Guyana Times October 30, 2017

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“Joe Singh did the 'principled' thing by resigning” – Gaskin Monday, October 30, 2017

Issue No. 3377

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13-year-old girl, uncle drown at Rockstone

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Corentyne mason dies 3 weeks after being chopped by villager

Former President escapes injury in minor WBD accident

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Suspected thief attacks son of social media P9 activist

…days after allegedly carting off his gadgets

GRC hosts Annual P14 Luncheon and Dutch Auction

Local designer launches “My heart beats in Africa” P12

Woman fined $20,000 P9 for lighting squibs, ‘whistling thunders’

…during birthday outing at Fish Festival Page 8

PRICE

Harbour Bridge repairs

Faulty winch delays bridge opening to P14 marine traffic Page 14

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MONDAY, october 30, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

13-year-old girl, uncle drown at Rockstone ‌during outing at Fish Festival

By Bhisham Mohamed

T

he 12th annual Rockstone Fish Festival ended abruptly on Sunday following the death of a teenager and her uncle, who are suspected to have drowned in the vicinity of Golden Beach in Region 10.

Dead are 13-year-old Yasha Prince of Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara and 50-year-old Gavin Moses, who resided on the West Coast of Demerara.

The 13-year-old was celebrating her birthday, and travelled to the fish festival to celebrate with her family.

The scene Sunday afternoon at the Rockstone Fish Festival after news spread of the drowning

time at the fish festival, the now dead teenager and her uncle, along with other relatives, boarded a private boat at the Rockstone waterway and travelled to the Golden Beach to take a swim. The

beach, Prince and two cousins, including Thalia Clarke, were diving in the water and suddenly drifted in the deeper part of the river. Clarke told the Guyana Times that after she realized Prince and

sister. She explained that after she raised an alarm, her uncle Gavin Moses came to assist, but after pushing Prince onto shore, he went down, and was still missing up to late Sunday evening.

"We try to do CPR, but she was already dead...We rolled her over and start press her stomach, but she remained motionless", Clarke said.

Her uncle, she noted, reportedly called out to some guys who were close by, but they were unresponsive. She is of the belief that if the guys had come to their assistance, they would have managed to save the duo.

Anthony English, another patron who was at the beach,

The body of 13-year-old Yasha Prince being removed

alternative but to save himself. He said that the teenager was already dead, but the man never made it to shore.

Speaking with the Guyana Times, a health

of the Rockstone Tourism Authority and police ranks, rushed to the area, where she saw Prince in a motionless state; and upon checking, there was no pulse.

worker explained that she was at Rockstone waterfront when she received the message of the unfortunate incident.

She, along with members

However, the body of the teenager was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, where doctors confirmed her death.

An inconsolable relative A large gathering at the scene

Moses celebrated his birthday on Saturday.

Based on reports received, upon spending some

Golden Beach is about one mile from Rockstone.

After about an hour on the

her sister were going down in the water, she went to assist, but only managed to save her

said he heard the screams and went to assist, but as he was doing so, the now missing man held on to him and was pulling him down into the water. As such, he had no

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MONDAY, october 30, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

Monday, October 30 – a night-time closure of 01:00h and a day-time closure of 13:30h-15:30h and Tuesday, October 31 – a night-time closure of 02:00h and a day-time closure of 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

By Samuel Sukhnandan

Monday, October 30 – 12:45h-14:15h and Tuesday, October 31 – 13:30h-15:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Heavy to light rain showers can be expected throughout the day, with light to partly cloudy skies in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from Easterly to East North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 12:55h reaching a maximum height of 2.26 metres.

Low Tide: 06:19h and 18:51h reaching minimum heights of 0.96 metre and 0.97 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, October 28, 2017

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DAILY MILLIONS 06 07 08 09

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Joe Singh did the 'principled' thing by resigning – Gaskin

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

T

he resignation of Major General (retired) Joe Singh as a Presidential Adviser to the David Granger-led ruling administration has come as a huge surprise to many people; but for some, this was expected, especially coming from a man of such high standard and relevance in society.

Outspoken political commentator and economist Ramon Gaskin is one of those persons who believe that Singh “did the right thing by resigning.”

Gaskin has said it takes a man of principle to make such a move. According to Gaskin, given the circumstances, Singh did what was best for him as a professional.

“If the President didn’t feel he is a fit and proper person to be appointed Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) chairman, which is a position he had before, then he had no choice but to separate himself from that job.

He cannot continue there.

The man (President) said, ‘You’re not fit and proper’.

So, in a sense he did the right thing, he did the principled thing and he left,” Gaskin opined.

Singh, also a former Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), was one of the 18 persons whose names comprised the three lists that were submitted to President Granger by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. However, Singh, like everyone on those lists, was bypassed and an 84-year-old retired judge, Justice James Patterson, was instead handpicked by the President to take up the post of GECOM Chairman.

Asked whether he thinks more persons would follow Singh’s example, Gaskin said he could not state if Singh’s action would encourage the other persons who had been shortlisted for the position of GECOM

Major General (retired) Joe Singh

chair to follow suit; but he said those persons should understand that they are not considered fit and proper, and they should start considering whether they should continue engaging with Government, especially if they hold any positions.

“A lot of people, according to the President and his Government, are not fit and proper, and they are cowards not to come forward and say anything…

They normally don’t, they will just suffer the embarrassment in silence; but Joe has taken a public position on the matter,” Gaskin posited.

Speaking about the resignation of Attorney-atLaw Christopher Ram, the eminent Chartered Accountant and vocal social activist who was on Government’s negotiating team for the establishment of a Law School in Guyana, Gaskin said he believes Ram did the right thing to follow in the footsteps of Singh.

“It is not paid work, and they think he is not a fit and proper person, and he wants to separate himself from them and from the free work he has been doing. He has every right to. The work he had with the Attorney General’s Chambers had to be of some value, because they have asked him to rethink his position; but it seems as though he may not go back

on his word,” Gaskin observed.

Only recently, Minister of State Joseph Harmon challenged Ram, managing partner of audit firm Ram and McRae, to consider withdrawing from those contracts which Ram and McRae has with any Government agency or the Government if he wants to indicate the seriousness of the withdrawal decision he has made.

Gaskin said Ram is a partner in the audit firm and the decision to withdraw has to be made by that firm, but that doesn’t mean Ram cannot have his own personal opinion.

“These are separate things altogether. The firm Ram and McRae performs the

Political commentator and economist Ramon Gaskin

service of accountancy and audit. If they get work and are paid, they do their work professionally. It doesn’t mean that partners in that firm can’t have different political views. I don’t see the connection at all, and what Harmon is trying to get at,” he opined.

Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram

Since the resignation of Dr Steve Surujbally last year, there has been an intense search for the next GECOM Chairman. As per the Constitution, Jagdeo had submitted three lists of six nominees each to the President. The first list, submitted in December of last year, had contained the following nominees: Governance and Conflict Resolution Specialist Lawrence Lachmansingh; Attorney-at-Law and outspoken anti-corruption advocate Christopher Ram; Retired Major General Norman Mc Lean; Business Executive Ramesh Dookhoo; Businesswoman Rhyaan Shah, and History Professor James Rose.

The second list, submitted in May of 2017, contained the following names: Retired Justice of Appeal BS Roy; Retired Justice William Ramlall; former Magistrate Oneidge Walrond-Allicock; Attorneys Kashir Khan and Nadia Sagar; and Captain Gerry Gouveia. turn to page 7

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Views All Aboard 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

Labour’s travails

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n the midst of the most profound political crisis in Guyana, precipitated by a leader of the PNC since Desmond Hoyte decided to bring that party into the streets to protest the December 1997 elections, the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition Government is facing down two of the largest unions in the country -- the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) -- over their demand for salary increases.

Some believe the two circumstances, conjoined as they are, are not unrelated.

During the last elections campaign, the parties made explicit promises in their coalition Manifesto to these workers: “Significant salary increases for Government workers, including nurses; teachers in primary, secondary and tertiary education; security personnel; and civil servants on the traditional payroll.” In the ethnically polarised politics of Guyana, these predominantly African Guyanese workers, in the main, voted for the PNC. However, even though the coalition administration awarded its ministers a massive 50% salary increase once it acceded to office in 2015, Government workers received an average increase of 5%. Many analysts concluded that the Government took for granted the political support of its ethnic constituency.

However, at the May Day Rally of 2015, then presidential candidate David Granger was even more explicit about the policy of his future Government in terms of the sore point of “collective bargaining” Government workers had been demanding of the PPP Administration. He gave a “guarantee that we will stand behind unions, so that unions can sit down with employers and restore collective bargaining… it is back to the bargaining table; that is what APNU+AFC will give you.

No more frecks!”

Yet, the following year, President Granger announced that, “Lazy public servants will receive lazy person's salary”, and his Government unilaterally imposed salary increases ranging from 1% to 10%, even though the GPSU, for instance, had reduced its initial demand for 40% down to 25%. The GPSU had its members accept the payment, but said they were not accepting the Government’s unilateral imposition.

As far as they were concerned, the 2016 salary negotiation was still open.

For teachers, who had expressed grave disappointment with their “paltry” raise in comparison with the ministers’, and who had not received their “debunching” payments between 2011 and 2015, in December 2015 demanded the former to be rectified and renegotiated for 2016-2020 on top of the 40% across-the-board increase in salary for teachers in 2016, 45% for 2017, and 50% for the following three years (2018-2020) for all categories of teachers. Eventually, even though President Granger said their increase would be “different” from that of the GPSU, they were also unilaterally given the same 1% - 10% increase, with no “debunching”.

For 2017, the negotiations with the GPSU began in September, and the GPSU proposed a $7,000 monthly increase be added to the salary at December 31, 2016, and to the minimum and maximum bands. Additionally, they demanded a 20 per cent increase across-the-board to the salary as at December 2016, and to the amount payable at the minimum and maximum bands. Two weeks ago, the Government imposed its “final offer”, ranging from 8% for the lowest salary of $55,000 (taking it to $60,000) to ½% at the top band. GPSU President, Patrick Yarde, said he “felt betrayed” by the Government and its refusal to keep its promise to return to collective bargaining, but once again, he told his members to accept the increase. Some believe that the President’s earlier decision to appoint Yarde to the Public Service Commission presented a conflict of interest, since Yarde might be influenced to go along with the Government’s unilateral action.

The GTU, on the other hand, left its meeting last week with Education Minister Henry after five minutes had elapsed, when its President concluded that Henry was not seriously considering the union’s proposal, on the table for two years. He called for teachers to strike later this week, but placed that on hold when he was informed the President wanted to have a discussion with the Union.

We hope the President does not continue with his unilateral impositions.

A farmer loads his oxen into a truck in the small Italian town of Montanesi. It’s the day of the Festival of San Rocco, the patron saint of the town. There will be food, music, and celebration, as well as a small parade that includes the oxen carrying an enormous crucifix (Photograph by Andy Moor, National Geographic Your Shot)

Time is now when we must all step up to protect Guyana’s future Dear Editor, Today increasingly, the widespread perception is that the young are feeling not very involved or engaged. From my conversations with the hundreds of folks who take the time to communicate with me using the various social media channels, I am being told increasingly that something is really wrong with the economic system in Guyana in 2017.

While youth unemployment is a challenge globally at 13.5 per cent, in Guyana, according to the latest statistics from the World Bank, it was 25.5 per cent in 2016.

If their business is under a clear and present danger because of an oppressive business climate locally, the last

thing on employers’ minds is the hiring of another staff.

So, clearly, the main loser from this policy paralysis emanating from a very distracted Granger regime will be the young.

It is most unfortunate that today there is a pervasive rent-seeking attitude from the small group of people that surrounds David Granger. Their public attitudes and private utterances on national matters portray a sort of “the transport for the nation we own now, leave us alone so we can collect our rent”. But if the Guyanese people allow them to get away with this strategic recklessness, the fortunes of the young people will be compromised for a long time to come.

The attempt by the Granger cabal at the monopolisation of the systems of power in the nation totally ignores the fact that they ‘won’ the elections by 4506 votes and even worse yet, the Parliament by a SINGLE vote in Region Eight.

With such a narrow margin, greater collaboration and adherence to the rule of law would have been the expected norm.

But what we got instead is Mubarak-ism where a maximum sort of leader walks around in delusion believing that he won 99 per cent of the votes. This is the problem – the septuagenarians and octogenarians in the PNC are living in a fool’s world.

So what next for the

youths of Guyana. First off, let us all read more on the ideas put forward by our revolutionary thinkers like Walter Rodney. The season of peaceful but firm resistance is upon us, because clearly, the attitude of these septuagenarians and octogenarians in the PNC does not represent the will of the people. Actually, the imposed edicts of Congress Place since May 2015 have done great harm to the long-term well-being of the young. The nation has to pull together to stop this delusion of grandeur in the Granger regime.

The time is now when we must all step up to protect the future.

Sincerely, Sase Singh

Teachers should be respected; their demands are not unreasonable Dear Editor, The poorly-paid teachers of this country are now being asked by the Prime Minister to exercise ‘patience’. A quality which was seriously lacking when this Government gave themselves salary increases ranging from 50 per cent to 100 per cent. These impoverished teachers are also told that the Ministers have now been exercising ‘patience’, since they will not be giving themselves any salary increases for this year and next year! He said that those in Government did not receive ‘a cent’ in increase in 2016 and 2017 and will not receive ‘a cent’ in 2018. This is absurdity to the extreme!

It’s easy to say this when your salary is more than 28 times that of a teacher. That is leaving out all the perks and other benefits which these people enjoy. A paltry increase of eight per cent is unacceptable for public servants and more so for teachers.

These teachers are the pillars upon which a society is built and their contributions cannot be so easily thrown aside by making them feel that they are being unreasonable and should exercise ‘patience’.

Imagine the expenses which a teacher has to go through. Apart from his/her daily sustenance a teacher

has to be properly dressed, groomed and fork out money for transportation to and from work. If that teacher is married, he/she is in trouble financially. The Prime Minister drew a comparison with what he was working for in terms of US dollars, but failed to submit the hardships he and his family had to endure and what he had to do to supplement his meagre earnings. He failed to also state what the cost of living was in those days. Being a former teacher, one would have expected that his contribution to the plight of the teachers would have been more than a request for ’patience’.

Another aspect which one must look at is the performance of teachers as compared with that of the Ministers of Government.

It is a fact that the results at CSEC and the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) Examinations have been improving all the time.

Can we safely say this about the Ministers? Absolutely not! It’s one scandal after another and a declining economy, which is being buffered by taxing the people into poverty. When one examines this in light of the tax-free and duty-free concessions of Ministers of Government, this insult is beyond our conscience!

continued on page 5

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

Call for a total boycott, non-cooperation Restoring City Hall demands unflinching support Dear Editor, Accepted practice in public policy informs legitimate expectations by our societies. Legal luminaries will be much more expansive on this issue, as it has always been part of key considerations to giving or making judgment in the courts of law. The layman who expects transparency, however, correctly sees variances from expected practices as outright wrongs and also bullish dictatorial impositions, particularly when it comes from one wielding power.

