Guyana times october 28,2017

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Saturday, October 28, 2017

Issue No. 3375

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GTU to meet President on salary increases

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Trinidadian engineer allegedly P11 kidnapped in Guyana

Page 7

– as Govt extends olive branch following threats of strike

“Democracy under threat in Guyana” P11

– PPP UK branch Joe Harmon to Chris Ram:

Drop all Govt contracts if serious about cutting ties P3

Woman lands in court for P8 assaulting ‘wayward’ child All roads will lead to the National Park on Saturday evening for an epic event titled “Night with the Stars”, featuring some of the best dancehall artistes in the music industry

Harbour Bridge to close for 7 hours today Page 14

– commuters cautioned to put measures in place

Zeeburg man killed by drunken driver Page 2

NWD illegal firearms, drugs

1 suspect confesses, sentenced to 3 years

… 8 remain in custody

Over 8000 P2 households to get electricity

by December

Page 12

Pedal cyclist killed on ECD P11 Road

2 news

saturDAY, october 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Zeeburg man killed by drunken driver A

61-year-old man from Zeeburg, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was tragically killed on Thursday evening after he was struck down by a drunken driver.

The accident occurred sometime around 19:15h on the Zeeburg Public Road.

The dead man has been identified as Latchman Khemraj, a security guard of Lot 76 Second Street,

Zeeburg.

According to reports from initial investigations, motor car PVV 6310, driven by a 35-year-old resident of Claybrick Road, Canal Number Two Polder,

West Bank Demerara, was proceeding east along the northern lane of the West Coast Road.

While in the vicinity of the Zeeburg Public Road, Khemraj, who was riding a bicycle, was attempting to cross the road and allegedly went into the path of the vehicle.

The injured pedal cyclist was picked up and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the man’s son, Krishna, related that his father had left to go on the road just before 19:00h to purchase a bottle of soft drink and shortly after, they received a phone call that he was involved in an accident.

“After we get the call, we rush out to the Public Road and we see the car park up there and my father was there lying on the road. We pick him up and take him to the hospital and he passed away,” the young man related.

Krishna told this newspaper that his father was conscious when they picked

Dead: Latchman Khemraj

him up from the road, but he succumbed to severe head injuries. He could not say whether his father sustained any other injuries from the accident.

According to the grieving son, the family was not told exactly how the accident happened, since no eyewitness has come forward.

“How my father body was lying, it looked like he was on the safe side. But the driver ain’t even know how far he knock my father from, or if he was crossing or was just riding in the corner, because last night (the

driver) was high,” Krishna stated.

The alcohol level of the car driver was found to be exceedingly above the legal limit. As such, he was taken into Police custody shortly after the accident and was assisting with further investigations.

Meanwhile, a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted on the body of the 61-year-old man on Monday. Khemraj leaves to mourn his wife, two children, and other relatives and friends.

Only Sunday last, three persons lost their lives on the West Coast Demerara Public Road after the speeding car in which they were travelling veered out of control, and hit another car parked on the side of the road before slamming into a utility pole at New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop.

Those killed were: taxi driver Deodat Mohan, 22, of Vreed-en-Hoop, WBD, and passengers Reaz Barakat, 18, of Rumzeight Gardens, WCD, and 17-year-old Telisha Singh of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.

Over 8000 households to get electricity by December

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ome thirty-four thousand (34,000) residents in sixteen (16) communities across the country are expected to benefit from electrical distribution networks installed through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) by the end of December.

Among communities to benefit from this project, which costs in excess of $500 million, are the following: Lust-en-Rust, Zeelugt Phases Two and Three, and Zeeburg in Region Three; Eccles Industrial Site, Perseverance Phase Four, Peter’s Hall, Farm Phases One and Two, Covent Garden, Diamond Commercial and Diamond Residential in Region Four; Hope and Experiment in Region Five; Kilcoy/ Chesney and Baltyock in Region Six. Speaking to the Department of Public Information, CH&PA’s Director of Projects, Omar Narine, said that 90 percent of the materials for the project have arrived in the country and are awaiting clearance by the Guyana Revenue Authority.

Currently, the poles are already in the communities, Narine said. He added, “The reason for that is that the electrification process is a three-phase pro-

Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Director of Projects, Omar Narine

cess. Phase One included the procurement of the electrical line hardware materials; Phase Two, the procurement of the wallaba poles; and Phase Three the procurement of the electrical contractors to build the networks.”

These works will be executed by contracting companies Cummings Electrical, GNS Electrical, and Mr. Ramotar respectively.

Other infrastructural works The CH&PA is also executing a number of road infrastructure works in several communities.

According to Narine, the Perseverance Road Project is about 85 percent completed, while works at Number 76 Village are completed.

Works are also ongoing at

La Parfait Harmonie and Linden.

Additionally, contracts were awarded in the sum of $450 million for the construction of roads at Tuschen, Non Pareil, Bath, Ordinance Fort Lands and Amelia’s Ward. “These contracts are being signed right now as we speak, and we are going to commence those projects shortly,” Narine related.

These projects are in line with the Government’s programme of establishing cohesive communities in which serviced lots, other social infrastructure and amenities, including green spaces, parks and recreational facilities, are provided to ensure an improved quality of life for Guyanese.

news

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saturDAY, october 28, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Joe Harmon to Chris Ram:

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, October 28 – 08:00h-15:00h (7 hours) and Sunday, October 29 – 12:30h-14:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, October 28 – 10:10h-11:40h and Sunday, October 29 – 11:40h-13:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Drop all Govt contracts if serious about cutting ties

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, with partly cloudy skies to thundery showers in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 10:28h and 22:54h reaching maximum heights of 2.08 metres and 2.12 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 16:23h reaching a minimum height of 1.19 metres.

WednesDAY, October 25, 2017

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 02 14 15 22

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Managing Director of Ram & McRae, Christopher Ram

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

he Government is projecting an unfazed front over the recent high-profile resignations which followed the unilateral appointment of a Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman.

It went so far as to urge Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram, who tendered his resignation from a Legal Affairs Ministry committee in protest, to drop all contracts between his audit firm and the Government if he was truly serious about cutting ties.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon made this challenge, on the sidelines of an event on Friday.

Harmon noted that Ram, who resigned from the committee that was negotiating the establishment of a local law school and is a Managing Partner of audit firm Ram & McRae, in fact, resigned from a non-paying position.

“If Mr Ram wants to resign I would ask him to consider all the contracts the company, in which he is, that has to do with any government agency or the Government, and let him withdraw from those. Then

is when we will know if, in fact, he is making a very serious decision,” Harmon charged.

On the resignation of Major General (retired) Joe Singh from his position of Presidential Adviser, Harmon claimed not to see any ulterior motive in the move. According to Harmon, there was nothing wrong with the move.

“Joe Singh sent a letter of intention not to (continue) his contract. I see nothing wrong about him wanting to do that. I do not see any ulterior motive behind it. And all I would say is that the letter has been sent to the President to consider. Once the President considers the matter, I would wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

Both Ram and Singh were featured on the lists submitted by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to the President to consider for the post of GECOM Chairman. Days after President David Granger reached outside the 18 nominees to appoint 84-year-old retired Justice James Patterson, both resigned.

T

While Singh remained reticent about the motive behind his resignation, Ram was highly critical of Government choosing Patterson. The vocal anti-corruption advocate described the appointment as blatant disregard for good governance.

Ram, in his strongly-worded statement, said, “While I remain committed to serving my country, I make the clear distinction between Guyana and the Government. The blatant disregard by the Granger Administration for the Constitution, the courts, the principles of good governance and for social cohesion, is a matter which should be of grave concern to all of us who claim respect and love of country.”

According to Ram, “Given that the Constitution deems me a fit and proper person makes President Granger’s assessment of me of no import… Indeed, I am fortified in my conviction that his decision is entirely wrong and unconstitutional.”

He used the occasion to quip also, “If the truth be told, Mr Williams has been so impressed with my contribution that he asked for my CV to recommend me for a national award… I declined, saying my service was for country, for neither award nor reward.”

Major General (Ret’d) Joe Singh

A number of individuals and organisations spanning a wide cross-section of society have also soundly criticised and condemned the President’s unilateral decision, including the Guyana Bar Association; the Berbice Bar Association; the Private Sector Commission (PSC); the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

Criticism has also come from the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and members of the Diaspora. In addition, the political Opposition filed a legal challenge in the courts on Monday, seeking to revoke Patterson’s appointment.

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saturDAY, october 28, 2017

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

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Taxing the population

he Government is perhaps in the final stages of preparation of Budget 2018, and as expected, citizens and businesses are eager to find out “what’s in it” for them. For example, would it contribute in any way to them having more disposable income to cushion the effects of rising prices? Would it put an ease on the heavy tax burden which currently obtains? Or, in a general sense, would it serve to contribute to the so-called better life, which the APNU/AFC had promised during the 2015 Elections campaign?

If one were to go by the last two budgets, there would not be much optimism, as it could be recalled that there were many more negatives than positives for the populace, with both citizens and businesses still finding it very difficult to cope. In fact, there were many proposals in the last budget which militate against society. For example, putting VAT on electricity and water supplies placed additional hardships on poor families. While it may indeed not affect very small families directly, it certainly affects them indirectly, since the businesses from which they purchase will be forced to increase their prices to cover the increased costs.

Also, in the last two budgets, there was hardly any provision included that was aimed at stimulating the positive generation of wealth. Areas of wealth-generation were completely neglected or forgotten. For example, agriculture, both small-scale garden farmers and producers of cash crops, as well as the national, economically important sugar and rice industries were literally ignored. It was only recently that a small market for rice was secured. As we have seen over the past year, to diminish or not to stimulate these industries results in unemployment, less money in circulation, and the lessening of a source of foreign exchange.

As we had stated before, the makers of governmental policies in respect to agriculture are literally shooting themselves in the foot, and one could only hope that they would awake from their slumber.

In other areas of wealth-generation for society, especially mining and commerce, the same trend has occurred.

Further, one of the greatest disincentives to wealth generation is massive taxation. This is a fact well known in all societies, irrespective of the political doctrine they follow. In the 2017 Budget, there were dozens of new taxes imposed, and citizens are feeling the squeeze. The Government cannot reasonably expect to fund its operations via revenues from taxes alone; it must focus on stimulating growth and creating the environment for new investments etc.

It is of no surprise that, at the recent Business Summit, the Government’s approach to taxation came under heavy scrutiny, with many of the stakeholders calling for a complete review. Of note, too, is that, during the discussions, it was pointed out that most of the measures that had been recommended by the Tax Reform Committee -- aimed at ensuring persons have more disposal income and supporting local businesses etc -- remain unimplemented.

In addition to tax incentives, the committee had recommended the Administration increase the Value-Added Tax registration threshold from G$10 million to G$12 million; reduce the standard rate to 14 per cent; and introduce an intermediate rate of 7 per cent for some types of goods.

Increasing the threshold for businesses would mean that, in addition to the reduced tax charged, businesses with a turnover of less than G$12 million would not have to fall into the accounting regime.

The Committee had also recommended that education services be exempted from taxation; and 21 items of education materials, including all textbooks, children’s books, dictionaries, pencils, lunch kits and charts, continue to be zero-rated; while others, including recipe books, instructional newsletters and music manuscripts, be charged at an intermediate rate of 7%.

These are just a few of the issues which the Government must consider in preparation of Budget 2018. The general feeling is that Government’s tax-oriented approach to growth and policies is among the key factors responsible for the deteriorating economy. If Government is really serious about national development and creating the ‘good life’ for all Guyanese, it must urgently change its policies in relation to the unfriendly, burdensome tax regime, and put systems in place to stimulate real economic growth. In this regard, the 2018 Budget will serve as another test for the Administration.

Near the town of Kalambaka, Greece, six Eastern Orthodox monasteries are built on top of a series of tall rock formations called the Meteora. Pictured here is the Roussanou Monastery, which was founded sometime in the mid-16th Century. Today, a small group of nuns resides there (Photograph by Veselin Atanasov, National Geographic Your Shot)

The appointment of a GECOM Chairman: constitutional heresy Dear Editor, I am convinced that the PNC has not changed from historically being a party that is innately and inherently authoritarian and undemocratic; and, if allowed, will rig every election in this country, as it has done from 1968 to 1985. The unilateral appointment of retired Justice James Patterson absolutely vindicates what I have said repeatedly over the last two and a half years: that we are on a road to political dictatorship and authoritarianism.

The President did not see it fit to even consult with his coalition partners in Government on this fundamental appointment. Both the AFC and WPA have so confirmed in public statements. It is difficult to conceive of a clearer exhibition of dictatorship than this. At least the WPA’s reaction was critical. The response of the AFC will have to be the subject of an entire article.

I have said from the inception that President Granger would eventually choose a person of his own liking, irrespective of the provisions of the Constitution. A year thereafter, that is exactly what he has done. In the process, he has led this nation along a deceptive and agonising path of public debates on constitutional interpretations; public consultations that produced 18 outstanding Guyanese, all of whom were eventually rejected, and a ruling from the constitutional court – all of which made no difference in the end.

Instead of using the ruling as a guide, the President craftily used selective parts of it to justify his perverse appointment.

The President, from the inception, misinterpreted Article 161 (2) of the Constitution by

contending that it qualifies for the position of GECOM Chairman only a judge, a former judge, or a person qualified to be a judge. When this interpretation was met with public condemnation, only then did the President concede that that provision of the Constitution also caters for “any other fit and proper person”.

Even when he recognised that the Constitution spoke to the latter category, the President and his Attorney General injected another nonsensical slant to their interpretation by arguing that the Constitution expresses a preference for the judicial category.

Proviso has no applicability

These infantile interpretations to the clear language of the Constitution were all put to rest by the Chief Justice’s ruling. Now the President has misinterpreted the other part of Article 161 (2); that is, the proviso.

When one examines the intention of the framers of the Constitution, which was to create a bi-partisan mechanism to produce a chairman of GECOM, no rational mind would be unclear when the proviso can be activated. It can be activated only when no list has been submitted by the Leader of the Opposition.

Once a list has been submitted, this proviso has no applicability. Any other interpretation would make a mockery of the letter and, moreover, the spirit of the Constitution, because every President would then be free to reject a list submitted to him by the Leader of the Opposition and appoint a person of his own choice, rendering the very constitutional

provision otiose, superfluous and nugatory.

President Carter and those who coined the Carter Formula were not that naïve.

Great moment is being made by those who wish to defend the travesty committed by the President by arguing that the words “a list as is provided for” in the proviso means a list submitted by the Leader of the Opposition which finds the acceptability of the President. I reject this argument as misconceived.

The article, when read, literally cannot mean that; but more importantly, the literal words of the article cannot be read in isolation from the spirit and intention of those who crafted it.

Let us examine what responsibility the Article imposes on the Leader of the Opposition and the President respectively. I submit that a duty is placed on the Leader of the Opposition to submit to the President a list of six names which in the opinion of the Leader of the Opposition are not unacceptable to the President, from which the President is empowered to choose one. Since the Leader of the Opposition is not endowed with clairvoyant powers or an ability to read the President’s mind, the framers of the Constitution could not have expected, and do not expect, him to know which names the President would find not unacceptable. Therefore, the responsibility is on the Leader of the Opposition to select six names that, in his opinion, the President would find not unacceptable. The Leader of the Opposition submitted not 6, but 18 such names to the President.

To his credit, the Leader

of the Opposition did not confine the 18 names submitted to his subjective judgement; he engaged several major organisations in this country in a consultative process which produced those names.

The Golden Rule

Simultaneously, when the Constitution vests in the President a power or a discretion to determine whether the names are not unacceptable, the framers of the Constitution expect, and the law mandates, that power and discretion to be exercised rationally and reasonably, and not capriciously and whimsically; but in a manner that a responsible President would do in the circumstances. To enable him space to exercise that power, the Constitution was fair enough to give him six choices. In this particular instance, he had 18 choices.

