Guyana Times Daily September 7 2017

Govt announces Education Reform Department P13

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

Issue No. 3325

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Govt’s single-mother night shift policy misguided – Red Thread Page 11

… as private security firms call move “cruel and arbitrary attack”

Former Housing Minister highlights purposeful misrepresentation Page 2

... as CH&PA hauls BaiShanLin boss to court

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WHAT'S INSIDE: Parfaite Harmonie Health Centre

P10 Health Minister questions competence of regional administration …to visit the Region today

Miners, P9 foresters call for specific policy guidelines

At least 2 dead as Irma unleashes wrath in Caribbean Page 16

Meten-MeerZorg Koker door breaks P17 away

Woman charged for dousing exlover with acid

After months of complaints

Doctors, nurses strike at Diamond hospital Page 7

P7

Guyanese must demand local content input at every stage P3 – industry expert

Police hunting 5 bandits after Sophia P2 robbery

2 news

thursDAY, september 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Former Housing Minister highlights purposeful misrepresentation ... as CH&PA hauls BaiShanLin boss to court

S

unset Lakes Inc, a company owned by controversial Chinese businessman, Chu Hongbo, has been hauled before the court by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) in order to repossess the 100 acres of land it had secured, as well as to rescind the Agreement of Sale.

News of the court action comes just days after a court appointed Receiver/Manager was appointed to sell off the lands in order to secure monies owed by Chu to a local bank.

Chu Hongbo, the General Manager of Baishanlin logging company, had purchased the shares in Sunset Lakes Inc from local business tycoon Brian Tiwarie who had originally secured the 100 acre plot of land aback the Providence National Stadium for the development of a housing scheme.

Chu was subsequently taken to court by Tiwarie over his failure to pay some US$4 million owed on the US$8 million transaction.

Chinese businessman Chu Hongbo

The Baishanlin boss subsequently had the property placed in receivership over his failure to make good on bank loans even as CH&PA has now commenced separate court action in order to repossess the property.

CH&PA, in a public missive on Wednesday, following recent reports over the advertised sale of the 100 acre plot of land by the Receiver/ Manager, Nigel Hinds, said it has commenced court pro-

ceedings in an effort to repossess the plot of land, which was recently advertised for sale by Sunset Lakes.

The Housing Authority which falls under the Communities Ministry, in drawing reference to the advertisements inviting bidders to submit proposals for the purchase of the property, pointed out that “on July 20, 2017, CH&PA through an external attorney Robert Ramcharran, attached to the law firm Luckhoo and Luckhoo, initiated legal action in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature against Sunset Lakes Inc.” Among the demands from the CH&PA is a declaration by the High Court that it is entitled to rescind the Agreement of Sale and Purchase made and entered into, between the CH&PA and Sunset Lakes Inc on February 7, 2014, with respect to the property situated at Plantation Providence.

CH&PA is also petitioning the court for an order rescinding the said Agreement of Sale and Purchase

Former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali

made and entered into at Georgetown Guyana between the two entities and that the monies paid, some $458,180,000 be refunded.

The refund, according to the CH&PA demand, will be less the sum equivalent to 10 per cent as a penalty for breach of the terms and conditions of the said Agreement of Sale and Purchase.

CH&PA has also demanded an order directing

the Registrar of Lands to recall and cancel Certificate of Title registered to Sunset Lakes Inc. The transaction has in recent weeks attracted significant media scrutiny leading the then subject Minister, now Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee and Opposition Member of Parliament, Irfaan Ali, to lend his voice to the debate.

According to the former Minister with responsibility for the housing sector, “In relation to the Providence land, I continue to read with shock the continuous misrepresentation of facts by the Kaieteur News [KN]...

These facts have been in the public domain on many occasions for years now.”

Lashing out at the KN newspaper, the former Minister questioned, “Why is it that you continue to ignore the fact that the names of all private developers were made public on many occasions... This is not a new discovery.”

According to Ali, the list was requested in the

National Assembly and submitted even as he reminded that “all these proposals by developers and investors were responses from ‘expressions of interest’.”

He said too, the terms and conditions of all the contracts are the same and that all the developers are bounded by the same conditions.

“It is a total misrepresentation to suggest otherwise and at some point basic decency and honesty must be adhered to.”

According to the former Minister, the only motive of the then Housing Ministry was to facilitate private investment and capital in expediting and expanding the housing and construction sector to the benefit of the economy.

“In relation to how companies are owned and operated, the Ministry did not involve itself in the operations of the developers... The conditions of sale is listed in the agreement with the developers and any Government can act based on the agreement,” he contended.

Police hunting Repeat DUI driver’s licence suspended 5 bandits after T Sophia robbery

P

olice are now hunting five men who reportedly broke into a Sophia, Greater Georgetown home Wednesday morning and stole a quantity of valuables, including money, mobile phones and laptops.

Based on information received from Police C Division (East Coast) Commander Calvin Brutus, the incident occurred around 00:15h on Wednesday.

This newspaper was told that the victims, a 32-yearold man and his wife, were sound asleep, but they were awakened by the sounds of

people kicking on the door to the A Field Sophia home.

By then, the male victim noted, it was too late for him to stop the unwanted entry as the five men, armed with cutlasses managed to kick in the door completely.

The perpetrators ordered that the couple remain silent and turn over all of their valuables, and as such, the now traumatised victims complied.

After the less-thanfive minutes ordeal, the five bandits fled the scene.

Investigations are ongoing.

he driver’s licence of a Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) hire car operator has been suspended for one year after he was caught driving under the influence for the second time within months.

Solomon Stoby, a 58-yearold taxi driver of Mongrippa Hill, Bartica, appeared before Magistrate Christel Lambert at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to the DUI

charge, and in addition to being suspended from driving for the next 12 months, he was also fined $7500.

According to Police reports, this was the defendant’s second offence of this nature. Back on February 18, 2017, Stoby was taken to court after he was found driving while being above the legal limit of alcohol consumption. He had pleaded guilty, and was fined $7500, while his licence was endorsed.

Then on September 1, 2017, the defendant, who owns and operates motor car HC 2999, was stopped at Fifth Avenue, Bartica, during a routine stop-and-search operation.

The slurred speech and the strong smell of alcohol on the driver’s breath caused an officer to administer a breathalyser test, which confirmed his suspicion. The test showed he had .122 micrograms of alcohol in his sys-

DUI offender Solomon Stoby

tem when the legal limit is .035 micrograms.

High winds, heavy rains affect Kamarang, Waramadong

H

igh winds and heavy rains around 13:45h to 14:15h on Wednesday afternoon, hit the community of Kamarang in Region Seven (Cuyuni -Mazaruni).

According to the

Department of Public Information, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) office in the area suffered the most damage.

According to the Registration Officer attached to the office, the solar panel on the build-

ing “was ripped off the roof and is badly damaged”.

Over in Waramadong, the entire roof of a house, owned by Devonish Joseph, was torn off by high winds.

Consequently, all household articles were soaked owing to

heavy rains.

Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Director General, Colonel (retired) Chabilall Ramsarup confirmed that Joseph’s house was the only building damaged in Waramadong.

3 Guyanese must demand local content input at every stage – industry expert news

thursDAY, september 7, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, September 7 – 05:00h-06:30h and Friday, September 8 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, September 7 – 16:50h-18:20h and Friday, September 8 – 05:35h-07:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers 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 South-easterly and East Northeasterly to between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 05:05h and 17:23h reaching maximum heights of 2.79 metres and 2.78 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:59h and 23:16h reaching minimum heights of 0.44 metre and 0.40 metre respectively.

... ExxonMobil not doing any favours by investing up front

F

oreign oil companies are not doing Guyanese a favour by fronting the capital required for the exploration and development of its oil resource, since the commodity is in fact natural patrimony and the monies will be repaid with interest by this nation.

As such, Guyanese have a right to demand that local content is protected and fully exploited even in the early stages of development through monies initially being fronted by, in this case, US oil giant ExxonMobil, currently gearing for production by 2020.

This is the view of industry expert, Trinidadianbased Anthony Paul, the author of Guyana’s draft Local

Speaking to some of the objectives of the draft policy for local content, Paul used the occasion to impress on the gathering that running an oil industry is not the same as managing an asset, and as such, requires a business approach; an approach that involves longterm strategies.

On the matter of local content, Paul spoke to the usefulness of joint venture arrangements which would lend to the capacity building of local personnel and services provided, inclusive of the transfer of technology to build local competency in the field.

This, he said, will lead not only to the building of local competency for the local

“You are paying for this; the companies help giving the money up front and then recover it with interest, so ultimately you pay for it”

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Content Policy.

Paul was at the time addressing a Local Content Policy Stakeholder Engagement held at the Georgetown Marriott.

Addressing the gathering of stakeholders present, Paul cautioned Guyanese to be wary of the fact that any money invested by ExxonMobil will in fact have to be repaid with interest using revenues earned from the oil owned by Guyanese.

He said even at the early stages of development of the sector, there are numerous opportunities for Guyanese to ensure the protection of local content.

Paul gave as example, a drill ship to be used.

According to the industry expert, while this operation is in the beginning stages of the operations, it will require support services, including the supply of fuel and rations, which provides an opportunity for Guyanese input – a right that must be demanded.

Paul, in presenting his draft policy to stakeholders reminded that policies are not necessarily enforceable and rather provide guidelines for stakeholders which will require a strong regulator of the industry.

“Policy is a piece of the puzzle” he said.

He noted too that the administration of the sector will entail more than just the input of the Natural Resources Ministry but will require a “whole Government approach”.

He reminded that in Guyana’s case, the oil discovery is potentially transformational in its magnitude, and as such, will require ‘all hands on deck.’

sector but will also position Guyana and Guyanese to be able to export its services on a global scale.

He noted that securing local content can also relate to infrastructure and spoke to the use of wharves by entities outside of the oil and gas sectors.

Paul observed too that many of the skill sets acquired through the oil and gas sector, inclusive of managerial and other procurement competencies, can be transitioned to other local

sectors and also forms part of securing local content through the industry.

He noted that oil companies generally secure the services of, and in many cases, own the best companies in the world not only in operations but in training and development, the management of large projects.

“These are the things that we need to learn as Caribbean people to continue building ourselves,” Paul urged. He explained that Local Content Policies aim to also capture this knowledge and competency of the large international companies in order to have this transferred to local sectors.

Trinidad-based Anthony Paul

turn to page 16

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, September 7, 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

Retracting the promised bridge

T

he Demerara Harbour Bridge is conceded by all to have long exceeded its promised life after it was thrown across the Demerara River in 1978. Sections of the purported “longest floating bridge in the world” were floating down the river long before the People’s National Congress Government demitted office in 1992 and in the 25 years since, it was only a rigorous and continuous retrofitting and maintenance schedule by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government and its new successor, has kept it afloat.

In the meantime, commercial activity on both sides of the river has increased exponentially, reflected by the figure of 9000 plus vehicles crossing either way up from the few hundreds in 1978. The commercial activity has also engendered a huge number of heavily laden trucks with produce and goods that have to be restricted and controlled so as not to place too much pressure on the decrepit structure. But we did not arrive at this impasse overnight and back in 2013, the then PPP Administration commissioned a pre-feasibility study to advise on a way forward. This was done by the Public Works Ministry and the Demerara Harbour Bridge staff with a minimum of fuss and submitted its report in October 2013.

Pertinently, the study pointed out: “Daily retraction for a period of about one hour causes severe road traffic congestion at both ends of the bridge, as well as delays and inconvenience to ocean going vessels. Consultations with various Private Sector agencies and NGOs that represent a wide cross section of production and manufacturing sectors in Guyana have indicated a strong desire for a new FIXED bridge structure across the Demerara River. The new structure would not only relieve road and marine traffic congestion, but would also facilitate and catalyse improved mobility, sector growth, and planned development at the Georgetown Harbour.”

And it concluded, “This prefeasibility study has shown that a new high level four-lane fixed bridge structure at Houston to Versailles is the only economically feasibility alternative, providing benefits to society that can amount to a minimum of some US$222 million over a 70-year life cycle at a capital cost of around US$264.5 million. The other alternatives proved to be uneconomical over the period. User tolls were considered to increase at a rate of two per cent per year above the existing regime.”

This present Government recently commissioned the necessary feasibility study at a cost of $143 million and to every stakeholder’s surprise, this turned the prefeasibility upside down on the most critical feature for no stated reason. Rather than a “fixed High level four-lane bridge” that would allow ships to pass under the bridge at all times and preclude the objected need for retractions, the feasibility study is recommending a non-floating three lane bridge – but one that still has a retracting portion for passing ships.

As has already pointed out by several commentators, while the three-lane would allow two lanes each way for traffic during rush hours, this would in no way be significantly different than the present situation when both lanes are used but there are yet massive pile ups that occur. With Guyana still importing 10,000 cars per annum and increasing, this situation can only get worse.

Then more critically, the need for retraction would still create the enormous traffic back-ups and confusion that has now turned the moveable high tide periods into nightmares for cross-Demerara commuters and truckers.

As the Chairman of the Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) Chamber of Commerce commented, the Government should at least look at logistical development of the Demerara River traffic for the foreseeable future.

While all the details are not released, Suriname was able to build a high level fixed bridge 20 years ago and they have been well served by their structure. The technology and costs are not much different from the low level bridge now being proposed. The major difference is the possibility that ships may run into the supporting structures when passing underneath.

That is not a fatal objection as Suriname has shown.

Students of the Starters Nursery School took part in the Education Ministry’s tree planting exercise in the compound of the school on Wednesday. The exercise is one of the Ministry’s month of activities in observance of Education Month 2017, which is being observed under the theme “Promoting Wellness in Communities through Quality Education” (Carl Croker photo)

Increasingly troubling strategies Dear Editor, Since the March 2016 Local Government Elections confirmed a majority lack of confidence in the Coalition Government, the touted unfulfilled improvement in local governance matters, have become the defining characteristic in the relationship with citizens of most Local Government areas. The strategies employed by the Granger led government has been increasingly troubling and contrary to the intent of the Constitution and other supportive legislation.

Many community constitutional structures are now even more strongly challenged to provide the required services; while the function of being agents facilitative of development, has vanished beyond the horizon. APNU/AFC and their agents are employing dangerous checkered gambits which selectively and unsupportively target NDC’s and municipalities where the leadership is perceived to be non-supportive of some of the Coalition policies.

There has also been marked increases in the prevalence of attempts targeted at embarrassing and insulting the hundreds of elected Neighbourhood Democratic Councilors, that also insults the intelligence of residing citizens in general.

The recent involvement of the Ministry of Social Cohesion which primarily function as the po-

litical arm of the People’s National Congress, is yet another attempt at a new Gambit. In the simplest of terms, the ministry has embarked on inviting the Elected Councilors to lecture them on politics.

