Guyana times september 20, 2017

President to raise climate P7 change concerns at Commonwealth HOG meeting

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Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Issue No. 3338

Jagdeo calls for Minister Patterson to be fired for lying

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Joint Services probing another illegal aircraft, airstrip P8 Multi-year agreement

Page 3

GTU pushing for revision of CPCE curriculum P12

Prisoners demand Essequibo Pandit’s house steak for breakfast gutted in early morning fire

Page 10

– during Camp Street uproar

Cocaine mule jailed, fined $2.5M P9

Page 11

Police called in as school feeding probe heats up P16 Sugar workers unpaid for 2 weeks – source P15 Residents of North Rupununi turned out in their numbers at the Annai Benab to celebrate their annual Heritage Village activity, in observance of Indigenous Heritage Month 2017. In photo, the Surama Group performs a cultural dance

Gunman Page 8 attacks former commander’s daughter …shoots supervisor

New Demerara Bridge

Final report proposes 250% toll increases …700% increase for river vessels

Page 11

Parents call for probe into daughter’s death …accuse GPHC of P13 negligence …CEO says parents transferred child against doctor’s wishes

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wednesDAY, september 20, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, September 20 – a night retraction at 04:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, September 21 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, September 20– 16:40h-18:10h and Thursday, September 21 – 17:00h-18:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions followed by thundery rain showers can be expected during the day, with light rain showers in the later afternoon. Light cloudy skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from Easterly to East South-easterly and East North-easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 04:24h and 16:41h reaching maximum heights of 2.73 metres and 2.74 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:17h and 22:35h reaching minimum heights of 0.49 metre and 0.45 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, September 16, 2017

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Jagdeo calls for Minister Patterson to be fired for lying

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has demanded that Head of State David Granger immediately fire Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson over what he described as a repeated plethora of blatant lies in an attempt to defame the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and its approach to building a new Demerara River crossing.

Jagdeo told reporters Minister Patterson had not only lied in his utterances with regard to him having doled out all of the Petroleum Blocks available for exploration, but in his pronouncements over the new crossing for the Demerara River.

Speaking to the new river crossing, Minister Patterson during an Alliance For Change (AFC) press engagement this past week had insinuated that the Jagdeoled Administration had not only gone to tender for a new bridge, but that he was peeved since the then favoured location would have seen his friend profiting.

Jagdeo further charged that the PPP commissioned a prefeasibility study in 2013 at a time when he had already left office and had, in fact, invited Expressions of Interest for three different locations, a clear testament to the fact that the Administration had not yet settled on a location for the construction of the new infrastructure.

Exploration Licences

Jagdeo also spoke to Patterson’s reaction to his prediction of impending acts of corruption through the award of Exploration Licences to be issued to companies currently applying that share close linkages – through complex shareholding structures – with Ministers of Government.

According to the Opposition Leader, the ploy employed by Patterson was, in fact, a strategy to deflect from the substance of the allegations laid in relation to the corrupt practices and focus attention on further misrepresentation of fact.

Misrepresentation, he said, is readily reported by the “fake news” outfit Kaieteur News, which the former President accused of being in the pockets of the regime as an outlet to peddle misinformation.

Still on the lies exhibited by Minister Patterson, Jagdeo drew reference to his assertions that the PPP/ Civic Administration under the former President had given out licences to unknown persons – information that could have readily been had since that is available at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

Speaking specifically to the coverage provided by the “fake news” outfit, Jagdeo drew reference to the fact that when Patterson’s lies had been exposed using maps and information supplied by the GGMC, this was

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

carried by all of the media houses except the Kaieteur News.

In his criticisms, Jagdeo noted that although the news outfit was provided with a copy of the map showing the available blocks, this was not represented.

He expanded by saying that with the perception being peddled by Minister Patterson that all the oil blocks had been given out, the Administration can secretly enter into deals for the remaining blocks since the impression given by Patterson is that there are no available petroleum blocks.

According to Jagdeo, “this Minister should be fired for lying...what Patterson said at that press conference is a lie and no amount of obfuscation, no amount of the Kaieteur News’ lies that they keep peddling and the fake news can change that fact.”

Having established that Patterson had lied on the matters related to the petroleum blocks, the Opposition Leader also called out the Minister over his misrepre-

sentations on the proposed bridge across the Demerara River.

In seeking to debunk the assertions made by Patterson, the former President drew reference to a document which the Minister had displayed at his press conference purportedly requesting in excess of $100 million in order to fund a prefeasibility study.

According to Jagdeo, that study commissioned by the PPP in 2013 after his tenure in office, in fact, cost just over $5 million, a far cry from the more than $150 million the coalition paid for a substantive study.

The former President was adamant that following its prefeasibility study in 2013, the Government then tested the market by inviting Expressions of Interest specifying the three locations that had been identified.

Jagdeo said Minister Patterson needed to understand the concept of testing the market and pointed out if the then Government had already made a decision on the Houston-Versailles location, it would not have issued an EoI request in the latter part of 2013 identifying the three possible sites that were proposed in the prefeasibility study.

Jagdeo told media oper-

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

atives that when the matter was first raised by the PPP/C, the questions related to the proposed financing structure, possible subsidies, Government guarantees and toll increases – questions he said Patterson is yet to answer.

He pointed to the study conducted by Government which indicated various options for tolls and subsidies.

According to Jagdeo, the PPP/C is merely seeking to solicit answers to questions from Government on the likely increases in tolls, subsidies and debt guarantees to be borne by the State among other uncertainties.

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

Equality.

Together. All

“T

ogether for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All.” That is the theme for International Day of Peace 2017, which will be celebrated on Thursday, September 21. Equality is a necessary condition for sustained peace, for in its absence and the lack of effort to redress inequalities, resentment festers and conflicts flourish. But what is equality? Here we reiterate our thoughts on the issue: The norm of equality has become the mantra of the age.

But in Guyana it has become a very complex issue, which has to be demarcated very carefully so that it can be inculcated and achieved. Even in economic terms, as Thomas Piketty has shown, most of the world has moved further away from this goal and we must ask ourselves why. There are numerous reasons for this condition, but one important one is that “equality” is one of those laudatory words, which are constantly invoked even though its users are not clear as to what it means.

