive results.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Be passionate about what SCORPIO you do, but don’t miss out be(Oct. 24cause you are too stubborn to Nov. 22) admit you made a mistake.

Aim to fix whatever isn’t working properly instead of making a fuss.

The truth will be difficult SAGITTARIUS to digest. Listen carefully and (Nov. 23- only offer what you know to Dec. 21) be factual. Keeping talks mellow will encourage positive results. Romance and personal growth are favored.

Hidden matters are best CAPRICORN kept that way, especially if it (Dec. 22- concerns a financial, legal or Jan. 19) health matter. A partnership will offer you relief and bring you good fortune.

solution for Last Published Puzzle Look at all your options AQUARIUS and go over your financial (Jan. 20- situation. Investing in someFeb. 19) thing you enjoy doing will lead to a prosperous new venture. Romance is in the stars.

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

Keep an open mind, but PISCES (Feb. 20- don’t be gullible. Question March 20) anyone offering something that appears unrealistic or promotes an ulterior motive.

Emotional confusion and disillusionment are apparent.

tuesdAY, august 29, 2017

19

Pakistani cricketers Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif set to get long bans, heavy fines P

akistan’s opening pair of Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif are set to face long bans and heavy fines from the three-member anti-corruption tribunal, formed by the country’s Cricket Board (PCB) to probe into the spot-fixing scandal in the Pakistan Super League.

The tribunal, headed by a former judge of the Lahore High Court, is expected to announce its verdict on Sharjeel on Wednesday and then turn its attention to the Khalid case.

The two could face a ban of 2-5 years and a two million rupees fine.

“The two cricketers are expected to get similar bans when the tribunal gives its verdict early next month,” a PCB official told PTI. The PCB has finished its final arguments and filed all evidences against Sharjeel and Khalid, who were sent back from Dubai in February on the second day of the PSL after the anti-corruption unit of the PCB found them involved in suspicious activities including meeting with bookmakers.

Sharjeel and his lawyer Shaigan Ejaz have accepted the authority of the tribunal and appeared in all hear-

2010. All three completed their bans and are now playing competitive cricket with Aamir having made a comeback to the Pakistan national team.

In 2012-13, Pakistan’s Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was imposed a life ban by an anti-corruption tribunal of the England and Wales Cricket Board for fix-

ing in English county cricket while playing for Essex.

Other players have also been fined for not cooperating with the Justice Qayyum inquiry. (HindustanTimes)

Dembele pens 5-year Barcelona deal to complete €105M transfer ings, and also made it clear they had full faith in the tribunal.

On the other hand, Khalid and his lawyer Badar Alam kept on challenging the constitutional validity of the tribunal and its appointed members.

In one particular hearing when Khalid’s lawyer raised objections to the tribunal members, one of t h e m -- former PCB Chairman Lt General (retd) Tauqir Zia -- was reported to have exchanged harsh words with the lawyer.

Attempts by Khalid to challenge the tribunal in

the Lahore High Court also failed, not once but twice.

Earlier, former Pakistan Test captain Salim Malik was given a life ban for match-fixing by the Justice Malik Qayyum inquiry commission in 2000 but a lower court later overturned the ban.

I n early 2011, a n o t h e r Pakistan captain Salman Butt, and pacers Muhammad Aamir and Muhammad Asif were given minimum five-year bans by an ICC anti-corruption tribunal for spot- fixing during the series in England in

O

usmane Dembele is in place as Neymar's replacement at Barcelona after signing a five-year deal.

Dembele has put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Barcelona to complete his transfer from Borussia Dortmund.

The 20-year-old France winger moves to Barca for an initial €105 million, under a deal that will make him the second most expensive player in history once add-ons are accounted for.

Dembele arrived in Barcelona on Sunday and completed a medical earlier on Monday before arriving at Camp Nou for the signing ceremony.

He then took the field for his official presentation before an estimated crowd of 12,000 fans, who he addressed in a short interview.

"I'm excited to be playing at this club with the best players in the world and to be in front of all these people today," he said.

"I've always wanted to play for Barca since I was very young. I watched all the matches. It is the best

club in the world with the best players in the world and I hope to bring lots of trophies and titles to Barcelona.

"I'm very happy to be here and hoping to integrate quickly with my team-mates."

The former Rennes star will take the number 11 shirt at Camp Nou, which was vacated

by Neymar when he joined Paris SaintGermain for a world-record €222 million earlier this month.

