Guyana times newspaper june 5 2017

US$650,000 grant for Bartica ‘Green Town’ project P2

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3232

Monday, June 5, 2017

Patient jumps to death at West Dem Hospital

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt can advocate P5 against remittance tax – Jagdeo

Page 10

Private Sector placed in uncompetitive position due to higher taxes – financial analyst Guyana eyes half a million tourists by 2025 Page 9

…as President commits resources Page 11

Enmore Estate likely to miss production P3 target – could lead to shortage of sugar on local market

Nationwide P7 Financial Literacy Programme to roll out soon – central bank official

Cattle farmer killed in Berbice hit-and-run accident P8

– suspect in custody

President David Granger and THAG President Andrea de Caires examining some of the wooden craft items displayed at the cocktail reception and artisan exhibit that was held before the commencement of the ceremony

Nandy Park businessman dies in apparent suicide Page 7

– found in pool of blood with gunshot wound to head

Jamaican Police discover 75 kilos of cocaine Page 3

– in shipments from Guyana, Suriname

Cop among 13 to be charged for traffic P8 offences today – nabbed during White Night campaign in Region 2

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Lawyers’ disciplinary system needs to be transformed – Ramkarran

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he Guyana Bar Association (GBA) needs to advocate for a transformation of the lawyers’ disciplinary body so as to restore the public’s confidence in the system, according to former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran.

Ramkarran said the Legal Practitioners Committee (LPC), the statutory body which hears complaints against lawyers, should have the power to impose sanctions against lawyers, since such a system would be a step towards eliminating misconduct by lawyers and generating public confidence in the legal profession.

The LPC comprises 15 lawyers, 12 of whom are appointed by the Chancellor of the Judiciary and three from the Attorney General’s Chambers. The body is tasked with hearing complaints of misconduct against lawyers and would report its findings to Judges of the court. If a case is made against a lawyer, then the Judges would decide the next step forward.

Ramkarran noted that the LPC was very active in Guyana and dealt with the numerous complaints of misconduct against lawyers by members of the public. However, he added that the lack of misconduct trials

by Judges for many decades was one of the sore points as it related to the lack of public confidence in the system

Former Speaker of the House, Ralph Ramkarran, SC

of discipline of lawyers. He urged the newly-elected GBA executive to fight for the LPC to be vested with the power to impose sanctions against lawyers who are guilty of misconduct. This move will restore the public’s confidence in the system.

The GBA held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday last and elected a new executive. Heading the Association is Ramkarran’s son, Kamal Ramkarran, with Senior Counsel Robin Stoby as First Vice President and Teni Housty as Second Vice President. Other elected office bearers, serving in executive positions for a period of one year as prescribed by the rules of the Association, include Secretary Pauline Chase, Assistant Secretary Faye Barker and Treasurer Devindra Kissoon.

Committee Members include Rajendra Poonai, Sanjeev Datadin, Jamela Ali, Mark

Waldron, Rexford Jackson, and Brenden Glasford.

The elder Ramkarran noted the dominance of youth on the Bar Council and hoped it set the stage for rejuvenation of the GBA. He added that the task of this Bar Council would be to mobilise young lawyers and reclaim the interest of senior lawyers in order to rebuild the dynamism of the GBA to deal with the enormous challenges faced by the legal profession, the administration of justice, and negative public perceptions.

The Senior Counsel added that the GBA needed to service the needs of its members and of the legal profession, protect the interests of the public who engage with the profession, support the judiciary, maintain vigilance over the constitutional rights and civil liberties of citizens, and defend those against State encroachment.

Providing a defence against State encroachment, he noted, is not a political task as is perceived, rather it is the civic duty and responsibility of lawyers as stipulated by their profession.

Lawyers are required, by virtue of their calling, to defend the citizen against the State –- any State, led by any political party, or coalition of parties. The violation of civil or constitutional rights by the State does not always, or necessarily, have a political origin.

US$650,000 grant for Bartica ‘Green Town’ project – launch set for today

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n light of Guyana’s overarching sustainable development achievements through the adaptation of the “go green” approach, the Government of Italy has extended a US$650,000 grant towards the establishment of a model ‘green town’ for the conducting of research here.

Bartica, on the left bank of the Essequibo River, in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), has been selected as the model ‘green town’, where research will be executed to accumulate information for the implementation of energy and sustainable development programmes.

The ‘Green Town’ initiative is aimed at establishing a reliable point of reference for the existing state of energy use and as such, Bartica will be placed under the microscope for the extraction of data. The information generated from this undertaking will be used for future measurements and predictions for evidence-based decision-making and pur-

A section of Bartica

suance of projects and programmes.

During the timeline of this initiative, Bartica will undergo sensitisation and awareness programmes for the populace as well as the conducting of a Household Baseline Survey Study, and energy audits of public institutions, facilities and street lighting, among other forms of assessments to be done throughout the town.

This is part of an effort to acquire adequate knowledge, which will be transcribed into programmes aimed at improving the existing systems of various

towns across the country so as to align them with the nationwide “go green” approach.

These efforts are being facilitated by the Office of Climate Change, which falls under the purview of the Ministry of the Presidency, and functions in partnership with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC). The project also is in accordance with the agenda of the country’s green economy framework.

The ‘Green Town’ project is set to be officially launched today.

news

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, June 5 – a night retraction at 02:30h and a day retraction at 14:30h-16:00h and Tuesday, June 6 – a night retraction at 03:00h and a day retraction at 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, June 5 – 13:50h-15:20h and Tuesday, June 6 – 14:35h-16:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, while light cloud cover and light rain showers can be expected in the evening. Temperatures should range between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 13:57h reaching a maximum height of 2.32 metres.

Low Tide: 07:31h and 19:48h reaching minimum heights of 0.86 metre and 0.87 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, June 3, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS O

08 09 11

14 22 27

16 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Afternoon Draw

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Enmore Estate likely to miss production target – could lead to shortage of sugar on local market

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he East Demerara Sugar Estate (Enmore) is way behind its production target for the first crop of 2017, and this could possibly result in a shortage of sugar on the local market.

Komal Chand, President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), told Guyana Times that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) shared this information with GAWU sometime last week.

“There will be a shortage of sugar on the local market, because (at Enmore) they needed to produce 1200 tonnes of sugar from the time they closed the crop some days ago,” Chand disclosed.

GAWU was, last week, asked to intervene to resolve a dispute between the workers and the management of GuySuCo, after management had closed the crop and wanted to restart it in the last week of May. The workers had already made up their minds that the crop was closed, and

GAWU President Komal Chand

therefore demanded that GuySuCo give them their out-of-crop benefit -- holiday with a week’s pay. Although workers agreed to return to work, adverse weather conditions and the poor state of the dams along the cane fields served as major impediments to the estate’s target being met.

“They will not be able to make the target to ensure that the local market is adequately supplied with sugar.

They are far from realising it…there is a massive deficit at Enmore Estate,” Chand

again emphasised.

Chand said the only estate that remains in operation at this time is Enmore, and its production as at April 22, 2017 stood at around 8000 tonnes of sugar. Thus, he said, the overall production across the sugar industry would be severely curtailed.

Accordingly, GuySuCo’s first crop set target of approximately 74,000 tonnes of sugar may not be realised. “(GuySuCo’s first crop production) most likely would not surpass 50,000 tonnes. (It was) at 49,000 tonnes with only Enmore operating. Production will be significantly curtailed by over 24,000 tonnes.

(GuySuCo) might just make 67 percent of the sugar production (target),” Chand explained.

It was revealed in early May that Uitvlugt Estate, located on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD), had missed its first crop production target by just over 1300 tonnes. This estate has reportedly produced 7031 tonnes of the projected

8339 tonnes of sugar, representing a shortfall of 1308 tonnes of the projected target.

A number of factors were reportedly responsible for the estate’s shortfall in production, two of which were: rat damage to crops, and cane shortage to facilitate production. This publication learnt that much of the canes from several locations on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD) could not, in fact, go to Uitvlugt for processing.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, in his 2017 Budget presentation, had indicated that the status quo in the sugar industry could neither be sustained nor maintained. He explained that, as currently structured, the industry would require Government’s support to the tune of $18.6 billion for 2017 and $21.4 billion for 2018.

He elaborated that, based on the CoI, it was concluded that any money injected into the sugar industry in its current state was money wasted.

Jamaican Police discover 75 kilos of cocaine – in shipments from Guyana, Suriname

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he Jamaican authorities are reporting that they have discovered some 75 kilograms (165 pounds) of cocaine stashed away in four containers shipped from Guyana and Suriname.

According to a report in

to contain 56 parcels of cocaine. Police said the drug seized has an estimated street value of J$77,216,000 (G$124,317,760).

Two containers were shipped from Guyana and contained two travelling bags each. One of the bags

the Jamaica Observer, officers assigned to the Narcotics Division and members of the Contraband Enforcement Team (CET) of the Jamaica Custom Agency conducted an operation at the Kingston Freeport Terminal, Gordon Quay, Port Bustamante Wharf, which led to the seizure of more than 165 pounds of cocaine. Reports are that a few days ago, four containers shipped from Guyana and Suriname were searched and found

contained 31 parcels of cocaine, while the other contained 12. The other two containers were shipped from Suriname with two knapsacks containing a total of 13 packets of cocaine.

On Friday, one of the containers from Guyana showed anomalies in the refrigeration section upon scanning.

The Police say the section of the container was disassembled and a further 10 parcels of cocaine were seized.

The Police investigation

DRAW DE LINE

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is still ongoing with no arrests made so far.

About three weeks ago, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) agents, acting on information, inspected a shipment of dressed lumber at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, and discovered some 84.9 kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value of $550 million.

Sherwayne De Abreu; motorcycle racer Stephen

Vieira, and motor car racers Tazim Gafoor and his son, Nazim Gafoor, were all charged for trafficking in narcotics as a result. The fifth suspect, Narine Lall, the alleged would-be shipper, is still on the run.

Vieira, before his arrest, travelled to Suriname and Jamaica and then surrendered to the Police after a wanted bulletin was issued for him.

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monDAY, june 5, 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

Managing oil

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uyana most resembles the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa; not only in our level of development and societal and governance challenges, but by being resource rich and capital poor.

The Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD) has some salutary advice that should be heeded by our Government as they embark on the exploitation of our massive oil reserves: “The management of a massive influx of oil revenues poses serious challenges for any government, but especially for those without strong democratic and accountable institutions. Power and resources in oil states become concentrated in the hands of the state, encouraging citizens to make their living through ties with the Government. This practice, known as ‘rent seeking’, reduces the incentive for other forms of productive activity.

In authoritarian states, counter pressures do not exist to push governments to develop economic strategies which are not oil-dependent, or oversight mechanisms for oil revenue management. Authoritarian states do not have democratically accountable executives, or open and transparent policy-making processes. They rarely have efficient civil service and tax authorities, independent legal systems, or active and informed civil societies.

Incentives from outside the country encourage oildependence. Some oil companies are willing to make secret deals, and northern governments sometimes form strong alliances with authoritarian leaders. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) routinely encourage development strategies based on the comparative advantage of petroleum. And they support lending to deeply indebted oil exporters when it is clear that debt only supports unproductive activities and prolongs the ability of government to mismanage oil revenues.

Oil development often brings an initial boom: higher per capita income, more employment, better nutrition and health, and more and better infrastructure. But boom usually soon turns to bust as rent-seeking and mismanagement of resources, and sometimes volatile oil prices, undermine the positive outcomes.

The negotiating position of poor host governments is weak. Only a few very large and powerful oil companies have the technology to extract Africa’s deep oil. This means oil companies drive hard bargains over the percentage of oil profits accruing to them, often winning greater shares than they have been able to in other parts of the world.

The more a country depends on natural resources, the worse is its growth performance, as it suffers from “the resource curse”. Oil dependence hurts development for the following reasons: The promise of oil wealth creates a ‘boom mentality’: governments create grandiose plans, work ethics are undermined, and productivity sinks. Public spending increases dramatically, because governments expect massive revenue increases (which usually turn out to be less than expected).

The quality of public spending declines. Money is wasted on corruption, as government officials accept bribes in return for awarding benefits. The volatility of oil prices hinders growth, distribution of wealth, and poverty alleviation. Booms encourage the loss of fiscal control and inflation, which further hampers growth, equity, and poverty alleviation. Foreign debt rises as governments borrow to cover shortfalls in expected oil revenues.

Other sectors of the economy, such as manufacturing and agriculture, decline as a result of oil dependence.

Income from oil replaces tax revenues, thus removing the need for government to account to people for how it spends their money.

Oil-rich states at our level of development have several characteristics. Ironically, poverty heads the list. Nigeria, the biggest oil producer in Africa, received more than $300 billion in oil revenues over the past 25 years, yet more than 70 per cent of the population has a per capita income of less than $1 per day. As economic growth fails to live up to expectations, governments in oil-rich states resort to repression to retain power, and spend heavily on the military.

Oil resources have been used to fund authoritarian regimes, and dependence on oil encourages many forms of corruption. Companies make payments or loans to government officials to secure contracts and other benefits.

Finally, oil can exacerbate pre-existing tensions in society, as different groups demand a share of revenues.

Members of the Congolese Cultural Dance Group presented the Congo National Ballet in Bhopal, India (BBC News)

Hypocrisy in politics Dear Editor, Many social scientists often wonder why people lose faith in politics and politicians. In many parts of the world, politicians are seen as persons lacking in morality and wanting in trustworthiness.

Very often those perceptions are really misplaced, and are not true. However, the behaviour of some politicians gives credence to this view.

The behaviour alluded to was in full display at Guyana’s 51st Independence anniversary celebrations. The President of our country and many of his ministers who made public appearances spoke about Guyana being a ‘free state’ and a “cohesive state’.

Hearing those words, one wondered if those speakers were intoxicated or were just deliberately attempting to deceive people.

In the two years since this regime has taken power, a massive cleansing of the public service has been

done. Almost all the workers sent home are IndoGuyanese. On the other hand, almost all employed by this regime -- to bloat the bureaucracy -- were non Indo-Guyanese. Therefore, how can you speak of cohesion?

It was announced that sixty-nine (69) persons were given national awards. Only fourteen (14) were of Indian Guyanese descent, and two of the fourteen were of mixed descendants.

Again, how can we talk about ‘national cohesion’?

How can we mention national cohesion when many Indian Guyanese who were awarded low income house lots and low income homes (turn-key homes) had them repossessed by the APNU regime?

Indeed, this regime has come up with new methods of dismissing persons they don’t like. Almost all those sent off on administrative leave are Indian Guyanese.

None were re-employed.

Indeed, no investigations

are going on in many cases.

So those persons are really fired.

How is this promoting ‘social cohesion’?

We see the onslaught launched against the Opposition, using SOCU and now SARA. Many are being arrested on trumpedup charges or for frivolous things. Take, for instance, the charging of several members of the Guyana Rice Development Board (who are all PPP/C members), not because of missing funds, but because some junior clerk did not enter a transaction. These people have been put on $500,000 bail, and had to lodge their passports. How can this be promoting ‘social cohesion’?

Look at the appointments in the Judiciary. Not a single Indo-Guyanese judge was appointed to the Court of Appeal. As those now serving on the bench reach retirement age, we will find even fewer, because the record of this regime suggests that very

few Indo-Guyanese judges would be appointed.

How can we speak of ‘social cohesion’ when Opposition Members of Parliament’s motions are decimated by the Speaker, who is an unelected member of that body?

It is clear that he sees one of his functions as being to disrupt the Opposition Members when they are speaking, and to curtail their speeches. The Parliament has lost the status of being a body for debates and deliberations; those are not being allowed.

This cannot be good for social cohesion.

Clearly, therefore, people have grounds to describe some politicians as being hypocrites; and even of being dishonest. The only sad thing is that this charge is being generalized, and all politicians are being daubed with the same brush.

