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Govt to ban public smoking

Issue No. 3229

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Friday, June 2, 2017

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Chinese brothers to be P deported

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– for overstaying time in Guyana

…smokers to face $20,000 fine each time caught

Ramkarran elected to head Bar Association

Hospital CEO fails to comply with parliamentary order Lethem Town Week committee promises dazzling spectacle Page 13

New GBA President Kamal Ramkarran

GPHC CEO Allan Johnson

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2 busted P11 with compressed ganja in separate incidents – to face court today

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Expect P12 heavy rains, floods

…fashion, rodeo, military air show, light-up festival planned

– Hydromet Office warns

Members of the Lethem Town Week planning committee are promising a breath-taking showpiece of the town’s magnificent tourism product

White Night road campaign to begin tonight Page 9

Donald Trump confirms P16 US will quit Paris climate agreement

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friDAY, june 2, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, June 2 – 11:30h-13:00h and Saturday, June 3 – 12:30h-14:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, June 2 – 10:30h-12:00h and Saturday, June 3 – 11:50h-13:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Thundery to heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected during the day, while light cloud cover can be expected in the evening. Temperatures should range between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly North-easterly to Easterly between 0.89 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 10:58h and 23:39 reaching a maximum height of 2.22 metres at each scheduled high tide.

Low Tide: 04:29h and 17:03h reaching minimum heights of 1.04 metres and 0.97 metre respectively.

wednesDAY, May 31, 2017

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friDAY, june 2, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt to ban public smoking …smokers to face $20,000 fine each time caught

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overnment’s Tobacco Control Bill 2017, reportedly aimed at preventing public exposure to second-hand smoking, has finally been made public after prolonged national waiting; and it has since been published in the Official Gazette.

It generally provides that public smoking of cigarettes and other tobacco products, such as cigars, is prohibited by law; and a monetary deterrent is applicable in this respect.

Persons caught breaking this law for the first time are liable to be fined $10,000 on summary conviction, but each subsequent conviction attracts a penalty of $20,000.

Moreover, no person shall be permitted to smoke in any waiting area or queue in a public place; including, but not limited to, any public transport stop, bus stand, or bus park. Smoking will also be prohibited in any park, playground, or amusement park; any stadium, arena, or any kind of sport of performance place, or any space for commercial service of food or drinks.

It shall also be illegal for persons to smoke in any area within five metres of a window, door, or ventilation inlet to any public place or indoor work place.

Smoking shall also be prohibited anywhere on the

premises of -- or within five metres from the outside boundary of -- any healthcare, educational or child care facility.

Further, no person shall smoke in any part of any indoor working place; indoor public space in any public transport, whether or not it is carrying another member of the public; or in any vehicle which is carrying a minor.

when Dr George Norton was Minister of Public Health, but they were never tabled in the National Assembly since they were engaging the attention of a cabinet sub-committee.

Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Carissa Ettienne, had also recently called on Government to step up efforts to introduce the

Advertising There will also be a clampdown on advertising campaigns that have been launched by tobacco companies over the years, in that there will be prohibition on all advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products, even by electronic delivery systems.

These legislative measures had been proposed

long-awaited tobacco control legislation, since it could prove critical in reducing diseases that are the leading causes of death in Guyana.

According to information posted on the PAHO website, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) --including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes -- account for 70 percent of deaths in Guyana, and one-third of these deaths are premature

(in people under 70).

Etienne has said that tobacco use, excessive alcohol use, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity are the main risk factors underlying this epidemic.

The PAHO director had called for a “working together (among) different sectors of society and different government ministries to reduce the burden of these diseases and save lives.”

Etienne has also said that tobacco control is a good place to start in stepping up action against NCDs; since, overall, it is the leading risk factor for these diseases.

“We believe that tobacco taxes should be increased, tobacco packaging should feature strong warnings, and people should be protected from secondhand smoke,” she has expressed.

According to data released in recent years, although tobacco is acknowledged as a dangerous substance, at least 11 per cent of children in Guyana are regular smokers, and at least 20 per cent of them began smoking before they were 10 years old.

The International Monetary Fund had also recently revealed that, out of a total of 163 countries, 66 middle or low income countries have neither legislation nor polices that regulate the sale, marketing, or use of tobacco.

Labour Dept reports 100% decrease in workplace deaths T

he Occupational Safety and Health Unit of the Department of Labour has seen a 100 percent decrease in workplace deaths thus far for 2017.

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott, has said this improvement would not have been possible without the support of the employers.

“We must thank the employers, who have become conscious that it is in their interest not to have down time in terms of machinery breaking down, in terms of workers having accidents, and so,” Minister Scott explained.

According to a report from the Department of Public Information/ Government Information Agency, the minister noted that employers have been appreciative of the department’s work and can therefore see the results of their work; thus they have radically reduced the incidents of accidents occurring at workplaces.

they understand and comply with the rules that govern the unit.

“We have also been making sure that workers themselves become much more conscious of accidents,” the minister explained.

Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott

“What we have also done is that: any fatal accident that occurred, we instantly investigate….so that today, I can tell you we are at a 100 percent in terms of investigation in any fatal accident in this country,” Minister Scott posited.

He said that under the supervision of Gwen King, the department has been facilitating programmes for both employees and employers, making sure that

Accidents can be predicted more or less by using statistics, and can also largely be prevented, the minister has expressed.

Minister Scott has also said he is proud of the officers of the department.

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friDAY, june 2, 2017

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

A single market and economy

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t the opening of the 44th Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in Georgetown, Guyana, a few days ago, Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque said that while the regional grouping has significantly advanced the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), “we must do better”.

In stressing the need for more work to be done to fill the existing gaps, the SG sought to reinforce the point that the Region’s Private Sector and – more importantly – citizens themselves are demanding better results from Governments and policymakers.

It was indeed quite refreshing to see the Region’s top diplomat himself giving a frank and honest opinion on how he feels about where the CSME is at the moment. While he has noted the many achievements of the CSME thus far, he was being very practical in his assessment of the areas in which the grouping has not delivered as expected.

The CSME, conceived in 1989 and given various priority areas for focused attention over its existence, is intended to better position member states to grow by accessing and using their combined, rather than individual, resources. Its successful legal and institutional measures and mechanisms include transforming regional arrangements into domestic law.

Even though much is yet to be achieved, the successes of the CSME thus far cannot be underestimated. For instance, agreements were made to establish and operationalise various community institutions needed for the effective operation of the CSME. These include the Barbados-based Caricom Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality, the Caricom Competition Commission headquartered in Suriname, the Caricom Development Fund in Barbados, and the Trinidad and Tobago-based Implementation Agency for Crime and Security.

The Secretariat has also reported that work has advanced in shaping regional policies and strategies in the productive sectors to achieve increased production, competitiveness, and exports of goods and services. It said that in agriculture, the focus has been on addressing the constraints to reducing the Region’s high food import bill, increasing exports, and achieving food and nutrition security. In the services sector, the Secretariat highlighted that strategic plans are being developed for professional, cultural, entertainment and sports, health and wellness, educational, financial, construction, tourism, and ICT services.

Additionally, under CSME provisions, Caricom nationals have a right to enter a member state and be given a stay of six months. Member states have also moved towards the use of common embarkation/disembarkation forms and the introduction of Caricom/non-Caricom lines at immigration points at ports of entry. It should be noted though, that while some member states have by and large adhered to these general policies, some have had major difficulties in implementing them. For instance, from time to time, citizens have complained bitterly that they were unfairly targeted at various ports of entry.

As alluded to earlier, in spite of the progress, the challenges are many and require serious commitment and political will from leaders to surmount them. Heads of Government, in July 2016, had requested a comprehensive review of the CSME. The review was done and was considered at the Inter-sessional Meeting of the Heads in Georgetown last February. At that meeting, the Heads had noted the significant programmes in various areas, but they were quick to point out the many concerns they had in relation to the non-compliance with some of their decisions.

In fact, leaders had lamented the fact that some of the CARICOM organs and bodies had failed to meet to consider critical aspects of the CSME, leaving many of the issues hanging. They had said that items remain much too long on the agenda of the Councils.

In spite of the criticisms from regional stakeholders, we believe that there was still a high level of optimism for the regional integration movement, and a high level of interest in the goal of a CSME. It is expected that the Heads of Government will consider again the progress and challenges of the CSME at their next Regular Meeting, which will be held from July 4 to 6, in St George’s, Grenada. Leaders must make every effort to ensure that the idea of the regional integration movement is kept alive and that it is responding appropriately and in a timely fashion to the challenges that arise from time to time.

Ellyn Hae of The Bubble Show makes a bubble as she participates in the opening of a newly finished Ocean Explorer section at SeaWorld in San Diego, California (Reuters/Mike Blak)

Minister Bulkan is clearly delusional Dear Editor, I refer to Minister Ronald Bulkan’s letter of June 1, 2017, wherein he attempts to paint the actions of his agent with respect to Mabaruma as democratic and within the law. Well, I must re-emphasize that this minister is clearly delusional.

Under the rule of law, specifically the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chap 28:01, the actions of his creature (the town clerk) with respect to the 2016 Mabaruma mayoral elections are clearly anti-democratic. Wrong is wrong, and even if the minister, with all his power, tries to play wrong-andstrong and attempt to suppress and bully the voice of the people, it does not make it right.

Even if people like me have to be a lone voice against this centralised attempt to rig elections in Guyana and violate the will of the people, I must not stop in my exposure of these transgressions. That great tradition that we fought for in 1992, with the help of people like President Carter, must not be suffocated by anti-democratic agents like those who rigged the Mabaruma mayoral elections in total violation of the rule of law.

If one reads the state

mouthpiece (the Guyana Chronicle of April 3, 2016), it shouts “DEADLOCK IN ELECTIONS IN MABARUMA”. The Oxford Dictionary defines the word “deadlock” as a tie, draw, dead heat, equal, and so on. Is the minister, in 2017, trying to redefine this truth? If Mr Bulkan is so confident about his numbers on the ground, why is he or his party afraid to face the people, so that his PNC-led Granger Government can win the Mayorship fair and square at the ballot box?

From the GECOM records, there are 12 councillors in Mabaruma – 6 from the APNU+AFC (PNC) and 6 from the PPP. In such a situation, where they cannot elect a mayor, the law clearly offers a path towards a resolution, and I speak specifically to Section 13(5) and 13(6) of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chap 28:01, which states: Section 13 (5) - “If there are two or more candidates for election as Mayor, the Town Clerk shall take the votes of the persons who are entitled to vote and are present at the meeting, and shall declare the candidate who secures the greatest number of votes to be elected; and, if, the Mayor having been elected, there are

two or more candidates for election as Deputy Mayor, the Mayor for the ensuing year shall declare the candidate who secures the greatest number of votes to be elected”.

Section 13 (6) - “If there is no election under subsection (5) on account of an equality of votes, the Town Clerk shall appoint a day, not later than the 28th December in the same year, for the election of the Mayor from among such candidates by the voters whose names appear on the register of voters for the time being in force for the City”.

The law says the Mayor shall be elected “by the voters”, Mr Bulkan, not by the PNC! I cannot believe that Bulkan cannot comprehend these sections of the law. But there is a method to this “dotish” set of actions on the part of Mr Bulkan and his agents. These people clearly believe that the people of Mabaruma will reject them at the ballot box, and that is why we have all this electoral deceit and subterfuge from these anti-democratic agents within the PNC -who are led by Mr Bulkan.

I can empathise with the anger of the minister, because he has been caught with his pants down on this one, and to add salt to his

public exposure, his mask also fell, revealing his dictatorial DNA. But it is not too late to repair the damage, sir. All you have to do is walk the process in Mabaruma back into the realms of democracy.

The longer the minister holds on to this anti-democratic path, the more support he and his party will continue to lose; because I know of many people who are watching this situation closely, and who voted for Mr Bulkhan’s party in May 2015. Today those very same people are saying, when they observe what is happening at Mabaruma, “same old PNC and their obsession with rigged election”. Is this how Mr Bulkhan wants his party to be remembered? That stain from Mabaruma will not be washed away easily, unless it is corrected.

Finally, I shall soon be dealing with this minister’s utterances on the Local Government Commission, but that is for another letter. What was said by the minister on this commission while in opposition is at great variance with what he is saying today. Did someone say he is a political hypocrite? We shall soon find out.

Sase Singh Citizen of Guyana

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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

Govt, schools must be neutral on religion Dear Editor, Proselytizing does not belong in public institutions in a secular state like Guyana. During the colonial period, the state was de facto Christian; but with Independence, Guyana has subscribed to an official policy of state secularism, meaning: the state does not promote any religion.

The US, Canada, India, etc are secular nations, and preaching there is not allowed in public buildings or in schools. Even prayers are not allowed in public buildings in secular countries like the US. Thus no proselytizer and/or his cheerleaders should be allowed to proselytize in a public owned building like a school in Guyana.

Self-described Pastor Steven Anderson should never have been allowed to infiltrate the public school system, to corrupt young minds by preaching hateful values against Indians. Such conduct is illegal and inappropriate, and must be rejected outright by every right-thinking person; and, most important-

ly, by state actors (Ministry of Education in particular).

This crusade by the preacher is in direct conflict with the constitutional principle of separation of state and church.

It is most disappointing that the state has been silent on the issue of the pastor having a free rein to proselytize among the youths.

The state is reminded that it must be neutral on religion, and not favour any faith; and it should never give a green light to spread hate or attack any faith. As bad as Burnham, Hoyte and Green were during the dictatorship, they never allowed anyone to publicly attack Hindus or Hinduism or Muslims.