The PPP/C Councilors are known most cooperative in all respect to the authorities, but they justifiably will not allow any APNU/AFC member to influence them with the purported camouflaged agendas. Notably, there has been an outcry from the APNU/AFC’s camp through claims that PPP/C Councilors are deliberately not supportive. These should and must be classified as outright rubbish for several reasons. A few will be dealt with hereafter to provide clarity.

It cannot be denied that PPP/C Councilors and particular the Chairmen in the three tie Local Authority Areas are very supportive, although they are not receiving the support from the Administration.

It is known that Minister Bulkan concocted an approach to these areas to force the Opposition to seek legal intervention as a delaying mechanism, instead using the bi-elections mandated in the applicable legislation.

Yet, they are signing all necessary documents and approving financial instruments in order to facilitate the smooth running of all the offices in the interest of citizens is just one example.

At the same time, the councils are being frustrated beyond acceptability to get timely approvals for projects that benefits their constituencies. The ‘royal run around’ and the most bureaucratic red tapes are being invoked at the regional and ministry levels.

Additionally, there is much evidence that many of the Region administration lacks the technical capacity to properly prepare instruments to support capital works such as Bills of Quantities. Yet NDC’s are made to await the substandard preparation by the regional engineers which oftentimes results in significant variances from planned expenditures.

After the repeated failures of attempts to undermine constructive approaches by Bulkan, it is clear that the Ministry of Social Cohesion now attempts to fill the void.

However, its mandate is significantly different to the establishment of appropriate Local Government pillars. Hence, the APNU/ AFC must be forthright and truthful to our citizens.

Otherwise, the attempts to hold several seminars in the Local Authorities Areas with substantial financial help from some permanent international organizations such as the UNDP will continue to be futile and waste of money.

It is imperative that the administration be more consultative. The approach to consultations should stem from a genuine mis-

sion intent of work together. Presently, the NDC’s and RDC’s are supposed to be having discussion and consultation to prepare the 2018 budget.

However, it is clear that the Government of the Day is trying to divide and rule, they are getting people to sign on to proposals without genuine discussions and involvement of a more representative sample of the people in the consultations.

Most of the subventions for this year are yet to be release and many Local Authority Areas will find it extremely difficult to spend the subventions before the end of the year.

The Government must appoint the Local Government Commission now. Further, the President must also stop wasting time and appoint the Chairman of the Election Commission now.

While we had Local Government Elections in 2016, there remains numerous un-solved problems and issues to deal with by the Elections Commission as an autonomous body.

The responsibilities are broad ranging and should not be rushed since they demand comprehensive preparation.

Examples include a new and proper Register of Registrants. We must work together to get all our people register at the place where they are living.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, September 7, 2017

5

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Favouritism by T&HD staff Dear Editor, The minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry recently boasted in the media about the Lady Northcote Ferry which transports passengers and cargo to the North-West District (Barima- Waini).

But while the North-

West steamer may have adopted a level of reliability in the transportation of North West (NWD) passengers and their cargo to Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, the poor residents of these two sub-regions are currently crying out against the demonstration of favouritism by the

Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD).

The NWD residents are claiming that their cargo which would consist of about one to three boxes are not allowed to be shipped to Mabaruma and Port Kaituma including Morowhanna.

In other words, the

NWD residents are claiming that political discrimination and bribery are being practiced by the NWD steamer authorities since it is only the tons of cargo belonging to the big businessman who are affiliated to the APNU-AFC political parties are allowed to be shipped to the NWD while

theirs are refused. The NWD steamer leaves port Georgetown in Kingston for the NWD every two weeks and residents would like the media to witness the pains and harassment they go through at the T&HD Kingston wharf in getting their small cargo to their home.

NWD residents are also claiming that previously this never happen and the new development by the T&HD administration is presently affecting their livelihood.

Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud

Democracy is a medicine Police Force will only be strong with much pain if system is allowed to function

Dear Editor, In any society, following the rule of law is always the optimal course of action to take.

However, this concept seems alien to Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, when it comes to the establishment of the Local Government Commission.

Article 78A of our Constitution makes provision for the coming into being of such a Commission, something the Minister in 2017 appears very resistant to. If you observe his public utterance in 2012, it is clear as day and night that he was singing a different tune then?

In 2012, as the then Opposition spokesperson for local government, Bulkan argued for the local democratic organs to “breathe freely and that the oversight… should not be suffocating and subject only to ministerial control”. But today as Minister, he is solely responsible for this lack of freedom and more so these grave acts of suffocation in the local government system.

What do you call such a character? In the Oxford Dictionary, such a character is defined as a hypocrite.

In Guyanese parlance, such a character is defined as a double-dealing counterfeit who speaks from both sides of their mouth.

Listening to Bulkan in 2012 and Bulkan in 2017 is like listening to Dr Jeckle and Mr Hyde. It was Bulkan in Parliament in 2012 who said: “these local democratic organs must be empowered, as is required by our Constitution”. But today he has the power to empower them but has utilised every opportunity at his disposal to

frustrate the establishment of the Local Government Commission. Isn’t this what his boss is doing on the GECOM Chairman issue?

Isn’t this mental corruption of the highest order?

Quite duplicitously, Bulkan declares in Parliament in 2012 that the establishment of the Local Government Commission is “… in the best interest of their respective communities, not of some political party; it is all about local democracy.”

But five years later, he has singularly kicked those ambitions to the curb and today it is all about his People’s National Congress (PNC) party and not about local democracy anymore.

The people will surely remember this grave betrayal from the PNC in 2020.

Finally, I must commend the Granger Administration for holding Local Government Elections in 2016; it was a seismic deliverable that has to be acknowledged. But since those elections, as a nation we have gone backward on local democracy and I will cite two acts to represent this declaration – one, how the Minister interfered in the process of the elections of the Mayor of Mabaruma and secondly, how the Minister has denied the nation a Local Government Commission.

Enough of this charade from Minister Bulkan.

I am therefore calling on the Minister to free himself of this great imposition where he pretends to be the Local Government Commission, because under the Constitution he is not.

Democracy is a medicine with much pain, but on any day it is better than centralised autocracy as

is being practiced by this Granger regime in the local government system.

When everyone thought the 2016 elections would have brought new life to the local government system, since then because of the interference from Bulkan’s Ministry, much inefficiency has been imported into the delivery of public service at the local level.

Using the Minister’s words from 2012 “for the old and the young…” please do the right thing and establish the Local Government Commission and stop this autocratic system of centralisation in the local government system when the Constitution and the spirit of the rule of law recommend differently.

Regards, Sase Singh

Dear Editor, In law enforcement, your only real power comes from the strength of the system. The Guyana Police Force will only be strong if the system is allowed to function.

President David Granger’s instruction to the Police Service Commission did nothing but weaken the system and he must be held accountable for the destruction of any green shoot of hope for that institution.

There are clear procedures in the rule of law if an officer of the law is found to be corrupt, undisciplined or out of order.

The law sets out that a tribunal can be established to investigate the allegations and disciplinary actions can be taken. But Article 212 of the Guyana Constitution clearly articulated that “…. the power to make ap-

pointments to any office in the Police Force above the rank of Inspector….” resides with the Police Service Commission; not the President.

So any rookie lawyer can advise that the President’s actions violated the rule of law, were high-handed and did great harm to the Guyana Police Force.

When good Cops like Wendell Blanhum cannot believe anymore that the system has their back so that they can do their work, when that ceases and when you come under political pressure from the presidency, then they have two choices – become corrupt or leave the system.

Both options bring great harm to the institutions of the State and this is what President Granger did to the Crime Chief when he singled him out with his irrational comments upon receiving the reports from the Chairman of the CoI into a bogus allegation of some kangaroo assassination.

But more importantly, Omesh Satyanand buckled to political bullyism, which is now the raison d’être of the Granger Administration.

There go the crime-fighting capabilities of the Guyana Police Force thanks to President Granger himself.

Regards, Ryan Basdeo

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Thursday, September 7, 2017

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

with students

F

inding time to read is an important part of developing literacy skills for all children. And there are many easy and convenient ways to make reading a part of each day – even when it's tough to find time to sit down with a book.

Finding the reading moments Car trips, errands, and waits in checkout lines and the doctor's office are all opportunities for reading.

Keep books or magazines in your car, diaper bag, or backpack to pull out whenever you're going to be in one place for a while.

Even if you can't finish a book, read a few pages or discuss some of the pictures.

Encourage older children to bring favourite books and magazines along wherever you go. While it's tempting to provide electronic games and readers, be sure to alternate electronic media with plenty of opportunities to read traditional print books.

Other reading moments to take advantage of throughout the day: in the morning, before breakfast or getting dressed

Continued from Wednesday

after dinner, when children are relaxed bath time (with plastic, waterproof books) bedtime Reading opportunities are everywhere you go. While riding in the car, for example, encourage children to spot words and letters (on billboards, store signs, etc), turning it into a game ("Who'll be the first to find a letter B?").

While shopping, ask your preschooler to "read" pictures on boxes and tell you about them.

Point out the difference between the words and the pictures on the boxes. Encourage older children to tell you what's on the shopping list.

Even daily tasks like cooking can

provide reading moments. You can read recipes aloud to younger children, and older children can assist you as you cook by telling you how much flour to measure. Give your child a catalogue to read while you sort through the mail. Ask relatives to send your child letters, e-mail, or text messages, and read them together.

Help your child create letters or messages to send back to the relatives.

These types of activities help children see the purpose of reading and of print.

Even when you're trying to get things done, you can encourage reading.

While cleaning, for instance, you might ask your child to read a favourite book to you while you work.

Younger children can talk to you about the pictures in their favourite books.

Make sure children get some time to spend quietly with books, even if it means cutting back on other activities, like watching TV or playing video games.

Most important, be a reader yourself. Children who see their parents reading are likely to imitate them and become readers, too! (KidsHealth.org)

A

Step 3

s an in-class activity, tell your students, "I am going to pair you up with a classmate (or two) so that you can discuss these virtues and each set a goal regarding a virtue that is most important to you. Once you are paired off (or in trios), please follow this set of interview or conversation questions."

Who is someone you admire, either in your life or in history, and what is the core virtue that you think they have followed?

Find one of your own virtues on the list and share a

few words about how you try to live this virtue.

What is a virtue that you would like to work on to improve your life?

What are some ways that you can show this virtue?

How can I help you to do this successfully?

Reverse roles in the interview

Step 4

Make a list of the student pairs and the virtues they are working on. You may choose to share these with your class, or not. At the end of each week, have the pair check in with one another about how they are progressing on their chosen virtue. Encourage them to problem solve any difficulties. Consider having them join with other pairs working on one of the same virtues to expand the problem-solving pool. You can also assist as needed.

Step 5

At the end of each marking period, encourage students to self-evaluate their progress on enacting their virtue, seeking feedback from their partner. You can provide feedback as well. Perhaps this can be integrated into the report card process.

Step 6

Provide direction for the next marking period. You can change pairs, allow for additional virtues to be adopted, or other creative adaptations that might occur to you. (Excerpt from Edutopia.org)

news

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thursDay, September 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

After months of complaints

Doctors, nurses strike at Diamond hospital

By S hemuel F anfair

A

fter months of complaints over poor working conditions and no positive response from health officials in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), doctors and nurses attached to the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital, commonly known as the Diamond Diagnostic Centre or Diamond Hospital, staged strike action on Wednesday. During the strike, the workers demanded that their concerns be addressed.

Several elderly patients

Doctors and nurses demanding improved conditions in a meeting with officials

understands that the staffers had been urging regional officials to look into their plight but their calls

The meeting, which lasted some four hours, had heated exchanges between staff and health of-

lead to spread of infectious diseases. “If you’re working in an environment where you have faeces pulping up, how the people gone get proper treatment?” one staff attached to the facility questioned.

Moreover, the doctors expressed their dissatisfaction with the state of affairs at the facility, noting their difficulties with having to inform their patients that much needed medications are unavailable.

“It’s rough having to tell people we do not have the drug or tablet, or strip that they need, and hav-

Poor conditions at the Diamond hospital

were among those turned away from the Diamond Hospital as a result the ‘sit-in’ which was observed by both medical and custodial staff.

Their complaints included the medical facility’s deplorable conditions observed since February of this year, coupled with repeated issues over drug shortages. Guyana Times

fell on deaf ear. However, after word spread of the sit-in, Region Four officials including the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Regional Heath Officer (RHO) and members of the Public Health Ministry rushed to the East Bank Demerara facility to hold an emergency meeting with the staff.

ficials.

The employees berated the hospital’s unsanitary state, with many saying their complaints prior to the strike were ignored. The staff reminded the officials of overflowing toilets, water leaking onto the floors from air conditioning (AC) units and no working AC units in the dressing room which could

Woman charged for dousing ex-lover with acid

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mother of two was on Wednesday made to stand before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after she allegedly doused her ex-lover with acid when she found him in bed with another woman.

Lisa Fraser of Lot 241 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, made her appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and was not allowed to plea to the indictable charge of attempted murder.

The charge stated that on September 2, 2017, at Ruimveldt, Georgetown, she unlawfully and maliciously wounded Kellon Hinds with intent to murder him.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore told the court that on the day in question, Fraser went to the home of her ex-lover but was angered when she met him with another woman.

As such, she entered the man’s house, picked up

the substance and doused him with it. Hinds was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he is presently hospitalised.

The woman who was represented by Attorney Lyndon Amsterdam was granted bail in the sum of $150,000 and was ordered to stay away from the witnesses in the matter.

Fraser is scheduled to reappear in court on September 18.

ing to turn them away. It’s constant. This shortage is all the time. But it’s hard on us doctors because it

Water leaking onto the floor at the entrance of the hospital on Wednesday

bothers us to know that we know what is wrong with a

patient but we can’t help them because we don’t have the right treatment.

Then you got to send them away to buy it… and most

of these people that come public hospitals can’t afford to buy medication,” a male doctor stated.

A female nurse said she has been employed at the facility for a number of years, and throughout the period, there have been many instances where they were forced to make complaints.

She however claimed that this prolonged situation was the worst they have experienced. Some staff members were heard leaving the meeting in anger saying, “it’s the same nonsense and promises.”

Wednesday’s strike action is not the first such action taken by staff as conditions at the facility have been in a similar state in the past. continued on page 13

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thursday, September 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Accomplice in botched Liliendaal robbery remanded A

23-year-old convict who was implicated in a recent botched robbery on the Railway Embankment at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, was on Monday arraigned at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

Mark Griffith of 31 Sheet Anchor, Canje, Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Seepaul-Ally and was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on the day in question – August 29, 2017 – he attempted to rob a businesswoman at the said location.

The court also heard that earlier this year, Griffith was sentenced to two years in abstentia for armed robbery by a Berbice Magistrate. He was remanded until October 4.