Donald Ramotar Former President of Guyana

MTA must finish the Richmond Hill elevator in ‘Little Guyana’

Dear Editor, Here in Little Guyana, or Region 11 – where the largest number of expatriate Guyanese abound in the largest region – the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) must be reminded about their public commitment, promise and obligation to complete the wheelchair-accessible elevator in the heart of the Richmond Hill community – the Lefferts Boulevard and Liberty Avenue subway stop.

The ubiquitous presence of the New York editions of the Kaieteur, Guyana Chronicle, Guyana Times and Mirror newspapers, which are read more than the NY Times and

NY Daily News newspapers, keep our community of expatriate Guyanese Americans informed; and we kindly ask your media to publish this representative petition.

MTA’s $29 million project, commenced since 2014, was scheduled to be finished since the end of 2016, but unpalatable excuses abound each time we enquire about the constantly deferred completion date, making it a “white elephant.”

Seniors, pregnant mothers, kids, the physically challenged, students, workers; indeed, everyone in our tax-paying community, would benefit greatly from this elevator, which makes mobility

and travel easier, and would love to see this project completed. MTA would also benefit from increased revenue.

The Richmond Hill community is one of the few in the USA that do not have any escalators or elevators serving subway patrons, which raises serious concerns.

Moreover, the failure to complete this project has forced the closure of the adjacent main stairway, affecting businesses and the local economy, and congesting traffic.

The fencing, construction and accumulating garbage are an eye sore, and present a danger to public safety.

The MTA must recognise that they are failing in their

duty to make access easier for residents with disabilities, contrary to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Indeed, the non-profit Center for Independence of the Disabled New York just filed a lawsuit against the MTA for lack of elevator access citywide. Richmond Hill/ Ozone Park residents may also bring a class action lawsuit against the entity.

As a matter of customer obligation and due compliance with our laws, this project is long overdue, and must be completed now!

Albert Baldeo Community Advocate

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News Govt can advocate against remittance tax – Jagdeo …calls for Granger to make more use of Caricom chairmanship

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hile Government has acknowledged that the United States tax on remittances to the Caribbean will have an effect on Guyanese, it has adopted a wait-and-see approach to the issue.

But the fact that Guyana’s President, David Granger, is Chair of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) puts him in a position to do more advocacy for the Region’s benefit.

This is according to former President Bharrat Jagdeo.

“I’m arguing for a more proactive approach,” Jagdeo said, when asked to comment on the Government’s wait-andsee stance. “The President is now the Chairman of Caricom. He has an additional responsibility outside of the national one. He should say, here are four or five issues: the trade issues, the financial sector issues, climate issues,

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

remittances, immigrants, that we would like to engage the US on and try to move Caricom to request such an engagement,” he posited.

According to the former President, President Granger now has an oppor-

tunity to do such advocacy.

Jagdeo, a Moscow-trained economist, recalled that during the time he chaired Caricom, in 2009, regional initiatives were promoted.

He expressed fear that by the time Granger’s six months as Chairman would have elapsed, there would have been little change or advancement. Granger assumed the chairmanship of Caricom in January 2017, for a six-month term.

With the newly-proposed tax measures on remittances from the US to foreign countries, including Guyana, economists have predicted that remittances would dry up.

During a recent post-Cabinet press briefing, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said there was little the Government could do at this time. The Minister acknowledged that the measure would, however, have an effect on

President David Granger

the country.

“As the saying goes when certain people sneeze, everyone else catches a cold.

When the Americans make their laws, we have to deal with the consequences of it. What I can say is that it means it will cost you more

Must Guyana have its own oil refinery?

Dear Editor, We trust that all is well.

We write in relation to the recent assessment by the consultant Pedro Hass from the British-based international think-tank Chatham House, which concluded that building a 100,000 barrel-per-day oil refinery in Guyana could cost up to US$5 billion, and that such an enterprise would yield a net negative outcome of US$2-3 billion per annum.

We note that many very thoughtful voices have argued that such an undertaking is essential to our national development project, citing a range of promising economic and financial outcomes and numerous exam-

ples of countries not unlike Guyana building and successfully operating refineries.

We, the authors of the essay attached, disagree with each other as to whether a refinery should be built.

However, in our discussions, we quickly recognised a fundamental problem with our discourse and the Guyanese national discourse – we were/are collectively not proceeding from a set of shared assumptions!

In this essay, the first part of our series, we start at the beginning: What are the foundational elements in making this and similar decisions of this type, which would undoubtedly emerge

in Guyana’s near-term and medium-term future?

In our next installment, we will address the key sectoral issues that are critical inputs for a decision on constructing a refinery for Guyana; and in Part III of this essay, we would examine practical options for

Guyana at this stage in her journey.

We look forward to inviting you, your readers, and the Guyanese citizenry into this discussion.

Terrence Blackman and Kojo Parris

to send money from the United States to Guyana,” Harmon had said.

“As you know, remittances have been a major plank in the sustenance of many families in this country. And I think it is going to have an impact on them,” Harmon said. “But we will have to look and see what happens. It may be that instead of getting a hundred dollars, you get ninety.”

But the Minister went on to stress that “there is nothing really we as a State can do about the way another country makes its laws.

All we can say is encourage those who send money to their families here to increase the amount”.

It is expected that the US Congress may make an amendment to the US Electronic Fund Transfer Act to impose a fee for remittance transfers to certain foreign countries, including Guyana.

The Bill, which is titled Border Wall Funding Act of 2017 (HR 1813), has already been introduced in the US House of Representatives by Congressman Mike Rogers, of Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District.

In introducing the Bill on March 30, 2017, Rogers claimed that remittances were normally used by illegal immigrants to move money from the US to their home countries.

In order to put a restriction on this, Rogers said, the Bill will seek to allow for a two per cent fee charged on individuals sending money to recipients in 42 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Remittances are a major part of Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), at one point accounting for 25 per cent. In recent years, however, there has been a drop.

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Foundation

Learning by writing fiction

– writing stories builds skills relevant to almost any field

By Laura Otis PhD

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n a workshop to discuss how academic and creative writing are related, my colleagues and I spent most of our time talking about guilt. All of us felt guilty about the hours we had spent writing novels, stories, and memoirs, which we had been taught to think of as an indulgence.

“I’m not getting paid to do this,” said one colleague, who worried about the ethics of devoting time to her memoir.

Why would a group of university professors feel so guilty about creative writing?

In 20 years of writing novels alongside academic books on literature and science, I’ve encountered the greatest scepticism from fellow scholars.

This does not hold true for colleagues in creative writing, who have been encouraging and supportive. To them, it has seemed completely natural that I would write novels – who wouldn’t want to? This uneasiness of professional people toward fiction extends far beyond academia. Tell coworkers that you’re writing a novel, and you’re likely to get nervous glances, as though you were going to describe your dreams. Talking about your novel is received as a breach of taste, as though you were sharing something deeply personal, of little interest to others. (No doubt some colleagues also worry that they will appear in your work.) This July, I’m hoping to graduate from Warren Wilson College’s Low Residency MFA Program in Fiction, and everything I’ve learned there contradicts the view that creative writing is an

indulgence. Writing well takes intense work that builds skills relevant to almost any field.

Writing a story requires the ability to see the world from another person’s point of view.

This means starting with the senses: what a character sees, hears, feels, smells, and tastes, all of which are likely to reveal her emotions and her unique way of seeing the world. Fictionwriting resembles method acting in that it leads writers to revive their own experiences so that they can imagine the experiences of others.

“We represent other people’s minds using simulations of our own minds,” writes psychologist Lawrence W Barsalou (Barsalou 2008, 623).

Barsalou is talking about living, not writing, but the skills built in each realm are relevant to the other.

Physician and literary scholar Rita Charon has built the field of Narrative Medicine based on her observation that people skilled in reading, analysing, and telling stories often make better listeners and better doctors (Charon 2006). A story will only work if the character from whose perspective it is coming can convey her sensations, thoughts, and emotions so vividly, they feel like lived experiences. <<<Inhabiting the mind and body of a fictional person forces one to think beyond oneself>>>. This is especially true if the person is of a different

age, gender, nationality, race, or class – if the character has different ideas or a different body. Some writers believe that one shouldn’t even try to depict characters substantially different from oneself, because one will just propagate stereotypes. I disagree. If the writing involves research (such as talking to people whose lives differ substantially from yours) and an honest, focused attempt to imagine an unfamiliar perspective,

what more valuable learning experience can there be? Consider the advice of novelist Robert Boswell on how to write a political novel that is also a work of art: “Write from the point of view of the other” (Boswell 2008, 139). Boswell encourages a writer to tell her story through the eyes of a complex character who sees the issue differently. Good fiction shouldn’t just make readers rethink the ways they see the world; it should do the same for the writer (Boswell 2008, 153).

Few learning experiences bring greater benefit than imagining the mental life of someone who disagrees with you.

Fiction allows conflicts to emerge that are often suppressed in polite life.

Novelist Charles Baxter has observed that “in fiction we want to have characters create scenes that in real life we would typically avoid” (Baxter 2007, 121). Writing a story requires a writer to see the central conflict in an emotional mess and articulate it from several characters’ points of view. What makes Dostoevsky’s writing so great, said my college teacher, Liza Cheresh Allen, is that “no one has a corner on the truth” (Allen 1981).

D o s t o e v s k y ’s characters often disagree violently, but each makes her case in a sympathetic way so that readers can feel her humanity. In a story worth reading, something has to happen; characters have to confront each other, and they have to act. Action only becomes possible when a writer finds a way to dissolve the forces suppressing a conflict.

Once characters emerge from writers’ minds, they may seem to have independent lives. Novelist David Haynes urges both readers and writers to remember that characters have agendas: often, they are trying to make themselves look as good as possible (Haynes 2016). Readers need to keep in mind what aspects of a story the character telling it may want to distort or conceal. Writers need

to consider what a character is avoiding and make the character face what she dreads. Fictionwriter Kirstin Valdez Quade warns writers about slippery protagonists who find ways to avoid confrontations that would make marvellous scenes (Valdez Quade 2016). She urges writers to keep characters in uncomfortable situations so that something surprising or powerful can emerge.

Imagining another person’s internal life; inhabiting the mental world of someone whose views oppose yours; articulating a conflict from multiple viewpoints; considering the agendas of people creating narratives. To what job or field of learning would these skills not be relevant? Writing stories develops these abilities, whether one is writing a science fiction tale or a love story, whether one is studying in an academic

programme or learning how to write on one’s own. The idea that fiction-writing is personal and self-indulgent comes from the fallacy that writing means withdrawing from life. On the contrary, writing fiction means embracing the world: rethinking one’s experiences, imagining other people’s experiences, and reaching toward what is not yet imaginable. I would urge anyone who has ever wanted to write to get started and ignore any talk of guilt. Some would argue that this will flood the world with bad fiction, but they may also fear the astounding writing that will emerge. Widespread writing could create teachers, doctors, business-owners, and designers who are better observers and better listeners. The failed writer isn’t the one who can’t get published; it’s the one who has always wanted to write but never tried. (psychologytoday)

12 tips to build a stronger sibling (Part 2) bond

By Laura Markham, PhD

Promote the idea of the sibling team by creating family activities in which your children work together. For instance, give them a huge sheet of paper to draw on together. Ask them to write a letter to grandma together. Design a scavenger hunt where the children help each other, rather than compete against each other.

When you roughhouse, always team children against grownups.

Put your children in charge of a project together. For instance, maybe they’ll wash the car together, to earn the money you would have spent at the car wash. Or maybe they’re in charge of the decorations for Father’s Day, or planning a fun family outing. Let the children work together to do the planning, with you only peripherally involved to insure safety and maximum fun.

Family Kindness Journal. Tie sheets of paper together with a ribbon, or just add sheets of paper to a binder. Label it “Our Family Kindness Journal” and let the children decorate it. You might begin with a quote about kindness, such as the Dalai Lama’s: “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” Then, notice acts of kindness between your children, and write them in the journal, with the date.

“Carlos shared the cookie he brought home from school with Michael.”

“Natalya helped Yuri reach the light switch. Yuri was so pleased.”

“At the grocery store today, Evie suggested that we buy oranges for Damian.”

As you talk about the incident, celebrate that kindness has a way of warming the hearts of both people—the giver and the receiver.

Soon, your children will be noticing the small kindnesses between them and asking you to record them. Before you know it, they’ll be inspired to more acts of kindness toward each other.

Help children work out problems without making anyone wrong. Conflict is part of every human relationship, and children are still learning how to manage their strong emotions. So you can expect your children to fight with each other. Our job as parents is to resist taking sides, which increases sibling rivalry. Instead, teach children healthy conflict resolution skills, like listening, expressing their own needs without attacking the other person, and looking for win-win solutions. (Want more ideas on how to teach children these skills? That’s the heart of my book, Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How To Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends For Life.)

And of course the most important factor in helping your children get along is for you to forge a strong relationship with each child.

When each child knows in his bones that no matter what his sibling gets, there is more than enough for him, sibling love has a chance to bloom. There is always more love. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

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monDAY, june 5, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Nationwide Financial Literacy Programme to roll out soon – central bank official

Bank of Guyana Deputy Governor, Dr Terrence Smith

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eputy Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr Terrence Smith believes that more education is needed on financial literacy.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony held at the National Sports Commission’s Racquet Centre late last week, Dr Smith observed that many persons in poorer countries, such as Guyana, are “financially illiterate”, so much so that they are working against maximising their full economic potential. “[Financial Literacy] is something that is lacking in Guyana especially in the Indigenous communities… it is affecting them and, therefore, it affects the economy of Guyana,” the Bank’s Deputy Governor outlined.

Dr Smith also said that bringing awareness on financial literacy was something that should be brought to the forefront. He further encouraged that young people

should have ‘saving qualities’, noting that lack of finances could affect your quality of life, especially if the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pension was all that you would receive at 60.

“You can’t wait till 55 to start saving,” Dr Smith implored.

He also clarified that the central bank was hoping to develop a financial literacy programme that would be rolled out within the next two months. Dr Smith related that it was after Finance Minister Winston Jordan highlighted the inadequacies of sound financial literacy last year that the Bank opted to formulate the programme.

“He alluded that Guyana needs to come forward with educating the citizens [on] financial literacy; for people to become financial literate in the sense that they’re able to make proper decisions in terms of money they have to spend, so the Bank of Guyana took the initia-

tive,” he noted.

The central bank official further noted that the programme would eventually extend to all regions of the country with special focus on the youth and Indigenous populations.

“I want to start with the youth in primary school, because I feel if you teach folk about financial literacy early on in their lifetime, when they grow up they become more positive and more sensitive to financial decisions and as they get older, they make wiser decisions in terms of financial literacy,” Dr Smith stressed, adding that the programme would benefit Guyanese households.

Ahead of the programme’s media launch and rollout, the official explained that stakeholder meetings were currently being held.

“I am at the moment speaking with the stakeholders like Credit Bureau, National Library…as I begin to get the stakeholders on board and I finish the development of the strategy, I will face the media and roll it out by the end of early July or August,” he expressed.

It was on Thursday last that 22 youths successfully completed the Financial Literacy and Small Business Training Programme. In his address, the Deputy Governor insisted that the graduates carefully utilise the skills garnered as he highlighted the shortcomings that exist in locals in terms of making prudent financial decisions.

Nandy Park businessman dies in apparent suicide – found in pool of blood with gunshot wound to head

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he lifeless body of 59-nine-year-old businessman Parbhudyal “Cecil” Persaud, called ‘Konkie,’ was discovered by his wife lying in a pool of his own blood at the back of their home at 83 Collingwood Avenue, Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara at about 06:00h on Sunday, when she opened the door to begin the day’s activities.

The devastated woman raised an alarm, and the police were summoned. There was evidence of a gunshot wound to the head, suspected to have been inflicted by the man placing the still cocked .32 Taurus pistol in his mouth and pulling the trigger. A spent shell of similar calibre was found near Persaud’s body, while 8 rounds of matching ammunition were found in the magazine and one was in the breach. The pistol was jointly registered in the names of the now dead man and his 29-year-old son.

Police reports indicate that Persaud may have taken the decision to end his life between 12:00h on Saturday and 06:00h on Sunday. His body is presently at the Lyken Funeral Parlour, awaiting a post-mortem.