If any doubt or ambiguity arises in interpreting the literal language of the constitutional provision, then the established cannons of construction mandate that the golden rule be employed in the interpretative process. This golden rule requires the interpreter to decipher the intention of the framers of the Article. This takes us straight back to the Carter Price/ Formula, where the intention was to dispense with the unilateral appointment of a chairman of the Elections Commission and to establish an elections commission whose membership evenly reflects both the Opposition and the Government, with a Chairman produced by a process involving both the Leader of the Opposition and the President. continued on page 5

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No one should be discriminated against, or positively promoted, because of his/her race Dear Editor, I am compelled by every decent fibre in my consciousness to express outrage, disbelief, and utter frustration that the discourse which surrounds the unilateral appointment of the GECOM Chairman by President David Granger would move so swiftly into the gutter.

This ought to be an intellectual discourse as it relates to the constitutional provisions, instead of an open, unbridled perpetuation of racism and a pro-black agenda by a small group of Guyanese who clearly have special interest.

For the purposes of clarity, it is my belief that no race is superior to another, neither should anyone be discriminated against, or positively promoted, because of his or her race. I believe in meritocracy. A person should be judged on the content of their character, their performance, their capacity, and more importantly their integrity. All race groups have produced outstanding, distinguished and noble citizens in this country, and we have persons of all race groups on the wrong side of the law.

Having said that, let me now respond to public utterances of the Rastafarian Community of All Guyana, The African Cultural and

Development Association (ACDA), Pan African Group (Guyana) Branch, The All African Guyanese Association, and Concerned Citizens in the Diaspora.

The Rastafarian Community of All Guyana, which I have noted are 12 citizens, as distinct from the Guyana Rastafarian Council, said these words: “Thus, of the six General and Regional Elections since the implementation of the Carter Formula, five have been chaired by a Guyanese of East Indian descent and one by a Guyanese of African Descent.

For our sacred space and consciousness as a multi-racial society, we urge all Guyanese to embrace the appointment of Justice James Patterson, a Guyanese of African descent.

This bodes well for ethnic relations within Guyana. We are in the United Nations Decade for People of African Descent.”

This statement is: (a) Toxic and laden with a pro-African agenda, and it is an open promotion of a belief that “it’s Afro-Guyanese time now”. (b) It represents total misunderstanding of the Carter Formula, since all of the names extracted and appointed GECOM Chairman came from the various lists submit-

ted by various Leaders of the Opposition during the 1990 to 2015 period. In every instance six (6) names were submitted, and on every occasion the President, from that first list, chose one (1) name. The PPP/C, whilst in office, had no way of installing an IndoGuyanese as Chairman of GECOM if that name was not submitted by the then Leader of the Opposition. At no time was an Indo-Guyanese unilaterally appointed by any PPP/C President as Chairman of GECOM. Mr Doodnauth Singh S.C., Major General (Rtd) Joseph Singh, and Dr Steve Surujbally were names on lists submitted by Mr Desmond Hoyte S.C. to the then President of Guyana. Those lists included, among others, twice the name Brigadier (Rtd) David Granger. (c) The issue of the race or ethnicity of the six (6) nominated persons as required by Article 161 (2) of the Constitution was never a matter of discussion. Race is not a criterion for suitability for this post. Even if, for argument’s sake, race is to be considered in this appointment, why didn’t the President choose any of the AfroGuyanese that were named among the eighteen (18) persons submitted by the current Leader of the Opposition?

The appointment of...

Out of this intention came GECOM comprising six Commissioners, three representing the Government and three representing the Opposition, and a Chairman who is empowered with the authority of a casting vote to break gridlock, and who is to be appointed from a list of six names emanating from the Leader of the Opposition, from which the President is obliged to select one. Therefore the President was never intended to have a unilateral power of appointment. His power of appointment is circumscribed to that list of six names submitted to him by the Leader of the Opposition. It is only in the rare and exceptional circumstance where there is no list submitted then the President can make a unilateral appointment.

I must emphasize that it was never expected that the President must find the names acceptable. After all, the names are coming from his political opponent. That is why the framers of the Constitution, rather than use the word “acceptable”, they used the double-negative: “not unacceptable”.

Therefore, the names submitted are not necessarily to be acceptable to the President; they must be “not unacceptable”. The term “not unacceptable” does not mean “acceptable”.

I say all of this to illus-

trate the length at which the framers of the Constitution travelled to ensure there is a Chairman produced through a bilateral process, and to eschew a unilateral appointment, except in that rare and exceptional circumstance when there is no list provided.

Therefore, a unilateral appointment would lead to the destruction of that vital balance at GECOM which the framers of Article 161 intended to create.

The perversity of the decision to act unilaterally is compounded by the fact that the President has not given a single reason for rejecting 18 accomplished, professionally qualified and respected Guyanese. Legal arguments aside, the President led this country to believe, by several public statements, including a joint statement with the Opposition, that he would not act unilaterally, but would, to the very end, pursue a collaborative course on this issue. So, on that note, the President has simply deceived the nation.

If anyone was in doubt about the President’s bona fides in this matter, those doubts would have immediately dissipated by the choice the President made in the form of retired Justice Patterson.

I had the privilege of attending almost every meeting between the Leader

of the Opposition and the President on this matter. At one point in time, the Leader of the Opposition had asked the President for some guidance on the criteria he would find acceptable after the first six names were rejected. I remember the President saying that the person must possess the three ‘Is’ that is, they must be “independent”, must have “integrity”, and must be “impartial”. I say with the greatest of respect that Justice Patterson does not satisfy these requirements.

In his resume, Justice Patterson states that he was the Chief Justice of Grenada in 1987. I have spoken to several retired judges and lawyers from Grenada and in the Eastern Caribbean jurisdictions, but no one can confirm that Justice Patterson was appointed Chief Justice of Grenada.

I have consulted a book which chronicles all the important post holders of Grenada annually, and the Chief Justice of Grenada in 1987 is listed as Sir Samuel Horatio Graham. I have received information that a Guyanese who worked for over 25 years in Grenada in a very high public office has advised the President that Justice Patterson was never appointed Chief Justice in Grenada, yet the President cites Justice Patterson’s alleged appointment as Chief

(d) The “Rastafarian Community of All Guyana” may want to consider this outlandish and ill-advised commentary, for in their above-mentioned statement they have disparaged the names and reputations of very eminent, qualified, distinguished and upstanding Afro-Guyanese. On behalf of all Guyana, I do offer these eighteen distinguished Guyanese my sincere apology for this mistreatment.

This diatribe must be rejected as the views of twelve (12) Rastafarians, and not as the view of the Rastafarian community in Guyana, or the majority of Afro-Guyanese citizens.

I now turn my attention to the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA), Pan African Group (Guyana) Branch, the All African Guyanese Association, and Concerned Citizens in the Diaspora.

In a very bold attempt, these four (4) groups have sought to justify President Granger’s action as constitutional by beating the drums of racism. In one statement, they have attacked, insulted and created wedges, built walls of division by coming up against every group that has spoken as it relates to the President’s action in an unfavourable manner. This is a

worrying development, and can be viewed as an evil of monumental proportions.

Is the Private Sector Commission comprised solely of Indians? Don’t we have successful Afro-Guyanese entrepreneurs and businessmen?

Is the Guyana Human Rights Association a partner of the PPP/C? Laughable!

Are all the Guyanese lawyers, businessmen, accountants and other professionals Indo-Guyanese who have benefited, according to their statement, “in a developed criminal state of money laundering, theft and embezzlement, etc.”? Are all our professionals crooks? Unbelievable!

Are all the beneficiaries of lands, radio and television licences, house lots, scholarships etc under the PPP/C Indo-Guyanese? Who revoked the leases of the 41 AfroGuyanese farmers at Seafield on the West Coast of Berbice?

Are all the people who died as a result of extra-judicial killings during the vicious crime wave only AfroGuyanese? Were they killed

by Indo-Guyanese? It is time for these groups to be honest with themselves and the Guyanese people.

Is it true, as stated by these groups, “that the PSC, GCCI, GMSA, bankers, Indian Supremacists, accoun-

tants, lawyers and others who have illegitimately benefited under the PPP/C showing their true colours as they continue to sabotage our ‘democracy’ with the hope of again plundering Guyana with its newfound oil wealth”?

Do these organizations -which include in their leadership Mr Eric Phillips and Tacuma Ogunseye, paid employees of the Ministry of the Presidency --represent the views of the masses of AfroGuyanese? Certainly not!

This jaundiced and unsubstantiated view must not be allowed to be peddled unchallenged. Afro-Guyanese, like all other peoples, have core values, and are guided by principles that are highly elevated beyond the mere lens of racism.

I call upon all my fellow Afro-Guyanese brothers and sisters, and all other Guyanese, including my respected elders from the above-named groups, to be responsible, civil, and stay within the bounds of decency as we debate and engage on this very sensitive matter of the President’s unilateral appointment of the GECOM Chairman.

appointed by the President to head a Commission of Inquiry into the Georgetown Prison break in July 2016.

He has been appointed by the President to the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy; so he is an Adviser to the President.

He has been appointed by the President to a committee to review applications for the position of Chief Justice and Chancellor of the Judiciary.

Even more damaging, he was a pallbearer at former President Desmond Hoyte’s funeral. This was not the State funeral, but a private event for Party leaders and supporters held at Merriman’s Funeral Parlour.

The other pallbearers at that event were all PNC leaders, members and supporters. This information can be found on the PNC website. I have photographs in the event that they now wish to remove them. Justice Patterson is also a member of the Facebook page call-

ing itself ‘Rally around the People’s National Congress’, established just before the 2015 General Elections.

How can the Guyanese electorate have any confidence in this person’s independence, impartiality and integrity? One cannot discount the fact, also, that the Government has asked Justice Cecil Kennard to resign as Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority and Justice Prem Persaud to resign from the Public Utilities Commission and the Judicial Service Commission.

Their ages are 80 and 76 respectively. The President is reported in the press as saying that they were requested to resign because of their age. Mr Patterson is 84 years old, yet the President appointed him.

The appointment simply cannot be allowed to stand.

Bishop Juan A Edghill, Former Chairman, Ethnic Relations Commission

From page 4

Justice of Grenada as the basis of appointing him.

In a list of criteria submitted by the President to the Opposition Leader, the President indicated that the candidate whom he is looking for must not be a religious activist or leader.

As a result, the Opposition Leader deliberately omitted to include any religious leader in the names which he submitted to the President.

In his CV, Justice Patterson described himself as a reverend, and an entire page in that CV is dedicated to listing the several theological qualifications which he possesses and religious posts which he held.

In that list of criteria, the President stated that the candidate should not have “any political affiliation, and should not belong to any political party in any form, apparent or hidden”; and that the person should have a general character of honesty and integrity.

Justice Patterson can by no objective standard be adjudged impartial or independent, or not connected to the People’s National Congress.

Indeed, the evidence available links him intricately to this Government and to the PNC. He has been appointed as an Adviser to the Attorney General, a post for which he is being remunerated; so he is an employee of the Government. He has been

Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP Attorney-at-Law

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hen we talk about adolescent bullying, we’re entering into another phenomenon altogether. The reality is that many adolescents in high school today are very abusive to each other. There are peer groups that will attack other kids verbally and emotionally, similar to a gang mentality. When these kids start calling other students rude names and questioning their sexuality, it is all done to dominate and bully them.

If a teen or pre-teen doesn’t want to be a victim, they have to join a group. The kids who don’t socialise very well – the shy or passive types – often become the targets. And the threat of violence is always behind it. This trend in high school is prevalent today, and I think very destructive.

In my opinion, parents and school administrators who ignore the way kids abuse each other in high school are kidding themselves. This behavior is hurtful and harmful, and there needs to be a lot more accountability.

Make no bones about it, bullying is traumatising for kids who are the targets. In fact, I think children

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should be taught about bullying throughout grade school.

They need to learn what it means, how to resolve it, and how to deal with a bully. If this is not taught, kids who are targets will think there’s something wrong with them, and this vicious cycle – because that is truly what this is –perpetuates itself.

Kids should also be learning how to handle their impulses and control themselves when they want to hit, hurt or intimidate others.

Unless there’s a concerted effort to deal with bullying and bullies in school, nothing will change. It’s a challenge, but I firmly believe it can be done.

Teach your children about bullying from an early age

I think from a very early age, you have to teach your child what a bully is. You can tell them the following (or even post these words in your house somewhere): A bully is somebody who forces other people to do things they don’t want to do.

A bully is somebody who hits other people.

A bully is someone who takes or breaks other people’s property.

A bully is someone who calls other people names.

Then you have to set a standard that says, “We don’t do that in our house.” Start that culture of accountability early. Teach them what the word means, and say, “You’re accountable for that kind of behavior in our house.”

I think it’s also important that you talk about how to treat others. Ask your child, “How should you treat others?” And the answer is, “You treat others with respect ; if they don’t respect you back, walk away. Treating someone with respect means not calling them names, threatening them, or hitting them.” You can also say, “You listen to others. You accept others. If they don’t want to play with your toys or they don’t want to share their things, you have to learn how to accept that.”

This is not easy for kids, but they will learn. I really think children need to have the concept of bullying explained to them numerous times. That way, when any kind of bullying is going on, they can identify it and stop the behavior, both in themselves and others. (Excerpt from empoweringparents.com)

think the most important thing for every family is to have a culture of accountability in your home. This means your child is accountable to you: how he talks to you, how he talks to his siblings, how he treats his family members. When he’s bullying his siblings, don’t get sucked into his excuses; just because he had a bad day at school does not give him the right to mistreat anyone in your family, for example. Let me say it again: Your child is accountable to you.

When a bully feels powerless and afraid, he’s much more likely to be aggressive, because

that you punched him. It is not Jesse’s fault that you hit him.”

Schools should also have a culture of accountability, and I think that many try. That’s what detentions, suspensions and expulsions are all about – if your child breaks the rules, he should be held accountable, and it’s very important that you let him deal with the natural consequences and not try to shield him.

that makes him feel powerful and in control.

Don’t forget, bullies often have cognitive distortions – they see the world in a certain way that justifies their bullying.

So you’ll frequently hear them blaming others and making excuses for their behaviour.

Most of the time, they really believe that stuff: they believe what they think, and that’s what you’ve got to challenge. You can say directly, “It sounds like you’re blaming Jesse for the fact

solve social problems and deal with their emotions without acting out behaviourally. Have conversations with your child where you ask, “What happens when other kids don’t want to play your games? What do you do? What do you do when other kids have things you want and they won’t give them to you?

How do you handle that? How do you handle it when you think you’re right and they’re wrong and there’s nothing you can do about it?”

Your child has to learn how to resolve conflicts and manage his emotions. He needs to learn the skills of compromise, how to sacrifice, how to share and how to deal with injustice. He should also learn how to check things out, and to ask himself, “Is what I’m seeing really happening?

Does Jonathon really hate me, or is he just in a bad mood today?”

Kids have got to learn how to manage their impulses. If their impulse is to hit or to hurt or call someone names, they have to learn to deal with that in an appropriate way. Many children and adolescents have the impulse to hurt others—they have impulses to do all kinds of things. But they need to learn to handle them, and kids who bully are no exception.

The skills your child needs to learn Plain and simple, a child who bullies needs to learn how to

What to do if your child is bullying others in school Kids who are bullying others should be held accountable at home – they should absolutely be given consequences for their behaviour. And the consequences should go like this: your child should be deprived of doing something he or she likes.

