Guyana Times Epaper - Thursday, October 11, 2018

UG to bestow Honorary Doctorates on 4 outstanding Guyanese P

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

Issue No. 3712

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Bandits create havoc in Berbice (See stories on pages 3, 7)

…rape teen, shoot businessman, rob 4 families of over $6M

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Wages impasse

Teachers’ P9 increase in salaries “a work in progress” – Minister …following “fruitful” meeting with GTU

City Treasurer blames taxpayers P9 for M&CC financial woes Sheriff Street expansion

Corentyne, Berbice robbery victims Dhirah Kumar and his son, Balram Kumar at the private medical institution where they are nursing injuries they received at the hands of gunmen

Legal challenge

Plaintiff’s name mysteriously disappears from GECOM list

Page 15

LGE 2018

AFC capitulates: Contesting in small number of constituencies Page 10

Mahdia miners accuse Govt of snatching their livelihood

Mother of 2 dies in Page 7 Corentyne accident

Page 2

…Opposition Leader labels move as an unconscionable assault

P11 Govt disappointed with pace of project …to consider sanctions for contractor

First Lady P11 frustrated, angered by impersonators

Monster hurricane hits Florida P17

2 news

THURsdAY, october 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mahdia miners accuse Govt of snatching their livelihood …Opposition Leader labels move as an unconscionable assault

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large group of small miners in Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) on Wednesday protested the seizure of their mining equipment by operatives of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) as they expressed calls for amnesty. The miners gathered in the town of Mahdia as they stood united, saying “bread” is being taken out of their mouths as they called for total amnesty after their equipment were seized. The miners accused the David Granger led-administration of snatching their livelihood from them.

The protest comes days after the GGMC raided Mahdia and surrounding communities seizing equipment for alleged breached of mining protocols. The miners are contending that the long waiting period for permits and the alleged corruption by GGMC officers have

Several small-scale miners gathered in Mahdia, Region Eight as they protested the GGMC’s seizure of their equipment

left them non-compliant with regulations.

“We are asking for to-

tal amnesty… whatever the consequences are after this breach then we will ac-

cept it,” one protesting miner said.

They said too that the penalties meted out to them were too harsh. The aggrieved miners told members of the media that the process of obtaining a mining permit takes some six weeks to two months to be granted and they noted that they cannot leave their operations to transact business in Georgetown for such prolonged periods of time.

“We have to be waiting long periods before we could get and renew the applications so all of them things does cause these people to breach orders and when they do, they does be treating us like criminal, running us with guns!” one miner decried.

“We are just asking that they come with good orders so that we can follow… the rules could have been fit in in a systematic way so that

the people could comply and continue earning,” said a dredge owner who had his motor engine seized.

Others spoke out against alleged corrupt compliance officers in the area who they say would often accept bribes from errant miners.

“They did not say anything to us, they usually take bribes and allow people to work so now when the people feel free to work, they coming down on them harsh-

decision which is affecting working class citizens in Mahdia and elsewhere.

“This sort of callous and uncaring decision will only serve to further hurt our small miners, who have families to maintain and children to send to school…. we have a Government that has done nothing to improve the fortunes of small miners or the working class, for that matter. The Ministers sit in their offices and gorge them-

Two small-scale miners hold placards in front of the Mahdia GGMC’s office

ly,” one miner expressed.

Some small miners even berated the granting of lands to foreign nationals, saying that Guyanese are being “left with nothing”.

“The big men them are getting lands to work and the small miners are being suffocated, nothing for them, we own Guyanese people!” the media was told.

Unconscionable assault

The miners observed that they want President David Granger to intervene even as Opposition Leader Bharat Jagdeo termed GGMC’s actions an “unconscionable assault”. He too called on the Head of State to immediately reverse the

selves on privileges using taxpayers’ monies, while every single day they come up with new ways to launch an assault on our working class and productive sectors,” the Opposition Leader said.

As such, he called for attention to be given to small miners given the importance of the mining sector to Guyana’s economy.

The Opposition Leader has also been for the last few years calling on the coalition Government to reduce the tax burden on the business sector, including the mining industry. Calls to GGMC Chairman Stanley Ming for comment on the matter on Wednesday afternoon were unanswered.

news

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thursdAY, october 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Thursday, October 11 – 05:00h-06:30h and Friday, October 12 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, October 11 – 05:20h-06:50h and Friday, October 12 – 06:00h-07:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals can be expected in the morning, while sunny conditions are expected throughout the remainder of the day. Clear skies are expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly and Northeasterly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 05:38h and 17:50h reaching maximum heights of 2.76 metres and 2.80 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:26h and 23:48h reaching minimum heights of 0.50 metre and 0.41 metre respectively

Son shot, father beaten as bandits invade Corentyne business

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father and son are now hospitalised after three armed bandits attacked their Corentyne, Berbice, business, terrorising them.

The incident occurred at about 18:00h at the Lot 6 Cromarty Farm property, where the family operates a grocery shop that is attached to their house.

Injured are 52-yearold Dhirah Kumar and his 22-year-old son, Balram, who was shot to his jaw.

Guyana Times understands that three men – one masked, one carrying a gun and the other a cutlass – entered the grocery store, which Kumar and his son operate.

According to the businessman’s wife, 48-year-old Asha Kumar, at the time of the attack, she was preparing dinner for the family when she heard her husband screaming.

The business place which bandits invaded and terrorised the victims

“When I run, I see a man with his head covered up. So when I see the bandit, I run and go in the backyard and hide. While hiding, I could hear when they beating my husband – every lash he was hollering and he was telling them “don’t, beat meh, I gon give y’all everything! Y’all don’t beat me, don’t beat meh son”,” the still traumatised woman recalled.

The woman continued that she then heard her

husband telling the perpetrators that he would give them all the money they had at the business. Guyana Times was told that the elder Kumar handed over $280,000 to the bandits.

However, not satisfied, the bandits continued beating and terrorising the businessman and his son, asking for more money.

“They tell he, “Y’all get more [money]” and they beat my son more, asking “where

is the gold”. My son said we nah get gold and he tell them take a silver band he had on so they pull off the band and ask “silver y’all does wear, y’all nah get gold” and my son tell he no,” Asha Kumar related. The younger Kumar during the ordeal put up a fight and was shot to the left side of his face.

Mrs Kumar went on to say that the perpetrators still continued to beat her husband and son, stamping and kicking them before going to the upper flat of the two storey house and ransacked the rooms. Asha could not say, however, if the men took anything for upstairs. The woman’s husband and son remain hospitalised at a private medical institution and are in stable condition.

Meanwhile, the Police have since detained a person for questioning as investigations are ongoing.

Teen raped during Berbice robbery

A wednesDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2018

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teenage girl was raped shortly after returning home from an outing in Berbice.

Her family was also robbed of cash and jewellery by the two bandits, who fired shots in the direction of a four-month-old baby, to have the family comply with their demands.

The 18-year-old mother of two and her 52-yearold mother arrived home on Monday evening about 22:00h from the Berbice Expo, and saw two men under the house, but could not escape.

The house is situated close to the Corentyne Highway. The unemployed mother said both men were carrying guns.

"My daughter had her two children, and one went to her and the other one came to me and put me to lie down. He put his foot on me and then kick me and say that they want the money and jewellery,” the woman said.

She told Guyana Times that both men were masked.

She explained that her daughter was pushed into the hammock with her fourmonth-old baby and her other child was placed to sit on the ground.

At the time, the woman's 32-year-old differently abled son was in the upper flat of the house, but owing to his disability, he was unable to aid his mother and sister.

The woman related that he managed to run away from the men and rushed over to her neighbour’s yard. She said the Police were called and they responded quickly, but as the men left, they grabbed her teenage daughter and took her with them.

Meanwhile, the teenager told Guyana Times that the men demanded her cellular phone and the silver jewellery she was wearing at the

time.

She said that two gunshots were fired – one landing inches away from her baby's head.

"They told me that I have to go with them and they pull me and carry me down to the cemetery," she said.

In tears, the teen told this publication that one of the men then raped her.

According to her, when he was finished, the second one was about to rape her also, but they saw the flashing lights of the Police vehicle and both escaped.

“When they finish with me, they tell me don’t tell nobody or they will come back to me…”

The scared teenager also related that since the incident, a particular neighbour has been mocking and teasing her about the incident.

She said this has made her more depressed about the ordeal.

Meanwhile, Police on Tuesday arrested a man at his Whim Village, Berbice home in connection with the incident.

Police are investigating.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursdAY, october 11, 2018

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

Confidence in 911 service

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ecently, the media reported that a call to 911, while an armed robbery might have been in progress, resulted in the caller reportedly being given a number for the Police Station with jurisdiction and told to call there. If that’s the case, then it is an extremely worrying situation. While the positive is that the 911 call was actually answered, from all understanding, operators are expected to take pertinent information and relay same through its internal network.

Many, over the years, have lamented the poor 911 service. In desperate situations when crimes are being committed, and which could mean the difference between life and death, the citizenry would naturally expect not just professionalism, but a swift and effective response by law enforcement. There can be no alternative to this.

Sometime back an upgrade to the 911 system was reported as well as the cost for same. With such overdue and desired improvement, the reason for a 911 operator providing a number for a station and asking the person seeking assistance to make another call, as precious time ticks away, is beyond comprehension. That station number could be engaged or go unanswered, as experienced by some, further delaying a much-needed response.

In addition, some repeated excuses as per the media and victims, are, “you need to call another station as this one does not have jurisdiction” and “only two ranks are at the station and as such are unable to assist”. Unfortunately, this has been the harsh reality for some. It renews the nagging concern over the many ranks seen on the roadways at any given time dealing with traffic related issues but often not enough in the nights to respond to armed robberies.

Motorists have alleged of being unduly harassed by Policemen during the day and it is not unusual to hear of that disparity in presence alluded to. This does not take away from the need to curb errant road users; however, taxpayers would expect nothing short of the desired response when it comes to attack from bandits.

In many past incidents of crime, often the sloth or lack of a response by the Police is noted. Again, this does not take away from the fact that there were times when the Police responded promptly and confronted the armed perpetrators. However, none can deny the distressing reports of residents bemoaning the lack of a timely response. Sentiments would be further riled in the unfortunate circumstances when a life is lost at the hands of bandits.

Experiencing an attack by armed bandits is a most traumatising experience which can linger with time. It haunts and is relived over and over in the minds of the victims. Indirectly, relatives are also affected having to grapple with the horror their loved ones were forced to endure. Tardiness and a perceived lack of concern by the Police would therefore only serve to exacerbate sentiments.

While such trauma would be referred to in the reports, there is uncertainty over mechanisms, if any, that is implemented for mitigation. This is clearly an area for which capacity building is urgently needed and which could help foster improved relationship between the related authorities and residents.

Obviously, the Police have challenges and one is the inadequate number of ranks. That reality unfortunately does not bring respite to residents who find it difficult to accept excuses for slow or a lack of response. These scenarios have unfortunately led to an erosion of confidence in the Police by many citizens and understandably so.

There is further erosion when Policemen are fingered and charged for breaking the law including, committing or assisting acts of robberies.

The newly appointed hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force would face challenges as they take control and discharge their mandate to maintain law and order. They must be given time, not just to embed their authority, but their vision for the Force. A foremost challenge will be the building and furtherance of confidence in the Force by the Guyanese people. While many social initiatives are ongoing in this regard, the bottom line will always be the response to and the reduction of crime.

One bone of contention that may have been responsible for the erosion of that confidence is the belief that some ranks may be compromised and allegedly share pertinent information with perpetrators. This naturally jeopardises people’s safety and the operations by the Force, making it extremely difficult for residents to come forward with crucial information.

This is not unique here and it’s something which the Force has been contending with for years. Cognizant of that, the Police implemented mechanisms that allow residents to provide information anonymously. In a small society like ours, the belief is that the perpetrators are often known, begging the question why generally more and swift arrests are not made. Fear of course, cannot be discounted.

With crime being everybody’s business, the Police leadership and the ranks will have to be supported and they must continue to find innovative ways of meaningfully engaging residents and to be effective to build confidence in all aspects of the system, including 911. Our safety demands nothing less.

Tourists walk past a giant hand on the Gold Bridge on Ba Na Hill near Danang City, Vietnam (Reuters/Kham)

Minister Jordan blaming others for his Government’s carelessness

Dear Editor, The Honourable Finance Minister, Winston Jordan in a letter to the media on October 9, 2018, took time from his duties to respond to a media house’s editorial of October 7, regarding his stewardship of the economy. The Minister, in his letter, addressed several matters and sought ignominiously to cast blame on others for his Government’s carelessness in managing the affairs of the State.

Minister Jordan in his letter, apparently using a basket to fetch water, among other things, referred to the sugar industry.

The Minister says “…our Government has provided a bailout for [Guyana Sugar Corporation] GuySuCo – a whopping $37 billion to date”. But what the Finance Minister didn’t say is that the Government, of which he is a leading member, installed the Hanomanled Interim Management Committee, which collected the billions he referred to, but which oversaw the diminution of the industry.

In Minister Jordan’s stint, so far, as Finance Minister, sugar production fell by over 40 per cent; sugar foreign exchange earnings fell by a whopping 38 per cent, and the sugar labour force contracted by some 7000 employees in the period.

Interestingly, prior to the Minister taking up the helm of the Finance

Ministry and having direct responsibility for our nation’s economic state of affairs, the sugar industry, with smaller allocations, was able to sustain seven estates and 17,000 workers.

In the three years prior to Minister Jordan’s leadership as Finance Minister, the sugar industry received from the Treasury aggregately $15.36 billion. In that period, the Corporation was able to approve pay rises for its hard-working workers and it respected workers benefit and conditions. Interestingly, under Minister Jordan’s Government the only increases went to what is deemed “Key Management Personnel” with expenditure to this group of a handful of the industry’s echelon rising by 43 per cent between 2013 and 2016.

But while the Minister harps about the State support provided to the industry, which we must add is not unusual globally, he ignores what those sums meant to the wider economy. Employment costs associated at now closed Skeldon, Rose Hall, East Demerara and Wales Estates totalled GY$11.941 billion in 2014, according to the Sugar Commission of Inquiry report. It is estimated that workers, conservatively, utilised about 85 per cent of their earnings on the purchase of goods and services. In other words, di-

rectly shopkeepers, market vendors, fisher folk, transportation providers, etc, have lost $10.15 billion.

Indirectly, using the income multiplier formula, a further $70 billion has been removed from the economy.

This is a massive and substantial hit and one which many, especially in rural Guyana, may not be able to recover from. Looking at the industry as a whole, using the 2014 data, we have estimated that the sugar industry generated GY$118.3 billion in economic activity. Without a doubt, the Government, through tax receipts, was recouping the support it was providing.

The Minister then says, unbelievably, the Government has to find “…$5.7 billion severance payment for workers”. But it was the Government in the first place that decided to send the workers home. It, therefore, follows that the Administration has an obligation to meet the workers entitlements which we must reiterate are being paid contrary to our nation’s laws. For the Minister to seemingly complain about the repercussion of a decision he would have had a hand in is simply disbelieving and seems to give even more credence to the editorial.

We saw too the Minister, seemingly, lamenting “… the transfer to Central Government of expendi-

ture previously borne by GuySuCo, including D&I and community centres…”

This is a most incredulous statement by the Minister.

The admission by the Minister nevertheless is revealing and seems to demonstrate that the Government hadn’t fully considered the ramifications of its misguided adventure in the sugar industry. Certainly, had a thorough examination been done, as was suggested, then Minister Jordan and his colleagues would have known about what he is now seemingly decrying.

From the Minister’s reflection on sugar, he has served, no doubt, to demonstrate how important the industry was, not only to its workers and their dependents, but to the wider economy. It also glaringly illustrates how nonchalantly the Administration approached the sugar industry in spite of several warnings not to proceed in the direction it ultimately went. So while Minister Jordan is upset by the licks he is getting from several quarters, they are not unjustified and it clearly tells us that given the current trajectory, the future could be one filled with great difficulty and upset.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

guyanatimesgy.com

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

Any attack on the press must be denounced by all Veil of secrecy at M&CC Dear Editor, The recent missive written by Finance Minister Winston Jordan in response to an editorial of October 7 in the media requires response.