Guyana Times understands that, at about 10:00h on Saturday, Persaud had

The Nandy Park house in which Parbhudyal Persaud resided

requested that his wife leave the home and not return alone. The unsuspecting woman accordingly left to join her son at the family’s sawmill at Yarrowkabra on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. When the duo returned home at about 19:00h, Persaud was nowhere to be seen. Thus, having unsuccessfully contacted relatives in hope of reaching the man, his wife and son duly retired to bed; only to make the ghastly discovery of his dead body the following morning.

According to family members, Persaud had been embroiled in a financial crisis for over a year, and had gone into depression; even making known on numerous occasions his intention to end his life.

“He has a sawmill up the (Linden/Soesdyke) Highway, and about a yearand-half-ago he encountered some financial problems and he was very depressed… He said before that he would have committed suicide; and when his wife discovered (his body) this morning, it looked like he (had) shot himself,” the relative related.

Persaud had allegedly suffered a mental breakdown some three years ago, and had been a patient at the Fort Canje Hospital’s Psychiatric Clinic in Berbice. His next doctor’s appointment was scheduled for Wednesday.

He leaves to mourn his wife, four children and six grandchildren, among other relatives and friends.

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monDAY, june 5, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cattle farmer killed in Berbice hit-and-run accident

– suspect in custody

By Andrew Carmichael

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42-year-old cattle farmer was on Sunday morning killed after being hit by a speeding car along the East Coast Berbice Public Road.

The dead man has been identified as Michael Andre Totaram also called “Punk Man”, of Adelphi Village, East Canje.

The accident occurred about 01:30h on Sunday.

Reports are that the driver of the car, 21-yearold Emanuel Luther, of Lad Lane, New Amsterdam, rented the car from a car rental business at Fyrish Village, Corentyne, and was at the time operating it under the Cool Ride Taxi Service of

Lad Lane.

He related that he was on his way to Rose Hall Town to pick up a passenger when he hit ‘something'. The man said he stopped the car he was driving and exited to check. Upon checking, he noticed the car’s number plate was broken, but did not see anything on the roadway.

The driver said he got back into the car and went to Rose Hall Town. When the passengers got to the vehicle, they saw that the car did not have its front registration plate.

On the way to New Amsterdam with the passengers, Luther said the vehicle developed mechanical problems, so he stopped.

He said he then made

contact with the taxi service he worked with and requested a new car to transport the stranded passengers to their destination while he remained behind trying to fix the car. It was later discovered that the radiator was broken and the water had leaked out thus causing the car to overheat.

B Division (Berbice) Commander Ian Amsterdam confirmed that the Police were investigating a hitand-run accident and a mobile patrol went to the scene.

He said when they arrived, Totaram's body was lying along the roadway.

He was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Back at the scene,

they noticed a car, PSS 6395, a short distance away and the driver with the bonnet opened. Luther was arrested and taken into custody at the Reliance Police Station. the Meanwhile, dead man’s sister Juliet McPherson told Guyana Times said two Police Officers visited her home on Sunday and informed her of her brother’s demise.

According to her, Totaram was an alcoholic and had been working as a cattle farmer with someone for just over three weeks. It is her belief that her brother may have been intoxicated and wandering along the roadway when he was struck. Police are investigating.

Cop among 13 to be charged for traffic offences today – nabbed during White Night campaign in Region 2

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hirteen drivers from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) will be placed before the court today for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) as they were nabbed during the White Night campaign in G Division (Essequibo CoastIslands) last Friday.

Among the 13 is a police officer and according to the Deputy Commander for the Division, he will be dealt with accordingly.

The 13 vehicles were impounded for violating road

regulations, being equipped with white lights, ornaments and window and headlight tints.

Ranks from the Division joined in the nationwide campaign last Friday. The exercise commenced around 18:30h and lasted approximately six and a half hours.

During the exercise, several vehicles were stopped and searched at road blocks.

According to head of the regional Traffic Department, Alfred Parks, the focus of the exercise is to promote traffic education as well as to make

the roads safer: "Drivers need to know their responsibilities on the road and road safety; this campaign is a way of sensitising." The campaign also focused on those drivers who are using the high-definition lights.

Sergeant Parks said there have been numerous complaints from drivers who have experienced temporary blindness as a result of white lights.

The White Night campaign commenced early in 2017 in Region Two, and several drivers were

Region Two Traffic Department Head, Alfred Parks

charged. Some drivers’ licences were even revoked by the Magistrate for driving continuously under the influence.

The Region Two traffic head, however, said the idea evolved to have the campaign in an effort to ensure that drivers adopt a new attitude towards driving, particularly in areas of drinking and safe usage of the road.

“It is not a new initiative; the initiative started some time ago and has been successful in other regions.

Since there has been an increase in road accidents here on the Essequibo Coast, we believe that we should join the initiative in an effort to educate drivers out there on the importance of road safety,” Parks said.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was also on the scene to assist in the exercise. The CID conducted searches on vehicles if suspicions were roused that something unlawful was being transported. Breathalyser tests were also conducted.

The Deputy Commander of the Division, M Taylor said lack of knowledge on proper road usage was a contributing factor to accidents apart from speeding. To curb this, pamphlets were distributed. Taylor said that once drivers were educated, they would use the road with more care and caution hence reducing road fatalities.

Meaningless…

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…meetings

very business executive has some basic rules on “meetings,” and one of the first rules is to ask, “What’s this meeting about?” If you aren’t clear about the goals of the meeting, you’ll be wasting your time, and you might as well don’t show up.

We don’t know about politicians, but here it is: Prezzie’s rejected the Opposition Leader’s second list of nominees for the GECOM Chair, and now wants a meeting.

Is it your Eyewitness, or is it déjà vu? What happened after the meeting following the first rejection? Prezzie had intimated that only names of ex-judges should be submitted, but then grudgingly conceded it could be other “fit and proper” persons.

Jagdeo had wanted a meeting to clarify what the heck the President understood by “fit and proper” as it related to the constitutional criteria to fill the GECOM Chair. Barring that, Jagdeo said he’d want the matter to be decided by the CCJ. Interpretation of the constitution is, after all, solely the responsibility of the Judiciary.

Prezzie declined the meeting, but said he’d offer clarity via his Attorney General, Basil Williams. A couple of months later, Prezzie decided to meet Jagdeo, but promised only to make his position clear again. Nothing decided…just stalling for time…wasted meeting.

Most observers figured Prezzie was hoping to frustrate Jagdeo; and if no list was submitted, by provision of the Constitution, he could unilaterally appoint whomever he wanted as the Chair. The person he had earmarked, according to insiders, was ex-Justice Claudette La Bennet.

After that meeting, Basil Williams announced, via a press release, who was “fit and proper”: “His Excellency did elaborate a little more on that, and he identified the three ‘Is’, which is to say that: the person must be a person of Integrity, the person must be a person who is Independent and the person must be someone who is Impartial.” The problem was that those qualities were pretty general and were subject to wide interpretation; but Jagdeo did submit that second list -- which was duly rejected, and we arrive at the request for the second meeting.

“What’s the point of this meeting?” your Eyewitness asks once again. To provide another opportunity for the state photographer to position himself so he could catch Granger looming over Jagdeo as the latter ascends the State House stairs and is forced to shake the former’s outstretched hand like a supplicant? It’s become the Chronic’s favourite pic of the two leaders.

Prezzie knows Jagdeo can’t go unilaterally to the CCJ, which only has original jurisdiction on the CSME. Initial interpretive recourse lies in the local courts. Prezzie would be counting on the plasticity of the latter.

Jagdeo should test them, rather than waste his time with meetings.

…mumblings

It all started so promisingly when the APNU and AFC were in Opposition -- especially after 2011, when they caught up with the PPP. So many things they were going to do! Procurement? No sweat…They were going to make that so tight and so transparent we’d know even the number of sweets bought to calm skittish kids getting injections!! But oh, what a tangled web they’ve woven as they bled the Treasury dry with pharma scandals; and yet, scarcely an aspirin tablet can be found!

All we get are vague mumblings! What about the details of all those contracts from which the PPP were “siphoning off” billions and billions to fill their pockets?

Mumble…Mumble… They’ve had two years to check out, say, the airport expansion contract. Why not “out” the PPP? Mumble…Mumble… They couldn’t possibly be doing the same things they accused the PPP of doing, could they?

Could it be that their fire-and-brimstone vituperations were just projections of what was in their twisted psyches all along?? Bun dem!!

…revelations on Exxon contract

Who does Trotman think he’s fooling?? The days are long gone when Guyanese would accept just mumblings on what he’s given up to Exxon.

Don’t blame Exxon for driving a hard bargain. Blame the Govt for assigning Mr Clueless as our point man!

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

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monDAY, june 5, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cabinet still to review findings of oil refinery study – Govt says all advice will be considered before making decision

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he Government will be considering all advice being offered before it makes any decision on establishing an oil refinery.

This is according to Minister of State Joseph Harmon, during his post-Cabinet press briefing.

He noted that at the conclusion of this process, a memorandum will be submitted by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman.

“We have to take on board all of the advice that is given and then at the appropriate time the Minister (of Natural Resources) will bring a memorandum to Cabinet upon which we will cogitate and make a decision that is in the best interest of the people of Guyana,” Minister Harmon said.

It was only last month that Pedro Haas, Director of Advisory Services at Hartree Partners revealed that the cost to construct an oil refinery would be US$5 billion. Haas had been tasked with carrying out a feasibility study for an oil refinery in Guyana. According to Minister Harmon, Cabinet

is still to review the findings of the study.

The feasibility study found that it would be too costly for the Government to invest in an oil refinery. The consultant had said that the final results of the study show that Guyana would be “destroying over half the value of your investment the day you commission your refinery”.

The company looked at economic models used in other oil-producing countries and compared them with the scale and complexity of Guyana’s potential oil market to come up with the recommendations. Expert opinions from oil and engineering companies were also taken on board.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has stated that Government has not made any decision

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

on whether it would construct a refinery or not. He had explained that this could not be a unilateral decision.

“Information is not always packaged in a manner in which we would wish to have it and it is not always palatable to the taste we would wish. But we thought in this instance, in the interest of transparency we decided to share what we have received,” Trotman said, referring to the presentation made by Hartree.

Trotman had said most of the decisions would be made by “political imperatives”. However, he said he hoped that the economic importance would not be lost when a final decision was made.

The Minister said con-

sultations would continue in various other parts of Guyana and in the Diaspora before a final decision was made as to whether Guyana should build its own oil refinery.

The results of the study have not met the satisfaction of sections of Guyana’s business community, who argue that an oil refinery makes practical sense if Guyana is to receive a portion of crude oil. As a result, some had requested the study in order to do an independent analysis.

Following reviews of the technical and environmental aspects of the Liza Project Development Plan that was submitted by Esso Exploration and Production (Guyana) Ltd (EEPGL) in December 2017, the Government is expected to grant a production licence to ExxonMobil for petroleum production to move ahead in 2020.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is the operator and holds a 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds a 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds a 25 per cent interest.

Private Sector placed in uncompetitive position due to higher taxes – financial analyst

By Samuel Sukhnandan

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igher taxation will cause systemic damage to the country’s economic framework and has the potential to drive businesses away to invest elsewhere, financial analyst Sasenarine Singh has cautioned.

Singh told Guyana Times on Sunday that increased taxes in Guyana have already led to an upsurge in the cost of production, which is driving the Private Sector into a more uncompetitive position.

“So, you will find this increase in taxation has resulted in a productivity decline for the Private Sector over the last 12 months.

The Private Sector needs to be the engine of growth to drive the new frontier of economic expansion that can fuel the new jobs, but these new taxes in the 2017 National Budget are working against this entire protocol of creating new jobs and new economic activity,” Singh asserted.

Putting things into perspective, the financial analyst explained that when one looks at the Private Sector, there have not been any tangible investments at least in the past two years.

This is something that Business Minister Dominic Gaskin has acknowledged.

The Minister said in early April that investors were interested in political and economic stability, rule of law, the integrity of public officials, physical security and the ease of doing business.

Gaskin had further acknowledged that Guyana was not a high-ranked country in any of these areas and cited the need to improve the business environment so that the country could gain an advantage over its competitors.

Meanwhile, Singh, a USbased Guyanese financial expert, argued that investors go to places where they can have a better return on their investment, access to a motivated workforce and the cost of production is rel-

US-based Guyanese financial analyst Sasenarine Singh

atively lower. He said countries with lower taxation were likely to attract more investment than those with higher taxation.

“Even though this may be a bonus for the Granger Administration in the short term, in the long term, it’s a bad thing for the country to have such level of taxation,” he opined.

Capital flight

Singh cautioned that while some businesses have been engaged in moving their financial assets and capital to other countries, commonly referred to as capital flight, this could actually expand into something much larger.

“More and more business people will go in that direction and invest in places like

Grenada and Saint Lucia which have more favourable investment climates than Guyana right now. A lot of Guyanese businesses are going to start diversifying in Caribbean islands so that they can continue to make profits,” he added. “Business people have no time to waste with backward policies; they move their capital where they can make a reasonable return.”

Singh told this publication that while Government revenue was increasing, there was a segment of society that was funding this increase in revenue.

“Is it the working class?

If it’s the workers of Guyana, then it’s a regressive tax because all it is doing is taxing the poor to fund a Government operation that is not necessarily efficient and effective,” he stated.

He acknowledged that there was a need to conduct more studies to determine the impact these new taxes such as the tax on electricity, water, and private education, was having on working class people.

“I know for sure the tax on electricity has adversely impacted the masses, which means that they have less money available to buy basic food items because they have to find new monies to pay for electricity.” turn to page 10

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, june 5, 2017

News

US’s Paris Accord withdrawal

More diplomacy from local, regional leaders needed – Jagdeo …to ensure Guyana, Region do not lose out

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ith the United States pulling out of the Paris Accord which Guyana, along with the entire Region and many other countries, signed on to, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo believes that Guyana and the Caribbean can use diplomacy to mitigate the effect on the Region.

Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Jagdeo noted that US President Donald Trump made his decision to withdraw based mainly on economic factors. Trump had expressed concern about how much the agreement was costing the US. Jagdeo pointed out that the US believed that the agreement placed it at a competitive disadvantage to other industrial superpowers. Hence, the former President observed that Guyana and the Region had a good chance of keeping US support.

“Our international trade is no threat to the United States of America. We’re below the de minimis level.

And so we could have easily pointed out that the coun-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

US President Donald Trump

President David Granger is the current Caricom Chairman

tries living in this region don’t pose a trade threat to the United States of America.”

“But a single hurricane could wipe out the equivalent of almost a hundred per cent of Gross Domestic Product. And therefore, it is important not just from a climate perspective, that we have access to favourable policies and access to global funds to help us to adapt, because most of the budgets in the Region are fiscally stressed already.”

According to Jagdeo, the point that a whole group of small nations, the Caribbean, faced dire consequences if not helped by the world superpower could have been made to any new administration in the US. “They said they are looking at renegotiating a Paris agreement. But to seek to preserve some US support for us in this Region, we can make solid cases on all of these issues.”

The former President also observed that since the

US President had expressed his intention to withdraw from the climate change deal on his campaign trail, the move should not have come as a surprise to President David Granger, the current Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom). And yet, he noted, Granger and the Region were inactive on the issue.

“We’ve had over six months since the elections in the United States of America and I am yet to see any regional ef-

Private Sector placed...

from page 9

Drawing board

In order for Government to prevent further damage, Singh is advising that it goes back to the drawing board and seriously considers implementing some of the recommendations that were made by the Tax Reform Committee back in February 2016, that it helped to set up.

The Committee had recommended that Government lower the Value Added Tax (VAT) to an intermediate rate of seven per cent, raise the income tax threshold to $750,000 with progressive rates of taxation from 20 per cent to 35 per cent, and reintroduce estate duties and levies on tobacco and alcohol.

“They are not consulting that document enough. They were all favourable ideas for a long-term strategy to make Guyana more tax balanced,” he asserted.