Now almost everyone will agree with the statement: we are all equally human, but what does that mean? Isn’t it a tautology? We are not equally tall, strong, intelligent or beautiful, so whither equality? For the term to have any content, we have to choose any area of endeavour or personal attribute or of treatment and then discuss whether or not we are all equal in terms of the identified criteria. Two things or persons can be said to be equal, only with some specific property that we have identified. Equality, from this perspective, has therefore to be contingent on the context or criteria wherein we speak: equality is a triadic relationship.

We may talk about three types of equality – those pertaining to personal characteristics, to treatment and to distribution.

The last two categories are relevant to politics.

There are some theories of equality that are purely formal – they specify no substantive content – simply a formula or policy. For example when Aristotle stipulated that equals were to be treated equally and unequals unequally, there were no description as to what constituted “equals”. As such, once the rule was followed – for example that only Greek men were “equal” – one could claim there was equality. Statements such as “equality before the law” also fall under this category: no questions arise as to what was the content of the law. Formal equality only demands consistency.

It is generally accepted that in any society some inequalities will be morally permissible. Differences in ethnicity, interests, aptitudes, intelligence, and conception of the good are some that seem to have general approval. In Guyana, these are questions that have to be debated and agreed on. Normally the rewards or punishment from one’s efforts (desserts) are also seen as permissible even if not equally distributed. Once those that are not defensible have been identified, then the state/society has to decide what to do about them. Items identified from the latter category at some time or place have been political power, opportunity for scarce resources, welfare or social position, social position/class, economic resources, welfare etc. In general, some stress political equality while others focus on economic equality: Conservatives and Libertarians balk at increased governmental intervention while Socialists/Marxists/ liberals expect the state to intervene to mitigate inequalities. In Guyana, questions of the equality of social status, and political and economic parity are intensely contested between the ethnic groups in the society.

As we indicated, we can only have substantive equality when there is a specific criterion identified by which policies can be assessed. For instance, in terms of “equal treatment” or opportunity, there can be formal equality if the law states that offices are open to anyone who is qualified. In this instance, one is being told that all existent inequalities of talent, birth or station etc. are morally permissible. Substantively, this may not have any effect on the concrete circumstances since there is no stipulation that all applicants should have equal life chances. The question would be for society or the state to decide whether the still surviving inequalities are, or are not, morally permissible. If the latter is decided on, then there may be affirmative action programs or other compensating policies initiated.

In Guyana, where there have been historically determined structural conditions that undergird some inequalities there may be the need for affirmative action programs to rectify these imbalances.

A resident of the North Rupununi performing the smoking ceremony during the annual Heritage Village activity, in observance of Indigenous Heritage Month 2017

Lest we forget the development sabotage

Dear Editor, It seems like many moons ago Guyana had its first minority Government, as such, is the intensity of living in Guyana over the past two and a half years. Indeed, the almost daily eruption and unearthing of a new scandal, scheme, corrupt practice or policy to unleash untold suffering upon the populace, makes the very daily existence in Guyana, an unprecedented challenge and more than a mouthful to swallow. It is why I find it necessary to pen this letter to remind Guyanese of an administration which, when in Opposition, bullied its way against a Ramotarled People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration, and, continues to bully the people of Guyana, every step of the way.

The current Administration enjoys catapulting itself onto a pedes-

tal and casting judgement on the PPP Government with the insinuation that the development agenda being pursued by the party, under the framework of the Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) was somehow subpar. Editor, even an ex-facie examination of the LCDS would reveal its superiority to the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS); a document which is supposed to be the development plan of Guyana until 2030 which contains glorified narrative and no underpinning mechanism of economic or social transformation.

It is indeed true that energy is one of the most important sources of economic transformation in any developing country – Guyana is no different. Any attempt to stymie any project which aids in the improvement of the energy sector, must be seen as

a position which is diametrically opposing to progress and antithetical to development. Unfortunately for the people of Guyana, this antithetical position was recurrent in the Tenth Parliament of Guyana, propagated by the one-seat majority APNU/ AFC Opposition.

Editor, three actions, which should not be seen as mutually exclusive, must be examined to understand how the APNU/AFC has single-handedly underdeveloped the energy sector and inhibited improved efficiency. These are: 1) the anti-Amaila Falls Hydropower Projects stance; 2) the inciting of protests in Linden on the regularising of the electricity rates and; 3) the inability to conceive a viable replacement on the same scale as the Amaila Falls Project. I will briefly examine each.

The anti-Amaila Falls Project stance could probably be remembered as the greatest sabotage on Guyana’s development in the post-structural adjustment period.

Editor, this project was internationally lauded by development experts, engineering specialists, international agencies and local experts.

I cannot overemphasise the economic benefits which would have accrued from cheaper electricity but improved Private Sector competitiveness in international markets; greater disposable income for consumers and; the ability to attract more foreign investors to our shores were among some of the most immediate. Despite pleas by President Ramotar and other senior PPP members, the APNU/AFC remained steadfast in their anti-development position. continued on page 5

Significant increases in school dropouts in Amerindian communities Dear Editor, A Education Ministry report of November 6, 2008, revealed that, up to 2007, 13,844 students had dropped out of the primary school system, representing four per cent of the national population. The report continued: “… according to Evelyn Hamilton, Chief Planning Officer of the Ministry of Education, the situation is much worse, particularly in primary and secondary schools in hinterland areas, like Region One [Barima-Waini] and Region Nine [Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo], where rates are more than tripled.”

However, the previous Administration had significantly lowered those figures when the Education Ministry in March 28, 2014, reported that school dropouts had significantly decreased through

the implementation of the Guyana Secondary Education Improvement Project, the objective of which was to increase the number of students with access to secondary school Mathematics teachers, who were benefiting from continuous professional development nationwide. This project was one of several projected to increase the number of students in secondary schools with improved learning conditions in targeted regions.

By the time the previous Administration demitted office in 2015, Guyana had achieved the United Nations Millennium Development Goal in Primary Education and was well on the way to achieving the UNMDG in secondary education. This fact was underscored by impactful examination results in every region and, because of

the requisite facilitation to educational resources, Amerindian students emerged shining stars in the firmament of Guyanese scholars.

Sadly, of recent times, there has been a reversal of the prior educational trends in hinterland communities; for several reasons, but mainly due to socio-economic dysfunctions within Amerindian communities.

