Guyana Times August 18, 2018

Training to be done to educate commuters on usage of overhead passes P15 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3690

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Ecstasy being sold to students at 5 secondary schools Page 7

PRICE

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Kuru Kuru P13 residents protest deplorable state of road

...CANU to make arrests soon

SOCU to question Govt Ministers over DHB feasibility study contract Page 3

P2 More contraband unearthed at Lusignan Prison

Disorderly customer shot by bar owner P10

The proposed artist's impression of the new Demerara River bridge

Stabroek Wharf rehabilitation

$23M spent to ‘prepare’ area for relocation – City Hall

Corentyne residents P14 fearful of attacks by armed men

Page 15

Jagdeo questioned by SOCU about Pradoville Page 11 lands

Lawyer’s ‘cuss down’ to juniorPage rank 13 inappropriate – Ramjattan ...maintains Police should have reasonable suspicion

Man dies P10 after drinking carbon tablets instead of “wind tablets”

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TuesdAY, september 18, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

More contraband unearthed Linden fatal beating at Lusignan Prison Victim died from

blunt trauma to head, haemorrhage – PM

– murder suspect still on the run Some of the pieces of the wooden pallet found on Monday

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raid on the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara, conducted jointly by ranks of the Police Force and the Prison Service on Monday, has resulted in the discovery of even more prohibited and contraband items.

Items seized include 45 improvised weapons, six lighters, one metal foil, 36 razor blades, three cellphone chargers, one white cellphone, a quantity of empty zip lock bags, one tattoo machine, a quantity of nails, two headphones, three bro-

The items found during the search

ken pieces of metal and a quantity of pallet wood.

The search lasted for a few hours. Earlier in the month, a raid was conducted at the Georgetown prison at Camp Street during which 19 cellular phones, five phone chargers, one flash drive, 15 cigarette lighters, two packs of cigarettes, five pairs of scissors, seven improvised weapons, and 774 grams of cannabis were found.

Prior to that raid, another raid was carried out at Lusignan Prison. Razor blades, 17 phone chargers,

24 lighters, a quantity of wires, eight metal spoons, two pairs of scissors, one plastic knife, two nail clips, a quantity of ziplock bags, six bottles of pepper sauce, one pack of cards, three bottles of medicine, four bottles of oil with suspected cannabis seeds, one memory card and three mirrors were found.

The smuggling of contraband items into prisons remains a perennial problem within the system.

Authorities have been working assiduously to curb the practice, and these efforts

have resulted in several prison officers being caught facilitating the illegal trade, which is said to be “big business”.

In fact, back in July, Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels, had disclosed during a press conference that several prison officers had been relieved of their duties after they were found to be working in collusion with each other in order to facilitate the movement of suspected contraband into the Lusignan Prison Holding Bay area.

Murder suspect: Travis Hazel

Dead: Leroy Barron

he post mortem conducted on the body of 55-year-old Leroy Barron, who was beaten to death in Linden on Friday last, has given the cause of his death as brain haemorrhage due to blunt trauma to the head.

After Leroy Barron’s body had been positively identified by his brother Kevin Barron on Monday, the autopsy was conducted

by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) mortuary.

Police in Linden continue to hunt for the prime suspect, Travis Hazel, also called “Fifty,” of Lot 23 Silvercity, Wismar, Linden.

‘E’ Division (LindenKwakwani) Commander Anthony Vanderhyden on Monday expressed confidence that the suspect would be apprehended. He noted that the Police have been following several leads at their disposal.

“We’re working on something. Definitely, he will be picked up!” the Commander said. He added that the Police have also been reliably informed that the suspect is expected to surrender to the

Police “as soon as possible”.

According to Police information, the incident occurred at approximately 11:00h on Friday at Co-op Crescent, Mackenzie.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident had been preceded by an argument between the late Leroy Barron and the suspect, both of whom had been known for doing odd jobs around the Mackenzie Market.

During the argument, the suspect armed himself with a piece of wood and dealt Barron several blows to his body and head. The injured man collapsed unconscious, and was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.?

It has also been reported that the deceased had accused the suspect of being involved in the sale of cocaine, which subsequently led to the confrontation.

A neighbour has since described the deceased as having been a “disrespectful individual” who had abused drugs. Barron, a father of 3, had lived overseas for some time before returning to Guyana.

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news

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TuesdAY, september 18, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, September 18 – 12:00h-13:30h and Wednesday, September 19 – 13:30h-15:00h.

SOCU to question Govt Ministers over DHB feasibility study contract Besides the LievenseCSO contract, a probe has been requested by Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira; and another by Opposition parliamentarian Juan Edghill, had also written to the PPC to request probes into the D’Urban Park project and the Sussex Street drug bond. In a letter to the Commission’s Chairperson, Carol Corbin, Edghill had identified as-

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, September 18 – 11:15h-12:45h and Wednesday, September 19 – 12:45h-14:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Early morning light cloudy skies with sunny intervals are expected to give way to thundery rain showers, while sunny intervals are expected to return in the afternoon. Clear skies are expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius to 31 degrees.

Winds: South South-easterly to East North-easterly and North-easterly between 1.34 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tides: 11:02h and 23:29h reaching a maximum height of 2.04 metres and 2.08 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 04:22h and 16:56h reaching minimum heights of 1.08 metres and 1.22 metres respectively.

SATURDAY, september 15, 2018

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Monday, september 17, 2018 DAILY MILLIONS

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the budgeted and actual cost throughout the project, as well as the final cost. In addition, the party demanded information on what payments were made to individuals and contractors up to June.

In the case of the Sussex Street, Albouystown bond, Edghill also approached the PPC to call for an investigation into the contract inked between the Public Health

President David Granger along with his Cabinet Ministers

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he Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has given the parliamentary Opposition a commitment that members of the coalition Government will be questioned concerning the controversial LievenseCSO Harbour Bridge contract.

This is according to Opposition Leader and former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who spoke to the media following his ‘interview’ at SOCU headquarters on Monday, where he was questioned by investigators probing the Pradoville land distribution matter.

Upon his arrival at the Unit’s head office, Jagdeo told the press his motive for appearing included setting a precedent for the current Government. He explained that the parliamentary Opposition has several matters involving the coalition it would like investigated.

After his meeting, the Opposition Leader informed the media that SOCU has committed to having current Ministers questioned for one of those very matters; the contract for a feasibility study of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge.

“One thing that is pleasing about the interview is that at the end of it, I asked whether SOCU will be proceeding with the case I filed against Patterson. The answer was yes. So I asked whether SOCU will interview him at his office or here and I was told he would be called here for an interview and other members of the Cabinet will be invited here.

So we’re very pleased about that, that the same standard will be used.”

‘So hopefully next week you’ll start seeing members of the Government coming to SOCU here to answer for the contract that was awarded illegally with the complicity of Cabinet. We also indicated to SOCU that we have five other cases to send to them. Because the [Director of Public Prosecutions] DPP had indicated we need to go through the Police first, when she nolle prossed the charges,” he explained.

In light of this, Jagdeo was expectant that over the next year and a half, Cabinet Ministers would make regular visits to SOCU to answer questions, providing that the Unit acts in a professional

and impartial manner.

The contract in question was awarded to Dutch company, LievenseCSO, for a feasibility study into the new Demerara River bridge.

The Opposition requested that the Public Procurement Commission investigate the award of the $148 million sole sourced contract.

In its report on the matter, the Commission flagged Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson for requesting from Cabinet that the contract be sole sourced, instead of being processed through the Procurement Board as the law says should be done. It was subsequently announced that SOCU would be investigating the contract award.

No specifics

When contacted afterwards, however, SOCU head Assistant Commissioner Sydney James was reluctant to state exactly who the Unit would interview. Asked directly whether current Cabinet Ministers would be questioned, he would only venture to say that the Unit would question anyone it has to.

The Public Procurement Commission had stated that the sole sourcing of the contract for the new DHB feasibility study was illegal

pects of the project the party is most concerned about.

Edghill, a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), noted that despite promises to the contrary, no account of donations received between September 2015 and January 2016, was made public. It therefore queried the procurement process used for works on the project The scope a private company has to engage contractors and receive funding for a public project also came into question. The party queried

Ministry and a known financier of the coalition Administration.

The former Government Minister had wanted the Procurement Commission to investigate specifically how a contract for a bond for the storage of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies was sole-sourced from an entity that did not own and/or operate such a facility and further “how was the company’s primary Director, Larry Singh, made aware that a drug bond was needed”.

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

LGE’s importance

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he importance of this year’s Local Government Elections, which are slated to take place on November 12, cannot be overemphasised when one looks at the current state of affairs and worrying trends with respect to local governance that are occurring across the length and breadth of Guyana.

After all, the existence of local government has always been defended on the basis that it is a crucial aspect of the process of democratisation and intensification of mass participation in the decision-making process. No political system is considered complete and democratic if it does not have a system of local government.

Local government, therefore, serves a two-fold purpose.

The first purpose is the administrative purpose of supplying goods and services; the other purpose is to represent and involve citizens in determining specific local public needs, and how these local needs can be met.

It is in this light that it must be observed that several Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) are in a dysfunctional state, and have proven since the last LGE elections that they are either incapable of delivering on the principles of good governance, or do not have the political ability to prioritise their work-agenda in order to have the most costeffective works undertaken first.

Also, these NDCs have been accused by residents and officials within the hierarchy of various administrative regions of engaging in blatant acts of corruption and political vindictiveness. Others also have, from time to time, been accused of stonewalling projects and local initiatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of locals, in order to achieve a specific agenda.

At other NDCs, particularly in areas won by the Opposition Peoples Progressive Party at the last elections, there are major conflicts between the overseers and some of the regional democratic organs as well as officials who are representing the interests of Central Government.

The situation is no different at the municipal level, but is seemingly worse, with elected Councillors being accused of very serious breaches, financial and otherwise, of the law and by-laws. For instance, the Georgetown City Council is perhaps the most unpopular municipal body in the country at this time.

Its policies have led to widespread resistance from businesses and residents alike, who believe that they will result in further hardship, and will not, in any way, improve the functionality of the country’s capital city or return it to its former glory.

The two main officials at that Council – Its Mayor and Town Clerk – have been described as lacking integrity to continue to serve on many fronts. Their Council continues to be plagued by scandals and allegations of corruption, which have weakened public confidence in the local democratic organs.

These elections, therefore, offer Guyanese the opportunity to assess the performances of their local leaders before they make a decision to cast their ballots or withhold support for the re-election of certain officer bearers and political parties. They also present the populace with a better opportunity to vent their frustration at the manner in which the country’s socioeconomic fortunes have been declining since 2015, as they demand significant improvements and progress in key areas.

Also important is the fact that these elections precede the General and Regional Elections, and will be used as a measuring stick to assess the popularity of not only those who are seeking re-election, but those who are presenting themselves now as replacements.

Recall that, back in 2016, former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister and the current Political Leader of the United National Congress, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, recognised the important role that local governance plays in the wider scheme of things.

In October 2013, her coalition Government lost the Local Government elections. Soon after, her Government was booted from office by the people, who had complained about the highly unpopular policies being pursued by their elected local officials, the continuous problems being faced in their communities with respect to crime, and the sad state of affairs there in relation to drainage and irrigation and the road network.

The former Prime Minister also learnt from her post mortem, after being defeated, that one cannot underestimate the power of local democracy and the ballot, especially when people feel put upon or discontented with some policies.

She later remarked that “it is through Local Government that we understand the things people feel, not only what is reported in the news. It is through Local Government that we can touch the lives of people individually, encourage them, help them, support them, and stand and fight with them. This Local Government election will be most important in taking down the face of arrogance that the Rowley PNM is hiding behind. We must show them that they will not be allowed to use political power as a weapon against people in the way they have… It will be challenging, difficult at times, and even discouraging.”

In this James Deeges photo, he captured the beauty of nature as well as the Kissing Bridge located in the Botanical Gardens, Vlissengen Road, Georgetown

President Granger should seek to engage communities affected by closure of sugar estates Dear Editor, From reports appearing in several sections of the media, our Union, and more so thousands of jobless sugar workers, learnt that President David Granger reportedly said, according to a section of the media that “…payment of severance to thousands of ex- sugar workers is drawing funding away from services”.

We found the President’s remarks most unfortunate, and we see it as yet another means to find a scapegoat for his Administration’s failure to deliver on its promises and commitments.

Added to that, it serves to remind us about the Government’s uncaring and scant concern for the thousands of Guyanese who have been affected by the APNU+AFC’s ill-considered policy to minimise the sugar industry.

For us, it is saddening that while the President is going around saying that his Administration’s settlement of its statutory obligation to the workers is taking away from other areas, he seems to ignore -- maybe conveniently -- that he heads the largest and most expensive bureaucracy in our nation’s history.

Today, our people are forced to sustain fifteen (15) Ministries, headed by twenty-seven (27) Ministers who are accompanied by a platoon

of advisors, assistants and other support staff.

Today, our people are made to fund a super-salaried Cabinet who, apart from a 50 per cent pay rise, receive superb benefits, such as medical treatment in exotic locales like Ireland; stupendous allowances when travelling abroad; in addition to state-paid various services, including security and not to mention Governmentprovided vehicles.

Today, our people are footing the bills for the ‘greening’ of perfectly good buildings; the construction of immaculate fences; a rarely used drill square, or the hefty rental of bottom-house drug bond.

Today, while the Administration is ignoring its legal obligations to the beleaguered workers of Skeldon, Rose Hall, East Demerara, and Wales, His Excellency, now the Head of State for 40 months, has reportedly been abroad on more than 40 occasions, and his Administration this year budgeted to expend a billion dollars on overseas travel.

Are these the priorities that the workers’ obligations are sucking from?

But more than that, President Granger, who has said he is very busy with several matters, should heed calls and find the time to visit the communities of the now-

closed estates, and engage the workers and their families.

From those visits, he would learn from the people what the closure decision sucked away from them.

From those engagements, he would come to know that workers have serious difficulties to eat; that they are unable to pay their bills; or they simply cannot afford to send their children to school.