No one should be subjected to hate-filled words in a public environment, and charges should be filed against those who violate Guyana’s Constitution on that matter. The preacher was imposing his diabolic values on students of all religious stripes. Worse, he was attacking people who don’t conform to his minority re-

ligious value. This is prohibited by the constitution, as also obtains in the United States.

The principal of Central High School, where the preacher was reported to have uttered the hate speech, has said that had she been approached, she would have provided equal access to other religious preachers as well.

Equal access is not the issue. As U.S. courts ruled, religious proselytization does not belong in a secular environment like publicly (state) owned structures. The principle applies to Guyana and all secular states.

Educators must be sensitive in regard to who they allow in their schools, and what is being said; hate speech and attack on people and on religions must never be permitted.

The state needs to instruct schools to keep haters far away from their doors, and to not allow anyone to spread their faith in classrooms.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Only a coward uses a pseudonym to attack another person’s character in the press Dear Editor, I have searched the pages of the 2017 Guyana Telephone Directory and the entire Region 5 section of the GECOM Official List of Electors issued on April 14, 2015, and have found that no one with the name of Harry Adjodha, or Harry Ajodha, lives in Region 5.

In fact, no one has the name Adjodha, and only 6 persons have the surname Ajodha. And in Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, there are 7 persons with a variation in the spelling of this name… Ajodhia.

But why am I boring your readers with these statistics?

It is not done intentionally, but the result of this research proves definitively that the name Harry Adjodha, or Harry Ajodha, which recently surfaced as a letter-writer in Kaieteur News, is nothing more than a fake. Only a coward uses a pseudonym to attack another person’s character in the press.

I refer to a letter written

by Harry Adjodha of Region 5 and published on May 24,

Why should citizens waste time consulting with M&CC?

Dear Editor, It should come as neither a surprise nor a disappointment to the Georgetown City Council that the purported stakeholders in the disgraceful parking meter fiasco have shown an insouciance to the ostensible review process.

Indeed, they should have been startled when a few interested organisations put in an appearance to let them know that the infamous contract had to be ripped up and restarted from scratch.

The first grouse that citizens have is why the review was not being done by an independent and neutral commission of inquiry, rather than by members of the very Council that committed the travesty of foisting the notorious parking meter albatross around the necks of the citizens of our capital in the first place.

To make it even more egregious, some of the members of the review panel were hand-picked by the ‘Fantastic Four’, the disreputable group that brought Smart City Solutions to our

country.

The second gripe citizens have concerns why it took the Council so long to host the consultations. We are all well aware of the indolence and ineptitude of the administration of the Council, but, even so, it is unsatisfactory that they took two and a half months out of the threemonth respite to begin the review process.

But, most of all, the City Council should understand that the enthusiasm the citizens had when they voted for them has long evaporated. They have achieved nothing worthwhile, and in fact have made things worse for Georgetown.

Look at their track record. All the Mayor and a few of her friends in the Council have done is galavant around the world aimlessly, at no benefit to the City. There still has been no audit of the City’s finances; City Hall and all municipal buildings are in ruins; the City continues to flood when the rain falls for more than fifteen minutes; the roads are without lights, and are

strewn with potholes; taking bribes is still widely believed to be the order of the day with the Constabulary and City Engineer’s Department; the markets are leaking and are rat-infested; junkies are everywhere; the cemetery is a jungle; and all the Council is doing is hiring dozens of

new senior staff members each month -- mostly friends and family members of the big ones at City Hall.

Why should citizens waste time consulting with them?

Sincerely, Nadine Jerrick

2017, and to another letter written by a Harry Ajodha and published on May 30, 2017. In both these letters, the letter-writer questioned my citizenship, my loyalty to Guyana, and my right to serve as a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly.

Perhaps he should be asking the same question of the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, and other government ministers.

I recall reading a Freddie Kissoon column, some time ago, in which he was disgusted and enraged by the unethical behaviour of some letter-writers, who hide behind pseudonyms. He gave good reasons why the print media should stop this practice. I agreed with him then, for if a letter-writer has something derogatory to say about someone else, he should have the courage to put his own name to the letter.

While freedom of speech is protected by our

Constitution, there have always been rules governing defamation, slander and libel. It was once the policy of most newspaper companies to demand the real names, addresses and phone numbers of those writing letters to the editor; and this was done in order to protect the integrity of the newspaper.

Apparently this practice is now discontinued. Perhaps the editors may wish to consider reintroducing this practice.

I am prepared to thoroughly and truthfully address the concerns expressed in these letters by the Region 5 APNU+AFC lackey when he grows enough courage to admit writing under the pseudonym Harry Ajodha, and when he signs the next letter he writes in his real name.

Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

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By Krystine I Batcho, PhD

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hope no one has ever told you that you should be ashamed of yourself.

Chances are someone did. People often admonish behaviour by telling someone to be ashamed or correct a child saying, “Shame on you.” Many people consider shaming a more acceptable way of modifying behaviours than using physical or other forms of punishment. Sometimes people use shaming to express their disagreement with another’s choices or actions.

Feeling shame depends upon perceiving that others disapprove of you or your behaviour. It is different from guilt, which is based on your own view of an action as being harmful to another.

Does shame change or deter behaviour? The answer to that question depends upon one’s goal. For people who care about how others view them, shame can deter behaviour that incurred such sanction. A form of punishment, shame is an aversive emotion that most people will try to avoid. However, deterrence is based on more than avoiding an unpleasant emotion.

External shame, also referred to as stigma awareness, involves the fear of criticism and social rejection. The practice of shunning in Amish communities could be viewed as an overt expression of such social disapproval.

The fear of rejection severe enough to lead to isolation is a powerful agent of behavioural control. Social connectedness is essential to psychological and physical wellbeing.

Achieving change or elimination of certain overt behaviours can have its own inherent value. For example, eliminating child abuse by shaming abusers would enhance the lives of children spared abuse. However, if a person is so highly motivated to en-

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation gage in a behaviour or believes they are not able to inhibit it, shame might result in efforts to hide the unacceptable behaviours—effectively driving the perpetrator to secrecy, deception, and even threatening victims to silent them—all in an effort to escape detection. If fuelled by anxiety, victimless habits such as overeating, cutting, or bulimia, could increase as the shamed individual self-isolates to avoid public censure or attempts at intervention.

Driving someone “underground” can be counterproductive.

Unfortunately, shame can

be imposed on people for aspects of who they are rather than things they do. Discrimination on the basis of characteristics such as gender, race, or mental illness offers no options for escape or respite from unfair shaming. In such cases, there is no discernible goal. Shaming can reflect prejudice against a group or a confusion of attitudes toward behaviours, conditions and identity.

Shaming someone for what they cannot change places them in an impossible situation that can yield nothing beneficial.

The absurdity and futility of such interactions are clear when a parent admonishes a young child to grow up.

For people who are able to conceal a stigmatised identity, shaming can in-

crease the “divide” between public and private dimensions of their self-concept. Research has shown such separation to be associated with greater social stress and depression.

Even in cases where shame successfully diminishes a behaviour, one should ask, “at what price?” Shame can become internalised, and the shamed person begins to view him or herself in ways consistent with the disapproval. In cases of internal shame, the individual becomes both the judged and the judge and experiences self-criticism and feelings of inadequacy.

When shame is internalised and becomes pervasive and enduring, a person can be at risk for developing unhealthy conditions such as depression or social anxiety disorder, the fear of being scrutinised and the avoidance of social events that evoke such fear. Depression and social anxiety disorder are among the most prevalent psychological disorders and are associated with higher risk of developing additional psychological problems.

As with other emotional events, feeling shamed can result in vivid long lasting memories. And as in many emotional situations, shame can colour key elements in the event and ruin what could have been remembered as happy, loving, or a source of pride. The joy of a sports victory can be hijacked by shame if a coach or parent criticises an athlete’s performance.

Shame can corrupt an expression of affection when a gift is belittled or dwarfed in value by comparison with others. Sensitivity to another’s dignity is essential to protect a relationship as well as the other’s healthy self-image.

Over time, a little shame can go a long way to harbour resentment that ultimately diminishes relationships. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

To be continued

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mom posts a video online blasting her teen daughter for posting racy photos to Facebook. Another mom takes advantage of a barber shop offering to give her son an “old man haircut” to teach him a lesson, then shares the photos on social media. These parents’ online child shaming acts are far from rare. Just search “childshaming video” on YouTube, and you will find more than 30,000 matches.

Some people defend these types of videos as creative discipline. But Dr Gail Gross, PhD, EdD, MEd, says it’s never okay for parents to shame a child.

“A parent that shames their child is violating all the basic tenants of what parenting is about,” she told Parenting.com. “Parents are supposed to be their safety net.”

Long-term effects Shaming children violates their trust in their parents and can lead to permanent, lifelong problems for children, Dr Gross says.

“Every relationship is based on early childhood patterns,” she explains.

She says shaming can actually change a child’s development, putting undue stress on the brain. Anxiety and depression later in life can stem from a shaming incident during childhood. Some children even suffer posttraumatic stress disorder after being shamed by a parent, or worse yet, commit suicide.

Short-term danger Not only is shaming potentially damaging, it places children in danger. Child predators go online and look for insecure children with low self-esteem. A parent who publicly shames a child also makes him a target for bullies at school. After all, anyone can view what’s shared online.

Why parents shame “When parents do this, it was done to them,” says Dr Gross.

They are repeating a cycle of what she calls bullying, even abusive behaviour, that only serves to perpetuate more bad behaviour, as children take out their anger on others at school or at home.

Shaming is also often a last-ditch effort for parents who have tried other ways to curb bad behaviour.

“When a parent can’t think of anything else to do, they resort to shaming. They think they’ve done a dramatic enough discipline behaviour that will stop their child’s behaviour. By exposing them, they think they will control them,” she says.

But she says shaming is a loss of control and a display of immaturity for parents.

“It’s not really discipline at all. It’s reactive behaviour.

They have created so many problems in the long-run,” Dr Gross says.

Admittedly, it can be easy to react emotionally when dealing with a child’s ongoing behaviour problem.

“Parenting is stressful, and it’s constant,” she says, and some parents shame their children online to lower their own anxiety and perhaps gain empathy.

The reality of shaming “Parenting is not a sprint; it’s a marathon,” Dr Gross says. Shaming may make a parent feel like they’ve won the battle, but the reality is, they’ve lost the war because humiliating a child erodes trust and a child’s sense of security permanently.

Dr Gross offers this final reminder: “A child is a child.

They don’t have the coping skills we do.” Children are looking to their parents for guidance on how to solve their problems, not to draw attention to the areas in which they may be struggling.

More effective parenting Instead of shaming, Dr Gross offers these tips: Sit down and talk regularly with your children.

Pick a neutral space, like the kitchen, instead of a bedroom, so everyone is on equal footing.

Give everyone the same amount of time to speak.

Actively listen to your child.

Maintain eye contact during the discussion.

Say how you feel; don’t defend.

Use positive reinforcement to praise good behaviour.

Create consequences for bad behaviour.

Don’t personalise your child’s bad behaviour. (parenting.com)

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friDAY, june 2, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Hospital CEO fails to comply with parliamentary order … still to account for millions not returned to Treasury

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hief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Allan Johnson has failed to comply with an order of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to submit records substantiating that the institution did in fact return millions of dollars to the Treasury in compliance with the financial laws of the land.

The glaring financial discrepancy was raised by the Auditor General in his 2015 report and queried by the Public Accounts Committee on Monday last.

Johnson and his Finance Director had differing versions of whether all unspent money allocated to the entity had been returned to the Treasury at the end of the year.

Johnson had told the Committee that all of the unspent money for 2015 and 2016 had been returned to the Treasury; his Finance Director claimed otherwise and none were able to produce the corroborating documents.

Checks with the Parliamentary Committee Division on Thursday revealed that none of the requested information has been submitted by the Hospital’s CEO or a designate.

PAC Member and former Minister within the Finance Ministry, Bishop Juan Edghill has since charged that Johnson was deliberately being evasive on political instructions in order to frustrate the work of the PAC as it probed the Auditor General’s findings with regards discrepancies in

GPHC CEO Allan Johnson

the institution’s spending of taxpayers’ dollars in recent years.

Either that or he is grossly incompetent, according to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) member of the PAC. Edghill told Guyana Times “any Accounting Officer worth his salt would arm himself with the necessary personnel and information in order to adequately address the audit queries when appearing before PAC.” The former Minister in the Finance Ministry told this publication that Johnson would have known about the query at least six months ago when the audit find-

ings would have been turned over to that institution.

He further charged that the institution would have been subject to ‘exit interviews’ with the Audit Office over the discrepancies raised.

Supporting his claim of a political hand pulling the proverbial strings, Edghill drew reference to the fact that GPHC is currently under intense scrutiny by the PPP/C opposition particularly over its procurement of drugs and pointed to a recent incident where members of a Parliamentary Sectoral Committee was prevented from inspecting GPHCs storage bond.

The former Government Minister said the PAC will be making its recommendations when preparing its report for the Full House of the National Assembly.

In that report, according to Edghill, recommendations may be made for disciplinary action, whether departmentally or criminally, whether fines should be paid or the hospital CEO surcharged.

The former Government Minister said too that the Finance Secretary, Dr Hector Butts is also empowered to act under the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. He told Guyana Times in an exclusive interview on Thursday that he was yet to receive any notification from the Clerk of Committees as it relates to whether Johnson did in fact lay over documents promised to that parliamentary body – to be submitted on Tuesday last.

