Guyana times october 4, 2017

Cervical cancer survivor tells her story P 12

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Issue No. 3351

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Guyana's hurricane response

$2B revetment programme proposed for Linden P13 Woman remanded for trafficking cocaine in P13 hammocks

$20M in relief supplies sent to affected countries Page 3

MYO honours P14 Fazeel Ferouz, AA

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and CDC Director General, Colonel (retired) Chabilall Ramsarup among officials at the Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNIC) wharf prior to the containers of relief supplies being shipped off (Carl Croker photo)

Elderly women strangled to – house ransacked death

Cop charged P8 with dangerous, drunk driving

Page Page 32

1-in-10 chance of oil from Exxon spill reaching shore – EPA study

Bulkan unrepentant on arbitrary firing of PS Page 10

...politics trumps effectiveness

Lethem P8 bus driver remanded

– charged with drug trafficking

Page 11

Woman crushed by toppling tractor Page 12

Las Vegas shooting: Trump dubs killer “sick and demented” P17

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wednesDAY, october 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

In suspected robbery

Elderly women allegedly strangled to death …shocked church members flock scene in mourning last seen while attending church on Monday evening. However, an alarm was raised after Caesar failed to report to her place of worship the following morning, as customary, prompting several attempts to contact the duo, all of which were to no avail.

Acting on suspicion, a member of the congregation then alerted the Police, and together they ventured into the home, where they discovered the two women dead.

“Sister Phyllis does norDead: 87-year-old Constance Fraser

Dead: 75-year-old Phyllis Caesar

By Ashraf Dabie

gathering, the duo was found in the upper flat of the Lot 243 Central Georgetown home, lying motionlessly in their respective bedrooms.

Caesar’s hands and legs were said to have been bound and her mouth stuffed with cloth.

Speculations are that the defenseless duo were ambushed by robbers who, in an attempt to cart off their valuables, constrained the women as they ransacked their home in the wee hours of Tuesday.

Police investigations have also revealed that the perpetrators gained access through the western entrance of the building, and it has been confirmed that items have gone missing from the house.

The elderly women were

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cores of church members and curious onlookers flocked to the building at the corner of Albert Street and South Road, Georgetown on Tuesday morning following the shocking discovery of the bodies of two elderly women of the Full Gospel Assembly of God Church, who were believed to have been strangled during a suspected robbery.

The dead women have been identified as 87-yearold Constance Fraser, also known as “Mother Fraser,” and her niece, 75-year-old Phyllis Caesar.

According to information relayed by the distraught

mise of the senior, well-loved church members, the congregation is calling for the ‘heads’ of those involved in this heinous crime. Among those mourning the death of the well-loved elders of the church was Devon Ragubir, who outlined the extent of this loss to the Full Gospel Assembly of God. In doing so, he stated, “We call them Aunty Phyllis and Mother Fraser. She (Caesar) taught me as a boy growing up at the church. She (also)

Scores of church members and loved ones flocked the crime scene on Tuesday morning

mally be the one to open the church and disable the alarms. So when she didn’t go in today, the church administrator tried to call her but her phone wasn’t answered.

Then he went by her, and no one answered; so he became worried and (called) the Police,” one church member explained.

Meanwhile, given the brutal attack which led to the de-

taught my daughter and my son.”

Ragubir pointed out that he was informed of the incident by his wife, but found it hard to believe. The man then rushed to the home of the two women and was greeted by the crowd, confirming the dreadful news.

The aggrieved man went on to say, “It is really sad to know that somebody could do

One of the bodies being removed from the home

something as cruel and weak as this: to tie these two elderly women up as though they are animals. I am really disappointed. To kill elderly women is just not right; could never be right.”

As such, he noted, “I am hoping that when they do find these people, capital punishment is used. I really hope that the people pay truly for this.”

Ragubir was backed by a number of members attached to his church, all of whom are of the belief that stringent measures should be employed in ensuring that justice is served to the perpetrators of this attack.

On man even told this publication, “They need the rope to come back for these robbers and murderers, to ease with these things. These are two people that can hardly help themselves.”

Guyana Times understands that, on multiple occasions, bandits had broken into the home of the two de-

fenceless women. During a recent attack just about a month ago, the criminals took off with a cellular phone as well as a quantity of cash.

Moreover, loved ones of the deceased pointed out that they had received their pensions just yesterday (Monday), and in light of this coincidence, they are convinced that the attack had been carried out by persons close to the victims.

The now dead Constance Fraser and Phyllis Caesar were both described as “kind, caring and God- fearing women,” known to frequent the church. Fraser is said to be a widow and mother of several overseas-based children, while Caesar functions as a Sunday School teacher at the Full Gospel Assembly of God. The bodies of the duo were taken to the Lyken Funeral Home, leaving behind scores of church members and loved ones inconsolable in their grief.

news

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wednesDAY, october 4, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, October 4 – a night retraction at 04:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, October 5 – a night retraction at 04:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, October 4 – 15:25h-16:55h and Thursday, October 5 – 16:00h-17:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals followed by light rain showers in the late morning and early afternoon hours, with sunshine in the late afternoon. Clear skies are expected in the evening, with temperatures expected to range between 26 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from East South-easterly to East North-easterly between 4.02 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 15:44h reaching a maximum height of 2.70 metres.

Low Tide: 09:18h and 21:38h reaching minimum heights of 0.55 metre and 0.48 metre respectively.

Guyana's hurricane response

$20M in relief supplies sent to affected countries

By Samuel Sukhnandan

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ix containers of relief supplies were shipped on Tuesday to hurricane-affected islands, while another three have already been packed and are awaiting shipment. Two more are currently being packed.

The first six containers carry important items such as: rice, sugar, flour, biscuits, macaroni, water and tarpaulin, and are being sent to Dominica. The other three containers will be sent to Antigua.

The items in these containers were the result of donations mostly from the Private Sector and other donors, including Government, and weigh in excess of 80

ing effort, we are not done as yet. We are hoping that other sections of the society, particularly the Private Sector, would continue to respond to the efforts being made here to help those who are affected, particularly in Antigua and Dominica at this point in time,” he added.

The Prime Minister noted, however, that one of the largest requests received from the affected islands was for lumber. He explained that gathering the material was taking longer than expected, but it would have to be sent in one shipment. “We are committing ourselves to our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean and we hope that [our] modest effort will go towards helping to sooth

The six containers that left the GNIC wharf on Tuesday for Dominica

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During an informal gathering at the Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNIC) on Tuesday, Civil Disaster Commission (CDC) Director General, Colonel (retired) Chabilall Ramsarup told the media that the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) will be responsible for the distribution of these relief items.

He said while specific numbers of containers have been assigned to two different countries, the CDEMA will decide whether they should be utilised in that country, based on the needs.

“They are going to coordinate whatever goes into Antigua, and whether other islands need it badly,” he added.

Ramsarup said given the massive devastation in Dominica, most of the relief supplies will be sent to that island, especially since there is word that Antigua has already been receiving massive support. He noted that these containers could take 10-12 days or longer to be shipped, based on the weather at sea.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who was also present to see the first shipment sent off, said he was pleased that the effort was continuing and thanked Tropical Shipping for facilitating the shipment of these containers free of cost as assistance to the relief efforts of the people of Guyana. He described the effort by this company as magnanimous and encouraged others to follow suit.

“This part of the continu-

some suffering,” he said.

Meanwhile, representing the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Komal Singh said since the hurricane, the PSC has been engaged in mobilising businesses to work very closely with Government and over the past few weeks, it has been able to gather support from the Private Sector in many areas.

“Our effort is not done.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (right); Minister of State, Joseph Harmon (left); CDC Director General, Colonel (retired) Chabilall Ramsarup (to the PM’s right) and other officials discussing relief effort plans

We will continue to see how much support we can garner and send to these affected islands. We will also work with PSC and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce to see how best to work with these islands during the rebuilding process also,” Singh said.

Following the devastating hurricanes, President David Granger had summoned a meeting with his Cabinet to discuss how Guyana could respond to

the crisis. Prime Minister Nagamootoo was tasked with heading a ministerial task force responsible for oversight of the efforts to respond to the crisis.

Government had also pledged an initial sum of US$50,000 to aid urgent relief efforts through Caricom’s regional mechanism, coordinated by the CDEMA in partnership with the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).

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wednesday, october 4, 2017

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

The GECOM probe

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hen the issue of the controversial purchase of 50 Very High Frequency (VHF) communication radio sets by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for close to G$100 million first broke, it sparked much criticism and prompted a special probe by the Auditor General’s Office into this and other similar transactions conducted by the organisation.

This newspaper reported, a few days ago, that the special audit has progressed to the point where the AG has submitted his report to GECOM with the hope that the Commissioners would take the necessary actions against those found to be involved in any wrongdoing.

AG Deodat Sharma has since taken a firm stance on the matter, and has wasted no time in sending a strong signal to the agencies involved: that, should they fail to act, he would not hesitate in calling in the Guyana Police Force, if he has to. He was clear in pointing out that “the Audit Act says I can send my report to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) and the police.”

Over the years, GECOM’s procurement practices had come under the microscope after allegations of high-level corruption began to surface. In fact, the controversial radio sets’ purchase was the most blatant, and sparked public outrage by the political Opposition and other stakeholders. The purchases were made prior to the 2015 General and Regional Elections, raising concerns over the extraordinarily high cost of the equipment.

Based on reports, the radio sets were purchased for use during the 2015 General and Regional Elections, particularly in the outlying regions of Guyana. However, they were never put into use after it was discovered that many of them were not working. As a matter of fact, sections of the Guyanese media reported that the Australia-based manufacturer, Barrett Communications, through its European office, had distanced itself from the purchase. The company made it clear that it had ceased to produce the equipment more than five years ago.

Information also surfaced that while the electoral body would have collected quotations from a number of suppliers, it had handed the contract for the supply of the equipment to a company owned by a Water Street, Georgetown businessman.

In addition to this most recent case, there were several other cases wherein concerns were raised regarding the methods employed by GECOM in procuring goods and services. In fact, at a previous press conference, one commissioner bluntly told the media that he believed corruption at the electoral body is deep-rooted with key players at many levels of the organisation.

If we are to go by what some commissioners are saying, at least in the press, there are serious problems plaguing the organization, and those should be addressed forthwith, not only as they relate to transparency and accountability of public funds, but the overall management and delivery of credible elections.

It is no secret that GECOM spends hundreds of millions of dollars, especially in election years or periods when there are heightened activities, such as continuous/houseto-house registration etc, and all efforts must be made to ensure that national procurement laws are followed in utilising those funds.

The AG, on many occasions before, had highlighted many lapses in the system over the years, but it is not certain what actions are being taken by GECOM and the powers that be to ensure public funds are spent in a transparent and accountable manner.

While many are anxiously waiting to see how the Commissioners would treat the findings and recommendations included in the AG’s probe on the radio sets’ purchase, it is our hope that GECOM would learn its lesson from this entire episode and take the necessary steps to ensure that it is never again caught up in this mess.

We had stated before that, as an independent constitutional body, GECOM enjoys financial, functional and operational autonomy; and like every agency which is financed with public funds, it must account in a transparent manner for the expenditure of these funds. Further, principally due to the nature of its work, the organisation should do everything in its power to win the public’s trust.

Being caught up in such controversies does not help in any way.

A worker at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya shares a tender moment with an elephant calf. National Geographic’s Your Shot photographer I Ogila explains, "When poachers kill adult elephants for ivory, the young ones are usually left desperate and unlikely to survive alone in the wild." But by being in the care of the Trust, "they get a chance to live and die of old age"

Guyana’s economy in serious crisis Dear Editor, In his 1993 Budget speech, the Senior Minister of Finance, Asgar Ally described the hopelessness that the PPP inherited from the PNC after the 1992 general election, saying: “The task we have inherited can be compared with that of a man who is required to climb a mountain with both his hands and feet tied and a heavy haversack on his back.”

One year earlier during his 1992 Budget speech, Carl Greenidge, who served as Guyana’s Minister of Finance under successive PNC administrations for nine years (1983 to 1992), described the imbalances facing the domestic economy as “high and rising levels of inflation; extreme and damaging exchange rate volatility; the loss of foreign exchange reserves; a growing gap between the official and parallel market rates for foreign exchange, and an increasingly virulent and ubiquitous parallel market; and declining investment, production and job opportunities”.

And one year before that, in his 1991 Budget speech, Greenidge described the Guyana domestic economy as facing “two fundamental problems… severe fiscal imbalance and severe external disequilibrium… there was also uneven economic growth and a decline in GDP”.

In a letter (on September 24, 2017), “The APNU+AFC inherited a Guyana that was completely decayed”, Jerrick Rutherford asked that I use “accurate facts and statistics”. While my letters are always fact-based, the statistics given below also allow me the opportunity to debunk the newly appointed

PNC ‘propaganda’ Minister, Amna Ally, who shamelessly propagates that Guyana experienced “unprecedented nation-building efforts [sic] in every aspect of human endeavour” under successive PNC Administrations from 1964 to 1992, and that all of the major housing schemes, arterial roads, drainage and irrigation schemes were built while the PNC was in Government. I invite both Ally and Rutherford to read the 1992 World Bank Report on Guyana that can be found here: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/840881468033639594/ pdf/multi0page.pdf Minister Ally should also explain to the nation the failure of the PNC to “feed, house and clothe the nation by 1976”, a promise that was made by the Kabaka himself, the late Forbes Burnham.

For had it not been for the PPP, over 100,000 Guyanese would not have been landowners or homeowners today. But like its predecessor, the APNU can never be trusted to keep the promises made to the Guyanese people.

Well, here are some more facts and statistics to illustrate just how bankrupt the Guyana economy was when the PPP took office in 1992, so that Minister Ally can refresh her failing memory, and Rutherford can compare that with the robust economy that the APNU+AFC coalition inherited in 2015 from the PPP/C. During the period 1984 to 1992 under the PNC, the Guyana dollar depreciated from G$3 to US$1 to G$125 to US$1, an increase of over 4000 per cent.

In 1992, the PNC, of which President David

Granger, Carl Greenidge and Amna Ally, were part, left the newly-elected Jagan Administration and the people of Guyana heavily in debt.

From US$60.8 million in External Debt in 1964, to a whopping US$2.1 billion when the PNC left office in October 1992.

As a consequence of imprudent economic and borrowing policies of successive PNC Administrations, the economy could not generate the resources necessary to service the external debts.

And in 1985, Guyana became ineligible to access the resources of the International Financial Institutions, notably the World Bank; the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

During 27 years of the PNC, Guyana was the only country that reflected a zero per capita income growth. By comparison, Barbados’ per capita growth was 1100 per cent; Trinidad 400 per cent; and Jamaica 260 per cent. In fact, even Haiti, which was the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, performed better than Guyana.

Haiti’s per capita income grew 400 per cent compared to Guyana’s zero.

The Guyana economy was indeed in a perilous state, and in general, the country’s infrastructure was in a state of disrepair. This is what the PPP inherited. (source: The 1993 Guyana Budget, and the 1992 World Bank Report).