Additionally, factored into this equation, is poor attendance, low education expectations, low socio-economic status, poor education of parents, large number of siblings and not living with natural parents. The limited opportunities for academic success also inhibits higher education accessibility, exacerbated by constrained access to resources in schools as well as high pupil/

teacher ratios instead of full complements of trained teachers contributing to the dropout rates.

The implications and consequences of children dropping out of school will contribute to unemployment, a life of poverty and all its related social ills, which will evolve in a vicious cycle of less than healthy lifestyles for generations to come.

As we celebrate both Amerindian Heritage and Education Month, we must take cognisance of the increase in school dropouts in our Amerindian communities and its related ills. It is devastating and greatly distressing to see the reversal of over two decades of increased school attendance and the emphasis placed on education at the village level by the previous Administration. continued on page 5

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PPP/C Member of Parliament’s response to KN (Part 1) Dear Editor, I write in response to the Kaieteur News editorial of September 14, “A Broken Party.”

The editorial of a newspaper is meant to reflect the opinion of that medium on the issue. I do not believe this article was written by the Editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris, nor does it reflect the views of its publisher, Glenn Lall. Neither is so naive as to believe that the People’s Progressive Party is “a broken party”.

This editorial reflects such biased views and arrogant contempt for the PPP that it is most likely written by someone with the mindset of a Freddie Kissoon, al-

though Freddie is not that naive either.

The editorial begins, “History has shown that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has descended into an abyss of a mere vote-getting machine based on race politics bent on dividing the country.” Surely, this “editor” is ignorant of the political history of the country, and should have done some research before putting his pen into gear. With all the irregularities that took place during the 2015 General Election, the PPP/C secured 202,694 votes to the APNU/AFC’s 207,200 votes, a difference of 4506 votes. In 2011, the APNU and the AFC contested sep-

Decriminalising possession of small amounts of marijuana Dear Editor, The current legal regime, as contained in the “Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (control) Act”, against the possession of small amounts of marijuana, attempts to prevent a low quantum of harm to society at a very high cost. In other words, the costs imposed on the health care and welfare systems by marijuana use are negligible compared to the costs associated with enforcing current marijuana possession laws.

Specifically, the provisions that mandate imprisonment as punishment are not appropriate in the circumstances. The societal interest in prohibiting marijuana possession must take into account, one the one hand, the burden that marijuana use imposes on the health care system, and, on the other, the costs incurred by society because of enforcing the current laws. A cursory observation shows that the costs imposed on the health care system by marijuana are negligible compared to the costs associated with enforcing the current imprisonment regime. While this opinion is based on observations, the State, via the Parliament, should fund and commission empirical studies to ascertain the extent of this, so as to be guided accordingly and act proportionately with respect to the penalties imposed.

Additionally, it can be

argued that the current laws stand in violation of the harm principle and civil liberties of individuals. As postulated by John Stuart Mill in his seminal work On Liberty: “The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.” In this regard, a criminal sanction of imprisonment should be reserved for those whose conduct causes a risk of harm to others and infringes on the rights or freedoms of other individuals. The choice of using marijuana is a strictly personal decision, because it is the individual who suffers the change in perception, mood and state of consciousness brought about by the use of marijuana. It is the individual who deals with the consequences of his or her decision, without disturbing or affecting the rest of society. This becomes more so admissible when taken together with the establishment of similar legislation as the recently signed Tobacco Control Bill that prohibits public smoking.

It is time that our policymakers enact legislation to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Regards, Clinton Urling Society of Marijuana Advocates for Reform and Treatment (SMART)

arately, but secured a total of 175,011 votes, compared to 166,340 for the PPP/C (source: GECOM).

Then at the Local Government Elections in March 2016, the PPP/C won 24,894 MORE VOTES than the governing APNU+AFC, securing 48 NDCs in the 70 Local Authority Areas contested. These results clearly demonstrate that the PPP is still the largest political party in the country. This, Dear Editor, is our history as documented by GECOM, and no rational person would describe this as a “broken party”.

But it gets even more absurd. This Kaieteur News “editor” propagates, “The PPP is distinctive from other

political parties in Guyana because it is corrupt and crooked. It does not have a vision and the challenge its members face today is new leadership. The party is at a critical crossroad, it is a broken party, and its members are asking serious questions about its future, its leadership and what role it can exercise in the future governance of the country.” Well now, this diatribe is beginning to sound more like an Abel Seetaram on pethidine.

So before I respond to the nonsense spewed in this so-called “editorial”, let me once again for transparency and self-disclosure, admit that I was once a fierce critic of former President

Bharrat Jagdeo and his PPP Administration. While living in New York, my hunger for news out of Guyana caused me to be negatively influenced by the onslaught of news critical of the PPP/C Government, propagated by the local online press and Mark Benschop on his hate radio. Without facts or evidence, I too joined the misinformation campaign, and maliciously accused the Jagdeo Administration of corruption in much the same way as this Administration is doing now. But then, after returning regularly on vacations, I was able to see first-hand the metamorphosis that had taken place from the hopelessness I had

Lest we forget...

The inciting of violence in Linden when the regularisation of electricity rates was initiated in the Budget speech, represents another sore point in recent Guyanese history. Regularising the electricity rates in Guyana would have represented the first step to ensuring that GPL, which suffers from inherent inefficiency due to line losses, moved one-step closer to second-best efficiency. This however, Editor, was not to be.

Perhaps the greatest in-

justice stricken onto the Guyanese people is the woeful intellectual infertility by the APNU/AFC to conjure a viable alternative to the Amaila Falls Project which would provide the same magnitude of power. The Windfarm Project which at its peak is supposed to generate 30 per cent of the power of the Amaila Falls Project, is strife with corruption from the very outset. Moreover, we are almost at the end of 2017 and halfway through this Administration’s term

and improve academic output.

Naming Lethem and Mabaruma as towns, for example, requires more than just that; but it must be accompanied with educational and economic pillars that will see our hinterland communities, and especially our young people – the leaders of the future, be provided the requisite support – at every level, to achieve their optimum potential for personal growth to develop themselves and to subsequently contribute to the development of their communities and, ultimately, their country.

It is important that the government of the day recognises the imperative of governing for all the people of the land with equity and without favouring one community over the other. The

Sincerely, Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

From page 4

in office and no substantive progress has been made on this project.

I would offer to close by reminding the Guyanese public that even through the trying time of development sabotage, PPP Administration grew the economy by 13.8 per cent over a three-year period – sublime economic growth by any measure.