PAC Chairman, Opposition Member of Parliament Irfaan Ali questioning the GPHC officials on Monday

On Monday last during the PAC meeting when the GPHC officials failed on numerous occasions to provide specific answers on spending undertaken by the Hospital in 2015, Chairman Irfaan Ali intervened and brought the proceedings to a close before ousting Johnson.

The PAC Chairman was adamant the GPHC’s CEO, “is trying to frustrate the PAC, I believe the CEO, you, you are disrespectful… you came here before you know who are the relevant offices that need to be before PAC.” According to Ali, “this behaviour would not be tolerated;

I will not allow you to waste the PAC time… we are going to ask you to leave this morning and we are going to get back to you and we hope you come back prepared the next time.”

He used the occasion to draw to Johnson’s attention the fact the public was an integral stakeholder in the process.

By the end of the PAC session, Edghill posited that the postulations on the part of the Hospital CEO could have been very deliberate, “coming to PAC this morning with one member of staff who is not capable and in possession of all of the information”.

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friDAY, june 2, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Bartica woman remanded for cocaine possession

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dishevelled Hazel Smith, along with her heavy luggage, was escorted by a Police rank into the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts from the mining town of Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) following a Police raid which saw her being busted with one gram of cocaine.

Magistrate Judy Latchman on Wednesday morning presided over the matter and read the charge to the defendant to the effect that she was allegedly in possession of one gram of cocaine on May 30, 2017 at Bartica, Region Seven.

The woman denied the allegation and opted to enter a not-guilty plea.

Smith related that she currently resided in Bartica, while providing an alternative address in Eccles Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara.

Prosecutor Shellon Payne strongly objected to bail on the grounds that there were no special reasons arising as to

qualify the defendant to be released in the circumstances. Payne requested that the matter be transferred to the Bartica

Magistrate’s Court.

Smith was then remanded to prison following the refusal of bail and ordered to return on the following day (Thursday) before the court of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Appearing before the Chief Magistrate on Thursday afternoon, the defendant was yet again denied bail and the matter was transferred to be heard at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on June 16, 2017.

(Paula Gomes)

Lodge vendor remanded for ganja possession

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23-year-old vendor of Princes Street, Lodge, Georgetown, was remanded to prison by Magistrate Fabayo Azore after he pleaded not guilty to possession of a quantity of cannabis, which was found concealed in a packet when Police raided his home recently.

According to the charge, it is alleged that Aubrey Price on May 24, 2017 at Princes Street, Lodge, was in possession of 26.5 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The prosecution objected to bail on the basis that the illicit drug was found in the defendant’s possession, as

well as the nature and gravity of the offence.

Defence counsel Bernard DaSilva argued that the said narcotic was not found in the possession of his client, noting rather that Police visited his client’s home and conducted a search therein, discovering a quantity of cannabis.

He was then reportedly arrested and taken to Brickdam Police Station for questioning after which he was placed on $30,000 station bail.

Bail was refused, and Price was remanded to prison until June 14, 2017 when the matter would proceed to trial.

Empty vessels…

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…in Government

hey do say empty vessels make the most sound. And from the strident cacophony being made by this government about their “accomplishments”, there’s no question this government’s “vessel” is one big field of emptiness. A veritable mega vacuum, if you will. Hollow not only at its centre but through and through. It started, of course, with the Orwellian-sounding Director of Public Information – who conjures up the image of the fella waving a wand and “directing” the flow of purple propaganda into our hapless ears.

What else would you call the unadulterated nonsense of listing 125 “accomplishments” of the Government. Did the PM’s shill really want to remind their Public Service supporters about their microscopic “freck” – compared to the Cabinet’s 50 per cent raise – and dubbing it an accomplishment to boot?? Or that they held Local Government Elections – but have refused to appoint the Local Government Commission – which was the whole point to take the Central Government out of the hands of the Central Government.

But anyway, it looks like the other Ministers have decided if the Shill could get away with that claptrap and have it printed in three dailies – not this paper of course!

– at the cost of millions, why shouldn’t they burnish their own claim to fame at taxpayers’ expense?? So yesterday, we have the Minister of Social Protection – one Amna Ally – taking out a full-page ad in the Chronic – describing an astonishing 25 “accomplishments” in the merry month of May alone. Imagine the Shill could only come up with 125 “accomplishments” over the last TWO years for the ENTIRE Govt, including Social Protection – and yet Amna Ally came up with 25 in a SINGLE month!! Did the Shill hide Amna’s light under a bushel?

Or did Amna Ally scrape even below the barrel’s bottom?

Does her attendance at the Ministry of Social Cohesion’s Social Cohesion Day event on May 11 at the National Cultural Centre really count as an “accomplishment”?? Or is Ally challenged in some way that merely showing up at an event becomes an “accomplishment?? If that is so, then so be it – but it’s a PERSONAL accomplishment and not of her Ministry! Is giving hampers on Mother’s Day to mothers employed at her Ministry really an accomplishment”??

Jeez!!

But the urge to blow one’s trumpet extended even below the ministerial level. Hot on Ally’s heels, came EMPLOYEES of the GWI who took out a full-page ad in the Muckraker to praise, “Dr Van West Charles – an exemplary leader”.

Crediting him personally for every ‘accomplishment’ of GWI made it clear his old sobriquet of “Baby Jesus” still described him!!

…on military government

How many officers of the Disciplined Forces occupying high offices in the Government make it a “military government”?? What’s the tipping point? When does the quantitative change the qualitative? These are not just academic questions. When Roger Luncheon raised alarm bells – along with your humble Eyewitness – about the number of military types in the campaign, the fears were dismissed as “paranoia”.

But now that every vacancy created – subsequent to the condign firings in governmental and semi-governmental offices – is filled with an epauletted figure, eyebrows are being raised even among diehard supporters. Is a former head of the Army the very best person to become the Deputy CEO of the GPHC? Once you can run a platoon or a battalion – the man was a General – you can run any organisation?

Your Eyewitness will repeat his point about these officers once again. No one questions whether they are highly trained. But for what??

In the civilian world, folks aren’t used to responding, “How high, SIR?” when ordered to “JUMP!!”

…and lawyers

One lawyer’s upset his cohorts aren’t being more “principled” on matters facing both the Bar and the rest of society.

Doesn’t he know the principle that lawyers – like donkey-cart wheels – must be well-greased?

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

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friDAY, june 2, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

White Night road campaign to begin tonight

– inter-agency collaboration needed to address road fatalities, says GNRSC

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ollaboration between agencies tasked with keeping the roadways safe may be just what Guyana needs to reduce road fatalities. And according to the Guyana Road Safety Council (GNRSC), the White Night campaign, which will commence from tonight, will do just that.

According to GNRSC Coordinator Ramona Doorgen, the campaign will seek to encourage all road users to abstain from driving while under the influence of alcohol, or to designate a driver if an occasion calls for drinking, or to stay away from drinking if they have to drive.

“It is very important for the Ministry of Public Security, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana National Road Safety Council to address the drunk-driving situation in our country by using all its experience to address this matter,” Doorgen said yesterday, in revealing the outline for the campaign.

“Even though we are at a significant decrease in road deaths and crashes, we are very serious (about) meeting the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011/2020 -- reduction of deaths by 50 per cent by the year 2020. Every life lost is one life too many.”

The declaration was made by the UN General Assembly in March 2010,

GNRSC Coordinator Ramona Doorgen

and it is aimed at reducing road fatalities around the world -- estimated at almost 1.3 million people every year.

Doorgen has assured that the GNRSC -- with the support of the Public Security Ministry, Guyana Police Force, media houses and all other road safety stakeholders -- is working to restrict the escalation of road crashes. She noted that many of these crashes are due to driving under the influence (DUI); blatant disregard for traffic advisories and laws; and/or ignorance of road rules, and the lack of road safety education.

According to the outline, this year’s White Night campaign will involve road blocks and random breathalyser tests being applied to motorists, in a major coun-

trywide operation that will see traffic ranks working alongside members of the GNRSC and other prominent citizens.

Doorgen has said that the decision to involve prominent citizens in the exercise is rooted in sound research. According to the coordinator, those who would be involved include prominent citizens such as traffic officers from all divisions, executives of GNRSC, government ministers, the Commissioner of Police, association members, and “all citizens who feel they can make a difference by raising the level of awareness of reducing drunk driving on our road ways.”

“Research has shown (that) whenever a prominent person -- such as a minister, a judge, etc -- joins any campaign, the level of awareness is recognised as national. Road blocks (will be) set up at different locations across the country,” she explained.

“These persons will join the Police at the various road blocks (to assist) with education awareness and such (things) as sharing information to motorist by way of flyers, bumper stickers, etc. Breathalyser tests of the drivers will be done by the Police,” she explained.

The GNRSC on Monday released a list of locations where the road blocks would

The White Night campaign in operation last year

be implemented. The campaign will run from June to December, and would be staged in all police divisions.

In Division A: Georgetown to East Bank Demerara, road blocks will be located at Vlissengen Road and Main Street. In Division B: (Berbice) the campaign will set up shop at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice; and at Albion, Rose Hall Town and Springlands.

In Division C (East Coast Demerara), the road

blocks will be located at Sparendaam and Ogle; while in Division D (West Bank Demerara to East Bank Essequibo) the locations are Vreed-en-Hoop and Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

In Division E (Linden to Kwakwani), the location for the road block is Mackenzie; while in Division F (interior locations) road blocks will be at 1st and 2nd Avenues in Bartica. In Division G (Essequibo Coast, encom-

passing the islands), road blocks will be placed in Anna Regina.

The campaigns will run simultaneously on the following dates: the 2nd and 30th of June; 28th of July; 12th August; 1ST and 30thof September; the 27th October; 4th, 17th and 24th of November; and December the 15th. The time for the commencement of all the campaigns, according to GNRSC, will be 22:00h.

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friDAY, june 2, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

S RAIGHT

news

2 busted with compressed ganja in separate incidents – to face court today

Guyanese youths cannot get ahead under Granger – geriatrics in power will not be around to pay one cent of debt they are incurring today

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uyana is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, but has a wealth of natural resources, including fertile agricultural land, minerals and large swaths of tropical forest. Even with all these natural wealth, the youth employment crisis is among the worst in the Caricom family.

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) estimated the youth unemployment rate in Guyana at 40 per cent. But because so many rural youths are not counted in this statistic, this number could be much higher if a proper labour force survey was conducted. The last proper Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) was published in 1993. This is a pathetic performance from the Bureau of Statistics and on this score, the PPP Administration must be held accountable. How Until and unless we can a nation plan for its future without such an important charter a course to collection of data? work our way out of But despite this data this mess by increas- handicap, the other evidence ing our net exports of clearly establishes that the rate of under and our current products, higher unemployment in the youth encouraging more population creates significant Foreign Direct Invest- obstacles to the young people unleashing their potential ment in new product to becoming economically lines up the value independent. This is a crucial chain, and unleashing first step in the transition to adulthood. The effect for the remittance poten- failing to facilitate economic tial of the Diaspora for independence for a larger amount of youths at the macrothe nation’s benefit, level is retardation in national we are stuck with a development. broken model.

So even after two years of Granger, Guyana still has no solid employment data. Why are the Guyanese policymakers so steeped in this practice of conducting high-level policy-making with fake data? An example of this “guess-estimating” is the presentation of a national budget before year-end. That document was populated with highly unrealistic fake data on the key economic benchmarks from the production figures to the investment figures.

If we really are serious about unleashing the potential of the nation, it is important to explore how the local socio-economic and political structures and processes are blocking the youths from eking out a livelihood and how this challenge can be alleviated. But when a government starts to present annual budgets with FAKE DATA, then it clearly establishes the Government’s lack of commitment at identifying the tools needed to navigate this developmental challenge.

Rather the PNC-led Granger Government continues to over invest in political pensions for friends and family and to hijack the Treasury to fulfil a personality fetish with pomp, ceremony, and pageantry.

But such an agenda actively destroys the Guyanese economy and has continued that dangerous process of vigorously chasing the progressive youths out of the country. The “carrot” offered as a comeback by the Granger Government is the “first flow day” for oil is soon. But any rational mind will know that oil before 2020 is nothing but a sand castle in a storm.

Until and unless we charter a course to work our way out of this mess by increasing our net exports of our current products, encouraging more Foreign Direct Investment in new product lines up the value chain and unleashing the remittance potential of the Diaspora for the nation’s benefit, we are stuck with a broken model.

I speak specifically of the Granger model of taxing more, borrowing more and spending more on pageantry which actually weakens the long-term prospects of the nation.

But the geriatrics in power will not be around to pay one cent of the debt that they are incurring today in the name of the youths of Guyana. They will not be around to clean up the economic mess they are causing. It is nothing but wicked and evil for a person to “max-out” some else’s credit card today without their permission. This is what the Granger Government is doing today – running up the debts of Guyana and then saddling the youths to pay for it tomorrow.

So the youths of Guyana can expect more taxes, fewer jobs, less quality and affordable foods on the table and definitely a more challenging path to owning your own house between now and 2020. If one carefully analysed the appointments by the Granger Administration, the retirees dominate at all levels and this strategy only serves to crowd out opportunities for the youth. This is clearly not how you develop a nation with such a lopsided marginalisation of the youths. But tell that to the Pageantry President who cannot construct one rational policy after two years to empower, engage and unleash the potential of the youths.

Please share your thoughts at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

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friDAY, june 2, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

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a wharf in Bartica at about 10:15h, and was on his way to an interior location when he was seen by police ranks acting in a suspicious manner. A search was subsequently conducted on his belongings and the marijuana was found in a butter tub wrapped in a salt bag.

The substance, when weighed, amounted to 1,227 grams of cannabis.