From those visits, he would hear about the family separations and their impact; he would come to know of the physiological and physical toll of losing the only job they know about; and he would be told about emptiness that has been created since the closure.

It is indeed dismaying that His Excellency seemingly cannot find the time to visit these Guyanese who are facing the most difficult of times.

We also saw the President saying he didn’t blame the workers, or the Corporation, or the previous administration. We believe it would be disingenuous for the President to cast blame in that direction. The President, we hold, can only point a finger of blame at himself or his colleagues who sit around the Cabinet table with him.

It was his Government that chose to shutter the estates

in the first place. Certainly, the short-sighted decision gave rise to the legal obligation to pay severance to those who stood to be affected.

There are no ifs, buts or maybes, and this is clear as day and without doubt. A prudent Administration would have recognised this reality and accordingly provided the payment; but, as we have seen time and again, our Government continues to show us how inept and ill-considerate it can be.

We cannot ignore, too, that the Administration, it seems, is preparing to wash its hands of the workers and their families and their communities when and after it settles the outstanding payments. If this is indeed the case, then this would be a most disturbing development.

The Government has a moral obligation to ensure that the workers and their communities return to their feet and have a sustainable future, especially recognising that it was their decision that snatched away a livelihood from the people. This is the role of any Government, and the Administration should not ignore this important responsibility.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary

Apostasy is a falling away Dear Editor, With the recent pronouncement by Ireland and Argentina (both strong Catholic nations) that they want a separation of Church and State, as well as the recent sex scandals afflicting the Catholic

Church, I believe ‘The Great Apostasy’ is upon us.

It is clear that these events will lead to a Great Falling Away from the Churches (A Great Apostasy) which will create the conditions for a Famine for the Word of God.

What can we do in these situations? We can continue to trust in the Eternal God, whose only begotten Son is Jesus Christ. Those who love Jesus Christ with their hearts will need to resist the temptation to fall away.

The end result of all this is that we will see who love Jesus Christ (hence the Eternal God) with their hearts and who love Him with their heads.

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

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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

Coretta McDonald Dr Bynoe is not ready for his is being true to current appointment her conscience, and I urge other union leaders to have one too Dear Editor, When Ms Coretta McDonald made that bold statement that life for teachers under the PPP/C was better, she was making an honest confession statement on the state of the teachers' request for a better salary and emoluments. She was being true to her conscience, as all leaders should be.

Ms McDonald is not a "politician," she is a trade unionist who is fighting for her workers' cause, and as such is compelled to speak the truth.

To speak the truth, such individuals like McDonald automatically become a target for ridicule by the ruling elite, and I am afraid to say she might be up for some victimisation also. Such is the horrible reality of a PNC-led Coalition.

Whenever there is an uncaring and deceitful Government, nothing good can come out of anything they do. The PNC-led Coalition is anti-labour, hence averse to workers’ benefits. This is crystal clear from the proceedings that led up to the strike. From the onset, this Government granted itself a filthy fat raise in its earnings

and benefits, and for three long years made fools out of its teachers. It goes to show where this Government’s interest lies; that is, in self-aggrandisement and nothing else.

To add insult to injury is the crass contempt this Government has for its workers; while they were asking for their just rewards, Government officers were basking in their illegal fortunes overseas. What an atrocity brought to bear on the hard working taxpayers of our country! So here we are, where for the ordinary people it is the horrible life, while the politicians are living it up.

What I would like to tell the PNC Ragtag is that Guyanese are taking keen note of their fortunes under the PPP/C, and comparing it now under this bullying deceit of APNC/AFC Coalition; and I must admit it does not look good for the Government.

The people of this country are not stupid, and they will speak again.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Dear Editor, I read in a recent print media an article from the Department of Public Information that Dr Mark Bynoe, Head of the Department of Energy, has said his first task in to find an international company to assist the GRA and the Auditor General to examine the oil company’s costs’ submissions.

Editor, I was shocked to have read that statement attributed to Dr Bynoe.

Dr Bynoe has had his supporters and detractors writing in the media regarding his appointment, while I had reserved my comments. However, his statement shows his lack of readiness for such a high office.

As far as I understand it, the Department of Energy (DoE) would look after the Government’s business as a partner and a licenser with the oil companies. In the first instance, the GRA’s mission is to examine the expenses of the taxpayers (whether those taxpayers are private or Government).

It would thus be a conflict of interest for a particular taxpayer (Govt) to provide GRA with an accountant to examine that taxpayer’s returns.

Another and more fundamental error in Dr Bynoe’s statement is looking for a company to assist the Auditor General’s Office (AGO). The AGO is a consti-

tutional and independent office. It reports directly to Parliament, and the laws provide for the AGO to determine whom it wants to farm audits out to. In fact, The DoE would be audited by the AGO, and it would be highly irregular for the AGO to accept any such service from a Ministry or Department which it must audit. Dr Bynoe is out of his authority here. You are not on the mark, but you are dead wrong, Mark!

The state has three opportunities to peruse and challenge the expenses of the oil companies.

First, the DoE has to have its own accountants to look at these submissions before they are sent with the returns to the GRA. The Government (DoE) has a contract with Exxon, and that is in the contract between the Government and the oil company. The Government has to have its own accountants to determine the legitimacy of all the expenses which will be submitted to it by the oil companies. In fact, that article in the contract between the oil company and Exxon regarding the time period to examine the financials of Exxon applies only to those two contractors.

Secondly, GRA has its own laws pertaining to tax returns. I stand to be corrected, but I haven’t heard of any contract between

GRA and Exxon. GRA can audit you anytime, and can go back up to seven years.

GRA can, and must, hire or retain specific expertise to deal with the submissions from the oil companies and their state partners Thirdly, the AGO has to audit the DoE and the Ministry of the Presidency.

In so doing, it has the constitutional duty to request and audit anything and everything. Parliament must provide the resources to the AGO to execute its work.

It is so inconsistent that the Government voted down an increase in the allocation to the AGO, which had applied for funds in the 2018 budget to establish the capacity to audit the oil and gas expenses. Now Dr Bynoe is arrogating the responsibility to the DoE for

providing the company to assist the AGO. Thus we can have three firms assisting us. Such would provide for checks and balances.

On another note, I see Exxon being very generous with donations, (UG, CI, sponsorship). These are not oil-related expenses; they are expenses relating to image building and branding for Exxon. I bet that once we start to challenge such items, you will see how quickly this free-handed generosity of Exxon will disappear. I challenge our pursuers of the oil expenses to separate Exxon’s PR expenses from the expenses for the development of oil.

Sincerely, Manzoor Nadir

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By Jessica Smith

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f you teach in a high school setting, it seems natural that after students learn, you assess, but does assessing always mean giving tests? When I was in school, the answer was yes. However, we can challenge our students far more than any test can because tests are often meant to have students regurgitate information they have learnt and don’t allow them to insightfully connect with and reflect on a text.

One of the strategies I use in my classroom to help my students not only demonstrate their understanding of a novel but also delve deeper into its moralistic nature and to answer the age-old question “Why are we learning this?” is to give them a challenge they must complete as a group. I’ll describe how I did this with Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, but you can do it with any novel. My students spend roughly four 90-minute blocks of class time on brainstorming and planning, creating, finalising, and presenting their products.

I gave each group the same content standards, a question, and a list of what I call non-negotiables, elements that every group’s product had to include. The question was one that could be used with any novel: How can we demonstrate our understanding of the novel in a creative way that uses evidence and includes the non-negotiables? These non-negotiables are about the content, which helps us establish our content criteria.

For my To Kill a Mockingbird challenge, the non-negotiables were that the product must persuade the reader that mockingbirds, as a symbol of the destruction of innocence, are a motif addressed in the book, it must include a written component, and must use three to five examples to address a driving quotation from Atticus Finch: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...

Foundation

until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

Demonstrating learning in English Language arts The products had to be examples of how the students understood not only the motif of mockingbirds, but the theme of walking in someone else’s shoes, demonstrating their ability to empathise with characters and to critically and insightfully connect to literature using textual evidence.

With this kind of challenge, once students know what is expected of them, we decide as a class what creative looks like and sounds like, designing quality criteria as seen in a Critical Skills Classroom, which is focused on four key methodologies: collaborative learning, experiential learning, problem-based learning, and standards-driven learning. I find that when students have an active role in how they will be graded, they’re more likely to become invested in their work.

Once they understand the assignment and the quality criteria, students are free to brainstorm as a group. For about 10 minutes, I just walk around and listen. I like to hear them engage and problem solve before I start my facilitation.

When I start facilitating, I try to guide my students to think creatively and collaboratively, asking questions such as: “Given the non-negotiables and quality criteria we established, what are some products that can be designed? How can you play to your strengths as individuals to collaborate as a group? If you had no limits, what could you do? How can this be modified to fit into our parameters?”

If students stray from the project at hand, I bring them back by asking facilitative questions such as: “Are all members being active members? If not, how can we ensure everyone has a voice in this project? Who is responsible for which part? Is there a timeline you have set as a group? Do you have a plan if you need

more time?” Questions like these leave the students in charge of their learning while guiding them to find ways for them to address the challenge on their own Depending on the type of products students design, you can either do a carousel activity, where students visit one another’s work placed around the room, or presentations. Students assess their peers’ work using the single-point rubric that I use myself to assess their work.

Learning through reflection One of the most important aspects of this challenge is the debriefing, where students can offer feedback to one another and about the activity itself. After all groups have presented and provided feedback to each other, we debrief on the process, the products, the group dynamics, and the non-negotiables using class discussion and a Good/Improve T-Chart on the board. I use established debrief questions such as: How did you start solving the problem? How did you assign roles? Could we have made more efficient use of our time? I also allow students to pose questions. While there are many ways to run a debriefing, my students all participated, so we were able to talk without an established, structured procedure.

In addition to the whole class reflective process, in order for students to do well and investigate their own process and critical thinking, I have them answer metacognitive reflection questions such as: How did your group approach this project? What role did you play? What would you do the same or differently next time?

My students have created strong products: dioramas that appear to change based on perspective, music scores, slam poetry, rap songs. When you teach your students to think outside of their comfort zones to demonstrate their learning, the possibilities are endless. (edutopia.org)

By Alexa Darby, Elon University

What is Universal Design for Instruction? niversal design originates in barrierfree design and architectural accessibility.

According to the Centre for Universal Design, “Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialised design.” In recent years, this approach that was originally applied to building design has been applied to instructional practices. Universal Design for Instruction targets the best practices of teaching for each student’s learning needs.

According to Scott, Shaw, and McGuire (2001), the nine principles guiding Universal Design for Instruction are: 1) equitable use; 2) flexibility in use; 3) simple and intuitive; 4) perceptible information; 5) tolerance for error; 6) low physical effort; 7) size and space for approach; 8) a community of learners; and 9) instructional climate.

Equitable use means that each student has the opportunity to meet the objective. Flexibility in use allows for making necessary adjustments. Simple and intuitive requires decreasing ambiguity and complexity.

Perceptible information recommends providing information in a variety of approaches to allow for different sensory strengths and weaknesses. Tolerance for error asks faculty to take into account that not all students start at the same place and learn at the same pace. In thinking about low physical effort, the instructor considers the best way to sustain student attention and to reduce fatigue. Size and space for approach invites faculty to think about the way materials and physical space are used in a lesson. In the development of a community of learners, the goal is to increase interactions between students and the instructor. In reflecting on the instructional climate, we want to keep our expectations high while encouraging a friendly and learning-centred environment. Scott, Shaw, and McGuire emphasise that not all nine principles are used in every activity.

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Strategies for implementation 1. Equitable Use. You might

think here about the kinds of tests and assignments you require. An instructor might, for example, ask the students to take tests and write a paper.

If the students took essay tests and wrote a paper, the course would allow strong writers to illustrate their knowledge, but it would not be equitable for students who have disabilities that affect their writing. One remedy would be to add a multiple choice section to an essay exam. A second course requirement could be a course presentation which could be done individually or in pairs.

The key to equitability is providing a number of different ways that students can demonstrate their knowledge.

2. Flexibility in Use. The flexibility in course requirements involves being free to revamp your approaches. On the first day of class, some instructors ask their students to complete note cards that ask for different kinds of information, including student assessments of their own strengths and weaknesses. Upon leaving class that day, the instructor thinks about the equitability of the course requirements. If an instructor realises that the course requirements focus on a student’s weakness he or she should be flexible in enhancing the assessment approach.

Some instructors try to use different types of assessments so that all students have an opportunity to show their knowledge. In addition, some instructors might give students options in choosing their test format (ie, only essay or combination multiple choice and essay).

3. Simple and Intuitive. In designing a syllabus, lecture, activities, and assessments, you should be sure your goals and methods are clear and easy to understand. In class lectures, Scott, McGuire, and Foley (2003) suggest using concept maps for complex ideas. Scott, Shaw, and McGuire (2001) recommend providing students with grading rubrics for papers and projects so that students are aware of your high expectations.

4. Perceptible Information.

Students perceive information in a variety of ways. Some students do best with visual information, while others rely heavily on their auditory skills.

This principle of perceptible information reminds instructors to share knowledge through multiple avenues. (Excerpt from nea.org)

To be continued

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TuesdAY, september 18, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ecstasy being sold to students at 5 secondary schools ...CANU to make arrests soon

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he Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) has announced a “worrying” trend whereby date-rape drug ‘Ecstasy’ is being sold to students in at least five schools across Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

The anti-drug enforcement agency is working with education officials to address the illegal practice.

The date-rape drug is making its way into schools after being already popular among many affluent members of society, according to CANU Deputy Head, Lesley Ramlall.

“A lot of people are using it for their sexual enhancement and now it’s trickling down to our youths in schools. The disturbing thing is that when you look at some of the videos that the children have in their phones, especially of our girls, is really worrying for us,” Ramlall said.

While it was not revealed if or how many of these affluent individuals of society were charged; Ramlall says CANU is working on tracking down the drug mules

CANU Deputy Head Lesley Ramlall

and is not inclined to carry out full-fledged investigations in schools.

“We will not get into any school without the invitation of the Ministry of Education.