The deceptive diversion from the Carter formula by President David Granger is indeed a variance from the accepted, approved and adopted practice for selecting a chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Granger’s unilateral, unlawful, unconstitutional selection and appointment of Retired Justice James Patterson to the position of Chairman is a most poisonous contaminant of our fledgling democracy and ultimate power of our people.

The recent public uproar on the issue is more than justified as we are moving with haste to a point where the desperate trampling on our democracy must be condemned forcefully by all citizens and fair-minded observers. It is welcoming that many voices have spoken out and in particular, that there is recognition of the significant contentious wrongs by transparency bodies and also on the international front. In this respect, the recent comments on the issue being resolved by the court from the British

High Commissioner speak volumes.

Mr Granger’s assault on our freedoms sets a framework for significant civil unrest and disturbances as citizens react to this threat. The situation exemplifies a total disrespect for the constitutional office of the Leader of the Opposition; and is an affront to all decent-minded citizens. It also leads to a most wicked domination of the elections mechanism.

Our country must never be taken back to the curse of the lost decades under the People’s National Congress (PNC), which held us undeveloped and enslaved as a nation. It should and must be forcefully resisted! The call for a total boycott, civil resistance and non-cooperation demands unflinching support. It is imperative that all forces are mobilised, sensitised and be ‘gelled’ together for the strongest economic, social and political non-cooperation, in a new struggle to uphold our democracy, which has been spat upon in our country.

Never before in this country have we witnessed such a rejection of any political decision.

People of all walks of life, at home and in the Diaspora, and even diplomats have complained bitterly, as the intent and machinery to ‘rig’ the next elections become more visible. There is now an eerie and uneasy tension emerging in many communities, which certainly provides the opportunity for people to have thorough discussions on the matter.

The feedback is that they are vehemently opposed to the actions of Granger and

the APNU/AFC coalition Government.

Although the President praised his appointee to the GECOM Chair as being competent and a man of immense experience in the legal field, very little is known about Mr Granger’s choice other than he is really an affiliate of the old PNC vanguard. Notwithstanding, his recent contracted position as a government advisor to the Attorney General (AG) is strongly conflicting as it depicts a situation of ‘who pays the piper, calls the tune’. At its best, this situation must be described as woefully sadistic!

The bitter pills presented by Mr Patterson that he is apolitical is obviously untruthful. His fluff and bluff about not been in politics, because he doesn’t have the stamina, seek to misguide.

But it is indeed one way to confirm from the mouth of the appointed Chairman himself that he would be significantly challenged to perform the rigorous tasks of the Chairman of GECOM. The President’s unilateral approach in appointing 84-year-old Patterson as Chairman of GECOM comes at the exclusion and discredit of 18 persons identified from the broad consultative process.

The search became one through which the President himself practically directed and manipulated the criteria. Clearly, many of the names on the three lists provided by the Leader of the Opposition meet Mr Granger’s twisted adumbrations. Yet, his barefaced actions turned out to be devoid of any decency, and confirm-

ing of the most suspicious intent to further cultivate divisive politics, given the track record of his political party.

Mr Patterson’s integrity to be non-partisan at GECOM is highly questionable, because he was serving as an adviser to the AG. Are we to accept that Mr Granger’s legal luminary is ‘fit and proper’ when he advised a man who has to be tutored by Mr Anil Nandlall on every occasion that the AG presents a case, either in court or in Parliament?

The situation begs questions regarding what will Mr Patterson do at GECOM, if he was not capable of properly advising the AG. Further, his role as an advisor of the AG meant that he had to be exposed to making and giving advice on legal political decisions which discredits him as a neutral person politically. So there goes his cover as apolitical as he claimed to be.

Mr Granger’s failure to provide reasons for rendering the 18 persons, who were initially recommended through the consultative process, is non-transparent, stinks of suspicion and must be rejected in the interest of all Guyana. The AFC as part of the coalition is equally culpable. It is of note that the Guyana Bar Association has already sent its warning to the President to explain why the 18 nominees were not fit and proper; the nominees from the three lists that were submitted by the Opposition Leader should follow suit.

Yours sincerely, Neil Kumar

Teachers should be respected; their... from page 4

The Prime Minister is now saying that, “if you don’t have revenue, then you can distribute nothing”. It must be recalled that this Government had said that they inherited an ‘empty treasury,’ so the pertinent question is: Where did the revenue come from?

They did not even start to work as yet and they inherited an empty treasury, but they had ‘revenue’ to pay themselves stupendous increases in salary. Why did the Ministers not take their increases ‘incrementally’

and ‘hope for the best’? The teachers must now wait for the ‘oil money’ to flow.

Perhaps the Prime Minister can recall the old adage, ‘a bird in hand is worth two in the bush’.

I do strongly believe that the Prime Minister has the ability to do a lot better for the teachers. Why is he progressively alienating and distancing himself from the working-class people of this country? Self-preservation should not be the deciding factor, but the principles which one should stand for,

have stood for, have lived for and have been willing to die for! History can be very cruel to those who turned their backs on the masses!

What is the AFC’s position on this? The Prime Minister is definitely parroting the Government’s position, but we need to hear from the Leader of the AFC. There are many issues on which the AFC is silent and a silent partnership is counter-productive to national development. The remaining few AFC members should condemn this ‘muted’

relationship!

Teachers should not be asked to wait for two years to have a significant increase in their wages and salaries.

I must commend the GTU President, Mr Mark Lyte for standing his ground; teachers should be respected.

Their demands are not unreasonable. “Patience has its limits, take it too far and it’s called cowardice”!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor – Region Six

Dear Editor, It has been quite a long time since I have heard something half as ridiculous as the suggestion made by the Mayor of Georgetown, who has publicly reported her intentions to set up a Restoration Fund to begin the process of restoring City Hall.

This Fund, she claims, will be managed by a special committee, which will include corporate leaders, investors, and other stakeholders from civil society.

The folks at the City Council are just off the chain and have no shame. Could the Mayor of Georgetown, who was a Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Mayor for the last 23 years, a historical feat and record breaker in any supposed democratic society, say to the citizens what maintenance works, remedial initiatives, and rehabilitation were done to that edifice by the Council in the last quarter-century?

The most baffling thing about the City Council is that when it comes to maintaining its own buildings, including municipal markets, keeping the doors of its daycare centres open, running a modern hygienic abattoir, fixing roads and maintaining bridges, replacing defective street lights, up keeping the cemetery, etc, a spirit of poverty overcomes them.

They become mendicants with a begging bowl in their hands, looking for handouts from the Government, the Private Sector, international funding agencies, etc.

But when it comes to paying themselves super salaries, to flying to every corner of the globe first class multiple times a year, to giving out huge contracts with-

out adherence to national tender procedures, to building presidential parks and petting zoos, to creating new and fancy positions, which are filled by friends, relatives and church pals, the municipality seems to be very affluent and resourceful.

Why are property rates not being used to maintain City Hall as they are supposed to? Can anyone imagine the City Halls of Belfast, Northern Ireland; Brussels, Belgium or Hamburg, Germany awaiting a donation from civil society to be maintained? Do the folks at City Hall have no pride or dignity? Do they get no feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction from their own achievements?

But where exactly does the Mayor expect to find these extreme altruists from in a city where the citizens have been taxed to the max both by the local and central governments?

Has she forgotten that the Council has increased property taxes by 10 per cent across the board, increased compliance fees substantially, is charging a container tax, increased fees for barber shops and salons, instituted a steep rise in market stall rents, etc, and is trying to bring back the draconian parking meter system?

If the Council is serious about restoring City Hall, why don’t they cut their mammoth payroll by $25 million a month, and use that money to restore the most handsome building in Georgetown?

Get real, Madam Mayor, your term is swiftly coming to an end!

Best regards, Deodarie Putulall

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MONDAY, october 30, 2017

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(Continued from Sunday)

Your family's feelings When a child has diabetes, it affects the entire family. Siblings might resent the extra attention that a child with diabetes gets, as well as sacrifices (like eating healthier foods at family meals or going along to doctor appointments) made to accommodate the sibling. And sometimes they're the target of anger and resentment because they don't have to deal with the issues that the child with diabetes faces.

Family members like grandparents, aunts, and uncles also might worry about your child's health. Try to talk openly about all of these feelings with your family. Holding a family meeting might be one way to break the news of your child's diagnosis and address everyone's worries and concerns.

You might find it easier to talk with a counsellor, your child's doctor, or others on the diabetes health care team about these emotional issues. Also, consider looking for support groups, books, and websites about how to deal with diabetes. In time, the whole family will become accustomed to dealing with the condition.

Helping your child

Once you learn to recognise your child's feelings, here are some tips for coping with those emotions: Acknowledge your child's feelings.

Check in with your child regularly. Try to listen to everything your child has to say before bringing up your own feelings. This kind of communication doesn't always have to be verbal. Drawing, writing, or playing

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Foundation

music can help children with diabetes express their emotions.

Encourage active health care management. It's important to reinforce the idea that when children take good care of themselves and manage their diabetes, they can avoid undesirable things like extra shots or missing out on activities that their friends enjoy. Your child might even want to ask the doctor questions on his or her own.

Emphasise independence. It can be difficult, especially at first, but it's important

to resist the urge to lower your expectations or overprotect a child with diabetes. Instead, encourage the same independence that you'd expect from your other children. With the encouragement and support of their parents, children with diabetes can take on some responsibilities for managing it – a change that often has a positive, confidencebuilding effect.

Help children find their strengths. Is your child a reader, a hockey player, a son, a daughter, a grandchild, a student, a future astronomer, an art lover? He or she also is a person in control of diabetes, but this does

not define someone's life – it's only a very small part of who your child is.

Focus on friendships. Having fun with friends builds confidence and a sense of belonging. Encourage your child to discuss diabetes with friends. This can help friends feel more comfortable interacting with your child in the same ways they did before your child developed the condition. Instead of focusing on the one thing that's different, children can focus on all the things that they have in common with their peers.

Find ways to cope with bullying. Sometimes children pick on peers with diabetes or other health problems. Your child might use the following ways to deal with teasing or bullying: * Act brave, walk away, and ignore the bully. Tell your child to look the bully in the eye and say something like, "I want you to stop right now." Counsel your child to then walk away and ignore any further taunts. Encourage your child to "walk tall," head held high (this type of body language sends a message that your child isn't vulnerable). * Use humour or give the bully a compliment to throw the bully off guard. However, tell your child not to use humour to make fun of the bully. * Use the buddy system. Enlisting the help of friends or a group may help both your child and others stand up to bullies. * Tell an adult. If your child is being bullied, emphasise that it's very important to tell an adult. Teachers, principals, parents, and lunchroom personnel at school can all help to stop it. * Correct misconceptions. Talk to your child about the fact that people do nothing to deserve diabetes – it just happens.

Also, if your child feels like the diabetes is causing problems for you or your family,

offer reassurance that there's no reason to feel guilty. Instead, your child should focus on dealing with his or her own feelings about diabetes, not yours. * Tell friends, teachers, and others about your child's diabetes. Ask if your child would like others to know about the diabetes. Children sometimes find it less embarrassing if they tell friends and classmates that they have diabetes – that way, they don't have to worry about what their friends will think when they head to the nurse's office every day. Teachers and care providers also should know about your child's condition and its management (for instance, if your child takes breaks to test blood sugar or eats snacks at certain times). * Connect with others dealing with diabetes. Finding a support group for children and families with diabetes can help children to feel less different.

These groups also can boost your confidence as you deal with diabetes and offer advice and tips on managing it. Your child's diabetes health care team might be able to help you connect with support groups in your area. * Get help when you need it. Be sure to keep your child's diabetes health care team in the loop about any emotional issues – they deal with this all the time and can provide help for your child and advice for you.

If your child shows any signs of depression (such as prolonged sadness or irritability, fatigue, appetite changes, or changes in sleeping habits), talk to your child's doctor or a mental health professional.

Every parent of a child with diabetes must deal with the feelings that surround the disease. Try to keep in mind that for most children, negative feelings about diabetes pass or change with time as they adjust to living with it. (Kids Health)

Courageous parents, smart children

– new research shows how your attitude toward life can make your child smarter

By John D Rich, PhD

T

his morning, I am thinking of a simple quote by Leo Tolstoy in War and Peace: "Everything depends on upbringing." In my writing, I have consistently tried to encourage parents to be intentional about their parenting. Live the way you want your child to live; model the qualities you want your child to have; treat your child the way

you want others to treat him; speak to your child the way you want her to speak to herself.

The problem with this advice is that it requires a belief on the part of parents that they have control over their lives.

It's all well and good to talk about what parents should do to influence their children, but if those parents don't believe that their choices matter – whether because their own parents robbed them of their self-confidence or because life has dealt them a difficult hand and they feel helpless – then my advice may fall on deaf ears.

The degree to which we believe that our choices matter and make a difference is called "locus of control". A person with an external locus of control (LOC) looks at life from the outside, almost like they were an onlooker, waiting to see what will happen next. If you ask someone with an external LOC

why they got a good grade on a test, or why they lost their job, they are likely to attribute those outcomes to causes outside of their control.

Common reasons for what life brings might be fate, luck, God, chance, or powerful others. Alternately, a person with an external LOC may truly believe that life is unpredictable.

They may say, "There's nothing I can do to change anything."

They may feel that the world, or society, is biased against them.

They may feel that their life is in God's hands, and there's no way around God's will. The point here is that an external LOC is comprised of a "hands up in the air" attitude.

In contrast, the person with an internal LOC attributes their successes and failures to their own work, effort, and talent.

This person may say to himself, "The reason I got an A on that test is because I studied."

Or, "The reason I didn't make the team is because I need to improve."

Notice that, when successes come, the internal LOC takes credit ("I deserve that. I worked really hard."), and the external LOC passes it off on uncontrollable sources ("The teacher likes me"; "I got lucky"; "The stars were aligned."). (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

To be continued

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MONDAY, october 30, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Petroleum Commission Bill

Ramkarran defends statement on transfer of funds

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he former Speaker of the National Assembly, Attorneyat-Law Ralph Ramkarran, has defended a recent statement he made about the Petroleum Commission Bill as it relates to the transfer of funds from the Commission and Government agencies to the Consolidated Fund.

He said it is regrettable that the current Government, like the previous one, treats mild criticism delivered with levity as contentious.

Referring to a newspaper article with the headline: “Ramkarran misleads on provisions for transfer of funds”, the former speaker said the Government, when in Opposition, consistently argued that such payment is mandated by the Constitution, and is not subject to the whims of any official. He argued that the Bill provides that payment by the Commission is in fact subject to the whims of the minister.

“If the Government wants to hurl headlines, it should first explain why it speaks through both sides of its mouth, and from a high horse when cornered! This attitude to criticism is exactly what Guyana does not want at this stage of the development of the oil industry. Warning was given that everything must be done to ensure that the oil industry does not become a political football,” he added.

In his weekly Conversation Tree column, Ramkarran also urged Government to lead the way, and that a wider debate on the Bill must be encouraged.

While he acknowledged that the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCCI) has, around the country, initiated a public discourse on the legislation,b he still believes that the conversation must continue where a proper Bill is approved by the National Assembly.

“The business community is deeply interested in the Bill, because it seeks to establish the institutions that would oversee the oil industry and define the rules which would guide their functions and duties. Since it is likely that, when passed, the Bill would impact the business community by providing opportunities for its

growth and development for decades in the future,” he added.