Any attack on the press must be defended by all who care for our freedom of speech.

Jordan begins by stating that the description of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration as a “bumbling, incompetent Government that rules over us” is “lazy”, ironic, given that Minister Jordan was too incompetent to understand that a press conference should be the professional method to debunk such a serious and influential editorial. Sad, given that the entire Cabinet is facing an investigation from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for breaking the law (Public Procurement Act); delusional in that the

APNU/AFC bumbling began at the Inauguration ceremonies (plural) which have never been accounted for, and includes self-awarded exorbitant salary raises; the D’Urban Park fiasco; the $325 million rental paid for a $25 million building with the pharmacy bond contract between the Public Health Ministry and the Linden Holding Company; the payout of $3.37 billion to RUDISA which was a direct result of APNU/AFC’s (while in Opposition) refusal to assent to corrective legislation proposed by the then People’s Progressive Party Administration, bumbling before they were elected!

Editor, these are mere highlights of the long list of incompetent acts of the APNU/ AFC. Editor, no doubt Comrade Jordan thinks himself clever with his attack on the newspaper; a classic ‘blame the

messenger’ move, however, given his patent lack of credibility due to his denying the existence of a ‘signing bonus’ from the oil company as a “figment of the imagination”, Jordan has no leg to stand on for this assault.

Interestingly, as it now further emerges, the $18 million had to be ‘reconstituted’ for deposit into the Central Bank, Minister Jordan has gone on the attack of the Auditor General. Bluster will not aid the cause in future SOCU and State Assets Recovery Agency investigations and to quote America’s best-known expert on lying, Pamela Meyer, “When a pointed question is beaten back with an attack or threat of, ‘How dare you...’ it’s a reliable signal that deception is involved.”

Editor, Jordan delves into the realm of sophistry with his personal interpretation of various reports

of international monetary agencies, and while he concludes quite rightly “that (they) are increasingly viewing Guyana as a stable, well-managed country with bright prospects that is ripe for sustainable development” he has used the wrong premise. Guyana has become a ripe target for those interested in exploitation of our oil and other assets because our nation’s interests are being poorly represented by the mooks in the APNU/ AFC Administration. Editor, recently a Guyanese won the $246 million Powerball Lottery in the USA, he had simple words for those looking to exploit him ““If I didn’t know them two weeks ago, I don’t know them today.” A timely reminder that not all of us are as easily duped as our Government.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Government abuse of State funds (Part 1) Dear Editor, Government Ministers are in the habit of saying one thing and doing exactly the opposite. I recall candidate Khemraj Ramjattan during the 2015 elections telling Berbicians that despite the rumors they’re hearing, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) if elected, will not close any sugar factory. We all know how that turned out – three sugar estates closed and over 7000 workers were sent home without severance pay. President David Granger is no different. He says publicly he wants to work along with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, but unilaterally appoints the head of the Guyana Elections Commission in violation of our Constitution.

Now he tells the residents of Anna Regina, that the APNU Administration has its focus on serving not a portion of the people, but the entire country. I’m sure he failed to tell that to Ovid Morrison, the controversial Regional

Executive Officer of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) who stymied development in known People’s Progressive Party villages by starving them of much needed resources. But Granger’s speech in Anna Regina is more than just campaign rhetoric and deception, it is about downright dishonesty, and the blatant misuse of Government resources for political purposes.

Editor, the last time I was critical of the ruling of the Speaker of the National Assembly, I was admonished by His Honour, who asserted that a Member of Parliament has no right to criticise the Speaker inside or outside of Parliament.

Not being satisfied with the scolding I had received; the Prime Minister promptly moves a motion to send me to the Privilege Committee to be sanctioned. So, I will not go that route again, I will merely lay out the facts here, and let your readers draw their own conclusions.

In the 2018 National Budget, the expenditure allocated for “Local Travel

Overcrowding of Lady Northcote

Dear Editor, As a concerned resident who traverses on the Lady Northcote from the North West District to Georgetown, I would like to say that I am surprised at the unmannerly behaviour of the staff on the morning of Monday, September 24, 2018, especially some of the security.

I think Amerindians have been treated with disrespect.

My second point is the overcrowding of the boat.

The boat is being overloaded with passengers and cargo, making many passengers uncomfortable. What

I want the public to know is that persons are paying their fee to have a comfortable ride, and still have to pay the same amount even in an overcrowded boat. I really think that the number of passengers should be limited to an amount the boat is designed to carry. I am asking for an intervention from the media and suggest that something be done urgently to ensure passengers are comfortable.

Sincerely, Lee Francis Region One (Barima-Waini)

and Subsistence” was $2.154 billion. This is an extremely large increase of $732 million over the 2014 Budget of $1.422 billion.

Then under another line item in the 2018 Budget – “Other Transport, Travel, Postage”, $1.31 billion was allocated, compared to just $874.6 million in 2014 - an increase of $469 million.

Because Opposition parliamentarians were concerned that Ministers of Government were traveling excessively into the Hinterland doing political work under the guise of promoting social cohesion, on August 7 of this year, my parliamentary colleague, Pauline Sukhai-Campbell submitted an Oral Question without Notice to be asked of the Minister of Finance in Parliament the following day. The question was, “Could the Honourable Minister provide this National Assembly with the costs of expenditure by the Government Ministers and their staff travelling to interior locations in the last 12 months? The locations and purpose of each of

these visits and the costs incurred? Please also identify how many chartered flights were used to these locations and costs incurred?”

Now, as Members of Parliament, it is our constitutional duty to have oversight of Government’s spending of the public purse. Yet, this question was disallowed by the Speaker of the National Assembly, “His Honour is of the view that your question is important, but not urgent and it does not relate to the business of today’s sitting.”

Not satisfied with the Speaker’s explanation, the same question was resubmitted as a Question on Notice to a Minister (of Finance ) on September 28th and disallowed again on the grounds that “the Minister of Finance is not responsible for the use of funds by other Ministers and their staff to travel to interior locations.” You get the picture?

Sincerely, Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

Dear Editor, Well finally and gradually the veil of secrecy that has covered the corruption, nepotism, mismanagement and other wrongdoings at City Hall is being lifted. And it seems that persons are now running “helter skelter” dashing for cover whilst pointing fingers at each other. This is popularly known as ‘passing the buck’.

But this is just the beginning, the very surface of the cesspool that is the Georgetown City Hall. As the Commission of Inquiry delves a little deeper, it will confound the citizenry what will be revealed from the fiscal malfeasance, to the nepotism in the human resources, to the wastage of the property rates, to the featherbedding among its ranks.

But listening to Royston King and Patricia Chase Green, one gets the impression that they have long lost touch with reality.

Here is a newsflash for these two: the City Hall is at its lowest ebb in its history, the coffers are empty, the debts to the contractors, utility companies, the Guyana Revenue Authority, the National Insurance Scheme and insurance are piling up, the City Hall building is on the verge of falling to the ground, the markets are filled with giant rats in addition to the collapse of one of its wharves, the city is filled with mosquitoes, the drains are all clogged, the roads are bad and the street lighting poor, multiple robberies are occurring unchallenged in the city every day while they have just concluded a massive anniversary celebrations.

Their old mantra, which is a complete falsehood, is that the revenue base of the Council is too small, that

the Council does not have money, which means therefore that they could not mismanage what they do not have and like Scrooge, they are very thrifty, stretching Council’s dollars to the limit to meet all of the municipality’s financial commitments.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

If King and Chase Green really held the earnest view that the capital city was so penurious, why did they travel around the world so many times first class in the last three years on joy rides? Why then did they give out so many enormous contracts to their relatives and friends? Why did they bump the monthly payroll up to well over $100 million with some persons earning hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of dollars each, per month?

No sane administrator would maintain a workforce of close to a 1000 persons, while at the same time farming out to private contractors, most of the municipal services it provides, unless he or she had a pecuniary interest in the contracts that were being given out in violation of tender board procedures, while at the same time having a consanguinity with the many staffers that are padding the payroll.

Suddenly, the almighty and powerful King is whining that it is the City Treasurer who is the one that is responsible for managing the City’s finances and not him. Oh really? What an epiphany? Could someone remind King and Chase Green that the buck stops at them as Harry S Truman would say?

Regards, Kwasi Sanderson

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Foundation

By Erin Leyba, PhD

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By Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD

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ometimes, through no one’s fault, one child in the family gets into trouble noticeably more than the other children. Maybe this child is a little more emotional, or more active, or more determined than average. Maybe this child is going through a difficult developmental stage or adjusting to some change at home or at school. This child isn’t really “bad”, but somehow he or she gets stuck in the role of the “Bad Kid of the family.” It becomes this child’s job within the family to stir things up and cause trouble.

No more “Bad Kid” role

So how can we help a child break free of the “Bad Kid” role? Here are some specific strategies:

Avoid comparing children Sometimes parents think that comparing one sibling to another will inspire a misbehaving child to behave better.

It NEVER works this way.

Comparisons hurt. They make the kid with the short end of the comparison feel resentful and determined to be nothing like the glowing example.

Understand your child’s point of view Sometimes kids act up because they feel that’s the only way they’ll be heard.

Try to step in earlier—when frustration begins but before misbehaviour occurs.

Ask, “What’s going on?” and summarise your child’s perspective. Use the formula, “You’re feeling ________ because ________.” Once your child feels heard, it’s easier to move toward good solutions by asking problem-solving questions like, “What can we do that would be fair to everyone?” or “What do you think might help?” or “We can’t do that because _______, but what else do you think could work?”

Emphasise kindness from all kids When one child in a family gets into trouble more than the others, I guarantee the other children are involved somehow.

They may not do it deliberately. They may not even realise that they’re doing it, but somehow they taunt, exclude, or tattle on this child, which reinforces the “Bad Kid” role.

Emphasising kindness from all family members can help change destructive patterns. You may want to talk privately to siblings about how this child is struggling and what they could do to help. When you see things heating up, you could ask all children involved, “What would be a kind thing to do right now?”

You may want to try counting kindnesses as a family. I did this with my kids when they were younger, for many years. Each night at dinner, have children report what kindness they did that day. If someone has nothing to report, just move on or say, “You still have two hours until bedtime. I bet you could fit in a kindness.”

If you want to, you can collect marbles in a jar to represent each kindness, and when the children collectively reach 50 or 100, you can celebrate with a special activity.

Touch more

A more subtle strategy for helping a child who is going through a rough time is to touch them more. I am a huge believer in the power of touch. It’s our most basic way of nurturing and connecting. There’s also research showing that kids who are touched more tend to be less aggressive. It’s usually NOT a good idea to touch children when they are feeling angry, but touching them more at other times may head off some angry outbursts.

Look for behaviour that doesn’t fit the “bad kid” role A very important strategy for eliminating the “Bad Kid” role is to notice and acknowledge times when this child

acts in ways that don’t fit the old role. You can also create opportunities for this child to act in new ways. If she’s usually careless, put her in charge of holding your camera for a few minutes and say, “I’m trusting you to hold this carefully.” If he normally teases his little brother, let him try being nurturing by putting him in charge of reading his brother’s bedtime story. If she’s often destructive, let her help you make something, working alongside you, using your good tools.

Usually when I suggest this, parents give me a disbelieving look that says, “Yeah, that’s going to happen!” But think about it: How can children learn to act in a responsible way, unless they’re given the opportunity to do so?

Use a special notebook to build a positive view of your child Give your child a notebook, and, every so often, write something positive about that child. Don’t make a big deal of it. Just tell your child what you’re doing, and leave the notebook in his or her room. Your child will be curious about what you write, even if he or she doesn’t say anything.

You don’t have to do a notebook for every child – let it be something special for the one who needs it! If your child is too young to read, you can read the notebook to your child.

Make your comments descriptive, and talk about how your child impacted others in positive ways. For instance you could write, “Thank you for helping me bring in the groceries. That was a big help,” or “It was kind of you to let your brother use the computer first,” or “I noticed that you were peaceful all afternoon. I enjoyed playing catch with you!”

The special notebook helps for two reasons. First, it forces you to notice positive things your child does, and second it gives your child accumulating evidence to support a more positive selfimage. (psychologytoday.com)

ere are 10 ways children may seem like they’re acting “naughty,” but really aren’t. When we recognise kids’ unwelcome behaviours as reactions to environmental conditions, developmental phases, or our own actions, it lets us respond proactively, and with much more compassion.

Not controlling impulses

Ever say to your kid, “Don’t throw that!” and they throw it anyway? Research suggests that the brain regions involved in selfcontrol are immature at birth and don’t fully mature until the end of adolescence, which explains why developing self-control is a “long, slow process” (Tarullo, Obradovic, & Gunna, 2009, 31). A recent survey revealed that many parents assume children can do things at earlier ages than childdevelopment experts know to be true.

Overstimulation

Jam-packed schedules, overstimulation, and exhaustion are hallmarks of modern family life. Kim John Payne, author of Simplicity Parenting, argues that children experience a “cumulative stress reaction” from too much enrichment, activity, choice, and toys. He asserts that kids need tons of “down time” to balance their “up time” (Payne, 2010). When we build in plenty of quiet time, playtime, and rest time, children’s behaviour often improves dramatically.

Core conditions

Ever been “hangry” — angry because you’re hungry – or completely out of patience due to sleep deprivation? Little kids are affected tenfold by such “core conditions” of being tired, hungry, thirsty, over-sugared, or sick.

Expression of big feelings

As adults, we’ve been taught to tame and hide our big emotions, often by stuffing them, displacing them, or distracting from them. Kids can’t do that yet. Early childhood educator Janet Lansbury has a great phrase for when kids display powerful feelings such as screaming, yelling, or crying. She suggests that parents “Let feelings be” by not reacting or punishing kids when they express powerful emotions.

Developmental need for tons of movement

“Sit still!” “Stop chasing your brother around the table!”

“Stop sword fighting with those pieces of cardboard!” “Stop jumping off the couch!” Kids have a developmental need for tons of movement. They have a tremendous need to spend time outside, ride bikes and scooters, do rough and tumble play, crawl under things, swing from things, jump off things, and race around things. Instead of calling a child “bad” when they’re acting energetic, it may be better to organise a quick trip to the playground or a stroll around the block.

Developmentally-wired to resist and become independent

Even though it’s annoying when a child picks your tomatoes while they’re still green, cuts their own hair, or makes a fort with eight freshly-washed sheets, they’re doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing – trying to carry out their own plans, separate, make their own decisions, and become their own little independent people.

Core strengths that trip them up

We all have core strengths that can also trip us up. Maybe we’re incredibly focused, but can’t transition very easily. Kids are similar: They may be driven in school, but have difficulty coping when they mess up (eg yelling when they make a mistake).

Fierce need for play

Your kid paints her face with yogurt, wants you to chase her and “catch her” when you’re trying to brush her teeth, or puts on daddy’s shoes instead of her own when you’re racing out the door. Some of kids’ seemingly “bad” behaviours are what John Gottman calls “bids” for you to play with them. Kids love to be silly and goofy. Play often takes extra time and, therefore, gets in the way of parents’ own timelines and agendas, which may look like resistance and naughtiness even when it’s not.

Reaction to parents’ moods

Multiple research studies on emotional contagion have found that it only takes milliseconds for emotions like enthusiasm and joy, as well as sadness, fear, and anger, to pass from person to person, and this often occurs without either person realising it (Goleman, 1991, Hatfield et al., 2014). Kids especially pick up on their parents’ moods.

Response to inconsistent limits

At one game, you buy your kid M & Ms. At the next, you say, “No, it’ll ruin your dinner,” and your kid screams and whines. When parents are inconsistent with limits, it naturally sets off kids’ frustration and invites whining, crying, or yelling. Just like adults, kids want (and need) to know what to expect. Any effort toward being 100 per cent consistent with boundaries, limits, and routines will seriously improve children’s b e h av i o u r.

(Excerpt from psychologytoday. com)

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thursdAY, october 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

woman beaten, Mother of 2 dies in Corentyne robbed by lone bandit Corentyne accident A Amsterdam Hospital, with head injuries. Nevertheless, his condition is stable.