In all the schools we found the ecstasy, the children admitted to the use of it, the selling of it. We have gone to the other step of arresting persons who are selling this to the school children,” the CANU official outlined.

In the meanwhile, CANU will collaborate with the Education Ministry and Regional Education Officers

to combat the growing trend of drug use in schools which investigators believed is linked to the many explicit videos of young girls which have been surfacing online.

The production and distribution of such material is prohibited under the recently enacted cybercrime legislation.

All of these matters were raised at Monday’s CANU staff training in Georgetown where Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan called on parents to closely observe the activities of their children.

“Parents need to have

more discipline in relation to what their children do and do not do... I’m not interfering with family life [but] I’m pleading with people. When they go to a party and they’re partying plenty, what are they doing at the party; are they doing ecstasy with their friends and other family members?” he questioned.

Ramjattan told CANU agents that their work is instrumental in cutting the profits from the drug trade which was described as a “big monster”. He further stated that marijuana cultivation is appealing to many citizens in the riverine communities, while adding that

some drugs can sell for as much as $70,000 or $80,000 United States dollars by the time the prohibited products hit the North American market.

CANU says it will continue to collaborate with stakeholders in combating the narcotics trade which includes marijuana, cocaine and synthetic drugs such as ecstasy, heroine and crystal meth.

On this note, the agency stated that the seizure of heroin was made via drug mules at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). It was revealed that from January to August 2018, CANU seized 104

grams of heroin and 100 grams of crystal methamphetamine while it disclosed marijuana seizure was 534kg 660 grams.

CANU said it also confiscated 161kg 870 grams of cocaine during the same period.

This year’s staff training was held under the theme “Stemming the flow of narcotics through capacity building and inter-agency collaborations”. Some of the identified agencies were the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Joint Services.

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TuesdAY, september 18, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Man shot by security guard for an alleged robbery granted bail

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wenty-four-year-old Kevin Benn of John Street, Campbellville, who was shot by a security guard following a robbery committed on a teen in April last, was on Monday placed on bail in the sum of $60,000

by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Benn had denied the allegation when he made his first appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The Police had said that on April 1, 2018, while Benn was in the company of others, he had robbed Navendra Rampersaud of his mobile phone.

Based on reports, Benn

and two other teenagers were apprehended on April 1, 2018 after they allegedly attempted to rob 18-year-old Rampersaud and his friend, Ramesh Sooklall.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 21:15h on the day in question on Hincks Street, Georgetown.

When the two victims exited a taxi, they were pounced upon by the three men, one of whom was armed with a knife, and Rampersaud had his cell phone confiscated.

However, when the second perpetrator attempted to rob Sooklall, an argument ensued, and this prompted the three men to flee the

scene.

Ranks on patrol in the area at the time were informed, and promptly responded by giving chase with the assistance of MMC security patrol. They were able to apprehend the three perpetrators at the corner of King and Regent Streets.

One of the alleged bandits attempted to confiscate the firearm of a security rank, but was shot to his right side neck while the security guard received injuries to his mouth.

Both men were taken to the GPHC, where they were treated. The security guard was sent away, while Benn

remained under Police supervision at the medical facility.

Neither Benn’s accomplices -- a 19-year-old of Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara and an 18-year-old of Sophia, Greater Georgetown -- nor the security guard implicated in Benn’s shooting were present in court to answer to the charges.

Benn has been ordered to report to the Brickdam Police Station every Friday until completion of this matter, and arrest warrants have been issued for the other parties involved.

The matter will continue on October 8, 2018 with a report.

Bespoke…

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…DPI’s BS he old American comedian WC Fields was known for his pithy witticisms delivered with unerring timing in a perpetually inebriated voice. One of your Eyewitness’s favourites was, “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.” It’s clear that the PM’s personal flack -- whom he swore is like a “son” to him, and promptly appointed him the nation’s “DPI” -- has taken Fields’s advice to heart. And no… “DPI” doesn’t stand for “Dopey Prime Instigator”, even though that’s what the fella does full time…but “Director of Public Information”.

The flack tried to rebut a letter sent to the press by some anonymous members of his staff, detailing some serious hanky-panky going on at the Department. Your Eyewitness’s first reaction was, “Since the DPI is an AFC appointee, what’s new?” Their sole purpose in getting the PNC into office was to fill their pockets (or their various orifices) with loot from the public treasury, isn’t it? Like that Duncan fella over at the Chronic!!

Anyhow, back to the charges alleged against the DPI – which he summarised as “The role of the Editor-in-Chief; the hosting of staff training and morale building events and DPI publications.” But, right off the bat, he was already bullshitting. The staffers didn’t complain about the EiC’s ROLE, but that she was the wife of the AFC’s Regional 4 Chairman, and she did absolutely zilch in the Department save berating members of the staff!! The flack ignored this nepotism and featherbedding charge completely, and pleaded that the lady was just one member of the Editorial Team!! And this means she has no work to do?? Pure unadulterated bullshit!!

The second charge had to do with holding “retreats” in fancy resorts purportedly to “discuss the DPI’s operations”, when these discussions could’ve been held right at the DPI. And how did the slimy DPI respond? Mo’ BS!! He claimed the staffers wanted another locale from which they would’ve gotten a kickback!! If he has evidence of this, shouldn’t he have taken some action? And since the staff did say he’d received “kickbacks”, maybe his guilty conscience is speaking??

But it was his response to the third charge -- about excessive printing of publications for the regions -- that takes the cake for bullshit. (You would know bullshit is dropped in “cakes”!!) He refused to talk about EXCESSIVE publications, and pleaded there wasn’t too many “BESPOKE” publications!! Now, the word “bespoke” for the longest while referred to custom clothes for the elite and British Royalty by Saville Row etc.

Your Eyewitness knows the term’s been extended to cover customised shoes and such like. But for the bilge that the DPI churns out?

That’s bespoke bullshit!! …MoU After a tsunami of protests, the President promised to reveal the contents of the MoU he’s going to be signing with PM Keith Rowley of TT this Wednesday. In the meantime, Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge had been stoutly insisting that there was nothing untoward in the contents of the MoU! Methinks he protested too much!! Wasn’t this the same response Trotman and he had given the Guyanese people after he signed the contract and bonus (such as it was!!) with Exxon??

If the MoU was so innocuous, why was Rowley’s trip postponed from last Wednesday? Well, the Exxon contract couldn’t very well be changed, could it?? So, after stonewalling for months, the Guyanese people finally got to see how they were sold out down the road by this PNC Government -- one whose president assured that Exxon wouldn’t take advantage of us!!

Call him jaded, but your Eyewitness believes that if the contents would actually be revealed, the agreement’s gonna be adjusted for sure!!

After all, Trinidad would never take candy from a baby, would they? …B&I loans?

After a MoU with China on their B&I Initiative – which Greenidge assures us is innocuous! – their Foreign Minister will be dropping in.

Will the PNC ask whether we can repay when the bespoke infrastructural loans are dangled?

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

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TuesdAY, september 18, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Citizens pressured into signing Driver’s licence scam Charged Police ranks ‘backers list’ – Jagdeo alleges

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said it was brought to his attention that persons are allegedly being pressured into signing ‘backers lists’ for the Alliance For Change (AFC).

He said this is particularly for those individuals who are engaged under the Community Infrastructure Improvement Project (CIIP) and Community Policing Groups in several areas, ahead of Nomination Day on Friday, September 21.

“This move to intimidate persons, ties in with the AFC’s move to ‘buy’ support via the corrupt $120 million contract, for weeding parapets along the roadways, that was awarded to eight AFC activists,” he said.

The Opposition Leader therefore urged people not to be intimidated into signing any lists.

“I have had similar reports coming in from different parts of the country about both the AFC and APNU (A partnership for National Unity) misleading persons into signing lists, by claiming that they were signings up as eligible applicants who can access benefits such as house lots, among other things,” he added.

Only last week, Chief Scrutiniser and Executive of the political party, Zulficar Mustapha, said he was reliably informed by several people that some political parties are on the ground misleading voters around the country.

From the complaints received, he noted that the AFC, United Republican Party of Guyana (URP) and the APNU are the perpetrators.

Mustapha told Guyana Times that before a candidate can contest a constituency of a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) area, he or she would have to have a certain amount of backers.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

“For the [Neighbourhood Democratic Council] NDC you have to have 20-30 signatures of persons who live in that constituency. The entire list for an NDC area requires 30 backers. In the municipality the number of backers for constituency candidate is 60 and number for entire municipality list which is proportional representation part is 110.”

The PPP executive said his party was informed that AFC/APNU supporters are going around telling people they can sign more than one list of candidates.

He said, “That is wrong!

If you sign on more than one list of candidates, those lists can become nullified and invalid. In Rose Hall we had people from URP who went and mislead people, telling them that they are from the PPP… so they were suspicious of their movement and URP activist and we double-checked.”

Mustapha feels people are rejecting the coalition parties, particularly the AFC and URP, “and now they using cover under the PPP to dupe people.” He therefore warned potential voters against signing any list that they don’t feel comfortable with and to ensure they verify the authenticity of the list.

“I know there are many persons that people are willing to sign on our list, and

AFC and APNU people are reluctant to sign on their list to back their list of candidates. This is a trend that might take place before Local Government Elections and we are monitoring the situation carefully,” he added.

The PPP chief scrutiniser said these complaints are not just limited to one particular areas but were spread out across various regions, including Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); and Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Jagdeo said he would urge Guyanese to be wary of such practices. “I am calling on GECOM to institute stiff penalties for such acts, since they are tantamount to electoral fraud. Also, I want to assure all Guyanese that the PPP will be investigating this matter, as we continue to work to ensure that the elections are free and fair.”

GECOM has already been accused of encouraging gerrymandering of boundaries to favour APNU/ AFC. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo pointed out that changing the number of Local Authority Areas (LAAs) is the privilege of Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, but it is the role of GECOM to constitute

new LAAs where they are created, and reconstitute existing ones where they have been changed.

He stressed that in seeking to undertake such, it must be done fairly and in consultation with political stakeholders. This, according to him, has not been the case. Jagdeo pointed to a few examples, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Region Three and in Region Six. Jagdeo explained that by merging the constituencies where the PPP won, GECOM is reducing the number of seats won by the PPP in that particular LAA. He said by not merging the constituencies where the APNU/AFC won, where there are less voters, GECOM is providing for an increase in the number of possible seats APNU and AFC could win, based on the results at the 2016 Local Government Elections.

The PPP is challenging the Minister’s decision in court.

to make another appearance

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lapped back in July with a total of 50 charges alleging they had forged examination papers for persons writing the theoretical drivers’ examination, a sergeant and two corporals of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Monday reappeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a quest to be placed on bail, and were ordered to return to court for a report on their matters on September, 25, 2018.

Police Sergeant Alfred Park, 50, of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and Police Corporals Shanice Fraser, 31, and Ryan Grey, 25, had denied the charges read to them by the same magistrate on their first appearance in court to answer the charges.

The court had been told that on April 12, 2018, while Park was sergeant in charge at the Felix Austin Police

College in Georgetown, he, with intent to defraud the public, allegedly conspired with others to forge 13 questionnaires for persons who did not write the drivers’ examinations.

And Fraser and Grey, with intent to defraud the public, on August 12, 2017, while in Georgetown, allegedly colluded to forge 38 examination papers altogether for persons who allegedly each paid to acquire a driver’s licence.

An investigation had been launched by the Guyana Police Force in April, and it unveiled that there was a total of 207 pass papers for persons writing the examination for a driver’s licence while only about 61 persons had attended and written the examinations.

Park has been placed on $1.3 million bail, while Fraser and Grey have respectively been placed on $150,000 and $160,000 bail.

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TuesdAY, september 18, 2018| guyanatimesgy.com

Man dies after drinking carbon tablets instead of “wind tablets”

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46-year-old labourer is now dead after he allegedly drank carbon tablets given to him by a friend on Sunday. The dead man has been identified as Gary Sulavan of Lot 4 Duncan Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

Based on information reaching the Guyana Times, on the day in question, the now dead man left home around 11:00h and returned about 20:00h with a bottle of

tablets which were supposed to be 'Garlic Extra 1000mg'.

He however, consumed the tablets and around 22:00h soon after which he started to vomit and compliant of feeling unwell.

The man’s wife immediately contacted the ambulance service and took him to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted but took his last breath at about 00:45h on Monday.

The bottle and contents were taken to the hospital by the deceased’s wife where it was discovered to be that of carbon tablets and not tablets for wind.

The man’s body is presently lying at the GPHC mortuary awaiting Post Mortem Examination.

The friend who had given the tablets to the man was arrested and is presently in Police custody assisting with investigations.

Bus conductor charged for raping school girl …arrest warrant issued for driver

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nrepresented by legal counsel, Route 40 minibus conductor Ashel Williams was on Monday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on an indictable charge detailing that on October 7, 2015, while in the vicinity of Plum Park, Sophia, he raped a 14-year-

old school girl.

Williams was placed on bail in the sum of $300,000, and the matter has been set to continue on September 24, 2018.

An arrest warrant has been issued for minibus driver Sherwin “Brave” Brant, who has also been charged for

the same offence.

Reports are that on the day in question, the two accused carried the teen to a house in Plum Park and committed the act. The teen subsequently related to her parents what transpired, and a report was made to the Police.

Disorderly customer shot by bar owner

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popular bar owner of Silvertown, Wismar Linden (Region Ten) has been arrested after he shot a mason who was acting in a disorderly manner in the wee hours of Monday. The injured man has been identified as George Daniels, 33, of Section ‘O’ Industrial Area, Mackenzie, Linden.

Based on information received, the injured man was at the suspect’s business place imbibing when he started to behave in a disorderly manner, throwing several chairs

to the ground.

Soon after, the businessman arrived at the bar and confronted the victim, and an argument ensued, during which the businessman reportedly pulled out his licensed firearm and discharged several rounds in the direction of the victim, one of which caught him on his right palm.

The victim made his way to the Linden Hospital Complex, where he informed of what had taken place. In turn, the hospital informed

the Police of the incident.