So, no TV or computer games or cell phone, for example. And they also should have to do a task: they should write an essay or letter on what they’re going to do next time they’re in the same situation or feel the same

way – instead of bullying. It’s critical that they start thinking of other ways they can solve this problem. Understand that they may not have any ideas, and that’s where you have to interact with them and coach them as a parent. If your child is hurting or bullying others, he needs to have conversations that solve problems. He does not need or benefit from conversations that explore emotions. Bullies tend to see themselves as victims, so the conversation has to focus on them taking responsibility for their behaviour.

Remember that bullies don’t stop bullying when they get home – they often target younger or weaker siblings.

You have to be very clear if your child is bullying –be very black and white; leave no grey areas. Don’t forget, your child is bullying because solving problems— talking to people and working things out—is very hard for him. Again, your child is taking the easy way out. We all go through the growing pains of learning how to negotiate in social situations—in fact, we may work on this skill our whole lives. There should be no exceptions for anyone in your family when it comes to these skills. For a child who is using bullying as a shortcut instead of developing these skills, you have to work even harder as a parent to coach them on what to do.

When bullies grow up Make no mistake, if a child bullies, that tendency can stay with them their whole lives.

Fortunately, some bullies do mature after they leave school.

You’ll see them get into their early twenties and go their own way; they get married, they go to college, they start a career, and they stop their bullying behaviour.

But sadly, you will also see young child bullies who become teenage bullies and then adult bullies. How does this behaviour and lack of social skills affect them?

These are the people who abuse their wives and kids emotionally and sometimes physically. These are the people who call their spouses and kids names if they don’t do things the way they want them to. Bullies may also become criminals. Look at it this way: a bully is somebody who is willing to use aggression, verbal abuse, property destruction or even violence to get his way. An anti-social personality disorder (which is how criminals are classified) refers to somebody who is willing to use aggression and violence to get his way.

The criminal population is literally full of bullies who, among other things, never learned how to resolve conflicts and behave appropriately in social situations.

If you think your child is bullying others, it’s very important to start working with him now. This behaviour is already hurting his life – and will continue to do so if it’s left to fester. If you expect your child to “outgrow” bullying once he reaches adulthood, realise that you’re also taking the risk that he may not – and that choice may negatively affect him for the rest of his life (Excerpt from empoweringparents)

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saturDAY, october 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GTU to meet President on salary increases – as Govt extends olive branch following threats of strike

as an indication that the Administration was not prepared to treat with the proposal put forward.”

The issues of concern to the Union include the stag-

GTU President Mark Lyte stands to make a point during Thursday’s meeting with the Government

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he botched meeting between the Guyana Teachers Union and the Education Ministry has resulted in a meeting being fixed at a higher level – that is, between the union and President David Granger.

According to a joint statement from the Union and Government, this was agreed after a meeting with Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and the Union on Friday. The new meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday at 11:00h.

According to the statement, the GTU noted during the meeting that its consultations with Education Minister Nicolette Henry dissolved because her pronouncements differed from the Union’s understanding of Government’s position.

“The Honourable Minister of State in response alluded to his most recent pronouncement on the matter at a post-Cabinet media conference held on October 19, 2017 when he indicated that the issues regarding increased salaries for teachers were being considered by the Government in the form of a multi-year proposal submitted by the Guyana Teachers Union.”

“The Honourable Minister of State further indicated that the meeting with the Minister of Education held on October 26, 2017 was never intended to be the final position of the Administration, but rather an interim arrangement.”

According to the joint statement, the President was “very concerned” about what happened at the meeting between the Minister and her team and the Union. He was, therefore, willing to meet with the Union on Monday to discuss all its concerns.

“The Union indicated its acceptance of His Excellency the President’s offer and iterated that it was committed to the process of collective bargaining and that it would bring these developments to the attention of its members.”

The walkout

Members of the GTU staged a walkout on officials of the Education Ministry, during a meeting on Thursday to discuss a proposed multi-year agreement.

Present at the meeting

were Henry, Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson and team; while the Union had its President, Mark Lyte; General Secretary, Coretta McDonald and other union members.

According to the Ministry in a statement after the meeting, the walkout was prompted by Minister Henry informing the Union that Government could only offer teachers the same increases it offered all public servants.

“Teachers being public servants, therefore, will also benefit from the proposed wage increases,” the Ministry said. “Dissatisfied with the response, the GTU President decided that the meeting should not continue and, together with his colleagues, left the boardroom thereby leading to a premature end of the discourse.”

When contacted by Guyana Times, Lyte stated that the walkout resulted from the Government not addressing the Union’s substantive proposal. While noting that the body remained open to talks with the Government, Lyte revealed that the Union would be commencing country-

wide strike action from next week.

“The talks were specific to proposals from the Union two and a half years ago.

The Minister, in her chairing of the meeting, subsequently tried to treat with matters outside of the purpose of the meeting.”

“Also, the Minister bluntly indicated during the five minutes or so the meeting lasted that the teachers would get the same that was offered (to) public servants, without even talking about what we proposed,” Lyte claimed, adding that the Government’s “imposition” would not be accepted this time around.

That being said, Lyte stated that a countrywide strike was expected to commence by next Friday.

This, according to the GTU President, is to allow enough time to ensure the membership is properly notified.

“Even in that interim, we are still open for something definitive to be put before us in terms of our proposal. (But) I take having the Minister trying to side-line the discussion this (Thursday) afternoon

nated negotiations between the GTU and the Education Ministry for increased teachers’ remuneration and outstanding payments among other matters.

Additionally, the Union had expressed concern about a memorandum that could see teachers having to work during their designated lunch period.

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saturDAY, october 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS $80,000 bail for man charged with robbing grocery store

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man who allegedly carried out a daring robbery on a West Ruimveldt, Georgetown business place was on Friday brought before Magistrate Leron Daly.

Esquick Rogers appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and denied the allegation when it was put to him.

The charge read to

him stated that tween October 21

beand

October 23, 2017 at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown,

he robbed the grocery store of goods with a total value of $463,000.

The facts of the matter were not presented to the court; however, the Police Prosecutor had no objections to bail being granted and it was granted in the sum of $80,000.

The matter is expected to be brought again before the court on November 17, 2017.

Woman lands in court for assaulting ‘wayward’ child

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woman who is accusing a 12-year-old of being “very much out of line” found herself before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.

Tamara Jagdeo is being charged with assaulting the child at Sophia, Greater Georgetown on October 25,

2017.

The defendant pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge when Magistrate Leron Daly read it to her.

According to the defendant, the Virtual Complainant (VC) is her stepsister. She revealed to the court that the parents of

the 12- year-old have no control over her and allow her to do “whatever she pleases”.

She added that on the day of the incident, she attempted to speak to the VC, who proceeded to take a piece of wood and deal her several blows to her back with it, so she retaliated by

slapping her across her face.

The matter was reported to the Police by the child’s father and the defendant was charged.

Magistrate Daly ordered that a welfare officer be placed to look into the issue.

The defendant was fined $10,000.

Man charged for damaging woman’s eyesight

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man who assaulted a woman resulting in her eyesight being threatened found himself before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday to answer to the charge.

Mark Robert denied the charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Leron

Daly.

The charge stated that on October 4, 2017, at Georgetown, he unlawfully assaulted Nalini Tiwari so as to cause her actual bodily harm.

According to the prosecutor, the Virtual Complainant (VC) is currently hospitalised and continues to lose

consciousness.

He added that the medical report presented to the court also revealed that the VC could lose her eyesight.

It was also revealed that the defendant had a similar matter before the court previously. However, he denied this and indicated that he was previously charged but

in connection with a stolen bicycle.

Magistrate Daly granted bail in the sum of $50,000, and the defendant was cautioned against interfering with the VC. He is expected to return to court on November 17, 2017.

Cuban fined, deported for illegal entry

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tearful Cuban was on Friday brought before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a charge of illegally entering Guyana.

Olyoyls Coromoto Corcega Diaz, 22, appeared in Court One and admitted to the charge when it was read to her.

The charge against her stated that in the month of September, she illegally entered Guyana by sea and disembarked without presenting herself to an Immigration Officer.

The accused was fined $15,000 and ordered to be escorted to the airport where she is to be deported.

New low…

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…in race relations

hree Afro-centric organisations of Guyana, The African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA); Pan African Group (Guyana) Branch; The All African Guyanese Association, and “Concerned Citizens in the Diaspora” weighed in on our most recent political contretemps with a most intriguing conclusion. They declared: “The recent Constitutional appointment by His Excellency David Arthur Granger has publicly revealed what Africans in Guyana and the Caribbean all know. Indians do not want to be ruled by an African Leader because they believe they are superior to Africans.”

Now, up to now, your Eyewitness hadn’t been seized by this nugget of political insight. It’s clear he was suffering under some misapprehension because the AFC of Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan had brought in some 11% Indian Guyanese votes to the APNU/AFC Coalition - which had pushed them over the winning line. Surely, those Indians - most from their “heartland” of Berbice -- didn’t mind being “ruled” by an African Leader. But then again, Nagamootoo did say he was NOT an “Indian”, so maybe he doesn’t count -in more ways than one!!

But one of those AFC Indian MPs, one Charanrass Persaud, just published a very spirited defence of the “African Leader’s” decision on the GECOM Chair!!

Surely, he doesn’t mind being so “ruled”. And over the last two years, two of the most prolix defenders of that “African Leader’s” policies overall have been from two young Indians from Reg 5 and 3.

Or could it be they thought they wouldn’t be “ruled” by any one person, but by a coalition of parties -- including their AFC -- which would have some influence? And what about those Indians in APNU, like PNC General-Secretary Amna Ally and Ronald Bulkan?

They don’t seem to have a problem being “ruled” by an African Leader. Or Rupert Roopnaraine, the key ally of the PNC to form APNU? Isn’t he Indian? In fact some say he’s the architect of that early coalition which served to give the “African leader” cover for his PNC baggage!

But going by the blogs and social media, it appears that ACDA’s position -- Indians’ refusal to be “ruled by an African leader” -- is very widespread in the AfroGuyanese community. And it isn’t only directed at the usual “Indian” suspects; for instance, the cane-cutters etc. Joe Singh used to be the paradigmatic “good Indian” - both because of his personal and professional choices.

Yet, his resignation and Chris Ram’s were bitterly condemned as an “Indian” act. And finally, does Glen Lall also not want to be “ruled by an African”?

Have we finally crossed the Rubicon in race relations?

…in fake news

To the credit of some in civil society, there’s been some effort to educate the Guyanese people about the heist that is being planned to take place when the petroleum revenues start flowing. At the last forum, former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran dared to point out there’s no DIRECTIVE in the Petroleum Act (“shall”) for the said funds to go into the Consolidated Funds.

For this he was taken to task in a NEWS ARTICLE” in the Muckraker, which purported to prove Ramkarran wrong.

They pointed out that the Minister SHALL direct the Commission on funds collected but he MAY direct those revenues into the Consolidated Funds!! So, placing the use of funds totally at the DISCRETION of the Minister should put the minds of the Guyanese people at ease? But the Muckraker takes the cake when it points out: in the event there’s a shortfall in the Commission’s expenditures, that SHALL be covered FROM the Consolidated funds!!

The Petroleum Funds are like cockroaches in the baited trap: they check into the Minister’s pockets -- but can’t check out!!

…on CV buffing?

Your Eyewitness know we all “puff up” our resumes - especially with the descriptive language concerning our qualities. But not on qualifications and jobs held!

Say it ain’t so, Justice Patterson, or you wouldn’t be “fit OR proper”!!

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

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saturDAY, october 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Public servants’ wages and salaries

GPSU promises increased pressure to address issues …says consultations ongoing in relation to industrial action

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he Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has vowed to step up its efforts and to increase the pressure on the Government to address the issues plaguing public servants in light of the Government’s unilateral wage and salary increases. This was related at a news conference on Friday at the Union’s Headquarters in Georgetown.

Earlier this month, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon announced that Government had made its final offer of an eight per cent increase for public service employees earning between $55,000 and $99,999.

Public service employees earning between $100,000 and $299,999 are being offered an increase of six per cent while workers earning between $300,000 and $500,000 have been offered a five per cent increase.

Those earning between $500,000 and $699,999 have been offered a four per cent increase while those earning $700,000 to $799,999 are being offered a two per cent in-

crease. Employees earning between $800,000 and $1 million have been proposed a 0.5 per cent increase while those earning above $1 million have been ‘red circled and will benefit from no increases’.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency, Reginald Brotherson had indicated that the increases were expected to pile on an additional $3.6 billion to the national wages bill and that the offer was made to the Union, which was yet to counter it.

However, the Union said that the negotiations from 2016 were yet to be addressed conclusively and before any other negotiations proceed, those issues should be addressed.

GPSU President Patrick Yarde told a news conference that the Union continued to be challenged with balancing the scales between ensuring that the critical functions of the public service continue to be carried out efficiently and

of the responsible posture towards the development of the country which the Union and its members have historically taken loyally and very seriously, and they are feeling betrayed.

The negotiations

GPSU President Patrick Yarde

effectively, and entertaining the option of labour withdrawal.

However, he noted that this move would only become possible after widespread consultation, which is already in progress.

“Accordingly, the GPSU wishes to place the Government of Guyana on notice that even now strategies are being seriously contemplated that seek to bring greater pressure to bear in order to ensure that

GBTI makes donation to CDC towards hurricane relief efforts

Colonel (Ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup, Director General of the Civil Defence Commission, receiving the GBTI donation from Board Chairman Robin Stoby, SC, and Director Edward B Beharry

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he Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI) has donated towards the ongoing hurricane relief effort. On Friday the donation was made to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) at the banking facility’s corporate office in Kingston, Georgetown.

Handing over the donation on behalf of the Bank was Chairman of the Board, Robin Stoby S.C., who noted that the Bank recognises the need for a collaborative effort in helping those

countries that were ravaged by the recent spate of hurricanes: Irma, Jose and Maria.

He highlighted that the financial institution has always been an entity that lends a helping hand in times like these, especially when assistance is most needed. He expressed optimism that the Bank’s donation would go a long way in bringing much needed relief to those affected.

Also representing GBTI was Director Edward Beharry, who expressed sentiments that were similar to

the Chairman’s.

Receiving the donation was Colonel (Ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup, Director General of the Civil Defence Commission, who expressed gratitude to the GBTI for coming on board and assisting in bringing relief to the islands that have been devastatingly affected.

GBTI sees this donation as a way of exemplifying its corporate social responsibility, which can benefit thousands of affected fellow Caribbean citizens.

Government demonstrates a far greater mindfulness of the rights and entitlements of public servants.

These strategies will unfold in the period ahead unless the Government’s posture changes with alacrity,” Yarde said.

He further said the Union was of the view that the Government was now guilty of taking advantage

Yarde accused Finance Minister Winston Jordan of having the same approach to public servants’ wages and salaries as when he was Budget Director during former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s tenure as Finance Minister. He said that in 2015, Jordan and the GPSU agreed that all allowances accruing to public servants would be addressed expeditiously, but that commitment was yet to be honoured by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration.

“After more than two decades, issues such as scare increments and de-bunching remain unaddressed…

what passes for negotiations in 2017 is characterised by the same unyielding and unprincipled official posture.

We are faced with the same bad faith official stance in engaging the Union on the various critical and long outstanding remuneration-related concerns of public servants,” he said.

The veteran trade unionist said that rather than addressing the issues plaguing the public servants, the APNU/AFC Administration is bent on imposing a ‘take it or leave it’ system.

“The fact is that we are faced with a conspiracy to deny the public servants the merited and overdue benefits that are rightly theirs.

We are convinced that shortly they would proceed to impose an increase on public servants,” Yarde said.

The GPSU indicated that it would continue to monitor the situation and proceed with the consultations to determine its next step.

10 News

saturDAY, october 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramjattan to rogue officers: Do the right thing or get out P

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is warning rogue elements within The Joint Services to desist from such practices or leave the job as heightened efforts are being undertaken to weed such characters.

