Guyana Times Daily August 21 2017

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, August 21, 2017

Issue No. 3308

PRICE

Oil and gas sector

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt will have “hands off” approach to local content – Trotman

Govt insists AG Chambers' legal team P13 functioning

– despite string of judgements against State in High Court

Page 3

... to avoid accusations of excessive interference in Private Sector

Wanted carjacker nabbed

P9

– implicated in several carjacking incidents

Mentally P8 unstable man wreaks havoc

– in Norton Street

Thousands of passionate cricket fans witnessed a record run-chase executed by the home team – the Guyana Amazon Warriors – at the Providence Stadium on Sunday night. The Warriors successfully chased down the 159 scored by the Barbados Tridents, and had four balls to spare (Dexter Ceres Photo)

Amerindian Act 2006

Opposition calls for wide consultation on amendments Page 2

Essequibo businessman arrested with P5 ganja, cocaine

– wants initiatives under LCDS to be addressed

Be vigilant at our borders

Page 5

– Commander-in-Chief tells Army

Page 13

National Anti-Violence Vigil II set for Sept 10

African cultural committee proposes local secretariat

P9

– President promises to give due consideration

2 News

monDAY, august 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Amerindian Act 2006

Opposition calls for wide consultation on amendments – wants initiatives under LCDS to be addressed

A

s Amerindian leaders from across Guyana gather for the annual National Toshao Council (NTC) conference which kicks off today (Monday), the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) said it hopes that the conference will ensure that there is clarity and will not harm Amerindian rights and ensures that there is the widest possible consultation in the communities across the country.

Citing recent developments, the Opposition said there have been trends under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government which is aimed at threatening Amerindian rights. The first concern relates to consistent statements made by top Government leaders to have the 2006 Amerindian Act revised.

This objective, according to the Opposition, has been further re-enforced by President David Granger in a statement on June 14, 2017, that was published by the Government Information Agency (GINA) with regards to the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Lands. However, there has been no indication of

Flashback: A section of the National Toshaos Conference during one of the sessions last year

what sections need to be amended, the Opposition noted in a statement on Sunday.

“The PPP/C wishes to inform the NTC participants that it will support any amendments which will enhance Amerindian rights.

However, it will strongly oppose any amendments that will dilute the rights of our Indigenous Amerindian peoples,” the statement added.

The Opposition has expressed worry about the purpose of this push by the

Government to revise the 2006 Amerindian Act in the absence of any wide-spread call by the Amerindian peoples and communities to revise this Act. Furthermore, it said any revisions must be subject to consultations with all the Amerindian communities under the principle of “free prior and informed consent” as was done during the process to create and draft the Amerindian Bill.

“We have a similar worry with regard to the Government’s sloth in the

implementation of the opt-in mechanism for the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). This is critical to maintain the principle of “free prior and informed consent” with Amerindian communities.

This fundamental issue requires that the Government commits at this conference to expedite the opt-in mechanism,” it added.

The party said participants of the NTC should be well aware that the LCDS was one of the most innova-

tive initiatives by the PPP/C Administration which also received international recognition. It initiated the largest pioneer carbon trading scheme for forest carbons which earned US$250 million revenue and contributed in a significant way to the further development of the country.

Unfortunately, the present Government’s repudiation of the LCDS and the initiatives designed to enhance national, and in particular, Amerindian development, according to the PPP/C, has destroyed long years of work at all levels to find a modern inclusive national developmental strategy for the future.

It said the Government’s often mooted alternative of a Green Growth Strategy remains a mystery with no specific initiatives to address development. Further to that, the party said by the Government’s refusal to implement the LCDS and its inability to create a viable alternative has, in fact, created an enormous vacuum. As a consequence, the Government has given scant attention to the LCDS’s identified programmes which include multi-year projects, the Amerindian Titling Project and the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF), which are fully funded under the REDD+/GRIF and the Government of Guyana/ Norway Partnership.

“These have yielded no results since the change of Government. The end result is that applications for titles and extension of lands to Amerindian peoples and the demarcation of titled lands are now virtually at a standstill. Whilst the ADF seems to have become susceptible to “cherry-picking” by the Government as to which villages will receive their project funds,” it stated.

It also pointed out that the slowing down of all the initiatives of the LCDS, and, in particular the ALT and ADF projects, is a major cause of concern and should be addressed at the conference. The PPP/C said it is critical that the Government provide clarity to the NTC on the future of these projects and how soon they will be addressed.

Land CoI

Addressing the issue of the controversial Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into land titling, the PPP/C said while it is understood that the CoI work has put on hold the examination of issues relating to Amerindian lands, the NTC should note that there has been no amendment of the gazetted terms of reference of this CoI. Therefore, the Government has not moved from its original objective to examine and scrutinise all Amerindian communal

lands titling. The Opposition has therefore encouraged the NTC conference to ensure that the Government is called on to commit to exclude Amerindian land titling from the CoI’s mandate and to revise its TORS accordingly.

The PPP noted that there is a growing concern by a number of communities which are already in possession of communal titled land that these could come under threat with regard to the Government’s announcement to establish new NDCs adjacent to, encircling and/ or within titled communities in interior regions.

In addition to these fears with regard to land rights, there is growing concerns of ethnic and political discrimination. The first such act was the dismissal of 1972 young Amerindian Community Service Officers by the Indigenous Affairs Ministry in July 2015.

“This was the single largest ethnic group to have been dismissed from the public service by the new Government. The loss to Amerindian communities across the country by the termination of this large number of young people is enormous; it is estimated that $800 million has been withdrawn from the village economies, and, 10,000 people directly dependent on these persons for their livelihood have been impoverished,” the party stated.

After vigorous protests in the media, in the National Assembly and with the international community by the PPP, the Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister promised in August 2015 that the Government would replace the PPP’s CSO Programme with another such employment programme. However, this is yet to be delivered.

Furthermore, there have been more casualties along the way – the delivery of health services in the hinterland regions has been plagued with constant shortages of critical and basic medical drugs and supplies, poor management, and bad decisions made at the central Ministry affecting access to these services; and, the maintenance of critical coast to interior and internal road networks has been sadly neglected.

The PPP/C said, “We anticipate that many of these issues, including many other concerns, will be deliberated on by and among the NTC participants as well as in the presence of the Government. As the week of discussions unfold it is critical for the Toshaos, Councillors and other representatives to recognise that you have two powerful instruments at your disposal – the Guyana Constitution and the 2006 Amerindian Act.”

news

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monDAY, august 21, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

Monday, August 21 – a night retraction at 04:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Tuesday, August 22 – a night retraction at 05:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, August 21 – 16:35h-18:05h and Tuesday, August 22 – 16:50h-18:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Light to heavy rain showers with intermittent sunny weather can be expected throughout the day, with clear skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East South-easterly and East Northeasterly between 3.57 metres and 4.91 metres.

Oil and gas sector

Govt will have hands-off approach to local content – Trotman ... to avoid accusations of excessive interference in Private Sector

By Jarryl Bryan

W

hen it comes to managing the Local Content Policy that will ensure Guyanese get employment and business opportunities from the oil sector, Government will – as far as possible -- be taking

The policy

Government had formulated a Draft Local Content Policy which sets out its plan for ensuring that Guyanese develop socio and economic capacity from oil, a finite resource.

In the plan, which was seen by this publication, Government has promised

High Tide: 04:00h and 16:26h reaching maximum heights of 2.70 metres and 2.66 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:56h and 22:17h reaching minimum heights of 0.49 metre and 0.54 metre respectively.

the University of Guyana should have been cited in the policy as the body to run courses and certifications for workers in the industry.

Responding to the GCCI's concerns, Trotman said a lot has already been done towards pushing local content. He also defended the policy by noting that it was just a draft that would be guided by the input of stakeholders.

“The document that was shared with the GCCI and other stakeholders is really a working draft,” he said.

“So we welcome all the comments for (the document’s) improvements, but we don't (yet) have a final policy; what we have is a draft policy.”

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

I was recently on board the vessel. There are 11 Guyanese on board already.

So work is being done; we're

Construction currently ongoing at Houston, Greater Georgetown

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a hands-off approach.

This is according to Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Troman, who noted in a recent interview that the private sector has always been concerned about excessive Government intervention.

“One of the things the business people would tell you is that the market must be allowed to grow.

Too much Government intervention is what the private sector says it does not want; so competitiveness is what rules the day,” he stated.

“What we're seeing is that Guyanese companies are raising their standards, providing different services, and they're getting the job,” he continued. “So we are seeing that the Guyana labour sector is adapting and being able to compete successfully. Government will continue to reach its hands into the process as needed, but we believe it is naturally taking shape.”

to work with stakeholders, including investors and skills development agencies, to design and deliver training programmes.

The document says this training will be for individuals and firms appropriate to the sector’s needs. Among other things, the document promised employment and business opportunities, as well as to implement appropriate legislation.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), after a review of the document, was not impressed. It has been reported in the media that the GCCI is dissatisfied with the document’s lack of specificity and the policy plaintively stating that few direct and indirect jobs can be derived from the sector.

The GCCI has observed that jobs such as maintenance crewmen, pump men, cooks and riggers are not being done by Guyanese, but rather by foreigners.

The GCCI also noted that

Exxon's operations in the Stabroek block would need to be constantly supplied with goods and services, which many feel should be handled by locals

“So we're dealing with an industry that is unfolding.

At the end of the day, we'll have a vessel that will have about 100 people on board.

seeing it incrementally. We have Guyanese already in various places working.” turn to page 10

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monDAY, august 21, 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

Charlottesville and Linden

E

xactly a week after the “Unite the Right” movement staged its demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia, sparking condemnation for its racist implications, there was a demonstration in Guyana that suggest some parallels with Charlottesville. There, a number of whites marched to aggressively express their disagreement with the decision of the town to pull down the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. To most Guyanese, this may have been a rather arcane issue to rile up counter demonstrations resulting in the death of one and injury to nineteen of the latter members, when a supporter of the Robert E. Lee partisans rammed his vehicle into them. But the issue should matter to us, since, at its core, is the long reach of slavery into the present, surviving as structural racism. While slavery was abolished by the British in their colonies in 1834; in the US, where there were even more African slaves than in the West Indies, it was continued to provide free labour for the cotton and tobacco plantations in the southern states. While there was a widespread debate for the abolition of slavery, the southern slaves dug their heels in and refused to agree to the right of Africans to be free.

It was not until a war was fought from 1861 to 1865, between those who wanted slavery abolished, (the Northern states) and those that wanted to maintain it (the Southern states), and after the latter were defeated that African Americans became at least free. General Robert E. Lee was the leader of the Southern army (the Confederates) who fought against the Union forces. The present battle over whether to maintain or remove his statue in a state that fought to retain slavery is thus a trope for a larger battle -- as to where exactly does America stand on the question of the enduring legacy of slavery/anti-African racism.

Guyana is connected to that battle because the ideology used to justify the enslavement of millions of Africans in the US by whites was the same ideology deployed in the West Indies to justify African slavery here on the sugar plantations.

The Biblical story of Ham and the curse by his father Noah -- that his descendants become slaves -- was interpreted by whites to identify Africans as those descendants and therefore mandated that they be slaves. The Mormons, for instance, explicitly quoted this passage from Genesis to justify their position on slavery.

Fighting racism through the hundreds of years following slavery has taught us that all kinds of oppression can be, and have been, justified by arbitrary interpretations of texts that may not necessarily be relevant to the circumstances in which they are now applied. There is the matter of time, place and circumstances being changed, and compelling one to relook at older interpretations with new sensibilities.

Even the Mormons had to re-examine the interpretation of the “curse of Ham” by 1978 and jettison it.

We now arrive at the demonstration in Linden, where it was reported that one group of citizens marched against homosexuals being possibly given the right by the Government to engage in same-sex intercourse. The latter would have to change the present law that was written by the British in the 19th century and justified by Biblical citations similar to the one used to justify slavery. Ironically, the British changed their law on the subject right after we received independence.

Because President Granger had declared that he is “prepared to respect the rights of any adult to indulge in any practice which is not harmful to others,” the action in Linden was intended as a broadside against him.

While, as in America, free speech is guaranteed here, right thinking citizens must condemn boot-strapping justifications to oppress fellow citizens who may be simply different from others. If it was wrong to oppress some for the colour of their skin, why is it not so for oppressing others today for the object of their love?

The curtains came down on the 8th edition of the Miss Renaissance Guyana Pageant on Saturday evening, with Delegate number 11, Jennifer Lall–Shiwbalak, being crowned the 2017 queen. Among the frontrunners in the evening of elegance hosted at the National Cultural Centre were (from left to right) third runner-up Oletta Alleyne; first runner-up Jillian Moore; the Queen Jennifer Lall–Shiwbalak; and second runner-up Nokolo Aresa David. The pageant serves as a catalyst to highlight the significance of inner beauty, creativity, and cultural awareness; as well as to honour the accomplishments of the mature Guyanese woman, 30 years and older

Guyanese in New York hold forum on ‘ballot box martyrs’ Dear Editor, The Guyanese Solidarity Movement (GSS) in NY, along with the 100th Anniversary Foundation and other co-sponsors, held a forum last Sunday to pay tribute to the ballot box martyrs of 1973, as well as to remember the rigged referendum of 1978 that led to the foisting of the authoritarian Burnham constitution.

The forum, held in Richmond Hill, also discussed potential electoral fraud in the 2020 elections, and offered suggestions on combating potential electoral fraud.

Discussants expressed

fear that the next election will be rigged similar to what took place between 1966 and 1992. They suggested that a strong, independent-minded GECOM chair is needed to guard against potential fraud.

The organisers of the forum wanted to memorialise the Berbice ballot box martyrs Bholanath Parmanand and Jagan Ramessar, and others who were injured when soldiers opened fire on them during a peaceful exercise. The two Guyanese patriots were killed by GDF forces as they protested the removal of genuine ballot boxes at Number 63 Primary School,

Corentyne during the rigged 1973 elections. The election was massively rigged.

The speakers paid glowing tributes to the martyrs and those injured, as well as those who struggled for free and fair elections during the years of the PNC dictatorship. Many lost their lives and/or were savagely beaten by thugs during this period.