The dead woman’s husband, Gopaul Singh, told Guyana Times that he was on his way home from work

confirmed.

Guyana Times understands that Armogan had gone to a shop in the community to purchase pastries as she was about to take a trip to the Cheddi Jagan

Dead: Deslyne Armogan

A

Corentyne peddle cyclist, who is a mother of two, is now dead after she collided with a motorcycle on the Nigg Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice.

Dead is Deslyne Gaitri Armogan, 49, of Lot 180 Nigg New Housing Scheme, while the injured motorcyclist has been identified as 20-yearold Arvin Ramnarace of Lot 105 Chesney, Berbice.

The accident occurred at about 07:30h on Wednesday.

According to reports, Ramnarace was riding motorcycle CH 2690 proceeding East along the northern side of the road when Armogan, who was proceeding West along the northern side of the said road on a bicycle, allegedly turned South into the path of the motorcyclist and they collided.

Both Armogan and Ramnarace were picked up and taken to Port Mourant Hospital, where the 49-yearold woman was pronounced dead on arrival. The young man on the other hand was transferred to the New

The dead woman’s bicycle on the road after the collision

when he noticed a bicycle lying on the side of the road and immediately recognised it.

“I went home because I see people [at the scene] but nobody didn’t say anything and when I get home, my brother-in-law wife called and asked if [Deslyne] come home and I said no because I didn’t see her. So I went back out on the road to see if what going on and then a lady from across the road ask if is we bicycle and I tell she yes and then she say that the person didn’t make it,” the man related.

Singh said he rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital where his worst fears were

International Airport (CJIA) to bid farewell to some relatives.

According to her husband, the woman sustained head injuries and was bleeding through her nose and ears.

The couple has two children.

This newspaper understands that on September 28, 2001, the couple’s third child – a six-year-old son – died in a road accident also on the Corentyne highway.

Singh said he always warned his wife about the Corentyne highway, recalling that that was the conversation he had with the now dead woman.

Bandits rob Black Bush Polder family of $6M

S

ix heavily armed bandits invaded the house of a Black Bush Polder, Berbice family terrorising and robbing them of $6 million.

Reports are the gunmen entered the Lot 34 Zone Lesbeholden, Berbice home of RajKunarie Haimchand. The woman and her 32-year-old son were alone in the home.

According to the 52-yearold woman, about 23:00h on Monday, a friend visited her home and asked her son for some food. She said at the time she was already in her bed, but got up and took out the food for the friend. She said the friend was an overseas-based Guyanese, who

The gas station being constructed in Black Bush Polder which was expected to be opened shortly was in Guyana to conduct business. According to the woman, the door to the house was left open as they chatted.

Haimchand said as soon as she was finished taking out the food, four masked men all

The Black Bush Polder house which the gunmen invaded

carrying guns stormed into her home. She said that two more stood at the door.

“They pull me back from near to the door and push me down on the ground. They ask me for the money and I told them that we don’t have money.”

She said one of the men pulled off the rings she had on her fingers and attempted to cut her ear to remove a pair of earrings.

“The earrings hard to come off, so I ask him not to cut my ear, that I will take them off,” the still shaken rice farmer related.

Turn to page 8

lone bandit pounced on an elderly Corentyne, Berbice, woman in the wee hours of Wednesday leaving her injured and traumatised.

The incident occurred at about 04:30h at the woman’s Lot 195 Third Street, Letter Kenny, Corentyne, home.

Guyana Times understands that the victim, 62-year-old Jasmattie Jagdat lives with her husband but at the time of the robbery, he was out fishing. Jagdat had gone into the yard to pick flowers for her morning prayer offering when she was attacked.

The elderly woman told reporters that after she was done getting the flowers, she was heading back inside the house when the perpetrator pounced on her and began to choke her.

“He choke me…he tell me that he come fuh kill me and I started to fight back but he hand on meh neck and the other on meh face. But after I was putting up a fight, he throw meh down to the ground,” Jagdat recalled.

According to the woman, she sustained bruis-

Traumatised robbery victim, Jasmattie Jagdat

es to her knees and her arms as a result of the fall.

Jagdat went on to recount that she begged her attacker not to kill her, saying she will give him all the valuables she had in the house.

“He said “alright, bring the money”, so I (tried to) get up and but I couldn’t, my head started to swing and I fall again. Then he hold me up so I could go for the money inside. I had $15,000 in a purse and I give him, and he run out and gone,” the elderly woman related.

Afterwards, Jagdat said she collapsed in her kitch-

en and regained consciousness about an hour later.

“When meh catch meself, meh creep and go outside,” she said. The woman got into her hammock and remained there until her husband returned home and then related to him what had transpired.

She was taken to seek medical attention and then a report was made to the Police.

When Guyana Times visited the woman, she was still traumatised and in pain. No arrests have been made so far but investigations are ongoing.

8 news Carpenter nabbed with illegal pistol R thursdAY, october 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

anks of the A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) on Tuesday arrested a West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, resident after he was found in possession of an illegal firearm.

The discovery was made sometime around 19:30h in East La Penitence, Georgetown, during an intelligence-led operation.

According to Police re-

ports, the ranks confronted the suspect in Freeman Street, East La Penitence, and conducted a search during which they unearthed an unlicensed .22 Smith and Wesson pistol without ammunition.

The 32-year-old suspect, a carpenter of Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, was subsequently taken into custody and is assisting with further investigations.

Clothes vendor remanded on drug trafficking charge

A

clothes vendor of Lot 316 Independence B o u l e v a r d , Georgetown, was on Wednesday hauled before the courts to answer to a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

David Gobin appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

The charge against Gobin stated that on October 8, 2018 at Albouystown, Georgetown he had in his possession 46 grams of can-

nabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The 49-year-old man denied the charge when it was read to him.

According to the prose-

cution’s case, on October 8, ranks from the Police narcotics unit acting on information received, visited the residence located in

Albouystown, Georgetown where they conducted a search. The prosecution is contending that during that search ranks found a black bag which contained the prohibited substance. Gobin reportedly claimed that he is not the owner of the property but had access to it since he takes care of the owner’s dog. He was nonetheless arrested and charged.

In court on Wednesday, the Police prosecutor objected to bail. Gobin was remanded to prison and the case will continue on November 21.

Goldsmith fined for theft A

n Alexander Village, Georgetown, goldsmith was fined $100,000 when he appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore and admitted to a larceny charge.

Ganesh Rampersuad of

Lot 139 Alexander Village, admitted to the charge which stated that on September 18, 2018, he was entrusted with US$1000 equivalent to $211,000 to make two 16 ½ penny-weight gold bands

but he converted the cash to his own use and benefit.

In court on Wednesday, the 47-year-old man told the court that he had promised the Virtual Complainant to repay him. “I promise he I

Bandits rob Black Bush...

She said that the jewellery was worth in excess of $200,000. She added that the men went into the upper flat in search of money.

Meanwhile, the farmer’s son and his friend were both beaten by two armed men, who were at the door. Her son was gun-butted to his head during the ordeal.

The friend suffered minor injuries while the farmer’s son received injuries to the head and arms. Both were treated at the Mibicuri Hospital.

Haimchand, who was also treated at the same medical institution and discharged, said she also was

kicked and lashed as the men asked her for the money.

She explained that two of them went to the upper flat and ransacked the three bedrooms.

“They tumble up all three bedrooms because they didn’t know is where the money was. All the barrel dem empty out. All the time they asking fo me brother that come from the US, but he left a few minutes before to go to Skeldon,” she said.

She said the men found $6 million, which was stashed in a plastic bag, and left.

She told <<<Guyana

From page 7

Times>>> that the money belonged to her brother, who had returned from the US and was building a gas station in Black Bush Polder.

“We went to the bank for the money and they did not give us all. I had to tell them that we had to pay for fuel and so they give us the money in two parts.

“When he collected the last set of money, he did not go to Guyoil Friday and then Monday he go and look after some other business and Monday night they come in on us.”

Meanwhile, shortly after the bandits left, Haimchand telephoned her brother who was on his way to Skeldon and told him what happened.

According to her, at the time he was close to the Number 51 Police Station and stopped there to report the incident, but was told that he had to make the report at either the Mibicuri Police Station or the Whim Police Station.

The report was eventually made at the Mibicuri Police Station, but by then the gunmen had comfortably escaped. No arrests have been made as Police hunt for the robbers.

gon pay he back, and it’s because I didn’t get to finish the gold bands in time,” he told the Magistrate in plea of mitigation.

As such, Magistrate Azore fined him $100,000.

Failure to pay the fine will result in him serving three months imprisonment.

Mason denies B&E charge T

wenty-five-year-old Sean Isaacs, who is accused of breaking and entering a dwelling at Tucville, Georgetown, made an appearance before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge stated that between October 5 and 7, 2018 at Lot 15 Tucville, Georgetown, Isaacs broke and entered the dwelling of Isiah Booker and stole a HP laptop, two power amplifiers, a tape deck and a gold chain valued $305,000.

Isaacs denied the charge.

Police Prosecutor Warren Thornhill made no objections to bail being granted, and Magistrate Azore released Isaacs on $75,000 bail. The case will continue on November 14, 2018.

Biting the dust…

W

…with SOCU cases ith all that’s gone before, it wasn’t surprising that another SOCU case bit the dust! And the idiom is so apropos! There they were, the Government crack crime squad SOCU – SPECIAL Organised Crime Unit – supposedly staffed by the best and brightest the Police could round up, and ably guided by a crack (not “cracked”!!) financial crime investigator from Britain – standing before the Magistrate.

In the dock were two ex-Execs of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) – General Manager Jagnarine Singh, and his deputy, Madanlall Ramraj, who’d been charged by SOCU for “fraud” during their tenure. But more pertinently, the two men were identified by the PNCled Government as being part of a PPP operation they claimed had “siphoned” off billions and billions from the State Treasury. The top execs were charged for “failing to enter true entries of over $4.2 million into the company’s ledger, knowing that it was contrary to standard operation procedures.”

Can you imagine that? Since when do General Managers and their Assistants make entries in ledgers?? Which in any case was non-existent at the GRDB and nothing in the Company Act demanded such! It was clear that SOCU was clutching at straws… as with their remaining cases – all tainted with the stench of political vendettas. The original charge stated that $250 million hadn’t been entered in a ledger – with the clear implication that that sum was stolen!! Their final “clutching” was to ask to produce a Special Superintendent of Police (SSP) as witness – who wasn’t in court and who’d failed to appear before on a number of other occasions.

The court had been led to think the SSP was in possession of a “smoking gun” that would certainly convict the accused. With neither the gun nor the smoke appearing, the Magistrate didn’t mince words. She pronounced curtly: “The court has wasted enough time waiting for the SSP!” The SOCU prosecutor had to close their case – such as it was – and inevitably the defence moved for a no case submission. Which was granted and the SOCU case toppled face down into the dust!

But your Eyewitness has a question. Will the two men whose names were dragged through the mud for almost a year just take this malicious prosecution lying down?? He hopes not!! The PNC must be taught a lesson. While they’re desperate to show their supporters their outlandish claims of PPP corruption will end in jail time for the latter, when they fail as abysmally as they’ve just done, THEY should end up in orange jump suits!!

One can just hear Queen belting out, “Another one bites the dust!! And another one, and another one!!!” …on suicide statistics As usual, the Chronic’s headline was over the top: “SUICIDE RATE PLUMMETS”!! They were doing a piece of “World Mental Health Day”…but the headline certainly didn’t do anything for your Eyewitness’ mental equilibrium – much less health!! The statistics that have been bandied around for the last year or so – from a high of 44.2/100,000 in 2012, the rate had dropped to 24.4 in 2016 – were touted again, as the head of the Mental Health Unit probably sprained his shoulder patting his back so vigorously!

Fact of the matter, those numbers have been challenged by groups working on the ground dealing with the scourge – just like those the Police spew quarterly on “serious crimes”. For suicide rates to’ve been almost halved just by the ‘awareness’ programmes that’ve practically become a cottage industry for anyone who wants to get under the spotlight, strains your Eyewitness’ credulity.

If the numbers can hold up, Guyana should be a model for the world in reducing the one million persons globally who take their lives. …on identity PM Moses Nagamootoo just jetted off with his wife to another World Tamil Economic Conference”. He’d rejected being branded as “Indian”, but embraces “Tamil”, which is Indian? Why not just “Guyanese”??

Else he might just be seen as pushing Tamil separatism!!

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

News

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thursdAY, october 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Wages impasse

Teachers’ increase in salaries “a work in progress” – Minister …following “fruitful” meeting with GTU

S

temming from a more than two-hour long meeting between the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and the Education Ministry on Wednesday afternoon, teachers are being assured that they can now sleep well, as “fruitful” discussions were harnessed, where a “matrix of figures” for teachers is now being promised to be presented by Friday.

As smiling representatives walked out of the meeting held at the Ministry’s 26 Brickdam, Georgetown office, tight-lipped officials would only say that “new information was provided that was not discussed nor considered prior to the offers made earlier.”

When asked what was the “new information”, GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald explained, “Well, of course we would want to have

all of our teachers benefiting from whatever the increase is going to be so… we would have had promotions and so with promotions come new salaries and so those are all new information”.

Further, she noted that the Union is looking forward to having a final resolution to the teachers’ wages dispute by Friday, when the two sides will again meet to reveal the “matrix of figures” for teachers. The Ministry will stand the responsibility of presenting this figure, the GTU said.

Meanwhile, the Education Minister described the new salaries for teachers as “a work in progress”. “If we may say, it’s a work in progress, and so the new information is nothing specific that we would wish to share at this point in time. A lot of what has to be sorted out re-

quires the interaction of both parties so that we can resolve the issue.”

Earlier on Wednesday, President David Granger had announced that he was shocked by the Union’s move to reject the increase being offered.

On Monday, a new offer of a 10 per cent increase for 2016 and eight per cent for 2018 was put forward by the head of state.

The GTU had also said in a social media post that, “…an offer of $350 million is made to settle debunching for the period 2011-2018. Teachers to be placed in scales as of January 2019. Payments for debunching and 2018 will be made in December while retroactive 2016 increase will be made in January 2019 if agreed.”

Monday’s intervention

by President David Granger

Smiling representatives of the Guyana Teachers Union and the Education Ministry after “fruitful” talks on Wednesday

came after Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo advised that the Head of State take a stand on the impasse regarding teachers’ salaries.

Initially the GTU was asking for a 40 per cent increase and were set for arbitration after calling off a nationwide strike on September 6. The Union was however ready to return to the streets after the Education Ministry and the

Union were unable to agree on an arbitration panel.

This was after conciliator, Labour Minister Keith Scott, unilaterally appointing a Chairman who was introduced as University of Guyana Professor Leyland Lucas.

The last nationwide teachers’ strike took effect on August 27 during schools’ pre-term activities and lasted for a little under two weeks, as the Ministry

gave into pressure and agreed to arbitration on September 6, 2018.

The Union has been clamouring for the Education Ministry to honour a proposal for a 40 per cent increase in salary for 2016, 45 per cent in 2017, 50 per cent in 2018, 50 per cent in 2019 and 50 per cent in 2020 be granted to all categories of teachers/educators.

(Davina Ramdass)

City Treasurer blames taxpayers for M&CC financial woes

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cting City Treasurer John Douglas testified before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Wednesday, after he was subpoenaed to provide documents and a statement into the financial affairs at the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

Douglas has been tasked with the responsibility of handling the financial affairs of the entity since the first quarter of this year after City Treasurer Ron Almont would have withdrawn from his duties for medical reasons.

It was in that instance that he blamed taxpayers’ for the lack of funds at City Hall, which has led to billions of dollars in outstanding debts and the Council barely finding funds to pay its employees.

The Council would have tried to retrieve some of the monies that were owed by taxpayers and other stakeholders during an amnesty but according to Douglas, it is not something that he would recommend. He believes that a one-on-one consultation should be convened with these stakeholders, so as to decide on a payment plan.

At that time, the acting City

stantial record-keeping of the City Hall’s spending.