Both parties have been charged with the offence of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, and are expected to be arraigned before the Bartica Magistrate today (Friday).

The cannabis found on the female

olice in ‘F’ Division (Interior locations) have recently conducted in Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) separate interception exercises that have arrested two persons.

In the first case, 21-year-old Kavita Surujnauth of Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) was intercepted at the Bartica Stelling with almost three pounds of cannabis. This occurred on Wednesday at sometime around 17:00h.

Guyana Times understands that the police, acting on information received, stopped and searched the unem-

ployed woman, unearthing in a haversack the woman was carrying a parcel wrapped in black plastic bags and secured with scotch tape. She was taken to the Bartica Police Station, where the illegal substance was weighed and amounted to 1.29kg.

And on Thursday morning, 35-yearold OJ Evans, a miner of Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, was arrested with several taped parcels of compressed cannabis minutes after he disembarked a ferry at the Bartica Stelling.

According to reports, Evans was at

The marijuana seized from the miner

Chinese brothers to be deported

– for overstaying time in Guyana

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wo Chinese men were on Thursday morning fined for overstaying their time in Guyana when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Zeyong Laing, 32, and Zebem Laing, 33, were separately charged for the offence. It was alleged that between June 20, 2016 and May 30, 2017, at Georgetown, the siblings failed to comply with conditions subject to which any permit had been granted, that is to say having been permitted to stay in the country from May 19, 2016 to June 20, 2016 they overstayed the said period.

The men, through their translator, pleaded guilty to the charge brought against them, relating that they were both mechanics who resided in Amelia’s Ward, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) during their stay in the country.

Prosecutor Arvin Moore revealed that the men entered the country legally via Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) using their Republic

of China Passports, and were granted a month’s stay in the country.

However, on May 30, 2017, Police conducted a raid on a logging work site in Linden where the defendants worked and required them to produce their travel documents per normal.

After the brothers uttered their passports, investigations revealed that they had overstayed their time in the country after checks made

with the Central Immigration and Passport Department exposed that the men had never applied for an extension.

When given a chance to speak by the Magistrate, the younger Laing apologised while indicating he was not familiar with the English language.

The elder sibling stated that he was extremely sorry for his action, and had learnt a valuable lesson from his ignorance of the laws of Guyana.

In the future, he added, he will see that he educates himself as well as others on the relevant protocols in an effort to prevent a reoccurrence.

They were each ordered to pay a fine of $30,000 or serve an alternative four weeks behind bars. Chief Magistrate McLennan ordered that the defendants be escorted to the nearest port of exit after the payment of the fine or serving the stipulated time.

The brothers noted that they have already purchased tickets to their country of origin and were set to depart on the afternoon flight.

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friDAY, june 2, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramkarran elected to head Bar Association …as former President Chris Ram lambastes unflattering past year

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he Guyana Bar Association (GBA) has elected new leadership in elections held on Wednesday last, with Kamal Ramkarran securing the top spot as President.

The newly-elected GBA President is the son of former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, SC. During an election held at the Victoria Law Courts in Georgetown, Ramkarran was elected to replace Gem Sanford-Johnson, who retained the post for one year.

Sanford-Johnson had succeeded Attorney-at-Law and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram. Others elected to the new GBA executive are Senior Counsel Robin Stoby – as Vice President, and former President Teni Housty, as Vice President.

Other elected office bearers, to serve in executive positions for a period of one year as prescribed by the rules of the Association, include Secretary Pauline Chase, Assistant Secretary Faye Barker and Treasurer Devindra Kissoon.

Committee Members include Rajendra Poonai, Sanjeev Datadin, Jamela Ali, Mark Waldron, Rexford Jackson and Brenden Glasford.

The election of the new GBA President and office bearers comes on the heels of a scathing public missive by former GBA President and outspoken social, political and anti-corruption advocate Christopher Ram. Ram, in his lengthy missive, observed that the past

New GBA President Kamal Ramkarran

year has been “a year in which the Bar Association and the wider profession have witnessed oxymoronically both much happening and nothing happening”.

The former GBA President said, “At the top, in a most damaging situation which gripped and then lost the national attention after the proverbial seven days, the Judiciary handled in a most clumsy and inept manner a matter that eventually involved the President, the Chancellor (ag), the entire collective of Judges, an individual judge of the High Court, and the Attorney General, the Leader of the Bar.” Ram observed, “Yet, the now most senior members of the profession were given national recognition, by way of elevation to the status of Senior Counsel and the country’s top Judges accepted high awards conferred by the Executive.”

According to the former

GBA President, “I can recall no period, with one possible exception, in which the Judiciary and the profession were portrayed in such unflattering light, bringing the administration of justice the closest to disrepute the country has witnessed.”

He spoke too to the unending exchanges between the incumbent and the former Attorney General, “locked in newspaper battles to prove who is better, more honourable, and more competent, the nobility of the office and the profession being the immediate casualty”.

This, he said, was occasioned by the fact there was the disdainful silence of the senior members of the legal profession “who in days gone by would have considered themselves keepers of the dignity of the profession…

They are no less blameworthy for the mess in which the profession has found itself”.

Ram, in his scathing criticism of the GBA and its members, pointed to the legally constructed Legal Practitioners Committee, which has responsibility for overseeing the conduct of members of the profession.

“Despite the unheralded work of a few members, the Committee has been largely ineffective, hobbled by lack of resources, commitment and courage to deal with the egregious infractions by some members of the profession.”

According to Ram, “very recently I learnt of a matter in which a lawyer committed what amounts to a fraud on the courts, a matter known

Former GBA President Christopher Ram

to his colleagues on the other side in the case, but who are reluctant to raise the issue…

And the stories of files being ducked in respect of certain lawyers have more than a

credible ring about them.”

The former Bar Association President maintains lawyers are bound by a code of conduct under the Legal Practitioners Act, “but many, it seems, pay little attention to its prescriptions, confident that they will get away with whatever”.

He observed too that even when lawyers were found “guilty”, the strongest punishment they faced was being told to refund the fees or money paid to them by their hapless clients.

“In a civilised environment, such action would require publication…Here in Guyana, there is no more than whisper among lawyers, while the offending lawyer is free to continue the offending practice.”

Ram’s recommenda-

tion would be for the Legal Practitioners Committee to be headed by a retired judge enabled with capable full-time staff, and for all its findings to be publicised, since “the public needs protection from unscrupulous practitioners”.

He surmises that professionals in Guyana, including accountants and doctors, seem to have an allergy to paying taxes, but “what makes the legal profession stand out is that the members ply their trade in court buildings provided, maintained and staffed from funds borne by taxpayers”.

Yet, the stories of tax evasion by some lawyers would be comical if the matter did not involve criminal conduct, according to Ram.

Expect heavy rains, floods – Hydromet Office warns

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Part of the capital city of Georgetown under water after heavy rainfall (file photo)

he Hydrometeorological Service is cautioning Guyanese to be prepared for possible flooding ahead of the impending heavy rainfall over the next few hours.

According to a statement from the country’s premier weather watchdog on Thursday afternoon, heavy and continuous precipitation (rain) will be observed over the next six to 36 hours throughout Guyana with the passage of a Tropical Wave, which is expected to interact with an upper level trough and sub-tropical Jet. “An upper level trough and the sub-tropical Jet are interacting with a tropical wave; these features are currently

affecting and will continue to affect Guyana during the next six to 36 hours. Weather conditions are likely to deteriorate as the Jet entrance migrates over Guyana from time to time,” the Hydromet Office said.

It went on to explain that regions across Guyana will experience mostly overcast skies; while the coastal and inland areas will experience continuous moderate to heavy rain and thundershowers.

Additionally, periodic high intensity rainfalls are anticipated in areas of Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) to Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

Precipitation is expected to be less intense over all other lo-

cations, the office advised.

Nevertheless, the Hydromet Office said 24 hours accumulated rainfall amounts are expected between 40 mm and 80 mm over Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo), and in excess of 120 mm over Regions One (Barima-Waini) to Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

With the current and forecasted weather conditions, the weather watchdog noted that there exist high probabilities that water accumulation and flooding will be observed. Moreover, it warned that the hilly areas are likely to experience landslides.

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friDAY, june 2, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Regional lawmakers GBTI opens ATM at Mon Repos challenged to implement Anti-Discrimination Bill

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he Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) wrapped up the two-day Regional Parliamentarians Forum, with recommendations from participants for a non-partisan approach to issues related to stigma, discrimination, and HIV transmission.

Approximately 60 regional parliamentarians engaged in intense discussions from May 30 to 31, in Kingston, Jamaica. The delegation from Guyana included Minister within the Education Ministry, Nicolette Henry; Citizenship

ucation tools recommended were the use of the school curriculum to propagate the anti-discrimination message, community education, leveraging the influence of faith-based leaders, collaborating with ParentTeacher Associations and other groups related to education.

In addition, a recommendation was made for intensified oversight by parliamentarians to ensure that health-care providers and law enforcement were not discriminating against HIV-positive persons and key populations.

Forum with the overarching aim of formulating policies and strategies to protect vulnerable groups that can be advocated at the policymaking level.

Furthermore, parliamentarians recommended a workshop for engagement with regional parliamentarians; Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and faith-based organisations on the 90-90-90 targets and strategies to eliminate AIDS by 2030.

Additionally, youth also formed a large part of the discussions and as such, it was recommended that

Regional parliamentarians, civil society leaders and UN partners at the PANCAP Regional Parliamentarians Forum

Minister Winston Felix and Opposition parliamentarian, Dr Frank Anthony.

During the session, several recommendations were proposed and agreed upon by the regional lawmakers.

These include, “issues involving the role of stigma and discrimination in perpetuating HIV transmission should be non-partisan and every effort must be made to protect vulnerable populations susceptible to HIV transmission, including youths and LGBT”.

They also advocated for more sensitisation of the public about the role that stigma and discrimination play in the transmission of HIV. Among the public ed-

The parliamentarians also advocated for a broadbased stakeholder engagement to discuss issues affecting key populations with emphasis on stigma, discrimination, and HIV transmission.

Moreover, they proposed the creation of a mechanism through which parliamentarians can meet to collaborate and share best practices to further the agenda to end AIDS by 2030. In particular, the establishment of a regional coordinating committee for parliamentarians was recommended. This body would serve to further the discussions and issues raised at the Regional Parliamentarians

countries invest in public awareness campaigns targeted at the youth population on condom use and HIV transmission.

In closing remarks, Caricom Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Manorma Soeknandan, challenged all parliamentarians in attendance to commence the implementation of the Caricom Model Anti-Discrimination Bill. Ambassador Soeknandan pointed out that the model was approved in 2012, yet no efforts were made by member countries to adopt the recommendations proposed by the model. turn to p age 14

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The new GBTI ATM branch at Mon Repos

ustomers of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Limited, living on the East Coast of Demerara, will no longer have to travel far to access their monies via Automated Teller Machines (ATM).

This is so as the Bank has opened its newest ATM branch at the Medicare Building at Lot 22 Mon Repos Public Road. The facility was commissioned on Thursday afternoon.

During the simple ceremony, Regent Street Branch Manager Roxanne Welcome-Europe said the Bank has always been the leader in technology in terms of banking in Guyana as the country saw its first ATM machine in 1994 – courtesy of GBTI. According to the Branch Manager, GBTI will contin-

ue to be the leader in this industry. She also said that the commissioning of this ATM at Mon Repos would now add to the Bank’s fleet of ATM machines, increasing the total to 24.

Welcome-Europe also noted that the Bank was proud of its network of 13 branches spread across the length and breadth of Guyana.

Meanwhile, acting Chief Executive Officer, Shaleeza Shaw noted that GBTI continued to see value in making it easier for businesses to do transactions and the launching of this ATM would ensure just that for the residents of not just the Mon Repos community but communities all along the East Coast.

She also pointed out that GBTI would soon be launching smart ATMs, which would see touch-

screen technology among other in–banking options.

Also present at the commissioning ceremony was Regional Chairperson Genevieve Alleyne, who remarked that GBTI was now the fourth bank along the East Coast area which would service the residents. She applauded the Bank and its management team for taking on this initiative and said this would improve commerce in the area.

The new ATM location was commissioned with a ribbon-cutting ceremony done by the Regional Chair and joined by students from the Beterverwagting (BV) Nursery and Primary Schools and Annandale Secondary School.

This was done as the GBTI officials and other guests look on.

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News

Lethem Town Week committee promises dazzling spectacle …fashion, rodeo, military air show, light-up festival planned

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he Lethem municipality is gearing up for the first-ever Lethem Town Week that promises to be a breath-taking showpiece of the town’s magnificent tourism product.

Lethem Town Week is slated for October 15 through 21, 2017 and will culminate with an official ceremony to be headlined by President David Granger, who will declare the border community, one of Guyana’s newest towns.

Chairman of the organising committee, Raymond Hunte disclosed that the activities were sure to thrill patrons of all ages, and plans were in place to ensure the week of events was talked about for months after staging.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, the excitement is already building for the week of activities, which will commence with an interfaith service and athletics championships in the form of a road race and a cycle race as well as a fitness walk.

But Hunte explained that the fitness walk would not be the norm of focusing on distance but survival and endurance.

The participants will be required to trek through the savannah, climb hills, cross creeks and hike along rocky terrain.

A regional agricultural and commercial exhibition will also be mounted to showcase the local and agricultural produce of the residents.

According to the Chairman, this event is open to small and large-scale farmers and artisans.

Hunte also touted a raffle which he revealed would have a very attractive first prize for which tickets would be sold countrywide.

“We will also be having a volleyball and 10/10

Members of the Lethem Town Week planning committee

cricket competition and we are thinking to incorporate some aspects of rodeo with cowboys on horseback,” the Chairman stated.