That transfer set in motion the chain of events leading Dembele to Catalonia, during which time the player was suspended by Dortmund for refusing to attend training as Barca tried to broker a deal.

"The transfer of French national player Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund to FC Barcelona is complete," read a statement issued by Dortmund during Dembele's presentation.

"All necessary documents have been signed, and the player has successfully completed the medical check at the receiving club.

"Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona had already agreed on the transfer terms on Friday last week." (SportsMax)

McGregor eyes more money fights as Mayweather retires D escribed as the fight the fans asked for by the executives who made it happen, Saturday's clash between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor was only ever about one thing -- money.

Having beaten the Irish pretender with a 10thround technical knockout, Mayweather can retire with a perfect 50-0 record and a payday said to be worth up to 300 million dollars, and the American has promised never to return to the ring.

McGregor, however, is a different story.

His 30-million-dollar purse for the fight is 10 times his previous best disclosed purse from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where, as he says, he endures "shinbones to the head" as he makes his living.

In the altogether more

genteel surroundings of the boxing ring, he made a lot more money with a lot less damage, and his appetite has surely been whetted by the enormous riches on offer.

McGregor has made no secret of his desire for more.

Asked what he liked most about his boxing experience, "Money" Mayweather prompted UFC lightweight champion McGregor to say the cash.

"The cheque is alright.

The cheque is not bad," the Irishman laughed as he sipped his own "Notorius"brand whiskey on the podium of the post-fight media conference.

"I've already been raising the MMA (mixed martial arts) cheques. I'm still going to be raising the MMA cheques when I go back there," he added.

The 29-year-old has

started his own website, a clothing line and a number of other businesses, and he was clearly delighted to see the logo of his latest venture, McGregor Sports and Entertainment, in the ring at Saturday's fight.

The value of his brand, however, stems from what he does in the ring or the octagon and the brash personality he displays as he goes about his sporting business.

UFC president Dana White is keen for McGregor's boxing experiment to end sooner rather than later, and said that he was in a position to offer McGregor similar riches for mixed martial arts bouts.

"If our fights do what the (pay-per-view) buys did here tonight, and the gate, we'll all be good, trust me.

Nobody will be bitching about anything," White told reporters.

"It takes two very special people in the right place at the right time to do the freakish kind of numbers and the watercooler talk that these guys had. You've got to have the right people in the right place at the right time."

With Mayweather, holder of a handful of the biggest pay-per-view sales of all time, vacating the stage at the age of 40, there is an opening for McGregor to move in and take over as the biggest draw in combat sports.

The problem is that there are few prospective opponents for him in either boxing or MMA who can generate that kind of interest.

A bitter training-camp row between McGregor and boxer Paulie Malignaggi might provide the kind of intrigue that would get fans

Conor McGregor

to part with their money to see them face each other in the ring, but McGregor is most likely to return to the octagon to fight Nate Diaz.

Diaz gave McGregor his first UFC defeat in a 170-pound matchup in 2016, which McGregor avenged months later with an epic five-round decision victory at the T-Mobile Arena, before going on to win the or-

ganization's lightweight title.

With the teak-tough Californian more than a match for McGregor in terms of trash talk, a trilogy fight to bring that rivalry to a close is about the only thing that would make sense -- and the required amount of dollars -for McGregor at this point.

(Reuters)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

Bangladesh vs Australia

ICC should revisit Code of Conduct legislation ‒ Holding

Shakib Al Hasan's brilliance puts Bangladesh in box seat S

hakib Al Hasan lit up his 50th Test with all-round brilliance to help Bangladesh claim a handy first-innings lead over a listless Australia in the second Test on Monday.

A day after rescuing Bangladesh from a top-order collapse with the bat, the left-arm spinner claimed 5-68 to help dismiss Australia for 217 and justify his status as he world’s top- ranked Test all-rounder.

Having claimed a 43 run first-innings lead on a viciously turning track, Bangladesh further consolidated their position and were 45-1 at the close on the second day.

Soumya Sarkar threw his wicket away after scoring 15 but Tamim Iqbal was batting on 30 with nightwatchman Taijul Islam yet to open his account.

Bangladesh stretched their overall lead to 88 runs and Australia will have the unenviable task of batting in the fourth innings on a fast-deteriorating track at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Resuming on a precari-

W Shakib Al Hasan celebrates with his Bangladesh teammates after the dismissal of Australia's Nathan Lyon on Day 1 of the first Test in Dhaka on Sunday (AP)

ous 18-3, the tourists soon lost captain Steve Smith, their best batsman.

Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan, who took 12 wickets at the same venue to inspire Bangladesh’s first Test win over England last year, struck in his second over, sneaking one through the gate to dismiss Smith for eight.

Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb were sub-

jected to a trial by spin with Mehidy (3-62) and Shakib hunting in tandem but the duo added 69 runs for the fifth wicket to halt the slide.

With the partnership blooming, however, Taijul trapped Handscomb lbw for 33 with a ball that kept slightly low, as it often did on a track offering variable bounce and prodigious turn.

Opener Renshaw soon joined him in the pavilion

for 45, edging Shakib to slip.

Matthew Wade fell lbw for five to Mehidy and Shakib got Glenn Maxwell stumped for 23.

Ashton Agar made 41 and Pat Cummins contributed 25, adding 49 runs for the ninth wicket in a defiant stand to lend a touch of respectability to the Australian total.

Jamaica wins historic home

Rugby League Test against Canada J amaica defeated Canada 28-14 in the second match in the 2017 Americas Championships in the Reggae Warriors’ first home Test, held at the

of both teams and the passionate supporters eager to witness history.

Jamaica opened the scoring in the third minute through fullback Joseph Shae, Canada responding

flyer Kenneth Walker twice then on the left for tries for the hosts and stand off Fabion Turner scored a superb solo effort from 30 metres, Jones-Bishop converting to give the

Action in the match between Jamaica and Canada

Mona Bowl, University of West Indies, Kingston.

A severe thunderstorm before kick off saw the game delayed by 15 minutes, but not even the heavy showers could dampen the spirit

shortly after when centre Rick Schouten crashed over in the right corner, Denny McCarthy converting for a 6-4 Wolverines lead.

Doncaster’s Aaron Jones-Bishop then released

Reggae Warriors an 18-6 lead at the break.

Canada cut the deficit shortly after the re-start when veteran winger Tony Felix crashed over on the right edge to make it 18-

10.

Jamaica's Kareen Harris scored next but Canada again responded, this time through hooker Jack Couzens to make it 22-14 and set up a tense finish.

Both teams stood firm in defence but Jamaica debutant Steve Miller sent the crowd into rapture when he recovered a chip kick from Shae on half way and raced untouched to the try line, Jones-Bishop converting to seal a tremendous win.

“The wenergy from the fans was phenomenal, they pushed the players to their capacity,” commented Jamaica head coach Romeo Monteith.

“Hats off to Canada who stuck to the task and never gave up. As for the Jamaica lads, they were focused and confident, their execution was pretty good throughout playing to our advantage, our pace out wide.

The forwards were solid in the middle and that gave us our platform.” (SportsMax)

est Indies fast bowling legend turned pundit Michael Holding has suggested a change in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct following a sanction issued to English all-rounder Ben Stokes.

Stokes moved to within a point of suspension after accepting a sanction for ‘using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an international match’. The offense is a breach of Level 1 of the ICC's code of conduct. The Englishman lost his cool after Shai Hope, one of two Windies centurions, edged him away for

four in what proved to be a frustrating afternoon for the hosts.

The Sky Sports analyst Holding, however, painted the situation as a ridiculous one.

“This is one occasion where you have to say the law is an ass,” Holding said.

"They need to look at the regulations. If you are going to get a demerit point for swearing, you should need six demerit points to get a ban.

"These guys are out there in a hard contest and can get frustrated at times - I know about frustration.

You can't just kick someone out of the game." (SportsMax)

New Zealand Cricket gets nod to host its 1st day-night Test

E

den Park is set to host the first day-night Test in New Zealand, after the Auckland Council approved New Zealand Cricket's request to host England under lights next year. The match, beginning from March 22, was tentatively scheduled as a day-night fixture before the approval.

New Zealand Cricket COO Anthony Crummy was pleased with the accesibility the fixture allows.

"This a very important outcome for Test cricket lovers in New Zealand - simply because it allows us the opportunity to play the game at a time when more people can engage with it," he said. "We're sure it will be a very successful event, and that English and New Zealand fans alike will make the most of the opportunity."

New Zealand had featured in the first ever day-night Test against Australia in Adelaide in November 2015. Since then, five Tests have been played under lights. Australia have hosted three of those.