Now let us examine where we came from, and what the APNU+AFC coalition is doing to put us back there.

From a bankrupt econo-

my inherited from the PNC in 1992, the PPP/C, under the stewardship of the financial wizard Bharrat Jagdeo and later Dr Ashni Singh, was able to miraculously transform the Guyana economy, leaving a whopping US$670 million in Foreign Exchange Reserves for the newly-elected APNU+AFC Government in May of 2015 (source: theGlobalEconomy. com).

According to the Bank of Guyana’s Key Macro Economic Indicator, Guyana enjoyed nine consecutive years of economic expansion under the PPP/C, averaging 4.6 per cent despite severe global economic and financial crises that have seen the collapse of other economies around the world. Guyana was indeed on the rise with the fastest growing economy in the Caribbean. But this was short-lived.

In 2015, under the APNU+AFC, real growth dropped to three per cent although the Bank of Guyana, in its 2014 Annual Report, projected the Guyana economy to grow by 5.3 per cent.

But without the prudent management of the PPP/C, the Guyana economy has been on the decline since, and continues to limp along as evidenced by the meagre 2.2 per cent expansion in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) posted for the first half of 2017 (Source: Bank of Guyana and Ministry of Finance). This precipitous decline was not because they were clearing out drug money from the economy or because they inherited a bankrupt economy, but rather, because of ineptitude, bad leadership and poor policies.

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

Plastic recycling machines needed around shopping areas Dear Editor, It must be clearly evident even to the youngest child, that in spite of all the hundreds of millions of dollars allegedly spent on cleaning up and restoring our Garden City, and all the boastfulness about making Georgetown a Green City, our capital is once again and quite rapidly becoming the Garbage City of the Caribbean.

A very clear example of the circumstances to which I refer can be viewed aback of the headquarters of the former Guyana National Cooperative Bank at Lombard and Cornhill Streets, which always has heaps of garbage piled up and being rummaged by ‘junkies’ who add their own human waste to the pile after litter picking.

What is ironic, is that the few old garbage trucks rum-

bling through the streets, supposedly on a mission to clean up the city, actually pollutes it more with billowing black smoke spurting from the exhaust pipes of these trucks that seem to be on their last legs so to speak.

How does filling the atmosphere with carbon monoxide fit into their green agenda? Do these trucks make it all the way to Haags Bosch? Is there no age limit for the importation of these trucks?

There are heaps of garbage at the front of alleyways, and all along many of our roadways. Our depressed areas are teeming with garbage.

Where have all the receptacles gone to? And the Council’s response to all of this is to charge householders who don’t have garbage bins and to prosecute private citizens when some-

one else throws garbage unknowing to them in front of their premises.

There is a clear disconnect between those prosecuting and those responsible for refuse collection at City Hall, as many times persons are charged for having litter in front of their residences or business places when this is due to the fact that the garbage truck never passed by to pick up the refuse at the appointed time and day.

Why does the city not place plastic recycling machines around the shopping areas or pay the social rejects to pick up plastic bottles and other plastic containers and return them to the City Council where they could be shredded up and used in a recycling process.

Sincerely, Anu Bihari

Guyana’s economy in...

I have nothing but empathy for the likes of Jerrick Rutherford who feel they have an obligation to parrot the lies of the APNU+AFC propaganda machine without knowing the facts, for I have walked that road before. But the fact is, Guyanese were much better off under the PPP/C and all this talk of a “better life” under the APNU+AFC has been nothing but an elusive dream to Guyanese who voted for “change”.

Undoubtedly, the Guyana economy is once again in serious crisis. But don’t take my word for it.

The following was taken from an editorial (in one of the newspapers on July 8, 2017): “Many, including the opposition, have already expressed their disgust over the 50 per cent increase in salaries of some Ministers who were in office less than three months, the $1.2 billion D’Urban Park project, and the millions spent in tuition fees for two junior ministers.

So there is no need in revisiting such reckless spending of the taxpayers’ money, except to say that the President and his cabinet should lead by example and end the wasteful spending that they have foisted on the

nation. It is worthy to point out that all this is happening at the same time the government is closing several sugar estates and putting thousands of sugar workers on the breadline.

If the people thought that such extravagant spending was bad enough, the government has made a public spectacle of itself with the rental of a house for $500,000 per month for a Minister… Unfortunately, ministerial perks and benefits, especially the frequent overseas trips by ministers during the past two years, have put a dent in the country’s finances. This contradicts the criticisms levelled against the last administration by this government when it was in opposition.

This lack of transparency and accountability could tarnish the government’s image.”

The editorial forgot to mention the rental of a drug bond for $12.5 million monthly; the approximately $40 million it cost taxpayers to renovate Prime Minister Nagamootoo’s official residence; $20 million for the Office of the Prime Minister – over $10 million in furniture for the PM’s office; $22 million budgeted for his new luxury vehicle; and the

from page 4

tens of millions being spent to renovate the Ministry of the Presidency and the construction of the presidential green wall.

I was asked to use “accurate facts and statistics”. But now that I’ve done so, would this really change the perception that Jerrick Rutherford has of the PPP? Or would he remain a pathetic apologist for the PNC/APNU. Sincerely, Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

Commercial noise nuisance a serious problem in Region 6 Dear Editor, Permit me space to address the issue of mobile vendors and commercial noise nuisance and noise pollution in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), especially Central and Upper Corentyne areas. It seems to me that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) members are turning deaf ears to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Regulations since noise nuisance has become a sore area which is allowed to fester with no solution in sight. The GPF seems to wilfully give the false impression to residents that this is the job for the NDCs or the municipalities.

Noise pollution refers to sound that goes beyond the accepted decibel level which may disturb or harm human or animal life. Sound is measured in decibels, with one decibel being the faintest sound which the human ear can hear, but when it disturbs our normal activities such as working, sleeping or conversing, then it is not acceptable and long-term exposure to noise can have serious effects on our mental and physical well-being. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made it clear that “people are becoming more sensitive to issues relating to noise pollution, particularly households that have elderly citizens and newborns”.

In the Central and Upper Corentyne areas, the elderly, the newborns, the sick, students, night-shift workers, housewives and nearly everyone are seriously affected by the daily dosage of noise nuisance emanating from the ‘loud speaker’ mobile vendors and advertisers who tra-

verse up and down and into every nook and cranny, blaring and jarring the senses of these residents. Babies can be heard screaming during the day as mothers try in vain to calm them. This daily dosage can be up to a maximum of 16 times per day. They sell and advertise a varied assortment of goods and services.

Everything sells from the cradle to the grave and it seems that these noises will send some residents to their graves prematurely or to the mental asylum. Some of these services and goods are: death announcements, pharmaceuticals, bread and pastries, travel services, visa services, construction materials, old iron and batteries, foods, groceries, BBQ, religious functions, sports events, astrology and miracle services and even deals on funerals.

It is not very puzzling to know that even though Region Six has six local television stations that can be utilised to advertise these services, they are not used.

These operators know that they can break the law with immunity by paying bribes and yet maintain low operating costs while making huge profits.

In addition, many legitimate business owners are complaining that they are paying taxes and insurance, and these tax-free mobile announcers and vendors are taking away a huge chunk of their businesses.

Moreover, it seems that these mobile vendors and announcers, who are using in excess of 1200-watt amplifiers are not even aware of the EPA Regulations, much less to acquire the necessary permission.

The Public Security

Minister and the Police B Division Commander has to enforce the EPA rules and regulations. They have the responsibility to control and manage these sound emissions by setting the permissible levels for activities such as entertainment, transportation, construction, commercial and other activities.

The Regulations clearly stipulate that persons who are engaged in the above-mentioned activities need to apply for Environmental Authorisation so that the EPA can monitor their activities. The Regulations seek to protect citizens from excessive noise whatever the source. It is an offence to cause loud noise in any building, private premises or vehicle and defaulters can be fined $750,000 or face up to one year’s imprisonment, if found guilty. Anyone affected by noisy operations can lodge a complaint with the EPA. The accepted decibel level for residential areas in the day is 75dB, while in the night it is 60dB. Vehicle owners who play loud music are charged and their music sets and speakers confiscated, but these advertisers and announcers breach the law and get off because they know whose palm to grease.

I am a nurse, who is seriously affected by this new type of noise nuisance and there are thousands of others who are affected, but have no one to address this growing problem. Therefore, I am calling on the EPA and the Public Security Minister along with the B Division Commander to address this new epidemic before it’s too late.

Yours sincerely, Amrita Dhanai

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ith the help of a frilly dress, tiara, and magic wand, your three-year-old is transformed into the queen of a magical universe where her hobby horse is a winged unicorn. When you're asked to taste the pink clouds, you agree that they're a lot like bubblegum.

Your son pulls a sheet over his shoulders and runs as fast as he can across the lawn. The air lifts the fabric; your boy's legs leap into the air. "I'm flying, mommy!" the four-year-old says. He's a superhero, out to save the backyard from dragons hiding behind the bushes and find treasure buried in the sandbox.

Parents of preschoolers have a frontrow seat to some of the most imaginative theatre ever produced. These are the so-called "magic years" — when a child's brain is developed enough to imagine grand stories but not yet complex enough to reason the way adults do and ask, "But can that really happen?"

Here's why imagination is so important and what you can do to foster these magic years.

How preschoolers view the world There's a lot that very young children aren't yet able to grasp about the world around them. As a result, they "fill in the blanks" and often make up their own sometimes magical explanations for how things work.

This time, which peaks during the preschool years, was dubbed "the magic years" by child development expert Selma Fraiberg, PhD, in 1959 when she wrote a book of the same name.

Babies use their senses (touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound) to explore their world. As they develop, they begin to understand the basic function of things ("If I push this button, the pony will pop out of the barn!").

Now, as preschoolers, they take this

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knowledge and combine it with a growing imagination to come up with fantastical ideas about why and how things happen.

Pretend play lets children try out new roles for themselves (like superheroes, princesses, wild animals, or even parents) and allows for creative problem-solving. But it also helps them deal with another hurdle of the preschool years: intense emotions. Baby dolls might be put in "time out" and scolded for actions suspiciously similar to your little one's latest offence. An imaginary friend (who's a bigger troublemaker than your child ever could be) might be dreamed up to help your child deal with feelings of guilt and remorse following a moment of lost control, such as hitting a playmate.

Self-control is a tough skill to

learn, and pretend play helps children practice it as well as play out the frustration it creates.

How to encourage imaginative play Imaginative play begins in a child's mind. But that doesn't mean parents can't join in. Here are some ways to encourage your child's world of make-believe: Go along with it. When young ones leap through the air and tell you they're flying, don't tell them they're only jumping. Instead, feed the fantasy: "Wow, you're so high up! What can you see on the ground? Maybe you should take a rest on that nice puffy cloud." Or even

better, start flying with them.

Choose old-fashioned toys. Blocks, dolls, arts and crafts, and moulding clay are all toys that require creativity and therefore spur imagination.

Limit electronic toys. Whether it's a handheld entertainment system or a "junior" laptop, try to avoid toys that need batteries. Creativity is stifled when the toy, rather than the child, directs the play.

Read to your child.

And while reading, ask mind-opening questions: "If you were the caterpillar, what would you eat?" and "What do you think will happen next in the story?" This not only encourages imagination but promotes language skills and fosters an interest in books.

Schedule downtime.

Make sure children have free time every day to play on their own. Aside from encouraging creativity, it teaches them to use their own resources to amuse or soothe themselves.

Limit screen time.

When children watch a movie or even an educational programme, they experience someone else's make-believe world instead of using their own imaginations. Some subjects on TV are not appropriate for preschoolers. Young children also are more influenced by advertising since they can't tell the difference between commercials and actual programmes. The same goes for digital advertising inserted in online games and apps. Experts recommend limiting screen time (which includes TV, DVDs, computers, smartphones, and tablets) to no more than one hour of quality programming per day for children two to five years old.

(Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

The importance of forgiveness

“B

e soft. Do not let the world make you hard.

Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness.

Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place” – Iain Thomas There is no one who has lived a life in which everything has gone perfectly. We have all made mistakes, wronged others and been wronged. The question becomes then, how do we handle situations like these?

The topic of forgiveness came into my mind after watching a video of a holocaust survivor, Ashley Anthony Eva Mozes Kor, who explained why she forgave all Nazis, and in particular, Dr Josef Mengele (also known as the angel of

death), who had experimented on her and her sister.

Kor explained that she understood not everyone in the Jewish community would stand behind her decision to forgive him, but wanted to impress that her decision was not for the peace of mind of the Nazis, nor did it erase what they had done. She said, “I discovered I had the power to forgive. No one could give me that power, and no one could take it away. It was all mine to use in any way I wished. That became an interesting thing, because as a victim of 50 years, I did not think I had any power over my life.” After writing her letter, she explained, ““I felt free, free from Auschwitz, free from Mengele”, further calling her forgiveness, “an act of self-healing, self-liberation, [and] self-empowerment”. The last words that she imparted were these, “We cannot change what happened. That is the tragic part. But we can change how we relate to it.”

Those last words are applicable to all of us, even if what we need to forgive is something minor. What we have to accept is that we cannot change the actions of the past, but instead, we can choose how we build our lives around it. It is not an easy process, and it involves disrupting negative thoughts that will inevitably arise when you have been hurt. For example, “You are damaged. You have been wronged. You will never be the same.” When we think these things, we are forced to live in the past, remembering our pain, instead of focusing on the present and future.

Forgiving returns control to our lives. It removes us from being the victim, and allows us to be in charge of our narrative again. It is not a sign of weakness, but rather strength, and personal growth. When you forgive someone for something, you are not saying that it never happened. You are not diminishing how much it hurt you, or how traumatic the event was.

Instead, you are recognising all of those things, but also choosing not to let it control your life anymore.

I understand that some people may feel that things have been done to them, which they simply cannot forgive. I cannot tell you that you have to forgive. It is up to you to learn to cope with those issues, and move on healthily. At the end of the day, what better revenge is there, than for a person who once held power over you to realise that they are no longer in control?

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wednESDAY, october 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Tuschen residents protest deplorable condition of roads being maintained and the facilities within the housing scheme left much to be desired.

More than 50 residents, bearing placards, took to the streets to voice their dissatisfaction in hopes of having their voices heard.

The residents protesting at the head of the Tuschen Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Essequibo

By L akhram Bhagirat

S

everal residents of the Tuschen Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Essequibo took to the streets on Sunday to protest the rapidly deteriorating condition of the road network in the community.

The residents are complaining that there has been no maintenance of the road network for more than three years, and are calling on the relevant authorities to quickly address their concerns. “Over the last three years, there has been no maintenance of the infrastructure in this community and the roads are in a deplorable condition.

All the cross streets are in

Community members walking the street with their placards

outrageous conditions and when it rains, it is horrible,� a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Councillor said.

He said the NDC has written to the Regional Democratic Council about the situation in the housing settlement and a letter was dispatched to the Communities Ministry

and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), but they were yet to be acknowledged.

