Guyana times newspaper june 7 2017

UNEP official admits to “slow pace” of release of climate P9 funds Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3234

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Economy will collapse if more sugar estates close – Armogan

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Demerara Assizes opens with high drama in court

…as cousins jailed for killing taxi driver

P8

Page 3

Oil royalties

2% more than what PPP accepted P7 – Govt

EU sugar payment

P10 GAWU concerned as Govt mum on use of $5.4B

…Corriverton business sector close in solidarity with workers

Sophia neighbour row ends in murder Page 2

Dead: Roy Beckles

VAT on local lumber turns Crum-Ewing murder DPP requests away consumers Page 7

…forestry sector reports increase in cheaper substitute – FPA

Girlfriend P12 killer gets 12 years for manslaughter

…says “evil forces” affected him

WANTED Wanted: Troy Tasho

Page 7

Magistrate commit “Grey Boy” to High Court …Magistrate refuses to oblige

Amerindian women call for more markets as income plummets

… want pineapple factory to become operational

P11

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Sophia neighbour row ends in murder

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Dead: Roy Beckles

46-year-old father of three is now dead after he was stabbed during an argument with his neighbour at B Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown late Monday evening.

According to reports, Roy Beckles, called “Trevor”, had just returned from work at about 18:00h and found his common-law wife in an intense argument with his neighbour. He intervened and was subsequently attacked by the man, who armed himself with a knife and a cutlass.

Beckles received a single stab wound and died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The suspect fled the scene

and is still on the run. A wanted bulletin has since been issued for the suspect, Troy Tasho, called “19”.

The dead man’s daughter, Youlanda Beckles, said she was in another area of Sophia when she was informed of the incident. “My cousin come running to me and said your father just get bore up and dead and I end up at Georgetown Hospital and there was my father lying on the stretcher with a big puncture on he shoulder,” she related.

She related that the family was informed that the incident occurred while her step-mother was arguing with the suspect. “My father do some work with the man and he didn’t want to pay he the right money and my father didn’t say anything but is every day she (the step-mother) does be cussing the people and this is the result,” the distraught woman said.

The younger Beckles related that the family was told that when her father went home on Monday, he attempted to defuse the situation when the physical confrontation began.

“After he juk he, they pick he up and rush he to the hospital but the man (suspect) already get away before the Police could come,” she added.

Commander of C Division (East Coast Demerara), Calvin Brutus on Tuesday told Guyana Times that Police have searched several locations for the suspect but is yet to apprehend him.

The girlfriend of the suspect, who

WANTED Wanted: Troy Tasho

did not give her name, related that she was inside of their house when the incident occurred. However, she said that she heard the dead man’s wife and her boyfriend arguing for over an hour.

She added that they would constantly argue over some money that was owed to the elder Beckles. The woman added that her daughter informed her that the neighbour’s wife started to hurl bottles and stones in the direction of the suspect and that was when he armed himself and proceeded to confront the woman. She further stated that the dead man intervened, on his wife’s behalf, and he was subsequently stabbed. The body of the dead man is at the Georgetown Public Hospital morgue awaiting a post-mortem examination expected to be conducted today.

The Police are continuing their investigations.

Stray cattle blamed for accidents in Lima Sands, Mainstay

…residents calling for Police help

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Stray cattle on the road in Lima Sands, Essequibo

esidents living in the Lima Sands, Mainstay/Whyaka and Tapakuma villages in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are calling on the Traffic Department of G Division (Essequibo Coast and Islands) to assist in removing stray cattle roaming the roadways.

According to residents, there is an increase in cattle roaming the area; hence impeding traffic. Many road accidents have been caused by animals roaming in the night and the presence of few lights along the roadway.

Sherryann Bisram noted that the "Chinese-lock" road leading to the communities has become dangerous and despite complaints to relevant authorities, nothing has been done. Friday

last, Bisram related, around 04:00h she was heading to the Anna Regina Market when two cows walked into her vehicle, damaging it.

Bisram said what was surprising was that the cows had no brand or identification. She further noted that often drivers were left to cover their own expenses when any accidents occurred.

Two persons are presently hospitalised at the Suddie Public Hospital after a cow walked into their path while they were riding their motorcycles.

A bus owner was also forced to sell two cows to cover his expenses after he was also involved in an accident. Residents are, therefore, calling on the Police to look into the matter and for cattle farmers to be encouraged to brand their animals.

news

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, June 7 – a night retraction at 04:00h and a day retraction at 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, June 8 – a night retraction at 04:30h and a day retraction at 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, June 7 – 15:15h-16:45h and Thursday, June 8 – 15:50h-17:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Heavy to thundery rain showers can be expected throughout the day, while lightly cloudy to partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening.

Temperatures should range between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 3.12 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 02:55h and 15:20h reaching maximum heights of 2.51 metres and 2.44 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:55h and 21:07h reaching minimum heights of 0.69 metre and 0.76 metre respectively.

Economy will collapse if more sugar estates close – Armogan …Corriverton businesses close in solidarity with workers

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everal sections of the commercial zone in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Wednesday close their businesses as the Private Sector joined sugar workers from the Skeldon Estate and others in a rally against Government’s decision to privatise that estate.

As sugar workers continue to voice concerns over Government’s announcement that the Skeldon Sugar Factory will be sold, hundreds of them and officials of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) were joined by the municipality, taxi drivers, market vendors, the Chamber of Commerce and other members of the Private Sector in a march through the town of Corriverton.

Region Six Chairman David Armogan, speaking at a rally following the march, said that Guyana’s econo-

ed that most of that money would return to Government, but more than that it would keep the economy spinning.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) and its affiliates; the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI); the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA); the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the Linden Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Development; the Region Three Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association have all called on Government to rethink its plan to close and privatise estates in Berbice.

The Government has expressed its intention to downscale the sugar industry and to commence with the closure of estates, but Armogan said the consequences would be dire.

“When you shut down the sugar industry and when you

Region Six Chairman David Armogan speaking at the rally

terested in the estate but in the cogeneration plant, which can be operated at a cheaper cost with the use of other materials than that was left of the cane stalk when the juice was extracted.

According to the Union, work at the sugar estate is the main avenue of employment, as has been the case for generations in that populous rural community. The closure will leave a vacuum that will

SATURDAY, June 3, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS O

08 09 11

14 22 27

16 Protestors as they march through the town of Corriverton with sections of the Private Sector closed in solidarity seen in the background

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 04 07 13 15 25

Afternoon Draw

tions before the decision to close and privatise sugar estates. He said Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan most likely consulted with President David Granger since they were both from Berbice. The President and Government are holding out that there was some level of consultation before decisions were made.

The workers who attended the rally shouted ‘No’ when asked whether they were consulted on future plans for the industry.

Narine said Government has said that GuySuCo is in debt to the tune of $80 billion, but in reality, it is only $17 billion. He noted that that was so since Government took care of a $30 billion debt on a loan it had taken to up-

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my was likely to collapse if more sugar estates were closed. Armogan said the Government has been “fooling” citizens by saying that it was not economically feasible to keep the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) going.

“They are saying that every year they have to plug about $9 billion into GuySuCo to keep it afloat. If you look at $9 billion it is just about 1.5 per cent of our GDP [Gross Domestic Product] and just about 3.6 per cent of our National Budget. Is that too much to keep 60,000 people going? The answer is no,” Armogan said.

He argued that Government could continue in the short term to plug $9 billion into the industry considering that it was a very small percentage of the national budget. He further not-

sell out the sugar industry, not only will the workers who work in the industry suffer but also all others who operate within the environment of the sugar industry will also suffer. The shopkeepers will have to close Some of the protestors at the rally with placards their doors, because people don’t have money to buy, which means not only gravely impact work- grade the factory and there that they will send home ers but also force businesses was the pension liability. their workers and that means and service providers to cur- This $30 billion debt, he exthat more people will become tail or end operations, thus plained, is superficial since unemployed. The taxi drivers making the bad situation all of GuySuCo’s workers will come off the road because even worse. would not become pensioners people are not travelling,” the Addressing the ral- tomorrow and they would not Regional Chairman said. ly, parliamentarian Dr all live to become 101 years Unemployment GAWU is contending that any selling of the factory would eventually put the workers out of employment since investors were not in-

Vishwa Mahadeo said the Government planned to close several estates and sell one when in its campaign leading up to the May 2015 General Election, it promised to give sugar workers better wages.

Instead for the past two years, workers have not received their Annual Production Incentive (API) and now it is getting even worse.

“They want to take away your jobs; the sad thing is that they did it without consulting you,” Mahadeo highlighted.

However, GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine said he was of the belief that there were consulta-

old. He noted that for a company of its size a $17 billion debt was not unusual, since the company was not bankrupt.

NAACIE’s General Secretary Dowchand Nagasar said he had first-hand experience of what could happen when an estate closed. He said the community of Wales has become a ghost town and when the announcement was made of the closure, parts started disappearing from the factory. He added that only a few acres of rice the Agriculture Ministry has planted at Wales and much of it has been destroyed by birds. (Andrew Carmichael)

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wednesDAY, june 7, 2017

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

Supporting local products

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hether one shops in the locally-owned supermarkets or the ones that are foreign-owned, it continues to surprise many to see the number of foreign products which are enthusiastically sold as against the same type of local products. A quick glance at the shelves in most of the supermarkets in Georgetown and its environs will show that in spite of several campaigns carried out previously to encourage consumers to ‘buy local’, more foreign products are being offered to consumers, sometimes even at higher prices.

Sometime back, members of our editorial team conducted a small survey in an attempt to find out why the local products were not more in evidence on the supermarket shelves. Supermarket managers, though not dismissing the quality of local products, claimed it was easier to stock foreign products and that consumers have a preference for such products, and as such, there is a greater turnover.

It should be noted too that many local producers claimed that the supermarkets would buy only limited quantities of their products despite the fact that their prices were competitive. The Consumers Association has said that consumers are enjoined to have ‘value for money’ and that if the local product is of good quality and being offered at a competitive price when compared to foreign ones, then the local product should be bought. The consumer advocates went on to point out that buying local products generates wealth and employment locally, and provides as much social as economic benefit to communities and the country as a whole. Shoppers and consumers are, therefore, enjoined, in their own ultimate interest to buy local once they receive value for money.

Buying local is something which all countries, even the wealthy ones such as the United States, advocate in one guise or another despite talk about globalisation and free trade. Buying local is of ultimate benefit to the consumer himself. And it is easy to buy local if one analyses and compares the local product with its foreign equivalent.

In doing such comparison, one should begin with food and drink. Food products produced locally are fresher and more nutritious and in most cases organically produced.

Local vegetables are much less expensive than the foreign ones. When fruits are not in season, they are often not as competitive as the foreign imports. For example, at the moment, it is better value to buy grapes or apples than avocado pears, which are overpriced. However, when local fruits are in season, they offer a much better buy than any foreign import.

In essence, while we are not advocating that supermarkets or other retailers should limit the choices to consumers in any way, many consumers would agree that some local products are as good as, or even better than the foreign ones, but yet as a result of long indoctrination they almost mechanistically buy the foreign ones.

That being said, we just cannot assume that consumers would change their attitude to local products overnight. It requires much effort from both the Government and the mainstream Private Sector to encourage persons to support local products. While there have been campaigns in the past to encourage persons to buy local, such efforts were limited; they were basically ‘food fairs’ with minimal participation from local companies and citizens.

Additionally, some analysts have pointed out that the vast majority of the local manufacturing initiatives have been undertaken at a small scale, with minimal financial investment. In most cases, there is hardly enough money allocated towards ensuring that those local products are effectively marketed.

One should also take into consideration that many Guyanese consumers are now moving in the direction of online shopping. Added to this is that consumers are being influenced by huge multi-media advertising which has proven to be a major challenge for advocates who are seeking to encourage and promote the use of local products.

Government must show that it is really serious about pushing local products and encouraging citizens to consume what they grow by allocating the necessary resources that would seek to ensure a suitable environment is created to support the development and marketing of local products.

A monkey helps a worker collect garbage on an island at Shiyanhu Ecological Park on World Environment Day, in Changsha, Hunan province, China (Reuters/Yang Huafeng)

Speaker must be consistent in his rulings Dear Editor, Page 234 of the Erskine May’s Parliamentary Practice states “The chief characteristics attaching to the Office of Speaker in the House of Commons are authority and impartiality.” These principles also apply to the Guyana National Assembly and to its Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland.

The National Assembly is governed by the rules laid out in the Standing Orders of the National Assembly, and the Speaker is expected to be guided by this document.

At times I am convinced the Speaker unfairly targets members of the parliamentary Opposition, especially when he conveniently disregards disparaging remarks and heckling from the Government side, but is quick to reprimand one of my colleagues when they respond in kind. But I have always given the Speaker the benefit of the doubt when it comes to his interpretation of the Standing Orders, even though at times I disagree with his ruling.

Now there is reason enough for me to question my own judgement, as I may not be so willing to give the Speaker a free pass again.

My colleague, the honourable Bishop Juan A Edghill MP was summoned to appear before the Privileges Committee of the National Assembly on June 5, to answer charges relating to

a speech he had made in Parliament which was misconstrued as misleading. I wanted to attend this hearing for two reasons: (a) to give support to my friend and colleague, Bishop Edghill and (b) as a learning-curve for me as a parliamentarian. This Committee only meets when there is a need to discipline one of its members, and so it was an educational opportunity for me to witness the Committee in action.

Early that morning I called the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Sherlock Isaacs to indicate my interest in attending this hearing as an observer, and gave him the aforementioned reasons. He quoted Section 95 (15) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly (Procedures in Select Committees) which reads: “Subject to this Standing Order, any member of the Assembly (not being a Member of the Committee) may attend any meeting of a Committee, but such a Member may not be able to join in the deliberations; only Members of the Committee of Privileges may attend any meeting of that Committee while the Committee is deliberating.” To my surprise, the Clerk used this section of the Standing Order to explain that only Members of the Committee of Privileges were allowed to attend this Hearing.

He suggested that I call the Speaker if I have a problem with his interpretation of the Standing Order. I did!

After repeating my request to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland, I again emphasised the need to attend in the limited capacity as an observer.

I told him of my earlier discussion with the Clerk, and the way he interpreted the Standing Order.

Dr Scotland, who is also the Chairman of the Committee of Privileges, admitted that he had not read that section of the Standing Order before and needed time to do so. I then took the opportunity to read him Section 95 (15) above, and he insisted that he would have to read it thoroughly before he can interpret the Standing Order to which I refer. But although he confessed to not having read this Standing Order before, he was adamant that Members of the National Assembly who are not Members of the Committee of Privileges are not allowed to attend these meetings. When I insisted that Section 95 (15) of the Standing Orders gives me the right to attend, the Speaker informed me that even though the interpretation may be different, he will not be the one to break from tradition.

At 11:07h that morning, I received a call from a staff member of the National

Assembly who said she was calling on behalf of the Speaker to advise that “You will not be allowed to attend the Committee of Privileges”.

This decision, I‘m sure, was taken after the Speaker read Standing Orders Section 95 (15) as he said he would.

Editor, I am not a lawyer, but anyone would conclude that Standing Orders Section 95 (15) gives me and every Member of Parliament the right to attend any meeting of the Committee of Privileges, except that a Member who is not a Member of that Committee cannot stay during the deliberations. And I made this quite clear to both the Clerk and the Speaker that I will not be around during the deliberations. Read the Standing Order yourself, it is written in layman’s language. Although a prominent legal scholar, the Speaker seems to be having difficulty with the interpretation of this Standing Order, very much like the President is having in deciding who is a ‘fit and proper’ person. Why the hypocrisy?

The Speaker must be consistent in his rulings to avoid the perception of being bias.

There can only be one interpretation of any Standing Order, and the Speaker does nothing to his credibility by misinterpreting any.

Sincerely, Harry Gill, MP

Respecting the rules of court

Dear Editor, In the past, many lawyers would appear before the court and having nonchalantly breached the rules of court would ask the Judge to waive their breaches.

Such breaches would include basic things such as

preventing new evidence after trial has started or trying to make appeals long after the prescribed time has passed. Often times, such waivers were granted.

Now, we have several new Judges and they are expected to bring freshness to

the Judiciary by keeping to the rules of court and bringing greater discipline.

When matters concern lawyers as litigants, the rules of court must meticulously be maintained, both in the interest of discipline and since lawyers are per-

fectly aware of the rules of court.

Once lawyers themselves are openly penalised, discipline in court will be completely restored.