In the absence of such strong performances, the economic growth over the three-year period would

Significant increases in...

During that period, access to school systems and educational dynamics in hinterland communities across the country had been tremendously improved, with our children being afforded greatly-enhanced opportunities in upgrading our standards in life through education.

Indeed, many of our children have returned with their academic successes in the various professions to serve their own communities in hinterland regions.

For our nation to return to an upward growth pattern, it is vital that all our children, especially those in the hinterland regions, be given the opportunities and resources to learn and be able to develop their own communities through the requisite economic and extended support to sustain

left behind when I migrated during the reign of the PNC. For despite the allegations of corruption, prosperity was evident everywhere.

Guyanese owned more cars and beautiful homes than ever before. There were new schools and hospitals and a network of beautifully paved roads. Guyanese had jobs and money in their pockets.

Blackouts were rapidly diminishing. The crime rate was still too high and there were pockets of problems of course, but, in general, people were mostly happy.

Amerindian children of this nation should not be shortchanged because of any prejudicial consideration and should all be treated

have been a lackluster six per cent approximated. It is a small wonder therefore why the Guyanese populace complain of trying economic times and a visionless government. Editor, almost a decade later and we are still no closer to any form of alternative energy and face blackouts as a part of our daily lives. Why? Lest we forget the development sabotage.

Yours sincerely, Nand Puran

From page 4

equally.

Regards, Alister Charlie, MP

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Foundation

By Nancy Jergins

By BJ Foster

C

alling me a late bloomer when it comes to girls would be an understatement. When I was 16, there was a group of us at a local hangout after a Friday night football game. There were several popular girls at our table, but I never really stood out like the other guys. Somehow attention turned to me to tell a funny story. This was my moment to shine and impress and I was good at telling stories.

Everyone was paying attention and engaged. Just as I was going to hit them with the punchline, I made a gesture with my hand, knocking over my drink glass. Coke came flowing down like Niagara Falls all over my lap. I picked up the cup, emptied the rest on my lap, asked the waiter for a refill, and never finished my story.

For middle and high school boys, talking to girls can feel just as clumsy. Obviously it was for me. It’s awkward and scary.

If I had only known what I know now, it would have saved me a lot of pain and anxiety. That is why I thoroughly intend on teaching my son how to talk to girls with the following principles.

Respect

Women are to be treated with respect at all times. [Tweet This] They want a man that treats them well and doing so will make you more desirable.

However, the real reason to treat women with respect is that they deserve it. A gentleman is a gentleman at all

times. Women are a precious gift and blessing. Speak to them with the dignity with which they were created.

No puppy dog

You know that guy that likes a girl and follows her around like a puppy. Never ever be that guy. He always ends up in the friend zone. They need to know that you don’t need them because, in the end, you don’t. You may like a

terests. What do they have fun talking about? Study and know these topics.

Learn the art of asking questions. Make the conversation easy for them by reducing the awkward silence. When she is smiling and laughing, you are hitting the mark. If you get to a point where you are ready to express your true feelings, give her an out. Let her know that it’s okay for her to not answer right away and to not feel the same way. It reduces the pressure on her and allows you to remain in control.

Confident moves

girl, but you shouldn’t need her. While getting to know her, be a little mysterious and always leave her wanting more.

That might mean you cut a conversation short or leave a get-together before her. If she is not intrigued, move on. As the relationship progresses, you won’t have to do it anymore but, in the beginning, it is important.

Drive the conversation

This is a skill that can be learned.

Learn how to talk about anything, particularly subjects that pique their in-

Nothing reduces awkwardness than a man who is confident about himself and is comfortable in any situation. If you are comfortable in your own skin, it will relax her and make her feel okay.

A confident posture gives the potential for you to make strong moves—like telling her how you feel. By all means, have important conversations face-to-face or, at least, by phone. Never over text (that’s weak).

M

y son is at the age when girls and boys start “liking” each other. And even though he’s not the heartbreaker type (I think he’s cute and charming, of course, but not boy band material), I want him to know how to treat girls when those girl/ boy interactions begin.

First and foremost, I want him to be nice to all of the girls, not just the ones the boys think are “it.” I want him to treat girls the way I hope they will treat him – with kindness and respect.

Here are the 6 things I will teach my son about how to treat girls.

1. Girls are people too

While I know that my son realises that boys and girls are, obviously, different, I also want him to realise that girls and boys share similar feelings – they get scared, they feel shy, they get their feelings hurt.

I want him to always try to put himself in their shoes when it comes to thinking about how his actions and words will affect them.

2. Be the gentleman

Gentlemen stand out. Gentlemen are appreciated.

Gentlemen are men with good manners. {Tweet This} So if

Compatibility, not self-worth and overall attractiveness

It’s natural to feel sad or down when your feelings are not reciprocated. This is bound to happen when you take the initiative. We’ve all been there.

If it doesn’t happen, you probably aren’t risking enough. Remember that you are looking for compatibility and so is she.

It doesn’t mean that you are less than desirable, just that it’s not a fit. Keep being you, know your true value, and don’t stop initiating. (www.allprodad.com)

my son reaches a doorway at the same instant a girl does, he needs to step back and let her go first. If a girl drops something, he needs to pick it up for her. Even when he’s surrounded by his buddies, he needs to be a gentleman.

3. Say no kindly

Unrequited love hurts – even when you’re 12. I want my son to know that if a girl likes him and he’s aware of it and does not wish to return the sentiment, he needs to be kind. If a girl asks him directly if he likes her, he can say yes or no (even if it’s in a check the “yes” box if you like me, check the “no” box if you don’t note) with kindness. As much as the line “I like you as a friend” hurts, it does cut to the chase.

4. Say no firmly

I also want my son to say no firmly when it’s called for. If a girl starts being too forceful or intrusive with her affections, he can let her know in a firm way.

“Beth, I like you as a friend and that’s all. I think we should leave it at that.”

5. Be prepared

When my son lays his heart on the line, he needs to be prepared for rejection. I want him to know that that’s a part of romantic life. Having said that though, I want him to be brave if he feels like he does want to let a girl know that he likes her – because where there is no risk, there is no reward.

6. It’s okay to sit it out

We never tease our children about romantic things.

No “so who’s your girlfriend?” asked in a teasing way.