Another resident, Ramnarine (only name given) said that they were tired of making complaints; hence, the protest. He explained that in addition to the potholed streets, the sides of the roads were not

The common cry was that the delivery of goods is being hindered because taxis and goods providers are refusing to traverse the poor road network.

Residents in several housing schemes have been complaining about

the lack of infrastructure maintenance over the last three years.

The residents in Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme have also be en complaining about the lack of infrastructural development.

8 NEWS

wednesDAY, october 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Lethem bus driver remanded – charged with drug trafficking

Garfield Parker and the quantity of drugs reportedly unearthed from his vehicle

T

he bus driver who was early on Sunday morning discovered with a large quantity of cocaine and cannabis while transporting passengers to Lethem was arraigned

before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday, charged with the offence of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Garfield Parker, 55, who hails from Tabatinga, Lethem, denied the allegation levied against him.

The charge alleges that he, on October 1, 2017, at the Mabura Police Checkpoint,

Linden, was found to be in possession of 24.9 kilograms of cannabis and 200 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The accused, unrepresented by legal counsel, was remanded to prison and will return to the Linden Magistrates’ Court on October 11, 2017.

On the day of the discovery, Parker was attempting to pass through the above mentioned checkpoint at about 04:00hrs when the discovery was made.

His vehicle was thoroughly searched by ranks, who had received a tip, and the drugs were unearthed.

As such, he was taken into Police custody, and was later charged.

Cop charged with dangerous, drunk driving

N

igel Griffith, the Police Constable who, while being heavily under the influence of alcohol, struck and severely injured a female motorist, was on Tuesday arraigned before Georgetown

Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer.

The 20-year-old, of Lot 58 Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara (EBD), denied the four charges read to him. The first charge alleged that on September 1, 2017 at

the Ruimveldt Public Road, Georgetown, he drove motor vehicle PSS 4403 while his breath alcohol level was at .107, which is over the legal limit of alcohol consumption.

The three other charges

Charged: Nigel Griffith

allege that he drove a motor vehicle that was uninsured, unlicensed, and uncertified.

His attorney successfully petitioned for bail being granted, noting that the accused was cooperating fully with the investigation. The Prosecution had no objection to bail, but requested that the accused report to the Ruimveldt Police Station weekly.

As such, bail was granted in the sum of $80,000, and he is scheduled to return to Court on October 10, 2017.

On the day of the accident, Griffith slammed into the motorcycle of 44-year-old Gem Simone of Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown.

Guyana Times understands that Griffith was proceeding north along the Ruimveldt Public Road, Georgetown while Simone was proceeding out of Alexander Village.

However, the Policeman had reportedly failed to stop when he needed to, and collided with the motorcyclist a short distance from the Ruimveldt Police Station.

The injured woman was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital. She is said to have received serious head injuries from the impact which caused her to fall from her motorcycle. (Kizzy Coleman)

Getting on…

T

…in years

he PNC’s about to turn 60 and under the fig leaf of its APNU cover, it’s busy painting the towns (and country!) green. In case you didn’t put “two and two” together, that means the PNC’s almost a decade older than independent Guyana!! It also means the PNC has a history and an institutional memory and debts to pay – not to mention skeletons in its closet it mightn’t want to have unearthed at this time!!

The history of the PNC is all about its “Founder Leader” Forbes Burnham – of that there can be no doubt. Refusing to play second fiddle to Cheddi Jagan, who he never saw as his intellectual or social equal, Burnham rose to power on the back of two powerful forces – the urge of African Guyanese to take their “rightful place” in a Guyana that, after WWII, everyone knew that Independence had to come. It was only a matter of time.

The other force was the Cold War that had already generated much heat in 1953, when the PPP, with Jagan and Burnham respectively Leader and Chairman, was ousted from office for being “too leftist”. Burnham saw which way the wind was blowing and soon moved from being one of the most strident leftists to being an exemplary (to the West!) “moderate”. One could make a case that Burnham was caught in these two structural forces like flotsam on the ocean and the split from the PPP to launch the PNC was as inevitable like in those Greek tragedies of yore.

The virtual civil war between Jagan’s and Burnham’s partisans played out like the Peloponnesian War – with the CIA, like the Grecian gods, pulling the strings from the clouds of Mt Washington. Burnham emerged as ruler of Guyana with the PNC soon declared the “paramount party”. See the resemblance in the present configuration? The attitude to the Judiciary?

The contempt for the PPP? The “jobs for the boys” and girls? That’s the institutional memory taking over: the present PNC leadership don’t have to think – they just remember what the Comrade leader would’ve done!

The skeletons, of course, are too numerous to mention…but they’re surfacing on their own accord.

The rigging of the 1968, 1973, 1980 and 1985 elections are there to be examined in all their sordid details in the declassified files of the US and British archives.

But look at the new registration list that’ll be created

by Winston Felix – and which will drag on to take the elections into 2021 – and you’ll get a flavour of that skeleton. Ditto with the trial balloon to bring back “overseas voting”.

It’s PNC reloaded!!!

…with land

It was a surprise to many when Lincoln Lewis, trade unionist extraordinaire fighting for the working class for donkey years , announced he’d been a member of the feudal land-owning class all along!! You could’ve knocked over your Eyewitness with a feather! Being lectured by the likes of Jagan and Burnham ad nauseam, he’d assumed feudalism had been overthrown by the bourgeoisie running dogs of capitalism!

It was at the land Commission that Lewis dropped his bombshell. His great-great-great-great-great (etc) grandfather on his mother’s side had bought this village in Berbice back in the day after slavery. According to Lewis, his maternal ancestor (that’s easier!!) and his kin occupied the southern half of the village, and before long, the northern side became inhabited.

So now comes Lewis claiming seignorial rights over the land. But can a lord of the manor represent the great unwashed masses? Decisions…decisions!

…with UG wages

The 10th VC of UG (or should that be VC 10?) just drew the line on wages for the UG staff. Eight per cent for support staff (read folks doing manual labour) and six per cent for academic staff who teach.

Like the Government, the VC’s Cabinet received their 50 per cent earlier!!

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

News

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wednESDAY, october 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

1-in-10 chance of oil from Exxon spill reaching shore – EPA study

A

n environmental study undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that the likelihood of an oil spill offshore Guyana as part of the ExxonMobil exploration is considered unlikely to occur because of the extensive preventative measures employed.

It has nevertheless found that an oil spill is considered possible, and Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) has conducted oil spill modeLling to evaluate the range of likely spill trajectories and rates of travel.

The location of the Project at 190 km (120 miles) offshore, prevailing northwest currents, the light nature of the Liza field crude oil, and the region’s warm waters would all help minimise the severity of a spill.

“Accounting for these factors, the modelling indicates only a 5-to-10 per cent probability of any oil reaching the Guyana coast without taking into consideration the effectiveness of any oil spill response, and in the unlikely event that a spill were even to occur,” the study found.

EEPGL (45%), Hess Guyana Exploration Limited (30%) and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited (25%) are parties to a petroleum agreement with the Government of Guyana.

Under this agreement, and in light of the Liza field discovery, EEPGL has applied for, and has received, a petroleum production licence and has submitted a project development plan to the Minister responsible for Petroleum.

A key permit required for EEPGL to develop the Liza field is the Environmental

The Liza-1 drill ship

Authorisation from the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in accordance with the Guyana Environmental Protection Act of 1996 (EP Act Cap. 20:05).

As part of its regulatory role, the EPA, consid-

Mainstay/Whyaka to get upgraded road, airstrip

From left: Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Toshao of Mainstay/Whyaka, Joel Fredricks; and Minister of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, Sydney Allicock, during the Heritage celebrations

T

he community of Mainstay/Whyaka on the Essequibo Coast will soon benefit from an upgraded airstrip and road.

Arnold Adams, a representative of the Regional Democratic Council, during a presentation at the recently held Heritage celebrations, delivered the news to the residents.

“Toshao, we would have heard your cry, and I want tell you this very, very clear: we would have included your road in the 2018 budget, also the airstrip we would have included in that budget,” he announced.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who also attended the event, noted that airstrips are vital to the development of communities, and one at

Mainstay would be wholeheartedly supported.

“In the 2017 budget, there is a sum allocated for, I believe, 90-something airstrips to be upgraded.

And certainly, once the recommendation comes from the Regional Democratic Council of Region 2 for work to be done on this airstrip here at Mainstay, and because we understand the link which it has for tourism and the development of this community, it will get the kind of priority it deserves,” the minister was quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information.

Toshao of Mainstay/ Whyaka, Joel Fredricks, said the realisation of the promise of upgraded road and airstrip will be of great benefit to the community of more than 600 persons.

According to Toshao Fredricks, the existing airstrip has been inoperable since 2002. He also disclosed that once it is operational, the village council will assume responsibility for the maintenance of the airstrip.

Fredricks observed that the airstrip will not only boost community tourism, trade and transport, but will also benefit miners.

Mainstay/Whyaka is currently accessed via road from Anna Regina.

However, the deplorable state of the road has hampered tourism and other businesses in the area. The upgraded road would be a great relief for residents of the community as well as those in the neighbouring communities of Lima Sands, Tapakuma, and Red Lock.

ering recommendations from the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), is responsible for deciding whether, and under what conditions, to grant EEPGL’s application for Environmental Authorisation (Application), which was filed with the EPA on July 5, 2016.

Based on an initial assessment of the project, the EPA determined that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was required.

EEPGL has proposed to drill approximately 17 subsea development wells and use a floating produc-

tion, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to process, store, and offload the recovered oil.

The FPSO will be connected to the wells via separate production (oil, gas, and produced water), gas injection, and water injection flowlines and risers, and associated subsea equipment.

The project, according to the environmental study, will also involve shorebased facilities and marine/ aviation services to support development drilling, FPSO and subsea equipment installation, production operations, and ultimately decommissioning.

“EEPGL will utilise proven and industry accepted

standards, and has incorporated many embedded controls into the overall project design to minimise environmental and socioeconomic impacts...It could take up to four years to drill the wells, with drilling planned to begin as early as 2018.”

The initial production is expected to begin by mid2020, with operations continuing for at least 20 years.

The planned activities of the project, according to the environmental study, are predicted to have minor impacts on physical resources, no impacts on coastal biological resources, minor impacts on marine biological resources, and largely positive impacts on socioeconomics.

These predictions are based on the fact that the bulk of the project activity will occur approximately 190 km (120 miles) offshore, and the project will capture and re-inject produced natural gas, which is not used as fuel on the FPSO, back into the Liza reservoir; treat required wastewater streams prior to discharge to the sea; have a very small physical footprint, and use marine mammal observers (MMO) during selected activities to minimise the potential impacts to marine mammals due to auditory injury and ships strikes.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, OCTOber 4, 2017

News

Bulkan unrepentant on arbitrary firing of PS ...politics trumps effectiveness

Colin Croal was sacked as PS

By Gary Eleazar

M

inister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, has defended his decision to effectively dismiss Permanent Secretary Collin Croal, who had served under three Ministries in the previous Administration, saying he did not have confidence in his ability to function under a new system.

Bulkan, by way of a public missive, has since responded to social commentator Chris Ram, who had

questioned the decision not to have Croal serve as a Permanent Secretary under the new Administration.

Ram, in a critical missive produced over the weekend and directed towards President David Granger, had urged the Public Service Department to carry out an audit of the persons dismissed since his Administration took office, together with their qualifications and experience.

“There are a lot of discarded and unused brains available; but, unfortunately, they seem to lack the further qualification of the right race. Glaringly, this is true of the permanent secretaries under the PPP/C, but let me give two examples in which an explanation was in fact offered.”

Ram pointed to Croal, who “holds an MBA and served creditably as Permanent Secretary in three ministries. He is not implicated in any wrongdoing, but was effectively dismissed by the Granger

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

Administration because he was on the PPP/C list for the 2015 elections.”

Minister Bulkan, in response, has stated, “The fact is, though, that the decision to not renew his contract was mine alone...I acted based on my own deliberate judgment.”

According to Minister Bulkan, after consideration, “I concluded that based on the record of centralised government embraced by the regime in which Mr Croal functioned, I did not feel confident of his ability or readiness to function in this Administration, one which has as core values the philosophy of strong, autonomous, and empowered local government organs and a decentralised system of

multi-tiered government.”

He noted, too, that “Mr Croal was effectively dismissed in that his contract of employment was not renewed. (Mr Croal chose to be a contracted employee with the knowledge that contracts are subject to non-renewal.)

In regard to Ram’s suggestion that the employment decisions were rooted in race, Minister Bulkan was adamant, “I have always chosen my professional associates based on considerations of character and merit; race has never been a factor.”

According to Minister Bulkan, “With reference to President David Granger, any suggestion that he is racially prejudiced borders on the ludicrous.”

Ram, in his critique of the President, had said, “Being on an electoral list appears to have been a qualification for top jobs in the Granger Administration for the hierarchy of the APNU and AFC parties, some of whom are paid high salaries determined on the whim of persons of equally suspect expertise for doing work for which they have no academic or professional qualifications or experience.”

Some of my best friends…

S

atiricus was ecstatic, and couldn’t wait to get over to the Back Street Bar. His buddy Cappo had returned from New York, where he’d been holding out for the past year. And “holding out” it was, since he’d been there illegally, having overstayed on his visitors’ visa. And then again, all the beers would be on him!

“Cappo!! Man, you look real shine!” Satiricus exclaimed at his old friend as they gave each other a bear-hug.

“Yuh see de man fancy wris’-wa’ch?” said Cappo’s old cane-cutting partner Bungi proudly. “’e bring waan fuh all abee!”

“Well, let’s take a drink for old time’s sake,” said Hari as he clinked beer bottles all around. “Welcome home, budday!”

“Me glad fuh come back, leh me tell yuh!” Cappo said with a heartful sigh. “E na bin easy in Nyuu Yark.”

“So why did you come back, Cappo?” asked Satiricus, who, as usual, wasn’t the most sensitive soul around.

“Yeah!” said Bungi. “America gat all dem nice, nice t’ing!”

“Budday, da man Trump na easy!” said Cappo feelingly. “Ev’ry day pan de news dem a ta’k how dem guh ketch abee and ship abee back home!”

“Yes, we did hear about that,” said Hari. “We were worried about you!”

“Trump na like immigrants, at-all,” complained Cappo.

“Well, ‘e wife bin a wan illegal immigrant!” pointed out Bungi. “How come dem na ke’ch she?”

“Yes, Trump seh ‘e na gat nuttin ‘gainst immigrants,” said Cappo. “ ‘e seh some a ‘e bes’ fr’en a immigrant!”

“This Bull Khan fella here is better than Trump,” observed Satiricus.

“Wha’ ‘e do?” asked Cappo curiously.

“He admitted he fired a qualified Indian PS,” said Hari. “But he insisted he wasn’t racist. The Indian he fired is his friend!!”

“Now me feel like me deh home,” sighed Cappo.

They all drank to that.

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wednesDAY, october 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Eco-tourism market

Surama Eco-Lodge expands customised packages ways room for improvement in that area,” he noted.

