Guyana times october 18,2017

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Issue No. 3364

PRICE

Guyana exceeds regional poverty, crime averages – IDB Page 3

...links poor infrastructure to increased likelihood of crime

Politicians unite in reverence for Diwali Page ...even as quibble over 9 ‘observance date’ persists

“Smallie”, Page 8 “Catty” appear in High Court on “Mango Man” murder charge

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Herstelling P24 man brutalised by gunmen in carjacking

New Demerara River crossing

Houston P19 residents have less than 2 years to relocate

M&CC dismisses Corporal accused of sexual assault after video surfaces P11 …Town Clerk interviews victim but fails to submit report

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo interacts with the crowd on Tuesday evening at the Diwali motorcade at Uitvlugt Mandir compound, West Coast Demerara

Golden Fleece Mandir wins best Diwali float

Bids out for expansion of Mazaruni P15 Prison

Page 22

Repatriated Guyanese

…at Dharmic Sabha’s annual motorcade in Essequibo

Requests made to have children placed in school – P12 Minister

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, October 18 – a night retraction at 03:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, October 19 – a night retraction at 04:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, October 18 – 15:40h-17:10h and Thursday, October 19 – 16:15h-17:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, while partly cloudy to thundery showers can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from Easterly to East North-easterly and East South-easterly between 3.12 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 03:23h and 15:40h reaching maximum heights of 2.60 metres and 2.67 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:15h and 21:35h reaching minimum heights of 0.60 metre and 0.52 metre respectively.

tuesDAY, October 17, 2017

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Guyana exceeds regional poverty, crime averages – IDB ... links poor infrastructure to increased likelihood of crime

By Jarryl Bryan

G

uyana has a long road ahead of it when it comes to poverty reduction, with a recent report from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) highlighting that poverty remains entrenched.

In fact, Guyana has more poverty than the regional average.

According to the IDB’s Reformulation, Upgrade and Expansion of Road Network report, compiled under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme, 26.6 per cent of the population were “multi-dimensionally poor”.

The Bank compared this with a regional average of 18 per cent. The report, which focused primarily on infrastructure and housing, went into detail about the real cost of housing deficiencies.

The IDB noted that these shortfalls are perceived to contribute to crime rates.

“In Georgetown, poverty is evident in various measures of the standard of living and housing deficits,” it stated. “Twenty-nine per cent of the population live in overcrowded housing (of) over two people per room.”

“Criminality in Georgetown is also high, 33.8 murders per 100,000 people; above the regional average of 26, perceived to be exacerbated by the lack of community facilities and public spaces.

Basic infrastructure in new and established housing sites developed incrementally by [Central Housing and Planning Authority] CH&PA,” it added.

The report acknowledged the work of the CH&PA, noting that there are programmes enabling housing construction and extensions by upgrading infrastructure, allocation of land and titles.

But it noted that much more needs to be done.

“Despite the gains made, an estimated 249.5 kilometres of roads and associated drainage still needs to be completed to improve the living conditions of over 32,000 households, according to the CH&PA. Census data shows these deficits occur in non CH&PA villages such as D’Urban area,

Industrial Estate and East La Penitence.”

The IDB also noted that local Neighbourhood Democratic Councils lack sufficient institutional capacity for long-term site management.

the capital Georgetown and surrounding regions. This included proposals to improve transport systems along Georgetown’s SheriffMandela road, the sample project.

In September, officials

It is understood that in June 2012, the IDB approved the operation “Road Network Upgrade and Expansion Programme” for US$69.2 million, following a request from the then People’s Progressive Party Government. The objective of the Multiple Works (MW) Programme was to enhance urban and suburban mobility and safety by reducing vehicle operating costs, travel times and road fatalities.

The loan included civil works for primary roads and safety components in

from the CH&PA held a consultation at the Sophia Primary School. The consultation saw the attendance and participation of resi-

dents of A and B Fields.

The proposed works to be carried out include road construction, upgrades to community grounds and buildings, the installation of street lights, construction of sidewalks and providing subsidies for the construction of core home and home improvement projects.

The communities to benefit were Pattensen/ Turkeyen (Section B), Turkeyen (Section C and D), Section “C” Cummings Lodge (Cummings Park), Block E Sophia (Farmers group), Block “X” Liliendaal (Section A), Block “F” Sophia, Plum Park and Block “R” Sophia.

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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

Guyanese Diwali

T

onight will be the darkest and longest night of the year. To us in Guyana, who are near the Equator, the lengthening is not as significant as that for countries nearer the North Pole. In India, for instance, from where almost half of our population originated, at this time, early man would have reaped his crops and prepared for winter.

Lights were lit to celebrate the harvests and also to mark the gradual lengthening of the days and the return of light.

This was the birth of Diwali, that joyous festival in which God in the female form of Mother Lakshmi, the giver of wealth and light, is worshipped. Food was wealth to early man and one can understand why she is worshipped at this time. Hindus are very clear about the need for man to acquire wealth: it is his duty, for without wealth man cannot take care of any of his mortal obligations. But even more important than acquiring wealth is its distribution for the upliftment of society. The Hindu is exhorted to “earn with a hundred hands; give with a thousand”.

The first prayer uttered by the Hindu upon awakening, while looking at his open palms, is “Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) is on the tip of my fingers; Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge) is in the middle and Govinda (The God of Protection) is at its base.” Man, then, is responsible for earning wealth, but to do so, he must acquire knowledge.

Armed with wealth and knowledge he will be able to protect him/herself, family, community and country.

This acquiring of knowledge is one of the “lights” that Diwali reminds us must be lit. In Guyana today, there is much ignorance abounding and because of this, society suffers.

The knowledge of how we can make our society more harmonious is available; many countries also have similar challenges but worked successfully to address them. Is there a Guyanese who really does not have the “information” that the leaders of all the groups of Guyana must cooperate for the development of our country? But information must be validated through action to become “knowledge”: and until we all choose leaders who are prepared to work together for the common good, we are all ensuring our dark nights will only lengthen.

But Diwali also suggests another message – for the individual. When the nights were getting longer, early man would have seen that the individual lights did not make a difference, but together the sun could be evoked. Let there be light! And this is what we also have to do in Guyana. In addition to selecting leaders who have the interests of all the people at heart, individuals also have to light their own lights to eliminate whatever darkness that confronts them.

Is it a problem with a neighbour? A co-worker? Then do what it takes to resolve the problem – that will be “lighting a light”.

But the actual festival of Diwali has also come down to us with other practices that are of immense value to create a more cohesive society: the process is as important as the content. There is a complete and most thorough cleaning of the home by all members of the Hindu family to welcome Mother Lakshmi into that home. There is also the cooking of sweetmeats and creating of diyas (fast disappearing) which all help to bring the family closer together. The sharing of the sweetmeats with neighbours and friends spreads that closeness far and wide in the community.

In multi-ethnic and multi-religious Guyana, it is a welcome development that other groups than Hindus are participating in this festival of Diwali, which can play such a positive role in nation building. The Hindus themselves have increasingly begun to take the festival into the public space where the rest of the country can be engaged. The Diwali Motorcade has long been a feature in Guyana’s cultural heritage, and has been joined lately by the “National Diya”.

Happy Diwali, Guyana!!

Some of the staff of the Times Media Group pose for a photo after the company hosted a pre-Diwali event on Tuesday

President’s unlawful interference with work of Police Service Commission Dear Editor, Recently, a letter was sent from the Ministry of the Presidency by Minister Joseph Harmon writing on behalf of President David Granger to the Police Service Commission (PSC). That letter directed the PSC to halt the contemplated promotion of Police Officers; a matter solely and purely within the constitutional competence of that Commission.

The issuance of that letter raises a substantial and serious constitutional issue which calls into question the governance style of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition Government.

The establishment of the service commissions under the Constitution of Guyana was intended to insulate and protect those commissions from Executive and morseso political interference, direction and control.

That these commissions are intended to be independent and autonomous could not in this era of constitutional awareness and enlightenment be the subject of any controversy.

That brings me to two contributors to the letter columns of the local newspapers. They are Maxwell Edwards, a former Magistrate; and Kaishree Chatterpaul, an Attorney who ordinarily resides in Canada. In essence, both men have written to assert that the President’s directive to the PSC was within the President’s authority. In both cases these were surprising assertions coming from supposedly legally trained persons. Edwards has become known in the press for advancing novel legal propositions mainly on behalf of the Attorney General and the President but his contentions, as decisions of the courts have recently shown, have been without merit and border on the absurd.

In his recent foray into the area of constitutional law, his thrust is that the President can halt the work of the PSC and that such a presidential intervention may be premised on a policy of “appointment freeze” or alternatively, on the doctrine of executive privilege. Coming from a former Magistrate, who describes his misconceived contentions as “novel”, such arguments are both disgraceful and shocking. Edwards attacked Chevy Devonish, a law student, whom he says is a person “yet to be learned in the law” for not showing “self-restraint and considered caution in his insinuation of unconstitutionality and arbitrariness against no less a public authority than the President of this country.”

My understanding is that given the undoubted independence and autonomy of the PSC, Chevy Devonish was clearly right and Maxwell Edwards is hopelessly wrong. President Granger is not infallible. He is not, if his actions warrant it, above being said to be acting unconstitutionally (as I will show he has done in numerous instances in a forthcoming letter). I challenge Maxwell Edwards to point to any precedent (barring a suspension of the Constitution) to show one instance where some Executive policy or doctrine has been applied to interfere with the work of a constitutionally established service commission. Chevy Devonish has presented a serious challenge to Maxwell Edwards’ learning in the law. Devonish must be congratulated for his appreciation of and understanding of the role and function of the Police Service Commission.

No more needs be said about Maxwell Edwards and his fanciful, frivolous contentions. There is much to be said for Lincoln Lewis’ re-

cent appeal in the press for a concerted programme aimed at an education for our people about our Constitution, from which programme Maxwell Edwards would undoubtedly benefit.

Next, a look at the arguments of Kaishree Chatterpaul who writes as a person under the influence of a delusional causing substance would. It takes considerable courage for a lawyer to write as Chatterpaul does. He contends that the President’s “directive” (his word) is “not an administrative decision subject to judicial review…. It amounts to an exercise of executive function which is outside the realm of the judiciary” because of the doctrine of the separation of powers. A substantial body of administrative law has been built up over the years founded largely on the courts’ review of executive action. Chatterpaul bravely and boldly asserts that” the President’s directive” is “an exercise of public law power”. He then cites a case from South Africa in support of his argument that the President in relation to the PSC has acted lawfully. The statements Chatterpaul quotes from the case just do not support him.

The opening lines of the passage from the case quoted by Chatterpaul throw him into the dustbin. The passage reads “the exercise of public power must therefore comply with the Constitution, which is the supreme law, and the doctrine of legality, which is part of the law.”