The rodeo feature would be an exciting twist with the cowboys being used as escorts, tour guides, photo props and chaperones for the town’s numerous guests.

“Since this is a historic event, persons must be able to capture the moment to keep the photographs as memorabilia so all photographers operating in Lethem will be given booths. We are also going to be doing town week novelties with mugs, hat, shirts, jerseys, rubber bands and stuff like that,” Hunte noted.

Among the other highlights planned is a “Bold and Beautiful” fashion show that will be open to boutiques, clothing stores, local designers and businesses associated with the fashion industry.

The segments will cover traditional, professional, business, casual, sport and evening categories.

A spelling bee competition will also be part of the Town Week, with all the words selected having specific significance to the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region.

The high school students will not be left out as the

committee is planning a special debating competition on, “The advantages and disadvantages of Lethem becoming a town”.

“During that week we will be celebrating Diwali (the Festival of Lights) and in an effort to embrace our Hindu brothers and sisters, we have planned a motorcade. There will also be an illuminated building competition where residential and business entities can get involved and they will be judged for the brightest building,” Hunte explained.

The event planners are hoping to attract joint business ventures with airlines, hotels and tour operators.

“We will be speaking to airline and bus services and will be soliciting volunteers who are bilingual for a meetand-greet at the points of entry to direct and guide everyone who enters Lethem,” Hunte said.

The planning team has already met with the Brazilian consul who has promised to arrange a number of cultural items for the opening night.

According to Hunte, the committee will also be engaging the Brazilian military to conduct a fly-over air show.

Brazilian stores have already indicated their interest in showcasing Portuguese-

made construction materials.

The organisers are also working closely with tour guides to provide overland daily tours to Boa Vista, waterfalls and ranches.

Persons from as far as Manaus are expected to be in attendance as the committee plans to arrange for Brazilian bus operators to ferry their nationals to the border town.

They are engaging Air Services Limited to ensure tours are available from Lethem to Kaieteur Falls, as well as the commercial banks so money transfers and other financial transactions can be accommodated.

Hunte, a former telecommunications executive with a military background and a wide array of experience in marketing, project management and event planning, assured that Lethem Town Week would be a cultural and entertainment extravaganza.

He believes that Lethem has a truly diverse combination of tourism products in the form of waterfalls, mountains, savannahs, flora and fauna, particularly the birds and fish, that can captivate the attention of every person.

In an invited comment, Lethem Mayor Carlton Beckles noted that he was confident of the ability of the committee tasked with stag-

ing an event that captures the social, economic, industrial, sport, religious and educational components of the town.

Mayor Beckles stated that the event was expected to be an annual feature on the town’s calendar of activities.

“We intend to have a product of quality, a product of excellence to showcase the town of Lethem, and the municipality will lend its full support to this venture, but, all in all, the Council is looking forward to staging a successful town week.”

The executive members of the committee are Vice Chairman Juanita Williams, Treasurer Leonard Zammett, Secretary Jennifer Moonsammy, and Vice Treasurer Sharla Hernandez. The other members are Ahrens Landry, Wendell Rohlehr, Theresa Torres and Yolanda Moffett.

SDA Church gives $440,000 in books to National Library

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church of Guyana handed over 130 books worth $440,000 to the National Library

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s celebrations get underway for its 130th anniversary, the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church of Guyana handed over 130 books worth $440,000 to the National Library on Thursday.

Guyana Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists Executive Secretary, Pastor Exton Clarke told Guyana Times that the books ranged from religion to health and family life, and they would benefit Guyana.

“We believe that reading and information is one of the things that will help people to make better decisions [and] the 130 books will bring light and knowledge and increase the capacity, particularly of the young people to make intelligent decisions,” he observed.

To this end, Pastor Exton expressed hope that the youth would develop their moral and spiritual consciousness, as he believed this would improve society.

Meanwhile, Chief Librarian Emily King, who thanked the church for the donation, stressed the value libraries still held in today’s world.

“There’s always the belief that libraries are dying, but the books are not going to die. The Internet will not replace the traditional library. We hope that our users would appreciate and put to good use the materials you have donated,” King said.

Regional lawmakers challenged...

To this end, the Deputy Secretary General further tasked parliamentarians with taking immediate steps to adopt the recommendations of the model with the overarching aim of full implementation by July 2018.

Following unanimous agreement, Ambassador Soeknandan requested that parliamentarians provide consistent updates on the progress of implementing the Model Anti-

Discrimination Bill and emphasised that the overall benefit would be the protection of vulnerable populations, more key populations accessing health services and testing for HIV, reduction in HIV transmission and deaths from AIDS. The PANCAP Regional Parliamentarians Forum was a platform for parliamentarians from across the Region to discuss their involvement in ending HIV

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and AIDS. Government Ministers and members of the Opposition participated.

The Forum, which is funded by the Global Fund and facilitated by the PANCAP Coordinating Unit and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), formed part of a wider intervention programme created by PANCAP within its Justice For All (JFA) Roadmap.

friDAY, june 2, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Patriotic Russians may have staged cyberattacks on own initiative – Putin

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resident Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that patriotic Russian hackers may have staged cyberattacks against countries that had strained relations with Moscow on their own initiative, but said the Russian state had never been involved in such hacking.

Putin, speaking to international media at an economic forum in St Petersburg, was answering a question about allegations Moscow might try to interfere in this year’s German elections.

Moscow’s attitude towards cybercrime is under intense scrutiny after U.S. intelligence officials alleged that Russian hackers had tried to help Republican Donald Trump win the White House, something Russia has flatly denied.

“If they (hackers) are patriotically-minded, they start to make their own contribution to what they

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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russia, June 1, 2017

believe is the good fight against those who speak badly about Russia. Is that possible? Theoretically it is possible,” said Putin.

Likening hackers to free-spirited artists acting according to their moods, he said cyberattacks could be made to look like they had come from Russia when they had not.

Putin also said he was personally convinced that hackers could not materially alter election campaigns in Europe, America or elsewhere. “On a state level we haven’t been involved in this (hacking), we aren’t planning to be involved in it.

Quite the opposite, we are trying to combat it inside our country,” said Putin.

Trump delays moving US Embassy to Jerusalem

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resident Donald Trump has decided to delay moving the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, despite promising to do so during the election.

He renewed a waiver for a law requiring the relocation, as his predecessors have done every six months since 1995.

The White House said Trump would fulfil his campaign pledge but wanted to maximise the chances of a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

Palestinian leaders had warned the move would

threaten a two-state solution.

Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since the 1967 Middle East war. It annexed the area in 1980 and sees it as its exclusive domain. Under international law the area is considered to be occupied territory.

Israel is determined that Jerusalem be its eternal, indivisible capital. But Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future state.

Successive US administrations since 1948 have maintained that the status of Jerusalem is to be decid-

ed by negotiations and that they would not engage in actions that might be perceived as prejudging the outcome of those negotiations.

During last year’s election campaign, Trump expressed his strong support of Israel and vowed to order the relocation of the embassy on his first day in office.

But three weeks later, he acknowledged in an interview with an Israeli newspaper that it was “not an easy decision” and that he was still “studying” the issue. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Venezuelan Judge shot dead at barricade as unrest persists

(Reuters)

Chinese fugitive reportedly detained by St Kitts/Nevis Police

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Chinese national, with St Kitts and Nevis citizenship, who is wanted by Interpol, has reportedly been detained by police in Nevis.

A report on Tuesday night indicated that Ren Biao, who is wanted for financial crimes in China, was reportedly in police custody; however the reason for his detention was not disclosed.

The Ren Biao issue has become a political football since news broke that the Chinese national and his family were living in St Kitts and regional media reports claimed that China ac-

cused officials in the federation of harbouring a fugitive.

The Government blamed former Prime Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas for the Chinese national/St Kitts Nevis economic citizen controversy, saying Interpol had alerted Douglas to Biao’s intention to travel to St Kitts in 2014 and he took no action.

Douglas fired back, claiming that, despite formal requests by China, as well as Interpol, to secure the return of Biao from St Kitts and Nevis to face prosecution in China, the current Government is refusing to cooperate.

Prime Minister and National Security Minister, Dr Timothy Harris, and Attorney General Vincent Byron have both stated that the Government had to determine the best course of action going forward since any citizen of St Kitts and Nevis is entitled to due process when allegations surface.

The Prime Minister also declared that St Kitts and Nevis would not be a safe haven for criminals, adding that the federation would stand by its international obligations.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Demonstrators look on as motorcycles belonging to riot security forces are set on fire during a rally against Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela

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unmen shot dead a Venezuelan Judge at a street barricade in the latest fatality of two months of anti-government unrest that has seen at least 61 people killed, authorities said on Thursday.

Nelson Moncada, 37, was killed and stripped of his belongings as he tried to get away from the roadblock on Wednesday night in Caracas’ El Paraiso district, the scene of regular clashes, the state prosecutor’s office said.

This week has seen widespread violence around the

Venezuelan capital, with security forces repeatedly breaking up marches by Opposition supporters toward Government offices downtown, and skirmishes continuing into the night.

Protesters frequently block roads with trash and burning tires, sometimes asking passers-by for contributions toward a self-styled “Resistance” movement against President Nicolás Maduro.

It was unclear why the judge was targeted. Some local news sites said the incident appeared to be a

robbery while others noted he had presided in the controversial case of Bassil Da Costa, a protester shot during another wave of anti-Maduro demonstrations in 2014.

Victims from the violence then and this year have included supporters on both sides, bystanders and members of the security forces.

El Paraiso has seen nightly clashes between demonstrators, pro-government gangs and National Guard soldiers. (Excerpt from Reuters)

lic servants from the OAS took it upon themselves to engage the Government of Venezuela, the president in fact, in a very derogatory manner,” Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley told a news conference on Wednesday evening on his return from an official two-day visit to Chile.

He said Port of Spain had taken objection to Almagro, because of the “very derogatory manner” in which he had engaged Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.

Almagro, an attorney and a former Uruguayan diplomat and politician has called for

the suspension of Venezuela from the Washington-based group unless general elections are held soon to break a political impasse that he said is destroying the country’s democracy.

He made his request in a 75-page report on Venezuela’s political crisis, in which he accused Maduro’s socialist government of systematically violating human rights and standards of democracy enshrined in the Inter-American Democratic Charter, to which Venezuela is a signatory. (Excerpt from Jamaica

Resorts World Manila complex T&T calls for removal of OAS Secretary on lockdown after attack General over Venezuela issue

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resort and casino complex in Manila is on lockdown after reports of gunfire and explosions from there. Images and videos posted on social media on Thursday evening showed emergency medical workers giving several injured people first aid.

Witnesses interviewed by local media said the attackers were wearing masks and black shirts. Fire trucks, ambulances and police cars were also reportedly rushed to the area. In a Twitter post, resort officials said it is “working closely” with authorities “to ensure that all guests and

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The Resorts World complex is located opposite Manila’s main airport

employees are safe.” “We ask for your prayers during these difficult times.”

The Resorts World complex is located opposite one of the terminals of the

Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the main airport in the country. There are at least four hotels located in the complex including a Marriott Hotel. (Al Jazeera)

rinidad and Tobago has called for the removal of Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, over his non-neutral position on the political situation in Venezuela and warned the 15-member Caribbean Community (Caricom) grouping of the possibility of destroying “itself as an honest broker with respect to any involvement in assistance to Venezuela and its internal problems”. “Trinidad and Tobago registered a strong objection to the behaviour of the OAS leadership. The pub-

Observer)

16 news

friDAY, june 2, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

New draft legislation for scrap metal trade completed

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usiness Minister Dominic Gaskin will soon present to Cabinet the draft scrap metal trade legislation.

The Minister said consultations on the legislation would commence soon, and thereafter the necessary changes would be made and presented to Cabinet for approval.

Gaskin explained that Cabinet would examine the draft legislation to ensure that it was in keeping with the Government policies, priorities and the various concerns surrounding the scrap metal industry were addressed therein. He said once consultations were completed and the legisla-

tion approved, it would then move to Parliament for passage, after which President David Granger would assent to it. Thereafter, the legislation will become law.

In February, Cabinet had granted approval for the limited restart of the scrap metal trade; that threemonth period had just concluded and Gaskin said the Ministry had already begun to process some licences. to a According Government Information Agency (GINA) report, inspections have revealed that there was a large build-up of scrap metal across Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), which resulted from the trade being closed for the

past 19 months. Hence, Cabinet had approved the proposal from the Business Minister to allow the export of the existing stock over a limited period of time.

Additionally, the Business Ministry, in anticipation of the resumption of the scrap metal trade, sought to streamline mechanisms with respect to trade and licensing. The Ministry also met with key stakeholders to discuss proposed changes to the operations of the industry.

The scrap metal trade was suspended on June 15, 2015 as a result of a forensic audit of the Scrap Metal Unit (SMU), which monitors the trade.

Donald Trump confirms US will quit Paris climate agreement

US President Donald Trump announces his decision that the United States will withdraw from the landmark Paris Climate Agreement, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, US, June 1, 2017 (Reuters)

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onald Trump has confirmed that he will withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement, in effect ensuring the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases will quit the international effort to address dangerous global warming.

The US will remove itself from the deal, joining Syria and Nicaragua as the only countries not party to the Paris agreement. There will be no penalty for leaving, with the Paris deal based upon the premise of voluntary emissions reductions by participating countries.

“In order to fulfil my solemn duty to the United States and its citizens, the US will withdraw from the Paris climate accord, but begin negotiations to re-enter either the Paris accords or a really entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States,” the US President told press in the White House rose garden on Thursday.