Yours sincerely, Robert Wills

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National awards and rewards: their GuySuCo’s achievements: conception & consequences June 2015-May 2017

Dear Editor, Media reports and other commentaries on the recent award of ‘National Honours’ indicated a hullabaloo of cynicism and apparent boomerang in the public domain regarding the conception, implementation and consequences of this and other typically routine annual rituals. I wish to share some of my own thoughts: Recognition, acknowledgement and celebration of people’s achievements are normally powerful processes to generate and sustain positive behaviour. (Interestingly, Bruce Fogle’s book on “The Dog’s Mind” confirms similar cause & effect correlations in animal behaviour); however, injudicious awards/rewards can have the opposite effect on the many who perceive themselves as equally good, if not better than those who were singled out for the awards. I believe a case can be made for an overhaul of current practices. For a start, I think it will help if the decision-makers can pay more attention to context and what already obtains in order to

reduce the unintended fallouts. A few examples might be helpful here: In the context of people in ‘paid employment’ which as far as I know was the case of the majority in the last list, their differential levels/quality of work are already variously recognised by differentiated compensation, opportunistic promotion and other forms of recognition within their companies/ organisations; some employers have other in-house programmes of recognition. It is natural to find some dis-satisfaction with their implementation but mechanisms are in place or can be put in place to resolve these.

It is a double-dip for the State to super-impose “National Honours” for paid work. A distinction must be drawn for ‘contractual’, expressed and implied duties and responsibilities in regular employment. For example: a policeman/fireman is paid to save people from crime and fires unlike the neighbour or passer-by who voluntarily does the same things out of good neighbourliness or sens-

es of civic duty/responsibility.

Obviously, national honours are more germane to the latter. Similarly, the doctors who save lives by their professional practice are not the same as the numerous, public-spirited citizens who also save lives in other circumstances and by ‘non-medical’ means.

Consultants, engineers, lawyers, contractors and businessmen, etc, collect fees, commissions, profits. In the field of professional sports, sportsmen/women compete for selection and are compensated (in some cases extremely handsomely) for excellence and differential performances. In the field of music and literature, commissions and royalties are by no means insignificant. And, it is difficult to resist mentioning the ‘personally profitable’ field of politics so much in vogue these days, where it appears that opportunities for aggrandisement, sycophantic adulation and, as we know only too well in Guyana, pecuniary benefits are unlimited!

Another ‘negative’ is the cheapening of National Honours by the excessive

numbers awarded: 70 per annum for our tiny population? One wonders what the number is or would be for an average- sized population.

However, the main thrust of this letter is that in virtually every sphere of human activity, there are already mechanisms in place that inherently provide the necessary incentives and recognition, thus obviating the need for another layer like our ‘National Awards’ .

What is indeed eminently deserving of consideration and attention is a scheme to promote and recognise volunteerism and selflessness especially at the grass-root, community levels where the prime mover for action is altruism and/or where the initiators /participants in community development and individual/social services to the hapless or underprivileged are suitably honoured by the nation for selfless services and altruistic leadership.

I, therefore, strongly recommend a thorough review of our National Honours scheme.

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

Higher retirement age Dear Editor, The Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service of Guyana (CoI) 2016, under the Chairmanship of Professor Harold Lutchman, referred to the current retirement age of 55 years, and with approval 50 years in the public service. The CoI reported that Public Sector organisations such as the Bank of Guyana, the National Insurance Scheme, the Guyana Revenue Authority, and staff of the Office of the Auditor General have a retirement age of 60 years. The retirement age for staff at the University of Guyana is 65 years, and for the members of the Judiciary and the Auditor General, the retirement age is 65 years.

The CoI Report further stated that the Private Sector also has higher retirement ages based on pension schemes providing for retirement between 60 and 65 years. There is also no fixed retirement age for top executives in the Private Sector. Similarly in public life, the CoI noted there is no retirement age for members of the National Assembly, Ministers, Leader of the Opposition, Vice Presidents, the President and their advisers.

In the context of employment service, the age of 55 is too early an age for retirement for public servants. The CoI stated that testimonies to the Commission support and advocate for higher retirement age for public service staff. It is argued that at age of 55, public servants would have acquired deep knowledge and wide experience in public management and in their professional and specialist fields.

It would be a great loss of experience, skills and expertise to the public service with a retirement age at 55 years. This is one of the arguments used to justify the re-employment of many retired public ser-

vants on contract, immediately upon retirement.

The CoI further reported that a survey of the Human Resource Practitioners in the Private Sector recommended a retirement age of between 60 and 65 years. This was also in line with the testimonies to the Commission by public servants and individuals. The advocacy calls for a retirement age of 65 years with an option of retirement at 60 in the public Service to provide for the retention of valuable, experienced and skilled professionals.

The CoI drew attention that the age of retirement for civil servants of other countries. The CoI Report affirmed that the higher retirement age of 65 years would provide for higher pensions under the Pensions Act for public officers who would also continue to contribute to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) until the age of 60 years when NIS pensions would be paid. This would further increase the finances of the NIS scheme by the extended contributions from the public service of the State and its employees for an additional period of five years, thus contributing to the continuing viability of the National Insurance Scheme.

The Commission stated that it was convinced that a higher retirement age for public servants would be mutually beneficial for the State, the public servants, and the National Insurance Scheme. The CoI accordingly recommended: - a new retirement age for new entrants into the public service, and those currently in the public service who are below 50 years of age, be retired on attaining 65 years of age, with the option of retiring on attaining 60 years; - that pension entitlements be calculated at a maximum of 43 and one-third service years; (as against currently 33

and one third service years) - that public servants who are currently below 55 years of age, be allowed the option to retire on attaining 60 years or any time before 65 or on attaining 65 years of age; - that no public servant retiring from the public service before attaining the age of 65 years should be employed on contract in an established public service position.

- That the Pensions Act Chapter 27:02 be amended as may be required to provide for higher pensions as result of the higher retirement age.

Following consultations with the GPSU, the forgoing recommendations should be considered for implementation without delay. Together with many other recommendations of the CoI, a stronger, professional public service can be developed and nurtured to serve the people of this country in keeping statutory obligations of public service officers, and the national development policies and programmes.

Yours sincerely, Joshua Singh

Dear Editor, The multimillion-dollar, Interim Management Committee of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has completed two years in office and it will be remiss of me not to enumerate its many achievements that the committee recorded. My fellow citizens and taxpayers can use it to deduce their own conclusions. The achievements include: (1) Production of 150,000t sugar in 2nd crop 2015 using canes planted in 2nd crop 2014 to deliver an overall production of 231,000t sugar for 2015.

(2) Increased salaries and benefits in 2015 for IMC and later amounting to approximately G$7.7 million/month.

(3) An enlarged executive structure with platoon of pensioners costing millions/month in salaries and benefits.

(4) Record low sugar production in 25 years of 183,652t in 2016.

(5) Closure of Wales Estate at the end of 2016 taking the unemployment number up by some 1700 and no plan to address the challenges of the jobless workers.

(6) A lopsided model for estate diversification at Wales.

(7) Relocation of East Demerara Estate office staff to Enmore and refurbishing a building at La Bonne Intention (LBI) into a stateof-art office with all modern amenities for Head Office Executives despite the Corporation’s financial state.

(8) Closure of LBI

Estate (9) Suspension of operations at Skeldon Estate for 1st crop 2017.

(10) Announcement of closure of East Demerara and Rose Hall Estates and sell-out of Skeldon Estate at end of 2017. Pushing thousands more onto the breadline.

(11) Record low production in 1st crop 2017.

(12) Receipt of G$32 billion from the Treasury in exchange for record low production in 2016 and 2017 to-date.

(13) Packing of industrial bulk grade sugar for direct consumption.

(14) Irreparable damage to trust between employees and employer influencing in poor work attendance, low productivity, and uncaring behaviour. Industrial relations climate is at its lowest point ever in recent memory.

(15) Promoting the demotivation of the workforce with their rates-of-pay stuck at 2014 levels.

(16) A short changed Annual Production Incentive (API) in 2015 and no API in 2016.

(17) Arbitrarily abandoning long-standing work practices and norms.

Editor, the list with this pattern of achievement is getting bigger with each passing day. The normal taxpayer is left to believe that performance of this nature is accepted by the political directorate as monies from the Treasury continue to pay this clueless group of executives.

Sincerely, Sookram Persaud

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Foundation

By Eileen Feldgus, PhD and Isabell Cardonick, MEd

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he recent high-profile spotlight on a landmark study in Developmental Psychology has drawn attention to research by Canadian cognitive psychologists Gene Ouellette and Monique Sénéchal (2017). In some respects, Ouellette and Sénéchal discovered what we have advocated for decades: a powerful connection to improved end-of-first-grade reading scores through the use of early writing and invented spelling. The study’s title, “Invented Spelling in Kindergarten as a Predictor of Reading and Spelling in Grade 1: A New Pathway to Literacy, or Just the Same Road, Less Known? ”(Ouellette and Sénéchal, 2017), reflects what exemplary kindergarten teachers have known about the powerful writing/reading connection for years – kid writing is a pathway to reading success. But this work is still not well known or universally practiced.

This less-known pathway is the one we travelled.

Starting out as passionate kindergarten teachers in the 1960s and 70s, we were ardent about creating classrooms that worked for children. We devoured the research of that era and became life-long learners throughout our careers. Early on we discovered better outcomes for children as we focused more on writing, encouraged invented spelling, developed innovative strategies for teaching phonics and eliminated boring worksheets. Today in 2017 five best-practice techniques we discovered in our practice are now

wholly supported by research and recommended for today’s kindergartens and first grades.

Use Invented Spelling (Ouellette & Sénéchal, 2017) .We found invented spelling to be joyful, motivational for our students, and wonderful in terms of providing opportunities for scaffolding and systematically teaching almost all important aspects of the kindergarten literacy curriculum including phonics, phonemic awareness, knowledge of the alphabet, writing conventions, and vocabulary

development. But perhaps the most amazing discovery throughout our journey was that kids had remarkable capacities to make meaning if we supported them in the process and allowed their creative juices to flow. Early on we learned as we had read in Don Graves’ research (1983), that kids write best when we step back and allow them to choose their own topics and give them ownership and autonomy. We called our teaching model, “Kid Writing” (1999). Our model fit

perfectly with a growing model now called Guided Reading for differentiated reading instruction (Fountas & Pinnell, 2012) and we put in a whole layer underpinning Lucy Calkins work (2003) by showing teachers exactly how to get started and how to move forward with writing workshop and formative assessment.

Abandon teaching “Letter of the Week (Reutzel, 1992, 2015). Teaching one letter per week was standard practice in kindergarten when we began teaching.

We tried our best to jazz up our teaching of the alphabetic principle because we knew it was essential to breaking the code and reading. Our students sang for the letter, danced for the letter, cooked for the letter, and cut and pasted for the letter. We took elaborate measures to teach the alphabet and sounds because we knew it was important. One fond memory was our “P” Party:” we served foods beginning with P – pizza, pretzels, popcorn, pepperoni, and the like.

But with letter of the week the pace was too slow, and as far back as 1992 researchers were noticing the same problem and cautioning teachers to “break the letter-aweek tradition.” (Reutzel, 1992) So in our classrooms we began to use children’s names on the first day of kindergarten – from Albert to Zoie – and learned to focus on all the sounds and letters from the very beginning. In contrast to when we were using letter of the week our students mastered letters and sounds far sooner.

Today, as reported by Reutzel (2015), “research has identified six evidencebased alphabet letter learning orders through which young children may acquire knowledge of alphabet letter names and sounds (Justice, Pence, Bowles, & Wiggins, 2006 ).” And guess what? “The first learning order is called the own-name effect.” (Reutzel, 2015) (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

– to raise good children, we have to help them think independently

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e all want our children to grow up knowing right from wrong, with the moral courage to act on what they know. Courage is something they have to develop through experience and practice.

Talking can help, as children encounter tricky situations at school or with friends; story books also help us along with these conversations. But acquiring courage has to be a gradual, interactive process: we can’t just sit down one afternoon and tell our children how to be courageous, hoping that talking will be enough.

What about knowing what’s right and what’s wrong?

Can we just sit down and tell our children the facts? Up to a point, yes. We do tell children they shouldn’t lie, shouldn’t be mean to one another, should help others where they can. Just telling them once isn’t likely to do the trick, but there’s nothing mystical here –we can pass along some basic moral knowledge just as we pass along knowledge of arithmetic, geography, or exotic animals.

But only up to a point. There seems to be something special about moral education, which means that just accepting what your elders tell you isn’t really enough. We’re happy for our children to learn about lions and elephants from TV, or a trip to the zoo. If they believe what they’re told they can learn all they need to, without becoming tiny zoologists doing original scientific research.

I n contrast, argues

philosopher Alison Hills of Oxford University, just believing what you’re told isn’t enough when it comes to morality.

Children really u n d e rsta n d t h e difference between right and wrong only when they can think things through for themselves, appreciating why they shouldn’t lie or be mean to one another.

A child who is nice to others only because her mother told her to be nice still lacks something very important: moral understanding. And that can’t be remedied by simply telling her more facts about right and wrong, she has to learn to think this through independently.

The same issues arise for adults, especially as we face morally complex dilemmas in life, and may struggle to know what to do for the best. Can we gain moral understanding simply by listening to experts, just as we gain understanding of elephants by listening to animal experts? Or do we need something deeper, going beyond a deference to authority?

Responding to Hills, Cambridge philosopher Paulina Sliwa argues that whilst moral understanding is complex and subtle, gaining understanding is ultimately just a matter of getting enough moral knowledge. In Sliwa’s view, understanding is not something separate from ‘mere’ knowledge.

So how can we come by this moral understanding? Can we learn from others, and in turn teach our children, or do we all have to work this out for ourselves? In the end, a middle way seems to match what we often do. We can learn about morality from speaking with others, whether these are our friends, family members, teachers or religious leaders, or even a wise stranger met by chance. But each of us must take responsibility for deciding where to place our trust, rather than blindly following advice.

And as parents, we must strike a very delicate balance.

Our children need our advice and guidance, but they also need to learn how to question authority, even parental authority. Parents need generous doses of courage, humility, and wisdom: nobody said it would be easy! (psychologytoday.com)

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wednesDAY, june 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Crum-Ewing murder

DPP requests Magistrate commit “Grey Boy” to High Court … Magistrate refuses to oblige

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ity Magistrate Judy Latchman on Tuesday refused the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) request to commit Regan “Grey Boy” Rodrigues to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of Courtney Crum Ewing.

Magistrate Latchman on Monday threw out the case due to insufficient evidence and one day after the Office of the DPP, through Special Prosecutor Nigel Hughes, made the request to have her commit Rodrigues to stand trial in the High Court.

However, the Magistrate stood her ground and informed Hughes that her court will not bow since she had already discharged the case.

One of the roles of the DPP is to ensure that no citizen is charged unjustly.

However, according to legal minds, this very instance is a clear violation of that role and further deteriorates the public confidence in the office of the DPP. It is noted that while the DPP has the power to order a Magistrate to commit a case to stand trial in the High Court, she must be able to provide extraordinary grounds for doing so. However, requesting a Magistrate to commit someone who has already been cleared by the courts is a clear violation of that person’s right to a fair trial, according to a senior attorney. On Monday, Rodrigues was set free for a

DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack

second time after the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to link him to the murder of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing.

In making her ruling, the Magistrate considered all of the facts presented to her.

She highlighted evidence given by Crime Scene Analyst, Delicia Brown, whose submission to the court revealed that the .32 pistol and five .32 bullets found at the accused’s home was indeed the said gun used in the execution of Crum-Ewing.

However, she stated that no actual evidence was presented to the court to prove that Rodrigues pulled the trigger, thus committing the heinous act, even though 14 witness statements alleged such. She also alluded to the facts that the oral statements given by Rodrigues during the course of the investigation did not implicate him in

Magistrate Judy Latchman

the killing, and as such he had no case to answer to.

Upon hearing the decision, Rodrigues burst into tears and as he was being led back into the lock-ups, he screamed, “Freedom!

Freedom!”

Crum-Ewing was gunned down on March 10, 2015, as he was urging residents of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, to cast their ballots in the May 2015 General elections.

Months after, Rodrigues was arrested and charged with the murder but was freed in September 2016.

However, in April 2017, he was re-arrested after the DPP ordered that the case be reopened. According to the DPP, “The sole purpose of this remit is to take further evidence from Police witnesses and to rule on the voluntariness of all oral statements of the accused.”

2% more than what PPP accepted – Govt

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dard and will benefit all Guyanese.

In fact, it said that the two per cent royalties represent a 200 per cent increase on what the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government had negotiated before demitting office back in 2015.

At present values, it said the two per cent will

…forestry sector reports increase in cheaper substitute – FPA

T

Oil royalties

overnment on Tuesday came out swinging at what it said are political naysayers of its acceptance of two per cent royalties in its soon to be sealed partnership with US oil giant ExxonMobil.

The Government said that the royalties and profit-sharing revenue can be compared to world stan-

VAT on local wood turns away consumers

now give Guyana $7.5 billion in annual revenues in addition to the 50 per cent share of profits.

It said therefore that the additional revenues negotiated represents a massive increase on what Guyana would have been saddled with under the PPP negotiated deal.

TURN TO PAGE 12

he Forest Products Association of Guyana (FPA) is again raising concerns about the imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on local lumber at all stages in the production chain.

FPA President Ricky Ramsaroop on Tuesday said consumers were now going after plastic wood substitutes and concrete, and in some cases importing alternative construction products instead of lumber.