The injured man was treated by a doctor and was admitted a patient for observation, as he was highly under the influence of alcohol.

He later took self-discharge and returned to the businessman’s premises, where he continued to behave in a disorderly manner. He was arrested and is assisting with investigations.

The businessman has also been arrested, and his firearm confiscated until the end of the investigation.

Vendor gets community service for traffic offence

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ruit vendor Chandrawattie Jaikaran on Monday appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, charged for obstruction of traffic while plying her trade of vending.

Jaikaran pleaded guilty to the charge, which detailed that on September 6, 2018, she caused an obstruction to the public way by placing therein two wheel burrows containing limes, oranges and carrots, along with oth-

er bags.

In the facts presented the court, the police claimed that on the day in question, at Waterloo Street, Georgetown, Constable Sears observed the defendant standing behind two wheel burrows containing the above mentioned fruits, and persons using the roadway having to divert.

Having observed Jaikaran in this position for three days, Constable Sears confronted her and enquired if she had permission to sell,

and she replied in the affirmative. However, this was not the case, and she was arrested and later charged for the offence.

In defending herself, Jaikaran told the court she was not present at the time the constable visited, but was instead arrested and charged.

As a penalty for the offence, the Chief Magistrate has ordered that Jaikaran perform 2 weeks’ community service.

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TuesdAY, september 18, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jagdeo questioned by SOCU about Pradoville lands – as Unit continues investigation into allocations

was not set. Moreover, both Jagdeo and Nandlall pointed out that a defence, in writing, exists for many of the questions raised about Pradoville in public documents.

“Please recall also that about two years ago, they filed civil proceedings against several of the allottees of that housing scheme, through Rex McKay. And we filed our defences in that matter and we never heard back from it. It’s still in the system,” Nandlall recalled.

Questioned

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo being questioned by the media outside SOCU headquarters

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rue to his word, Opposition Leader and former President Bharrat Jagdeo showed up at the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Camp Street headquarters, on Monday, where he sat down for an interview with investigators probing the Pradoville land distribution.

Before Jagdeo arrived, SOCU’s British Advisor Sam Sittlington and State Counsel Leslyn Noble could be seen entering the building. Jagdeo was accompanied by his Attorneys, Sase Gunraj and former Attorney General Anil Nandlall. At the conclusion of a rather brief session, Nandlall informed the press that the former President’s immunity was invoked.

“As you know the Executive President of Guyana under the Constitution is immune from answering any questions about decisions made while he is acting in that capacity. The questions related to when Mr Jagdeo was the President and chair of Cabinet. As such, we invoked that article that immunised him from questioning and any legal process whatsoever.”

Article 182 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states, “…the holder of the office of President shall not be personally answerable

to any court for the performance of the functions of his office or for any act done in the performance of those functions and no proceedings, whether criminal or civil, shall be instituted against him in his personal capacity in respect thereof either during his term of office or thereafter.”

According to Jagdeo, however, a full defence will be filed in an affidavit if or when the matter reaches the courts. In that defence, he explained, all issues relating to the Pradoville land will be

answered.

“At this stage, like the other members of the Cabinet, we chose the right to be silent and in this case, I chaired the Cabinet in an official capacity. It’s the same questions you have seen publicised,” Jagdeo explained.

According to Jagdeo, nothing was said about charges being laid. But he posited that there is a possibility that the matter will be dragged out until closer to elections. He noted that a date for another interview

On Wednesday morning, former Public Works Minister Robeson Benn and former Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir found themselves the latest to be questioned at SOCU’s headquarters.

The duo was represented by former Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who disclosed that she, too, was called in for questioning regarding the matter on Tuesday.

In March 2017, former President Bharrat Jagdeo and former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, were ar-

Jagdeo as he exited SOCU after his sit-down with investigators

rested, while several other former Government Ministers under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration were detained by SOCU officials who were probing misappropriation of State assets.

The arrest and detention was in connection with an ongoing probe into the acquisition of lands at “Pradoville 2”, among other things. Days after that, President David Granger declared that the former Guyanese Leader should not have been treated the way he was.

In the past, SOCU has detained several former prominent Government offi-

cials in regard to their connection with the Pradoville 2 scheme. The reason these persons are being questioned is because they purchased property at the Sparendaam seawall area.

The current Administration contends that the transaction is a criminal act because of the belief that the land was sold below market value.

However, the PPP has argued that subsidised housing has always been part of the legacy of the PPP, and that countless Guyanese have benefited from lands sold below market value.

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TuesdAY, september 18, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

City Hall probe

“I have nothing to say” – Mayor

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ctions taken by the Local Government Commission (LGC) to launch a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the spending and other operations at City Hall has left quite a stir, as officials of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) are retreating from sharing their observations.

The Inquiry was requested along with the fact that Town Clerk Royston King be sent on administrative leave, which will take effect from September 21.

“I have no comments,” were the words of Mayor Chase Green as she remained tight-lipped when confronted by sections of the media for a comment at Monday’s statutory meeting.

The Town Clerk also displayed similar sentiments, as he also refused to comment on the matter.

This move comes just two months ahead of Local Government Elections where a new executive body will be elected to oversee the activities at the Council.

However, it was claimed that this was necessary since numerous complaints

were made by staffers of the Council and other agencies, regarding the expenditure and decisions which were taken by the Council.

During the meeting, Mayor Chase Green read an excerpt from the letter that was issued by the LGC which stated that the organisation “took a decision to carry out an investigation based on multiple complaints and adverse reports received from workers of the municipality and a number of agencies with respect to the administration of the municipality of Georgetown.”

Headed by Justice Cecil Kennard, the public hearings will commence on September 24 and are expected to conclude on October 31. The necessary actions will be taken by the Commission after conclusions are drawn from the Inquiry.

Over the years, City Hall has complained over lack of funds which is a mere contradiction to its excessive spending. Concerns were raised over this issue, noting that while the building is in need of repairs, millions of dollars have been squandered excessively.

This year, $57 million was allocated to the Council

by Central Government to facilitate community projects. Additionally, some $58 million was used to buy furniture for the office of the Town Clerk and other large sums were set aside to purchase vehicles and machinery for the said office.

King’s office was also given $4 million for overseas trips and $550,000 for local travel expenses; all approved by the Council.

Electricity charges also spiked this year from $5 million to $9 million.

The excessive spending continues with another $17 million which was allocated to the Council’s ‘City Week’ celebration a few weeks ago. This even comes in light of the fact the funds are desperately needed to restore City Hall’s building since sections of the structure have been deemed as “unsafe” with many anticipations that the historical structure is soon to crumble if it is not restored.

Despite these large sums, King mentioned in April that the Council is running on a shoestring budget, calling for staffing restructure. At that time, the average monthly revenue of City Hall was between $78 and 80 million, while its monthly wage bill was $112 million.

Over 160 Uitvlugt sugar workers down tools ...not paid salaries since Friday; could be paid today

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The Uitvlugt Estate, West Coast Demerara

rinding for the current crop of sugar cane at the Uitvlugt Estate was on Monday affected following collective industrial action by one of the two gangs at the entity.

According to reports Guyana Times received, sugar workers of the 162-strong De Kindren (DK) gang downed tools when they first appeared for duty at the lone Demerara Estate during the morning session.

A Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) official disclosed that the workers were disgruntled over their working conditions and demanded improvement. It was not outlined if their action was linked to the fact that their employer has not paid them their weekly wages since Friday last as carried by this newspaper on Sunday.

However, Guyana Times understands that managers and union representatives are expected to meet with Uitvlugt workers this morning to settle the prevailing issues.

It is expected that if the industrial action continues today, the smaller of the gangs will work in the place of their colleagues as they reportedly indicated willingness to carry out duties. It was further explained that 45 punts of canes were already obtained but an individual familiar with the ongoing situation noted that this amount was not enough to keep the mill running.

This publication attempted to contact Estate Manager Yudhisthira Mana for clarity on these issues but calls to the mobile number were unsuccessful. turn to page 14

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TuesdAY, september 18, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Lawyer’s ‘cuss down’ to junior rank inappropriate – Ramjattan ...maintains Police should have reasonable suspicion

Kuru Kuru residents protest deplorable state of road

the hundreds of complaints about errant Police Officers, several ranks were sent packing.

The Police Officer who recorded the video alleged that the attorney’s vehicle was pulled over because he could not initially see the driver. However Crawford refused to wind-up his window and demanded that the junior rank tell him what offences he committed.

“You tape who you got to tape. You go and tell every one of them [expletive] Commanders, the [expletive] President, Vice President, whoever the [expletive] you want to tell. I have a right to travel on this road freely without [expletive] interference unless I break the [expletive] law. I did not break the law,” the attorney expressed.

He had also refused to produce and documents as seen in the viral video.

Crawford has since apologised for his language which was condemned by the Guyana Bar Association.

The Association, however, agreed with their colleague that police should only stop motorists when

us some assurance that it will be done”.

Guyana Times understands that hundreds of children usually use the access road to the schools, in addition to other students who take advantage of other courses being offered by the College.

That teacher added, “The situation has been going on for about 18 years, but it start to deteriorate more in these latter times. Coming down to these times now, it start getting worse”.

According to him, the last rehabilitation works were done several years ago and has left commuters fearful of traversing, especially while in vehicles.

A parent complained too that after her son related to her that the bus he was travelling in almost toppled, she became fearful and is supporting the call for the road to be fixed as soon as possible.

ne of the survivors of the April 27 and 28 dead piracy attacks in Suriname that left at least 15 people dead, is living in fear after allegedly receiving death threats from the alleged mastermind.

Darmandew Persaud, called “Achie Boy”, had told investigators that his attackers had tied an anchor to his neck, while beating and chopping him multiple times about his body before throwing him overboard. He also claimed that he was able to identify some of his attackers.

Four boats with a total of 20 fishermen – all Guyanese – were victims of the attacks during which some were burned with hot oil, at-

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ollowing the expletive-laden clip showing Attorney Ryan Crawford berating a junior Police rank for stopping him without proper cause, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said law enforcement ranks should be allowed to carry out their duties as long as they suspect an infraction has been committed.

The Minister made the comments at a Police event on Monday where he told ranks they should always operate as professionals in spite of the circumstances.

“Members of the public will cuss you down but you just courteously, professionally and cautiously and with integrity continue your work… in the course of time, you will see yourself becoming respected by the same public after a while,” Ramjattan encouraged.

The Vice President also told reporters that while he personally knows

Attorney at the centre of the controversy, Ryan Crawford

Crawford, he does not feel the Attorney’s response to being stopped was the correct approach.

“The Police have a difficult job and if we are stopped and Police say just wind up your glass, I want to see if the tint is a little too dark as against the light, what you’re going to do, cuss

the Policeman? I don’t think that that is the appropriate thing to do but indeed the policy is that you have to have reasonable suspicion before you can stop someone.”

“Before he (the Policeman) could even ask if he had tint permission, the tirade happened so I don’t know if the Policeman is wrong. We have already told Policemen they must generally stop as a result of some formation in their minds that there is some suspicious activity,” the Public Security Minister outlined.

He related that many drivers operate their motor vehicles without the requisite permission to use tint. On this basis, he believes that a courteous citizen should realise that a Police rank is doing his/ her work. According to the Public Security Minister, it was random searches that caught about 30 persons with illegal guns.

F

rustrated parents, teachers and even students of the Kuru Kuru Primary and Secondary Schools on Monday morning took to the streets to protest the impassable condition of the main access road to the community.

The road deteriorated massively over the past 18 years. Guyana Times understands the road which leads to the institutions – which are all housed on one plot – is currently lined with huge holes that cause severe damage to vehicles.

Parents expressed their concern over the condition of the road, which buses would have to traverse to take their children to and from school.

They referred to the holes as soars and vowed to continue protesting until the relevant authorities look into the situation.

One teacher who spoke with this publication cried,

A section of the protesters

“The road is very deplorable going into the Kuru Kuru College. As recent as Wednesday, there are some buses contracted… about three times they nearly

turn over in the road (and they were) fully loaded with school children… we will continue until Friday, unless we have some intervention from somebody giving

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

The Minister then suggested that aggrieved members of the public take their complaints against Police through the available channels such as the Office of Professional Responsibility.

That body was only reconstituted last week when retired Justice William Ramlall was appointed Chairman.

Ramjattan said that through

there is reasonable suspicion. However, Guyana Times understands that many junior members in the Police Force were offended

by Crawford’s treatment of their fellow rank.

Commander of C Division (East Coast Demerara), Calvin Brutus, has since called for an investigation to be launched into the incident. Reports are that the incident occurred at Mahaicony on the East Coast of Demerara when Crawford was operating a silver car with registration plates PNN 8482. At the end of the clip that went viral, Crawford drove off from the scene without producing his documents.

The matter has attracted the attention of many Guyanese and has significantly divided opinion.

While some have expressed the need for more becoming behaviour, many have expressed frustration at constant random stops from Police ranks on the roadways. One letter writer even suggested that the attorney should be disbarred.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

Deadly piracy attack survivor receives death threats

O

Darmandew Persaud, called “Achie Boy”

tacked with cutlasses and forced to jump overboard with anchors tied to their bodies at Wia Wia Bank in the Atlantic Ocean. turn to page 14

14 news

TuesdAY, september 18, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Corentyne residents fearful Remigrant, GTT to launch online payment platform for businesses of attacks by armed men

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spate of home invasions on the Corentyne has left some residents living in fear as to when the armed men would strike again.

Over the past days, several home were broken into and families terrorised by the armed bandits who demanded cash and jewellery.

In addition to the robberies, villagers are receiving death threats after they were able to see the face of at least one of the men who carried out the attacks.

One man told Guyana Times that the bandits have been on the rampage in the Villages of Bush Lot, Nurney and Friendship – all on the Corentyne coast.

One man died after he was shot in his Bush Lot home after bandits invaded and demanded money.

The man died days after the shooting but to date, no arrests were made by the Police.

Residents have expressed fear after three masked armed men turned up at their homes. At a popular bar at Bush Lot, bandits broke in and terrorised the family after which they escaped with cash and jewellery.