The Indigenous community of Surama is situated on five square miles of sa-

Sleeping quarters at the Surama Eco-Lodge

T

he Surama EcoLodge, in the North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), is slated to undergo further development in the coming year.

In an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Senior Village Councillor Anthony Andries disclosed that plans and discussions have already begun for the implementation of these upgrades.

Andries noted that Surama currently has 10 programmes for visitors to

According to the DPI, the Surama Village Council is currently in discussions with tour companies from Brazil and Trinidad about the packages the community has to offer to tourists from their respective countries.

Andries disclosed that plans were on stream to further rehabilitate the current facility in 2018. There will be new additions to the Lodge to accommodate more persons. “We are not going to go too big, but we want to have it at a level which will be more beneficial to us.”

A view of the morning sky at the Surama Eco-Lodge

the Eco-Lodge. He explained one of the strategies would involve developing a package that catered to specific clients such as “the more adventurous; the ones that would like to do things like cross-country hiking – we have never done that so we want to do a roundabout, like a five to six days hiking”.

Over the past year, the service at the Eco-Lodge has improved with the installation of a 24-hour solar power system.

Emphasis is also placed on the training of staff which will remain a top priority. “Our service and hospitality is something that will definitely bring our visitors back and there is al-

vannah land in the North Rupununi. It is surrounded by forest, hills and the Pakaraima mountain range.

The residents are mainly

Makushi.

Interestingly, the name Surama (originally Shuramata) means the place of spoiled barbecue

(or where barbecue spoiled).

It was derived following a tribal conflict between the Makushi and Carib people many years ago.

12 news

WEDNESDAY, october 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cervical cancer survivor tells her story

C

hanges in the cervix are often caused by a virus called the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV infections can lead to cervical cancer.

Taking a Pap Smear test can detect changes in the cervix that lead to cervical cancer.

In March 2011, 60-yearold Ruth Richmond, a mother of four, was diagnosed

with cervical cancer following a Pap Smear test at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Richmond, of Paradise Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, after being

diagnosed with cervical cancer, was advised by doctors to immediately undergo the chemotherapy cycles.

“Before starting the treatment I had to do a Computerised Tomography (CT) scan to determine if the cancer had spread to other parts of the body. That was the first step and after I did the scan, the treatment was recommended, which is four cycles,” Richmond said.

She explained: “A cycle is a period of treatment followed by three weeks of rest.

After the discovery, I also changed my diet completely.

No dairy products, no sugar, no meat. I used a lot of peas, vegetables, and fruits especially sour-sop.”

After completing the four cycles of chemotherapy, Richmond said doctors still found signs of cancer cells in her cervix, which meant her undergoing the process of radiation therapy.

According to WebMD, radiation therapy treats cancer by using high-energy waves to kill tumour cells.

The goal is to destroy or damage the cancer without hurting too many healthy cells.

The mother of four explained that she took 25 sessions of radiation therapy, which she described as similar to chemotherapy but more aggressive.

Losing her hair was one of the side effects of the therapy. However, after a period of two years, the cancer was gone.

Ruth Richmond, cervical cancer survivor

“After the radiation sessions, I had to do another CT scan and then the doctor told me the cancer was gone.

I felt well during the process of radiation; though some days I did not feel too good, I still kept positive,” she highlighted.

However, Richmond, a staunch Seventh-day Adventist, believes that despite all the therapy, God was her ultimate healer.

“From the beginning, I turned to God, I prayed a lot and trusted him for healing, because I didn’t want to die.

I also had an anointing service done by two pastors.”

She is advising others who have been diagnosed with cancer to be positive and undergo the chemotherapy and radiation therapy, despite the stigma attached to it.

“People will say things to

discourage you, but be positive and turn to God…Also, remember that diet is a very important part. Many of the things we use cause us to get sick, so if you have to change your diet, do so,” said Richmond.

Since 2013, following the chemotherapy and radiation therapy, Richmond has been cancer free.

According to Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) and the Public Health Ministry data reviews, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Guyanese women.

The HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer among girls in Guyana arrived here in 2011 and was officially launched by the then Health Ministry in 2012.

It was relaunched again in 2016 under the now Public Health Ministry in collaboration with Merck Sharp and Dhome (MSD). A countrywide HPV vaccine campaign is slated for October 16, 2017.

As part of celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Public Health Ministry will be conducting cancer awareness outreaches during the month in Linden, Supenaam, Skeldon, and Georgetown. During the outreach, officials will be conducting breast cancer screening and Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) screening for cervical cancer. (DPI)

Woman crushed by toppling tractor

A

businesswoman was on Monday crushed after the tractor on which she was travelling toppled while negotiating a steep hill along the Cuyuni River in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The dead woman has been identified as Gleieiane Ferreira of Lot C Grove Truck Line, East Bank Demerara and of

Madayoung, Brazil.

Based on reports received, about 16:30h at 4 Hour Backdam, Cuyuni River, the now dead woman and her husband were heading to Dukwarie Landing on a tractor.

The woman was reportedly sitting on the left fender of the tractor as it was approaching a steep hill, but as the vehicle started

to ascend, it toppled. Her husband managed to save himself, but as the tractor came to a halt, he found his wife lying motionless on the road.

Tractor wheel marks were visible on the woman’s body, which was covered in blood. The driver of the tractor was taken into custody as Police continue their investigations.

Man beaten, robbed of motor car – in armed robbery at Bourda

A

36-year-old caterer, of Bent Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, was Monday evening relieved of his motor car and other valuables by three armed men at North Road, Bourda, Georgetown.

Based on reports received, the victim and his three friends travelled to the Bourda Market, and upon arrival, he parked his

silver grey motor car bearing registration number PTT 8405 on North Road.

And as they exited, they were confronted by three men, one of whom was armed with a hand gun.

The man pointed the gun at the caterer and demanded the key to the motor car, but the victim refused to hand it over; thus in retaliation, the gunman dealt several blows to the

caterer’s head with the gun.

The caterer reportedly fell to the ground, and his friends ran away, leaving him behind. While the caterer was lying on the roadway, one of the men relieved him of the key to his car and of his mobile phone before the men made good their escape in the motor car.

Police are investigating the incident. No arrests have been made.

news

13

wednesDAY, october 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

$2B revetment programme Ex-fugitive admits killing proposed for Linden Goed Fortuin man in 2008

A

two-billion-dollar revetment programme is being proposed for the mining town of Linden, Region Ten. According to Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland, such a programme is needed to address the effects of climate change on the town.

The Linden Mayor noted there was once a time when Linden was considered a safe zone from changing weather patterns, but recent climate change effects have been taking a toll on the town’s infrastructure. The revetment programme is one way by which the council is looking to remedy the situation.

“You have many, many houses that are on the verge of falling. A lot of them as well because of the erosion. Some of them you can see their entire foundation is exposed, as a result of the sand and so on (having been) washed away from their buildings, and these buildings are on the hills…

This calls for a massive re-

Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland

vetment programme…We need to get that going now.”

Mayor Holland added that the project document is being crafted so that it can be sent to Cabinet for assessment. Once given the go-ahead, the programme, according to Holland, would achieve two objectives. First, to create a safe environment for residents; and second,

provide jobs for youths residing in the town.

According to the Department of Public Information, the Mayor explained: “It (would) provide jobs for the hundreds of young people, young men that we have here in Linden who are living in those very valleys and alleys, who are not working. They are unemployed, and through the revetment programme, you can have many persons gainfully employed; and as a result, Government, and Guyana by extension, (would) be protecting and saving lives due to these changing weather patterns.”

Freak storms are becoming more common locally, and several have struck Linden in the last month.

One recent storm had swept through the Wismar Housing Scheme and neighbouring communities, leaving several houses without roofs, uprooting utility poles and trees, and in some cases resulting in millions of dollars in losses.

Freeman Street attack

Teens remanded for murder of man

W

ith just days from the ninth anniversary of the brutal stabbing to death of former Goed Fortuin resident Kenneth Allen, his killer has finally admitted to the crime.

Kendall Skeete appeared before Justice James BovellDrakes at the High Court in Georgetown on Tuesday, and pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for Allen’s October 15, 2008 stabbing.

Skeete was on the run for seven years before being nabbed on May 21, 2015. He was also one of the prisoners who had, in July 2017, escaped from the Lusignan prison via a dug-out hole, before he was recaptured by police on July 26 at Wismar, Linden.

Reports back then were that, at about 20:30 hrs on the day in question, Allen, a father of three, had inter-

The accused Kendall Skeete will know his fate on October 16

vened when Skeete and a group of men were robbing and assaulting another man in Goed Fortuin. The men, however, turned on Allen and braced him into the fence. It was then that Skeete pulled out a long shiny object from behind his back and stabbed Allen several times to his

heart and lungs.

The cause of Allen’s death was given as perforation of the heart and lungs via the stab wounds at the two parts of the body, and State Prosecutor Mandell Moore told the court on Tuesday that the Post-Mortem Examination (PME) on the deceased was conducted on the very day that Allen had met his demise. Moore also revealed that Allen, a mason and carpenter, had died at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he had been rushed after he was stabbed.

Skeete will know his fate in two weeks, after a probation report is submitted to the court. Justice BovellDrakes set his sentencing for October 16.

He was represented by defence counsel Pamela De Santos, while State Counsel Orinthia Schmidt assisted the Prosecution’s case.

Woman remanded for trafficking cocaine in hammocks

– on his father’s death anniversary

Killed: Fazal Shaheed

T

wo teenagers implicated in the murder of a man last month during the course of an armed attack were both before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Tuesday to answer for the indictable offence.

Eighteen-year-old Stefon Howard and 19-yearold Shawn De Santos – both residents of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, where the murder occurred were not allowed to plead to the charge.

The charge stated that on September 24, 2017 at Lot 194 Freeman Street, they murdered 58-year-old Fazal Shaheed, a resident of Lot 18 Albion, Corentyne, Berbice.

Both accused who appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts unrepresented were remanded to prison until their next court appearance on October 19, 2017.

On the day of the tragedy around 00:45h, the now dead man and his two

Remanded: 18-year-old Stefon Howard and 19-year-old Shawn De Santos

brothers – Talim Shaheed, 50, of Toronto, Canada and Shalim Shaheed, 53, of the United States who were also shot and injured – were preparing for their father’s memorial service.

Reports are that two masked men invaded the property via a door which was unlocked and attacked the three men, who were sitting in the living room of the Freeman Street house, taking their jewellery from

their person.

The gunmen fired shots in the direction of the three victims before making good their escape.

The injured men were all rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital for treatment, but Fazal Shaheed succumbed while undergoing surgery.

The perpetrators were later picked up by Police and one reportedly confessed to the crime.

Remanded: Tiffini Tricia Collison

T

he woman who recently surrendered to the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), after reportedly attempting to ship hammocks that were laced with cocaine was on Tuesday remanded when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Tiffini Tricia Collison, 26, of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, appeared at the Georgetown

The hammocks were laced with cocaine

Magistrates’ Courts and denied the charge brought against her.

That charge stated that on September 20, 2017, she attempted to traffic 6.742 kilograms of cocaine.

CANU’s Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford detailed that under her mother’s identity, the defendant attempted to post four hammocks via DHL Shipping.

However, the hammocks, which were destined

for the United States, were discovered by a CANU rank at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

As such, a wanted bulletin was issued for Collison, who days later surrendered to CANU with an attorney.

She was remanded to prison, and was expected to make her next court appearance on October 19, 2017.

Minibus driver granted $750,000 bail – after causing death by dangerous driving

A

rnold Castello was on Tuesday granted $750,000 bail at his arraignment before Magistrate Esther Sam in the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

One of the three charges read to Castello stated that on Saturday 30th September, he [Castello], as

a result of dangerous driving, took the life of 42-yearold Mahendra Dyal of Perth, Essequibo Coast.

Represented by Attorney-at-Law Onassis Grandville, Castello pleaded not guilty to the charge, and Grandville pleaded with Magistrate Sam to let her client be offered bail.

Grandville noted that her client is not a flight risk, since he has a fixed place of abode at Lot 253 Richmond.

The prosecutor, on the other hand, was against the bail application, after considering the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. He explained that there are still outstanding

witnesses in the case, and if he should be granted bail, he could interfere with the witnesses.

Castello’s attorney, however, upheld her application for bail, sighting that there is no certainty that her client would attempt to contact any witnesses. She noted that the court is pow-

erful enough to put measures in place to restrict Castello from having contact with any witness. On those grounds, bail was subsequently offered at the sum of $750,000; and Castello is expected to make his next court appearance on the 31 October for the said charge.

(Indra Natram)

14 news

wednesDAY, october 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

PSC to host multi-stakeholder MYO honours Fazeel Ferouz, AA Business Summit – Action Plan to be formulated to drive economic development

A

multistakeholder approach is being used to bring together the brightest and most experienced in all sectors for the first-ever Guyana Business Summit, which is scheduled to take place next week.

Chairman of the Trade and Investment Committee of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Deodat Indar told the media on Tuesday that the Business Summit would be held from October 11-12, 2017.

Indar said the Summit would see participation of a wide cross-section of people, including Government officials, members of the Opposition, donor organisations and civil society.

The PSC official noted that the Summit would not be another talk shop and a presentation of great speeches, rather it would be used to formulate strategic plans to help boost Private Sector activities.

“This will not be another talk shop. This is not where people go to grandstand or any form of pageantry. This is serious business. We expect that the seven panels that we set up will be armed with experts to dissect issues, trends, analyse and project and suggest actions to reduce decline,” he stated.

He noted that all the support was needed at this juncture, especially as Guyana was moving towards becoming an oil-producing country at a time when traditional sectors have been performing poorly.

The PSC official also explained that the main focus of the Summit was to assist with the formulation of a Private Sector Development Action Plan that would set the tone for the economic development in Guyana.

The PSC is hoping to have the Action Plan incorporated into a plan for Guyana’s overall economic development and prosperity, and is currently in discussions with Government

In photo from left: Azad Ibrahim (President of MYO); Wazir Baksh (GIT rep); Nazar Mohamed (Mohamed’s Enterprise); Irfaan Ali (MP); Khakan Ramjohn (CIOG General Manager); Bharrat Jagdeo (Opposition Leader); Fazeel Ferouz (President of CIOG and person honoured); Imran Ally (Senior Vice President of MYO); Shaheed Mohamed (Imaam of Queenstown Jama Masjid); Pastor Ronald Mc Garrell (Chairman of Inter Religious Organisation); Br Alvin (Regional Vice President of CIOG – Region Six); Shaykh Abdool Hafeez (CIOG Representative); Shafeek Ferouz (Managing Director of Twins Manufacturing Chemists); and Omar Shamshudeen (former Executive of MYO)

PSC official Deodat Indar addressing the media on Tuesday

in this regard.

Asked by this newspaper whether there were mechanisms in place to ensure that the Action Plan was implemented and not placed on a shelf, Indar said that there was machinery to deal with that.

“I would suspect that if we have a meeting of the best and brightest of Guyana, I don’t want to preempt it, but the suggestions should not only be immediate, but medium and long term as well,” he added.

While there have been increasing reports about a slowdown in the local economy, Indar said while this was not the main reason for the Summit, it would help to find solutions in addressing this issue.