There is no room on any constitutionally established ground for any interference with the work of the PSC, from any quarter whatever, and that includes the President, though I would be prepared to concede that the President or the Government or any citizen for that matter, may present information to the Commission on any mat-

ter which the Commission may utilise in the consideration of its work but no directives can be given. How the Commission treats with the information provided is a matter entirely for the Commission. By his directive the President exceeded the boundaries of presidential authority and was therefore acting unlawfully. His action, as an exercise of public law power, as Chatterpaul contends, is affected by a want of legality, and was therefore in violation of the doctrine of legality and by extension, the rule of law. It was extremely difficult to find in Chatterpaul’s letter, the legal basis for his contention that it was within the President’s authority to halt the work of the Police Service Commission.

Maxwell Edwards and Kaishree Chatterpaul apart, it was interesting to note the reaction from various quarters in Guyana concerning the President’s letter to the Police Service Commission.

President Granger himself has said that “we have asked the Police Service Commission to simply delay”. Note must be taken of the fact that Minister Harmon in the name of President Granger had written to the Commission not to delay the consideration of Police promotions but to advise that the President had “directed that there be no consideration of promotions of members of the Guyana Police Force until further notice”. Clearly the letter was directing a halt to the consideration of promotions of Police Officers by the Commission and it notified the Commission that the President presumably would give notice to the Commission about the resumption of its work. It appears that the President was in receipt of some information which he wished to consider. continues on page 5

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

Guyana’s sugar industry needs to be de-politicised

Dear Editor, I was invited to be part of a discussion on sugar on Monday evening. The discussion while general would have as its point of reference, the sugar industry in Guatemala which formed part of a supplement on that country published in Sunday’s edition of the Miami Herald newspaper.

I thought I should pen this letter as evidence, contrary to the belief in some quarters, that sugar is not dead and that the sugar industry in Guyana could be profitably maintained with privatisation in whole or in parts. The Guatemalan model of sustainable productivity employed by its privately owned 11 sugar producers which operate with absolutely no Government support is indisputable testimony that with the right combination of innovation, diversification, market research, sales

promotion and social programmes for its workers and communities, Guyana’s sugar industry can once again be viable.

The sugar industry in Guyana is in its current position because of the politics to which the industry has been subjected, especially since 1998. With a privatised sugar industry, political influence would be diminished, and the workers would allow themselves to be politically manipulated at their own peril. The success of Guatemala’s private producers is credited to a well-trained and responsible workforce, high end technology and well thought out value added and diversification.

According to Herbert Gonzalez, current President of the Sugar Producers’ Association of Guatemala, “Guatemalan producers have invested in being competitive in the international market.

One of the main challenges the industry faces is the price factor: they know how much it cost to produce sugar, but they don’t know the price at which sugar is going to be sold. The key then is to deliver value added sugars to buyers”. The production of by-products such as bagasse and ethanol, among others, is also critical.

Today, Guatemala is the largest sugar producer in Central America, the second largest exporter in Latin America and the fourth largest net exporter in the world in 2015. The industry employs over 77,000 people, five per cent of the country’s formal workforce that is credited with a high level of productivity. “The industry’s efforts to be environmentally and socially sustainable include a daily schedule of nutrition and hydration plans for cane cutters that have been carefully developed to

President’s unlawful...

It also appears that this information relates to Police disciplinary issues. Such matters are indisputably within the constitutional jurisdiction of the PSC but President Granger indicated that “we are investigating those complaints and once those queries are satisfactorily answered, we will proceed.” What exactly does President Granger mean by “we will proceed”? To whom is he referring as “we”? What is in issue is the question of Police promotions, a mat-

ter over which he and his Government have no control and should not seek to influence. The words of the President that “we will proceed” are ominous.

That President Granger has interfered in the work of the PSC is without doubt.

Upon receipt of the letter from Minister Harmon in the name of President Granger, the Service Commission which was legitimately engaged in considering Police promotions, halted its efforts. PSC Chairman Omesh

from page 4

Satyanand is reported in the press as saying that the President’s directive was unconstitutional but that some members decided not to proceed because the directive came from the President.

That position taken by the Commission is the direct result of the President’s unlawful interference with the work of the Police Service Commission.

Sincerely, Selwyn Persaud

protect their health and wellbeing and which have helped to strengthen not only the skills of employees but also their families and local communities,” according to Gonzalez.

The private producers in Guatemala have collectively put in place their own infrastructure including its own port terminal and is today a global leader in port loading efficiency… a shipment of 30,000 metric tons is loaded in 18 hours.

While conditions in Guyana are not entirely similar to Guatemala, it is clear that with privatisation and subsequent de-politicisation of Guyana’s sugar industry through the emergence of a smart and enlightened workforce, coupled with visionary, professional and efficient management and a carefully designed diversification pro-

gramme that should include a sugar refinery, our sugar industry can not only survive, but prosper.

As Guyana seeks to privatise its sugar industry it must ensure that the potential investors bring with them the commitment to invest not only in equipment and machinery but in the country’s efforts to address social inequality. New owners (if the industry is broken up into several companies as a result of privatisation) must also be prepared to work together to develop facilities which they can share and even perhaps embark on joint research, as in the case in Guatemala where research has led to sugar for the local market being fortified with Vitamin A for the prevention of childhood blindness.

There are some reputable companies with the cap-

Unsafe times

Dear Editor, During the last week, I was robbed three times.

Someone picked me while I was seated in a minibus; I was robbed at my street intersection whereby my cellphone, my hard-earned salary and even my footwear were stolen.

However, despite being traumatised, I went to a city bank to withdraw $25,000 and was robbed again on the pavement outside Muneshwers Ltd on

Water Street. In the space of 24 hours, I was robbed twice.

You have absolutely no idea how terrified I am feeling, as a female, right now. During the last three months, Enmore has been experiencing an increase in robberies especially in the Hope West area, almost at all intersections. It is clear that this once-safe neighbourhood is being targeted.

I’m tired of living in fear.

I would appreciate if Police

ital, experience, corporate good conscience and access to markets which have an interest in looking into investing in the sugar industry in Guyana. They are not rushing to come to Guyana but with the right approach on Government’s part (and right approach does not mean giving away the assets of the industry) and responsible behaviour on the part of the political Opposition and the unions, would invest their time and money to further examine the feasibility of investing. Of course there also local business owners who are interested in investing as well… they should be held to the same standards so as to ensure the sustained viability of the industry, should they become its owners.

Yours truly, Wesley Kirton patrols in these vulnerable times can help. I believe if our Ministers are wise, they will make the choice of wisdom to protect our citizens. I strongly urge our Ministry of Public Security to accept my recommendation. I have to pass that intersection twice daily and I am sure others in my neighbourhood have valid concerns that need to be addressed immediately as it relates to crime and security.

Sincerely, Name withheld

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Foundation

What makes families resilient?

– nurturing strength amid adversity

By Marianna Pogosyan, PhD

4) What can families who relocate between cultures learn from your research to better prepare themselves for the stresses of international transitions?

For international adaptation, a lot has to do with openness. It’s easy and comforting to keep to yourself or the expat community. But immersion is important, and so is leaving your comfort zone. Start having conversations with people. Invite them to your home. Share a meal. In other words, go outwards and open your boundaries. It will enrich your experience while enlarging your heart and your mind. But don’t cut yourself from your past. If you were to cut off a plant from its roots and transplant it elsewhere, it will not survive. You have to bring some of its roots with it.

By Samiksha Athani

5. Let a buddy teach Peer tutoring works better for slow learners. When their teachers are of the same age, they get encouraged. Let them select one or two of his friends to form a study group. Assign the study group the task of reiterating the new teachings of the day and assisting with homework.

6. Encourage and teach the right things Invite them to come forward during art classes, school activities, or volunteering.

Recognise and reward their participation.

This would do wonders to their self-

5) How does communication nurture the family’s resilience?

Communication helps family members feel more connected. For instance, children can prepare a meal with their parents when someone comes over. Or parents can take their children when they visit new places. Whatever the activity, parents can reflect on it with their children afterward and make meaning of the occasion by talking about it. Ask questions like, “What was that like for you? What surprised you?”

Even collecting keepsakes and exchanging gifts can become practices that strengthen the resilience of the whole family. What parents impart onto their children and the way they carry themselves is so important. In a way, they are conveying a set of attitudes and beliefs

confidence. Teach special skills rather than unnecessary skills.

This may include following the correct instruction words (count, colour, circle, etc.) or listening and focusing on keywords.

Remember the main goal is to make them self-sufficient.

7. Give them special takeaways Hand out special cheat sheets, mini dictionaries, or visually graphic information sheets. One good idea is to give lesson pamphlets for pinning them to their soft boards so that they are surrounded by constant reminders of lessons and activities. Do check out our stash of Math tips and tricks to help motivate them.

Continued from Monday

to their children. An attitude might be, “Look, isn’t it interesting?” rather than, “Oh my God, what is that?” If we start with the attitude “I am going to make the best of it!” then the children will pick up on it.

Also, as part of communication, an important aspect in family resilience is to acknowledge the hardships. You have to sit with family members, comfort them, and acknowledge their feelings. It’s equally important to have joy together. It’s not just problem-solving. It is also finding things to celebrate, finding ways to have fun or to laugh at mistakes.

In the end, it’s also about the outlook that we hold as individuals and as families.

We can look at adversity and see all the ways that it can run us down. Or we can think of it as something that will transform and empower us. (Excerpt from psychologytoday)

8. Praise and raise them Always praise every tiny effort of a slow learner in front of the class or in public. This would raise their self-esteem and confidence.

9. Encourage constant Parent Teacher Association Work very closely with their parents. Ensure the homework and tasks assigned are successfully completed on a daily basis. Be accessible and open to communication. Make sure to listen out to parents’ problems and help to solve them. Conduct special meetings for their parents of apart from the general PTA meets.

10. Lastly, a few don’ts: * Do not reprimand in front

(Continued from Tuesday) of the class. You may do that in private. * Do not emphasise on writing, concentrate on reading.

Oral education is more beneficial for them. * Do not let them quit trying.

Encourage them to continue their hard work to complete their tasks even if it means postponing it. * Do not be overprotective.

Let their slow learning not become their introduction.

We all need to remember and timely remind ourselves while teaching slow learners that it is okay to let them learn things slowly than not learn at all. (logicroots.com)

The importance of developing “rounded” students

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n the past, I have spoken about the argument of extra-curricular activities vs extra subjects, stressing that the two are not mutually exclusive. I implored that certain minimum standards should be met, after which no child should be limited in any area.

I still believe this to be true, however, I feel the need to speak of the importance of encouraging children to engage in extra-curricular activities, even those they might be Ashley Anthony bad at.

Guyanese, I believe, have this mentality that you should do what you’re good at and only that.

Because of this, what we are good at becomes less of something we can do, and more of someone who we are.

The problem, I believe, with a one-dimensional child, is that central to their identity will be their perceived excellence in a particular field. What then,

should happen, if they are challenged –- if they should come to realise that they are not as great as they once believed? Guyana is a small country. It is relatively easy to become the “best” at something.