The Eden Park Test will be the eighth day-night Test overall, following Adelaide's Ashes fixture later this year. (Cricinfo)

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sports

21

Guinness Cage / Three Peat Promotions Indoor Competition

Fans to get 16 games for the price of one tonight

A

ccording to organized if there was ever a reason to be at the National Gymnasium, tonight’s opening of the inaugural Guinness Cage / Three Peat Promotions Indoor Competition is the perfect motivation to be there.

Following the forced postponement of the previously scheduled opening last Thursday, the Organisers have decided to give back to the fans for their patience and understanding and have planned sixteen matches for tonight’s round of action which commences at 19:00hrs.

All thirty-two teams will be in action this evening with the winners set to move forward to the round robin stage, while the losers go home.

Among the top teams slated to take to the court are the upcoming Future Stars, a fan favourite, Guyana’s most successful futsal team Sparta Boss , West Front Road ‘Gold is Money, a team that has looked rejuvenated and in fine form and national Guinness champions Dave & Celena All Stars.

These teams are among the early favourites to win the tournament, but teams such as Albouystown ‘A’, West Demerara’s Showstoppers, Champion Boys from Agricola, Tiger Bay, Broad Street, Silver Bullets from the Mining Town of Linden, Sophia and Back Circe are all capable of turning all the early predictions on its head.

This is the first time that fans will get to see non-stop action with the ball being deemed dead only behind the goal line.

It is usually breathtaking stuff with end to end action and fitness will be tested to the maximum.

According to the Organisers, teams’ substitutes will have to be at the same skill and fitness levels for them to survive what is predicted to be a grueling competition with the right of being crowned inaugural champions a top priority.

Sparta Boss’s Eusi Phillips disclosed recently that his team has been undergoing rigorous preparations as they

seek to reclaim glory and their monarchy.

“We’ve not been doing well recently, having exited the last three tournaments before the championship game, but we know that we are capable of beating all these teams and we aim to get back to winning ways,” he said.

Meanwhile, West Front Road, winners of the last indoor tournament are in good form and word from the team indicates that they intend to continue on the path of success.

Future Stars has been around for a short time and even though they are stacked with players who’ve played for different teams, their chemistry and skill level has made them a dangerous unit to go up against.

Over $800,000 in prize monies and trophies will be up for grabs with the winner set to receive $400,000 and the championship trophy, while second, third and fourth placed finishers will take home $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 along with trophies

Listed below are the fixtures for Tuesday: Sophia vs MBK All Stars from

19:00hrs

Broad Street vs Old School Ballers from

19:15hrs

Tucville vs Showstoppers from

19:30hrs

Dave and Celena vs Pike Street Sophia from

19:45hrs

Tiger Bay vs Silver Bullets from

20:00hrs

West Back Road vs Albouystown ‘B’ from

20:15hrs

Leopold Street vs Plaisance from

20:30hrs

North Ruimveldt vs Melanie from

20:45hrs

Bent Street vs Hustlers from

21:00hrs

North East La Penitence vs Mocha from

21:15hrs

Champion Boys vs Channel 9 Warriors from

21:30hrs

Albouystown ‘A’ vs Alexander Village from

21:45hrs

Gold is Money vs Campbellville from

22:00hrs

Future Stars vs Agricola Gas Team from

22:15hrs

Back Circle vs New Market Street from

22:30hrs

Sparta vs Vryheid’s Lust from

22:45hrs

respectively.

The other playing dates for the championship are August 31, September 2, 5, 7, 9 with the final set for September 16, at the same venue.

Among the other sponsors on board are: Star Party Rentals, Faye Joseph,

Claude Geddes Recreational Sports Club, National Sports Commission, Windjammer International Hotel & Cuisine, Woodpecker Trophies & Sport, Y.K Investments & Pawn Shop, Henry Chase, Jai Signs, Trophy Stall of Bourda Market and John Fernandes Ltd.

Classified GCC teams dominate Igloo Hockey Festival

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By Michelangelo Jacobus

I

t was a clean sweep for the GCC female teams as the club dominated the two- day Igloo Ice-cream Hockey tournament held on Saturday and Sunday at the GCC Club. Games were played on an artificial turf minihockey field.

With the tournament aimed at promoting youth development in hockey, it was all about GCC teams as they began on Saturday by winning the Under-10 Mixed category with two GCC sides in the final.

The GCC Hurricanes beat the GCC Thunder by 2 goals to nil to clinch the first title.

In the semi-finals of the U-14 girls, two GCC sides again booked spots in the finals as the GCC Marian team beat Saints Sensation 5-2 while GCC Challengers won 6-5 on penalties against GCC Warriors.