We don’t want them to feel pressure to join the boy/girl “she likes you” dance. There is plenty of time in life for romance. In fact, we hope our son will enjoy hanging out with his buddies, rather than getting caught up in having a girlfriend. If you’re unsure about your take on this, take a look at the pros and cons of middle school romance. (www.imom.com)

news

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wednesDay, September 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

President to raise climate change concerns at Commonwealth HOG meeting drafting and using the experience in other petroleum-producing countries that is the main area in which we have been collaborating,” President

President David Granger in discussion with the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth

P

resident David Granger said he would raise concerns about climate change and global warming when he attends the Commonwealth Heads of Government (HOG) meeting.

The President met with Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland on Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly Meeting at UN Headquarters, New York.

The Head of State said discussions included climate change. “We feel

that the Commonwealth will be a good forum to keep the issue of climate change and global warming alive and we are going to London next year at the Commonwealth next year and will raise it there,” the President is quoted as saying by the Ministry of the Presidency.

Also included in the discussion was the matter of assistance from the Commonwealth in the development of Guyana’s oil and gas industry. “Mainly in that regard it is governance it is legislation

Granger explained.

During a bilateral meeting, President Granger and the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth shared their

“mutual support in terms of the territorial claims” in both countries. Mauritius has a territorial dispute with Britain.

Likewise, Guyana

raised its border controversy with Venezuela.

“Mauritius, as part of the Commonwealth, has always given us support,” the President noted.

8 NEWS

wednesday, September 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Gunman attacks former Commander’s daughter

… shoots supervisor

T

he daughter of Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, George Vyphuis, was in the wee hours of Tuesday morning attacked by an armed bicycle bandit who opened fire, injuring the woman and her colleague.

Reports are 34-year-old Kathy Vyphuis was making her way home from work at about 02:30h on Tuesday, when a masked bandit pounced on her and her supervisor, Tommy Lee, who was driving her home.

The duo had just arrived at the woman’s Lot 865 Plantation Providence, East Bank Demerara residence and as she was about the exit the vehicle, the lone gunman pounced, demanding that they remain put.

Acting on impulse, Lee accelerated his vehicle, thereby resulting in the robber firing several rounds at them. The injured supervisor managed to flee the scene but Vyphuis did not secure much distance between herself and the attacker when she fell to the

ground. It was then that the man narrowed in on the terrified mother, demanding that she let go of her purse.

While speaking to Guyana Times on Tuesday, the traumatised woman broke down in tears while outlining, “I was in fear. He came and I was like take my purse, I don’t have anything, take it.

He came with the gun, pick my purse up, jump on a bike and rode off.”

The single mother went on to say that, “I got up and I run and I was like somebody help me, help me! Nobody would help me.”

However, following relentless pleas from the sobbing woman, one neighbour, Nicola Telford, opened her door for the woman.

The two then remained locked inside the home and made numerous attempts to contact the Police. While they were awaiting the arrival of the Police, the bandit returned once again, but this time pretending to be a neighbour. The man then began appealing to the women

The traumatised woman, Kathy Vyphuis

to open door, saying that he found Vyphuis’s bag on the road.

“He kept banging on the door and saying that he was a neighbour and we asking he which neighbour, identify yourself and he kept saying some neighbour from down the road and we said we don’t know anyone like that.”

After he was denied entry, the bandit continued to bang on the door but eventually gave up and left. It was

only after Vyphuis was safety tucked away in Telford’s home that she realised she was covered in mud and blood, after being shot once to her arm. After some time, officers arrived at the scene and Vyphuis was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

Meanwhile, her supervisor had already been rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, nursing injuries to his hand and thigh. Lee was said to be in unstable condition but was later listed as relatively stable.

The mother of one, who is a cashier at a drinking establishment on the East Coast of Demerara, has been living in Diamond for almost three years.

This report comes two days after bandits broke into a home just doors away, holding a two-month-old infant at gunpoint, in an attempted to rob the family.

Stemming from this most recent incident, residents within the area are calling for immediate measures to be put in place, with some even noting that they are now too terrified to return home.

Joint Services probing another illegal aircraft, airstrip

J

oint Service ranks are probing yet another suspected illegal airstrip in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), according to Regional Chairman Brian Allicock.

Additionally, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said that several Police Officers have been

transferred from the Region as the authorities investigate the recent illegal airstrip/aircraft discovery in North Rupununi.

Allicock told Guyana Times that authorities have received several reports that over a period of time a number of aircraft have been seen circling and

landing at a suspected illegal airstrip in the Parabara Savannah in South Rupununi. He noted that following the reports a team comprising ranks from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force ventured into the area to investigate.

“The area is very far

from there and it’s thick jungle and vast savannah land so that is why it is taking so long…it’s over 100 miles from here so we are waiting until they get here,” Allicock added.

Reports indicate that the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is in receipt of information, which indicates that an unidentified aircraft was spotted overhead in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) several days ago.

Reports are that a pilot attached to a domestic airline at Ogle was flying from the Kaieteur Falls airstrip to the coastland, when an aircraft was spotted. A report was made and it was noted that air traffic control had no knowledge of any additional traffic in the vicinity. The incident is being investigated.

Only recently, an illegal Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft was found in North Rupununi on an illegal airstrip. Documents found in the aircraft appeared to have come from Brazil and Colombia.

Responding to the possibility of Police collusion, Minister Ramjattan said that several ranks have been transferred from the area, but noted that that did not mean that they were guilty of any wrongdoing.

“In the Disciplined Forces, we move around people and the fact that certain things happen sometimes we move around people. Not because they are involved, it doesn’t necessarily follow that they are involved, but, yes, some people have been moved.

The investigation is ongoing and I don’t want to jump to any conclusions before that is completed,” he said.

Just a gyaff…

A

…on gas fter he stuck his foot into his mouth by insisting he’d get Exxon to pay up-front for oil to be shipped in the future, Trotman still didn’t accept he knew absolutely zilch about the oil industry. He went on to insist he was going to establish a US$500 million “oil facility” on Crab Island. Once again, he didn’t check with Exxon whether they’d be using such a facility but rushed to take out ads in all the major dailies to tie up the lands around his site.