Three weeks ago, three men removed five louver panes from a bedroom window of a house at Friendship. After gaining entry into the house, they held the owner at gunpoint and moved into a bedroom where they demanded the female occupant to hand over the cash and jewellery.

The men, who were all masked, reportedly left after they collected $400,000 in cash and a further

$200,000 worth in jewellery.

Residents at Nurney have also reported that they were attempts to break into homes kin the community within the past two weeks.

Last Thursday, a pensioner got up to use the washroom at about 02:00h and reportedly saw a hand coming from the roof of his house.

The bandits had ripped open the roof to gain entry to the one flat concrete house. According to the pensioner, he was bound after which the men asked for the money from the rice he recently reaped.

The man said he was beaten and a piece of cloth was stuffed into his mouth making it impossible for him to raise an alarm. The bandits took the $4000 he had in his home at the time.

After some time, they dragged him onto the street and lifted him over his neighbours fence and told him to call out the neighbour.

When the neighbour was called out, one of the men stood by the door but the neighbour who is a rice

framer peeped through a window and called the Police.

Meanwhile, as the men went to another neighbour who is a cash crop farmer, he was able to injure one of the bandits with a cutlass.

The injured man repeatedly ordered his colleague carrying the firearm to shoot the farmer and in complying, he discharged a round in his direction. The Police arrived and heard two other gunshots a short distance away.

There are reports that following that incident, the neighbour who was shot was receiving death threats.

Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken told Guyana Times that several persons are in custody assisting with investigations into an incident at Friendship on Thursday.

Meanwhile, he said in that attack, no firearms were used, only cutlasses.

The situation remains tense in the villages on Bush Lot Farm, Bush Lot, Nuney, Friendship and sections of Kildonan.

aperless transactions, an important countermeasure against roving bandits, just received a boost thanks to an initiative launched by a re-migrant in partnership with GTT. Ronson Gray, who founded local company IntellectStorm upon returning from overseas, introduced the payment website payment.gy at a press conference held by GTT at the Marriott Hotel on Monday.

Gray explained that with payment.gy, persons can purchase items from businesses listed with the website, then go and pick up the item at their convenience. It also uses a merchant code, which must be scanned.

“Payment.gy is the simple and safe way to pay.

What we have done is we have designed a platform that will allow users to pay for any goods and service as long as they have an Internet connection. So that can be done from a mobile phone, a web browser, a laptop computer.”

“You can scan the merchant code and the merchant information would populate and the payment amount. There’s a small convenience fee for the service and you are protect-

IntellectStorm founder Ronson Gray explaining his new platform

ed by password and pin.

Businesses can accept business anywhere, anytime, in Guyana, whether they’re in store or online. For customers, it’s safe and secure.

Transactions are protected by the pin. And it’s easy to use.”

He noted that businesses can attract customers without them even coming to the store, while customers can make purchases without leaving their homes. In addition, he explained that it has been integrated with popular social application Facebook.

Meanwhile, the press conference also heralded the start of a partnership between GTT and CANTO,

based in San Francisco, USA. At the press conference, an award was given to second year UG Computer Science student, Jonathan Jacobus.

Jacobus placed second in CANTO’s video competition themed ‘The Future of AI’.

At the press conference, his video proposing bold solutions for the world and the Caribbean, using AI was played.

CANTO is a non-profit association made up of operators, organisations, companies and individuals in the ICT or telecommunications sector. The association has been a major driver in initiatives to boost the ICT sector in the Caribbean.

Deadly piracy attack survivor...

from page 13

Persaud claims that although he survived that attack by swimming until he was rescued, he is still fearful for his life and that of his family. “Fyah” send message saying that he gon chop me up.”

The man said he has been accused of providing information to the media and the Police on the alleged piracy attack. Persaud told this publication all he had done was report what transpired

at sea.

“I see who chop me and I called their name. I ain’t do anything wrong,” he explained. Persaud said the message was delivered by a lady who has a close relationship with the alleged mastermind of the April piracy attacks.

Nakool Manohar, called “Fyah” was on May 30, 2018, charged with the murder of one of the fishermen who died in the gruesome April

27, 2018 piracy attacks in Suriname.

Persaud said he has not reported the threats to the Police but would have informed Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan while he was in Berbice on Saturday.

A total of 10 people are still missing from the piracy attacks. Five bodies of the fishermen were recovered and several persons were charged for the heinous crime.

Over 160 Uitvlugt...

Workers to be paid salaries

Meanwhile, on the issue of weekly payments, workers across Demerara and Berbice entered a fourth day without receiving their wages. This publication was however informed that GuySuCo has moved to acquire the required funds and all workers should be paid by today.

It was on Sunday that the financial state of GuySuCo was disclosed in that there was not enough funds to pay thousands of workers their salaries for the week ending September 14, 2018.

Since then, GuySuCo employees, many of whom live pay cheque to pay cheque, have been left wondering when they will be able to provide for their families. There are two fully functioning Berbice Estates at Albion and Blairmont.

On Saturday, Guyana Times made several attempts to get official word from GuySuCo’s Finance

Director Paul Bhim on when workers would have been paid their salaries but all telephone calls to him were unanswered. On Monday, calls to his telephone number rang out again. Additionally, calls to the Sugar Corporation’s head office were also unsuccessful.

GuySuCo has been undertaking several austerity measures to alleviate its cash-strapped status. This began with the closure of Wales in December 2016 which had sent shockwaves throughout the sugar belt. The Rose Hall Estate in Berbice and the East Demerara (Enmore) Estate shuttered in December 2017 with workers at Skeldon were similarly terminated.

According to disclosed numbers, 1851 workers were terminated from Skeldon while 1181 Rose Hall Estate workers were fired. There were also 1480 from the East Demerara

from page 12

Sugar Estate losing employment under the cost-cutting decisions. However, a small percentage of these workers were rehired under the Special Purposes Unit (SPU) as that entity kept the Estates running in a bid to secure private investors.

President David Granger just last week said his Administration has been forced to pump billions of Guyana dollars into bailouts for the sugar industry.

Some $609 million was paid out to terminated Skeldon workers, while $705 million to Rose Hall workers, $815 million to East Demerara workers, and $150 million to the Wales.

Nevertheless, many former sugar workers have steadily complained of encountering much difficulty with finding consistent work. In fact, many stakeholders felt Government should have first conducted social impact studies before opting to close estates.

news

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tuesdAY, september 18, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Stabroek Wharf rehabilitation

$23M spent to ‘prepare’ area for relocation – City Hall

…with no money to construct stalls for vendors

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ome 82 vendors who ply their trade at the Stabroek Market Wharf, from which they have recently been debarred, will now each have to produce $400,000 to construct new stalls at the relocation site.

This is because the cashstrapped City Council, having expended $23 million to effect preparatory works at the relocation site and to debar the vendors from access to the Stabroek Wharf, now does not have the financial resources to accommodate the vendors’ relocation.

At Monday’s Statutory M&CC Meeting, there was a fierce debate among councillors relative to the mechanisms and plans behind the relocation. Those included the establishment of stalls, facilities for the vendors, and fees to be collected for occupancy of the stalls.

City Engineer Colvern Venture has so far reported that works to erect barricades at the Stabroek Wharf and the groundwork in regard to the vendors’ relocation would have been completed to the tune of $23 million. This raised questions regarding who would now be responsible for constructing stalls for the relocated vendors to occupy.

It was decided that the vendors would be solely responsible for that construction -- a project which the Council estimates would cost one vendor approximately $400,000 exclusive of electricity.

Councillor Bishram Kuppen has raised concerns over the amount of money each vendor would have to find to establish a workable vending stall, but Town Clerk Royston King explained that the vendors would have agreed to stand the expenses.

Sections of the dilapidated wharf

“When we met with the stallholders on Thursday, they agreed that they would prefer to construct their own stalls…and that they’re ready to construct their stalls once they’re given the permission under the guidance of the City Engineer,” King reminded.

The question was also raised whether the Council could have produced the

cause perishable goods to ripen at a faster rate.

Chaired by Her Worship the Mayor, Patricia ChaseGreene, the councillors decided that six weeks after completion of the stalls, a charge of $85 per square foot per month would be levied for sanitation services and other facilities that would be provided by the Council.

The new area to house the vendors

stalls, but King stated, “We don’t have the money to do it.”

It is mandatory that the structure -- measuring eight feet by ten feet, and having a maximum height of 13 feet -- be constructed with wood, since a steel structure would

Until the sanitary facilities are put in place, Cevon’s Waste Management would be engaged to provide disposable services to the occupants of the stalls.

Only 82 stalls would presently be facilitated, with space for washroom facil-

ities. The Deputy Clerk of Markets has, however, informed the meeting that there are 66 vendors marketing perishable goods.

Mayor Chase-Green has said a contract will be signed with each vendor so as to ascertain the boundaries that are set out for temporary relocation.

While the wharf has been barricaded to heighten public awareness of the dangers its deplorable state poses, and limit movements within the area, King pointed out that boats would no longer be moored at the facility in the weeks to come.

The works at the wharf are expected to take two years for their completion, and this means that the Route 42 (Grove-Diamond) minibus park would also be displaced for the same period of time.

Vendors are eagerly awaiting confirmation from the M&CC to commence their side of the bargain -- to establish the stalls.

Relocation

The vendors’ relocation has caused quite some inconvenience to the operations of many persons who depend on the market to earn a daily

bread. Bus drivers were removed from their area of central activity, while vendors were in tears on Thursday after access to their stalls was denied.

It is alleged that City Hall officials cordoned off the area, inhibiting the vendors from removing their perishable goods from the wharf.

The move comes nearly two weeks after City Council had issued a notice informing the vendors of their plans to remove them from the deteriorating area to facilitate rehabilitation works.

The vendors are left without a place to operate until the establishment of stalls at the new location. After the works are completed on the wharf, Chase-Green indicated, the retailers would have to pull down the stalls and cease operations at the new area.

In 2016, it was reported that the Town Clerk had affirmed the initiation of works after they would have received consent from the Public Infrastructure Ministry to go ahead with the project.

Nevertheless, in November of 2017, the works were still pending, and this publication was informed

that the vendors would be relocated to the west of Parliament Building, following the removal of the Island Snackette and Pizzeria, to facilitate the rehabilitation.

According to the City Hall, they were expected to be transferred by the end of the same month.

At that time, the budget for the complete refurbishing of the wharf has been slated at some $400 million.

After the repairs, the section of the market which overlooks the Demerara River would be converted into a mall, encompassing a boardwalk and entertainment area. Of course, this would impose on those vendors a larger sum of money to rent the new building.

Over the years, over 300 merchants were situated at the wharf, but the number has dwindled to less than 100 following insecurities about the dangers that can be caused by the ‘unsafe’ structure.

The Town Clerk prompted on Monday, “The Council is notifying the public that the situation is very dangerous, and that the Council will not be liable for any loss, damage, loss of life, or anything allied to that.”

Training to be done to educate commuters on usage of overhead passes

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he Public Infrastructure Ministry will be conducting several training programmes to educate commuters on the safe use of the newly constructed pedestrian overpasses.

This was related to Guyana Times on Monday

by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson during a telephone interview.

He noted, “We want the pedestrians to be able to use the overpass properly so we will be training a few persons on the proper usage before we open it publicly”.

Patterson was unable to say when the new utilities will be officially completed, since some final works are yet to be carried out. “We are doing it now so I would hope very shortly. I can only say very shortly,” he added.

When this publication

A technical crew conducting final works on the elevator at Peter’s Hall

visited an overpass located in Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara, the technical crew was hard at work trying to install the elevator which is expected to be used by the elderly who are unable to use the stairs.

Head of the Work Services Group (WSG) Geoffery Vaughn, recently told this newspaper that the works to the overpasses were completed.

“The actual overpass is finished but there are some works that we want to check on before we fully hand it over. The only thing that was being done was the elevator and they’re actually done with the elevators.

There are some parts that we still need to check to ensure that the elevator is working effectively and efficiently so that we don’t have any hiccups when we open them,” Vaughn stated.

After the checks are made and confirmed, the overpasses will then be commissioned for public use. As of now, pedestrians are utilising the crossings to ensure they traverse the roadway safely. However, the new elevators are still dormant.

At present, there are five pedestrian overpasses located at Houston, Eccles, Peter’s Hall, Providence and Diamond. Ten lifts were sourced from Sweden earlier this year and two will be installed; one on each side of the crosswalk.

Construction of the pedestrian overpasses commenced mid-last year and was almost completed by December 2017. The contract for the overpasses at Houston, Eccles and Peter’s Hall were awarded to B&J Civil Works for the sum of US$1,034,326.

Meanwhile, there were

separate contracts for the Providence and Diamond overpasses which were both awarded to S Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services to the tune of US$364,247 and US$364,727 respectively.

Trinidadian supervision firm RM Engineering Limited, was recruited to oversee the construction of the overpasses.

The introduction of these flyovers was intended not only to reduce the high level of road carnage and to eliminate traffic congestion along the East Bank Road, which is said to be the busiest in the country.

While many concerns were raised about the time it takes to walk the flight of stairs, the Public Infrastructure Ministry noted previously that this guarantees their safety.

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tuesdAY, september 18, 2018

Regional

US-Cuba relations ‘in decline,’ Barbados switches to E-passports says President Diaz-Canel

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elations between Cuba and the United States are in decline under President Donald Trump, his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel said in an interview broadcast Sunday.

"Relations today are in decline. We still maintain channels of dialogue and our position is that we do not reject the possibility of dialogue at any time, but it must be between equals," Diaz-Canel said in the interview with the Telesur network, his first since taking office earlier this year.

Since Trump's election as US President, ties with Cuba have deteriorated after a historic rapprochement overseen by his predecessor Barack Obama. Diaz-Canel took aim at the US economic

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and US President Donald Trump

blockade of Cuba, terming it "the main obstacle to the development of the country."

He also said Cuba was not behind mysterious "health attacks" that have plagued US diplomats in the country, saying: "We have

not attacked anyone." The apparent victims of what Washington has called sonic "attacks" have suffered symptoms consistent with mild brain trauma – including, in some cases, disorientation and hearing loss.