What happens when a child who has been consistently praised for being the smartest student in the country (after topping CSEC), moves abroad and realises that everyone at their university is as smart as they are? What if they don’t get into the school of their choice? What if our best sprinter brings last in a regional race? If their identity was closely tied to their intellectual and physical prowess, does this mean that they no longer know who they are? Do they lose sight of their purpose and vision? How do they come to grips with the fact that there is someone better at doing something that they have been told their entire lives they are the best at?

We need to see extra-curricular activities as less of accessories for college and job applications, and more as being about personal fulfilment and the discovery of one’s self. A balanced individual (in my opinion), is less likely to feel as though their entire identity is threatened upon encountering someone who is better at doing something than they are. This is because through exploring a variety of different activities, they will come to understand that they have strengths and weaknesses, but that their strengths do not define what they can do. If your child is academically gifted, by all means, encourage them to study, but don’t ONLY encourage them to study.

Also, let them explore their other interests, even if they aren’t great at them, and show them that it is okay to do something solely because it makes them happy.

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MPI restricts bidding pool for latest IDB-funded project

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

By Gary Eleazar

T

he Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) is currently looking for contractors to undertake the upgrade of the Sheriff StreetMandela Avenue roadway, but the bidding pool has been restricted.

The Ministry, in notices issued recently, is asking bidders to lodge up to $41 million in bid security before their proposals are even considered for evaluation.

According to the notices issued by the Ministry, the project is being undertaken in six lots.

Each bid must be accompanied by bid security. The rate set for lot six is US$200,000 (G$41.6 million). Lots one through three are set at a rate of US$50,000 (G$10.4 million).

Lot four has been set at a rate of US$30,000 (G$6.2 million) while lot five has been earmarked at US$20,000 (G$4.1 million).

According to the notices issued by the Ministry, the project entails rehabilitative works.

This means that contractors looking to submit a bid for evaluation to undertake works in lot six will firstly have to come up with $41.6 million in collateral before even being considered.

The procurement notice has been posted by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the funding agency for the project.

Observers recently questioned what exactly the Administration was looking to construct, since half of the money that was made available for the project has already been diverted towards a housing drive.

The IDB had initially approved some US$66 million for the road upgrade project, but the coalition Government opted to divert US$30 million of that amount towards the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) for works to be undertaken in Sophia.

The Sheriff Street-Mandela Avenue road upgrade project has been on the cards for a number of years – piloted by the previous Administration, but its scope was revised under the current Administration.

Critics have also raised eyebrows at the level of the bid security being asked, and pointed to recent lamentations by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who had alleged tampering with the procurement process in order to award contracts to favoured supporters.

The original Engineer’s Estimate had been set at US$36,377,564, but the procurement process was annulled on previous occasions.

Jagdeo recently sought to make a case against the Public Infrastructure Ministry and its regular annulment of contracts as proof of tampering with the procurement process.

Jagdeo, at the time, told reporters that the Ministry had adopted a strategy where it would advertise and invite persons to bid for projects, but at the last minute, would annul the process. The Ministry would then go on to negotiate a contract with a chosen ‘crony’, according to Jagdeo.

As he sought to outline the Administration’s penchant for annulling the process and then opting to negotiate with favoured contractors, the Opposition Leader said this did not obtain only in the case of the well-publicised feasibility report for the new Demerara River crossing.

The Opposition Leader at the time supplied media operatives with a paper trail for other contracts which clearly showed the Ministry annulling the process before going on to select favoured contractors.

According to Jagdeo, “they annul the bid process after they award the contract… another set of corruption in the same Ministry”.

He told media operatives that the Administration has

Avenue road corridor includes asphaltic pavement, road safety, upgrading traffic intersection signals at each of the major road junctions, and traffic and drainage improvement works. There will also be structural works to bridges, culverts and other supporting in-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

developed a modus operandi where it has a penchant for annulling tenders “when the desired person doesn’t get the bid – win the bid – one of their cronies.”

Jagdeo recalled too that the same practice obtained by the David Patterson-run Ministry for the multibillion-dollar Sherriff Street upgrade.

The Opposition Leader told media operatives this practice was also employed by the Administration for a range of other projects, such as a recent award for a contract for a water treatment plant, and projects at the Guyana Power and Light Inc, among others.

With regard to the sudden cancellation of the vehicular overpass that was announced, Jagdeo suggested that none of the favoured bidders had been successful and this was why the project was scrapped and that it had nothing to do with the reasons offered.

The Ministry recently indicated that the land earmarked for the project had in fact been sold in a private arrangement.

“This is not an exhaustive list. It is just indicative of the corruption at the Ministry of the Public Infrastructure… the Ministry is spending money in a reckless way. It does not know what it is doing. It is corrupt to the core,” he said.

The Ministry recently came under fire also when social commentator and eminent Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram questioned the rapid rate of expenditure by the Ministry at the end of the year – the very ministry that had barely managed to spend 28 per cent of its annual allocation 10 months into the year.

The scope of works for the Sheriff Street- Mandela

frastructure. Pavement works will include the construction of a two-lane roadway with a median partitioning the two lanes along Sheriff Street.

The first section of Mandela Avenue will involve expansion from a two-lane to a four-lane roadway with a median in the

centre, while the second section will consist of three lanes.

The total length of roadway to be rehabilitated/constructed is seven kilometres and would involve road-widening, reconstruction of failed sections, and asphalt overlay.

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wednesDAY, october 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

“Smallie”, “Catty” appear in High Court on “Mango Man” murder charge

Mark Royden Williams, called “Smallie”, along with Sherwin Nero, also known as “Catty”, appeared at the High Court on Tuesday

By Shemuel Fanfair

L

ess than two weeks after being apprehended

by Police in Berbice, Mark Royden Williams, called “Smallie”, along with

another accused, Sherwin Nero, also known as “Catty”, appeared at the Demerara High Court on Tuesday in connection with the murder of businessman Kumar Singh, called “Mango Min

an” which occurred 10 years ago.

On August 30, 2007, four gunmen invaded Singh’s Cove and John, East Coast Demerara home during which the businessman was shot and killed. It was in July 2008 that the two suspects were initially charged for the capital offence but the duo, escorted to court amid heavy security on Tuesday, could not enter pleas due to the defence’s objections that offered several citations to support its case.

Nero has a pending constitutional motion which contends that nine years waiting for a trial violates

Out of the mouth…

Murdered businessman Kumar Singh, called “Mango Man”

Article 144 of Guyana’s Constitution which stipulates for an accused to have a trial within reasonable time.

Turn to page 9

R

…of the big enchilada

eaders would know what they say about “Freudian slips”! You know the truth, your listeners know the truth…but you can’t utter it for fear of embarrassing yourself.

So you open your mouth to tell the concocted tale, and out jumps the truth! Oooops!! Freudian slip!!

So the Administration knew from day one since they stepped into the Government they’ve been staggering from one disaster to another. We can start with the appointment of Ministers, when after berating the PPP for years about having a top heavy Cabinet – the President goes on to practically DOUBLE the number of PPP Ministers – creating the largest Cabinet in the history of Guyana!!

And then to rub salt into their supporters’ wounds, they then blithely proceed to give the said Ministers a 50 per cent raise in salary – while constraining Government workers (Ministers aren’t Government workers since they don’t WORK!) to a measly 10 per cent. An even bigger disaster, of course, was their (mis) handling of the economy. Prezzie had immediately made an impression when he described the mainstays of the economy as the “six-sisters” – gold, diamonds, sugar, rice, bauxite, and timber.

Recently, however, he changed that designation to “the six curses”!! Ooooo…can you believe this? Your Eyewitness has heard about “blaming the victim”, but this was ridiculous! When you take over a Government you’re supposed to steer the ship of State in a direction where the economy prospers, right? Well evidently not to this Government. It’s all the fault of the “sisters” who became “curses”!

Now this jettisoned responsibility isn’t just your Eyewitness’ conclusion – it’s the IFIs, which don’t issue their assessments lightly. So even the Muckraker – which is practically their handmaiden – was forced to announce: “Govt lacks strategic planning, vision at the highest level – IDB”!! Now that’s some indictment from an institution that’s obviously had it with this Administration being an all-round disaster.

It has to be frustrating to lend millions and millions of US dollars to a Government and find out they just CAN’T SPEND IT!!! Your Eyewitness just wishes he had such a problem!!

And this is really the bottom line on the disaster this Government represents. It really seems to believe that governing a country consists of merely uttering nice sounding homilies.

The Guyanese people need action, not talk.

…of a Cop breaking the Khaki Wall

Guyanese have become conditioned to the Police – of all stripes and colours – being a law unto themselves.

In today’s paper alone were three egregious examples of Police high-handedness that amount to slam dunks on the heads of the Guyanese people. One citizen pointed to the blatant favouritism to friends and family (and superiors) who’re allowed to “jump the (long and labyrinthine) line” at the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Another described the Kafkaesque situation of a minibus with five females being hauled to a Police station to “search for drugs” – just because one of the passengers DARED to ask the reason for the stop. That Policeman decided to show HER who was BOSS!! Who cares about “reasonable cause” for the stop!! Not OUR Police!!

But the third and most egregious was the report on a City Constable allegedly raping a young boy and then the City Council covering it up after one Policeman decided to do the right thing and file a report.

How sick have our officials become?

…of “our own”

Your Eyewitness is disheartened at the numbing silence of those activists who mobilised G/Town vendors against Town Clerk Carol Sooba for her efforts to regularise vending.

So the present Town Clerk’s even greater transgressions against vendors are OK because he’s one of our own?

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

9 Politicians unite in “Smallie”, “Catty” reverence for Diwali appear...

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wednesDAY, october 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

from page 8

...even as quibble over ‘observance date’ persists

G

uyana today joins scores of countries across the world to observe Deepavali or Diwali – a time when citizens across social, economic and the political strata join observance of the religious festival of ‘light over darkness.’

Guyana’s two largest mass based political parties – on the occasion – were in sync with their messages, one articulating the belief “our diversity has worked and will continue to work to the country’s advantage”, while the other proclaiming occasions like Diwali continue to present the opportunity for all of our people to display to the world, as one nation, the beauty and uniqueness of our cultural, ethnic and religious diversity and tolerance.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in its message to Guyanese for Diwali 2017 said “it is from this perspective that we continue to note the division which has recently erupted in respect of the date when we are to celebrate this great festival.”

According to the Opposition People’s Progressive Party, “As we celebrate this most auspicious occasion of the Hindu calendar, we call on all Guyanese, in particular our Hindu brothers and sisters, to reflect upon the significance of this great

festival and to inculcate its message into our daily lives, as we strive together, to remove the darkness of hate, discrimination and racism and replace them with the illumination of love, unity and brotherhood. “ The party nonetheless is hopeful that in the near future, “these differences will be reconciled so that this pious occasion can continue to be observed in an atmosphere and environment which is devoid of any controversy and overwhelmed with divinity and mutual respect.”

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) in its Diwali 2017 used the occasion to remind that it has always been and will always remain respectful of Guyana’s cultural and religious diversity.