Turned out, the land was already owned by private folks and Exxon had already signed an agreement for its FPSO, rigs, and ships to be serviced out of a wharf in Mc Doom Muneshwars had developed! But Trotman still wasn’t fazed…you know the one about fools rushing in and all that!! He then came up with the bright idea (he thought) about a refinery in Guyana. Exxon once again pointed out that weren’t adding no value to their oil in Guyana, thank you: they had all that excess refining capacity in Louisiana.

Maybe Trotman would open up a refinery on his own with Guyana’s share of the oil it would be getting based on the terms of the secret contract with Exxon? But after he suddenly dropped that idea like the proverbial hot potato, the smart money figured that just confirmed Guyana was getting zilch from its “share of profits”! And this brings us up to Trotman’s latest brainwave being discussed with Exxon – firing GPL’s generators with gas that’ll be brought up along with the oil.

But what exactly will be discussed? Exxon’s already announced in its development plans it will be pumping the gas back under the sea and has no plans to run any pipelines or whatever to utilise the gas ashore. So like the oil refinery brain-wave, where will Trotman be getting the money to bring the gas to GPL? And which GPL plants?

Everyone knows (excepting Trotman, it seems) that GPL’s generators are all along the coast. So in addition to the 150 mile pipe under the sea, there will be another 150 miles to connect the latter? Jeez!!

But as usual, your Eyewitness is convinced nothing will come out of this detour and frolic also. The tip-off was the announcement that the present talks between the Government and Exxon’s technical people aren’t going to result in any changes in the contract! So how will you now ship gas if the contract doesn’t cater for this?

Isn’t it time discussion of Trotman’s ideas in the oil sector be moved to a rum-shop? It’s always just a gyaff, isn’t it?

…on Police CoI leak We have the crime mystery of the century to be solved: “Case of their Purloined CoI Report”. Your Eyewitness had a frisson of excitement like he used to get whenever he got a new Hardy Boy’ mystery! He also used to read the Nancy Drew mysteries, but this is no time for true confession!!! What are the facts?

This was a one-man CoI – in the person of former Asst Commish Paul Slowe – who was never slow on the draw when he was in harness! So, we can’t end up like those Agatha Christie mysteries where you had a dozen or more suspects and all sorts of red herrings being dragged across cold trails! The first question has to be: “Who’d he give the report to?

Well, we know he DIDN’T give it to the Public Security Minister – who he publicly complained he was hoping to get a peek, when it was shared to Cabinet. Slowe said he gave a copy to Prezzie – and we know Prezzie doesn’t leak.

Now that leaves one!! …about cussbirds Your Eyewitness must confess he’s a tad disappointed Prezzie took the exposed cussbird from his office to the UN with him.

But then again, maybe he wanted to tell off those “spics” from Venezuela?

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

News

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wednesDAY, september 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Assassination CoI

Paul Slowe had an axe to grind – Jagdeo

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo believes his party has been vindicated when it predicted that the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into a two-yearold assassination claim allegedly directed against Head of State David Granger had sinister motives. According to Jagdeo, it has now been revealed that the coalition affiliated Paul Slowe, in fact already had an axe to grind since he is an aggrieved party.

Jagdeo made his views known on Tuesday when he addressed members of the local press corps at his party’s Freedom House headquarters.

According to the Opposition Leader, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had warned of the sinister motives behind the establishment of that CoI at a time when the country was facing its largest crisis ever with regards the prison system. He was at the time referring to the fire which completely gutted the Georgetown Prison – a situation compounded by the escaped prisoners; some of whom are still on the run, including Royden Williams, charged in relation to the Bartica massacre.

Jagdeo told reporters, “we see the motive being revealed... we warned of it. It had to do with destroying the career path of many existing officers.”

The Opposition Leader pointed to the reports in the State media with regards the recommendations that emanated from that report, which was somehow mysteriously leaked from the State to the State-owned and controlled newspaper.

Jagdeo in pointing to the motives behind the CoI and the purported leaks to the State-owned media, said it was all a ploy to besmirch existing officers in the Guyana Police Force in order to replace them.

The Opposition Leader said “we pointed out that that might be the ulterior motive and today they just confirmed...the Government has confirmed that that is so,”

Slowe, was in fact unhappy over his transfer under the past regime, to the point where he had approached the courts.

The Paul Slowe-chaired Commission of Inquiry was ordered by President Granger

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo as he pointed to the three days of running coverage in the Guyana Chronicle which has lambasted the most senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force, Commissioner Seelall Persaud, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum and David Ramnarine among others.

Jagdeo used the opportunity to also trade barbs with the Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, saying “despite the crocodile tears (being) shed by Ramjattan, how he is so concerned about the leak, imagine a Vice President of this country can’t tell you how the leak took place... they could have easily said to Chronicle don’t carry this because it’s going to destroy the career of officers.”

Turning his attention to the CoI Chairman – former Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Paul Slowe – the Opposition Leader drew reference to a weekly column penned by veteran Journalist and Editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris, who in an article on Sunday noted that “Paul Slowe had an axe to grind with the PPP Government and Paul Slow is acting on the basis of a vendetta.”

Jagdeo told reporters assembled at Freedom House that had President Granger been serious about an investigation into the alleged plot against him, “he should not have appointed Paul Slowe to head it, cause Paul Slow has bad blood with many people in there, he is an aggrieved

Cocaine mule jailed, fined $2.5M

A

38-year-old taxi driver was jailed and fined when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with trafficking in narcotics.

Julius Watkins was jailed for four years and fined $2.5 million on Tuesday when he admitted to Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, between September 12 and 15, he swallowed 114 pellets, which were laced with a total of 960 grams of cocaine.

The father of four was nabbed as he attempted to board an outgoing flight to Canada after Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) ranks noticed him acting in a suspicious manner.

As such, Watkins questioned, and immediately taken to CANU Headquarters where he confessed to the offence.

The taxi driver was then taken to a city hospital where he excreted the illicit substance.

At his arraignment, Watkins appealed for leniency, telling the Chief Magistrate that he was facing a financial

Convicted: Julius Watkins

crisis and was unable to send his children to school. This was the explanation he used to justify his selected means to earn some extra income.

Chief Magistrate McLennan before handing down the fouryear sentence took into consideration that Watkins did not waste the court’s time. He was whisked away into Police custody before being transported to jail where he would commence fulfilling his debt to society.

CoI Chairman Paul Slowe part as Adam Harris himself on Sunday (last) pointed out.”