“The fact that the Paris deal hamstrings the United States while empowering some of the world’s top polluting countries should expel any doubt as to why foreign lobbyists should wish to keep our beautiful country tied up and bound down,” Trump continued. “That’s not going to happen while I’m President, I’m sorry.”

Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama issued a rare statement saying the Trump

Administration had joined “a small handful of nations that reject the future”. But he said that US states, cities and businesses “will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got”.

A White House document seen by various news organisations echoed Trump’s criticisms, saying the accord was “a BAD deal for Americans”.

“The accord,” it said, “was negotiated poorly by the Obama administration and signed out of desperation ... The US is already leading the world in energy production and doesn’t need a bad deal that will harm American workers.”

The document claimed: “It frontloads costs on the American people to the detriment of our economy and job growth while extracting meaningless commitments from the world’s top global emitters, like China. The US is already leading the world in energy production and doesn’t need a bad deal that will harm American workers.”

In 2015, nearly 200 countries agreed to curb greenhouse gas emissions in order to prevent the runaway climate change that would occur should temperatures spiral two degrees Celsius or more above the pre-industrial era.

Trump’s decision risks destabilising the Paris deal,

with remaining participants faced with the choice of trying to make up the shortfall in emissions cuts or following the US’s lead and abandoning the agreement.

The US emissions reduction pledge accounts for a fifth of the global emissions to be avoided by 2030, with an analysis by not-for-profit group Climate Interactive showing that a regression to “business as usual” emissions by the US could warm the world by an additional 0.3 degrees Celsius by 2100. This would help push the global temperature rise well beyond two degrees Celsius, causing punishing heatwaves, sea level rise, displacement of millions of people and the loss of ecosystems such as coral reefs.

The US withdrawal will not derail global efforts to fight climate change, said Christiana Figueres, the former UN climate chief who delivered the Paris agreement.

“The real economy both in the US and internationally must and will continue its decarbonisation trend, pulled much more strongly by market forces than held back by politics,” she said.

“States, cities, corporations, investors have been moving in this direction for several years and the dropping prices of renewables versus high cost of health impacts from fossil fuels, guarantees the continuation of the transition.”

She said clarity on the US position would free the rest of the world to concentrate on developing the details of the Paris plan but also warned that leaving was not straightforward: “For months we have been witnessing a vacuous political melodrama surrounding the US exit from the Paris agreement. The fact is that the US government has no legal basis to withdraw from the agreement until 5 November, 2019.” (Excerpt from

The Guardian)

(HINDUS for SELFLESS SERVICE) E-mail: hssguyana@gmail.com

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ow that you are familiar with us and what we do and how this business about International Day of Yoga came about, let’s get you aware about YOGA itself and some postures that you can practice so you too can be on your way to a safer and healthier life.

Let us look at the spiritual aspect of it first.

The Spiritual Stretch Yoga is physical, for sure. Regularly practicing yoga develops your stamina, your strength, and your rockstar abs.

Postures challenge the body. However, yoga is also a mental practice where you work through emotional stress and psychological challenges – you may even meditate.

If you sign up for yoga classes because you want a thin body or the ability to master a handstand then you are skimming the surface of the practice. If you enjoy yoga for the health benefits then you will certainly feel better with regular sessions. But without the spiritual side, yoga is simply a stretch class, a gym session, or a space for relaxation. Go deeper, and you’ll find so much more.

Promoting consciousness When committing to yoga practice on a regular basis, yogis seek to experience and become aware of the spirit, or the energy, within and without. We are not talking about ghostly spirits here, or some supernatural being – spirit is higher consciousness; a driving force, a motivation, a reason behind everything we think and everything we do. Being aware of this energy is something spiritual. Therefore, awareness is critical to yoga as a spiritual practice.

Think of the expression “the mat is your mirror.” When you turn up to the mat you bring yourself – only yourself and all of yourself. If you practice yoga with an awareness of yourself you come to learn about the different ways you act, how you react, and what you are like – in creating awareness of yourself you can transform your mind, which in turn affects how you live your life and how you interact with others.

Abandoning control Awareness doesn’t always lead to the place

you want to go. Yoga as a spiritual practice is not about changing your life so you can earn more money, be a “better” person, or score a job you love. Yoga is not about getting rid of the negative by controlling your mind and your environment.

Rather, practicing yoga reminds you there is no “sweet spot” – there will always be a barking dog, a car that runs out of gas, a bad-tempered boss or an inattentive lover. There will always be something you could do without, or improve. Developing a spiritual side with yoga is about holding your pose regardless of the circumstances through an awareness of yourself and your experience. It is all about relinquishing control.

Most of the time, we are busy analyzing our actions and focusing on our physical performance instead of simply being. How can you develop awareness without taking the time and space to connect deeper within yourself?

Yoga gives you the space to do just that. Many teachers will talk of the importance of the quiet mind – push yourself through the highly physical postures in order to be exhausted enough to let go into your quiet mind or sacred inner space. Just be. Don’t expect positivity, peacefulness or happiness, but if it does come, be aware of it.

Be aware of what you experience, and be grateful. Taking this attitude of gratitude and surrender into your everyday life away from the mat makes yoga a spiritual practice. That is the way to attain a quite mind and a peaceful soul. In the words of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, “Yoga is the tool to find the ultimate expression of life” Join us tomorrow as we share with you some simple yoga postures that you can do to help with your spiritual wellbeing.

guyanatimesgy.com

I

n about three weeks, beauty, intelligence and charm will transcend to the Marriott Hotel as 10 young ladies will compete for the Miss World Guyana title. At the end of the competition, however, only one delegate will get the opportunity to represent Guyana on the international stage.

The final 10 delegates were selected after rigorous preliminary competitions from a pack of 14. The delegates were all assigned various regions to represent on the grand coronation night billed for June 25.

These include Miss Region One (BarimaWaini), Delisha Wright; Miss Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Sharda Pramdeo; Miss Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Hemwantie Seodat; Miss Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Vena Mookram; Miss Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Joelly Valentine; Miss Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), Thamesha Watson; Miss Region Seven

friday, june 2, 2017

(Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Arielle Ghanie; Miss Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Crystal Wills; Miss Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo), Manisha Wong; and Miss Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), Nitifah Thompson.

The delegates were sashed at an event hosted by Jamicia McCallman held at the Giftland Mall on May 26. The evening also saw a new collection

by Designer, Marcie De Santos.

However, on the evening of the pageant, the delegates will be competing in several segments including evening gown and intelligence but more importantly, the finalists will present their beauty with a purpose project.

Pageant night is expected to be grand as reigning Miss World Guyana, Nuriyyah Gerrard, prepares to hand over her crown.

Moreover, popular television personality and a pageant critic, Joel Ganshaam will be the host for the evening and he promises an epic evening with fun and laughter.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, june 2, 2017

opens tonight @ NCC

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he wait is finally over and it is now time for four nights of non-stop laughter when the theatrical production, “Nothing to Laugh About 10” is hosted at the National Cultural Centre.

The local comedy production opens this evening and will run for four days.

In an interview with Guyana Times Entertainment, producer of the comedy production, Maria Benschop expressed her delight in the successful staging of the show for the last 10 years.

As such, she revisited the moment it all stated and shared the concept from which “Nothing to Laugh About” was birthed.

“We are based on situations that are indeed nothing to laugh about, but after the fact, when you may have gotten over the anger, hurt or pain,

Kees

to perform at Heineken/UEFA Champions

the cast zooms in on political and other events occurring throughout the year to add to their humorous night of world class wrestling action live on the local twists. shores is billed for July 1, 2017. To make that a reality, Taking the stage this Nick Cara, also known as “The Gladiator” is here to weekend will be some wellpromote “Thunda in Guyana” which will feature 20 known faces in comedy, as the Ex-WWE Wrestlers live in action at the Cliff Anderson list includes Michael Ignatious, Leza Sports Hall on July 1.

“Radika” Singh, Linden “Jumby” The event is being promoted by the Maximum Sports Jones, Mark Kazim, Mark Luke Combat and Strength television show hosted by Max Massiah Edwards and the famous Sir and the Gladiator Championship Wrestling out of the USA. Kerwin Mars, among others.

The “New Boss” and “The Gladiator” as well as Massiah recently “Nothing to Laugh paid a courtesy call on Minister Nicolette Henry where Massiah About 10” is dubbed a explained that the idea for the show was birthed as part of the Maximum family experience as Sports Combat and Strength television programme’s 3rd anniversary the entertainment is celebrations. set for both young The show was to be staged on May 27 but that date would have and old. only facilitated four matches so it was shifted July 1 at the NCC to Tickets for this make allowance for nine matches instead. event are tagged at A tag team match is also included on the cards of the no $1000, $1500, $2000 and are holds barred Tables, Ladders and chairs (TLC) unfolding available at the National that promises to be a full adrenalin rush affair.

Cultural Centre, Nigel Among the wrestling superstars carded to Supermarket, Elegance invade Guyana for the event are Ryback; Jewellery and Pawn Tyrus, called “Brodie Clay”; Buff Bagwell; Shop, Payless Variety Stardust; Al Snow; Carlito; and MVP Store, Gizmoz and among others. The females will Gadgets and the include Mandy Leon, wife of Giftland Mall. viewing the match in a unique setting with CM Punk and Hanya. massive high definition screens, while winning Additionally fans would a variety of special edition UEFA prizes and after be offered chances to take the games, witness international soca sensation home US dollars, a car and from Trinidad and Tobago, Kees. possibly a motorbike.

“Heineken shares a wonderful partnership Also as part of the with UEFA as it is one of the official sponsors Wrestling package, for Champions League; we are happy to host part proceeds will international events of this nature so that both be going to the less football enthusiasts and Heineken consumers fortunate. Tickets can be a part of this experience”, said Heineken’s for the event Brand Manager, Darshanie Yussuf. will be released Hundreds of persons won limited edition shortly and prizes along with tickets to the final viewing regular ticketing uventas and Real Madrid, two party using the “Champion the Match” and locations. of the most prominent football www.logograb.com Heineken promotion, which teams in the world, will go started in April and will conclude today.

Yussuf stated that this is an exclusive event; head to head in the UEFA Champions

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League Viewing

Party 2017

you can look back at it and find it funny. That’s what we do, we take ordinary situations that are not otherwise funny and show the humour in it,” expressed the long standing producer.

This year’s production is guaranteed to be a grand showdown as the team celebrates their 10th anniversary with comedy beyond expectation.

The spectacle will include a series of plot twists blended into the presentations, as well as flamboyant costumes to match every character as

J

Kees

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he Indian Commemoration Trust (ICT) will be holding its annual International Food Festival and Drinks Tasting on Saturday at the Indian Monument Gardens, Camp and Church Streets, Georgetown.

The garden experience of cuisines from around the globe includes dances, music and videos highlighting performing arts from the different cultures being showcased.

The Festival is expected to showcase cuisine from Mexican, Indian, Chilean, Chinese, Brazilian, Surinamese, South African, Trinidadian and Guyanese among several others.

The event is entitled “Swadish” and will commence at 17:00h.

A chit system is in place where a ticket is purchased for $1500 and the ticket holder receives $500 in chits. Food purchases are made with chits that can be purchased at the gate.

League (UCL) final on Saturday June 3, 2017. Heineken, the world’s leading international premium beer brand and official partner of the world’s most prestigious football competition, will host its fifth consecutive final viewing party at the Giftland Entertainment Strip.

This event will give consumers the opportunity to have a Heineken experience,

hence tickets are not on sale and must be won at the Heineken promotion. This year promises to be the best yet, especially with the added bonus of a fabulous artiste performing.

However, the Heineken Champions League Final Party kicks-off at 14:00h on June 3 at the Giftland Entertainment Strip and persons must be 18-years or over to enjoy Heineken responsibly.

friDAY, june 2, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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2nd annual

Timehri Film Festival 2017 opens

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he Timehri Film Festival (TFF) which showcases Guyanese and Caribbean films, and is produced by the Caribbean Film Academy and Rewind and Come Again, will host the second edition of the Festival.

TFF’s annual celebration of regional storytellers and artistes, brings together filmmakers, film lovers and artistes in the beautiful city of Georgetown, Guyana from May 31 through June 4.

Over the five days of the Festival, TFF will screen over 26 feature and short films, representing 14 different countries.

For this year’s Festival, TFF is pleased to partner with Trinidad and Tobago’s Green Screen Environmental Film Festival and Iwokrama, to present a special screening of films highlighting environmental issues of

particular significance to the Caribbean.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with local environmental activists and media artists, as well as Carver Bacchus, Founder and Director of Green Screen.

As part of the Festival this year, screenings will also be held at different locations around the country – the Children’s Drop-In Center in Sophia, the Berbice Women’s Prison, New Amsterdam; the Lusignan Men’s Prison, East Coast Demerara (ECD); St Cuthbert’s Mission, Mahaica, ECD; the University of Guyana, and the Business School, Georgetown.

These screenings are designed to share the films with even wider audiences and provide opportunities for the use of film not only as a storytelling tool, but also as a

therapeutic tool.

The Festival will see the premiere of “Adero,” the short film shot on location in Guyana and directed by Kojo McPherson.

The film was made as a part of the Caribbean Film Project, and is the first of the initial four films made, to be completed.

The Festival will also feature a collection of some of the best short and feature length films in and around the Caribbean. In addition to “Adero,” the Guyana Shorts section will feature films

by Diaspora filmmakers of Guyanese heritage.

Screenings will take place at The Moray House Trust and Dutch Bottle Café, and are free of charge and open to the public. The Festival opened on May 31 at Moray House Trust where “Adero” was screened.

