Guyana times newspaper june 13 2017

T&T Trade Mission

P13

Gaskin touts Guyana’s commitment to CSME

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

Issue No. 3240

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

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GECOM chairmanship

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Ministry fails to account for $40M+ spending P5 ... pays greens vendor $2.5M instead of $250,000

Media worker arrest

Page 3

Jagdeo, President agree to 3rd list

...fresh round of consultations to be held Page 2

Police warn taxi drivers of hijacking gang

Bandit gets 25 years for traffic light murder

... legal action looms

Woman cites ‘domestic violence’ as reason for P8 killing man

Page 10

Kaieteur National Park ‘militarisation’

Heavy military presence part of “temporary operation” – PAC Page 7

Army ranks (right) armed with AK-47s questioning two men who would have made their way from the Kurourung area after being stuck up there for one month. The men related that they were terrified of being arrested so they hid, but their rations ran out and they were beginning to starve so that prompted them to venture out.

Harmon visits floodaffected communities

Cameraman released, equipment seized P16

Page 13

Guyana’s economy

MP dubs first quarter’s performance “anaemic” P9 Human smuggling suspected in Haitians travel probe P12

Govt can do more for UG graduates – Gouveia P2

Linden-Lethem road closed to traffic P9

2 news

tuesDAY, june 13, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police warn taxi Govt can do more for UG Beware! drivers of hijacking gang graduates – Gouveia T T he Private Sector Commission (PSC) Governance and Security Sub Committee Chairman, Captain Gerry Gouveia believes that Government can do more for the thousands of graduates from the University of Guyana (UG).

Gouveia made these comments during the 25th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the PSC at the Marriott International Hotel late last week, zooming in on the country’s economic performance in various areas. According to Gouveia, the creation of jobs is the single greatest challenge facing Guyana and “a serious problem”.

“We have thousands of persons graduating from the UG annually and they can’t find jobs.”

He said this was a reality in Guyana, noting that hundreds would form lines outside the US Embassy daily, hoping to secure a better life elsewhere.

According to Gouveia, while “a good life” was promised, such a life must be created together. He noted that although governments do not create jobs per se, they were responsible for creating an enabling environment that would bring investors to the re-

Captain Gerry Gouveia

spective country.

“The leaders in Guyana – the political, Private Sector, church and even youth leaders – every day, we must work hard to create, enhance and foster investor confidence, both local and foreign. And I daresay we are not doing a good job.”

He said the promise of job creation remained an elusive dream, and that must end and be replaced with actual moves to attract investor confidence to Guyana.

Meanwhile, Gouveia, who is also Chairman of the Roraima Group of Companies, said that any change of government

should not in any way affect the continuation of investment in Guyana. He said the relationship between Government and the Private Sector should be laid on the platform that was set up by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB). He recalled that the IDB had brought some 50 consultants into the country to work with the Private Sector and establish a working relationship.

He recalled, too, a recent instance where the World Bank had invited the Private Sector on board after it found that the use of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) was frequent in Guyana. He said, however, that many business persons were reluctant to getting involved with the Government, because they were unsure what a change in administration could do to the investment.

“Whether the people in the [State Assets Recovery Agency] SARA administration would come and recover what business we do with Government and this is about investor confidence. So that whatever we do with Government needs to foster investment confidence,” he said.

axi operators in the capital city have been warned to be on the lookout for wouldbe carjackers, who have amped up attacks in recent weeks.

In an advisory issued Monday, the Guyana Police Force explained that all taxi drivers especially those operating Toyota Allion and Toyota Premio motor cars to “be on the alert for potential hijackers”.

Police disclosed that the attackers have been hiring the cars in Georgetown under the pretext of wanting transportation to areas such as North Ruimveldt, Georgetown; Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara; Providence, East Bank Demerara and West Demerara.

“Upon arrival at their requested locations, the drivers are robbed of their personal belongings as well as their motor cars,” the statement noted.

The suspected carjackers are said to be seven males. According to Police, one of the attackers has “dreadlocks”, two are of mixed descent, two were described as AfroGuyanese and two others were said to be Indo-

Bridgenandand Persaud’s HC 7851 Toyota Premio was stolen last Tuesday

Guyanese.

On Saturday, Guyana Times was provided with detailed descriptions of three of the attackers.

Bridgenandand Persaud, a Dowding Street, Kitty shop owner and Stabroek Market Square taxi operator, was beaten and robbed of his silver-grey HC 7851 Toyota Premio motor car by three armed attackers at Atlantic Ville, last Tuesday. Persaud had recalled that about 15:00h on Tuesday last, two men hired him at Stabroek Market and requested to be taken to Atlantic Ville.

Moments after he entered the Atlantic Ville area and before the men could pay, they had each pulled a gun and wrestled with him.

He stated that another accomplice was waiting at

Atlantic Ville.

The taxi driver also said that he was beaten to his back and head. After the ordeal, Persaud lodged a complaint at Sparendaam Police Station, giving Police a description of his attackers and the weapons that they used.

The Guyana Police Force is appealing to the general public to provide any information they may have with regard to the identities of the individuals perpetrating the carjackers. Persons with information are asked to report to the nearest police station or call on telephone numbers 225-6411, 226-1389, 227-2128, 2252227, 226-7065, 225-0575, and 911, to report any unusual activities they may have observed.

news

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, June 13 – 05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, June 14 – 08:30h-10:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, June 13 – 06:15h-07:45h and Wednesday, June 14 – 06:55h-08:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Sunny conditions will be interrupted by heavy to light rain showers in the late morningearly afternoon period, while partly to lightly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures should range between 25 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-easterly to East North-easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 06:34h and 19:04h reaching maximum heights of 2.57 metres and 2.43 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 12:36h reaching a minimum height of 0.65 metre.

SATURDAY, June 10, 2017

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18 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Monday, June 12, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 04 09 17 25

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Afternoon Draw

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

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tuesDAY, june 13, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GECOM chairmanship

Jagdeo, President agree to 3rd list …fresh round of consultation to be held

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and President David Granger have agreed to the submission of a third list of six nominees for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), a joint statement from the Opposition and Government said on Monday.

This decision was made after a second meeting between the two was held on Monday evening at State House.

The meeting was also attended by People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Members of Parliament Anil Nandlall and Irfaan Ali, Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman.

The joint statement said the parties agreed that it would be in the best interest of the people of Guyana that the choice of a Chairperson of GECOM is made without undue delay. However, both parties further agreed that the Opposition Leader will submit a new list of six names to the President.

It was also agreed that a high-level team would be assembled representing the President and the Opposition Leader which will begin to work immediately on exploring modalities to bring a resolution to this matter in the

President David Granger, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall and former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali during discussions on Monday

event that the list is rejected again by the President.

Jagdeo has publicly stated total disagreement with the President’s interpretation of Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana which deals with the selection of the chairman of GECOM. Jagdeo had, last April, submitted to President Granger a second list of six nominees for the post of Chairman of GECOM. They are retired Justice of Appeal BS Roy; retired Justice William Ramlall; former Magistrate Oneidge Walrond-Allicock; Attorneys Kashir Khan and Nadia Sagar; and businessman and pilot, c aptain Gerald Gouveia.

This second list followed

President Granger deeming the first list “unacceptable” in early January 2017 — because none of those recommended was a judge, retired judge or eligible to be appointed a judge. Granger’s rejection of the list was in keeping with ‘his interpretation’ of Guyana’s Constitution.

The President subse-

quently amended his position that a GECOM Chairman must not only be a “fit and proper person”, but must not be an activist or member of any political party. GECOM has been without a Chairman since February 28, 2017, when Dr Steve Surujbally stepped down after 15 years at the helm.

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tuesDAY, june 13, 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

Messi or Ronaldo?

Gender based violence

O

ver the years, we have seen countless stories reported in the media of some form of gender-based violence; with women especially being at the receiving end of the beatings; and in some cases even end up being dead.

Even though the government and other stakeholders have been engaged in various efforts to bring the situation under control, it seems as if the killings are far from over.

Just recently, this newspaper reported on the brutal murder of 37-year-old Lindener; Shenika London. It was reported that the victim was stabbed multiple times by her husband at her home at Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Region 10. It should be mentioned that the woman’s youngest child who is two years old reportedly witnessed the entire episode.

In another recent case, a 26-year-old teacher; Tishaun Bess was found dead in a house at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara. Her lifeless body was found hanging from the ceiling of her apartment days after she went missing.

Relatives claimed that the relationship shared between the woman and her partner was an abusive one. As such, despite the incident initially appearing to be an act of suicide, they speculated that foul play was involved.

It could be recalled too that not so long ago, 29-yearold Dhanwantie Ram, a Parika resident, was found strangled on a sofa, with a bed sheet wrapped around her neck. The woman’s husband of 12 years was arrested for the crime.

Here again, reports indicate that the victim and the suspect shared an abusive relationship. Due to the abuse, the woman was forced to leave her martial home with her three children a few days before she was killed.

These, of course, are just a few of the latest in a slew of cases that have taken the country by storm. The victims’ stories have been heartbreaking as many of them were killed after years of abuse and perhaps with very little help from those who should have provided the much needed support mechanisms. The bottom line is that something must be done urgently to arrest the situation as it is clear that what currently obtains have not been very effective.

We believe that there is an urgent need for all stakeholders, led by the government, to commence a national discourse on the issue once more. The aim should be to reassess and modify current strategies taking into account the lessons learnt from past experiences. While protection orders have been effective to an extent; quite often the abusers do not abide by them; hence the need to undertake an urgent review of mechanisms currently in place to protect women from being killed. It should be noted that on the day Ram was killed, she was making her way to the Police Station to lodge a report against her husband whom she had a restraining order against. She is not the only woman for whom a restraining order proved ineffective; there is also the case of Bhartie Udho, who was attacked and brutally chopped late last year.

At the time of her death, a restraining order had been initiated against her partner as well.

Violence against women and children has tremendous costs to communities and nations and can remain with women and children for a lifetime. If not dealt with effectively, it can also pass from one generation to another. Numerous recommendations were made to the previous and current Administrations, yet nothing much has been forthcoming.

It is therefore time for policy makers and other stakeholders to revisit the issue and come up with practical solutions to tackle the scourge in a holistic manner with greater focus on the root of the problem.

Over the years, the United Nations (UN) has been pushing countries towards implementing proactive measures to combat domestic violence. These measures have included criminalising gender-based violence, massive public awareness campaigns and providing training to equip both men and women to act as first responders and to support victims of the scourge at the community level.

Additionally, this newspaper had stated before that one of the greatest challenges Guyana faced in countering domestic violence, was in changing the attitudes of service providers – such as Police, magistrates, social workers, and healthcare providers. Importantly too is that the lackadaisical attitude of neighbours, relatives and others who are, in most cases, aware of domestic abuse cases but yet chose to remain silent also needs to change. Everyone needs to proactive in their response to the scourge.

The future in training: these youngsters practising their skills on a cool Saturday afternoon in the Amerindian village of Chenapau, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni)

Resisting the ‘green monsters’ Dear Editor, As we count down to the expiration of the suspension of the Georgetown Metered Parking By-laws, the residents of Georgetown and citizens of Guyana have not been bestowed with the courtesy of communication from the Mayor & Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC), or the Government through the Ministry of Communities, on what to expect.

The silence, although deafening, is admittedly -- and sadly so -- not at all surprising, since this seems to be the new standard level of respect which our elected officials feel we, as voters, are entitled to. Notwithstanding, the

‘Fantastic Four’ at M&CC, buttressed by a Council which is unable or unwilling to do otherwise, seem poised, from all indications, to reinstitute the metered parking system in Georgetown once given the green light

by Government with the enforceability of the said bylaws, the legal framework upon which metered parking rests.

In the three-month suspension, nothing meaningful has taken place. The Council held purported consultations at times when it was difficult for the general public to attend, nor was there any outreach.

The Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM), from all reports, discharged

their self-imposed duty to the citizens of Guyana. They appeared before the mandated committee and systematically and competently refuted every talking point of the M&CC. Notably, the aforesaid events are all taking place while proceedings are still pending in the High Court with regard to the legality of by- laws and contract. But legality aside, and even if deemed legal, the damage has already been done. The project has been an undoubted failure, to the point that it cannot be salvaged. The embarrassing details emanating in the media regarding the irresponsible and vulgar spending of the M&CC do not further their cause.

With all that has taken place and unearthed since the institution of the metered parking system in Georgetown, it would have been enough in any other civilized society for the elected officials to ‘back-peddle’ on the project. Not so in Guyana! So we, the citizens of Guyana, wait in fear of ambush of the ‘green monsters’; but not cowardly, as we have no doubt our fellow citizens will once again resist if there is a recurrence, and this time put the ‘green monsters’ to rest, permanently.

Yours faithfully, Movement against Parking Meters (MAPM)

The Skeldon factory visit Dear Editor, I refer to the news item on the Skeldon sugar project. As reported, the comments emanating from Government officials support a thrust to sell that estate – land, factory and co-gen facility – at basement prices. Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma and SEI Board Chairman Lloyd Rose made some assertions which may be due to their misunderstanding of Skeldon, or due to misinformation they would have received.

I would urge both gentlemen to accurately acquaint themselves with the facts, technically & historically, before making statements, in order to avoid unnecessary embarrassment. Here are some hard facts on Skeldon: 1. Booker Tate Ltd, a UK-based company, was hired by Government of Guyana to manage the entire Skeldon Sugar Modernization Project; that is: Design, Construction, Quality Control,

Commissioning. After encountering many problems with factory test runs in 2008 and eventually commissioning in August 2009, the Government ended the contract with Booker Tate Ltd. That contract was scheduled to come to an end some years before, but was extended to coincide with the completion of the new Skeldon factory.

2. The present Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GuySuCo was a Director of Booker Tate Ltd., UK, for that entire duration of Skeldon’s design, construction & testing. Subsequently, he was appointed CEO of GuySuCo, in 2009, and oversaw the official commissioning and handing over of the factory to GuySuCo, despite incomplete factory performance tests. He had no objections in the process, and fully supported the takeover.

3. The present Deputy Technical Director was Technical Director

for GuySuCo during the period 2007-2016. By virtue of office, he automatically assumed the role of Chief Engineer for Skeldon factory with the departure of Booker Tate Ltd. He, too, supported the premature takeover of the factory, thus he also accepted the factory without any objection.

4. Skeldon factory is designed to operate efficiently at a cane processing rate of 300-350 tonnes per hour for approximately 156 hrs per week, using fresh canes free of soil and extraneous material. These conditions were never achieved consistently, hence the cause of poor efficiency and deteriorating equipment.

5. The boiler deterioration observed is not because of poor design or equipment quality. It is because the equipment was subjected to sub-optimal operating conditions. continues on page 5

news

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tuesDAY, june 13, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ministry fails to account for $40M+ spending …pays greens vendor $2.5M instead of $250,000

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ndigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary Alfred King was on Monday hauled over the proverbial coals during this week’s sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, which was abruptly brought to a halt when the accounting officer was unable to produce a breakdown of $47 million used at the Amerindian Hostel.

King’s almost one-hour interrogation by PAC Chairman Irfaan Ali was brought to a premature close when he was asked to provide a breakdown of the money used for dietary supplies at the Amerindian Hostel.

He was earlier unable to provide specific details on a $6.7 million contract with a Bourda Market ‘greens vendor’.

Asked to account for the remainder of the $47 million allocation used for dietary supplies in 2015, King told the PAC he would need 20 minutes since that information was at the office. Ali im-

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock

mediately suspended the proceedings, but on his return, the Permanent Secretary was still unable to provide a breakdown of the more than $40 million.

In 2015, King was not the PS at the Indigenous Affairs Ministry but rather it was Vibert Arthur Welch. Welch, who is now the PS of the Education Ministry, is in hot water of the use public funds to build a guard hut at his

Junior Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe

private residence, which cost more than $500,000 to construct.

Non-existent register

King was found to be misleading too when he had earlier in the session told the PAC that one of the contractors in question was sourced from the Ministry’s register of suppliers.