The forum also remembered the rigged referendum of 1978 and the return of democracy on 5th October 1992, when the PPP/C was re-elected to government after the first democratic elections in post- independent Guyana.

Speakers included attorney-at-law Rakesh Rampertab, Dr Tara Singh and Dr Leslie Ramsammy, the former Minister of Health and Agriculture in the PPP government.

The speakers plan to approach US members of Congress, the Carter Center, and other NGOs to assist in guaranteeing free and fair elections in 2020. They urge Guyanese to lobby politicians worldwide to put pressure on the Government of Guyana to hold a free and fair election.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

US calls out Caribbean countries on religious freedom

T

hough religious freedom is generally upheld in most, if not all, member countries of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the United States has called out some nations for what it describes as religious intolerance.

In releasing the 2016 International Religious Freedom Report earlier this week, the US Department of State has said that, almost 20 years after passage of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, “conditions in many parts of the world are far from ideal,” including those in the

Caribbean.

The Department of State has therefore cited instances of what it regards as religious intolerance in some Caricom member states, particularly in the larger ones.

The State Department has said that, in Haiti, while Voodoo has been a registered religious group since 2003, it has not been able to perform civilly-recognised marriages or baptisms.

“By law, the Government provided funds and services to the Catholic Church, but not to other religious groups,” the report said, adding that the Haitian Ministry of

Foreign Affairs and Religious Denominations (MFA) did not act on a pending request to register the Muslim community; and that many nondenominational Christian and Muslim groups have said they operated without registering with the MFA. The report noted that a mob decapitated a Voodoo priest following reports that the priest had used his spiritual powers to kill a local woman and a church director.

“Voodoo community leaders (have) stated (that) Voodoo practitioners continued to experience some social stigmatization for their

beliefs and practices,” the report said.

“According to the leadership of the National Confederation of Haitian Vaudouisants (KNVA), teachers and administrators in Catholic and Protestant schools at times openly rejected and condemned Voodoo culture and customs as contrary to the teachings of the Bible.”

The report said US Embassy officials met with the MFA to reinforce the importance of religious freedom as well as equal protections and equal legal rights for minority religious groups. (Excerpt

form Jamaica Observer)

monDAY, AUGUST 21, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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News Be vigilant at our borders

– Commander-in-Chief tells Army

BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND

I

n light of recent discoveries of illegal aircraft and other items in the hinterland region and reports of criminal activities allegedly by foreign nationals crossing over from neighbouring countries, Commander-inChief of Guyana’s Armed Forces, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, told Army

tegrity of that region. He also toured the Base and inspected the facilities on the ground.

During an address to the troops there, the Commander-in-Chief emphasised the need for a continued and strong security presence at the nation’s borders. He also reiterated his policy of Total National Defence (TND), and told the

The illegal aircraft that was recently found in Region Nine

officers to be vigilant at the country’s borders.

He gave this charge during a recent visit at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Base Camp Kanuku, located at the border town of Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

There, the President received a briefing on the administration and operations of the Base and the work being done by its troops to maintain the territorial in-

troops to remain vigilant at all times so that they can prevent intrusion into the country’s air and land space by foreign elements.

Noting that every section of society has a role to play in matters of safety and security, he explained that the re-establishment of the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM) is in keeping with that vision.

President Granger also explained that a component

Essequibo businessman arrested with ganja, cocaine

P

olice in G Division (Essequibo coast-Islands) have arrested a Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast businessman after a quantity of narcotics was discovered at his home on Saturday afternoon.

Based on information received, ranks went to the 40-year-old man’s home sometime around 17:30h and conducted a search at the premises.

During the search, the ranks unearthed 1539

grams of cannabis and 32 grams of cocaine in various sections of the house and in a chicken pen that was in the yard.

According to the Police, the businessman, who they referred to as a trafficker, has been on their radar for quite some time now.

The suspect is being processed for court and is expected to be arraigned before a Magistrate today in the Essequibo Magisterial District.

of the GPM will be established in every region and will have the capability of rendering both military and civil services.

“There must be some means of collecting and passing information from the district, to the municipality, to and from the region, to the Central Government level… so when we speak of total national defence, we don’t only speak of a horizontal distribution between the Defence Force, the militia and the Police, we also speak about vertical integration between the central, regional, municipal and the local levels.

Every citizen has to play a part in this architecture of national defence. I am calling on all of these organs; the Private Sector, the non-governmental organisations, the Ministries, the security forces, the Government departments, the municipality and the region to look at the security of this region as one of its top priorities,” he said.

Last Sunday, ranks of the Joint Services discovered an illegal twin-engine Beechcraft aircraft at a makeshift airstrip in Region Nine. Acting on information received, the ranks went to the area where they discovered a 5400-foot long, 45foot wide airstrip that appeared to have undergone recent repairs.

However, while the ranks were leaving the site, an aircraft landed and three persons were seen running from it.

Commander of F Division (Interior locations), Ravindradat Budhram, dis-

Commander-in-Chief, Brigadier David Granger addressing ranks at Base Camp Kanuku (GDF photo)

closed that a search of the area unearthed three abandoned camps, in which canned food and other items were found.

Additionally, 16 ten-gallon containers, which are suspected to have contained aviation fuel, were also discovered. Meanwhile, the ranks found several pieces of communication equipment, including cellular phones, flashlights, a quantity of dried ration, medical supplies and an identification card inside the aircraft.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, recently told this publication that they are trying to verify the origin of the aircraft and whether any criminal records are associated with the identifying documents found on the aircraft.

A history of the aircraft shows that it was owned by 11 companies in the past 27 years. It is currently registered to Banco Brandesco – one of Brazil’s third largest banks.

However, an official from the bank said that they do not own any planes but it is

registered to them, since the owner may have acquired a loan to purchase it. A mining company named Riwa SA Incorporated Investments and Participants operated the aircraft.

No trace of narcotics was found on the plane but identification cards of Venezuela and Brazil nationals were discovered on board. A multi-agency taskforce is still in the area conducting investigations. The aircraft is expected to be flown to the city following minor repairs.

Back in September last year, a Joint Services patrol had discovered an illegal twin-engine Cessna aircraft hidden just off of the Yupukari Airstrip, Region Nine with United States registration number N-767-Z. However, that registration was subsequently found to be “bogus”.

Of recent, there have been several cases where local mining camps were attacked and robbed reportedly by nationals crossing over from both Venezuela and Brazil.

In fact, last month, several mining camps in Region

Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) were attacked and robbed by groups of heavily armed men who made off with large quantities of raw gold.

It was reported that the bandits were speaking fluent Portuguese and Spanish which suggested that they are not Guyanese.

However, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had told this newspaper that local law enforcements have not received any information or evidence to prove that these were foreign nationals carrying out the attacks.

In fact, he noted that they could very well be Guyanese who are bilingual having lived in the neighbouring countries or close to the borders.

Moreover, there was also an incident where three Guyanese men were shot and killed in their sleep after a group of armed men stormed the mining camp at Imataca, Venezuela, where they were working. Another Guyanese was also injured during the shooting as he and seven other miners took cover.

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Foundation blood stream, which help ease frustration and regulate their mood.

BY HARLEENA SINGH

I

f you’ve been a parent, then I’m sure you must have wondered about how to deal with teenage mood swings. Or perhaps thought as to why do these mood swings occur in teenagers in the first place.

For those who aren’t parents – remember the mood swings you had as a teen?

How were they, and how did your parents deal with such teenage mood swings?

I thought of raising this topic for discussion today as I often see the mood swings in my teens. There are various reasons for this kind of behaviour in teens that it often gets tough to pin-point the exact reason.

Parenting teens isn’t easy, and that’s why I thought about sharing how I help my teens cope with such mood swings with all of you.

Teenage mood swings

You can sometimes compare the mood swings in teens to the personality of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde! One minute your teen is kind and loving, and the very next critical and hurtful – aren’t they?

On some days your teenagers might be all happy, controlled and thoughtful, while on other days they might just be ranting and raving about petty issues.

Sounds familiar!

I’ve often seen my own teens ecstatic and gleeful in the mornings, but when they return from school they are angry, annoyed, disappointed, and sad on some-

thing that upset them.

Aren’t teens forever on an emotional roller ride?

And what do they do in such cases? They sit gloomily, retreat to their bedrooms, and sulk. Or then they turn introspective by analysing themselves and others around them, which includes their parents, siblings, and other family members.

So, it’s not just the mood swings that affect teenagers – the whole family and people around them get affected too. But there are reasons for such teenage mood swings that create such an upheaval.

Causes of mood swings in teens

Adolescence is a period of chaos and stress for everyone in the family. Most researchers believe that teenage mood swings are a combination of biological and emotional factors. They are as under: 1Hormones and growth The teenage year is the time when the body starts producing sex hormones and goes through a major growth spurt.

The physical change a teen undergoes makes them feel awkward, confused, uncomfortable, which destroys their sense of security.

All of this has an effect on their psychological state and results in conflicting teenager mood swings.

2- Matter of the brain As most of you know, the brain reaches 90% of its full size by the age of six, and it’s believed to have reached its full development too.

Researchers believe that

the brain changes much more during the teen years.

The grey matter on the outer part of the brain thickens with time, and reaches its peak in females when they are 11 years, and males when they are 12 years of age.

Once this process is over, the brain starts trimming the excess grey matter that’s not used, leaving the information the brain needs, and making the brain more efficient.

The prefrontal cortex is one of the last areas to go through this trimming process, which is the area of the brain responsible for judgment, planning, and self-control.

Thus, while teens have very strong emotions and passions, they don’t have the mechanisms in place to control these emotions. This is because their prefrontal cortex hasn’t caught up with them as yet.

This is one of the main reasons for teenage mood swings. The understanding of the teenage brain can help parents understand teenagers and some of their behaviours that they can’t easily control.

3- Identity formation Most teens are typically preoccupied with identity formations or becoming entities, with lives separate from those of their parents.

This often causes confusion and frustration in them.

With the fast changing world around them, they feel they aren’t able to cope or handle the pressure, which results in mood swings or an emotional state in them.

4- Emotional reactions

Mood swings in teenagers also results because they haven’t yet developed the ability to deal with the anxieties, frustrations, and pressures of life.

With their lives becoming more adult-like and complicated, teenagers don’t have the built-in coping mechanism like adults to help them deal. So, they are more prone to react emotionally to situations.

Feeling out of control as most teens feel, is a very uncomfortable feeling for anyone.

•Help them get creative – Any creative activity like painting, drawing, cooking, writing, or building something can help your teenagers to express their emotions in a healthy way.

•Give them space– Most teens want space when they are moody or dealing with emotions. Sometimes they feel like crying or withdrawing, and that’s normal.

They want to be left alone, both physically and mentally. So, let them have their privacy to cope with things. (www.aha-now.com) TO BE CONTINUED

Dealing with teenage mood swings

Try out these tips to deal with mood swings in teenagers, which might help them and you in more ways than one.

•Let them know they are not alone – As parents and caretakers, help your teens to talk to you or their friends. Let them talk to people who are undergoing the same issues, which helps them feel they aren’t abnormal or the only ones going crazy!

•Get them plenty of rest – Your teens need rest and regular sleep, which helps keep their mind in good shape. Lack of sleep is largely linked to depression, which results in teenage mood swings too.

•Diet and exercise – Ensure your teens have a well-balanced, nourished meal. A good breakfast can make a lot of difference to your teen’s mood. When your teens exercise, they release endorphin into the

U

nderstanding your child is one of the most important things that you should learn as a parent. It is very helpful in becoming effective in guiding and nurturing your child as they grow and mature. You need to bear in mind that your child has a unique personality trait that remains consistent throughout life.One of the ways you can understand your child is by observing them as they sleep, eat, or play. Look for the consistent traits. Which activities do they like best? Is adjusting to changes easy for them or do they need time to become familiar with these things? These things are the normal characteristics of a

tionship provides the framework and support for a child to develop a healthy respect and regard for self and for others. Children crave time with parents. It makes them feel special. Parents are encouraged to find time to spend playing with their children on a regular basis. This should include one to one with each child and group time with all of the adults and children in the home. If you are a single parent or have an only child, occasionally invite family or friends over to play.

For one reason or another, some children do not develop social skills as easily as others. They may earnestly seek peer relationships and

child and your child may not be an exception.

As much as possible, have time to talk to your children as this is crucial to gaining information and understanding. In the case of young children, they require less verbal language and more facial expression and body language in order to understand their thoughts and feelings.

Asking them questions will allow them to share their feelings to you.

Self-esteem is a major key to success in life. The development of a positive self-concept or healthy self-esteem is extremely important to the happiness and success of children and teenagers.

A positive parent-child rela-

then, having endured rebuffs, if not downright cruelty, retreat to the safety of home, family, and their own company. There is probably nothing so painful for a parent as the rejection of his child. Parents need to take the long view of social problems and to map out a plan to solve them quite as carefully and thoughtfully as they would consider academic or health problems. There are guidelines which, if followed, will help these children if the parent is willing to take time and initiative.

Most parents will encounter a few bumps in the road as their child moves from baby to teen to adult.

(Childdevelopmentinfo.com)

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monDAY, August 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Expert care, tenderness will enhance life of senior citizens – First Lady

O

n Friday last, First Lady Mrs Sandra Granger encouraged 36 graduates from the ‘Care for the Elderly’ workshop to demonstrate tenderness when caring for senior citizens.

She explained that coupled with the expertise they had gained from the training, tenderness would enhance the quality of life of their clients.

The First Lady told the graduates to keep in mind that one day they, too, may need that same level of quality care and treatment.

“Hopefully, when we reach that age and require that kind of care and attention, we will have enough qualified people with us who are caring enough and knowledgeable enough to handle us in the midst of all the things that happen to us when we become senior citizens… We lose control of our physical being, and all sorts of things happen,” Mrs. Granger explained.

Director of Social

Services of the Ministry of Social Protection, Mr Wentworth Tanner, supporting the First Lady’s comments, implored the participants to show empathy and exercise patience when dealing with the elderly, some of whom have been victims of physical and verbal abuse and financial exploitation.

He said the Social Protection Ministry is implementing a system of 19 minimum operating standards for care giving homes.