On the day in question, Griffith and his 24-year-old accomplice, Trydon Munroe, attempted to carry out a brazen robbery on a 42-year-old interior flight services supervisor and her security escort (bodyguard), who had travelled to the Eugene F Correia

Shot and killed, Trydon Munroe of East Canje, Berbice

International Airport to uplift a package containing valuables.

Reports indicated that the woman was cornered along the Railway Embankment, in Liliendaal, in the vicinity of the Giftland Mall junction when a dark-coloured vehicle drove into her path, blocking her.

Two men then exited that vehicle bearing weapons, and pounced on the businesswoman, unaware that her armed escort was seated in the vehicle.

Dismissed Prison Officer Trydon Munroe of Levi Dam, Angoys Avenue, New Amsterdam, was shot and killed by the businesswoman’s bodyguard during the robbery attack, while his accomplice – Griffith – escaped with gunshot wounds, but later surfaced at a city hospital.

Munroe’s lifeless body was found by detectives near a .32 pistol with three live matching rounds. He allegedly had been dismissed from the Guyana Prison Service after several breaches of the rules and regulations of that entity.

Trio charged for ganja possession

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hree men from the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) appeared before Magistrate Easter Sam at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court, all charged for the possession of cannabis.

Twenty-one-year-old Satesh Jaharan of Anna Regina New Housing Scheme was on Tuesday

granted bail after he denied the charge which stated he was caught smoking cannabis.

The prosecution is contending that Jaharan was arrested on August 30, 2047, after he was seen smoking the illegal substance. Bail was granted at the sum of $15,000 and he is expected to return to court on October 3.

In another case, Paul

Singh of Lot 28 Aberdeen Village was fined $30,000 after he was caught with two grams of marijuana. The prosecution’s case stated that on September 4, 2017, Police ranks caught the 22-year-old with the illicit drug. He was sentenced to community service. He is expected to report to the Anna Regina Police Station to conduct cleaning three hours

daily.

Meanwhile, Ricardo Edwards of Lot 983 Charity Housing Scheme, was on Tuesday granted bail after being charged for smoking cannabis. The 39-year-old was arrested on September 3, 2017.

He denied the charge and was released on $15,000 bail. The case will continue on October 2.

Porter charged for stealing Milo

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porter employed at the Chris Variety Store in Georgetown appeared on Wednesday before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for stealing a quantity of Milo from his employer.

Lakeram Shaw, 30, of Barr Street, Kitty,

Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him by city Magistrate Judy Latchman.

The charge stated that between June 1, 2017 and August 18, 2017, at the above-mentioned variety store while being employed as a clerk, Shaw stole five

cases of tinned Milo valued $100,000 and three cases of Milo packs valued at $56,000 along with other items worth a total of $830,295, property of Christopher Narine.

Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves revealed that the porter was entrusted with

Killing dreams…

T

…in the US

he US is a nation of immigrants, but you wouldn’t think so, based on the way President Trump and his supporters are carrying on and acting. When the “Pilgrim fathers” landed at Plymouth Rock, weren’t there PEOPLE who greeted them and gave them food?

Who was Pocahontas, for crying out loud? But they say, tell a lie long enough and pretty soon you begin to believe your lie as the “gospel truth”!

You know who said that? Hitler’s propaganda honcho, Goebbels, who insisted the Jews were wiped out “for their own good”. Well looks like the Native Indians in the US were all herded into ‘reservations” “out of sight, out of mind” for their “own good”. But if you look carefully at what’s unfolding – some immigrants are less equal than others, and the line is clear as black and white. Heck, the line IS black and white!!

All those folks who came from Europe – who just HAPPENS to be white – are OK! Even Trump’s present wife is an immigrant from Slovenia, who started to work even before she got a visa permitting that. But the immigrants that Trump went after during the campaign – and has now started to implement measures to expel are all of a darker hue. “Immigrant” is a trope for “coloured from overseas”!

Never mind these immigrants have taken all the literally dirty jobs that others won’t touch with a 10foot pole. Well if those folks were to even go…then the “Americans” remaining will soon discover what it is to live in a hell-hole like Georgetown led by its Gang of Four! But the latest action by Trump is low even by his truncated standards. Think of this. When Obama was President he asked all children of illegal immigrants to register in a “Dreamers” programme which, in accordance with basic humanity, would allow them to live in the USA, educate themselves and serve their new homeland as citizens.

But Trump, while shedding crocodile tears of “contrition”, has now cancelled the programme and placed some 800,000 mostly Spanish and coloured children – some now adults – in line to be deported.

And they talk about “Indian givers”!! Your Eyewitness is convinced this will be a defining moment for America in this century and beyond.

After its declaration of independence in 1776, the US was exemplified by the Statue of Liberty with its boldly engraved message: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.” No more…

It’s now “everyman for himself and the devil take the hindmost”. Especially if the latter’s dark!!

…in women

the items mentioned in the charge to make deliveries.

However, during the month of June, the Virtual Complainant (VC) observed that several items continued to come up missing and as such, reported the matter.

Shaw was taken into Police custody, questioned on the allegation and admitted under caution to stealing same. As such, he was arrested and charged.

Prosecutor Gonsalves did not object to bail being granted to the defendant and this was granted in the sum of $100,000. Shaw is scheduled to next come before the court on September 13, 2017.

What exactly is going on with this Government and women. Right after the elections we had women rights activists pointing out the paucity of women in the Cabinet and the Boards. A lot of throat clearing ensued but nothing was done. Then we had the broken promise to Government workers on the “substantial raise” written in black and white in the APNU/AFC manifesto.

Most of the workers in the lowest brackets were women.

Red Thread poignantly asked how they were to live.

Now, you’ve heard the one by Marie Antoinette when told the peasants didn’t have bread, haven’t you? “Let them eat cake”!! Well this Government that’s all heart just bested her. Told that guards in general, and women guards in particular, were getting ridiculously low wages – especially at nights – Minister Scott announced, “Well don’t hire women at nights!!”

He of course, would like us to believe he’s really looking out for women’s safety. But let’s get real… wouldn’t it have been better to insist they get paid a special rate?

Then maybe they can afford cabs to get home!!

…in the Police

The ordinary folks know the Police Force needs a good hosing down to get rid of some bad apples. But seriously, folks, does the Government have to wash the dirty ones in public?

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

News

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thursDAY, september 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Trotman flays ill-informed ‘experts’ on draft Local Content Policy

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overnment has taken some level of umbrage over what was described as ill-informed critics afforded a platform over the National Local Content Policy for the Oil and Gas Sector, with substantive Minister Raphael Trotman, reminding that the document currently in the public domain is but a working draft meant to still benefit from countrywide consultations.

Trotman was at the time speaking at a stakeholder engagement forum held at the Marriott Hotel on Tuesday, which saw in at-

tendance representatives of key local interest groups such as the Guyana Bar Association, the Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association, (GMSA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The Guyana Aircraft Owners Association (GAOA), the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Institute of Chartered Accountants, the African Business Roundtable, the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA) and representatives of local Chambers of Commerce Chapters among others.

Bemoaning the fact that

Government is on a daily basis bombarded by criticism over what it is not doing by the local ‘experts’ voicing their opinions in the

“If we are launching a rocket to the moon, Guyanese can tell you how” – Minister local newspapers, Trotman sought to remind of the old adage “Rome was not built in a day.”

With regards the Draft Local Content Policy cur-

Miners, foresters call for specific policy guidelines … make commitment to work in ‘harmony’

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

rently being formulated by the Administration with the help of world renowned, Trinidad-based geologist and industry expert, Anthony Paul, the Minister used the occasion to chastise the ill-informed criticism directed at Government and specifically the Natural Resources Ministry which he heads.

Experts

Participants at Wednesday’s workshop hosted by the Forest Producers Association with foresters and miners

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takeholders in the mining and forestry sectors are calling on Government to set more specific policy guidelines that will hopefully help to address some of the conflicts encountered while mining on forest concessions, while both sides have also made a com-

mitment to work together in ‘harmony.’

This was the outcome of a workshop that was held on Wednesday to look at the challenges of the ongoing conflict between these activities which have eluded prior attempts at finding suitable solutions. It is also one of the

areas that pose a challenge for Guyana signing onto the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA).

The VPA is a legally binding trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and a timber-producing country outside the EU. turn to page 14

He quipped that on a per capita basis Guyana has, “the most experts in the world, if we are launching a rocket to the moon Guyanese can tell you how to do so...”

According to Minister Trotman, the plethora of criticism by the ‘experts’ can be frustrating at times.

Speaking specifically to the Government’s push for the development of a Local Content Policy, Trotman said the service of the industry expert was secured with the assistance of the United Nations Development Fund

(UNDP).

He told the stakeholders gathered that Paul had completed a rapid assessment which formed the basis of the working draft currently in the public domain.

“With that document we have started to build out and to put the framework in place as to the various parts of what our petroleum sector should look like and how it should be developed.”

Responding to the numerous ‘experts’ with regards what Government should or should not be doing in relation to the sector, Trotman was adamant, “we have to have one plan, we can’t have 50 plans, we as a Government are working in partnership with the UNDP, the Government of Mexico, the Commonwealth Secretariat and so many others.”

Trotman told those gathered that some of the views being expressed on the Local Content Policy being articulated in the dailies are sometimes a source of amusement while others “pain me.”

He said the working draft was shared with stakeholders in an effort to solicit comments and critiques in order to fashion a final document.

He used the occasion to reiterate, the draft shared with stakeholders was never meant to be the final document “it was meant to be a working draft.”

Corruption

The Minister further used the opportunity to speak to assertions that the draft policy failed to adequately address the matter of corruption.

According to Minister

Trotman, the local content policy is not meant to tackle corruption, since there are numerous other legislative and other mechanisms in place to effectively address the issue.

He pointed to the Integrity Commission Laws in addition to Guyana’s participation in the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI), among others.

The Natural Resources Minister sought to also bring home the point that the final Local Content Policy, is not meant to only guide the operations of the oil and gas sector but will be used to regulate and guide the operations of other industries.

He disclosed that the Administration has been making available regularly briefings on the development of the emerging sector to the current political Opposition in the National Assembly – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Owen Verwey – who was at the time also representing the Business Ministry, sought to impress on stakeholders the steps taken by the Administration thus far through that entity, in order to protect local content in the emerging sector.

According to Verwey, in the absence of a formal Local Content Policy, GOInvest has been pushing for the greater use of joint venture arrangements between foreign companies looking to cash in on the industry and local counterparts, in order to protect Guyanese interests.

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thursday, September 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

La Parfaite Harmonie Health Centre

Health Minister questions competence of regional administration ‌ to visit the Region today

special effort to visit the La Parfaite Harmonie Health Centre to speak with nurses and patients at the facility.

"I am disappointed but I will be able to give more information after I visit there tomorrow and see firsthand what the situation is," she said.

Meanwhile, Medical Superintendent of the Region, Dr Bibi Jabar said she became aware of the situation after it appeared

since the acting RHO is on vacation leave and is expected to be back at work by the end of September.

Several calls to the DREO's office went unanswered. However, a source within the region said the compound of the health centre is expected to be cleared before the end of the week and the toilet stall is to be repaired 'shortly'.

When this publication revisited the facility lat-

The hymac used to clear the bushes from the nearby lot

F

ollowing an article appearing in the September 6 issue of Guyana Times highlighting the deplorable condition of the La Parfaite Harmonie Health Centre, Junior Public Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings said she is seriously questioning the competence of the regional administration in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara).

In a telephone interview, the Minister said the regional administration budgets for the up-keep of health facilities and questioned the modus operandi of the administration.

"The region have money for cleaning and I am

shocked and disgusted that they would allow it to get to this stage... we have systems in place but I would like to believe that those systems are not working," the Minister said.

"I don't want to micromanage because we (the Ministry of Public Health) are here as the oversight body and it's the regions that have to take care of their facilities," she added.

Minister Cummings said the Public Health Ministry is unaware of the condition of the healthcare facility since the Regional Health Officer (RHO) failed to report it. She added that she is going to pay a visit to the region today and will make

A section of the cleared land

in Guyana Times, adding that she along with Deputy Regional Executive Officer visited the facility.

"I can tell you that we have visited the health centre and we began some works there," she said, while refusing to state what work was being executed.

Dr Jabar is currently holding the post of RHO

er Wednesday afternoon, it was observed that the bushes on the southern side, beyond the fence were cleared.

In addition, the standpipe was repaired with pipes being connected to the building. However, the pile of garbage at the back of the building remained intact and the washroom stall is yet to be outfitted with a door and water.

Residents and patients accessing services at the La Parfaite Harmonie Health Centre are complaining bitterly about the condition of

Another section of the cleared area

the washroom facilities, water access and the general bushy compound. In addition, patients are complaining about the level of healthcare they receive, saying the staff at the facility are never on time and when they do arrive to work, they take at least one hour before they begin attending to patients.

When this publication visited the health-care facility on Tuesday, it was observed that the grass in the yard was overgrown, measuring as high as three feet in some areas. The washroom stall has no door, the

toilet does not flush and overgrown grass is slowly creeping into the stall.

In addition to a bushy compound, there is garbage at the back of the yard that was poorly disposed of – an attempt to burn the garbage was visible but most of it was not destroyed by the fire. In addition, there are no rubbish bins in the compound of the facility. The water tank and trestle is surrounded by bushy vegetation, with no water flowing through the standpipe in the front of the yard.

Additional pipes attached to the standpipe

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thursDAY, september 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt’s single-mother night shift policy misguided – Red Thread

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utspoken women rights activist Karen DeSouza has said Government’s recent policy decision to prevent single mothers from working the night shift offered by security firms is “misguided”.

DeSouza told Guyana Times on Wednesday that while the policy was implemented following some form of consultation with a few private security firms, she believes that these consultations should have been held with women instead.

“I think the Minister (with the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott) is a little misguided. His heart may be in the right place, but I think it’s a leap that cannot be justified on the basis of either women rights or in the interest of women and children…You are talking about an issue that affects women’s lives, then you need to talk to women about it and not be too selective with the guards you talk with,” DeSouza asserted.

The head of Red Thread said instead of imposing this new measure, the Minister and, by extension, the Government should pay some attention to ensuring that the minimum wage was paid to all women, including those in the security services and sweeper/ cleaners at schools.

“I think that in so far as single mothers are concerned, the Government should be doing a lot more, particularly the Ministry of Labour, to ensure whatever financial assistance is needed is given to those women in whatever form, including public assistance,” she added.

DeSouza also views the move as one in which Government was abdicating its responsibility to private companies. “This is how I see it. They are removing themselves from ensuring

Karen DeSouza

that the infrastructure and the protection of citizens are there and trying to throw it on private security firms.”

She argued that while the Government has made a huge leap to take women off the night shift, it was not doing anything to ensure that sexual harassment was stopped in the security services.