At present, Singh believes that the poor are being taxed too much and the business community is being pushed out of its competitive zone as a result of the high level of taxation.

Singh said he was also certain that Government has made up its mind to con-

tinue this higher level of taxes because it was the lazy thing to do.

“The mindset in the Government: comes hell or high water, they are not going to budge on any of these measures in the 2017 budget. But any sensible policymaker will realise that even though the short-term impact on revenue is good, the systemic damage to the economy is devastating,” he stated.

He cited the need for Government to become more efficient because he strongly believes that it was extremely inefficient with regard to the way it was spending taxpayers’ money.

“Because they are so inefficient and they have to tax more to spend more, they are basically crowding out the Private Sector from spending and investing,” he added.

The financial analyst also pointed to the state of the loan portfolio at the commercial banks, which is deteriorating because a greater portion of the loans is going bad.

“And this is because people can’t pay their debt on time. Businesses and people are less capable now, compared to two years ago,

at servicing their loans at the bank and this will have an adverse systemic effect across the financial system,” he added.

According to the Monthly Economic Bulletin for March 2017 produced by the Finance Ministry, Government’s year to date current revenues amounted to $21.4 billion for the period up to February 2017 compared to $17.4 billion collected during the same period in 2016. VAT collection for the period to February 2017 amounted to $6.1 billion, a 5.5 per cent growth compared to 2016. This is mainly attributed to the VAT on electricity and water, and expansion in VAT was due to growth in the value of imports. The excise tax grew by 67 per cent in the period up to February 2017 and this is mainly the result of the higher recovery of taxes at the fuel pump.

Singh pondered, “Should this not beg the question, to ease the pressure on the cost of living, should we not reconsider the size of the excise tax on petroleum products which will positively help the farmers, the minibus operators and the economy in general?”

fort to point out to the new Administration in the United States of America about how large a few issues loom in our lives, particularly matters concerning the environment and trade.”

“We knew in Guyana and in the Region that this act – if the US President were to fulfil his (campaign) promise, would be implemented and we’ve practically done very little, if anything at all about this,” the Opposition Leader said.

Jagdeo noted that Granger has been “religiously” promoting the ‘Green State’ initiative at various international events. But he expressed disappointment at the inaction by Guyana and other regional leaders, in advancing policies to ensure the Region gained tangible benefits from the global climate change movement.

Jagdeo also recalled that at the time when Trump, on his campaign trail, had been touting his future plans, he had been urging that a serious attempt be made by the Region to ensure that the nuances of small states and their challenges would not

be lost.

Other areas that the former President believes the Government has been negligent on interceding with the US about are the new measures related to Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) and the risk posed by the loss of correspondent banking relations.

Already, several Caribbean countries have been adversely affected.

When asked about the situation during a post-Cabinet press conference, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had described the US pullout as unfortunate. However, he had noted that whatever international movement formed in a bid to fill the void left by the US would overcome the withdrawal.

Commenting on the possibility of more countries pulling out from the agreement, Minister Harmon said it would be a matter of choice for those nations. He added that the agreement was a voluntary one, but declared that Guyana was committed to the global climate change accord.

Patient jumps to death at West Dem Hospital

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patient of the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) is now dead after he reportedly jumped from the facility’s male ward.

Sixty-two-year-old Mortimer Sagan of MetenMeer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, took his life by jumping through a window of the said ward.

According to information received by Guyana Times, the incident occurred around 19:00h on Sunday at the facility.

Reports are that the man, who was admitted as a tuberculosis patient, after jumping ended up on a septic tank and reportedly died on the spot.

It is unclear what motivated Sagan's actions. The Police are currently investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, the West Dem Hospital only recently made headlines when doctors attached to the hospital refused to work and took strike action as a result of failure on the part of the Public Health Ministry to address their numerous concerns.

The hospital was left in a state of panic when all doctors of the medical facility downed their equipment and refused to work.

The doctors, via a letter sent to their medical super-

intendent which was copied and sent to all levels, outlined a number of concerns that affects them and vowed to strike if no response was given.

The letter which was seen by this publication stated, “…this letter serves to inform you that the staff of the Accident and Emergency Unit of the West Demerara Regional Hospital are disappointed, frustrated, disgusted and fed-up of the way in which our daily verbal grievances are being handled.

To date we have not seen any measures implemented within our department to alleviate our struggles or worries”.

The letter continues, “the staffers of the Emergency Unit no longer feel safe in their working environment.

They no longer feel motivat-

ed to provide the best patient care since supportive structure and drugs are on regular shortage or absent. They no longer feel the need to go above and beyond because they feel that the administrative body does not care and have swept all of their relevant and legitimate concerns aside”.

The doctors were calling for better security at the facility following a number of incidents where doctors were either physically attacked or verbally abused by patients and others.

In fact, a recent incident saw two doctors being attacked by a patient and his relatives and were even spat upon. The doctors have since been calling for the Public Health Ministry to tighten security services at the facility.

monDAY, june 5, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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News Guyana eyes half a million tourists by 2025 …as President commits resources

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he Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) has celebrated its 25th Anniversary with the Annual President’s Award Ceremony and Reception held at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown on Saturday evening.

The scores of dignitaries in attendance heard that Guyana is looking to secure an annual arrival rate of half a million visitors by 2025 -up from the 235,000 visitors who landed in Guyana last

dren, mustn’t we?” he declared.

Speaking to his commitment to protect Guyana and is natural endowment, President Granger reminded that he had personally signing the COP 21 Paris Accord, and added: “Like other people, I am not about to erase my signature,” probably taking a direct swipe at US President Donald Trump, who recently withdrew from the accord.

The President reminded of his government’s com-

ages he was talking about.

According to the President, the diaspora should not be underestimated; and though representing a small market, has been “a reliable and faithful market for our tourism.”

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, who holds responsibility for the tourism sector in Guyana, declared that even with an unimpressive growth rate in the industry, Guyana can, by 2025, begin receiving up to 500,000 tourists. He cau-

Shaun McGrath, who also served as a four-term President of THAG and was an integral member in its start-up, was adjudged the winner of the 2017 Hall of Fame Award

First Lady Sandra Granger seems impressed by the craftsmanship of locally-made jewellery

year. A six per cent increase in arrivals over the same period in 2016 has thus far been recorded for the first quarter of 2017.

In addressing the stakeholders, President Granger pledged that, while Tourism is private sector-driven, the State will continue to support the industry through development of the relevant infrastructure, such as im-

mitment to establish a green capital town in every region, inclusive of a legally designated protected area. This announcement was greeted with stirring applause from tourism stakeholders gathered for the reception.

Expressing gratitude to the diaspora, which he recognised as Guyana’s most generous Tourism customer, the President said, “We have

tioned, however, that receiving that many tourists in Guyana would require a corresponding preparation in terms of services and infrastructure.

Gaskin spoke to the need for Guyana to be able to handle at least five 737 aircraft, a number of smaller hotels, dozens more restaurants, hundreds more taxis, and a range of other infrastruc-

cation and other tourist-related services.

Thus he pointed out that while there is optimism in anticipated tourism arrivals, there needs to be corresponding infrastructure in place.

THAG President Andrea de Caires, in her opening address to the gathering, called on the administration to pay more attention to the sector, and in fact to invest some of the anticipated oil revenues in the sector.

She traced the evolution of THAG over its 25 years of existence, and spoke to some of the challenges faced and lessons learnt over the years. De Caires said that in light of advances made over the years, it is right and fitting to not only treat with the tourism sector as the economy prepares to launch its oil and gas sector, but to also invest some of the oil revenues in the sector.

She was convinced that the Tourism sector has, over

A section of the gathering at the Marriott Hotel

proved aerodromes, bridges, highways and stellings; and Government will continue to provide resources, within its means, to promote the country.

“We must bequeath it to our children and grandchil-

all witnessed the annual pilgrimages of the diaspora to our annual festivals.” He identified activities such as Mashramani, regattas and ‘town days’ held across the country as opportune occasions to witness the pilgrim-

ture, including a bridged Essequibo River.

He also spoke to the need to have significantly more accommodation in the hinterland, including additional airlift for interior locations and improved telecommuni-

the years, evolved into a key contributor to the economy; and she said this is projected to only improve in the coming years.

By the evening’s end, the following awards had been handed out: Hotel of

the Year, Resort/Lodge of the Year, Direct Tourism Services Award, Tourism Supporting Services, and the Hall of Fame Award.

The Grand Coastal, Pegasus Guyana and Cara Lodge were each nominated for the President’s 2017 Award, but it was taken by Grand Coastal. Nominees for the Resort/Lodge award were Rewa Eco Lodge, Baganara Resort and Atta Rainforest Lodge. The winner was Rewa Eco Lodge.

Trans Guyana Airways, Bushmasters, and Old Fort Tours were also nominated for an award, but the winner was Bushmasters.

The Tourism Supporting Services’ nominees were: Nurse Marcy Gravesande, Demerara Distillers Limited, and Canadian Executive

Services Overseas. The winner was Demerara Distillers Limited.

The Hall of Fame Award nominees were: Public Communication Minister Cathy Hughes, who has been a member of THAG for over 20 years and has also served in the post of President; Iwokrama Rainforest Centre, established in 1996 under a mandate shared by the Guyana Government and the Commonwealth; Shaun McGrath, who also served as a four-term president of THAG and was an integral member of its start-up; and Captain Mazahar Ally of Air Services Limited.

McGrath was adjudged the winner of the 2017 Hall of Fame Award

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monDAY, June 5, 2017

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oday, June 5, is World Environment Day; the biggest global environmental event, will be celebrated. First celebrated in 1974, a year after it was designated by the UN General Assembly, it is a day set aside to urge and highlight positive environmental actions of governments and organizations within the UN system. The global World Environment Day celebrations is run by UNEP, an arm of the UN and this year, will it be held in Canada under the theme, Connecting people to nature.

Over the years, World Environment Day has served as a flagship event for raising awareness globally about environmental problems. It has also been successful in generating political momentum on mounting environmental concerns around ozone layer depletion, toxic chemicals, desertification and global warming. Today World Environment Day remains a global platform for addressing global environmental issues and spurring political action.

EPA-Organized Activities for

World Environment Day

Greetings from the Department of Environment The Department of Environment together with the Agencies under its purview, the Environmental Protection Agency, Protected Areas Commission, the National Parks Commission, the Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission, and its Partners, extends a Happy World Environment Day to all Guyanese. This year’s theme “Connecting People to Nature” is apt as it encourages us to honor the calling of nature, and embrace the myriad benefits that Mother Earth provides.

Guyana is fortunate to be located within two of the world’s most biodiversity rich zones, the Amazon Region, the world’s single largest remaining tropical rainforest, and the Guiana Shield. The variety of landscapes of the Guiana Shield including sandstone tepuis, white sands, seasonally flooded tropical savannahs, lowlands with numerous rivers, mountain ranges, and coastal swamps, supports characteristic vegetation which in turn supports a high diversity of species. We are blessed by a relatively pristine environment. Through a robust regulatory regime, we have consciously worked towards keeping intact, 87% of our forest cover.

Nature’s gifts are endless. It provides vital ecosystem services, for which our very survival depends. This year’s theme recognizes the importance of the services that nature provides and reminds us to be cognizant of this fact. For example, farmers and fisher-folks harness nature on land and under water to provide us with food; the world’s oceans, forests and soils act as vast stores for greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane to aid us in our fight against climate change; scientists develop medicines using genetic material drawn from the millions of species that make up Earth’s astounding biological diversity. Guyana’s natural resources thus, supply environmental benefits to both the local and global population.

Apart from the tangible benefits nature affords, several studies have shown that our wellbeing can be improved by interacting with the aesthetics outdoors. Time outdoors improves our mood, reduces stress, improves physical fitness and coordination, boost immunity, creativity and energy levels, and increases problemsolving ability. So get outside and soak up all that nature has to offer. Guyana is endowed with a beautiful environment of waterfalls, rivers, forests, savannahs, wetlands, which serve as picturesque attractions for locals and tourists alike. Nature elates the senses. We therefore encourage you to plan a trip or just a take a walk and connect with nature. Sit back, relax and appreciate nature’s beauty, breathe in the fresh air, take a dip in a river, lie on the grass, take a hike and explore the great outdoors that is Guyana.

The Government of Guyana is committed to leading the charge in continuing the protection of our environment through the development of the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS). A central theme of this Strategy is the Sustainable Management of our Natural Resources and Expansion of the Environmental Services, on which we depend. While there are also many other initiatives in country and worldwide that we follow that set goals for protection of the environment, these can only be achieved with avid participation by you, the citizenry. So let us all endeavor to Connect to Nature today. Happy World Environment Day to All!

Apart from this news feature informing readers about World Environment Day, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will launch the 2nd State of Environment Report for Guyana on June 5, 2017. The EPA will also host a green Business Forum on June 9, 207, with the aim of sharing of green business approaches towards the national goal of a green economy. The EPA also has an “I’m with Nature” Selfie Competition ongoing where persons are asked to post their Selfies on the EPA’s Facebook Page and to write a sentence on how they connected for a chance to win a fabulous trip to Kaieteur Falls!

World Environment Day activities closely follow two major activities organized by the EPA to observe International Day of Biological Diversity. On May 19, 2017, a Biodiversity Youth Forum was held at the Amerindian Village Sophia Complex, involving one hundred and thirty students from seventeen secondary schools in Regions 3, 4 and 5. The students ably took up the challenge to use the performing arts to convey strong messages about the importance of biodiversity and the threats facing them. It was an atmosphere abounding with youthful enthusiasm and energy fuelled by good natured competition as students were educated through song, poem, drama, dance and elocution on the 2017 theme: Biodiversity and Tourism. The second IDBD activity was conducted in Region 2 at Lake Capoey; there close to forty students were trained in a two-day workshop in the art of poetry writing about biodiversity with the help of the group Poetry on a Stool.

Ideas to connect with nature Individuals Have a picnic in the park.

Take a walk in the gardens.

Organize a clean-up.

Walk barefoot in the grass.

Get your hands dirty.

Plant a tree.

Schools Look for ways to use more natural light and air.

Evaluate indoor air quality.

Turn off non-essential lights.

Turn off taps and fix leaking taps.

Go digital and reduce printing.

Choose rechargeable and reusable over disposable.

Clean up your environment.

Use the outdoors more for teaching and learning.

Beautify your environment.

Businesses/organizations Start an action to green your business.

Support green practices.

Invest in durable, efficient items.

Choose local products as far as possible.

Conserve resources such as energy, water and paper.

Put in place proper waste disposal systems.

Convert to a local area network and print less.

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guyanatimesGY.com

World Environment Day greetings from our partners CONNECT WITH NATURE – UP-CLOSE! For this year’s World Environment Day (WED), June 5 2017, let us get up-close and connect with nature! This year’s theme, “Connecting People with Nature”, invites us to think about how we are a part of nature and how intimately we depend on it. Each of the 7.5 billion people living on earth rely on nature’s gifts every day as it supports our prosperity and well-being in countless ways. Our forests and soils capture vast stores of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, fill the air with oxygen and help to provide fresh water. Farmers and fisherfolk harness the resources of nature on land and under the oceans to provide us with food (fish, fruits, nuts and meat). Medicines from trees, mushrooms and thousands of other species are extracted by scientists to improve our health and the health of livestock and farms.

Mangroves along the coastline protect fragile coastal areas and resources from flooding and erosion.

Even a major part of our recreation is built around nature as Guyana and many other countries thrive on successful eco-tourism industries.

Let us challenge ourselves this World Environment Day to get up-close and connect with nature: Pledge to pick up 15-50 pieces of trash left carelessly behind to keep your environment healthy.

Start a kitchen garden or plant a window box!

Plan an activity with your friends, classmates and/or club members to show your appreciation for the environment. It does not have to be on June 5, it could be any time of the month and plan as many activities as you can.