“We must have quality care for our elders. It must be of a certain level. To be able to monitor or evaluate this, we have created a visiting committee; a multi-discipline committee. It comprises a gerontologist; we have an engineer; there is someone from the Fire Service; there’s a dietician, to look at the dietary needs of these persons; and we also have a social worker,” he explained.

Tanner said that, in 2018, a Senior Citizens

From left to right seated: Gender Consultant at the Social Protection Ministry, Hazel Halley-Burnett; First Lady Sandra Granger; Licensed Clinical Social Worker Ismay Griffith; and Lieutenant Colonel (ret'd) Yvonne Smith of the Office of the First Lady, at the closing ceremony of the 'Care for the Elderly' Workshop. The graduates are pictured standing

Department will be established at the Ministry, and a National Policy on Aging would be implemented.

Workshop participants were drawn from various organisations, including Women Across Differences (WAD), the Buxton Day

Lindeners ‘march against sodomy' ‒ SASOD reacts to "criminalisation of same-sex intimacy”

BY UTAMU BELLE

I

n the midst of an organised 'march against sodomy' by Lindeners on Saturday, Managing Director of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Joel Earl Simpson has said that while SASOD respects the fundamental right of every citizen and group to assemble peacefully and express themselves, and that they are entitled to their personal beliefs about homosexuality, criminalisation of same-sex intimacy is a violation of human rights to privacy, protection from discrimination and free expression.

In a comment following the organised march

by Linden-based Pastor Apostle Nigel London of 'Come As You Are Ministries', which saw scores of followers taking to the streets, Simpson said due to the intense homophobia promoted by the likes of the Apostle, Linden is a very difficult environment for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) persons to live and feel safe in; while explaining that homophobic stigma and discrimination has a damaging effect on people's psychosocial health.

During the march, participants who were armed with placards marched through the streets of Mackenzie shouting, "Sodomy (and "buggery") is illegal. We stand for what is right!... Man and man, abomination. Woman and woman, abomination!...", as well as "Jail the sodomites!" and held plac-

ards bearing slogans such as 'Buggery is not Human Rights, Abomination', among others.

The Apostle went further during the march by asking who in Government or elsewhere does not want the law (against buggery) to be enforced.

He further declared, "We will march them out of Linden. It is illegal... and we shall not accept it...

We will stand for what is right... This is not about

back and forth between the two on social media, with the Apostle also speaking out against Simpson and his work in relation to SASOD in the Linden community, during his weekly locally aired televised live programme. In this regard, Simpson said legal avenues will be explored.

"Our focus is working quietly on the ground in communities with LGBT Lindeners and their own community leaders to take

Scores of Linden residents took to the streets this past weekend to 'march against sodomy'

crazy people taking (to) the streets. We want to show them that we have common sense and wisdom".

Meanwhile, Simpson in his comment explained SASOD'S focus in the community, noting that personal attacks by the Apostle are defamatory. The Apostle appears to be at loggerheads with Simpson mainly on social media since last year, when SASOD launched its LGBT Sexual Health Training project in collaboration with the Linden Care Foundation in the community, as a means of empowerment. Since then, there has been some

care of each other and strengthen our resilience as a community against these vicious attacks. We believe that London's personal attacks (against) the organisation and me personally, as SASOD's Managing Director on social media and local television are defamatory and amount to harassment. We are exploring all legal avenues at our disposal to address these injuries to SASOD and I", Simpson has been quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the Apostle is reportedly planning a similar march to be held at Wismar, Linden.

Care Centre, and the Lusignan Learning Centre.

Each participant received a certificate of attendance, and this component of their training will be followed by training in first-aid, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED), at the Guyana Red Cross Society (GRCS) from August 21-25, 2017.

Following the First Aid component of their training, participants will be placed at the Georgetown

Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Uncle Eddie’s Home, and the Palms Geriatric Home for one-day practical exercises.

This workshop was facilitated by licensed Clinical Social Worker Ms. Ismay Griffith, and Gender Consultant at the Ministry of Social Protection, Hazel Halley-Burnett.

The participants were placed in groups where they demonstrated how to properly care for the elderly in various stages of illness, and demonstrated the cor-

rect use of protective gear.

Ms. Lavern Fredericks, speaking on behalf of the participants, said, “We learnt that as people age, mobility reduces and it gets harder for them to get around. We learnt that we have to get patience and understanding so that they can feel comfortable and loved.”

Organised by the Office of the First Lady, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection, the workshop’s closing ceremony was held at the Regency Suites Hotel on Hadfield Street, Georgetown. This is the second certified ‘Care for the Elderly’ Workshop to have been held for 2017, and is the fourth since establishment of the Office of the First Lady in 2015.

The five-day workshop was intended to help the caregivers understand their roles, responsibilities and relationships with the client, and to understand the confidential nature of their role. It focused on areas such as moving and positioning of the elderly; dealt with mental health issues such as Alzheimer’s disease, stress management, abuse of seniors, diabetes care and management, feeding of seniors, responsibilities of the caregiver and skills in communicating with the elderly.

8 news

monDAY, august 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mentally unstable man wreaks havoc – in Norton Street

Drawing a line…

A

By Ashraf Dabie

A

series of disastrous outcomes were averted on Sunday morning at about 10:30hrs as Akeem Hope of Norton Street, Wortmanville Georgetown -- a mentally unstable man in his twenties -- attempted to seek retribution for being denied money requested from family members.

He first attempted to stab a neighbour, reportedly approaching the man and accusing him of failing to repay a loan. Despite the innocent neighbour’s continuous efforts to assure the deranged youth that he was mistaken, Hope pulled out a weapon and attempted to stab the man.

Enraged by efforts that intercepted his attack on his neighbour, he then rushed into his home and began operating in a disorderly manner while threateningly expressing his intentions to kill. He proceeded to sack the rented property by breaking windows and throwing items across the room; and as he eventually got his hands on the lit kerosene stove which his mother was using, he flung it onto flammable items on the ground.

As a result, a small fire erupted in the home while

…against drug criminals

Police Officers arrive at the scene to detain the mentally unstable man

his mother and three siblings were inside, but Fire attendants quickly responded to the reports, and by the time of their arrival, neighbours had already managed to extinguish the blaze before things escalated.

However, the community members then rushed this mentally unstable man to chastise him for his violent behaviour. They locked Hope away in the house, and put his sister to guard him sister until Police Officers arrived on the scene.

Even though no casualties stemmed from the ag-

gressive outbursts of this mentally unsound individual, Hope was taken into custody. In fact, prior to this incident, he was imprisoned for similar criminal acts.

This newspaper understands that the young man had led a normal childhood, but was condemned to the state of mental illness following a fight in high school, during which he sustained injures to his head. As such, Hope has since been dependent on the supervision and care of his family.

This report comes one month after another men-

tally-ill individual had set his home afire.

Guyana Times recently published that sixty-fouryear-old Oslyn Marcus, known as ‘Oyo’, also reportedly of unsound mind, had set alight his Lot 107 Meten-Meer-Zorg house on Saturday, July 22, and had steadfastly refused entreaties to vacate the burning building. Oyo was taken into police custody, but was subsequently released hours after the fire. Shortly after his release, he had again attempted to burn the building to the ground.

Woman granted $5000 bail for assault

W

hen 27-year-old Joanna Dunn was arraigned before Wales Magistrate Rushell

Liverpool last week, Police alleged that she had assaulted her neighbor, Abigail Caesar, on August 5, 2017

at Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara.

Unrepresented by legal counsel, Dunn pleaded not

guilty to the offence, was placed on $5,000 bail, and has to attend court again on October 19 for trial.

couple of decades ago, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell, outlined the strategy the US military would be using to go after the Iraq forces in the quest to remove Saddam Hussain from power. “First we are going to cut it off, and then we are going to kill it.”

That was it!! You couldn’t be more direct than that, could you?

Well, right here in Guyana, our own Brigadier General David Granger, now President of Guyana and Commander of our Disciplined Forces, made some pretty simple and direct statements when he announced his strategy to take on the drug lords here.

“There are a few criminal people who are holding us back, and I am going to find them and put them away.” Pressie was in Lethem, where another airstrip had been uncovered - this time with an aircraft that was clearly being used to fly in cocaine and other drugs that were later smuggled into the States.

Now we have to notice the difference between the statements of the two generals - Powell used the pronoun “we” - referring to all the US forces, but Pressie said “I”, meaning himself. Now your Eyewitness knows that Pressie - at the age of 78 - isn’t going to be running out there Rambo-style to take out the bad guys. What his language means is he’s taking this Guyanese “war on drugs” very personally.

But we have to remember that even with the greatest army, air force and navy the world had ever seen, the US wasn’t able to finish the Iraq war -- which for all intents and purposes is still ongoing.

In that conflict, the Iraqis were motivated by their nationalistic and religious ideologies that have seen them morph into all kinds of entities that aren’t bound by borders or battle zones. We’re living in an age of “total war”.

And it is for this reason it’s unlikely that even Pressie’s more personalised threat will lead to the elimination of drug trafficking through Guyana. In the wars on drugs, the combatants are motivated by one of the most destructive forces on planet Earth today – money-fuelled greed. Money in such quantity that the human mind cannot comprehend so many zeroes following the number 1!

The US, with its NSA satellites in the sky, CIA assets on the ground, and Special Forces with helicopters not to mention local forces in Colombia - weren’t able to win the war on drugs.

Why is it that Pressie thinks it’ll be any different here? Maybe he should set his sights on capturing those four escaped killers?

…on CSEC subjects

The kid from Queen’s who just passed TWENTYFIVE SUBJECTS at CSEC is sure to unleash another round of debate on how many subjects candidates ought to be allowed to write. Former Education Minister Roopnaraine represented the old guard who believed that eight subjects or so were just about enough. Interestingly enough, Roopnaraine was also from Queen’s, and in fact won the Guyana Scholarship that sent him on to Cambridge University.

What these folks misread is “dis time na lang time” and kids are much more exposed to a host of other sorts of info that needs to be assimilated. In the scholarly community, they talk about two kinds of intelligences represented by the “fox and the hedgehog”. The Fox knows a little bit of many things but the hedgehog knows a lot of one thing.

The 25-subject-kid put it well…what he did isn’t for everyone, but those who feel they could do it shouldn’t be barred.

The 21st century needs as many foxes as it can produce.

…on wandering kids

Your Eyewitness just found out that most of the kids who end up at Onderneeming’s ironically named “New Opportunity Corps” were brought in under some archaic English law against “wandering”.

Imagine kids being inducted into a course of criminal behaviour just because they “wandered”!!

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

News

9

monDAY, august 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

African cultural committee Wanted carjacker proposes local secretariat nabbed

– President promises to give due consideration

BY SAMUEL SUKHNANDAN

A

s the local African community gathered at the Critchlow Labour College Auditorium on Sunday to take part in the fifth annual “State of the African Guyanese” Forum organised by the Cuffy250 Committee, a request was made for a subvention from Government to establish a secretariat to implement the programmes and policies directed to address issues facing this particular ethnic group.

A representative of the Country Coordinating Committee (CCM), which comprises of several local and overseas-based AfroGuyanese organisations, Jonathan Adams, said that the African Guyanese “Action Plan” was delivered to President David Granger, which was based on a commitment the group made when the President addressed the annual forum in 2016.

Adams said based on research, Afro-Guyanese still suffer and remain a disadvantaged group in society.

He said there is still a lot of stigma attached to being Afro-Guyanese and against that backdrop of darkness, doom and despair, the CCM has recommended that policies, programmes and projects in education, economics, equality and employment, among other areas of concern, be implemented.

“There is the need for the immediate establishment of a secretariat, its full funding and an enabling environment to facilitate the effective and efficient execution of its mandate,” he

President David Granger

told the gathering. Adams said that in recognition of the International Decade for People of African Descent, the CCM’s submission is one of the first steps in the movement towards achieving the objectives of the decade.

The secretariat will then initiate the necessary studies to ascertain the conditions of Africans in various communities even as it established a widespread and concerted programme in African communities on the decade and its potential to impact African strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

“To achieve recognition for African Guyanese, four education policies, eight education programmes and 16 educational projects are recommended. To achieve justice, three education policies, three education programmes and 14 education projects are recommended. To achieve sustainable development, one education policy, four educational programmes, and six educational projects are recommended.”

In addressing the packed African cultural audience, President Granger said given the fact that the budget process is close to wrapping up, the group will have 10 weeks to consider the request. The President urged the CCM to consider erecting an economical structure that can deliver the objectives of the organisation and that can carry on its work beyond the decade.

“The CCM needs to work purposefully and quickly. As I said before the decade was launched in 2015. In fact, one third of the decade has expired. Forty months of the 120 months have expired,” Granger said encouraging the group to work towards ensuring that enough is done to achieve goals set out to observe the declaration of the International Decade for People of African Descent.

The theme for this year’s Forum was “Repositioning African Guyanese for Recognition, Justice and Sustainable Development.”

It is being held in collaboration with the International Decade of the People of

African Descent AssemblyGuyana (IDPADA-G), a coalition of African Guyanese organisations and individuals which, for the past year, has been working on an African Guyanese “Action Plan.” The impetus for this initiative was a call by President Granger.

Towards this end, the highlight of this year’s Forum was the unveiling of the “African Guyanese Action Plan” which lays out a strategy and agenda for African Guyanese Empowerment for the next decade. The keynote address was delivered by the President. Other speakers included Nigel Hughes, Marjorie Mc Caskey, Vincent Alexander, Comica Johnson, Eric Phillips, Esther Gittens, Dr Norman Ng-a-Qui and Dr Simpson da Silva.

Cuffy250 was founded by a group of Guyanese in the USA and Guyana who came together in 2013 to observe the 250th anniversary of the Berbice Revolt, led by Cuffy, against the slave system. It is an organisation dedicated to encouraging socio-economic and cultural revitalisation within the African Guyanese community and the fostering of ethnic and racial equality in Guyana.

In this regard, Cuffy250 is also committed to the reversal of ethnic domination of all kinds and from all quarters. Hence part of its mission is to encourage self-empowerment and self-respect among African Guyanese as a prerequisite for respecting all ethnic groups and as a defence against domination.

– implicated in several carjacking incidents

P

olice on Sunday morning arrested a Dennis Street, Sophia, Greater Georgetown resident after he was implicated as the mastermind of numerous carjacking incidents over the past few months.