Irregular payments

Mayor Patricia Chase Green

Treasurer sought to point out that there is always a shortfall in their budget, which should not be, adding that the Council is always in a struggle to pay its workers and as such, they have to weigh their options when it comes to paying entities such as the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

It was admitted that they do owe their main solid waste collectors a minimal of $150M. As it relates to the auditing, Douglas explained that the lack of information and documents are the main reasons why there hasn’t been accurate and sub-

A former accounts manager and current employee at the M&CC also testified about payment procedures at City Hall, noting that irregular payments have been made in the past.

The witness, Edwana Miller, told the CoI that there are also instances where steps in the disbursement of monies can be skipped.

It was explained that the City Treasurer would prepare the vouchers, which would be sent to the Finance SubCommittee for approval. After the sum is granted, the Town Clerk and City Treasurer would be the main signatories on the documents and the payments would be made thereafter. This is the standard operation for payments that are above $2000 in value.

When asked by the Commission as to whether these steps can be skipped or if the system can be expedited, Miller posited, “Yes, it can… stages can be skipped.”

She was also probed into whether irregular payments have been made to which she

Acting City Treasurer John Douglas

responded, “The answer to that is yes.”

At that time, Miller also explained the importance of having an individual with suitable qualifications to manage the City Treasury, given the fact that this has not been done in the past. The Deputy Town Clerk, Sharon Harry-Munroe has acted on three occasions

while the City Treasurer was on leave.

The former accounts manager showed her dissatisfaction with the manner in which revenue and other incomes are being managed by the Council as she said, “If you don’t plan and control your income, your expenses will always be more…”

A yearly audit was also recommended along with plans in place to remedy the non-payment of benefits to retired workers. Since the commencement of the Inquiry, many retired employees of the Council have claimed that they were not paid any benefits after paying contributions for many years.

Miller would have served in the City Treasury Department for several years and was asked to act as the City Treasurer as of this year. However, she refused the post, stating, “if the document in front of me does not state what it is supposed to state, I will state that it is not right.”

After that encounter, she was removed from the department and placed in the Market Department to “overlook a project.” Consequently, it has been almost a year and that project has not yet materialised.

Meanwhile, other witnesses have similarly called for accountability and proper supervision of the generated funds, which they believe can only be successfully managed by a suitably qualified individual.

In the coming week, Mayor Patricia Chase Green, City Engineer Colvern Venture and Town Clerk Royston King will be summoned before their Commission.

Legal Assistant Sherwin Benjamin proceeded to highlight sections of the Municipal and District Councils Act (Chapter 28:01) which speaks to those who may try to evade the CoI after being subpoenaed.

The probe is expected to conclude on October 31.

10 news

thursdAY, october 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

LGE 2018

AFC capitulates: Contesting in small number of constituencies

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he Alliance For Change (AFC) on Wednesday announced plans to contest only 38 Local Authority Areas (LAA) at the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) set for November 12.

This announcement follows previous statements made by the party, where they had initially said the AFC had planned to contest the elections in more than 50 areas.

AFC member Michael Lenard told a media conference that his party is

now contesting in less Local Government Areas than it had intended earlier in the year.

The minority party in the coalition Government blamed a number of issues for the decision not to contest more areas, including political bullying and issues with communication.

“We had intention to contest a lot more, but we had issues in those places,” Lenard explained, noting that in one instance the Police were called in to address the issue.

The party’s campaign

AFC campaign manager David Patterson

manager, David Patterson said nevertheless, he is satisfied with the position the

AFC is in at the moment and they will continue to work hard to prepare for LGE. Asked to name the specific areas in which the AFC pulled out of, Patterson refused to say but added, “I like to concentrate on where I am fighting as opposed to where I am not.”

He continued, “Whatever it is, we are satisfied with where we are. We are in the townships as well. We will be putting our full efforts in wherever we are.”

Just last week, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) through one of its constituency candidates in Berbice filed legal proceedings against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and another individual to have the names fraudulently affixed to the backer’s lists in Berbice removed.

The court document

names Shafraz Beekham as the applicant, along with the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and Orlando Christopher Persaud as the respondents.

The document outlines that the challenge is seeking to have the names of 49 other electors appearing on list of backers in support of the AFC constituency candidates removed.

It noted that the submission was made to Persaud on September 21, 2018, in Whim Bloomfield, Berbice LAA, for the LGE 2018. The PPP is challenging on the grounds that the said decision is unlawful, illegal, and unreasonable and is in violation of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act. The document also cites Persaud’s alleged refusal to withdraw the applicant’s name and the names of 49 other electors. It said unless the names are withdrawn, the election in the LAA would be tainted with “illegality and fraud.” It also noted that Persaud’s refusal happened before the expired deadline on September 26, 2018.

The matter is fixed for hearing before Justice Navindra Singh today.

The attorneys representing Beekham are Adrian Anamayah, Ian Anamayah and Anil Nandlall.

Debates

Patterson also announced his support for the hosting of public debates among constituency candidates vying for positions within their Local Government organisations. He expressed his party’s willingness to participate in any such event as the time draws closer for the LGE. “We do feel there should be a debate among candidates, particularly, in the larger constituencies and municipalities, like persons in the constituencies in Georgetown, Linden, Bartica, New Amsterdam, Rose Hall, should have a public debate…on policies and positions,” he added.

However, Patterson says the AFC will not seek to organise any such debates itself, as it may be viewed as a strategy to dominate.

Nevertheless, the party said it is willing to participate in any event organised by any civil society group or organisation in Guyana.

The party’s campaign manager was clear, however, as to the conditions under which AFC candidates will participate. He said the party would prefer having these debates hosted in the larger constituencies, rather than smaller ones spread across the country.

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thursdAY, october 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Sheriff Street expansion

Govt disappointed with pace of project

First Lady frustrated, angered by impersonators

…to consider sanctions for contractor

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ith 11 months already passed since a contract was signed with Sinohydro Corporation Ltd for the construction of the Mandela Avenue/Sheriff Street expansion project, no significant progress has been made, which adds to years of being delayed by various technicalities.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson said he is disappointed at the pace at which the project is moving, and the Ministry had made this opinion known to the contractor. The Minister reminded that the contract was signed since 2017 and there is little work to show for it.

“The contractor I know is trying and he started at the top end, but I am not satisfied and would have written the contractor and those involved,” Patterson said on Wednesday at the sidelines of an event, where he also explained that if nothing is done soon, the Ministry may resort to applying penalties.

“We hope in the short while they will increase the pace of work. After 10 months they have done as much as they should have done,” he said. When asked if there will be financial implications instituted against

Ongoing drainage works on Sheriff Street, Georgetown

the contractor, he said, “There is a process and we are on top of it,” Patterson said.

The Minister further explained that there is nothing preventing the contractor from pushing in extra hours to ensure the project meets the deadline.

According to him, there is no restriction on work time, especially since the company would have submitted a traffic management plan, which was reviewed and approved, allowing it the time to work on that major road.

The US$31.03 million contract was awarded to the company last year. The two-year project is aimed at covering approximately seven kilometres of road. The

project which is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), involves the following works: relocation of utilities, lane and shoulder improvements, placement of sidewalks and paved shoulders, traffic signals, traffic signs, streetlights, drainage, a pedestrian overhead walkway, bridges, among others.

The IDB had, earlier last year, revised the scope of works on this road project, putting it on hold and delaying the opening of tenders for the project. This was done following discussions entered into with the Finance Ministry aimed at achieving completion of the project before the loan dead-

line set by the IDB had expired.

Initially, Loan-2741 was signed in 2012 to the tune of US$66 million, with a completion deadline of March 2018. The revised scope, which was anticipated to cost US$35 million, would include the relocation of utilities, for which GTT and the Guyana Water Incorporated have been contracted.

The initial project was tendered twice: first in 2014, and then again in 2015, both times under the previous Administration.

On the second occasion, tenders were returned in May 2015, as none of the contractors was deemed responsive.

The Public Infrastructure Ministry said last year that several of the internationally funded projects were unable to get a start in 2016, and the Sheriff Street to Mandela Avenue project was one of those that did not get off the ground as anticipated.

It was explained that Government had decided to have a review of this project with it being nullified twice, once in 2015 and then in 2016. The review was conducted by the WSG Design Unit along with the consultant firm Egis, in association with SRK Engineering.

First Lady Sandra Granger

A

lthough one person has already been charged in relation to the impersonation of First Lady Sandra Granger, she has related that she has now reached the point where she is frustrated and angry.

Granger’s comment on the issue comes at a time where only recently a video surfaced on social media, which indicated that although someone has already been charged for impersonating her, the issue continues.

“I have already reported it to the Police. The Police carried out one investigation where a guy was found guilty and this continues because people are gullible,” the First Lady said on Wednesday.

According to her, several press statements were issued in relation to the matter and even social media posts to say she is not offer-

ing lands or scholarships to persons.

“I don’t know what else I can do but I can just say if you know somebody (is calling you to tell you these things) just publish the phone number so that the people will understand that you are on to them,” she added.

The wife of the Head of State David Granger, pointed out that a number of persons have already turned up at her office, as they were told to do so by the impersonator for interviews.

In April of this year, several men were charged for the offence.

Two men, who were each jailed for the offence of murder and are incarcerated at the Mazaruni prison, were on Friday charged for impersonating First Lady Sandra Granger.

Also charged for obtaining money by false pretence, the men appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The men are Paul LoHing, serving 83 years in jail for the murder of his girlfriend Shoala Gilgeous in 2012; and 30-year-old Wazim Mohammed, currently serving a 10-year jail sentence for the murder of his friend Russell Nelson, 62, of Fyrish, Corentyne, Berbice on September 27, 2005. They pleaded not guilty to the charges read to them.

Turn to page 15

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THURSdAY, october 11, 2018 | guya

B Buy your boat cruise tickets today ...

Ticket Locations

- Ticket $3,000 each - Sunday 28th October 2018 - Parika to Supenaam - Onboard the Chinese Ferry (MV Sabanto or MV Kanawan) - 71 Sounds - DJ Stephan - Selector Andy from Megamix Reload - Entertainer Aaron the One-Man Band - Departing at 9am - Grand Prize Drawing based on Ticket Information - On the ticket, full out Full Name, Address, Cell Number

Demerara

- D & L Taxi Service, La Grange (Tel# : 5001544) - Mary's Sports Bar (Crane) - Joseph Music Store (GT) - Joseph JR Music Store (Vreed-en-Hoop) - Amanda's (Vreed-en-Hoop) - S & S Supermarket (Lusignan) - Lenny's Icecream Parlour (Mon Repos) - Chaos (first main entrance Giftland Mall) - KK Gas Station (Unity)

- DJ Stephan (Houston) - Patsy Food Court (Soesdyke) - Igloo Icecream Shoppe (Providence) - Kanchi Shop (4th Street, Alexander Village) - Lambada Sports Bar (Providence) - Igloo Icecream Outlet (Enmore) - Airport Bar (Ogle) - Blue DVD Shop (Belle West) - Dave's Sports Bar (Grove) - Avon DVD Club (Uitvlugt) - Westsiderz Entertainment (Vreed-enHoop) - Suresh Grocery (Stabroek Market) Caribbean Beat (Pike Street, Campbellville)

Berbice

- Imran & Son (Rosehall) - Imran & Daughters (Rosehall) - Vicky (613-5671 ... West Berbice)

Essequibo

- Jaigobin Supermarket (Anna Regina) - Vick's Auto Accessories (Parika next to Big Kiss Parking Lot) - American Closet (Parika Mall) - Full Cut Barber Shop (Zeelugt)

eing a mom is always challenging but with the right help you will enjoy every breath taking moment eith your infant.

Just kids has just what you need to help you through motherhood!

Here are a few of our in store items to make your day easier and fun.

1. Essential for every mom, are carriers and strollers. Our Wonder baby stroller/carrier combo saves moms the time to shop for both independently.

With this Stroller Travel System, it truly grows with your child from infant to toddler. It's one of the most versatile baby travel systems available & comes in a variety of colours! The infant carrier offers all the necessities such as a 5 point, adjustable front harness to keep your little one safe and many more features. The stroller provides everything a mom looks for when choosing a stroller from a slim and portable design to large storage baskets, front canopy to keep your infant safe from the harsh sun rays and much much more!

Our new Baby/Toddler rocker offers some 2. Our bright and colourful super soft amazing features moms will love. ✅ A toybar filled with stimulating music, pillow that supports your child's head and sounds and toys. neck. It allows your child to rest comfortably ✅ Easily converts to a toddler rocker! whilst travelling. ✅ Offers a stationary seat for babies.

It's ideal to use at home, in the stroller or ✅ Lightweight design featuring a 3 point car seat. It can be placed at the back of the safety strap. child's neck or under the chin.

AND MORE! 3. Our new Baby/Toddler rocker offers some amazing features moms will love. ✅ A toybar filled with stimulating music, sounds and toys. ✅ Easily converts to a toddler rocker! ✅ Offers a stationary seat for babies. ✅ Lightweight design featuring a 3 point safety strap.

3. New arrivals in baby bedding sets! Our latest additions now offer 7 pieces including a quilt, 4-bed bumpers, a bed mattress cover and a bed skirt.

They're available in several different patterns for both boys and girls (We'll post more patterns soon).

Here are the dimensions for each piece in the set.

Baby Quilt - 83X107cm 2 Bed Bumper - 25.4X71cm 2 Bed Bumper - 25.4X132cm 1 Bed Mattress Cover 130X70+25cm 1 Bed Skirt - 130X70+25cm 4.Make mealtime super easy!

Our high chairs are safe, secure and comfortable for your little one. They are wipe-able and washable for an easy clean up.

Keeps little one secure with a secure 3-way harness and soft seats for added comfort.

We have a variety available starting at $17,000. Come in and get yours today and make feeding the little one hassle-free!

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13

er 11, 2018 | guyanatimesGY.com

22 Austin St, C/ville, G/town +592 227-8041,+592 227-8042

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O choose a ring that's the same metal as your engagement ring.Platinum and white gold look pretty much the same when they're brand new, but metals wear differently, so you could wind up with two very different looking rings in just a few years.

DON'T pick a wedding ring that overpowers your engagement ring.Your rings will look best together if the bands are similar in width.

DO make sure the rings have something in common. Your don't have to have matchy-matchy wedding and engagement rings, but make sure there's one repeated element: same-shaped stones, a channel-set band, or similar engraving.

DON'T worry about your ring matching your husband's. Do you and your husband wear matching ... anything? Your wedding rings should reflect

your personal styles, not each other's!

DO remember THIS and THIS if you want an eternity band. If it has diamonds (or gemstones) all the way around, your wedding ring will be hard to resize if you gain weight. BUT, your wedding ring will probably spin around your finger a lot (since there's no center stone to hold it in place) so if you don't get stones all the way around, you might be constantly adjusting it to keep the stones right-side up.

DON'T solder the rings together! You might eventually want to wear your rings on different hands, upgrade one of the rings, or leave one ring at home when you travel.

hy Opt For Basic Gift When You Can Get Them Customized?

Humans are known to best express their feelings and emotions. They have a family and a group of friends with whom they celebrate special occasions, spend valued moments, and express various emotions. There are many different ways of celebrating special occasions which depends on many factors; however, something which has remained unchanged for decades now is one of the methods to express feelings, which are by gifts. Gifts not only touch the heart of the receiver but also make the occasion special and memorable. For a receiver, thoughtful gifts are always the best ones to receive. When we say thoughtful, nothing can be more special than a personalized gift.

There are many reasons, which make personalized gifts extra special and priceless for the receiver. Now let us explore some reasons, which make personalized gifts more special: 1. They help in spreading the unconditional love between you and the receiver.

2. They convey the innermost emotions and help you win the heart of the receiver.

3. They help you speak your heart out effortlessly to the people who mean everything to you.

4. They recreate moments and help to relive them with your loved ones.

5. They come with the personal touch, which is enough to touch the heart of someone who means the world to you.

There are various personalized gifts available online such as personalized mugs, cushions, cakes, t-shirts, aprons, bottle lamps, photo stones, key chains, and many more. You can choose the most suitable one and to add more surprise with these gifts you can send a bouquet of flower, chocolates, etc., with same day gifts delivery options. To give your personalized touch, you can simply choose a picture which is relatable and adorable.