When action resumed on Sunday, the GCC Marian girls

The Men’s open champions Old Fort Damn

continued their fine form as they held off sister side Challengers in the U-14 Girls Final to win 7-6.

Meanwhile, in the Boys U-14 final, Saints Scorpions had an entertaining victory over Hikers as they won 4-2 to clinch the title.

The GCC Spartans demolished a hapless Saints 4-1 to claim the U-17 Girls title while St Joseph Warriors were upset

by Old Fort Cannons in the boys final when they lost 6-2.

In U-21 Ladies action GCC Spartans put the Old Fort Lady Bugs to the sword beating them 9 goals to 4 as the GCC female teams stretched their dominance.

The GCC Boys U-21 side matched their female counterparts as they too won their category when they beat Old Fort Lions 6-3 in the final.

In the Open Female action GCC Pizza Hut made it a clean sweep for their club as they beat Woodpecker Hikers 4-1.

The Old Fort males had better fortune than the Old Fort females as they won the Men’s Open category when they beat Saints 6-3 in the final.

GCC Spartans’ Abosaide Cadogan and Sarah Klautky shared honours as the top female goal scorers with 21

GRFU 7’s Rugby

goals apiece while Bounty GCC’s Kareem McKenzie snared top male goal scorer with 15 goals.

List of team champions are as follows: • Under-10 Mixed – GCC Hurricanes • Under-14 Girls – GCC Marian • Under-14 Boys – Saints Scorpions • Under-17 Girls – GCC Spartans • Under-17 Boys – Old Fort Cannons • Under-21 Girls – GCC Spartans • Under-21 Boys – Bounty GCC • Open Women – Pizza Hut GCC • Open Men – Old Fort Damn Most goals- Female: • Abosaide Cadogan (GCC Spartans) – 21 goals • Sarah Klautky (GCC Spartans) – 21 goals Male: • Kareem McKenzie (Bounty GCC) – 15 goals

Youth bests experience as Panthers take

Hornets

Circulation Department on

Phone: 223-7230 EXT: 35

The victorious Panthers

T

he Panthers had no time for idle play on Sunday when they won the finals of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Sevens tournament at the National park.

The Panthers who boast an impressively youthful side were full of vigor and proved too much for the experienced Pepsi Hornets unit as they won 29-26 in a closely contested affair which went down to the wire.

The Panthers played with tenacity as their captain Rondel McArthur leading the line as the side went

unbeaten throughout the tournament.

After his team’s victorious exploits McArthur while speaking to the media noted, “The better team won today. We don’t get much training in but when we do train, we train as a compact unit and I think that is what we exhibited out here today.”

Speaking further and commenting on his personal performance, McArthur explained some of what went on during the match.

“The Guys (Pepsi Hornets) were playing the ball a bit loose and they

were playing shaky around the line so I intercepted the ball and went up the middle and I think it did well for us, it brought the game home for us because as you saw, Hornets came back for two big tries,” McArthur added.

“I still think there are some niggles in the team.

Coming off the 15s, it is a bit rough transitioning to the 7s and we have to get our fitness up but I think it was a good start” he continued.

The GRFU will close off the 2017 season next weekend when they host the Trophy Stall Sevens tournament at the national park.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

England v West Indies 2nd Test

Magnificent Moeen makes Windies suffer

... as England pile on the runs to take charge at Headingley

W

est Indies need another 317 to level the series after England piled on the runs at Headingley, declaring on 490-8 to turn the match around.

Moeen Ali's flamboyant 84 from 93 balls swayed an enthralling second Test in England's favour on a punishing day four for West Indies at Headingley.

The tourists started the penultimate day with the upper hand, England leading by only two runs on 1713, but Moeen top scored a day after dropping a simple catch as the hosts set them 322 to win after declaring on 490-8.

Dawid Malan enhanced his chances of making the Ashes tour with a patient 61 after being dropped on 32, while captain Joe Root (72) made yet another half-century, having been put down with only 10 to his name on day three.

First-innings centurion Ben Stokes (58) and Chris Woakes (61 not out) were also among six England batsmen to pass 50 in a second innings in which they were 327-7, with a lead of only 158 as a result of three quick wickets from Roston Chase (3-86), before Moeen's onslaught.

Moeen was given a let-off when he was caught behind on 32 off Devendra Bishoo, but the spinner was adjudged to have over-stepped by umpire Sundaram Ravi and the all-rounder took advantage with a devastating knock aided by Woakes in a eighth-wicket stand of 117 – an England record.