Participate in the WWF Guianas Facebook 10-Day Photo Challenge! Take and share an image on the theme of ‘Nature’. You are welcome to interpret the theme in any way that you wish as it is relevant to where you live but we are expecting to potentially see some wildlife shots, landscapes, photos from backyards, perhaps some macro shots of flowers and insects, shots from the seawall, weather related shots and more! Use the hash tags #WED2017 #WWFGuyana so that we can track your photos! The winner of the challenge will receive an Undiscovered Guyana book.

Check our website: www.wwfguianas.org and our Facebook page (WWF Guianas) to learn more about biodiversity and what you can do to get up-close with NATURE!

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ts to conem. It was ured comon on the Region 2 the art of

About the theme

This year’s theme: Connecting People to Nature, and slogan; I’m with Nature, urges us to get outdoors and into nature. It calls on us to appreciate nature’s beauty, and to think about its importance to us and our connection to it. The theme also challenges us to explore and experience nature in ways that are fun and stimulating and to rekindle our relationship with it.

Everyone has the right to learn about the environment and how to protect it!

The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development is committed to continuing to protect our environment and share nature with all.

Our Environment is something we must not take for granted, it is fundamental to our everyday lives. The water we drink, the air we breathe and the land we live on ensure our survival as human beings.

Furthermore, the natural beauty, wildlife and resources of Guyana are integral to ensuring the livelihood and development of our nation.

At Iwokrama we aim to manage the environment of the Iwokrama forest in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general. Over the past 21 years, Iwokrama has worked collaboratively with the communities of the North Rupununi to manage and use the forest sustainably to safeguard this national gift for our future generations. Through pioneering activities such as launching the first Community Monitoring Review Verification system, creating the first manual for climate change and in 2016, receiving FSCTM certification status, Iwokrama has actively committed to working to the highest standards to protect and support our environment.

Environmental education is the cornerstone towards building a responsible, green community. In 2017, Iwokrama has prioritised educational outreach workshops not only for schools, but for institutions for the differently-abled and underprivileged such as the Guyana society for the blind, Cheshire Home and local orphanages. We believe that everyone has a right to learn about the environment and the ability to become the conservation leaders of tomorrow.

This year for World Environment day under the theme “connecting people with nature”, Iwokrama will be partnering with Timehri film festival, for the first ever environmental film festival on June 3rd at Umana Yana, from 10am. Iwokrama will also be teaching an educational workshop for students of Gifted Hands Learning centre on the importance of the environment.

Iwokrama would like to wish everyone a pleasant Environment Day and encourage the people of Guyana to connect with nature, and to spend a moment on June 5th to appreciate the natural beauty of our environment.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, june 5, 2017

Regional

Venezuela eyes assembly vote Threats mar tight election in key Mexican state in July; man set ablaze dies

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e n e z u e l a ’ s Government is set to press ahead with a vote to elect a constituent assembly on July 30, an official said on Sunday, prompting the Opposition to blast the body as a sham designed to keep embattled President Nicolás Maduro in power.

Adding to tensions in two months of sustained anti-government unrest, a young man who was set on fire last month during a protest died on Sunday.

Beset by near-daily street protests, Maduro in May announced a plan for a “constituent assembly” with powers to rewrite the Constitution, in what he says is a bid to bring peace back to the oil-rich nation.

But opponents say Maduro, helped by a compliant Supreme Court and National Electoral Council, is in fact seeking to dodge national elections and ignored protester demands for an end to crushing food and medicine shortages.

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One of the Government’s supporters waves a flag during a rally in support of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas (file photo)

“We’re going to propose to the National Electoral Council (CNE) for its approval ... the date of July 30,” the head of the CNE, Tibisay Lucena, said in a speech transmitted on State television on Sunday.

Lucena celebrated what she said was a surprisingly high number of candidates and high female representation.

There will not be a general election for the assembly,

but rather a complex set of local and group-based votes the Opposition says favour the ruling Socialist Party.

The Opposition has vowed to boycott the constituent assembly, and is instead calling for early presidential elections and respect for the existing congress, which has been led by Maduro critics since early 2016. It called for a “sit-in” along Venezuela’s main roads today to protest the decision. (Excerpt from Reuters)

ig heads dumped outside polling stations and phone threats marred the final hours before an election in a major Mexican state where voters decide on Sunday whether to stick with the ruling party, in a dry run for next year’s presidential contest.

President Enrique Pena Nieto’s Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, is battling to halt a run of losses. It is squaring off in the State of Mexico, its biggest regional bastion, with the new party of leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who leads early opinion polls for the July

2018 presidential race.

In PRI hands since 1929, the State of Mexico is home to one in eight Mexican voters. If it falls to Lopez Obrador’s National Regeneration Movement, or MORENA, it could provide him with a springboard to the top job.

“It’s a pivotal election, not just for MORENA, it’s a pivotal election for Mexico,” the two-time presidential runner-up said in a recent radio interview. “Imagine the message that will go out to the world (if MORENA wins).”

Victory for the combative Lopez Obrador in

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a trip or to cut short a vacation, the costs associated with the inconvenience, will be covered.

According to Director of Tourism Rosa Harris, as soon as a storm is anticipated, guests are eligible for a full refund at participating hotels, condos and villas islandwide with a maximum one-night penalty for cancellations made 48 hours before check-in.

“Our top priority at the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism is to provide a positive and memorable vacation

experience for our guests, one that is unburdened by the stresses of everyday life.”

“Understanding the seasonal considerations that come with the late summer and early fall months, we developed our islandwide Worry Free Hurricane Guarantee,” she said, adding that “this guarantee allows travellers to plan their stays in the Cayman Islands with complete peace of mind, ensuring they are covered even in the unlikely event that their trip is cut short due to inclement weather.” (Excerpt from CMC)

US Coast Guard makes multimillion-dollar drug haul, nabs 3 Dom Rep nationals

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he United States Coast Guard has offloaded about 1100 kilograms of cocaine seized in the Caribbean Sea, worth an estimated US$32.5 million. On Friday, the Coast Guard also said three suspected smugglers, all from the Dominican Republic, have been turned over to the US Department of Justice for prosecution by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.

The offload follows an interdiction on May 25, off the southern coast of Puerto Rico, as the result of ongoing, multi-agency and international law enforcement efforts in support of

Operation Unified Resolve and Operation Caribbean Guard.

The Coast Guard reports that on the afternoon of May 25, a suspicious go-fast vessel was detected by the crew of a maritime patrol aircraft, flying in support of Joint Interagency Task ForceSouth, off the southern coast of Puerto Rico.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan diverted the Coast Guard Cutter that interdicted the go-fast, detained the three men onboard and seized multiple bales of suspected contraband, which tested positive for cocaine.

The Coast Guard

said the contraband was placed in the custody of US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agents in Puerto Rico for processing and disposition.

“As in many other cases, the success of this interdiction is due to the strong interagency cooperation between federal and regional law enforcement authorities in the Caribbean,” said Captain Robert W. Warren, Coast Guard Sector San Juan commander. “We remain vigilant and stand ready to protect our citizens from illegal smuggling activities on the high seas.” (Excerpt from CMC)

Reuters)

Cuba reaffirms socialism as Trump isolates the US

Cayman Islands offers money back guarantee for visits interrupted by hurricanes he Government of the Cayman Islands has sought to assure potential visitors that there will be no need for concern, if their visit is interrupted by inclement weather.

With the start of the Atlantic Hurricane season, the Department of Tourism has issued a “Worry Free Hurricane Guarantee” that will cover the cost of cancellations and shortened trips.

The Department of Tourism says if a storm forces a visitor to the British Overseas Territory to cancel

2018 could push Mexico in a more nationalist direction at a time of heightened tensions with the United States. US President Donald Trump has riled Mexicans with threats to tear up the North American Free Trade Agreement and build a border wall to keep out illegal immigrants.

Prosecutors are investigating piles of pig heads left on Saturday in several municipalities in the state that curves round Mexico City, as well as telephone threats and fake electoral literature warning of attacks. (Excerpt from

Cuban President Raúl Castro announcing newly approved economic and social guidelines in Havana last week

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s the Trump presidency pursues its singular objective of making America great again by alienating and isolating the US from the rest of the world– Cuba has reaffirmed its commitment to socialism, which of course includes universal health care and free education for all.

In Havana on Thursday, Cuban President Raúl

Castro said that policy documents approved by the Central Committee are programmatic foundations that reaffirm the socialist character of the Cuban revolution, which of course was not the case initially, since the Cuban revolution did not start out as communist or even socialist in nature, but was a grassroots response to the abusive autocracy of

the then dictator Fulgencio Batista, culminating in his overthrow in January 1959.

Last week, after the Cuban Parliament, in an extraordinary session, approved the latest economic and social model of socialist development, and the updating of the guidelines of the policies for the period 20162021, Raúl Castro said that these programmes would enable continuity in the updating of the socio-economic model, “to change everything that must be changed.”

Meanwhile, the self-proclaimed pro-business US President Donald Trump reportedly intends to reverse the US-Cuba rapprochement initiated by his predecessor Barack Obama, a decision that could cost airlines and cruise lines alone some US$3.5 billion and more than 10,000 jobs over the course of his four-year term. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

T&T: AG cleared in shooting range controversy

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t was former Chief of Defence staff Kenrick Maharaj, “acting on his own volition”, who authorised Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi’s children to use the shooting range at Camp Cumuto where they were eventually photographed holding what appeared to be high-powered weapons.

Al-Rawi has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the matter, a report from the T&T Defence Force (TTDF) has stated.

And while there are photographs showing the children holding what appears to be guns, the TTDF’s Board of Inquiry (BoI) established to investigate the

situation has “deduced that the Attorney General’s children were not allowed to have high-powered weapons belonging to the Defence Force in the presence of the Attorney General and members of the TTDF”.

The Sunday Guardian attempted to contact Maharaj for comments on the report’s finding, but phone calls went unanswered. There was no reply to a text message or voicemail sent to his cellphone about the situation.

The photographs of Al-Rawi’s children were brought to the national spotlight in October last year when Opposition MP Dr Roodal Moonilal presented them in the House of

Representatives during the budget debate.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley slammed the TTDF for the situation saying the leak of the photographs was a serious breach of security.

Rowley and the TTDF have said that Al-Rawi’s children were the ones who were photographed but to date, Al-Rawi has not confirmed this.

The TTDF convened a BoI to investigate the situation.

After the investigation was completed the BOI’s Record of Proceedings report was presented to Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier General Rodney Smart “as a Top Secret document”.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

monDAY, june 5, 2017

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15

Around the World

“Enough is enough” PM May says after London attackers kill 7, injure dozens

London attack: Macron and Turnbull lead world condemnation

rime Minister Theresa May said Britain must be tougher in stamping out Islamist extremism after attackers killed at least seven people by ramming a van into pedestrians on London Bridge and stabbing revelers in nearby bars.

After the third militant attack in Britain in less than three months, May said Thursday’s national election would go ahead.

But she proposed regulating cyberspace and said Britain had been far too tolerant of extremism.

“It is time to say enough is enough,” the Conservative leader said outside her Downing Street office, where British flags flew at half-staff.

“We cannot and must not pretend that things can continue as they are,” May said, adding that Britain was under attack from a new breed of crude copycat militants.

Islamic State, which is

rench President Emmanuel Macron has led the global condemnation of Saturday’s terror attack in London which left seven people dead.

A French citizen was among those killed, the Foreign Ministry says. The dozens of people injured also included four French nationals.

Macron spoke by phone with UK Prime Minister Theresa May, and said France was “more than ever at Britain’s side”.

A Canadian citizen was killed, and two Germans were injured, one critically.

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Flowers and messages lie behind police cordon tape near Borough Market after an attack left seven people dead and dozens injured in London, Britain, June 4, 2017

losing territory in Syria and Iraq to an offensive backed by a US-led coalition, said its militants were responsible for the attack, the group’s media agency Amaq said in a statement monitored in Cairo.

One French national and one Canadian were among those killed. At least 48 people were injured in the at-

tack. Australia said one of its citizens was among the injured.

Police shot dead the three male assailants in the Borough Market area near London Bridge within eight minutes of receiving the first emergency call shortly after 22:00h on Sunday.

Mark Rowley, head of counter-terrorism police,

said eight officers had fired about 50 bullets to stop the attackers, who appeared to be suicide bombers because they were wearing what turned out to be fake suicide vests.

“The situation these officers were confronted with was critical: a matter of life and death,” Rowley said. “I am humbled by the bravery of an officer who will rush towards a potential suicide bomber thinking only of protecting others.”

A member of the public received non-critical gunshot wounds. Police did not release the names of the attackers.

London police arrested 12 people in the Barking district of east London in connection with the attack and raids were continuing there, the force said. A Reuters photographer saw another raid take place in nearby East Ham. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Malta election: PM Joseph Muscat wins snap poll

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alta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has won the snap general election he called a month ago amid corruption allegations concerning his wife.

The full results have yet to be announced. But Muscat claimed victory based on projections and the Opposition’s Simon Busuttil conceded.

The Labour Prime Minister called the poll on May 1 saying the corruption allegations risked undermining the economy.

He and his wife deny claims she owned a secret offshore company in Panama.

Joseph Muscat and wife Michelle deny allegations of a secret offshore company

The issue of the company, alleged to have received payments from Azerbaijan’s ruling family, was first brought to light by a wellknown Maltese blogger.

Projections based on preliminary results gave

Muscat’s Labour Party a lead of 10 per cent. More than 340,000 people were eligible to vote in Saturday’s poll.

Opinion polls in the runup to the vote had suggested a five per cent lead for

MMuscat, who is now set for a second five-year term in office.

The election was called a year before the end of his first term.

Busuttil, leading the National Party into an election for the first time, said on Twitter that he respected the decision of the electorate.

Malta is enjoying growth of six per cent and low unemployment – a performance that was central to Muscat’s campaign.

The Prime Minister, 43, said: “The people have clearly chosen to stay on the road to even greater results”.

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No names of those killed have been released.

“I am heartbroken that a Canadian is among those killed,” Trudeau said in a statement, saying Canada stood with the UK. Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said his “prayers and resolute solidarity” were with the British. Two Australians were affected, he said.

One was in hospital, while the authorities were working to determine the status of the second person, Turnbull told a news conference. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Comedian Bill Maher apologises for racial slur on live TV

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omedian Bill Maher has apologised for using a racial slur on live television.

The host of “Real Time with Bill Maher” on HBO used a derogatory term for African-Americans while interviewing Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse.

The “joke” prompted a huge backlash, particularly on social media. Maher said he used the slur in the “banter of a live moment”.

“The word was offensive and I regret saying it and am very sorry,” he said in a statement released the next day.

The controversy arose during a segment of the show when Maher was interviewing the Republican Senator Ben Sasse.

When Maher said he should visit Nebraska more, the senator quipped: “You’re welcome – we’d love to have you work in the fields with

us.”

The comedian immediately backpedalled as the remark was met with a muted response from the audience.

“No, it’s... it’s a joke,” he said, turning to the crowd.

The controversy quickly became a national trending topic on social media in the United States.

The interview continued without further interruption, but Senator Sasse later tweeted that he wished he’d been “quick enough” to challenge Maher.

“Free speech comes with a responsibility to speak up when folks use that word.

Me just cringing last night wasn’t good enough,” he said.

Maher’s network, HBO, also criticised his “joke” as “completely inexcusable and tasteless,” and said the network would edit it out from re-runs. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Authorities stifle women’s Unsure of US, Asia builds new alliances to counter China protest in Morocco’s Rif (Excerpt from BBC News)

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everal Asian nations are seeking to bolster informal alliances among themselves, regional diplomats and officials said, unsettled by growing fears that the United States could not be relied on to maintain a buffer against China’s assertiveness.

Countries including Australia, Japan, India and Vietnam are quietly stepping up discussions and co-operation, although taking care they do not upset Beijing, the diplomats said. No one was yet talking about a formal alliance.

Inaugurating the weekend Shangri-La Dialogue, the region’s premier security forum, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said: “In this brave new world we cannot rely on great powers to safeguard our interests.