According to the Party – constituting the largest faction of the coalition A Partnership for National Unity -“Our diversity is an asset not a liability... As we celebrate Diwali, the PNCR remains committed to ensuring unity in diversity so that our beloved country can experi-

ence real development and progress.

Diwali is universally recognised as the Festival of Light, the triumph of knowledge over ignorance and the substitution of all that is negative with that which is positive.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Action Committee (IAC) is also calling upon the various Hindu organisations to agree upon one date for Diwali in 2018.

The IAC, in its message, calls upon all Guyanese to respect the sanctity of Diwali and engage in appropriate and fitting observances and activities.

T h e G u y a n a Agricultural and General W o r k e r s Union in its Diwali message, also alluded to being aware of the current differences surrounding the actual dates for this year’s Diwali celebration, but do earnestly hope that this would not detract from full participation in the festivity nor will it serve in any way to obscure its enduring significance.

Defence Counsel for the two accused, Nigel Hughes, cited Justice Simone MorrisRamlall’s recent ruling that the State breached the constitutional rights of former murder accused, Basil Morgan who was committed to stand trial in October 2014 after being arrested in 2010.

Hughes in his address before Justice Brassington Reynolds told the court that the murder charges against the two should be discharged but the Judge granted the prosecution time to respond to his objections. In his lengthy application, Hughes cited a recent Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) determination that a period of six years was not reasonable time for an accused to be granted trial. Hughes, however, conceded that the CCJ did not arrive at arithmetic calculation to specify what a reasonable time was.

The attorney further explained that Nero intended to rely on a now deceased witness who had offered an alibi for the whereabouts of the accused, contrary to the State’s case placing “Catty” at the scene of the crime. This wit-

ness died two years ago which was some three years after the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) was finally closed in 2012. The defence said either the prosecution could impose an indefinite stay on the murder indictment or the court should discharge the case without trial.

State Prosecutor Shawnette Austin relayed to Justice Reynolds of the State’s request for time to respond as the prosecution was not given instructions on Nero’s pending constitutional motion.

Williams escaped prison in July 2017 after being sentenced to death in February for the 2008 Bartica massacre.

During his escape, prison officer Odinga Wickham was killed and the century old prison was reduced to ashes. Williams was recaptured on October 9, 2017 on his way to Suriname.

He was a passenger in a minibus which was intercepted at Weldaad, West Coast Berbice.

The case came up for High Court trial in June 2014 but was prevented from continuing due to an objection by one of the then three accused. The next hearing for the current case is set for November 23.

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wednesDAY, october 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

National oil spill contingency plan needed – conservationist – as concerns expressed about stage of Guyana’s preparations

T

rinidad and Tobago, a country with decades of experience in oil production, was recently hit by an oil spill. In Guyana, where preparations are ongoing for oil production by 2020, those involved in conservation are less than impressed with Guyana’s plans so far.

According to noted conservationist, Annette Arjoon-Martins, much more remains to be done before Guyana can truly be protected from the effects of an oil spill. In an interview with this publication, the environmental protection advocate expressed concern at Guyana’s state of preparedness for an oil spill.

“First of all, they don’t have a national oil spill con-

tingency plan. Of course, the argument can be made that we have time. But my position is we need to have the capacity in advance of the production starting.” “(So we) have to have a team of knowledgeable and capable people to respond and I would like to see that (arranged),” Arjoon-Martins added.

According to a news report in the Trinidad Guardian, the country’s Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) had to procure two companies to commence the clean-up of the oily substance on the shoreline and waters in the Chaguaramas area.

The Chaguaramas

Felicity, Brick Field, Orange Valley, Carli Bay and Claxton Bay. The oil spill is being described by persons in Trinidad as a national disaster. Environmentalists have referred to the spill as a serious threat to marine and terrestrial ecosystems and pictures of animals coated in oil bear testimony to this fact.

In Guyana

Conservationist Annette Arjoon-Martins

Development Authority (CDA), which has responsibility for the peninsula, had also started clean-up activities of its impacted assets. On the other hand, the Zoological Society of T&T

is actively searching for adversely affected wildlife for rescue and rehabilitation.

But the oil has spread to the South East in the Gulf of Paria and Cocorite.

Warnings have been issued to mariners in Charlieville,

Guyana’s last taste of an environmental disaster was a cyanide spill in 1995.

In gold mining, cyanide is used as an extracting agent for the ore. In the case of Guyana’s cyanide spill, the highly poisonous material spilled out of a reservoir into the Essequibo River.

Since Exxon announced its oil find in the Liza-1 well in 2015, a pertinent question has been the capacity of the relevant agencies to protect the environment in case of an oil spill. It is a topic that has regularly been raised at public lectures.

Last year, President David Granger commissioned Guyana’s first oil spill response operation service at the Gaico Wharf at Nismes, West Bank Demerara. Gaico Oil Spill Response Operation Services, which was coined

by Komal Singh, was set up as a pre-emptive measure against probable spillage once production commence in the future.

The Gaico Company began in 1991, with Singh working on small construction projects in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-

West Demerara). At the commissioning, Singh had stated that he had noticed that there are a number of near misses of oil spills and decided to pursue the avenue of preparing for one in Guyana.

He said that the company has since invested in a supply boat to work alongside rigs and supply them with fuel and cargo, while preparing for any occurrence of an oil spill.

“Should there be a spill anywhere we can respond within 24 hours,” he said, adding that the company is in the process of putting together documents to gain approval for an oil spill facility which will collect the contaminated soil and process it.

The businessman also said that he had recognised that Guyana was not prepared for any oil spills, thus “Guyana can rest assure that there is a company here today that will invest in to protect our land, our coastline, our birds, our mangroves, and all Guyana.”

On the side of the Government, it is understood that efforts have been underway to train and build capacity in the Natural Resources Ministry.

A recent study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had found that while an oil spill was possible, factors such as the location of ExxonMobil affiliates’ operations, combined with the Region’s water temperature would minimise the effects.

news

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wednesDAY, october 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

M&CC dismisses Corporal accused of sexual assault after video surfaces …Town Clerk interviews victim but fails to submit report

By Lakhram Bhagirat

A

Constabulary Officer attached to the Mayor and City Council was sent packing on Tuesday, after it is alleged that he sexually assaulted a minor who was detained by the City Constabulary. His colleague, who claims that he witnessed the assault, was also given the boot after he failed to report the matter to the relevant authorities.

The alleged perpetrator has been dismissed for gross misconduct while the witness has been dismissed for dereliction of duty in failing to intervene or make an entry of the incident in the station diary.

It was former Deputy

Mayor, Sherod Duncan, who broke the news on social media and questioned whether the Town Clerk should be disciplined as well, since he had interviewed the alleged victim and failed to submit a report to the Legal Affairs and Security Committee.

Duncan is the head of that Committee and would have complained, on several occasions, about the failure of some officers to produce their statements in relation to that matter.

“I am blindsided, utterly surprised, shocked and disgusted as a Councillor and Chairman of the Legal Affairs and Security Committee that a matter which was submitted to the Committee, and which the

Committee is still sensed of is being dealt with now unilaterally. Why now? The Town Clerk interviewed the alleged victim in his office and submitted no report to the Committee on what transpired; should he be sent home as well?” Duncan wrote on his Facebook page.

The incident allegedly occurred when a 15-year-old boy was taken into custody on August 17 and placed before the court on a charge of wandering. At some point during his detention for reasons unknown, the minor was transferred to the Regent Street Outpost where the alleged incident occurred between August 22 and 23.

In an invited comment,

The leaked dismissal letters

Mayor Patricia Chase Green told this publication that the decision to dismiss the officers came following the discovery of new evidence.

“Even at yesterday’s (Monday) statutory those unfinished reports came to the Council and it was agreed that it should not have been discussed at Council until the entire investigations would have been completed and the Committee makes a decision,” she said.

“Between yesterday afternoon and this morning, there were some additional information that was brought to the Council’s attention and some video tapings. Based on those video tapes, and even though it was still an allegation, in the best interest of the

Constabulary and the organisation the Town Clerk as administrator of the city of Georgetown would have dismissed them both,” Chase Green added.

She said that following the dismissal of the officers, the Police would have been called in and the matter is now in their hands. The Mayor also noted that the matter is still under investigation by the Legal Affairs and Security Committee and added that there would have been several calls for Town Clerk Royston King to be disciplined for the role he played in the investigation and his failure to produce a written report.

However, she explained that the work of the Committee is still incom-

plete and as such, no action can be taken as yet.

“So the Police is presently doing their investigation and the matter is out of the hands of the Mayor and City Council. There are a lot of loopholes that caused this to reach where it is and not only those two ranks should be disciplined but there are other ranks along the way and with the completion of the investigation by the Legal Affairs Committee then the recommendations would be taken into consideration,” she said.

Police Commander, Marlon Chapman, confirmed that his division is heading the investigation after they received a call from the Office of the Town Clerk on Tuesday.

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wednesDAY, october 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Repatriated Guyanese

Requests made to have children placed in school – Minister

R

equests have been made to have seven children who were recently repatriated from hurricane-hit islands to be placed in the local education system in Guyana.

This is according to Citizenship Minister Winston Felix, when providing an update on the repatriation process. The same has not been requested for the remaining children who came with their families on their own.

Nevertheless, Felix said he has since forwarded those requests so that arrangements could be made to start the process of getting them back into school as soon as possible.

Asked whether any request for housing was made by the returning adults who came on various flights, the Minister said, “I don’t know of any person who came wanting housing.”

He continued, “All some of them wanted to do is get home.

Some people I know are with relatives. How long that will

Citizenship Minister Winston Felix

last I don’t know, but I am unaware of any request for housing.”

Questioned further if the Government would provide any training opportunities to assist these returning Guyanese to assist them with reintegrating into the local workface, he deflected the question.

“This is not a process of bringing back total strangers who don’t know their way around. Many people have been in contact with their relatives all the time,” he opined.

Local commercial airlines have been collaborating with Government and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to evacuate Guyanese nationals, who are stranded in hurricane-stricken territories of Tortola, St Maarten, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) had reported that the total number of Guyanese returning home has now climbed to 44, with the last batch of 16 persons, comprising mainly women and children, arriving from St Maarten on Wednesday, October 11.

At the commencement of this rescue initiative, some 43 Guyanese living on the island had indicated their interest to return home, but following news of successful returns, that total quickly increased to 116. As such, a number of other flights are slated to evacuate Guyanese from the devastated island.

CDC Preparedness and Response Manager, Major Sean Welcome had said that the CDC had also utilised the services of the airlines to take in non-perishable food items.

Guyana’s efforts to aid these affected territories began on September 17, when Minister Felix led a Needs Assessment team to the aforementioned islands to meet with affected Guyanese nationals.

Eleven containers of food supplies have since been deployed to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). Containers and other supplies are sent to CDEMA and then deployed to territories where aid is needed most.

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15 Ramsammy’s Ruminations Bids out for expansion They hate of Mazaruni Prison Jagdeo because they cannot hold T news

wednesDAY, OCTOber 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

I

a candle to him

vividly remember the scathing attacks by the People’s National Congress, the Working People’s Alliance and the Alliance For Change (AFC) on the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Bharrat Jagdeo for not creating more jobs for the people. Today, A Partnership for National Unity/AFC coalition lies that job creation is not the role of the Government.