The prominent attorney said it is vital that not only business, but the people of Guyana take an interest in what is being proposed to maximize the potential for Guyana. He noted that the Minister’s powers under the Bill readily attracted headlines, to the exclusion of some of the other serious issues which were discussed.

One such issue is not the

and which has had no regulatory mechanism in place -the Government would want a high degree of influence.

But the same powers which the Minister takes for himself could have been obtained by a far lighter legislative touch,” he said.

One major issue that came up for discussion was that of Local Content. This, Ramkarran said, was not highlighted, but businesspeople were very interested in how it would work and

Former Speaker of the House, Ralph Ramkarran

Minister’s powers, but that they were so obviously and prominently entrenched, as compared to other similar legislation establishing regulatory commissions.

He said, “There was no dispute that the Government would want a majority of members on the Commission (the size and composition of which was not defined) and on the Board of Directors.

Through its control of the majority, it would be able to influence decisions, including the appointment of senior officials… In bodies such as these, Ministers reserve powers to set general policy…”

In relation to the Petroleum Commission, however, Ramkarran explained that the Minister has reserved power to issue instructions over a wide range of matters, and this detracts from the independence of the Petroleum Commission and the Board of Directors.

“It is understandable that in the newly emerging oil industry -- which will be Guyana’s leading income earner for decades to come,

what benefits it holds for Guyanese.

Supplies to the oil industry would become a multi-billion-dollar industry, and it was highlighted that Guyanese business people need to take an interest in this issue now, and get on board with things.

He further recommended, “It was the view of the panel that the Government ought not to rely on moral suasion alone, because it is not likely to be successful. It was recommended that legislation enforcing Local Content would be more effective. The Petroleum Commission Bill sets it out as an objective.”

He also noted that the size of the Board of Directors -- ten members -- which is entitled to appoint committees, three of which were specified, is on the small side; and that 12 to 15 members would enable the Board to function more effectively.

Weighted majorities and unanimous decisions were also proposed for important decisions. It was suggested that an environmentalist be a member of the Board.

"Joe Singh did the 'principled' thing...

Major General Singh, who has held several positions over the years, including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph, was included on the third list of nominees, submitted on August 25. The other nominees were Attorneys Teni Housty and Sanjeev Datadin; vocal conservationist Annette ArjuneMartins, Onesi La Fleur and Krishnadatt Persaud.

That list was ultimately rejected by President

Granger, and on Thursday, October 19, retired Justice James Patterson was sworn in as GECOM Chairman.

Patterson was not nominated on any of the three lists, and since his unilateral appointment, there has been a crescendo of criticism. A number of individuals and organisations spanning a wide cross-section of society have soundly criticised and condemned the President’s unilateral decision, including the Guyana Bar Association; the Berbice

from page 3

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 has filed a legal challenge in the courts on Monday, seeking to revoke Patterson’s appointment.

It was also suggested that the Leader of the Opposition should choose the Opposition representative, rather than the Minister.

“It is a disappointment

that the Bill has not been more widely discussed. The Government ought to take the initiative. It is not enough that the Bill is merely disseminated. The Government

and the Bill will benefit from wider consultation, even if it does not agree with every proposal. There is wide interest in these issues,” he added.

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MONDAY, october 30, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Corentyne mason dies 3 weeks after being chopped by villager …suspect said to be of ‘unsound mind’

By Andrew Carmichael

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mason of Williamsburg, Corentyne, East Berbice (Region Six), who was brutally chopped about the body -- especially to the neck -- by a villager of ‘unsound mind’ some three weeks ago, and had been battling for his life in hospital, has succumbed.

Fifty-four-year-old Mohamad Aslam was reportedly chopped to the upper part of his body several times on October 3 at Williamsburg, after running to his wife’s rescue. He reportedly received more than 30 chops from his attacker, and was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital, where he was treated before being transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

However, because of the severity of the wounds, he was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital; but, on Sunday, he succumbed to his injuries.

Recounting the incident,

Dead: Mohamad Aslam

his wife, Basmattie Aslam, also called ‘Urmila’, explained that, on the day in question, her husband had gone on an errand while she was at home cooking. “I go outside to the road for a piece of wood for the ‘fireside’ and I see him (husband) coming and I see a man coming, but I didn’t pay him (the man) no mind. Just as I bend down to pick up the wood,

he (suspect) start to broadside me. I run inside, and he run behind me with the cutlass; and I run to the side and my husband run behind and try to take away the cutlass, and the man give him one chop to the neck and he fall down.”

According to her, the attacker, who lives a mere four houses away, then turned his attention on her again,

and continued to lash her with the cutlass; and her husband got up again to rescue her.

“Since he get up he get another chop to the other side of the neck,” she said, adding that her husband was dealt several more chops as he lay helpless on the ground. “He (murder suspect) only aiming chops to the neck all the time,” she said.

When the man was finished chopping her husband, she said, the man calmly walked away. Neighbours say the man is of unsound mind. The grieving widow -- a mother of two, who had been married to her husband for 30 years -- said that following the news of her husband’s demise, she was visited by the mother of her attacker, who has been charged with attempted murder – a charge which is now expected to be changed with the death of Aslam.

The suspect is currently on remand.

Circling the wagons…

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…for “our” people he WPA weighed in on Pressie’s unilateral appointment of Justice James Patterson as GECOM’s chairman. Your Eyewitness hoped, in the interest of full disclosure, they’d confessed they’re a member of the APNU coalition with the PNC - of which Pressie’s the leader. It would’ve at least signalled “where they were coming from” - which is, from the belly of the beast!

Wasn’t it Martin Carter who best summed up, not only the nature of that beast after the murder of Father Darke , which prefigured Walter Rodney’s, but also what should be our response: “I have at last started/ To understand the origin/ Of our vileness, and being/ Unable to deny it, I suggest/ Its nativity/ In the shame of knowledge/ Of our vileness, we shall fight.” But it’s obvious that the WPA has decided to accept the “vileness” of the PNC and join them rather than “fight”.

In terms of the WPA’s statement, we can also quote Carter’s bitter conclusion after he also had joined up with the PNC government: “But a mouth is always muzzled/ by the food it eats to live.” His lesson for the WPA is summed up in the word “but” - which isn’t called an “eraser word” for nothing. It wipes out all the excuses you may have for cooperating with the beast, to let you know the extent of your betrayal.

So what does the WPA say to this strangulation of the democratic spirit? They began with: “There was never going to be a good outcome to the appointment of the GECOM Chair without prior Constitutional Reform.

This could be proven true for all appointments that require President/Leader of Opposition agreement.”

But this isn’t true, is it? We’ve had FIVE appointments that produced “good outcomes”, haven’t we? Excepting when the PNC after 1997 decided to launch warfare against the state!

And imagine it was the WPA that suggested two Indians, Doodnauth Singh and Steve Surujbally, whom ACDA railed against recently. The question, of course, if those two worthies were deemed “fit and proper” then, what sin exactly did Joe Singh commit that the WPA doesn’t defend him against Pressie’s dictat?

Then if, as the erstwhile party of Rodney says, “WPA did not and indeed could not, participate in the selection process ‘as of right’ since the Constitution confines this selection, effectively to a President/Leader of Opposition procedure,” where in the same Constitution they found the clause specifying Pressie consult them when he hired and fired Rupert Roopnaraine? Last time your Eyewitness looked at Art 106, Pressie “as of right” appoints members of his Cabinet!!

Verily, it’s clear the Worst Possible Alternative has returned home! …and closing minds But one of the most amazing assertions by the WPA was their third “point”: “Our fundamental political position is not to be ensnared by PPP/C, on principle, in any form, guise, or manner, in their desperate efforts at revisionism/historical rewriting/opportunism/ and crude hypocrisy.” On principle? Which principle?”

If the WPA can embrace the PNC, which has rejected the findings of the Rodney Commission - not to mention its recommendations - what “principle” has the PPP violated that exceeds those enumerated atrocities?

Did the PPP kill any WPA leaders? Said the COI: “Given the manner in which the country was run, coupled with the threats issued by Prime Minister Burnham to the members of the WPA, we conclude that Prime Minister Burnham knew of the plan and was part of the conspiracy to assassinate Dr. Walter Rodney”.

What about the killings of Ohene Koama, Edward Dublin and the stabbing to death, in broad daylight, of a Catholic priest, Father Bernard Darke, to name a few?

And all of this for a few pieces of silver? …for fait accompli And the WPA expects Guyanese to be comforted that they’ll “withdraw from the coalition” if elections are rigged?

Like with the UF in 1968, who’d care then? Boat done gone over falls!

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

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MONDAY, october 30, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Suspected thief attacks son Doobay Medical Centre of social media activist hosts 1st Executive Clinic

…days after allegedly carting off his gadgets

Sean Rodrigues displaying injuries sustained in the attack

By Ashraf Dabie

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he 15-year-old son of a social media activist has been attacked and injured after he was confronted by the alleged thief in an incident of robbery that occurred early last week.

This reputedly criminal element, infamous to the Coldingen area on the East Coast of Demerara, on Monday last broke into the home of Mikhail Rodrigues, better known to a Facebook following as the ‘Guyanese Critic’, and carted off several gadgets belonging to the family.

According to information reaching the Guyana Times, at about 16:00hrs on the day in question, Rodrigues’s older son was returning home when he saw the suspect, known for ‘petty robberies’ in the village, walking away from their Lot 401Coldingen residence. The suspect was said to be clutching a black bag as he made his way into a white Toyota Tacoma pickup and fled the scene.

Though unaware of what exactly had transpired, the lad made contact with his younger brother, Sean Rodrigues, who

in turn informed their father of the suspicious incident. Upon investigating, the trio discovered that an X-Box gaming console and other possessions were missing from their home.

The following day, the lad, unknowing to his father, visited the residence of the suspected robber in an attempt to inform the suspect’s mother of the incident. Enraged by the efforts to unearth his alleged criminal tendencies, the suspect subsequently confronted Sean in front of his residence. This forced a concerned Mikhail Rodrigues to intervene in the matter, resulting in him approaching the suspect.

The social media activist told this publication, “I, in turn, went after him and asked him what was the matter, and attempted to address it in a manly manner; at which time he ran away.”

Despite the move to restrain the alleged perpetrator from interfering with young Sean, the suspect accosted Sean once again on Saturday. While in the vicinity of the Coldingen playground, Sean was ambushed by the suspect and was reportedly chopped to

the face during the attack.

The 15-year-old was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where, after some delay, he received treatment and was sent away.

Mikhail Rodrigues, meanwhile, has taken to his online platform to express his grievance in relation to the attacks against his family, as well as to outline his concerns regarding the operations of the GPHC. In so doing, the ‘Guyanese Critic’ has relayed to his followers: “Have hope that by setting examples we can create a system that will see all Guyanese wronged being appreciative of the JUSTICE SYSTEM”.

In a subsequent post, Rodrigues went on to say, “I hope the Government can hear the cries of the people, and do the right by bringing the services that they provide through the GPHC to a standard that Guyanese can grow to like.”

Rodrigues indicated that a report of the incident was filed at the Vigilance Police Station, but no arrest has to date been made.

He intends to return to the Police station to follow up on the matter.

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he Doobay Medical and Research Centre hosted its first successful ‘Executive Clinic’ at the centre's location at Annandale, on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) on Saturday.

The clinic targeted interested members of the public and clinic personnel, but more specifically, executives of businesses within the Georgetown and East Coast area were targeted.

To facilitate the exercise, the centre brought in world leading Vascular Specialist Dr. Sonia Anand. Dr. Anand, a Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at McMaster University in Canada, said the exercise was aimed at providing high level medical consultation to senior business, Government and other national leaders.

She added, “We presented some of the research information on risk factors for vascular disease, and after that, we had all the participants in the event have a risk factor screening clinic, where we measured blood pressure, we checked blood sugar in some people, we measured the waist and hip circumference, and in the end we gave each person a risk score for cardiovascular disease; so that would be their risk of future minor

Worldrenowned Vascular Specialist, Dr Sonia Anand

cardinal infection and heart attack.”

Dr. Anand also explained that though this is the first of its kind, the medical centre will be reassessing these proceedings and return more prepared and equipped for future activities.

“It’s the first time we’ve done it, so we’ll see. We’ll reassess after, and also gauge what the interest is; but it was a good kick off for us, because we are going to begin a screening and treating risk factor programme here at the Doobay Medical Clinic. So we were able to test a number of procedures that we might be doing on

a more regular basis,” she was quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The Executive Clinic concept was the brain-child of Dr. Buhendra Doobay, Director of the Medical Centre, who saw it as a way of combating heart disease and stroke among the executive population in the country. “…recognising that people who have risk factors for vascular diseases (they) sometimes are not aware of it, so high blood pressure, for example, is called the silent killer …yet we know that high blood pressure and diabetes in Guyana are very common, and if we can screen early and treat early, we can prevent things like heart attacks and strokes.

So the concept was to bring people together, teach about these risk factors, and then have every person have their own risk factors measured.

That’s increasing awareness,” Dr. Sonia Anand explained. The Doobay Medical and Research Centre is known for providing affordable dialysis to patients with renal failure since 2011. The centre has expanded its operations to cater to more than 100 patients, in addition to expanding the range of other services provided.

Woman fined $20,000 for lighting ‘squibs’, ‘whistling thunders’ …on Diwali night

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hirty-five-year-old Shelly Russell of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown was apparently unaware that lighting fireworks was illegal.

She found herself unrepresented by legal counsel as she appeared before Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday last,

charged with the offence.

She pleaded guilty to exploding fireworks on October 22, 2017 at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown to the annoyance of others.

The court heard that, following the Diwali celebrations, the defendant continued to set off “squibs and whistling thunders”

even after neighbours complained about the annoyance. Accordingly, the Police became involved, and Russell was charged with the offence.

Magistrate Daly fined Russell $20,000 and placed her on a bond to keep the peace for the next two years.

10 News

monDAY, october 30, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

“Pay your water bills, work with us” …GWI CEO urges Anns Grove/Clonbrook residents

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uyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Richard Van West-Charles has called on the residents of Anns Grove/Clonbrook and surrounding communities to work with the utility company as it strives to improve its water distribution service to the East Coast Demerara (ECD) communities.

“The issue we have in Clonbrook and Anns Grove and you have to help us, so that the quality will improve … the control of the leaks and wastage that’s occurring on this side and in

to the villages in the Anns Grove/Clonbrook neighbourhood on Saturday, the CEO encouraged residents to collaborate with the company to eliminate a collective debt of more than $100 million.

“We have 1400 customers in this area, but not everybody is paying so you have a collective debt of $16 million. We want to appeal to you. We don’t want to disconnect you. If you owe come and establish a contract.

We will give you so many months to pay that debt and keep current,” Dr Van WestCharles encouraged.

In photo (from left) are GWI CEO, Dr Richard Van West-Charles; Minister Simona Broomes; Minister Joseph Harmon and Region Four Chairperson Genevieve Allen

ing to resolve issues relating to low water pressure in the

Residents of the Anns Grove/Clonbrook attending the GWI outreach

Beehive. Unless we arrest the leaks and the wastage, people down at the end of the line will suffer and you are going to compromise the quality of water,” Dr Van West-Charles told residents.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) noted that at an outreach

Acknowledging that there were still water purification and distribution problems in Anns Grove and neighbouring communities, the CEO said that a process to remove the iron content from the water had commenced. Further, he said the company was work-

distribution system, which have plagued the communities for some time now.