According to reports received, the suspect was arrested at around 01:00h on Sunday, when ranks on Police patrol noticed the suspect on the road. Upon realising that the law enforcement officers were approaching, the man reportedly fled.

Police gave chase and the suspect was apprehended.

Since then, the man has reportedly confessed to stealing a motor vehicle on July 28, 2017 at Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara.

Guyana Times understands the motor car was retrieved by Police on August 11, 2017, in D Field, Sophia, while it was in the possession of the now apprehended suspect.

However, at the time, efforts to arrest the man were futile as he escaped.

Investigations are ongoing.

Bandits rob gas station employees

G

as station employees Prakash Seenarine, 32, and Darren Reddy, 21, attacked and robbed while on duty at their place of employment at Main and King Streets in New Amsterdam, Berbice on Saturday evening, are now in a traumatised state, especially after their lives had been threatened if they failed to comply with the bandits’ instructions.

Based on reports received, the two employees were pounced on by two armed men while another accomplice was seen “keep-

ing watch” on King Street.

The incident occurred at about 20:15hrs.

Guyana Times was informed that the bandits had placed both victims to lie on the ground before relieving them of some $86,000 belonging to the company in an ordeal that lasted for mere minutes; and fled the scene on foot in an easterly direction along King Street, in company of their waiting accomplice.

Police are in the process of reviewing the CCTV footage attached to the gas station as investigations continue.

10 news

mondAY, august 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Gaskin against Guyana becoming EITI complaint country – says only Auditor-General should balance the books

By Samuel Sukhnandan

L

ocal economist and outspoken political commentator Ramon Gaskin is questioning the rationale behind Guyana becoming an EITI-complaint country (a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative).

He says it does not serve any significant purpose, but only gives developed countries access to sensitive financial information concerning Guyana.

Although many Third World countries join because they are concerned about their reputation with international donors and expect to be rewarded by increased aid, Gaskin says there is no real benefit in joining the EITI; rather, it opens up Guyana to being heavily reliant.

Quantitative analysis has demonstrated that countries do gain access to increased aid the further they progress through the EITI implementation process, but Gaskin still thinks Guyana should be able to balance its own books, and determination in regard to Guyana’s financial status should be made by the

Auditor General.

“The people funding the EITI are the big oil companies, and they are supported by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, which like to tell Third World countries how to run their business,” Gaskin expressed, whilst contending that Guyana should not fall prey to what he describes as a ‘trap.’

Joining the EITI has proven popular, with several countries (48 Third World and four developed nations) having already so done. But Gaskin argues that, as a soft law standard to which countries voluntarily commit, EITI presents a paradox.

“Why would corrupt governments voluntarily expose themselves to sunlight? Does its popularity imply that it is meaningless?” he asked.

EITI’s aim is to promote development through transparency. It sets a uniform global standard for governments to publicly report the revenues that are generated from the extraction of natural resources, such as petroleum.

Countries that agree to the standard commit to forming a multi-stakeholder

Economist and Political Commentator Ramon Gaskin

group of government, business and civil society officials who oversee the public reporting process. That process has already started in Guyana, and is now approaching finalisation.

Unlike mandatory disclosure laws that require companies to independently report their payments to governments, EITI promotes a dialogue among a range of stakeholders in extractive industries. The report, a detailed docket of tax revenues, royalties and licensing fees, is also a valuable resource to inform the public of the

country’s natural resource wealth.

Gaskin has dubbed the idea of Guyana becoming EITI-compliant “nonsense.” He posits that the amount of money the Guyana Treasury would get from the oil sector has to be audited by the AuditorGeneral. “He is the person who has to check that we are getting the correct amount of money from the contract. We don’t have to report to people outside (of Guyana) what we are getting; we have to report to the Auditor- General.

“I don’t know what part of our laws allows people from outside to come and check our books; and I don’t see what the benefit is,” he argues.

The economist has said that if Guyana is so ready and willing to join the EITI, under no circumstance should Government continue to withhold information in regard to the contract struck with ExxonMobil. That information should be made public, and the contract should, by all means, be laid in the National Assembly to enable lawmakers to have an understanding of what is contained therein.

In many countries, most of the revenues from natural resources accruing at subnational levels are not derived from company payments to local government entities, but from transfers from the central government.

Depending on the revenue-distribution frameworks in place, these transfers can be considerably larger sources of revenue for subnational entities than taxes and fees collected at local levels.

The revised EITI Standard requires that such transfers be reported, where mandated by law and where material.

Where companies are legally or contractually required to make social contributions, these must be disclosed, under EITI standards.

Where countries collect

significant revenues from the transportation of oil, gas and minerals, such as pipelines, the Government will also be required to disclose the revenues received.

The requirement to publish annual activity reports is not limited to compliant countries, the EITI has said. It is foreseen that countries will report on progress with meeting the EITI requirements as well as (on) efforts to achieve the objectives set out in their work plans.

Validation is procured and managed by the EITI’s International Secretariat, rather than by implementing countries. Countries undertake validation more frequently, with compliant countries being revalidated every three years, as opposed to every five years under the old rules.

Govt will have...

from page 3

Onshore base

ExxonMobil’s recently appointed Country Manager in Guyana, Rod Henson, has recently announced that the company would be relocating its onshore operations, which were used for support services, from neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago to Guyana.

He had told participants at a meeting that it was not a case whereby ExxonMobil would be looking to build a facility for its support services, but would rather put out tenders, and anyone interested in providing the shore base services could present a proposal.

Trotman had, in 2016, announced that Cabinet had given its ‘no objection’ to the establishment of the onshore industrial site on Crab Island, in the mouth of the Berbice river. He had said it would be forged through the joint efforts of the ministries of Natural Resources, Public Infrastructure and Business.

Construction was announced for early this year, and the investments from the private sector and Government’s infrastructural work and support were to be equivalent to US$500M; but the Crab Island facility is yet to materialise.

According to information

released this March by the Government’s Department of Public Information (DPI), the construction of an onshore oil-and-gas facility seeks to cater to the expansion of exploration and subsequent production of oil in Guyana.

That report had said Government would be investing US$500M to construct the onshore facility during the course of this year, and that the facility would serve as a logistics and supply base to the offshore production.

What is happening now, however, is that an onshore facility to service Exxon is being constructed by Guyana Shore Base Incorporated (GYSBI) at Houston, EBD. GYSBI is acting in partnership with Muneshwer’s Limited, Pacific Rim Constructors, Total Tech Oil Field Services and LED Offshore.

Pointing to this project, Trotman said hundreds of Guyanese would be getting jobs. “So it’s an evolving process,” Trotman said. “For example, there’s a company called El Dorado that’ll be training Guyanese to work aboard the ships. So things are happening. It is a policy that is being shaped, and all of the comments being offered are being taken account of.”

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11

monDAY, august 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt closer to identifying new building for SARA headquarters – Minister defends ‘double dipping’

BY SAMUEL SUKHNANDAN

G

overnment is closer to establishing a headquarters for the controversial State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), formerly the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), after it was recently announced by Senior Finance Minister Winston Jordan that there is an interest in at least two buildings.

Jordan said he is not clear about the location of the two possible buildings and he may be wrong, but from his understanding the locations identified may

PPP/C Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall

have gone to the Tender Board for approval. He said this is to assist with fast tracking the establishment of the independent agency.

Some $89.8 million was sought for SARA under the Legal Affairs Ministry in a supplementary paper presented to Parliament recently. The Opposition had argued that the request is a breach of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA) which states that new appropriations shall not be created. The Opposition had argued that an allocation from the budget has already been made.

While the Opposition has referred to this scenario as ‘double dipping,’ Jordan defended the Government stating that SARU and SARA are two different agencies. He said some of the staff from SARU will obviously be part of SARA until the Parliament formalises this agency.

“The law says up to the time the bill is passed, the staff of SARU will continue to function between three to six months, and when Parliament meets and names the Director and Deputy Director. How do you say that somebody is double dipping when they have to go and find a headquarters?” he argued.

The Minister said SARA is not headquartered in the Ministry of the Presidency, but that the new agency would have to find its own

Finance Minister Winston Jordan has defended Government’s perceived ‘double dipping’ for the establishment of SARA

headquarters. “So, money has just been passed and part of that is to go and find a headquarters. When a headquarters is found, you have to staff it, furnish it,” he explained.

In providing a further breakdown of the process, Jordan said the employment cost for some of the people at SARU would have been budgeted under the Ministry of the Presidency, but SARA is a legal entity with its own identity and the subvention is to give legal effect to the entity.

They will have to get their own security, comput-

PPP/C Member of Parliament Juan Edghill

ers, desks, chairs and other amenities. But when you are sheltering under an agency called the Ministry of the Presidency, you don’t have that. All you are doing is piggybacking except for personal emoluments,” the senior Minister stated.

When questioned as to why the Government would set aside $116.31 million to assist with the purchase of furniture and equipment for the new SARA building, Jordan said the Government had to come up with an estimate because it would be best to do that, instead of looking for a place and equipment and furnishing then scrambling to find the money to assist with the setting up of the SARA headquarters. turn to page 12

12 news SOCU to benefit from another British expert – Quinn monDAY, august 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND

T

he Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) is expected to benefit from more training and capacity building by experts from the United Kingdom.

This is according to British High Commission, Gregory Quinn, who told reporters last week that his Government is committed to lending more support to the local financial investigative body.

Previously, the British High Commission had sponsored Ireland-based financial investigation expert, Dr Sam Sittlington, as an advisor to SOCU. Dr Sittlington returned to the UK earlier this year after completing two short stints here. He spent a total of 14 weeks here. However, High Commissioner Quinn noted that the new expert that will be here is going to come for a longer period; maybe two to three years.

“Because that is going to be a longer term commitment than what existed when Sam was here, there is a tendering process that needs to be undertaken until that person is appointed. Now I don’t know whether the company Sam works for will submit a proposal to make that tender but

British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn

if he does, it will be looked at in exactly the same way as everybody else who submits a tender,” the British Diplomat explained.

He added that they are looking to have the new expert here by November the earliest but before the end of the year. Quinn noted that if the expert does not come by that time, then they will definitely be here early in the next calendar year since his Government would already make a decision on who to award the contract to and what their work schedule is going to look like going forward.

While, the British High Commissioner is not sure that Dr Sittlington will be

the one to return, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has stated sometime back that he would like for the Ireland-based fraud expert to come back.

The Minister had explained that since Dr Sittlington had made certain recommendations to strengthen SOCU, he would be the fittest person to determine whether those were properly implemented.

The Irish consultant had come in for much criticism during his final stint here.

He was at the helm of a probe that led to the arrest of several former Government Ministers and officials, including former President and current Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, over

British fraud expert, Dr Sam Sittlington

“Pradoville II”.

The parliamentary Opposition had accused Dr Sittlington of going beyond

ing out that he was going on operations such as raids and arrests. The British Advisor was with the team of SOCU ranks who had gone down to the Opposition Leader’s Church Street, Georgetown office to arrest him back in March over the Pradoville probe.

High Commissioner Quinn subsequently clarified that Dr Sittinlington is at SOCU in an advisory and training capacity and not in an operational role. In referring to statements the financial fraud expert had made to media operatives, Quinn noted that he was merely explaining the legal basis and rights on which SOCU took the actions they did.

Days later, Dr Sittlington

SOCU headquarters

the purchase of plots of land at the Sparendaam seawall area, commonly known as

his advisory role and taking on executive functions with regard to the arrests, point-

found himself in more hot water after it was revealed that he along with Minister

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

Ramjattan and other top officials of SOCU had converge at a popular city night spot to “sip wine”. Guyana Times had reported that SOCU Head Sydney James, Dr Sittlington and Ramjattan were seen clinking glasses in an extremely celebratory atmosphere.

This was on the evening of the second day SOCU had hauled in the former prominent Government officials for questioning. Ramjattan had subsequently confirmed that this happened, saying that it was a farewell for the British expert who was leaving the following day after completing his work.

That celebratory event had come on the heels of resounding cries that the Executive has been giving orders to SOCU to attack former Government officials as part of its witch-hunting exercise.

Govt closer ...

from page 11

Former Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill had accused the Government of ‘double-dipping’, while maintaining that SARU has already received appropriations for the entire year under the Ministry of the Presidency and supplementary request now have SARA, the same thing as SARU, now under the Ministry of Legal Affairs, which is totally unacceptable.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Anil Nandlall who also objected to the request said that the money could be better utilised on agencies that are in greater need of finance to carry out their policy functions, especially those that can impact positively on the lives of the poor and vulnerable in society.

Making reference to an Opposition call for the removal of VAT on private education and medical supplies, and the imposition of subsidies for the elderly, Nandlall said this excuse was also used to shut down these requests.

“We have been told that the nation cannot afford to implement those measures because of financial constraints. And that is why

we don’t support this, and we don’t think that this is a priority for Guyana at this point in time. And we are essentially contending that this is a waste of money,” he asserted.

A total of $89.9 million of current expenditure, to cater for salaries, rental, utilities and other such recurring expenditure was approved in Parliament. Under Capital Estimates, $13 million were approved for the purchase of two pick-up vehicles for the unit. Another $13.4 million were approved for the purchase of furnishing and other equipment for the property being rented to house the agency.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has also expressed disappointment at what he described as the appointment of “political hacks” to the now vacant positions at SARA. He contended that his Party would seek to have persons with the requisite qualification function in the positions at SARA, and would accept nothing less.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has also made known its intention to implement several changes to the SARA Bill 2017 if re-elected to office in 2020.

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Govt insists AG Chambers' legal team functioning – despite string of judgements against State in High Court

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team of legal luminaries were appointed earlier this year to provide assistance to Attorney General Basil Williams, whose tasks included providing legal advice to and defending the State against litigation.

However, the Government has been handed a string of defeats in the High Court, with conservatory orders being granted against the State and decisions by the President being revoked after being deemed unconstitutional by the court. Williams, a Senior Counsel after 'taking the silk' in 2016, was named as a respondent on behalf of the State.

When questioned about the team and the Government's dismal record in the courts, Minister of State Joseph Harmon

The Cheddi Jagan Research Centre

visory team to the Attorney General. And therefore the advice which they give to the Attorney General is for him to internalise and use as necessary. So I believe that they are meeting regularly and that they have been giving advice.”