“Regardless of where this country is right now, I don’t think it is synonymous with us holding this Summit…but that does not preclude us from discussing some of the issues that are facing the nation.”

Six presentations from industry experts in the areas of forestry, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, the extractive sector and commerce will occur, followed by panel discussions.

Indar said the objective was to encourage maxi-

mum participation from the stakeholder groups and organisations in order to ensure that the findings of the Summit address any constraints that hinder development.

“I want to make sure that the business community and the Guyanese people understand that this PSC is fighting a fight for the development of the country.

This is about finding solutions that are facing the Guyanese citizenry, whether you are in business, whether you are thinking of starting a business or expanding a business, an employee or self-employed,” he opined.

President David Granger is expected to deliver the keynote address at the opening of the Business Summit. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is expected to deliver an address during the second and final day of the Summit, which is being supported by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB).

The Guyana Business Summit will be held on October 11-12, 2017 at the Guyana Marriott Hotel under the theme: “Challenges and Opportunities for Business Growth and Expansion.”

B

earing testimony to the calibre of person Al-Hajj Fazeel Mohamed Ferouz, AA, is, politicians, religious leaders, friends and family gathered on Sunday, October 1, 2017, at the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) in Woolford Avenue to honour him, for his outstanding and dedicated service to Islam and the Guyanese community at large.

In honouring Al-Hajj Fazeel, the MYO recognised one of Guyana’s most illustrious sons and one of the iconic figures of Islam in our country. “This is a man who did not just leave his mark on Islam in Guyana, he literally shaped it to what it is today, one of the largest religious groupings in Guyana. This is a man who for over four decades gave yeoman service to a cause he believed in, the upliftment of all Guyanese regardless of race or religion.”

The presence and tributes made by no less than former President Bharrat Jagdeo, former Minister Irfaan Ali, Pastor Ronald Mc Garrell, Wazir Baksh of the Guyana Islamic Trust, Shabir Hussein of the Muslim Youth League, and businessman Nazar Mohammed among countless others are testament to this.

The MYO noted that Al-Hajj Fazeel was among the pioneers in sending young Muslims to pursue studies in India, Pakistan, Syria, Libya, and Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, Guyana, the Muslim community and particularly the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) were being recognised globally by organisations across the Middle East, North America and Europe, which were contributing towards the upliftment of all Guyanese not just the Muslim community.

“Al-Hajj Fazeel acted as glue which held the Muslim community together. He was very much aware that our strength was our deepest source of unity. He was

A plaque in honour of CIOG President Fazeel Ferouz, AA

a keen proponent of interfaith dialogue aimed at promoting understanding, tolerance and appreciation of other religions.

For many he was not just a leader but a father figure. Here is a man who came from humble beginnings, achieved greatness but never once lost the common touch.

He was a man of profound depth, a teacher of Islam, a guide and a mentor to many.

As a public figure he served and gave distinguished service. We must never forget that. He never quit struggling for a better life for all,” the MYO stated.

It noted that two words epitomise AlHajj Fazeel; altruistic and patient.

May Allah continue to bless Al-Hajj Fazeel Mohamed Ferouz, AA.

Police Impact Base at Brickdam gets microwave – compliments of Bacchus Drug Store

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he Guyana Police Force Impact Base, Brickdam last Saturday received a microwave, compliments of Bacchus Drug Store of Saffon and Howes Streets, Charlestown, Georgetown.

The presentation took place at the Impact Base location, Brickdam compound.

Here, Rizwan Mohamed, a representative of Bacchus Drug Store, hands

over the microwave to Assistant Superintendent Seecharran Singh.

Others in picture, from left are Woman Constable 22219 Thom; director of Bacchus Drug Store, Bobby Bacchus; Constable 24163 Leitch, Lance Corporal 19107 Persaud, and businessman Manniram Shew of Shew’s General Store and a former treasurer of Impact.

news

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wednesDAY, OCTOber 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Parking meter fiasco

Study on Indigenous Women and Children

PPP/C Councillors request Procurement Commission investigate contract …Mayor says Council open to scrutiny

Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green

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eople’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillors Bishram Kuppen and Khame Sharma are asking the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) to investigate the controversial Parking Meter Contract which was unilaterally awarded to Smart City Solutions Inc. (SCSI) by the Mayor & City Council (M&CC).

In a letter dated October 2, Sharma and Kuppen requested the PPC to determine five factors: 1.Whether the national interest was safeguarded when the contract was signed 2. If the officers and personnel who signed the contract acted in accordance with the rules and regulations relative to procurement of a con-

tract of this magnitude and cost.

3. Whether the process of awarding the contract was done in a fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost- effective manner 4. to make a pronouncement on the sole sourcing and whether the Ministry of Communities was complicit in the execution of this contract by signing and gazetting the by-laws, thereby operationalising paid metered parking in the City of Georgetown.

Contacted, Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green said the Council is open to the level of scrutiny the councillors are requesting. She said she has no issues with the duo exercising their democratic right in calling for an independent investigation, but noted that the Council has taken decisions and are moving ahead with the implementation of those decisions.

M&CC had entered into a contract with SCSI on May 13, 2016 for parking meters to be implemented in Georgetown.

A committee was set up on April 26, 2017, one month after Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan had suspended the paid parking initiative, to examine the way forward.

The life of the Parking Meter Re-negotiation Committee ended with it submitted its final report and findings to the Mayor of Georgetown on August 2, and later circulated same to all

PPP/C Councillor Bishram Kuppen

PPP/C Councillor Khame Sharma

councillors.

The report made three recommendations: renegotiate the contract with SCSI; scrap the entire project; and await the outcome of the pending court cases.

On September 7, a majority of the councillors voted in favour of continuing the metered parking systems with a renegotiated contract. A new committee would have to be selected, and Chase-Green has mandated that two members of the public must sit on that committee.

The new committee, according to the draft ToRs, would be tasked with engaging Smart City Solutions with a view to renegotiating the terms of the agreement entered into between the parties, and more specifically to seek to take into account the concerns

raised and addressed in the report of the Special Committee in relation to costs, fines, enforcement, profit-sharing, areas, times and other factors identified in relation to the project; and any other relevant actions as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine or as may be suggested by the general council.

Upon completion of the negotiation period, the new committee would have to prepare a report and present it to Council at a meeting called for that purpose, setting out the proposals and/or agreements arrived at.

In their letter to Chairman of the PPC, Carol Corbin, Sharma and Kuppen traced the series of events that led to the renegotiated contract pending. The new committee will be installed on October 9.

Educational quality gap between hinterland and coastland increased – UNICEF

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oal Four of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) speaks to achieving inclusive and equitable quality education by 2030, and Guyana has a long way to go in achieving that.

The recent study done on Indigenous women and children by UNICEF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs (MoIPA), shows that both the quality of education and the gap between the coast and hinterland have increased over the years.

“Guaranteeing good quality education in primary and secondary schools for the Indigenous children is one of the main challenges related to education in the country,” the report read in part.

The lack of qualify education for adolescents and children is mainly attributed to the lack of qualified teachers and resources, poor infrastructure at schools, language barriers, and a curriculum too centered. In addition to the poor quality of education, delivered in the hinterland, there are high school dropout rates.

The study found that for every 100 Indigenous boys and girls enrolled in secondary school, only 53 would complete. Indigenous children would drop out when they are about to enter secondary school, or during their early secondary education stage.

Lack of schools -- main-

PROPEL bridging gap for women, youth in agriculture …by hosting nationwide consultations

Jan Sheltinga, Counsellor, Development Cooperation Guyana/ Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, High Commission of Canada

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he Promotion of Regional Communities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL) has embarked on a mission aimed at creating the necessary avenues for women and youth who are in pursuit of entrepreneurial ventures in the field of agriculture.

This is as the organisation recognises a need for focus to be placed on these two traditionally neglected fragments of society, so as to achieve growth not only in this sector, but by extension the country’s economy as well.

In doing so, PROPEL has organised a string of consultations, which kicked off with the organisation meeting with Guyanese women and youth three weeks ago.

However, in continuing this effort, the team collaborated teamed up with the Canadian High Commission in hosting a multi-stakeholder forum on Tuesday.

Speaking at a Sustaining Women and Youth Participation in Agriculture event was the Deputy Director of PROPEL, Munish Persaud, who highlighted that policies implemented in Guyana for the past 50 years failed to address the issues facing these two groups, and more so appreciate these difficulties from their perspective.

In indicating that PROPEL’s recent works are directed towards devising comprehensive solutions for these shortcomings, Persaud noted, “Today is about us stop tak-

ing a myopic view of agriculture and a fragmented view of issues, and start looking at agriculture from a holistic point of view, and to understand that there are multiple reasons why people do not do so well in agriculture, especially women and youth. Their issues are a lot different from the issues confronting us on a day-to-day basis.”

The Deputy Director further pointed out, “For us in PROPEL, this discussion will be very instrumental in us crafting our next annual work plan for the 2018-2019 year.

We want this discuss to orient our planning for that fiscal year, and also hope that for those of you planning your own programmes, that this will be critical input for your programmes.”

Also welcoming the multi-stakeholder initiative was Jan Sheltinga, a Counselor attached the Development Cooperation Department of the High Commission of Canada.

Sheltinga outlined the importance of gender equality in social and economic advancement, stating that it coincides with the Feminist International Assistance Policy recently launched by the Canadian Government.

On that note, the Counselor relayed, “Inclusive economic growth cannot be achieved without the full and equal par-

Munish Persaud, Deputy Director of PROPEL

ticipation of women and youth as economic advocates.”

Sheltinga continued by alluding to international research conducted on the matter, and with that underlined, “As we know, women and youth face various forms of both financial and non-financial discrimination, which limits their ability to take advantage of marketable opportunities, especially in the agriculture sector.

Globally, research indicates that 1 in 3 married women in developing countries has no control over major household purchases, such as agricultural land, livestock and home improvements.”

Furthermore, the Canadian official solidified PROPEL’s stance on the importance of

woman and youth in agriculture as she posited, “When women and youth are assisted, they can realise more opportunities and contribute to the economic success of their families and of course their communities. Empowering women to be full participants in the economic lives of their families and communities can lead to broader economic growth, and of course, lasting change.”

Adding to that, farmers affected by the lack of provision for women and youth in Guyana took the podium during the day-long event to present the areas in which they are mostly affected by the insufficient avenues provided for their growth and development as agro-producers. Among the issues highlighted were lacking of training and extension services, access to markets, land tenure as well as other significant concerns.

PROPEL is a regional organisation working with private sector buyers, producers and governments to support small- to medium-scale producers in the Caribbean, with operations in five countries, namely; Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, and St Lucia. There, initiatives are implemented by the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), and is being funded by the Canadian government.

The Executive Summary of the report on the Study of Indigenous Women and Children

ly secondary schools -- in the hinterland, and difficulty of accessing them; financial situation of families influencing some adolescents to prematurely start working in lowskill jobs; perception that education is not necessary; the inadequacy of the curriculum; lack of employment opportunities, and teenage pregnancies are all reasons listed as factors for hinterland children dropping out of school.

The study was conducted in Barima-Waini (Region One), Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven), PotaroSiparuni (Region Eight), Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) and Indigenous communities in coastal communities in Region Two (Akawini), Region Three (Santa Mission), Region Four (the former St Cuthbert’s Mission, Pakuri Village), Region Five (Moraikobai), Region Six (Orealla and Siparuta), and Region 10 (River View).

The aim of the study was to contribute to a greater understanding of Indigenous women and children regarding cultural/traditional practices relative to medicines; sexual and reproductive health issues; build or strengthen the resilience of children, families, communities and systems to natural disasters; conflicts; chronic systemic crises; and social conflicts.

Additionally, it sought to examine decision-making processes on health and protection issues; strengthen the provision of equitable prevention and response to different forms of child violence, including gender-based violence; inform the development of a robust, sustained, early childhood development; and equitable and inclusive education programmes for Amerindian children.

It also sought to explore women’s leadership skills and their capacity-building needs at the community level; explore livelihood and empowerment opportunities; provide evidence for national and sub-national planning and developmental processes; contribute to an enabling environment for Indigenous women and children; and determine the knowledge, perceptions and roles that were played by Indigenous peoples in the preservation of the environment and climate change; and what are their current roles.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, october 4, 2017

Regional

15 Cuban diplomats expelled by US T he Trump Administration on Tuesday ordered the expulsion of 15 Cuban diplomats after pulling more than half of its own embassy staff out of Havana last week, further escalating tensions between the United States and Cuba.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the latest decision was made due to Cuba’s “failure to take appropriate steps” to protect American personnel in Cuba who have been targeted in mysterious “attacks” that have damaged their health.

The steps being taken by President Donald Trump’s Administration mark another blow to his predecessor Barack Obama’s policy of rapprochement between

The Cuban embassy in Washington

Washington and Havana, former Cold War foes.

A State Department official said the number of expulsions was selected to make sure the US and Cuban embassies would

Bolivia’s army in dispute with Government over Che Guevara homage

A

row has broken out in Bolivia between the Government and army veterans over the 50th anniversary of the death of the Cuban revolutionary, Ernesto “Che” Guevara.

The Bolivian Government is planning a series of commemorations next week in the presence of foreign guests.

A spokesman for the army veterans who fought Che’s forces said they would not take part in the official ceremonies. They said they wanted to pay homage to the Bolivians who had died.

Government officials have said they expect the veterans to attend the commemorations.

Che Guevara, one of Cuba’s most important ideologues, was captured on October 8, 1967

and shot dead the next day

by Bolivian Government troops.

He had left Cuba to establish guerrilla groups elsewhere in Latin America.

Local media reported that Mario Moreira, who represents the veterans, said: “We will not attend the commemorations because we think it has become rather political. How can we pay homage to them [the Cuban guerrillas]?

“The Bolivian state, which represents the people, has the obligation to pay homage to us, we defended the nation and 59 soldiers gave their lives.”

The Bolivian army fought a bitter battle against Che’s small force of 47 men between 1966 and 1967 which ended when Che was captured and killed. (Excerpt from BBC News)

have “equitable staffing levels” while investigations continue into the unexplained “health attacks.”

The US decision to expel a large portion of Cuban staff at the embassy was

communicated to Cuban Ambassador Jose Ramon Cabanas on Tuesday, and the diplomats were given seven days to leave, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The move follows an announcement on Friday that the United States was sharply reducing its diplomatic presence in Cuba as it warned US citizens not to visit because of attacks that have caused hearing loss, dizziness and fatigue in US Embassy personnel.

“Until the Government of Cuba can ensure the safety of our diplomats in Cuba, our embassy will be reduced to emergency personnel to minimise the number of diplomats at risk of exposure to harm,” Tillerson said in a statement. (Excerpt from Reuters)

T

he cost of living in Trinidad and Tobago is expected to rise even further as Finance Minister Colm Imbert presented a budget laden with taxes to revive Government’s flagging economic fortunes.

Declaring that the twin-island republic was weathering “unusual times” which called for “serious adjustment for all”, Imbert spared no section of society as he detailed the TT$50.5 billion (US$7.4 billion) austerity package on Monday.