“We do know that you were having some problems in terms of the level of service, because the Enmore number two well is down and should be back up with-

in another three weeks with a new pump, so because the system is very well interconnected, you will see we will be able to move water to the lower lands, even to Victoria at the back, for an improved service," the CEO explained.

Dr Van West-Charles indicated that a team from the water company toured the communities and realised that only one side of the Middle Walk at the back of Anns Grove was being sup-

plied with water. He gave an undertaking to have that situation rectified within a short time.

“We have decided that probably by the end of the new week, we are going to be running the continuation of the transmission lines and interconnections and ensure that people on both sides of the street and the back will get access to water," he said.

Dr Van West-Charles gave assurances for the es-

tablishment of a new well at the back of Sparendaam, another at Better Hope and water treatment in Friendship/Annandale to enable significant improvement in the water supply. However, he cautioned that infrastructural work at the Hope Canal would have to be conducted. “We have to replace the crossing at the Hope Canal and so we promise you that before Christmas, the area will be well served with adequate water and good-quality water,” he said.

Meanwhile, Director of Operations, Dwayne Shako said that works at the Buxton/Friendship Pump Station were progressing and were on stream for the installation of treatment plants in early 2018.

Included in the official team at the outreach were Ministers of Government, Simona Broomes and Joseph Harmon, along with regional and local government representatives.

Albouystown men cross charged for maliciously wounding each other

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wo men who ended up injuring each other during a scuffle were charged for maliciously wounding each other when they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday last.

Neville Everley and Colin Cooper appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly to answer to the charge which stated that on October 22, 2017, at James Street, Albouystown, both men unlawfully and maliciously

wounded each other.

However, Everley was also slapped with a second charge which stated that he used threatening behaviour against Mark Paul on the same day at the same location.

The court heard that the two men who are known to each other were involved in an argument which escalated into an altercation.

As a result of that altercation, both men sustained injuries about their bodies.

The matter was reported to the Police and they were both arrested and charged.

Magistrate Daly granted bail to Everley in the sum of $35,000 for the two charges against him. Cooper was granted $25,000 bail for the wounding charge.

Both men are expected back in court on October 30, 2017 and were placed on a bond to keep the peace pending the outcome of the matter.

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MONDAY, october 30, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

“Uncapped” closes with little success …many exhibitors express dissatisfaction with low turnout

By Samuel Sukhnandan

A

s the curtains came down on the agro processors exhibition dubbed “Guyanese Flavour Uncapped” at the Sophia Exhibition Centre on Sunday, many exhibitors expressed some level of dissatisfaction, stating that the event could have been much more successful but there was a very small turnout.

Uncapped, which kicked off on Friday last, attracted hundreds of people that day, but as the rest of the days went by, very few people visited the exhibition. For some local agro producers especially those with small and medium size businesses, dissatisfaction with the event was evident.

However, some of the much larger businesses said while they, too, were not

ucts, but very few made purchases, despite there being various promotions on the several products that were on display.

Pharhalal Dawarkha said, “The turnout was really poor. We expected something a little bit better. I think it has to do with how the event was promoted. I think most people have the idea that it’s mostly agricultural products, and not the other local products produced in Guyana.”

The owner of Kraftia’s, Marlloyd Kyte, told this newspaper that some people were interested in buying her products - mostly handmade fabric, bead and natural seed jewelry, with which she was impressive. However, she did explain that the number of patrons was very small, and the visitors to the exhibition booth were not as expected.

According to her, the event

Local entrepreneur Denisia Winter from Annai, Region Nine, sits next to her products on display at the exhibition

pleased with the turnout, many Guyanese who visited the exhibition had a keen interest in their local products.

Some of the visitors were even surprised at some of the products being produced locally.

A representative from the National Milling Company (NAMILCO), who spoke with Guyana Times on Sunday, said many people were interested in sampling the prod-

did not achieve what it had set out to accomplish.

“The response is a bit slow. I went into town to ask people about the event, and many of them said they haven’t heard much about it. So a lot of people haven’t come by, and I guess it has a lot to do with how the event was planned. But I am still hoping for the best,” she told this publication on Sunday.

A female entrepreneur

A sales representative from NAMILCO attending to a patron at “Uncapped” on Sunday

from Annai said several people who visited the exhibition showed an interest in her products, although many of them did not make purchases.

Denisia Winter said she was nevertheless encouraged by patrons to continue building her work, while some of them expressed pleasure with the manner in which she presented and packaged her products, mostly made of coconut.

The overall objective of the affair was to allow local agro-processors to showcase their products, and to seek additional regional and international markets. Business Minister Dominic Gaskin saw the event not only as a business event, or just an agro-event, but also a food security initiative, since it featured Guyanese foods from Guyanese farms from across all administrative regions.

The Minister opined that exposing local products to the international markets would not necessarily lead to prices being competitive. He noted, however, that in terms of standards and marketing, “It is a plus for producers.” He further emphasised the importance of “consuming our own products”, which will impact the amount of food imported into the country. To that end, the export market will be examined, as there is

a large enough market in the agro-processing industry.

Guyana Manufacturing and Service Association (GMSA) President Shyam Nokta had said that the Caribbean region – which is a net importer of food – spends in excess of US$4 billion every year, which he said is an

increase of 50 percent since the year 2000. This, he said, provides an opportunity for countries like Guyana, a producer of food and agro-products and agro-businesses, to step up to the plate.

He spoke about the reality that several imported items found in supermarkets can

be produced here. “This often begs the question(s), ‘Are we showcasing? Are we marketing what we produce sufficiently? And is there enough support being provided to local products?”

Nokta stressed that agro-processing has been around for as long as agriculture in Guyana, and it continues to play a critical role in the livelihood and well-being of a large section of the Guyanese population.

The fair also included a culture night on Saturday, October 28, and showcased many local artistes.

It wrapped up on Sunday, October 29, with “a grand” local food festival sponsored by the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL). Other sponsors of the event include IPED, Edward Beharry and Company, Sterling Products Limited, Impressions, Republic Bank, and Banks DIH.

12 NEWS

monDAY, october 30, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Local designer launches “My heart beats in Africa”

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odels hit the runway in over 130 exotic pieces from the “Shape” 2018 collection, bringing to life the creative vision of local fashion designer Donna Ramsammy James as she again stole the limelight in the local fashion industry.

The 20th annual staging of “My heart beats in Africa”-themed fashion show, which exhibited both male and female attire incorporating the softness of Asia, the depth of Africa and

the colour of the Caribbean, was inspired by James’s recent visit to Nairobi in Kenya, East Africa.

Guests attired in glamorous African-themed outfits gathered on the lawns of Herdmanston House in the cool atmosphere of Sunday evening in obvious anticipation of the much-talkedabout event.

The two-hour-long mesmerizing fashion show saw several sequences featuring the diverse fashion trends of various African tribes,

Model Treasure James takes hold of the runway

Models display Ethiopian-themed pieces

every design exquisite and unique.

Following the glamourous presentations, the genius behind it all, James, took to the catwalk to express her undying appreciation to supporters. She disclosed that the proceeds of the show go to the Guyana Relief Council (GRC), and

she called upon Chairperson of the organisation, Mrs.

Mother and daughter “dress-alike” pieces featured in Kente Print

Yvonne Hinds, to graciously accept the cheque.

Designs were available for purchase.

Sophia resident charged for beating man who entered mother’s yard

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leveland Williams of North Sophia, Georgetown allegedly beat a man whom he had found in his mother’s yard.

Appearing on Friday last before Magistrate Leron Daly, the 34-year-old Williams originally pleaded guilty with explanation when the charge was read to him.

The charge alleged that on October 19, 2017, at North Sophia, Georgetown, he assaulted Delvon Light so as to cause him actual bodily harm.

The defendant explained to the court that he had warned the virtual complainant (VC) not to enter his mother’s yard, but

the man entered anyway.

According to Williams, Light barged into his mother’s yard and proceeded to walk up her step. and as such he took action.

He, however, denied that he dealt the VC a beating.

As such, Magistrate Daly entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Bail was granted to him in the sum of $20,000, and he is expected to reappear in Court today (October 30, 2017).

news

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MONDAY, october 30, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Elderly persons treated to tea party, concert at Botanical Gardens A

number of elderly persons were on Saturday afternoon treated to a tea party and concert at the Botanical Gardens in Georgetown.

The event, hosted by the Social Protection Ministry, marks the conclusion of Month of the Elderly observations, which were held

Elderly Commission Chairman Everette DeLeon

Robert John performing an original composition

under the theme “Stepping into the future: Tapping the talents, contributions and participation of older persons in society”.

Held in partnership with the Palms Geriatric Institution, the event was a celebration of the contributions of the elderly to Guyana’s art and culture.

Minister Keith Scott

Minister within the Social Protection Ministry with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, told those gathered that the event was to honour them.

According to the Department of Public Information, the Minister charged the Palms and the other institutions that were represented to bring

Some of the elderly taking in the show

the elderly together either monthly or every three months since physical exercise such as singing and dancing gives them another lease on life.

Everette DeLeon, Chairman of the Elderly

Commission, pledged to do more for the elderly beyond the month of October.

“We are the footmen and we are visiting you to see what your needs are,” she assured.

Elderly persons from

20 homes, including the Palms, were dressed in their finest and treated to an elegant afternoon of delicacies and entertainment from their peers on the lawns around the bandstand.

Upgrade of post offices to meet current demands Harbour Bridge Corporation pledges support to cancer fight T

he Government is redesigning the services being offered by post offices to increase its revenue stream.

P u b l i c Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes shared how this would be done at the Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers' Union 21 Delegates (second triennial) Conference at the Union’s East Street headquarters on Sunday.

The Minister has committed to ensuring there was an increase in agency fees. "These services have been totally not looked at, not supported...and it's about time we changed it," Minister Hughes said.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), the Government is also examining other payment methods for the distribution of pension. The cost has become astronomical for the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC), the Minister acknowledged.

There are also plans to upgrade the infrastructure of a number of post offices beginning in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Minister Hughes noted that the objective was to provide the modern-day services demanded by customers. "Our vision is that we will utilise more ICT to transform Guyana and particularly, the Post Office," she said.

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes

Guyana has 67 post of- The GPTWU Conference fices across the country, is being held under the and Minister Hughes en- theme "The Preservation of visions these being cen- Rights and the Rule of Law tres for accessing other from Exploitation".

The DPI said Minister Government services as well as serving as Internet Hughes also publicly comhubs and providing other mitted to lobbying for duty-free concessions and postal delivery services.

Already, the recent- subventions for the sector.

Union President Harold ly-upgraded Kitty Post Office is providing Internet Shepherd noted that the services to the community. last three years have been The Government is challenging for the body advancing ICT use in particularly in defending a number of its agen- the issue of workers’ rights.

The Union is addressing cies. Under the Public T e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s a number of industrial relaMinistry, some 94 educa- tion issues with GTT before tional institutions now pro- the Labour Department.

Shepherd noted, vide free Wi-Fi. through the Minister Hughes however, subvention also noted that the Government Administration was work- the Union receives, it is ing to liberalise the tele- working to build the capaccommunications sector, in ity of its members through order to break the monop- training. He acknowledged the labour movement and oly by the GTT. Meanwhile, the unions "must adapt or beMinister charged the come obsolete", as they Union to do more to ed- work to defend workers’ ucate members on their rights in a world being rights and recourses avail- changed by technological able to them as workers. advances.

A senior official of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (at left) hands over the cheque to representatives of the Cancer Institute of Guyana

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s Guyana aligns itself with the rest of the world in organising a month of special activities aimed at promoting the fight against cancer, the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) has pledged continued support by donating towards this cause.

This is as the DHBC plugged $200,000 into the operations of the Cancer Institute of Guyana (CIG), particularly in aid of its works as it relates to breast cancer.

During a simple ceremony, DHBC handed over the cheque to the CIG's representatives, comprising

Team Leader and Director of Medical Outreach, Dr Mujahid Ghazi, as well as the General Manager, Fiona Legall.

In doing so, the bridge company’s Human Resources Officer, Ayanna Williams highlighted, "We continue to support the Cancer Institute and we stay committed to collaborating with the Cancer Institute to recognise all that they have done and all that they still have to do...so that we can continue to raise voices and be aware of this epidemic that is affecting each and every one of us.”

Meanwhile, in extending gratitude to the DHBC,

Dr Ghazi outlined the significance of this donation by noting that it would play an important role in the delivery of the Cancer Institute's services.

The donation is the continuation of a longstanding relationship between the DHBC and the Cancer Institute of Guyana which has seen the company participating in a number of activities organised by the Institute, over the years.

Stemming from that, a team of representatives from the DHBC took to the streets early Sunday morning as the CIG hosted its annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk.

14 news

monDAY, october 30, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GRC hosts Annual Luncheon and Dutch Auction

By Paula Gomes

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wo lucky bidders walked away with prizes when the Guyana Relief Council (GRC) hosted its Annual Luncheon and Dutch Auction on Sunday at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown.

organisations whose works have positively impacted on the lives of the less fortunate in society.

Mrs. Hinds related that the twenty-two-year-old non-profit organisation has been active in rendering much needed assistance to all ten administrative regions of

outreach programme to be halted recently. This development would have had a detrimental effect on the remote communities dubbed “the poorest of the poor”, by the Chairman.

Mrs Hinds further bemoaned the refusal of the Government to grant a duty-free concession to assist the purchase of a suitable vehicle to facilitate the resumption of hinterland outreaches, which have in the past years tremendously impacted the development and maintenance of schools, health centres, and communities as a whole.

“It seems as though everyone we ask is suffering from donor ‘fatigue’. In some cases one can detect the will, but without the ‘wherewithal’. However, even though the assistance we provide

nancial constraints, GRC stands by its motto of caring and sharing in assisting the less fortunate. What’s more, the gathering heard that the seventeen-year-old “The Yvonne Hinds Home of Hope” which was in dire need of refurbishment for some time has been closed for refurbishment and maintenance, thanks to financial assistance of various supporting organisations.

In conclusion, the Chairman spoke on the commitment of GRC, assuring that all who call upon the services of the organization will be treated with dignity.

“Our work at the GRC is a labour of love for the people of Guyana, and on behalf of the Guyanese diaspora who are not here to personally give a hand to their loved ones...,” were the reassuring

Chairperson of Guyana Relief Council, Yvonne Hinds, hands over the Nigerian artifact to the winning bidder

Manager of Laparkan, Oscar Phillips, shared a few inspi-

A second lucky bidder receiving a lamp

The luncheon was well attended by members of the private sector, and among other distinguished figures were former Prime Minister and former President, Samuel Hinds.

Chairperson of GRC, Mrs. Yvonne Hinds, at the ‘meet and greet’ event, extended sincere appreciation to supporting personnel and

Guyana, and is disposed to assisting those affected by disasters of all kinds, regardless of race, class, religious or political affiliation – those aspects which should not be distinguishing factors.