In the same interview, Diaz-Canel expressed support for same-sex marriage.

A new Constitution to replace the 1976 version – which limits marriage to the "voluntary union of a man and a woman” – has been approved by Parliament and submitted to public debate.

Spearheaded by Mariela Castro, the daughter of former president Raul Castro, changes to the new constitution would include a provision that defines marriage as between "two people" rather than "a man and a woman."

The silver-haired DiazCanel assumed power in April from Castro, who himself took over from his elder brother Fidel, father of the 1959 revolution. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Argentina: ex-President Cristina Fernández charged in bribery scandal

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rgentina’s former President Cristina Fernández was at the helm of a broad corruption network that on at least 87 occasions delivered sacks full of cash to her private home on the corner of Juncal and Uruguay streets in the capital city of Buenos Aires, according to an indictment filed against her on Monday.

The astounding accusation by the Federal Judge Claudio Bonadío is the first such major bribery charge levelled against a former Argentinian President. The

indictment charges that Fernández accepted bribes from construction companies in exchange for public works contracts during her two terms as President from 2007-15. It states that the broad corruption network made up of business people and Government officials was set up by her then husband and predecessor in office, Néstor Kirchner, who died of heart failure in 2010 during his 2003-1007 term.

The corruption scandal erupted in August when the major Argentinian daily

La Nación published notebooks kept by a chauffeur of Fernández’s former planning minister. The notebooks catalogued bags of cash allegedly delivered to Government offices and the private residence of Fernández. A spokesperson for Fernández did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The bombshell indictment will not however result in the arrest of the former president, who now sits in congress. As a senator Fernández enjoys immuni-

ty from arrest, although she is not immune from prosecution.

Judge Bonadío, who is heading the investigation, asked that Fernández be impeached, a move that is unlikely to garner the support necessary to pass a Senate vote.

Although Fernández has previously been indicted on other charges she still enjoys broad popular support and is widely expected to run for president in next year’s elections. (Excerpt from The

T

Working with national governments and affected communities, UNDP partnered with sister UN agencies, NGOs and the Private Sector in the recovery process, including in initiatives to train people to rebuild their own communities after Hurricanes Maria and Irma

gency employment to 400 people in Dominica, 42 per cent of them women, and 28 in Antigua and Barbuda.

Nearly 1000 contractors were trained in more resilient recovery techniques to build back better.

With US$5 million support from

the Government of People’s Republic of China to Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda UNDP partnered with national and local governments and several organisations to install new, more resilient roofs, in devastated houses. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

able passports.

However, he noted that the computer chip in the cover could not be easily accessed, replicated or changed, thereby enhancing the security feature of the passport.

Marshall said that the more security features a passport has, the more accepted it is by countries around the world. “Barbados is moving towards it because of the security features and to maintain the high standard of the Barbados passport,” he said, adding that the island ranks highest among Caribbean countries that do not require a visa for entry into most countries.

However, it is a standard which all Caribbean countries will have to meet overtime.

Once fully implemented, persons would not have a choice as to if they should get an e-passport or not, as the machine readable passports would be phased out.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel backs same-sex marriage

Guardian)

UNDP mobilised US$25M, restored buildings and boosted preparedness in hurricane-affected Caribbean he UN Development Programme (UNDP) helped mobilise US$25 million, supported the revision and use of improved building codes and restored over 800 buildings for the most at need people in Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, some of the countries hit hardest by two powerful back-to-back hurricanes that devastated several Caribbean islands a year ago.

The results are highlighted in a new report released today, only days after Caribbean islands braced up and withstood the passage of Tropical Storm Isaac and exactly one year after category 5 Hurricane Maria wrought havoc in Dominica.

Working with national governments and affected communities, UNDP partnered with sister UN agencies, NGOs and the Private Sector in the recovery process, including in initiatives to train hurricane-affected people to rebuild their own communities while injecting needed cash for families, according to the Summary Report “Hurricanes Irma and Maria, one year on: From early recovery to long-term resilience in the Caribbean” on the efforts to build back better in three of the hardest hit countries: Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands and Dominica.

The initiative provided training and emer-

B

arbados today announced that it is phasing out machine-readable passports in favour of electronic passports, following a recommendation by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) as the new standard to be adopted for travel document issuance.

Chief Immigration Officer, Wayne Marshall, said that the e-passport is a biometrically enabled passport with a chip and antenna in the cover that increases the security features.

“It would be more difficult to replace an e-passport because there is a chip in the actual cover. Anyone seeking to replicate the passport would have to remove the chip and ensure that it has the same information as on the biodata page,” he said.

Marshall said that the chip would capture the same biometric information – facial representation and biodata – as the machine read-

Cuban gay rights activists have been fighting to have same-sex marriage recognised. Mariela Castro is thought to have been key in influencing the Government’s views on homosexuality

C

uban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has backed same-sex marriage. The Cuban leader, who took over from Raúl Castro on April 19, said he was in favour of recognising "marriage between people without any restrictions".

In an interview with TV Telesur, he said doing so was "part of eliminating any type of discrimination in society". It comes as Cuba is in the process of updating its Constitution, which had defined marriage as between "a man and a woman".

The proposed Constitution will replace the 1976 national charter once a popular consultation is concluded and the draft has been approved in a national referendum scheduled for February 2019.

President Díaz-Canel's endorsement of same-sex marriage is in stark contrast to the persecution homosexuals suffered in the

decades following the 1959 Cuban revolution.

Official attitudes towards homosexuality on the Communist-run island have changed over the past decades partly thanks to the efforts of Raúl Castro's daughter Mariela.

Castro, who heads the Cuban National Centre for Sex Education, has been a vocal defender of LGBT rights. "We've been going through a massive thought evolution and many taboos have been broken," DíazCanel told Telesur.

The President also commented on the status of USCuban relations which he said were "in decline". USCuban relations had improved markedly under US President Barack Obama following secret talks between the two governments.

But President Donald Trump has rolled back parts of what he called Obama's "completely one-sided deal with Cuba". (Excerpt from BBC News)

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guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Idlib assault on hold as Russia, Turkey agree on buffer zone

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he leaders of Russia and Turkey have agreed to establish a de-militarised zone in Syria’s Idlib province, in a move that ostensibly puts on hold a threatened allout assault by Government forces on Syria’s last rebel bastion.

The announcement was made on Monday during a press conference in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, where Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Speaking alongside Erdogan, Putin said the 15-20km-wide zone would be established by October 15. This would entail a “withdrawal of all radical fighters” from Idlib, including the al-Nusra Front, Putin said, referring to Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is dominated by a rebel faction previously known as al-Nusra Front before renouncing its ties to al-Qaeda.

Putin added that heavy weapons would be withdrawn from all opposition forces by October 10 – an approach supported by the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

By the end of 2018, transportation routes linking Syria’s key port of Latakia with major cities Aleppo and Hama must also be restored, added the

US imposes new US$200B tariffs on China

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Erdogan said cooperation between Turkey and Russia would bring ‘hope to the region’

Russian president, a major Assad ally.

Describing the agreement as a “serious result”, Putin said that “Russia and Turkey have confirmed their determination to counter terrorism in Syria in all its forms”.

For his part, Erdogan said both his country and Russia would carry out coordinated patrols in the de-militarised zone, and reiterated that the biggest

threat to Turkey was the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), who control swaths of territory in northeast Syria.

The United Nations has warned that a large-scale offensive on the North-western province, home to three million people, would result in a “bloodbath” and lead to the “worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

he US is imposing new tariffs on US$200 billion (£150 billion) worth of Chinese goods as it escalates its trade war with Beijing. The higher import taxes will apply to more than 5000 items, marking the biggest round of US tariffs so far.

Handbags, rice and textiles will be included, but some items expected to be targeted such as smart watches and play pens have been excluded.

China has previously vowed to retaliate if the US imposes further tariffs.

The taxes will take effect from September 24, starting at 10 per cent and increasing to 25 per cent from the start of next year unless the two countries agree a deal.

President Donald Trump said the latest round of tariffs was in response to

China’s “unfair trade practices, including subsidies and rules that require foreign companies in some sectors to bring on local partners.

“We have been very clear about the type of changes that need to be made, and we have given China every opportunity to treat us more fairly. “But, so far, China has been unwilling to change its practices,” he said.

He also warned that if China retaliated then the US would “immediately pursue phase three” which would mean imposing further tariffs with taxes on another US$267 billion worth of Chinese products. If he does go ahead with a further $267bn worth of tariffs, it would mean virtually all of China’s US exports would be subject to new duties. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

Hope fades in Philippines for dozens buried in landslides Pakistan’s Imran Khan pledges citizenship for 1.5M Afghan refugees

Rescuers work on the site where victims were believed to have been buried by a landslide after Typhoon Mangkhut barreled across Itogon, Benguet province, northern Philippines, Monday, September 17, 2018. Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said that at the height of the typhoon’s onslaught Saturday afternoon, dozens of people, mostly miners and their families, rushed into an old three-story building in the village of Ucab.

The building, a former mining bunkhouse that had been transformed into a chapel, was obliterated when part of a mountain slope collapsed

D

ozens of people believed buried in a landslide unleashed

by Typhoon Mangkhut in the Philippines probably did not survive, a

mayor said Monday, although rescuers kept digging through mud and debris covering a chapel where they had taken shelter.

Of the 40 to 50 miners and their families believed inside the chapel, there is a “99 percent” chance that they all were killed, said Mayor Victorio Palangdan of Itogon, the Benguet province town that was among the hardest hit by the typhoon that struck Saturday.

Mangkhut already is confirmed to have killed 65 people in the Philippines and four in China, where it weakened to a tropical storm as it churned inland Monday.

Palangdan said rescuers have recovered 11 bodies from the muddy avalanche, which covered a former bunkhouse for the miners that had been turned into a chapel. Dozens of people sought shelter there during the storm despite warnings it was dangerous.

“They laughed at our policemen,” he said. “They were resisting when our police tried to pull them away.

What can we do?” Police and soldiers were among the hundreds of rescuers with shovels and picks searching for the missing along a mountainside as grief-stricken relatives waited nearby, many of them praying quietly. Bodies in black bags were laid side by side.

Those identified were carried away by relatives, some using crude bamboo slings. (MSN)

Burkina Faso botched FGM leaves 50 girls in hospital

A

round 50 girls are being treated in hospital in Burkina Faso after botched circumcisions, or female genital mutilation (FGM), a Minister says.

Not all girls who underwent the circumcision have been traced, Women’s Affairs Minister Laurence Marshall Ilboudo, said.

Two 60-year-old women, along with the parents of some of the girls, have been arrested. FGM has been illegal in Burkina Faso since 1996.

Offenders face up to three years in prison. About three-quarters of women and girls in Burkina Faso

FGM has been illegal in Burkina Faso since 1996, and carries a jail term of up to three years

have undergone circumcision, but only nine per cent favour the practice, according to UN children agency Unicef.

The circumcisions took

place in the Kaya area, about 100km (60 miles) North of the capital, Ouagadougou, between September 4 and 6.

Some of the victims are as young as four years, author-

ities say.

A dozen girls have been admitted to the Kaya Regional Hospital and 38 to the Chiphra Protestant Hospital in the capital.

Some of the girls had suffered serious complications, Dr Dieudonne Ouedraogo told the BBC. Female genital mutilation includes the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons; a practise that occurs in 30 countries in Africa and some countries in Asia and the Middle East. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Imran Khan swept to victory in elections in July and has pledged to forge a progressive Pakistan

I

mran Khan has pledged to grant citizenship to 1.5 million Afghan refugees who have lived on the margins of Pakistan’s society for decades.

According to the UN, Pakistan has the largest refugee population in the world, mostly made up of 2.7 million refugees from Afghanistan. Many fled the Soviet invasion in 1979, while others came across the border due to violence and economic turmoil.

In a surprise announcement on Sunday at a public event in Karachi, the Pakistani prime minister said: “Afghans whose children have been raised and born in Pakistan will be granted citizenship inshallah (God willing) because this is the established practice in countries around the world.

“They are humans. How come we have deprived them and have not arranged for offering them national identification card and passport

for 30 years, 40 years?”

Advertisement According to UN surveys, about 60 per cent of the Afghan refugee population was born in Pakistan, meaning almost 1.5 million people stand to benefit. Khan also promised the same treatment for Bengali refugees, which would include the Rohingya minority.

Pakistan’s citizenship act of 1951 guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the country. However, bureaucratic hurdles, ethnic rivalries and the exception against children whose parents come from “alien” or enemy nations has made it close to impossible for Afghan and Bengali refugees to secure their rights, along with the Pakistani passport they would bring.

Khan noted in his speech, broadcast on national television, that a lack of official documentation pushed many refugees towards black-market labour or crime. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

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tuesdAY, september 18, 2018

ARCHIE

You’ll be better off maintaining your position rath(March 21- er than taking chances that April 19) could disrupt your life. Stick to what you know and do best.

ARIES

Live, learn and let go.

TAURUS Take a step forward and (April 20- reach out to positive people May 20) who will help you advance.

Put anger aside and strive for personal perfection.

dilbert

Be careful while traveling GEMINI (May 21- and dealing with institutions June 20) or hospitals. Ask questions and get the lowdown before you agree to anything that has a risk factor. Protect your reputation.

Be creative in how you run your household or deal with (June 21- professional responsibilities.

July 22) A partnership will have its advantages, as long as both parties think innovatively.

CANCER

Peanuts

You may be fired up by LEO the changes going on around (July 23- you, but fighting a losing batAug. 22) tle will just deplete your energy. Pay more attention to what you can do, not to what you cannot.

Home improvements VIRGO should help lower your ex(Aug. 23penses and make life more Sept. 22) convenient. Updates should be geared toward efficiency. A personal gain is heading your way.

Calvin and Hobbes

Take what others do or say LIBRA (Sept. 23- seriously, but don’t overreact to compensate for something Oct. 23) you have no control over. Try not to get caught up in someone else’s gossip, meddling and mistakes.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD - DEADLINE (DEADLINE: DED-line: A date or time by which soir must be done.)