“Look, if you don’t want to do the right thing, get outta the job and don’t go and do the nonsense, because that could be explosive,” he said on Thursday.

The Public Security Minister’s comment comes on the heels of the arrest of a prison officer who attempted to smuggle prohibited items into the Mazaruni Prison earlier this week. During a sting operation about 09:00h

Some of the items the prison officer attempted to smuggle into the Mazaruni Prison

on Tuesday, prison authorities arrested the 27-year-old officer after he was found in the bachelor quarters of the prison with nine cellular phones with chargers, 403 grams of cannabis, one SIM card and one memory card in a haversack on his bed.

“The sting operation went perfect: we caught him. He couldn’t be using all those cell phones for himself. I understand now that they collect the money from the parents or relatives of

those prisoners and that is a violation of all the laws. As a matter of fact, we hope he is going to be locked up, we hope he pleads guilty and he is sent to prison because he was caught red-handed.”

He went on to point out that, “if people start communicate outside and then cause another fire or get some match, because we now understand how the matches get in there, it’s the prison officers, so it’s serious.”

According to Ramjattan,

there have since been enhanced efforts to identify and get rid of such rogue elements within the Joint Services.

“I have asked for expanded efforts in catching these rogue elements in all of the units of the Ministry of Public Security: Prisons, policemen, even CANU; I spoke to recently and within the areas of Divisions and so on – set the sting operations up,” the Minister related.

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saturDAY, october 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

“Democracy under threat in Guyana”

– PPP UK branch

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he United Kingdom Branch of the People’s Progressive Party has joined with other pro-democracy activists in Guyana and the international community in condemning President David Granger’s decision to unilaterally appoint a Chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

In an unprecedented move, President Granger abandoned the Carter/Price Formula that was implemented for the 1992 elections. In that formula, the President would appoint a Chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission from a list submitted by the

Leader of the Opposition.

“We therefore call upon the Carter Center and other advocates who are committed to democracy to raise their voices and call upon President Granger to rescind his appointment and to appoint a Chairman from the three lists submitted by the Leader of the Opposition, as required by the Guyana Constitution,” the PPP UK Group said in a statement.

“We also note that President Granger foisted his interpretation of the Constitution on the people of Guyana, rather than adhering to the decision handed down by the Chief Justice (ag),” the statement added.

The correspondence said the PPP UK Branch can recall the difficult struggles waged over 28 years to restore democracy in Guyana.

‘We recall the years of election rigging, which are well documented by the three Granada TV documentaries shown on the UK ‘World in Action’ series.”

The missive noted that by the time democracy was restored in 1992, the economy was destroyed and Guyana was then deemed as the poorest country in the western hemisphere. It noted that “under the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Guyana became (classified as) a middle

income country”.

“There is no way we are going backwards. We call on the Guyanese diaspora to stand with the PPP in its struggle to reverse President Granger’s decision. We stand ready with the Guyana Bar Association and other forces in launching a legal challenge to overturn this decision and to ensure that we do not return to the dark days of dictatorship.”

The PPP UK Group said it would continue to engage political parties and relevant international organisations based in the UK to ensure the next elections in Guyana, to be held in 2020, are free, fair, and transparent.

National Biomedical Unit establishment being explored by RHS

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he Regional Health Services (RHS) Department of the Ministry of Public Health is carefully considering the establishment of a National Bio-medical Unit within the ministry. The formation of this unit would allow for the timely repair of all biomedical equipment at regional health facilities throughout the country. This is according to Director of RHS, Dr. Kay Shako.

Dr. Shako said the issue is likely to see some progress at the upcoming Regional Health Officers (RHO) Conference in November, when RHOs, ministry officials, PAHO/WHO officials and other key stakeholders will all be engaged in panel discussions on the way forward.

According to the Department of Public

A Blood Chemistry Analyser and Electrocardiography (ECG) machine

Information (DPI), the Minister of Public Health was already briefed and included in the deliberation exercise.

At previous RHO meetings, officers and other staff had complained of biomedical equipment being in need of repairs and servicing, their

condition hindering the processing of having specified healthcare services delivered.

Dr. Shako noted that electronic biomedical equipment such an Anesthesia machines, Blood Chemistry Analyzers and Electrocardiography (ECG) machines, among others, are essential support services requisite to the necessary level of health care being offered at secondary and tertiary levels of healthcare.

Without the presence of these services, proper healthcare delivery is delayed, with deleterious effects on patients. The establishment of a biomedical unit at the ministry means that a corps of technicians and specialists will be prepared and geared towards correcting faults to machines and equipment within the shortest possible time.

Trinidadian engineer allegedly kidnapped in Guyana

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olice are investigating the alleged kidnapping of a Trinidadian citizen hours after he arrived in Guyana on Friday morning reportedly for a job interview.

According to reports, the parents of the victim were contacted sometime around 10:50h, in Trinidad via cell phone by an unknown person who indicated that their son was in custody in Guyana and a sum of money was later demanded for his release.

Enquiries revealed that the Trinidadian chemical engineer came to Guyana on a Caribbean Airlines flight about 07:00h on Friday, and was scheduled to be accommodated at Ramada Hotel, Providence,

East Bank Demerara.

However, he never arrived at the hotel.

He purportedly arrived in view of attending an interview for potential employment.

A report was subsequently made to local Police, and diligent investigations, buttressed by an efficient intelligence apparatus, led detectives to the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, where after several searches in different areas, the victim was found at the Madewini Resort.

Thus far, two persons who were allegedly involved in making the hotel reservation at Ramada Hotel are in custody assisting with investigations.

Pedal cyclist killed on ECD Road

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n East Coast Demerara man was killed on the Cove and John Public Road sometime around 17:45h on Friday.

Dead is 62-year-old Derick Freeman of Lot 4 Cove and John. According

to reports, Freeman was riding his pedal cycle when he was reportedly struck down by motor vehicle GTT 4080.

The driver was taken into custody and is assisting with investigations.

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saturDAY, october 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

NWD illegal firearms, drugs

1 suspect confesses, sentenced to 3 years

… 8 remain in custody

Suspects: The men who were held

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exter Valensuela of Crane, West Coast Demerara was on Friday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, charged with two counts of possession of firearms, two counts of possession of ammunition, and two counts of possession of narcotics.

Valensuela, 44, and eight others were on Tuesday held by ranks of the Guyana Police Force and GDF Coast Guards on the Barima River in Region One with one AR15 rifle and one AK-47 rifle, each with one magazine, and 19 live rounds of ammunition, one bullet proof vest, and 1.5 kilograms of cannabis.

Valensuela pleaded guilty to possession of an illegal AR-15 rifle and matching ammunition, while denying the other charges.

Accordingly, he was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment together with a $60,000 fine on each charge.

His sentence is, however, expected to run concurrently.

He will make his

next court appearance on November 21 at the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court.

Police sources told this publication that checks are being made to determine whether the other men were involved in any other illegal activity; and as it relates to the foreigners, the Police are trying to determine whether they are in Guyana legally or otherwise.

Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan told reporters that, about 5 or 6 weeks ago, the Police received complaints of piracy taking place in the Waini area, hence the reason for the increased Coast Guard presence there.

“They (saw) these two boats and suspicious conduct, saw guns and so. We are enhancing our Coast Guard patrols. We are getting descriptions of some of the people who did the piracy, and it matches some of these guys…,” Ramjattan disclosed.

Six Guyanese and three foreigners were arrested on Tuesday evening fol-

lowing the discovery of the two high-powered weapons along with matching ammunition and other prohibited items in Region One (Barima-Waini).

The gang of armed men was in the Churches Landing mining community acting in a suspicious manner, and appeared to be a mix of foreign nationals and Guyanese. A party of policemen from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in ‘F’ Division and ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard travelled to the Barima River, North-West District (N-WD) to investigate.

53-year-old Delroy Mairs, a mason of Albouystown, Georgetown and of Jamaica; 33-year-old Rafael Ramon, a Venezuelan citizen; 25-yearold Samuel Alvaroz from Cuba; 19-year-old Junior Jack, a sailor of Mabaruma, N-WD; 49-year-old Shawn Phang, a miner of Port Kaituma, N-WD; and boat captains 38-year-old Donstant Rodrigues of Mora, Moruca, N-WD; 44-year-old Dexter Valensuela of Crane, West Coast Demerara (WCD); 48-year-old Corwin Griffith of Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD); and 62-year-old Carrigon Khan of a Pomeroon riverine community, were all held after a 24-hr stakeout.

Four of the men were travelling in a metal boat that was towing a fiberglass one containing the remaining five men. Upon searching the boats, the lawmen unearthed one AR-15 rifle and one AK-47 rifle, each with a magazine, and a total of 19 live rounds of ammunition, one bullet proof vest and 1.5 kilograms of cannabis.

The suspects were

escorted via air on Wednesday afternoon from Mabaruma to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters at Eve

Leary, Georgetown for further investigations.

According to the Police Force, these arrests are significant since there were, a

few weeks ago in the Waini River area, reports of piracy occurring several miles from the Police Floating Base, MV Tamakay.

Fuel purchase probe

GEA Board puzzled over “challenges” experienced by SOCU

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SOCU ranks heading into the GEA office Thursday morning

ne day after agents of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) swooped down on the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) as part of an ongoing probe, the Board of Directors of the Agency is puzzled over “challenges” that the investigative body claims it has faced.

Head of SOCU, Assistant Police Commissioner Sydney James told reporters outside GEA’s Quamina Street, Georgetown office on Thursday that his team was at the Energy Agency in relation to two investigations which SOCU has been mandated to probe.

“One relates to the forensic audit of the Guyana Energy Agency and the second one relates to an investigation, which was done by the Ministry of the Presidency with respect to malpractices and mismanagement in the purchase of fuel by the Guyana Oil (Company) and the Guyana Energy Agency,” he said.

James noted that they

had to obtain a search warrant from a Magistrate to go to the office of the GEA after experiencing some “challenges” in obtaining relevant documents.

“We did ask (for the documents/files), but there were some challenges; that’s all I care to comment on,” he said to reporters.

According to the GEA Board, while it respects the mandate and functions of SOCU and will continue to cooperate with the Unit, it is concerned over the execution of the “highly publicised” search warrant.

“The Board further notes for the record and in the interest of transparency, that at no time was the GEA reluctant, unavailable, or uncooperative in the submission and handover of the requested documents,” it said in a statement on Friday.

It went on to point out that after receiving a letter dated October 4, 2017 from SOCU requesting a list of informa-

tion, the GEA provided all required documentation within a two-week period, save and except for documents and vouchers in excess of 2000 files for which the GEA, in its response, noted the potential impracticality due to the sheer volume and invited the investigating team to visit the GEA office at their convenience to review the files in totality.

In its response via letter to SOCU dated October 19, 2017, the GEA communicated that “With respect to point (d) of your letter…. the documents requested are quite voluminous and are the financial records of the Agency, which must be kept for the purposes of audit. Full access to these documents at the GEA’s headquarters will be granted to the investigating team, who can be accommodated in the Agency’s boardroom as was done during the course of the forensic audit.”

To this end, the GEA Board believes that while SOCU has to carry out its mandate, the search warrant was not necessary in this instance.

Nevertheless, the Board said it was in communication with the SOCU Head to enquire about the reported ‘challenges’ faced in obtaining information required, as well as whether the information provided was sufficient.

Having provided those files in question, the Board said reaffirmed the cooperation of the GEA in any and all ongoing investigations.

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saturDAY, october 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt launches grand Hurricane Relief Concert towards the rebuilding and rehabilitation of the hurricane-affected Caribbean nations.

Among the private entities which have already thrown their support behind this initiative are the BK

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon is joined by Social Protection Minister Amna Ally and other officials at the launch of the Hurricane Relief Concert

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s Guyana embarks on phase two of its relief efforts directed towards the hurricane-ravaged islands across the Caribbean region, the Government, in collaboration with private stakeholders, has launched a grand relief concert to raise funds for the impending ventures.

D’Urban Park has been listed as the official venue for the grand showcase, billed for November 11.

The benefit concert will feature a number of regional and international artistes, backed by a solid line-up of local stars. Headlining the show will be Caribbean sensation Patrice Roberts, joined by Orlando Octave, best known for his Soca hit, titled “Single.”

This initiative comes shortly after the Civil Defence Commission wrapped up the first phase of relief efforts, which saw the shipment of 11 containers comprising of food, clothing, medical supplies and other essential materials for the victims hit by the string of tropical cyclones.

Adding to that, a total of 54 Guyanese were evacuated from the destruction which was left behind after five locally chartered flights were sent in to the islands to rescue countrymen from the ruins.

With that being completed, the country now turns its attention to assisting

with the recovery and restoration ventures, and as such, this grand gesture was birthed to generate the necessary finances.

Speaking at the launch of the Hurricane Relief Concert was CDC Preparedness and Response Manager Sean Welcome,

the sort of financial support that will allow us as a people to make a tangible donation towards the effort,” the CDC Manager outlined.

And welcoming the initiative, Minister of State Joseph Harmon noted that such ventures exemplify Guyana’s commitment to

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon receiving the cheque from a representative of the BK Group of Companies

who explained what prompted this national collaboration.

“A decision was taken for us to have a second phase in regard to our relief efforts, and this phase intends to target the reconstruction.

We recognize that in order to achieve this, we need an activity that will bring in

regional integration.

Harmon extended an invitation to the general public to play their part in assisting their affected Caribbean neighbours by supporting the relief and recovery mission.

In doing so, he relayed, “I want to commend the organisers of this event, and

I am pleased to be part of the official launching of this Hurricane Relief Concert.”

Minister Harmon, also the National Disaster Coordinator, further said, “We are going to fill D’Urban Park. We are going to bring people from all across the region to ensure that we get a real lively concert, and the proceeds from that concert will reach down to the benefit of those citizens who were affected by the hurricanes.”

Continuing on that note was Douglas Slater, CARICOM’s Assistant Secretary General with responsibility for Human Development, who applauded the efforts undertaken by Guyanese in lending a helping hand to those affected by hurricanes throughout the region.

“We are all in this together. It is really heartwarming to see our CARICOM neighbours stepping up to the plate. So, on behalf of the Secretary General and the committee at the CARICOM Secretariat, we thank you for you expression of solidarity and support, and we wish the concert every success that it deserves,” expressed the Assistant Secretary General.

Tickets to the Hurricane Relief Concert, dubbed “the biggest event of the month”, are tagged at $1000, with all proceeds to be directed

Group of Companies, and the Agri Parts Machinery & Services. At the launch of the concert, each of these companies plugged a cheque worth $2million in ensuring the successful event of the charitable undertaking.

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saturDAY, october 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Harbour Bridge to close Social Protection Ministry donates to Berbice fire victims for 7 hours today – commuters cautioned to put measures in place

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he Demerara Harbour Bridge has undergone critical maintenance this past week, and commuters who transit the bridge are asked to put necessary measures in place to deal with extended bridge closures, especially for several hours today.

General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC), Rawlston Adams, speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, told media operatives that these closures are as a result of long overdue rehabilitation works.

The Bridge will be closed for seven hours this (Saturday) morning from 08:30h. Adams explained that one of the extra-large pontoons used to support the bridge has to be changed.

He explained that, two weeks ago, the Bridge was closed for six hours to accommodate the replacement of one of the pontoons under the retractor span on the western side. However, he added, “The last of the extra-large pontoons under the retractor span on the eastern side, which should have been changed over a year now, will be changed.”

The engineers have already removed the walkway, stairs, and platforms, have disconnected hinges and hydraulic pipes, and have installed temporary pontoons.

On Friday, they were slated to remove the hydraulic

General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, Rawlston Adams

hinges and pipes. Today the switching of the pontoons will be completed.

Finally, on Sunday, the system will be reconnected.