APNU/AFC governs not Dr Leslie Ramsammy on any vision of a better Guyana, but on a mission to destroy the legacy of Jagdeo.

Yet the harder they try to demolish the legacy of Jagdeo, the more his stock rises and the more APNU/AFC and its leaders are diminished. In fact, President David Granger is becoming more the Emperor of Spite, PM Nagamootoo the Witch of Spite and APNU/AFC the Spinner of Spite. If floods come tonight, as sure as day follows night, APNU/AFC and its leaders will find a way to blame it on Jagdeo.

People ask why is it the APNU/AFC hates Jagdeo so much. It is simple. None of them – from Granger to anyone else in his Cabinet – can hold a candle up to Jagdeo. It is a miserable feeling getting up everyday knowing they cannot measure up to Jagdeo. They are furious that Jagdeo dares to go to Linden, a town that APNU/AFC thinks they own, and be mobbed with admiration. Jagdeo is smarter, has more common sense, more vision and is admired by those who support him and those who supported APNU/AFC in the last election. Granger and his band of incompetent and visionless Ministers rose to power and occupy their present positions riding the wings of derision of Jagdeo and the PPP. It is, therefore, infuriating that each passing day, Jagdeo is more admired and APNU/AFC faces intense derision.

APNU/AFC has turned the business of governing into a competition among themselves to see who can tell and repeat the most egregious lies against Jagdeo. A few weeks ago, Ministers Patterson and Harmon announced that Jagdeo had given out all the licences for all oil blocks for oil exploration. It turns out that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission published a map proving that there are significant numbers of blocks still available. Not only was it a lie, it also turned out that during the 12-year terms of Jagdeo, he never issued a single licence. The licences issued so far were issued by Janet Jagan before Jagdeo became President in 1999, after 2011 by Donald Ramotar when Jagdeo demitted office and after May 2015 by APNU/AFC. This week, Minister Trotman admitted that Government is in the process of issuing more licences.

The public is fed these lies on a daily basis, if not directly by a Minister, by a surrogate, including their surrogates in the media, like the Kaieteur News. People opened up the newspapers on Sunday to find a blaring headline in the Kaieteur News that Queens Atlantic, a company owned

by Dr Bobby Ramroop, was given a six-acre plot of land at concessionary rate. The article was written in such a way to blame Jagdeo for Queens Atlantic being given the land.

Turns out that was another lie. Dr Ramroop and Queens Atlantic bought the land from a private owner and the purchase had nothing to do with Jagdeo or the PPP. The litany of lies boggles the mind. APNU/AFC lied that Skeldon Factory was built at a cost of US$230 million, when it was US$125 million. They lied that there were numerous unpublished contracts, but they refuse to publish them when challenged. They lied that Jagdeo went to Texas to meet with ExxonMobil. Jagdeo never did. They lied that Jagdeo signed the feasibility study for the new Demerara River bridge. There was no such study under Jagdeo.

The pre-feasibility study was done in 2014. They alleged Jagdeo amended the Petroleum Act in 1997 to include a non-disclosure clause. Jagdeo was not President and there was no such amendment in 1997. They lied that Jagdeo is delaying the appointment of the Guyana Elections Commission chair, when Jagdeo has sent three lists with 18 distinguished Guyanese and Granger has rejected two of the lists and after two months, has not responded to the third.

I can fill this whole issue of Guyana Times with the lies APNU/AFC tells every day. The mounting heap of lies represents their obsession with Jagdeo and their infuriation with the outpouring of admiration across Guyana for Jagdeo. The PPP since 1992 rebuilt Guyana and began the process of modernisation. That is the legacy the APNU/AFC fears and wants destroyed.

he expansion of the Mazaruni Prison is closer to realisation as the bids are currently being tendered for eligible contractors to undertake the project.

The prison is being expanded as a result of the fire which destroyed the Camp Street jail, just over three months ago and the overcrowding at other penitentiaries across the country.

With that, a site at the current Mazaruni Prison was identified for the construction of the new wing, which is expected to house 400 prisoners. The current estimated bid being tendered is the sum of $2.8 billion. Interested contractors are invited to bid for the project, which

A bird’s eye view of the location where the new Mazaruni Prison will be constructed

will be carried out through the National Competitive Bidding procedures specified in the Procurement Act of 2003. Earlier this year, the sum of $278 million was approved by Cabinet for the

first phase of the project.

The works include the renovation of the bachelors’ Quarters, trade shop, the dormitories, B-63 living quarters, spinsters’ quarters and the senior bachelors’

quarters at the prison. The estimated cost for the works is $26.1 million.

Other works include repairs to the self-acting sluice located at the front and east of the prison, the wharf, and the culverts located to the north and west of the prison, at an estimated cost of $20 million.

Ongoing works at the Mazaruni Prison include the construction of 20 living quarters to accommodate additional prison officers in anticipation of the approximately 400 prisoners to be housed at the Mazaruni Prison. The living quarters contain three bedrooms, a living room, a patio, kitchen and a washroom.

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Respect the Joyous celebra Reflect upon the of light over sanctity of significance of this darkness – PN Diwali – IAC great festival – PPP T

D

iwali is universally recognised as the Festival of Light, the triumph of knowledge over ignorance and the substitution of all that is negative with that which is positive.

As we celebrate this most auspicious occasion of the Hindu calendar, we call on all Guyanese, in particular our Hindu brothers and sisters, to reflect upon the significance of this great festival and to inculcate its message into our daily lives, as we strive together, to remove the darkness of hate, discrimination and racism and replace them with the illumination of love, unity, and brotherhood.

Occasions like Diwali continue to present the opportunity for all of our people to display to the world, as one nation, the beauty and uniqueness of

our cultural, ethnic and religious diversity and tolerance. It is from this perspective that we continue to note the division, which has recently erupted in respect of the date when we are to celebrate this great festival.

Notwithstanding, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) expresses the hope that in the near future, these differences will be reconciled so that this pious occasion can continue to be observed in an atmosphere and environment which is devoid of any controversy and overwhelmed with divinity and mutual respect.

The PPP wishes to extend warm Diwali greetings to every Guyanese, especially our Hindu brothers and sisters.

Shubh Diwali!

T

he Indian Action Committee (IAC) extends Diwali greetings to the entire nation, especially persons who are adherents of Sanatana Dharma on the occasion of the now global festival of Deepavali or Diwali. Deepavali means a row of lights from the words deep (light) and avali (row); this festival is physically characterised by homes being illuminated during the dark hours by rows of lit diyas.

The Goddess Maha Latchmi is revered at this time and is believed to bestow wealth and prosperity upon all of her devotees.

The bright lights of Diwali signify the illumination powers of knowledge which destroy the

darkness of ignorance and also represent the triumph of good over evil.

The IAC realises that Diwali 2017 is very significant, coming at the time when there is uncertainty facing many families given present economic difficulties, particularly in the sugar and rice industries.

The IAC is calling upon the various Hindu organisations to agree upon one date for Diwali in 2018.

The IAC calls upon all Guyanese to respect the sanctity of Diwali and engage in appropriate and fitting observances and activities.

Shubh Diwali to all Guyanese.

he People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) takes this opportunity to extend greetings to the Hindu community in Guyana, and indeed to all Guyanese, on the occasion of Deepavali or Diwali.

Diwali occurs on the night of Amavasya (New Moon) in the month of Kartik, which is considered to be the darkest night on the Hindu calendar and marks the return of Lord Rama after 14 years in exile.

To welcome his return and to light his path, diyas were lit.

Diwali is a joyous celebration of inner light over spiritual darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and right over wrong. It is a festive restatement of the Hindu belief that good ultimately tri-

umphs over ev The PNCR been and will respectful of tural and rel ty and believe versity has w continue to wo try’s advantag a multi-religio and multicult Our diversity a liability. Our to belong to a s faiths.

As we cel the PNCR rem ted to ensurin versity so tha country can e development a Shubh D Guyanese!

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ber 18, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

elebration Let the lights of Diwali light our path to harmony, ver – PNCR upliftment – GAWU umphs over evil.

The PNCR has always been and will always remain respectful of Guyana’s cultural and religious diversity and believes that our diversity has worked and will continue to work to the country’s advantage. Guyana is a multi-religious, multiethnic and multicultural country.

Our diversity is an asset not a liability. Our party is proud to belong to a society of many faiths.

As we celebrate Diwali, the PNCR remains committed to ensuring unity in diversity so that our beloved country can experience real development and progress.

Shubh Diwali to all Guyanese!

T

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is once again pleased to join with all Guyanese, and especially our Hindu community, to celebrate Diwali, widely regarded as the Festival of Lights. The Diwali observances give us an appropriate occasion to urge that the light of peace, tolerance, understanding and compromise in today’s conditions lighten our pathways and guide us in our daily lives. Like the thousands of Diwali diyas in many regions which will light up the darkness of the night, let our existence be unobstructed by the darkness that prevent our development and well-being.

The Diwali celebration is one that today transcends one community and is supported nationally.

The symbol of the lighted diyas is not only lovely to behold in the evening, but it impacts the message of the value of spiritual enlight-

enment in our collective efforts to bring about conditions for our peace of mind and a satisfying life.

With such sentiments in mind, GAWU is encouraged by the usually wide interest shown in the expectedly dazzling celebrations that are traditionally associated with Diwali.

GAWU is aware of the current differences surrounding the actual dates for this year’s Diwali celebration, but do earnestly hope that this would not detract from full participation in the festivity nor will it serve in any way to obscure its enduring significance.

We wish all the practitioners of the Hindu faith, and indeed all Guyanese, a happy and enjoyable Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

Let the lights, at this time, light up our pathway to harmony, economic well-being and our general upliftment.

Happy Diwali

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News

wednesday, october 18, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

New Demerara River crossing

Houston residents have less than 2 years to relocate

By Samuel Sukhnandan

T

hose residents whose homes fall directly in the area that has been earmarked for the new Demerara River crossing have been put on notice by the Public Infrastructure Ministry that they have some two years before they are relocated to a suitable location.

One of the affected residents, whose home will have to be torn down to facilitate the construction of the opening of the bridge, told Guyana Times on Tuesday that this was disclosed during a recent meeting with the affected residents and staff of that Ministry.

The resident who asked not to be named said that the

Two of the houses set to be demolished to facilitate the construction of the new Demerara River crossing

team also conducted measurements around the area.

But according to him, while this time might seem long enough to relocate, he hopes that his family of six could be given proper notice

as to what would take place.

The man said he was prepared to relocate as he saw the bridge as development for Guyana, but he was also hoping that his family would be properly compensated

and given a location to rebuild which was not far from the current area.

The residents were told by the Ministry officials that the Legal Affairs Ministry and the Communities Ministry would be responsible for compensating them and assisting with their relocation. “They had a brief discussion about the layout and plan and where the road is going to be built and who it is going to affect.