Put your thoughts and SAGITTARIUS time into low-overhead mon(Nov. 23- eymaking ventures that Dec. 21) will make your life easier.

Enforcing a routine will help you avoid getting sidetracked by interference.

Average mark 33 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 48 or more words in DEADLINE? The list will be published Monday.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — GUESSWORK gesso goes gore gorse grew gross grouse gw urge user ergo euro sego

serow skeg skew sore sour souse sower suer sure surge swc wore work

worse ogre ogress ours rogue rose roue rouge rouse rugose ruse rusk

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

Take better care of yourSCORPIO self physically. Avoid unnec(Oct. 24essary risks. Discipline, exNov. 22) ercise and good eating habits will bring the best results. A personal relationship will enhance your life.

solution for last published puzzle

Explain your emotional CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- position to someone you want Jan. 19) to help. Making an adjustment will encourage others to do so as well. Love will bring better results than force.

Look inward and quesAQUARIUS tion any of your habits that (Jan. 20- are taking up too much of Feb. 19) your time or eating away at your funds. A minimalist attitude will help you get back on track.

Take the lead and keep PISCES (Feb. 20- moving forward until you are March 20) far ahead. How you manage your money and negotiate personal business will make a difference.

tuesdAY, september 18, 2018

19

Caribbean Carnival run-rates soar – 200-plus scores proliferate

T

he sixth season of Caribbean Premier League concluded with Trinbago Knight Riders being crowned champions for a record third time, after beating Guyana Amazon Warriors in the final by eight wickets. This was Amazon Warriors’ fourth appearance in the final in six years, and they ended up being bridesmaid every single time.

A look into the key numbers from the tournament:

Run rates soar

Despite labelled as “the biggest party in sport”, CPL has over the years established a reputation as being a tournament played on low, slow tracks of the Caribbean where spinners come into play often. The slower nature of tracks has impeded the innate stroke-making capabilities of homegrown players and the average rate hovered around 7.5 an over in most seasons. This

year, flatter tracks were on offer, ensuring that high totals were posted.

There were 9 - 200-plus totals in the latest season of CPL, including the four highest totals in the history of the competition.

Over 150+ matches across the five previous editions, there were only six 200-plus totals.

The highest total in the history of CPL has now been set to 226/6, scored by St. Lucia Stars against Barbados Tridents in Gros Islet.

A total of 514 Sixes were hit in the competition across 32 matches. It happens to be the most in a season in CPL, surpassing 455 maximums in the 2016 edition. A six was hit every 14.16 balls this year, which is two balls fewer per six than any of the previous editions of the tournament.

The chart toppers

Colin Munro of Knight Riders ended the league as the leading run-getter of the sea-

son from 13 matches in which he crossed 50 six times, including an unbeaten 68 in the final. Munro’s aggregate of 567 is the highest by a player in a single edition of CPL, surpassing Chadwick Walton’s tally of 458 runs for Amazon Warriors last year by 109 runs.

Australian leggie Fawad Ahmed for Knight Riders sits on top of wickets table with 22 this season, bettered only by Dwayne Bravo’s 28 for the same side in 2015.

Ahmed’s 22 scalps also give him the best returns for a spinner in a CPL season. He bettered fellow countryman Adam Zampa’s 15 wickets for Amazon Warriors in 2016.

Records broken in CPL 2018

The sixth wicket partnership between Russell and Kennar Lewis for Tallawahs against Knight Riders in Port of Spain. The pair equalled the unbeaten 161-run stand between Marlon Samuels and Orlando Peters for now defunct Antigua Hawksbills in 2014. It is also the highest sixth wicket

stand in all T20s, surpassing 126* between Calum MacLeod and John Hastings for Durham in 2014.

The 121* knock of Russell is the highest score in the history of CPL, eclipsing Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 111 for Tallawahs against St Lucia Stars in 2014. He also became the first player to reach three-figures batting at number seven or below in T20 cricket.

In the match against Knight Riders, Russell became the second player to score a century and take a hat-trick in the same T20 match. He emulated Kent’s Joe Denly who achieved the rare double a few days before against Surrey at the Oval.

Stars extended their winless streak to 14 matches after losing their first four games this season to go along with nine defeats and a no result in their disastrous campaign last season. It is the longest winless streak for a team in CPL history, going past Antigua Hawksbills ten between 2013 and 2014.

(Cricbuzz)

Klopp all bubbly as Liverpool take on PSG

T

here was a time, and it was not so long ago, when the sight of such talents as Neymar and Kylian Mbappé joking around Anfield on the eve of a Champions League tie would have pointed to Liverpool being the underdogs against Paris Saint-Germain.

That time has gone: 115 days since Kiev it is not the despair of defeat that lingers around Jürgen Klopp’s team but the belief the exhilarating run to the final last season marked a beginning. “It is a different club to the club I joined,” the Liverpool manager said on Monday.

He was not referring to the main stand that opened five months after Thomas Tuchel’s previous visit to Anfield when, as the Borussia Dortmund manager, he was dumbfounded by Liverpool’s stoppage-time victory in the Europa League quarter-final. Tuesday’s referee, Cuneyt Cakir, coincidentally was also in charge on that occasion.

The manner of the defeat by Real Madrid could have left lasting scars and, in Loris Karius’s case, it did result in a ticket to Istanbul and Besiktas but it did not have a detrimental effect on the manager’s rebuilding plans in the summer, it did not result in the break?up of a richly talented team and it has only hardened Liverpool’s resolve to go one step further.

Five consecutive wins at the start of the Premier League cam-

paign have helped silence talk of a Champions League final hangover.

PSG, a club who sacked their manager after winning the treble last season and have won each of the past 14 domestic cup competitions, provide a formidable opening test but also an opportunity to strengthen momentum.

“No damage, absolutely not,” Klopp said when asked about the consequences of Kiev. “I think we got a lot of respect because of the way we played last season and everyone who saw the final saw we could have won it against a side in a completely different moment. They played with a full squad, a full everything. We had to do it the hard way with our games in the Premier League, because Chelsea were chasing us like crazy.

“People in football saw that.

They saw the games we played.

They saw City, they saw Rome, they saw Porto; they saw so many games when we played in a really good way. There was a lot of respect.

“That is not too important for me but it is important for the club and the players. The players we spoke to in the summer or a little earlier, they were different talks to those I had the previous year or before. In this moment, it is a different club to the club I joined when I came in. But that was necessary.

“We are in the place where we want to be without being satisfied

with anything. We are a challenger and we are a challenger again for pretty much everything, especially in each game. I don’t think there is any game in the world where you would say beforehand: ‘No chance Liverpool.’ That is good. That doesn’t mean we will win but that means it is clear we have a chance if we play our best. Last year I said the club was in a good moment. We are still in a really good moment but we are not a little bit satisfied.

“There is nothing in us that thinks that’s it. It’s good but we want it better for the club and the people and that is what we really try to do.”

Jordan Henderson, set Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappé form a formidable attacking trio for PSG to return to the side having scored in the 4-0 victory. They are “Will it be enough? I don’t know started Saturday’s victory against Tottenham on the bench, a team who demand Liverpool’s re- in this moment but I don’t have to insists last season’s final will serve spect but another by-product of last know. I only think about how can season is that no opponent leaves we cause them problems. That’s only as motivation. why Champions League football is “It will not have a negative ef- Klopp’s team daunted.

“We have showed that but that so cool. You have this outstanding fect on the team,” he said. “No one likes a loser’s medal, mine is in the doesn’t mean anything for this individual quality on the pitch and drawer at home, but at the same game,” Klopp said. “We have to you think: ‘OK, what are we going time the experience was good for the show it again – that’s our life. Do all to make of it?’ For both teams that’s team and we can use it in this cam- the good things again and again and not guaranteed.

“That’s why I love these games paign. It was a brilliant experience again. I can’t prepare a team to face that ended in disappointment but Paris Saint-Germain without show- so much. You don’t only have to you can use that to learn as a team.” ing them the strengths of Paris. But, think about what are we going to PSG have also started with five on the other side, it’s quite difficult do when we have the ball because straight league wins. Tuchel rest- to make a preparation, because they the other team gives you possession ed Neymar at Saint-Etienne on have never played against us. We 80% of the time. For a game like Friday and had Mbappé suspend- will look different to what they have this you have to think about everyed but was able to bring in Ángel Di faced so far this season, that’s the thing.” (The Guardian) María and Julian Draxler who both truth.

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TUESdAY, september 18, 2018

CPL names Tournament XI

- Hetmyer hailed as young talent A

Shimron Hetmyer shows off his superb batting style

fter a month and a half of explosive cricket played throughout the Caribbean and Florida, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has presented a power-packed playing 11 who have shone bright over the course of this year’s league.

Director of the Hero Caribbean Premier League, Tom Moody, and Commentators Mark Butcher, Daren Ganga, Ian Bishop, Danny Morrison and Michael Slater have consulted to produce the list of stars, because, in all fairness, no one has had a better view of the game than this group.

The team comprises five overseas players, while the six remaining Caribbean players are a mixture of the old favourites and new heart-throbs.

The power packed betting lineup begins with Trinbago Knight Riders and Hero CPL’s leading run-scorer for 2018, Colin Munro. With 567 runs, a century and countless match winning half-centuries to his credit, Munro is deserving of the top spot.

He has been paired for the opening partnership with

the equally dangerous Glenn Phillips of the tended by their two all-rounders and potenJamaica Tallawahs. Phillips has a season tal- tial captains, Andre Russell (163 runs and 14 ly of 457 runs. wickets) Jamaica Tallawahs captain, and St. It is widely believed that a team’s best Lucia Star’s Captain Kieron Pollard (330 runs batsman is placed at three; in this instance, and four wickets). that position has been awarded to none othIn the bowling department, only the cream er than one of Guyana’s very own, 21-year-old of the crop was chosen, with each of the choShimron Hetmyer, who come into the team sen ones copping more than 15 wickets. TKR’s as one of three under-25-years-old players to Ali Khan (16 wickets), GAW’s Imran Tahir no doubt have lit up every venue at which he (16 wickets) and Jamaica’s Under 25 playplayed. er Oshane Thomas (18 wickets) are joined by Recording his first CPL and T20 century the tournament’s leading wicket taker, TKR’s this season, the young man ended with 440 Fawad Ahmed with 22 wickets. runs.

Speaking on the composiWith the team having tion of the team, Hero CPL’s The full team of space for two more batsmen, Director Tom Moody stressed the tournament is as follows: the selection committee turned on the exposure that the to another 25-and-under playyoung talents have gotten this 1. Colin Munro er who has shown his worth year.

2. Glenn Phillips this season -- Rovman Powell, “We have seen some out3. Shimron Hetmyer who has many a time led the standing performances in this 4. Rovman Powell Jamaica Tallawahs home. His year’s Hero CPL, but what has tally this season is 330 runs. stood out is the emergence of 5. Darren Bravo And what would the side young local talent. The perfor6. Kieron Pollard be without the inclusion of a mances of both Hetmyer and 7. Andre Russell Bravo brother? In this case Thomas have been a highlight 8. Ali Khan Darren Bravo, for his knock of the tournament. They are 9. Imran Tahir of 353 runs, which has earned both set for a bright future 10. Oshane Thomas him his spot. with the Windies”, Moody 11. Fawad Ahmed The team’s batting is exstated.

UG team confident Coutinho: "I have to improve a lot to earn ahead of cricket tour Iniesta comparisons" K

enroy Joseph, the current coach of the University of Guyana (UG) cricket team has by no means accomplished the extraordinary but believes his side can do well in the upcoming T20 tournament in neighbouring Suriname.

Joseph is currently preparing the squad for the 2nd Cyril Bonar Memorial T20 Cricket Competition, to be held at the DR Snelle Park, Suriname from September 22-23.

Joseph, a former cricketer for Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) played cricket for the club in 2006 and thereby retired in 2015.

Upon his retirement he worked as the cricket team’s manager at the University alongside its coach Clive Grimmond. In December of 2017, the mantle was passed down as Joseph now assumed the role of coach for Joseph shares advice in a coaching drill the student side in which he graciously accepted. makes it easier to coach the team.

When asked about his coaching methHe also stated that this method works ods Joseph said, “Many coaches don’t un- because it can be seen in the performance derstand the human aspect of coaching, and success of the team, since Joseph understanding each player; you have to has taken over. The team has played ten show respect to gain respect”, giving trib- games and lost one giving then a 90% ute to Grimmond as he had shown him success rate. that in sports everyone plays a role in its The team is currently on a 6-win development. That assisted him in his in- streak in the NBS 40 overs 2nd Division terpersonal skills to be the coach he is to- tournament. day.

In his closing statements, Joseph said Joseph also relayed to Guyana Times that he’d advise any young player to firstSport that his relationship with the team ly develop a love for the game and unis more than that of just a team but more derstand what role you play in the game. of a brotherhood because they respect The student side will leave the shores of and understand each other and thus, Guyana on Thursday September 20.

P

hilippe Coutinho feels comparisons between himself and “genius” Andres Iniesta are not appropriate as he wants to be known for his own game.

Coutinho’s arrival from Liverpool in the January transfer window was widely accepted to place the Brazilian in pole position to be Iniesta’s heir.

The long-serving midfielder moved to Vissel Kobe at the end of the season and Coutinho has slotted in to take the former Spain international’s place.

But Coutinho, who like Iniesta has played in both attack and midfield, rejected suggestions he is following in the 34-year-old’s footsteps.

“Andres was a genius, comparisons between us are tough,” Coutinho told a news conference ahead of his Champions League bow for Barca against PSV on Tuesday. “I just want to be myself and win as much as I can here.

“I try to work hard regardless of my position and I work hard on every aspect of my game, I feel more of an attacking midfielder and I am comfortable on the left as this is where I’ve played the most.

“My goal is to improve at everything and if I want to be like Andres Iniesta I have to improve a lot.

“My first job is to make plays in the midfield, in the middle it’s more difficult as I have to hold on to the ball and help my team-mates.