The Windies openers came through a testing six

‒ jumping into medicine

I

England take control and Moeen Ali makes hay against West Indies

overs to close on five without loss, needing another 317 to keep the three-match series alive, but seven dropped catches in the match could deny them a first Test win on English soil for 17 years.

Root equalled AB de Villiers' world record of half-centuries in 12 successive Tests in the first innings and for the first time during that run he passed 50 in both innings, raising his bat yet again after guiding Kemar Roach to the third man boundary in the opening over of the day.

The captain was ominously set, but trudged off disconsolately after slapping Shannon Gabriel to Shai Hope, who clung on after a juggling act at gully with England just 43 in front on 212-4.

The hosts ought to have been five down in the next over when Kieran Powell, distracted by wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich diving in front of him, put Malan down at first slip off skipper Jason Holder.

England took lunch with an 82-run advantage and

Hamilton sees... from page 23

“People talk about our car being the best, that we have the fastest car, but I think it’s very difficult for anyone to truly say that because there are pros and cons between two cars and areas where we are faster and they are faster. And it seems to vary from race to race.”

Vettel has consistency on his side, with the German finishing all but three of his 12 races so far on the podium while Hamilton has been out of the top three in five grands prix, and a team mate playing a supporting role.

Both title contenders have scored points in every round this season but reliability, or the lack of it, remains an ever-present concern.

Ruth Sanmoogan

For both teams there is also a balance to be struck between developing the current car and switching resources to next year’s, to ensure that they do not start the 2018 season on the back foot.

"I hope we have more to come and we need more to come in order to win this thing," said Hamilton.

"We might not be the quickest everywhere ahead and I'm trying to figure out in my mind how to apply positive energy to my guys to bring some more magic in these next eight races so that we can win.

"It's going to take everything from every single one of us to finish these next eight races and come out on top. Which is how a championship should be."

the left-handers looked comfortable when the new ball was taken following the interval, both batsmen bringing up their half-centuries on a good track.

The Windies looked dispirited, but Stokes gave them a huge lift when he launched Chase to Kraigg Brathwaite at long-off from the first delivery after a drinks break to end a stand of 91.

Chase struck again in his next over, cleaning Malan up with a quicker delivery, and the spinner had a third wicket in an excellent spell when Jonny Bairstow chopped on with an ill-advised reverse sweep after he had been dropped by Kyle Hope in the covers driving

Holder.

Moeen used up a life when he edged Bishoo behind, but umpire Ravi ruled that the spinner's front foot had crossed the line and the Windies' frustration mounted as he reached his half-century with a sumptuous cover drive.

England's lead moved beyond the 250 mark, but Moeen missed out on a century by lofting Bishoo to Brathwaite in the deep and Root declared after Woakes also passed 50.

Brathwaite and Powell got the Windies through to stumps unscathed, but it is advantage England after turning the tide on a gripping day. (SportsMax)

n this week’s column we feature rising star athlete Ruth Sanmoogan. The 19 yearold is another perfect example of finding the balance between academics and a life on the track.

The former St Stanislaus Collage and Bishops’ High School Student has secured a bronze medal for her country at this South American Championships.

Sanmoogan claimed bronze with her leap of 5.59m coming in behind, Guyana’s diminutive long jumper Chantoba Bright

year the times for lessons were in my favour, so I have more days to train, about 3-4 days per week,” Sanmoogan said.

“For academics, it's to be a doctor which I'm currently studying for.

For sports, I try to be realistic, so representing my country successfully more than I can count with my hands would be just fine. But now that Med School has begun sports won't be my number one priority, (I would) basically train hard when I can”.