Among the fiscal measures, consumers were immediately hit with a hike in the price of super gasoline and diesel.

In a bid to rake in more revenue, Government has slapped a 10 per cent tax on the windfall of lottery winners, effective December 1.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert announced the new tax measures in the budget presentation

E

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

countries," the statement added without saying whether the two leaders would discuss economic aid for Venezuela.

Earlier this week, Maduro announced plans for an international tour in which he is slated to visit Russia before heading to authoritarian

P

resident Donald Trump visited Puerto Rico on Tuesday on a mission to reassure the Caribbean island’s struggling residents that he was committed to their recovery from a devastating hurricane that has tested his ability to manage natural disasters.

One of the first people Trump met when he and his wife, Melania, touched down in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was the city’s Mayor, Carmen Yulin Cruz, who has repeatedly blasted Trump as showing insufficient concern about the US territory’s plight.

Trump, who has grappled with hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in

the past six weeks, praised the federal assistance so far in Puerto Rico, but said at a briefing that the disasters are straining the boundaries of the US budget.

“I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but you’ve thrown our budget a little out of whack because we’ve spent a lot of money on Puerto Rico,” he said. “And that’s fine, we’ve saved a lot of lives.”

The trip offered Trump the chance to show solidarity with survivors, who are still struggling to get basic necessities, and demonstrate how his government intends to help them recover after they were hit by Maria, the worst hurricane in 90 years. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Budget puts heavier tax burden on residents of T&T

Embattled Venezuelan leader to meet Putin Wednesday mbattled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will meet Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin today, the Kremlin said, as the South American leader seeks support after months of political turmoil in his country.

Venezuela has been rocked by deadly protests and economic chaos that has caused dire shortages of food and medicine.

International powers accuse Maduro of dismantling democracy by taking over State institutions in a bid to counter Opposition pressure for him to quit.

Maduro will be in Moscow "on a working visit", notably to take part in an international energy forum, the Kremlin said in a statement.

The two leaders will discuss the "development of strategic partnership of the two

Victims, responders in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico meet President

Belarus and Turkey.

Maduro's leftist Government is increasingly isolated internationally, with close to 130 people killed in anti-regime protests and the United States putting the Venezuelan President under direct sanctions.

Moscow has sided with Maduro's regime over the protests and criticised the Venezuelan Opposition for "disrupting" elections.

"Venezuela has the full and absolute support of Russia," Maduro said in August, calling Putin a "man of peace."

(Excerpt from AFP)

Cash winnings are currently tax-free.

The biggest blow, however, was dealt to the inadequately regulated private gambling and gaming industry. Electronic roulette devices in bars will attract a flat fee of TT$120,000, and 11 sets of taxes on gaming tables at clubs were hiked.

“Measures will be strictly enforced,” Imbert warned, as he raised concern that the emergence of online gambling costs was resulting in outflows of US$200 million annually.

Commercial banks did not escape the tax grab.

Bank charges are now likely to rise with the introduction of a 35 per cent tax on commercial banks and a base tax rate of 30 per cent on all companies. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

China donates US$2.5M to Barbuda’s hurricane relief efforts

T

he Government of the People’s Republic of China has announced that it will donate US$2.5 million to support the Government of Antigua and Barbuda’s efforts to rebuild Barbuda, which was decimated by Hurricane Irma a few weeks ago.

Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Li Keqiang, in a letter to Prime Minister Gaston Browne, said that he was shocked to learn that Hurricane Irma attacked Antigua and Barbuda and caused death and serious damage to the people of Barbuda.

“On behalf of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, I would like to extend my profound condolences and sincere sympathy to those who

were injured and those who lost a relative and property during the natural tragedy,” Premier Li’s letter read.

The Chinese leader also noted that it is his belief, that under the powerful leadership of Prime Minister Browne, the Government and people can rebuild Barbuda soon.

In making the donation, the Chinese Government said that they stand side by side with the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda during this difficult period. The Chinese Government also announced that they have cancelled the annual National Day celebrations in Antigua, and will donate the $50,000 earmarked for the celebrations towards the Barbuda relief effort.

(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

wednesDAY, october 4, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Las Vegas shooting: Trump dubs EU's diplomatic back channel killer “sick and demented” in Pyongyang goes cold

P

resident Donald Trump has described the gunman who killed 59 people and injured 527 in Las Vegas on Sunday as "a sick man, a demented man".

Speaking at the White House, he said he would look at gun laws "as times goes by", but did not elaborate.

Police are still trying to find out why Stephen Paddock, 64, opened fire on an open-air concert from the 32nd floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay Hotel.

Police found 23 guns in his room and firearms and explosives at his home.

Photos from the hotel room of guns used in the attack have been obtained by Boston 25 News.

As yet, no clear reason for the killing has emerged and investigators have found no link to international terrorism. Some investigators have suggested Paddock

W

hile European powers France and Britain are lobbying Washington to cool tensions since North Korea’s most powerful nuclear test a month ago, European Union nations with embassies in Pyongyang are directly pressing the North Koreans.

A group of seven European Union countries – the Czech Republic, Sweden, Poland, Romania and

President Donald Trump

had a history of mental illness, but this has not been confirmed.

Paddock, who appears to have killed himself before Police stormed his hotel room, had no criminal record and was not known to Police.

Speaking to reporters as he was about to board the presidential helicopter, Trump said Paddock was "a sick man, a demented man.

Lot of problems, I guess, and we're looking into him very, very seriously".

When asked, Trump declined to call the attack domestic terrorism.

On the issue of gun control, the president said: "We'll be talking about gun laws as time goes by."

Trump, whose position on gun control has changed over the years, gave no further detail. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Catalan referendum: Anti-Police strike hits public services

T

housands of people in Catalonia are rallying and blocking roads in protest over Spanish Police violence during Sunday's independence referendum.

There is little public transport across the region, after local trade unions called a strike. Spain's King Felipe VI is to address the nation at 19:00 GMT. Almost 900 people were hurt as Police tried to prevent the vote. Thirty-three police officers were also injured.

The Central Government in Madrid said the referendum was illegal.

On Tuesday, about 300,000 people took to the streets of Barcelona, city police were quoted as saying

by the AFP news agency.

Some demonstrators were marching towards the Catalan Parliament.

More than 50 roadblocks in the city caused big traffic jams. Barcelona's metro traffic was cut to a 25 per cent service during rush hour and no trains at all at other times.

Barcelona's port was at a standstill, trade union sources said.

Top tourist attractions were also closed, including the city's famous Sagrada Familia church.

Mercabarna – Barcelona's massive wholesale market – was left deserted as some 770 food businesses closed for the day.

However, the city's El Prat airport and its taxis are operating normally.

Protest rallies are also taking place in other major cities and towns of the north-eastern autonomous region.

Many small businesses have shut for the day.

Schools, universities and medical services are also closed or operating at a minimum level.

The strike was called in protest at "the grave violation of rights and freedoms" seen during Sunday's ballot.

Some Police Officers were seen firing rubber bullets, storming into polling stations and pulling women by their hair. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Einstein's waves win Nobel Prize in physics

T

he 2017 Nobel prize in physics has been awarded to three US scientists for the detection of gravitational waves.

Rainer Weiss, Kip Thorne and Barry Barish will share the nine million kronor (£831,000) prize.

The ripples were predicted by Albert Einstein and are a fundamental consequence of his General Theory of Relativity.

The winners are members of the Ligo-Virgo observatories, which were responsible for the breakthrough.

The winners join a prestigious list of 204 other Physics laureates recognised since 1901. Professor Weiss gets half of the prize money, while

Rainer Weiss (left) takes half the prize; Kip Thorne (centre) and Barry Barish (right) share the other half

Barish and Thorne will share the other half.

Gravitational waves describe the stretching and squeezing of space-time that occurs when massive objects accelerate.

The warping of space re-

sulting from the merger of two black holes was initially picked up by the US Ligo laboratory in 2015 – the culmination of a decades-long quest.

Three more examples have been detected since then. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Bulgaria, as well as Britain and Germany –- held at least two formal meetings with North Korean officials in Pyongyang in September, three EU diplomats said.

But they felt frustrated because the higher-level access that they had obtained in Pyongyang last year had fallen away, with only medium-ranking foreign Ministry officials now attending the meetings, the

diplomats said.

“There was a sense that we weren’t really getting anywhere because they sent these department heads,” said a Brussels-based diplomat who had been briefed on the meetings, which were described as “very serious” in atmosphere and tone.

“They want to talk to the United States.”

The White House has ruled out such talks. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Myanmar beauty queen 'dethroned over Rohingya video'

Shwe Eain Si was crowned Miss Grand Myanmar earlier this year

A

Burmese beauty queen has claimed she was stripped of her pageant title over a video she made on the ongoing violence in Rakhine state.

Shwe Eain Si had posted the clip online last week, ac-

cusing Rohingya militants of perpetuating the unrest.

The 19-year-old Miss Grand Myanmar lost her title on Sunday when organisers announced they had revoked it. They said she breached contract rules and did not be-

have like a role model. They did not mention her video.

But on Tuesday Shwe Eain Si drew a connection between the dethronement and her clip.

"Yes, Shwe Eain Si made a video about the reign of terror brought about by the Arsa militants in Rakhine state, but that was hardly qualified as a failure to project a decent image of a pageant contestant," a statement posted on her Facebook page said, making reference to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army.

It added that she "is obliged as a citizen of this country to use her fame to speak out the truth for her nation". (Excerpt from BBC News)

Kashmir suicide attackers target Indian paramilitary camp

A

n Indian soldier and three militants were killed in a suicide attack on a paramilitary camp in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials said.

The attack on the camp near Srinagar began about 04:00 local time (22:30GMT Monday). It took eight hours for Indian forces to end the gun battle.

The attackers' identities

have not been confirmed by officials.

An armed revolt against Indian rule in Kashmir began in 1989. India accuses Pakistan of supporting the militants.

The camp is located just outside the international airport in Srinagar, which is a heavily fortified area.

As well as the Border Security Force (BSF) soldier

killed, several other members of the security forces were injured.

Flight operations, which were suspended on Tuesday morning, have resumed.

Roads leading to the airport, which were sealed off earlier, have also reopened.

The Islamist group, Jaish-eMohammad, has said it carried out the attack. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Zimbabwe reporter held over 'Grace Mugabe underwear' story

A

Zimbabwean journalist has been detained over a story alleging that used underwear had been distributed to ruling Zanu-PF supporters on First Lady Grace Mugabe's behalf, his lawyers say.

NewsDay reporter Kenneth Nyangani was likely to face "criminal defamation" charges, the lawyers added.

Zanu-PF MP Esau Mupfumi distributed the underwear, and said Mrs Mugabe had donated it, the newspaper reported.

There has been no official comment on Nyangani's arrest. It was unclear clear whether the complainant was the MP or the First Lady,

Grace Mugabe is the second wife of President Robert Mugabe

NewsDay reported.

Police in the eastern city of Mutare detained Nyangani on Monday evening for "allegedly writing and publishing a story over the donation of some used undergarments"

by President Robert Mugabe's

wife, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said in a statement. The privately-owned newspaper had earlier reported that Mupfumi had handed out clothes at the weekend to Zanu-PF supporters in the Mutare area. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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wednesDAY, october 4, 2017

ARCHIE

ARIES

Emotions will flare up,

(March 21- causing problems with a colApril 19) league or someone trying to

make you look bad. Honesty will be your best option. Speak from the heart.

Don’t let the changes goTAURUS ing on around you cause you (April 20- to fret. Look at your options May 20) to discover a way to combat any challenge that presents itself.

dilbert

Casual conversations will GEMINI lead to all sorts of opportuni(May 21ties.

Express your thoughts, June 20) ideas and plans to a partner or co-worker. Change will bring about personal gains.

Easy does it. You are best off CANCER listening carefully to complaints (June 21- or criticism. Refuse to get into July 22) an emotional battle that will be impossible to win. Agree to disagree and move along.

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Look at your future and consider what you need to do to reach your goal. Pick up new skills or update your qualifications or technology to suit current professional trends.

Share your feelings and VIRGO goals with someone you want (Aug. 23to collaborate or form a meanSept. 22) ingful partnership with. Listen to others’ concerns or suggestions, and counter with a positive response.

Focus on getting things LIBRA (Sept. 23- done. Take care of your responOct. 23) sibilities before someone com-

plains. Do your best to make your surroundings more comfortable and convenient and your personal life less stressful.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Express your feelings and SCORPIO make yourself clear regard(Oct. 24ing what you are willing to do Nov. 22) to pitch in and help. Romance and self-improvement are highlighted.

Physical and emotional SAGITTARIUS abuse are apparent. How you (Nov. 23- treat people or let them treat Dec. 21) you will make a difference to the way you move forward in life. Assess your personal situation honestly.

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle

An emotional issue will CAPRICORN develop if you let someone (Dec. 22- from your past re-enter your Jan. 19) life. Don’t be fooled by sweet talk or persuasive offers.

Focus on retaining your stability.

Keep your emotions out AQUARIUS of the workplace. Getting in(Jan. 20- volved in a struggle with someFeb. 19) one trying to make you look bad won’t solve the problem.

Outsmart your foes using intelligence, facts and foresight.

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

The less time you take to PISCES (Feb. 20- argue a point, the more you March 20) will get done. Aim to finish what you start by working alone and staying on course.

wednesDAY, OCTOber 4, 2017

Rafael Nadal survives Pouille fright to progress at China Open

China Open…

South American Youth Games 2017…

Jeffrey stumbles on opening day

Nadal battles past Pouille O B

during the US Open in September.

He won the first five points of the match against Zverev, but an early break allowed the world number four to take the set, before a composed

ritish

number two Kyle Edmund was beaten in straight sets by second seed Alexander Zverev in the first round of the China Open in Beijing.

Edmund, ranked 47th in the world, had the chance to serve for the second set but Zverev broke to force a tie-break.

The German went on to win 6-3 7-6 (7-3) and set up a secondround meeting with Italy’s Fabio Fognini.

Earlier, world number one Rafael Nadal saved two match points as he came from a set down to beat Lucas Pouille.

Edmund, 22, was playing in his third match since he suffered a neck injury

tiebreak performance e n s u re d victory.

N a d a l , making his first appearance since last month’s US Open win, was 4-6 down in the second set tiebreak before winning four consecutive points.

The Spaniard, 31, then converted his only break point of the match in the final set to beat the French player 4-6 7-6 (86) 7-5.

“I am very, very happy to be through,” said Nadal.

“He played well, I think, very aggressive. He’s serving well. For me it was a little bit difficult at the beginning, then I started to play better.

“But still, I didn’t have the control of

19

the match for almost all the time.”

Nadal, who won his 16th Grand Slam title in New York three weeks ago, goes on to play Russia’s Karen Khachanov in the next round.

Elsewhere in Beijing, Australia’s Nick Kyrgios beat Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1 6-2, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov beat Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur 6-1 3-6 6-3 and Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro is also through after a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win against Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay.