“In attack I can contribute to more goals, but I will do whatever job the coach asks me to do.”

Coutinho could not play for Barcelona in the Champions League last term as he had already f e a tured f o r Liverpool earlier in the competition.

Barca subsequently suffered a shock exit to Roma at the quarter-final stage, surrendering a 4-1 lead from the first leg as they were beaten 3-0 in Italy.

“It was tough for me personally and for us as a team because of the way we were eliminated, but this time we are determined,” Coutinho added.

“I wanted to help, but I could not. I was watching it on TV, it was very hard.

“Last year I couldn’t play and I’m looking forward to getting out there in the Champions League.

“Barcelona fight for all the competitions but the Champions League is the

Philippe Coutinho

biggest and we are going to go for it.

“We haven’t won it in a few years but we have the players and we are hungry to go out there and win it.

“We have to keep working hard and it all starts right now in the Champions League.”(Sportsmax)

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P

romotion for the fight between WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury will begin in London on Monday, says Frank Warren.

The fight still has no confirmed date or venue, but promoter Warren also said the west coast of the United States “was the favourite at the moment”.

American Wilder and Briton Fury agreed a fight in August, when Warren suggested November or December dates.

“I said it’s definitely going to happen and it’s going to happen,” Warren said.

“We’ve got a press conference next Monday, Wilder will be in town, and that will be the start of the tour,” he told IFL TV. “We do London, then we go to New York, then on to Los Angeles.

“It’s been about deciding what venue it will go to - it’s not an issue because it’s a nice problem, it’s who is going to put up the most money.

“You get the usual things with judges, depending on where it is going to take place. If you go to Las Vegas they want to appoint all the officials - we don’t particularly want that.

“We want the officials agreed between the two parties, and they should be as neutral as possible. That is one of the things we have been working on.”

In August, former world champion Fury, 30, registered a unanimous points victory over Francesco Pianeta in his second fight since returning from a two-and-a-half-year spell out of the sport.

Wilder has held the WBC title since January 2015. Neither man has been beaten, with Fury boasting a 27-fight winning streak and Wilder producing 39 knockouts from 40 professional wins.

On Saturday, Fury’s fellow Briton Anthony Joshua takes on Alexander Povetkin in a defence of his WBA, IBF and WBO world heavyweight titles at Wembley. (BBC Sport)

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Tyson Fury (left) and Deontay Wilder are both unbeaten in their professional careers

Kipchoge... The Marathon King

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21 Wilder, Fury promotion to start on Monday – Warren sports

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magine getting on a treadmill, setting it to 13mph, then running at that pace for two hours one minute 39 seconds.

Or imagine running 100m in 17.2 seconds - and if that sounds slow, try it - and then doing that another 420 times without pause.

Most of us wouldn’t last more than a minute or two; new marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge is emphatically not most people.

The first time the marathon was run over its current distance of 26.2 miles was at the 1908 London Olympics, when it was won by American Johnny Hayes in Eliud Kipchoge is the reigning Olympic champion a time of 2:55:18.

A lot had changed in training and Australian Derek Clayton knocked it down by technology since then, and four years ago, 2mins 37secs in 1967.

Kenya’s Dennis Kimetto became the first To put all this into some perspective, the man to go under 2:03, clocking 2:02:57, also average time for non-elite male runners at the in Berlin. Kimetto took 26 seconds off the pre- London Marathon is 3:48 - more than an hour vious record, which itself was an advance of and three-quarters slower than Kipchoge’s re15 seconds - modest increments as the record cord. nudges in the direction of the two-hour mark Kipchoge, 33, has competed in 11 marathat many still doubt is humanly possible. thons. He’s won 10 and finished second in the On Sunday, Kimetto’s compatriot Kipchoge other. broke the record by 78 seconds.

He has won the Berlin Marathon and the It is the largest single improvement on London Marathon three times each, and holds the world record in more than 50 years, since the record for each course. (BBC Sport)

‘One last dance’

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hree-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade is set to return to Miami Heat for a 16th and final season.

The shooting guard, who is the Heat’s career leader in points, assists, steals and games played, confirmed the news in a 10-minute video.

“I feel it’s right to ask you guys to join me for one last dance, for one last season,” said American Wade, 36.

“I’ve given this game everything that I have. I’m going to give it for one last season.”

Wade spent the 2016-17 season playing in his hometown of Chicago for the Bulls, before joining former Miami team-mate LeBron James at the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In February, Wade was traded back to Miami, who narrowly missed out on a place

in the NBA play-offs after finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference.

Wade is expected to sign a $2.4m (£1.84m) deal for the 2018-19 season later this week.

Heat’s first game of the regDwayne Wade ular season is at the Orlando Magic on 17 October. (BBC Sport)

22 Swan disposes of St Cuthbert’s Mission in Region 4 Heritage play-off GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, september 18, 2018

national Heritage competition.

“This is our first year playing in the competition as we pulled out last year before the play offs owing to what we termed as unprofessional and unsportsman like behaviour of some of the players representing other teams. However, thus year we are here and I can assure you that while we are fielding a

young team the guys are very determined to win this playoff,” Gonsalves declared.

St Cuthbert’s Mission will now play Laluni football team with the winner playing Swan in the final for the opportunity to represent Region Four at the national heritage games slated for this weekend in Georgetown.

Limacol Knockout Football Tournament…

Swan goal scorers: Eran Hussain, Mellon Joseph, Ishmeal Pulsram and Edson Williams

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wan Football team which saw a number of players drawn from its Under 15 and 18 teams stood firmly to the challenge as they demolished St Cuthbert’s Mission in a three-way competition.

The three-team competition will see the winner being selected to represent Region Four in the 2018 Heritage Football competition.

Playing at the St Cuthbert’s Mission ground, the well uniformed Sawn team took on St Cuthbert’s Mission which evidently had a number of older players in an instance of David versus goliath.

Playing in the first match, Swan open the scoring in the eleventh minute through Eran Hussain who skillfully dribbled three payers from the opposing team before hitting the ball into the nets with a solid right foot kick. St Cuthbert’s Mission had a perfect opportunity of levelling the score four minutes

St Cuthbert’s Mission goal scorers: Zack Ferriera and Leo Evans

later through a penalty taken by Lorenzo Clenkian but messed it up as Clenkian kicked the ball way over the cross bar.

However, 23 minutes into the game St Cuthbert’s equalized the score at one all when Zack Ferreira stunned Swan’s goal keeper with a terrific kick that went straight into the net.

Playing a better game, Swan scored their second goal in the 31st minute by Mellon Joseph and held on to the one goal lead until half time.

However, in the second half in the 53rd minute Swan’s lead was once again increased through Ishmeal Pulsram.

Upping the score in the 57th minute was Edson Williams who added his name to Swan’s goal scores, thus condemning St Cuthbert’s Mission to what was going to be a heavy defeat as the score read 4-1 in favour of Swan.

However, a determined St Cuthbert’s Mission team who were evidently determined to reduce the score, were able to pull another goal back in the 59th minute through Leo Evans which saw the final whistle blowing with the score reading 4-2.

Coach and manager of the Swan Football Team, Andre Gonsalves expressed satisfaction over his team’s win noting that the players stuck to their original game plan of seeking to control the ball, while looking for opportunities to score. “I think we may have missed about two or three scoring opportunities but overall we played very well and it is reflective in the results,” he said.

Gonsalves expressed confidence that his team would win the play off, thus earning the right to represents Region Four at the

Riddim Squad, Buxton Stars, Beacon, Santos to battle tonight

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he Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue will again host the Limacol Knockout Football competition tonight. The tournament, whose third installment began about three weeks ago, provides an opportunity for community teams and other clubs to showcase their raw skill.

Matches in the tournament will continue this evening when Riddim Squad faces Buxton Stars in the first encounter at 18:00 hrs. Coming off of a shocking loss, Buxton will look to improve their game at the back end, having conceded three goals within their final 10 minutes of playing time.

On the other hand, Riddim Squad is currently in a comfortable position after the last match went their way. In fact, it was a 3-0 win for Riddim Squad, which gives a massive confidence boost to the otherwise formidable team.

As the evening winds down, Santos will have their first meeting with Beacon FC at 20:00 hrs. It will truly be a clash of the titans, with each team already registering a remarkable win over the course of the tournament.

Beacon will be very confident, after stealing a win in their last match. Despite it being a 1-0 encounter, Beacon’s defence played strongly to prevent the opposing side from scoring.

Santos played to a draw in their first match. However, the longstanding team made a great comeback in their last match to register a victory. Thanks to two beauties from their player Keith Cains, the team was able to make it over the line while holding off its opponents from scoring.

A total of 12 teams are currently competing for first place glory, with Group A featuring a mixture of experience and youth in Guyana Police Force, Pele Football Club, Northern Rangers and Mahaica Determinators. Over in Group B, Campton, Georgetown Football Club, Riddim Squad and Buxton Stars will fight for the most points in the group; while Group C: Santos, Pouderoyen, Grove Hi Tec and Beacons Football Club, are competing against each other in the round robin segment. The winner of the tournament is slated to receive a cash prize of $600,000.

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESdAY, september 18, 2018

23

Logie lists positive for Windies women despite loss

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hile Windies women’s coach, Gus Logie, is disappointed with the result of his charges’ first game against South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Sunday, there are positives he takes from the game that he feels will colour the nature of the encounters between the teams for the rest of the series.

The Windies were routed for 161 in response to the Proteas’ 2019 in the first One Day International of a three-game series on Sunday.

In that game, South Africa’s top-order got starts, but were pegged back the Windies bowling, who continuously created pressure and took wickets to leave themselves with a very gettable 202.

However, the Windies top order did not follow through with the good work of the bowlers and fielders, falling to 54-4, before eventually being bowled out in the 46th over, with Shemaine Campbelle being the last wicket to fall for a top score of 46.

Earlier, South Africa’s Dane van Niekerk, 46 not out, Laura Wolvaardt, 45, and a half century from Sune Luus, 58, gave the South Africans something to bowl The Windies women celebrate during their match with South Africa on Sunday at against the figures of Shamilia sult. But when saying that, we take heart skipper, Stafanie Taylor, although she did Connell, 1-27, Stafanie Taylor, 3-37, and in the way we approached the fielding and not offer much with the bat.

Deandra Dottin, 2-36. the bowling,” said Logie of the performance.

“I thought the ladies equipped them“We expected a much more positive reLogie also lauded the performance of his selves really well. There was some really

GFF Elite League III…

Top runners run into draws

Belgrave dominates against Nets

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Part of the ongoing action in the GFF III Elite League

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he in-form Fruta Conquerors took on the dogged defending champs Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in the first battle of a double-header as action in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) Elite League III continued at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground last night. But contrary to popular expectation, they were held to a 1-1 draw.

In what many thought would be an exhibition of domination, considering the Conquerors’ stupendous form, each team proverbially broke an arm and a leg in trying their best

to penetrate the other’s defence; but this was futile, as the half time score of 0-0 would suggest.

Undaunted by the self-sacrificing army men, Conquerors managed to score a goal in the 66th minute when Domini Garnett pierced that back of the GDF net.

But in the face of almost certain defeat, the valiant GDF miraculously produced an equaliser in the three minutes of extra time the referee had added to the game when Sherwyn Caesar planted a bomb deep in the Conquerors’ domain a mere second before the final whistle.

In the other match of the night, Western Tigers FC battled Den Amstel to a 1 – 1 draw as well.

Scores remained level at halftime, but 14 minutes into the second half, Ryan Adolph managed to slip one in to give the Tigers the lead.

Den Amstel needed to make something happen fast, and in the 79th minute it did, when Jamaal Harvey scored the equalizer.

The rest of the match was straightforward, as both teams defended well to end the night even.

good decision making out there in the middle, the captaincy was wise and certainly the players responded to have restricted South Africa to 202,” he said.

Even though the Windies response to a fairly low total was not the best and the side capitulated for 41 runs less, Logie also saw positives there that should make a difference when the teams meet on Wednesday.

“We certainly take heart from young Campbelle and the kind of innings she played, a responsible innings and the support from the lower order was very nice to see,” said Logie.

“Mohammed really stepping up to the plate as the vice-captain of the team, putting her head down and really showing what was possible. I think the top-order will take some heart from that and some confidence going into the next game,” added the coach.

The impact of the lower order taking the Windies from 85-7 to more than 160, before it finally folded, Logie believes is something that will make the top order far more competitive in game two on Wednesday. That difference may change the nature of the series.

“I am looking forward to a much more all-round performance in game two,” said Logie. (Sportsmax)

ravis Belgrave continued to demonstrate he is a class above the others with his impressive basketball skills, showing a form that can only be the product of hard work and dedication as he led the Eagles to a 75-63 victory over the Republic Bank Nets to end that club’s undefeated streak when action continued in the first division category of the Georgetown A m a t e u r Basketball Association’s (GABA’s) League on Saturday at the Burnham National Guard Travis Belgrave Hardcourt.

The night bewho scored 22 points, and longed to Belgrave, who Nigel Bowen, who made a signed it off with a game- meaningful contribution of high 21 points. He was ably 20. supported by Kevin Higgins, Scoring for the Vikings in who finished the night on 14 their losing effort was Leon points in the Eagles’ 12-point Lee and Slayne Joseph, who win. both contributed 11 points.

The Nets went down Play will continue at the fighting, though, as Hodyah same venue on Wednesday Stewart played very well to when Sonics come up against top score for his side with 18 the Pacesetters in the U23 points.

Division, and Eagles do batThe opening match of tle with the Vikings in the the night saw Plaisance Second Division league.

Guardians destroying the The tournament is beVikings 97-50. Top scoring ing sponsored by Banks for the Guardians, and lead- DIH Limited through its ing by example, was their Rainforest water and Malta skipper Terrence Daniels, Supreme Brands.

TUESDAY, september 18, 2018

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

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CPL names Tournament XI - Hetmyer hailed as young talent Page 20

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Hero CPL’s Director Tom Moody

Limacol Knockout Football Tournament…

Riddim Squad, Buxton Stars, Beacon, Santos to battle tonight

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