King assured the

Committee Members of the existence of the register, but this was found not to be the case.

The whirlwind session saw the Permanent Secretary visibly frazzled throughout the proceedings, changing answers seconds after advancing them in addition to the contradictory statements on the expenditure approved by that office.

The PAC was at the time scrutinising the expenditure and addressing the financial discrepancies raised by the Auditor General in his 2015 Report.

Overpayment

One glaring discrepancy for which the Permanent Secretary was unable to provide ready answers related to a $2.5 million payment.

The Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry had prepared a voucher to make the payment to a Bourda Market vendor for the supply of fruits, greens and vegetables.

The Committee heard that the voucher was pre-

pared on December 15, 2015 for $251,000, but a cheque was actually made out to the supplier for $2.5 million and the Ministry to date has been unable to recover the total amount.

It was revealed that the voucher was inputted into the Government Integrated Financial Management System (IFMAS) on December 29 of that year in order to have the cheque cut before the end of the financial year.

The $2.5 million cheque was encashed in January the next year The discrepancies raised concerning that supplier Devindra Sugrim were not limited to the overpayment.

In fact, King told the Committee that the supplier was based on institutional memory at the Ministry in the form of a register. This was also found not to be true.

King earlier told the Committee that the supplier was secured using a three quota system, but was unable to clearly inform the PAC

how exactly the supplier was chosen by the Ministry.

The transaction raised eyebrows, even as King attempted to defend ‘shopping around’ using the three quotation system.

Over the limit

Other discrepancies were raised surrounding approval for expenditure by the Ministry more than twice the ministerial limit.

One such payment was found to be for $663,480 while the limit is set at $250,000.

Another discrepancy raised with the Permanent Secretary was the monitoring of contracts by the Ministry.

The PAC heard that the Ministry was currently compiling a database and are simultaneously addressing the new contracts and the backlog. King will have to return before the PAC at a date to be set by the body.

Other Government departments to come under scrutiny by the PAC on Monday were the Foreign Affairs and Education Ministries.

“Don’t be tempted by bribes” immigration officials warned

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everal customs and immigration officials participating in national border security training were on Monday warned against taking bribes, as this could undermine security.

Caricom Assistant Secretary General, Dr Douglas Slater urged officials working in the area of border security to resist the temptation to accept bribes.

While addressing the opening of the workshop at the Police Training Centre, the Caricom official said law enforcement agents were vulnerable to inducements for many reasons.

Assistant Secretary General Slater told officers that they had a responsibility to act professionally, and to be vigilant and compassionate. He said if they stepped aside from these values, it had the potential to create great chaos.

“With the economic situation in our Region, you

Top Police, immigration and customs officials including Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud (fourth from left); and Citizenship and Immigration Minister Winston Felix (centre)

are going to be faced with a challenge – the temptation of corruption and I am saying that plainly because we know that our workers within our border protection agencies, they do have that temptation and the criminals are out there making offers,” the official said.

He also urged the officers to become familiar with the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) framework and the rights of the free movement of

Caribbean people, as this was an important issue that must be taken into account by all border control officials across the Region.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s Citizenship Minister Winston Felix, a former Police Commissioner, echoed similar sentiments, urging the officials not to fall prey to corruption.

“Fight the corrupt elements; don’t let them get to you. They get to you, they destroy you and, by exten-

sion, they destroy the image and reputation of the Government,” he asserted.

Felix also highlighted the fact that many people were caught daily with false immigration stamps in their passports and this was an issue in many countries.

In his comments, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud observed that Guyana has the political will to stamp out terrorism and other forms of organ-

The Skeldon factory...

FROM PAGE 4

Typically, if primary fuel flow (bagasse) to a boiler reduces, its furnace temperature would drop, forcing operators to switch on secondary fuel (Heavy Fuel Oil) to increase and maintain furnace temperatures required for steam generation and flow.

Inconsistent fuel flow results in fluctuations in furnace temperatures, which hasten material deteriora-

tion. Additionally, if primary fuel (bagasse) has high percentage of ash (soil), it would clog furnaces and cause erosion on boiler tubes (thinning out of tubes) as observed. In short, the boiler problem seen is due to an inconsistent supply of, and poor quality, bagasse to furnaces, or operation of equipment under sub-optimal conditions.

6. If bagasse supply and

quality problems at Skeldon are not adequately addressed, the replacement boiler being touted would suffer the same extent of deterioration. It will not solve the problem.

On the issue of the project not being officially certified and boiler shed not being in place, the Honourable Junior Minister should cross-examine the present CEO and the Deputy

Technical Director, as both individuals were functional operatives at that point in history and their responsibility included verification of factory performance for acceptance, project closeout, and ultimately financial conclusion. Will these officers feign ignorance now?

Sincerely, Sookram Persaud

ised crime.

He said this was fully supported by the Government. “In Guyana, we are fortunate to have the political will to deal with crime and violence.

That is a necessity – political will is a necessity to deal with the crime and violence problems that exist today,” he said.

The workshop is being organised by the Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS); the European

Union and the United States Customs and Border Protection.

The training will enhance the capacity of border security officials to identify and intercept persons, goods or vessels travelling across borders by illicit means or with illicit intent.

The workshop’s training tools and manuals have been developed to facilitate harmonised standards and practices, policies and procedures to be used by Caribbean countries.

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation Do fathers treat their sons and daughters differently?

– new research explores gender differences and its roots in early parenting

By Romeo Vitelli, PhD

W

hile childrearing practices can vary widely across different cultures and as views about gender differences change over time, there do seem to be some clear consistencies in the way boys and girls are treated, especially during their first few years of life. According to Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory of gender development, parents often have clear gender stereotypes about “appropriate” behaviour for different genders and rely on punishment and rewards to ensure their children abide by these gender expectations. Boys are often discouraged from playing with dolls or acting “effeminately” while girls are often prevented from doing any physically risky activities.

Some studies suggest that mothers talk more with their daughters and actively prevent them from any activity that might lead to their being injured. On the other hand, both mothers and fathers appear more prone to engage in “rough and tumble” play (RTP for short) with boys rather than girls. There also appear to be gender differences in how parents respond to emotional outbursts. In a 2005 research study, fathers were found to be more receptive to daughters when they showed submissive emotions or prosocial behaviour while they were more likely to respond to boys when they acted out or showed temper tantrums. Granted, it is often difficult to do this kind of research considering that most studies looking at how parents interact with their young children have focused on mothers rather than fathers. Also, parents tend to be reluctant in admitting that they treat their sons and daughters differently, especially in an era of greater equality between the sexes. For this reason, depending on self-report alone tends to provide a distorted view of the way parents actually raise their children and instil gender roles and values into them.

A new study published in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience provides one of the first in-depth analyses at how fathers interact with their children and what this might mean in terms of brain physiology. A team of researchers led by James K Rilling of Emory University’s Center for Translational Social Neuroscience recruited 69 men (average age of 33) who were parents of children aged one to two years. Thirty-four of the fathers had a daughter and 35 had a son with no significant demographic differences between the two groups.

The study began with naturalistic photographs being taken of each of the children showing a variety of facial expressions corresponding to different emotions. The fathers were then given a mobile recording device, the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR), that intermittently records snippets of conversations and other ambient sounds while the participants wearing them go about their lives. Essentially, the EAR is meant to produce an audio log of the wearer’s day.

Results of the auditory file analyses showed significant difference in

language and behaviour patterns between fathers depending on whether they were interacting with sons or daughters. As expected, fathers were more likely to engage in rough and tumble play with sons rather than daughters. This included tickling, poking, and tumbling behaviour that was often aggressive in nature. When interacting with daughters however, fathers were more likely to engage in singing or whistling and were also more emotionally and socially responsive to daughters. There were also significant differences in the kind of language fathers used with sons and daughters. Fathers were more likely to use achievement-related words with their sons, ie, “top,” “win,” “proud”, while using more emotion-laden and analytical words with their daughters. This included words relating to sadness or words relating to the body. Based on behavioural results alone, fathers appear to be reinforcing gender expectations by encouraging girls to be more empathetic while encouraging boys to be more competitive.

In looking at the MRI findings, there appeared to be significant differences in brain responding between fathers of daughters and fathers of sons. For example, fathers of daughters showed much higher activation in visual processing areas of the brain when shown their happy facial pictures of their children than fathers of sons do.

They also showed greater activation in the orbitofrontal cortex linked to emotional regulation. Fathers of sons also showed significant brain activation when presented with neutral facial expressions which is often associated with rough and tumble play though the exact reason for this is still unclear. On the other hand, fathers showed identical responding when presented with pictures of either their sons or daughters with sad facial expressions.

Overall, these results highlight many of the differences seen in how fathers interact with their male and female children and what it might mean for gender role development in children.

Still, while these results consistent with previous studies looking at paternal behaviour and gender roles, it also raises interesting questions about cause and effect. Do fathers treat sons and daughters differently because of their own gender expectations? Or are fathers simply responding to social and behavioural cues linked to biological sex differences between boys and girls? As James Rilling and his colleagues point out, males are exposed to higher levels of foetal testosterone, which has been shown by research to be linked to a preference for rough and tumble play. It also influences playmate selection so that both boys and girls high in foetal testosterone are more likely to prefer a more aggressive play style, something that may influence how fathers interact with them.

More research is definitely needed to explore these questions further.

While most early childhood research has focused on how mothers interact with their children, this study yields some intriguing findings. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

– humans naturally try to get by with minimal work. Here are a few simple ways to push your students to think harder Continued from Monday

By Todd Finley

Group work: Direct student teams to use reflective listening strategies.

Assess performance after 10 minutes and then encourage the teams to apply what they learned during the rest of the activity.

Research: As they submit drafts of their research papers, students can also turn in researcher journals that narrate their experienc-

es with databases, websites, and search terms as well as any epiphanies and/or obstacles they experienced.

Or teach students to format their inquiry as a “multigenre research paper”.

Discussions: Assigning roles encourages learners to take risks they wouldn’t otherwise attempt. In her classes, Sheila Valencia implements panel discussions on the previous night’s reading. Three student panellists are randomly chosen to comment for two minutes each on important, interesting, or controversial ideas in the text. And two student interviewers are selected to ask the panellists questions.

All students are forewarned to prepare statements and questions in advance in case their names are drawn.

Review: Add competition to intensify inclass reviews. Try Cult of Pedagogy’s Crumple & Shoot competition and inform the class that an individual assessment will follow the game.

More strategies for intensifying common in-class activities

Facilitate what Dave Stuart Jr calls pop-up debates.

Play “beat the clock” by providing less processing

time.

Ask students to find answers from primary and secondary sources – not just the textbook.

Direct learners to highlight elements in their essays that align with SOAPSTone (Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, Tone).

Dare kids to be so creative that they blow your hair back.

Tips for creating suc-

cessful high-intensity in-class activities

In the absence of concrete performance criteria, kids often coast. Therefore, keep in-class assignments unambiguous (an exception is project-based learning, wherein students benefit from solving fuzzy, real-life problems).

Anticipate bottlenecks. For example, when children are solving a difficult problem, having to remember multiple assignment steps can create cognitive overload and turn their working memory into slush. Solution: Supply a checklist of steps to free up working RAM. Pushback from students reluctant to shift into System 2 is likely.

Less resistance will occur, however, if you articulate the purpose of high-intensity in-class activities: to accelerate learning through productive struggle –similar to high-intensity interval training at the gym. Just ensure that you align with content objectives. The ultimate goal isn’t to callously slam kids with impossible class activities—it’s to have them reach into their deepest selves and meet the day’s challenges like champions. (Excerpt from edutopia.org)

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tuesDAY, june 13, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Kaieteur National Park ‘militarisation’

Heavy military presence part of “temporary operation” – PAC … Chenapau residents feel threatened by soldiers

By Lakhram Bhagirat

T

he heavy military presence in the Kaieteur National Park (KNP) is due to a “temporary operation” dealing with alleged mining in the reserve, according to Protected Areas Commission (PAC) Board Member Raquel ThomasCaesar.

In a Facebook post, Thomas-Caesar said, “... we don’t want the world to know we are going in as they would run away…there is mining in the park and there is a monitoring operation for a period (not permanent)... everyone knows this is a very sensitive issue for Chenapau Village and for the Gov’t and we all need to sit together as I have told Chenapau Village Council and work this out.

Issues are sorted when people work together. This KNP has had a difficult history and there are some key issues to address.”

However, the residents of Chenapau Village, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), are up in arms against the operation since they are being prevented from traversing the generations-old trail through the Park. Village Chief Edward Mc Garrell said that residents feel threatened by soldiers sporting AK-47s and intimidating villagers accessing the Park.

“People are feeling threatened because they cannot come and continue their livelihood meaning fishing,

hunting, gathering within the park whereas there is a section in the park saying we got the right as Amerindian,” he said.

“With the military presence in the area, we feel threatened, really threatened because we cannot continue our customs in the Park. I see no demarcation of the Kaieteur National Park

none were caught mining, and they were brought to Georgetown where they were charged. President Granger, as an act of “goodwill” later instructed the dropping of the charges.

The residents vehemently deny mining in the KNP, noting they have a much deeper emotional connection to the Park since it was

us the Patamona nation,” the Patamona leader informed.

Military base?

This publication journeyed to the region to ascertain the facts associated with the villagers’ claim and upon arrival, was greeted by heavily armed members of the Joint Services, who have set up camp at the Kaieteur National Park Arrival Centre. It is unclear whether approval to set up camp was

Ranks of the Guyana Defence Force questioning two men who made their way from the Kurourung area

and that is a stance I have been taking and we respect the signboard as the Park and all the members of my community respect the signboard as the Park,” he added.

President’s order

A few weeks ago, President David Granger ordered the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Guyana Police Force to commence an operation to combat illegal mining in the protected park. During the operation, 21 residents of Chenapau were arrested while on the ancestral trail,

their tribe that settled there.

Toshao Mc Garrell said since the arrests the villagers have been suffering since the atmosphere was now fearfilled.

“We have that right to pass through the Park at any time we want to go and gather even medicinal weeds; we cannot do it anymore because if we go into that bush, the military will arrest us and take us to Georgetown.

The struggle is on and we are prepared to fight it, because the community is united and we are fighting for what is right for our people; the Government must recognise Kaieteur as a sacred site for

granted by the PAC, and efforts to confirm this proved futile.

Tourists accessing the Arrival Centre were prevented from going to sections of the upper viewing balcony since it was being used to store military equipment and hang laundry. They were immediately greeted by boxer shorts on the rails upon entering the viewing area; some suggested it was the newest addition to the scenery.

To get a better understanding of the effects of the restrictions, Michael Mc Garrell of the Amerindian

Peoples Association took a personal trip to the area to investigate the complaints coming from the villagers.

He told this publication the heavy military presence in the area only confirmed the villagers’ allegation of militarisation. “What this demonstrates is that Kaieteur is now a militarised zone and that the military have control of what is happening here and it is very unfortunate for us as a people to be going through something like that because Kaieteur was not intended to be something like this,” he said.

He added that the area has now become a battleground between the military and the villagers since their rights were being violated without any consideration from the authorities. “The amount of control the military have here is disturbing.

There is the Arrival Centre and the military have control of that. Is that what we want to show the world? Is that what people are coming to Kaieteur for, to be greeted by army personnel with AK47s? Is this what we are promoting? Is this what we are showing the world? Kaieteur is not about that; we want the Army to be pulled from this location with immediate effect,” the Chenapau native said.

Economic implications

The economic implications of the restrictions are clearly visible in the village, since almost all activities are at a complete standstill. The

villagers are puzzled as it relates to the Government’s plans for their survival because they cannot hunt or fish.

The villagers, particularly the women folk, are especially concerned about their next move when food and money run out.

“We have to farm, fish, hunt or mine to provide for our families and right now we can’t farm because of the flood and now the soldiers come in here to harass us. What will we do?” Linda Williams related.