They didn’t give us a date on when we will receive compensation, so we are waiting. It’s a hard thing to just

pack up and leave, but it is something that has to happen,” he added.

Another family whose home would be directly affected said that they were also prepared to move given that the Government does not rob them of their due compensation. The household, which has about half a dozen people living there, explained to this newspaper that the market value for those homes could be in excess of $30 million and they were not willing to accept anything below that.

Two of these homes are lo-

cated close to the bridge that separates Houston from McDoom on the East Bank Public Road.

During the first meeting, the proposed alignment of the new bridge and additional project details, including findings from the feasibility study and design, were shared with residents. The residents were informed that more detailed economic, social, and environmental impact assessments would be conducted when the project moved beyond its preliminary stages. turn to page 20

20 news

wednesDAY, october 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Bridge gaps to address water, waste management – CDEMA Executive Director

T

he Caribbean must bridge existing fundamental gaps if it is to effectively address the challenges in relation to waste and water management, particularly when disaster strikes.

Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Executive Director Ronald Jackson noted that threats like hurricanes were not new to the Region, but there has not been

comprehensive planning.

“We’ve not sat down and tackled the fundamental gap that will change the dimensions of how we plan…,” Jackson noted.

He was part of a pan-

Some of the attendees at the CWWA day two plenary discussion

el discussion on the second day of the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) conference hosted at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown.

According to the Department of Public Information, the panel examined innovative and creative ways to manage water and waste resources when disaster strikes.

“The absence of informa-

tion, risk-informed tools to be able to make decisions and develop our contingency plans – that’s the missing elements,” Jackson noted. He also said a lack of resources also posed a challenge to disaster response as it related to water management.

“I don’t think there is a shortage of thinking, of personnel in the Region, of capabilities that can be thrown

at the problem. It really came down to resources as the major in the response overall.”

At the national level, Jackson noted there was a need to better understand the risk in the environment.

Apart from these, the Region must also examine better “build-back methods”, including rainwater harvesting and Public Sector storage in the aftermath of disasters.

Houston residents have...

The new Demerara River bridge, which will connect Houston on the East Bank and Versailles on the West Bank, will be a medium-level bridge with three vehicular lanes and a central movable part in the form of a lift span to allow for the passage of ocean-going vessels.

The project will also include the construction of two flyover bridges and 11 kilometres of connecting roads on the eastern and western banks of the Demerara River, providing a seamless connection to the existing road network.

The new bridge is expected to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce travel time and distances, and provide a level of service never before experienced on Guyana’s roadways.

Construction is scheduled to commence in 2018.

But according to the prefeasibility study conducted by Dutch company LievenseCSO Engineering Contracting BV, some four houses and a nursery school were cited for demolition.

According to the Dutch consultant, if the bridge is positioned at Houston, it would

from page 19

affect the nautical procedures between the present harbour limit and the existing bridge alignment.

In the case of the river channel used by oceangoing vessels, a bridge at Houston will mean that the nautical procedures and ‘lead lines’ in the harbour area shall also have to be redesigned to ensure safe shipping.

The political Opposition has repeatedly questioned the rationale behind the selection of the Houston-Versailles location for the new Demerara River crossing.

news

21

wednesDAY, october 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Amaila Falls hydro project

Guyana will not meet 90% renewable energy target – Ramotar

By Samuel Sukhnandan

W

hile the coalition Government has been trying to promote the use of renewable sources of energy and has given its commitment that it still has a serious interest in hydropower, it has recently said through one of its senior Government Ministers that it was no longer interested in continuing the Amaila Falls Hydroelectricity Project (AFHP), which was started by the previous Government.

But former President Donald Ramotar believes that Government may be making a huge mistake in scrapping that project, especially when there was evidence based on feasibility studies that it would have helped to power many communities across the country with a clean source of energy.

He said, “This is a second major blunder that this Government has made. It’s a folly of gigantic proportion for the Government to have canned the Amaila Falls Project without proper consultation.”

The former Head of State argued that the project was not born out of nowhere, but there were several important technical studies that were conducted which led the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government to initiate it.

“One of the hopes I had as President of this country is that we could have industrialised this coun-

Former President Donald Ramotar

try through this project.

We would have been able to create a large industrial sector. We could have created an industrial agriculture country,” he added.

Using agriculture as a raw material base for processing and with other heavy materials, Ramotar said he was confident that Amaila would have helped to boost the productive sector in a large way. This in turn would have opened up hundreds of job opportunities for Guyanese, and the end result would have been a cheaper source of electricity for the already-heavily taxed Private Sector.

“I am saying this very confidently that there is no way we could meet 90 per cent of energy of renewable sources without Amaila. I am not against other alternative energy to be used, but we will not have any significant impact…without Amaila, it will remain talk,”

he opined.

The former President said if statements that Minister of State, Joseph Harmon made were a reflection of the final decision of the Cabinet, a colossal mistake was made. “I don’t know if they are seeing what is taking place.

The mistake is greater than, or of the same proportion of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the downsizing of sugar, which will soon come into effect,” he said.

Ramotar told Guyana Times that oil-producing countries like Brazil and Venezuela still had hydropower, and he believed if there was hydro-potential to develop, then Guyana should follow suit. “This Government seems to be basing everything on oil, and I think it’s a huge mistake and they are going to make our economy downsized. The PPP economy was on three pillars – bauxite, rice, and sugar and expanded that; now everything is going to be on oil.”

He claimed that while he did not want to believe it was a move based on vindictiveness, he described it as a political move that would have damaging effects on how Guyana moved forward with positioning itself for future advancement and development, particularly in the area of renewable energy.

“It has to be a (political move). They have all the studies and if they have all of that and they canned Amaila, it means that they

are taking decisions based on spitefulness and pettiness. If the idea of it coming from the PPP is what is motivating the Government, then it’s shameful.”

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has repeatedly called for the urgent restarting of the AFHP, and he accused the Government of misrepresenting the Norconsult report, which

was intended to be a factsbased assessment of the project to guide Guyana and Norway.

But the coalition Government has been hinting since 2015 that it was unlikely that it would proceed with the project. When in Opposition, both A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change

(AFC) had criticised the Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar Administrations for the lack of transparency surrounding the AFHP. The AFHP was the flagship project of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and was supported by Norway, but has struggled to get off the ground.

22 news Golden Fleece Mandir wins best Diwali float wednesDAY, october 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

…at Dharmic Sabha’s annual motorcade in Essequibo

By Indrawattie Natram

C

reativity was at its best at this year's annual Dharmic Sabha motorcade held on Monday evening at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Mandir members displayed intricate sculptures depicting the true meaning of the Hindu festival, Diwali. Young girls were dressed like Goddess Lakshmi in huge floats, giving an illustration of the Hindu Goddess.

Outshining 11 other illuminated floats was Golden Fleece Vishwa Jhotir mandir. This mandir managed to retain its first position from last year by wooing the judges with expertly crafted and a modern designed float. The float depicted Goddess Lakshmi and her consort Lord Vishnu. The float also depicted how Goddess Lakshmi came into being (by the churning of the milky ocean). Young girls from the mandir were beautifully dressed in colourful saris for the competition.

The Airy Hall Mandir; with a well-crafted float, neatly decorated with lights, won the second position.

Two mandirs, Reliance and Aurora

Estate, jointly copped the third prize.

Adventure mandir and Anna Regina mandir copped the other prizes.

Consolation prizes were award-

dress, discipline, music, originality, punctuality, lights (quantity and arrangements), creativity, relevance, oral depiction, theme and banner.

The winning float from the Golden Fleece Mandir

The colourful float from the Airy Hall Mandir

ed to the Queenstown, Richmond, Affiance, Huist Deen and Spring Garden Vishnu mandirs.

Floats were judged based on

The designs were traditional, which was testimony that members from the various mandirs prepared for the activity long before the actual

night. At various floats youths were seen actively involved. They were clad in decorative Indian wear, paying homage to their ancestral history. The Chief Judge was Radha Lall and she was assisted by dance teacher Bhooma Devi Ramnarine and Demerara Bank Manager Devendra Persaud.

Meanwhile, in her address to the large gathering, President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr Vindhya Persaud, called on Essequibians to uphold the Hindu tradition and culture with pride and dignity and not to allow anyone to dim the lights on the festival. She

pointed out that this is the 42nd year that the Sabha was hosting Diwali motorcades throughout Guyana, and as such, thanked all the Sabhas throughout the country for preserving the mandate of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha.

Persaud also commended the efforts of participating mandirs for their creativity and urged them to journey their beautifully designed floats to take part in the float parades which was held on Tuesday night at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara and the grand Georgetown float slated for this evening. turn to page 25

news

23

wednesDAY, OCTOber 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

M&CC raises compliance fees

A

t Monday’s statutory meeting, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown took the decision to raise the compliance certificate

fee from 0.1 per cent to 0.75 per cent of the property value. The decision to increase the fee comes after the M&CC would have seen an influx of persons apply-

ing for compliance certificates.

The new fee increase comes into effect on January 1, 2018. The Finance Committee in its report noted that the Council is currently supplying persons with these certificates in order to facilitate property sales at prices that do not take into account the costs attached to the preparation of the document. The decision to increase the fee was not unanimous since some of the Councillors felt that the increase was too steep and suggested a 0.25 per

cent instead of the 0.75 per cent but when it came to the vote, that was defeated.

For years the M&CC has been complaining that it is financially strapped, often resulting in the late pay-

ment of salaries and wages in addition to the non-payment of contractors. Mayor Patricia Chase Green said the revenue base of City Hall needs to be broadened and as a result, the rise in

fees are justified.

She quite often states that the City have been collecting the same amount of money since 1992 which is not enough to offset its expenses.

24 news

wednesDAY, october 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Herstelling man brutalised by gunmen in carjacking …hours after appearing in court for hit-and-run

By Ashraf Dabie

A

s hijackers continue to target the owners of Toyota Premio and Allion motor cars, a Herstelling tailor was the latest victim in this string of vicious crime as he was attacked by gunmen who subsequently carted off his car on Monday evening.

The injured man has been identified as 24-yearold Ryan Seecharran of Third Street, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD), who is currently on trial for a hit-andrun charge.

Seecharran had just returned home, sometime after 19:00h when two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, appeared out of nowhere, demanding money they claimed was owed to them.

This is according to the still traumatised tailor who explained what transpired on the evening in question.

“When I decided to reverse the car into the yard, two guys

Injured: Ryan Seecharran displaying the lacerations to his face

(one tall, red skin and big built and the other short and of African descent) they approached me in the car and say ‘wam bai, when you gon pay my f#ing money’ and the other man said ‘come out the car’,” Seecharran related.

The terrified man went on to say that the shorter of the two criminals had the gun in his hand and he ended up lashing him to the head. “When the red one snatched me, he

(a neighbour who was present at the time) tried to pull him off from me and he see the gun and he back off. The red one jump in the car and the black one was attempted to go in the back seat and same time he said, ‘lay down on the f#*%ing ground before I kill you’ and then is when I walk away and the men pull out and shoot up and go away.”