Notwithstanding its good intentions, GRC has been faced with financial difficulties over the past few years, which caused the hinterland

Guests at the Guyana Relief Council’s Annual Luncheon, held in the Savannah Suites of the Pegasus Hotel

may be limited, I can assure you that no one who seeks our services leaves empty handed…,” she said.

Notwithstanding its fi-

Former President escapes injury in minor WBD accident

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disaster was narrowly avoided on Sunday morning when former President Donald Ramotar emerged unhurt from a collision at Schoonard Public Road, West Bank Demerara.

The former Guyanese Head of State told Guyana Times that the accident occurred at some time close to 9:00hrs on Sunday.

Ramotar said he was travelling to Parika for a funeral when the accident happened. He was at the time travelling in a BMW Range Rover. The drivers of both vehicles were asked to report to the La Grange Police Station by police who showed up at the scene following the collision.

The former President said neither he nor his driver was hurt during the accident.

(Samuel Sukhnandan)

Photos of the accident scene

closing words of Mrs Hinds.

Guest speaker at the proceedings, Deputy Chairman of the Guyana Oil Company Ltd and former General

rational words on “voluntarism,” during which he recognised and applauded the invaluable contributions of

GRC to the Guyanese community over the years.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,” he said to the thunderous applause of patrons.

Following the highlight of the event, a delectable lunch, excitement buzzed as the floor was opened for the bidding segment.

The bid for an electric lamp was opened at $1000, and sold to a gentleman for $54,000. More interesting was the battle for a Nigerian antique piece between two particularly adamant gentlemen, snatched by one after the other gave up on the seemingly endless bid at $96,000.

Moreover, GRC presented hampers and plaques to several loyal supporters of the organization as a means of showing their appreciation for such dedication.

Harbour Bridge repairs

Faulty winch delays bridge opening to marine traffic F ollowing successful completion of rehabilitation works on the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) over the weekend, engineers have encountered a hiccup that would delay the reopening of the bridge to marine traffic.

The bridge was, on Thursday last, closed off to marine traffic to facilitate the replacement of a pontoon at the eastern retractor span, and was scheduled to reopen on Tuesday.

However, the bridge company has since indicated that the faulty winch was discovered after the rehabilitation works were completed on Saturday.

“The Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation has successfully completed its works scheduled for this weekend, including the changing of pontoons.

However, upon completion, a fault was discovered with the north-east-

ern winch. This fault may result in a failure to open the bridge to marine (traffic) as scheduled on Tuesday, October 31,” it said on Sunday.

DHBC General Manager Rawlston Adams, along with his engineering team, will be meeting with media operatives today to explain the issues developed and the process to get them fixed.

Prior to the closure of the bridge to marine traffic, the DHBC would have had consultations with stakeholders to facilitate the repairs.

Adams had explained last week that the process would normally entail a temporary pontoon being installed and the original one taken out, refurbished and then replaced.

However, because the pontoon that had to be changed housed all the winches and hydraulic pipes to facilitate the retraction, that

process could not work.

Instead, a new pontoon had to be fabricated to immediately and permanently replace the old pontoon, so that the hydraulic pipes and the winches can be hooked up back for the bridge retraction. But apparently something went wrong while the engineers were reconnecting the winches.

The replacing of this pontoon is the final phase of rehabilitation works which kicked off earlier this year. Back in June, a similar exercise was carried out on the western retractor span without any hiccups. The project altogether, carries a cost of $103 million.

Meanwhile, given that the structure has been standing for the past 40 years, a number of other reinforcement efforts are expected to be undertaken in the first quarter of 2018.

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MONDAY, octoBER 30, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

GTU threatens strike over salary increase

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he Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) staged a walkout on officials of the Education Ministry during a meeting on Thursday last, which was aimed at discussing a proposed multi-year agreement. This resulted from the Government’s inaction on the Union’s substantive proposal, particularly as it relates to an increase in salary and as such, the GTU threatened to take countrywide strike action as of this week. In light of this, Guyana Times asked the public whether or not they believe the GTU is justified in its threats to strike as it continues to call for a 50 per cent increase in salary?

Rashley Joseph “As a teacher I fully support my union in taking the step in asking for a 50 per cent increase. We are worth it, we deserve it and even more. It must be noted that since 2015 all our basic allowances were withdrawn. Every week, new

duties are added to our already packed teaching schedules.

Imagine if we had increases with every new task added how rich we would have been today. Teachers, especially in the nursery and primary sections of the education system, are pressured to the extent that they have to extract financial resources from their poverty wages to furnish classrooms and equip them with teaching aids, but no one is seeing it fit to extract more from the treasury to meet our basic needs. How could this be fair? My union's position is well justified and I stand in solidarity. It is indeed the right time for us to put our foot down and demand our respect, demand living wages, demand "the good life for all" that was promised and not "the good life for politicians" that we are seeing presently.

Ganesh Mahipaul “Calling for a 50 per cent increase I believe is very unreasonable when one considers that not only teachers are sacrificing a lot to

Sevanie Williams “What happened is that I believe they were promised an increase before and during elections. Why is it then that they should have to go to

Darren Williams

Kristie Coleman

their parents’ home goes to school where their teachers act as their second parents, to mould and teach them, to prepare them for the future.

Teachers do this and should be able to do this without mourning or complaints. They should not have to strike for proper incentives; they should be granted this freely. I am going to support them in their decision, because, sometimes, drastic measures are needed.”

Jereme Ramratan

“Well, I know the effort and time some teachers put into their profession, because I personally know one and she goes out of her way literally to make sure her class starts off great and if most of teachers are like her, I think they shouldn't even have to be striking to get that increase.

“Of course, they are justified. Why is it in this day and age do teachers in Guyana still have to strike in order to get an increase in salary? The Government officials should be ashamed of themselves. Teachers are the ones tirelessly working with our nation’s children each day prepping them for the future, teaching them to achieve a good life and yet they have to take such drastic actions in order to be better paid. Again, this Government should be ashamed of itself.”

Roycelyn Alleyne “Teachers are like parents to children. At a young age, each child after they left

aid in the development of this country. We have to further understand that when we are given an increase, it must be able to be sustained and everyone looks forward, as the years progress, to more and more increases.

So with that in mind, I would’ve given teachers and nurses a 10 per cent increase across the board and increase the minimum wage threshold.

We must also be cognisant of the fact that teachers don’t work the same hours as other public servants. Their work and level of output should also be considered as opposed to that of other public servants.”

“No, I don’t support the union taking such a step, but I understand the reasoning.

Teachers are an integral part of society. They see our Government increasing the salaries of its high officials by extravagant amounts and, of course, they gonna want to increase theirs as well. If my company was Government-oriented, I would want my salary raised too.”

Malissa Playter-Harry “I have not been following the developments of that story, but I do think that teachers deserve, and are justified in lobbying for an increase in salary, given the sacrifices, commitment and nature of this noble profession. I know that they have been lobbying for better pay for years, maybe now their voices will be heard. As it relates to striking, it depends how long the strike will be running for. This is not good for students.”

Shaunell Wilson

“I have an aunt who is a head teacher of a school.

She is really dedicated to

ensuring that the children in her school receive a proper education. She is one of the most dedicated persons that I know and to know that she is being underpaid is heart-breaking. To know that she and her colleagues have to strike just for a little more money is even more heart-breaking because I know that such is a decision that she would not like to take. It will not only affect her but the students in her school as well.”

these extreme measures so as to get what was promised?

My mother has been a teacher for many, many years. I know the struggle and it's real.

Days and nights of endless book work and at the end of the month, they are carrying home a meagre sum. They have families too and on many occasions have to sacrifice time with them for the other kids. My mom has always loved what she does and for a person who genuinely cares about her students, I believe that at least they should've been among the first set of people to be shown that the country sees their efforts and genuinely cares about what they do for our country and for our children.”

Steven Singh

“Yes. Didn't the Ministers get 50 per cent? But then again 50 per cent might be too ambitious. Perhaps 15 per cent to 20 per cent is more reasonable.”

Ryan Sookdeo

“Teachers leave a profound legacy on their students and, therefore, deserve to be exalted in their profession. Although one may presume that

teachers are paid well in their profession, one must be prudent in their beliefs by considering plausible reasons that teachers deserve more pay, such as the role that teachers play in our future, the fact that teachers spend more time in the classroom than you may anticipate. Adding to that, there is a financial stress that plagues educators when intrinsic rewards are justified for poor monetary compensation.”

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, october 30, 2017

Regional

Brazil’s Lula, Bolsonaro Cuba: Allegations of sonic well positioned for 2018 attacks “totally false” elections – poll

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razilian Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and right-wing congressman Jair Bolsonaro would make it to a second round of voting in the 2018 presidential elections if they were held today, an Ibope poll showed on Sunday.

The poll, published in the O Globo newspaper, showed centre-left Lula winning 35 to 36 per cent of the vote in the October 2018 race regardless of the candidates he theoretically runs against.

Law-and-order congressman Bolsonaro, whose popularity has been spurred by rising violence in cities like Rio de Janeiro that were hard-hit by the country’s troubled economy, would win 15 per cent if he faced off against Lula.

Marina Silva, Former Environmental Minister for Lula, would take third place in any voting field that in-

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures during a seminar on public education in Brasilia, Brazil, October 9, 2017

cluded Lula as a candidate with eight to 11 per cent of the vote. Silva would tie with Bolsonaro for first place if Lula were out of the picture.

Despite Lula’s popularity, his political future hangs in the balance after he was convicted in July of receiving bribes from a construc-

tion firm in return for help winning Government contracts. In August, he said his Workers Party might have to run a different candidate.

Ibope’s poll of 2000 people in all of Brazil’s states was conducted between October 18 and October 22.

It has a margin of error of two percentage points. (Reuters)

Haitian legislator reiterates appeal to US President to extend TPS

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Haitian-born legislator in New York has reiterated his appeal to US President Donald Trump to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for undocumented Haitians living in the United States.

Dr Mathieu Eugene, who represents the predominantly Caribbean 40th Council District in Brooklyn, New York, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on Saturday that he would be joined Sunday at a rally in Brooklyn by immigration advocates, elected officials, clergy members and constituents reiterating their calls on the

Trump Administration to extend the status granted to almost 60,000 Haitians.

Eugene, the first Haitian to be elected to the New York City Council, said he would also re-launch an online petition requesting that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant an 18-month extension of TPS for Haitians and protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Programme (DACA), initiated by former US President Barack Obama that Trump plans to rescind.

TPS for Haitians is set to expire in January.

Eugene said the online

petition has amassed over 30,000 signatures “and has brought much-needed attention to the plight of thousands of immigrants seeking to remain in the US.” In May, DHS issued a sixmonth extension of TPS for Haitians, stating that eligible Haitian nationals must be prepared to return to the French-speaking Caribbean country in January 2018.

Eugene said the DHS would formally declare next month if it would keep the six-month extension in place or if it would grant a longer extension to TPS recipients.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Former Minister takes on PersadBissessar in UNC internal elections

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e took some time after the surprise announcement of early United National Congress (UNC) leadership polls, but former PP Minister Vasant Bharath will challenge UNC Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar – yet again – for the party leadership.

He said he has the support of some UNC Members of Parliament (MPs) – though he is not calling names.

“I have every intention of contesting in a legal, legitimate contest, whenever held,” he said Saturday responding to questions.

It will be Bharath’s second bid after badly losing a leadership fight to PersadBissessar in 2015. She obtained over 18,000 votes; UNC MP Roodal Moonilal got approximately 1800 votes; and Bharath, 1500.

“People may say why try again – and I do have other options – but a result like that wouldn’t daunt you once national interest is truly at heart.”

Bharath said earlier this year that he would contest the leadership in next year’s expected poll. After last week’s surprise announcement to push it earlier together with the November 26 National Executive elections, he has weighed the situation.

Former PP Minister Vasant Bharath

On Saturday, ahead of Tuesday’s UNC congress to ratify the dates, he said he was watching that outcome.

“But when I contest, it will be with a slate contesting the executive. I’m assembling a team with the required experience to take the party out of the mess it’s found itself in.

“We need to rebuild from UNC’s questionable self-inflicted wounds to present a genuine alternative to the current Government.

The UNC lost six elections – five in government, one out of office.” (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

uba says there have been no sonic attacks against US Embassy staff in its capital, Havana, and that the claims are a "political manipulation" aimed at damaging bilateral relations.

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez dismissed allegations of any kind of attack as "totally false".

The US said nearly two dozen personnel had health problems after the alleged attacks and cut its staff as a result.

Reports suggest sonic

attacks were to blame, but nothing has been proven.

Washington has not blamed Havana for the alleged attacks, and the Cuban Government has previously denied targeting Embassy staff.

The US expelled 15 Cuban diplomats, saying that Havana had failed to protect its employees, but Cuba said the move was "unjustified".

The US Government also suspended visa processing in Cuba indefinitely.

Speaking in Washington

at a meeting of Cubans living in the US, Rodriguez said the allegations have caused a "serious deterioration in the relationship between both Governments and both countries".

"It's unacceptable and immoral, from the point of view of the Cuban Government, for people to be harmed by a difference between Governments," he added.

The reported health problems ranged from mild brain trauma and deafness to dizziness and nausea.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Puerto Rico Governor: Scrap Whitefish energy grid deal

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uerto Rico's Governor has called for the cancellation of a contract given to a tiny Montana firm to help rebuild the island's power grid.

Ricardo Rossello also said he wanted to see repair teams brought from New York and Florida to aid with reconstruction efforts in the wake of Storm Maria.

The contract was given to Whitefish Energy, which has little experience of work on such a scale, without a public bid process.

Several inquiries are under way.

More than 70 per cent of people on the US-controlled island were without power as of Sunday morning – more than five weeks after the powerful hurricane devastated the power grid.

Rossello said on Sunday he had asked the board of governors of the Puerto Rican Electric Power Authority (Prepa) to cancel the Whitefish contract.

More than five weeks after Storm Maria, most Puerto Ricans are still in the dark

"There can be no distraction to alter the commitment to restore the power system as quickly as possible," he said.

The governor said he had instructed Prepa to "immediately coordinate with the states of Florida and New York to reinforce brigades" that are currently rebuilding the grid on the island.

Concerns were raised about why Puerto Rican authorities had not requested "mutual aid" from other public power authorities, as

is typical during disasters in the US. The island's power grid will have to be completely rebuilt The White House and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) distanced themselves from the deal late last week.

The company has its headquarters in the town of Whitefish, the hometown of US Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Zinke has denied any involvement or wrongdoing.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Barbados Health Minister praises PAHO/WHO

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he Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)/World Health Organisation (WHO)’s contribution to Barbados has come in for high commendation from the acting Minister of Health, Donville Inniss.

Inniss, who noted that “PAHO as an organisation has made a great contribution”, stated that the organisations have “really helped to transform our health care system”.

“A lot of the challenges that we faced back in the ’60s and early ’70s have perhaps even been eliminated or now better managed, but ladies and gentlemen, it is a very dynamic field, the field of public health, and we never know what is sitting on the horizon. If

Barbados’ acting Minister of Health, Donville Inniss

I had to point to a glaring example of sustainability in health care, it is the fact that PAHO has been able to well equip us in terms of the training of staff and use of our support services that we are able now to better

prepare ourselves for whatever may come our way.”