Like the legendary

SCOREBOARD West Indies 1st Innings KC Brathwaite b Broad 134 KOA Powell c Cook b Anderson 5 D Bishoo c †Bairstow b Anderson 1 KA Hope c Root b Anderson 3 SD Hope c †Bairstow b Anderson 147 RL Chase c Cook b Stokes 5 J Blackwood run out (Stokes/†Bairstow) 49 SO Dowrich † c Root b Anderson 0 JO Holder (c) c Ali b Woakes 43 KAJ Roach not out 6 ST Gabriel lbw b Stokes 10 Extras 24 (b 8, lb 11, w 5) TOTAL 427 all out (127 Overs) Bowling JM Anderson (29.0, 7, 76, 5) SCJ Broad (24.0, 2, 95, 1) CR Woakes (21.04, 78, 1 ) BA Stokes (25.0, 9, 63, 2) MM Ali (24.0, 4, 84, 0) T Westley (4.0, 0, 12, 0) Fall of wickets:1-11 (KOA Powell, 6.3 ov), 2-31 (D Bishoo, 16.4 ov), 3-35 (KA Hope, 20.5 ov), 4-281 (KC Brathwaite, 89.2 ov), 5-296 (RL Chase, 94.4 ov), 6-329 (SD Hope, 102.1 ov), 7-329 (SO Dowrich, 102.2 ov), 8-404 (JO Holder, 117.4 ov), 9-406 (J Blackwood, 118.3 ov), 10-427 (ST Gabriel, 126.6 ov) England 2nd Innings AN Cook c †Dowrich b Holder 23 MD Stoneman b Gabriel 52 T Westley c †Dowrich b Holder 8 JE Root (c) c SD Hope b Gabriel 72

DJ Malan b Chase 61 BA Stokes c Brathwaite b Chase 58 JM Bairstow † b Chase 18 MM Ali c Brathwaite b Bishoo 84 CR Woakes not out 61 SCJ Broad not out 14 Extras 39 (b 13, lb 5, nb 12, w 9) TOTAL 490/8d (141 Overs) Did not bat: JM Anderson 3, Bowling ST Gabriel (26.0, 125, 2) KAJ Roach (24.0, 8, 5 , 0) , JO Holder (33.0, 10, 95, 2), RL Chase (32.0, 5, 86, 3) D Bishoo (25.0, 1, 67,1) KC Brathwaite (1.0, 0, 4, 0) Fall of wickets:1-58 (AN Cook, 21.5 ov), 2-81 (T Westley, 29.6 ov), 3-94 (MD Stoneman, 38.3 ov), 4-212 (JE Root, 68.3 ov), 5-303 (BA Stokes, 100.1 ov), 6-312 (DJ Malan, 102.6 ov), 7-327 (JM Bairstow, 106.4 ov), 8-444 (MM Ali, 129.6 ov)

West Indies 2nd Innings KC Brathwaite not out 4 KOA Powell not out 1 Extras 0 TOTAL 5/0 (6 Overs) Yet to bat: D Bishoo, KA Hope, SD Hope, RL Chase, J Blackwood, SO Dowrich †, JO Holder (c), KAJ Roach, ST Gabriel Bowling: JM Anderson (3.0, 2, 3, 0) SCJ Broad (2.0, 1, 1,0) MM Ali (1.0, 0, 1, 0)

Ruth Sanmoogan

who won Guyana’s first gold medal with a personal best jump of 6.30m.

However, Sanmoogan has a personal best of 5.69 which was achieved at this year’s Alain Pompey meet held in July at Leonora. Her love for athletics is rivalled by only by her passion for medicine.

The athlete is now a first year student at the University of Guyana.

She is studying for her medical doctorate and underscored the fact that it is tough balancing both acts.

“It's tough. The previous years lessons took over my training period so I couldn't. But this

Carl Lewis, Sanmoogan, who started out six years ago, has also competed in sprint events on the track. She favours 100, 200 and 400M events also. In the 100M she has a personal best of 12.87s achieved in Trinidad and Tobago in 2014.

The Running Brave Athletics Club member declared that her mother has been a great inspiration in her life.

“I don't believe I have one (role model). No athlete has ever inspired me to take up athletics or any doctor to study to be a doctor; those are choices I made on my own. But the closest to that would have to my mom.”

23

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, august 29, 2017

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2017

Warriors duel Tridents in must-win match •

•

Chadwick Walton will want to replicate another top-class performance

G

uyana Amazon Warriors will face Barbados Tridents today in another crucial match which they must win in an effort to push for a spot in the finals. The last time these two sides meet at the National Stadium, Providence, Warriors had no issues of disposing Tridents lead by a spectacular knock from Chadwick Walton.

Now they face the 2014 champions at the Kensington Oval, with both sides battling to stay alive.

However, the match is the first of four home matches for the Tridents, which some pundits believe gives them the advantage to pip Warriors in the heated race for the top four.

•

Qualification scenarios

Warriors are currently

•

fourth on the points table with 6 points while Tridents are in fifth with four points. It means that the Warriors need to win their two remaining matches and hope Tridents lose at least two to secure the fourth position without any need for net-run rate issues.

Tridents lose all four home matches.