“It’s a very strange leap for me to ban women from the night shift. Yes, we have problems with it, but they are structural, and not answered by saying women should not be made to work night shifts. There are many things that the Government needs to do, many things that they promised to do.”

Further, DeSouza told Guyana Times that when groups such as hers speak of providing equal rights for women, they were not doing this on the basis of asking for ‘paternalistic protection’, but rather they were looking for employers to understand women’s unique biology.

She said, “And you can’t use that biology as a means as well to penalise or as an excuse because a woman has to bear and give birth and breastfeed children. We want you to recognise that there is a life cycle that has to do with child bearing and

it has to be taken account for in all the economic arrangements in the country.”

The Red Thread head continued, “So when we speak of caring for workers, those are some of the things that have to be considered and hopefully, our Government could get on board and begin to think in a more progressive way in terms of how you protect women’s rights and ensure that simple families are protected and cared for.”

Asked whether she believed that this new policy would affect women’s chances of securing future employment with private security companies, the women rights activist said she did.

“Whatever dictates the Government will send out, I would be amazed if security firms would be willing to employ women at the same rate if they are not able to put them on night shift.”

She also thinks that it could be used as another way of penalising women.

“This is because the reason Guyana has so many security guards is because our education system has determined that if you come from a certain income bracket and a range of disadvantages in terms of the education system, that you are not going to be able to get the qualifications to get better paid work.”

“So what are the options opened to a woman who has very little formal education and who has to provide for their children, not very many. And that is why we have seen in the last many years such a growth of women in the security forces and it keeps increasing.”

DeSouza said notwithstanding some of the very good laws in Guyana, Government must recognise that women were still seen as unequal in soci-

Minister Keith Scott

ety. “I would say nationally, we have a long way to go in terms of the work towards equality and respect for women and the contri-

bution they make to the economy, not just in terms of the formal employment but in many other areas,” she added.

Government had made it clear that it planned to minimise and eventually eliminate night work for single mothers within the private security industry.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Association of Private Security Organisations (GAPSO) on Wednesday condemned the night-shift ban on single mothers in the private security sector.

The organisation stated that Minister Scott’s choice to selectively dismantle and target single mothers within the private security sector was a “cruel and arbitrary attack” on the sector.

“GAPSO feels that it is a high-handed and unilateral approach being adopted by the Government and definitely lacks insight or thinking outside the box. It remains unclear why only the private security sector was selected while other professions are excluded and what suggestions, if any, there is to solve the inevitable unemployment that will arise therefrom,” the body said in a statement.

The GAPSO is, therefore, calling for an immediate independent review of this proposal, widespread consultations with stakeholders and a functioning welfare system that provides benefits according to different situations.

(Samuel Sukhnandan)

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thursDAY, september 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Stronger IIA Guyana Chapter needed – former President … says real sectors’ non-performance affects financial sector

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stronger Guyana Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA-Guyana) is needed to better represent its members, according to Deodat Indar, the Chapter’s former President and current President of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). He made the recommendation at the opening of a two-day seminar and workshop for internal auditors.

The two-day workshop and seminar commenced on Wednesday at the Regency Suites Hotel and would see auditors being given crash courses in dealing with the evolving risks facing organisations, ethics and governance for auditors, financial auditing for internal auditors and inventory and stores management.

“Although there were successes, there are some clear failures. The Chapter still looks for a permanent home; I task the new Board to do what the past leaders did not do and fulfil this objective,” Indar said.

“A much stronger and visible Chapter is needed and when internal auditors are faced with push back in their own firms for doing their jobs, the IIA-Guyana must be the last bastion of defence to come to their aid and mediate and advocate for members of the profession,” he added.

Indar called upon the participants to examine the broader risk frameworks affecting their business and to come up with strategies to address those risks. He said the Committee of Sponsoring Organisations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) mandates internal

Members of the Guyana Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors

auditors to audit strategies to determine the effectiveness of their companies.

“It makes no sense to have a strong robust internal system and you are suffering competitively and can face closure,” he said.

Meanwhile, current President of the IIAGuyana, Goorwantie Devi Kaladeen, said the mission of the IIA is to provide dynamic leadership for the global profession of internal auditing through advocacy, research and education. She notes that the workshop is the first of three for the Guyana Chapter year, which started on June 1 and will end on May 31, 2018.

“At the local level, since the resuscitation of the Guyana Chapter in 2009, the Chapter has been holding seminars/workshops annually to enlighten our participants on the updated developments in the practice of the Internal Audit Profession, thereby becoming more efficient in their working environment,” she said.

The Guyana Chapter currently has 80 members, with seven being certified internal auditors,

one certified Governmentauditing professional and six accredited risk management assurance certification.

The IIA is a global professional association with over 185,000 members in more than 190 countries around the world.

The Global Headquarters is located in Florida. The Global Board of Directors, 20 committees and more than 270 chapters and institutes serve IIA members at the volunteer level.

This includes 139 chapters in the United States, 12 in Canada and one each in Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Cura?ao, Guyana, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos.

Guyana indicates that the non-performing loan ratio rose to 12.9 per cent of total loans at December 2016, up from 1.5 per cent at the end of 2015.

“If you check the

non-performing loans and check the areas where they are suffering most, you will find agriculture, real estate, rice and mining are creating defaults in the system. Now banks have to provide for them and once they have to provide for them then they have to deduct it from their profits and it is tightening up things. The real sectors have to perform and if they don’t perform, then you will have problems in the financial sector and no Guyanese wants that,” he explained.

This, according to the GCCI President, represents a serious problem, which will result in banks starting to tighten lending, indicating bad news for the

Causing death driver granted $300,000 bail

Real sectors’ non-performance

Despite recording a 2.2 per cent economic growth for the first half of 2017, Indar said he is concerned about the non-performance of the real sectors, which have drastic impacts on the financial sector.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff report June 2017 for

Private Sector and households. Indar explained that although the economy grew by 2.2 per cent for the first half of 2017, the breakdown is a bit worrying.

According to the Bank of Guyana, rice production grew by 31 per cent in 2016 due to rising acreage, sugar production wend down by 12.4 per cent while other crops grew by 2.5 per cent. In addition, forestry contracted by 18.2 per cent while the mining and quarry industry went down by four per cent.

These trends, according to the GCCI President, indicated that there are job losses owing to the non-performance of the major sectors. The workshop concludes today.

Kalicharran Goordial

Ryan Seecharran

driver accused of causing the death of a carpenter was on Tuesday released on $300,000 bail when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Ryan Seecharran was charged for causing the death of Kalicharran Goordial, a carpenter of Creekdam, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The 48-year-old man died on June 24, 2017 at Third Street, Herstelling when

Seecharran allegedly drove motor vehicle PVV 4911 in a manner dangerous to the public.

Seecharran, 24, of Lot 361 Herstelling, was also charged for failing to stop his vehicle to lend assistance to the injured man.

It is further alleged that on the same day, being the driver of PVV 4911 and having been involved in an accident, he failed to render assistance by taking the injured to a registered medical

A

practitioner.

Defence Attorney Glen Hanoman made a successful bail application on his client’s behalf informing the court that his client was previously granted station bail in the sum of $100,000 and has since been reporting to the Providence Police Station.

Prosecutor Arvin Moore had no objection to bail. As such, the defendant was released on $300,000 bail.

Seecharran is expected to make his next court appearance on September 13.

Reports are Goordial was reportedly lying on the roadway in a drunken state when Seecharran allegedly drove over him.

The injured man was subsequently taken to the Diamond hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Seecharran had reportedly fled the scene after hitting the man. However, he was later arrested and taken into custody. A breathalyser test was conducted, and no trace of alcohol was found.

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thursDAY, september 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Government announces Shuttle suspension Education Reform Department lifted on Trans Guyana Airways

BY SHEMUEL FANFAIR

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s Government seeks to address the issues that affect access to education across the country, the Education Ministry has announced a new department that will focus on reforming the sector. It is against the backdrop of this year’s theme for education month; ‘Promoting wellness in communities through quality education’ that Education Minister Nicolette Henry acknowledged the need for initiatives to be implemented to improve the sector.

Speaking at the launch of

Education Month, she highlighted that reforms to the education sector are high on Government’s agenda.

“It is for that reason that the Department of Education Systems, Innovation and Reform

forms to be pursued include adding Indigenous languages to the school curriculum which is currently undergoing a review, Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson had related earlier this week.

The Ministry is also seeking to carry through with plans to enhance pro-

needs of students who have special educational needs due to severe learning difficulties, physical disabilities or behavioural problems. Regional Education Officer (REDO) Penelope McIntosh told this publication that the facility at Schoonord is slated to cater for 25 to 30 students. She

grammes and policies for Special Education Needs (SEN) which will cater to students with special learning needs, including those living with disabilities. Minister Henry stated on Monday that this year’s Education Month will include activities that focus on special needs areas.

Back in July, it was announced that construction would commence for a new special education needs school in Schoonord, West Bank Demerara. This school will cater to the

had further explained that the staff compliment would be based on the number of students that will be placed in the special needs institution when it is established.

Over the past several years, SEN departments have been established at various schools, including Wales Primary and at St Rose’s High. However there is much debate on whether students with some learning difficulties should be allowed to be integrated in standard classrooms.

Education Minister Nicolette Henry

will be established in the Ministry of Education,” she stressed.

Without going into much detail about the impending department, Minister Henry indicated that it will be established before the end of 2017. Among the re-

EBD NGSA toppers receive bursaries from Lions Club

F

our students from along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) who excelled at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) are the beneficiaries of bursary awards from the Central Demerara Lions Club.

The organisation on Monday presented the students with the bursaries at its New Providence, EBD den.

The beneficiaries are Mickel Stephens of Peters Hall Primary and Nicole Naraine of Grove Primary, both of whom obtained 511 marks and were awarded spots at The Bishops’ High School. Celine Paul also of Peters Hall Primary and Ashley Ramjattan of Covent Garden Primary, both gained 507 marks and were awarded placements at the St Stanislaus College.

The Central Demerara Lions Club has been rec-

The executives of the Central Demerara Lions Club with three of the four bursary beneficiaries

ognising and awarding top performers for some 20 years and according to its President, Dwarka Singh, this year was no different.

He explained that the bursary award has become

one of the organisation’s signature projects; one that is aimed at fostering and building relations with the community especially youths.

“These students are en-

tering a new chapter in their lives and we just wanted to make a contribution to help them start this journey so that they can continue to excel in their academics,” Singh stated.

Doctors, nurses strike at Diamond...

At one point, former Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton had decried the Ministry’s Materials Management Unit (MMU) for not supplying drugs in a timely manner. In May last year, reports surfaced of deplorable conditions at the Diamond facility, including broken doors, non-functional air-conditioning units, leak-

ing roof, insufficient equipment and medication in the ambulances, black mould forming on the ceilings and the lack of water.

Short circuiting

The hospital’s issues continued into 2017 where in early January, it was reported that medical services at the facility were being

hindered due to widespread short circuiting. Guyana Times had learnt that certain sections of the hospital were without power despite many attempts to have the situation rectified. Several pieces the machinery at the hospital, such as the ultra-sound and X-tray had been affected which at that time, caused the medical

from page 7

facility to close its doors to patients, attending to only emergency cases.

This newspaper had reported that wires sparked at the facility which had caused the staff much distress. The short circuit had prevented the lights and AC units in several of the examination rooms at the hospital from working properly.

T

he Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has officially lifted the suspension on shuttling operations for Trans Guyana Airways after completion of a rigid inspection and certification process. This comes after close to one week since the Authority imposed the suspension in light of the three recent aviation crashes in the interior of Guyana.

The GCAA said in a press statement on Wednesday that the decision was taken after the domestic airline completed a five-phase process used by the GCAA. This process entailed a pre-application and application phase, document evaluation, demonstration and inspection, and certification.

It was also noted that a flight operations inspector from the GCAA worked all day aboard Trans Guyana Airways flight on September 2, 2017, conducting demonstration inspections to ensure documented procedures were observed by the operator. Inspections were conducted on flight operations into areas frequented by the airline that included: Olive Creek, Blake Slater and Kamarang aerodromes.

Although it was initially advised that the National Air Transport Association (NATA) should submit an industry document and work with the GCAA to conduct reviews and inspections, Trans Guyana had taken its own initiative to do what was necessary to have the suspension lifted.

President of NATA, Annette Arjoon-Martins told this newspaper recently that NATA will be responsible for getting the input of every single air transport operator at the Eugene F Correira International Airport before submitting their safety procedure manual to the GCAA by this week.

Arjoon-Martins claimed that this instruction was given following the move

by Trans Guyana Airways to go ahead and submit its own safety procedures, instead of submitting collectively with NATA. The

NATA head feels that they should have been done as one standard industry procedure.

The GCAA said it will continue to work with the other domestic operators to have their shuttle operations approved so that they also can resume shuttling operations.

In addition to approving manuals for shuttling operations, the GCAA is also considering other measures to enhance safety for flight operations within the hinterland region.

The GCAA reiterated that the actions taken were necessary to enhance safety of the travelling public and aviation personnel. The Authority said that it will continue its increased surveillance of air operators to minimise any future accidents that have occurred in most recent times.

The GCAA on August 30, 2017, ordered all domestic shuttle operations be suspended until operators can provide Standard Operational Manuals and other documents showing how they conduct their business. Approval by the GCAA was necessary before operations could be resumed.

GCAA Director General, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Egbert Field had said then that the decision was necessary, since shuttle operations have expanded over the years, and this is the first time it is going to be fully regularised. The GCAA boss acknowledged the impact the decision would have on the mining industry as well as on some Indigenous communities.

In addition to increased monitoring, the GCAA is also seeking to collaborate with Police and soldiers in the interior for them to look out for shuttle flights during the suspension period.

Field had warned that if any operator or pilot is found violating the suspension, then there would be adverse consequences resulting in suspension of the pilot’s licence or the air operators certification revoked.

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thursDAY, september 7, 2017

News

Linden-Soesdyke Highway

Freak storm causes damage to GPL lines

Food For The Poor donates tools to secondary schools in Regions 6, 10

– trees also uprooted

Food For The Poor Guyana Senior Projects Manager Andrea Benjamin (left) hands over the donation to the Region 10 Education Department representative (right)

I Trees were uprooted as a result of the storm on the Linden-Soesdyke highway

T

he power outages residents on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway experienced on Monday was as a result of damage to the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL) infrastructure, from a freak storm the previous day.

According to the utility company in a press release on Tuesday, the storm struck in the vicinity of Splashmins Resort at approximately 13:00h on Sunday. It resulted in the dislocation of seven poles belonging to GPL. This, the company stated, was partially due to uprooted trees falling on the lines. As a result, the supply of electricity to customers in surrounding communities was consequently interrupted.

“Maintenance crews were dispatched to the area to repair the damaged network and work is in the final stages of completion. Power is expected to be restored this evening (Tuesday),” the company added.