His comments came as he addressed the Tree Planting Ceremony to commemorate 50 years of Barbados’ membership in PAHO/WHO. This occurred on Wednesday at the PAHO/WHO Office at Dayrells Road, St Michael.

During the function, five representatives were responsible for planting five fruit trees on the grounds of the PAHO/ WHO property. PAHO/ WHO Representative for Barbados & the Eastern Caribbean Countries, Dr Godfrey Xuereb explained that significance of the trees and the individuals selected to plant them. (Excerpt from Barbados Advocate)

monDAY, october 30, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Hundreds of thousands march for unified Spain

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undreds of thousands of supporters of a unified Spain filled Barcelona’s streets on Sunday in one of the biggest shows of force yet by the so-called silent majority that has watched as regional political leaders push for Catalan independence.

Political parties opposing a split by Catalonia from Spain had a small lead in an opinion poll published on Sunday, the first since Madrid called a regional election to try to resolve the country’s worst political crisis in four decades.

Polls and recent elections have shown that about half the electorate in the wealthy north-eastern region, which is already autonomous, oppose secession from Spain, but a vocal independence movement has brought the

Waving thousands of Spanish flags and singing “Viva España”, protesters on Sunday turned out in the largest display of support for a united Spain since the beginning of the crisis

current crisis to a head.

Spain’s central Government called an election for December 21 on Friday after sacking Catalonia’s President Carles Puigdemont, dissolving its Parliament and dismissing

its Government. That followed the assembly’s unilateral declaration of independence in a vote boycotted by three national parties.

The regional government claimed it had a mandate to push ahead with indepen-

dence following an unofficial referendum on October 1, which was ruled illegal under Spanish law and mostly boycotted by unionists.

Waving thousands of Spanish flags and singing “Viva España”, protesters on Sunday turned out in the largest display of support for a united Spain since the beginning of the crisis – underlining the depth of division in Catalonia itself.

“I‘m here to defend Spanish unity and the law,” said Alfonso Machado, 55, a salesman standing with a little girl with Spanish flags in her hair. “Knowing that in the end there won’t be independence, I feel sorry for all the people tricked into thinking there could be and the divisions they’ve driven through Catalan society.”

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Govt, Opposition trade blame for Kenya poll violence

K

enya’s Deputy President has blamed the Opposition coalition and its leader, Raila Odinga, for the violence witnessed in the East African country following disputed polls.

Speaking to Al Jazeera on Sunday, William Ruto

said that an Opposition militia was responsible for the killings since Thursday’s presidential election rerun.

At least eight people have been killed and more than 30 injured since Thursday’s election, most in the Opposition strongholds in the western part of

Rouhani says Iran will keep producing missiles, State TV reports

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ran will continue to produce missiles for its defence and does not consider that a violation of international accords,

17

clear programme in return for sanctions relief, which has drawn fire from US President Donald Trump.

The United States has

Kenya.

Odinga, speaking at a supporters’ rally in the Nairobi neighbourhood of Kawangware, where a man was killed on Friday night and several businesses burned in clashes between Government supporters and Opposition protesters,

blamed the Government for the violence.

Odinga, who came second in August’s annulled polls where he won nearly 45 per cent of the cast votes, withdrew early this month from the rerun claiming the election will not be free and fair. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Trump rages on Twitter at Clinton and Russia inquiry ‘witch hunt’

U

S President Donald Trump has launched a Twitter tirade about the “guilt” of Hillary Clinton and the Opposition Democratic Party.

His Sunday morning outburst came amid reports that the first arrest in the Russian collusion inquiry would be made this week, possibly as early as today.

Trump insisted allegations of collusion between his campaign and Russia were “phony” and a “witch hunt”.

He said Republicans were united behind him, before urging: “DO SOMETHING!” Media reports say the first charges have been filed in the investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election to assist Trump.

It is not clear what the charges are and whom they are targeting, CNN and Reuters report, quoting unnamed sources.

Trump issued a series

of four tweets on Sunday morning: “Never seen such Republican ANGER & UNITY as I have concerning the lack of investigation on Clinton made Fake Dossier (now $12,000,000?),.... “...the Uranium to Russia deal, the 33,000 plus deleted Emails, the Comey fix and so much more. Instead they look at phony Trump/ Russia,.... “...’collusion,’ which doesn’t exist. The Dems are using this terrible (and bad for our country) Witch Hunt for evil politics, but the R’s... “...are now fighting back like never before. There is so much GUILT by Democrats/ Clinton, and now the facts are pouring out. DO SOMETHING!” About an hour later he tweeted: “All of this ‘Russia’ talk right when the Republicans are making their big push for historic Tax Cuts & Reform. Is this coincidental? NOT!” (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Thailand enshrines ashes of King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani to step down Many people wore black clothing as part of a year of official mourning

T

he final stage of the funeral ceremony for Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej has taken place in Bangkok.

The king’s ashes were enshrined in two royal tem-

I

Iraqi Kurdish President Massoud Barzani [Al Jazeera]

President Hassan Rouhani

President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday in a speech broadcast on state television.

Rouhani spoke days after the US House of Representatives voted for new sanctions against Iran’s ballistic missile programme, part of an effort to clamp down on Tehran without immediately moving to undermine an international nuclear agreement.

He also meet the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog in Tehran, who again vouched for Iran’s compliance with the 2015 accord that curbed its nu-

already imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, saying its missile tests violate a UN resolution, that calls on Tehran not to undertake activities related to missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. (Excerpt from Reuters)

raqi Kurdish President Massoud Barzani is to step down as the region wrestles with Baghdad over independence.

In a bitter TV address, he defended the independence referendum he called.

An overwhelming majority of voters approved secession, triggering fighting with Iraqi Government troops who seized Kurdish-

held oil rich areas.

As Parliament debated his decision to stand down, some pro-Barzani supporters forced their way into the building to protest against his treatment.

The details of the situation remain unclear, but some witnesses reported seeing protesters with clubs, and some gunshots have also been heard.

Some Kurds are aggrieved that the 71-year-old leader’s dream of Kurdish independence has been left in tatters, despite wide support within the region in the September 25 referendum.

On Sunday, Barzani confirmed in a letter that he would not seek an extension to his presidential term, which ends in four days.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Modi looks to spark India electricity drive

A

s he looks to counter recent criticism of his handling of the Indian economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has returned to a familiar project of successive Indian Prime Ministers: providing electricity to everyone in the

country.

The Indian Prime Minister recently promised that his Government would spend Rs123 billion (US$1.9 billion) to provide every household with an electricity connection by April 2019 — just in time for the next

general election. Ministers hope the drive will boost economic output following a recent dip in growth.

But Government data show that despite Ministers having prioritised rural electrification from the start of this Government

in 2014, the pace of change has slowed considerably since the middle of the last Administration. And for PM Modi to hit his target, he will need a fivefold jump in the number of houses receiving connections every week.

(Excerpt from Financial Times)

ples and Thailand’s Grand Palace, where he had lain in state since he died aged 88 last October.

On Thursday, hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets to pay their last respects to King Bhumibol, who reigned for more than 70 years.

A year-long mourning period ended at midnight (17:00 GMT) on Sunday.

It means mourners will be able to replace their black clothes with more subdued colours, such as brown and blue. Black and white decorations on Government offices and homes can also be removed.

The elaborate five-day funeral officially started on Wednesday with a merit-making ceremony, a Buddhist rite, in the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

On Thursday, the late king was cremated on a royal pyre lit by his son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, after a procession marked by drums, flute music and an artillery salute.. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, october 30, 2017

ARCHIE

Let your imagination wander through the past and (March 21present to come up with the April 19) perfect balance of the old and new. It’s time to forge into the future.

ARIES

Put more energy into your TAURUS relationships. Offer sugges(April 20- tions and give positive feedMay 20) back to loved ones. Helping others succeed will benefit you as well. A joint venture will provide an opportunity.

dilbert

Stay active and get into GEMINI (May 21- tip-top shape. Refuse to June 20) let emotional matters take charge and turn you into a slouch. Striving for success will help you overcome any mishap that befalls you.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Do your best to take advantage of situations that allow you to network or show off what you have to offer.

Partnerships will be to your advantage.

You’ll be inclined to do things differently, causing some concern from those you deal with daily. If you want to gain approval, you are best off using your Leo charm to do so.

Live and learn. Having an VIRGO open mind and being a will(Aug. 23ing participant will give you Sept. 22) greater insight into what’s happening and what you can do to make your life better.

Calvin and Hobbes

A vocational change will LIBRA (Sept. 23- transpire if you connect with a Oct. 23) former co-worker. Make an ad-

justment to the way you handle your cash or personal finances.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

A new interest can lead to SCORPIO financial gain. Develop your (Oct. 24idea and consider how to marNov. 22) ket what you have to offer.

Opportunity will sprout from individuality.

Be careful when helping SAGITTARIUS others. It will be easy for emo(Nov. 23- tions to intervene, leading Dec. 21) to you or someone else being taken for granted. Lay down ground rules first.

Greater opportunities will CAPRICORN come your way if you let your (Dec. 22- imagination run riot and opt to Jan. 19) do things differently. It’s your uniqueness that will put you in a good position to bargain.

SATURDAY’S WORD

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle Don’t make a move based AQUARIUS on an assumption. Cynicism (Jan. 20- will set in if you trust what Feb. 19) others tell you. Look past someone’s quirkiness to gain better insight.

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

A carefully considered PISCES (Feb. 20- opinion or sales pitch will March 20) help you attract interest to something you want to pursue. Once you have others on board, it will be easy for you to excel.

monDAY, october 30, 2017

England's golden boy, Phil Foden

Phil Foden brace as England beat Spain to win Under-17 World Cup

E

ngland Under-17s became world champions in ecstatic fashion as Phil Foden's brace and Rhian Brewster's eighth goal of the tournament powered the Young Lions to a 5-2 World Cup final win over Spain.

It was a sensational turnaround for Steve Cooper's side after slipping 2-0 behind in little more than half an hour, but they showed endless reserves of energy, enthusiasm and skill as they matched England's World Cupwinning under-20s in style and avenged defeat to the same opponents in the final of the European Championship.

England have been the dominant force in age-group football in 2017, asserting themselves in a way their senior counterparts can only dream of. In Manchester City playmaker Foden and Liverpool forward Brewster they have two of the nation's most prized talents.

Brewster's header gave England hope at 2-1 down, Morgan Gibbs-White grabbed the equaliser and from there it was one-way traffic, Foden producing a pair of smart finishes and Marc Guehi on target from close range.

Though they did not appear on the scoresheet at Kolkata's soldout Salt Lake Stadium, huge credit must also go to the irrepressible Chelsea prospect Callum HudsonOdoi and Steven Sessegnon, whose crossing was essential to the comeback.

The game began at a breathless pace, Brewster and Gibbs-White combining for the first chance after just 47 seconds and Spain went ahead inside 10 minutes after Sergio Gomez touched touched home form close range.

England immediately appealed for offside but Sessegnon was playing the striker on in the full-back position.

Spain were desperately close to making it 2-0 after Jonathan Panzo's forward foray left his side exposed on the counter. Moha raced into space but, having established an almost unmissable position, took a heavy touch that Curtis Anderson pounced on.

There was no let off for England next time, Ruiz twisting and turning to feed Cesar, who duly picked out Gomez.

The forward wrapped his left boot around the ball and hooked a wonderful effort into the far corner.

It looked bleak for the Young Lions but, once Hudson-Odoi struck the post with a wonderful solo effort, they hit back just before the break.

Brewster was the inevitable scorer, with an authoritative downward header, but Sessegnon was equally responsible having provided an irresistible cross.

19

England's gutsy chase for an equaliser bore fruit in the 58th minute, Foden's disguised pass locating Sessegnon's overlap.

His cross was perfect again, as was Gibbs-White's timing as he arrived to clip home from six yards.

The momentum was with England -- and preserved less than a minute as Anderson made an instinctive one-handed save from Juan Miranda's header.

England took the lead for the first time in the 69th minute, Hudson-Odoi sliding the ball into Foden's path at the far post, where he never looked likely to miss.

They might have settled for survival now, particularly after Sessegnon blocked Miranda's header on the line, but instead went for the killer blow.

With five minutes left they though they had landed it, Guehi poking over the line after Panzo kept the ball alive, but there was a

fifth still t o come.

I t was fitting that it fell for Foden, Golden Ball winner as player of the tournament, and he accepted it with aplomb, taking a deft touch before rifling past Alvaro with power and precision.

(ESPNFC)

Courts/Malta Pee-Wee Football

Sophia, Marian take semi-final berths

F

ront-runners Sophia Primary and Marian Academy made the semi-finals of the seventh annual Courts Schools Pee-Wee Football Tournament after winning in Saturday’s quarter-finals at the Banks DIH Thirst Park Ground.

West Ruimveldt and Enterprise have also moved into the next round of the Tournament billed for next Friday.

Sophia were on their game as they beat off Redeemer by a 3-1 scoreline.

Leonard King scored twice in the first and sixth minutes, while David Weeks netted in the 28th minute.

Kevin George in the 35th minute accounted for Redeemer’s lone goal.

In the other game, West Ruimveldt shot down Stella Maris 4-3 on penalty

Part of the intense action in the tournament

kicks, after regulation and extra time finished 1-1. It took Fidel Edwards’ sixth minute strike to open the scoring’ with Ian Daniels pulling off the leveller in the nick of time.

Meanwhile, Enterprise needled School of the Nations 3-2 on penalty kicks, after regulation and extra time ended 0-0, while Marian Academy bested St Agnes 4-3 on penalty kicks, following a scoreless regulation and extra-time intervals.

In the 9-16 Position Tournament, Mae’s crushed St Ambrose 4-1, while Parfaite Harmonie edged Tucville 2-1.

Also, South Ruimveldt and FE Pollard defeated Den Amstel and Goed Fortuin via walkovers, respectively.

Hamilton wins 4th world title at Mexican Grand Prix Pakistan cruise to win...

L

ewis Hamilton clinched his fourth world title at the Mexican Grand Prix despite finishing only ninth after a clash with rival Sebastian Vettel.

Hamilton’s fourth world title makes him unquestionably the most successful British Formula 1 driver in history, moving him one championship clear of Sir Jackie Stewart.

He joins Vettel and Frenchman Alain Prost on four world titles, behind only Michael Schumacher, the all-time record holder on seven, and Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio’s five.

Hamilton put his hands to his helmet as he crossed the line, slowing the car down to a crawl as he sought to take in his achievement on the slowing down lap.

Vettel pulled alongside him and applauded as the crowd rose to their feet to recognise a historic landmark for the sport.

The Mercedes driver suffered a puncture when he was hit by the German’s Ferrari on the first lap, the incident also breaking Vettel’s front wing.

Number 44 celebrates a fourth title ̶ 44 years after Jackie Stewart had become the most successful British driver

Vettel made better progress back through the field than Hamilton, climbing up to fourth place, but he needed to finish second to keep the championship alive. (BBC)

After Sunday’s game, jubilant Pakistani fans exiting the stadium danced and played drums on the streets of Lahore.