There will be system checks conducted on Monday, and

by Tuesday the Bridge should return to normal retractions.

“We’ve decided that we will do it one (phase) at a time; and the method is to close the bridge to marine traffic, (and) open (it) to vehicular traffic, except for Saturday, when we’ll be closing for a very lengthy period,” Adams highlighted.

Later in the year, during the springtide period in the first week of November, DHBC will be changing one of the large pontoons.

According to the Department of Public Information, the DHBC has already replaced four of its five pontoons, ca-

tered for in its 2017 work programme.

July 2018 will be the 40th anniversary of the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Adams maintains that there continues to be challenges, including difficulties with some of the panels. “We’re seeing cracks and we’re doing work (on) them, and we’re in discussion to change those panels next year; which would mean that the bridge would have to be shut down for three days in the first quarter. But we’re discussing what would be done.”

Another challenge facing the bridge is the sourcing of parts. Adams indicated that the DHBC has recently been storing dismantled components from the railway embankment bridges, especially pins and cardboards.

“We want to make sure we harvest all those components that come off those bridges and we use them for our maintenance purposes.

We have harvested a couple hundred cardboards which are very important for keeping all the panels and the frames together. The issue is that the quality of cardboards that we would buy is not the same quality as the original, so we prefer to use the original,” Adams explained.

The Department of Public Information has said the works on the bridge will be carried out at a cost of $102 million.

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he Difficult Circumstances Unit of the Ministry of Social Protection (MSP) has donated several items to Marvin and Collette Duncan, whose Black Bush Polder home on the Corentyne Coast in Region Six was destroyed by fire last Saturday, October 22.

The items were handed over by Technical Officer

Some of the items distributed

Mabiola Howard, Technical Officer, Ministry of Social Protection, handing over the items to the Duncan family

Mabiola Howard on behalf of Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally.

Among the supplies were beds, bed-spreads and pillows, stove, food items and cleaning detergents and clothing. Howard said she hoped the assistance would

bring much-needed relief to the family, even as she assured that the MSP would also provide zinc sheets for the reconstruction of the Duncans’ home.

Mervin Duncan, expressing gratitude to the Government for the kind gesture, said the items

would assist in his rebuilding process. “We are glad for the assistance, because we are left with the clothes that we have on…I see that no one has turned their backs (on) me.”

The Region Six Regional Administration would also be assisting with other materials to commence reconstruction of the house. The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) group of Region Six has committed to providing labour and additional supplies in the reconstruction effort.

The land is currently being cleared of debris and the building’s foundation will be laid shortly. The house should be completed in time for the Christmas holiday.

Recaptured Lusignan Prison escapee jailed for 20 years

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hirty-eight-year-old Kendell Skeete of Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara (WBD) -- an escapee from the Lusignan holding area following the Camp Street unrest, who was eventually recaptured in Linden -- was on Friday jailed for 20 years by Justice

James Bovell-Drakes presiding in the High Court in Georgetown.

Skeete, who had been on remand for manslaughter when he staged his escape, recently pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for the murder of Kenneth Allen, 27, who was

Kendell Skeete

killed in October of 2008.

The father of two was killed when he attempted to assist a man who was being robbed by a group of men.

As a result of his intervention, Allen sustained several stab wounds about his chest. He was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where he succumbed to the injuries.

Following the robbery, a wanted bulletin was issued

by Police for Skeete, who was identified as one of the men involved in the robbery.

He was captured in May of 2015 after being on the run for a number of years.

Skeete was originally sentenced to spend 60 years in prison after his initial plea of not guilty. However, Justice Bovell-Drakes deducted 27 years, the age of Allen when he was killed, and another 13 years after Skeete changed his not guilty plea.

Attorneys-at-Law Mandel Moore and Orinthia Schmidt delivered to the court a probation report in favour of Skeete.

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saturDAY, october 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

JFK files: FBI anxious Artistes promise unforgettable experience at GTT concert to ‘convince public’ about Oswald

All roads lead to the National Park this evening for an epic event titled “Night with the Stars”, featuring some of the best dancehall artistes in the music industry

President John F Kennedy was shot dead in Dallas on November 22, 1963

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housands of previously classified documents relating to the assassination of President John F Kennedy in 1963 have been released by the United States Government.

As people examine all 2800 files, here are the most interesting points so far. NB many files contain unverified raw intelligence.

FBI concerned about conspiracy theories

In a memo written the day Lee Harvey Oswald, who shot and killed President Kennedy, was killed, FBI Director J Edgar Hoover expressed concern about the spread of conspiracy theories.

"The thing I am concerned about is having something issued so that we can convince the public that Oswald is the real assassin," he said.

Oswald spoke to a KGB officer

A memo from the CIA, based on an intercepted phone call, suggests Oswald spoke with a KGB officer at the Russian Embassy in Mexico City.

It says that on September 28, 1963, he spoke with Valery Vladimirovich Kostikov, an "identified KGB officer" who worked for a department "responsible for sabotage and assassination".

Oswald later called the Embassy and, in "broken Russian", asked if there was "anything new concerning the telegram to Washington".

FBI warned Police to protect the killer

Oswald was quickly arrested and charged. But two days later Oswald was shot dead in the basement of the Dallas Police Department by Jack Ruby, a local nightclub owner.

But could more have been done to protect him?

One memo reveals the FBI had warned Dallas Police of a death threat made against Oswald.

FBI Director Hoover

said: "We at once notified the Chief of Police and he assured us Oswald would be given sufficient protection. However, this was not done."

Kennedy's death worried the USSR

The idea of a leaderless United States did not appeal to some Soviet officials.

They "were fearful that without leadership, some irresponsible general in the United States might launch a missile at the Soviet Union", according to one memo.

It also says the Soviets were "convinced the assassination was not the deed of one man", but rather a "carefully planned campaign in which several people played a part".

RFK's 'Marilyn Monroe suicide plot'

The FBI warned the President's brother, US Attorney General Robert F Kennedy, his alleged affair with Marilyn Monroe would be exposed in a book.

A letter on July 7, 1964 from the Bureau to the younger Kennedy said the paperback, The Strange Death of Marilyn Monroe, would allege he had "an intimate relationship with Miss Monroe".

According to the FBI, the author would suggest the film star "was led to believe his intentions were serious" and that RFK had promised to divorce his wife and marry the sex symbol.

But when he refused to do so, Monroe "threatened to expose their relationship" and ruin his presidential ambitions.

The FBI said the book would allege that RFK took "drastic action" by plotting to have Monroe killed and make it look like a suicide.

The letter advised RFK the book would also allege he was at her apartment on the night of her death.

Agents wrote that RFK "was actually in San Francisco with his wife at the time Marilyn Monroe committed suicide".

The actress died at the age of 36 in Los Angeles in August 1962 from a barbiturate overdose, according to the city coroner's office.

Private detectives tried to spy on Kennedy

An FBI memo from before Kennedy was elected President describes attempts by a private detective to spy on the then senator.

It says a "high priced Hollywood call girl" told FBI agents that private detective Fred Otash had contacted her to ask about Senator Kennedy's involvement in "sex parties".

The private detective also suggested equipping the woman with "a recording device" to take down any "indiscreet statements" from Senator Kennedy.

She refused, and said she was unaware of any "indiscretions".

British paper received an anonymous call

One memo describes how a British local newspaper, the Cambridge News, received an anonymous call about "some big news" in the US, just 25 minutes before the assassination.

"The caller said only that the Cambridge News reporter should call the American Embassy in London for some big news and then hung up", it says.

A copy of the memo was released by the National Archives in the US in July, but had gone unreported.

Was a US President in the Ku Klux Klan?

An FBI report alleges that President Lyndon B Johnson, who took office after President Kennedy was killed, may have been a member of the KKK. An informant said the white supremacist group had "documented proof that President Johnson was formerly a member of the Klan in Texas during the early days of his political career".

However, no proof was provided. (BBC News)

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he hype surrounding GTT’s Pinktober continues, and artistes who are slated to perform at the GTT’s Night of the Stars concert at the National Park this evening are all pumped up and ready to give an unforgettable performance.

When Guyana Times met with the artistes on Friday, it was pomp and vibes with renowned artists QQ, Gage, Pamputae, Bruk fimi

back singer Razor B, and Guyana’s own Lil Million, who all appeared eager to perform.

Tickets for the show can be purchased at any of the Guyana Telephone Telegraph outlets through the Pinktober deals at a cost of $2000.

Earlier in October, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness, GTT, in collaboration with the Guyana

Cancer Foundation, launched the initiative, whose signature event was the inaugural Breast Cancer Awareness 5k and 10k Walk held on Saturday last.

Other GTT events to look forward to are the gospel concert featuring Travis Greene and Saiku on November 3, and the GTT Smile Guyana Concert featuring Chronixx on November 18.

Positive response for visual arts exhibition which concludes Saturday

Some of the pieces on display

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he Ministry of Education’s Visual Arts Exhibition at Castellani House, Georgetown has attracted teachers in the Visual Arts stream from all ten administrative regions. On display were pieces such as drawings, ceramics, paintings, sculptures, leather craft, and fabric designs.

The initiative has allowed the tutors to showcase their skills following training at the Burrowes School of Art and the University of Guyana. Kathy Thompson, attached to the Marian Academy, has said the response to her work has been positive, and she is hopeful that her students would be able to visit the exhibition, so they can see and appreciate the different techniques in art. This, she said, would allow them to grow artistically.

“I am teaching at the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) level and part of the requirement for the examination is to establish a reflective journal (which) focuses on studying, inter-

Students perusing the various art pieces at the Visual Arts Exhibition

viewing and writing on the artist, about their work as well writing about their personal work,” she explained to the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Belladrum Secondary School’s Art Tutor Odessa Carmichael noted that the initiative will help to highlight the importance of visual arts for students who are undertaking subjects that require drawing.

“Doing visual arts helps persons to sell themselves, as well as to relax. For me, art is basically my life, because I think about it every day; and I am hoping that

in the near future I may be able to have my own art gallery and my own business in arts.” Carmichael declared.

She added that she hopes to one day be known as one of the world’s greatest women artists.

Tutor Brian Clarke attached to the Saint Joseph High School told DPI that, as an artist and teacher since 1987, he is happiest when expressing himself through his art. His exhibits focused largely on the African tradition and culture. He, too, encouraged his students to visit and enjoy the art pieces in the exhibition.

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, october 28, 2017

Regional

Brazil's Temer to shuffle Cabinet in March at start of election year – source B

Brazil's President Michel Temer speaks during the opening ceremony of Futurecom, Technology and Telecom Congress in Sao Paulo, Brazil, October 2, 2017

razilian President Michel Temer will shuffle his cabinet in March based on a new governing coalition formed ahead of next year’s elections, a senior government sourced said on Friday.

The source, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said he did not expect Temer’s main ally today, the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), to be part of the future Government. The reshuffle will come as Ministers have to leave the Cabinet by April to run in the October elections. (Reuters)

Madonna faces social media backlash over Rio Police photo M adonna has caused a social media controversy in Brazil by posting a photo of herself dressed in army camouflage fatigues with military Police in Rio de Janeiro.

The photograph was shared on Wednesday, two days after Rio military Police shot dead a Spanish tourist leaving the Rocinha favela on Monday.

Rocinha has been the site of frequent shootouts in recent weeks between rival drug gangs.

Madonna was spending a few days in Rio af-

Clashes mar Macron's French Guiana visit

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lashes erupted between protesters and Police in French Guiana on Thursday night during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Petrol bombs were thrown and Police responded with tear gas in the French overseas territory’s main city Cayenne, amid anger over social deprivation.

The territory in South America has 23 per cent unemployment – more than double the rate of mainland France.

A huge strike and road blockade gripped French Guiana earlier this year.

On Thursday, Police arrested five protesters during clashes after a demand for an immediate meeting with Macron had been rejected.

In March, protesters occupied the space centre at Kourou, used by France and the European Space Agency

Police confronted protesters outside Cayenne’s prefecture – the main administrative building

for launching satellites.

Protesters complained that money was being poured into prestige space projects while the welfare of ordinary people in French Guiana was neglected.

The protest movement has the slogan Pou Lagwiyann Dekole, which

is Creole for “Let Guiana take off”.

Macron, accompanied

by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, was set to visit Kourou Friday.

He has pledged to commit €1.08 billion in emergency funding to French

Guiana under a deal reached by the previous Socialist government.

There is discontent among the territory’s 254,000 residents over an influx of illegal immigrants and neglect in the healthcare and school systems.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Caricom, Mexico agree to reinforce collaboration in disaster risk management

Heads of State, Government and Delegation at the Fourth Caricom-Mexico Summit in Belize, October 25, 2017

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aricom and Mexico, which both recently suffered devastating natural disasters, have agreed to strengthen cooperation in disaster risk management.

The agreement forms part of a Joint Declaration issued at the end of the Fourth Caricom-Mexico Summit held in Belize on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, under the joint chairmanship of Caricom Chairman, Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell

of Grenada and the President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto.

The Mexico-Caricom Strategy for Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management will have three main lines of work. It will strengthen initiatives already in place; promote cooperation in training and the exchange of best practices in a range of relevant areas such as early warning, awareness raising, emergency response, rehabilitation of physical

and telecommunications infrastructure, risk transfer and public private partnerships for disaster response and reconstruction; and it will promote joint action in multilateral fora while also mobilising international support to strengthen the Caribbean’s institutional capabilities for disaster risk management.

The international support will cover economic issues such as use of GDP per capita to graduate Caricom Member States from concessionary financing, and preventing de-risking measures.

During September, Mexico suffered two major earthquakes which killed hundreds and caused widespread damage, while several Caricom countries took direct hits from two category five hurricanes, Irma and Maria, which caused a number of deaths and billions of dollars in damage. (Excerpt from Barbados Advocate)

ter attending her manager’s wedding, which she also Tweeted about.

Madonna’s Instagram post of the photo attracted comments from many in Brazil who were unhappy.

Among the replies, one said Madonna needed to “explain” the picture, another called the picture “inappropriate”, and a third said the photo showed “disrespect” to Brazilians.

Soon after the image was uploaded to social media, it was posted by the official military police account of Rio de Janeiro:

In response, one person asked if the photo meant Madonna was receiving a “police escort” in the favela, while another wondered if a Brazilian celebrity visiting the United States would have been “protected” by the Police.

Marco Gomes, a Brazilian technologist, simply tweeted “Madonna does not have a clue”.

Meanwhile, @ brunoomasc asked why there was interest at all as Madonna “decided by herself to go” to the favela . (Excerpt from BBC News)

Tobago Health Authority found negligent in teen’s death

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he Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) has been ordered to pay compensation to the mother of a 17-yearold boy who died days after he was discharged from the Scarborough General Hospital with stab wounds.

In an oral judgment in the Hall of Justice in Tobago Thursday, Justice Frank Seepersad said the TRHA was negligent in its treatment of Zach Seeran when they discharged him, because its staff had failed to consider a CT scan from a private medical institution which showed he had damage to several internal organs.

Seepersad said: “It is unfathomable that in 2010 a CT scan report which was ordered could sit on a desk at an off-site facility and no effort was made to ascertain the whereabouts of same. The tears of his mother should not have been shed in vain. It is

unacceptable that available and requested diagnostic assistance, which was ordered and prepared, was not forwarded to the hospital.”

Seepersad ruled that the care afforded to Seeran fell below the reasonable standard expected of healthcare institutions.

While he ordered compensation he did not quantify it, instead referring the issue to a High Court Master.

Seepersad said the case demonstrated the need for a critical review of the public healthcare system. “As flawed as the system may be, it still provides an invaluable service to thousands of citizens and so a solution has to be found,” he said, as he suggested that improvements be funded via amendments to the health surcharge system, or through introduction of a public health insurance scheme as used in other countries. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

FAO says restoration of immediate food production needed for Dominica's rural population

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he Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says Dominica’s food production requires immediate restoration as a result of widespread devastation to agriculture and fisheries caused

by Hurricane Maria when it lashed the island last month.