Several customers were present at the Splashmins Resort when the storm struck and they expressed shock at the phenomena. Some took to social media and reported encountering heavy winds, rains and lightening which

suddenly struck, abruptly bringing an end to their sojourn at the popular destination.

Freak storms have become more and more frequent, sometimes with deadly consequences. Following the recent destruction of buildings in Kako after a windstorm, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) Chairman Gordon Bradford has said there is need for the development of storm shelters in Upper Mazaruni communities.

Bradford told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the region is working with the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry and the Guyana Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to develop storm-resistant infrastructure.

“We have identified some buildings which are concrete… and we know that it will take a really severe wind to remove that. So, in the event of the heavy storm, residents should seek shelter at these buildings,” Bradford said.

A few days ago, a storm destroyed six buildings and damaged others, including the school in Kako Village.

This was mere months after the community was assailed by flooding. Bradford said there have been increased reports of stormy weather occurring in Upper Mazaruni communities.

“My information is that over the past five or six days, this has been a regular occurrence around 2-2:30, 3 o’clock in the afternoon, (there is) this thunderstorm, lightning, thunder, rains and the heavy winds. So, my advice to residents is to look out and be prepared,” he said.

Jawalla, another Region Seven community, was hit by a similar windstorm late in August, resulting in one death. The Region Seven administration has been working with the CDC to monitor these communities and provide relief where needed.

Last year October, several houses were destroyed during a freak storm at two villages in Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). Reports are that high winds followed by rain ripped off roofs and flattened thistles, while uprooting trees, resulting in millions of dollars in damages.

One house was totally destroyed.

n observance of Education Month under the theme “Promoting Wellness in Communities through Quality Education”, Food For The Poor Guyana Inc handed over agricultural materials to representatives of the respective Education Departments on Wednesday at its Blue Mountain Road location in Festival City, Georgetown.

Food For The Poor Project Coordinator Asha Wayne, in her address to media operatives, dubbed the investment as valuable, affirming that agriculture was an integral part of the Guyanese tradition and a major contributor to our economy.

“Through equipping

these students in their quest to pursue the agricultural sciences, we are also guarding not only our tradition but also ensuring that the agricultural sector continue to be staffed by educated and qualified individuals...,” Wayne noted.

Representatives from the Education Departments in Regions Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) thanked the donor for its timely contributions while reassuring that the materials would be put to good use by the schools. The Region Six Education Department representative voiced her appreciation for the donation while pledging that the agricultural region would uti-

lise the tools received in its pursuit to continue being the breadbasket of Guyana as well as the Caribbean at large.

Food For The Poor, in collaboration with the Education Ministry, is seeking to strengthen the agriculture science capacity of 15 schools in Region Six, a traditional agricultural region, and Region 19, an emerging cultural district.

Food For The Poor Senior Projects Manager Andrea Benjamin indicated that it was expected that students would now be better equipped to execute the practical component of the agricultural science programme at the secondary level.

Charity labourer found floating in canal T he body of a 34-yearold labourer from New Road Village, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was on Wednesday morning found floating in a canal at Charity.

Dead is Terrence Theodore Ramcharran. He was last seen Tuesday evening imbibing with friends.

According to infor-

mation reaching Guyana Times, Ramcharran told his wife, Shellana, that he was going to take a few drinks with some friends. It was further divulged that after he finished drinking, he went swimming and his friends went away. After he did not return home, his wife reported the matter.

Family members began searching the area where

he was last seen and found his footwear. About 09:00h on Tuesday, a child noticed the body floating and raised an alarm.

The Police were summoned and his body was later transported to the Suddie mortuary to await a post- mortem examination. He leaves to mourn his reputed wife along with three children.

Miners, foresters call for specific policy...

The purpose of a VPA is to ensure that timber and timber products exported to the EU come from legal sources. The agreements also help timber-exporting countries stop illegal logging. Guyana is still working to acquire acceptance in order to sign the VPA. In delivering his presentation, Project Coordinator of the Forestry Producers' Association (FPA), Khalawan (only name), admitted that there has been an overlapping of forest and mining concessions which has been an issue for many years. However, he said there must be some level of commitment to having this issue amicably resolved so that there is less conflict among the two sectors, and also for Guyana to sign the

VPA. Using the example of a creek, Khalawan said this is a natural boundary for many forestry concessions but many times miners change their course and end up beyond these boundaries, creating problem for foresters. “On one hand, the Forestry Commission is protecting the creek and the banks and on the other hand the miners are saying that’s our ground. So where does the law protect us or guides us?”

The FPA official said the mechanisation of mining and forestry creates an uneven playing field and unless there are strict guidelines to follow, then there will continue to have conflicts. Khalawan said in the past, miners and for-

esters would have constant fights over boundaries, but now that fight has moved to ‘who is right’. “But the policy does not differentiate in a way, who is right. It must be clear,” he asserted.

Another issue raised by the FPA is the fact that many foresters would pay substantial sums of money to build good roads to assist them with transporting logs but then these same roads are often used by miners, who may not have contributed to building or maintaining them. This poses a huge challenge for loggers, according to Khalawan, because it hinders them from properly utilising their infrastructure.

Meanwhile, a representative from the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners

Association (GGDMA), William Woolford, said given there is a common labour pool among these two sectors that alone poses a challenge. More immortally however, Woolford said the land use policy will have to take course if the issues between miners and loggers are to be addressed in full.

Woolford, who has been a former Commissioner at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) working in the area of regulation, told the workshop participants that there were few complaints that miners and foresters brought against each other in the past, but in recent times there has been calls for miners to operate in a way that brings environmental stringency that is in

line with foresters.

The GGDMA official noted that there is not a well thought out collaboration between the foresters and miners. As such, there are no standing arrangements for FPA officials to meet with the GGDMA, officials from the GGMC to meet with staff from Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) on a regular basis to deal with issues that would arise from time to time in the areas where the two sectors operate.

At present, the National Development Strategy states that Guyana has no land use policy. The three commissions dealing with land, GGMC, GFC and Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GLSC) administer lands for min-

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ing, forestry and agriculture respectively. With the absence of this policy, it creates a difficulty in the management of natural resources and reduces the incentives to implement sustainable land management codes of practices in the forestry sector.

While Guyana had committed to signing the VPA with the EU/FLEGT by the end of 2016, that deadline was pushed back to the end of 2017. This is the second time the timeline for signing the agreement has been pushed back.

The workshop was funded by FAO-EU FLEGT programme aimed at building awareness and capacity of the Private Sector operators to participate in the VPA process in Guyana.

thursDAY, september 7, 2017

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15

“Without God we are nothing. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

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hat’s the one thing craft entrepreneur Nona Khan, an Picker’s Gill, Pomeroon native now resident in Georgetown, wants the world to know about her.

The self-described housewife says her craftmaking is a hobby because she is very passionate about it.

But that ‘hobby’ has seen her supplying Guyana Stores and other craft retailers over

the years. “I went to Guyana Stores and showed them my product…and they were like wow and took it on the spot…,” she recounted before noting that she no longer had that market, as the purchasing agent had changed. That lack of stable markets is one of the hazards of the crafts business.

Khan, who grew up in a single-mother household and had to paddle three miles just to get to school every morning, explained that her journey into the world of crafts started one

day when she took the $1000 her husband had given her to buy groceries (“I had things to cook in the house,” she quickly reassured) and bought a hand towel and a crotchet hook, which she promptly put to use.

Several years would pass before she took up crafts again as a business, but that first piece was prominently displayed at her booth at the Sophia Exhibition Centre during the

Heritage Month craft exhibition as it is at every booth she sets up.

“I started because of love for it,” she declared. “You want to do things with your hands – being creative, being unique; when people see it, they must know it’s my product.”

Nice and unique would be two words uttered over and over again as the outgoing entrepreneur of Indigenous origin described what she strives to achieve in her handpainted t-shirts, crocheted

pieces and other handicrafts.

She explained that her guiding philosophy was to make “something from something”.

Khan, who has taken her crafts to Carifesta and other exhibitions over the past four years, noted that her work

usually incorporated some aspect of Guyana.

“My daughter (Ubrina) said to me ‘Mommy, you’re so patriotic’,” she recalled, chuckling. “‘Is everything got to be about Guyana?’” For Khan, the answer is definitely yes. But she is always careful

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Calculated at 94% purity, September 6, 2017

Selling

USD

$205.98

$208.44

CAN

$166.26

$168.18

EURO

$ 245.43

$248.56

$268.56

$271.97

GBP

USD

$1337.85

Gross

$261,262

Net

$242,974

Indicators as on September 6, 2017 Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$54.20

Price

USD

Rough Rice

$279.62/ton

London Sugar

380.60/ton

Live Spot Gold

+1.51 Change %

-0.08 +0.82 USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1333.00

$1334.00

Low/High

$1330.90

$1342.40

Change

Business Concept – Free Market

Change %

-0.50

-0.04%

Fiduciary relationship between two parties in which one (the ‘agent’) is under the control of (is obligated to) the other (the ‘principal’). The agent is authorised by the principal to perform certain acts, for and on behalf of the principal. The principal is bound by the acts of the agent, performed in carrying out entrusted duties and within the scope of agent’s authority. An agency can be created by (1) express agreement, whether oral or written, (2) implication, based on the custom or practice of the trade, or (3) conduct of the principal. Under the legal doctrine of estoppel, the principal is prohibited from denying the existence of a properly constituted agency.

(Business Dictionary)

to ensure that her crafts match the season: they carry Independence themes during the month of May and Christmas themes during the festive season, etc.

She is inspired by love for her work and the feedback of

customers, her daughter and her son, Randy.

“She tells me ‘Mommy, that’s nice’ or ‘Mommy, you have got to put a little more’,” she said fondly as she directed a proud glance at the elder of her two children whose head was buried in her phone. “People would ask me where I got the ideas. I just wake up with the

vision.…As soon as you get the idea, just work on it so you don’t forget…”

Khan usually paints during the wee hours of the morning as the ideas come, and her family often awakes to completed pieces. She believes the most important thing for business owners to keep in mind is “it’s not about you, it’s about the customer” and to act according by relating properly to “customers”. The number one lesson she has learnt is when pricing items, ensure you account for all costs – labour, materials, transportation, etc, before you put on a mark-up.

The entrepreneur urged that systems be put in place to enable older Amerindians to pass their knowledge on to the young people “so that they can take it and start businesses”.

She noted that in her own life, she has put that into practice by

travelling back to her primary school in Abrams Creek to teach the students painting, and the school administration and pupils were so appreciative.

“This is a dream. I have always wanted to give back to my school, because they are the ones who taught me…It was so emotional,” Khan related as she confided that she wanted to return and even expand to other schools.

The craftswoman also called for more emphasis to be placed on promoting the work of Amerindians, especially in creating markets for their work, both in Guyana and abroad. She added that low-interest loans should be provided with ease, once proper business plans are submitted, particularly to youths to enable them to start up businesses.

Contact: 270-6321, 6842978; nonakhan69@gmail. com

Investor’s Guide

Energy shares lead broad rebound on Wall Street

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all Street climbed on Wednesday, boosted by energy shares and helped by news of an agreement to extend the debt limit, as stocks bounced back from a day-earlier selloff.

US stocks built on moderate gains after news that President Donald Trump, siding with Democrats over his fellow Republicans, said he agreed to pass an extension of the US debt limit until December 15, potentially avoiding an unprecedented default on US government debt.

Data showed US services sector activity accelerated in August amid strong gains in new orders and employment, while another report showed only a modest rise in the trade deficit in July – the latest signs that the economy had gathered momentum early in the third quarter.

A Federal Reserve survey showed the US economy expanded at a modest to

moderate pace in July through mid-August.

The S&P 500 on Tuesday had suffered its biggest single-day decline in nearly three weeks amid fresh tensions involving North Korea and a second powerful hurricane bearing down on the US south.

“You have opposing forces kind of keeping the market from breaking out to a new high, but yet the fundamental data seem to be keeping it from breaking down and selling off significantly,” said Walter Todd, chief investment officer of Greenwood Capital in Greenwood, South Carolina.

“You kind of have these opposing forces pushing on each other and keeping the market in a very narrow range,” Todd said. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 54.33 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 21,807.64, the S&P 500 gained 7.69 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 2465.54 and the Nasdaq Composite added 17.74 points, or 0.28 per cent,

to 6393.31.

Despite Tuesday’s fall, the benchmark S&P 500 ended on Wednesday within 15 points of its record closing high.

“The natural trend in the market is to run scared at the first sign of trouble and then to bounce back,” said Brad McMillan, chief investment officer for Commonwealth Financial Network in Waltham, Massachusetts. “Once investors had a chance to digest some of the events, they realised that from a domestic point of view, it simply isn’t that bad.”

The energy sector rose 1.6 per cent, for its biggest singleday gain in two months, as oil prices rose. Strong global refining margins and the reopening of US Gulf Coast refineries provided a more bullish outlook after sharp drops due to Hurricane Harvey.

Two-per cent gains for shares of oil majors Exxon Mobil and Chevron supported the S&P 500 and the Dow. (Reuters)

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thursDAY, september 7, 2017

Regional At least 2 dead as Irma unleashes wrath in Caribbean

Hurricane Irma’s wrath. At right is a handout picture released on September 6, 2017 on the Twitter account of RCI Guadeloupe showing damage on the French overseas island of St Martin, after high winds from Hurricane Irma hit the island. The other images also show damage on St Martin

F

rance said two people had been killed on St Barts and St Martin after the two eastern Caribbean islands were hit by Hurricane Irma, and announced it would

for overseas affairs, Annick Girardin, told the news channel BFMTV. “But obviously, the situation can change very, very quickly.”

Separately, French

islands was “considerable.”

“A national reconstruction plan will be implemented as soon as possible,” Macron said, adding that an emergency fund to finance it would be set up.

Girardin was to fly to the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe late Wednesday with emergency teams and supplies to assess the situation, the ministry said.

St Martin (“Sint Maarten” in Dutch), located south of the island of Anguilla, is divided between the Netherlands and France.

St Barts (“Saint Barthelemy” in French), which lies to the southeast of St Martin, is administered with the status of a French collectivity, as is the French part of St Martin.

Emergency evacuations in South-eastern Bahamas

set up an emergency fund to help them rebuild.

“At the present moment, there are reports of two dead and two seriously injured,” the French minister

President Emmanuel Macron, after chairing a crisis meeting at the interior ministry in Paris, warned that the toll would be “harsh and cruel” and that damage on the two

Head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of the Bahamas, Captain Stephen Russell disclosed that some 900 residents would be affected by the evacuation order.

He said residents who chose to remain on the island would have to make the best use of the shelters there, but he strongly urged the residents get out.

“I would urge people to come out and not take a chance and risk their lives.