When Guyana Times visited his residence on Tuesday, the shaken 24-year-old was seen nursing a laceration above his eye and another to his face.

Meanwhile, the eyewitness who was with the victim during the attack provided a detailed account of what occurred.

“We gaffing and I see the two persons walking and stop, and I didn’t really take on them. But then they walk and come and started shouting ‘where the f#*%ing money you owe me, you get the money and you nah pay me’. But when they open the car door,

they start hit he,” the man outlined.

Seecharran’s neighbour continued, “I said ay why you knocking the man for? What the man got for you? So when I rush up, the one move off and then the other one, I see he with the gun and I back off. And then the red one come back and run in the front seat and start up the car.”

It was then that the hijackers escaped in the same direction from which they came.

They were said to have fired several shots in the air as they fled the scene.

Seecharran indicated that the silver grey Premio, PVV 4911, carries a value of about $2.7 million, and was only in his possession for just about a year now.

This attack comes just hours after Seecharran had appeared before the court as he is accused of running over a drunken carpenter and fleeing the scene earlier this year.

Reports are that on Saturday, June 24, pedestri-

The Toyota Premio motor car that was stolen

an Kalicharran Goordial was lying on the corner of Second Street, Herstelling, when Seecharran suddenly veered north into the cross street, crushing the man to death.

Seecharran was at the time driving the said Premio motor car. As a result, he was charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop and failure to render assistance but was released on $300,000 bail.

Seecharran is set to return to court in November.

Seecharran and his relatives are unaware as to wheth-

er or not the recent attack is related to the hit-and-run or can be linked to the series of hijackings that has been plaguing the country in recent months. Nevertheless, they are calling for the perpetrators to be located and placed behind bars as they do not wish for others to endure such a horrific experience.

This publication understands that a report of the brutal attack was filed at the Providence Police Station and as such, investigations into the matter are ongoing.

news

25

wednesDAY, october 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Local, foreign agri agencies collaborate to tackle praedial larceny pects and the adjudicative aspects made up in such a manner that things can be expedited and farmers are encouraged to report incidents of praedial larceny.”

It was recently announced that the Government would table a bill in the next

Caricom representative Nigel Durant

T

he issue of praedial larceny and its negative impact on local farmers was the focus of a workshop held at the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) headquarters in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

The GLDA; the InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA); Caribbean Community (Caricom); law enforcement from Jamaica and local farmers have joined forces in an effort to tackle the theft of farm produce.

GLDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nigel Cumberbatch said the Authority viewed the act of praedial larceny as a serious offence and was committed

GLDA CEO Nigel Cumberbatch

to supporting any initiative that sought to protect farmers from losing their livestock.

He stated, “We are committed to ensuring that if we cannot eliminate larceny of agricultural products, we can at least reduce it to the point where it does not affect the farming community.”

Caricom representative Nigel Durant observed that agriculture was a business and should be treated as such. To that effect, praedial larceny severely impacts the profitability of businesses and the incentive to continue in the field. With the exception of Jamaica, most other member states have not successfully addressed the issue.

“This initiative that you are involved in right now is

Agriculture Ministry representative Cecil Persaud

an outcome of the deliberations and discussions that are being held at the regional level…this is the beginning, the transfer of best practices, I think, is essential element,” Durant explained.

Cecil Persaud, representing the Agriculture Ministry, emphasised the importance of legislation to address the issue, and suggested the implementation of stringent penalties and fines on persons who commit the act. He referred to the example of Jamaica, where persons found guilty are liable to fines up to J$3 million Jamaican, which is equivalent to over G$6 million.

“We must have a system where we can have justice very quickly. We must have both the investigative as-

Golden Fleece mandir...

The Sabha’s President also noted that every year, the Essequibo motorcade has been improving and she is happy that persons are taking the time to place more emphasis on the festival and its meaning. She said the concept of the motorcade was conceptualised by her father, the late Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud.

She also urged her fellow Hindus not to be afraid and to hold hands in an effort to upkeep the Hindu tradition, customs and beliefs.

Dr Persaud thanked the Essequibo population for always supporting the Dharmic

Sabha’s activities throughout the year and urged residents to stand up for what they believe and to never surrender to difficulties.

Shubh Diwali greetings were also extended by the Vice President of the Sabha, Pandit Jagmohan Persaud.

He used the opportunity to urge Hindus to celebrate the festival on Thursday since it's the appropriate date. Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt also graced the occasion and used the opportunity to extend Deepvali greetings to his fellow Essequibians.

Ramdatt said Diwali is a time

from page 22

for togetherness, and as such, called on all Hindus to celebrate the festival with love, peace and unity.

The cultural programme featured items such as dances, live tassa drumming and songs. Dances were performed by popular dance troupes Dharmic Swarswattie Dance Academy and the Khandhiya.

Persons who did not make it to the Anna Regina Community Centre ground cheered the floats on as they made their way through the various villages on the Essequibo Coast.

Parliament to address this issue. The Department of Public Information noted that while legislation exist, there was a greater need for enforcement to stem the theft of agricultural produce.

The last known amendment, “praedial larce-

ny (Enhancement of Punishment Act 1983)” sought to increase fines from $500 or imprisonment for six months to, “not less than 500 nor more than $1500 together with imprisonment for not less than six months nor more than 18 months”.

26

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017

National Futsal Cup 2017…

Gold is Money give Sparta Boss the boot

…set up championship clash with Future Stars tonight Keron Solomon will lead Future Stars’ charge for the title tonight

S

leeping giants Gold is Money awoke to boot Sparta Boss from the National Futsal Cup tournament at the semi-final stage.

Always a contender for the title at any given time, Gold is Money had the Pedro clan to thank for their 2-1 victory over Sparta on Monday evening at the National Gymnasium.

Jamal Pedro opened proceedings for the victors in the fourth minute, however the two sides remained locked in midfield battle until Sparta’s talismanic Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson broke through Gold is Money’s defence to level the scores in the 23rd minute. Michael Pedro had the last say for his side when he hit back in the 29th minute to restore the lead and stun Sparta’s supporters into silence as the game ended without any further change on the scoresheet.

Earlier in the opening semi-final, Future Stars edged Back Circle 6-5 in a high scoring thriller to book their spot in the final.

Future stars captain Keron Solomon led from

the front with a brace as he opened the scoring in the fourth minute and added another in the 45th minute.

Curtez Kellman also had a double with goals in the 7th and 8th minutes respectively while Akeemo Anthony and Jermin Junior had a goal apiece to seal the Stars victory.

Back Circle scored four of their five goals in the latter stages of the game but could not overcome the Future Stars. Selwyn Williams recorded a brace in the 23rd and 42nd minutes while Dellon Kelly, Jamal Adams and Stephon McLean scored one goal each.

Winner of the tournament will pocket $700,000 and the championship trophy, while the losing finalist will pocket $250,000.

Back Circle and Sparta Boss will do battle in the third place play-off for $150,000 while the losing semi-finalist will get $100,000.

The night of fierce competition will kick off with the third place play-off at 21:00h followed by the championship game.

27

SPORTS

WEDNESday,OCTOBER 18, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

South American 10k begins in Suriname G

– Guyana to host 2nd leg

uyana is ready yet again to host the second leg of the South American 10k and the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) is hoping for as many international competitors as possible.

Speaking at the launch of the event on Monday, AAG top brass Aubrey Hutson noted that over the years Guyana has been able to successfully host the event.

He explained that “Guyana has proven to be a good host for international events” as was evident by the recent hosting of the South American Junior Championships.

However, the AAG boss revealed that he is “working

with the other presidents from South America and with Copa Airlines to see how many international athletes we can get here, more particularly the ones from South America.”

“We’re hoping from a Guyana stand point that our athletes can run as a team and keep the money here but if we are looking to raise the bar we have the get the competition and that is why we are looking to bring as many international athletes as possible,” Hutson revealed.

He also pointed out that due to Guyana’s geographic location there are no straight flights from many countries deeper in South America thus it is more expensive for

some countries to travel to the “Land of Many Waters.”

However, Hutson stated a partnership with Copa Airlines has been formed to help bridging that gap and even declared that the AAG is “willing” to aid in paying for “some” of the athletes to come and compete.

This year will mark the 15th year of existence for the South American 10k and while Guyana’s very own Cleveland Forde bossed the event for an astounding 11 consecutive years, the “Little Kenyan” has not managed a podium finish in recent times.

The athletes will assemble in Suriname on Saturday October 28 for the opening

AAG President Aubrey Hutson (second from left) at the launch

leg before crossing the border to Guyana for the second stanza on November 5.

The final and deciding leg will be held a week later in Panama on November 12.

The race will follow its normal route from 16:00h on

the afternoon of November 5, beginning at the GTT monument on Carifesta Avenue.

Athletes will turn at Conversation Tree on the upward journey and return to the Monument in the National Park for the finish.

In addition to regular top prize money of $1,000 USD the AAG will maintain the habit of giving away a genuine gold medal to the winner.

Registration forms are available for the event at AAG’s head office in Light Street.

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 tournament

Milerock win UDFA title

T

he Milerock FC’s U17 players received medals and a trophy on the Saturday October 14 for winning the GFFNAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 tournament in the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA).

President of UDFA,

Terrence Mitchell, and the Guyana Football Federation’s President Wayne Forde who awarded medals and the championship trophy respectively did the presentation at the Wisburg Secondary School Ground in Linden.

In brief comments, after expressing his satisfaction

Softball giants converge in West Berbice

Milerock players celebrate their hard-earned success

with the UDFA for completing the tournament, Forde said: “It is an honour for you to be playing in a tourna-

T T

Mike’s Wellman will be in action in West Berbice this Sunday

he Cotton Tree Diehard Cricket Ground will be buzzing on Sunday October 22 when some of the big names in Soft Ball cricket will gather for a one-day extravaganza.

Teams invited are Albion Masters, Floodlight Masters, Mike’s Pharmacy Wellman Masters and West Coast Masters who will be involved in semi-finals with the winning teams advancing to the final. The event is scheduled to commence at 10:00h and admission is free. other than cricket, there will be side attraction with trampoline and bouncy castle for the children and other forms of entertainment for the other members of the family.

To date, the one-day event has attracted generous support from sponsors including Trophy Stall, Raymond and Ashraf Mustapha Woodworking, Permaul’s Trading of Albion, A and A General Store of Rosignol, Imran Saccoor, Leah’s Online Shopping, Tage Singh Import and Export, Romell Jagroop Construction Service and Rosignol Shopping Mall.

ment as prestigious as this.

Your hard work and dedication brought you this far and it will take you further.

This is not the end of the

road however; more challenges lie ahead. You must see them as opportunities, not challenges. Recognize

football for the vehicle it is, respect it and always try to improve.

Congratulations gentlemen.”

Milerock Midfielder and Captain, Lorenzo Miller, expressed his satisfaction at the results: “My team and I deserve this. We trained hard and we played even harder. Coach is proud of us, I am proud of us and we plan to celebrate.”