The Guyana Elections Commission

asserted that the team is functioning. Harmon, an Attorney himself, expressed during a post-Cabinet press briefing that the team was meeting with the Attorney General.

“The legal team is an ad-

Red House Last year, President David Granger gave the occupants of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) 48 hours to vacate the premises, a directive which

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo described as “unconscionable and vindictive”.

On August 9, the Opposition People’s Progress Party secured two conservatory High Court orders blocking the State from ejecting the CJRC from the property, once the official residence of former President, the late Dr Cheddi Jagan.

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, overruled every submission made by Attorney General Basil Williams, and refused his request that the CJRC case be dismissed.

The Chief Justice upheld submissions made by Attorney Anil Nandlall on behalf of the CJRC: that there are serious issues to be tried, and those cannot be determined at the interlocutory stage.

Land leases

In 2014, a number of farmers were granted 50-

year leases for State land, located in the rear of Number 40 Village, West Coast Berbice, by then President Donald Ramotar.

In March of 2016, however, they received letters from the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/Agriculture Development Authority (MMA/ADA) informing them that President David Granger cancelled their leases and that they must cease occupation and return the land to the MMA/ADA. The applicants – Brian George and Tiffany Hubbard, Joylyn Nicholson, Gratien Nicholson, Vaughn Aaron and Herman Nicholson – sought justice in the courts.

They were represented by Attorneys Nandlall and Manoj Narayan among others, while the State and the MMA/ADA was represented by Attorney General Williams.

On the same day as the Red House judgement, the Chief Justice ruled against the President’s revocation of rice farmers land leases, deeming it unconstitutional.

She also ruled that the farmers are entitled to compensation from the State, amounting to the sum of $300,000.

Other declarations include a conservatory order being issued “prohibiting the servants and/or agents of MMA/ADA, or any other officer of the State from entering upon, remaining, occupying or in any manner whatsoever interfering with the applicant’s quiet and peaceful possession, occupation and enjoyment of the

said lease unless compensation is paid which is to be determined by the parties.”

GECOM chairmanship

Since the retirement of former Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, the Commission has been without a head. As the Constitution requires the Opposition Leader to nominate persons to the post, Jagdeo submitted his first list of names in December last.

However the list was rejected by Granger on the grounds that Article 161 (2) of the Constitution prescribes that nominees must either be qualified to be a Judge or fit and proper. A second list submitted by the former President in April was treated similarly.

But in March, local businessman Marcel Gaskin moved to the High Court to challenge the constitutionality of the President's reasoning. That judgement was handed down last month.

While she acknowledged that the President can determine who fits the bill of “fit and proper”, the Chief Justice overruled the President's interpretation of the Constitution by finding that there is no particular preference for the appointment of persons within the Judiciary.

The team

The Council of Legal Advisors is made up of former Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Judge, Justice

Attorney General Basil Williams

Duke Pollard; former High Court Judge, Justice James Patterson; former Appeal Court Judge, Justice Claudette Singh; Professor Harold Lutchman; and Professor Harold James.

At the time the team was appointed, Harmon had disclosed that the functions of the Council would include providing legal analysis and advice on the development of the local justice sector, Government’s legislative agenda and litigation matters; providing input into legal policy design and engaging stakeholders with interest in the justice sector where appropriate.

In addition to this assistance which Williams would be getting to perform his duties, Harmon went on to say that the Council would be assisted in the execution of its mandate by support staff from the Legal Affairs Ministry.

National Anti-Violence Vigil II set for September 10

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ollowing a successful event last year at the inaugural National Anti-Violence Candlelight Vigil, the organiser has decided to make it an annual event, with the second vigil set for September 10, under the theme ‘Take A Minute,

Save A Life’.

Voices Against Violence, a loose umbrella of NGOs, FBOs, CBOs and other entities, organised some 300 vigils in communities across Guyana last year to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. In addition to bringing people together, this vigil is an attempt to get communities across Guyana involved in anti-violence activism while fostering the concept

of communal action for community wellbeing. It is inexpensive and easy to organise the event and all participants need is a candle or use a cellphone.

Vigils can be organised by religious institutions, local businesses, sport and youth

clubs, political party groups and schools. Organisers select routes around the community, assemble at a pre-selected place and hold a rally whereby selected individuals can speak on the theme of anti-violence in general or selected aspects such as suicide or abuse. If desired, inter-faith prayers can be conducted and cultural programmes organised. During the walk-about, anti-violence slogans can be

chanted.

For the purposes of this vigil, all of the following are considered acts of violence either against self or others: trafficking, suicide, drug and alcohol addiction, domestic and child abuse, rape, incest, teenage preg-

nancy, road carnage, dysfunctional relationships, neglect of the elderly, abuse of the mentally and physically challenged. Besides, relationship violence and its dysfunctional socialisation spawn, which are more and more looming as issues of critical urgency, can and do shape personalities that easily gravitate towards crime and attending violence.

Thus, violence should be addressed holistically and

when communities come together they can begin to become more caring and build more togetherness while getting their feet wet in the practice of mindfulness. In effect, anti-violence must become everybody’s business and immediately so!

The candle light vigil, held in communities throughout the nation, is a step in this direction.

Besides, the vigil will foster community collaboration, focus on saving lives and preventing harm, and foster the process of societal transformation.

Currently, almost 50 entities are coordinating this year’s vigil. Additionally, letters seeking support have been dispatched or will soon be dispatched to various Government Ministries along with the President, the Prime Minster, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the People’s National Congress (PNC). With almost four weeks to go, the organisers are hoping to have other groups involved, as well as more media and

Government agencies and Ministries.

They are also appealing to local and community

Against Violence’ is requesting that all vigil organisers/ potential organisers to contact them.

leaders, businessmen and other influential characters as well as community organisations, including religious institutions and sports club, to please help bring off this activity by ensuring that a vigil is held in every community, collaboratively where possible.

In order for the organisers to map all vigils, provide any necessary assistance, including publicity, ensure that all vigils are acknowledged and lauded, and use photos of all vigils to create an online collage, ‘Voices

In Guyana, call Nazim on telephone numbers 6441152 or 646-4649, Leslyn on 636 1189 or Chandanie on 697-9968. In North America, call Annan on 646-461-0574, Sham on 954-778-3222, Sharmin on 718-506-8225 or Dr Rodney on 516-286-8952.

Emails can be sent to caribvoice@aol.com and contact can be made with the following persons on facebook: Gemini Bae Irock, Nazim Hussain, Sham Tilak, Franklin Rodney, Sharmin Prince, Leslyn Holder and Annan Boodram.

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monDAY, august 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Deep South August Games – bringing people together through sport

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taging of the Deep South August Games, started in 1997 by former Aishalton Toshao Tony James and former Morarunau educator Adrian Gomes -- two individuals with a love for sport and a vision of bringing people together -- is said to be the most anticipated event of the year in communities south of the Rupununi in Region Nine.

Morarunau Toshao Patrick Gomes, in an ex-

clusive interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), said the games were birthed to replicate the annual Mass Games which were held in Georgetown in the 1980s and 1990s, and the idea was to have students and teachers involved in the activity.

This is one of the main reasons that the games are held in August.

A meeting was subsequently held among villagers of Awarewanau, Maruranau, Shea, Aishalton, Karadunau and Auchiwib to have the games hosted in the Rupununi. Parabara and Masakinari later joined the event.

To get the initiative in motion, Gomes said, a meeting was held among the villages, and after consultations and the sharing of ideas, “it was agreed that there needed to be a social event that (would) bring people together”.

The games were first held in Maruranau, and in the years that followed, different villages would be selected to host the games. The village council of the host community would have to ensure that there is a proper venue for the games to be held, and sufficient accommodation for persons coming from far distances.

“Every village took part; they came walking, on bicycles, bull carts and horses. That time they had no tractor or (other) means of transportation,” Gomes explained. This meant that, depending on where the games were being hosted, participants sometimes took three to four days to reach their destination.

Cricket, football and vol-

leyball were the very first events featured; but, as time went by, traditional activities such as archery with traditional arrows and bows, cotton spinning, basket weaving, cassava grating and cari drinking were added to the list. There eventually followed the addition of cultural events and a pageant.

According to Gomes, the games have grown enormously since initiation 20 years ago, and now attract

thousands of athletes and spectators. “It has grown in strength. It has grown from then to now tremendously… it looks like what I would say (is) an international event, where you have like, a mini Olympics. You have parades, march past, a formal opening, and speeches” he explained.

The games were held this year in Awarewanau, some seven hours’ overland travel from Lethem. One of the coordinators of the event, Aishalton representative Patrick Da Silva, also said the level of competition has risen significantly from what had obtained in previous years.

“Since they have started,” he said, “the level of cricket, football, and volleyball (has) risen in all the villages, because they have (become) highly competitive games,” Da Silva explained.

Thomas Perry, a spectator, agreed. “To me, it is better than before, because of the lights in the nights. This is the first time it happen in our villages like this,” he explained.

While some persons have camped out at the venue, others chose to travel back and forth daily. However, the journey is certainly not one for the swift, as Perry can testify.

“I am coming to support my village, (located) 10 miles from here. I am from Maruranau, and I does go back like 8 or 10 o’clock (at night), depends when they finish. And in the morning, I does come back again, with my family, to enjoy myself here.”

Aside from the athletes and spectators, the games have, over the years, attract-

Scenes from the Deep South August Games

ed a number of traders from across the country. These traders come from as far as East Berbice, Region Six and the Essequibo Coast, Region Two. Gharbarnan Sookraj,

from the Essequibo Coast, has said he has been attending the event for the past nine years. The trip takes him and his family between three days and a week to be completed, depending on

where the games are being hosted.

Sookraj explained: “(I) came to Rodeo one time, then I came another time on business in Lethem, and they had heritage; so we do

a little sale by the benab, and I decided to buy a truck.

Well, I had the goods, so I decided to come here”.

The games continue to attract persons from the coast, like Totaram Gunpat from Berbice, who attended the games for the first time to trade. He had heard about the games through word of mouth.

Gunpat said “I heard about it in Lethem; the boys told me, and ‘them man’ bring me up here…” Gunpat said that of all the competitions, he really enjoyed the volleyball games. He was also keen to point out that he would be returning for the games next year.

PPP/C, WPO Industry groups award top NGSA 2017 performers

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ifteen top performers of the Industry, East Coast Demerara (ECD) area who all excelled at this year’s National Grade six Assessment (NGSA) were on Sunday afternoon delighted to be awarded for their hard work.

The event which has been held for the past six years by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and its women’s arm - the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) groups in the area seeks to show appreciation for, and act as a motivator to, the students of the area to excel.

The students including the country’s second place top performer Xiana Chablial along with Rebecca Seepersaud, Mehendra Pooran, Rajid Shafie, Deonarine Gowkarran, Richard Sharma, Priya Persaud, Crystal Vasconsellos, and others were all presented with trophies and other tokens which were donated by persons in the said community of Industry.

Speaking on behalf of herself and fellow awardees, Chablial thanked the PPP/C and WPO for their generosity. Former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr Frank Anthony, in his

The awardees along with Dr Frank Anthony, his daughter Ashley and others at the event

remarks at the event, underscored the importance of not only having an a sound education but also a vision.

According to Dr Anthony, without a vision, although being very bright, it can cause many to lose sight of what it is they want to do.

“You need to think about ten years from now and what it is that you would want to become and if you can do that then you can also think about what sort of qualifications that you need to achieve to get it. And if you can do that then it becomes easier because you’ll know where to

place your efforts,” he told the students.

“Successful people are those who always think ahead; years ahead,” he told the students.

“Successful people always think ahead…that is, what it is that they would like to do with their lives.

They just don’t go through life on a day to day basis. You have to constantly think about your future and start working to achieve that and that is called vision. If you have a vision for your life that is what will determine your approach.”

Dr Anthony’s daughter, Ashley, who capped

seven grade ones in this year’s Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE) exams, also spoke at the event where she gave the young students a ‘pep talk’ on how to continue to excel. “For you to become successful, it depends on yourself. You have to know yourself and determine what it is that you need to do to get where you want to be. Everybody is different so what works for you, works for you,” she urged.

She also congratulated the students and encouraged them to continue to pursue greatness. (Kizzy Coleman)

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Scenes from

Hero CPL Match 19 Amazon Warriors vs Tridents Digicel Guyana photos

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, august 21, 2017

Regional

Disputed Venezuela assembly Some 115 migrants rescued from truck takes Parliament’s powers in eastern Mexico

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enezuela's controversial new constituent assembly has overwhelmingly voted in favour of assuming the powers of the Opposition-led Parliament.

Parliament has rejected the move. President Nicolás Maduro says the new assembly will end political unrest, but many say it is a slide towards dictatorship.

Meanwhile Colombia says the former Chief Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz has arrived in the capital Bogota.

Ortega said she feared for her life after being sacked by the new assembly.

Once a staunch supporter of President Maduro, she had become a strong critic of his socialist Government in recent months.

Her whereabouts had been unknown following her dismissal on August 5.

On Friday Ortega told a regional conference via video link that she had ev-

The constituent assembly was set up despite fierce criticism at home and abroad

idence that Maduro was embroiled in a corruption scandal involving the Brazilian construction company, Odebrecht.

Odebrecht has admitted paying bribes to win contracts in 12 countries, though no Venezuelans have been named. The Venezuelan Parliament

said citizens and the international community would not recognise the constituent assembly's new powers.

The head of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro called the move an "illegitimate dissolution" of the elected Parliament.

Regional economic bloc

MERCOSUR – which includes the region's two biggest economies Brazil and Argentina – also condemned the move.

MERCOSUR suspended Venezuela indefinitely earlier this month, urging Maduro to release prisoners and begin a political transition. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Severely beaten T&T Harvey weakens to depression, girl, age 2, fights for life heads through Caribbean

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two-year-old girl who has been severely beaten continued to slip in and out of consciousness at hospital yesterday and doctors have told relatives to prepare for the worst.

The child is warded at the Intensive Care Unit of the Wendy Fitzwilliam Paediatric Hospital, Mt Hope. On Friday, she underwent emergency surgery however due to complications she did not respond well. Yesterday, relatives kept vigil at her bedside hoping for a miracle.