Dominica suffered the most damage from the powerful Category Five hurricane in the Eastern Caribbean, which decimated its agricultural and fisheries sectors, and the FAO said that the storm brought strong winds and torrential rains that caused swollen rivers, flash floods and landslides, severely damaging farm housing, irrigation infrastructure, feeder roads, crop and livestock production, forest reserves, fishing boats and other equipment.

It said the destruction directly impacted income, food and nu-

trition security for most of the residents.

The FAO said that in conjunction with recovery efforts by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Dominica, the InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), they will be providing short-term varieties of vegetable seeds, as well as fertilisers and hand tools to help residents grow crops in the interim while long term restoration of agriculture and fisheries is underway.

In addition to providing immediate assistance, FAO in coordination with the Ministry has identified key priority areas for the long-term recovery of the agricultural sector including crop, livestock, fishery and forestry. (Excerpt from CMC)

saturDAY, october 28, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Spain sacks Catalan Government HIV-positive Italian after independence declaration Valentino Talluto jailed for infecting 30 women

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he Madrid Government sacked Catalonia’s President and dismissed its Parliament on Friday, hours after the region declared itself an independent nation in Spain’s gravest political crisis since the return of democracy four decades ago.

A new regional election will be held in Catalonia on December 21, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in a televised address on a day of high drama.

As well as removing Carles Puigdemont as head of the autonomous region, he also fired its Police Chief and said central Government Ministries would take over the Catalan administration.

“Spain is living through a sad day,” Rajoy said. “We believe it is urgent to listen to Catalan citizens, to all of them, so that they can decide their future and nobody can act outside the law on their behalf.”

As he spoke, thousands of independence supporters packed the Sant Jaume Square in front of the Catalan regional headquarters in Barcelona, their earlier joyful mood somewhat dampened by Rajoy’s actions.

In a stunning show of defiance of Madrid, the Catalan Parliament had voted in the afternoon to make a uni-

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People celebrate after the Catalan regional parliament passes the vote of independence from Spain in Barcelona, Spain October 27, 2017

lateral declaration of independence.

Despite the emotions and celebrations inside and outside the building, it was a futile gesture as shortly afterwards the Spanish Senate in Madrid approved the imposition of direct rule.

Several European countries, including France and Germany, and the United States also rejected the independence declaration and said they

supported Rajoy’s efforts to preserve Spain’s unity.

The crisis has now reached a new and possibly dangerous level as independence supporters have called for a campaign of disobedience. Immediately after news of the vote, Spanish shares and bonds were sold off, reflecting business concern over the turmoil. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

n Italian accountant has been jailed for 24 years after intentionally infecting 30 women with HIV. Valentino Talluto is said to have had unprotected sex with at least 53 women after his HIV diagnosis in 2006, the youngest of whom was 14 at the relationship's start.

The accountant, using the pseudonym "Hearty Style", went on social networks and dating sites to find his victims. On Friday, judges sentenced the 33-year-old to 24 years in prison.

Talluto's defence lawyers had argued their client's actions were "imprudent, but not intentional".

However, those who asked him to wear a condom were told he was either allergic, or had recently been tested for HIV, news agency AFP reported.

When some of the women confronted him after dis-

covering they were infected, he denied he was a carrier of the potentially deadly virus, which can lead to AIDS. As a result of his actions, another four people contracted the virus on top of the women he directly infected: three men and one baby.

Prosecutor Elena Neri told the court last month: "His actions were intended to sow death."

However, Talluto – whose mother was an HIV-infected drug addict who died when he was four – told the court if that had been the case, he would not have gone to the effort of having actual relationships.

"Many of the girls know my friends and family," he said. "They say that I wanted to infect as many people as possible. If that had been the case, I would have gone for casual sex in bars, I would not have brought them into my life." (Excerpt from BBC News)

Presidential election Iraq orders truce with Kurds Australia Deputy PM to allow peaceful deployment disqualified from office rerun postponed

Australian Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce

A

ustralian Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce and four other politicians were wrongly elected because they held dual citizenship, a court has ruled.

The High Court of Australia decision means three of the politicians, including Joyce, are disquali-

fied from office. The others quit in July.

Australia's Constitution prohibits dual citizens from being elected. Joyce's exit puts pressure on the Government, which only had a one-seat majority when he was in office.

He could return through a by-election.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who renounced New Zealand citizenship in August, has pledged to re-contest his lower house seat. "I respect the verdict of the court," Joyce said immediately after the verdict.

"We live in a marvellous democracy, with all the checks and balances they have given us all the freedoms we see. I thank the court [for] their deliberations." (Excerpt from BBC News)

in western Kenya

K

enya's electoral commission has postponed for the second time in two days the presidential election rerun in some parts of the country's western region over security concerns.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Friday said it would announce the new date of special elections at a later date. "The commission has deliberated on the various incidents happening in some parts of the country and has postponed the election scheduled to take place tomorrow to a further date to be announced," Wafula Chebukati, IEBC chairman, said late on Friday.

The announcement was made as sporadic violence con-

tinued, with at least one protester reported killed in the western county of Bungoma, as demonstrators opposed to the now postponed Saturday vote took to the streets.

On the day of the election rerun on Thursday, at least three people were killed in western Kenya after clashes between security forces and anti-government demonstrators.

The rerun vote was first postponed on Thursday in the counties of Kisumu, Siaya, Migori and Homa Bay due to "security challenges", the electoral body said.

"We have faced and continue to face challenges which are largely security related in certain electoral areas," Chebukati said on Thursday.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

at border crossings

I

raqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered a 24-hour suspension to military operations against Kurdish forces in northern Iraq, to allow for the peaceful deployment of Iraqi troops at the border crossings with the Kurdistan region.

A Kurdish spokesman earlier said the two sides reached an agreement on Friday to stop fighting which broke out on October 16, after Iraqi forces seized the oil-city of Kirkuk.

Abadi ordered the offensive on Kirkuk and other Kurdish-held territory in retaliation to the September 25 vote for independence in a referendum organized by the Kurdistan Regional

Government (KRG) – a drive that was all but crushed by the surprise attack.

The 24-hour truce “should allow a joint technical committee ... to work on the deployment of federal Iraqi forces in all disputed areas, including Fish-Khabur, and the international border”, Abadi said in a statement.

“This should prevent bloodshed between the children of the same country.”

He wants to take control of border crossings with neighbouring countries, including one in the FishKhabur area through which an oil export pipeline crosses into Turkey, carrying Iraqi and Kurdish crude oil.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Indian surgeons separate Ghana investigation after twins joined at the head child rape 'pardon'

The twin boys were separated after 16 hours of surgery

S

urgeons in the Indian capital, Delhi, have separated twin boys who were conjoined at the tops of their heads.

Two-year-old Jaga and Kalia underwent 16 hours of surgery, and are now in the

intensive care unit, doctors said.

A team of 30 doctors carried out the surgery – the first of its kind in India – at a State-run hospital.

The boys were born with shared blood vessels and

brain tissues, a very rare condition that occurs once in about three million births.

The director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Randeep Guleria, told the Press Trust of India that the "next 18 days would be extremely critical to ascertain the success of the surgery".

The twins, hailing from a village in eastern Orissa state, were joined at the head – a condition known as craniopagus.

Even before the operation they had defeated the odds; craniopagus occurs in one in three million births, and 50 per cent of those affected die within 24 hours, doctors say. (Excerpt from BBC News)

G

hana's Inspector General of Police has ordered an investigation into the alleged rape of a four-year-old girl after national outrage over the case.

The parents of the child said a local chief told them nothing could be done because the community gods deemed the suspect innocent.

Many said the case demonstrated a culture that shielded sex attackers.

Local Police are also now under investigation following accusations of poor handling of the incident.

Ghana's Police Chief David Asante-Apeatuhas has summoned the commander of Central Region for questioning after a pub-

Campaigners have been using the hashtag #JusticeForHer to demand action

lic outcry about the handling of the incident.

The 18-year-old suspect has not been arrested since the attack nearly two weeks ago, the BBC's Thomas Naadi reports from the capital, Accra.

The case has caused

concern, dominating radio and social media conversations with the hashtag #JusticeForHer trending on social media.

There is also anger about the traditional leader's alleged attitude to the rape.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, october 28, 2017

ARCHIE

Get physical if you want to avoid conflict. The less articu(March 21late you are about what you April 19) don’t like, the better. Show how much you care through your actions, not through your words.

ARIES

Focus on personal growth, TAURUS not on trying to remodel oth(April 20- ers. Protect your assets, but May 20) be willing to share with loved ones. View situations through the eyes of others in order to see things differently.

dilbert

Spend time primping and GEMINI (May 21- updating your look. The betJune 20) ter you feel about yourself and what you have to offer, the easier it will be to present and promote what you want.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Emotions and money won’t mix. Trying to buy someone’s love won’t have a lasting effect. If you want to impress someone, do so with your intelligence.

Emotions will surface, making it difficult for you to see your situation clearly.

Avoid getting into a spat with someone over something inconsequential. Your actions will speak louder than words.

Take a trip down memory VIRGO lane.

Look at what you’ve left (Aug. 23behind.

Having a clear picSept. 22) ture of the past will help you avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

Calvin and Hobbes

Home improvements will LIBRA (Sept. 23- make a difference to the way Oct. 23) you do things. Get rid of clutter. Have a garage sale or donate items you no longer use. Romance is highlighted.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

An emotional situation SCORPIO will cause confusion. Be real(Oct. 24istic, but don’t feel you must Nov. 22) conform to what others do or say. Choose the path that suits your needs.

Take the approach that SAGITTARIUS makes you feel most comfort(Nov. 23- able when faced with an emoDec. 21) tional situation. You’ll be let down if you rely on someone else to look out for your interests.

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle

An emotional outburst CAPRICORN will cause a misunderstand(Dec. 22- ing. Offer practical advice Jan. 19) and the truth when asked your opinion. You won’t please everyone, but you will have peace of mind.

Share your feelings or do AQUARIUS something nice for someone (Jan. 20- you love. An idea you have Feb. 19) will help you save money.

Cut costs or use your skills to bring in extra cash.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

It will be difficult to get PISCES (Feb. 20- accurate information. You’ll March 20) have to rely on your intuition to help you navigate your way through an emotional financial matter. Don’t divulge personal information.

saturDAY, october 28, 2017

19

Shadab heroics give Pakistan 2-0 lead T

here was a hat-trick from Faheem Ashraf, and a Sri Lankan collapse that saw them lose

of the entire tour, Pakistan edged home with one ball to spare, with only two wickets in hand when the win-

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka Innings (20 overs maximum) MD Gunathilaka c Imad Wasim b Shadab Khan 51 EMDY Munaweera run out (Imad Wasim) 19 S Samarawickrama† run out (Mohammad Hafeez/†Sarfraz Ahmed) 32 S Prasanna run out sub (Mohammad Nawaz) 1 NLTC Perera* c sub (Mohammad Nawaz) b Hasan Ali MD Shanaka lbw b Faheem Ashraf 1 I Udana c Hasan Ali b Faheem Ashraf 6 ML Udawatte c Babar Azam b Faheem Ashraf 0 SS Pathirana c sub (Mohammad Nawaz b Hasan Ali 1 SMA Priyanjan not out 2 JRMVB Sanjaya not out 4 Extras (lb-1, w-3) 4 Total:(For 9 wickets, 20 Overs) 124 Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-106, 3-107, 4-109, 5-111, 6-117, 7-117, 8-117, 9-119 Bowling Imad Wasim 4-0-230 (w-1), Usman Khan 2-0-180, Hasan Ali 4-0-31-2, Faheem Ashraf 3-0-16-3, Shadab Khan 4-0-14-1, Mohammad Hafeez 3-0-21-0 (w-1)

eight wickets for 14 runs.

That might suggest another rout of the hapless visitors, but nothing could be further from reality. In the game

Pakistan Innings (target: 125 runs from 20 overs) Ahmed Shehzad c Shanaka b Perera 27 Fakhar Zaman run out (Udana/†Samarawickrama) 11 Babar Azam lbw b Udana 1 Shoaib Malik c †Samarawickrama b Perera 9 Mohammad Hafeez c Perera b Pathirana 14 Sarfraz Ahmed*† run out Gunathilaka/ †Samarawickrama) 28 Imad Wasim lbw b Perera 2 Faheem Ashraf c Gunathilaka b Sanjaya 4 Shadab Khan not out 16 Hasan Ali not out 3 Extras (lb-5, w-5) 10 Total (For 8 wickets, 19.5) 125 Did not bat: Usman Khan Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-31, 3-50, 4-55, 5-94, 6-100, 7-104, 8-113 Bowling Sanjaya 3.5-0-32-1 (w1), Munaweera 2-0-17-0 (w1), Udana 4-0-17-1, Pathirana 4-0-18-1 (w-2), Perera 4-0-243 (w-1), Shanaka 2-0-12-0 Result: Pakistan won by 2 wickets with 1 ball remaining Series result: Pakistan leads the 3-match series 2-0 Player of the Match: Shadab Khan (Pakistan)

ning runs were struck. They were struck by none other than golden boy Shadab Khan, who smashed a six off the game's penultimate ball

to wrench victory from Sri Lanka's desperate, clawing hands.

This was a complete T20 game, beginning with intelligent batting by Sri Lanka, put in after Pakistan won the toss. That was followed by a remarkable collapse from 106 for 1 to 120 for 9.

Pakistan looked like they were cruising early on, before an excellent spell by captain Thisara Perera dragged Sri Lanka back.

From there, they held the ascendancy right until the last three balls. Pakistan needed eight off them. Shadab hit a straight six and a couple off the next delivery denied Sri Lanka's valiant young side victory in an astonishing contest.

It was Sri Lanka's best game of the limited-overs tour. The batsmen early on deprived Pakistan of wickets while keeping the score ticking. A 63-run second-wicket partnership between Gunathilaka and Sadeera Samarawickrama set Thisara's men up for a score above par, with fast bowlers Hasan Ali and Usman Khan expensive in the early overs.

Shadab was the only bowler in the middle overs able to rein in Sri Lanka. At one point, they might have been eyeing 150, but a superb spell from the teenager prevented them from cutting loose. He has added another variation, a quicker one

that can reach 120kph, and it removed Sri Lanka's top scorer Gunathilaka amidst their late collapse. Shadab might not have taken heaps of wickets, but his figures of 4-0-14-1 were to prove crucial.

In the madness of Sri Lanka's final overs, Faheem Ashraf emerged as the hero with a sensational hat-trick, removing Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana and Mahela Udawatte off the last three balls of the 19th over. It was Pakistan's first T20I hattrick and, in truth, couldn't have come from an unlikelier source.

For a while, Mohammad Hafeez and Sarfraz Ahmed looked in control, never letting the asking rate get out of sight. But once Hafeez holed out to long on with Pakistan still requiring 31, panic set in. Perera returned for his final over and got rid of Imad Wasim, and terrific fielding in the deep saw Pakistan's captain run out three balls later. Twentyone were still required off 14, and with three wickets remaining, Sri Lanka were firm favourites.

Udana conceded only four in a brilliant penultimate over, but the drama all lay in the last over.

Faheem was caught at longon off the first ball of Vikum Sanjaya's over, and with 11 needed off four, Pakistan were up against it. It looked even graver for them when

8-a-side football kicks off...

Representing the Director of Sport was Jevaughn Stephen who congratulated the promotional agency for the step made in providing sports and entertainment at a time when such activities is needed in the town of New Amsterdam and its environs and he announced a commitment of not only the championship trophy but a commitment for sponsorship from the Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibilities for Culture Youth and Sports Dr. George Norton who is schedule to kick off the tournament.