Jagdeo used the opportunity to criticise the former Assistant Police Commissioner, observing that Slowe had in fact served as part of the coalition’s campaign team in the last General Election held in May 2015.

“He was put there to do a hatched job on the leadership of the Police Force, destroying professionalism,” Jagdeo said.

He drew reference again to the recollections of the veteran journalist, who had documented that the then ACP

after an East Bank Demerara man, Andriff Gillard, reported to the Police that his friend and neighbor, Nizam Khan, offered him $7 million to assassinate the President.

The state newspaper, under the direct responsibili-

ty of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, has since reported that the report recommends that substantive Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud, should be forced to resign or be removed if he refused.

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wednesday, September 20, 2017

News

Essequibo Pandit’s house gutted in early morning fire

The gutted house

A

The Spring Garden, Essequibo Coast house on fire

fire of unknown origin has completely gutted a two-sto-

rey house at Lot 31 Spring Garden, Essequibo Coast.

The house was owned by

a popular Essequibo Coast Pandit, Manesh Danraj, called “Sir” of Spring Garden village.

According to information

reaching Guyana Times, Danraj was in Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) when he received the tragic news that his home was on fire. The fire started at 03:15h Tuesday morning. Information revealed that the concrete and wooden building, which had been completely furnished, was completely gutted.

According to head of the Anna Regina Fire Station, Clive Mc Donald, the Station received a call around 04:06h and fire-fighters were dispatched to the location.

He said the firemen were prompt and managed to save a nearby building that was in the same yard. Mc Donald said investigations were currently ongoing in an effort to discover the cost of the fire. residents Meanwhile, said that calls were made to the Fire Station around 03:20h. Neighbours related that they smelt smoke and immediately rushed outside. According to one neighbour, the family has a business at Bartica and would usually come home on weekends. A security guard was at the premises at the time of the fire and contacted the Anna Regina Fire Station.

The last to know S

atiricus knew he was headed for dangerous waters. But he had his answers all ready for the onslaught he knew would come down on him, once he got to the Back Street Bar. His better half, Caustic, had already given him more than his fair share that made him speed up his exit from his house and hearth. He wasn’t disappointed.

“Suh wha’ mek Rum Jhaat na just resign?” Bungi demanded even before he could get comfortable, much less begin on his beer. “’E a wan real waste!”

“What are you talking about?” said Satiricus with a straight face, hoping to buy some time.

“You didn’t read the paper today?” asked Hari, as Satiricus shook his head affirmatively.

“If Rum Jhaat in charge a de police,” Bungi wanted to know. “How come he a complain de Kranik know ‘bout all dem police big bais guh get knack aff befo’ he?”

“Well, it was a leak, you know,” said Hari in Satiricus’s defence.

“Me know a wan leak,” said Bungi heatedly.

“But dem na suppose fuh gyam wan hint befo’ de res’ a de Cabinet?

“He’s a very busy man,” said Satiricus weakly.

“Suh ‘e police jab a only fuh fix-up police stayshan?” Bungi wanted to know. “An’ wuk pan ‘e alcohol prablem?”

“But tell me something,” said Hari, still trying to rescue Satiricus. “Isn’t Nagga Man in charge of the Chronic? Couldn’t he plug the leak?”

“Budday! Da jus’ show me bin right all de time,” said Bungi, slapping the table. “Rum Jhaat and Nagga Man jus’ like C’rismuss blow-blow in dis guvment!”

“He’s right, Sato,” conceded Hari. “Especially since Feel-Licks took half his job.”

“I suspected this would happen,” said Satiricus, shaking his head. “Moon ah run till daylight ketch am.”

Bungi and Hari laughed in surprise as they clinked beer bottles.

wednesday, September 20, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

New Demerara Bridge

Prisoners demand Final report proposes 250% toll increases steak for breakfast …700% increase for river vessels

– during Camp Street uproar

By Jarryl Bryan

T

he final report of a study done by Dutch consultant LievenseCSO into the construction of a new bridge over the Demerara River has made some eyebrow-raising propositions for increasing tolls to achieve a sustainable financial model.

The report, which was released on Tuesday by the Public Infrastructure Ministry, recommends that toll rates be increased to 250 per cent of the present 2017 toll rates. It also recommends a 700 per cent increase in tolls for river vessels.

This, according to the report, is with the view of limiting Government’s contribution to the project to around US$39 million in the first five years after the bridge is commissioned.

It notes that interest has been found on the national and regional financial markets to fund the project, which the report estimates will cost some US$170 million, inclusive of interest, in pre-financing costs during the construction.

The report’s findings are that a minimal toll hike of 100 per cent would require US$140.1 million over the first 12 years. On the other side of the spectrum, it states that

An artist’s impression of the proposed new bridge (Public Infrastructure Ministry photo)

US$27.3 million would be required from the Government with an increase of 300 per cent.

“From the financial projections, it was concluded that the business case of the project is financially not viable assuming similar toll rates and no contribution from Government. The main reason is the high debt service caused by the short loan periods and high interests in the market,” the report continues.

According to the report, this proposed financial structure is by project finance.

It notes that the structure will be administered by a Government-owned Special Purpose Company (SPC) being the owner and arranging the funding.

BOOT

According to the report, an alternative structure is to seek private parties willing to engage themselves in a Built, Operate, Own and Transfer (BOOT) Project. The consultants noted that these financiers could handle this aspect of the project more effectively than the State.

“However, project costs are higher and the BOOT business case must result in sufficient risk coverage and profit for the private partner and as a result, may require higher toll rates or more Government contribution.”

It is expected, the report added, that similar guarantees from Government will be re-

quired as in the case of project finance, adding that a DBFM (Design, Build, Finance and Maintain) model is a mixed option combining the SPC structure with possibly better financing by the private parties.

The Government’s proposed financial models have come in for strong criticism

by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. On Tuesday, Jagdeo during a press conference lambasted Government for its tenuous approach to determining a financial model to use for the bridge.

The feasibility study and design for the new Demerara River bridge, which had reportedly cost some $146.3 million, was presented to Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson late last month.

The 57-page final report was done by the Dutch company, with the project team including officials from the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation and Transport and Harbours Department.

The feasibility study determined the proposed location of Houston-Versailles as the most ideal. The report had also determined that the bridge should be a low-level one with a movable part and three lanes.

The Camp Street Prison

P

risoners housed at the Camp Street Prison on Tuesday morning caused uproar at the penitentiary, demanding steak for breakfast.