“I cannot forget that horrible day when the Sri Lankan team was attacked,” said cricket enthusiast Altaf Akram.

“They have taken a big step. All Pakistanis welcome the Sri Lankans ... who are (now) heroes of Pakistan.”

Security for Sunday’s match comprised 16,000 police officials and over 250 surveillance vehicles deployed around Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, a police official said.

“Police have taken unprecedented security measures for (the) match,” Deputy Inspector General Haider Ashraf told Reuters, adding that aerial surveillance and CCTV cameras were also being utilised.

“Police snipers have been deployed at all high buildings around Gaddafi Stadium,” he added.

Pakistan officials hope Sunday’s match will encourage other countries to send their teams by next year.

West Indies have already committed to a tour although the dates have yet to be finalised, cricket board chairman Najam Sethi told

from page 20

Reuters.

Plans to bring cricket to other Pakistani cities are also underway with four domestic T20 fixtures from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) competition planned in southern metropolis Karachi.

“We want to hold two double headers in Karachi midway through the PSL and then have the final in Lahore,” he said.

“Sri Lanka, West Indies, PSL, the next slot which is open to Pakistan and any other country, there will be cricket here, I guarantee you that.” (Reuters)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, october 30, 2017

India pip New Zealand in thriller to clinch series 65, in the 48th over of the New Zealand innings.

Put into bat, India lost Shikhar Dhawan (14) early but New Zealand had to toil in the subsequent 35 overs as Kohli and Sharma became the first ODI pair to star in four double-century partnerships.

he fell in the 42nd over.

Kohli was silky smooth at the other end as the India captain became the fastest batsman to complete 9,000 ODI runs, achieving the feat in 194 innings.

The right-hander made 113 off 106 balls, with nine boundaries and a six in his

Miller smashes record for fastest ton in Twenty20 Internationals

SCOREBOARD

I

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both scored centuries

ndia registered a 2-1 series victory against New Zealand after Jasprit Bumrah’s tidy final over secured the hosts’ six-run win in the third and final one-day international on Sunday.

New Zealand needed 15 runs off the final over to chase down a 338-run victory target but a nerveless Bumrah conceded only seven while picking up his third wicket of the match to help India prevail in the runfest.

Earlier, centurions Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma featured in a mammoth 230-run stand to help the hosts post 337-6 after New Zealand, wary of the dew factor later in the evening, elected to field at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium.

New Zealand lost opener Martin Guptill early in their reply but Colin Munro smashed three sixes in his blistering 75 and Kane Williamson made a fluent 64 to help them overcome the early loss.

Wristspinner Yuzvendra Chahal ended the 109-run partnership, dismissing both the batsmen but Tom Latham refused to throw in the towel.

Latham and Ross Taylor had engineered New Zealand’s successful in the series opener in Mumbai and they looked determined to reprised the role.

Bumrah (3-47) poured cold water on their plans, however, by first dismissing Taylor for 39 and then running out Latham, who made

India Innings R. Sharma c Southee b Santner 147 S. Dhawan c Williamson b Southee 14 V. Kohli c Williamson b Southee 113 H. Pandya c Southee b Santner 8 M. Dhoni c Munro b Milne 25 K. Jadhav c Guptill b Milne 18 D. Karthik not out 4 Extras (lb-1 w-7) 8 Total (for 6 wickets, 50 overs) 337 Fall of wickets: 1-29 S. Dhawan,2-259 Ro. Sharma,3-273 H. Pandya,4-302 V. Kohli,5-331 M. Dhoni,6-337 K. Jadhav Did not bat: A. Patel, B. Kumar, J. Bumrah, Y. Chahal Bowling: Southee 10 - 0 - 66 2(w-1), Boult 10 - 0 - 81 - 0(w3), Milne 10 - 0 - 64 - 2(w-2), C. de Grandhomme 8 - 0 - 57 – 0, Santner 10 - 0 - 58 – 2, Munro 2 - 0 - 10 - 0(w-1)

Sharma batted with characteristic elegance to score 147 off 138 balls. His 15th one-day century was studded with 18 boundaries and a couple of sixes before

New Zealand Innings M. Guptill c Karthik b Bumrah 10 C. Munro b Chahal 75 K. Williamson c Dhoni b Chahal 64 R. Taylor c Jadhav b Bumrah 39 T. Latham run out (Dhoni, Bumrah) 65 H. Nicholls b B. Kumar 37 C. de Grandhomme not out 8 M. Santner c S. Dhawan b Bumrah 9 T. Southee not out 4 Extras (lb-4 w-16) 20 Total (for 7 wickets, 50 overs) 331 Fall of wickets: 1-44 M. Guptill,2-153 C. Munro,3-168 K. Williamson,4-247 R. Taylor,5-306 H. Nicholls,6-312 T. Latham,7-326 M. Santner Did not bat: A. Milne, T. Boult Bowling: Kumar 10 - 0 - 92 - 1(w-7), Bumrah10 - 0 - 47 3(w-2), H Pandya 5 - 0 - 47 0(w-2), Patel 7 - 0 - 40 - 0(w1), Jadhav8 - 0 - 54 - 0(w-3), Chahal 10 - 0 - 47 - 2(w-1)

32nd one-day century.

The teams will next square off in a three-match Twenty20 series beginning in New Delhi on Wednesday.

(Reuters)

Pakistan cruise to win on Lahore’s big night of-the-match award.

“Thanks for inviting us, we really love you guys,” said Sri Lanka captain Thisara Perera, whose

side were beaten 3-0 in the series with the first two matches having taken place in Abu Dhabi. turn to page 19

SCOREBOARD

P

Pakistan players enjoy their T20 series win © Getty Images

akistan marked the return of international cricket to the country with a rip-roaring 36-run Twenty20 victory over Sri Lanka in front of a packed stadium in the eastern city of Lahore on Sunday. Powered by a lightning 51 off 24 balls by Shoaib Malik and a bowling attack led by paceman Mohammmad Amir, the hosts made sure the fans would enjoy a night to remember as Pakistan finally hosted an international cricket fixture on home soil after being shunned by for-

eign teams for eight years due to security risks.

Pakistan’s isolation began when a 2009 militant attack on the Sri Lankan team’s bus in Lahore left six security personnel and two civilians dead while six players were injured.

Since then, Pakistan have been forced to play designated ‘home’ matches primarily in the United Arab Emirates.

“I’d like to thank the Sri Lankan team... this is something we have missed for many years,” Malik said after picking up the man-

Pakistan innings Fakhar Zaman b Munaweera 31 Umar Amin c Perera b Udana 45 Babar Azam not out 34 Shoaib Malik c de Silva b Sanjaya 51 Faheem Ashraf not out 13 Extras (lb 2, nb 2, w 2) 6 TOTAL: for 3 (20 Overs, RR: 9.00) 180 Did not bat: Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed (c) †, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali Fall of wickets: 1-57 (Fakhar Zaman, 7.6 ov), 2-91 (Umar Amin, 12.1 ov), 3-166 (Shoaib Malik, 19.4 ov) Bowling : Sanjaya 4- 0-41-1, Munaweera 4-0-26-1, Udana 3-0-0-32-1, Gunathilaka 2-0-160, T Perera 4-02-8-0, Pathirana 1-0-8-0, de Silva 1-0-14-0, Shanaka 1-0-13-0 Sri Lanka Innings (target: 181 runs from 20 overs) M Gunathilaka c & b Mohammad Hafeez 9 E Munaweera b Mohammad Amir S Samarawickrama † c Babar Azam b Imad Wasim 4 M Udawatte c Babar

Azam b Faheem Ashraf M Shanaka c Imad Wasim b Faheem Ashraf 54 P de Silva b Mohammad Amir 21 T Perera (c) c Shadab Khan b Hasan Ali 10 S Prasanna c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Amir 16 S Pathirana c Mohammad Hafeez b Mohammad Amir 14 I Udana not out J Sanjaya not out 1 Extras (lb 1, w 2) 3 TOTAL: for 9 (20 Overs) 144 Fall of wickets: 1-10 (EMDY Munaweera, 1.2 ov), 2-15 (S Samarawickrama, 2.5 ov), 3-21 (MD Gunathilaka, 3.4 ov), 4-57 (ML Udawatte, 8.4 ov), 5-96 (MD Shanaka, 13.2 ov), 6-106 (PC de Silva, 15.4 ov), 7-114 (NLTC Perera, 16.6 ov), 8-142 (SS Pathirana, 19.2 ov), 9-143 (S Prasanna, 19.3 ov) Bowling: Imad Wasim 4- 0-30-1, Amir 4-0-134, Mohammad Hafeez 2-0-0-11-1, Faheem Ashraf 4-0-19-2, Shadab Khan 2-0-31-0, Hasan Ali 4-0-39-1

David Miller

S

outh Africa middle-order batsman David Miller smashed the record for the fastest century in Twenty20 International cricket as South Africa thumped Bangladesh by 83 runs on Sunday for a clean sweep of the two-match series.

Miller, who was dropped on zero, reached his ton off 35 balls, beating the previous best mark of 45 deliveries set by compatriot Richard Levi against New Zealand in 2012.

South Africa managed 224 for four off their 20 overs, with Miller not out 101 from 36 balls as he crashed seven fours and nine sixes.

Bangladesh were in trouble early in their reply and

never recovered as they were bowled out for 141 in 18.3 overs.

Five of Miller’s sixes came in one over off Bangladesh seamer Mohammad Saifuddin as he showed remarkable timing in smashing the ball to all parts of the ground.

“It’s a really special feeling,” Miller told SuperSport.

“I tried to watch the ball and back myself. I was scratchy to be honest in the beginning and towards the back end it turned out to be sweet.”

South Africa won all seven tour matches against Bangladesh across the three formats, which included two tests, three OneDay Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals.(Reuters)

SCOREBOARD South Africa innings HM Amla c S Sarkar b M Saifuddin 85 M Mosehle † b Shakib Al Hasan 5 JP Duminy (c) b Shakib Al Hasan 4 AB de Villiers c I Kayes b M Saifuddin 20 D Miller not out 101 F Behardien not out 6 Extras (lb 1, w 2) 3 TOTAL (20 Overs) 224/4 Did not bat: AL Phehlukwayo, R Frylinck, AM Phangiso, BE Hendricks, D Pretorius Fall of wickets: 1-23 (M Mosehle, 2.3 ov), 2-37 (JP Duminy, 4.6 ov), 3-78 (AB de Villiers, 9.5 ov), 4-157 (HM Amla, 16.3 ov) Bowling: Shakib Al Hasan 4-022-2, T Ahmed 3-0-41-0, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 4-0-46-0, R Hossain 4-0-51-0, M Saifuddin 4-0-53-2, Mahmudullah 1-0-10-0 Bangladesh Innings (target: 225 runs from 20 overs) I Kayes run out (Miller/†Mosehle) 6 S Sarkar c Hendricks b Phangiso 44 Shakib Al Hasan (c) b Duminy

Mushfiqur Rahim † c †Mosehle b Frylinck 2 Sabbir Rahman c Hendricks b Duminy 5 Mahmudullah st †Mosehle b Phangiso 24 Liton Das c Frylinck b Pretorius 9 Mohammad Saifuddin c Amla b Hendricks 23 Mehidy Hasan Miraz c †Mosehle b Phehlukwayo 13 Taskin Ahmed run out (†Mosehle/Phehlukwayo) 4 Rubel Hossain not out 1 Extras: (lb 2, nb 2, w 4) 8 TOTAL: all out (18.3 Overs, RR: 7.62) 141 Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Imrul Kayes, 1.6 ov), 2-29 (Shakib Al Hasan, 3.2 ov), 3-32 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 4.2 ov), 4-37 (Sabbir Rahman, 5.2 ov), 5-72 (Soumya Sarkar, 8.6 ov), 6-93 (Liton Das, 11.2 ov), 7-98 (Mahmudullah, 12.4 ov), 8-130 (Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 17.2 ov), 9-137 (Taskin Ahmed, 17.4 ov), 10-141 (Mohammad Saifuddin, 18.3 ov) Bowling: Hendricks 2.3-028-1, Duminy 4-0-23-2, R Frylinck 2-0-9-1, Pretorius 3-00-27-1, Phangiso 4-0-0-31-2, Phehlukwayo 3-0-21-1

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Winner of the seventh annual Powerade 50-Miler Road Race, Jamaul John collects his trophy from Powerade Brand Manager Errol Nelson

T

he accomplished and in-form Jamaul John held off formidable challenges from Geron Williams and Paul DeNobrega on Sunday to cop his first Powerade 50-miler Road Race over at West Demerara.

It was another fast-paced race with the sprint to the finish line a close one; John won by half of a bicycle wheel, with DeNobrega breathing down his neck while Williams had to settle for third place this time around.

In recent races, John has been defeated by Williams so he sported a big grin after his feat.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport after his victory, John said it was a wonderful feeling as that was the first time he has won the event in its

seven-year history.

The race began at the Demerara Harbour Bridge instead of the scheduled starting point at the Wales Police Station on account of “bad road” conditions. It was Williams who initiated the breakaway en route to the turnback point at Bushy Park; he was followed by as many as 20 riders and among the last to give chase was John.

He eventually caught up with the leader and never let him out of his sight; surprisingly, Williams, who is known for his clinical sprint finishes, was beaten as the lanky Team Coco’s rider surged past to take the race in a time of one hour 35 minutes and 15 seconds.

Finishing in fourth, fifth and sixth positions

were Akeem Wilkinson, Walter Stuart-Grant and Silvio Innis respectively.

In the veterans’ category, Warren McKay staved off last year’s winner Junior Niles to land first place while Ian “Dumb Boy” Jackson came in third.

Nigel Duguid pedalled off with top honours for the junior cyclists, with Briton John and Adealie Hodge finishing second and third in that order.

Talim Shaw triumphed over Julio Melville to win the Mountain Bike race as Hosea McAulay settled for third.

Powerade Brand Manager at Banks DIH, Errol Nelson was on hand to present the various winners with their trophies and prizes. (Michelangelo Jacobus)

Guyanese cycling quartet confirmed for Junior Championships – faced uphill task to make it to Barbados

By Michelangelo Jacobus

I

magine seeking sponsorship almost countrywide and being made to go from place to place only to hear no and be given the royal run-around.

Frustrated is the suitable adjective that can be used to describe the state of mind of cycling club administrators in Guyana.

The quartet of junior cyclists who were chosen to represent this dear land of ours at the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships in Barbados will be jetting off this weekend.

However, garnering the funds for that trip was no easy feat and came at great personal expense.

Curtis “Chappy” Dey, Briton John, Nigel Duguid and Jonathan Ramsuchit are the four juniors who will be seeking glory in the “Land of Flying Fish”.

President of the Trojan Cycling Club (PSL), Steve Ramsuchit revealed that despite receiving monetary assistance from some corporate sponsors, it was not nearly enough to cover the expenses for the four cyclists. He also pointed out that it was very frustrating as often some companies would redirect him to head offices in the capital city – being based in Berbice, it is sometimes challenging to make the long trip to Georgetown,

Curtis “Chappy” Dey

especially since sponsorship is not a given.

Ramsuchit had to reach into his own pockets to ensure the trip to Barbados was on; however, the love of the sport is a motivating factor thus he views this as a worthy sacrifice.