Homes and furniture and appliances we can replace.

There is no way in the world you can replace your life,” he warned.

Russell also disclosed that Government was keeping a close eye on Andros and Bimini and, if necessary, evacuations orders would be issued for those two islands

as well.

Forecasters say Irma will be near the south-eastern Bahamas today.

Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Turks and Caicos prepare

Cuba’s civil defence was mobilised on Tuesday against the threat of the approaching category 5 Hurricane Irma.

During an orientation meeting with representatives of the working groups of the National Defence Council, it was reported that Irma is likely to maintain category five strength, as currently indicated by the forecast models, and the eastern part of Cuba will experience tropical storm force winds as of Thursday.

On Friday the hurricane is expected to approach north of Ciego de Avila and could make landfall in the central region on Saturday.

Officials in the Dominican Republic said they were prepared for any outcome.

“We are in a state of continuous monitoring,” said Administrative Minister to the president, Jose Ramon Peralta.

On Wednesday, Air Transat launched an evacuation operation to get all its travellers out of the Dominican Republic by sending a total of ten aircraft: seven to Punta Cana, two to Puerto Plata and one to Samana. All aircraft were due to arrive in the Dominican Republic on the morning of September 6, and passengers should be back in Canada in the afternoon or early evening.

The government of Haiti has activated the national risk management plan and increased the alert level to red in the face of threats of heavy

rain and strong winds with the risk of landslides, strong swells, landslides and floods throughout the country, particularly in the northern re-

gions.

Digicel gives customers free minutes

With the potential threat of Hurricane Irma on several islands across the Caribbean, Digicel has announced that it is providing its customers in the affected markets with free call credit to communicate with their loved ones throughout the hurricane.

Since last night, customers’ accounts in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The British Virgin Islands,

Guyanese must demand local content input...

This, he said, will inherently create more revenues and jobs for Guyana.

According to Paul, “that is why we invite foreign companies, because we don’t know how to do it ourselves... if we can learn from the industry and do that ourselves then we can take that into the broader economy and that is the rational for creating joint ventures.”

He explained that “in a joint venture you have the

right to ask questions as to how key activities happen and to how decisions are made...you don’t have that right if you are an agent or a vendor.” According to Paul, in a joint venture the partners share the equity and risks involved.

Paul used the opportunity to speak specifically to the Guyana context and ExxonMobil and pointed to the negative cash flow period where the investments are made at the initial

stages.

According to the industry expert, the initial investments constitute significant sums of money and countries such as Guyana must be cognisant on how they can benefit from that end of the spectrum.

“There are ways to do that and the policy addressed that.”

The industry expert explained that during production, the oil which is owned

by Guyana is sold and from

that revenue earned all the costs that went into developing the fields and sector are recovered and what remains is then shared.

In Guyana’s case, Government has agreed to accept two per cent royalty of the gross production after which initial investments and expenditure will be recovered and whatever remains as profit oil will then be shared 50/50.

According to Paul, “you pay for all these things” in

reference to the initial investments which in this case has been fronted by ExxonMobil.

“You are paying for this, the companies help giving the money upfront and then recover it with interest, so ultimately you pay for it.”

Speaking to the importance of this nation in the context of securing and protecting local content, Paul explained “it is important because as the person (Guyana/Guyanese) pro-

Dominica, Haiti, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis and the Turks and Caicos Islands have been credited with US$10 local ‘anywhere minutes’ to call friends and family on any local network over the next 48 hours, the telecommunications company said.

As early as Monday, Digicel said it activated its crisis management and contingency planning in light of Hurricane Irma to ensure that everything is in place to best manage events of the coming days.

Hurricane Irma is said to be the strongest storm ever recorded in the Atlantic outside of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is reported to have maintained its 185-mph winds after making

its first landfall on Barbuda early Wednesday morning.

Digicel said it will continue to provide updates via its social media pages and the media in terms of recovery support and office closure in affected markets.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Jose is now a hurricane and is quickly strengthening. There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect but interests in the Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of Jose. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer, Nation News, Caribbean360, Caribbean News Now)

from page 3

curing the service you have a right to determine how that money is spent...it’s not a favour, it is a right. ” With this in mind, Paul sought to point out that Government revenue earned is not the only source of development and protection for local content since there are other sources of benefit to Guyanese since they inherently have a right to be a part of determining how the initial investments are spent.

thursDAY, september 7, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

News Meten-Meer-Zorg Koker door breaks away R

Residents at Meten-Meer-Zorg look on as water rushes in the canal

Gauri Lankesh: Indian Journalist shot dead in Bangalore

A

prominent Indian journalist critical of Hindu nationalist politics has been shot dead in the southern state of Karnataka, police say. Gauri Lankesh, 55, was found lying in a pool of blood on her doorstep in the city of Bangalore.

She was shot in the head and chest by gunmen who arrived by motorcycle. The motive for the crime was not clear. The most high profile Indian journalist murdered in recent years, Lankesh was buried with full state honours.

The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, was among those who attended the funeral. There were also protests against her killing in several Indian cities,

Gauri Lankesh was known as a fearless and outspoken journalist

including the capital, Delhi.

Indian reporters are being increasingly targeted by radical Hindu nationalists, activists say.

In the last few years, jour-

nalists seen to be critical of Hindu nationalists have been berated on social media, while many women reporters have been threatened with rape and assault.

Ministers belonging to India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have also openly attacked journalists, using terms like "presstitute" (a mix of press and prostitute) to describe them.

Gauri Lankesh, was known by many simply as Gauri. She edited a weekly newspaper and was known as a fearless and outspoken journalist. She was known for her secularist criticism of rightwing and Hindu nationalists, including members of the BJP. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Trump seeks tougher sanctions to prod North Korea into negotiations

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ith no palatable military options, US President Donald Trump may ultimately have no choice but to give diplomacy a chance to end the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.

For now, though, he is pursuing tougher economic sanctions, including an oil embargo, and opposed to making any concessions that might look like appeasement, insisting that more pressure on the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is needed before it is time to talk.

North Korea seems even more opposed to negotiations until it has achieved the ability to attack the continental United States with nuclear weapons.

“North Korea is not interested in dialogue. ... Kim Jong Un has sent a message with this last test that he doesn’t listen to anybody,” said a senior official

File photo: Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-14 is pictured during its second test-fire, in this photo released July 29, 2017

who helps coordinate the European Union’s North Korea policy.

So for now, despite calls from Russia, China, and others, there is no push from the United States or North Korea for direct talks, despite an escalating crisis that threatens millions of lives after North Korea conducted its sixth and most

powerful nuclear test last weekend.

The Trump administration says the United Nations needs to tighten economic sanctions to pressure North Korea to change its behaviour and start talking.

A draft sanctions resolution was circulated to the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday. (Excerpt from Reuters)

esidents in the West Coast Demerara (WCD) village of Meten-Meer-Zorg were on edge, noting their fears of flooding following damage to a koker door at Tarla Dam. According to reports, the breakaway occurred at 17:00h on Wednesday which caused seawater to flow profusely inland.

Regional Executive Officer (REO) for Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Denis Jaikarran informed Guyana Times that the koker was managed and controlled by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Around 19:00h, he explained, teams of experts and engineers from State agencies and the Region were quickly deployed to assess and rectify the situation.

“As I speak now, I am here with GuySuCo personnel; representatives of the NDIA (National Drainage and Irrigation Authority); sea defence engineers; regional officials and engineers. The door is going to be fixed within a couple of hours,” Jaikarran noted.

Asked to explain what measures could be put in place to alleviate the situation, he observed that a temporary door would be in-

stalled as soon as the high tide subsided.

“There is going to be a false door that’s going to be put in place there; after the real (rehabilitation) is going to take effect, we are working as a team to ensure that we bring this situation to normalcy within a short period of time,” the official explained.

Jaikarran observed that the team mobilised the requisite machinery and materials to commence rehabilitation work. He stressed that despite the flow of wa-

ter, he had not received any reports of major flooding.

“There is no reported flooding in the community; yes, the water is pouring in, but there is no reported flooding in the community, because I’ve been speaking to the residents who are here who came from their homes,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Commander of D Division (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Leslie James said that Police ranks were stationed in the area and were monitoring the situation.

Chinese teenagers sentenced to hard labour for bullying

Y

oung people in Beijing convicted of bullying can now be given sentences involving hard labour, in a move that has raised eyebrows on popular microblog Sina Weibo.

Fourteen girls aged 15 to 17 are currently involved in the five-to-seven day trial programme which began on Monday, and is run by the Tongzhou District People's Court with local schools, according to local paper The

Mirror. One student was given a sentence of one year and 10 months.

During the programme, young offenders take part in a gruelling course involving military training, after which schools assess whether they are fit to return to their studies or they should be expelled.

Many applauded it as a way to tackle bullying, which one said has become "a social cancer". "This sen-

tence is too light," said 'qianyuqianxun520', an opinion that was widely echoed by others.

Another user added, "It is not enough to make them learn their lesson."

'DuiWoShi ParkChangJi' said: "It is not as good as Yang Yongxin's electro-convulsive therapy," referring to one controversial Chinese psychiatrist's methods used to treat antisocial behaviour in teenagers. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, september 7, 2017

ARCHIE

ARIES

Emotions will surface and

(March 21- could cause trouble if you April 19) cannot control what you do or

say. Concentrate on personal growth and your outward appeal. Choose love over discord.

Go over your important TAURUS papers or contracts and make (April 20- any adjustments that are May 20) needed. A discussion with a colleague or instructor will result in positive personal or professional change.

dilbert

If you pitch in and help, GEMINI (May 21- the rewards will be worth June 20) your time and effort. Make family a priority and put a passionate relationship at the top of your list.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Get along with others.

Communal effort will make it much easier to reach your goal. Express your thoughts and concerns and be willing to listen to good advice.

Don’t give in to someone taking advantage of your generosity. Be clear regarding your expectations and what you want in return. Stick to the people you know you can trust.

Romance is highlighted.

Do the work yourself and VIRGO save some money. Use your (Aug. 23skills to fix minor problems Sept. 22) at home or find natural ways to improve your health and avoid unnecessary costs.

Draw on your experience LIBRA (Sept. 23- and the people you know you Oct. 23) can count on. Someone who has a tendency to bully will question a change you try to implement.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Welcome change. Whether SAGITTARIUS it’s learning something new (Nov. 23- or going somewhere different, Dec. 21) the experiences you encounter will have an impact on the way you live and how well you get along with others.

TODAY’S WORD — FOOTNOTES (FOOTNOTES: FOOT-notes: Notes on the bottom of a page of a book or other printed material.)

Average mark 19 words Time limit 35 minutes Can you find 28 or more words in FOOTNOTES? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — INTESTINE inset intense intent nene nest nine nineties nisei

teen tenet tennis tense tent test tine tiniest

tinniest tint titi entities seen seine sennit sent

sine site snit stein stent stet stint

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

Don’t feel that you must SCORPIO follow the crowd. Impulsive (Oct. 24or risky pursuits may work Nov. 22) for some, but you aren’t likely to prosper if you get involved.

Do your own thing.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Don’t be fooled by what CAPRICORN others do. Following the (Dec. 22- crowd will not turn out as Jan. 19) planned. Use your intelligence and head in a direction that allows you to practice your skills.

Revisit old ideas and conAQUARIUS sider how to update and im(Jan. 20- plement them into your curFeb. 19) rent situation. Relationships will weigh heavily on the decisions you make. Romance is encouraged.

Look for alternative ways PISCES (Feb. 20- to put your skills, knowledge March 20) and experience to good use. If someone stands in your way or puts demands on you, back away and do your own thing.

thursDAY, september 7, 2017

Michael Holding slams Brian Lara’s criticism ...says ‘not interested in opinion’

Former world champion Haye plans to return to the ring F

M

Brian Lara

Michael Holding

ichael Holding, one of the best bowlers for the West Indies during the period of the 70s and 80s, dismissed Brian Lara’s criticism of his conduct during West Indies’ 1980 tour of New Zealand, saying he has “never been interested” in the batting great’s opinions.

“I am not interested in whatever Brian Lara says.

Never was, never will be,” that was Holding’s blunt response when PTI asked him to comment on what Lara said against the 63-year-old while delivering the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey lecture at Lord’s last Monday.

It is well-known that both the West Indies’ greats, Lara and Holding are not the best of friends. During the MCC lecture, Lara spoke about he was “embarrassed” by the unsportsmanlike conduct of the West Indies in the 80s and 90s.

He specifically spoke about an incident that took place during the series against New Zealand in 1980, when Holding kicked the stumps in frustration.

“Michael Holding decided he was no longer a cricketer, he was a footballer and he kicked a stump. I am sure the occurrences during that period had a big effect on cricket,” said Lara at Lord’s.

While Lara took the opportunity to slam Holding yesterday, the “whispering death” has accused the legendary batsman of “getting away with murder” during his reign.

Holding, speaking to PTI over the phone from London, also spoke about the much hyped comparison of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, especially after the latter completed 30 ODI hundreds in the just concluded series against Sri Lanka.

“There is a long long way to go (before he gets close to Tendulkar’s record) but he is certainly a great batsman,” said Holding. Asked if Kohli is a a better batsman compared to Tendulkar or vice-versa, the Jamaican added: “Well, I don’t like comparisons.”

Though Kohli himself has said he is not chasing Tendulkar’s mind-boggling 100 international hundreds, the 28-year-old already has 47 centuries to his name. India have an envious Test record under Kohli with the team winning recently winning its eighth series in a row, albeit most of them were won in the sub-continent.

Holding said time will only tell if the current Indian team can win outside the sub-continent. The team has tough tours of England and South Africa lined-up next year.

“I don’t know. They have to do it to prove it. The proof of the cake is in the eating. So we will just have to wait and see what they do (outside the sub-continent). You can’t predict these things,” Holding said.

(HindustanTimes)

19

ormer world heavyweight champion David Haye said on Wednesday he would return to the ring before the end of the year but remained coy on the details.

The 36-year-old Briton, who has 28 wins from 31 bouts, ruptured an Achilles tendon in his defeat to underdog Tony Bellew in London in March.

The former WBA heavyweight champion, who was advised by doctors to retire after he underwent major shoulder surgery in 2013, has had long periods out of the ring without ever officially calling it a day.

“I am going to fight again before the end of the year,” the Briton told reporters at a news conference to announce

the first event to be put on by his new promotion company Hayemaker Ringstar.

The main bout of the Oct. 20 event will be the professional debut of Joe Joyce, Britain’s super-heavyweight silver medalist at last year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Joyce, who turns 32 this month, has signed with Haye and will be fighting 35-year-old Briton Ian Lewison.

“Joe has all the tools to be the best heavyweight on the planet,” said Haye. “He’s called ‘The Juggernaut’ because he just keeps on coming.” (Reuters)

David Haye

Williams still grabbing her opportunities at US Open

N

ow 37 and in the twilight of a sparkling career, the opportunities Venus Williams lives for are not supposed to come around as often as they once did.