American John Isner reached the second round with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri, while Czech Tomas Berdych beat American Jared Donaldson 6-3 0-6 6-2.

In Tokyo, Canada’s Milos Raonic made his return to action following a wrist problem with a 6-3 6-4 win over Serbia’s Viktor Troicki at the Japan Open.

“It was a good match for me in a lot of ways disciplined, competed well - considering the circumstances,” said Raonic, who missed the US Open during a seven-week lay-off.

“The injury developed over the past 10 years, the pain had been manageable.

But I hit a breaking point and the pain was not tolerable.” (BBC Sport)

n the opening day of Badminton Male Singles competition in Santiago, Chile at the South American Youth Games, Guyana’s Tyrese Jeffrey suffered two consecutive losses in the group stage.

After being pitted in Group A, Jeffrey opened against Argentine Mateo Delmastro and went down in straight sets of 21-12 and 21-4 before losing to Chilean Alonso Araya also in straight sets. This time Jeffrey was beaten 21-4 and 21-2. He is now at the bottom of the table and has a slim chance of progressing any further.

Up to press time, his female compatriot, Priyanna Ramdhani wasn’t fearing any better as she lost her opening fixture of her Female Singles category also in straight sets despite being more competitive.

She was beaten by Peruvian Micaela Vasquez 21-9; 21-16.

Ramdhani has two more fixtures and will hope she can do better when she comes up against Surinamese Erisa Bleau and Chilean Mickaela Hutt.

Guyana’s other representatives at the games are in Table Tennis, 3x3 Basketball and athletics.

Table Tennis is slated to begin today while the 3x3 Basketball will begin on Thursday and athletics on Friday.

Guyana’s basketball players are Shamar France, Nigel Bowen, Isaiah Hintzen and Akeem Crandon while the Table Tennis players are Miguel Wong and Nickolus Romain.

The athletes that will take to the track in a bid for medals are Kenisha Phillips, Deshana Skeete and Annalisa Barclay for the females while Mark Solomon and Jermain King are the male representatives.

“Environment in Guyana right for producing international cricketers” – Reifer

– 4-Day performance crucial to international career

By Clifton Ross

G

uyana Jaguars all-rounder and West Indies Test selectee Raymon Reifer wants to cement a permanent spot in the Test team and plans to use every opportunity to strengthen his case.

The Barbados-born Reifer is currently entering his 4th season with the reigning 4-day champs after being selected by the franchise back in 2013 to be a part of the ‘family,’ a move Reifer says he has not regret. “The past four years playing for Guyana has been a crucial part of my career, it gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills and I’m thankful for that.”

Reifer, who on Tuesday was named in the West Indies Test squad ahead of their series versus Zimbabwe which bowls off on October 15, was first selected to the Test team back in August as part of the squad to face England at home but only played a few warm up games for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President’s XI versus the likes of Pakistan, Leicestershire, Kent and England.

Grateful for Test selection despite not playing, Reifer credited the structure of Guyana’s cricket as well as the work put in by Coaches Rayon Griffith and Esuan Crandon as some of the main reasons he was able to fulfill his dream.

“That was my dream, (playing for West Indies) and ensuring I get there and stay there because it’s a place you definitely want to be. Also, coaches Griffith and Crandon have been crucial in our success over the last 3 years. They believed that we could win and they have created an environment that is free and one where players can learn and be the best they can,” Reifer added.

Guyana currently have a strong base of players who have tasted international experience over the past few years with Vishaul Singh, young Shimron Hetmyer and Reifer himself

Esuan Crandon and Rayon Griffith have turned Guyana into a winning unit according to Reifer

being the latest additions to the West Indies’ international makeup. Reifer says the environment here in Guyana is currently the best in the Caribbean and one that has been reaping the rewards of producing numerous players at the international levels as of recent.

“I think the environment in Guyana is right for producing international cricketers and I think we will continue to produce great players for Guyana and West Indies like we have seen in the last three years. I think if you look around the Caribbean, to me Guyana has the best set up because they allow you express yourself and the team is still winning”. He stated.

The 26 year-old cousin of former West Indies captain Floyd Reifer believes the little experience he acquired in England will be of great value to him and his team this season, pointing out that he paid much attention to the way the senior players set

about their regimes with regards to bowling, batting and fielding in some of the toughest conditions to play Test cricket.

Regarding the ongoing Jaguars 3-Day League tournament, where he scored a 100 a few days ago for his West Demerara franchise, the left-arm pacer said competition helps players to make strong selection cases for themselves. “I think we should thank the GCB for the 3-day league, grateful that I was able to play last year and this year I’m looking to groom the young players who will eventually want to play for Guyana and West Indies.

Concluding his exclusive with Guyana Times Sport on Tuesday, the all-rounder who has 10 first class fifties and 100 wickets, strongly believes that Guyana will continue their dominance in 4-day cricket once they stick to the script. ‘This year we’re going on with a good chance of winning this season, we just have to play as a team, stick to our plans and I think we could win again,” he ended.

the

I’m

Raymon Reifer is working hard to cement his place in the West Indies team

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesDAY, october 4, 2017

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

Opportunity knocks, says Adams

– Jaguars to begin title defence at Providence

O

pportunity was the recurring theme that kept popping up, as Cricket West Indies director of cricket Jimmy Adams looked forward to the new regional season – and the Digicel 4-Day Tournament in particular.

The six regional franchises have started preparations for the upcoming #D4Day season which gets going on Thursday, October 26, and Adams said he was bubbling with excitement at the prospects the new season holds for the game in the Caribbean. “It’s an opportunity for the talented players in our game to stake a claim for a place in international matches,” he said.

“It’s also an opportunity for us to see young players that have just come out of youth cricket and it’s another opportunity for us to showcase the depth of West Indies talent, so I am quite looking forward to the start of this Digicel 4-Day season.”

Adams added: “This tournament is critical to our game in view of its length, since there are return matches. It provides so many opportunities for young players and for some that have been around for

British tennis player banned after positive cocaine test B Jimmy Adams

season.”

The Regional 4-Day Tournament, being sponsored for the second straight year by Digicel, was expanded to 10 matches three years ago, when CWI inaugurated the Professional Cricket League featuring six territorial franchises playing home and away matches, and a system that promotes player movement.

the past.”

The #D4Day concludes on January 21, and all matches are now regularly scheduled to start on a Thursday, rather than Friday, in a break from the long-standing tradition in the modern history (1966 onwards) of the West Indies first-class championship.

The schedule has also been tightened up, due to the heavy amount of inter-

ing season for the players and to be able to cope with the level of sustained physical and mental pressure, we will need them to be in top condition, so that they can repeat good performances and so it has to be a massive part of their preparation going into the season,” he said.

Reigning three-time champions Guyana Jaguars will open their #D4Day ti-

Three-time defending champions, Guyana Jaguars will have home advantage when the tournament bowls off on October 26

a long time to get a lot of matches under their belt.

“I think it is also good for the selectors to have an opportunity to see more of the players in different conditions, so it will throw up a lot of very, very useful information and give us a better indication about the quality of our players. It’s a very important cog in the wheel of the development cycle, so I am looking forward to seeing how players have progressed from the end of last

“The feedback has been very positive from every one,” said Adams. “Just the fact that they are playing consistently more games, it has been critical for a lot of our players along that development curve to be able to play as much as they can within the season.

“I don’t think there is anybody out there that can deny it has been a ‘net-positive’ having 10 games in comparison to maybe five or six that we used to play in

national matches that CWI will be staging in the coming months, and it would also allow the regional governing body to complete the #D4Day ahead of the Regional Super50 Tournament.

A Thursday start has also been introduced to give fans the option of coming out to see the end of the matches over the weekend, rather than having to take Mondays off.

“It will be a demand-

tle defence against Jamaica Scorpions on home soil at the Guyana National Stadium.

The other first round matches feature Windward Islands Volcanoes and Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada, and the fiercest rivalry in Caribbean sport between hosts Barbados Pride and Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at Kensington Oval in one of six day/night matches on the season schedule.

ritish tennis player Dan Evans has been banned for one year after testing positive for cocaine, which he explained had accidentally mixed with his medication in a washbag.

The British number four provided the positive sample at the Barcelona Open on 24 April and his suspension is back-dated to begin from that date.

Evans, 27, will therefore be free to return to action from 24 April 2018.

“I am determined to return to the sport I love,” said the Briton.

“I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this difficult period.”

Governing body the International Tennis Federation (ITF) explained that, because cocaine is not performance enhancing and it was taken out of competition, a potential four-year ban was instead 12 months.

The ITF decision said Evans “promptly admitted his violation” and it accepted his account of how the cocaine got into his system, adding that he bore “no significant fault or negligence for the violation”.

Chelsea lose Morata to injury C helsea and Spain striker Alvaro Morata could be out for more than a month after injuring his hamstring during Saturday’s defeat by Manchester City.

The 24-year-old has returned to London to begin treatment after being diagnosed for a grade two myofascial injury by Spain team doctors.

The Briton has also had to forfeit 103,890 euros (£92,205) of prize money won and the ranking points gained between the date of his test and the announcement of the positive finding on 23 June.

According to the ITF decision announced on Tuesday, Evans said “leftover” cocaine had accidentally mixed with permitted medication in the “same pocket of his washbag”.

He said he took those tablets daily from 20 April 2017 to 24 April 2017, the date on which he provided his sample.

It was successfully proven by Evans’ expert, Dr Pascal Kintz, that the amount of cocaine ingested

by Evans was no more than 1?3 mg - a quantity “inconsistent with knowing ingestion and consistent instead with inadvertent contamination”.

Evans had reached a career-high ranking of 41 in March but is now down to 108th, and will slip further before he is able t o return t o competit i o n i n April. (BBC Sport)

Alvaro Morata has scored seven goals since joining Chelsea

Muscle injuries of this type can take four to eight weeks to heal.

He said in an Instagram post he later deleted on Tuesday he was targeting the game with Crystal Palace on 14 October.

Morata joined Chelsea for a club record £60m last summer from Real Madrid and is their top scorer this season with seven goals. (BBC Sport)

21 Cotton Tree Die Hard win 4-team T20 tournament sports

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T

Discovery Check

he term “discovery” or discovered attack is used when apiece moves from a rank, file or diagonal and uncovers an attacking piece of the same color (teammate) along that line. There are three types of discoveries, with the most powerful being the double check. Discovered Check and Attack are covered here.

To get our “discovery party Jessica Clementson started”, we are reviewing a commonly played, though very bad, Opening at the amateur scholastic level: The Copy Cat! Black's third move needs to be 3...d6, which would be the Petroff Defense, a solid “non-copy-cat” variation. 3...Nxe4 loses.

– Star Sports outfits champion team Cotton Tree Die Hard players happily accept the symbol of supremacy

C

otton Tree Die Hard on Sunday won their annual four-team T20 competition in Berbice, defeating D’Edward Sports Club by 12 runs in the final.

In the interest of time, all three games were contested at 15 overs per innings. In

get.

D’Edward Sports Club defeated Yaskusari Caribs by five wickets in the other game after being set a meagre target of 80. Over $100,000 in cash and prizes were handed out to the teams and top individual

After 4.Qe2 black can no longer continue to copy with4...Qe7, as after 5.Qxe4, if black captures white's Knight –black will lose the Queen for nothing. Defending the Knight on e4 with a move like 4...d5 invites 5.d3, and black still has major issues to deal with. Most players at the beginner level will retreat the Knight from e4, walking into a trap.White now has two devious discovered checks to choose from: The Knight can actually move anywhere from e5, and black must first deal with the check coming from the Queen on e2. In positions with discovered checks, a player should look for the most aggressive landing square for the piece in front of the line (file in this case). Both 5.Ng6!+, winning the Rook on h8, and 5.Nc6!!+ winning the Queen are good.

A discovered attack is the same as discovered check, except the enemy King is not directly involved in the attacking move.Because there is no check involved, any effective discovered attack must also be a double attack of some kind. In this case, white plays a discovery that attacks both black's undefended Queen on e7, and checkmate!1.Nxc6!! wins immediately. White unleashes a devastating discovered threat on black's Queen (white's Queen is threatening to capture it) and also threatens to capture2.Nxa7 checkmate. If 1...Qxe2 2.Nxa7# and if 1...xc6 2.Qxe7,winning enough material to take the game home!

One of the key components that made our last discovery so effective was that the black Queen on e7 was undefended.

If the Queen had defense by one of her teammates, the Queen on e2 would have only been “trading” thus making a Knight sacrifice on c6 useless.

In cases when the piece under attack is defended, the key is to be attacking with a lesser valued chessman. Take this diagram for example:Black wins with the discovered attack 1...Bg1!! This move threatens 2...Qxh2 checkmate and unveils an attack from the d7-Rook to the white Queen.

Note the power of this attack is based on the trade of both the g1-Bishop and thed7Rook being better than white's Queen. After: 2.Kxg1Rxd3 3.Rxd3 Qa1+ and captures the a2-pawn, winning!

Sheik Mohamed (right) of Star Sports presents the uniform to Roshan Gaffoor before the start of play. Also sharing the moment is overseas-based Guyanese and cricket enthusiast Bruce Deoraj

the final, Cotton Tree Die Hard, inserted to take first strike, posted 129 all out in 14 overs.

Pooran Persaud top scored with an even fifty, comprising four sixes and two fours, while Abdol Subhan struck 43 (3x6s, 2x4s). Andrew Dennis picked up 3-24 for D’Edward Sports Club, who responded with 117-7 with Waqar Hassan claiming 2-15.

Both teams had won their previous game earlier in the day. Cotton Tree Die Hard defeated Number 69 Sports Club by eight wickets with four overs to spare.

Number 69 Sports Club made 121 in 15 overs with Nashad Gaffoor picking up 2-24.

Gaffoor then returned to hit 48 not out and Nick Ramsaroop made 33 not out as Cotton Tree Die Hard easily knocked off the tar-

performers.

Meanwhile, the Cotton Tree Die Hard Sports Club became the recipient of a complete set of coloured uniforms from Star Sports, an Enmore, East Coast Demerara, entity in the business of sports goods and trophies. Proprietor and former national wicketkeeper/batsman, Sheik Mohamed, was on hand on Sunday to present the uniforms to members of the team.

He expressed pleasure in being able to outfit the team, noting that the donation is in keeping with the company’s corporate/ social responsibility. Roshan Gaffoor of Cotton Tree Die Hard said the club is extremely delighted to receive the uniforms, adding that the players will work to ensure the company’s brand is well represented.

P&P Insurance Brokers/Goodwood Racing Service Tape Ball tourney…

East Ruimveldt beat City College in finals E

ast Ruimveldt defeated City College by 12-runs in the finals of the P&P Insurance Brokers/Goodwood Racing Service sponsored School Boys tape-ball knockout competition played at the National Cultural Center tarmac.

The finals of the tour-

ney which was contested Saturday September 30, saw East Ruimveldt scoring 59-3 from their allotted six overs which was enough to get the better of City College who were restricted to 47-6 in their six overs.