Milerock U17 secured their victory for this GFFNAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 tournament with 34 points. In second and third places were Eagles United and Botofago. The UDFA had eight (8) clubs in total participating in the tournament.

Patrons appointed for Windies vs Sri Lanka T20I

he defending World T20 Champion, Windies Women will host Sri Lanka in a threematch T20 series at the Coolidge Cricket Ground starting, Thursday, October 19.

The team had a successful 3-0 win in the ODI series which just ended in Trinidad and Tobago. The Women have earned six valuable points for the three wins.

As part of the efforts to attract a full venue, CWI has appointed patrons for the series and is targeting women and young ladies in Antigua to attend the three matches.

The two patrons are two outstanding women in Antigua, Renee Edwards Ambrose and Valerie Gonsalves-

male drag-racing team.

Gonsalves-Barreiro is a Registration Supervisor with the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission for the past 13 years. She is passionate about Community Service and works with five major volunteer organizations each for at least ten years.

Pink Night

Renee Edwards Ambrose

Barreiro.

Edwards Ambrose is an aircraft mechanic with LIAT; plus-sized model and is founder of Lady Horsepower Farm, an all-fe-

October is Breast Cancer awareness month, and for the match on Sunday, October 21 there will be special fan engagements and giveaways from House of Pink and CWI. Fans are being asked to wear pink.

ICC World Championship

The three ODIs formed part of the new round

of matches in the ICC Women’s Championship.

The Championship will be contested between the leading eight women’s teams in the World – the Windies and the Sri Lankans, along with Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and recently-crowned World champions England from now until March 2020.

Following the conclusion of the ICC Women’s Championship, the top three ranked teams plus the hosts (New Zealand) automatically qualify for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2021.

The remaining four teams will have a second chance to qualify through the ICC Women’s World Cup 2021 qualifier.

28

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesDAY, october 18, 2017

Bolt to start US Grand Prix

R

ecently retired track and field superstar Usain Bolt is expected to play the role of official starter ahead of Sunday’s Formula One United States Grand Prix.

The eight-time Olympic

champion and double world record holder will add to a list of celebrities scheduled for the weekend event, a ploy of the single-seat auto racing global competition to expand its overall reach and appeal. Other celebrities

joining Bolt for Sunday’s 56-lap race, which will be held at the Circuit of The Americas, in Austin, Texas, are legendary recording artist Stevie Wonder, who will perform at the event and ring announcer Michael

Buffer who will introduce the drivers as they move on to the track.

"The USA is, without a doubt, the country where sports events are seen as entertainment that goes above and beyond the pure-

ly sporting contest," F1 commercial chief Sean Bratches told planetF1.

"We want to do something that positions Formula 1 Grands Prix as breaking the boundaries, between sport and a show, thus be-

coming a unique event that, minute by minute is an unforgettable experience."

The franchise was acquired earlier this year by American mass media company Liberty Media in a deal worth billions. (Sportsmax)

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Deflection: Displacing Your Opponent’s Pieces!

D

Jessica Clementson

eflection is the act of forcing an opponent's piece

a decoy is a move that generally forces the opponent to move a piece to a square that it doesn't want to go to, or forces the piece to leave something important behind. In this decoy example, both circumstances apply: Black's Queen doesn't want to leave the pin of the b7-pawn, nor does it want to go to b1.

With 1.Re8+!, white is sacrificing the Rook in order to deflect the black King away from protecting the Queen on g7. This idea is common, and a sacrifice of material, in order to deflect something important, is a normal measure to take in order to execute the idea. White is easily winning!

After 1. Qb1+!! black must capture on b1, but after 1...Qxb1 2.b8=Queen+ – the black King and Queen are skewered.

White wins the Queen and of course the game along with it.

This type of “temporary” decoy sacrifice is common when it is but one part of an overall winning combination. Both of these diversion tactics force the opponent to leave something of importance behind.

to give up protection over something important, by deflecting it away from the target.

This “important thing” might be a square or a piece needing protection. Often a deflection tactic is a forcing move (either a check or capture) of some kind. Here white finds an opportunity to deflect the King.

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Decoy: The Art of Distracting Your Opponent!

Much like a deflection,

in the West Demerara region and in North America.

He is currently a permanent fixture in softball champion team, Regal All-Stars.

Congratulations and best wishes for a long and fruitful partnership. Well played.

sports

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wednesDAY, october 18, 2017

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Pan-Am Indoor Hockey Championships 2017…

Guyana falter on day 2, champions continue winning

By Michelangelo Jacobus

M

issed chances caused the Guyana women's national team to go down with out scoring as the Canadian women won 2-0 in the opening game of day two of the Pan American Indoor Hockey tournament while the men suffered their first defeat at the hands of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Guyana team was forced to play without arguably their best offensive payer in Aliyah Gordon due to injury she picked up in their game on Monday against Argentina.

Her absence was evident when the locals lacked any real potency in the attacking third.

Consecutive short corners were awarded to the Guyanese none of which were converted; in Gordon's absence

Gabriella Xavier stepped up to the plate and created a few chances but was let down by her teammates. Once again Goalie Alyssa Xavier was outstanding and was the real reason why the score line wasn't higher.

Canada were made to labour for their goals but unlike the Guyanese they converted as Michelle Weber scored in the sixth minute while Kathleen Leahy added Canada's second in the 15th minute.

Meanwhile, the Guyanese men looked disjointed and offensively blunt as Trinidad and Tobago punished their tactical errors to win 4-0.

Fresh off of a 5-2 defeat of Argentina on Monday evening, the Trinidadians looked silky in attack and rock solid in defence.

150 schools targeted as NSCCL begins T he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) in partnership with Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society on Tuesday launched the third edition of the National Secondary School Cricket League U17 competition featuring some 150 teams.

Held at the GCB’s Regent Road location, Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society’s Executive Manager for Marketing and Sales, Clarence Perry, Administrator of the National Sports Commission/Ministry of Social Cohesion Gurvey Harry; Acting Administrator of Allied Arts Unit-Ministry of Education Lorraine Baker-King, Child Care and Protection Officer Orette Francois along with teachers and students from Chase Academy and St. Stanislaus College, were present at the launching.

Representing the Director of Sport who was out of town, Gurvey delivered a lengthy speech to the youngsters, urging them to be wise, honest and passionate about their dreams of becoming professional cricketers. He further congratulated the GCB on their journey of staging this event for another year which motivates young crickets in becoming the foundation in the sport of cricket.

Baker-King said the Allied Arts Unit –Ministry of Education, is in full support of the NSSCL as plays a huge role in the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) and CAPE syllabi for secondary schools, adding that cricket was chosen by majority of students as part of their physical education curriculum.

Child care was also stressed upon by Francois who expressed joy about being onboard the NSSCL train for the third year in

a row. Meanwhile, on behalf of the sponsors, Perry said his company believes that sports play an essential role in the development of youngsters and believes that lack of mental fitness affects individual’s performances.

He encouraged youngsters to take advantage of the sponsorship and make the best of it while aiming to become West Indian professional cricketers. Closing off the launching was GCB Secretary, Anand Sanasie who said the GCB was grateful to have the support of the government and sponsors alike.

He said that some four years ago the GCB decided that they needed to have educated match referees, umpires and other match officials to be a part of the cricket arena in order to make cricket a success, adding that all of their coaches have completed the Child Protection Course.

Sanasie further indicated that the programme has been getting better by the year and believes school cricket has become a vivid pathway for talented players to ascend from school to county and national cricket levels.

A number of players have transitioned from the NSCCL with current Chase Academy student Sachin Singh being a part of the league for the past two years and has since gone onto play for Guyana at the junior levels and even captained the West Indies Under-16 team on a tour to England.

The tournament which commenced on Tuesday will see a number of matches being played simultaneously across venues in Guyana on a weekly basis, with teams looking to overthrow reigning champs Lower Corentyne Secondary School.

Argentina’s Juliana Rios Ferreyra (left) celebrates scoring against Trinidad and Tobago in her team’s 4-0 victory

The Guyanese looked full of energy in the opening minutes but slowly waned away as the game progressed; the game remained at a stalemate for the first half with both teams failing to make any sort of offensive impact. Trinidad’s Aidan de Gannes was a real menace going forward and it came as no surprise when he shot from the left to net his team’s first goal in the opening minute of the second half (25th minute). Two minutes later Guyana conceded a penalty which was duly converted

by Jordan Reynos to make it 2-0 in favour of the twin island republic.

This seemed to spark the Guyanese into action and they played a high pressing game as the coach even took off the goalkeeper in favour of an extra outfield player to chase the game. The tactic seemed to work as the Trinidadians were pressured into fouls and two of the players received timeouts.

Despite having the numerical advantage, Guyana withdrew the extra outfielder play-

er and sent on the goalie which proved to be a fatal error.

The Trinidadians managed to score twice in the final minute of the game with Mickell Pierre and Jordan Veira grabbing a goal each to end the game.

Earlier in the day, Barbados showed a bit of backbone but the defending male champions Canada showed why they are the number one ranked team in the Pan American Federation as they eventually won 6-1.

In the other women’s fixtures, the Trinidadian women could not match their male counterparts as Argentina made light work of them in a 4-0 win.

Carina Guzman was once again among the goals as she opened proceedings for Argentina in the very first minute of the game, the ominous Julianna Rios Ferreyra too was on target netting in the eight minute while Emma Yanzi grabbed a brace in the 21st and 26th minutes respec-

tively.

The USA women’s team needed two second half goals to prevail over Uruguay in a hard fought 3-1 win. Sammy Popper rescued the US as she netted their first goal in the second minute and scoring again in the 29th minute.

Uruguay’s Camila de Maria had equalised for her side in the 22nd minute but Ali Campbell scored for USA to restore their advantage while Popper’s goal sealed the deal.

Up to press time the Mexican males were yet to play the Argentines in the final match of the day, the result of that game will be published in a subsequent article.

Today’s play will begin with Canada vs Trinidad and Tobago (Women) at 14:00hrs; that game will be followed

by Barbados vs T&T (Men), Argentina vs USA (Women), Guyana vs Mexico (Men), Guyana vs Barbados (Women) and Argentina vs Canada (Men).

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Pan-Am Indoor Hockey Championships 2017…

Guyana falter on day 2, champions continue winning

Pg 31

Guyana’s Jamarj Assanah (10) battles for the ball with Trinidad’s Jordan Veira (7) in their game on Tuesday

Canada’s Kathleen Leahy is guarded closely by Guyana’s Nicole Eastman (right); Marzana Fietdkou (foreground) and Chantel Fernandes

150 schools targeted as NSCCL begins

Pg 31

Front row sitting (from left): Child Care and Protection Officer Orette Francois; Administrator of the National Sports Commission/Ministry of Social Cohesion, Gurvey Harry; Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society’s Executive Manager for Marketing and Sales, Clarence Perry; acting Administrator of Allied Arts Unit-Ministry of Education, Lorraine Baker-King; GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie and GCB TDO Colin Stuart flocked by students and teachers at Tuesday’s launch

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