Williams also said that the soldiers and, by extension, the administration were treating the villagers as though they were “bush hogs” by taking bread out of their mouths. The angry woman called for the President to ensure that they are allowed to access the traditional trail to prevent them from starving to death.

“On the sign board it is stated that indigenous have all rights to go hunting, fishing and so forth and now they have a new law that we cannot encamp, pass by or anything. It is our main passageway to go elsewhere; if we are restricted from doing these things then it can lead to many things like violence, so we need Government to do something about it, because we cannot live in this way,” resident Greg Marco said.

The President is yet to make a comment on the issue that has been in the public’s domain for approximately one month.

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tuesDAY, june 13, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Woman cites ‘domestic violence’ as reason for killing man

M

urder accused Zalena Whittington has cited her being subjected to domestic violence as the reason for killing her partner Azad Ghani on May 22, 2013.

She appeared on Monday before Justice Navindra Singh in the Demerara Assizes and admitted to killing her partner, appealing for forgiveness for killing the man but pleading not

guilty to murder, but guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Breaking down in tears several times, the woman told the court she was unwell and was finding it difficult to comprehend the charge she faces.

After her extensive pleas, Justice Singh sentenced the woman to eight years’ imprisonment for the offence of manslaughter, telling

her that despite her domestic violence explanation, he still had to impose such a sentence, because a man had lost his life. The Prison Service was, however, ordered to deduct the years that Whittington has spent awaiting trial.

State Prosecutor Tamica Clarke led the State’s case, while the accused was represented by Defence Counsel Debra Kumar.

W Zalena Whittington said domestic violence was her reason for killing Azad Ghani

Albouystown man denies Old Year’s Day murder

D

uring his arraignment before Justice Navindra Singh in the Demerara High Court on Monday, murder accused Steve Allicock of Albouystown, Georgetown denied that on December 31, 2009, at Hill Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, he had chopped and stabbed

Wendell Tappin of Lot 88 James Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, causing him to die. Tappin had been rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital after the incident, but he was pronounced dead.

After Allicock had entered his plea, a 12-member jury was empanelled to hear his case, and it was dis-

closed that six witnesses are due to testify.

Allicock’s uncle, Randolph Allicock, and father, Leonard Allicock, had also been charged with the murder of Tappin, but one of these three accused has since been acquitted.

Reports are that on the day of the killing Tappin

Names…

had reportedly had an altercation with the three men before he was stabbed and chopped.

State Prosecutor Tuanna Hardin is leading the State’s case, with assistance from Tamica Clarke and Seeta Bishundial. Defence Attorneys are Maxwell McKay and Debra Kumar.

…and colour

hat’s in a name? The Bard opined that names didn’t matter, and that "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet".

And as for less pleasant words, there’s the old nursery rhyme “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names/ words will never hurt me”, which may’ve been created in the schoolyards as a retort to schoolyard taunts, wherein “Girlie”, “Fatso” and “Retard” were only some of the milder imprecations hurled.

And while the murmurings of sweet nothings by lovers might just be a pleasant diversion in the long run, those poor bullied kids weren’t in a position to realise what damage those hurtful words would inflict to their psyches as they become adults. So it would appear that when it comes to “naming” people, context plays a big role.

And we come to the plea by one Nigel Hinds for some of our citizens not to call themselves (or be called) “Black”.

They should instead use, “African Guyanese”. The point of the matter, from our above introduction, is: what’s the context in which Hinds is speaking? Wasn’t so long ago that one of the most educated members of that group of Guyanese, ER Cameron, wrote his two-part magnum opus, “The Evolution of the Negro” in then British Guiana.

Lest one should think our Cameron was parochial, the late great Eric Williams, -- PhD out of Oxford, who’d challenged his dons with his Marxist-influenced “Capitalism and Slavery” -- did also publish “The Negro in the Caribbean”. Then there was Marcus Garvey’s worldwide “Universal Negro Improvement Association” (UNIA).

But what was the context? Both were written before WWII ended. Up until that time, “Negro” was the preferred name of the descendants of the people who’d been brought as slaves to the Caribbean.

In fact, up until that time, the greatest insult (words/ names) that could be hurled at someone from that group in Guyana was “Black man”. In Guyana, we also had, in the 1920s, a vociferous organisation fighting for “the Negro”: The Negro Progress Convention. (NCP). Over in the US, however, the group fighting for their dignity was the NAACP - “National Association for the Advancement of Coloured Peoples”, founded in 1909.

Later “coloured” became the insulting term, and “negro” supplanted it there. Our “League of Coloured People” was a British imitation.

In 1968, Martin Luther King used “Negro” in his famous “I have a dream” speech. But by then “Black” was the term radical US “Coloured peoples” used, calling for “Black Power” in reacting to White domination. They also rejected the slave-association of “Negro”.

Which is why Hinds’s quote from Rodney against the term “Black” is misplaced.

Rodney helped introduce Black Power - and “Black” to the Caribbean.

…and hyphens

But in all fairness to Hinds, the term “Black” never really took off in Guyana. Your Eyewitness thinks it’s to do with the residual pejorative use of “Black man” in Guyana. It’s used mostly by folks with a US background, like David Hinds. (relation?) But even over there, things have changed…and brings us to Nigel Hinds’s “solution” to the problematic of nomenclature: that we should use “African Guyanese as the preferred term.

Is he also reacting to what’s now the dominant US usage? Back in 1988, Jesse Jackson proposed changing “Black” -- which referred to a phenotypical marker of the discredited notion of “race” -- to “African American”.

While this term used two geographical markers, it actually referred to the “cultures” of two lands. He was moving from “race” to “ethnicity”.

But Hinds should know that, in the US, there’s a move away from “African American”. It ranges from Whoopi Goldberg insisting she’s “American” to Slate moving back to “Black”.

From their lived experience, they don’t know what’s it to be “African”? Guyana?

…and Cricket

Can we really call our present team a “West Indian” team, when so many of our best players can’t represent us because of the venality of the WICB? Bun dem!

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

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tuesDAY, june 13, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana’s economy

MP dubs first quarter’s performance “anaemic” …predicts double-digit inflation by year-end

I

n providing an analysis of Guyana’s economic performance for the first quarter of 2017, Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Irfaan Ali slammed Government for its lack of economic alertness, stating that the growing disappointment and economic hardship among citizens will continue.

Ali described the quarter’s performance as “anaemic,” explaining that with the exception of rice and gold which grew, sugar, forestry, poultry and bauxite contracted by 33.8 per cent, 21.9 per cent, 8.5 per cent and 17.7 per cent respectively, as stated in the Bank of Guyana 2017 First Quarter Report.

In relation to rice, even though the report outlined an increase in production by 51.5 per cent, when compared to 2013, 2014 and 2015, the amount is significantly less. Gold, on the other hand, recorded a paltry 0.5 per cent increase when compared to 2016 during the same period.

Callous stance

The former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government Minister said the terrible output of the sugar industry illustrated the callous and spiteful stance taken by

the ruling administration to completely defeat the industry. An industry, he claimed, that was once the bellwether of the Guyanese economy.

“An industry that sustained and propelled our economy to great heights even when other Caribbean nations were receding uncontrollably,” he added.

In quoting figures from that same report, Ali said although total production for the first quarter stood at 25,711 tonnes during the first quarter of 2017, only 15,801 tonnes were exported. Approximately US$8 million in foreign currency was obtained from these sales, US$1.2 million more than what was recorded for the same period in 2016.

“The achievement, however, was significantly less when compared to US$13 million and US$13.1 million for the year 2015 and 2014, respectively,” Ali stressed.

Shifting his attention to the forestry sector, the Opposition MP said that this sector continued to battle serious issues, which in his opinion are linked to the imposition of 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) instituted on lumber, and what he described as the dormant construction sector.

At the end of March 2017, the forestry sector exported 22,400 cubic me-

28.8 per cent respectively.

High inflation

Opposition Member Parliament (MP) Irfaan Ali

tres, 3293 cubic metres less than what was exported in 2016 during the same period. In monetary terms, foreign currency has contracted by US$1.7 million to US$7.6 million, with respect to 2016. When compared to 2015, the amount lost in foreign revenue is even more startling at US$5.6 million.

Bauxite production, on the other hand, during the first quarter of 2017 stood at 361,000 tonnes, 21.5 per cent less than what was recorded during the same period in 2016. When compared to 2015 and 2014, this output level diminished even further by 6.6 per cent and

Linden-Lethem road closed to traffic T he Public Infrastructure Ministry has announced that, with immediate effect, the LindenLethem Road between the

communities of Mabura and Kurupukari will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic in order to immediately commence emergency repair works on the main ac-

of

cess bridge, which has been damaged. The Ministry says it is currently managing the situation, and hereby apologises to the public for the inconvenience.

Further, Ali pointed out that the level of inflation was determined by the change in prices of key commodities that make up a household basket and as outlined in the 2017 First Quarter Report, inflation increased by 0.6 per cent, of which the price of food and housing, which includes fuel and power, increased by 0.4 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively. According to the report, the cost of transportation, communication, education, recreation and cultural services all contributed to the higher inflation rate.

Ali noted that during 2016 and 2015, the country recorded a deflation of 0.5 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively. This trend, according to him, continues with the price of commodities increasing by 1.7 per cent, linked primarily to higher prices for fuel and food.

Balance of Payments

The US$8.7 million deficit recorded during the first quarter of 2017, from a surplus of US$14.7 million for the same in 2016, speaks to the fact that traders were stocking up their inventories

before the list of incoherent policies adopted by this Administration came into effect, he said. This sudden surge in imports is linked primarily to an increase in consumer goods by $3.2 billion, fuel and lubricant by $5 billion, and other intermediate goods by $5 billion when compared to the corresponding period in 2016.

In retrospect, this sudden impulse can be explained by the ubiquitous lack of confidence facing consumers, he pointed out, adding that the crippling of traditional sectors coupled with an inevitable depreciation of purchasing power of the local currency have certainly created an economic panic. In fear, he noted, the economic situation might further exacerbate, consumers responded by gobbling up foreign currencies to procure goods and services abroad.

The continuous mundane performance of traditional sectors, he stated, will further emasculate the rigorous and vibrant economic cornerstone the PPP/C once engineered. The impact will be felt by every Guyanese, concatenated through lower income for working families; higher borrowing cost for housing, education and the expenses of everyday life;

lower value of savings and rising unemployment.

Compounding this, Ali added, will be a surge in inflation, an inevitable outcome of the additional tax measures introduced this year. By the end of the year, it is anticipated that inflation would be stoked to double digits causing businesses to downsize their operational activities.

Ali, in his assessment, said that on the exogenous side of the equation, economic hardship will be exacerbates as the interest rate of the US dollar is likely to increase. Moreover, political turmoil in the Middle East and the withdrawal of the United Sates from the Paris climate change agreement will likely increase the price of oil, he added. “The implication would be detrimental for our economy. The increase in interest rate would place added burden on the country to service its external debt.”

Compounding this phenomenon, he added, would be a hike in fuel prices, along with a depreciation in the Guyana dollar, hence, making it more expensive for us to import. As businesses become insolvent, the stability of the banking sector will be greatly challenged as toxic loans will spiral out of control.

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tuesDAY, june 13, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Bandit gets 25 years for traffic light murder W eeks after a 12-member jury found him guilty of manslaughter, Travis McDougal was on Monday sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for his involve-

Guilty: Travis McDougal

ment in the shooting death of 43-year-old dredge owner Ashok Raghu.

The businessman was killed outside the Botanical Gardens on Vlissengen Road in August 2014, during the course of a robbery committed by two bandits.

Defence Attorney Nigel Hughes said his client had no run-ins with Police prior to Raghu’s killing, stressing that McDougal did not know

that his accomplice had intentions of attacking anyone.

Hughes, in appealing for a lesser sentence, said that his client stayed on the “straight and narrow” path for most of his life, except for his association with his accomplice, Jermaine Otto, called “Fungus”, a porkknocker. In July 2015, McDougal was committed to stand trial with the porkknocker, but Otto was one of the prisoners, who died in the deadly Camp Street Prison fire, following riots in March 2016.

At Monday’s sentencing, McDougal maintained his innocence and begged for the Judge’s mercy. He noted that while incarcerated, he enrolled in church programmes and was even chosen as prisoner in charge of taking care of his dormitory.

State Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy stressed that McDougal’s actions put the public in danger as a gun was used in “broad daylight”.

After hearing addresses by both sides, trial judge Navindra Singh admitted that he came to the bench with a sentence in mind, but reasoned that McDougal could still contribute meaningfully to society as he was only in his 20s.

“I think I am a very fair judge,” Justice Singh ex-

pressed, telling the court that he was “deeply criticised” by family members of both the accused and deceased when sentences are imposed. Justice Singh then stressed that he took into consideration that the jury found McDougal guilty of manslaughter rather than murder – the charge for which he was originally indicted. The Judge, however, maintained that it was very hard to be flexible in this instance. As such, he sentenced McDougal to 25 years, ordering deductions for time spent on remand.

After being sentenced, the accused, clinging to a Bible, was in tears as Police led him away to the prisoner’s holding cell.

Police had contended that one of the two bandits had grabbed a haversack containing $4 million, but Raghu’s wife, Shyrazadi, held onto the haversack before she too was shot. She had testified to seeing McDougal on the night in question. The businessman died from a perforated lung due to a gunshot.

The jury had heard that McDougal knew “Fungus” from the time they attended Lodge Secondary School together. Otto was said to have asked the accused to drop him in Kitty, Georgetown,

T

Former co-accused Jermaine Otto died in the Camp Street Prison fire

because McDougal had a driver’s licence. During the trial, McDougal had recounted that when the two were on the motorcycle and had reached the traffic light at Regent and Vlissengen Roads, Otto jumped off and proceeded to a car.

“All I hear is shots,” the accused was quoted in an alleged confession to Police.

Otto then contacted him and reportedly said: “I hope my name ain’t get call.”

The State’s case was assisted by Prosecutor Siand Dhurjon.

Teenager remanded for simple larceny

M

agistrate Judy Latchman on Monday remanded into the custody of the Sophia Juvenile Detention Centre, a 16-year-old boy accused of allegedly stealing a quantity of cash, property of a minibus driver.

The charge read that on June 8 at the Route 41 bus park, Stabroek Market, Georgetown, the teen stole $25,000 from Virtual

Complainant (VC), Deshan Pitt. The teenager admitted to the offence and apologised to the court while expressing his willingness to compensate the VC for his loss.

According to the prosecution’s case, on the day of the incident, the VC parked the minibus at the Route 41 Bus Park with the money secured and exited the vehicle.

Subsequently, a public-spirited person raised an

alarm after seeing the teen tampering with the minibus and taking the cash, which was in the door pocket of the vehicle. The defendant reportedly attempted to escape, but was apprehended shortly after he was overtaken by public-spirited persons who pursued him.

He was escorted to the Police Station where he was positively identified during an ID parade, and subse-

quently charged with the offence.

The prosecution revealed that the defendant was known for habitually committing such offences, causing the presiding magistrate to order that a probation report be prepared for the teen.

The youngster will remain at the Juvenile Holding Centre pending the completion of the report. He returns to court on June 26.

Mother fears missing son is dead

I

t has been over a month since Mark Bobb left his Soesdyke home on the Linden Highway for Berbice, and his family now fears the worst.

The missing young man’s mother, Diane Walters, is pleading with the members of the public to come forth with any information that may assist in determining the whereabouts of her son.

Speaking to this publication, a relative of the missing man related that Bobb was living at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (up to the time of his disappearance) with his

father and siblings and was employed by a man known to them only as Orin, vending pork at the junction of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

Based on reports reaching this publication, approximately a month ago, Bobb’s brothers told their mother told her that he went with Orin’s nephew to some people in Berbice to farm where they were offering to pay him $100,000 a month for his services. According to the mother, the young man has not made contact with any family members raising much suspicion as Bobb usually called his

Missing: Mark Bobb

mother every day.

The hysterical woman then reported paying a visit to her son’s employer to enquire about his whereabouts, after one week of unfruitful calls to Bobb’s cellular phone.