South Ruimveldt lost to Charlestown while East Ruimveldt defeated L/Dall

Youths as Charlestown lost to City College in the first semi-finals, to which East Ruimveldt beat Trust College in the second semis; thus setting up the finals.

For their victory, East Ruimveldt received a trophy while the runners-up City College were given medals for their effort.

22

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wednesDAY, october 4, 2017

Cameron confident England displace Australia Windies will dominate in Women’s ranking – West Indies Women remain No 5 Test cricket – cites poor fitness culture as key factor behind failing

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) President, ‘Dave’ Cameron believes the West Indies can excel at the Test level, adding that changing the “Fitness Culture” around the Caribbean is the first step to the team succeeding in the longer format.

During a sit down interview with Guardian Media CWI President Whycliffe Sports Director Robert ‘Dave’ Cameron Dumas last Thursday, the CWI Head related that the Caribbean nation who are touted as limited overs bullies, can perform with the same caliber in the Test arena but will need to change the current culture as it relates to fitness. “We need to change the culture around Test cricket, because teams are scoring 350 runs and players should be able to recover and go out to score those 350 runs the next day, so we need to change the relaxed culture or else we’re not going to catch up,” Cameron said.

He added that while West Indies have always been dominating at the Under-19 levels, the problem had been there was no support from the transition of youth to adult, thus resulting in a the less than par results given by the team over the years. “We have always been competing at the U19 levels so we know we can compete at the youth level but we didn’t have a structure to help the transition, but now we have that with contracts and so, we need to engage players and treat them good. I would say Test cricket has a future in context and content, because ODI and T20 have a context like the Champions Trophy, so people play towards that and I think Test cricket needs that, that’s why ICC are formulating a Test championship,” he lamented.

With money playing a bigger role in cricket today compared to 20 years ago, Cameron believed that while it was important to monetarily comfort players, it’s equally critical for the board to also finance themselves. “We have managed to put money in pockets of players but we need to work on the shortcomings of the administration, the reason we changed our name (to Cricket West Indies) encompassing what we hope to do. While none of us will never be happy our job we have to make it sustainable and the players will be looking to get as much as they can get and that’s the failing of the former administration, because we gave all the money to players but couldn’t finance the CWI.” Cameron was stern on the West Indies not returning to their glory days as his plans are directed towards making them players more competitive. “We are not interested in going back to glory days, it’s possible but our objective is to be competitive and make the best cricketers are happy.”

According to Cameron, West Indies have been enduring nearly 22 years of declination compared to their glory days. He said his regime transformed the board from one in major debt to one that is current in the financial green, further stating that the board could only afford some 5 matches a year as part of their Professional set up compared to present time when they won 3 titles; the Men and Women World T20 titles as well as the U19 World Cup title.

“From a Test cricket perspective, we hadn’t beat Pakistan away in 21 years, we beat them in Dubai last year in one test. We hadn’t beat England in 17 years in England, so I think the last 24 months the performance of the team is improving rather than declining,” declared Cameron.

Cameron continued “CWI needs to ensure we’re competitive at the Test level because our objective is to make the best cricketers. T20 is it for us now but at the moment the barometer says we can do well in Test cricket.” he ended.

The latest ICC Test Ranking show West Indies ranked at number eight among the 10 Test playing nations. They are above only Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. India are currently ranked number one.

E

ngland have become the number one ranked team in the world for the first time after knocking Australia off the top of the ICC women’s

The Ashes series starts on 22 October.

“It kind of shows where we’ve come from as a team and how far we’ve gone,” Knight told BBC South

Heather Knight

Lots will depend on Hayley Matthews (left) and West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor against Sri Lanka

rankings ahead of this winter’s Ashes.

Heather Knight’s side, who won the World Cup in July, have 128.47 points, with second-placed Australia on 128.43 points.

It is the first time Australia have slipped from first place since the rankings were introduced in 2015.

West.

“There’s not a lot in it between the teams - you saw that in the World Cup in our group match.

“It’s going to be such an exciting series between the number one and two in the world, and I’m sure whoever wins will make it to the top of the rankings, so it’ll add a

West appointed Windies “A” Head Coach C

ricket West Indies confirmed on Tuesday the team management unit that will support Windies “A” during their home series against Sri Lanka “A” later this month in Jamaica.

Graeme West has been appointed Head Coach and will be assisted by former West indies seam bowler, Corey Collymore. West and Collymore were as the helm when the West Indies won the Under 19 World Cup in February 2016 in Bangladesh.

The sides will play three four-day “Tests” and three One Day matches in Jamaica over a four-week period beginning on Wednesday October 11.

West Indies “A” will be lead by

bit of spice in there.”

Meanwhile, current World T20 champions West Indies have not been able to convert their T20 exploits into the longer version of the limited overs game and have maintained their number five position. The Regional ladies will be in action in three matches against Sri Lanka in the ICC Women’s Championship beginning Thursday October 11 in Trinidad where they will have a chance to gain valuable ranking points. (BBC Sport)

ICC Women’s Team Rankings

1. England 2. Australia 3. New Zealand 4. India 5. West Indies 6. South Africa 7. Pakistan 8. Sri Lanka 9. Bangladesh 10. Ireland

England Women won the World Cup this year in England

Graeme West (right) offers Leon Johnson some tips during a West Indies preparatory camp in Antigua earlier this year

Barbadian Shamarh Brooks and will have Guyanese left-handed batsman Vishaul Singh as his deputy.

Windies “A” Squad reads; Shamarh Brooks (Captain), Vishaul Singh (ViceCaptain), Sunil Ambris, John Campbell, Yannic Cariah, Rahkeem Cornwall, Sheldon Cottrell, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Damion Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Reynard Leveridge and Oshane Thomas.

Management unit; Graeme West (Head Coach), Dwain Gill (Team Operations Manager), Corey Collymore (Assistant Coach), Khevyn Williams (Physiotherapist), Zephrynus Nicholas (Fitness Coordinator) and Dinesh

Mahabir (Video Data Operator).

West Indies “A” vs Sri Lanka “A” Itinerary October 1st “Test” – Trelawny Multiplex, Jamaica - October 11 to 14 2nd “Test” – Trelawny Multiplex – October 19 to 22 3rd “Test” – Sabina Park, Jamaica - October 26 to 29 1st One-day Match – Sabina Park – November 1 2nd One-day Match – Sabina Park – November 2 3rd One-day Match – Trelawny – November 5

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wednesDAY, october 4, 2017

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Windies unchanged for Zimbabwe tour

T

he Selection Panel of Cricket West Indies on Tuesday announced a 15-member squad for the Tour of Zimbabwe later this month.

West Indies last played a three-match Test Series in England where they were beaten 2-1. The Regional side then went on to the limited overs segment of the tour where they won the one-off T20I but were swept 4-0 in the five-match ODI Series with one game rained out.

Zimbabwe Cricket had recently confirmed the short tour comprising two Tests in Bulawayo later this month. This will be Zimbabwe's first Test engagement since their tour of Sri Lanka in July.

For Zimbabwe, Brendan Taylor and Kyle Jarvis are both expected to make their international comebacks during the series. The pair left Zimbabwe in 2015 and 2013 respectively to play in England on Kolpak deals. But they were convinced to opt out of their English deals early and return home following a complete overhaul of ZC's structures.

Tatenda Taibu, the convener of

I

selectors, initiated discussions with Taylor and Jarvis before they received assurances about the new governance and financial model from ZC MD Faisal Hasnain.

This will be West Indies' second tour to Zimbabwe in the last 12 months.

They featured there in a tri-series, also involving Sri Lanka, in November last year.

Commenting on the squad, Courtney Browne, chairman of the CWI selection panel, said: “The selection panel is pleased to announce the same Test squad that toured England to visit Zimbabwe. The dedication, commitment and focus in their preparation and during the series in England showed immense character for such a young team in very difficult conditions against World-class competition. The lessons learnt on that tour augurs well for the individual players and the team’s continued development as a whole and we wish them well on the Tour of Zimbabwe.”

Windies squad reads; Jason Holder (Captain), Kraigg Brathwaite (Vice

n a real match simulation of the West Indies Full Bore Shooting Council Short Range Match on Sunday (October 1) the Guyana Rifle team shot an impressive combined score of 1142: 74 Vees.

Shooting at Various positions of the range at the 300, 500 and 600 yards banks to test the conditions across the range, the scores were of an exceptionally high standard.

At 300 yards, three shooters shot scores of 49; they were Ransford Goodluck with 49:6, Lennox Braithwaite with 49:5 and Fullbore captain Mahendra Persaud 49:4. At the 300 yard range the team combined for a total of 378:26 vees.

At 500 yards it improved further with the team only dropping 8 points, shooting 392 out of the possible 400 points. Possibles were shot

by Mahendra Persaud 50:5, Braithwaite 50:4 and Sherwin Felicien 50:4.

At 600 yards the wind got trickier and shooting from the extreme right of the newly renovated Timehri Rifle ranges for the first time in over 4 years, the scores dipped. The wind coaches had their work cut out for them and had to call on all their experience to conquer the conditions. The wind direction and speed was changing rapidly thus at times it was difficult to even judge what was happening.

Top Scorers for the range was Felicien with 48:2 and Goodluck 48:1.

The Guyana National Rifle Association in conjunction with the Guyana Defence Force has expended large sums of money and effort in renovating the Timehri Rifle Ranges and can now boast of having a truly International Shooting Range. The Fullbore shooters especially played an important part in making this a reality with lots of days in the hot sun replanting grass on the

Captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Kyle Hope, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kieran Powell, Raymon Reifer and Kemar Roach.

Team Management Unit includes; Stuart Law (Head Coach), Joel Garner (Team Operations Manager), Roderick Estwick (Assistant Coach), Toby Radford (Assistant Coach), Ryan Maron (Assistant Coach), C.J. Clark (Physiotherapist), Ronald Rogers (Strength & Conditioning Coordinator), Jeffrey Gay (Massage Therapist), Dexter Augustus (Video Data Analyst) and Philip Spooner (Media Relations Manager).

Schedule of Matches;

Tour Match – Zimbabwe “A” vs West Indians – Bulawayo Athletic Club, Bulawayo - October 15 to 17 1st Test – Queen’s Sports Club, Bulawayo - October 21 to 25 2nd Test – Queen’s Sports Club – October 29 to November 2

shooting banks, installing and renovating target mechanisms and in general rebuilding and redesigning the range.

This was part of the preparations for the celebrations for the 150th Anniversary of the Guyana National Rifle Association, making it one of the oldest Rifle associations in the world.

The only negative spot in the Association’s history is the inability on the part of successive administrations to recognize this prestigious Association and grant them a piece of land that they can call home. A piece of land that is that is both conveniently placed and close enough to the arms stores and security forces in Georgetown, to facilitate the easy movement of arms and ammunition taking security into consideration and at the same time to promote the sport of air Rifle, air pistol, small bore and pistol shooting disciplines. Hopefully with the Association achieving this 150th milestone, fortune and recognition would erase this negative spot.

With Guyanese shooters starting to make a name for themselves and Guyana in the world of Rifle shooting gaining recognition, it is hopeful that more of Corporate Guyana will be on board to make this tournament a success.

In a release to the media, the Guyana NRA thanked “all their sponsors, well-wishers, friends and supporters who over the years have stood with us.

Without you none of our achievements would have been possible.”

Guyana is set to defend both the Short Range over 300, 500 &600 yard ranges and the Long Range Title over 900 and 1,000 yards, trophies which they have dominated in the last 20 years. The Guyanese have been so dominant that it has gotten to the point where other WI teams are scrambling for second place and at times not even thinking of winning.

Guyana’s Fullbore Captain Mahendra Persaud

Kemar Roach will look to continue where he left off in England with the red ball

Heritage All-Stars’ players included in Golden Jaguars squad

I

nterim Head Coach of the Senior Men’s National Team (Golden Jaguars), Wayne Dover has announced a 23man squad for the upcoming International Friendly against Grenada on October 7.

Dover has named two GoalKeepers, nine Defenders, seven Midfielders and five Forwards including Walter Moore who has returned from retirement after signaling his

in the not-too-distant future especially with the addition of new players.” He said 19-yearold Vancooten is “a dynamic player who has the ability to play multiple positions and gives depth to the team”.

Meanwhile, the Head Coach said his observation of the hinterland players selected “warranted their immediate call-up” based on the skills displayed: “Parks is

composition of the squad shows how serious the GFF is taking this fixture and using it as a building block for 2018 when the CONCACAF League of Nations is officially launched.”

The Golden Jaguars begin their encampment today in Trinidad and will travel to Grenada on Thursday in preparation for the International Friendly on the 7th at the Kirani James Athletic

Terence Vancooten with Technical Director Ian Greenwood and GFF President Wayne Forde

desire to retire last October following the Caribbean Cup game against Jamaica.

Among those selected are two players who were drafted immediately after the Charity match between the Heritage All-Stars and the GFF President’s XI, Nicolas Peters (Mabaruma, Region 1) and Frank Parks (Rupununi, Region 9).

The majority overseasbased squad also consists of three players making their debut for the national side including Defender Terence Vancooten (Stevenage FC, England) along with Parks and Peters.

In an invited comment, Dover said the squad is a “mixture of youth and experience and is a good sign of the changing of the guards

no stranger to the national set up, he played with the junior team and demonstrated the potential to be a top player. He has a football background as all of his siblings represented Guyana and were outstanding.

Peters is a solid Defender who showed he can handle players, the likes of Gregory Richardson. He showed all the attributes that a Central Defender has to possess.”

Among those included is 19-year-old Goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle (Barnet FC) who made his debut almost one year ago in the Caribbean Cup game against Suriname in Paramaribo and also played in the game against Jamaica in Guyana but missed the game against Martinique.

Technical Director of the GFF Ian Greenwood said “the

Stadium in St. James, Grenada.

The full squad read; Kai McKenzie-Lyle, Andrew Durant, Adrian Butters, Christopher Bourne, Jake Newton, Walter Moore, Samuel Cox, Jeremey Garrett, Terence Vancooten, William Europe, Nicolas Peters, Brandon Beresford, Curtez Kellman, Anthony Benfield, Frank Parks, Maliek De Freitus, Neil Danns, Cashion London, Shaquille Agard, Emery Welshman, Sheldon Holder, Gregory Richardson, Ralph Parris.

Rawle Adams (Team Manager), Wayne Dover (Head Coach), Charles Pollard (Assistant Coach), Lyndon France (Physical Trainer), Eon DeVeira (Goal Keeper Coach), Denzil Hernandez (Physio), Trevor Burnett (Kit Manager).

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

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017

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Windies unchanged for Zimbabwe tour

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West Indies showed signs of turning the corner on their recent tour of England where they chased 322 runs to win the second Test at Leeds by five wickets

Lennox Braithwaite is in fine form ahead of this weekend’s international shoot

Frank Parks and Nicolas Peters have been selected in the Golden Jaguars squad

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Heritage All-Stars’ Pg 23 players included in Golden Jaguars squad GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Sport: sport@guyanatimesgy.com Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 SALES AND MARKETING - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.

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