The main reason for this, according to Ramsaroop, is the VAT that was imposed on the sector this year. He said this was now taking a toll on the local industry and persons were now feeling the squeeze.

“So, people prefer to go for concrete products and all of that is putting pressure on the wood sector.

This is where we expect the Government will intervene,” the FPA head asserted.

Ramsaroop, who also serves as a director at the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), told Guyana Times that this issue was brought up for discussion at a Commission meeting.

He said now that it has the attention of the GFC, it is hoped that the matter would be raised again with the Government, to look at ways of possibly reversing or reducing the VAT rate.

The FPA head claimed this could cause a virtual shutdown of the sector, create mass unemployment in specific Amerindian commu-

A forest concession in Guyana’s rainforest

nities and for other persons living in the interior.

Illegal logging

Ramsaroop said it also had the potential to increase illegal logging and deforestation and forest degradation, thus endangering the Green Development Plan and access to future carbon funds. Meanwhile, the VAT to some extent is already causing a reduction in forestry activities, and hinterland roads and other infrastructure maintained by forest operators could be threatened also.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has said that the imposition of VAT on the sector was in direct conflict with the Government’s stated objective of promoting value-added production.

Locally-produced lumber-based items, including plywood, are also subject to VAT. Previously, there was no VAT on the final sale of lumber and plywood. And Jagdeo said this would only deter individuals from buying the commodity.

The former President said the coalition Government had been critical of loggers and logging companies summarily cutting down trees and exporting them, but its position had now changed.

According to him, while Government claims it wants to support more value-added activities in the forestry sector, it has simultaneously placed 14 per cent VAT on processed lumber.

Last year, the forestry sector contracted more than 30 per cent, principally as a result of Barama halting the production of logs and the United Kingdom’s restriction on greenheart logs originating from Guyana.

In its March 2017 monthly bulletin, the Finance Ministry said that forestry production for February 2017 amounted to 21,300 cubic metres compared with 25,319 cubic metres in February 2016. According to the report, this has resulted in production reaching 37,074 cubic metres, yearto-date, compared to 51,052 cubic metres in 2016.

8 news

wednesDAY, june 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Demerara Assizes opens with high drama in court … as cousins jailed for killing taxi driver

Horse manure…

By Shemuel Fanfair

I

t was high drama at the opening of the June session at the Demerara Criminal Assizes, as two accused admitted their involvement in the June 2014 killing of taxi driver Danraj Latchman at Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Appearing separately before Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court on Tuesday, 20-year-old Ashraf Ally and Abdool Razack, 21, both plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. After consideration of the mitigating factors, the Judge sentenced them both to 15 years imprisonment, pending deductions for time served.

Defence Counsel for the two men, Kemo Griffith, had earlier stressed that they were teens at the time, noting that they enrolled in several prison programmes to better themselves. However, State Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy maintained that the killing was a senseless act. Hardy added that Latchman’s life was snatched from him.

The court heard that Ally now plays steel pan and has even performed at the British High Commissioner’s residence. Ally, who turned up to his hearing dressed in a suit and tie also took up barbering behind bars. Addressing

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Deceased: Danraj Latchman

the court, the accused went on a 15-minitue tirade detailing events leading up to the crime, saying that he and others met up with girls and were consuming alcohol before going to Parika.

After brief advisement from his Attorney, the accused then broke down in streams of tears, with much of his words being inaudible.

“I already confess to God, I am very sorry. I learn a lot since I’m in prison; every time I think about my future, I get frustrated,” he stressed.

When Abdool Razack appeared, the court similarly heard that he took up classes while being incarcerated. Defence Counsel Griffith stated that his client enrolled in building technology, Information Technology and joinery classes and can now prepare a “mean curry” after being elected as ‘head cook’ at

Cousins Abdool Razack and Ashraf Ally were sentenced to 15 years for killing Danraj Latchman

the Timehri prison. Razack intends to expand his family’s carpentry business once he is released. Razack apologised to Latchman’s family and asked the court for mercy, saying that he put his own family to shame and disgrace.

Moments after the Judge handed down Ally’s fate and adjourned for Razack’s sentencing, Latchman’s mother, Tarmati Daby almost fainted in the court, knocking over one of the benches. Outside the courtroom, she exclaimed that justice was not served.

“Me need justice, this nah justice, me want justice, this unfair,” expressed the woman who had to be assisted by family members. Meanwhile, sister of deceased, Indra Latchman, said they intend to hire an attorney to appeal the court’s decision.

On the flipside, Abdool

Razack felt that his allocated time should have been less and he declared his innocence while he was being led away to the prisoner’s holding cell.

The taxi driver whose body was found in cane fields at Parika Backdam was hired by the two young men to transport them from Lusignan, East Coast Demerara; to Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

The two were accused of killing Latchman between June 10 and 14, 2014. Police believe the two men intended to only steal the teenaged Latchman’s car but after the young man was strangled they fled the scene, and later confessed to the crime after being detained. Justice Singh, who took the salute at Tuesday morning’s opening, will hear all cases before the return of Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, later in the session.

Miner remanded on fraud charge …allegedly cheated uncle of 8 ounces raw gold

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fter one year of evading the Police, Sherwin Saul found himself before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday afternoon following his recent arrest for fraud.

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan read the charge which stated that between

January 24, 2016 and February 24, 2016, at White Water Arama Backdam in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni District (Region Seven), being solely entrusted with 15.5 ounces of raw gold for Virtual Complainant (VC) Kelvin Saul, he fraudulently converted eight ounces to his own

use and benefit.

The 42-year-old unrepresented miner denied the charge, while relating to the court that he had a fixed place of residence in Litchfield on the West Coast of Demerara.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore objected to bail being granted, disclosing that Saul was arrested early last year following the report by the VC, who is the defendant’s uncle. According to Moore, the defendant was released on $100,000 station bail, but never returned despite being cau-

tioned that that was a condition of his bail. Moore related that Saul then eluded Police, but he was recently spotted in Georgetown by ranks, who readily nabbed and arrested him in relation to the said felony. The Prosecutor in these circumstances requested that the Magistrate remand Saul pending the outcome of the trial, in light of him being a high flight risk.

Chief Magistrate McLennan transferred the case to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court to be heard on June 16.

…on oil developments

itizens are finally waking up to what your humble Eyewitness has been warning about for almost two years now: Guyanese must be told about details of the production contract the Government’s signed with Exxon. One analyst just complained the just revealed two per cent royalty rate is just too low. The original contract, signed in 1999, was to last for 10 years with two threeyear extensions…bringing the expiration to 2015 – just when oil was struck.

Just in time for the new deal to be negotiated with the new government. Your Eyewitness doesn’t believe there was any gunman on any knoll when JFK was assassinated – and in general, doesn’t give too much credence to conspiracy theories. But on this one, he has to wonder!

Hey, Dear Reader, your Eyewitness has been around the block and then some in the world of business.

It’s not by accident their motto is “caveat emptor” – buyers beware! It’s the same sign that should be hung on the necks of tigers and lions – they have no malice in their hearts when they snap the necks of their prey. That’s just the way they were made. Businesses will do what it takes to make the most profits. And as far as the well-published “contributions”? They get to write them off their profits as tax deductions!!

So we have to expect that Exxon will bargain with no holding back…and so should we. No hard feelings!! While landlocked Uganda – which we were partnered with to be tutored on oil – differed on the extraction of oil part, their economics was spot on when it came to observing the cardinal rule of taxation: “plucking the goose as to procure the largest quantity of feathers with the least possible amount of hissing.”

Even then, we pointed out that Uganda had a 12.5 per cent royalty – off the gross production – and Trotman should shoot for that. Why did we now learn that Trotman only got two per cent?? Unless it’s made up in other ways, that’s the lowest rate of royalty on oil production in the world!! Why? Did he renegotiate the “up to 75 per cent of the oil” that Exxon can claim to cover exploration and production costs (cost oil) down to the 40-50 per cent rate like Uganda??? And on the taxation of Exxon’s profit, did he raise it beyond our 27.5 per cent corporate rate?

If as, we suspect, the answer is “NO!”, we’ve gotten the short end of the stick and that explains why Trotman’s so coy about the contract’s details. The big question is still “why?”.

Sherlock Holmes advised, “Eliminate all other factors, and the one which remains must be the truth.”

Conspiracy? Or venality?

…and protection

On assuming office, the Government promised to throw everything – including the kitchen sink – at the crime wave then washing over the land. Your Eyewitness soon realised they probably meant that literally. They claimed they’d “received credible information related to a potential domestic security threat and will be putting troops in certain targeted areas…Citizens can expect to see helicopters providing aerial coverage…drones, surveillance cameras, etc, etc”.

But what warmed the cockles of the hearts of citizens was their vow to bring back horses and dogs in the fight against crime. All those weaponry and armament scared citizens, but horses and dogs, ironically, “humanised” the crime fighters. But now we learn while $1 million was paid for a horse, both the horse and the money have disappeared!! While the details are kinda sketchy, your Eyewitness wonders if the horse was spirited away by rustlers.

Your Eyewitness expects that some of our crack (NOT “cracked”) crime sleuths would pick up the trail of the purloined horse!

…and money laundering

Seems the Ministry of Public Security paid $7.5 million up front for an “industrial washing machine” to handle the laundry from the Camp St Jail – but never received the machine.

Apart from prisoners wearing dingy clothes, is this a case of “money laundering” for SOCU? Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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wednesDAY, june 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

UNEP official admits to “slow Vendor gets 20 years for killing pace” of release of climate funds transgender sex worker

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United Nations official has admitted that climate financing for small countries, including those in the Caribbean Region, has been extremely slow, but has given his assurance that this could change in the future.

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Caribbean Sub-Regional Office Head, Vincent Sweeney made this statement at a recently-held climate change workshop in Guyana.

While much work has been done to develop policies to respond to the threat of climate change, particularly in small Caribbean States, Sweeney again admitted that implementation was lacking.

“I can feel the frustration with how things move forward,” the UNEP official said, explaining that there was actually a lot more finances available now than ever before.

He used the Green Climate Fund as an example where there was concrete funding for countries.

In some cases, according to him, funds have been approved for large projects, which could be used as a stepping stone to moving forward with plans to fight climate change. He said, “So, I think we are at a better stage than we were years ago and the increasing awareness will see more sectors getting on board and seeing climate change as an entry point for financing.”

Commenting further, Sweeney said that some of the difficulties experienced in various sectors in terms of raising funds could in some cases be linked to climate change.

Many non-traditional sectors are now using climate change as an access route for financing. One example is the water sector, which is now linking some of its vulnerabil-

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Caribbean SubRegional Office Head, Vincent Sweeney

ities to climate change – not only droughts but floods and the impact on water infrastructure.

“I agree that we should be concerned with the way at which funding is being made available by the international community to the regions, but the fact remains, more funds are available than it ever was.”

Speaking specifically about the Paris Agreement, which solidified a global effort to tackle climate change, Sweeney said that although the United States has pulled out, a majority of countries would stick with the Agreement.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has called on Caribbean leaders, including President David Granger, to represent the interests of the Region with the US Government, following its pull-out.

On the other hand, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had said in anticipation of America’s withdrawal, there might be a regroup by the international community in order to have a fresh look at the commitments that

were made under the agreement before moving forward.

The pull-out, according to experts, has serious implications for many poor countries, and it could stymie the progress already made in the fight against climate change and place the global community in a more unrealistic position to meet the goals set out in the Paris Agreement.

US President Donald Trump said part of the reason his country decided to pull out of the Green Climate Fund, is because it costs the US “billions of billions of billions” of dollars.

The Green Climate Fund is a programme birthed in 2010 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to address the disproportionate burden climate change is placing on the developing world. Developed countries make a pledged contribution to the Fund, which will go towards preparing developing nations for climate change and helping them keep their greenhouse gas emissions low. However, none of this is enforceable, and the pledges are voluntary.

Nations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia contributed the least to climate change, yet they will see its worst impacts. Countries in the Caribbean are already experiencing floods caused by rising temperatures, receding coastlines and disastrous storms.

However, the developed world, which includes the US, China and parts of Europe, contributed the most to climate change through carbon emissions.

The US has pledged US$3 billion, and former President Barack Obama contributed the first US$1 billion before leaving office, so US$2 billion remains outstanding.

F

orty-five-yearold Andell Forde of Rahaman’s Park, Houston, Greater Georgetown, was sentenced to 20 years for killing transgender sex worker Nephi Luther, born Noel Luther.

The father of six, who had worked as a fish vendor, appeared before Justice Navindra Singh on Tuesday at the High Court, where he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

The State contended that around 01:30h on July 22, 2015, near Carmichael and Quamina Streets, Forde confronted and shot Luther who plied his trade in the area. It followed an argument which Luther had with an unsatisfied client, who was a friend of Forde. The businessman had accused the sex worker of robbing him and had left only to return later accompanied by Forde, who then shot Luther who died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

The Judge accepted the accused’s confession, stressing that there were legal grounds to accept the plea for manslaughter. In his appeal for leniency, defence counsel Mark Conway reminded that Forde was helping a friend who was robbed.

Moreover, Conway disclosed that his client was one of the men injured in the deadly Camp Street Prison fire last year, which had left 17 in-

Sentenced: Andell Forde

mates dead.

The court heard that Forde received several burns about the body as he tried to rescue trapped inmates during the fire. Conway claimed that these ‘selfless acts’ suggested that Forde wanted to add positively to society. However, State Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy pointed out that Forde’s actions put the public at risk since others were present when he shot the now deceased man. She submitted that the sentence must reflect the crime.

In addressing the court, Forde, who did not show much emotion from the prisoner’s dock, apologised to the family of Luther. None of Luther’s family members were identified at Tuesday’s sentencing.

“I am really sorry; I was

Murdered transgender sex worker, Noel “Nephi” Luther

representing a friend. I lost a son; I know what it’s like,” the shooter claimed.

The Judge took into consideration all that he heard, but maintained that Forde must accept liability for what he had done. As such, Justice Singh sentenced him to 20 years, with deductions for time spent awaiting trial. “You are well on your way to getting rehabilitated… get involved in anger management programmes,” the Judge encouraged.

When Forde departed the courtroom, he had no comment for this publication, but after receiving his sentence he had begun to shed tears. Forde has already undergone two surgeries for his burn injuries and is slated to have more surgeries in the future.

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, june 7, 2017

News EU sugar payment

GAWU concerned as Govt mum on use of $5.4B

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ast year, the European Union (EU) gave Guyana 24.4 million euros ($5.4 billion) in aid to support its adjustment to the loss of the Union’s lucrative market. But more than seven months later, questions still remain about exactly how the Government will be using this money.

Despite being an important stakeholder in the local sugar industry, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is in the dark on the Government’s intentions.

According to GAWU President Komal Chand, the silence surrounding the money is a concern.

The labour representative noted that the EU’s intention in giving Guyana the money was that it would be used in the sugar industry. But in the absence of any Governmentfacilitated consultations or budgetary plan, Chand could only surmise that the money was still with the Government.

“The money was delayed. I know the Government did receive the money. But we don’t know what they have done with that money. It comes as a result of the (EU) commitment to the sugar industry, after the price of sugar was cut by 36 per cent.

European Commission Director General for International Cooperation and Development, Stefano Manservisi (right) with Finance Minister Winston Jordan

“So, they distributed money to the sugar industry over a number of years. The last payment was last year, but it was not released to the sugar industry. It was intended for the sugar industry; the money came about due to certain performance in the sugar industry.”

Chand acknowledged that Government might be considering other uses for the money, such as meeting expenditure from the Consolidated Fund, paying wages to public servants and the execution of project works. But he noted that the bottom line was for

the money to be used in the sugar industry.

For years, the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States has provided sugar to Europe on a quota system. In fact, Europe accounted for over 150,000 tonnes in sugar exports from Guyana.

But the EU’s quota management system for sugar will end on September 30, 2017 and is expected to lead to a fall in prices towards the international sugar price and a decrease in sugar exports from the ACP, with particular impact on Caribbean producers. Government has been

Cummings Lodge decomposing body

No foul play suspected – Police … wife in stable condition

T Dead: Kevin Dawson

lence and thus no foul play is suspected.

Kevin Dawson’s body is at the Lykens Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination which is expected to be conducted today.

Guyana Times was told that Kevin Dawson was suffering from malaria and typhoid and may have succumbed to his illnesses.

However, the reason for his wife not raising an alarm is unclear. A source at the GPHC said that psychiatrists from the Mental Health Unit are evaluating the woman’s mental state and she is being closely observed.

On Monday, one of Cindy Dawson’s colleagues ventured to her home after she

The guard hut

Dear Diary, I is Prominent Secretary Squelch an’ I in trouble again.

You remember how bad deh treat me when I been in the Interior People Ministry? Schuups!! Anybody coulda make dat mistake – signing a $2,500,000 check when it shoulda been $25,000. Interior People never use to worry about adding zeroes to checks in all the years I been dealing wid dem, Dear Diary. Is dese Committees making all de trouble.