Apart from the pictures, you can also choose some heart touching quotations and give a unique touch to the gift. If not quotes, you can choose a relatable incident which is funny or romantic and get it printed in words on the gifts to make them one of their kinds.

14 news

thursdAY, october 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

UG to bestow Honorary Doctorates on 4 outstanding Guyanese

Yesu Persaud

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he University of Guyana (UG) will be conferring honorary doctorates on four outstanding Guyanese from various fields, naming a female activist and a business tycoon among the recipients.

Leading the list of nominees is business magnate Yesu Persaud; Indigenous rights activist and Governance and Rights Coordinator at Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) Laura George; acclaimed singer Eddy Grant and philanthropist Jay Sobhraj.

UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith made the announcement on his Facebook page.

“Yesterday (Monday) occurred another milestone in the journey along Renaissance Road, when the Academic Board approved my petition to confer honorary doctorates on four outstanding Guyanese – the

first time UG will be bestowing this honour,” Griffith wrote.

An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university or any other degree awarding institution has waived the usual requirements. The degree is typically a doctorate or, less commonly, a master's degree, and may be awarded to someone who has no prior connection with the academic institution or no previous postsecondary education.

Persaud was born in 1928 at Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara, and started his first job as assistant to the assistant rat catcher at a sugar plantation. He went to England to study and learnt accounting before returning home to join the public service as an inspector of taxes.

He was instrumental in the changeover of Bookers into the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). He joined Demerara Liquors Limited and Demerara Sugar Company and transformed them into DDL. He then pioneered the El Dorado brand rum, the Demerara Bank Limited, Diamond Fire and General Insurance Inc, and the Guyana Trust Company Limited. He is also the Chairman and the driving force behind Demerara Bank Limited; the first indigenous Private Sector bank.

Recognising his stellar contribution, the University of Warwick granted Persaud an honorary doctorate for

Eddy Grant

Laura George

his work in helping in the restoration of democracy in Guyana in 1992, plus his skills as a businessman in making El Dorado into a quality world brand and the creation of Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED).

He is the recipient of several national and international awards, inclusive of the Gandhi Organisation Plaque, the Cacique Crown of Honour, the Glory of India Award and the Certificate of Excellence by the India International Friendship Society in 2005. One year later, in 2006, he would receive the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for his outstanding contributions to business and Indian history and culture.

Grant was born in 1948 at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara. In 1965, Grant formed ‘The Equals’, playing guitar and singing back-

ground vocals, and the band had two hit albums and a minor hit with the single "I Get So Excited" before having a number one hit in 1968 with his self-penned song "Baby Come Back". The tune also topped the UK Singles Chart in 1994, when covered

by Pato Banton, featuring Robin and Ali Campbell of the reggae group UB40. ‘The Equals’ had five further top 40 hits in the UK up to the end of 1970. The Baby Come Back album featured a song

by Grant titled, "Police on My Back" which was record-

ed by the Clash for their 1980 album Sandinista! Willie Nile released his version of "Police on My Back" on his Streets of New York CD. The Equals' song "Green Light", co-written by Grant, from their 1968 album Supreme, was recorded by the Detroit Cobras, for their 2007 album, Tied & True. Grant also sang hit single “Electric Avenue.”

According to his profile, Jay Sobhraj is the sixth of 10 children, who rigorously pursued his education.

In 1966, he was among the first in his family to graduate with a secondary education from Kitty Progressive College. He then went to the Guyana Technical College and completed his certificate there in 1968. He moved to England and registered for a degree in mechanical engineering.

While pursuing his degree, he took on several menial jobs including dishwashing, pumping gas and just about any other part-time job that was available. In 1972, he graduated and began working at several industrial companies and in 1975 he

Jay Sobhraj

got married and moved back to Guyana where he worked for the Guyana Bauxite Company.

After an economic downturn in Guyana, Sobhraj applied for a job in the Middle East and began working in Abu Dhabi as a mechanical engineer for a large petrochemical company. In 1988, he returned to New York to work with George and Ken at Zara Realty Holding Company.

Laura George expressed her appreciation for the honour via her social media page.

Librarians to be equipped with robot-making skills

First Lady Sandra Granger; Chief Librarian Emily King; and Co-Founder of STEM Guyana, Karen Abrams, pose with the participants of the training programme

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one are the days of going to the library just to read books as librarians across the country are now being equipped with the knowledge of building and programming robots to be able to share with young intrigued minds.

Presently, over 30 persons from various parts of the country are being trained in an initiative, which seeks to incorporate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in libraries.

At the kick-start of one of the training programmes on Wednesday, which was hosted at the Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, Co-Founder of STEM Guyana, Karen Abrams explained the importance of having these vital areas involved in the lives of children.

Chief Librarian Emily King endorsed this message saying, “The libraries are seen as a place whereby we can cultivate an interest in

STEM and I know many of you, particularly the younger staff members, have a key interest in technology and this is one opportunity which is provided for you (librarians) in order to be adventurous and also innovative”.

King in her address even urged the participants to, in the coming days, engage young folks and even the older ones, as they are altogether responsible for bringing about change in communities.

First Lady Sandra Granger who gave brief remarks said she feels quite excited about this new project which will combine two of her most loved childhood things, which are reading and robotics.

She said, “We recognise the importance of our young people, as our elderly, because I will say that some of our seniors are asking ‘why aren’t we getting training in robotics as well’ and they have a point but at this

point, we are focusing on our young generation because technology is where the jobs will be”.

Granger shared that it was predicted that in the years soon ahead, 60 per cent of jobs will be done by robots. “A recent survey indicates that right now, 50 per cent of the jobs are being done by robots,” she added.

The First Lady further stressed that women’s jobs are likely to become obsolete because of this, hence the importance of becoming involved in robotics.

According to the CoFounder of STEM Guyana, this happens to be the second training being rolled out, as just recently a number of other youths benefited from the sessions.

Currently the organisation is seeking sponsors as kits and other assets have to be bought for the trainees.

So far GTT and a few others have come on board to sponsor meals and other necessities for the beneficiaries.

news

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thursdAY, october 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Legal challenge

Plaintiff’s name mysteriously disappears from GECOM list "May this navratri maa sherawali fulfill all your dreams and bring happiness in your life"

…case against AFC’s “fraudulent” list for hearing today

Empowering women: Worshipping God as female Maa Chandraghanta worshipped on Day 3

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ay three of Navratri is celebrated keeping in mind Goddess Chandraghanta. She is worshipped for prosperity, peace and tranquility. Goddess Chandraghanta is the representation of Supreme bliss and knowledge. It is said that by Her blessings, all the sins, sufferings, bad energies etc are eliminated from Her devotees' life.

Chandraghanta is peaceful and is believed to be there for the welfare of her devotees. It is also believed that the sound of the moon shaped bell on her forehead, wards of evil spirits from her devotees.

By riding a tiger She inspires Her devotees to be fearless. By worshipping Goddess Chandraghanta one gets rid of all the worldly sorrows and attains supreme spiritual bliss. She is known for her beauty that is often compared to the moon. She has a half moon on her forehead in the shape of a bell, hence her name is Chandraghanta.The bell smites all evil demons and instills fear in their hearts.

Her complexion resembles the gold and she rides a lion. She has ten arms and three eyes.

She has weapons in her hands that potrays bravery and strength.

The mantra dedicated to Goddess Chandraghanta is given below: Om Devi Chandraghantayayi Namah (108 recitation of this mantra) Pindaj Pravaarudh chandkopastrkairyuta Prasadam Tanute Madhyam Chandraghanteti vishrutaa This means "Oh Goddess Chandraghanta who rides a tiger and holds weapons in Her 10 hands, shower your blessings on me."

So, chant this mantra and get blessing from Goddess Chandraghanta on the third day of navratri.

On the third day of navratri, one must also chant: Ya devi Sarvabhutishu; Maa Chandraghanta Roopen; Sansthita Namastasye; Namo Namah Those who worship Goddess Chandraghanta on the third day of Navratri are blessed with eternal strength and everlasting happiness.

The devotees should wear grey on the tritiya of Navratri.

Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

he People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) challenge disputing the validity of the Alliance For Change (AFC) list of backers in the Whim/Bloomfield Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) is set for hearing at the Berbice High Court today, before Justice Navindra Singh. However, attorney for the applicant, Anil Nandlall has said his client, Shafraz Beekham’s name has suddenly disappeared from the list under question.

After this year’s Nomination Day for the Local Government Elections (LGE), Whim/Bloomfield constituency candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Shafraz Beekham, discovered his name of the AFC list. He subsequently filed a legal challenge against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to ensure that himself and the 50 other persons names which were “fraudulently” affixed to the AFC list of backers be removed. Ahead of the hearing Nandlall told members of the media on Wednesday that Beekham’s name was deleted as he offered theories disclosing why was this was done.

“Yesterday (Tuesday) at

a GECOM meeting, a list was produced by the Chief Elections Officer Kieth Lowenfield purporting to be the very list that we are complaining against and outrageously the name ‘Shafraz Beekham’ is absent on that list. Our list has the RO’s (Returning Officer) stamp,” he said.

The Chief Elections Officer and the Whim Returning Officer (RO) Orlando Christopher Persaud are the respondents in the matter but the attorney suggested that the now redrawn list is geared to derail his case.

“The name was obviously deleted so they can go to the court [today] to say ‘look this man who is complaining that his name was fraudulently procured and placed on that list; his name is not that list’ but the manufacturing seems to have taken place in GECOM itself and that is what is worrying. However, 50 names (PPP candidates) are on that (AFC’s) list and our Commissioners asked for that list that they have to be given to them and that request was denied,” Nandlall further explained.

The former Attorney

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The purported list that shows PPP’s Shafraz Beekham’s name as a candidate for the AFC

General further told Guyana Times that Lowenfield explained that the list he declined to disclose was “for his lawyer”. The PPP is also seeking to have the names of 50 electors, removed from the AFC’s list in the Berbice NDC under question.

In a sworn affidavit, Beekham, who is a registered elector on the official List of Electors for Constituency Number Three had said that he and others were “deliberately deceived into signing a document by an AFC representative who he claimed fraudulently represented that she was employed by GECOM and that he needed to sign a document to confirm that his name was on the vot-

er’s list.

Beekham’s legal suit stated that on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, he and other electors visited Persaud’s office in Whim to submit the affidavits to have their names withdrawn.

The litigant had also said that he learnt on Friday, September 28, that Persaud, the RO, had refused to withdraw his name and that of the 49 other electors from the lists submitted by the AFC. Aside from Nandlall, Adrian Anamayah and Ian Anamayah are also representing the applicant. The current case is just one of several actions filed ahead of the November 12 polls.

Child rape trial ends with jury in deadlock

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ape accused Joel Patterson is likely to face a fresh trial, following an indecisive jury at the Sexual Offences Court in the Demerara Assizes on Wednesday. He was indicted on two counts of raping a then 11-year-old girl in the county of Demerara but after

a few days of trial, the jury was deadlocked after hours of deliberation.

This meant that their count was 6-6 but this was unacceptable to the court since at least 10 jurors would be needed to determine innocence or guilt. Justice JoAnn Barlow who presided

First Lady frustrated...

It is alleged that between April 1 and April 30, 2017, Lo-Hing obtained $30,000 in phone cards from Basmattie Singh under the pretence of being First Lady Sandra Granger and being in a position to grant a scholarship.

Mohammed also obtained $30,000 in phone cards from Beverly Harris during April 2017 at Mahdia by pretending he was the First Lady, and reportedly promising to offer Harris a scholarship if given the money.

Also, back in December last year, a man who was identified as Mohammed Ali returned to face Chief Magistrate

over the matter informed the accused that the Director of Public Prosecutions will have to determine if a new trial will be called.

According to the case facts, Patterson allegedly engaged in sexual penetration with the child under 16 years of age on September 1, 2016,

and carried out a similar act on November 14, 2016 in Demerara. Represented by Maxwell McKay, Patterson had plead not guilty to both counts when the matter was called earlier this month. Prosecutors Seeta Bishundial and Tiffini Lyken appeared for the State.

From page 11

Ann McLennan, before whom he claimed to be suffering from a mental illness for which he is undergoing treatment at the “Berbice mad house”.

Ali has been convicted on several fraud and simple larceny charges, and was serving time at the New Amsterdam Prison when the allegations were made.

Between April 1 and April 30, 2017, by falsely pretending to be the First Lady and being in a position to offer scholarships to his victims, he allegedly obtained 12 pennyweight of gold (valued at $139,000) from Beverly Harris at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara; $30,000

worth of phone cards from a person at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; and $30,000 in cash from another victim.

These transactions were reportedly executed over the telephone.

The accused had initially denied the charges laid against him. However, he admitted to inducing several persons to send sums of money to his phone, but not to the extent to which he was charged. In what seemed to be an acceptance of fate, the accused then expressed his desire to meet the First Lady as he faced the possibly of a lengthy penalty sentence.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursdAY, october 11, 2018

Regional

Caricom ready to provide assistance to earthquake-ravaged Haiti

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he Caribbean Community (Caricom) says it stands ready to provide assistance to Haiti, one of its 15-member countries that hit by a number of earthquakes resulting in the deaths of 17 people and injury to more than 300 others.

Caricom Secretary General Irwin La Rocque in a message to President Jovenel Moise, said that Caricom “is deeply saddened by the loss of life and the significant destruction of property” in the Frenchspeaking country as a result of the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that struck on Saturday night.

Since the first quake,

Residents on Sunday look at a collapsed school damaged by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake the night before, in Gros-Morne, Haiti

Haiti has been rocked by several aftershocks.

La Rocque said that the regional integration grouping was extending condo-

lences to the families who lost their loved ones as well as for a “full and speedy recovery of the injured.

The Directorate of Civil

Protection (DPC) in its latest bulletin on the damage caused by the earthquakes, said that the death toll had climbed to 17 deaths with most of the deaths occurring in Port-de-Paix north-west of here and in Gros Morne.

“At least 333 people are injured, most of them in hospitals in the North West, Artibonite and North departments. Hundreds of homes are destroyed or damaged.

According to initial assessments, 7,783 families are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in the North West, Artibonite and North departments due to the partial or total destruction of their homes,” it said in the statement. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Venezuela prisons “beyond monstrous”, warns UN

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onditions in Venezuela’s prisons are “beyond monstrous”, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday, before calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the death of a leading political opponent of the Government.

Issuing the alert in Geneva, OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said that there were specific concerns for the well-being of 59 Colombian nationals who’ve

been held for more than two years without being charged.

They were picked up in a security operation in 2016 and are now sharing a single cell at a facility in the country’s capital, Caracas, Shamdasani said. Many of them are ill, she told journalists.

Asked about Fernando Alban, a critic of the Government whose death was announced on Monday at the headquarters of the country’s intelligence services, Shamdasani confirmed

the need for an independent, transparent investigation to clarify reports that he had jumped to his death from the 10th floor.

On the subject of the Colombian detainees, Shamdasani explained that the men were rounded up during so-called Operations for the Liberation of the People (OLP), which the Venezuelan Government had said were designed to break up criminal gangs and bring criminals to justice.

Calling on the author-

ities to comply with the Judge’s ruling and free the Colombians, she underlined the dire conditions in the country’s prisons.

“Overcrowding is rife,” Shamdasani said. The deteriorating human rights situation in Venezuela was detailed in a recent UN report.

Published in June, it highlighted the accelerating erosion of the rule of law amid unprecedented mass demonstrations and the excessive use of force in security operations. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Guatemala ex-VP Roxana Baldetti jailed for “Magic Water” scandal

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court in Guatemala has sentenced the former Vice President, Roxana Baldetti, to 15 years and six months in jail for her role in what became known as the "Magic Water" scandal.

Prosecutors said that she embezzled millions from a State fund set up to decontaminate a lake. The chemical formula used as part of the clean-up was an ineffective solution of water, salt and chlorine.

The deal was negotiated by her brother, Mario, who held no official post. He was sentenced to 13 years in jail. In his verdict, Judge Pablo Xitumul said that Ms Baldetti was the mastermind of a scheme devised

Roxana Baldetti is currently awaiting trial in a customs fraud scandal dubbed La Línea (The Line). Prosecutors have implicated Baldetti and the President at the time, Otto Pérez Molina, in the corruption scheme. Both of them deny the allegations

to defraud the Guatemalan state.