But there Williams was on Tuesday battling and grabbing her chances when they came, capitalizing on just enough of them to secure a 6-3 3-6 7-6(2) win over Petra Kvitova and a spot in the U.S. Open semi-finals.

“Sometimes you have opportunities and sometimes you take them and you don‘t, but it’s not like you get opportunity after opportunity after opportunity in these sorts of matches,” said Williams. “You have to take the ones you have.”

Williams has taken those words to heart in a renaissance season that has seen her reach the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals and sit just one victory away, against American compatriot Sloane Stephens, from playing for the U.S. Open title for the first time since 2002.

It has been nine years since Williams celebrated the last of her seven grand

slam singles wins and 16 since she last lifted the U.S. Open title and remains as hungry for trophies as ever. “ I ‘ m still living my dream, a n d it’s

a m a z ing,” said Williams.

It did not always seem like it on Tuesday, particularly during a fluctuating second set when Williams was unable to put away her 13th s e e d ed opponent, who had beaten her four times in five meetings. ” Y o u know, definitely when I had opportunities in the

second set and so many break points disappearing, you feel like, wow, I should be doing more,“ said Williams. ”You have to put it behind you. ”It’s about winning the match you’re in.

Doesn’t matter whether you’re playing well or not playing well. It’s about figuring out how to win.

“These big matches there have b e e n times where I have won these and there have been times I didn’t win them.”

Williams has been winning much more than losing this year putting together a 34-10 match record.

But the records Williams is piling up now are the ‘oldest this’ and ‘oldest that’.

Longevity brings its own recognition but winning re-

mains the ultimate goal.

Life has moved on for Williams. Sister Serena, a six-time U.S. Open champion, is not in Flushing Meadows after giving birth to her first child and many of the players Williams is facing at the U.S. Open grew up watching and idolizing her.

A role model, Williams led four American women into the quarter-finals and hopes all four will reach the semi-finals.

Williams and Stephens booked their places and on Wednesday CoCo Vandeweghe and Madison Keys will try to do the same.

“All I have known all my life was great American players,” said Williams. “ S o it’s great to see this resurgence, and I hope it can c o n tinue.” (Reuters)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, september 7, 2017

"No-ball was unintentional"

Gayle dedicates Patriots' victory to ‒ Pollard claims controversial delivery to Lewis just competitive Hurricane Irma victims in Leeward Islands B

arbados Tridents captain Kieron Pollard has insisted the now infamous no ball that prevented St Kitts and Nevis Patriots batsman Evin Lewis from getting to 100 in Sunday’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) first round finale was un-intentionally bowled.

In a sensational performance against the Tridents, the young Trinidadian cracked booming boundaries to all parts of the ground, ending with a scorching 97 from just 32 balls.

However, needing one ball to win and just three runs short of what would have been a well-deserved century Lewis faced compatriot Pollard for the final delivery of the innings. Striding down the wicket the big all-rounder overstepped the crease on the delivery causing the game to end on somewhat of a sour note.

Although firmly insisting that it was simply not in his nature to lob-up an easy

delivery for the in-form batsman to whack away, Pollard insists he had all intention to bowl a legal ball.

“I’m not one to just sit back and allow people to rule over me or the team I play for. Once I step on to that cricket field it’s a completely different individual that you will see,” Pollard told SportsMax Zone.

“When I took up that ball on that last delivery I had one thought in mind, trying to bowl my best delivery, what has been working for throughout the tournament, a short delivery to see if he would have a waft at it and it would go up in the air and we could get him out,” he added.

“Although we would have lost the game I was still thinking about getting him out and using my strength what I have been doing.

Unfortunately striving for that extra I stepped over the marker and I think that has been the talking point

T

he St Kitts and Nevis Patriots captain Chris Gayle has dedicated the team’s historic victory in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) semifinals to the people of the Leeward Islands who are currently suffering from the effects of Hurricane Irma.

Kieron Pollard

of what actually happened the actual no ball itself,” Pollard said.

The bowler pointed to an instance earlier in the match where he had bowled another illegal delivery, but it had little impact.

“When we look at in the first over striving for that extra I also bowled a no

ball it wasn’t intentional nothing was intentional at any point in time. I had a free hit, he hit it for six. It wasn’t a problem.”

The debate has raged on following the incident with some calling for sanctions against the player for unsportsmanlike conduct.

(SportsMax)

Panama 3 T&T 0: Caribbean side's World Cup dream near dead after thrashing

Trinidad and Tobago forward Kenwyne Jones (left) outruns Panama central defender Roman

P

anama (2W-4D-2L, 10 points) snapped a six-game winless streak in the CONCACAF Hexagonal and jumped into one of the three direct qualifying spots for the 2018 FIFA World Cup thanks to a 3-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago (1-0-7, 3) on Tuesday at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez.

The result, combined with a 1-1 draw earlier between Honduras (2-3-3, 9) and the United States (23-3, 9), saw the Canaleros climb from fifth to third place with two matchdays remaining. T&T can no longer earn an automatic trip to Russia and needs to win its last two games – and hope Honduras and the U.S. lose both of theirs – to have any hope of booking a ticket.

Gabriel Torres gave the host a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute on what was a possible “goal of the year” candi-

date, gaining possession of the ball deep in his own end and racing all the way down the field, before slotting past goalkeeper Marvin Phillip from 18-yards out.

In the 58th minute, Panama’s went ahead 2-0, when T&T’s Carlyle Mitchell headed the ball into his own net off Alberto Quintero’s right-sided cross.

Abdiel Arroyo completed the scoreline with five minutes remaining in normal time as his right-footed shot from the top of the box appeared to be deflected by Cordell Cato’s outstretched foot before hitting the back of the net. Panama will complete CONCACAF qualifying with games against the U.S. (October 5, away) and Costa Rica (October 10, home), while T&T will face Mexico (October 5, away) and the U.S. (October 10, home). (SportsMax)

of comfort for the eastern Caribbean islands who face the prospect of widespread devastation based on category 5 hurricane conditions during the passage of Irma.

“We are very happy and very excited to be in the final. I thought it was a good game even though it was a slow wicket. At the same

Chris Gayle

Led by a patient 54 from Gayle the Patriots defeated the Trinbago Knight Riders by 38 runs at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on Tuesday, booking the team’s first ever appearance in the final of the regional event. In two prior seasons, the Patriots had not only failed to make the playoffs but finished at the bottom of the league table with a combined six wins.

Gayle who signed for the Patriots this season and has delivered on his promise to turn the franchise around hoped the victory could serve as a source

time we had to deal with that and try to get to 150 and give ourselves a chance to win the game, especially on that sort of wicket where our spinners would come into play,” Gayle said following the encounter.

“We came into this game and based on what happened in the Leewards with the hurricane that gave us a bit of a boost to actually represent the people well back in the Leeward Islands so hopefully they can have something to cheer about,” he added.(SportsMax)

Windies opener Kraigg Brathwaite signs with Yorkshire W

est Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite has signed a contract to represent English county club Yorkshire for the remainder of the season.

The 24-year-old Barbadian, who scored 134 and 95 at Headingley last month to help lead West Indies to a five-wicket victory over England, will replace Australian Shaun Marsh at the conclusion of the third Test against England that begins on Thursday.

"Kraigg played exceptionally well here and if you can get runs at Headingley then you can do it anywhere," head coach Andrew Gale told BBC Radio Leeds.

"We wanted to replace Shaun with experience and

West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite

that is tricky at this time of year because there are not too many people playing consistent cricket and are in form. We're excited to have Kraigg on board."

Brathwaite was equally excited about playing for Yorkshire.

"Before the second Test I was speaking to my agent and he was telling me he was talking to Yorkshire's coaching staff. After the game he came back to me telling me he was getting some quality feedback,” he said.

"They really wanted me and I was very happy because Yorkshire is a very big club in England and I'm very happy and proud to have been selected by them.”

(SportsMax)

sports

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21

M

BK All Stars, Mocha, Albouystown ‘A’ and North Ruimveldt continued their good form by winning their matches to remain unbeaten in the inaugural Guinness Cage / Three Peat Promotions Indoor Championship on Tuesday evening at the National Gymnasium.

The All- Stars edged Champion Boys 3-2 much to the delight of the sizable crowd in attendance. Peter George led the way with a brace, netting in the 16th and 17th while teammate Nevon Haynes opened the scores in the 14th minute.

For the Champion Boys, who played far from their name would suggest saw Lloyd Matthews (3rd) and Melvin Squires (5th) give their side the early lead which they folded.

More so, Mocha won 2-1 on penalty kicks against Hustlers after the match ended 1-1. Hitting the target for Mocha was Amos Ramsey in the 13th while Anthony Sancho scored the in the 10th.

The combination of Shaka Jones (13th) and Renault Fraser (14th) sealed Albouystown ‘A’ 2-1 victory over Pike Street whose lone goal came from the heels of Kelville Frank in the 4th minute.

Ol Skool Baller withered away against the experience

‒ Sparta, Leopold Street get lifeline

The MBK All-Stars and Champion Boys clash was not short of excitement

North Ruimveldt, who won 1-0 after Kacey John made his mark in the 7th minute.

In addition, Future Stars kept their composure for a 2-0 win over Showstoppers.

Jermaine Beckles (12th) and Jamal Cozier (13th) were at the helm of the victory.

Meanwhile, Sparta Boss needing a win to stay in contention of a spot in the knock-out stages won 2-1 against Albouystown ‘B’.

Senior statesmen Gregory Richardson (12th) and Solomon Austin (16th) were the successful marksmen.

Mickel Brandt had leveled the scores in the 15th.

For Leopold Street, who are in a similar predicament like Sparta Okanie Fraser in the 12th minute the dif-

ference for in their clash against Back circle.

While West Front road won 3-1 on penalty kicks after their match ended 1-1 with Tiger bay. Michael Pedro gave the winners the lead in the 5th but Keoma Gravesande equalized in the 14th.

However, they both have negative goal differences and will need to win their respective matchups tonight to guarantee a place in the quarter-finals set for Saturday, at the same venue.

The Bosses play group A’ leaders North Ruimveldt in the final game of the night, while West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’ takes on second placed Group ‘B’ team

Hustlers, who also have to register a victory to secure a last eight berth.

Another big team that will have to win this evening to advance is Back Circle, who could not reproduce their form and went down to Leopold Street that needed to prevail to put them in

a position to progress to the quarter-finals.

Some of the teams to exit the championship are Albouystown ‘B’, Pike Street, Sophia, Tiger Bay, Champion Boys and Showstoppers.

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

Meanwhile, among the other sponsors on board are Star Party Rentals, Faye Joseph, Claude Geddes Recreational Sports Club, National Sports Commission, Windjammer International Hotel & Cuisine, Woodpecker Trophies & Sport, Y.K Investments & Pawn Shop, Henry Chase, Jai Signs, Trophy Stall of Bourda Market, John Fernandes Ltd and E-Networks Inc.

Tonight’s fixtures: Pike Street vs Showstoppers1

9:00hrs

Tiger Bay vs Mocha

19:30hrs

Albouystown-B vs Ol Skool Ballers

20:00hrs

Leopold Street vs Champion Boys

20:30hrs

Gold is Money vs Hustlers

21:00hrs

Back Circle vs MBK All-Stars

21:30hrs

Future Stars vs Albouystown-A

22:00hrs

Sparta vs North Ruimveldt-B

22:30hrs

175th anniversary celebrations

Rose Hall Town East cop football title T

he 175th anniversary celebration of the purchase of Rose Hall by 57 free slaves on August 20, 1842, continued last weekend with the hosting of two sporting tournaments. The Anniversary Committee of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) and its eight cricket teams hosted a three team domino competition and a fivea-side football tournament for four teams in Rose Hall Town.

The football tournament was sponsored by the RHTY&SC, the Guyana Football Federation and Balram Shane General Store. The teams involved were Rose Hall Town North, Rose Hall Town South, Rose Hall Town East and Rose Hall Town West. In the semi-finals, North defeated South 2-1 on penalties while East squeezed past West 1-0. In the final, East and South played to an exciting 0-0 in game time before. East won the title via

Ken Kedwaroo receives his prize from Roy Albert of NTN

penalties 3-2.

The winners received a winner take all financial package, the 175th Anniversary Trophy while footballs donated by the Guyana Football Federation were handed over to the Rose Hall Town Football Team towards the development of

the game in Guyana’s smallest township.

The Domino Tournament consisted teams representing Enterprise Sports Club of East Coast, Demerara, Bad Boys of Rose Hall Town and the Over 35 Group of the RHTY&SC, MS and was sponsored by the National

Television Network (NTN).

Bad Boys under the leadership of Michael Roach emerged champions after edging out RHTYSC Over35 Group by one point 7574 while Enterprise came in third on 70 points.

Enterprise started the six rounds tournament on a high and at the end of the third round was ahead on 41 points while Bad Boys was on 38 and RHTY&SC was in the cellar on 35. Brilliant team work by the Bad Boys team led them to the top giving into the last rounds with 63 points, RHTY&SC on 62 and Enterprise on 61. Ken Kedwaroo of the RHTYSC Domino Team was named Player of the 175th Anniversary Tournament and received a Special Hamper from the Organisers.

Players from all three teams received individual trophies compliments of NTN while the RHTY&SC distributed copies of its Rose Hall Town Information

Booklet and Tourist Posters to all participants.

Secretary/CEO of the RHTY&SC MS, Hilbert Foster at the presentation ceremony of both ceremonies stated that his organisation was passionate about the development of all sports and was pleased to promote sports as a safe avenue for all. He disclosed that while the RHTY&SC is widely known for its exploits on the cricket field, it hosts or sponsors a wide range of sporting events like volleyball, chess, scrabble, dominoes, circle tennis, table tennis, football, athletics and basketball.

The RHTY&SC would continue to do so in the future as part of its ‘Say No/ Say Yes Campaign’. The long serving Secretary/CEO expressed gratitude to Roy Albert of NTN, Wayne Forde of the Guyana Football Federation and Deonarine Shane of Balram Shane General Store for their sponsorship of the events.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, september 7, 2017

“Absorb but pass on knowledge to all” – CONCACAF’s Goalkeeper Instructor

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/ C O N C A C A F facilitated Goal Keeping Coaches Course officially opened on Wednesday and the resounding message uttered by CONCACAF’s Goalkeeper Instructor, Claine Anthony Plummer, was for the participants to spread what they will be taught to all stakeholders for the sport to grow.

The one-week course which is being held at the Guyana Fire Service Training Centre, Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, has attracted 19 participants from the member associations.

Plummer, who also conducted the course last year, explained that these courses help to bring awareness of how modern day goalkeeping is done given the progression of the sport.