Government officials and administrators have repeatedly shied away from the possibility of a sport policy; this is something that should be integral to any nation looking to do well and be competitive on the international stage.

I have examined at least three different national sport policies from countries around the world and found a constant in those policies: sponsorship is integral to the continued development of sport in any country.

However, sponsorship is something that should be beneficial to all parties involved; this is where a national policy would come in to critical play.

A good partnership between the Private Sector, Government and sport associations is vital to the

Ravens oust Colts

R

avens sored a 61-58 victory over the Georgetown top-ranked club Bounty Colts while Amelia’s Ward Jets upended the current number one ranked club in Linden, Victory Valley Royals on a night of shock wins to decide the finalists for this year’s Brusches Classic invitational basketball championship Friday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.

The first semi-final game between

Colts and Ravens was expected to be a thriller and the Ravens topped them after trailing 12-15 before moving into a 33-30 lemon time advantage. Colts, however, were able to wrest the initiative going into the fourth and final period when they were ahead 49-46, but a late surge by the Ravens was enough to knock the sails out of the Cots as the Ravens prevailed 61-58.

Travis Burnett had 15 points with

Jermaine Slater making 14 and Ryan Stephney, 13 for the Ravens while Dave Causeway and Shane Webster each netted 13 points and Dellon Larioe got 12 for the Colts.

In the other semi-final, Jets were able to outpace the Royals to claim a 61-58 win as the first quarter saw them leading 32-30 and by the end of the pivotal thirdquarter period, it was the Jets who were

Briton John

advancement of sport.

That being said, one can only hope things improve and eyes are opened in the right places to the endless positive possibilities for sport in Guyana should a policy be drafted.

Our young athletes won’t have to suffer and scrape to go out into the world as they seek not only individual honours but glory for the entire nation. in control 51-45.

Despite the Royals’ best efforts, with Stanton Rose and Shelroy Thomas missing, the going was too tough and the Jets came away with a 72-60 victory.

Guest player for the Jets, Nathan Saul had a good showing with 17 points while Donnel Benjamin got 14 and Akeem Kanhai and Adrian Webster both got 10 points.

The Royals’ best players were Chris Williams and Trevor Profitt with 13 points each while Harold Adams hit 12 and Yannick Tappin seven points.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, october 30, 2017

Masakadza leads Zimbabwe’s charge on rain-affected day

imbabwe ended a rain-affected first day of the second Test against West Indies on 1694 after Hamilton Masakadza inspired a fine recovery.

Hamilton Masakadza and Peter Moor struck up a 142-run stand to ensure Zimbabwe remain in the game after the first day of the second Test against West Indies.

The tourists won the opener and carried that momentum into the early stages on Sunday as Masakadza lost three partners early on, before Moor came to the wicket and helped Zimbabwe to battle back.

The hosts ended the day on 169-4, with Masakadza still not out on 101 as play

SCOREBOARD Zimbabwe 1st innings H. Masakadza not out 101 S. Mire c Dowrich b Roach 4 C. Ervine b Gabriel 0 B. Taylor b Roach 1 P. Moor b Chase 52 S. Raza not out 9 Extras: (nb-2) 2 Total: (for 4 wickets, 61 overs) 169 To Bat: M. Waller, R. Chakabva, G. Cremer, T. Chisoro, C. Mpofu Fall of wickets: 1-4 S. Mire,2-11 C. Ervine,3-14 B. Taylor,4-156 P. Moor Bowling: Gabriel 13 - 3 - 37 - 1(nb-1), Roach 10 - 4 - 24 2(nb-1), Blackwood 4 - 1 - 8 – 0, Holder 11 - 1 - 28 – 0, Bishoo 14 - 2 - 46 – 0, Chase 9 - 1 26 - 1

was stopped for rain, Moor having fallen late on for a valuable and patient 52 from 155 balls.

Zimbabwe's top order suffered at the hands of Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel early in the day as their decision to bat first threatened to backfire spectacularly.

While Masakadza made a slow start, his partners fell.

Solomon Mire was caught behind off Roach to depart for just four, before Gabriel cleaned up Craig Ervine for a duck.

Brendan Taylor (1) did not fare much better as he chopped on from Roach, which prompted the arrival of Moor, faced with the task of building on a miserable 14-3.

Kemar Roach bowled well for his two wickets

Masakadza escaped on 15 when he edged to gully only for replays to show Gabriel had overstepped, and he and Moor made the most of that reprieve to drag Zimbabwe back into the game.

The opener made good

use of the review system when given out incorrectly for a catch to short leg on 86, but he lost his partner as three figures approached, Roston Chase getting one to skid on and take Moor's off stump.

Masakadza reached his fifth Test century two overs later with a single down to long-on but only six more deliveries were possible as the weather brought a premature end to proceedings.

(Sportsmax)

Persaud clinches Banks DIH/Citizens Bank Golf tourney

V

Winners of the 2017 Banks DIH/Citizens Bank Golf Tournament pose with their spoils following the end of Saturday’s event. First place went to Ravi Persaud with 41 points, followed by Aleem Hussain, Anasha Ally, and Peyton George respectively while the Nearest to the Pin award went to Max Persaud

eteran golfer Rabindranath “Pandit Ravi” Persaud outplayed the competition on Saturday to claim the coveted Banks DIH Limited/Citizens Bank/ Stableford Golf Tournament held at the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC).

The freshly prepared greens were the ideal battleground for the more than 40 golfers from Guyana, the USA, Canada and other countries who came out in their numbers as they got some vital match time ahead of the Guyana Open Cup, which tees off Friday, November 3 at the Lusignan Course.

Persaud, who fought off some stiff competition from pros like Clifford Reis, Max Persaud and Aleem Hussain, ended the day with 41 points, which were enough to get the better of the rest. Hussain came in second, while the lone female to break into the top four, Anasha Ally claimed third place, and Peyton George fourth following a countback after the trio tallied up 40 points apiece. The Nearest to the Pin award was copped by Max Persaud.

At the post-game ceremony, Banks DIH Limited Communications Manager Troy Peters and Neville Skeete of Citizens Bank thanked the golfers for making the event

a success as the support shown will inevitably help to further push the sport.

Both representatives also noted that the tournament was a prelude to next weekend’s mega event and hoped it served them well as a means of preparation leading up to the Open Cup. Meanwhile, LGC President Hilbert Shields congratulated all the participants for making the event a success, adding that the competition was important as it helped the local golfers to fine-tune themselves under a real-match scenario with just days left until the start of the Cup.

GSSF Directors outline future plans to Minister Norton

D

irectors of the Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF) on Wednesday, October 25, paid a courtesy call on Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton to outline plans for the future.

Among those who sought an audience with the Minister were GSSF President Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon,

Secretary Steve Ninvalle, Director Nicholas Hing and Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer Ryan McKinnon, who disclosed numerous plans of the association to Minister Norton.

Updates regarding shoots among other areas of logistics, coupled with future endeavours, were laid on the table as the Minister expressed his commitment to continue working with

the GSSF in promoting and developing the various sport shooting disciplines.

Furthermore, the Ministry and the GSSF both look forward to working together in order to build a stronger relationship to the benefit of all Guyanese as the Federation continues to uphold its recognition as a sporting body promoting sport shooting, both regionally and internationally.

GSSF Secretary Steve Ninvalle handing over the Annual Report, externally-audited Financial Statement and a copy of Front Sight magazine to Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton while Federation President Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, along with Directors Nicholas Hing and Ryan McKinnon, observe

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monDAY, october 30, 2017

23

CWI/Digicel Regional 4-Day Championship 2017-18

Jaguars romp to 263-run win over Scorpions – Permaul ends with 10 for 82

By Akeem Greene

T

hree-time defending champions Guyana Jaguars got the best possible start to their title defence as they comprehensively defeated Jamaica Scorpions by a whopping 263 runs in their first match of the 2017/2018 Cricket West Indies (CWI)/Digicel 4-Day Championship at the National Stadium, Providence on Sunday.

At the helm of the destruction was left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul,

Play eventually began at 10:15h owing to early-morning showers, Scorpions with their back against the wall had added 37 to their overnight total of 61-2 without a change in the wicket column when a wet lunch was called at 11:05h after another downpour.

Brandon King had progressed from his overnight score of 22 to 33 while Assad Fudadin motored from 11 to 34. At the interval, the visitors would have entered with some confidence, given arguably two of their most

for 35.

Paul again was at his best, effecting a direct hit to send Captain Paul Palmer running back to the pavilion.

The 19-year-old seemed to have the golden arm as he then had Fudadin caught at cover. It ended Fudadin’s 146-minute vigil in which he stroked four fours and one six for a determined 42.

The swansong for Paul continued, as two overs later, he had Romaine Morrison edging to second slip and in less than half an hour, the visitors had slipped to 116-6.

Assad Fudadin in deep concentration against Veerasammy Permaul (John Ramsingh photo)

who bagged four wickets in the second innings, to add to his six in the first innings for figures of 10-82.

Though the threat of rain and dogged batting by the lower order would have caused some nerves in the home side, the Leon Johnson-led unit kept their composure.

talented batsmen were at the crease and looking well assured with the threat of more rain still lingering.

However, the second session began in dramatic fashion, with King lobbing a catch to Keemo Paul at second slip. The right-hander stroked three fours and one six in his 116-ball innings

With an embarrassing defeat staring the visitors in the face, Fabian Allen and Dennis Bulli began frustrating the home side via their counter-attacking partnership. Allen withstood Paul’s nipping line and then an aggressive spell from Romario Shepherd. He took a liking to both Veerasammy Permaul

and Gudakesh Motie, punishing anything marginally short or too full.

The right-hander particularly favoured the cover drive, which he used to good effect, bringing some excitement to the otherwise dull session. He raced to his fourth First-Class half-century from just 74 balls, spanking eight fours and two sixes and giving the Leon Johnson-led unit a great headache.

Tea came and Scorpions had surprisingly rallied to 194-6 with the fruitful partnership garnering 79 runs as Allen moved to 62 and Bulli 20. The tourists would now need a daunting 289 from a possible 28 overs in the final session if they had thoughts of an improbable victory.

The new ball was taken, and Paul certainly had it darting around. Fortune indeed favoured the brave as both the inside and the outside edges were being hit consistently, but only left the fielders with ‘ooh and awws’.

At the other end, Shepherd changed his length and was driven down the ground, but he persisted with his length and sent Allen’s middle stump for a walk, ending the 85-run stand.

The former West Indies Under-19 player batted for just over two overs, reaching the ropes on nine occasions and clearing it twice in the 108 balls he faced.

As the shadows grew on the field, Permaul and Motie bowled miserly in tan-

Keemo Paul followed up his ton with two wickets

dem, but they were not getting the breakthrough even though they were turning the batsmen ‘square’.

Bulli’s determined innings eventually broke when he offered a simple return catch to Motie after spending 132 minutes at the

via a quick reflex catch by Sherfane Rutherford at legslip.

The Jaguars departed these shores early this morning to travel to St Lucia to play Windward Islands Volcanoes from Thursday at the Darren Sammy Cricket

SCOREBOARD Jaguars 1st innings 266 Scorpions 1st innings 99 Jaguars 2nd innings 315/8 dec Scorpions 2nd innings T Griffith c Yadram b Rutherford 10 G Garvey c Johnson* b Permaul 13 A Fudadin c Motie b Paul 42 B King c Paul b Permaul 35 P Paul* run out Paul 1 F Allen b Shepherd 67 R Morrison+ c Chandrika b Paul 2

crease in which he faced 111 balls for his 32 (5x4s).

Permaul then fizzed out the remaining wickets; the last of which was collected

D Bulli c&b Motie 32 D Sewell c Chandrika b Permaul 9 D Green c Rutherford b Permaul 0 J Dawes not out 0 Extras: (W-1,LB3-,B5-, NB) 9 Total: ( all out; 98.4 overs) 219 Fall of Wickets: 1-23,2-25, 3-98, 4-99, 5-113, 6-113, 7-200, 8-218, 9-218, 10-219 Bowling: Shepherd 16-2-57-1, Paul 16-5-25-2, Motie 24-949-1, Permaul 35.4-14-53-4, Rutherford 6-3-25-1

Stadium while Scorpions play Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

Clean sweep for Guyanese trio at South American 10k – Forde takes gold

C

Clean sweep! Guyana’s Cleveland Thomas, Cleveland Forde and Winston Missigher

leveland Forde, Cleveland Thomas, and Winston Missigher flew the Golden Arrowhead high in Suriname on Saturday as they took all three podium spots at the first leg of the South American 10k Road Race.

The Guyanese were dominant as they set the pace from the beginning of the race; the “Little Kenyan” Cleveland Forde, who is a seasoned campaigner in the annual event, led from the front and hardly broke a sweat, finishing up with the winning time of 34 minutes 5.08 seconds while his namesake, Cleveland Thomas came in just behind with a time of 34 minutes 9 seconds.

The top two finishers’ countryman and longtime rival Winston Missigher who is just off an injury, came in third in a time of 34 minutes 21.3 seconds to make it a clean sweep for the Land of Many Waters.

Guyana’s other male athlete in the race, 17-year-

old Rickie Williams also had a good showing crossing the finish line in eight place with a time of 38 minutes 2.06 seconds. His eight-place finish in the overall event was good enough to land him second prize in the junior category.

Coming in fourth, fifth and sixth were Grenadian Reon Radix, and Surinamese Ronaldino Pinas and Carlos Feliksdal. Radix’s time was 34 minutes 34.09 seconds while Pinas and Feliksdal ran times of 34 minutes 37.02 seconds and 35 minutes 5.09 seconds respectively.

Also taking part in the first leg was junior female athlete Lyanna Charles, who copped second in the junior female category. However, she finished 35th overall with a time of 52 minutes four seconds.

The lone female senior Guyanese athlete, Ashanti Scott narrowly missed out on a podium spot finishing fourth

Cleveland “Little Kenyan” Forde and Winston Missigher pose after their race on Saturday

for the women in a reasonable time of 47 minutes 22.02 seconds.

Netherland’s Lysanne Wilkens was first for the females crossing the finish line in 39 minutes 1.19 seconds while Kenisha Pascal of Grenada was second with a time of 40 minutes 40.08 seconds.

Surinamese Carolien Marlet beat Scott to the bronze, finishing up at 45 minutes 34.08 seconds.

The second leg of the South American 10k Classic will be contested in Guyana on November 5 and the Guyanese will be looking to maintain their form as they seek to take top honours on home soil.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI/Digicel Regional 4-Day Championship 2017-18

Jaguars romp to 263run win over Scorpions – Permaul ends with 10 for 82 PgPg2323

Veersammy Permaul yet again played a significant role with the ball Got him! Guyana Jaguars celebrate after Gudakesh Motie takes a return catch to remove the stubborn Dennis Bulli (Akeem Greene Photos)

Sweet revenge!

Hamilton Masakadza scored his fifth Test century

Masakadza leads Zimbabwe’s charge on rain-affected day

Pg 22 Pg 21

– John cops Powerade 50-Miler ahead of Williams Winner of the seventh annual Powerade 50-Miler Road Race, Jamaul John collects his trophy from Powerade Brand Manager Errol Nelson

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