The employer, who was not much help, said that he did not know where her son was while disputing that his nephew ever accompanied Bobb to Berbice, and contended that the young man left with some friends.

SARU and SOCU have now become a problem to the solution

Meanwhile, the missing man’s mother disclosed that she has been receiving phone calls from persons about an unidentified body discovered in Berbice around the same time her son went missing.

According to her, the body was buried by Police as they could not decipher the identity of the burnt corpse.

Media reports were that a naked, burnt and badly decomposed male body was found tied to a courida tree on the Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice foreshore in midApril. The corpse was found in a clump of bushes near an old koker on the Onverwagt foreshore, about a mile from the public road and east of the MMA/ADA Trafalgar Pump Station by a search party, acting on a tip. Walters related that sources revealed that the dead man wore plaits, the same as her son at the time of his disappearance.

Nonetheless, the woman optimistically awaits feedback from Police who she says are conducting investigations.

he State Assets Recovery Unit’s (SARU’s) and the Special Organized Crime Unit’s (SOCU’s) ongoing investigation and arrest of a number of politicians primarily from the Opposition, on the face of it, demonstrates that Guyana has found a new determination and dispensation in combating crime against the state. Of course these arrested persons are innocent, until proven guilty by a court of law. These arrested persons, if found guilty, must face the music, according to that old mantra: if you commit the crime, you must be prepared to do the time.

That said, a deeper probing into the inner operations of SARU and SOCU has raised some unavoidable questions: How independent are these crime fighting units? Who Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine are these individuals? What are their political grounding and associations? How was the top brass chosen to lead these crime units? Do they have the wherewithal to conduct fair investigations? Are they really neutrally-minded in the most ethnically divided country in the Caribbean?

I am sure that some individuals within these crime units are genuine, but I am afraid that I cannot apply the same label to others within these units. They are not saints; they are far from it. They are quick to answer and serve their higher-ups according to their own political bondage. They adhere to a modus operandi that is supported by a silent political purgatory code between themselves and their bosses. This is contrived corruption.

If you do not believe me and think that the above questions are innocuous, I ask that you consider a few individuals who are involved in the above crime units: Tacuma Ogunseye and Eric Phillips, among others egged on by macabre, sensational and twisted writings from Freddie Kissoon, David Hinds and Imran Khan. Make no mistake, their faces may be different but their minds are the same. Taken together, these individuals are guided by ‘the hero in the crowd’ syndrome, outrageous logic, and onedimensional thinking. They represent the extreme side of Afrocentrism and Afrocology, as well as destructive ideologies, fanning the flames of divineness. They have fallen into a profound political trance, sleeping through the gruesome and grotesque policies of this regime. They are totally up and fixated on the previous administration. Sadly, they are stabled by their own viscosity of denial and their dedicated obedience to this regime’s bell jar of authority. They have found a safe sanctuary. There is no cure for this cryptic and trapped behavior, even with the intervention of sound psychological help.

The President has always maintained that SARU and SOCU are independent units and that his PNC-led government has no interest in interfering with any investigation associated with these crime units. To proponents of his regime, such a consistent declaration is admirable and pleasing to the ear, complementing neutrality and fairness. To opponents, such a declaration is deemed queasy, representing ridiculous scruples and spewing ominous doubts on these self-styled crime units. The President forgets that his entire campaign was based on forensic investigation of the Opposition, which boded well for his campaign, but to now distance himself from these crime units is risible. Hasn’t the President’s subliminal message already been sent out to the security service, including the SARU and SOCU -- to take care of business?

Moreover, many within these crime units have a tendency to vote according to, and along, ethnic loyalty. Up front, SARU and SOCU are playing up the President’s expectations.

A similar concern is: why is there a time restriction, going back to the year 2000 or thereabouts, on investigating crimes against the state? I do not see the rational for doing this, other than excluding the period when the PNC wreaked havoc in Guyana. If we go back to at least 1978, these events would require investigation: (1) the PNC rigging of elections; (2) the death of Walter Rodney and other activists; (3) victims of kick-down-the door torture, rape and robbery; (4) selling of forested land to foreign companies through corruption and bribery; (5) kickbacks and bribes received by government ministers; (6) slow fire, more fire that destroyed public and private property; (7) the alleged murder committed by an owner of one tabloid newspaper, and so forth.

Fast forward to the period from 2015 to 2017, and the carnival of corruption continues: increase of ministerial salaries, handing out of Government scholarships, supporters and advisors of this regime issuing death threats on Facebook, misuse of Government funds, lack of transparency in handing out Government contracts, drug scandal, and the list goes on.

Yet, no one has been questioned or arrested. May I ask: are there different strokes for different people in Guyana? Is there a double-standard in how these crime units conduct investigations?

May I ask readers if they are familiar with this French expression, carte blanche, meaning when one person or a group is allowed to act in whatever way he or she pleases? There is no limit to power or the practice of checks and balances within the crime units.

Shouldn’t there now be an argument for the establishment of an independent commission to investigate SARU and SOCU, since the solution to the problem has become a problem to the solution? (lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums.edu).

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tuesDAY, june 13, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

5 arrested for 12.3 kg cannabis in hire car

F

ive persons, including the driver of a hire car, were on Monday arrested along the Aurora Public Road on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two after Police ranks on an exercise earthed 12.3kg of cannabis in a car in which they were travelling.

Reports are that ranks of the Guyana Police Force, acting on information, stopped and searched the car, unearthing a box containing 25 taped parcels of cannabis.

The occupants of the car were told of the offence and arrested, while the illicit drug was confiscated. The men and drug were taken to the Aurora Police Station, where the drug was weighted and amounted to 12.3kg.

The men are expected to be charged shortly.

Over the past week, several persons have been arrested after they were found to be in possession of cannabis for the purpose of traf-

The illicit substance that was found on Monday in a taxi on the Essequibo Coast

ficking. These arrests were done mainly in Bartica, Region Seven.

Two days ago, a Bartica resident was arrested after he was found with a quantity of marijuana. Police, reportedly acting on information, went to a house at First Street Bartica, where the 30-year-old suspect was located at the time, and con-

ducted a search on the premises. They found the narcotics in a haversack that was in his possession, and arrested and took him to the Bartica Police Station, where the marijuana was weighed and amounted to 554 grams of cannabis. The suspect, of Three Miles Potaro Road in Region Eight, is expected to be charged shortly.

Foulis teen succumbs days after motorcycle accident

S

eventeen-year-old Seermattie Suedatt who was struck off of a motorcycle on the East Coast Demerara Public Road at Foulis last week succumbed to her injuries on Monday morning.

Police Public Relations Officer Jairam Ramlakhan made this disclosure and explained that the teen succumbed to her injuries at 09:30 h at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The teen and her 18-year-old brother, Bissoon Suedatt of Lot 175 Foulis Fourth Street, East Coast Demerara, were both injured on June 9 after minibus BTT 4262 crashed into them while they were on a motorcycle.

The driver of the minibus was apprehended and remains in Police custody, assisting with investigations.

Guyana Times has been informed that a breathalyzer test conducted on the driver

proved that he was not under the influence of alcohol at time of the accident.

The minibus had reportedly been travelling east along the northern side of the East Coast Demerara Public Road, and was in the process of passing a stationary minibus which was on same side of the road at Foulis when Bissoon allegedly drove his motorcycle out of a street on the northern side of the road and into the path of the minibus, as he was headed in a southerly direction.

The driver of the minibus, said to be a 55-year-old resident of Golden Grove, East

Coast Demerara, allegedly applied brakes and pulled towards the southern side of the road to avoid a collision with the motorcycle, but the front left side of the minibus collided with the teens, flinging them off the motorcycle and onto the road some feet away.

Members of the public had rushed to the assistance of teens, taking them to the hospital, where they were both admitted. Bissoon sustained a broken jaw, while his sister sustained head and neck injuries. Those injuries have allegedly caused her demise.

Region 10 touts tourism, agriculture to boost economy – Chamber

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he Linden Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Development is stepping up to help boost the economy of the mining community, by using new and innovative measures.

This is according to Chamber President Kevin Dejonge, who told Guyana Times recently that the Region’s economy was still not where it needed to be.

While the mining district was far from its required economic standard, Dejonge said there was much potential. He noted the areas for exploration include agriculture and tourism.

In the area of agriculture, Dejonge said along with empowering local farmers through the Small Business Bureau to produce more, the Chamber is also collaborating to establish a shadehouse project. “Currently, we are trying to get a much bigger project on stream…regarding the farmers, it is not just to produce, but to look at areas where they can add value to their produce,” he told this publication.

As it relates to tourism, the Chamber President said the body was concentrating on developing customer service areas, to attract visitors.

There are also plans to develop the waterways in the community.

“Very soon, we will have the riverfront development project, which starts on the

Linden Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Dejonge

30th of June.” Linden has some beautiful, scenic lakes, which although not suitable for swimming, are unique to Guyana.

“So, we are hoping that this can attract people to Linden. One of the things that we realised too is that nothing can be achieved unless we work for it. So, in that area, in the very near future, Government agencies as well as the Private Sector can work to make this a reality.”

Late last year, President David Granger had said Linden could become the industrial heartland of Guyana if it remained attractive to foreign investors by moving away from the sole mode of income.

“Linden must not be satisfied with being a mining town. It must become a man-

ufacturing town. I do believe that better days reckon for the bauxite industry.

Bauxite will continue to be produced here in this geographical belt…The people of Linden must recognise the challenges of continuity, similarly the challenges of change,” the Head of State had told a forum in the community back in December.

He said Government was committed to probing diversification of the economy to boost it, making it the industrial heartland of Guyana.

Reminiscing on the history of the bauxite industry, President Granger had said areas in the community such as Mackenzie, Wismar and Watooka told the story of the circumstances which brought together people from North and South America as well as the European continent, noting the social impact of the industry on nation-building.

He said the bauxite industry was mainly about the economy, adding that the industry back then created thousands of jobs. The Head of State also reminisced on the years when productivity soared, making bauxite the main contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Back then, he said, Guyana became the second largest producer of bauxite in the world and the world’s most diversified producer.

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tuesDAY, june 13, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Human smuggling suspected in Haitians travel probe

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Winston Felix

S

everal weeks after arriving in Guyana, some eight adults and six children were sent back to Haiti last week after their return tickets were paid.

This is according to Citizenship and Immigration Minister Winston Felix, who told the media on Monday that efforts were being made to return eight others. He, however, noted that the matter was suspected to be human smuggling.

Felix said the Haitians left behind did not have enough money or no money in some cases to pay their passage, which, according to him, “says something about how they came”.

Nevertheless, the Minister said efforts were being made to determine how best the authorities could get them home and help to maintain them

while they were here.

“But, as soon as we could get them out, that would be good,” Felix added.

The Minister declined to give further details about the probe, but the Police acted on the outcome of the investigation and upon the advice of the Guyana Police Force’s legal advisor.

“I don’t want to be discussing in public, the ins and outs of the investigations. We were advised based on the investigation and that is what we have done,” he told reporters.

Commenting further,

“it might be lurking in the horizon”. Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud disclosed that the ongoing probe has found that some of the Haitians were entering Guyana to travel to other destinations.

He disclosed that the investigation found that they were doing this for organised reasons.

Seelall says all of the suspected human smugglers were on bail pending further investigations and the matter was being addressed by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

to send them home.

Officials in neighbouring Suriname have claimed that many Haitians have been travelling there by

Govt must stop marginalising Rodney ‒ Hinds

P The Haitian adults and children were taken into protective custody at the end of May, in an effort to translate and authenticate their travel documents.

An investigation was subsequently launched and a decision was later taken

Back in September 2016, at least 12 Haitian men were caught in Linden heading to neighbouring Brazil.

37th death anniversary

Dr David Hinds

Felix disclosed that not only were discrepancies found with the Haitians, but “a collection of circumstances” were found which led to a decision to send them back.

He did not rule out trafficking, saying that

plane on their way to French Guiana, but they could not convince immigration authorities of their onward journey.

olitical commentator and executive member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr David Hinds, on Monday issued a call for Government to put aside partisan differences and honour the memory of the late political leader, social activist and scholar, Dr Walter Anthony Rodney, as a true Guyanese patriot.

Saying he understands Government’s reluctance to touch the recommendations contained in the controversial Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI), Dr Hinds asked, “Are we doomed to be forever imprisoned by partisan instincts?”

He elaborated: “How can we boast of a unity Government that includes Rodney’s party and comrades, yet the very Government continues to marginalize him in

such blatant ways? The Government has not seen it fit to implement the very non-partisan recommendations of the CoI, some of which its constituents have in the past called for,” Dr Hinds said.

Questioning the whereabouts of the Rodneyite ideas in the praxis of the Government, Hinds said there was never a more enlightened activist of “what we now call social cohesion” than Walter Rodney.

Yet our Government publishes a Strategic Plan on Social Cohesion without a single integration of his ideas or those with which he had been associated.

“We must do better than that,” Hinds appealed.

He said Government has a historic duty to be a Government of all Guyanese.

“There can be no social cohesion and good governance outside of constitutional reform that targets excessive presidential powers, the sharing of executive power, and the return of proper local democracy,” Hinds said.

According to Hinds, Government must find a way to witness more for the poor. He said Government has to find space for investment in the Guyanese people even as it navigates the dictates of the IMF regime. According to him, the coming of the oil economy will not be automatic salvation for the poor, as experience has shown that oil

Dr Walter Anthony Rodney

wealth, like other forms of wealth, ends up benefiting the privileged.

He said Walter Rodney’s critique of the politics and economics of underdevelopment is still relevant today, and should be utilized as a rallying point of departure for those willing to confront neo-liberalism.

Controversy

Rodney was killed on June 13, 1980, when a communication device he had earlier collected exploded in his lap while he sat in his brother’s car some distance away from the Camp Street Prison in Georgetown. The previous People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government had convened a CoI back in 2014 to determine the circumstances that led to his death, but that investigation was cut short when the Government changed in 2015.

Student Loan Agency to manage revolving housing fund

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he Finance Ministry’s Student Loan Agency is to be engaged to manage the Housing Revolving Fund according to Finance Secretary, Dr Hector Butts.

Dr Butts, explained to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday at Parliament Chamber, that no disbursement from the Fund has been made because there was no suitable agency to manage it.

Established in 2011, the Fund is an agreement between the Government and the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU). Currently, there is $200 million in the Fund’s Bank of Guyana ac-

Finance Secretary, Dr Hector Butts

count, which is earmarked to be loaned to teachers so that they can access lowcost housing loans or pro-

cure their own house.

Dr Butts noted that the Student Loan Agency was currently in the process of addressing “some problems right now with its systems,” particularly its records and that process was expected to be completed in June.

“After that, we will be looking at the Student Loan Agency, once it handles itself, to perhaps take that on (Housing Revolving Fund) because they are involved in the issue of lending and receiving,” Dr Butts said.

The Housing Revolving Fund was an issue raised in the Auditor General’s 2015 Audit Report.

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tuesDAY, june 13, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Harmon visits flood-affected communities A

fter visiting the storm-hit Linden community of Retrieve and the flooded community of Coomacka, in the Upper DemeraraBerbice (Region 10) region on Friday, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, met with affected residents and committed Government’s help with respect to the restoration of their livelihoods through the provision of seeds and other supplies that would assist in their rebuilding efforts.

Minister Harmon said Government has been briefed on the plight of the residents and is committed to bringing them relief.

As such, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), which is responsible for coordinating disaster relief efforts, will be working with the Region 10 Administration to assist the affected communities.

Coomacka residents during his meeting with them that he wanted to take a firsthand look at the situation, to determine for himself what were the damages and needs in the area and to assure residents that the Government is actively pursuing relief solutions.

Government had, in May, deployed a team of

One of the homes which was destroyed by heavy winds in Retrieve, Region Ten

The Government Information Agency reported that Minister Harmon praised the residents for their efforts in assisting each other during their time of discomfiture, and noted that that is the spirit needed as the country continues to experience flooding in various regions due to heavy rainfall and overtopping of rivers.