She agreed to pay almost US$18 million (£13.7 million) to an Israeli company to clean up the Amatitlán Lake.

However, the chemicals

being used in the decontaminations scheme turned out to be mostly water and salt – leading the scandal to be dubbed "Magic Water".

Guatemalan media have hailed the verdict as historic, in a region where the rich

and the powerful have traditionally enjoyed impunity.

Several Guatemalan officials and the Israeli businessman, Uri Roitman, were also sentenced to jail.

Baldetti left office in disgrace in 2015, after the biggest anti-corruption protests the country had ever seen.

She is currently awaiting trial in a customs fraud scandal dubbed La Línea (The Line), involving the payment of bribes by private companies to Guatemala's customs service. Prosecutors have implicated Baldetti and the President at the time, Otto Pérez Molina, in the corruption scheme. Both of them deny the allegations. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Mexico couple found with body parts could have killed 20

P

olice in Mexico are investigating a couple arrested for transporting body parts in a pram in connection with at least 10 murders. At a hearing following his arrest, the man reportedly confessed to killing 20 women in a suburb of Mexico City.

Investigators have found body parts in the couple's flat and at another nearby property.

They were kept in buckets filled with cement and in a fridge.

Prosecutors say the couple sold the body parts but it is not

clear to whom.

Femicide – murders of women – are common in Mexico and often go unpunished, but the gruesome details of this case have caused outrage and triggered street protests in Ecatepec, the poor suburb in Mexico state where they occurred.

Neighbours said that whenever they saw the couple they were pushing the pram in which Police found the body parts. Police stopped and searched them after the

disappearance in September of a local woman, 28-year-old Nancy Huitron and her twomonth old baby, Valentina.

In the hearing, the accused, whose name has been given as Juan Carlos, confessed to killing Huitron and identified two other of his victims as 23-yearold Arlet Olguín and 29-yearold Evelyn Rojas.

Prosecutors say he also confessed to sexually abusing some of the victims before killing them and selling off their belongings and some of their body

parts. The three victims, all of them single mothers, had disappeared in recent months.

Huitron disappeared on September 6, 2018, with her baby after dropping her two older daughters off at school. When the two older girls were not picked up from school, a neighbour raised the alarm.

Police have found baby Valentina who, they say, was sold by the couple. She has since been handed to her maternal grandmother. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Barbados Govt signs agreement with Green Climate Fund

B

arbados has signed its first Readiness Grant Agreement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) which gives it access to millions to better organise climate finance.

Minister in the Economic Affairs and Investment Ministry, Marsha Caddle signed the agreement on Monday with the GCF’s Director of Country Programming, Pa Ousman Jarju, in the margins of the Fund’s Global National Designated Authority and Private Investment for Climate Conferences, being held in Incheon, South Korea.

Through this readiness programme, Government will receive an initial US$300,000 in grant financing from the GCF that will enable access to US$1 million annually for improving Barbados’ engagement with the Fund, and therefore its access to climate finance, and a further US$3 million for the development of National Adaptation Plans.

A statement from the Barbados Government said

the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment, which is the GCF National Designated Authority (NDA) in Barbados, has already commenced the development of further readiness proposals in that regard, and the country will be drawing down additional resources in 2019.

Barbados has set the target of being fossil fuel-free by 2030. The development of a roadmap to meet this target will be a key output of the GCF support. The programme will also seek to strengthen private sector involvement in clean energy and climate resilience projects.

Barbados has endorsed the Caribbean Development Bank and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre as the regional institutions through which GCF-funded projects may be implemented.

However, these resources will also support Barbados in establishing a national entity for direct access to GCF resources. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

In tech-laggard Cuba, President Diaz-Canel launches Twitter account

Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel speaks during the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, US, September 26, 2018

C

uba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel launched a Twitter account on Wednesday after saying that digitising one of the western hemisphere’s least connected countries is a priority to boost the economy and defend the revolution.

Diaz-Canel, who took office from Raul Castro on April 19, 2018, tweeted a photo of a ceremony celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first Cuban war of independence from former colonial power Spain from his account @DiazCanelB. It quickly got several hundred replies, some welcoming Diaz-Canel to the twittersphere, others attacking Cuba’s leaders and its one-party system.

Castro, 87, did not have an official twitter account. He and his late brother Fidel Castro had run the country for nearly 60 years.

Cuba observers are on the lookout for signs of whether Diaz-Canel, the first non-Castro president in decades, will usher in economic and political reforms in the Communist-run country.

In the first half year of his presidency, Diaz-Canel has demonstrated more a change in style of communication, showing himself to be more open and modern, than a shift in rhetoric or policies.

His first tweet included the hashtag #somoscontinuidad, “we are continuity”.

Whether because of a lack of cash, a long-running US trade embargo or concerns about the flow of information, Cuba has lagged behind in web access. Until 2013, Internet was largely only available to the public at tourist hotels in Cuba.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

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Around the World

Monster hurricane hits Florida

G

aining fury with every passing hour, Hurricane Michael began pounding the Florida Panhandle with sideways-blown rain and crashing waves Wednesday as it closed in on the coastline with potentially catastrophic winds of 150 mph.

It was the most powerful storm on record to menace the roughly 200-mile stretch of fishing towns,

military bases and springbreak beaches.

The brute quickly sprang from a weekend tropical depression, becoming a furious Category 4 by early Wednesday. Less than a day earlier, Michael was a Category 2.

"The time to evacuate has come and gone ... SEEK REFUGE IMMEDIATELY," Florida Governor Rick Scott tweeted, while the sheriff in

Panama City's Bay County issued a shelter-in-place order before dawn.

More than 375,000 people up and down the Gulf Coast were urged to evacuate. But emergency authorities lamented that many people ignored the warnings and seemed to think they could ride it out.

Diane Farris, 57, and her son walked to a high school-turned-shelter near

their home in Panama City to find about 1100 people crammed into a space meant for about half as many. Neither she nor her son had any way to communicate because their lone cellphone got wet and quit working.

As of 11:30h EDT, Michael was centred about 50 miles (80 kilometres) South of Panama City, its winds at 150mph (240kmh).

It was moving at 14mph (22kph).

Hurricane-force winds extended up to 45 miles (75 kilometres) from its centre.

Rainfall could reach up to a foot (30 centimeters), and the life-threatening storm surge could swell to 14 feet (4 meters).

The storm appeared to be so powerful that it is expected to remain a hurricane as it moves over

Georgia early Thursday.

Forecasters said it will unleash damaging wind and rain all the way into the Carolinas, which are still recovering from Hurricane Florence's epic flooding.

Huge waves pounded the white sands of Panama City Beach, shooting frothy water all the way to the base of wooden stairs that lead to the beach. (Excerpt from MSN)

ployed more than 100 emergency workers along with sniffer dogs to help rescue efforts. The neighbouring islands of Ibiza and Formentera were put on alert as heavy rainstorms moved in.

Earlier reports that several other people were missing were later discounted.

Worst affected was the town of Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, where cars were swept away by the force of the flooding. A British cou-

ple travelling in a taxi were killed, as was the driver.

A woman who had been in her car with her two young children also died. As the waters rose, she managed to get her eight-year-old daughter to safety, but she was unable to save her son aged five. He was still missing on Wednesday.

Three other victims died in the coastal town of S'illot.

The area was hit with more than eight inches (20 centi-

metres) of rainfall in just a few hours on Tuesday, according to Spanish meteorological agency Aemet.

A senior official from the Sant Llorenç mayor's office told a local radio station that more than 180 litres of rain had fallen in just two hours, describing the situation as a "disaster". One Aemet official said such intense conditions of torrential and localised rain occurred only every 80 years. (Excerpt from BBC News)

clandestine passage measured 627 feet (191 meters), including 336 feet inside US territory, in California. The tunnel builders had started working on an exit shaft North of the border, but had not broken the surface before it was discovered.

Mexican Police dis-

covered the tunnel on September 19 while searching a home 221 feet South of the border, in the town of Jacume, in Baja California state.

The border patrol said that a solar panel system had been set up to power lighting and ventilation

systems inside the tunnel, which was also equipped with a rail system along its entire length, and two pumps to drain water.

Drug smugglers often use tunnels to move their products across the USMexico border; dozens have been discovered in recent years – mostly in California and Arizona. The San DiegoTijuana region is popular because its clay-like soil is relatively easy to dig with shovels and pneumatic tools, and both sides of the border have warehouses that provide cover for trucks and heavy equipment.

The strategy was pioneered by the former head of the Sinaloa cartel, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who is currently awaiting trial in New York.

In 2015, Guzmán escaped from a maximum security prison through a hole in his shower floor which lead to a mile-long tunnel equipped with a modified motorcycle on rails. He was recaptured six months later and extradited to the US last year. (The Guardian)

Jamal Khashoggi: Majorca: Flash flood kills at least 10 on Spanish island Details of alleged Saudi hit squad emerge

S

audi special forces officers, intelligence officials, national guards and a forensics expert were allegedly among a 15-person team tied to the disappearance in Istanbul of the high-profile dissident Jamal Khashoggi, it has been reported by Turkish pro-Government newspapers.

The details of the alleged hit squad were listed on flight manifests leaked to Turkish media. Social media profiles of some of the alleged suspects link them to elite sections of the Saudi security apparatus.

Meanwhile, investigators are turning their focus towards the underground garage of the Saudi consul general’s home, where the cars thought to have carried Khashoggi are believed to have to have been driven immediately after they left the nearby consulate.

Investigators also disclosed on Wednesday that they were focusing on an Apple watch that Khashoggi was wearing that was connected to an iPhone he had

left with his fiancee outside the consulate. “We have determined that it was on him when he walked into the consulate,” a security official told Reuters. Investigators are seeking to determine what information the watch had transmitted.

Donald Trump said that the US was “demanding” answers from the Saudi Government and working closely with Turkey to find out what happened to the missing dissident.

Turkish officials remain convinced that Khashoggi was killed by the alleged hit squad inside the consulate building – a view partly formed by security footage, much of which has not been released.

The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, has promised a transparent investigation into Khashoggi’s fate. However, many officials who provided information earlier in the inquiry are now refusing to speak, citing political sensitivities. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

A

t least 10 people, including two Britons, have died and a child is missing after flash flooding on the Spanish island of Majorca. A huge wave of muddy water engulfed the town of Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, in the East of the island, after a river burst its banks following heavy rain.

Vehicles were swept away as water gushed through narrow streets.

The Spanish military de-

Solar-powered drug tunnel discovered on Mexican border with California

U

S and Mexican authorities have discovered an incomplete cross-border drug smuggling tunnel complete with a rail track and a solar-powered lighting and ventilation system.

The US border patrol said on Tuesday that the

Kenya bus crash kills 50 on way to Kisumu

A

t least 50 people were killed when a bus travelling from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, to Kisumu, in the west, veered off the road, Police say. The bus was overloaded and speeding, a survivor told local media.

Police said the driver lost control and the vehicle plunged down a slope at a notorious accident black spot. The roof was ripped off. Twelve women and seven children were among those killed in the crash on Wednesday morning.

The bus was carrying at least 70 passengers, some standing, a male survivor told The Standard. He said the driver was not following traffic rules but that he chose not to raise his concerns because the bus crew would have beaten him up.

He described the bus crew as "very arrogant". The Government

Claims of Police taking bribes from traffic offenders have also contributed to road accidents in the country

agency in charge of road safety said the bus did not have a license to travel at night.

The accident happened at 05:00 local time (02:00 GMT) in Fort Ternan town, 80km (50 miles) away from Kisumu, local media reported.

An eyewitness described hearing "a

long hooting sound, then a screech that was followed by a bang and loud screams," the Daily Nation reported.

A number of people were taken to hospital, it said. Kenyan roads can be notoriously dangerous and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has ranked Kenya as one of

the world's worst countries for road safety.

In the past 10 months, 2345 people have been killed in road crashes across the country, an eight per cent increase compared with last year, the BBC's Wanyama Chebusiri in Nairobi, reports. (BBC News)

18

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thursdAY, october 11, 2018

ARCHIE

Stick to the people you know you can trust. Getting (March 21- together with a former April 19) co-worker will lead to an interesting suggestion. Nurture an important relationship.

ARIES

You’ll be drawn to a partTAURUS nership that encourages you (April 20- to do things differently. What May 20) you learn from someone with more experience will lead to new beginnings. Personal change is favoured.

dilbert

Take the time to listen GEMINI (May 21- and find out where others June 20) stand before you jump into something risky. Physical activities will help you blow off steam. Tidy up loose ends before moving forward.

Settle in and get things done. Personal changes will (June 21- turn out well, and relationJuly 22) ships with children and loved ones will flourish if you offer encouragement and help.

Romance is highlighted.

CANCER

Peanuts

Don’t let anger ruin your LEO day. Treat others the way you (July 23- want to be treated, and be Aug. 22) willing to bend in order to get things done.

Calvin and Hobbes

Travel, communication VIRGO and personal growth are all (Aug. 23featured. If you sign up for a Sept. 22) retreat or self-improvement seminar, the people you meet will change your perspective on life.

Find a way to make a LIBRA (Sept. 23- difference. If you offer your Oct. 23) time, skills or a kind word, you’ll find a way to bring positive change to your life as well.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — OBITUARY (OBITUARY: o-BICH-oo-air-ee: A published notice of a death.)

SUDOKU

Consider the sort of changSAGITTARIUS es you’d like to see happen (Nov. 23- before you make your move.

Dec. 21) If you look out for the underdog, you’ll get some surprising help.

Average mark 27 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 40 or more words in OBITUARY? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — WHISPER weir whip whir wipe wiper wire wise wiser wish wisp heir hers hire shier

ship shire shrew sire spew spire swipe perish phew pier pish pries ripe rise

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

Think outside the box.

SCORPIO Be innovative and proactive (Oct. 24when handling sensitive sitNov. 22) uations. Personal growth will lead to a positive change.

Love is on the rise.

solution for last published puzzle

A change to how you do CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- things will make others take Jan. 19) notice. Your dedication and hard work will pay off, and the support you receive will give you hope and added vitality.

Listen and assess situAQUARIUS ations cautiously. Don’t be (Jan. 20- too open about your plans or Feb. 19) opinions. It’s in your best interest to find out where everyone else stands before you make a commitment.

Sail into whatever new PISCES (Feb. 20- venture attracts you. Share March 20) your ideas and push for what you want to see happen.

Financial gain and long-term contracts look promising.

Romance is highlighted.

thursdAY, october 11, 2018

19

Remember the name: KEVLON ANDERSON

By Brandon Corlette

A combination of the patience of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the maturity of Kraigg Brathwaite, the passion of Virat Kohli, and the swagger of Sir Vivian Richards describes Kevlon Anderson’s batting.

On September 28, 2000, a gem of a cricketer entered the world in the form of Kevlon Alston Anderson. The talented Guyanese youth sensation, who hails from Number One Village, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), is the son of Gail and Alex Anderson. Anderson currently plays club cricket for the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) in Berbice, and occasionally plays for Transport Sports Club in Georgetown. Anderson is greatly assisted by the influential cricket administrator Hilbert Foster, National Coach Julian Moore among other coaches and senior players, as well as his parents and siblings.

The 18-year-old has represented Guyana once at the Under-15 level, twice at the Under-17 level and has already played two Cricket West Indies (CWI) Under-19 tournaments. Anderson is also expected to make a third appearance representing Guyana at the CWI tournament in 2019, and he would want to advance to the next level to play for West Indies in the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, January-February 2020.

Showcasing his brilliance, Anderson recently recorded an emphatic century in the 2018 Cricket Guyana Inc (CGI) franchise 50-over tournament against powerhouse Georgetown at the historic venue, Bourda. The right hander’s innings of 116, which is the highlight of his

career thus far, spanned 113 deliveries with nine classy fours and three sweetly timed sixes. Anderson’s innings that was filled with substance and level-headed batting was in vain as Georgetown defeated Lower Corentyne in that encounter.

The youngster also recorded a special knock in the 2017 Three-Day CGI franchise against East Coast, where he batted for approximately three hours and racked up a patient 122.