Police probing the incident said they are yet to interview a woman about how the girl suffered the extensive injuries. The woman, a nurse, had asked police to give her time to seek legal counsel before making herself available for the interview.

Several people have already been questioned including the girl’s parents.

The girl lives with her father. Two Saturdays ago,

the girl’s father left her in the care of the woman.

When he returned he noticed bruising on his daughter’s head and the woman told him the child fell down.

However, by early Sunday morning, the girl became gravely ill and she was taken to the hospital.

On examination, doctors believed the girl sustained injuries from a beating and this prompted a police investigation.

The Children’s Authority in a statement yesterday reported they are working with the police in the investigation. The authority said the matter was brought to their attention when the child was admitted to hospital.

“The authority is horrified and strongly condemns the actions of those responsible for the brutal abuse of the child. The organisation is once again reminding the public that preventing child abuse is everyone’s responsibility. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

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ropical Storm Harvey weakened into a depression as it moved through the Caribbean Sea yesterday, on a projected course that would have it approaching Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula early this week.

The US National Hurricane Centre reported that Harvey was centred about 140 miles (225 kilometres) north-northwest of Curacao and was heading west at 22 mph (35kph).

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55kph).

The centre said Harvey could regain its tropical storm status today or tonight.

It said heavy rains were possible yesterday over Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.

Another tropical storm, Kenneth, was far out in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico and moving away from land.

The hurricane centre said Kenneth was expected to strengthen somewhat

during the next 48 hours and could become a hurricane.

Yesterday, Jamaica's National Meteorological Centre said that at 4:00 pm the centre of Tropical Depression Harvey was located near latitude 14.1 degrees north and longitude 70.0 degrees west or 225 km north-northwest of Curacao.

“Harvey is moving toward the west near 35 km/h, and this general motion is expected to continue through Sunday. On the forecast track, the centre of Harvey will move through the central and western Caribbean Sea through Monday,” the Met Centre said.

“Maximum sustained winds remain near 55 km/h with higher gusts. Some slow strengthening is possible during the next couple of days, and Harvey could regain tropical storm status Sunday or Sunday night,” the centre added. (Excerpt from

Jamaica Observer)

Public Sector transformation will help businesses, says PM

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rime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government is ensuring transformation of the Public Sector with a view to making it more efficient in its service to the Private Sector.

Holness said this is necessary in order to reduce costs and improve support for the private sector “so that permits needed are (issued) quickly”. The Prime Minister was addressing the ground-breaking cere-

mony of CB Group's most ambitious project to date, The Nest – the company's first hybrid growth centre in Fellowship, St Catherine, on Friday.

He said the Government is developing a policy for economic growth, which he believes to be bipartisan.

“When this is done, you will have a significant partner in growth and development in the Public Sector, and this will be a great catalyst for economic growth and

job creation in this country,” he said.

Holness said the Government will continue to support and create an environment in which risk-takers can manage the risk of investment, and continue to pursue a fiscal policy that is supportive of economic growth and job creation.

He signalled to investors and entrepreneurs that “the time is now to invest (and) to put money in Jamaica”. (Excerpt

from Jamaica Observer)

Prime Minister Andrew Holness

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olice in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz have rescued 115 migrants, including 41 minors, traveling in "in deplorable conditions" in a truck, a state official said on Sunday.

The migrants were found at Playa Munecos in Veracruz, said the official, who was not authorised to speak publicly.

There were 55 men, 19 women, 23 boys and 18 girls.

The two people driving the truck were arrested, the official said. In July, eight migrants were found dead inside a suspicious tractor trailer in a Walmart parking lot in San

Antonio in Texas. At least 100 illegal immigrants were packed in the sweltering tractor-trailer and two more died later. The driver was indicted this month.

The number of Central American migrants arrested at the southern US border has fallen sharply since President Donald Trump took office in January.

Migrants have increasingly sought to travel through Mexico in large groups in trucks, in order to avoid Mexican immigration authorities who stepped up efforts to stem the migrant flow after a rise in child migrants in 2014. (Reuters)

Eric Joseph Jr tops 2017 CSEC

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he Baptist Academy of Antigua has produced the top student in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examination for the second consecutive year.

According to information provided by the Ministry of Education, the 2017 top student is Eric Emmanuel Joseph Jr, who wrote and successfully passed 15 subjects, and secured 13 grade ones and two grade twos.

Joseph expressed surprise and excitement to Observer media shortly after he found out about his achievement.

“I’m not going to lie, CXC was very tough, but I just had to keep on studying,” Joseph said. “I studied a lot … have a good memory and understand things easily.”

In revealing his approach to preparing for the exams, the top student said that he focused more on the subjects that he struggled with and never hesitated to ask his teachers for clarification.

Joseph’s father also spoke to his son’s independence which aided him in his achievements. “I remember talking with him about getting his School Based Assessments (SBAs) finished because he was running behind,” Eric Sr told OBSERVER media. “I offered to help him with his SBAs and he said no he doesn’t want me or anyone to help him and he was prepared to go to 3 am and he did it.” Joseph Jr credited his independent nature for his success and said, “I don’t want anybody to give anything to me, I want to earn it myself.”

He said that he balanced basketball with his academics during the CSEC examinations and he plans to continue on this path as he is currently finishing high school at Heritage Christian School in Florida. He aspires to pursue studies leading to a career in engineering. (Antigua observer)

monDAY, August 21, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

US Navy ship Spain honours terror victims in solemn mass collides with oil tanker off Singapore

- terror cell had 120 gas canisters

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ourners wiped back tears at a solemn mass at Barcelona's stunning Sagrada Familia church on Sunday for victims of the deadly vehicle attacks that have devastated Spain.

"These have been days of tears, many tears but also of much humanity," Barcelona's Auxiliary Bishop Sebastia Taltavull said as many mourners listened with their heads bowed.

Spain's King Felipe and his wife Letizia, who wore black, along with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Catalonia's president Carles Puigdemont, led the ceremony attended by more than 1,800 people.

They were joined by Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa for a mass broadcast live on Spanish television.

A 74-year-old Portuguese woman and her 20-year-old granddaughter, were among the 13 people killed when a white van

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Grief-stricken Barcelona prepared to commemorate victims of two devastating terror attacks at a mass in the city's Sagrada Familia church, on Sunday. At right, a Policewoman walks in front of dozens of gas bottles in Alcanar during a search linked to the Barcelona and Cambrils attacks

ploughed into crowds of pedestrians on Barcelona's Las Ramblas boulevard on Thursday.

Hours later, a similar assault took place in the seaside town of Cambrils further south along the coast, leaving one woman dead after one of the assailants stabbed her with a knife.

The Islamic State group has claimed both attacks.

The Archbishop of Barcelona, Cardinal Joan Josep Omella, read a message of condolences sent by Pope Francis, who called the attacks a "cruel terror-

ist act" and a "grave offence to God".

Meanwhile, A 12-strong terror cell that carried out two attacks in Spain this week had collected 120 gas canisters and was planning to use them in vehicle attacks, Spanish Police say. Canisters were found at a house, said to be used by the cell, that blew up in the town of Alcanar on Wednesday night.

Police are still hunting for the driver of the van that hit dozens of people on Barcelona's Las Ramblas, killing 13.

In addition to the 13 killed on Thursday afternoon on Las Ramblas, a woman died in a second vehicle attack early on Friday in the town of Cambrils.

Five suspected jihadists were shot dead by Police in the second attack.

He said the cell was still believed to consist of 12 men and had been planning attacks for more than six months. One person remained at large, four were under arrest and there were two sets of human remains to be identified, he added.

(Excerpt from France24 and BBC News)

en sailors are missing and five injured after a US destroyer collided with an oil tanker off the coast of Singapore, the US Navy says. The guided missile destroyer USS John McCain was sailing East of Singapore and preparing to stop in the port when it struck the Liberian-flagged vessel.

A wide-ranging search and rescue operation is under way. It is the second serious collision involving a US Navy ship in recent months. What do we know about the collision?

The collision was reported before dawn at 05:24 local time on Monday (21:24 GMT on Sunday) and took place as the USS John McCain prepared to perform a routine port stop in Singapore.

Singapore and US authorities said the destroyer sustained damage to her port side, which is the lefthand side of the vessel facing forward. The chief of the Malaysian navy, Ahmad

Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin, has tweeted a picture appearing to show the US vessel with a hole at the rear.

The tanker it collided with, Alnic MC, sustained damage to a tank near the front of the ship 7 metres (23 feet) above the waterline, but none of its crew were injured and there were no oil spills. The tanker has tonnage of about 30,000 which is about three times that of the USS John McCain’s 8300, and at 600 feet (182 metres) it is slightly longer than the 505ft-long US destroyer.

US military helicopters as well as the Singaporean and Malaysian navies and coast guards are currently conducting search and rescue operations.

The US Navy said four of the injured sailors had nonlife threatening injuries and were medically evacuated to a Singapore hospital. The fifth person did not require further medical attention.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Grace Mugabe flies Jerry Lewis: US comedian dies aged 91 in Las Vegas home to Zimbabwe E with diplomatic immunity

Grace Mugabe, the wife of the Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, flew home from South Africa on Sunday after being granted diplomatic immunity from being prosecuted for allegedly assaulting a young model in Johannesburg.

State broadcaster ZBC showed her greeting Government and military officials at the airport in Harare after returning on an Air Zimbabwe plane with her husband, who had attended a summit of southern African leaders in Pretoria.

The Mugabes did not attend a state funeral for a senior ruling party official later that day in the Zimbabwean capital, although the President usually presides over such events.

South Africa’s foreign minister, Maite NkoanaMashabane, granted the immunity in a notice published on Sunday that recognised “the immunities and privileges of the first lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Grace Mugabe”.

South African police had previously issued a red alert at borders to ensure she did not leave undetected and had said they were waiting for a government decision on the immunity appeal.

Gabriella Engels, a 20-year-old model, said Grace Mugabe attacked her

on 13 August, whipping her with an extension cord that cut her forehead. A group representing Engels said on Sunday that it would go to court to challenge the South African government over the immunity issue.

Grace Mugabe has been criticised for a fiery temper and lavish shopping expeditions, but her rising political profile has caused some to ask if she is manoeuvring to succeed her husband. She recently said that Zimbabwe’s ruling party should restore a provision in its constitution stating that one of the party’s Vice Presidents should be a woman, and has publicly challenged her 93-yearold husband to name a successor. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

ntertainer Jerry Lewis, one of Hollywood's most successful comedians, has died aged 91. A family statement said he died of natural causes at his home in Las Vegas on Sunday morning.

Lewis's 10-year partnership with Dean Martin saw them star in 16 films and achieve huge box office success. He became the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, chalking up hits such as The Bell Boy, Cinderfella and The Nutty Professor.

Other notable successes included The King of Comedy in 1983, in which he played a talk show host stalked by Robert de Niro.

Fellow celebrities paid tribute as news of his death broke. Whoopi Goldberg called it "a gain for heaven, but big loss for comedy".

Star Trek actor William Shatner tweeted that the world was "a lot less funnier today". Actor Jim Carrey,

Jerry Lewis was born into a show business family and first appeared on stage at the age of five

whose comedy style was strongly influenced by Jerry Lewis, said: "That fool was no dummy. Jerry Lewis was

an undeniable genius an unfathomable blessing, comedy's absolute. I am because he was!"

There were also tributes from the daughters of Lewis's longtime associates Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

"Dear Jerry, Dad will be as happy to see you as I'm sad to see you go. Give him one of your bear hugs for me. I'll always love you," tweeted Nancy Sinatra.

Deana Martin also wrote on Twitter: "I'm heartbroken at the loss of our life-long friend (Uncle) Jerry Lewis. I've loved him all my life and will miss him greatly."

Lewis was born Joseph Levitch in Newark, New Jersey, to RussianJewish parents who were both in showbusiness. He started performing on stage at the age of five alongside his parents. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Trump to lay out US strategy for Afghanistan tonight

P

resident Donald Trump will discuss the "path forward" in

Wreckage of USS Indianapolis found after 72 years

T

he remains of a US warship that played a key role in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima 72 years ago has been found.

The USS Indianapolis went missing after it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1945. But just

before that it had delivered components of one of the two nuclear bombs that were dropped on Japan.

The expedition crew, which was led by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, used specialist remote technology to scour miles of ocean floor at huge depths. (Al Jazeera)

US military forces stand guard during a visit by Kabul's officials in the governor's compound in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Thursday, August 4, 2016

Afghanistan in a speech tonight, the White House said in a statement Sunday.

The speech, to be delivered at the Fort Myer military base in Arlington,

Virginia, at 21:00h ET, will "provide an update on the path forward for America’s engagement in Afghanistan and South Asia," the statement said.

The address comes after a lengthy strategy review in which White House and Pentagon officials mulled a more aggressive role for the American military in Afghanistan.

The review, which was led by National Security Adviser Lieutenant General HR McMaster, looked at whether several thousand more troops should be deployed to the country, US defence officials told NBC News last month. (Excerpt from

MSN)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, august 21, 2017

ARCHIE

Do whatever it takes to avoid being faced with situa(March 21- tions that are unpredictable April 19) or too demanding. Aim to add stability to your life and relationships. Transparency will help dismiss suspicion.

ARIES

Put any stubborn tendenTAURUS cy to rest, or you will end up (April 20- in an argument that will be May 20) difficult to walk away from unscathed. Make practical requests when dealing with difficult individuals.

dilbert

Make home and family GEMINI (May 21- your priorities. Listen careJune 20) fully to what children or elders have to say. Clear up any confusion that may have occurred. Plan activities you can enjoy with loved ones.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Business trips or events that include your peers will be taxing, but at the same time will show why it’s important to participate. What you learn will be helpful.

If something needs to be done, make it happen.

Domestic and family unity will give you the strength to carry out whatever changes you deem necessary.

Secrets will not help you VIRGO (Aug. 23- get what you want. An open Sept. 22) discussion that leads to a fair solution will keep you in good standing with others and bring good results.

Your participation in LIBRA events that affect your envi(Sept. 23Oct. 23) ronment, workplace or health will be gratifying. The physical contribution you offer will make a difference.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Have a strategy in place.