Director General of the CDC, Colonel (ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup, noted that the CDC is working around the clock to bring relief to residents in all the affected regions, and would work with the Region 10 Administration and residents of Upper DemeraraBerbice to ensure that some amount of normalcy is restored them at the

T&T Trade Mission

Gaskin touts Guyana’s commitment to CSME

W

A section of the gathering at the opening of the trade mission

e are open, we are ready and we mean business and that’s what we want you to take back from this trip. And just to clarify when I say “we” I am including Guyana’s Private Sector because that’s who really does business in Guyana,” Business Minister Dominic Gaskin said as he welcomed a Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) Trade Mission delegation to Guyana.

The Trade Mission, led by the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce CEO Gabriel Faria, comprises 24 companies including those operating in the Information C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Technology (ICT), real estate development, manufacturing, business support services, financial services, and educational services among other sectors. The Mission aims to foster and build collaborative business relationships to promote the mutual growth and development of both the T&T and

visit, the engineers had decided there was need for a new drainage system to be developed to stop the erosion and shifting of sand into the Demerara River.

A new bridge would also have to be built for the village, and sections of the village where mining once took place have to be reforested. This plan of ac-

Guyana economies, through increased trade and commerce.

Minister Gaskin told the gathering that the Government would observe and respect the provisions of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas regarding non-discrimination on the basis of nationality, and the rights of establishment and provision of services.

“Guyana’s strong commitment to regional integration and the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), as well as our understanding of our obligation under the Treaty are manifested in the success and growth of many Trinidadian companies already in Guyana,” Minister Gaskin pointed out. He explained that visits such as these create linkages between the Private Sector of the two countries and “the confidence that the countries need to increase the levels of trade and investments within the CSME”.

The T&T delegation was

also aiming to connect with Guyanese enterprises in search of business opportunities to export and develop synergies with Trinidadian and Tobagonian firms in accessing the Trinidad and Tobago markets.

The T&T Chamber had noted in an earlier press release that “with Guyana now poised for considerable economic advancement, it is expected that new service industries requiring additional skillsets and investments will become a reality”.

“Sustainable cross-border trade and business relations will now be the order of the day, opening new opportunities for enterprises in both territories in the sphere of export, import, distribution and investment.”

Minister Gaskin stated that Guyana was working to further improve its ranking on the international index for conducting business.

The Trade Mission concludes today at the Pegasus Hotel.

soonest possible time.

The CDC Director General gave residents a quantity of seeds and other agricultural implements, such as shovels, cutlasses, hoes and rakes, which he said would help them to make a new start; while Minister Harmon handed over several boxes of clothing.

The Region 10 Administration, in collaboration with the CDC, is making food hampers, blankets and other necessities available to the affected residents.

Minister Harmon told

The waterway in Coomacka, which is almost at the level of the road

engineers and other experts from various agencies to the village to conduct a site visit and explore several short, medium and long-term solutions to the plight of residents.

Stemming from that site

tion has been drafted, and Minister Harmon assured the residents that he would soon have discussions with the Finance Minister to see how much can be accomplished.

US team completes over 120 surgeries in Guyana

Davis Memorial Hospital CEO Beverly Chan joined by some of the Legacy of Healing (LOH) medical outreach team

A

United States-based medical team during their one-week visit to Guyana successfully conducted in excess of 120 surgeries, all free of cost.

The Legacy of Healing (LOH) team of 35 medical practitioners was housed at the Davis Memorial Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital where the surgeries were conducted.

The LOH team, headed by Ohio-based Plastic Surgeon Dr Steve Schmidt, comprised surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nurses and one dentist all specialised in corrective procedures for a number of conditions.

Ailing citizens were afforded the opportunity to complete life-altering procedures, some of which were previously hindered by the high cost for the surgery or lack of resources in Guyana during their team’s visit to Guyana.

The procedures completed were mostly in the field of plastic surgery and included hydrocele, cleft palate, hand deficiencies correction surgeries. One of the cases even involved the construction of an ear for a child who was born without.

Speaking to media operatives after the completion of the surgeries was the Chief Executive Officer of Davis Memorial Hospital, Beverly Chan, who expressed delight over the successful execution of the mission. Chan noted that the medical institution was pleased to align itself with such charitable initiatives and pointed out that the pro bono surgeries were much welcomed by citizens, especially given that such procedures are highly priced and sometimes not readily available to persons seeking attention in Guyana.

The Legacy of Healing

is a religious medical outreach programme that offers health care to underserved communities around the world. The mission is also aimed at providing dental care and drinking water for poverty stricken families, all as a non-profitable undertaking. The team has this year returned to Guyana for the second time with a goal of completing 150 surgeries.

Even though the set target was not achieved, LOH still managed to record a noteworthy total, completing 126 surgical procedures without any complications.

During their prior visit to Guyana in 2010, 154 local patients benefited from their expertise. Adding to the work accomplished at the hospital, the LOH outreach team had previously volunteered their services at several organisations across the country.

14

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, june 13, 2017

Regional

Venezuela Chief Prosecutor accuses Government of harassment; violence flares

Venezuela’s Chief Prosecutor, Luisa Ortega Diaz talks to the media during a news conference in Caracas, Venezuela last month

V

enezuela's Chief Prosecutor said on Monday her family had been threatened and followed by intelligence agents since she split with the Government, and violence broke out in protests at the Supreme Court over a bid to change the Constitution.

Luisa Ortega, a former ally of President Nicolás Maduro who has turned against him and the ruling Socialist Party, has questioned Maduro's handling of Opposition street protests

in recent weeks and challenged his plan to rewrite a constitution brought in by late leader Hugo Chávez.

"Somebody is threatening my family," she said in a radio interview. "They harass them. They follow them, patrol cars that look like SEBIN," she said, referring to the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN).

State officials have launched a series of verbal attacks on Ortega, ranging from questioning her mental sanity to accusing her of

promoting violence.

Last week she filed a Supreme Court challenge to Maduro's plan to elect a legislative super-body known as a constituent assembly, that will have the power to rewrite the Constitution and in some cases dissolve State institutions.

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the challenge.

"The electoral chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice declares that the (challenge) filed by Luisa Ortega Diaz is inadmissible because it is an inept accumulation of pretensions," the court said on Twitter.

In response, Ortega launched another legal challenge, this time claiming that 13 judges appointed to the court in 2015 were put there via an "irregular" process and that they should be replaced.

Protesters angry at the pro-government court's ruling on Monday attacked a branch of the court with petrol bombs and damaged a bank in the same building, which was engulfed in smoke and flames. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Former Bermuda Tourism Minister found dead

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o foul play is so far suspected in the death of a former member of the One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) who was this month ready to vote against his former party in a no-confidence motion.

According to police, 47-year-old Shawn Crockwell was “found in an unresponsive state” at his home on Saturday evening and was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say initial reports suggest no foul play, but an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is underway.

Crockwell’s best friend, business partner and fellow Independent MP Mark Pettingill, with whom he was to travel the same day, said in a prepared statement that Crockwell “had suffered for some time with bouts of ill health”.

“I realise that many people are stunned by his passing and are questioning the cause. Having his con-

Shawn Crockwell

fidence, as I did, and given communications between us in the hours before this tragedy, I must accept that his struggle with his health led to this escape,” Pettingill said.

“I would please encourage people to accept this and rejoice in the life of this special human being, his journey, his rise, his fortitude, his character.”

Crockwell, an attorney by profession, was a former

Tourism Minister in the OBA Government, but quit the Cabinet in March last year, citing a loss of confidence in Premier Michael Dunkley, and then left the party in July.

Meantime, the Opposition Leader said the PLP was stunned and deeply saddened by the death of Crockwell whom Burt described in a statement as “a rare man of conviction and courage”. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Rowley to review his MPs

P

rime Minister Dr Keith Rowley Sunday reiterated that Government intended to restructure struggling State-owned energy company Petrotrin, especially in the face of tough economic times.

He also warned People’s National Movement (PNM) Members of Parliament (MPs) that after Labour Day on June 19 he will be examining their “score cards” to ensure they are working for the good of their constituencies.

These were among announcements made to party supporters and activ-

A

13:30h.

It was also reported that the 26-yearold victim told Police she boarded a black vehicle near Sieunarine's Bar at Guapo/ Cap de Ville Road. The driver wore a purple shirt and a pair of black pants, she told police.

She said that instead of taking her to Fanny Village, the man drove to-

ing very patiently for the report from the committee that examined Petrotrin, I want to give the country the assurance that all the recommendations made with respect to the health of Petrotrin, as long as they find favour with the Government, those recommendations will be implemented in the shortest possible order.”

He urged supporters to hold their MPs accountable for representation and said the way to political success was not through ministerial appointments but support at the constituency level. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Peru calls for regional action to avoid Venezuela ‘sea of blood’

L

atin America needs to take action to help Venezuela resolve its political crisis or risk the country turning into a "sea of blood", Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said on Monday, warning that a wave of refugees could hit neighbouring Colombia.

Kuczynski said during a conference in Madrid that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro should let humanitarian aid enter his oil-producing but economically ailing country.

Dozens of people have been killed in protests against Maduro's socialist Government since April.

"If nothing is done, we are going to end up with a sea full of blood," said Kuczynski, a former banker who has taken the lead among Latin American leaders in criticising Maduro.

He warned of the threat of massive immigration to Colombia, and said desperate refugees might even try to get to the Caribbean

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski

island of Curaçao, risking a replay of the deadly Mediterranean journeys of refugees from Syria and Iraq.

"We have to avoid that. If Latin America has any solidarity among countries, we have to try to find a solution," Kuczynski said, according to a statement from his office in Lima.

Venezuela has lost many regional allies as several Latin American countries have moved to the right in

recent years.

Human rights groups have criticised the Venezuelan Government's response to the protests, saying its "excessive use of force" and militarisation have escalated the violence.

Venezuelan officials say the world is turning a blind eye to Opposition brutality including shootings of security officials and recruitment of underage protestors. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

Puerto Rico Governor vows statehood push after referendum win

P

uerto Rico's Governor on Monday said the island's vote in favour of becoming a US state, despite low voter turnout and widespread boycotts, was "a fair and open" process that the US Congress should act upon.

An island-wide referendum on Sunday favoured statehood in a 97 per cent landslide, though voter turnout reached just 23 per cent as opponents of Governor

Taxi driver allegedly rapes J’can woman in Trinidad

Jamaican woman in Trinidad and Tobago has reported that she was raped Sunday by a taxi driver in Point Fortin.

According to the Trinidad Express, the alleged rapist took the woman to an isolated area and assaulted her, then left her at the roadside and sped off. The incident occurred at around

ists at the PNM’s sport and family day at the Eddie Hart Savannah, Tacarigua, on Sunday.

On the issue of Petrotrin, Dr Rowley said the country is looking for new ways of earning revenue.

“That is why we are looking towards the restructuring of Petrotrin.

We are looking towards improving the role of the National Gas Company (NGC) because these are two of the main state agencies throughout the main aspect of our economy that contribute on the revenue side,” he said.

“Last week, after wait-

wards Erin, where he reportedly sexually assaulted her then left her in the bushes.

Trinidad Express said the victim sought help from residents along with other people who responded by contacting the police. They also took the victim to the Point Fortin Area Hospital for treatment. (Jamaica Observer)

Governor Ricardo Rossello

Ricardo Rossello's push to become a state boycotted the vote.

The non-binding plebiscite is not expected to sway the US Congress, which would have to agree to make Puerto Rico a state.

Currently a US territory, the island is struggling with US$70 billion in debt and a 45 per cent poverty rate, and is not viewed as a priority in Washington.

Rossello, who campaigned on a push for statehood, said in a telephone interview with Reuters that he would go to the US capital this week to urge federal lawmakers to begin the process of admitting Puerto Rico into the union.

"We will make sure this becomes an issue," Rossello said.

The vote comes at a critical time for Puerto Rico, whose hazy status – which dates to its 1898 acquisition by the United States from Spain – has contributed to its ongoing economic crisis.

Last month, the island filed the biggest municipal bankruptcy in US history. Its woes make statehood even more urgent, Rossello said.

"Statehood brings stability, allows us to have fewer rule-changes from Congress, provides resources to our people," he said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

tuesDAY, june 13, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Trump travel ban suffers new court defeat

Russia protests: Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny sentenced

US appeals court has upheld a decision blocking President Donald Trump's revised "travel ban" on people from six mainly Muslim nations.

Ruling on a case brought by the state of Hawaii, the Appeal Judges found that the executive order violated existing immigration legislation It is a further legal setback for the President's efforts to get the ban he promised his supporters.

The dispute may end up being decided in the US Supreme Court.

Trump's own tweet from June 5 was cited in the Judges' ruling.

An earlier version of the travel ban, issued by Trump just days after tak-

ussia's Opposition Leader, Alexei Navalny has been sentenced to 30 days' administrative arrest for repeatedly violating the law on staging rallies.

He was detained at his home in Moscow earlier on Monday, ahead of anti-corruption demonstrations in Russia.

Hundreds of people were held during the gatherings across the country.

Riot police in central Moscow were picking protestors out of the crowd at random, a BBC correspondent at the demonstration has said.

A court in Moscow announced its verdict late on Monday, rejecting demands

by Navalny's defence lawyers to drop the case.

The 41-year-old

A

US President Donald Trump’s travel ban has led to protests

ing office, sparked confusion at airports and protests.

In the revised executive order, the 90-day ban

was to apply to people from Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. It also called for a 120-day ban on all refugees, but removed

references to religious minorities.

During his election campaign, Trump called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States".

Reacting to the latest ruling, White House spokesman Sean Spicer defended the executive order, saying "we need every available tool at our disposal to prevent terrorists entering the United States and committing acts of bloodshed and violence".

"We continue to be confident that the President's executive order to protect this country is fully lawful and ultimately will be upheld by the Supreme Court," Spicer added. (Excerpt from BBC News)

R

Opposition Leader later confirmed this in a tweet on his Twitter page (in Russian).

Navalny, who intends to stand for the Russian presidency next year, had been due to attend the unauthorised rally in the capital earlier on Monday.

OVD-Info, an independent NGO, said that 825 people had been detained at the protest in the capital.

Police in Moscow say about 5000 took part in the demonstration there, Interfax news agency reports.

OVD-Info also said that hundreds of people were held in St Petersburg.

Russia's Interior Ministry says about 3500 people attended the protest in the north-western city, and 500 were detained. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

British PM French soldier jailed for molesting May tells Earthquake kills girls in Burkina Faso lawmakers woman, destroys A she’ll stay houses on Lesbos as long as they want her

B

ritain's Theresa May told her party on Monday she would serve as Prime Minister as long as they wanted after a botched election gamble cost the party its majority in Parliament and weakened London's hand days before formal Brexit negotiations.

With British politics thrust into the deepest turmoil since last June's shock Brexit vote, European Union leaders were left wondering how the divorce talks would open next week.

Despite her party's expectations of a landslide victory, May lost her majority in Parliament, pushing her into rushed talks on a support agreement with a small eurosceptic Northern Irish Protestant party with 10 parliamentary seats.

May faced Conservative party lawmakers at a meeting of its 1922 Committee.

Despite anger at the election, she was cheered briefly at the start of the meeting.

"She said 'I'm the person who got us into this mess and I'm the one who is going to get us out of it,'" said one Conservative lawmaker who attended. "She said she will serve us as long as we want her." (Excerpt from Reuters)

French soldier has been jailed for a year by a court in Paris for molesting girls aged three and five in a hotel swimming pool in Burkina Faso.

Sebastien L, 40, and another soldier filmed the abuse and then befriended one of the girls' mothers, a French woman who invited them to her house.

They left the camera behind and the woman alert-

ed the French Embassy after viewing the images.

The two soldiers were immediately suspended and sent back to France.

However, only Sebastien L was charged, FranceInfo reported.