In addition to his gifted batting, Anderson can produce a useful right arm medium fast ball; his most significant bowling performance came in the 2018 Under-19 inter-county tourney, where he picked up 5-12 against Essequibo at Tuschen.

Speaking exclusively to Guyana Times Sport, Anderson explained that he was seeking to score the most runs in the upcoming edition of the three-day CGI franchise, where he can stamp his authority for selection in the Guyana Jaguars four-day team.

The young stalwart admires West Indies Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite, who is currently the Caribbean’s highest International Cricket Council (ICC) ranked Test batsman (13th). Anderson has the ability to concentrate and bat for hours at the crease; mirroring the patience of Chanderpaul. Anderson is also quite capable of hitting the ball over the ropes easily, and admires Guyana’s Jonathan Foo for his similar ability to stroke the ball with power over the boundary line.

Anderson attended the Lower Corentyne Secondary

Kevlon Anderson prepares to bat

School; under his captaincy, his team won the countrywide schools competition in 2016. Anderson enjoys positive music, inspirational movies, and eating creole food.

Through hard work and dedication, Anderson believes that good things come to those who wait; so while dominating cricket in Guyana at a tender age, he awaits his opportunity to represent the Guyana Jaguars at the senior level.

BCB/Mike’s Pharmacy Kick-off set for U-15 shifts into gear Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter-Ward/Village Cup…

October 21 W

ithin the next 10 days, 32 invited teams will have the opportunity to battle for the coveted first prize of $400,000 and the championship trophy, compliments of the Ministry of Citizenship as the Hamilton Green 9-a-side InterWard/Village Cup will be held to commemorate the 84th birth anniversary of the former Mayor of Georgetown in Den Amstel on the West Coast of Demerara on October 21, 2018.

Over $700,000 in prize monies, trophies, and gifts will be awarded to the respective winners and outstanding performances at the end of t h e tournament, which will b e run on a knock-

out basis with the final set to be played on November 11, at the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground. The runners-up will be awarded $200,000 and a trophy through the goodwill o f J o h n

Fernandes Ltd, while the third and fourthplace finishers will receive $60,000 and $40,000 respectively, along with the Techno Mills and Courtney Benn Construction Services trophies in that order.

Also, the top four top finishers will receive hampers, compliments of Ricks & Sari Industries, while the highest goalscorer will walk away with a Lazy Boy Chair courtesy of AH&L Kissoon and a dinette set compliment of China Trading while the Most Valuable Player (MVP) will be awarded a special prize from Techno Mills.

Among the other sponsors on board a r e : IPA, Alfro Alphonso, Sattaur Gafoor, ANSA McAL, T o p Brandz Distributors, MACORP, Cummings Electrical, Ready Mix, BK International and New Thriving Restaurant.

Meanwhile, the organisers have the fixtures for the first days of action with the ners advancing to the round.

released three winnext

T

he proactive Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has launched its 2019 InterClub Under-15 Tournament.

The Board only recently completed its 2018 edition in September, but in its quest to be properly prepared for the inter-county season, which begins in February 2019, it launched the 2019 edition early. The Tournament will begin in three weeks, using the required date of birth for the 2019 inter-county season.

BCB President Hilbert Foster stated that the 2018 Inter-Club Tournament was a huge success with Albion Community Centre being crowned champion after defeating favourites Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes by six runs at the Albion Sports Complex.

Foster expects at least 20 teams to participate in the Tournament, which will be used to select players for several trial matches. A training squad of 26 players will be selected based on performances after the first three rounds of the Tournament for the trial matches.

These matches are sponsored by Nand Persaud Co Ltd. The Albert Smithled selection committee will have a team to undertake two months of intense training and coaching to be fully prepared

BCB President Hilbert Foster receives the sponsorship cheque from Wayne Johnson of Mike’s Pharmacy

to defend their title.

Clubs like Albion Community Centre, Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes, Blairmont Community Centre, Tucber Park Cricket Club, Young Warriors Cricket Club, Rose Hall Canje, Port Mourant Cricket Club, No 73 Cricket Club and Plaisance are expected to be among teams taking part in the historic tournament.

The energetic BCB President was full of praise for the support of Mike’s Pharmacy. The outstanding work of the Cricket Board, he stated, would not have been possible without the support of sponsors like Mike’s and he has committed his Board to organising another successful tournament.

Managing Director Lakeram Singh stated that Mike’s Pharmacy was very impressed by the hard work and organising skills of the Board.

Singh disclosed that he would continue to support Berbice cricket once the game is administered properly.

Interested Clubs are asked to contact Foster on 337-4562, Angela Haniff (333-2375) or Robby Saywack (660-0049) to register before Monday.

October 15, 2018.

All players will have to be properly attired in white and have a birth certificate to verify date of birth. Players will also have to be attending school as part of the Board’s “Say Yes to Education Programme”.

20

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thursdAY, october 11, 2018

WDFA Qualifier KO Tournament 2018…

Golden Warriors, Crane Rovers secure victories

T

he Golden Warriors FC and Crane Rovers FC secured victories in the opening matches of the Guyana Football Federation/West Demerara Football Association (GFF/ WDFA) Qualifier knockout tournament held at the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground.

After the referee blew his whistle to commence the match, Golden Warriors pummelled Zeelugt 7-2 while the feature match between Crane Rovers FC and Vegae Boyz ended with Crane demolishing Vegae Boyz 9-0.

Within the first seven minutes of the game, Zeelugt FC’s Andrew Gill found the back of the net giving his team an early lead, which did not last long as the Warriors’ Nigel Garraway equalised in the 13th minute. Three minutes later, Garraway’s team-

Warriors’ goal scorers Shaquale Baptist, Nigel Garraway, Anthony Harding and Shalon Williams

mate Anthony Harding converted his opportunity in the 16th minute and went on to score his second goal just before the end of the first half in the 44th minute taking the score to 3-1.

Upon resumption of play, Harding booted in his third goal in the 49th minute, advancing the scoreline 4-1 as the dominance of possession continued for his side. But Harding

wasn’t finished yet as he broke through the defence of Zeelugt in the 52nd minute making the score 5-1.

Shaquale Baptist then got his shot past the Zeelugt custodian to increase the

score to 6-1 in the 55th minute.

Three minutes later, Shalon Williams placed his name on the score sheet.

With the score now at a 7-1 margin, the Zeelugt players kept searching for goals.

Zeelugt managed to slip one through when Clement Smith got his opportunity and made it worthwhile, scoring his team’s second goal in the 60th minute to have the scoreline read 7-2. That scoreline was to remain as the Golden Warriors defence was just too much for the Zeelugt players.

After one intense match, the bar was raised as Crane Rovers proved too tough for the Boyz, who they trampled 9-0. Goals came from Quincy Graham in the 6th and 41st minutes, Adam Hoyte in the 11th minute with support from Clement Brown in the 43rd, Denford

Williams in the 47th and 55th minutes, and Tyler Wharton in the 50th minute. Alonzo Bowman and Clifton Adams netted in the 58th and 33rd minutes respectively.

Member Associations were mandated by the GFF to have the two top clubs represent the Association in the upcoming year-end football festival, which is set to commence in late November.

Pouderoyen, Uitvlugt, Eagles and Wales United were seeded into the top four grouping while the other eight clubs will play off to meet the top clubs in the quarter-finals.

The tournament will continue this weekend at the Wales Community Centre Ground and will see Jetty Gunners facing Beavers on Saturday at 14:00h.

Additionally, Stewartville will match skills with De Kinderen at 16:00h.

Hard to build something if team dynamics keep changing – Holder W

est Indies are about to lose their head coach Stuart Law at the end of the year.

Before that, in 2016, they lost Phil Simmons. And before that, in 2014, they lost Ottis Gibson. The captain Jason Holder praised his team-mates for keeping up with such a churn but hoped the next coach will be able to stick around longer.

"It's difficult. We have had a number of coaches in the last five years. And

I must commend the guys because they have really been professional to be able to adjust to each and every coach that we've had.

"A lot of people don't understand what goes on behind the scenes. And that's pretty much an example of the things the players have had to deal with. Credit must go to the individuals in the group because despite who coaches the team, we are still judged on the cricket that we play. But all

this has a part to do with the cricket that we produce.

"That's why I don't get too caught up with people saying what they say, because within, I know what really goes on within the dynamics of the team.

It's not an excuse or looking for things to ease pressure, but at the end of the day you deal with reality.

Anybody would say that the only way to get results as a team is by coming close together. But if the dynamics

of the team changes quite a bit, it's hard to build something. Every time it seems as though you're building something, there's almost a barrier, some kind of obstacle.

"But that's life. I think Stuart has brought a different dynamic in terms of professionalism. He's obviously tried to implement certain structures and certain methods, which we needed to change, and credit really must go to Stuart Law for that. Hopefully, whoever comes in, we could just settle on a coach for a little while longer and build something positive for the next couple of years."

West Indies' performance in the first Test against India in Rajkot they lost all 20 wickets in four sessions - drew a lot of flak, with cricket pundits and former players suggesting on social media that they weren't good enough to play Test cricket. Holder had come across some of these unflattering comments, but he brushed them aside with grace, dignity and some decent statistics too.

"We're playing the No.1 team, India, in their backyard. And history would show we haven't won a Test match here since 1994, and if you look at the players who came through West Indies cricket - I think Brian Lara and these greats have been playing all that time.

"Sure, we probably haven't won as many series as we'd like. But within the last year, I think we've won two out of four or five series

West Indies Captain Jason Holder

we've played. So I don't understand why people would be this harsh towards us.

"But everyone is entitled to their opinion. I just focus primarily on what I have to do and what the team has to do. There's not point worrying about what people have to say because people will always have [something] to say. The only way we can silence the critics - or try to silence them, because I don't think they'll never shut up is by playing [good] cricket."

Holder's immediate focus is on getting himself fit for the second Test against India in Hyderabad on Friday. He missed the Rajkot Test with an ankle injury, but has since resumed bowling off his full run-up.

"I am pushing really hard to be ready for the Test match. In the last Test match, it just wasn't right.

I had a scan and it didn't turn out to be too bad. But, it's a matter of managing the pain. Injuries aren't new to me. I didn't want to start a Test match and then be in a situation where I am not able to finish it. I feel a lot stronger now and the pain has decreased. It's matter of sustaining for five days."

Their lead fast bowler Shannon Gabriel is also under a cloud - Holder said they'll take a call on the morning of the match - but Kemar Roach was in full flow at training at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium and will likely slot back into the XI. The bowling coach Corey Collymore put their loss in Rajkot down to indisciplined bowling in the first session of the match, and the return of Roach could help improve that. (ESPNcricinfo)

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here will be no dearth of experience in various squads during the upcoming ICC Women’s World T20 with 19 players gearing up for their sixth tournament in the West Indies from 9-24 November.

The ICC on Wednesday, confirmed all the squads for the ICC Women’s World T20 2018, with four players each from South Africa and the West Indies, three from Sri Lanka, two each from India, New Zealand and Pakistan and one each from Australia and England in the list of players not to miss a single edition of the tournament.

West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor is among those turning out for the sixth time and is most enthusiastic at the prospect of playing in front of home crowds in what is the first stand-alone edition after it was held along with the men’s event the previous five times.

Taylor said, “Leading the West Indies in the ICC Women’s World T20 2018 is both an honour and challenge for me. It will obviously be a great feeling to be in the prestigious role at home but one has to also live up to expectations since we won the tournament in India last time.

“We have a fine squad and several potential match winners but we have to be at our best in each and every match. The announcement of the squad makes you realise that the tournament is now almost upon us. The other squads too are very impressive and this promises to be a highly competitive tournament.”

“I want to encourage all our fans to come out and support us in a major way.

We’re delighted to be at home and we want to see the stands full and cheering for the Windies.”

The West Indies, who won the title at the Eden Gardens two years ago with an eight-wicket win over Australia, are one of the

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Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Poonam Yadav.

Ireland: Laura Delany (captain), Kim Garth, Cecelia Joyce, Isobel Joyce, Shauna Kavanagh, Amy Kenealy, Gaby Lewis, Lara Maritz, Ciara Metcalfe, Lucy O’Reilly, Celeste Raack, Eimear Richardson, Clare Shillington, Rebecca Stokell, Mary Waldron.

Stafanie Taylor

top contenders with captain Taylor now only 47 runs behind retired England player Charlotte Edwards’s record of 768 runs in ICC Women’s World T20s.

Taylor, Deandra Dottin and Hayley Mathews have all figured regularly among the top of the T20I rankings for batters, bowlers and all-rounders.

Players in their sixth ICC Women’s World T20: Ellyse Perry (Australia); Jenny Gunn (England); Harmanpreet Kaur, Mithali Raj (India); Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine (New Zealand); Sana Mir, Javeria Khan (Pakistan); Dane van Niekerk, Trisha Chetty, Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail (South Africa); Eshani Lokusooriya, Udeshika Prabodhani, Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka); Merissa Aguillera, Deandra Dottin, Anisa Mohammed, Stafanie Taylor (West Indies).

The squads

West Indies: Stafanie Taylor (captain), Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Natasha Mclean, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Shakera Selman.

Australia: Meg Lanning (captain), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Alyssa Starc, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham.

Bangladesh: Salma Khatun (captain), Ayasha Rahman, Fahima Khatun, Fargana Hoque Pinky, Jahanara Alam, Khadiza Tul Kubra, Lata Mondol, Nahida Akter, Nigar Sultana Joty, Panna Ghosh, Ritu Moni, Rumana Ahmed, , Sanjida Islam, Shamima Sultana, Sharmin Akhter Supta.

England: Heather Knight (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Kirstie Gordon, Jenny Gunn, Danni Hazell, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Linsey Smith, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt.

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Tanya Bhatia, Ekta Bisht, Dayalan Hemalatha, Mansi Joshi, Veda Krishnamurthy, Smriti Mandhana, Anuja Patil, Mithali Raj, Arundathi Reddy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma,

New Zealand: Amy Satterthwaite (captain) Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Sophie Devine, Kate Ebrahim, Maddy Green, Holly Huddleston, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Katey Martin, Anna Peterson, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu, Jessica Watkin.

Pakistan (captain to be announced later): Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Javeria Khan, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Nahida Khan, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sana Mir, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz.

South Africa: Dane Van Niekerk (captain), Trisha Chetty, Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus, Zintle Mali, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Robyn Searle, Tumi Sekhukhune, Saarah Smith, Chloe Tryon, Laura Wolvaardt.

Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Ama Kanchana, Sugandika Kumari, Eshani Lokusooriya, Dilani Manodara, Yashoda Mendis, Hasini Perera, Udeshika Prabodani, Inoshi Priyadarshani, Oshadhi Ranasinghe, Shashikala Siriwardena, Rebeka Vandort, Sripali Weearakkody.

Bragging Rights 5-a-side Football…

Jacobs views event as a way to give back

I

t all goes down as one of the biggest football tournaments to grace the Marriott Beachfront under the theme “Bragging Rights 5-a-side Football” with a cash prize of $500,000 up for grabs, the tournament is set to commence on October 19 at 18:00h.

The tournament is being hosted by one of Guyana’s most popular promoters, Marlon Jacobs aka “Freedom Boss”.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, Jacobs, the mastermind of the event, said, “I am a fan of football; I usually go to a lot of street events that

they have football, so I decided that since I’m a promoter, I would use my platform and venture out into sports and give back to the community, that is how I came up with “Bragging Rights: three days, three nights of intense fun”.

Jacobs went on to state that the aim of the tournament was to reach out to youths in vulnerable communities who are very talented and involved in sports as most of them are talented and already have a fan base thus providing the opportunity for their fans to come out and watch them.”

He added that 16 teams

Promoter Marlon Jacobs

were already confirmed for the competition and they hailed from Linden, Berbice and Georgetown. Some of

the teams included in the tournament are Leopold Street, Sparta Boss, Future Stars, Gold is Money, and Albouystown.

When asked about predictions, the promoter lightly stated in a humorous manner that he expected the best team to win, presuming that every team would come out and do their best to claim the spoils.

This event is being sponsored by ANSA McAL under its Stag Beer brand as the executive sponsor and the National Sports Commission (NSC).