“The goal keeping de-

The participants listen attentively as CONCACAF’s Goalkeeper Instructor, Claine Anthony Plummer makes his presentation

partment has progressed as well and this programme will only help in closing that gap between top counties in the world who has access to

these programme and countries such as these”, the instructor stated.

Likewise, acting President of the GFF,

Wong the unstoppable at Bartica Motocross D

irt bike riding and Andrew Wong’s dominance have almost become synonymous, as the rider produced another beastly performance at Motocross on Sunday at the Mongrippa Ball field in Bartica, Region Seven in front of sizable crowd.

Wong, who was deemed the champion rider in the 125cc professional category after he won all three races in a stupendous display of daredevilry, carted off $90,000 in winnings.

As talented as he is, Steven Nobrega had to settle for two second places and a third. Andy Rajkararan and Sadiq Rasul were the other riders to mark a spot on the podium for professionals.

The 125cc Novices belonged solely to Conroy who swept all three races on his way to $60,000 prize winnings. Keaton Dougan slipped into second on one occasion but was replaced by Tevin Sears in the final two races. Daniel Hardeen kept a consistent third spot.

In the 125cc and 4-stroke, G Georgino won the two completed races followed by Ronski Pestano and Levi. Mark Fergundes had the

Brigadier (retired) Bruce Lovell disclosed the programme is another part of the Federation’s capacity building.

“As we seek to elevate the standard of football in Guyana it is important we provide the right climate for the persons who have to

play the critical role for the elevation to be done,” Lovell addressed the gathering.

He added, “We view the coaches in all areas as every critical and an essential element in the process of elevating standard of football and that is how you have to see yourself as a coach”.

The acting President called for coaches to see themselves as leaders and must have character and competence. His concept of competence aligns with having inter-personal skills to relate their knowledge to others and two being technically equipped with modern concepts.

Looking ahead to the future, Lovell underscored the importance of having qualified coaches if football is to develop. He advocated that all academy training centres and hopefully clubs will have qualified coaches.

Guyana Jaguars 3-Day League

Essequibo take early lead on point standings T

he second round of the 2017 GCB Jaguars 3-Day League approaches its commencement, Essequibo emerged as point standing leaders on 17.2 points, closely followed

by Upper Demerara-East Bank with 16.5 and Upper Corentyne on 15.8.

The second round promises to build on an enticing

first round of matches, where players from the eight franchise teams across the country will continue to compete for national places in the upcoming 2017/2018 CWI Regional 4 Day PCL, which commences on October 26.

The second round of matches in GCB Jaguars 3-Day League will commence on Friday and will

witness, Upper Corentyne facing East Coast at Port Mourant, Georgetown competing against Lower Corentyne at Lusignan, West Berbice taking on Essequibo at Bush Lot and East Bank going up against West Demerara at Police.

All matches have a scheduled to start at 09:30 hrs.

2017 GCB/Jaguars 3-Day League Points Table Points Table: After Round One Teams

Matches Wins

Loses Outright Abandon Batting Team Bowling win Bonus Bonus

Fast Bowling Total Bonus

Essequibo

1

1

0

12

0

2

3

.2

17.2

Airborne! Wong in action during one of his dominant races (Photo courtesy of Ackeem Thomas Photography)

Upper Demerara/ East Bank

1

1

0

12

0

0

3

1.5

16.5

Upper Corentyne

1

1

0

12

0

0

3

.8

15.8

same impact in the Bush ATV, winning his two races in emphatic fashion while Kyle Fergundes and Curtis James interchanged the second and third place spot in the other two races.

The only completed 4-wheel Raptor race, Dave Young crossed the finish line ahead of Mark Fergundes and Romario Smart.

After the event, the organisers expressed immense gratitude to all that came out and witness the exciting action and thanked the support of sponsors Atlantic Mining Supplies, Wasim Kassim, M F Yasin, Dino’s Investments, M Y Yasin, Vijay Ramsingh and Son and Hopkinson Mining.

Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom.

Georgetown

1

0

1

0

0

0

3

.9

3.9

Lower Corentyne

1

0

1

0

0

0

3

.8

3.8

West Berbice

1

0

1

0

0

0

3

2

3.2

West Demerara

1

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

3

East Coast Demerara

1

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

3

"From nothing to something"

‒ Gayle delights in taking Patriots to maiden CPL final

S

t Kitts and Nevis and several other players. On captain Chris Gayle has Tuesday, with a convincing expressed delight with 38-runs win over top of delivering on the promise the table Trinbago Knight of bringing success to the Riders the team sealed its franchise after sealing a first ever appearance in high-profile move from a CPL final, adding to the the Jamaica Tallawahs this accomplishment of making summer. The big left-hander a first ever playoff last week. made plenty of headlines “I’m just excited to be in with a move away from his another final again, to be Chris Gayle has had a measured approach Jamaican home base, where to his innings this season honest with you to actually the team had just earned a take a team from nothing to second Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title. His something,” Gayle said. “It’s a great achievement new team the Patriots had finished at the bottom for me already no matter what happens in the of the table in two prior seasons, earning a meagre final.” total of just 6 wins in that period.

The Patriots will contest the final on Saturday Things have, however, completely turned with the Knight Riders, Guyana Amazon Warriors around for Patriots since the introduction of Gayle and Jamaica Tallawahs all still in contention. (Sportsmax)

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ThursDAY, september 7, 2017

23

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2017

Warriors send defending champions packing ‒ set up big clash with TKR for final spot

By John Ramsingh at Tarouba in Trinidad and Tobago

L

uke Ronchi and Chadwick Walton gave the Guyana Amazon Warriors their fifth straight victory in this year’s Hero Caribbean League (CPL) with a fivewicket thrashing of defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs in the Eliminator at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Wednesday night in Trinidad.

With the win, the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) will now meet Trinbago Knight Riders in qualifier two for a place in the final against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

Set 169 to win, the threetime finalists got home with five wickets and 13 balls to spare. Assad Fudadin flicked Santokie for a maximum to seal the deal, but it was Walton who was ultra-aggressive from the start of the run chase that set up the clinical run chase.

Walton, the GAW’s most successful batsman this year, added 67 runs for the second wicket with Ronchi in just over five overs that really knocked the winds out of the Tallawahs’ sails.

The Warriors had a slight stumble when they lost three wickets in four overs. Walton was first to go, dismissed for 40 from 23 balls with five fours and two sixes at 90-2 at the start of the ninth over and was

followed by Jason Mohammed for seven and Gajanand Singh for 6. However, Man-of-theMatch Ronchi continued to mix aggression and caution before he was dismissed with just 14 runs needed 22 balls still available.

In all, Ronchi faced 33 balls hitting five fours and a similar number of sixes. He got to 50 from 20 balls, the second fastest this year.

After his dismissal, Assad Fudadin with 29 from 24 balls and Roshon Primus played smartly to ensure the GAW deny the defending champions a shot at a third title.

Earlier on, the Tallawahs were out of the blocks in a hurry after being sent in by Rayad Emrit on a good batting track and big lush outfield.

The bowlers had a continuous battle with heavy dew all night, but it was debutant Kennar Lewis and Lendl Simmons who put on 40 for the opening wicket in 28 balls that set the brand new stadium alight.

Emrit got the breakthrough after Veerasammy Permaul and Sohail Tanveer were roughed up in the first four overs. The powerfully built right hander, Lewis found Permaul at deep backward square. Trevon Griffith joined forces with the attacking Simmons and at the Power Play, the Tallawahs were 55-1

Andre McCarthy was the first victim when he was bowled by a googly as he played down the wrong line at 116-5. His replacements, Jonathan Foo and Rovman Powell, followed in identical fashion over the next two balls as Khan completed the first hat trick of this year’s CPL. Sangakarra then found another good partner in Krishmar Santokie to put on 35 for the eighth wicket before the Sri Lankan veteran brought up his fourth half-century this season. The innings then Rovman Powell (L) of Jamaica Tallawahs bowled by Rashid Khan (C) of Guyana Amazon Warriors

with Simmons on 34 and Griffith on four before the off-spin of Steven Jacobs was introduced.

Simmons drove to extra cover where Emrit flung himself to the right and took a one-handed catch on the second attempt, and Jacobs and the Amazon Warriors were suddenly on the hunt.

Four balls later, Mahmudullah picked out Permaul at deep midwicket and the Tallawahs have lost three for 19 runs in 13 balls.

Meanwhile, Kumar Sangakarra, the Tallawahs captain, who is their leading run scorer, was assessing the conditions and beginning to accumulate his runs as wickets were falling at the other end.

At the end of 10 overs, he was on 17

Inspired Windies face England in Lord’s decider

O

pinion is divided as to whether West Indies’ victory in the second Test at Headingley is the greatest comeback from the dead since Lazarus, or merely the most astonishing turnaround in fortunes in Test history. From the depths of ignominy at Edgbaston - beaten by an innings and 209, having lost 19 wickets in a single miserable day - to the heights of adulation a week later, West Indies have breathed new life into a series that many had quietly feared was heading for a sad September denouement.

This win has the potential to herald one of the great series turnarounds if West Indies can back up their sterling efforts with at least an equal performance. It is a big ‘if’

- the bookmakers are fairly confident that England will come back with a bang in this match, while it may be asking too much to expect Shai Hope and Brathwaite to challenge perfection once again - but in the field at least, there are clearly opportunities for West Indies to raise their game.

Rarely can a team have dropped as many as seven clear-cut chances and not dropped the match as a consequence.

England will be smarting after such a remarkable loss.

Their performance from start to finish was a tapestry of halfbaked efforts, allied to flashes of genuine resurgence, that got the result it deserved, if not in the manner they might have imagined. Ben Stokes’ century in the first innings, and

Moeen

from 10 and his team on 84-3.

There was a keen battle for control of the game throughout the innings, but as soon as the Griffith and Sangakarra partnership was looking threatening, Roshon Primus was introduced into the attack. With his ‘slingy’ action, Primus got Griffith to mishit, but Chadwick Walton failed to hold on running back from fine-leg but five balls later, Griffith got another top edge and wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi made no mistake to end the 39-run partnership.

At 111-4 in the 14th over, Sangakarra, the defending champions’ captain, was warned by Umpire Gregory Brathwaite for running down the middle of the pitch and in the next over, he was in box seat when Rashid Khan got a hat trick.

ended when 13 runs came off the final over bowled by Tanveer to push the 2013 and 2016 champions to 168-8, a score that they felt was good enough to keep them alive in the tournament before Ronchi and Walton crashed the party.

The GAW will now play home team, Trinbago Knight Riders tonight in qualifier two with the winners going on to play against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in Saturday’s final. The first ball is at 8 PM tonight at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

SCOREBOARD

Jamaica Tallawahs Innings (maximum 20 overs) LMP Simmons c Emrit b Jacobs 34 K Lewis c Permaul b Emrit 15 TA Griffith c †Ronchi b Primus 20 Mahmudullah c Permaul b Jacobs 3 KC Sangakkara (c) † not out 57 AM McCarthy b Rashid Khan 14 JA Foo b Rashid Khan 0 R Powell b Rashid Khan 0 K Santokie b Sohail Tanvir 12 KOK Williams not out 1 Extras (b-1, lb-5, nb-1, w-5) 12 TOTAL (For 8 wickets, 20 overs) 168 Did not bat: Mohammad Sami FOW: 1-40, 2-55, 3-59, 4-98, 5-116, 6-116, 7-116, 8-151 Bowling: Sohail Tanvir 4-0-41-1 (nb-1; w-4), V Permaul 2-0-19-0, RR Emrit 4-0-25-1 (w-1), Rashid Khan 4-0-32-3, SA Jacobs 4-033-2, RS Primus 2-0-12-1

famous win although, having treated their own leggie, Devendra Bishoo, like a leper at Headingley, it would be a surprise to see him selected ahead of an extra quick.

Miguel Cummins, who was unavailable for the second Test through illness, and Alzarri Joseph - talented but erratic at Edgbaston - are on standby.

West Indies: (possible) 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Kyle Hope, 4 Shai Hope, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Jermaine Blackwood, 7 Shane Dowrich (wk), 8 Jason Holder (capt), 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Miguel Cummins/Alzarri

Guyana Amazon Warriors Innings (Target 169 from a maximum of 20 overs) CAK Walton c Simmons b Mahmudullah 39 Sohail Tanvir c Powell b Santokie 7 L Ronchi † lbw b Mohammad Sami 70 JN Mohammed c & b Mahmudullah 7 AB Fudadin not out 29 RS Primus not out 2 Extras (b-4, lb-2, nb-1, w-2) 9 TOTAL (For 5 wickets, 17.5 overs) 169 Did not bat: RR Emrit (c), SA Jacobs, V Permaul, Rashid Khan FOW: 1-23, 2-90, 3-112, 4-134, 5-155 Bowling K Santokie 3.5-0-35-1, Mohammad Sami 4-0-20-1 (w1), Mahmudullah 4-0-25-3, R Powell 1-0-19-0, KOK Williams 4-0-48-0 (w-1), JA Foo 1-0-16-0

made an early call on their XI for the series decider, with Toby Roland-Jones recalled on his home ground in place of Chris Woakes, who seemed a touch off the pace in his return to the team after a side strain in June, albeit he batted with his usual poise in making a declarationaccelerating half-century from No. 9 England: 1 Alastair Cook, 2 Mark Stoneman, 3 Tom Westley, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Dawid Malan, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 8 Moeen Ali, 9 Toby Roland-Jones, 10 Stuart Broad 11 James Anderson

Captain Jason Holder has a bowl in

Ali’s the nets on the eve of this crucial Test

counterattacking 84 in the second, were arguably their best moments of the match, but both performances came after those now-familiar toporder traumas. And with the ball, England’s breadth of options didn’t translate into depth of intent, with Stokes under-bowled, Chris Woakes under-cooked, and Stuart Broad underwhelming in the first innings, albeit he deserved better in the second.

Lord’s, in its drainage-system era, has become a venue that offers little in the way of surface moisture and nothing beyond conventional carry for its quick bowlers, although it remains a ground where the overhead

conditions can influence the sideways movement of the ball. And with that in mind, the forecast for the coming week is a tantalising a u t u m n a l mishmash of cloud, rain … and cloud and rain.

There will be runs on offer, and lots of them, but they may have to be Will Shai Hope be the man at the helm of West Indies redemption against England once again? The question will be answered in today’s deciding Test hard earned.

Meanwhile, there is no great Joseph, 11 Shannon Gabriel.

Today’s match gets reason for wholesale changes England, as has been fairly underway from 06:00 hrs from West Indies after such a standard this summer, have Guyana Time. (Cricinfo)

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

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

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Hero Caribbean Premier League 2017

Chadwick Walton

Luke Ronchi

Warriors send defending champions packing Pg 23

‒ set up big clash with TKR for final spot

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