The following are the films to be viewed.

June 1, 2017/Moray House/19:00h “Art Connect” by Miquel Galofré /Trinidad and Tobago, 2012 “Dreams in Transit” by Karen Martinez /Trinidad and Tobago/UK, 2015 June 2, 2017/Moray House/19:00h “Denis” by Gabrielle Blackwood /Jamaica, 2015 “Sugar” by Michelle Serieux/Jamaica, 2017 June 3, 2017/Umana Yana/10:00h-15:00h “A Better Place” by Carver Bacchus and Miquel Galofré/ Trinidad and Tobago, 2015 Films from the Cobra Project – Guyana Panel discussion June 3, 2017/Dutch Bottle Café/13:00h “A Bitter Lime” by Max Orter/US/Guyana, 2016 “10 Ave Maria” by Juan

Francisco Pardo/Aruba, 2011 June 3, 2017/Dutch Bottle Café/15:00h “Dreadlocks Story” by Linda Ainouche/Jamaica, 2014 “Sugar” by Michelle Serieux/Jamaica, 2017 June 3, 2017/Dutch Bottle Café/18:00h “The House on Coco Road” by Damani Baker/US/Grenada, 2016 “Heart of a Monster” by Damian Marcano/Curaçao, 2016 June 4, 2017 / Dutch Bottle Café / 12:00h “Smallman: The World My Father Made” by Mariel Brown/ Trinidad and Tobago, 2013 “10 Ave Maria” by Juan Francisco Pardo/Aruba, 2011 “Adero” by Kojo McPherson/ Guyana, 2017 “Sugar” by Michelle Serieux/Jamaica, 2017

Jason Shurland – A designer with a touch of uniqueness

T

wenty-six-year-old Jason Shurland is a well-known Guyanese fashion designer who also studied interior designing, hospitality and restaurant management. He considers himself multi-talented.

He thought about a lot of professions but his dream was always be a chef, although his love for fashion is close to his heart.

At the age of 17, he started to model for Guyana Fashion Week under the auspices of Guyanese Fashion Icon, Sonia Noel. While hitting the runway, he kept his focus on how

Khamisi Slowe launches KAST Talent Management

K

hamisi Slowe, a young entrepreneur has been in the entertainment industry for well over eight years, and has worked with the likes of Hit and Jams Entertainment and Sonia Noel. However, he saw the need to provide professional services under one brand, which is now known as KAST Talent Management.

The name KAST simply represents the overall talents within the company. KAST Talent Management was established in 2016 to combine organically, supply and demand for professional services in the areas of music, fashion, television and advertising.

The company has a large cast, consisting of broadcasters, singers, poets, models, fashion models, actresses, photographers, and make-up artists. It represents just about 20 talented professionals with an exclusive agreement.

KAST Talent Management has considerable experience and great success in the management and organisation of important events, especially pageants, fashion shows, fashion competitions and/or beauty productions and advertising campaigns. They also do small event planning.

Noel ran and managed her business and from then on, he knew he wanted to become a fashion designer.

In 2013, he started his designing career when he created a swimsuit made out of coins. With that design, it gave him the recognition b o t h locally and international.

F r o m then on, he continues to create gowns embellished with mirrors, glass, rose petals and a very elaborate black wedding dress. These pieces again made him famous in the fashion industry.

The black wedding gown took him two

“Sunday” by Kyle Chin/ Jamaica, 2013 June 4, 2017/Dutch Bottle Café/14:00h “Generation Revolution” by Cassie Quarless and Usayd Younis/UK, 2016 “Mommy Water” by Julien Silloray/Guadeloupe, 2015 June 4, 2017/Dutch Bottle Café/16:00h “Diablesse” by Howard and Mitzi Allen/Antigua and Barbuda, 2005 “The Croft” by Wayne Benjamin/Jamaica, 2013 June 4, 2017/Dutch Bottle Café/18:00h “Timeless: A Caribbean Love Story” by Edward LaBorde/ US Virgin Islands, 2016 “Darkie” by Shea J Best/ Trinidad and Tobago, 2012

months to complete with all the details and hand sewing that was required.

He recently came up with an idea to promote his work in the public domain. Most of his clients would agree for the pieces to be posted on social media.

Within a short time, he recorded fashion tutorials/ fashion illustration videos on how his sketches are done.

One of his most recent video was done with reigning Miss Guyana Global, Poonam Singh in her song “Guyana”.

His work continues as a fashion designer but more recently, he has been mentoring aspiring designers.

“I help and guide them and also teach them the business format as well. As a word of advice to anyone who has a dream in any field… work hard. Without hard work, your dream will stay a dream,” Shurland told the Guyana Times Entertainment.

20

FriDAY, june 2, 2017

England v Bangladesh, Champions Trophy, Group A

Hobbling Root gets England up and running

C

Joe Root leans into a drive © Getty Images

hris Woakes and Joe Root picked up injuries in England's eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in their ICC Champions Trophy opener.

England began their ICC Champions Trophy with an eight-wicket thrashing of Bangladesh, inspired by Joe Root's century, but victory came at a cost for the hosts.

A strength in batting was laid bare as Alex Hales (95) and Root (133 not out) anchored a chase of 306 at The Oval that rarely required England to move out of second gear, although Jason Roy's (1) latest single-figure score will pose a selection headache moving forward.

Eoin Morgan's fine form continued with an unbeaten 75, but the captain has further concerns after Chris Woakes suffered a side strain that could end his competition early. Root also

rolled an ankle at the crease, but it did not stop him reaching a 10th one-day international hundred.

Tamim Iqbal batted beautifully for a fine 128, while former skipper Mushfiqur Rahim hit 79 off 72 balls. As a score in the mid-300s looked possible, the pair fell in consecutive deliveries and Sabbir Rahman's 15-ball 24 dragged them to 305-6.

Picking a strong batting lineup - in response to falling 84 all out in their final warm-up against India - worked against Bangladesh, however, as their bowling lacked the creativity and guile to unsettle a powerful England side that cantered to victory.

Though ultimately left unfulfilled, passionate pockets of Bangladesh fans in London erupted through much of Tamim's innings, though he took

11 balls to get off the mark in a circumspect start.

Soumya Sarkar was dropped

by Moeen Ali, but the opener only made 28 before Ben Stokes' first contribution was to account for him and Imrul Kayes contributed just 19.

Imrul's departure brought Mushfiqur and Tamim together, however, and the pair's stylish counter-attack may have had Bangladesh dreaming of stunning England again after their Test success last year and the left-hander's ninth ODI hundred deserved to have more of a say.

Though momentum was sapped at the end of their innings, the Tigers were lifted again when Roy fished at a Mashrafe Mortaza delivery well outside off and Mustafizur Rahman took a good catch at backward square. Roy's last five scores now read: 0, 20, 1, 8, 4, 1.

But Hales and Root were serene as they piled on 159 runs together, Root's nasty stumble on the pull shot their only scare until Hales went after Sabbir Rahman and picked out replacement fielder Sunzamul Islam with a skewed sweep shot.

Morgan had a life when Tamim was deemed to have grounded a diving catch by the third umpire and used it to good effect, bringing up a 33rd ODI fifty, but the crowd was lifted to its feet when Root reached three figures, despite struggling on his right leg.

A calm chase was capped by Root smashing his way to his highest ODI score as England became the first side to chase over 300 in Champions Trophy history - though this owes more to the changing face of whiteball cricket since 2013. (Sportsmax)

Malta Supreme Darts Tournament…

T

he Malta Supreme Darts Tournament, wherein several local darts players went up against their Trinidadian counterparts in a bid for supremacy, concluded last Sunday.

Staged at the Millennium Manor Hotel on Hadfield Street, Georgetown, this tournament was the brainchild of Guyana Darts Association (GDA) President Sheik Yassen, and he was duly impressed by the players.

According to Yassen, the players were given stern examination by the 15-member team from the twin-island republic, and it will serve as the learning curve for some members in their bid to play at a tournament in Brazil later this year.

Yassen feels this country could possibly host the 2020 Caribbean Championships once the necessary Government and private sector support can be obtained. Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, has

A representative from R Ganesh Mining Enterprise (left) making a timely donation to GDA President Sheik Yassen

Proud winners! The respective winners and team members from Trinidad and Tobago after the prize-giving ceremony at the Millennium Manor Hotel

pledged to support the association in its bid to host the tournament and to attend the 2018 Championships to be held in Trinidad and Tobago.

Yassen has expressed immense appreciation for the overwhelming support received from R. Ganesh Mining Enterprise and Roosters Bottled Coconut

Water, along with those of the Government and Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, among other sponsors.

Meanwhile, when the dust finally settled after some intense battles over the Independence weekend, locals Luis RamirezMerlano and Resetta Hiralall were respective-

ly crowned male and female singles champions, with Ramirez-Merlano winning US$500 and Hiralall US$350.

Second and thirdplaced winners in the men’s category respectively were Trinidadian James Franklin, who won US$250; and local player Sudesh Fitzgerald, who won

US$125.

In the female category, Trinidadian Nannette Brooks and Melisa Smartt were second and third, respectively winning US$150 and US$75.

In the Mixed Nations Doubles, Fitzgerald and Jean DeSouza placed first, securing US$600 in the process; while Anthony Bissoondyal and Sheraz Rasoor placed second and secured for themselves US$300, and Hiralall and Ramirez-Merlano placed third and won US$150.

Additionally, the duo of Guyanese Sherwin Green and Trinidadian Richard Williams won ‘the luck of the draw’ doubles. In second place was the pair of Guyanese Fitzgerald and Trinidadian Jacqueline Cook, while Andrew Balchand and Anup Latchman came third.

‘The luck of the draw’ winners took home 50% of the pool, second placed winners received 25%, while the other 25% was shared between the third and fourth place winners.

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Windies Women won’t be weighed down by pressure – Drakes W

est Indies Women’s team head coach Vasbert Drakes is confident the unit will be able to adequately cope with the pressure of expectations heading into the ICC Women’s World Cup later this month.

The Stafanie Taylor-led unit were part of an amazing 2016 for the West Indies, which saw World T20 titles captured by both themselves and their male counterparts and a World Cup triumph for the Under-19s. In addition to their T20 success the team was also a finalist at the 2013 Women’s World Cup, beaten in the final by Australia. A more overall experienced unit this campaign, the women’s team

has been picked by some to clear the final hurdle this time around.

“Pressure is something that we create ourselves. Being involved in cricket it is my job to manage that expectation well and obviously see that it is a competition that we want to do well, but it is not worry about the peripheral stuff,” Drake said.

The team, who recently concluded a mini-camp in Barbados before heading to England for a two week acclimatization camp, will consist of young players who will make their international debut at the tournament. The list

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The ICC Women’s World Cup is slated to take place from June 24 to July 23 in the United Kingdom. (Sportsmax)

RHTY&SC cricket teams to publish Climate Change and Green Economy Booklet

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21

Marketing Executive Jennifer Cipriani presents Scotiabank’s sponsorship to Shawn Perriera of RHTY&SC

T

he eight cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S (RHTY&SC, M.S), as part of their personal development programme, would be publishing a 40-page youth information booklet on Climate Change and Guyana’s Green Economy.

The booklet is a special project that would go together with the Club’s Patron Cup 20/20 cricket tournament in honour of President David Granger 72nd birthday celebration. Last Wednesday, long-standing sponsor, the Bank of Nova Scotia, came onboard as a co-sponsor of the booklet and would provide half of the cost with the eight cricket teams providing the remainder.

Club Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, who would be the Editor-in-Chief of the booklet, stated that the main objectives are to educate youths on: What is Climate Change;

Its effects on human lives; What can be done to correct the situation; and Efforts of Guyana to create a Green Economy.

Foster noted that the booklet would be the 31st publication of the RHTY&SC since 2000 – an achievement that is unmatched by a youth and sports organisation. President David Granger is expected to provide a message for the booklet along with other senior officials. The booklet would also provide informative messages for youths on topics of interest.

These include Facts about Guyana, Guyana’s Natural Resources, Discovery of Oil in Guyana and its impact on Guyana’s Future and the international efforts to combat the effects of Climate Change. Foster stated that the Club’s Patron has been quite passionate about the promotion of a Green Economy in Guyana and the publication of the booklet for his 72nd birthday is a tribute to his outstanding work.

Foster expressed gratitude to the Management of Scotiabank for their cooperation and made special mention of Marketing Executive Jennifer Cipriani for her support of the Club’s activities.

The eight teams that would be publishing the booklet are the Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Females and Gizmos and Gadgets Under-21 and First Division teams.

Sehwag applies for India coaching job V

irender Sehwag, the former India batsman, has applied for the job of India coach, which will become vacant after Anil Kumble's contract expires at the end of the ongoing Champions Trophy.

Kumble is an automatic entry in the application process, but his chances of another term appear slim after the India captain Virat Kohli expressed reservations about his coaching methods to the BCCI. The other applicants are former Australia allrounder Tom Moody, former Pakistan coach Richard Pybus, former India medium pacer Dodda Ganesh, and former India A coach Lalchand Rajput, according to a PTI report.

The next India coach will be chosen by Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, who comprise the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee.