So dey move me over to Education as de Prominent Secretary. I suspect dey move me because dey think they can educate me about zeroes. I ain’t even settle in de job and now is de same thing all over again. Dey want to know how come a 5’x5’ Guard Hut at my house cost $5 million!

Dey say it shoulda cost $50,000!

Schuups. Just because I used to be PS for Interior People Ministry, dey think I shoulda build a guard hut with a troolie roof? Or because de thing name “hut”? Dey think “PS” mean “postscript”, like being something you forget? $50,000! Just the electronic security surveillance system cost $900,000! Dey think I would hire some fella from de bush patrolling the yard with a bow and arrow?

And what about the Air Conditioner. I was very cost conscious and bought one of those energy-savings “inverter” type! But do dey appreciate dat? Noooo! Dey had de nerve to ask me why de guard need AC? I had to tell dem it was not for the guard, stupid! It was for the surveillance system! Dey must come from de Bush.

Den the glass around the guard hut had to be bullet proof. Deh know how much bullet-proof glass cost? What is dat yuh ask, Dear Diary? Why de Hut need bullet proof glass? I is keeping de most valuable thing in Guyana, which nobody has seen. The Education Minister plans for education.

Venezuelans fined for illegal entry, 1 deported

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s investigations continuing into the circumstances surrounding the death of 35-year-old Kevin Dawson, whose partially decomposed body was discovered in his Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home, Police on Tuesday said they are yet to determine the cause to death. However, Police on Tuesday said that there were no signs of foul play. Dawson’s partially decomposed body was discovered at his Lot 7 Hugh Ganie Park, Cummings Lodge, ECD home on Monday evening along with his wife, Cindy Dawson, who was unconscious at the time. The discovery was made after Cindy Dawson failed to turn up for work at the Turkeyen Nursery School on Monday.

According to C Division (East Coast Demerara) Commander, Calvin Brutus, Cindy Dawson is in a stable condition and resting in the female ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). He added that the woman is suffering from severe shock and could not have provided the Police with any information to assist in their investigations.

However, he noted that the body bore no marks of vio-

downsizing the sugar industry, a move fiercely resisted by GAWU. Last year, the operations of the LBI Estate were amalgamated with those of the Enmore Estate in order to make both estates more efficient, according to GuySuCo. GAWU has noted that thousands of persons stand to be affected by the closure of this East Demerara Estate, which employs some 2200 persons in the field, factory, security, administrative and managerial sections.

Government has announced plans to close the Enmore and Rose Hall Sugar Estates, sell the Skeldon Sugar Factory, reduce the annual production of sugar, and take on the responsibility of managing the drainage and irrigation services provided by GuySuCo. Agriculture Minister Noel Holder claimed that this process would result in improving the relationship with some cane cutters, estate staff and about 1710 private cane farmers, adding that GuySuCo’s sugar operations will be limited to the AlbionRose Hall, Blairmont and Uitvlugt-Wales Estates. The estates will be complete with factories and will have cane supplied from all locations, according to the Agriculture Minister. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), along with the Opposition, has warned the Guyana Government about the social impact of the measures it is taking. There has also been criticism of the downsizing, in light of the absence of a socio-economic study.

Wife: Cindy Dawson

failed to turn up at work and upon arriving she was greeted by a stench emanating from the couple’s home. An alarm was raised and the door was forced open.

Kevin Dawson’s body was discovered partially decomposed in their bedroom while his wife was found unconscious in the kitchen, and not on his body as earlier reported.

Neighbours said the couple recently moved into the area and the man would usually go for work in the interior while his wife taught at the school. They noted that they were not concerned when they did not see the couple over the weekend since it was normal for them to be in their house.

wo Venezuelan women and a man of Penny Lane, South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown, were each ordered to pay a fine of $30,000

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after they admitted to entering Guyana by unlawful means.

Marlon Atwell, Inez Bolivar and Jennifer Bolivar were separately slapped with a charge which stated that on May 22, 2017, at Eteringbang, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), they entered Guyana by sea and disembarked without presenting themselves to immigration authorities.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore told the court that Police conducted a raid at the Penny Lane residence where the defendants were found and asked to produce their passports. After they failed to do so, an investigation was launched and it was revealed that the defendants never presented themselves to immigration authorities upon entering the jurisdiction, caus-

ing them to be arrested and charged with the offence.

Representing the trio was Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd, who told the court that Inez Bolivar was 19 years of age and engaged to one Miguel Atwell, a Guyanese citizen and brother of the first named accused, while Jennifer Bolivar is five months along with her third child for Martin Atwell, the father of Marlon and Miguel Atwell.

Todd pleaded with the Magistrate to impose non-custodial sentences and minimum fines for his clients in light of existing special circumstances.

He disclosed that Guyanaborn Martin Atwell decided to return to Guyana with his children when the killings and uprisings of the Venezuelan crisis had risen to an extent that made it difficult for the family to survive there. In addition, the court heard that the younger Bolivar and Miguel were high-school sweethearts and had not the opportunity to legalise their intentions prior to their con-

tact with Police in Guyana.

He, thereby, requested the Magistrate not to order a deportation but rather to allow his client to return on her own and re-enter the country legally so that she may “reunite with the only love she had ever known”.

Meanwhile, as regards Jennifer Bolivar, the lawyer related that the defendant has two children aged two and four from a common-law union with the senior Atwell, one of whom is reportedly enrolled in a local school, as he highlighted the dangers of travelling via sea in such a condition (in the event of a deportation) and the difficulties and adverse effects of uprooting and transplanting the children.

The trio pleaded guilty to the offence and were ordered by the Magistrate to pay a fine of $30,000 with an alternative of four weeks’ imprisonment. Inez Bolivar will be escorted to the nearest port of exit after payment of the fine or serving the alternative sentence.

wednesDAY, june 7, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

News

Amerindian women call for more markets as income plummets … want pineapple factory to become operational

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armers in the Amerindian community of Mainstay/ Whyaka in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have complained over the lack of markets for pineapples as harvesting is in full swing. Harvesting commenced mid-May and was expected to end in June.

The lack of markets for pineapples forces farmers to go to various markets and villages.

One such farmer was Gwendolyn Gordon.

Gordon, a mother of four, said that the pineapple factory in Mainstay was presently down and farmers were forced to seek outside markets. She said the factory was down because the overseas buyers has stopped purchasing farmer’ pineapple. “We really want this factory to be in operation; we have to sell our pineapples for little and nothing; the market is currently flooded and the prices is low plus sales is

Still too much “chat” on Sexual Offences Act … implementation still lacking

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Veletta Fredericks and her son

farmer, Veletta Fredericks said this was her second time selling pineapples and in comparison to the first time, sales were very slow.

The 24-year-old farmer said that the competition was very "tight" and many times, farmers were forced to sell their fruits for a meagre profit. She said she would arrive at her selling location as early as 06:00h and retire for the day at

Pineapples flood Region Two markets

slow."

The 56-year-old Gordon cultivates a four-acre plot and this crop she anticipates will yield more than 500 pineapples.

Every crop, she said, the sales of pineapples provide an income for her family.

Gordon explained at the Friday market, she would sell approximately 200 pineapples. She is presently stationed at the Anna Regina old market junction selling pineapples. The price for a pineapple ranges from $100 to $500, with three pineapples being sold for $500.

A very young pineapple

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17:00h. She noted that the money she would accumulate was used to provide for her family.

Fredericks further noted that many persons from the Amerindian community were involved in the cultivation of pineapples as their main economic activity. The mother of one said since she was a child she has known about pineapple cultivation.

Other farmers selling at the Anna Regina and Bush Lot Markets are also calling for the pineapple factory in the area to become operational, as sales were slow. They highlighted that their pineapples were

purely organic and they took pride in the cultivation of the fruit.

Main source of income

Mona Pearson, a mother of three, said she looked forward to pineapple harvesting every year, explaining that it provided her family’s main income.

Whenever pineapples are not in season, she would resort to planting cash crops.

Pearson sells the sweetest pineapples and prices them according to the sizes. The most expensive one is $500.

Another farmer, Nalinie Singh, also lamented the slow sales. Then, standing under the sweltering sun with her tables packed with pineapples, Mary Williams said she sold pineapples for her daughter. "Mainstay is blessed with pineapples, but we need markets and farmers would be happy with prices then. Women farmers work hard to take care of their families; look how we stand up in this hot sun selling," she noted.

Pineapple farming in the community has been one of the main sources of income for residents living in the sandy community located approximately 10 miles from the Essequibo Coast Public Road.

Over the years, the cultivation and marketing of the tasty fruit have paved the way for community development, advanced educational possibilities, tourism enhancement and a better life for residents.

(Indrawattie Natram)

lose to one decade after it was passed as law, the Sexual Offences Act is still to deliver justice to the hundreds of victims of sexual offences in Guyana.

Woman rights activist, Karen DeSouza, says two Ministers later, there is still a lot of chat and no concrete moves have been made to fully implement the Act. “The lack of implementation of the Sexual Offences Act has been very disappointing to many of us who worked hard on all aspects of getting that act,” she stated.

DeSouza told Guyana Times in a recent interview that while the current Government has moved to set up a Sexual Offenses Unit, they have not empowered the National Task Force.

Under the act the President shall appoint members of the Task Force which shall include the Ministers of Legal Affairs, Home Affairs, Human Services and Social Security, Amerindian Affairs, Education, Health, Local Government, Youth, Sport and Culture, senior public officers with responsibility for law enforcement, health and human and social services and persons from non-governmental organisations.

The head of Red Thread also reminded that the Sexual Offenses Act speaks to prevention and the need for such a Task Force to address awareness, monitoring the implementation of the law.

“While it has been set up, it has been transformed into a ministerial task force.

And so far, there has been nothing said publicly about it,” she remarked.

DeSouza said the Sexual Offences Task Force needs to be properly resourced so that a national plan of action for the prevention of sexual offences could become a reality.

According to DeSouza, public statements coming

Award-winning women rights activist Karen DeSouza

from the Sexual Offenses Unit have been offering a lot less than one would expect.

“So, it seems to me that the Ministry is now taking on a certain kind of social welfare role as opposed to being more focused on the policy aspect and look at implementation to ensure that institutional changes are made,” she pointed out.

The women rights activist also highlighted the fact that the director of the Unit does not speak to policy and intuitional changes, or legal arrangements. “The Unit has been set up but the

work is not happening,” she asserted.

Further, “The work of the Ministry of Social Protection has the primary responsibility for both sexual offenses and domestic violence, but I think it is still very limited and not focused enough on institutional changes and policy changes,” DeSouza told Guyana Times.

DeSouza said while some work has been done to train persons to respond to cases of rape and paedophilia in Guyana, she said that there is still a lack of proper investigations of sexual offences cases.

She again stressed the need for comprehensive services from special units set up in every hospital or appropriate venues, where services are centralised and victim-centred.

The need for trained Counsellors to address the psychological and physical trauma and trained Police Officers to take statements in a humane and professional manner was also cited.

During a meeting with Social Protection Minister Amna Ally, Red Thread had sought to raise these concerns, but nothing has tangible improvements have been made.

12 news Girlfriend killer gets 12 years for manslaughter wednesDAY, june 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

…says “evil forces” affected him

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young man who slaughtered his then teenaged girlfriend, Tenicia McAllister, in the presence of his mother and siblings has claimed that “evil forces” were at work when he committed the heinous act nearly two years ago.

This is what presiding Judge Navindra Singh was told moments before Joshua Baveghems pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for his crime.

Baveghems agreed with

the State’s contention that on August 13, 2015, using a cutlass, he murdered the former Cummings Lodge Secondary School student at his Diamond, East Bank Demerara home, after accusing her of being unfaithful. State Prosecutor Tamica Clarke, in reading out the facts of the case, related that Baveghems grabbed the young lady by the hair and dragged her to the kitchen before he retrieved the cutlass and chopped her about the body.

Clarke informed the court that all of this was

done in the presence of Baveghems’ mother, his brother and sister. The court also heard that in the midst of the chopping, the three family members fled and solicited the assistance of a neighbour. Some time after, Police discovered the young woman’s body lying in the grass outside Baveghems’ residence. According to the post-mortem examination, McAllister had 19 incised wounds.

The State Prosecutor noted that the accused posed a threat to several family members and stressed that

Joshua Baveghems

one should walk away when faced with domestic violence issues.

The accused, in address-

Dead: Tenicia McAllister

ing the court, claimed that “evil forces” affected his judgment and he had no control over his actions.

“I wasn’t in the right state of mind; something take me over, I begging you for mercy,” the 21-year-old pleaded.

Justice Singh told him that his remorse seemed genuine, adding that Baveghems would have to live with the fact he killed his loved one which would affect his mind for a long time.

Baveghems now takes anger management classes, attends chapel regularly and he prays and sings, the court was previously told. He was represented by Attorney Kemo Griffith, who had told the court that “love is something we cannot understand”.

Labourer remanded for Berbice pensioner’s death

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man, who had no fixed place of abode, was on Tuesday remanded for the murder of a Corentyne, Berbice pensioner. Lincoln Goodlall, 29, a labourer, appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court to answer to the capital offence and was refused bail.

The charge read that on June 2, 2017, at BB Race Course, Springlands, he murdered Fitzherbert Grimes during the course of a robbery.

He was remanded until June 19 when the matter comes up again for a Police report.

The accused appeared in the blood stained clothes he was wearing when he was arrested on Friday.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Orin Joseph told the court that the Police are yet to complete the case file, however, there was a note which indicated that Goodlall may need psychiatric evaluation.

Lincoln Goodlall

Joseph told the court that during the investigation, it was the belief of the investigators that the accused ‘was literally off’.

Meanwhile, it had been reported that the accused allegedly choked the 88-yearold Fitzherbert Grimes of Hazel Street, Springlands after he was allegedly reluctant to relieve his wallet with the remaining of his pension which he had uplifted the previous day.

A 29-year-old man was

attempting to take the wallet from Grimes and in the process choked and stamped him to death. The suspect had gone to the home of Grimes as he normally did and committed the act which was witnessed by an 11-year-old boy.

Following the shouts which were heard coming from Grimes house, neighbours called the Police.

Grimes in his earlier days made a living as a boat maker. After retiring he worked as a security guard.

He is said to have had a good relationship with the community which looked out for him. He was however surrounded by persons who were closely linked to the drug trade.

Neighbours describe the house he lived in as one which many visited and were comfortable carrying out their illegal activity.

Grimes had uplifted his pension on Thursday and has a portion of it left on Friday afternoon when the suspect came. (Andrew Carmichael)

2% more than...

FROM PAGE 7

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo last week said the two per cent royalty at US$50 per barrel of oil will see Guyana earning a meager $8 billion per year from ExxonMobil, returns that can in no way solve Guyana’s unemployment problems and in fact gives rise to the real possibility of Guyanese being worse off.

He therefore called out Government over its duplicitous statements and challenged the Administration to release the contract it is inking with the US-based oil exploration company.

Jagdeo said he did not want to speculate but has observed statements by

Minister Trotman to the effect that sections of the original contract had not been altered. “Which part have you opened for renegotiation and why are you renegotiating…

If we don’t know the baseline, are you negotiating more favourable or worse conditions.”

The Opposition Leader accuse Minister Trotman of politicking with oil and possible oil revenues since, according to Jagdeo, he has now intimated that the current Administration negotiated a better contract at two per cent more, than the one per cent negotiated by the PPP/Civic.

The former President defended the original contract, saying it has to be seen in the

context that at that time, the Administration literally had to be begging companies to explore in Guyana.

“It was signed at a time when we were begging people to go explore out there,” Jagdeo recalled.

According to the former President, now PPP General Secretary and Opposition Leader, “In absence of making the entire contract public we think he (Trotman) is just cherry-picking and if you gonna snipe at the PPP, then make the entire contract public.” For many countries royalty amounts to between three and 15 per cent.

news

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wednesDAY, june 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt's commitment to reform to be tested T

he coalition Government will have a stern test ahead of them when the consideration of the 2015 Auditor General’s (AG) report has been completed and they will have to submit, in writing, a commitment to either adopt or reject the AG’s many findings and recommendations.

It will be the first time that the coalition Government will have to account for financial anarchy found by the Auditor General to have occurred since it took office in 2015 and documented in his report.

These fiscal infractions include abuse of Guyana’s Contingency Fund and widespread overpayment of contractors. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), before whom the 2015 AG report currently rests, has been the scene of turmoil for the past few months with several accounting officers having to be cautioned and evicted from the Parliament’s chambers for being untruthful with the Committee.

According to PAC mem-

ber Juan Edghill, there is an expectation when an accounting officer comes before the Committee that, at a minimum, the officer will be forthright, factual and honest with the PAC. “We would expect that whatever undertaking they make that they will fulfil it.

For example, if they promise to submit documents they would submit those documents and that their undertaking would not be hindered by any obstruction from political boss or operatives, because they are the accounting officer and they will answer to the PAC.” According to Edghill, at the end of this process the PAC will present a report to the National Assembly.