“We have to take responsibility for our own security

(L-R) Australia’s Minister for Defence Marise Ann Payne, Malaysia’s Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Singapore’s Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen, New Zealand’s Minister of Defence Mark Mitchell and Britain’s High Commissioner to Singapore Scott Wightman attend the Five Power Defence Arrangements Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Singapore, June 2, 2017

and prosperity, while recognising we are stronger when sharing the burden of collective leadership with trusted partners and friends.”

His comments resonated through the three-day meeting that ended on Sunday.

Regional officials and analysts said there was growing mistrust of the Administration of US President Donald Trump, especially because of his with-

drawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on trade and then, last week, the pullout from the Paris climate accord.

Many fear Trump is signalling a deeper retreat from a traditional US security role that has underpinned the region for decades.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis told the Singapore forum that Washington remained committed to the re-

gion and insisted it would oppose China’s militarisation of the disputed South China Sea, one of Asia’s most volatile hotspots.

Regional officials said they were worried by Trump’s unpredictability and concerned that his warm praise of Chinese President Xi Jinping after their first summit meeting in April would influence any decisions on Asia. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

oroccan authorities stifled a women’s protest in the coastal city of Al-Hoceima, campaigning for access to jobs, health services and infrastructure in the northern Rif region.

Police encircled hundreds of female protesters in a public park late on Saturday, impeding others from joining, as the women chanted “freedom, dignity and social justice,” Reuters news agency reported.

Female Police Officers and riot Police pushed the leader of the protest Nawal Ben Aissa – a prominent member of Hirak – away from the group.

She was accompanied at the protest by the mother of Nasser Zefzafi – the 39-yearold leader of the protest movement who was arrested last week for “undermining the security of the state”

and other criminal acts.

“We go to sleep in fear, and we wake up in fear,” Fatima Alghloubzari, who tried to join the protest, told Reuters.

“We never imagined our city would become like this.”

One woman fainted after Police suppressed the protest.

A heavy security presence has been in place around the city’s Sidi Abed square.

According to organisers, Police have been increasingly preventing people from joining protests and blocking access since Zefzafi’s arrest.

“Women in northern Morocco were usually confined to their homes. They never participated in politics even if they were educated,” Mohamed Chtatou, a political analyst told Al Jazeera. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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Reactions: Govt to ban public smoking

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overnment’s Tobacco Control Bill 2017, reportedly aimed at preventing public exposure to second-hand smoking, has finally been made public after prolonged national waiting; and it has since been published in the Official Gazette. It generally provides that public smoking of cigarettes and other tobacco products, such as cigars, is prohibited by law; and a monetary deterrent is applicable in this respect. Persons caught breaking this law for the first time are liable to be fined $10,000 on summary conviction, but each subsequent conviction attracts a penalty of $20,000. We sought reactions from the general public to this potential ban on public smoking. Their comments are as follows: Shane Anthony Chateram, Essequibo Coast

“Non-smokers and pregnant women are oftentimes exposed to secondhand smoke in public places, which is not healthy. (Smoking) creates a dirty environment, and is very bad for new-born babies. If you are exposed to second-hand smoke during pregnancy, both you and your baby are put at risk.”

Dani Sanchez Troyer

“Second-hand smoking does major damage to our respiratory system.

There is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke. If persons want to smoke, it is their choice; but I (should not) have to suffer because of their ignorance.

We all know that second-hand smoking is as dangerous as smoking a cigar. And for you to just be sitting there and blowing your smoke wherever you please is putting my life at risk, even though I don’t smoke. So I welcome the implementation of such a ban on public smoking. “

Tiffany Arthur, Linden

“It’s like taking away freedom of speech, and many will argue for their human rights and so forth. I mean, when it comes to smoking in private or public buildings, managers have that right to have “no smoking zones”, but in public, people should be free.”

Karran Ramsammy, Berbice

“Well, for starters, it’s one of the best moves so far. It’s not only a healthy move, but also a deterrent to people who would have tried (smoking) and want to smoke regularly. I do not smoke, so I’m all for this move.

Smoking affects everyone, and people shouldn’t be smoking in public places. I know a lot of people smoke, but there are ways in which they can still smoke and not affect others. For example, smoking shouldn’t be permitted in any government buildings or public places like post offices and so on.

It’s illegal for adults to smoke in (a vehicle) if there is any child in the vehicle in the USA, but a lot of smokers [in Guyana] do not respect others who don’t smoke, especially in public transportation.”

Melicia Paul, WBD

“I think the decision to ban smoking in public places is a good decision, since it would help people to smoke less, and (it would) contribute [to curbing] second-hand smoke.”

Anita Chandler

“I’m happy with the ban on public smoking, as it’s a very good start to helping persons -- smokers and non-smokers -- to realise that life is very precious, and each day they light (a cigarette) or inhale the smoke of a cigarette, etc, it shortens their lifespan. A ban on public smoking will force persons to start abstaining (from smoking), since I’m sure there are persons who want to stop but don’t know ‘how’ to. So, each day with one less cigarette, it’s going to help both smokers and non-smokers to live longer and healthier lives.

Note should be taken of the fact that second-hand smoking is very serious; it’s silent but yet deadly.”

Steven Singh, WCD

Tandita Archer, ECD

“Excellent decision! Second-hand smoking is just as detrimental as first-hand smoking. If they want to kill themselves, it’s fine; but don’t affect innocent non-smokers around you.”

Sophia Singh, Essequibo Coast

“Generally, smoking is unhealthy for any individual, but it also distributes a disadvantage to non-smokers.

Smoking in public places exposes individuals who don’t smoke to health risks through second-hand smoking. It’s quite common for persons in public places to be seen inhaling second-hand smoke, with some of these individuals (being) oblivious to the fact that they are doing so. This also promotes smoking, instead of awareness to stop smoking.”

Leon Charles, WCD

“I think it’s crazy to impose such a ban. If the public ban is imposed, it should be in certain places -like schools, public transportation, hospitals or airports. Also, there should be designated areas where people can go and smoke, especially when ‘on the go’, like I saw at the airport in Schipol, Holland. There were special rooms at that airport where people can go and have a smoke. Also, there should be national consultations before this imposition.”

“I think it’s a good move by the Government, since non-smokers who breathe in second-hand smoke take in nicotine and toxic chemicals the same way smokers do. The more second-hand smoke nonsmokers breathe, the higher the levels of these harmful chemicals in their (bodies) will be; not forgetting that some of these (people) would include, but not be limited to, pregnant women and children.”

Marissa Grant

Bernard Da Silva, Attorney-at-law

“This is not a question of rights being curtailed. I will defend a person’s right to do anything they please (to do) within the law, provided it does not harm others. However, passive smoking has been proven to cause harm to non-smokers, and therefore there has to be an acceptance that cigarette smoking has to be curtailed in public.

I do not agree with a total ban on smoking in public places. Private clubs and organisations should be exempted, providing they have a special area for smoking. Smoking of any kind should be banned in public access buildings -- including restaurants and bars -- in the day (time) during (the) hours of high crowd concentrations. Also, smoking within 20 feet of a public access building should not be allowed.

Certainly, smoking on all public transportation, including buses and taxis, should be banned.”

“It depends on which perspective you view it. I’m not a smoker, so it really doesn’t affect me personally.

However, from a smoker’s perspective, it can amount to breach of a person’s freedom of choice. It’s an imposition that affects smokers in a personal way. Further, it depends on the interpretation of “public”. If it’s schools, ministries, etc., then that’s more acceptable.

While it can be argued both for and against the ban, it is important to note that non-smokers are also entitled to enjoy a clean and healthy environment. It may not altogether be viewed as an imposition, because (smokers) can still smoke privately. It all comes down to interpretation.”

news

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monDAY, june 5, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Former AG chides President over ‘cavalier rejection’ of 2nd GECOM list

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xpressing utter disappointment in President David Granger’s “cavalier rejection” of the second list of nominees submitted by the Opposition Leader for the position of Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has said the President has managed to make what was historically a very smooth and straightforward exercise one that is now complicated and politically acrimonious.

“Like every other reasonable-minded Guyanese, but moreso because I played a role in assembling both lists of persons which the Opposition Leader submitted to the President for the appointment of a Chairman of GECOM, I am disappointed by the President’s rejection of these lists,” Nandlall expressed.

“I also maintain -- and with due respect -- that the President cannot seriously boast a better understanding of the Carter Formula and its constitutionalisation, expressed in Article 161 (2), than Mr Hugh Desmond Hoyte, S.C. This is so because Mr Hoyte participated in the coinage of the Carter Formula, and was an eminent senior counsel, and was therefore schooled in the interpretation of a constitution.

“Mr Hoyte participated four times in the process of compiling names and submitting them to different presidents of the PPP Administration, with seamless ease and without any controversy whatsoever,” Nandlall commented.

He said those who are “now contaminating the President’s mind with absurd legal advice” in relation to the interpretation of Article 162 were around at that time but would not have dared to try that with Mr Hoyte.

“He would have simply not tolerated it because he knew better,” the former AG posited.

“Unfortunately, what we now have is a bizarre interpretation of Article 162, which distorts both the letter and the spirit of the Article,” he said.

“For example, the President tells us that Article 161 (2) (does the following): (1) accords priority in relation to persons who are judges, former judges, and persons qualified to be judges over and above “any other fit and proper person”, when the Constitution does no such thing “(2) That these persons must not be religious leaders or part of any faith-based organization. Again, the Constitution does not so discriminate “(3) That the person (chosen) must not be an activist in areas such as human rights, gender discrimination, etc.

Again, Article 161 (2) contains no such exclusion “(4) That all six persons must be found acceptable before the President chooses one.

In other words, if five are (acceptable) and one is not, then the entire list becomes unacceptable. And therefore the President refuses to choose one from the five, though he finds them acceptable.”

Nandlall said it is this erroneous and warped interpretation which has misled the President in rejecting the two

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

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall lists submitted.

“Unless this abysmal error is corrected, this cyclical exercise of submission and rejection of lists may become never-ending,” Nandlall declared.

“I must reiterate that while Article 161 (2) resides with the President a discretion insofar as the list must find his acceptance, this discretion cannot be capriciously and whimsically exercised. It must be exercised reasonably, and the President is obliged to take into account only relevant considerations, and discount from his mind irrelevant considerations,” Nandlall expressed.

He pointed out that the methodology employed by the Leader of the Opposition in compiling these two lists proves that the President’s exercise of his discretion does not accord with the rest of the society.

“In my view, that is a strong indication that the President is wrong. The Leader of the Opposition did not compile these lists by himself. Rather, these names were generated from a wide consultative exercise involving the major stakeholder organisations in this country. These organisations consulted with their respective constituencies and produced these names. These constituents number tens of thousands of people. It is simply illogical to argue that all of these people are wrong and the President and his legal advisors are right,” Nandlall declared.

Nandlall has said that finding another six names in compliance with the President’s fallacious construction of Article 161 (2) of the Constitution would now become near impossible. He pointed out that the pool to draw from has become significantly narrower.

“More importantly, more persons would become even more reluctant to offer their names, for fear of the public damage and humiliation to their professional reputation, character and image by the President’s cavalier rejection of their names,” Nandlall stated.

In the circumstances, he said, the nation has no alternative but to hope that the proposed engagement between the President and the Leader of the Opposition would result in the President realising he had misinterpreted Article 161 (2).

“If not, the consequences to this nation may be dire, for which the President will have to accept responsibility,” Nandlall has charged.

How the traditional Yoga wisdom can illuminate the best of modern culture and lead to deep spiritual enquiry.

Globalization: A term so widely used as to be virtually meaningless, it nonetheless captures the process by which modern yoga has spread, from east to west and back again.

Today yoga caters to a cadre of practitioners spanning continents and counting tens of millions of adherents.

In this three-part series, we will discuss the globalization of hatha yoga with particular relevance to Asia, and implications of yoga practise for musculoskeletal health in different cultures/ethnicities.

Modern postural yoga started as a fusion of European gymnastics and selected hatha yoga principles in the early twentieth century, posits Mark Singleton. Around this time, yoga was exported to the US from India by Vivekananda and others, experiencing several waves of popularity before arriving at its current ubiquity. As yoga has exponentially grown in the west, it’s been re-exported to India, igniting a nationalistic fervour, despite many modern forms being inextricably infused with western cultural norms (for instance, new age spirituality; positive thinking; pursuit of perfectionism and beauty/youth).

Arguably, modern postural yoga, as were its initial iterations, is an evolution reflecting more of the current cultural context than anything ancient and enduring. Yet, while the interpretation and meaning of yoga may have changed, many of the gymnastics, Indian martial arts, and actual yoga-derived postures have not.

What does this mean for a global practice?

Today, yoga is practised in many nations across the globe, including the Far East. China, dubbed “the new yoga superpower” by Yoga International magazine, has around 10 million practitioners (about 16 million Americans practice). “Yoga went to China via America,” according to one of B.K.S. Iyengar’s leading disciples, Faeq Biria, who routinely trains students in Beijing. “They see it from an American point of view. At first they’re attracted by the byproducts: to be pretty, to digest well, sleep well, have a nice body, and be intelligent, unstressed. It’s hard work to take them toward the deeper aspects.” Shares one studio owner, “Yoga is a symbol of the outside world, like thin women on the beach.” As in the US, yoga fits well there with the thirst for success. Yet Indian teachers are in increasing demand, with some advocates for yoga’s deeper teachings making inroads.

There is another reason yoga has become so popular in China and other Asian cultures: it fits well with indigenous healing systems and spirituality/philosophy, from Taoist tai chi to Traditional Asian Medicine, Buddhism, and Confucianism.

Yet Taoist tai chi is gentle, soothing, and rhythmic to facilitate a deeper connection to chi; most modern yoga conjures images of pretzels, headstands, and other gymnastics reminiscent of the competitive environment in which it’s marinated. Thus, in a sign of the times, “hip Hong Kongers would rather splurge $35 on a flow class than flow [tai chi] with their grannies.”

Life is more than ever dominated and shaped by the influence of science and technology. Yet, only the deeper values upheld by the great spiritual traditions can ensure that the outer progress rests on a corresponding inner progress in peace, goodwill and enlightenment.

The Yoga tradition has always emphasized personal enquiry and experiment; and, like science, seeks to realize the deeper truth behind phenomena. Its inner discoveries in the field of self-knowledge will be of interest to those currently investigating the nature of consciousness.

This book considers various aspects of contemporary life, and shows how the ancient wisdom of the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita has the power to infuse modern life with meaning and purpose.

Do you think the effects of globalization on yoga are primarily positive, negative or neither? Check the picture below and give your response.

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monDAY, june 5, 2017

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Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

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French Open 2017

Chase earns Murray set for Khachanov test maiden ODI W call-up

orld number one Andy Murray will face up-and-coming Russian Karen Khachanov in the fourth round of the French Open at about 11:30 BST on Monday.

Top seed Murray, 30, is trying to reach the last eight in Paris for the sixth time in the past seven years.

Khachanov, 21, is ranked 53rd and plays his first Grand Slam last-16 match after beating American John Isner.

“Mentally I feel pretty good just now,” Briton Murray said after beating Juan Martin del Potro in round three.

Having struggled with fitness and form during much of the year, the Scot played superbly to see off the Argentine in straight sets on Saturday.

“After each round, I’m not thinking about winning,” he said.

“I didn’t come here with the mindset that I’m Roston Chase’s early promise in Test cricket has earned him a maiden ODI call-up definitely going to go a long way.

“I was going to try and just get through the ll-rounder Roston senior players Sunil Narine in St Lucia, with the first first round and hopefully feel better each day.

Chase has been re- and Kieron Pollard, despite game slated for June 9.

That’s been the case so far.”

Khachanov poses a new challenge for the West Indies squad: warded for his con- Browne having earlier hintsistent run in the Pakistan ed at the board revisiting J a s o n Holder (captain), Wimbledon champion, and it will be the Russian’s first match against any of the very top names in the eligibility criteria Tests with a maiden callthe sport. up to West Indies’ He said: “That is what we are looking for, to ODI squad for the play on the big arenas like here, centre court, three-match seand to play against world number one. I’m really ries against looking forward for it.”