He admitted to sexual contact with the girls during the incident in Ouagadougou and was sentenced to a year in prison followed by a one-year sus-

pended sentence.

He said he had no explanation for his behaviour, which he blamed on alcohol and the stress of the mission.

The court also banned him from any profession involving minors for five years and ordered him to pay several thousand euros in damages to the girls and their families. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Man charged with hate crime in shooting of Indian engineers

A

dam Purinton, the man accused in a bar shooting in suburban Kansas City that left one Indian engineer dead and another wounded was indicted by a federal grand jury on hate crime charges, the US Justice Department announced June 9.

Purinton’s indictment comes nearly four months after a February 22 shooting at Austins Bar and Grill in which the alleged shooter reportedly yelled, “Get out of my country” at GPS maker Garmin employees Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani before opening fire.

In the attack, Kuchibhotla was killed and Madasani, as well as intervener Ian Grillot, were injured.

Kuchibhotla and Madasani had come to the US from India to study and worked as engineers. An affidavit released in March said Madasani told detectives that the gunman asked if their “status was legal” be-

fore he opened fire, according to an Associated Press report.

The shooting raised fears of more attacks on immigrants following President Donald Trump’s election and his call for a ban on immigrants from some countries. Officials in India also expressed concern about their citizens’ safety in the US, where many work in technology and other indus-

tries.

Kuchibhotla’s widow, Sunayana Dumala hopes a federal trial in the prosecution of Purinton will help bring attention to the need to address bigotry against foreign-born residents of America and to end hate crimes nationwide.

The federal charges brought “a lot of relief in my heart”, Dumala said. (indiawest. com)

People stand among damaged buildings at the village of Vrisa [Giorgos Moutafis/Reuters]

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powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 badly damaged scores of homes on the eastern Greek island of Lesbos Monday, killing one woman and injuring at least 10 people.

The tremor around 15:28h (12:28 GMT) on Monday was also felt on neighbouring islands and the Greek capital of Athens, as well as in western Turkey, including in Istanbul.

Lesbos Mayor Spyros

Galinos and the fire service said the woman, who was 45 years old, was found dead in the southern village of Vrisa that was worst-hit by the quake, which had its epicentre under the sea, at a shallow depth of seven kilometres.

"Most houses in Vrisa have suffered severe damage," Galinos said, adding that afflicted residents were being relocated to temporary housing set up in a football field in a nearby village.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China Eastern plane lands at Sydney with hole in engine

A

China Eastern Airlines plane has had to turn back to Sydney airport after a technical failure which left a hole in an engine casing.

Flight MU736 was heading from Sydney, Australia to Shanghai, but the pilot reported problems with the engine about one hour after taking off.

Passengers, who had to spend the night in Sydney, told media they smelt something burning inside the aircraft.

The Airbus A330 land-

The hole in the engine casing of the Airbus A330 was discovered shortly after take-off

ed safely and there were no reports of injuries.

Images circulating on social media showed a large hole in the engine casing.

Several passengers said they had heard a loud sound coming from the left engine shortly after takeoff.

One passenger told Australia's Seven News network: "All of a sudden we heard this noise... it kind of smelt like burning".

"I was really scared.

Our group was terrified."

(Excerpt from BBC News)

16 news

tuesDAY, june 13, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Media worker arrest

Cameraman released, equipment seized …legal action looms

T

he question as to why Capitol News cameraman Rudy Morris, along with Amerindian leader Anthony Melville, was detained on Sunday by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at Muri Muri, Region Eight, still remains unanswered. However, both men were released on Monday, but their cellphones and cameras were confiscated.

Morris is expected to be flown to Georgetown later today and this publication understands that the news agency is exploring its legal options. Morris was part of a four-member press team, who visited the area to get a better understanding of the issues surrounding the ‘militarisation’ of the Kaieteur National Park.

On Sunday, Morris accompanied by Melville, the

former Toshao, journeyed to Muri Muri to get video footage of the Kaieteur National Park signboard – which is acknowledged as the boundary of the Park. After taking video footage of the signboard, they were venturing out, by boat, when armed soldiers apprehended them.

The boat captain was allowed to leave while the duo was detained and forced to spend the night at the Muri Muri landing. The boat captain returned to the Menzies Landing and informed the group of the arrest. The officer in command said the two men would be brought to Georgetown and be prosecuted for “operating in a militarised zone”.

The arrest was condemned on social media by a wide cross-section of society inclusive of veteran jour-

Capitol News Rudy Morris

cameraman

nalists who all questioned the GDF ranks’ authority to make an arrest.

Protected Areas Commission (PAC) Board Member Raquel Thomas-

Motorists to benefit from new Shell FuelSave

S

hell has come to the aid of Guyanese drivers with the introduction of Shell FuelSave (unleaded and diesel) – a new fuel economy formula designed to last longer at no extra cost.

Presented to retailers and guests at the Guyana Marriott Hotel was the ad-

vanced FuelSave formula with Shell’s active efficiency ingredients, during the recent launch hosted by Sol Guyana Inc. Outgoing General Manager of Sol Guyana, Orlando Boxill, in an address to the gathering, revealed that Shell FuelSave offered tremendous benefits

for motorists, improving fuel and engine efficiency “from the first tank”.

Noting that FuelSave was not to be compared to Shell’s flagship V-Power fuel, Boxill pointed out that the comparison would be inappropriate since the fuels were composed differently.

“FuelSave runs on a 92 RON base fuel. While Shell V-Power focuses on power and performance and runs on a 95 RON base fuel,” Boxill expounded, adding that Shell FuelSave Diesel contained special detergents, which had been tested as effective at maintaining clean injectors and engines.

Boxill related that the launch exemplified the company’s policy of providing quality service to its customers Moreover, drivers taking advantage of the newly-introduced Shell FuelSave economy fuel can now extend the savings from their fuel tanks to their monthly bills with Sol Guyana’s “Save For a Year with Shell FuelSave” promotion and this is according to Liz Wyatt, recently appointed General Manager of Sol Guyana Inc. The campaign, which commenced on June 9, runs until August 4.

Wyatt explained that customers spending $5000 on Shell FuelSave would receive chances to win up to $100,000 in the Cash Machine during weekly happy hours, while each week a lucky winner would be drawn to have a monthly bill of their choice paid, whether fuel, groceries, utilities or cable, Internet and telephone.

Caesar, in a Facebook post, said that the PAC was unaware of the media presence in the KNP since the entity was not informed they would be in the park to investigate.

Following ThomasCaesar’s comments, there was outrage over her comments as it related to the functions of the media.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) said it was informed that Morris and a group of other journalists received the permission of the National Parks Commission, after paying the required user fee.

They have also been assured by the GDF, Morris will be brought to Georgetown this afternoon.

“The reporters were there to cover unfolding events related to a presi-

dential order for the Army, in joint operations with the Police, to enforce the law which prohibits mining within the boundaries of the Kaieteur National Park.

On Sunday, Mr Morris, accompanied by Amerindian leader Anthony Melville, a former Toshao, and Chief of Chiefs of the Patamonas, visited the area of Muri Muri, by way of boat, to take videos there, where they were detained. On Monday morning, they were both allowed to leave and return to Kaieteur top. Army officials have assured the GPA that while arrangements are being made to have Mr Morris return to Georgetown, his subsistence and accommodation are guaranteed,” the GPA statement read.

The Press Association added that it would never

condone its members violating specific security measures in any area of Guyana when good, sufficient and legal reasons exist for such orders. However, similarly, it stated that it would not stand “idly by and have our freedoms violated”.

The arrest of Morris brings into question the freedom of the press as the fourth estate. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an entity that campaigns for media freedom and the rights of Journalists, indicated in its 2017 World Press Freedom Index that there have been significant setbacks in Guyana over the past year, although the Constitution guarantees free speech and the right to information. Guyana fell three places on the index.

(Lakhram Bhagirat)

Miss World finalist hosts health fair A

s Guyana gears up to select a queen to represent the country at the Miss World Pageant on the international stage, an 18-year-old finalist on Sunday hosted a health fair to officially launch her Beauty with a Purpose Campaign.

The regional ambassador of Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four), Vena Mookram has embarked on a journey to promote physical fitness and nutrition in an effort to prevent chronic diseases as she vies for the local crown.

The event on Sunday was hosted at the M&M Snackette on the East Bank of Demerara and saw the attendance of scores of patrons who cashed in on the services made available at the fair. These included blood pressure and sugar testing as well as dietary and nutritional counselling and advocacy.

Members of the National Blood Transfusion Service were also present at the event and even facilitated a blood drive.

In an interview with Guyana Times, Mookram expressed delight over the execution of the health fair and fitness initiative and dubbed the event a success. The 18-year-old explained the objective of the undertaking. “I chose to undertake this project, because the two major chronic diseases in Guyana are cardiovascular and diabetes and they account for the top one and four causes of death respectively in our country. I see this as a major problem.”

Miss World Guyana 2017 delegate Vena Mookram

The beauty queen went on to say, “Apart from that, I love and I live this lifestyle and I want to motivate and encourage others to do the same. The aim of the fair was to promote good health.”

Mookram pointed out that the event was the result of a collaboration with a number of public organisations and business entities, and expressed her gratitude. “The turnout of about 250 was a lot more than I ever expected, but I was more than grateful.”

The young activist indicated to this publication that in addition to the health fair hosted over the weekend, “I will be having a fitness walk in collaboration with Xtreme Fitness Gym on June 17.”

Moreover, “I will be a part

of the Miss World Guyana Finalists Beauty with a Purpose Fair in order to bring about awareness to my project and raise funds for my charity,” Mookram related.

She, along with nine other contestants, will be competing for the Miss World Guyana title on June 25 at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown. The successful queen will go on to represent Guyana, alongside scores of international beauties, in China, later this year.

Anticipating the showdown later this month, Mookram relayed, “Even after the pageant has ended, I will try my best to continue promoting my cause to be a part in making Guyana into a healthier nation.”

news

17

tuesDAY, june 13, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

All Housing Expo units on verge of being sold – CH&PA C

entral Housing and Planning Authority Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lelon Saul said that all the units displayed at the Housing Expo have attracted the interests of prospective homeowners and the Authority is currently vetting and shortlisting applicants.

Saul made the disclosure at a press conference, on Monday, to provide the mid-year report of the CH&PA. He informed that in order to take advantage of the CH&PA’s housing solutions interested persons must have an active application in the system and be able to make payments.

“For you to become eligible for one of the houses, you have to have an active application in the system

Acting Director of Projects ,Omar Narine

and if you are dealing with a private contractor, the private contractor must confirm with us that there is an active application in the system and then we would shortlist you,” he said.

Saul added that for the year so far, the housing body has been on par with achieving the targets set for the year 2017. He further stated that thus far they have been able to allocate and distribute house lots in both coastal and hinterland regions; convey certificates of titles and transports; engage in infrastructural development works in several schemes; review and approve or reject planning.

Director of Operations, Denise King-Tudor, noted that persons were taking advantage of the housing solutions offered by the CH&PA. “The target that was set this year with respect to housing solutions is 2000 in terms of the target and to date we have achieved 355 of that target. So 355 persons have already acquired housing solutions from the Government. Secondly, in terms of the distribution of titles and transport to persons allocated, the target set for this year has almost

International Day of

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

Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) T

oday we continue with the Surya Namaskar routine.

We trust that you practiced the first two postures this morning and are ready to see the new ones that we will be bringing to you to-

leg back, as far back as possible.

Bring the right knee to the floor and look up.

How to deepen this yoga stretch?

Ensure that the left foot is exactly in between the palms.

Dandasana (Stick pose)

As you breathe in, take the left leg back and bring the whole body in a straight line.

How to deepen this yoga stretch?

Keep your arms perpendicular to the floor.

Surya Namaskar or sun salutation is a gesture of showing gratitude to the sun. It is a set of 12 yoga asanas which bring your body, breath and mind together.

When performed in the morning, it revitalises your body and refreshes your mind, leaves you feeling energetic throughout the course of the day. The postures can help you unwind when you perform them in the evening. Well-known yoga expert Sunaina Rekhi says, ‘the cy-

CH&PA CEO Lelon Saul

been achieved… “because 1855 (of 2000) persons are in receipt of their titles or transport,” King-Tudor informed.

“With respect to the housing solutions talking about the duplexes, townhouses and the range of solutions we plan to offer to applicants who are in the process of acquiring such for use, we would have received over 3000 persons.

They have registered to be a part and to obtain solutions from us. We’re in the process of disaggregating that data,” she added.

Acting Director of Projects, Omar Narine, informed that out of the 12-component programme for 2017, the CH&PA has been able to achieve three components thus far. Those components include the infrastructural development in existing schemes, completion of rollover projects,

day.

Hasta Padasana (Hand to Foot pose)

Breathing out, bend forward from the waist, keeping the spine erect. As you exhale completely, bring the hands down to the floor, beside the feet.

How to deepen this yoga stretch?

You may bend the knees, if necessary, to bring the palms down to the floor. Now make a gentle effort to straighten the knees.

It's a good idea to keep the hands fixed in this position and not move them henceforth until we finish the sequence.

Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian pose)

Breathing in, push your right

Director of Operations Denise King-Tudor

retendering of terminated contracts, electrification of schemes and hinterland housing developments.

“On our new hinterland programme so far we are working to complete full house construction and roof replacements in Region One and Nine and also we have commenced the procurement process for materials and labour of full-house construction of 82 houses in Region One … and also a further 24 full-construction houses in Region Nine,” he informed.

says, ‘when done at a fast pace, Surya Namaskar can give you an excellent cardiovascular workout helping you to lose weight.’ The postures will help stretch your abdominal muscles while helping you shed pounds around your belly.

The movements will also help in improving your metabolism.

2. Helps strengthen muscles and joints: Surya Namaskar offers you a good way to stretch and strengthen your muscles, joints, ligament, as well as the skeletal system. The movements can also help improve the flexibility of your spine. When you perform the postures, your limbs become symmetrical helping your internal vital organs to function better.

3. Gives glowing skin: Surya namaskar improves your blood circulation that aids in bringing back the glow on your face; preventing the onset of wrinkles, making your skin look ageless and radiant.

4. Ensures a better functioning digestive system: The sun salutation will help in the smooth

clic movements of Surya Namaskar with its controlled breathing, back bends, forward bends, invigorating and calming postures, offers many health benefits.’

1. Helps lose weight: Sunaina

running of your digestive system.

These yoga poses will help increase the blood flow to your digestive tract resulting in better functioning of the intestines. The forward bend pose will help increase your abdomen space which will aid in releasing the trapped gases from your system.

5. Helps cope with insomnia: You can improve your sleeping patterns by the practise of surya namaskar. The asanas will help calm your mind, giving you a good night’s sleep. This will ensure that you do not resort to drugs to give you a restful sleep.

6. Ensures regular menstrual cycle: Surya Namaskar can also be beneficial for women who are suffering from irregular menstrual cycles as it helps regulate it.

Regular practice of the movements can also help in easy childbirth

HSS INVITES YOU TO OUR THIRD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA CELEBRATIONS. IT WILL BE HELD AT THE GUYANA NATIONAL STADIUM, PROVIDENCE, EAST BANK DEMERARA, JUNE 25 FROM 4PM TO 5:30PM. LET US MAKE THOUGHTS BECOME A REALITY. LET US BE FIT. “TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES, EMPOWERING THE BODY, MIND AND SOUL”

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, june 13, 2017

ARCHIE

Favours will be granted, but before accepting them, (March 21- you should find out what’s exApril 19) pected of you in return. You may be better off taking care of matters without assistance.

ARIES

Emotional matters will esTAURUS calate if you argue. Refuse to (April 20- let a stubborn attitude ruin May 20) your plans. It’s important to work well with others if you want to excel.

dilbert

You can dream all you GEMINI (May 21- want, but when it comes to June 20) getting things done, you must be realistic. Approach your goals with a practical plan in mind.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Put your time to good use.

Keep busy instead of getting upset over situations you cannot change. Look for ways to minimise the negative effects of outside influences.