That report will document the parliamentary sub-committee’s findings and recommendations.

“After that is completed, the Government would have to provide a Treasury memorandum, which will form the official Government response to the Auditor General’s findings and PAC’s recommendations.”

“Once the Treasury memorandum is submitted,”

One of the exchanges in the PAC chambers in the National Assembly

Edghill explained. “That is the Government’s commitment to what they will do based on the PAC’s recommendation.”

The last Treasury memorandum to be issued was one in 2013, pursuant to the PAC’s report on the AG’s findings of the year 2009.

It therefore means that the PAC will have its work cut out before getting to the coalition’s government’s spending.

Worrying signs

Already, the Government has adopted a defen-

sive stance to the Auditor General’s report, with Finance Minister Winston Jordan being heavily critical of some of the findings.

In fact, Jordan went so far to state that the AG’s interpretation on what counts as emergency spending “doesn’t count under the law.”

But the 2015 Auditor General report had exposed instances of the Contingency Fund being abused under the present Government.

One culprit cited by the report had been the Office of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

Sharma in his report stated that Nagamootoo’s office in December 2015, requested an advance of $11 million from the Contingency Fund and stated the reason for the advance was for the Government Information Agency (GINA) to offset a part of its debt to the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), publisher of the Guyana Chronicle newspaper.

Not only was the money used for the debt, but a portion of that sum was also used for another purpose, which constitutes a breach of the financial regulations.

This is based on the fact that the payment of GINA’s debt to GNNL does not constitute an emergency but rather a routine expenditure and therefore, the Contingency Fund should not have been used. This expense should have been budgeted for in the annual budget.

According to Sharma’s report, an examination of the requisite payment vouchers and other supporting documents revealed GINA paid GNNL the sum of $9.450 million, whilst the

remaining $1.550 million was used to pay employees of GINA non-taxable bonus for 2015.

The Contingency Fund was established as a subfund to the Consolidated Fund, commonly referred to as the Treasury. The use of the Contingency Fund for the routine expenditure is a breach of the financial principles.

Under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 2003, Section 41 (3), “The Minister, when satisfied that an urgent, unavoidable and unforeseen need for expenditure has arisen – (a) for which no moneys have been appropriated or for which the sum appropriated is insufficient; (b) for which moneys cannot be reallocated as provided for under this Act; or (c) which cannot be deferred without injury to the public interest, may approve a Contingencies Fund advance as an expenditure out of the Consolidated Fund.”

Besides other instances of abuse of the Contingency Fund, there have been cases of over payment to contractors.

Juveniles set mattress on fire Region 1 villages receive at Sophia Holding Centre tractors to facilitate farming

T

T

Sophia Juvenile Holding Centre

hree detainees of Sophia Juvenile Holding Centre were on Monday evening rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital after setting a mattress on fire in an act of rebellion.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, the three inmates had tampered with a light switch at the facility and used the wire to ignite a fire on tissues which they then used to set the mattress ablaze.

The trio allegedly moved the burning mattress into the hallway so as to prevent access by any rescue party.

The authorities received a report about 18:00h that evening and responded promptly.

Further reports revealed that at the time of the arrival of the Fire Services, the blaze had already been extinguished by a lone police officer present at the scene.

The swift action by the officer prevented any major damage to the facility.

Nevertheless, six detainees of the Centre were reportedly affected by the fire.

The suspected trio had to be medically evacuated as a result of smoke inhalation and after receiving treatment at the Hospital, they were discharged Tuesday evening.

Details as to what exactly prompted the juveniles to initiate the fire remain un-

clear as investigations continue.

The Juvenile Holding Centre at Sophia was commissioned in 2011 as a detention facility for juveniles, separate from the adult prisons.

Only last year three male juveniles escaped from the Centre; however, they were subsequently captured and detained.

he remote villages of Yarakita and Sebai, in the North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini) are the latest beneficiaries of tractors (one each) among other farming equipment to assist in their agronomy drive.

Toshaos of the communities, Nazim Haniff (Yarakita) and Vincent Emanuel (Sebai) were on Tuesday presented keys to the tractors by Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock at the Ministry’s office at Quamina and Thomas Streets, Georgetown.

The receiving communities are primarily involved in farming and logging, according to Minister Allicock, who highlighted that these two activities are the main drivers of economic growth,

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock handing over the keys of the tractor to Toshao of Yarakita, Nazim Haniff

of the equipment.

Meanwhile, Haniff guaranteed that the Village Council will ensure that the

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock handing over the keys of the tractor to the Toshao of Sebai

Juvenile inmates being evacuated to the Georgetown Public Hospital

as he expressed his optimism that the village can make further contributions to the sectors by acquisition

equipment will be fully utilised, since there is an urgent need for such equipment; the tractor will be

used for the transportation of lumber and agricultural produce to supply the demands of the local market.

The vehicles costing over some $7 million each are funded by Government, through the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry capital project. Furthermore, the village of Masakenari, in the Rupununi District, Region Nine (Upper TakatuUpper Essequibo) was the recipient of a truck acquired under the Community Development Plan (CDP) earlier this year for the facilitation of a trucking service in the area. This service will be located in Parabara since Masakenari is only accessible by water and air. The main beneficiaries are gold miners and small businesses in surrounding villages of Parabara, Aishalton, Shea, Awawanau, Achiwib and Karawadanawa.

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, june 7, 2017

Regional

Japan lends millions to Cuba uses new technology to water treatment set up photovoltaic solar parks rehabilitate plant in Jamaica

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he first photovoltaic solar park with the use of pile driving technology in Cuba is currently being built in the province of Sancti Spíritus.

Misael Rodriguez, General Manager of the Electricity Company (EC), said that the technology, from China, will considerably reduce the construction process, since contrary to the rest of the parks installed in the country, this does not use concrete.

Hence, he added, the use of piles, as structures supporting solar panels, is a more economical and productive process. The new park covers 7.1 hectares (ha) and will produce 4.4

Research indicates that the solar radiation received in one day on the Caribbean island is equivalent to the oil that is consumed in five years

megawatts of photovoltaic solar energy.

The construction of this work will only take one and

a half month, while that same process lasted twice that period when building the other park of the prov-

ince, which only covers 2.5 ha.

According to Reinier Hernandez, EC specialist of Renewable Energy, pointed out that when the park is connected to the national grid, it will generate 6600 mw/hour a year, which means thermoelectric plants will cease consuming more than 1700 tons of fuel.

He said that the use of clean energy, which validates Cuba’s efforts to increase the efficiency of electricity generation and distribution from renewable sources, will make it possible to stop emitting some 5603 tons of polluting gases into the atmosphere.

(Caribbean News Now)

McClean calls for deeper cooperation on climate change

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inister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Maxine McClean says Barbados will be leaning on its international allies, such as the Republic of Korea to advance the interests of small island developing states following the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris agreement.

Last week, President Donald Trump rejected

the deal aimed at curbing global warming, charging that it would severely hurt Americans. Trump, who has been heavily criticized for the move, claimed that the deal would have resulted in the loss of more than 2.7 million American jobs by 2025. He vowed to work on “a fairer deal” that would benefit American workers.

McClean who was disappointed with Washington’s

move, suggested that now was not the time for countries to surrender the fight against climate change.

McClean added that Barbados and the Republic of Korea would continue to advance efforts to develop the renewable energy sector.

“The relations between Barbados and the Republic of Korea are based on trust and a commitment to cooperation in our respective and

shared interests. Our countries stand apart on a map but we stand close together in the common desire to provide the best possible life for our people,” she said.

Korean Ambassador to Barbados Doo–Young Lee, who welcomed patrons to the event, endorsed her comments as he hailed the close ties developed between the two countries since 1977.

T

he population increase in the greater Spanish Town area in St Catherine, in Jamaica has led the Japanese Embassy in Kingston to grant the Jamaican Government millions of dollars in loans to rehabilitate and expand the National Water Commission’s (NWC) water storage and treatment plant in the parish.

More than J$600 million in addition to US$15.5 million was issued through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the reconstruction and expansion of a tank capable of storing four million gallons of treated water.

An additional €11.31 million was committed for improving the water treatment plant located beside a section of the Rio Cobre.

“What occurred prior to the intervention of JICA is that when the water gets

too dirty and muddy, it rose to about 100 nitrometres (NTU), then the plant would have to be shut down. Prior to the project, we were averaging six months out of a year when we got zero production. The plant was refurbished and upgraded to be able to treat raw water up to 200NTUs. Now we average only about two weeks,” Gary Walters, NWC’s senior project manager, explained during a tour of the facilities recently.

The NWC conducted a study in the 1990s that revealed the population was rapidly rising. Therefore, a steady supply of treated water was needed to facilitate the growing numbers. The results from this study were submitted to JICA. Following the completion of the project, persons living in the Greater Spanish area received access to a clean and stable water supply.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Gleaner)

World Cup stadium probe

Brazil Police arrest former Tourism Minister

(Excerpt from Barbados Today)

Uruguay floods displace thousands

The north-west of the country has been badly affected

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lmost 3500 people in Uruguay have had to leave their homes after heavy rains caused flooding in large parts of the

South American country.

The worst affected area is the North-western province of Salto, on the border with Argentina, where almost

2000 people were evacuated.

The provinces of Paysandú and Artigas have also been hit. Uruguay’s Defence Minister said the

Army, navy and air force were helping with the evacuation.

More heavy rains have been forecast for the coming days and the authorities fear the Uruguay River could rise further, putting more towns at risk.

Some residents who had to flee their homes have been sheltering in temporary accommodation, while others are staying with relatives or friends in drier areas.

The region is no stranger to flooding. In December 2015 more than 150,000 people in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil were driven from their homes by some of the worst flooding in decades. (BBC News)

B’dos National Council of PTAs renews call to keep ban on cellphones

T

he Barbados National Council of ParentTeacher Associations (BNCPTA) is reiterating its call for the ban on cellphones in schools across this country to be upheld, at least for the time being.

President of the BNCPTA, Shone Gibbs made this position clear in a recent interview with The Barbados Advocate, as he reflected on

the violence and indiscipline in the school setting, which have been centre stage in recent times as a result of videos of incidents being captured on cell phones and circulated via social media.

His comments come as the Ministry of Education prepares to allow cell phones in schools from September.

But, the BNCPTA head explained that the associa-

tion is not opposed to the use of technology in schools in general, but think that if cell phones are officially allowed, they may act as a medium to further promote a problem that needs to be urgently tackled.

The BNCPTA President added, “We need to be moving towards changing a culture of behaviour so that our children would be more re-

sponsible when we get to the stage that we say ‘well look you can use cellphones in schools’, and right now we are not there,” he said.

Gibbs further made his argument, contending that Barbados is not yet there as a society, given the fact that there are too many adults who have been very irresponsible with the use of cellphones. (Excerpt from Barbados Advocate)

File photo: An aerial view shows the Arena das Dunas stadium, that hosted matches for the 2014 soccer World Cup, in Natal, Brazil

P

olice on Tuesday arrested a former Tourism Minister in a probe into corruption in the construction of a soccer stadium in north-eastern Brazil for the 2014 World Cup and also in connection to alleged fraud at a staterun bank.

In a statement, Police said they served five arrest warrants, 22 search-and-seizure warrants and brought in six people for questioning.

Federal prosecutors said in an emailed statement that one of the men arrested was Henrique Eduardo Alves, a former Tourism Minister.

Former lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha, who is already in prison, also fell under the scope of investigation.

Both Alves and Cunha were also targeted because of developments in a fraud investigation at the Caixa Economica Federal, prosecutors said. The bank is Brazil’s largest mortgage

lender.

There was no immediate response to calls for comment from representatives for Alves and Cunha.

Last June, Alves resigned as President Michel Temer’s tourism minister after accusations that he had taken bribes.

A prominent lawmaker, he was speaker of the lower house of Congress between 2013 and 2015. Cunha succeeded him, serving until May 2016 when Brazil’s Supreme Court forced him out of the post on allegations he obstructed a corruption investigation.

The Arena das Dunas stadium in the city of Natal is the seventh of 11 stadiums used in the 2014 World Cup to come under scrutiny. According to the Police statement, contracts for the construction of the stadium were inflated by a total of 77 million reais (US$23.4 million) to fund bribes to lawmakers. (Excerpt from Reuters)

wednesDAY, june 7, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Paris: Notre-Dame attacker Third assassin was shot outside cathedral arrested last year P London Bridge attack

… attempted to get to Syria but was still able to get into UK

olice have shot a man who attacked an officer with a hammer outside the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. The man shouted “this is for Syria” during the attack, the Interior Minister said.

Prosecutors have opened a terrorism investigation.

The officer suffered minor injuries. The suspect was wounded in the chest when another Policeman opened fire.

Tourists fled for cov-

er as the attack unfolded.

Hundreds of people were in the cathedral at the time.

France is in a state of emergency since attacks by jihadists in Paris killed 130 people in 2015. It is part of the US-led international coalition against IS and has conducted air strikes against militants in Syria.

The assailant on Tuesday afternoon carried kitchen knives and the identity card of an Algerian student, French Interior Minister

Gérard Collomb said.

The man, who was being treated in hospital, has not been named. The terrorist spotlight has swung to Britain, but no-one in France is under the illusion that the country is safe.

Squads of soldiers with automatic weapons at the ready are a regular sight on the streets of Paris. France remains a favourite target for the propagandists of socalled Islamic State. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Kuwait’s ruler to meet Saudi King over Qatar row Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba carried out the London Bridge attacks

T

he third terrorist behind the London Bridge attack has been named as it emerged he was arrested last year trying to get into Syria, yet was still able to get into the UK. Reports in the Italian media said Moroccan-Italian Youssef Zaghba was stopped in Bologna, his mother is Italian and still lives there.

Earlier it emerged the family home of Khuram Butt has been raided in Pakistan and the killer had worked

at Westminster tube station and had access to tunnels under Parliament.

Butt, a 27-year-old British citizen born in Pakistan, and Rachid Redouane, who claimed to be Moroccan-Libyan, carried out the deadly assault in which seven people died and dozens more were injured on Saturday night.

He once worked at Westminster tube station and had access to tunnels under Parliament.

Transport for London con-

(BBC News)

firmed Butt worked for London Underground for just under six months as a trainee customer services assistant, leaving in October last year. It also emerged Butt was a key contact of London bomber Mohammed Siddique Khan, as well as the hate preacher Anjem Choudary.

Britain’s top counter-terrorism officer Mark Rowley said Butt was known to the security services, but there was no evidence of “attack planning” by him. (Excerpt from The

Telegraph)

Orlando gunman kills 5 people in workplace shooting

K

uwait’s ruler travelled to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for talks with King Salman over a Gulf Arab dispute with Qatar, Gulf Arab officials said.

Kuwait’s emir, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, is acting as a mediator between Doha and other Arab states which have severed diplomatic and transport ties with Doha.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain cut diplomatic relations with Qatar on Monday in a coordinated move, accusing the peninsula of supporting “terrorists” and Iran.

Yemen’s internationally recognised government also cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of working with its enemies in the Iranaligned Houthi movement, state news agency Saba re-

ported.

The Maldives and Libya’s out-of-mandate Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni later joined the Arab nations in saying they too would cut ties.

Sanctions include shutting down transport links, including closing borders, airspace and maritime territories, which led to fears of supply shortages.

In an interview on Monday with Al Jazeera, Foreign Minister

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Kuwait’s ruler, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, had asked Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar’s ruling emir, to hold off on giving a speech about the crisis late on Tuesday night.

“He received a call from the emir of Kuwait asking him to postpone it in order to give time to solve the crisis,” Sheikh Mohammed said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

“Make our planet great Russia scrambles jet fighter to intercept US again”– Macron’s response to Trump is praised bomber over Baltic John Robert Neumann Jr, 45, entered the premises at about 08:00h, armed with a semi-automatic pistol and a large hunting knife and began shooting almost immediately then moved through the building

A

gunman described by Florida Police as “a disgruntled employee” shot dead five former colleagues at a business in suburban Orlando on Monday before killing himself, investigators said.

John Robert Neumann Jr, 45, entered the premises of Fiamma, a manufacturer of awnings for recreational vehicles, at about 08:00h, armed with a semi-automatic pistol and a large hunting knife, said Orange County sheriff Jerry Demings at an afternoon press briefing.

Demings said that Neumann, a US Army veteran who was fired from the company for undisclosed reasons in April, began shooting almost immediately then moved through the building purpose-

fully, “singling out the individuals that he shot”.

“Most of the victims were shot in the head, some multiple times,” Demings said. “He had a plan of action and he executed his plan today.”

The victims, four men and one woman, were all employees of the family-owned company in North-East Orlando and ranged in age from their early 30s to their 60s, Demings said.

Demings said Neumann did not use the knife and appeared to have shot himself as deputies prepared to enter the building. A later statement from the FBI’s Orlando office confirmed that agents had “determined there to be no direct nexus to terrorism”. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

R

ussia scrambled a Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jet on Tuesday to intercept a US B-52 strategic bomber which it said was flying close to its border over the Baltic Sea, Russia’s Defence Ministry said.