Sehwag, who had a 14-year international career, has no formal coaching experience apart from his team management roles with the Kings XI Punjab franchise in the 2015 and 2016 seasons of the IPL. In contrast, Moody has coached Sri Lanka, Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, and has had team management roles with English county Worcestershire and Melbourne Renegades in the BBL. Pybus has coached Pakistan twice, while Rajput is the present coach of Afghanistan. Ganesh has coached Goa for four years and is at present a seThe former Indian player is hoping lector for Karnataka in Indian domestic cricket. he can get the nod ahead of his old (Cricinfo) teammates

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

fridAY, june 2, 2017

Digicel’s Schools Football Championship 2017…

Garrett touts Annai Secondary as “biggest threat” – denounces any danger Christianburg/Wismar poses

By Akeem Greene

J

eremy Garrett, captain of the Chase’s Academic Foundation Football Team, defending champions in the Digicel Schools’ Football tournament, is contending that Annai Secondary will offer the biggest threat to Chase’s endeavour to become repeat winners at

this year’s staging of the Digicel tournament.

Having created a dynasty in the Georgetown zone of schools’ football, Chase’s Academy finally won the prized Digicel Schools’ Football title last year with a hard fought 1-0 win over four-time champions Christianburg/Wismar Secondary at the National Stadium, Providence, East

Bank Demerara.

But before reaching that stage, Chase’s were made to work long and hard in the quarter-final match, held at the St. Ignatius Community Centre Ground in Region Nine, finally overcoming Annai Secondary 2-1 in overtime play. The predominantly sand-filled field and torrential downpours were

Flashback! Chase’s Academic Foundation’s Stephon Reynolds (yellow) battles with Annai’s Vasco Cabral in football action held at the St Ignatius Community Centre Ground in Region Nine

not the only factors that made the Chase’s visit difficult, but the nimble play and constant attacks of the likes of Vasco Cabral (who scored the equalizer) and Nairon Williams made the victory such a nail-biting affair as to precipitate sickness on the faint of heart.

“As it stands right now, I don’t see Linden as the biggest threat in the Digicel (tournament) anymore; I see Annai [Secondary] as the biggest threat, since they gave us the hardest fight last year, when we defeated them 2-1; and most of their players from last year are still active and will be playing this year. So I don’t see Christianburg/Wismar [Secondary] as the toughest fight”, Garrett disclosed at the launch of the 7th staging of this tournament, on Wednesday at the West Demerara Secondary School.

The 17-year-old central defender felt that his

Captain of Chase’s Academic Foundation, Jeremy Garrett

teammates’ presence in the various Guyana Football Federation (GFF) training camps will auger well for them.

“The guys are very balanced. We are thankful to the Guyana Football Federation for the academies they have (held).

(Those have) helped to keep us focused, fit, and technically strong. Most of the players in the academies are a part of Chase’s, so our preparation (is) coming good,” Garrett declared.

He added, “It is just to come together and have

the final touches, so we can unite and win this Digicel (tournament)”.

The tournament, set to kick-off on June 12, will last for approximately six weeks before the grand finals are held on July 30 at the Leonora Stadium.

More than 160 schools are expected to participate in this tournament, and each will be vying for the top prize of one million dollars – to be invested in a school project of their choice.

Second prize is $700,000, third $400,000, and fourth $350,000.

GCB/Hand-in-Hand U-19 Inter-County 50-Over…

Demerara, National Under-17s to clash in final – Perez’s ton, Seyhodan’s 5 for 21 highlight 3rd round

D

efending champions Demerara will clash with the National Under-17s in the final of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Hand-in-Hand Under-19 Inter-County 50Over tournament today at the National Stadium at Providence. This has been determined after the final preliminary round matches concluded on Thursday.

Having won the toss and electing to bat in their game against Essequibo, Demerara amassed 300 allout from 49.3 overs, with opener Raymond Perez making a solid stroke-filled 125 (11x4s; 3x6s), while Ramnarine Chaturia made a solid 73 (6sx4s; 2x6s), the duo adding 177 for the third wicket in 32 overs.

Essequibo medium-pacer Joshua Jones grabbed 4 for 65, while Joel Fortune chipped in with 3 for 47.

In reply, Essequibo found themselves struggling at 14 for 2 in the fifth over, and eventually folded for 92 off

just 24.4 overs. Kurt Lovell with 27 was the main contributor with the bat, while Chanderpaul Mohabir made 18 not out.

Bowling for Demerara, left-arm spinner Keshram Seybadon grabbed 5 for 21 off 7 brilliant overs. He was well supported by Ronald Ali-Mohamed, who grabbed 2 for 16 from 5 overs; and Ritche Looknauth, who took 2 for 18 off 2.4 overs to help the home side canter home by 208. Over at the Everest Cricket Club ground, Berbice Under-19 batted first, and were immediately placed on the back foot by the loss of Veramootoo Senwasane, bowled by Reyad Khan for duck with the score on 9.

Adrian Sukwah then joined Junior Sinclair, and together they took the score to 51 before Berbice lost their second wicket – Suhwak being run out for 20. Javid Karim was then bowled for a duck by left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd, who then sent back Sasenarine Sukhoo for 9, to

leave Berbice on 69 for 4.

Then, with the score on 105, Pradesh Balkishun grabbed the Select Under-17’s fifth wicket when he had opening batsman Kevin Sinclair caught at short mid-wicket for a well accomplished 50.

Nedd continued to make inroads into the Berbice team, bowling Keith Simpson for 8, to have Berbice reeling at 124 for 8. Karan Arjpaul was then bowled by Qumar Thorington for 5 when the score was 155 for 9, and Sachin Singh then bowled Sylus Tyndall for a wellplayed 25.

Nedd led the way with the ball, taking 4-19 from 10 overs; while Khan, Balkishun and Singh all took a wicket apiece.

In reply, the Select Under-17 openers of Alex Algoo and Singh started out solidly, taking the score to 23 before Singh was bowled by Karim for 3. Junior Sinclair was then caught by Simpson and Kevin Sinclair was bowled for 2, with the score on 29. The Select Under-17 then suffered a big blow when Keith Simpson, in the second delivery, had last round’s century maker Alex Algoo adjudged LBW for 21, to leave the Select Under-17 at 35 for 3.

The Under-17s eventually reached 77 for 9 off 34.4 overs, requiring the last pair to bat beyond forty overs to prevent Berbice from getting a bowling point, which would have placed them

Left-arm spinner Ashmead took 4-19 in a stifling spell while Kevin Sinclair made an attractive 50

above the Select Under-17 on points. However, they were bowled out for 85 runs off 40.5 overs.

Bowling for Berbice, Deon Sinclair took 3 for 18 from 7.5 overs; Karan Arjpaul grabbed 3 for 9 off 8 overs, and Kevin Sinclair took 2 for 12 from 7 overs.

Berbice won the match

by 70 runs, but the Under-17 side was able to advance to the Final by virtue of accumulating more fast bowling points than Berbice -- 10.7 points as against Berbice’s 10.2. Today’s final will commence at 09:00 hrs. The points table after the third and final preliminary round is demonstrated below:

TEAMS

Matches

Outright Win

Tie

No Result

Lose

Batting Bonus

Fast Bowling Bonus

Bowling points <40 overs

Total Points

DEMERARA

3

16

0

2

0

2

1.1

2

23.1

Select Under-17

3

8

0

2

1

0

.7

0

10.7

BERBICE

3

8

0

2

1

0

.2

0

10.2

Essequibo

3

0

2

2

0

.6

0

2.6

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, june 2, 2017

23

South American U-20 Championships…

By Michelangelo Jacobus

A

s Guyana prepares to host the South American Youth (under-20) Championships this weekend at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, the world will be watching as more than 300 athletes from across 12 countries compete for sporting supremacy.

This event represents Guyana’s first attempt at hosting a meet of this magnitude, but the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is confident that things will run smoothly over the weekend.

“The whole thing is under control,” according to Secretary of the AAG (Athletics Association of Guyana), Mayfield Trim.

Asked by Guyana Times Sport about seating arrangements, security and transportation, Trim explained that the stands for the spectators are in order and there are two additional stands, while there is also a new stand designated for the athletes. Chairs and tents are rented for officials and the

VIP area; and these arrangements, she pointed out, should make for smooth running on the days involved.

The Guyana Police Force will be playing a big part in terms of security, as there would be a ubiquitous presence of ranks from the Leonora Police Station at the Stadium, while outriders will escort the respective team buses to and from the Track.

This was made possible through intervention of the Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Trim explained.

Arrangements were also made with the General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge to facilitate the timings and ensure the punctual transportation of the athletes.

The South American Youth Championships is a Biennial event, and Brazil are the defending Champions. They had a haul of 39 medals, including 17 gold, when the Championships were last held -- in Ecuador.

Guyana’s bid for glory will be led by Compton Caesar for the males and Kenisha Phillips for the

females. Caesar has been dubbed the “fastest U-20 sprinter in the Caribbean; while Phillips, who has the best time for the females, was recently upstaged in the 100 and 200 metre races by teammate O n a s h a

Guyana will be represented by a team of 50 athletes, representing its biggest ever contingent at any international meet. Guyanese are encouraged to come out in their numbers to support their team.

Tickets, costing $500 each, are

The Paraguayan co ntingent was the latest team to arrive on Thursday

Rogers.

Overseas teams participating in the meet have already begun arriving. The first teams came in on Wednesday, and teams have continued coming in until today.

available at the Leonora Synthetic Track, White Castle Fish Shop, the LOC office on Light Street, and the head office of the GOA. These tickets are for ad-

mittance for the morning and evening sessions.

Guyana’s contingent is comprised as follows: (Girls) Kenisha Phillips, Onasha Rogers, Avon Samuels, Collia Rowe, Joanna Archer, Claudrice McKoy, Serena Williams, Leyanna Charles, Kezra Murray, Delcia Harper, Tatyana Blair, Shontel Browne, Chantoba Bright, Ruth Sanmoogan, Mian McPherson, Kimberly Hilliman, Jamacia Scott, Cassie Small, Tonya Rawlins, Tiffauna Garnett and Tandiaka Haynes.

(Boys): Compton Caesar, Tyrell Peters, Laurindo Prince, Daniel Williams, Anfernee Headecker, Samuel Lynch, Ruel Chester, Matthew McKenzie, Rondell Newton, Rickie Williams, Joshua Williams, Ronaldo Wishart, Nigel Gonsalves, Terrence Fraser, Anthony Williams, Ronaldo Greene, Jermaine Simmons, Timothy Sealy, Tremaine Beckles, Jonathan Garnett, Jermaine King, Ryan Bramble, Dennis Roberts, Stayon Wilson, Jonathon Copeland and Tevin Nicholson.

GOA, GTA boost AAG with $1.4M A

s the South American Under-20 Championships approach sharply, the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) on Thursday handed over donations totalling $1.4 million in support of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) hosting of the games this weekend at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

At a simple presentation ceremony held at the Local Organising Committee (LOC) office on Light Street, the GOA, which was represented by Vice President Godfrey Munroe, handed over a cheque for $1 million, while GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh gave

GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh (left) handing over the sponsorship cheque to AAG President Aubrey Hutson

Wishart, Gonsalves aiming to defy odds in steeplechase By

Michelangelo

T

Jacobus

he steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing. The foremost version of the event is the 3000 meters steeplechase.

A 3000-metre steeplechase is defined in the rulebook as having 28 barriers and seven water jumps. Since the water jump is never on the track oval, a steeplechase “course” is never a perfect 400 metres lap.

Instead the water jump is placed inside the turn – shortening the lap or outside the turn – lengthening the lap.

This is an event that is foreign to Guyanese athletes; the last time a Guyanese athlete participated in the steeplechase was over half a century ago.

Nigel Gonsalves and Ronaldo Wishart will be representing Guyana in the 3000 meters steeplechase this weekend as they seek to make Guyana proud at the South American Under-20 Championships from June 3-4 at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

$400,000. Collecting on behalf of the AAG was President Aubrey Hutson, who expressed gratitude for the support at such a critical time.

Speaking on behalf of the GOA, Munroe highlighted, “Being a junior event, it is of particular interest to the Association in ensuring that the focus is on the development of junior athletes and this is one such development. It’s going to be a mega event and we want to congratulate the AAG… [for undertaking] the hosting.”

Meanwhile, for the GTA, the donation is part of the Authority holding true to its promise to throw its support behind the development of sports tourism in Guyana. Just two months ago, the body held a sports tourism seminar advocating for the development of Guyana as a sports tourism destination.

“The GTA is proud and pleased to be associated with the AAG and the hosting of this mega South American Championships. We came on board as a sponsor to help directly in the area of hospitality services for these visitors, so that they can go back and be good ambassadors in promoting Destination Guyana.

“We’ve done a number of other things, providing flags, doing some marketing and PR, assisting with tour packages,” Haralsingh explained.

Overseas teams travelling for the meet already began arriving on Wednesday, and will continue coming today.

A team of 50 athletes will be representing Guyana, the biggest contingent of Guyanese athletes to ever represent at any international meet. Guyanese are encouraged to come out in their numbers and support their team. Tickets are available across the country for $500.

Nigel Gonsalves (front) and Ronaldo Wishart (second) in action during their debut steeplechase event

On Sunday last at the GOBSA Independence Track Meet, they both participated in their first competitive steeplechase events along with Rondell Newton.

After completing the race, the trio described the experience as “difficult”, because “they had never done anything like it”. However, Wishart pledged that he and his partner, Nigel Gonsalves, would do their “very best” to make Guyana proud and to improve on their times as they seek championship glory.

Events such as the hurdles, pole

vault, hammer throw and steeplechase are non-traditional events in which Guyanese have either never or rarely participated in.

Guyana, which is aiming to have an athlete in almost every event in hopes of winning medals, will be represented in the 400m hurdles and the 3000m steeplechase. The athletes who will be taking part in the events have only had a little over four weekends worth of training, but are all striving to make the motherland proud.

GOA Vice President Godfrey Munroe (left) handing over the sponsorship cheque to AAG President Aubrey Hutson

FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2017

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