Protect your physical and emotional well-being. Letting situations that are out of your control get to you will make matters worse. Bide your time and focus on getting things done.

Don’t feel that you must VIRGO (Aug. 23- follow the crowd. Think and Sept. 22) make decisions based on your needs, not on what someone else is prompting you to do.

Physical improvements and exercise are encouraged.

A business trip or a visLIBRA it to a school you want to at(Sept. 23Oct. 23) tend looks promising. If you have your questions ready, it will be easy to make a decision that will bring favourable changes your way.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Discuss legal, financial, SCORPIO health or contractual issues (Oct. 24in order to make some progNov. 22) ress. Look for alternative ways to deal with differences and maintain peace and civility as you move forward.

Your aim should be to conSAGITTARIUS nect with people you want to (Nov. 23- spend more time with or work Dec. 21) with on a professional level.

Make your intentions clear and good things will transpire.

Business trips, interviews

CAPRICORN and getting along with your (Dec. 22- peers will be necessary if you Jan. 19) want to bring about change

YESTERDAY’S

solution for Last Published Puzzle

or have things done your way.

Don’t get angry, and make sure to offer people incentives.

Good things come to those AQUARIUS who actively pursue what (Jan. 20they want. Don’t wait on the Feb. 19) sideline when you should be doing your best to make things happen.

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

our enthusiasm will enPISCES courage others to take ad(Feb. 20March 20) vantage of your willingness to help. Size up what’s being asked of you and reconsider how much you want to contribute.

tuesDAY, june 13, 2017

19

Sarfraz sends Pakistan Mexico come from behind to draw through as Sri Lanka with US in World Cup qualifier let victory slip M S arfraz Ahmed’s capitalised on a series of Sri Lanka errors to send Pakistan through to the ICC Champions Trophy semi-finals.

Pakistan survived a batting collapse as they capitalised on an error-strewn Sri Lanka performance to progress to the ICC Champions Trophy semi-finals with a three-wicket win in the game of the tournament.

Despite Niroshan Dickwella’s 73, the Pakistan attack – led by Junaid Khan (3-40) and Hasan Ali (3-43) – forced a Sri Lanka collapse from 161-4 to 236 all out at Sophia Gardens.

Fakhar Zaman’s rapid half-century fired Pakistan to 74-0 in reply, but they slumped to 162-7, setting up a fascinating and thrilling conclusion.

Captain Sarfraz Ahmed (61 not out) held the key to the Pakistan innings and Sri Lanka, with victory in sight, twice dropped the skipper as he posted a crucial half-century.

Sri Lanka’s bemusing errors in the field aided Sarfraz and Mohammad Amir (28 not out) in their match-winning stand of 75, the captain ramping a four to the boundary at third man to book a semi-final with England that had looked extremely unlikely after their opening 124-run defeat to India.

Dickwella’s solid start gave little hints of the low-scoring thriller that was to come, but the seeds were sown with Kusal Mendis (27) and Dinesh Chandimal (0) falling inside three deliveries as Fahim Ashraf (237) claimed his maiden ODI wicket.

Captain Angelo Mathews (39) helped steady the ship but his wicket - Amir’s (253) first of the tournament - prompted a dismal slump.

A ripper from Junaid did for Dhananjaya de Silva (1) before a stunning low catch from Sarfraz ended Dickwella’s admirable effort and Thisara Perera (1) lasted just five balls.

Suranga Lakmal (26 off 34) provided a useful contribution only for a Hasan bail trimmer to halt his progress. Asela Gunaratne was expansive in his 44-ball 27 but fell when he hit Hasan to deep midwicket.

Azhar Ali survived a drop and a run-out chance in the opening two overs, but he and Fakhar scored freely, the latter reaching 50 in 34

Sarfraz Ahmed roars in delight as Pakistan seal a tense win, Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Champions Trophy

balls before falling to Nuwan Pradeep (3-60), who claimed his second scalp when Babar Azam (10) picked out midwicket.

Pradeep took the catch as Mohammad Hafeez (1) fell cheaply, and Sri Lanka’s confidence was further boosted when Azhar (34) edged Lakmal (1-48) to first slip. Shoaib Malik (11) and Imad Wasim (4) both failed to make a significant impression, and Pakistan’s luck appeared to be out when Perera ran out Fahim

(15) by deflecting a Sarfraz drive onto the stumps.

But fortune turned in Pakistan’s favour when Perera dropped a dolly from Sarfraz on 38 and substitute fielder Seekkuge Prasanna was unable to take a stooping chance at square leg.

The errors mounted as Sri Lanka’s composure completely disappeared, a drive through mid-off bringing up Sarfraz’s 50 before he fittingly completed the recovery mission with 31 balls remaining.(SPORTSMAX)

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka innings (50 overs maximum) N Dickwella† c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Amir 73 M Gunathilaka c Shoaib Malik b Junaid Khan 13 K Mendis b Hasan Ali 27 L Chandimal b Fahim Ashraf 0 A Mathews* b Mohammad Amir 39 c †Sarfraz DM de Silva 1 Ahmed b Junaid Khan A Gunaratne c Fakhar Zaman b Hasan Ali 27 T Perera c Babar Azam b Junaid Khan 1 26 S Lakmal b Hasan Ali L Malinga not out 9 N Pradeep c & b Fahim Ashraf 1 Extras (b 1, lb 5, w 12, nb 1) 19 Total (all out; 49.2 overs) 236 Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Gunathilaka, 5.1 ov), 2-82 (Mendis, 14.5 ov), 3-83 (Chandimal, 15.1 ov), 4-161 (Mathews, 31.2 ov), 5-162 (de Silva, 32.3 ov), 6-162 (Dickwella, 33.1 ov), 7-167 (Perera, 34.6 ov), 8-213 (Lakmal, 44.3 ov), 9-232 (Gunaratne, 48.1 ov), 10-236 (Pradeep, 49.2 ov) Bowling: Mohammad Amir 10-053-2 (2w), Junaid Khan 10-3-40-3 (2w), Imad Wasim 8-1-33-0, Fahim Ashraf 6.2-0-37-2 (1nb, 2w), Hasan Ali 10-0-43-3 (1w), Mohammad

Hafeez 5-0-24-0 (1w) Pakistan innings (target: 237 runs from 50 overs) Azhar Ali c Mendis b Lakmal 34 c Fakhar Zaman Gunaratne b Pradeep 50 Babar Azam c de Silva b Pradeep 10 Mohammad Hafeez c Pradeep b Perera 1 Shoaib Malik c †Dickwella b 11 Malinga Sarfraz Ahmed*† not out 61 Imad Wasim c †Dickwella b Pradeep 4 Fahim Ashraf run out (Perera) 15 Mohammad Amir not out 28 Extras (b 4, lb 6, w 13) 23 Total (7 wickets; 44.5 overs) 237 Did not bat: Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan Fall of wickets: 1-74 (Fakhar Zaman, 11.2 ov), 2-92 (Babar Azam, 15.4 ov), 3-95 (Mohammad Hafeez, 16.5 ov), 4-110 (Azhar Ali, 19.2 ov), 5-131 (Shoaib Malik, 24.5 ov), 6-137 (Imad Wasim, 25.4 ov), 7-162 (Fahim Ashraf, 29.5 ov) Bowling: Malinga 9.5-2-52-1 (4w), Lakmal 10-0-48-1 (2w), Pradeep 10-0-60-3 (3w), T Perera 8-0-43-1 (4w), Gunaratne 5-0-19-0, Gunathilaka 1-0-2-0, DM de Silva 1-0-3-0

exico’s Carlos Vela scored midway through the first half to cancel out a spectacular early opener from Michael Bradley as the United States took a point from Mexico City in Sunday’s World Cup qualifier.

The draw maintains Mexico’s six-game unbeaten run in the final Hexagonal group stage but the point was more welcomed by the visitors, who had lost five of their previous seven qualifiers at the Aztec stadium.

“Any time you can get a point here that’s great,” Bradley said. “The mentality and the commitment from every guy was really, really good and now we keep moving ourselves forward.”

The result means Mexico remain top of the six-team group with 14 points from six games, while the United States are third with eight points from the same number of matches.

The top three teams qualify automatically for next year’s World Cup in Russia and the fourth-placed side go into a play off with a team from the Asian confederation.

Mexico’s Carlos Vela (L) celebrates with teamamates after scoring a goal

U.S. coach Bruce Arena made seven changes from the side that beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 in Colorado on Thursday but it was his regular captain Bradley who put them ahead after just six minutes.

Bradley intercepted a loose pass on the halfway line and after seeing Guillermo Ochoa off his line chipped the goalkeeper from fully 40 yards out to give the visitors a sensational lead.

It took Mexico 17 min-

utes to equalise, Vela picking up the ball on the right wing in a fast counter attack and drifting across the 18yard box before rifling home past Brad Guzan from 22 yards out.

Mexican midfielder Hector Herrera smacked a free kick off the bar from 30 yards after 70 minutes before Bradley hammered a volley off the post from a similar distance four minutes later but neither side could find the winner. (REUTERS)

Iran beat Uzbekistan 2-0 to seal World Cup berth

I

ran became the second team to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals as they beat Uzbekistan 2-0 with goals from Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi at the Azadi Stadium on Monday.

Azmoun’s goal midway through the first half set Iran on track to qualify for the 2018 event in Russia before Taremi added a second two minutes from time as Iran reached back-toback World Cup tournaments for the first time.

The three-time Asian champions, who also missed a penalty just after the break, join Brazil as the qualified nations so far after Iran secured a fifth World Cup appearance.

The win means Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz’s Iran team will finish in the top two places in Group A of Asia’s final round of qualifying.

Uzbekistan are eight points adrift of the leaders in third place and have only two games remaining.

The top two teams in each of Asia’s two qualify-

Iran became the second team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup

ing groups advance automatically to the finals while the teams in third place go through a series of playoffs.

Azmoun opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Alireza Jahanbaksh’s through ball found the FC Rostov striker with time and space behind the Uzbek defence to roll the ball under goalkeeper Aleksandr Lobanov and into the net.

Captain Masoud Shojaei squandered the chance to

double Iran’s advantage five minutes into the second half when he fired a penalty over the bar after Taremi had been bundled over in the box by Akmal Shorakhmedov.

But Taremi calmed Iran’s nerves when he added the second goal late on by curling a low shot into the corner of Lobanov’s goal to spark celebrations amongst the home supporters.(REUTERS)

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, june 13, 2017

Organisers print

60,000 extra ‘Bolt’ World Champs tickets

Usain Bolt

A

n extra 60,000 tickets, including those for the men’s 100-metre final in London at the 2017 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in London are due to go on sale this week.

The extra tickets became available after organizers Organisers are able to offer extra tickets for previously sold out sessions after organizers were granted an increased capacity license at the Olympic Stadium in

London with competition scheduled to take place from August 4 to 13.

Tickets for popular events like the men’s 100 metres final and heptathlon, will go on sale once again.

The extra tickets will be available from Thursday, June 15 and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Ticket prices for adults vary between sessions, but all children’s admission will cost £9.58 with the fee reflecting Usain Bolt’s 100m world record.

The Jamaican is currently in his last season as an athlete and he will only be competing in the 100m and 4x100m in London as he targets final global golds.

The men’s 100m final on August 5 is the most expensive of the extra tickets costing between £45 and £155.

Extra tickets are also available to see Sir Mo Farah, who plans to focus on road racing after the World Championships, competing in the men’s 10,000m on August 4. (Sportsmax)

World Cup Qualifiers…

Panama look forward to Honduras after big Costa Rica draw

F

or the first time in its World Cup Qualifying history, Panama (1W-3D-1L, 6 points) earned a point at Costa Rica (2-2-1, 8) thanks to a scoreless draw on Thursday night.

Head coach Hernan Dario Gomez hailed his team’s execution, but knows that for the accomplishment to have lasting value on the road to Russia 2018, it must be followed up with a win on Tuesday against visiting Honduras.

“To get a point here is important because of the opponent and we showed some important things,” said the 61-year-old Colombian after the game.

“The draw for us here is good and Panama’s performance against this opponent shows that it is as strong as them,” The Panamanians currently occupy fourth in the CONCACAF Hexagonal table, but could jump to second by topping Honduras and Costa Rica losing to

Panama have given themselves a window of opportunity for progression

Trinidad & Tobago.

“If we do not get the three points in the Rommel Fernandez, this point serves nothing,” Gomez finished. “We are going to face a Honduras that is always strong, that is a World Cup

team and it will be an exciting match.”

In their previous WCQ meeting, Panama earned a 1-0 win over host Honduras on Fidel Escobar’s firsthalf goal. (Sportsmax)

Lewis Hamilton: Canada win crucial to title hopes H amilton’s third win of the season cut his deficit to 12 points to Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who finished fourth.

Hamilton, who equalled his hero Ayrton Senna’s mark of 65 poles on Saturday, said: “I definitely

think I have been at my best this weekend.

“It has been a spectacular day and the team really needed it.”

It was Hamilton’s sixth win in Montreal in 10 races, by far his best record at any circuit and it came on the

10th anniversary of the first victory of his career.

“It has been smooth,” Hamilton said. “I was so happy with the qualifying lap, just beaming from ear to ear, sitting there at dinner thinking I can’t believe I got 65 poles, really having to

NBA Finals…

2 Game 5 tickets

reportedly sold for $133K

Clay Thompson and Steph Curry are huge crowd attractions

T

wo floor-level seats for Monday’s Game 5 of the NBA Finals have sold for $133,000, ESPN.com reported, citing a Warriors source.

The pair of tickets — for a potential series clincher for the home team at Oracle Arena in Oakland — are the most expensive in NBA his-

tory, according to the report.

The Warriors source said that a season-ticket holder sold the seats Sunday night on the team’s Ticketmaster resale site, and the buyer — at the price paid — incurred more than $17,000 in fees alone for the tickets.

It was the Ticketmaster site’s third high-dollar exchange for the most expensive seats in the house. Earlier, two tickets went for $90,000 and another pair sold for $82,000.

Exact face value of specific tickets is unknown, but the Warriors said during the season-ticket renewal period last offseason that courtside seats for the NBA Finals would have a face value of $3,000.

For context, ESPN reported that non-season-ticket holders were given the opportunity on Saturday to buy Game 5 tickets on a first-come, firstserved basis — presumably for seating up from the arena floor — for $575 to $975.

The Warriors lead the Cavaliers 3-1 in the series.

(Sportsmax)

Lewis Hamilton has won six races in Canada

pinch myself.

“Today I just really relived my first grand prix win in 2007. It has been a spectacular day. A lot different now. I am older, the crowd was actually with me as opposed to my first year when no-one knew me.”

The win comes after a difficult weekend for Mercedes at the last race in Monaco, where the team struggled to make the car perform and Hamilton finished seventh after qualifying 14th.

Hamilton praised the team’s efforts in working out what had gone wrong and fixing it for Canada.

“To come away from Monaco, everyone pulled together and I don’t think in five years I have ever seen them pull together like they did,” he said. “We have delivered a great blow to the

Ferraris. Well deserved for everyone.

“They did such great work analysing what went wrong and giving us a summary and saying this is where we went wrong.

“Here the car was back where it should be. I’m happy it was that early in the season, even though Monaco is a good one to win.

Hopefully that shouldn’t happen again.”

Vettel’s hopes were hit when his front wing was damaged by Max Verstappen’s Red Bull at the first corner, and he had to stop to replace it.

He fought back through the field and said he was disappointed not to pass Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo for the final podium place at the end.

“I wanted that podium

but I didn’t get it,” he said.

“It was clear with the damage we had that unless there is trouble at the front or we are extremely lucky with safety cars or whatever that it would be difficult.

“I was very busy for most of the race. I enjoyed it, it was fun, it was good racing.

There were some manoeuvres where I nearly wanted to close my eyes but ultimately the team and car deserved more. The pace was there.