Russian air defence systems detected the bomber at around 1000 Moscow time as it was flying over neutral waters parallel to the Russian border, the ministry said in a statement.

“The Russian SU-27 crew, having approached at a safe distance, identified the aircraft as an American B-52 strategic bomber and escorted it” until such time as it changed course and flew away from the border area, the ministry said.

Russia said the SU-27 had been scrambled from its Baltic Fleet air defence unit which is based

in Kaliningrad. The B-52 “Stratofortress,” a longrange nuclear-capable bomber, is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Cold War and entered service in the 1950s.

In another sign of Moscow’s unease over NATO’s proximity to its borders, Russia also scrambled a MiG-31 jet fighter later on Tuesday to intercept a Norwegian patrol plane over the Barents Sea. Russia’s Defence Ministry identified the plane as a P-3 Orion anti-submarine aircraft.

The Defence Ministry said the Norwegian plane had flown close to Russia’s state border with its transponders switched off. The Norwegian military confirmed the encounter and said it was “normal”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

S

wift, smart and typically self-assured, Emmanuel Macron’s response to Donald Trump’s decision to pull the US out of the Paris climate accords confirmed a near-faultless debut on the international stage for France’s new president, analysts said.

“Make our planet great again,” Macron, a diplomatic novice not yet 40, exhorted the world, recycling Trump’s own slogan in an unprecedented address partly in English from the Elysée Palace soon after the US president had informed the world he was withdrawing from the global agreement on Thursday.

The phrase, tweeted minutes later as a graphic that rapidly went viral, was accompanied by a renewed invitation to US scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs disappointed

by their administration’s move to “come to France and work with us together” on climate solutions.

Macron’s brisk three-minute intervention on Thursday night won him praise on social media both abroad – where he was compared favourably to Trump – and at home, where it was widely and only half-jokingly suggested he should change his title to “leader of the free world”.

From his muscular handshake with Trump before last week’s Nato meeting in Brussels to his “extremely frank and direct” exchange with Russia’s Vladmir Putin in Versailles, the French president, less than a month into his mandate, has shown “boldness … agility and timing”, said the daily Libération. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

16 news

wednesDAY, june 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GPF preserving historical records – finance officer

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) is actively working to ensure that its historical records are preserved, according to the Government Information Agency (GINA).

There is an officer dedicated to the preservation of log books and other historical records of vehicles, plants and equipment of the GPF to make them available to the Auditor General upon request, the Force’s Finance Officer, Assistant Commissioner Nigel Hoppie disclosed.

Hoppie appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday in Parliament chambers to answer queries on the 2015 Auditor General Report.

An updated record puts

the GPF in “a position to monitor the individual cost of repairs or determine whether it was economical to retain or dispose of certain vehicles”, the report noted.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Hoppie pointed out that the GPF has managed to recover monies overpaid to ranks since last appearing before the PAC and is working with recommendations made by the Auditor General’s Office to see the process through.

The Auditor General’s Report noted that several employees of the Force were overpaid to the tune of $2.30 million for the years 20102012.

“We have not exhausted all efforts in recovering these monies,” Hoppie told

Assistant Commissioner Nigel Hoppie

the PAC. The GPF has since recovered $443,394 since appearing before the PAC last year.

Additionally, the GPF has put measures in place to prevent this from reoccurring.

Assistant Commissioner

Hoppie explained that the GPF’s Human Resources Department is working closely with Commanders in each Division to ensure that submissions were made indicating when a rank was no longer in the employ of the organisation.

“By which time we would try to hold the salary, get clarification and inform the Ministry of Finance,” Assistant Commissioner Hoppie explained.

These overpaid ranks had “illegally withdrawn from work”, while others were “absent without leave”, Commissioner Hoppie told the PAC in response to questions. The Assistant Commissioner noted that while this was of concern to the Force, it was “not as frequent as it was recently”.

Trump takes sides in Arab rift, suggests support for isolation of Qatar

U

S President Donald Trump took sides in a deep rift in the Arab world on Tuesday, praising Middle East countries' actions against American ally Qatar over Islamist militants even though the tiny Gulf state hosts the largest US air base in the region.

Trump wrote on Twitter that his recent trip to the Middle East was "already paying off" and cast an anti-Islamist speech he made in Saudi Arabia as the inspiration for a decision by Arab powers to sever ties with Qatar in protest at what they say is the Gulf nation's support for terrorism.

"So good to see the Saudi Arabia visit with the King and 50 countries already paying off. They said they would take a hard line on funding extremism, and all reference was pointing to Qatar. Perhaps this will be the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism!"

Trump wrote on Twitter.

US President Donald Trump

Qatar vehemently denies the accusations.

Trump later spoke by phone with Saudi King Salman and stressed the need for Gulf unity, a senior White House official said.

"His (Trump's) message was that we need unity in the region to fight extremist ideology and terrorist financing. It's important that the Gulf be united for peace and security in the region," the senior official told Reuters.

US officials were blindsided by Saudi Arabia's decision to sever diplomatic ties with Qatar in a coordinated move with Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), current and former officials in Washington told Reuters.

The United States was not informed of the decision until just before it was announced, the State Department said.

Even as Trump applauded the Arab countries' move,

the Pentagon on Tuesday renewed praise of Qatar for hosting US forces and its "enduring commitment to regional security."

Some 8000 US military personnel are stationed at al Udeid in Qatar, the largest US air base in the Middle East and a staging ground for US-led strikes on the Islamic State militant group that has seized parts of Syria and Iraq.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis spoke on Tuesday by phone with his Qatari counterpart, a Pentagon spokesman said, without disclosing the details of their discussion.

Trump's tweet appeared at odds with comments from US officials who had said on Monday that the United States would quietly try to calm the waters between Saudi Arabia and Qatar because Qatar is too important to US military and diplomatic interests to be isolated. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Canada seeks larger world role as US retreats – Foreign Minister

C

anada will seek to play a larger role on the world stage as the United States retreats, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Tuesday, in remarks underscoring strains between Washington and its closest allies. Freeland spoke in the wake of recent NATO and G7 summits where US President Donald Trump upset world leaders to such an extent that German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed doubts about the reliability of the United States.

Freeland, noting that “international relationships that had seemed im-

mutable for 70 years are being called into question,” stressed the value of bilateral ties with the United States, traditionally seen as Canada’s closest friend. She also made clear those bonds might loosen.

“The fact that our friend and ally has come to question the very worth of its mantle of global leadership, puts into sharper focus the need for the rest of us to set our own clear and sovereign course,” she said in an address to parliament outlining her foreign policy vision.

“For Canada that course must be the renewal, indeed the strengthening, of the postwar multilateral or-

Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland

der,” she said.

Trump, elected on a promise to put ‘America first,’ criticised North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies

over not picking up their fair share of military spending and then announced he was pulling out of the Paris climate change pact. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Ramsammy’s Ruminations APNU/AFC further escalates its threat against Guyana’s democracy

W

hen I was a young boy, British soldiers swarmed our home, brutally slammed young men playing ball in the backyard, threw them like garbage into the back of Army trucks, took them to an isolated area at the back of the village where they beat them to a pulp. This was all Dr Leslie Ramsammy part of the conspiracy to overthrow Cheddi Jagan and the People’s Progressive Party Government. Several years later, still as a teenager, I witnessed many people in Albion deprived of their votes, some told they had died, others told they had voted already, as the People’s National Congress (PNC) brutally installed a dictatorship. Ever since, I go to bed praying for my country, in the same way I pray for my family and my friends. Routinely I pray for democracy in my country because I fervently believe that with freedom and democracy our people will craft a destiny that can bring alive Eldorado.

Without democracy, the future of our nation is bleak and dark. The period 1964 to 1992 stands as a stark example of the under-development that dictatorship guarantees. Even black gold, oil, cannot save us in a dictatorship. Unfortunately, the prevailing winds emanating out of Congress Place and from the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) are ominous, howling, swirling, rattling the foundations of democracy in Guyana. In just two years, APNU/AFC, with its autocratic DNA deeply rooted in the PNC, has stymied democratic practices and rattled democratic institutions. The foundations of our democracy are under threat, none more so than the infrastructure that provides for a free and fair election – the Guyana Elections commission (GECOM) – and our Parliament.

This week there have been two blatant attacks, first on GECOM and, second, on Parliament that must not escape our attention and we must not underestimate because they represent an unrelenting drive towards dictatorship. No matter what our ethnicity, culture, religion, past and present political leanings, rich or poor, professional or labourer, we should all be dismayed, but committed to resist this reckless embrace of dictatorship. For a brief moment we need to put aside our differences and together resist another period of dictatorship in our country. The unity that stopped dictatorship in 1992 is needed again to nip in the bud this new effort to return Guyana to pre-1992.

The first attack this week occurred when President Granger elevated the obstructionist policies of APNU/AFC by informing the Leader of the Opposition that he has officially rejected the list of nominees for the chair of GECOM. This is the second list he has rejected, even though both list were totally within the spirit and letter of the Constitution and consisted of 12 names of distinguished Guyanese citizens, chosen through extensive consultation with civil society. Both times, the excuses have been absurd, reckless, provoking and unconstitutional. The rejection is designed to take control of GECOM. Granger is determined to appoint a person who will be totally beholden to him and APNU/AFC for the purpose of rigging the 2020 elections, as the PNC did with elections in 1968, 1973, 1980, 1985 and in the referendum in 1978.

The second attack on democracy this week occurred when the Speaker of Parliament halted plans by the Economic Services Committee to conduct hearings in the sugar belt relating to the closure of sugar estates which will leave more than 10,000 people without jobs. Parliament, as a foundation of our democracy, is a place for debate and dissent – fierce, sustained, and unflinching when necessary – a place where citizens can deposit their concerns, a place where MPs can engage citizens and citizens can formally engage their MPs. At a time when not only sugar estates are being closed, but the threat of ending sugar in Guyana has become real, Parliament cannot sit still.

Both of these attacks on democratic practices and institutions by APNU/AFC leadership are grotesque abuse of power. Both are scary portent of what is coming. I diligently pray for my country, but I can hear the clanging of dictatorship roaring in the distance. Each passing day now, the roar gets louder. When Granger makes clear he intends to name his own Chair for GECOM and the Speaker deems dialogue with sugar workers and citizens not the business of Parliament, the rumblings sound too close for comfort. In the face of dictatorship, silence is the fertilizer; resistance by raising our voices is the remedy.

news

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wednesDAY, june 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

4 more hinterland schools benefit from e-Govt programme

International Day of

S

tudents from four hinterland secondary schools in Regions Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), Eight (PotaroSiparuni) and Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) are the latest beneficiaries of Government’s e-Government programme. The programme was rolled out in 2016 and is designed to inter-connect Government Ministries and agencies.

Presidential Advisor, e-Government, Floyd Levi, told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that, “so far we have connected the high schools in Lethem at St Ignatius, Sand Creek, Paramakatoi, Waramadong and we’re working on the one at Annai (at) Bina Hill. These are the dormitory high schools in the hinterland and we’ve connected them the same way we’ve connected the schools on the coast.”

Levi noted that the e-Government agency has provided Internet delivered via satellite to the classrooms to facilitate students’ Internet use, for appropriate school related activities.

He added that the agency is working to facilitate the major schools in the hinterland and then proceed to the smaller ones.

As it relates to Ministry’s Information C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Technology (ICT) hub, Levi notes that the project is ongoing. He told DPI/GINA that currently there 67 hubs along the coast and the hinterland regions. He said these can be used for education purposes and for Government business during the day and in the evening “they will open up for the communities to have access to them.”

Also, the Masakanari community way down south in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) is also benefiting from highspeed Internet access for

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

How Yoga found a home in America from these Yoga pioneers

"I

Presidential Advisor on e-Government, Floyd Levi

the first time.

Meanwhile, Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes explained to DPI/GINA that the aim is to ensure that, “We can connect especially our hinterland remote communities and also there is a special emphasis on poor communities. We feel that if the technology is used correctly in the area of telemedicine, online learning or for education, we will be able to transform Guyana.”

The Minister likened the future of Guyana to one she envisaged will be technologically advanced.

She noted that providing manual services can be tedious and expensive which can be changed with the use of technology. Minister Hughes is confident that Guyana will be transformed and Guyanese will benefit from improved services across the board.

The Government’s e-government programme has seen 86 secondary schools, three Regional Education Officers, three Cyril Potter College of Education branches, two University of Guyana campuses and six technical and vocational institutions equipped with reliable high-speed access to educational content in their computer laboratories, in addition to advancing the effectiveness of law enforcement.

n America is the place, the people, the opportunity for everything new," wrote Swami Vivekananda before he left India in 1893. Vivekananda had learned from his guru, Sri Ramakrishna, that the world's religions "are but various phases of one eternal religion" and that spiritual essence could be transmitted from one person to another. He set about to bring that transmission to our shores. His first speech was at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. "Sisters and brothers of America," he began, and the audience was on its feet, giving him a standing ovation. Our love affair with the East was born, and so began a steady stream of Eastern ideas flowing west.

In 1920 Paramahansa Yogananda came to address a conference of religious liberals in Boston. He had been sent by his guru, the ageless Babaji, to "spread the message of kriya yoga to the West." Although his early works had unpromising titles like Recharging Your Business Battery out of the Cosmos, his 1946 Autobiography of a Yogi (Self-Realization Fellowship) remains a spiritual classic.

Then in 1924 the United States immigration service imposed a quota on Indian immigration, making it necessary for Westerners to travel to the East to seek teachings. One of the earliest of these was Theos Bernard, who returned from India in 1947 and published Hatha Yoga: The Report of a Personal Experience. It was a major sourcebook for yoga in the 1950s and is still read.

That same year, Indra Devi opened a yoga studio in Hollywood. Her three popular books had housewives from New Jersey to Texas standing on their heads in their bedrooms. She was the first Westerner to study with Sri Krishnamacharya and the first to bring his lineage to the West. He went on to become the grandfather of American yoga; his students included B.K.S. Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, and T.K.V. Desikachar.

But the person who introduced more Americans to yoga than any other in those days was Richard Hittleman, who in 1950 returned from studies in India to teach yoga in New York. He not only sold millions of copies of his books and pioneered yoga on television in 1961, but he influenced how yoga has been taught ever since. Although he was a student of the sage Ramana Maharshi and very much a "spiritual" yogi, he presented a nonreligious yoga for the American mainstream, with an emphasis on its physical benefits. He hoped students would then be motivated to learn yoga philosophy and meditation.

Several world leaders are now practicing yoga and meditation to cope up with long hours of work and mental stress. Some of them have mastered difficult asanas also.

Russian 3rd President Dmitry Medvedev has mastered shirshasana (Head-Stand Yoga) and present Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has mastered Mayurasana. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs yoga and meditation every day.

Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States, is known for her fitness and healthy lifestyle. Mrs. Obama turned 50 in 2014; she added more yoga to her fitness routine to help her stay flexible and healthy. Michelle believes that yoga can be a great way for people to stay healthy and active as they age. While Michelle Obama has been instrumental in introducing yoga inside the White House, Obama appeared to be highly impressed by the energy and vigour shown by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the US in September 2014 despite being on fast. The first lady ‘is in love’ with Indian culture. Michelle even took part in the first ever Diwali celebrations on Capitol Hill. “Yoga has become a universal language of spiritual exercise in the United States, crossing many lines of religion and cultures. Every day, millions of people practice yoga to improve their health and overall well-being.” –that was stated by the former President of the United States of America.

Since 2009, yoga has been a part of the annual White House Easter Egg Roll in the South Lawn. The Easter Egg Roll has been held there for the last 135 years and is the largest public event held at the White House. Unprecedented 30,000 families experience yoga each year with the event since 2009.

More than 30,000 enthusiasts performed yoga on UN’s first International day of yoga on 21st June 2015, at the iconic Times Square in New York.

With this, don’t you think it is time that we here in Guyana make a move to start integrating yoga in our everyday life?

The Obama family has given the traditional event a twist, turning it into an active family-oriented day, and included yoga as part of the celebration.

Let’s incorporate the same ideology in our lives.

HSS INVITES YOU TO OUR THIRD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA CELEBRATIONS. IT WILL BE HELD AT THE GUYANA NATIONAL STADIUM, PROVIDENCE, EAST BANK DEMERARA, JUNE 25 FROM 3PM TO 5:30PM. LET US MAKE THOUGHTS BECOME A REALITY. LET US BE FIT. LET US DO YOGA!!

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, june 7, 2017

ARCHIE

A financial deal can be negotiated and will bring about (March 21- positive professional or perApril 19) sonal changes. Physical alterations will lead to compliments.