In the feature address from Her Worship the Mayor of New Amsterdam Winifred Heywood, who was at her first official event in the discipline of football since acceding to the leadership of the town expressed her delight in the development for the sport and the initia-

tive taken by the promotion agency to undertake such a tournament at this time.

Joseph Simon noted that the BFA is grateful to the promoters in now having a tournament for the senior clubs of the association which was lacking in years. However, he noted that this he thinks would have been the biggest tournament for the association so far and pledged his association support to the organizers.

Patrons with intentions of witnessing matches during this tournament were being assured maximum public security will be in attendance as the Deputy Commander Senior Superintendent Edmund Cooper lamented.

He noted that the force crime fighting strategy needs to link stakeholders and create partnership with the community, agencies etc. and as

Shadab Khan was Man of the Match for his efforts with bat and ball

Hasan sliced one straight to long-off, but was reprieved by a crucial dropped catch, allowing Pakistan to scramble three. That brought on strike Shadab, a young man whose honeymoon

Guyanese confident of South American 10k success …as 1st leg runs off today

from page 22

such his division is on board in this tournament.

Chief Executive Officer of the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, Colin Bynoe noted that his facility which is in close proximity from the venue has already made preparations for this event. He noted that an ambulance will be at the venue with a medical team since this will be the first senior tournament and a lot is expected from the clubs participating.

Fly Jamaica is also on board as the have donated two free tickets which would be won via a raffle where patrons purchasing tickets to the matches would be require to full in the basic contact information.

Other sponsors are Jumbo Jet trucking & Auto Sales, J’s Supermarket, Homeline Furnishing, Foot Soul among others.

with cricket simply refuses to end. Two balls and eight runs later, the contest was suddenly over, and Shadab's joy, as well as Abu Dhabi's, was unconfined. (ESPN Cricinfo)

W

Rickie Williams during the recent GTT Pinktober 10K run

inner of the GTT Pinktober 10K, Rickie Williams is representing Guyana at the South American 10k road race in Suriname today and is confident of doing well.

Williams who is a self-sponsored athlete is part of the five-member Guyana team that will face the starter’s gun today. The others are Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) selected duo of Cleveland Forde and Ashanti Scott and Running Braves pair of Cleveland Thomas and Winston Missigher.

In the month leading up to the GTT Pinktober run, 17-year-old Rickie, who hails from Waramuri, Moruca, Region 1, took advantage of the free training offered by GTT and local coach Leslie Black to prepare for the event.

Coach Black credits Rickie’s recent Pinktober training for the win and his ability to, for the first time, participate in a 10K race at an international level.

Rickie has been actively competing in the athletics arena for the past two years, and is the current Junior 5000 and 1000 meters champion for Guyana.

In August he won the 5000 meters at the Inter-Guiana Games held in Suriname. GTT extends best wishes to Rickie in his quest to bring home the first place medal.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, october 28, 2017

Pouderoyen, Riddim Squad produce 7-goal Turbo football thriller

GSCL Inc/ PM T20 Softball Cup…

Regal Masters & All-Stars stretched but unbeaten

T

he inaugural Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup organized by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc began on Friday with competitive action across four venues.

In the Masters Category, Regal Masters won both of their games and are looking good for a semi-final place this afternoon while Enterprise Masters are facing elimination after losing both of their matches.

In the All-Star category there were three centuries and four 5-wicket hauls with Ryan Layne’s 7-17 being the best effort on the day with the ball for Farm XI. With the bat Boot’s All-Stars batsman B. Mangal scored a double century while Sarfraz Karim and Sarfraz Esau also weighed in heavily with the bat.

See match summaries below; At Malteenoes SC, Regal Masters beat HS Masters by seven wickets. Batting first, HS Masters scored 170-6 with Jagdesh Persaud scoring 51, Mohamed Rafeek 40 and M. Bobb 23; C. Motilall claimed 3-23 and S. Singh 2-49. Regal Masters responded with 1753 in 19.5 overs. Mahendra Hardyal struck 61, Mahase Chunilall 37, Mohendra Arjune 33 and David Harper 23. R. Myers had two wickets.

Boots All-Stars thumped Ross Kill by 295 runs. Boots AllStars batted first and piled up 385-3. B. Mangal blasted 201 and K. Ferrier made 93. Ross Kill All-Stars were limited to 90-9 in reply. Michael Sultan made 44 while J. France took four wickets.

Regal Masters beat Enterprise Masters by eight wickets. Enterprise Masters were limited to 128-9 with brothers Latchman Yadram (48 not out) and Seemangal Yadram (46) being the principal scorers. Laurie Singh bagged

Sarfraz Karim

5-13. Regal Masters replied with 129-2 in eight overs. Eon Abel made 48 and Mahase Chunilall 32.

At Everest, Regal AllStars overcame Spartans in a close game by three wickets.

Spartans took first strike and managed 153 all out. Delroy Hicks made 51, P. Persaud 27 and K. Gobin 21 while Safraz Esau, Fazal Rafiek and Sewchand Budhu took two wickets each. Regal AllStars replied with 155-7 with Richard Latif making 31 and Sachin Singh 20. K. Gangaram had three wickets and Clinton Pestano two.

Regal All-Stars trounced Dutch 4 Warriors by 208 runs.

Regal All-Stars rattled up 270 all out taking first strike. Safraz Esau slammed 122 and Ameer Nizamudeen 31; Stephan Monize claimed 3-50. Dutch 4 Warriors were sent packing for 62 in 11.5 overs in reply.

Sewchand Budhu bagged 5-16 and Esau 3-14.

Hill Foot Warriors defeated Dutch 4 Warriors by 103 runs.

Hill Foot batted first and posted 211-7. Mithum Narine 49, Nairne Looknauth 30, Avinash Mohabir 29, Vicky Raghubeer 28 and V. Looknauth 23 not out were the principal scorers as T. Alli claimed 3-36. Dutch 4 Warriors never threatened

– Mangal hits double century, Layne takes 7-for and were eventually bowled out for 108 in 11 overs. Asif Samad made 42 as Shawn Lall grabbed 5-19.

Speedboat beat Success by ten wickets. Success batted first and were blown away for 73 all out in 14.4 overs. I. Ivan snared 4-11, Wazir Hussain 3-16 and Shazim Hussain 2-5.

Speedboat responded with 74 without loss in eight overs.

Shazim Hussain made 30 and Anand Bharat 26.

SCV All-Stars beat Farm XI by four wickets. Farm XI took first turn in the middle and managed 152-9. Ovid Seymour got 32; B. Beharry, R. Prahalad, M. Azeez and N. Boodhoo took two wickets each. SVC All-Stars responded with 154-6 in 15.5 overs. Mohamed Karim struck 47; L. Alphonso took three wickets.

Spartans XI beat Speedboat XI by two runs. Spartans made 221 and Speedboat replied with 219.

At DCC, De Hoop beat Queen’s All-Stars by five wickets. Queen’s All-Stars were bowled out for 119, batting first. A. Singh made 40.

De Hoop responded with 1205. R. Samouri made 41 and R. Persaud 32. A. Singh took two wickets.

Amazon Masters beat Enterprise Masters by five wickets. Enterprise Masters took first strike and made 1738. Latchman Yadram scored 38, V. Gobin 25 and Seemangal Yadram 21. Amazon Masters responded with 175-5 in 18 overs. F. Bacchus got 41 and S. Singh 35; N. Seebarran had two wickets.

Farm XI beat De Hoop by seven wickets. De Hoop made 98 all out in 14 overs. S. Nicholas made 22; Ralph Layne grabbed 7-17 and Amir Khan 2-9. Farm replied with 99-3 in 6.2 overs. Sheldon Adams made 29.

Tropical Spring defeated Narine’s Masters by 134.

B Mangal

Tropical Spring took first knock and posted 278-4. V. Baljit struck 161, D. Sankar 54 and Hackim Majeed 41. Narine’s Masters were bowled out for 144 in reply. H. Dhanraj made 21; R. Khan took three wickets.

At YMCA, SVC beat Boots All-Stars by 67 runs. Safraz Karim clobbered 144 as SVC totaled 244. In reply, Boots XI folded for 177 all out At GNIC SC, New York Hustlers overcame Tropical Springs by one run. NY Hustlers batted first and posted 201-7 with Shameer Sadloo scoring 56 and Troy Gobin 44. Tropical Springs responded with 200-8.

Hackim Majeed made 56 and D. Sankar 54; Wallack Joseph had 3-26 and Gobin 2-41.

HS Masters defeated NY Hustlers by 79 runs. HS Masters scored 238-6, batting first.

Jagdesh Persaud slammed 89, Rudy Myers 39 and Mohamed Rafeek 25; E. Dodson had 3-54. NY Hustlers replied with 159-9 with Dodson scoring 35 and C. Richmond 31; M. Ifill captured 4-17 and Persaud 3-31.

T

quarter-finals.

World number four Marin Cilic had an even harder time than Federer, needing two tiebreaks to beat 100thranked Hungarian Marton Fucsovics 7-6(3) 5-7 7-6(4) in just over three hours.

The Croat now faces Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, a late contender to snatch one of the last two places at the ATP World Tour Finals in London, who beat Roberto Bautista 6-2 2-6 6-4. (Reuters)

diately went from hero to villain when Quacy Allenye scored an extra time goal from mid-field (90+8).

Earlier, the pair of

Cordel Johnson (7th) and Omarion Savory (17th) led Kuru Kuru FC to a comfortable victory over Uitivulgt.

Matches continue next Wednesday at the same venue where Winners Connection out of Linden clash with Mahaica Determinators and Camptown battle Buxton Stars.

The teams are contesting for a first-place prize of $500,000 while the runners-up will receive $250,000; third place, $125,000 and fourth place, $75,000.

Jamaican athletes warned about doping pitfalls

I

Jamaica’s Minister of Sport, Olivia Grange

Federer fight back to reach Swiss Indoors semis

op seed Roger Federer was finally forced to work hard for a win at the Swiss Indoors tournament as he fought back to beat Adrian Mannarino 4-6 6-1 6-3 in his quarter-final on Friday.

The world number two, chasing an eighth title at his hometown tournament, had dropped only eight games as he breezed through the first two rounds but found his 28th-ranked opponent a much tougher nut to crack. Mannarino took the first set and, although Federer cruised through the second, the Frenchman made him work hard again in the third before the Swiss completed the win.

Federer’s semi-final opponent on Saturday will be Belgian third seed David Goffin who beat American Jack Sock 7-6(6) 6-3 in the last of the night’s

P

ouderoyen and Riddim Squad produced a seven-goal thriller, with the former coming out victorious when the Turbo Knock out football tournament when action continued on Thursday evening at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta avenue.

Both sides kept answering each other’s call, reducing any lead that was created. Rolex Smith in the 25th took the lead for the East Bank unit and had them ahead at half.

T h e s e c ond half w a s when the pend u lum began to swing for both teams with Esan Nelson equalling in the 47th. After which Teon Jones 52nd, re-affirmed his side’s lead. The drama didn’t stop since goals from Marvin Griffith (62nd), Marvin Frank (69th) placed the West bank unit ahead.

Another twist came when keeper Darrel Stuart scored in injury time but he imme-

Roger Federer

n the wake of the twoyear ban imposed on 2014 Commonwealth Games 200m champion Jason Livermore on Friday, Jamaica’s Minister of Sports Olivia Grange has called on the country’s athletes to be more proactive in the fight against doping.

Livermore, 29, was banned after a drug test in December 2016 revealed metabolites of the anabolic steroids Clomifhene and Mestorolone.

The sprinter told an independent anti-doping disciplinary panel that he was taking medication that would improve his fertility. His statements were corroborated by his doctor, who also revealed that he was not aware of what a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) certificate was.

Since 2013, a number of Jamaica’s high-profile athletes have been sanctioned for breaching the WADA

Code and have put the country’s reputation in a bad light.

Minister Grange is calling for the athletes to take greater care.

“First of all, let me re-iterate Jamaica’s firm position against doping in sport.

This process shows that our system to fight doping in sport is working,” she told SportsMax.tv.

“While I will not comment on this particular case, I will give this general comment that athletes and their support teams must learn from this process and ensure that they take the matter of doping in sport very seriously.

“There is no room for error when they are competing and there is no room for error when it comes to applying the rules related to the fight against doping in sport. Our athletes and their teams must exercise due care.” (Sportsmax)

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Matthews leads Windies Women in latest rankings

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Anisa Mohammed

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out the top three in the all-rounder category. Anisa Mohammed was fourth in the bowling rankings with 608 points.

Skipper Taylor topped the T20I batting rankings with 678 points, while Dottin was fourth with 622 points.

Taylor was once again featured in the ODI rankings. She is fourth in bowling with 626 points and second in the

all-rounder category with 377 points.

The Windies Women just completed a clean sweep against Sri Lanka with series wins in the ODIs and T20Is at home. Next on the agenda for the Women will a tour of New Zealand next March. Both teams will do battle in three ODIs and five T20Is.

Hayley Matthews

25 complete FIFA Grassroot Programme T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, concluded an annual Federation of International Football (FIFA) Grassroot Programme in Region two on Friday that educated participants on how to introduce six to 12 - year olds to the game of football.

The programme which began on October 23 was conducted by FIFA Instructor, Lenny Lake, consisted of three days of training for participants and ended on Friday with a festival for the children at the Cotton Field Ground.

Twenty-five participants, inclusive of teachers, coaches, parents and volunteers were trained through theoretical and practical means.

Theoretical training occurred at the Oasis Hotel in Queenstown Essequibo, while the practical training was at the Anna Regina playfield. Participants utilized their training on Friday from 9:00h to 12:00h at the children’s festival in the form of drilling exercises such as shooting, passing and defending revamped to appeal and intrigue children. Children from the Taymouth Manor, Queenstown and Anna Regina Primary schools took part in the festival and received tokens from Lenny Lake upon its completion.

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Part of a session at the Grassroot Programme at the Anna Regina playfield

Present throughout the programme were GFF Coaches Education and Development Officer, Lyndon France, GFF Technical Director, Ian Greenwood, GFF School’s Development Officer, Ceon Bristol, GFF Executive Member, Keith Ojeer and Lenny Lake.

In a release to the media, Greenwood stated: “The technical department has a directive to upscale and develop coaches across the country to equip Guyana with licensed coaches and we have to be visible in the outlying areas. This FIFA Grassroots

Coach Education Course will develop coaches to understand age specific methodology and delivery, they were also provided with material such as textbooks, DVDs, and booklets. They will have bibs, cones and balls at the end of the course to ensure they can do this. The Essequibo and Pomeroon Football Association Executive will be tasked on completion of the course to ensure that the candidates remain in the game after the four days.”

Meanwhile France said: “It’s wonderful that the Federation could

team up with the Ministry of Education in that in the school system of Guyana there’s always over two hundred thousand persons to be accessed and the children spend a lot of time in schools and with their teachers.

In addition, by using teachers we are tapping into a resource that has people who have already been trained to understand child and children development, the way they socialize and their psychology. So it’s great that the Federation can work with teachers on such a project.”

Stiff challenge ahead of John in National Park

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Stafanie Taylor

ricket West Indies congratulates the Windies Women players who have been included in the latest ICC ODI and T20I player rankings.

Hayley Matthews leads the T20I bowling and all-rounder categories with 631 and 288 points respectively.

Stafanie Taylor with 286 and Deandra Dottin 278 points respectively, round

Jamaul John has a packed weekend of cycling

ycling enthusiasts and fans will gather in their numbers today at the sixth annual Payless Variety Cycling in the National Park to watch defending champion Jamaul John defend his title.

John will be looking for retribution after losing out at the Digicel Cancer Awareness cycling meet last weekend. He will again have to face competition from Geron Williams, Raul Leal, Shaquell Agard, Alanzo Ambrose and Kemuel Moses in the feature 35-lap invitational event.