“It was a bit difficult to read. Mercedes were very strong in the race but it is also a different story when you can control the race and the pace, the tyres. I was flat out and when you are chasing other cars you lose quite a lot of grip, then you are sliding. A different race.”

sports

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Kumble likely to remain coach for Windies tour T he BCCI is likely to retain Anil Kumble as coach for India’s tour of the West Indies immediately after the ongoing Champions Trophy.

Kumble will be given the contract extension if the cricket advisory committee (CAC) fails to pick India’s next coach before then.

The decision was taken by the Committee of Administrators (CoA), after consulting BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary and chief executive officer Rahul Johri on Monday.

“In case there is a delay in taking a decision (by the CAC) we will request Anil Kumble to

cover the West Indies tour also,” Vinod Rai, the CoA chairman, told ESPNcricinfo. Rai said the BCCI would check whether Kumble was “happy” to continue until the West Indies tour, which starts on June 23.

India are scheduled to travel to the Caribbean from London on June 22, for five ODIs and one T20 international.

Kumble was appointed India coach in June last year and was given a one-year contract, which ends after the Champions Trophy. Last month, the BCCI decided to invite fresh applications for the position after being made aware of the players’ re-

ported unhappiness with Kumble’s man-management skills.

Kumble was on the shortlist of six candidates and remained the first choice of the CAC, which comprises Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman. Though the BCCI was in favour of appointing the new coach on a two-year contract until the 2019 World Cup, the CAC said that it did not want to take a hasty decision. The CAC’s first option, as previously reported, was to try and patch up differences between the India captain Virat Kohli and Kumble. (Cricinfo)

Anil Kumble is on the shortlist of six candidates for the coach’s role and remains the favoured option of the Cricket Advisory Committee © AFP

Federer backs Djokovic Buffon almost to recover from certain over ‘difficult situation’ retirement

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Roger Federer (left) and Novak Djokovic

he slump that has seen Novak Djokovic fall out of the world’s top three will not continue indefinitely, according to Roger Federer.

Roger Federer expects to see Novak Djokovic challenging for grand slams and top spot in the rankings after slipping out of the world’s top three for the first time since 2009.

Djokovic saw his defence of the French Open come to an end at the hands of Dominic Thiem at Roland Garros last week, leaving him with just one tournament victory this year, at the Qatar Open in January.

The Serbian’s extended dominance of the men’s game has crumbled in the last 11 months, an early exit from Wimbledon and defeat

to Stan Wawrinka in the final of the US Open allowing Andy Murray to replace him as world number one.

Speaking before his return to action at the Stuttgart Open, Australian Open winner Federer acknowledged the extent of the unexpected difficulties being suffered

by Djokovic, who parted company with his coaching staff last month and began working with Andre Agassi in Paris.

“When compared to a year ago, when he [Djokovic] held all four Grand Slams, he’s in a relatively difficult situation,” Federer said at a news conference.

“But, at the same time, he is still in the world’s top four, in the race for titles, and easily inside the top 10.

“But there is no doubt

that he has been weak for a player with his abilities. I guess it is not so bad, but it really depends on how you view his situation.

“Clearly, last year was very good for him, especially during the first half of 2016.

So it’s quite surprising that he hasn’t pushed on since winning the French Open last year.

“I have to admit that I’ve seen him play very little recently and I cannot judge his situation. Most of what I have noticed, has come through the media.

“But he is too good a player for this to continue indefinitely.

“He will win grand slams in the future and fight again for world number one. So I expect to see a strong Djokovic in the future.” (Sportsmax)

Gianluigi Buffon

ianluigi Buffon says he will call time on his career at the end of next season unless Juventus can end his wait for Champions League glory.

Juventus great Gianluigi Buffon is “99.9 per cent” certain next season will be his last in professional football.

The veteran Italy goalkeeper helped Juve to a third consecutive domestic double and the Champions League final last term.

Buffon, 39, has previously stated his intention to retire from international football after the 2018 World Cup in Russia but it now appears that tournament will be the last act of a stellar career.

“I’m 99.9 percent certain of retirement,” he told Sky Sport 24.

“I’m going to have one final, intense season, rich in big moments, and then it will be time to say enough is enough.”

Real Madrid inflicted Champions League final heartache on Buffon and his colleagues, and winning European football’s big prize next time around is the only thing that could convince the former Parma keeper to soldier on.

“We’ve just left one small possibility open with the president [Juventus chief Andrea Agnelli],” Buffon added.

“That is if we manage to win the Champions League I will carry on playing one more year to try to win the Club World Cup and other trophies.”

Although the Champions League has proved tantalisingly elusive, Buffon has eight Serie A titles and four Coppa Italia to his name, along with the 1998-99 UEFA Cup and 2006 World Cup. (Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, june 13, 2017

Digicel Schools Football Championships…

Essequibo Islands trounce Parika Salem in opening fixture

By Akeem Greene

T

he seventh edition of the Digicel Schools Football Championships got off to a rousing start on Monday afternoon when Essequibo Islands Secondary inflicted a 6-1 hammering on Parika Salem Secondary at the National Track and Field Facility at Leonora, WCD. Dicquan Clarke, with a hat-trick, orchestrated the resounding victory for Essequibo Islands

Secondary. He was supported by a brace from Reon Venture and a lone goal from D a v i d Charritar.

Venture o p e n e d the scoring in the 13th minute with a piercing strike down the right, fired af-

It’s on! Digicel’s Head of Marketing, Jacqueline James performs the ceremonial kick-off in the presence of Director of Sport, Christopher Jones

ter a brilliant running effort to beat a diving custodian.

This proved to be the only highlight in the first half of the game.

When second half play commenced, both teams played with great urgency and a clear desire to dominate the opposition; but when Jamal Baker scored the critical equaliser in the 40th minute, the game became a virtual one-sided affair from then on Clarke first registered his presence in the game with a 44th minute rightfoot shot inside the 18-yard box that had goal written all over it. Four minutes later, he switched to the left foot and scored another goal, mainly due to lacklustre goal-keeping.

Venture reappeared in the limelight when he netted a goal in the 52nd minute, and Clarke again tormented the Parika Salem custodian in the 61st. Both these goals were scored in quite identical fashion, with right-foot shots beaming past an immobile keeper.

The final nail was struck in the Parika Salem coffin when David Charritar nonchalantly slipped in a goal for Essequibo Islands Secondary whilst confusion reigned among the Parika Salem defenders.

Prior to the encounter, Digicel’s Head of

took the ceremonial kickoff.

Championship action continues today at the same venue when Leonora Technical Institute oppose Professional Learning Institute from 15:30 hrs.

Close to 160 schools are participating in this year’s

Second place finisher will play for $700,000, third $400,000, and fourth $350,000. All money won will go towards a school project of the winner’s choice.

The top regional winners of the straight knockout tournament will be awarded $100,000 each.

(L-R) Reon Venture, Dicquan Clarke, Encosie Dazzle (Captain) and David Charritar

Marketing, Jacqueline James, and Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, greeted both teams and wished them success in the tournament. James under-

Championships. At stake is the prospect of gaining top honours and winning one million dollars which will go towards a school project of choice.

The tournament will last for approximately six weeks, with the finals set for July 30 at the same Leonora venue.

Fitness key to Green Machine’s Top teams seal chances against Mexico semi-final spots National Schools Basketball Festival…

The physical battle against Trinidad and Tobago could be the possible litmus test they use to improve on key areas before they face Mexico

H

aving toppling Trinidad and Tobago 24-17 on Saturday to retain their Rugby Americas North (RAN) South Zone Title, the Green Machine will now prepare to face their toughest test, come July 1, when they play away to Mexico in the North versus South Championship.

When these two sides last met, the fitness of the Green Machine was called into question, given the high altitude at which the game was played, as the Mexican Serpientes hammered the Green Machine 32-3. With the past in mind and the ultimate aim to seek retribution, Captain Ryan Gonsalves explained, the Green Machine

would be trying to get players to be as fit as possible.

“Our fitness is okay; however, we need to do some endurance work. Mexico is high altitude, and if we don’t get fit we will be faced with the same struggle as last year, so we must get our big guys fit”, he explained.

Head Coach Kenneth Grant-Stuart has confided that he would need to make some tactical adjustments for the clash. “The game plan (would be) beefed up a bit. I saw some critical mistakes that we should not be making, but (our game plan entails) more mobility and physicality against Mexico,” Grant-Stuart declared.

The coach explained that

the team would be taking a week off to recuperate, but would need all the support it can get -- especially in the form of finances and facilities -- when training resumes.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, has disclosed at the Guyana/Trinidad match that Government is willing to support Rugby. “I’m positive that we [Government] can do something for rugby. I believe the [Guyana] team needs as much support as they can get; and you can see [from] my presence here (that) I believe they [Green Machine) will do well. The Government is fully supporting rugby,” the Minister of State declared.

Historically, Guyana’s Green Machine has been one of the most consistent teams in the Caribbean, winning the Men’s Sevens Title eight times and recording a presence in the popular Hong Kong Sevens.

In the 15s format, the Green Machine’s 30-27 victory over the USA (South) in 2014 -- when they won their maiden NACRA 15s [now known as RAN] title in Atlanta – must rate as one of the Green Machines best moments yet. (Akeem Greene)

T

Action in the National Schools Basketball Festival being played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall

he St. Rose’s High School females trounced their School of the Nations’ counterparts by 17 points to 5 points to clinch the final spot in the “Georgetown expanded Regional Female semi-finals”, and will now join the top ranked Marian’s Academy, President’s College and Bishops’ High School in the play-offs beginning on June 23.

National player Ashley Khan top scored with 13 points and 6 steals, while

Jamaica Blair contributed 2 points and 5 steals for the victorious St Rose’s team.

Georgiana Vyphuis scored all of Nations’ 5 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.

Meanwhile, the U-19 males of St Rose’s High School rebounded from their loss on Friday to school the School of the Nations by 51 to 26 points.

Anthony Yansen continued his impressive form with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals, while captain Mark July recorded a double-dou-

ble with 15 points and 10 rebounds for the dominant St Rose’s team.

Lindon Garraway scored 9 points, while Corey Graham had 6 points and 4 rebounds to offer resistance for School of the Nations.

The tournament will continue on Friday, June 23, with semi-final playoffs in the U-14, U-16 and Girls divisions, while quarter-finals in the U-19 Males division will also be played.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, june 13, 2017

T

he exciting knockout stages are over, and attention will now be turned to the eight remaining teams as they battle tonight at the National Gymnasium for a semi-final place in the inaugural Xtreme Cleaners/ GT Beer Gold Rush Futsal Championships.

The four blockbuster quarter-final matches will see Sparta Boss tackle a talented Future Stars unit, Tucville oppose Back Circle, Sophia play a star-studded Bent Street, and Broad Street match skills with Albouystown.

Sparta Boss will start as match favourites because of their experience

and overall superior skills.

They have recorded 10 goals by an offense that features the likes of Devon Millington, Gregory Richardson and Eusi Phillips, who have each scored three goals.

Defender Solomon Austin has netted once.

However, they face a strong and confident Future Stars team that has so far netted 15 goals in the competition and has one of the most feared strike forces, spearheaded by Keiron Solomon, Akeemo Anthony and Jamal Cozier; while Kevin Cummings, Ralph Parris and Jeremy Garrett buttress the potency of this lineup.

Tucville, meanwhile, has emerged as a top team in this competition, with the win against Sparta Boss ranking as their best display to date; but who can forget their unbelievable come-from-behind draw against Agricola after being 4-1 down?

That display confirmed that they have arrived on the big stage, and discarding their chances could prove to be idiotic.

Jermaine Junior, Ryan Hackett, Jahaal Greaves, Raphael Edwards, Delon Williams and Dennis Edwards are enjoying themselves and playing to their true potential, so they are dangerous.

Tucville’s Ryan Hackett (green) has played a handy role in his team reaching this stage of the Championships

The young Back Circle unit is the Championships’ most balanced team. 12 goals indicate a very capable forward line, with Selwyn Williams, Jermaine Beckles and Jamal Adams scoring four, four and three strikes respectively.

Curtez Kellman is the owner of the other goal.

Defensively, they possess the joint best record, with only three goals conceded.

In the Bent Street/ Sophia clash, the former has been a scoring threat from the tourney’s inception, tallying 14 goals via nine different scorers.

Daniel Wilson, Travis Lyken and Job Caesar are the leading scorers with three goals each; which should pose a great threat against Sophia’s eight goals scored.

By Michelangelo Jacobus

A

s local bodybuilder extraordinaire Emmerson Campbell prepares to jet off to Trinidad and Tobago to compete in the Sports World Classic competition slated for June 24, he revealed in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sports that his preparations are miles ahead of schedule, and he aims to “bring home hardware”.

“Everything has been on stream, I have no complaints. My training and nutrition have all been on point this preparation,” he explained.

Campbell pointed out that since becoming more knowledgeable about his body and its innate workings, “this is probably one of the easiest preparations I’ve ever done for a show, since I’m more knowledgeable of my body and its reactions to training, types of foods, and so forth.”

While he copped silver at last year’s Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships last year, it was just by one point that he had missed out on gold.

With the competition a mere week away, Campbell noted, he has injected a bit more discipline into his routine this time around.

“I did more cardio and pushed myself more in the gym, and was a bit more disciplined this time around.

Overall, I have a better physique in terms of muscle separation and condition-

23

been a struggle for Broad Street, highlighted by two wins and as many losses.

The statistics are evidence of their inconsistency, especially on the defensive, with 10 goals slipped in.

The semi-final round kicks off on Thursday, June 15th, with the winner of quarterfinal one opposing the victor of quarterfinal four.

Victors of quarterfinals two and three respectively will face-off in the other semi-final encounter. The tourney’s final is slated for June 17th.

Winner of the tourna-

The

Emmerson Campbell and Hugh Ross after a recent training session

ing than I had at CAC. I was ready to compete three weeks ago, so I am way ahead of schedule. I will be tough to beat, come game day,” he confidently stated.

Noting that sponsorship is not always available for local athletes, he expressed gratitude for “a great support system like Abdool and Abdool, Fitness Express, APT (Aesthetic Personal Training) Gym, and others who are confident in my abilities.”

Campbell, in continuing along that vein, pointed out that “Corporate Guyana can do much more in terms of using athletes to market their products. But that hasn’t been done to their fullest potential. Sport is a business that must be invested in. Corporate entities know that, but they also need a drawback; so it goes both ways.”

Exuding confidence in his ability, the Fitness 53 gym member noted, “It’s al-

ways me against the man in the mirror. Once I can better my last performance, I have already won, regardless of the placing. But I am certain I will be returning with hardware. After all, it’s a subjective sport, and the judges will decide who wins.

It’s just up to me to make it easier on them.”

The Sports World Classic is just a tier below the CAC Championships and is expected to attract some of the region’s top bodybuilders.

Albouystown team emerged winners of their group, which featured teams such as Back Circle and Tiger Bay; so it says a lot about their confidence.

Albouystown has recorded 10 goals in four games, with the duo of Lennox Cort (four goals) and Roy Cassou (three goals) recording a combined seven conversions.

D e f e n s i v e l y , Albouystown has only conceded an impressive three times, which is the joint best record among the remaining teams.

The tournament has

ment will pocket $500,000 and the championship trophy, while runner-up will receive $200,000 and the respective accolade.

The third and fourthplace finishers will respectively pocket $100,000 and $50,000 and the corresponding accolade.

On the individual side, $50,000 will be awarded to the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Other sponsors of the event include Fas Grafix, Jefford’s Distribution and Sales, Giftland Distribution Store and FARMSUP Mining Investments Inc.

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Digicel Schools Football Championships…

Pg 22

Essequibo Islands trounce

Parika Salem in opening fixture Dicquan Clarke (peach attire) scored a hat-trick in his team’s 6-1 rout of Parika Salem on Monday afternoon at Leonora (Akeem Greene photo)

Xtreme Clean/GT Beer ‘Gold Rush’ Futsal Tournament

Pg 23

Sizzling quarter-final action anticipated tonight The battle is on tonight at the National Gymnasium, where the nation’s top futsal teams are expected to produce some scintillating action

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