1 While it may seem a highly 2 unlikely scenario, should 3 Tridents fail to register a 4 win at home, Warriors can even lose an5 other match and still se6 cure the fourth position.

· Tridents only lose one home match. This is one scenario that the Warriors will not favour that well since their chances would now rest on having a better netrun rate.

Three teams finish on ten points. Should the Jamaica Tallawahs lose their remaining two matches against the Warriors and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

Warriors win their two and Tridents win three, it will be a three-way tie.

Given that the Warriors net-run rate would only get better should they win, they would catapult into third position.

However, it still means they have to play two more matches to reach the finals since only the top two teams get a chance to go straight to the finals. Never has a team finished in fourth and went unto win the tournament.

Batsmen need to fire

Apart from Walton (278 runs) and Jason Mohammed (233 runs), the Warriors’ batting has looked suspect, subjecting themselves to defeat after being fully in the driver’s seat.

The next best run-score was Martin Guptill (142) but he has returned home to his family and replaced TEAM

by Luke Ronchi. It leaves Gajanand Singh (105) as the only other player to pass the 100-run mark.

Sohail Tanveer has been giving a role, opening the batting which has corresponded with some quick runs being scored.

Lower-order hitting would be a needed which

Tridents have recruited Eion Morgan for their final set of matches, which adds great strength to an already firing batting order led by talismanic captain Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Smith and Kane Williamson.

Traditionally being a bouncy and fast pitch at Kensington Oval, captain

Emrit (captain), Sohail Tanveer, Chadwick Walton, Rashid Khan, Jason Mohammed, Steven Taylor, Veerasammy Permaul, Roshon Primus, Gajanand Singh, Assad Fudadin, Steven Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Steven Katwaroo, Keemo Paul, Muhammad Ali Khan, Luke Ronchi.

Dwayne Smith cracked a superb century the last time these two sides met

makes the contribution of Keemo Paul and Roshon Primus vital.

Meanwhile, the bowling looks quite compact led by crafty leg-spinner Rashid Khan, Ryad Emrit and invaluable support from Tanveer.

They will need to bring their A-game since

Emrit was adamant that he would play “horses for causes” which would hint a debut for the pacy Keon Joseph.

First ball is expected to be delivered at 18:00 hrs and from some reports a packed house is expected.

Guyana Amazon Warriors Squad: Rayad

Barbados Tridents Squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Kane Williamson, Christopher Barnwell, Eion Morgan, Imran Khan, Damion Jacobs, Dwayne Smith, Nicholas Pooran, Wayne Parnell, Ravi Rampaul, Akeal Hosein, Ryan Wiggins, Tino Best, Tion Webster

MP

MW

ML

MT

MD

N/R

PT

NRR

Trinbago Knight Riders

9

8

1

0

0

0

16

1.451

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

8

5

2

0

0

0

11

0.740

Jamaica Tallawahs

8

5

3

0

0

0

10

-0.275

Guyana Amazon Warriors

8

3

5

0

0

0

6

-0.064

Barbados Tridents

6

2

4

0

0

0

4

-0.125

St Lucia Stars

9

0

8

0

0

0

1

-1.656

Hamilton sees some tough battles ahead L

ONDON (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton’s Belgian Grand Prix victory at the weekend means the Mercedes driver can take the lead in the Formula One world championship with another victory in Italy at Ferrari’s home Monza circuit on Sunday.

The Briton is not about to breathe a sigh of relief, however.

Spa, the sport’s longest track and one of the fastest, was no afternoon cruise for the triple world champion even if he won from a re-

cord-equaling 68th career pole position.

Ferrari’s championship leader Sebastian Vettel was always right on Hamilton’s tail, unable to pass but waiting for a mistake that might give him a chance, and Monza will be another flat out blast.

After that comes Singapore, a city track that should favor Ferrari and hence help Vettel to gain the upper hand again in a season that looks likely to remain open all the way to Abu Dhabi in November.

Vettel currently has a seven point lead, the difference between a victory and second place, with Hamilton ahead 5-4 on race wins. Had the quadruple champion won, he would have been 21 points clear.

“Next race we need to get at least those seven points again,” said Hamilton. ”Following that there are going to be some real difficult races coming up and I don’t know whether we are going to be able to keep the Ferrari behind. continued on page 22

TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Warriors

duel Tridents

Pg 23

in must-win match

Pg 21

GCC teams dominate Igloo hockey Festival The Women’s Open champions, GCC Pizza Hut

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