ARIES

Let your imagination run TAURUS wild. Take a closer look at un(April 20- usual or surprising ways to May 20) use your skills. Expand your ideas and be open to suggestions made by people from different backgrounds.

dilbert

Delegate responsibilities GEMINI (May 21- to people you know can hanJune 20) dle the job, while you stick to what you do best. The extra time allowed will give you the chance to add your own unique touch.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Your charm, intent and desire to get things done will help you talk others into assisting you. An unusual partnership will entice you to do things differently.

If you pour your time and effort into helping others, you will get great satisfaction from what you accomplish.

Your good deed won’t go unnoticed and will bring about an unexpected opportunity.

A conscientious attitude VIRGO (Aug. 23- will encourage truth. Think Sept. 22) about what you want to say before you blurt it out. Treat others fairly, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you.

Emotional energy correctly LIBRA channeled can bring about pos(Sept. 23itive gains. If you share your Oct. 23)

ideas, you will drum up acceptance from peers, friends and relatives. Don’t vacillate when you can do your own thing.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Money matters, medical SCORPIO issues and contracts are best (Oct. 24looked at carefully. Refuse Nov. 22) to let an emotional situation cloud your vision and cause you to make a poor decision.

Keeping secrets can make SAGITTARIUS you look bad. You are best (Nov. 23- off being up-front and honest Dec. 21) about your feelings and plans.

Don’t meddle, gossip or be misleading.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Getting along and workCAPRICORN ing with your peers will bring (Dec. 22- good results. Taking a differJan. 19) ent approach to a job or putting more physical energy into what you do will pay off.

Your disciplined approach AQUARIUS to your actions and the way (Jan. 20you help others will be enough Feb. 19) to promote your assets. A vocational opportunity should be considered.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

An unusual opportunity PISCES will come from an unlikely (Feb. 20March 20) source. Put your time and energy into making the changes that will better serve what you are trying to accomplish.

wednesDAY, june 7, 2017

19

French Open 2017 England ease past New Zealand and into semi-finals Men’s quarter-finals put back due to rain H at Roland Garros osts England made it two Champions Trophy wins from two as they went through to the semi-finals by beating New Zealand.

England progressed to the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy as they claimed a comfortable 87run win over New Zealand in Cardiff on Monday.

Alex Hales (56), Joe Root (64) and Ben Stokes (48) all impressed after England were put into bat, while Jos Buttler raced to an unbeaten 61 off 48 balls, though they were unable to complete 50 overs.

New Zealand had enjoyed success with the short ball in bowling England out for 310 but, although Kane Williamson compiled an extremely impressive 87, once he was dismissed 311 always looked beyond them.

Mark Wood (1-32) claimed the crucial wicket of Williamson and it was he, Jake Ball (2-31) and Liam Plunkett (4-55) who were the pick of the bowlers as the Black Caps slumped to 223 all out, securing a second successive win for England as they became the first team to reach the last four.

New Zealand face Bangladesh in their Group A finale and will need to win and hope England deny Australia victory to progress.

Hosts England are guaranteed a place in the semis

England made a cautious start in windy conditions at Sophia Gardens, Jason Roy (13) and Hales putting on 37 before the former once again fell cheaply, Adam Milne (379) bowling him as he attempted to flick down the leg side.

While Roy has failed to surpass 20 in his last eight ODI innings, Root continues to excel in every format, and it was he and Hales who got the scoreboard ticking.

Hales surpassed 50 for the fifth time in eight matches but, after launching Milne for six over longoff, he fell victim to a bail trimmer with the next deliv-

SCOREBOARD England innings (50 overs maximum) JJ Roy b Milne 13 56 AD Hales b Milne 64 JE Root b Anderson EJG Morgan* c †Ronchi b Anderson 13 48 BA Stokes c Milne b Boult JC Buttler† not out 61 MM Ali c Boult b Anderson 12 AU Rashid lbw b Santner 12 LE Plunkett c Southee b Milne 15 MA Wood c Taylor b Southee 0 JT Ball c Boult b Southee 0 Extras (lb 5, w 11) 16 Total (all out; 49.3 overs) 310 Fall of wickets 1-37 (Roy, 7.6 ov), 2-118 (Hales, 20.6 ov), 3-134 (Morgan, 24.3 ov), 4-188 (Root, 33.3 ov), 5-210 (Stokes, 37.3 ov), 6-230 (Ali, 40.3 ov), 7-260 (Rashid, 43.6 ov), 8-309 (Plunkett, 48.6 ov), 9-310 (Wood, 49.2 ov), 10-310 (Ball, 49.3 ov) Bowling: TG Southee 9.30-44-2 (2w), TA Boult 100-56-1, AF Milne 10-0-793 (4w), CJ Anderson 9-0-553 (3w), MJ Santner 8-0-54-1 (1w), JDS Neesham 3-0-17-0

New Zealand innings (target: 311 runs from 50 overs) MJ Guptill c Root b Stokes 27 L Ronchi† b Ball 0 KS Williamson* c †Buttler b Wood 87 LRPL Taylor c Root b Ball 39 NT Broom lbw b Rashid 11 JDS Neesham c Hales b Plunkett 18 CJ Anderson c Hales b Plunkett 10 MJ Santner st †Buttler b Rashid 3 AF Milne c Rashid b Plunkett 10 TG Southee c Roy b Plunkett 2 TA Boult not out 0 Extras (b 4, lb 8, w 4) 16 Total (all out; 44.3 overs) 223 Fall of wickets 1-1 (Ronchi, 0.4 ov), 2-63 (Guptill, 13.3 ov), 3-158 (Williamson, 30.2 ov), 4-168 (Taylor, 33.4 ov), 5-191 (Neesham, 36.6 ov), 6-194 (Broom, 37.6 ov), 7-205 (Santner, 41.0 ov), 8-211 (Anderson, 42.5 ov), 9-223 (Milne, 44.1 ov), 10223 (Southee, 44.3 ov) Bowling: JT Ball 8-2-31-2, MA Wood 9-0-32-1, LE Plunkett 9.30-55-4, BA Stokes 8-0-461(3w), AU Rashid 10-0-47-2 (1w)

ery.

Skipper Eoin Morgan (13) soon followed him as his 12-ball cameo was ended

by Corey Anderson (3-55), who then did for Root - the Yorkshireman going at just under a run a ball.

Stokes had looked in ominous form until a poorly played ramp shot to third man off Trent Boult (1-56), who then pulled off a stunning overhead catch to dismiss Moeen Ali (12).

Buttler had little difficulty in carrying the load, bringing up his fifty by smacking Boult for six, though it looked as if England may be punished for a collective failure of those who got strong starts to kick on for a big score as New Zealand recov-

ered from early jitters.

Luke Ronchi went for a golden duck to Ball but after Martin Guptill was removed for 27 - skipper Williamson and Ross Taylor (39) calmed matters brilliantly.

Williamson scored 100 in the opening washout against Australia and he demonstrated admirable composure in this innings, taking well-calculated risks to lead the way in a stand of 95.

However, the Black Caps folded very quickly after he gloved Wood behind. Taylor hit Ball to Root at midwicket and a collapse was complete when Tim Southee (2-44) was caught at deep midwicket to become Plunkett’s fourth scalp. (Sportsmax)

Poor weather at Roland Garros has led to the schedule being altered

P

oor weather at Roland Garros has led to the schedule being altered, with all four men’s quarter-finals now set for Wednesday.

History-chasing Rafael Nadal and defending champion Novak Djokovic will have to wait until Wednesday to try and reach the semi-finals of the French Open due to rain in Paris.

Nadal, aiming to become the first player to win the same grand slam 10 times, was due to face fellow-Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in the last eight on Tuesday, but poor weather in Paris ensured

the match was put back.

The same applies to the scheduled contest between Djokovic and Dominic Thiem, who were due to do battle on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Home contender Kristina Mladenovic was trailing 6-4 1-1 in her quarter-final against Timea Bacsinszky on Court Philippe Chatrier when the rain that was forecast arrived at Roland Garros along with hail.

Caroline Wozniacki took the first set against Jelena Ostapenko 6-4 before the Latvian hit back to lead 5-2 in the second when play was halted.(Sportsmax)

Raees replaces Wahab in Pakistan squad

R

umman Raees is eager to make his mark in England after Wahab Riaz’s tournament came to an early end.

Rumman Raees has replaced the injured Wahab Riaz in Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy squad.

Wahab damaged his ankle in a 124run hammering at the hands of fierce rivals India at Edgbaston on Sunday after he was taken for 87 runs off only 8.4 overs - the worst figures in the history of the competition.

The left-arm quick was ruled out for the rest of the tournament and the ICC on Tuesday granted Pakistan permission for Raees to replace him.

Raees, 25, has only played for his country twice in Twenty20 internationals, but is now set to get his chance in the 50-over format on the big stage in England.

“It is a great opportunity for me to make my mark in the team,” Raees told The Express Tribune.

“I was only able to play one match

Wahab Riaz exiting the field after incurring an injury in a match for Pakistan against archrivals India

against West Indies [in the T20 series in April] but now I am looking to play more matches and perform.”

Pakistan will look to respond to a

humbling loss in their opening match when they take on South Africa at Edgbaston on Wednesday. (Sportsmax)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesDAY, june 7, 2017

2 England fans have been banned for life for Nazi gestures T he Football Association has issued lifetime bans to England fans for the first time after two supporters’ club members made Nazi gestures in Germany.

March’s friendly against the world champions in Dortmund was marred by the behaviour of some fans.

Some booed the German national anthem and sang about World War Two. Two fans received lifetime bans from the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC), which means they are forbidden to attend away games.

One individual was spotted doing a Nazi salute in the away end, with another seen making an Adolf Hitler moustache and cutthroat gestures towards the German fans.

In all, 27 members have seen their ESTC membership suspended for varying lengths of time, with six handed written warnings and another case still pending.

Last month the FA said it was working with police to pursue possible football ban-

England took a large following to Dortmund in March for the 1-0 defeat by Germany

ning orders - which would cover the domestic game for some individuals.

FA chairman Greg Clarke condemned the “inappropriate, disrespectful and disappointing” behaviour after the match, with the governing body understood to be concerned about a new generation of louts.

The ESTC is the only way to obtain tickets for the away end at England matches, with tickets required to

be collected in the host city before the game.

England have an allocation of 4,761 for Saturday’s trip to Hampden Park for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Scotland.

Starting at that match, the FA is introducing new measures to try to curb anti-social behaviour, including getting stewards who are used to working at England games at Wembley to travel with fans to away matches.

Supporters have been

2

012 Olympic 400-metre champion Sanya Richards-Ross has revealed in her book ‘Chasing Grace’ that she had an abortion the day before she departed for the Olympic Games in Beijing, China in 2008.

The Jamaican-born Richards-Ross, now a track and field analyst on NBC, was favored to win the one-lap sprint in China but was beaten by Great Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu and Jamaica’s Shericka Williams, after coming into the home stretch five metres clear of the field. She claimed then that a hamstring injury had affected her ability to close with a 100 metres to go.

However, in her much anticipated book, Richards-Ross, who is now

warned about their behaviour before the match in Glasgow, where Scottish police will impose a ban on drinking in open spaces.

Concerns have been raised over the 17:00 BST kick-off, while the Scottish FA has announced a “wide range of measures will be implemented as part of an enhanced security operation” following the recent terror attacks in Manchester and London. (BBCSPORT)

pregnant with her first child, made the startling revelation.

“I literally prayed about that [revealing the abortion] for almost two years because it is something that is really private, and a lot of women don’t talk about it,” Richards-Ross said on a podcast. “When I found out I was pregnant before the Olympics, it was the toughest time of my life. … It wasn’t an easy story to share. Even, I think about, oh my god, I wonder how people are going to receive it. But, ultimately, I did it to glorify God and to tell people that you can come back from any decision, no matter how hard it is to make.”

“Chasing Grace” was released Tuesday. (Sportsmax)

Sanya Richards-Ross

Beckham one step closer to MLS team in Miami

M

Principles of Chess I n order to be a better chess player one must understand certain principles especially in the Opening. These include:

Richards-Ross reveals abortion before 2008 Beijing Games

i a m i - D a d e County approved Beckham’s request to have three acres of land for a soccer stadium.

David Beckham is one step closer to bringing an MLS team to Miami after Miami-Dade County commissioners granted permission to the former Manchester United star and his ownership group - Miami Beckham United - to secure three acres of county-owned land for a new soccer stadium.

It took four years for the group to secure the last bit of land. Many residents went before the com-

Checkmate

mission to urge against the stadium being built in the city’s Overtown neighbourhood. However, Beckham’s group won with a 9-4 vote.

So far, Beckham has nine acres for a 25,000-seat stadium. On top of the $19 million he and his group paid for the first six acres, they will now need to pony up another $9 million for the last three acres.

The next step in Beckham’s plan is to actually build the facility, which will be privately financed. Even so, he needs the city of Miami’s approval for the project.

Beckham’s group also

David Beckham

needs final approval from the league to secure a Miami expansion franchise, something he reportedly hopes to have done by

the end of June. MLS had conditionally approved the addition in its last round of expansion, pending a stadium deal.

“Now is the time for MLS to move forward in helping us deliver the soccer club that Miami has been waiting for,” the group said in a statement.

“Miami is the eighth largest metro area in the U.S., the country’s number one soccer market, and a critical gateway to Latin America and Europe. MLS will only reach its full potential once it fields a team here.”(SPORTSMAX)

1. Develop your pieces effectively: Development literally means “to improve by Jessica Clementson expanding”. To develop your pieces in chess is to activate them, expanding your position by moving each piece off of its original square and into the game.

2. Complete your development A “lead in development” means that you have more pieces taking part in the game than your opponent. If a player is “behind in development”, that means he/she has more pieces sitting at home and less pieces developed (in the game).

3. Don’t Move a Piece Twice in the Opening All the minor pieces are in the game! Our fourth rule immediately following the basic concept of developing your pieces, is a tip that goes hand in hand with good development principles. Before moving a piece a second time in the Opening: not one, not two, not three, but all of your minor (Knights and Bishops) pieces should be developed and working together in battle.

4. The Exception to the Rule!

Though we must always be careful when finding exceptions tovery sound, very important principles – as with every rule, there will be opportunities to break it with good reason. You should consider moving a piece twice whenever a large amount of material can be won like winning the Queen and likely the game. The same idea might apply if another piece was undefended and “free for the capture”.In chess terms, these types of easily won pieces are known as“hanging” or “loose”…

5. Keep Your Queen Safe The false impression that to bring your Queen out early for a chance at a “quick mate” is a bullet-proof plan.

Though it is necessary for every chess player to know the basic checkmates, it isn’t necessary that every player practice bringing their Queen out early. Normally an early development of the Queen leads to disaster. Because the Queen is worth so much more than the minor pieces, getting “mixed up” with the little guys early is very risky for the “First Lady”.

Develop Toward and Control the Center With the basic concepts of development understood, it is important to learn the when, where and why we should develop our pieces. The most important area of the board to control, whether by physical occupation of the pieces or by threats, is the center of the board. Beginner’s should memorize it: “Pieces do better in the center!”

“A Knight on the Rim is Grim” Though all pieces are better when attacking from and toward the center, we can see a huge difference between a Knight on e5 and a Knight on a1. The e5-Knight controls eight squares, compared to two squares by its white counterpart.

Next week we will continue on some other concepts you should know.

sports

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Windies Coach Estwick backs Williams for success in longer formats

W

est Indies bowling coach Roddy Estwick is convinced the versatile T20 specialist Kesrick Williams could have a role to play for the region in the longer formats of the game in the near future.

Williams has been a key part of the team’s T20 attack since making an impressive debut against Pakistan last year. In eight matches so far the 27-year-old has claimed 14 wickets. The Vincentian has maintained solid form for the team in its ongoing series against

Pakistan picking up a total of five wickets in two games.

“I’m really happy for Kesrick. He’s someone who works very, very hard at his game, has a lot of variations and is improving all the time,” Estwick said.

“Since he came in this side in Dubai he’s done wonderfully well and he must continue now to keep working hard and keep improving and see if he can get to the longer format of the game,” he added.

The bowler is yet to enjoy success at the Regional or first class level, but Estwick

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remains confident he has the tools to succeed.

“He’s got a change of pace. He can get up to 85, 87 miles per hour and he can also come down to 60 so the batsmen really can’t set themselves because they’re not sure what’s coming.” (Sportsmax)

Kesrick Williams

Bolt to run 100m at the Golden Spike

U

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Usain Bolt

sain Bolt will return to the Golden Spike track meet in the Czech city of Ostrava to run the 100 metres.

Organisers say the eight-time Olympic champion will run on June 28.

Bolt will race for the ninth time at the meet, part of the IAAF world challenge series, as part of his preparations for the world championships in

London in August.

Bolt says “I think (the Golden Spike) was the first professional track meet that invited me to run back at the start of my career and it is fitting that I should return there in my final season.”

Bolt previously said he didn’t plan to run the 200 meters in his final season.

(Sportsmax)

JCA readies

itself for court battle J amaica Cricket Association (JCA) chief executive officer Courtney Francis has expressed that his organisation is looking towards defending its case at a hearing in the Supreme Court as it relates to a claim that has been brought against the association by Kensington vice-president, Wavell Hinds, and St Thomas Cricket Association president, Dennis Gordon.