Afghanistan.

Khachanov was born in Moscow but has Twelve of the trained in Barcelona for the past three years, 14 members who during which time he has risen from outside the were part of the world’s top 400 to become a fixture around the top 50. squad for the

‒ Bishoo retained; Permaul omitted

A

third ODI against Pakistan - West Indies’ last ODI assignment - were retained. Chadwick Walton, the wicketkeeper who made just 36 runs in three outings in that series, and leftarm spinner Veersammy Permaul were left out.

Chase, who made his Test debut last year, has already established himself as a reliable middle-order batsman, scoring three centuries in 10 Tests, in addition to being a handy off-spinner.

“He was considered before for ODI selection, primarily because of his allround ability,” Courtney Browne, Cricket West Indies’ chairman of selectors, said. “With his prolific run scoring in the last Test series and his continued steady all-round performances in the PCL, we now feel it’s time to introduce him to ODI cricket.

“He was not among the leading run-scorers in the Super50 tournament earlier this year, but we believe with his skill set and the way he has been playing, he could be an asset.

His outstanding efforts with the bat could not be ignored any longer, coupled with his useful bowling can only add value to our squad.”

There was no place for

for ODI selection. Currently, the CWI follows a stringent policy of considering only those players who

Devendra Bishoo, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Alzarri

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo retained his place from the last ODI Squad against Pakistan ahead of countryman Veerasammy Permaul

have featured in the domestic 50-over competition.

All three ODIs will be played at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground

Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Kieran Powell, Rovman Powell. (Cricinfo)

Andy Murray and Karen Khachanov will meet for the first time in a competitive match

The 6ft 6in right-hander has plenty of power, as he showed in seeing off big-serving Isner in the third round.

That followed his best win to date over 13th seed Tomas Berdych.

“I practised with him before he got on to the tour when he was like 350, and he was really good,” said Murray.

“Big, strong guy. Generates a lot of power.

He’s also got a big serve.”

Khachanov has hit 29 aces to Murray’s 16 in the tournament, and has spent an hour less on court at just under the eight-hour mark.

Murray will head into the match with a very different mindset, however, following his impressive performance against Del Potro.

“I believe in myself, so even when things aren’t going well, I believe I can turn it around,” said Murray.

“The five-set format has definitely helped that, so I have maybe not been as anxious going into some of the matches, because I know there is some time to turn it around.” (BBC)

Bale “happy” to stay at Madrid and wants more trophies

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areth Bale says he is happy at Real Madrid and has committed his future to the Champions League winners.

The Wales forward came off the bench after 77 minutes in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Juventus in Cardiff as Real Madrid secured a third title in four seasons.

The 27-year-old, who signed a deal until 2022 in October, has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu.

“We are winning trophies and I am happy. I have signed a long-term contract at Madrid,” said Bale.

“My family is happy and I am happy, so yes we will continue what we are doing.”

The former Tottenham player joined Real in 2013 for a then world record fee of £85m.

“It’s the reason why I came to Real Madrid - to win trophies. We’re enjoying winning them at the moment, so we’ll continue to do so,” Bale added.

“Three Champions Leagues in four seasons isn’t too bad. “I think we can get better. We are still quite young as a whole team and we have a great squad.”

Bale was determined to play in the final in his home city despite still being troubled by an ankle injury.

He had surgery in November and suggested that without the Cardiff final in his sights he may have opted for a second operation.

“It’s been difficult with my ankle this year,” Bale said. “I obviously came back way too early from my surgery and I suffered a bit.

“We were considering more at one point, but I’ve worked tirelessly hard to get back and to get ready for this game.

“I need to go on holiday and rest, and come back stronger next season - mainly for my ankle just to get it properly recovered.

“Then I’ll obviously do some work in the off-season to get it stronger and ready for next season so I’ll be firing on all cylinders.”

Bale replaced Karim Benzema with Real

Gareth Bale

leading 3-1 thanks to two Ronaldo goals and a longrange strike from Casemiro.

“I was just happy to get on for the last few minutes,” Bale said.

“We just had to go for it. It’s always cagey in a final but we’re happy with the win.

“To play a final in your home city is incredible, but to win it is even better, a great experience.

“Cardiff has held an incredible event and we’ve literally not had a problem since we’ve been here; it’s been immaculate.

“I don’t think many players have won the Champions League in their home city where they were born, so it’s a great memory to have.”

Bale became the sixth player to lift the Champions League or European Cup in their home town, and the first since Nicolas Anelka with Real in 2000 in Paris.

The others are Angelo di Livio (Rome 1996), Alex Stepney (London 1968), and Miguel Munoz and Enrique Mateos (both Madrid 1957).

Bale also became the first Welshman to win the trophy three times - he also won it with Real last season and in 2014 - edging ahead of Ian Rush, Ryan Giggs and Joey Jones. (BBC)

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monDAY, june 5, 2017

West Indies v Afghanistan, 2nd T20I…

Windies clinch series in rain-hit affair ‒ final match on tonight

I

Chadwick Walton

n a contest reduced to 15 overs per side at Warner Park, West Indies rallied to 112 for three with Chadwick Walton top-scoring with 29, his opening partner Lewis getting 25 and Marlon Samuels, 22.

Set a revised target of 123, Afghanistan never looked the part and faded quickly without so much as a whimper to end on 93 all out with nine balls remaining.

Seamer Kesrick Williams finished with three for 11 to take Manof-the-Match honours while captain and medium pacer Carlos Brathwaite claimed two for 26.

West Indies, who won Friday’s opener by six wickets, will now look to make a clean sweep of the series in the final match on tonight at the same venue from 19:30 hrs.

Saturday’s win broke a losing slide for the reigning World champions who had lost back-to-back T20 series to Pakistan in the last 10 months.

Opting to bat first, West Indies were away to a flier as Walton and Lewis put on 42 off 27 deliveries.

The right-handed Walton faced 17 deliveries and struck four fours and one six before holing out to long-on off off-spinner Mohammad Nabi in the

fifth over.

Lewis, who blasted a four and a six in a 28-ball knock, put on a further 32 for the second wicket with Samuels before he perished in the 10th over, pulling seamer Karim Janat into the deep.

West Indies had reached 79 for two after 11 overs when heavy rain caused a near two-hour break in the innings.

With just four overs left to face after a revision of overs on resumption, the hosts managed to add only 33 runs as the Afghan bowlers kept their wits about them under pressure.

Afghanistan appeared to lack a clear plan for their run chase and quickly lost Gulbadin Naib in the third over for 12, bowled by leg-spinner Samuel Badree with the score on 15.

Williams then struck twice in the following over – the first of his spell – to further set back the visitors.

First, he had opener Noor Ali Zadran caught at short fine leg by Jerome Taylor for six after being tucked up by a short ball and off the very next delivery, claimed Samiullah Shenwari without scoring to a catch at the wicket.

Tottering on 19 for three, Afghanistan continued to lose wickets steadily. Mohammad Nabi stylishly cut off-spinner Sunil Narine behind square for four in the seventh over but was then run out five balls in the same over looking for a non-existent single.

And captain Asghar Stanikzai perished two balls later in the following over from Brathwaite when he tugged a short ball to Lendl Simmons running around from mid-wicket to mid-on, after clearing the ropes at mid-wicket with the previous delivery.

Three more wickets fell for 14 runs in the space of 18 balls to leave Afghanistan in danger of their lowest-ever T20 total at 55 for eight in the 11th over.

But top-scorer Karim Janat struck a four and two sixes in a 15-ball 20, putting on 30 off 10 balls for the ninth wicket with Dawlat Zadran (9).

The charge, however, came a little too late and though the 12th over from Brathwaite leaked 18 runs, the required run rate remained onerous at 13 and in the end proved overwhelming. (CMC)

Dawlat Zadran brings the bat down too late against Jerome Taylor’s yorker

Champions Trophy, Group B…

India thrash sloppy P

Pakistan by 124 runss

akistan were underdogs against India and there was never any danger of an upset at Edgbaston as the ICC Champions Trophy holders shone.

India’s star-studded batting line-up excelled as Virat Kohli’s side comprehensively beat rivals Pakistan by 124 runs at a showery Edgbaston to get their ICC Champions Trophy defence off to a winning start.

At the venue that played host to their 2013 final win over England, in a match reduced to 20 overs a side due to rain, India again saw the weather play its part on Sunday as the action was interrupted on three occa-

overs of the innings yielded a remarkable 72 runs.

To make matters worse for Pakistan, star bowler Mohammad Amir was forced off with cramp during India’s innings and Wahab Riaz, who gave up 87 runs in 8.4 overs, also left the field with an ankle injury.

India started conservatively after being inserted, but Rohit and Dhawan were soon into their stride either side of the day’s first rain break, as Wahab proved particularly expensive.

Dhawan eventually holed out to deep midwicket off Shadab Khan in the 25th over and Rohit was denied a hundred after Kohli called him through for a risky sin-

Afghanistan (target: 123 off 15 overs) Gulbadin Naib b Badree Noor Ali Zadran c Taylor b

12

Williams 6 *Asghar Stanikzai c Simmons b Brathwaite 9 Samiullah Shenwari c wkp Walton b Williams 0 Mohammad Nabi run out 8 Karim Janat c Brathwaite b Williams 20 +Shafiqullah run out 1 Najibullah Zadran b Brathwaite 11 Rashid Khan b Narine 2 Dawlat Zadran b Taylor 9 Amir Hamza not out 6 Extras (b4, lb4, w1) 9 TOTAL (all out; 13.3 overs) 93 Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Gulbadin Naib), 2-19 (Noor Ali Zadran), 3-19 (Samiullah Shenwari), 4-34 (Mohammad Nabi), 5-40 (Asghar Stanikzai), 6-41 (Shafiqullah), 7-52 (Najibullah Zadran), 8-55 (Rashid Khan), 9-85 (Dawlat Zadran), 10-93 (Karim Janat) Bowling: Badree 3-0-11-1, Taylor 2-0-13-1 (w1), Williams 2.3-0-11-3, Narine 3-0-241, Brathwaite 3-0-26-2.

Ali providing the only prolonged resistance with 50 at the top of the order.

Ravindra Jadeja and Pandya returned identical figures of 2-43 from eight overs, while Umesh Yadav brought the match to a hur-

ried conclusion, dismissing Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali with successive deliveries to finish with 3-30 and leave Pakistan nine down with the injured Wahab unable to bat. (Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD

SCOREBOARD West Indies +C Walton c Noor Ali Zadran b Mohammad Nabi 29 E Lewis c Gulbadin Naib b Karim Janat 25 M Samuels c Najibullah Zadran b Gulbadin Naib 22 L Simmons not out 17 *C Brathwaite not out 8 Extras (b2, lb2, w7) 11 TOTAL (3 wkts, 15 overs) 112 Did not bat: J Mohammed, R Powell, J Taylor, S Narine, S Badree, K Williams Fall of wickets: 1-42 (Walton), 2-74 (Lewis), 3-97 (Samuels) Bowling: Dawlat Zadran 3-033-0 (w2), Karim Janat 3-019-1 (w1), Amir Hamza 2-011-0, Mohammad Nabi 2-0-21-1, Rashid Khan 3-0-140, Gulbadin Naib 2-0-10-1.

Virat Kohli opens his bat face to steer one behind point © Getty Images

Yuvraj Singh played some vintage shots in his 53 off 32 balls© Getty Images

sions.

However, the reigning champions were still able to kick off their Group B campaign with a resounding win as Pakistan slumped to 164 all out in pursuit of a revised Duckworth-Lewis target of 289 from 41 overs.

India’s imposing total of 319-3 in 48 overs owed much to an opening stand of 136 between Rohit Sharma (91) and Shikhar Dhawan (68).

Kohli (81 not out from 68 balls) and Yuvraj Singh then raised the tempo effectively, the latter using up just 32 balls for his 53, while Hardik Pandya (20 not out) clubbed three maximums in the final set of six as the last four

gle that he could not quite make.

However, Babar Azam’s good work in running out Rohit provided a contrast to Pakistan’s general efforts in the field, and both Yuvraj and Kohli were dropped prior to the late onslaught that lifted India to a huge score.

Pakistan’s initial target was 324 from 48 overs, but this became 289 from 41 when rain arrived for a third time in the fifth over of the reply.

There was bright sunshine in Birmingham when play resumed and India soon had further reason to be cheerful as their opponents lost their way, Azhar

India innings (48 overs maximum) R Sharma run out (Babar Azam/†Sarfraz Ahmed) 91 S Dhawan c Azhar Ali b Shadab Khan 68 V Kohli* not out 81 Yuvraj Singh lbw b Hasan Ali 53 H Pandya not out 20 Extras (lb 2, w 2, nb 2) 6 Total (3 wickets; 48 overs) 319 Did not bat: MS Dhoni†, KM Jadhav, RA Jadeja, B Kumar, UT Yadav, JJ Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-136 (Dhawan, 24.3 ov), 2-192 (Sharma, 36.4 ov), 3-285 (Yuvraj Singh, 46.2 ov) Bowling: Mohammad Amir 8.1-1-32-0, Imad Wasim (1w), Hasan Ali 10-0-70-1 (1nb), Wahab Riaz 8.4-0-87-0 (1nb, 1w), Shadab Khan 10-052-1, Shoaib Malik 2-0-10-0 Pakistan innings (target: 289 runs from 41 overs) Azhar Ali c Pandya b Jadeja 50 Ahmed Shehzad lbw b Kumar 12

Babar Azam c Jadeja b Yadav 8 Mohammad Hafeez c Kumar b Jadeja 33 Shoaib Malik run out (Jadeja) 15 Sarfraz Ahmed*† c †Dhoni b Pandya 15 View dismissal Imad Wasim c Jadhav b Pandya 0 Shadab Khan not out 14 Mohammad Amir c Jadhav b Yadav 9 Hasan Ali c Dhawan b Yadav 0 Wahab Riaz absent hurt Extras (lb 2, w 6) 8 Total (all out; 33.4 overs) 164 Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Ahmed Shehzad, 8.6 ov), 2-61 (Babar Azam, 12.2 ov), 3-91 (Azhar Ali, 20.5 ov), 4-114 (Shoaib Malik, 23.3 ov), 5-131 (Mohammad Hafeez, 26.3 ov), 6-135 (Imad Wasim, 27.3 ov), 7-151 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 29.3 ov), 8-164 (Mohammad Amir, 33.2 ov), 9-164 (Hasan Ali, 33.4 ov) Bowling: B Kumar 5-1-23-1 (2w), U Yadav 7.4-1-30-3 (1w), Bumrah 5-0-23-0, H Pandya 8-0-43-2 (3w), Jadeja 8-0-43-2

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21

Soualiga Invitational Under-15 Football

Junior Jaguars beat St Martin to win title J

eremy Garrett scored arguably one of the most important goals of his career to help the National Under-15 team win the Soualiga Invitational Football Tournament in St Martin on Sunday evening.

Garrett’s strike ensured Guyana gained a 1-0 victory over the hosts to continue a fine showing by the Junior Jaguars team in the tournament.

The starting XI for the final read: Shawn Adonis (GK); Okifi Patoir; Joshua Braithwaite (C); Wayne Da Silva; Jermaine Padmore; Tyrel Khan; Jermaine Garrett; Orville Daniels; Omari Glasgow; Ravon Bayley and Ronaldo Rodrigues.

Prior to the final, the youngsters had defeated Dominica 1-0 via an Omari Glasgow goal to secure a spot in the final. Wins also came against British Virgin Islands where they won 5-0 thanks to Orville Hinds, Ronaldo Rodrigues, Tyrel Khan, Ken Salvador and Omari Glasgow.

Against Martinque, Troni Semple

The Junior Jaguars produced a terrific performance in St Martin to bring home the silverware

made the 1-0 win possible.

Their other two matches were goalless draws against Guadeloupe and Barbados.