Despite being joint winners last year, John and Leal will face an uphill task to repeat that feat.

The 11-race card will pedal off at 09:30h. The other races include the Veteran’s U-50 race, Mountain Bike race, Juveniles and Juniors as well as the Boys and Girls event.

Nigel Duguid Jr. is the defending Juvenile champion while Julio Melville is the reigning mountain bike racer. Last year’s veteran champion rider was Jaikarran Sukhai while Fazia Sahadeo carted off the Boys and Girls title.

The event is being sponsored

by Star Party Rentals in partnership with Payless Variety Store; Nand Kumar who is a former junior champion rider will be on hand to present trophies and prizes.

Following that meet, cyclists will head over to West Demerara to compete in the seventh annual

Powerade 50-mile road race.

Last year’s winner was Junior Niles who took the event in two hours and 16 minutes; the Junior champion was Andrew Hicks.

Manager of the Powerade brand, Errol Nelson as well as Banks DIH outdoor manager Mortimer Stuart will be present to hand over prizes.

The top three finishers in the Junior, Veteran and Juvenile categories will be rewarded while the top six riders in the open category will collect prizes.

The race will begin at the Wales police station on the West Bank of Demerara head to Bushy Park, East Bank Demerara before returning to Schoonord, WBD for the finish.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, october 28, 2017

Prem’s Electrical, BM Soat join International Race of Champions

14 riders geared for Bath Settlement challenge T G rass Track excitement will make its timely return to Bath Settlement on Sunday where fans are in for a treat since the big names are ready for the challenge.

The likes of Sadiek Yaseen, Nathaniel Persaud, Avo Ramkumar, Vickash Ramkumar, Ravin Ramkumar, Sid Rajkaran, Raj Rajkaran, Andy Rajkaran, Dave Gangadin, Paul Satnaraine, Peter Tulsie, Stephen Nobrega, Daniel Hardeen and Eddy Singh are all fine tuning their preparations and are geared to take to the starting line.

Organiser Sheik Yassen confirmed that systems are in place for another crowd pleaser. Yassen contend-

ed that the sport continues to grow and given the enormous crowd which came to witness the action when a day/night version of the event was held in Anna Regina, he expects the Berbicians to come out in their numbers again.

There are 10 races carded for the day, five of which are professional (12 laps each), three for the novice riders (10 laps each) and two for the newcomers (10 laps each).”

When the event was last held at the Bath Settlement ground in April, Kenrick Spellen riding under the banner of R & Ganesh Mining Enterprise took the Champion rider of the day with 60 points. Spellen was followed closely by Junior

he Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) International Race of Champions is picking up pace with two new sponsors confirmed on Thursday.

Prem’s Electrical and B.M. Soat Auto Spares are the two companies who have handed over their contribution to the event.

In handing over Prem Electrical’s contribution, representative Nirmala Sukhram stated that the BM Soat Auto Spares’ Afraz Mohamed (left) hands over sponsorship to GMR&SC’s Saurica Singh

Sheik Yassen

Da Silva with 50 points and Nobrega 30.

Yassen also stated that the main sponsor day is Banks DIH under their Banks Beer brand.

8-a-side football kicks off November 3 in Berbice

Prem’s Electrical representative Nirmala Singh (right) hands over sponsorship to GMR&SC’s Saurica Singh

company has been on board for a number of years and continues to be satisfied with the event.

She added that a lot of the sport’s competitors use products from Prem’s Electrical hence the company’s decision to continually give back.

Meanwhile, B.M. Soat’s Afraz Mohamed echoed the same sentiments as Sukhram, saying, “We at B.M. Soat Auto Spares

are very big fans of racing.

We’ve been supporting it for a number of years and we hope to continue to do so.”

In collecting the sponsorships, GMR&SC representative Saurica Singh expressed the club’s delight for the various partnerships.

The 27-race programme is billed for November 11 and 12 at the South Dakota Circuit with races happening on both days. In addition to the local races, the club has also included two sets of new events. The much

talked about Radical SR3 will make their debut here during that event as part of what the club deems ‘giving back to the fans.’

There are also three professional drift cars that are expected for the event so that persons can be introduced to and excited by the different forms of entertainment on both days.

Saturday will be treated just as a race day, with adults being charged $1,000 per entry and children over 12 years $500. On Sunday, adults will be charged $2,000 and children over 12 years $1,000. Children under 12 are free.

Qualification will also be held on Saturday from 10:00h with races beginning at 14:00h. Scrutineering will take place on Thursday and Friday and before qualification on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the club is organising weekend and VIP passes for those patrons desirous of viewing both days.

We are ready for kickoff; from left: Senior Superintendent of Police Edmund Cooper, Jevaughn Stephen, Chief Prison Officer Colin John, Mark Bradford, George Simmons Jr, HW Mayor of New Amsterdam Winifred Heywood, Tito Sancho, Troy Peters, Jeff Clements, Bradford Peterkin, Nandram Basdeo, Joseph Simon and Paul James

B

anks DIH Ltd under the GT Beer brand in collaboration with the Berbice Football Association and new sports and entertainment promoters Candy Boss & Antics Promotions on Wednesday launched the inaugural Inter club invitational 8 – a—side football tournament.

This simple but significant event was held at the New Amsterdam Prisons Officers Club saw in attendance, Her Worship the Mayor of New Amsterdam Winifred Heywood, Regional Health Services, Region 6 Director Jevaughn Stephen who represented the Director of Sport, Deputy Commander of Guyana Police Force B’ Division Senior Superintendent Edmund Cooper, Public Relations Officer Banks DIH Ltd Troy Peters, Brand Manager Jeff Clements, Branch Sales Rep Nandram Basdeo, Events coordinator

Bradford Peterkin, Candy Boss & Antics Director Tito Sancho, Co-Director George Simmons Jr., Media Consultant & Secretary Mark Bradford, CEO New Amsterdam Hospital Colin Bynoe, Superintendent of Prisons Paul James and Berbice Football Association Secretary Joseph Simon.

Giving an overview of the tournament, Mark Bradford outlined that this tournament will see some 24 clubs from member associations of Georgetown, East Demerara and Berbice as they are set to kick off on November 3 with the grand finals on January 1 2018 with all the matches played at the All Saints Presbyterian Church (Scotts School) ground in New Amsterdam.

He noted that a total prize package in cash and trophies to the tune of G$1,000,000.00 will be at stake and the winners is set to pocket $500,000.00

as the first place winnings. $300,000.00 and $100,000,00 will got to the runners up and third place clubs respectively while $50,000.00 each will be at stake for the best goalkeeper and the highest goal scorer all under the sponsorship of the GT Beer Brand.

Troy Peters, indicated that this tournament was a timely planned one and his company is pleased to be associated with the Promotion agency in making this tournament a success.

He noted that this was history created since the member association of the Guyana Football Federation, the Berbice Football Association has over the years not been able to organized a senior tournament due to a number of unforeseen circumstances and as such this 8 – a – side initiative is seen a s a starting point for big football in Berbice. turn to page 19

Harold walks away from competition in memorial race N

ational Race Walker Debidyal Harold dominated the recently concluded Annual 5K Anand E.T Dharry Memorial Race staged at the National Parks on Sunday October 22.

Hosted by the Cavaliers Sports Club and Bar, Harold dominated the competition by utilizing all his experience to get the better of his teammates including second place Aabrid Khan and Saggal Lamjohn who finished in third place.

Salma Khan hammered her competitors as she finished in first place in the senior category while Shamar Edwards, Mc Allister Carroll and Rehanna Fraser placed first, second and third respectively.

Both Harold and Khan took to Homestretch with some pace as they outclassed other competitor to cross the line in convincing fashion. Following the

race, Anasha Ally, Director of E & A Consultants said her company was happy to partake in the event while reinforcing that they wil be supporting Race Walking in the future as it plays a key role in the healthy development of Guyanese.

Jennifer Major, Coordinator of the Cavaliers Sports Club and Bar added that the club is making every effort to keep the sport booming, despite the lack of sponsorship. She also added that the foundation is currently looking ahead to support the growth of the sport in Guyana.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, october 28, 2017

23

CWI/Digicel 4-Day Championships 2017-18

Permaul wrecks Scorpions on 16-wicket day

– Jaguars extend lead to 273

By Akeem Greene

V

eerasammy Permaul produced yet another sensational spell

Chandrika once again looked in total control of his innings from the onset, hitting some fluent drives, one of which was a crunch-

fore the Scorpions seamers cleaned up the tail.

However, it would seem the Scorpions’ batsmen relished the thought of fielding more since they hardly spent any time in the middle aside from Guyanese Assad Fudadin and captain Paul Palmer Jr. who shared a 57-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Seamer Romario Shepherd was on target immediately as he removed debutant Gareth Gravey with the fourth ball of the innings for a first ball duck.

Keemo Paul who shared the new ball with Shepherd, kept a consistent line and

Veerasammy Permaul was at his best yet again with the ball for Guyana Jaguars

With Jaguars in the driver’s seat, today’s action

SCOREBOARD

Tagenarine Chanderpaul looked fluent in his innings of 33

of classical left-arm spin bowling to wreck Jamaica Scorpions batting on Friday and placed Guyana Jaguars in the ascendency at stumps on day two of their opening round match of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) 2017/2018 Digicel 4-Day championship at the National Stadium, Providence.

On a day blessed with brilliant sunshine, a total of 16 wickets fell with Permaul once again as the chief destroyer with 6 for 29.

His feat was responsible for Scorpions horrendously sliding from 74 for 4 to 99 all out in 48.5 overs.

It essentially gave the three-time defending champions an initial lead of 167 which they carried to 273 after reaching stumps 106-4 with captain Leon Johnson on 11 and Bhaskar Yadram yet to score.

Unlike the first innings, the duo of Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Rajendra Chandrika batted with more urgency, picking the gaps and easily disposing of any lose deliveries to post 55 for the first wicket.

ing cover-drive off the bowling of seamer Derval Green which brought loud cheers from the sprinkling of spectators present.

The left-arm wrist-spin of Dennis Bulli was once again a handful, he got Chandrika edging behind after stroking five fours and one six.

Chanderpaul soon followed when he played across the line to full deliver from spinner Fabian Allen.

The visitors began sensing they could give the Jaguars a taste of their medicine with the ball since Damani Sewell removed Chandrapaul Hemraj for the second time in the match for a run-a ball 17 and then Gudakesh Motie, who was sent in as night watchman, soon followed after pulling two short balls to the ropes.

Yadram who was tormented by Bulli during his scoreless first innings stint was up against Bulli in the penultimate over and kept the spinner at bay.

Earlier, the Jaguars resumed from their overnight score of 258 for eight and only added eight runs be-

should be interesting when play resumes at 09:30h.

Assad Fudadin faces up against Romario Shepherd

length which brought him favour with the cheap dismissals of Trevon Griffith and Brandon King, leaving Scorpions 19 for 3.

It could have been worse had glove-man Anthony Bramble held on to a difficult chance off Fudadin off the fired up Shepherd while on two but himself and Paul buckled down to take lunch at 37 for 3.

The second session was simply the ‘Permaul show’ as he exposed the inexperience of the tourist’s feeble batting unit on his way

to a remarkable feat of 400 First-Class wickets in his 94th match (it was his 22nd five wicket haul).

He bowled with great tenacity, ripping through the middle-order leaving the Scorpions 18 runs from the follow-on target of 117.

Permaul had the prized wicket of fellow Berbician Fudadin with a delivery which gripped and turned crashing into his pads. The resistance of Palmer was brought to an end with a simple catch at short-leg after Permaul got one to bounce.

Jaguars 1st innings (Overnight 258-8) T Chanderpaul c Palmer* b Bulli 14 R Chandrika c wk Morrison b Green 25 C Hemraj c Garvey B Sewell 60 L Johnson* b Sewell 20 B Yadram b Bulli 0 A Bramble+ c Fudadin b Dawes 62 K Paul c Morrison+ b Green 12 S Rutherford b Sewell 45 R Shepherd not out not 22 V Permaul c Morrison+ b Green 3 G Motie c Garvey b Green 0 Extras: (w-1, b-1, nb-1) 3 Total: (all out; 96 overs) 266 Fall of Wickets: 1-38, 2-51, 3-96, 4-101, 5-132, 6-150, 7-233, 8-251, 9-266, 10-266 Bowlers: Dawes 16-8-37-1, Green 21-2-63-4, Sewell 28-969-3, Bulli 18.4-2-52-2, Allen 12-0-41-0, Fudadin 0.2-0-3-0 Scorpions 1st innings T Griffith lbw b Paul 5 G Garvey lbw b Shepherd 0 A Fudadin lbw b Permaul 39 B King c Chanderpaul b Paul 10 P Palmer* c Chanderpaul b Permaul 31 F Allen lbw b Permaul 0

R Morrision+ b Permal D Bulli c Bramble+ b Motie D Sewell not out D Green c Rutherford b Permaul J Dawes lbw b Permaul Extras: (w-1, nb-1) Total: (all out; 48.5 overs) Fall of Wickets: 1-0, 2-7, 3-19, 4-76, 5-87, 6-87, 7-88, 8-98, 9-99, 10-99 Bowling: Shepherd 9-2-291, Paul 6-0-20-2, Permaul 19.5-10-29-6, Rutherford 7-2-14-0, Motie 9-7-7-1 Guyana Jaguars 2nd innings T Chanderpaul c lbw Allen R Chandrika c Morrison b Bulli C Hemraj b Sewell L Johnson* not out G Motie c Morrison b Bulli B Yadram not out Extras: (1 b) Total: (106 for 4; 31 overs) To Bat: A Bramble+, K Paul, S Rutherford, R Shepherd, V Permaul Fall of Wickets: 1-55, 2-85, 3-89, 4-106 Bowling: Dawes 3-1-6-0, Green 4-0-21-0, Garvey 3-06-0, Sewell 12-5-35-1, Bulli 7-1-33-2, Allen 2-0-4-1

Courts/Malta Pee-Wee Schools Football

Sophia hoping to “go all the way” C

oach of Sophia Primary school Wayne Hicks has confirmed with confidence that his talented team has one ultimate and that is to win the seventh edition of the Courts / Malta Schools PeeWee competition. “The dream of these guys is to go all the way and all we have to do is whole our composure, keep our heads high and we can win this tournament” Hicks told Guyana Times Sport.

The coach is also eager to prove a point that his team has the ability to change the social stigma attached to the community.

“Seeing it is a depressed area, I chose to work in the depressed areas and what I’m trying to do here is create something that people can start to recognise them because everyone has that stigma that because

its Sophia, they are bad. We are here to prove them wrong and we are here to stay”, Hicks posited.

Sophia who are in their second year in the competition have played unbeaten, only being held to a draw by Marian Academy during the group stages.

Leading their destruction has been David Weeks who has scored 4 goals in four matches and every time he has gotten the ball, he has looked a serious threat.

Meanwhile, the quarter-finals of the tournament will get started today at the Banks DIH, Thirst Park Ground. Sophia will be tackling Reedemeer while the clash of the day pits Marian Academy against St Agnes.

School of the Nations will meet Enterprise while Stella Maris and West Ruimveldt should produce another exciting match.

Young David Weeks (with ball) has been one of the standout players in the tournament

0 2 6 4 0 2 99

33 35 17 11 9 0 1

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI/Digicel Regional 4-Day Championships 2017-18…

– Jaguars extend lead to 273

Permaul wrecks Scorpions on 16-wicket day

Pg 23

Man of the moment! Veerasammy Permaul leads the team off after a splendid spell of bowling (John Ramsingh photo)

14 riders geared for Bath Settlement challenge Pg 22

Some thrilling action is anticipated on Sunday at the Bath Settlement Community Centre Ground

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