The claim, which was served on the Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven-led JCA late last Friday, is as a result of an ongoing impassÈ between Kensington and St Thomas and the association in regards to the staging of this year’s national two-day Senior Cup cricket competition.

Kensington and St Thomas, who have not accepted an invitation to participate in the competition, have argued that its staging is unconstitutional owing to the fact that at a members’ meeting last year, it agreed that the format of the competition would be changed to reflect a two-tier team relegation and promotion concept.

However, according to the JCA, after taking a look at the proposal and considering its finances, a decision was taken by the board of directors to stick with the original Senior Cup format.

The existing Senior Cup, which

bowled off on May 6, features 23 teams, who, after competing within four preliminary zones, are down to contest a quarter-final and a semi-final round before a final.

CASE CAN STAND “I am no lawyer or not luminary, but I believe (that) based on the evidence that we have in front of us, the JCA case can stand up,’’ said Francis.

“There was a cricket meeting in 2016 and the (two-tier Senior Cup) discussion was had. After deliberation and going through various proposals and scenarios, it was decided that the JCA resources could not support it.

“Therefore, based on the recommendations from the Finance Committee and realities of the JCA, the Senior Cup was played the same way as it was played last year and the years before.

“It is, therefore, not like we changed the competition format. What they are proposing is that we should have played a two-tier competition that would have cost us significantly more than what it is now costing to host the Senior Cup.” Francis, who outlined that the JCA lawyers are set to peruse the claim starting this week, also expressed that he believed that it was unfortunate

Wavell Hinds

that the matter ended up in court, as prior to the claim, efforts were made to address the matter.

“They (Kensington and St Thomas) wrote to us leading up the start of this year’s Senior Cup, indicating that they would not accept the invitation to participate in the competition,” he explained.

“However, since then, there has been ongoing meetings. We first met with Kensington once, then met with St Thomas once. Another time, St Thomas did not turn up, and then, another time, they were not able to make it.

“What the JCA wanted was to devise a compromise on the basis that, with the competition still going on, they could still participate. But they were adamant that the competition was unconstitutional.” (Jamaica Gleaner)

22

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wednesdAY, june 7, 2017

Centrobasket trials

T

Dozens of players are expected to participate in the national trials

he Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) will hold two days of trials to select its under-17 team to participate in the upcoming Centrobasket U-17 Championships which is scheduled for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, July 26-30.

The trials will take place at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue, on June 10-11.

The Federation shortlisted 21 players but is also open to allow other players who have not been named to participate in the trial.

The process allows for individuals not identified on this shortlist to join the trials on the recommendation of any affiliated coach/representative of Affiliates of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation.

On both days, the tri-

al will occur from 08:00h to 10:00h in the morning and 14:00h to 16:00h in the afternoon session.

The following is a list of the players shortlisted: Yannick Tappin – Linden, Leon Benjamin – Linden, Shamar France – Berbice, Kelmar Carmichael – Berbice, Garfield Benjamin - Berbice, Andrew Johnson – Georgetow, Nigel Bowen – Georgetown, Roydon Glasgow – Georgetown, Akeem Crandon – Berbice, Jermaine King – Berbice, Kareem Boyle – Berbice, Jordan Alphonso – Berbice USA Based, Kevon Wiggins – Berbice - USA Based, Jahleel Young – Georgetown, Zion Gray – Georgetown, Jeremy Campbell – Berbice, Denzil Ross –Georgetown, Kadeem Dover – Kwakwani, Isaiah Hintzen – Kwakwani, Jether Harris – Georgetown

and Anthony Yansin – Georgetown.

Coaches are: Head Coach Lugard Mohan, with Kenny Avent (US-based) and Willon Cameron as Assistant Coaches. Junior Andrew Hercules is the manager and leader of the Guyana delegation.

Training sessions will continue with the reduced squad at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall - as follows: June 17 – 18, June 24 – 25, July 1 – 10 and July 14 - 24 (Encampment).

The Guyana U-17 team will depart for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Tuesday, July 25 and return to Guyana on Monday, July 31.

The GABF has already made the necessary deposits to secure travel dates for the Guyana U-17 team, with Copa Airlines.

Director of Sport praises national U-15 footballers for historic win F

ollowing Guyana’s Junior Jaguars’ historic win in St Martin at the U-15 Squaliga Tournament, Director of Sport, Christopher Jones and Commissioners of the National Sports Commission (NSC) extended congratulations to the Guyana National Under-15 football team on their success.

In a statement to the media, the NSC noted, “The Guyana Football Federation must be complemented on their robust grassroots programme which continues to develop our young and talented players. At this time all Guyana stands proud of our young champions!”

The Junior Jaguars defeated St Martin 1-0 via a Jeremy Garrett strike to continue their fine form in the tournament.

In the build-up to the final, the U-15 footballers had defeated Dominica 1-0 via an Omari Glasgow goal to secure a spot in the final while 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 made the 1-0 win possible.

However, their other two matches were goalless draws against Guadeloupe and Barbados.

Prior to the team’s departure, Head Coach Bryan Joseph told Guyana Times Sport that given the performances in French Guiana

Christopher Jones

last December and the constant camps, he thought the side had a very good chance of reaching the semi-finals or even the finals.

Likewise, the skipper, Joshua Braithwaite, had expressed similar 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 programme 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”.

Senseless Name Change

W

hile the top eight cricketing nations are engaged in the ICC Champions trophy tournament in England, the West Indies are hosting minnows Afghanistan in a Twenty20 series as something of a “make up,” having embarrassingly failed to qualify for the elite 50-overs tournament.

no sense to have a grand rebranding and renaming, with the performances of the regional team continuing to be as poor, and shameless, as they have been in recent years.

The harsh reality is that the West Indies are now ranked at number 8 in test cricket, only above Bangladesh and Zimbabwe; they are

Williams elected President of Grove Hi Tech W

ayne Williams was on Monday evening elected to the helm of East Bank football association club, Grove Hi Tech Football Club (GHTFC). The new President will function with a new constitution which was adopted on the said evening.

Williams and his executive, numbering six persons, will serve until 2019. Vice President (Administration and Programmes) is Nicole Matthews; Secretary Sophia Singh; Treasurer – Jermaine Alves; Assistant Secretary/Treasurer – Delicia Matthews; and Head Coach, Levi Braithwaite.

The Club has also named an Assistant Coach in Jermaine Alves, while in its quest to get its female team up and running, they have appointed Candacy McKenzie to chart the way forward.

EBFA President Franklin Wilson, who overlooked proceedings including the elections, congratulated the executive and encouraged them to get into work mode immediately in terms of taking the Club to the next level.

Wilson noted that the Club, unlike many others, has its own field and clubhouse and this is a plus for them. He encouraged them to work towards refurbishing the clubhouse and improving the field while committing the EBFA to assist the Club. Williams thanked the members for reposing such confidence in him and promised to do his best to transform the Club. He reminded that discipline will be one of his key pillars as he noted that the Club has an abundance of talented players but there need to also be a high level of disci-

West Indies team could now be called “The Windies”

Wayne Williams

pline on and off the field, exhibited by every player as well as officials.

The new executive is expected to meet on Saturday to come up with their work programme for the remainder of the year and beyond.

Grove is the fourth EBFA club to have held its elections and adopt a new constitution in recent months. The others are Highway United located at Yarrowkabra on the Linden Soesdyke Highway, Herstelling Raiders FC of Herstelling and Mocha Champs.

With the innate shame of that scenario staring us squarely in the face, out comes the simultaneous announcement by the West Indies Cricket board that the board is now supposedly named Cricket West Indies and the team itself is now supposedly no longer The West Indies cricket team but now “The Windies”.

These moves have all the trappings of some desperate, farcical, and sorry diversionary tactics by the current administration to pull the proverbial wool over the eyes of the long-suffering, despondent, and increasingly cynical fans of the regional team.

It makes absolutely

number 9 in ODIs, only above Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland. In the format that has been our saving grace in recent years, the current World champions are now ranked at number 7 and falling in the Twenty20 format.

While elements of the decline are totally out of our control, due to the changing dynamics of the game globally, and indeed regionally, which has resulted in the cricket, over time, degenerating to a place that is nowhere close to what it used to be, and might never return to what it used to be, this rebranding process seems distasteful and offers no immediately tangible advantages.

If we are to be brutally

honest about the state of our cricket, then we must stop personalising our critique and avoid the platitudinous word dropping about what is to be done to “FIX” West Indies Cricket. The powerful forces of evolution and natural change continue to guide the fortunes of the regional game.

It is, therefore, a matter of accepting the changes rather than FIXING the cricket.

Dave Cameron and his administration have tried their best within the circumstantial limitations by implementing some age-old recommendations such as the granting of upgraded retainer contracts for international players male and female, as well as the major remuneration improvements for regional players.

The three world titles won under Cameron’s stewardship are now “played out positives,” with the perception abound in the region that Cameron and his team are running thin on the goodwill they have been enjoying from that sporadic run of success.

Again, though, this ongoing decline in our cricketing fortunes did not begin with, and will not end with, the reign of Cameron. However, when all is said and done, a name change is not the way to go.

At this point in our cricket, with the rapidity with which the game is evolving, the best thing we have going for West Indies cricket is its rich history and tradition, as well as some great memories. To venture down this road of rebranding and renaming suggests a covert disrespect of that history. There is hardly enough happening in our cricket currently to build on, going forward, that merits our dispensing with our glorious past. (Jamaica Gleaner)

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, june 7, 2017

Director of Sport lauds AAG’s successful hosting of SA U-20 Championships

‒ big plans in store for Guyana’s athletes

D

irector of Sport, C h r i s t o p h e r Jones credited the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) for pulling off the South American U-20 Championships, despite having such short notice, calling it a “tremendous success”.

With a mere two months to plan and put systems in place to ensure “smooth sailing”, Jones sough to highlight that the “logistics by the coordinating committee was on point, the entire activity was incident free and of course the accommodation, meals and so forth that were provided for the local and international athletes were all complimentary.

I think overall the games were successfully held and I want to commend not only the AAG but all other organisations that played a role in it to ensure the success of the games.”

Jones noted that since the launching of the

National Sports Database in 2016, the AAG has submitted their information on their athletes, hence the NSC was able to monitor their progress in the buildup to the CARIFTA games. The National Sports Database monitors athletes’ performances and helps make it easier for associations to pick the best possible representatives when headed to a major competition.

After the success of the athletes at the CARIFTA games, Jones pointed out that it was through this system that the NSC awarded the top performers with scholarships.

The Director revealed that the NSC is looking to achieve another possible perk of athletes being in the database to receive preferential healthcare in Guyana.

“Another aspect that we are hoping to achieve; and we are still having a discussion with the Ministry of Public Health, is that we

The Guyanese contingent performed impressively at this installment of the South American Junior Championship

want those athletes who are in the database to receive what is called ‘preferential treatment’ at our local health facilities and whereas our local health facilities are unable to provide the necessary services to them, is that being in the

database as an athlete, the Government will be responsible for their medical treatment abroad, that is the level that we want to take that to.”

He encouraged the various associations to submit their respective in-

formation as the current Administration has the best interest of the athletes at heart.

When asked by Guyana Times Sports whether the NSC is willing to invest more to bring sporting events such as the SA U-20

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Championships to Guyana, Jones indicated that the NSC has already submitted their first draft of the Budget for 2018, pointing to “100 per cent increases in some cases for funding that falls under grants” so that the Sports Commission can be able to provide more toward various sports associations. However this will not be possible if the associations do not submit their developmental plans for 2018.

He urged those associations to understand that “sport is a business” and if you do not invest, there will be no returns. This, he explained, is the basis for investment in sport. He pointed to the success of the AAG as an example.

Guyana created history when they took 25 medals at last weekend’s South American U-20 Championships, tripling their previous haul of just eight medals since the beginning of the meet in 1959.

8th GLTA/GBTI Open 2017

Brown upsets Baker in Boys' round of 32 A

‒ Fraser to defend girls’ title against Klautky

kil Brown upset Wayne Baker to win on day three of the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA)/Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Tennis Open on Sunday at the bank’s Recreational Facility at Bel Air. It was by no means a walk in the park for Brown, who won the match 6-4 1-6 11-9 to set his campaign off to a positive start.

In other boys’ matches, Ridhwaan Kasim fell at the hand of the young Brazilian, Alexandre DeAlmedia 6-2, 6-0. The heavy hitting and top spin serves proved to be difficult for him to handle. On court two, Devine Kalekyezi and

Khalid Gobin but was outplayed by the lefthander 7-5, 6-1. Top spin and acute angles helped seal the deal for Gobin against the promising Khayyam.

Shimron Lewis received a win from Daniel Kellman after failure to show. On the other hand, Nigel Lowe showed up with his regular aggressive game style that was too much for Ariel Khan. Lowe delivered a 6-1, 6-0 win.

Girls semi-finals

The girls final is set for this Saturday after two quality matches in the semifinals of the 18s. The junior ladies stepped up their games as Alana Chung displayed great im-

rising talent, Nathalie Ramdyhan, could not be denied as she battled against Sarah Klautky in her first 18s semi-final and held her nerves but Klautky tasted a 6-2, 3-6, 10-8 victory after drawing on her experiences.

Novice medley

The novice final is scheduled for this weekend when President of Non Pariel, Surendra Khayyam takes on fellow club mate, Delon Fraser. Khayyam outlasted new player, Leoni Sears, in a 7-5 match.

Sears showed determination against her male counterpart to hold a steady lead but was unable to maintain the momentum. Peace Corps Guyana’s Country Director, Kury Cobham, won her quarterfinal due to a walkover and fell 6-3 to Delon Fraser in the semi-final.

Cobham had her chances to create pressure and with the backing of the crowd she flew to a 3-1 lead and it seemed the match was going to head in her favour. Her personality was captivating and the ladies on the sideline were cheering her on for a win but Fraser managed to buckle down and secure the win against the crowd favourite.

Men’s Round 16 Doubles

From left: Sandeep Chand, Andre Lopes, Daniel Lopes and Leyland Leacock

Vijay Sharma had similar fate of Kasim at 7-5, 6-2.

Brother of the number one male player, Tai Downes, launched into his first tournament and showed promise but seasoned junior, Ravin Ramprasad, closed a win at 6-2, 3-6, 10-8 in a closely contested match. Adesh Khayyam took on

provement in her game. The lefty executed strong backhands which is now a signature of her game but was unable to keep junior star and reigning champion Kalyca Fraser, at bay. Fraser was able to press on and secure a 6-3, 6-2 win.

On the other side of the draw, the match went to a nail bitter as

The anticipation of uncle versus nephew in the Lopes doubles was the spectacle of the evening. It was a tense match at the GBTI Open 2017. Factions of supporters gathered at the fences and enjoyed a top doubles match as Andre Lopes/ Sandeep Chand battled against Leyland Leacock/Daniel Lopes. The first set progressed evening until 5 games all. The big serving of Daniel Lopes raddled his opponents with

From left: Sarah Klaulky, Alana Chung, Grace McCalman and Kurry Cobham

a love game hold. Failure of Lopes/ Chand to hold their own serve, handed the set 7-5 to the confident Leacock/Lopes.

While the defence and game strategy of Lopes/Chand was adjusted, they eventually conceded the second set at 6-2. Leacock made the finals with partner, Nicholas Fenty, and looks to make a bid for the top position with new partner.

Anthony Downes/Jason Andrews won a walkover from Jamal Goodluck/Darren King.

Albert Razick teamed up with his son Daniel Razick against the junior pair, Vadeanand Resaul/Adesh Khayyam to win 6-4, 6-1. Resaul/ Khayyam fought every point with intensity that marks the character of future champions. However, the tactical strength of their opponents gave them the advantage.

Runner-up of the first Weekend Challenger, Jason Andrews, defeated Kester Abrams 6-3, 6-3. Abrams had several moments to tip the momentum in the match when creating good angels and guiding sever-

al passing winners but was unable to hold back the racked up errors.

Andrews faces Khwan Rondney in the Round 16 with both hoping to make it to their first GBTI Men’s Open quarterfinal.

Ladies Quarter-final Doubles

In the most lively match of the tournament Alana Chung/ Sarah Klautky clutched a 6-4, 6-2 win against Kury Cobham/Grace McCalman. Chung/Klaultky had a close first set against the seniors that were three times their age.

Cobham/McCalman exhibited the fun and spirit of the tennis community as they rallied against the juniors with light moments as well as serious shot making. At four all, it was upon McCalman to hold her serve and force a break on Chung’s serve in order to secure the set but the opposite happened. It was no looking back by Chung/Klautky who closed the match. Embrace among the four players erupted cheers from the sidelines.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

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Centrobasket trials set for this weekend The nation's Under-17 basketball players will be engaged this weekend as they seek spots on the national squad

Pg 22

Director of Sport praises national U-15 footballers for historic win The victorious U-15 team

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