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursdAY, october 11, 2018

GABA/Rainforest Water/Malta Supreme…

Can the Sonics bounce back?

Chung’s Global Enterprise supports GSCL Inc for Prime Minister’s Cup 2

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he action continues tonight in the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA)/Rainforest Water/ Malta Supreme Under-23, second-division and first-division tournament when the Pepsi Sonics clash with the in-form Plaisance Guardians.

The night gets started in the second-division category at 18:30h, then the first-division players take centre stage as Sonics take on Nets at 20:30h at the Burnham Hard Court.

With the P l a i s a n c e Guardians being crowned the victorious second-division champions in March 2018 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the team have always classified themselves as one of the top squads.

As of recent, the Guardians have recorded a number of wins in the GABA League as they search for yet another title to add to their name. The

GSCL Inc Secretary Telesha Ousman (left) accepts the cheque from Chung’s Global Enterprise Sales and Marketing Representative Naresa Nabby

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Part of the ongoing action in the GABA League

Guardians have been in form as they demolished the Pa ceset t ers 72-62 in their recent clash over the weekend with skipper Terrence Daniels (18), leading from the front yet again as he received valuable support from Delroy Critchlow (11) and Hillman

Bovell (10).

Daniels has kept his performance consistent throughout the tournament with back-to-back leading scores. Guardians have an advantage over the Sonics who seem to be having an off season.

In the next match-up for the night, the Sonics will face the Nets. The Sonics have been trying to win games, but can hardly find the net as they seem to be having a dry spell.

In last Saturday’s match-

up, the Colts defeated the Sonics 62-51. Sonics led 2014 after the first quarter, but the opposition’s defence got better as the game progressed which saw Sonics being outscored in the next three periods 10-15, 10-17, 11-16, respectively, to proverbially snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

In the majority of their games, the Sonics have managed to excel at the start, but somewhere along the line, they lose their flair.

he Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc has gained the backing of Chung’s Global Enterprise for the hosting of the Prime Minister’s Cup 2, which is set to commence on October 19.

Naresa Nabby of Chung’s Global Enterprise, which is located at 622 A Industrial Reserve, Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, recently presented the sponsorship cheque to GSCL Inc Secretary Telesha Ousman.

Nabby said the company was happy to be given the opportunity to join with the GSCL Inc for this event and wished the teams well, adding that they were looking forward to an exciting and successful tournament. Ousman stated that the fans could expect some exciting action during the tournament, since there would also be off-field entertainment and giveaways. She thanked the entity for its support.

Among the venues identified for preliminary matches are GNIC SC, Muslim Youth Organisation, Gandhi

Youth Organisation, Demerara Cricket Club, Malteenoes Sports Club, Eve Leary, and Everest.

In the open segment, the winning team will take home $700,000 and the runners-up $100,000 while in the masters’ category, the champion team will be given $600,000 and the runners-up $100,000.

Regal Masters and Speedboat (open) are the defending champions. The teams that will battle for supremacy in the All-stars (open) segment are Wales Challengers, Enterprise Rebel, Hill Foot Vipers, Farm All-Stars, Speedboat, Success, Regal AllStars, Corriverton, Bartica AllStars, SVC, and Booths XI. The masters’ category includes Albion Masters, Regal Masters, Mike’s Wellman, Enterprise Masters, Ontario Masters, Narine Masters, Florida Guyana, Tropical Spring Masters, Parika Defenders and Fishermen Masters.

The tournament will culminate on October 21, 2018 at the Everest Cricket Club.

Beer/Ballerz Ent Demerara Mutual Tournament GT Soft Shoe Football… tees off Saturday Action resumes A this Saturday

fter a year’s hiatus, Demerara Mutual’s sponsorship will return to the Lusignan Golf Course this weekend as the insurance company collaborates with the Lusignan Golf Club to host yet another exciting tournament.

Demerara Mutual, which has been in the business of providing financial security and assurance since 1891, has grown to become a leader in Guyana as more than 100 employees provide services to thousands of clients.

Senior Marketing Manager Clarence Perry noted that the company was now focused on giving back to their customers and one avenue through which it hoped to do so was sport.

“We do believe that sport in general is a very good thing to support. We believe that it helps to foster good community relations, so we’re happy to be partnering

LGC President Aleem Hussain

with Lusignan Golf Club to host this tournament this weekend,” Perry said.

Zeroing in on the gentleman’s sport, Perry disclosed that it was his hope that golf could continue to gain popularity in Guyana.

“We do hope that we can see not only as a result of ourselves, but other corporate groups participating, so golf will grow from strength to strength. You know in Guyana, it’s traditionally cricket and foot-

ball, but with continued exposure and sponsorship of these events, hopefully, we can have more persons participating in golf in the future.”

Turning his focus to this weekend’s open, the Marketing Manager stated that he was looking forward to fierce competition come Saturday. “We do expect it to be a very competitive tournament,” he said.

Coming up just three weeks before the annual Guyana Open, the Demerara Mutual tournament is being seen as a ‘warm up’. As such, the competition will see the participation of at least 35 golfers, but Club President Aleem Hussain expects that that number will reach 50. Many of the successful participants from the Suriname Invitational tournament will participate, in addition to veteran golfers Clifford Reis, Maurice Solomon and Robert Hanoman.

In an attempt to make

the competition more enticing, the arrangement of prizes will differ for this tournament. “The Demerara Mutual Group has asked us to make sure that we have a wide range of winners, so as a result this tournament is going to be run a little different from our traditional tournament where there’s just a winner overall,” the Club President said.

As such, there will be categories A, B, and C, where the first and second prizes will be distributed.

Additionally, there will be special prizes for the golfers with the best gross, best net, chipping, and putting.

Hussain also took the opportunity to thank the sponsors, stating, “On behalf of the Lusignan Golf Club and all its members, I want to say thank you to Mr Perry and, of course, the entire organisation that has stood behind us for so many years.”

Tee-off time on Saturday, October 13 will be 12:30h.

T

eam Family’s Kevin Agard lit up the second night of action in the Ballerz Entertainment /GT Beersponsored 5-a-side Soft Shoe Football Competition, which continued on Sunday, at the Mocha Community Centre Ground, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The tournament, which is being run on a round-robin/ knockout basis, saw Agard fire in his second hat-trick to lead the goal scoring in the competition so far and place himself in a wonderful position to win the top goalscorer award.

In the first encounter of the night, Church Boys met with Ninja Clad in an eight-goal encounter. Alvin Demattos and Eric Sampson both scored two while Nectar Prince chipped in with one to take Church Boys to 5. Ninja Clad were consistent with their replies, but Adonie Rutherford’s double and Kester Stewart’s one were not enough for the win.

In game two, Dream Team handed down a 5-0 thrashing to Cricketers. Orville Stewart,

Dellon John, and Dorville Stewart all contributed, along with Kester Alleyne with a pair, to seal the win.

Hardball and Front Side Warriors battled in the third game. Matthew Robinson, Jermaine James, and Pernell Gordon tallied one apiece for their 3-1 win over Front Side, who could only muster Orin James’s lone goal.

The last game featured the powerhouse Family and Top Strikers. With all their players in tune, Family surged to a 7-1 victory. Agard netted three and was followed by Shamar Jones with two, Rondel Smith with one and Teon Jones with another. Top Strikers’ lone goal came from Darius Trumble.

The tournament, which has over $200,000 in prize monies to be won, will see the winning team receive $100,000 while the second and third-placed finishers will take home $50,000 and $25,000 respectively, along with trophies. The action will continue on Saturday, October 13 at the same venue with another set of exciting games.

guyanatimesgy.com

thursdAY, october 11, 2018

23

CWI Regional Super50 2018…

Guyana take on defending champs

– Barnwell narrowly misses century

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oday, Guyana will look to further cement themselves at t h e top of Zone A when they take on Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Super50 c h a m p i o n s , Windward Islands, in a Day/Night affair which is scheduled to bowl off from 14:00 hrs in Trinidad.

After victory on Tuesday against Canada, Guyana are now second in Zone A behind Trinidad & Tobago with ten points. Trinidad are unbeaten in three matches and lead the Group with 13, while Winward Islands are third with seven.

J a m a i c a Scorpions command Zone B with 14 points and their closest rival is the while Leeward Islands, who have just six points.

On Tuesday, a career-best, unbeaten 99 from Christopher Barnwell and an even half-century from Raymon Reifer formalised a seven-wicket victory for Guyana Jaguars over Canada.

Barnwell led the way with a 76-ball knock that was spiced with seven fours and four sixes and Reifer completed a tidy all-

round performance with 50 not out from 58 balls that included three fours and one six, as the 10-time champion secured their second bonus-point victory in the rain-marred contest to move into second-place in Group “A” on 10 points.

In the other contest, rain forced a no-result between Windies B and Windward Islands.

At the Brian

Lara Cricket Academy, chasing 203 for victory, the Jaguars always looked ahead of the game, even though they lost a cluster of wickets in the space of 12 deliveries that left them woozy on 51 for three in the eighth over.

B u t l e f t hander

Raymon Reifer

Reifer came to the crease and settled the nerves, when he linked with Barnwell to put on a record 153 – unbroken – for the fourth wicket that got the Jags over the finish line in 29.4 overs – a healthy

but Romesh Galkandage Don poached 2-29 from six overs.

Earlier, Navneet Dhaliwal hit the score for Canada of 88 from 110 balls that contained seven fours and three sixes and

SCOREBOARD

Canada Innings (47 overs maximum) RA Thomas c Barnwell b Reifer 5 NS Dhaliwal c Lewis b Reifer 88 BS Adhihetty c Johnson b Pestano 0 H Thaker c Rutherford b Shepherd 11 NR Kumar run out (Barnwell) 14 DJ Jacobs (c) † b Lewis 44 R Gunasekera c Rutherford b Lewis 5 D Heyliger run out (Barnwell) 6 S Brar b Pestano 8 GDR Eranga not out 3 Salman Nazar not out 3 Extras: (lb 8, nb 1, w 6) 15 TOTAL:(47 Overs, RR: 4.29)202-9 Fall of wickets: 1-14 (RA Thomas, 3.1 ov), 2-15 (BS Adhihetty, 4.3 ov), 3-60 (H Thaker, 12.1 ov), 4-103 (NR Kumar, 22.4 ov), 5-162 (NS Dhaliwal, 37.2 ov), 6-176 (R Gunasekera, 40.2 ov), 7-188 (DJ Jacobs, 44.3 ov), 8-191 (D Heyliger, 45.1 ov),

enough scoring rate to earn them a bonus point.

The partnership eclipsed the fourth wicket record for the Jaguars established last year by Barnwell and Windies batsman Shimron Hetmyer against Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

No Canadian bowler distinguished himself,

9-199 (S Brar, 46.4 ov) BOWLING: C Pestano (7-0-30-2), RA Reifer (6-1-33-2), R Shepherd (8-0-31-1), SE Rutherford (2-0-14-0), V Permaul (100-37-0), CD Barnwell (5-019-0), RA Lewis (9-1-30-2) Guyana Innings (target: 203 runs from 47 overs) TA Griffith b Eranga 12 C Hemraj c Brar b Eranga 33 LR Johnson (c) b Brar 1 CD Barnwell not out 99 RA Reifer not out 50 Extras: (nb 3, w 6) 9 TOTAL (29.4 Overs, RR: 6.87) 204-3 Did not bat: R Shepherd, C Pestano, A Bramble †, SE Rutherford, V Permaul, RA Lewis Fall of wickets: 1-49 (TA Griffith, 5.4 ov), 2-51 (LR Johnson, 6.6 ov), 3-51 (C Hemraj, 7.3 ov) BOWLING: D Heyliger (4-0-450), GDR Eranga (6-0-29-2), S Brar (6-1-38-1), NS Dhaliwal (4-0-20-0), Salman Nazar (5.40-38-0), NR Kumar (2-0-180), H Thaker (2-0-16-0)

was the glue that held the innings together before his dismissal in the 38th over triggered a slump.

He dominated stands of 45 with Harsh Thaker and 43 with Nitish Kumar for the third and fourth wickets respectively, but it was his fifth wicket stand of 59 with skipper David Jacobs that gave the Canadians the basis for a total of 202 for nine in their rain-re-

Christopher Barnwell

duced allocation of 47 overs.

Jacobs made 44, but the dismissal of Dhaliwal saw Canada lose five wickets for 37 in the space of 57 delivaries.

Jamaica-born, former Windies Under-19 captain and off-spinner Ramaal Lewis, Clinton Pestano and fellow pacer Reifer claimed two wickets apiece.

Windwards vs Windies B – No Result

At Queen’s Park Oval, though opener Tyrone Theophile was forced to retire hurt after the fourth over, Volcanoes had made a strong start to reach 48 without loss in their pursuit of 221 for victory, when wet conditions, due to rain, forced the remainder of their innings to be abandoned.

Veteran left-handed opener Devon Smith was not out on 27 and former WINDIES batsman Kirk Edwards was not out nine.

Earlier, Alick Athanaze continued his good form with the ball, grabbing 3-49 from 10 overs, to be the pick of the Volcanoes bowlers, as WINDIES “B” were bowled out for 220 in 48.4 overs.

Fellow slow bowlers Larry Edward and Kavem Hodge supported with two wickets apiece.

Windies B got starts from several of their top-order batsmen with Keagan Simmons leading the way with 57 from 83 balls that included five fours.

Tevin Imlach supported with 43, Kimani Melius made 33, Kirstan Kallicharran added 29 and WINDIES “B” captain, veteran batsman Marlon Samuels got 24.

Windies B too, started strongly, reaching 142 for three in the 28th over, but they ran out of steam in the second half of the innings, as the Volcanoes bowlers worked their way through.

Resaul, Mentore, Kalekyezi and Gentle emerge victorious in Bakewell Tournament

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he sixth annual Bakewell Lawn Tennis Tournament came to a close this past weekend with a batch of promising Under-18 players showcasing their ever-improving skills.

The tournament, which was played at various venues, including the Racquet Centre, Georgetown, Diamond and Le Ressouvenir, served off just over two weeks ago with players putting their skills to the test in three categories.

In the category that featured the youngest players in the tournament, the Under-12s, the semi-finals saw Paula Kalekyezi and Menikshi Jaikisson advancing to the final. This was after the pair walked away with wins over Rashida Hardy 4-2, 4-2 and Saskia Persaud 4-2, 3-5 (10-7) respectively.

In the highly-anticipated final, Kalekyezi was the one who overcame Jaikisson 4-0, 4-1 to end as the 2018 champion.

Vadeanand Resaul

Over on the male side, the Boys’ Under-12 final pitted Hayned Mentore against Ricky Romascindo. It was a laid-back match as Mentore won the contest 4-0, 4-1.

The Boys’ Under-14 division may have been the toughest category to compete in. In the preliminaries leading up to the grand finale, Jeremiah Kalekyezi gained a walkover when he was scheduled to face Gerald Scotland. Anish Sharma defeated Shabir Ahamad 4-0, 4-0, while Adesh Khayyam racked up the same scoreline against Ron Austin. Sharma was back for another win, this time against Jeremiah Siland 4-0, 4-0.

And Vadeanand Resaul continued his campaign with a win against Wayne Baker 5-3, 4-0.

The semi-finals saw Nigel Lowe defeating Jeremiah Kalekyezi 4-2, 4-2 and Resaul overcoming Sharma 4-1, 4-2.

The final Boys’ Under-14 clash

saw Resaul winning in straight sets against Nigel Lowe 4-0, 4-1.

The Girls’ Under-14 contest featured Akilah Jone who was victorious in her encounter with Nandanee Ramdyhan 4-0, 4-0.

In the much more competitive Under-18 category, the male final saw Heimraj Resaul and Viraj Sharma battling it out for top honours. It was Resaul who emerged as the winner with a 6-0, 6-2 win.

The female Under-18 category also saw stiff competition, but in the end, it was Afruica Gentle and Kalyca Fraser, who faced each other. Eventually, after a lengthy battle, it was Gentle who won 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).

The Bakewell tournament is held every year in remembrance of the company’s founder, the late Naeem Nasir, who was an avid fan of lawn tennis and strived to improve the sport in whatever way he could.

THURSdAY, october 11, 2018

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