SCORPIO Don’t be afraid to use un(Oct. 24orthodox methods to get Nov. 22) things done well and on time.

Personal physical changes need to be monitored.

Information will be made SAGITTARIUS available to you. Make sure (Nov. 23- the facts are correct and proDec. 21) ceed to make decisions based on the material you receive.

Be prepared to use physical force to implement your plan.

Avoid unstable situations CAPRICORN and people. Use your intel(Dec. 22- ligence and insight to make Jan. 19) the best and safest choice.

Contracts are best negotiated and handled personally.

SATURDAY’S WORD

solution for Last Published Puzzle An unexpected opportuniAQUARIUS ty will come along if you do (Jan. 20- things your way. Your innoFeb. 19) vative approach to work, your health and money or legal matters will pay off.

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

Do what makes the most PISCES sense to you. Keep demand(Feb. 20March 20) ing people at a distance.

Taking care of business and completing what’s expected of you should be your priorities.

mondAY, august 21, 2017

19

DeNobrega captures 5th Michael Vaughan says series annual ‘Non-Alcoholic will be ‘sad to watch’ Malt’ Cycling meet T England v West Indies…

he remainder of England’s series against West Indies will be “sad to watch”, says former England captain Michael Vaughan.

England won the daynight Test - the first game in the three-match series - by an innings and 209 runs inside three days at Edgbaston.

West Indies have not won a Test in England for 17 years.

“Every time they have arrived in England, they seem to have got worse,” Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special.

West Indies lost 19 wickets on Saturday to be bowled out for 168 and 137 in reply to England’s 514-8 declared.

Their squad is without established stars Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy after a disagreement with Cricket West Indies over selection.

However, their decline from the all-conquering side of the 1980s can be traced back to the mid-1990s - they have not won a series away

Michael Vaughan

from home against a team other than Bangladesh and Zimbabwe since 1995.

“There are a lot of young players in the West Indies side and you need to give them time, but I find it difficult to think they can go on without any senior players,” said Vaughan, who captained England in 51 of his

82 Tests.

“There is no one there to teach them. I really fear that this series could be one of the saddest for Test cricket.”

England, who were rated as the worst team in the world in 1999, drew a threeTest series in West Indies as recently as 2015.

“I don’t think this era of cricket is any different to any other era,” said England coach Trevor Bayliss.

“There have always been strong teams and one or two that are struggling.

“West Indies are going through a rough time but 20, 40, 60 years ago there were other teams that were going through rough periods.”

England captain Joe Root said West Indies’ display should not detract from the performance of his side, who beat South Africa 3-1 in their previous Test series this summer.

“We talk about being ruthless,” he said. “We played some really good cricket and it’s important we look to back that up.” (BBC)

Junior karatekas shine in Suriname

W

hen the smoke cleared in the inner circuit of the National Park on Saturday, Paul Denobrega had outsprinted arch rival Jamual John to claim the Malta Supreme feature 35 lap race.

John who has been in

stupendous form of late along with Raul Leal and DeNobrega were in the peloton from the beginning of the race, the three riders matches each other’s pace throughout the 35 laps but it was DeNobrega who made the telling jump to ultimately outsprint his ri-

vals to take the top spot on the podium.

Below is a list of the top six finishers: 1st Paul Denbrega 2nd Jamual John 3rd Andrew Hicks 4th Alanzo Ambrose 5th Marcus Kilier 6th Kemuel Moses

Alonso double for Chelsea spoils Spurs’ Wembley opener

T

wo goals from Marcos Alonso gave Chelsea a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday in the first-ever Premier League game at Wembley Stadium.

For all the noise and wall of flags that greeted their arrival, Spurs needed an early goal to feel at ease

They eventually got a goal on 82 minutes but only when Michy Batshuayi headed an Eriksen free kick into his own goal two minutes after coming on as a substitute.

The striker looked disconsolate but the goal heralded a frantic finale in which Tottenham had

even in training.”

Midfielder Luiz was at the heart of most that was good about Chelsea, breaking down Tottenham attacks and pushing his team forward. Asked what instructions he had received from manager Antonio Conte, Luiz said: “Run.” He added: “He told me

a penalty appeal turned down and Chelsea scored on the counter-attack after 88 minutes when Luiz intercepted and Pedro fed Alonso on the overlap.

The fullback shot low but must have been as surprised as anyone when goalkeeper Hugo Lloris somehow let the ball through.

“We played a very good game,” said Alonso. “I don’t think I ever hit a better free kick than the first, not

to cut out the space to create. We were clever and played a very good game.”

It was Chelsea’s fourth successive win over Spurs at the national stadium -the previous three were in cup games -- and hardly bodes well for Tottenham’s temporary home while their new stadium is being built. In their past 11 games at Wembley, Spurs have won only twice. (Reuters)

Marcos Alonso The Guyana Karate Federation team at the 3rd Caribbean Karate Championships in Suriname.

From left: Shakeem Walcott, Trevon Miller, Shemar Parkinson and Keith Beaton

A

four-member team of karatekas, spearheaded by Inspector Keith Beaton from the Guyana Karate Federation, left Guyana to compete in the 3rd Caribbean Karate Championships in Paramaribo Suriname.

According to the GKF release, the junior karatekas had much success. Shemar Parkinson, 3rd Kyu, won silver in the 16-17 years 76+

kg division in Kumite; while Trevon Miller, 2nd Dan, took the bronze medal in the 16-17 years 76 kg division in Kumite. Shakeem Walcott, 2nd Dan, won a bronze medal in the 14-15 years 57 kg division in Kumite, and another bronze in the 14-15 years’ Individual Kata.

Parkinson and Miller took bronze in the 16-17 years Team Kumite, and together with Walcott, took

the silver medal in the 14-17 years Team Kata.

The Guyana Team overall won a total of nine (9) medals - four (4) Silver and five (5) Bronze Medals The Team was responsible for its own financing in Suriname, but expressed special thanks to Gajendra Oedayrajsingh-Varma, who assisted them with accommodation, meals and transportation.

in their new surroundings.

It was Chelsea, though, who made the breakthrough against the run of play on 23 minutes when Alonso thumped home a superb free kick from 20 metres after Dele Alli had fouled David Luiz.

The shock jolted Spurs who spent much of the game peppering Chelsea’s goal, with Harry Kane hitting the post and Christian Eriksen also going close.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, AUGUST 21, 2017

Dhawan leads brutal rout of Sri Lanka I

ndia opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan smashed an unbeaten 132 off 90 deliveries to help his side thrash hosts Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the first of five one-day internationals on Sunday.

Sri Lanka were well-beaten in the recently concluded three-test series against India, losing the first two matches inside four days and the last one in three to be whitewashed 3-0.

If the home fans had hoped the change in format would bring a change in fortune, they were left bitterly disappointed with India breezing to their 217-run target in under 29 overs.

Left-handed Dhawan, who scored his 11th hundred in the 50-over format, took India past their target with his 20th boundary with captain Virat Kohli remaining unbeaten on 82 from 70 deliveries.

The duo added 197 in an unbroken second wicket partnership after India suffered the early loss of Rohit Sharma, who was run out for four after dropping his bat behind the crease.

Having been adjudged

the man of the series in the tests, Dhawan, who also hit three sixes, continued to plunder runs off the Sri Lankan bowlers.

He brought up his hundred in 71 balls and got to the three-figure mark

hit 10 fours and a six in his innings.

Sri Lanka had appeared set to post a challenging total after Kohli won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first.

Niroshan Dickwella and

nine wickets for the addition of 77 runs.

From 139-1 in the 25th over, Sri Lanka were bundled out for 216 with 40 deliveries still remaining in their innings.

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel was the pick of India’s bowlers, taking

3-34 while Chahal, parttime off-spinner Kedar Jadhav and paceman Jasprit Bumrah picked up two wickets apiece.

The second one-day international in the fivematch series will be played in Pallekele on Thursday.

(Reuters)

SCOREBOARD

Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan punished Sri Lanka’s attack ©AFP

with three fours in an over against leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.

Kohli was more measured in his approach and

Danushka Gunathilaka added 74 in their opening stand before the latter played a bizarre reverse sweep to leg-spinner

RHTY&SC/Kares Engineering Inc Patron Green Economy Softball

Teams outfitted ahead of semi-finals A

ll plans are falling into place for the successful hosting of the first ever finals of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club/Kares Engineering Inc Patron’s Green Economy Softball Cricket Tournament, organised in honour of the Club Patron’s 72nd birthday and to promote to Berbicians awareness of the effect of Climate Change.

The semifinals and finals of the tournament would be played on Sunday 27th August, 2017 at the Area ‘H’ Ground. Four teams would be batting for the top prize of $500,000.00 (five hundred thousand dollars) and the Green Economy Trophy. The four semifinalists are Jai Hind Cricket Club of Albion, Grill Masters of Canje, Prophecy Boys of Port Mourant and Hard Knock of Manchester/ Ulverston. The four teams on Thursday last attended a pre-finals meeting with RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, who stressed that no form of indiscipline would be tolerated, and that all of the teams would be expected to be at the venue by 08.30 hours. Representatives of the semifinalists also received 13(thirteen) coloured Polo T/Shirts each, which were donated by Mr. Mahadeo Panchu of KSM Investments.

The teams would use the T/ Shirts for the semifinals, 3rd place Playoff, and the finals.

Yuzvendra Chahal to get caught out at cover for 35.

Dickwella, who topscored for the hosts with 64, continued the good work and added 65 for the second wicket with Kusal Mendis, who made a flu-

RHTYSC, MS, Assistant Secretary Simon Naidu hands over the KSM T-shirts to the four captains

The long serving Secretary/ CEO expressed gratitude to KSM Investment for the T/ Shirts, which would allow the four teams to be properly attired for the matches.

The semifinals would be played using the 10-Over format, the 3rd Place Playoff would be played 15-Overs-perside, while the finals would be played using the 20/20 format.

The Tournament started with eighteen teams drawn from across the ancient county, and was played over two weekends at the Hampshire Cricket Ground and the Area ‘H’ Ground, in front of capacity crowds. Each of the four captains at the meeting expressed confidence that they would cop the top prize of the largest ever cricket tournament to be organized in Berbice.

The general consensus is that the tournament is well organised, and there has thus far been no negative in-

cident. David Lukenauth of Grill Masters disclosed that his team has been working hard to be in top shape to take home the top prize’ while Adrian Singh of Jai Hind, Elroy Williams of Hard Knock and Chandrashakker Arjune of Prophecy Boys expressed similar confidence.

The first runner-up would take home $300,000 and a Trophy, 2nd runner up would pocket $100,000 and a trophy; while the 4th place would have to be contented with $50,000. The Man of the Finals would take home $50,000 and a trophy. The tournament is being sponsored by several sponsors, including Kares Engineering Inc, Bakewell, KSM Investment, S. Jagmohan Construction Services, Ministry of the Presidency, Annirud Ramcharitar Construction, BK International, and Regal Enterprise, among others.

ent 36.

Sri Lanka looked well placed to score in excess of 300, but then the hosts collapsed, losing their next

Sri Lanka Innings N Dickwella lbw b Jadhav 64 D Gunathilaka c Rahul b Chahal 35 K Mendis b A. Patel 36 U Tharanga c S. Dhawan b Jadhav 13 A Mathews not out 36 C Kapugedera run out (Kohli) 1 W Hasaranga c Jadhav b A. Patel 2 T Perera b Bumrah 0 L Sandakan lbw b A. Patel 5 L Malinga st Dhoni b Chahal 8 V Fernando b Bumrah 0 Extras (lb-6 w-10) 16 Total (all out, 43.2 overs) 216 Fall of wickets: 1-74 D. Gunathilaka,2-139 N. Dickwella,3-150 K. Mendis,4-166 U. Tharanga,5-169 C. Kapugedera,6-176 W. Hasaranga,7-178 T. Perera,8-187 L. Sandakan,9-209 L.

Malinga,10-216 V. Fernando Bowling: B Kumar 6 - 0 - 33 - 0(w-3), H Pandya 6 - 0 - 35 0(w-3), Bumrah 6.2 - 0 - 22 2(w-2), Chahal 10 - 0 - 60 - 2(w-1), Jadhav 5 - 0 - 26 - 2(w-1), A Pate 10 - 0 - 34 - 3 India Innings R Sharma run out (Kapugedera) 4 S Dhawan not out 132 V Kohli not out 82 Extras (w-2) 2 Total (for 1 wicket, 28.5 overs) 220 Fall of wickets: 1-23 Did not bat: L. Rahul, M. Dhoni, K. Jadhav, H. Pandya, A. Patel, B. Kumar, J. Bumrah, Y. Chahal Bowling: Malinga8 - 0 - 52 – 0 (w-1), Fernando6 - 0 - 43 - 0(w1), Mathews 2 - 0 - 9 – 0, Perera 2 - 0 - 18 – 0, Sandakan 6 - 0 - 63 – 0, Hasaranga 4.5 - 0 - 35 - 0

Mo Farah wins final race in Britain

B

ritish distance great Mo Farah sprinted clear to win the 3000m at the Birmingham Diamond League meeting in his final track meeting on home soil.

The 34-year-old, who is switching to road racing in 2018, came home in seven minutes 38.64 seconds.

“This is it. All I dreamed of as a youngster was running for Britain,” said the double Olympic champion.

Elsewhere, Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith came fifth in a 100m race won by Olympic champion Elaine Thompson.

Farah took his sixth World Championship gold in London earlier this month - to go with two silvers - and also has four Olympic titles.

Neither his narrow failure to complete another 5,000m and 10,000m world title double in London nor the leak of an interim report from an anti-doping investigation into his American coach Alberto Salazar had dampened the Birmingham crowd’s enthusiasm for this send-off. Farah - who has won more world-level track gold medals than any other British athlete in history - was roared to victory by a raucous crowd, who had to be reminded to save their cheers as the athletes prepared for the gun.

He said on Friday that his UK track farewell would be more “celebratory” than the frenzied and, at times, physical contests from which he took 10,000m gold and 5,000m silver in London and so it proved.

Adel Mechaal, who finished just off a podium place in the world 1500m final 10 days ago, pushed to overtake Farah down the back straight in Birmingham. But just as at the Diamond League meeting in London earlier this year, the Spaniard was left trailing by Farah’s formidable kick for home.