Prior to departing, Head Coach Bryan Joseph told Guyana Times Sport that given the performances in French Guiana last December and the constant camps, the side had a very

good chance of reaching the semi-finals or even the finals. Likewise, the skipper, Joshua Braithwaite had expressed optimism over his team’s chances in the tournament. “I expect the team to win this time as we’ve been together for a long time. This is the fourth camp that the national pro-

gramme has had for us and I think this time, we won’t be having any excuse; I think we should win this time.”

The skipper said it was a great feeling to lead the national team, as it gave him a chance to “lead from the front” and fulfil “one of his goals”.

Warriors beat Cavs 132-113, take 2-0 Finals lead S tephen Curry had a triple double with 33 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, Kevin Durant scored 33 and the Golden State Warriors took a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals with a 132-113 victory in game two on Sunday night.

The big nights from the former MVPs made coach Steve Kerr a winner in his return to the bench after a more than six-week absence following complications from back surgery.

This marks the second

straight year Golden State won the first two games of the Finals.

Cleveland rallied to win last year’s series in seven games.

LeBron James had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists to tie Magic Johnson’s record with his eighth career Finals tripledouble.

It was just the second time in NBA playoff history two players had triple-doubles in the same game. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) and Walt Frazier did it in 1970. (CBN Sports)

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates with guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second half of Game 2

Pregnant Serena as hungry as ever for grand slams – Mouratoglou

S

erena Williams is not only making plans for having a baby, she is already thinking about improving on her record of 23 major titles.

Patrick Mouratoglou said a pregnant Serena Williams is as hungry as ever to add to her record haul of grand slams and does not expect the legendary American to retire while she can still challenge for major titles.

Williams is due to give birth to her first child in September, but the 35-yearold is already making plans for a tennis comeback.

The 23-time major champion has been supporting her sister, Venus, at the French Open this week and has also been discussing her return to the game with her coach, Mouratoglou.

Frenchman Mouratoglou said the world number two retains a huge desire to claim more grand slam titles

Serena Williams is not only making plans for having a baby, she is already thinking about improving on her record of 23 major titles

as she prepares for motherhood.

He told Omnisport in Paris: “We had a talk here this week and we had already talked before. When she told me she was pregnant, at the same time she also told me she wants to come back.

“She asked me if I could wait to work with her when

she comes back and I said of course I will. This week we spoke and she wanted to have a discussion over what we will do, when I would start working with her again and which team we would use in order to get back.”

Asked if Williams still has a big will to win major titles, he added: “She definitely has and since she

feels she can still win grand slams, I think it will be difficult for her to stop.

“I think it will be difficult for her if one day she thinks she is not good enough to win grand slams, then it is going to be a different story.

“For now, she believes.”

Mouratoglou said it is anybody’s guess as to how long Williams can continue challenging for honours.

“I am not going to put any limits on her. Who knows, she has showed me several times that normal limits do not apply to her,” he said.

“She thinks differently [to other players], she doesn’t put any limits on herself.

“Her level of expectation is really high, she sets new goals every time she reaches one, physically she is a better athlete than anyone, she has a huge game and if you put all those things together it’s very dangerous.” (Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, june 5, 2017

GCB/Hand-In-Hand 3-Day Inter-County U-19…

Abysmal batting display highlights 1st day of Berbice U-17 clash ‒ Demerara in pole position against Essequibo

B

atting displays by the Berbice Team and the National U-17 Select Squad were so dismal that two wickets have already been lost in the third innings at the close of a day that featured several disruptions and delays due to rain.

In the first round of the three-day version of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/HandIn-Hand Insurance Under-19 Tournament, the U-17s ended day one with a five-run lead and eight wickets remaining.

The outfield at the Everest Cricket Club Ground was heavy, and the U-17s were dismissed for 86 in 49.4 overs in their first innings, before ending the day on 5-2 in their second innings. Berbice were routed for 86 in just 31.1 overs.

In their first turn at the crease, the U-17s lost two early wickets with just three runs on the scorecard, and they never recovered. They had a torrid time facing the hostile bowling of Sylus Tyndall (4-13), who was well supported by left-arm medium-fast bowler Javed Karim (2-25), skipper Kevin Sinclair (2-21) and left-arm orthodox bowler Keith Simpson (2-25). Kevlon Anderson (39) and Junior Sinclair (16) were the only U-17 batsmen who made it to double-figures.

The Berbicians started their reply with 10 overs remaining before tea, and were 33-1 by the break; with Kevin Sinclair on 19 and Adrian Sukwah on 11. Veramootoo Senwasane was the batsman back in the

Ashmead Nedd

hut, bowled by Reyaz Khan for one.

Shortly after the tea break, Sinclair got too ambitious, attempting a big heave against a looped delivery from U-17 skipper Ashmead Nedd only to find Junior Sinclair in the way at short mid-wicket. He was sent back to the hut, but not before registering 28, the top-score for his team.

In the next over, Sukwah was caught behind off the bowling of Kevin Umrao with-

Raymond Perez

out adding to his score in the final session.

Thereafter, Nedd and Umrao dominated, with support from Junior Sinclair and Pradesh Balkishun, who claimed a wicket apiece. Nedd bagged 4-30 while Umrao grabbed 3-30.

Playing without several of their key players -- Sachin Singh, Alex Algoo, Alphius Bookie and Jevon Schultz -- the U-17s started their second innings looking to improve

on their first innings’ performance. Their scoring account was opened by a keeper’s misfield that went racing to the boundary for four byes, as Tyndall bowled with extreme pace.

However, the introduction of Simpson in the fourth over created havoc, the spinner snaring two wickets in successive balls before the umpires called it a day. Simpson will resume day two aiming to pick up the first hat-trick of the tournament.

Back in the hut are Kevin Christian for one and Umroa for a golden duck. Both batsmen were dismissed LBW. Across at the Police Sports Club Ground at Eve Leary, reigning champions Demerara had, by the close, already stretched their first innings’ lead against Essequibo to 124, compliments of Raymond Perez, who hit a solid 95.

Essequibo were rattled for 106, with Keshram Seyhodam capturing three victims while Sagar Hathiramani snared two scalps.

Demerara closed on 230-5, with Perez hitting 11 boundaries off 125 deliveries to lead the way. Ramnarine Chatura and Richie Looknauth are the unbeaten batsmen, with 23 and 11 respectively. Joshua Persaud was looking good before he was dismissed for 31. Joel Fortune has so far taken three wickets.

Play will resume today at 10:00h.

GLTA/GBTI Tennis Open…

RHTY&SC, Corbin Media Group Student schools sign agreement for teacher! publication of magazine

‒ Fraser defeats McCalman in straight sets

G

K

Kalyca Fraser

alyca Fraser, reigning Girls’ champion in the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA)/ Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) 2017 Tennis tournament, was off to a winning start on Saturday in the Ladies’ category of the tournament, wasting little time in disposing of her senior rival Grace McCalman 6-2 6-1 at the GBTI Recreational Facility at Bel Air. It was an excellent start for the Girls’ champion, who will commence her title defence in the Girls’ division later this week, and is expected to endure more torrid times against tougher opponents.

In the Men’s 45 segment, Alexey Almedia came

from behind to defeat Albert Razick 3-6 6-1 6-4.

Meanwhile, Nicholas Glasgow, Andre Erskine, Oswin Coggins and Khawn Rodney were all successful in the Men’s Open category, to close off proceedings on Saturday.

In an encounter that lasted three sets, Glasgow got past Sandeep Chand 6-4 4-6 6-1. Erskine defeated Khalid Gobin without dropping a game, winning the match 6-0 6-0. Rodney defeated Rudy Grant 6-4 6-4, and Coggins won his match against Devon 6-3 7-6 (7-3).

The tournament will continue throughout the week with several afternoon matches at the said venue.

uyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S from the 19th of August to the 15th of September would be hosting a series of activities to mark the 175th Anniversary of the purchase of Rose Hall Village by 57 free slaves.

The newly liberated slaves formed themselves into a cooperative group and purchased the village then known as Area Nine from European Planter John Baird on August 20th, 1842.

The Club with the official blessings of Vijai Ramoo and the Rose Hall Town Council would be organising a series of activities that includes a religious service, Day of Sports, 5/5 Cricket Tournament, Career and Business Fair, Health Fair, Evening of Music, Yard Fowl Curry Competition, Educational Competition, Public Feeding, Tourist Posters, Military Parade, Honouring of Founders, Community Project and Feeding of the Poor programme among others.

The celebration would be held under the theme of “Celebrating the legacy of vision of our founding fathers”.

The entire township would also be decorated with flags and logos of the celebration, while poles would be painted

Corbin Media Group Publisher Simeon Corbin and RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster finalising the agreement

with colours of the National and Rose Hall Town Flag.

On Wednesday last, the eight cricket teams of the Club and the Corbin Media Group signed an agreement for the publication of a full coloured magazine to mark the anniversary. The Magazine would include messages from President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, Mayor Vijai Ramoo and Town Clerk Natasha Munroe. Other articles would feature outstanding personalities of

the township, major developments over the years, historical sites, major personal achievements and features on the RHTY&SC, the Central Corentyne Chambers of Commerce and the ST. Francis Community Developers – three outstanding NGO’s based in the township.

There would also be articles on the township’s leadership over the years and religious places of worship along with several pages of pictorial review.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster and Vice

President M a r k Papannah have been mandated to work along with Publisher of the Corbin Media Group, Simeon Corbin to make sure that the magazine is ready for official launching on the 20th of August. The long serving Secretary/CEO expressed gratitude to the Corbin Media Group, publisher of the popular GEM Magazine, for coming on board with the RHTY&SC and expressed confidence that the glossy magazine would be a lifelong souvenir for Rose Hall residents and visitors to the township.

The magazine would be distributed free of cost both locally and overseas. Under the agreement, CMG would provide all the information and photos.

Foster also issued an appeal to the corporate sector to support the magazine by taking out advertisements. The eight cricket teams organising the 175th Anniversary are the Farfan and Mendes Under 15, Bakewell Under 17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under 19 and Intermediate, Metro Females and Gizmos and Gadgets Under 21 and First Division.

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, june 5, 2017

23

South American Under-20 Championship…

Historic run for Guyana! ‒ secure 25 medals; finish 2nd overall

By Michelangelo Jacobus

W

ith their athletes performing admirably at the South American U-20 Championships to claim 3 Gold medals, 10 Silver and 12 Bronze, Guyana can now boast of having garnered their largest ever medal haul at any international meet.

Prior to the 2017 staging of these championships, Guyana’s accumulation of medals at these games since commencement of the event in 1959 stood at eight.

When the Championships had come to an end on Sunday at the National Track and Field Facility at Leonora, WCD, the Brazilian contingent had successfully defended their title with 32 medals, 18 of which are Gold.

Host nation Guyana had come second overall on points, as their athletes had scored 198 points compared to Brazil’s 287. Colombia claimed the third spot with 165 points; Peru were fourth with 118 points; Argentina were fifth with 104 points; Ecuador were sixth with 91 points; Suriname seventh with 47 points, Chile eighth with 42, Uruguay 9th with 15, Paraguay 10th with 11, and Bolivia at the bottom

with 4 points.

Highlight of the day was ace sprinter Compton Caesar overcoming a mid-morning tumble in his Men’s 200 Metres Heat to claim Silver in the finals. Cruising in the heats, Caesar pulled up after the finish line to leave Guyanese fans worried. In the finals, his powerful run of 21.45s was not enough to beat his Brazilian rival Derick De Souza, who dashed his Sprint-double dream with a time of 20.92s to take Gold, while Chilean Enzo

Faulbam snared Bronze in 21.55s.

The second and final day of the South American Youth Championships began with Jonathan Amores Carua taking Gold in the 10,000 Metres Males walkrace ahead of Colombian Cesar Al Herera Cortes and Mattheus Correia of Brazil, to get the ball rolling.

Guyana began the day by garnering a Silver and a Bronze medal, compliments of Tramaine Beckles and Timothy Sealey respectively in the Boys Javelin contest, while Gold went to Pedro

Rodrigues of Brazil.

Nigel Gonsalves and Ronaldo Wishart, Guyana’s hopes of medalling in the 3000 Metres Steeplechase, fell short as Walace Caldas of Brazil and Edwar Condori and Alexander Huanca of Peru took Gold, Silver and Bronze in that order.

Terrence Fraser copped Bronze as he came in at 58.07s, behind Colombia’s Eher Al Romana (55.65s) and Brazil’s Caio Martins (54.78s) in the 400 Metres Hurdle.

Chantoba Bright, who won Guyana’s first Gold on

Saturday, had to settle for Bronze in the Triple-Jump.

She jumped a distance of 12.19 metres, behind Monifa Djoe of Suriname (12.33 metres) and Brazil’s Mierili Santos (12.71 metres).

Joanna Archer produced a lung-bursting run in the 800 metres, but her effort was not enough to overcome Colombian Johana Arrieta (2:10.41s). She took Silver with a time of 2:19.43s while Davinia Asantiba (2:50.68s) of Suriname settled for Bronze.

As the morning session ended, Kenisha Phillips ran 24.47s in her Women’s 200 Metres Final to cop Bronze behind Romi Cifuentes (24.20s) of Ecuador and Brazilian ace sprinter Lorraine Martins (23.65s), who took gold.

In the afternoon session, there was an upset in the Girls 4x100 relays as the Ecuadorian quartet clocked a combined time of 46.47s to take gold, while Colombia (47.33s) came second and Guyanese girls Kenisha Phillips, Cassie Small, Avon Samuels and Onasha Rogers took bronze in 47.43s to leave the favourites, Brazil, in the cold.

The Guyanese males had a near perfect start in their 4x100 Relay, as Daniel Williams who is adept at making fast turns outran his counterparts to pass the baton to Tyrell Peters, who kept Guyana ahead when he handed the baton over to Ryan Bramble. However, Brazilian Derick De Souza ran a beastly third leg at this stage to give his team

an edge in the final 100 metres. Compton Caesar, anchoring for the Guyana males, put everything into the final stretch, but Vittor Souza pipped him by 1/10th of a second to take the Gold.

The Brazilians had a combined time of 41.29s, while Guyana claimed Silver in 41.30s and Colombia Bronze in 42.38s.

The next Guyanese to get in on the medal sheet was Kimbily Hilliman in the Javelin event. She throw the javelin a distance of 19.82 metres to claim Bronze, behind Fabielle Ferreira of Brazil (51.74 metres for Silver) and Ecuador’s Yuleixi Angulo (54 metres for Gold).

As the relays continued, Guyana’s female 4x400-Metres team brushed aside the competition to take the host nation’s third Gold med-

al. Anchor Avon Samuels quickly established a narrow lead that Tandika Haynes maintained. In the third leg, Joanna Archer carefully calculated her run, as Colombian Angelica Gamboa took a brief lead, only for Archer to power her way through to Kenisha Phillips, who took off like a bullet to bring the Gold home in a combined time of 3:51.40s, while Colombia came second in 3:52.14s and Argentina third in 4:13.57s.

A breach by Daniel Williams in the Boys 4x400 Metres denied the Guyanese a Relay double, as the team was disqualified despite a dominant performance.

Colombia took Gold in that event, Suriname Silver and Argentina Bronze.

Williams redeemed himself in the High Jump event, along with countryman Tortque Boyce, who respectively garnered Bronze and Silver. Williams had a jump of 1.90m; Boyce, with less tries, had the same 1.90m; and Brazilian Luan Barbosa took the Gold with 1.95m.

The resilient Dennies Roberts added his Silver to Guyana’s medal tally in the Decathlon, amassing 4,936 points to come in behind Peruvian Ignacio Sanchez (5,271 points).

Brazil’s Jordan De Souza took the Bronze with 3,361 points.

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

MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

South American Under-20 Championship…

Pg 22 Compton Caesar mustered his all in an effort to claim gold in the Men’s 4x100m Relays but fell just short

Kenisha Phillips finishes strongly to win gold for Guyana in the 4x400m relays as her teammates cheer her on

Historic run for Guyana!

– secure 25 medals; finish 2nd overall

Pg 23 Chantoba Bright won bronze in her long jump

Joanna Archer (left) won silver in the Girls 800 Metres

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