The Briton’s time was well short of the 7:32.76 he clocked at the same event last year to break Dave Moorcroft’s national record.

Farah for Tokyo 2020?

After a lap of honour in the rain, Farah

Britain’s Mo Farah celebrates winning the Men’s 3000m during the Grand Prix at the Alexandra Stadium

denied newspaper reports that he had split with coach Barry Fudge, who has overseen his training programme since he distanced himself from Salazar.

“Where did you get that from? Barry is still my right-hand man,” he said when asked about his relationship with British Athletics’ head of endurance.

Farah went on to add there was a slim chance that he might yet represent Britain at Tokyo 2020.

“If I’m the best in the marathon and can compete… it depends,” he said. “I think it is going to take at least two or three marathons to get it right to learn from it. It is not easy.”

Farah will race for the final time on the track at the Zurich Diamond League meeting on Thursday, 24 August and finish his season at September’s Great North Run. (BBC)

sports

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21

Corona Invitational Football

Western Tigers/GFC clash headlines tonight’s matches

T

he action-packed Corona Invitational Football will continue this evening at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground at Bourda with another triple-header.

The first match of the day, which kicks-off at 17:00 hrs, pits Flamingo FC against Eastveldt, followed by Camptown and Beacons FC battling from 19:00 hrs. The final clash of the night, which will be the crowd attraction, sees the home side battling an unbeaten Western Tigers from 21:00 hrs.

The tournament has already shown some surprises, with youth defeating experience; but it will be a difficult undertaking for the GFC to erase the Tigers’

perfect record.

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

The teams are playing for first place prize of one million dollars and championship trophy, while second to fourth place finishers will pocket $400,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding accolade.

Organisers are reminding patrons that ladies would be admitted without charge for all matches, and there are several promotions for Corona.

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

Senior Caribbean Squash championships

Guyana sweeps Men’s and Women’s titles G

uyana have re-asserted their dominance of Caribbean Squash when they claimed both the Men’s and Women’s Team Titles at the National Squash Centre in St. Vincent. The women, playing a virtual final against Barbados, claimed wins at the bottom of the order by Victoria Arjoon, Larissa Wiltshire and Taylor Fernandes to claim the title.

The only two losses came at the hands of Caribbean Champion Meagan Best and runner-up Karen Meakins.

The Men’s team worked a little harder for their victory, as they got off to a fast start at the bottom of the line-up with wins from Jason Ray

Guyana’s male and female teams after capturing the Senior Caribbean Squash Championship in St Vincent and the Grenadines

Las Leonas seeking Pan Am Hockey C/ships glory W hen they arrive in Guyana to participate in the Pan American Indoor Championships twotime women’s champions Argentina will be among the favourites to win the title.

The championships which commences on October 14, at the refurbished Cliff Anderson Sports Hall will see Argentina also known as (Las Leonas or the Lionesses) join another two-time champion Canada, USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Barbados, Mexico and host Guyana as the participants in the women’s category.

Argentina the country that has produced eighttime world player of the year Luciana Aymar, dubbed the Maradona of hockey and someone who is recognised the world over as one of the greatest female players ever, will no doubt be aiming to capture the title and qualify for the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cups scheduled for February 2018 in Berlin, Germany.

The Argentine star was so internationally recognizable that at one

stage she was described as being more marketable than German tennis legend Steffi Graf and snapping on the heels of Venus Williams.

Argentina is currently ranked 13th in the world, four places behind top ranked PAHF member Canada that has a ranking of 9th, while Uruguay, who has been the surprise of the Region is placed at 18th.

The powerhouse South American nation has been amongst the best teams in field hockey appearing in five Hockey World Cup finals, including the first final in 1974, which they lost 1–0 to the Netherlands.

They had to settle with second place in two more finals before winning the tournament for the first time in 2002, beating the Netherlands 4–3 in the final on penalty strokes after a 1–1 draw.

Led by Aymar, Argentina was again a winner in 2010, beating the Netherlands 3–1.

At a continental level, Argentina has dominated and won every tournament they played, including the

U-15 Jaguars knocked

out of CONCACAF Championships

I

The Guyana U-15 Team

Luciana Aymar

Pan American Cup and the Pan American Games leaving the United States with second place on most events until they lost the 2011 Pan American Games final for the first time. No matter who is in front of them the Argentines will definitely be a force to reckon with at the upcoming championships.

Khalil and Nyron Joseph.

Jamaica was able to pull back two wins, with victories from Caribbean Men’s Champion Chris Binnie and Bruce Burrows. However, the 46-year-old veteran Richard Chin, playing number three on the team, came on and clinically dispatched Julian Morrison in three games to help Guyana clinch their second title of the afternoon.

However, Guyana lost the overall title on count back, after finishing tied with Barbados with 24 points. (They won by 13 wins…mostly won in the Vets division).

t was heartbreak for the Guyana U-15 team in Florida at the IMG Academy on Saturday, as they were knocked out by Puerto Rico 6-5 on sudden death penalties.

Earlier in the game, Guyana played fluid attacking football and deservedly took the lead in the 32st minute through the talented Orville Daniels.

However, in the second half, the Puerto Ricans rebounded and equalised through Yavieric Ortiz in the 60th minute, the remainder of normal time was a midfield battle with

both sides going close to taking the lead on a few occasions.

The halves were reduced to 35 minutes due to the extreme temperature, after extra time failed to produce a winner, it was time for penalties.

After the five initial penalties were all scored by both sides, it went down to sudden death, this was where Guyana fell and Puerto Rico held their nerve to win.

In the Group stage, Guyana won against St Kitts, drew with St Lucia and lost to Suriname.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, AUGUST 21, 2017

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2017

Blazing Walton blows away Tridents ‒ 4 wicket win keeps Warriors alive

imperious hitting that saw him add 45 runs to his total.

Warriors’ sloppy fielding continued when Permaul fluffed another chance at long-off off the bowling of Rashid Khan. Adding insult to injury, Williamson dispatched Khan for a six in the same region with the next ball.

The leg-spinner eventually got his man in the eventful 16th over, as Permaul redeemed himself by taking the next chance, and Williamson went after hitting three fours and two sixes.

By Akeem Greene

C

hadwick Walton’s 57ball 92 led Guyana Amazon Warriors to an emphatic 4-wicket victory over the Barbados Tridents in Match 19 of the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), played on Sunday evening at the National Stadium at Providence.

Walton’s scintillating hitting brought the capacity crowd of flag-waivers to their feet as he ensured that the three-time finalists retain a shot at making the play-offs.

The opening batsman’s innings, laced with seven fours and six maximums, upstaged Dwayne Smith’s 69-ball even century, and helped Warriors gun down 160 in 19.1 overs -- the CPL’s highest successful run chase at Providence.

Knowing the importance of the Warriors getting a victory, Walton began his innings like a man on a mission, crisply hitting boundaries at will.

Sohail Tanveer, promoted up the batting order, scored an ‘A’ grade in his pinch-hitting role by making 16 runs from nine balls, to help the Warriors to 48 for 1 in just 4.1 overs.

Tanveer’s dismissal did not put any brakes on Walton, whose power hitting prowess was on full display, as he continued to dismiss the pacy Ravi Rampaul and Wayne Parnell to the ropes.

The spinners faced the same fate, with Damion Jacobs’ delivery in the 10th flying over the mid-wicket boundary and nearly putting one of the cheerleaders in hospital.

Gajanand Singh made a second-ball duck; and Captain Martin Guptill, who entered with the score on 64

Smith goes in overdrive

Captain Martin Guptill played the shepherd innings (CPL photo)

for 1 in the sixth over, was content to play second fiddle to Walton, picking the gaps and having a front row seat to the Walton spectacle.

What has to be the shot of the night came in the 15th over, when the Jamaican punched a good length ball over the rope for six, to carry him into the nineties.

The attacking 81-run partnership of these two gladiators was broken when Keiron Pollard got Guptill to drag one to long-on, and the next ball Walton left what looked to be a certain century on the table when he skied one to long-on.

Tridents had hoped for a twist in the tale when Pollard, with his golden arm,

SCOREBOARD

Barbados Tridents Innings DR Smith c Singh b Sohail Tanvir 100 KS Williamson c Permaul b Rashid Khan 47 KA Pollard (c) c Rashid Khan b Sohail Tanvir 6 N Pooran † b Sohail Tanvir 0 SK Springer not out 0 T Webster not out 2 Extras 4 (lb 2, nb 2) TOTAL 159/4 (20 Overs, RR: 7.95) Did not bat: I Khan, DK Jacobs, AJ Hosein, WD Parnell, R Rampaul Bowling: Sohail Tanvir (4.0, 0, 40, 3) V Permaul (4.0, 0, 20, 0), RR Emrit (4.0, 0, 36,0), Rashid Khan (4.0, 0, 21,1) SA Jacobs (2.0,0, 20, 0) KMA Paul (2.0,0, 20, 0) Fall of wickets:1-107 (KS Williamson, 15.6 ov), 2-152 (KA Pollard, 19.1 ov), 3-157 (DR Smith, 19.4 ov), 4-157 (N Pooran, 19.5 ov) Guyana Amazon Warriors Innings CAK Walton † c Williamson b

Pollard 92 Sohail Tanvir c Springer b Khan 16 G Singh b Hosein 0 MJ Guptill (c) c Williamson b Pollard 27 JN Mohammed c Webster b Pollard 5 AB Fudadin not out 7 KMA Paul c Williamson b Pollard 0 RR Emrit not out 1 Extras 12 (lb 3, nb 1, w 8) TOTAL 160/6 (19.1 Overs, RR: 8.34) Did not bat: SA Jacobs, Rashid Khan, V Permaul Bowling R Rampaul (4.0, 0, 37,0) WD Parnell (4.0, 0, 26, 0) AJ Hosein (3.0, 0, 28, 1) I Khan (2.0, 0, 27, 1) KA Pollard (4.0,0, 16, 4) DK Jacobs (1.0, 0, 12,0) SK Springer (1.1, 0, 11,0) Fall of wickets:1-48 (Sohail Tanvir, 4.1 ov), 2-64 (G Singh, 5.2 ov), 3-145 (MJ Guptill, 16.3 ov), 4-145 (CAK Walton, 16.4 ov), 5-152 (JN Mohammed, 18.2 ov), 6-152 (KMA Paul, 18.3 ov)

dismissed Jason Mohammed and Keemo Paul in the 19th over, leaving Warriors with five runs to get in the final over.

A stunning upset was recorded, as Assad Fudadin smashed the first ball bowled by Shemar Springer over long-on for four, and there followed a wide, to seal the hard fought victory.

Opting to bowl first on the same pitch as Saturday’s match, Warriors looked to be keeping it tight; until Dwayne Smith went into overdrive, taking 13 off the third over, in which he played an imperious pull shot that looked like a tracer bullet shot to the ropes.

Dwayne Smith was at his ominous best (CPL photo)

Though there was a spark in the scoring, the power play overs gathered 27 runs. Realising that they had a full complement of wickets intact, the duo of Smith and Kane Williamson began taking more chances.

Strangely, off-spinner Steven Jacobs continued to be given the middle over duties, and the powerful Smith took a likeness to him, smashing him for a towering six in a place next to the Orange Stand.

Williamson, known for his classical stroke play, began to hit his stride, foxing down the pitch to loft Veerasammy Permaul over

long-off for six; and the Tridents had 61 on the board at the halfway stage.

Keemo Paul’s introduction in the 13th over was greeted with a cut-shot laced with surgical precision.

Paul immediately went from hero to villain when he had Smith caught at longoff on 42, but it was ruled a no-ball. It was a chance the Warriors would later regret.

The innings was lacking urgency, and Smith began to free his hands in the 15th over, in which Rayad Emrit leaked 15 runs. The robust right-hander muscled Emrit over long-on to bring up his half-century from 52 balls.

His next 17 balls contained

The 18th over proved the energizer bunny in the Tridents’ innings, with Smith belting Tanveer for 19 in consecutive scores of one, four, six, four, four. The six was as straight as it could get over the bowler’s head.

Emrit soon faced his share of the wrath of Smith’s willow when Smith scored 19 runs in the 19th over. The former West Indies batsman reached his fourth twenty20 century with a double down to extra-cover, but was out next ball when he sliced straight to the hands of third man.

He nevertheless received a standing ovation from the audience for his sublime knock, which included ten fours and five towering sixes.

Tanveer was on hattrick after he bowled an adventurous Nicholas Pooran, but Tion Webster quelled any late innings’ collapse by squeezing out a Yorker for two.

Warriors will play their final home match on Tuesday, while the Tridents move on to Jamaica to play the Tallawahs on Friday.

Mayweather v McGregor

Lennox Lewis calls fight a ‘farce’

F

loyd Mayweather’s fight against Conor McGregor is a farce, says former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

Irish UFC lightweight champion McGregor, 29, will make his boxing debut when he faces undefeated American Mayweather on 26 August in Las Vegas.

“There is tremendous build-up and hype but I don’t really take it as a serious fight,” Briton Lewis told Sportsweek.

He added that “nothing is ever obvious when it comes to gimmicks and hype” but “Mayweather should win it”.

Mayweather, 40, will surpass fellow American

The glove size will drop from 10oz to 8oz for the MayweatherMcGregor fight

Rocky Marciano’s perfect record of 49 fights without defeat should he overcome McGregor.

But Lewis told BBC

Radio 5 live: “I wouldn’t count a fight like this as a ‘fight’. He’s basically boxing a guy that is a UFC fighter and not a boxer.

He added: “Everybody wants to know what’s going to happen.

“Is McGregor going to throw a kick because, obviously when he resorts to boxing and realises he is no match for Mayweather, what will he do? How will he get around that?

“No other boxers from 49 fights have figured out how to beat Mayweather - now a UFC fighter that doesn’t even have a boxing career is trying to beat him at boxing - I think it’s a farce to a certain degree.

“I don’t think it is a fight that I am going to jump on a plane and go to see unless they pay me to commentate on it.” (BBC)

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monDAY, august 21, 2017

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Hero CPL Match 19 Amazon Warriors vs Tridents

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2017

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Hero Caribbean Premier League 2017

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Blazing Walton blows away Tridents

‒ 4 wicket win keeps Warriors alive

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