Reports are prison officials had to intervene after the inmates, comprising of those who recently escaped and were recaptured, began behaving disorderly while demanding steak instead of porridge for breakfast.

Director of Prisons

Gladwin Samuels when contacted said t the situation at the prison was under control.

“The escapees wanted steak for breakfast and it was not available,” he told this publication.

In July, prisoners set fire to the penitentiary, raising the Camp Street facility to the ground, killing one prison officer in the escape bid. During the incident six prisoners escaped. The fire displaced over 1000 prisoners.

12 news

wednesDAY, september 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Multi-year agreement

GTU pushing for revision of CPCE curriculum

By Samuel Sukhnandan

C

oming out of recent discussions between the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the Education Ministry regarding the next multi-year agreement was the revision of the programmes currently being offered at the Cyril Potter College Education (CPCE).

The Union has urged the Ministry to look at commencing this process aimed at bringing Guyanese teachers on par with those in the Caribbean.

At present, the CPCE offers an Associate Degree in Education (ADE) (two years); Associate Degree

in Education (one year); and, the Trained Teachers’ Certificate (three years).

While the ADE programme was introduced in 2010 and was designed mainly to create a qualitative difference from the Trained Teachers’ Certificate, the GTU believes that the time has come for the programme to be revised. Having the ADE introduced at the CPCE was essential, since the other Caricom countries have already implemented the programme. Some countries have also raised the bar even further, whereby an individual seeking to become a teacher must have a degree before pursuing the profession.

GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald

GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald told Guyana Times on Tuesday

that the revision was not specifically to do with the ADE programme, but would also take into account the other programmes offered at the country’s only teachers’ training college to make it more modern and up to date.

McDonald said often times teachers were trained for specific roles, but other issues arise in the classroom and teachers must be properly trained to respond effectively and timely. The GTU is, therefore, pushing to have teachers trained to deal with children who misbehave at school, to look for signs in children who may be abused at home, and how

to effectively handle these situations.

Meanwhile, the GTU official told this newspaper that more teachers were becoming trained and to assist this process, the CPCE has given preference to teachers already in the system this year. “So, you might hear of persons applying to attend CPCE, maybe in some cases students leaving school a year or two ago and they were not accepted; it’s not because they don’t want to accept them.”

Despite this, there are several teachers already in the system who have not obtained formal training from the CPCE. The GTU has also requested that more focus be placed on ensuring that physical education and drama be fully included in the curriculum of every school. The Union’s General Secretary said these subjects have been placed on the back burner for a long time. The GTU has also proposed a 40 per cent acrossthe-board salary increase for all public school teachers. It must be noted, however, that in the previous agreement, the GTU had managed to get for teachers countrywide only a five per cent salary increase over the

course of five years.

McDonald explained that the GTU would like to see the salaries of all categories of teachers increased by 45 per cent in 2017 and by 50 per cent for the following three years (2018-2020). She explained that the GTU had arrived at these figures after considering inflation.

Although negotiations in the above regard had not been fruitful with the previous Government, McDonald told Guyana Times, the GTU was hoping that negotiations with this current Administration would see teachers being placed in scales, which reflect the results of the debunching, in keeping with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) governing the period 2011-2015.

This would mean that teachers with advanced levels of training would be placed on a scale that is different from those of recently graduated teachers.

The GTU has proposed that the payment of sums of money in regard to debunching be retroactive to 2011, when the previous MoU was inked and if the MoU was approved, teachers would also benefit from monthly emotional, stress, risk and maintenance allowances.

news

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wednesDAY, september 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Parents call for probe into daughter’s death …accuse GPHC of negligence …CEO says parents transferred child against doctor’s wishes

By Lakhram Bhagirat

S

amantha Kandasammy and Michael Singh, the parents of three-yearold Anisha Singh, are accusing some doctors at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) of serious malpractice, which they claim resulted in the death of their toddler. Anisha, of Lot 2 Edon Street, Tucville, Georgetown, passed away at a private institution at around 02:00h on Monday morning after her parents transferred her from the GPHC. Chronicling the incidents that led up to the death of her daughter, Kandasammy related that she took her toddler to the GPHC on July 7, 2017 for medical treatment after she was dreary and had a cold.

She explained that she related the child’s symptoms to the doctor who said that she did not have a cold and requested that a CT scan be done for further evaluation. Following the CT scan, the doctors informed Kandasammy that they discovered a mass and that a Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI) test was needed. The MRI revealed what doctors suspected to be an abscess in Anisha’s brain and treatment was administered but the child’s health began to spiral downwards.

Anisha’s health took a further turn for the worst when her parents realised she was unable to urinate and defecate. She was immediately rushed again to the GPHC but the doctors turned her away dismissing her condition as one not to worry about.

“She was sent away and then I got up some money and went to a private hospital and when I go to the hospital, the man take in the baby

Samantha Kandasammy and Michael Singh, the parents of three-year-old Anisha Singh

right away. When he checked the baby, he find pneumonia on she and he start treating she and he said she got to get admit but we tell he that she can’t get admit because we don’t have money,” Kandasammy said.

“He wrote a referral letter and sent us to GPHC,” the grieving mother recalled, but while at the GPHC, her child was again discharged.

The woman said she then took her daughter to the private hospital once again where she was admitted for two days and treated for pneumonia but money ran out and the family was once again in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit of the GPHC. Anisha, whose health was rapidly deteriorating, was made to wait some four hours in the A&E Unit before she was admitted and had to wait additional hours before she was given any medication.

The distraught mother related that the child’s condition improved slightly but that improvement was short-lived since the doctors at the GPHC continued to treat Anisha for a brain tumour, indicating that she would not make it.

Medical records

Kandasammy

and

her

PPP reiterates call for assistance to hurricaneravaged islands …again urges Govt to assist affected Guyanese

T

he Opposition People's Progressive Party has extended its sympathies and commiserations to the Government and peoples’ of the Caribbean nations, which have been devastated by yet another Hurricane – Maria – which ravaged the island of Dominica and is en route to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and The Bahamas.

According to the Party, from all indications, the destruction and dislocations have been massive.

“We continue to hope that our brothers and sisters in the affected areas show the resilience which we know

they are capable of and have the strength to survive this latest disaster,” the Party stated.

The Party added that as was noted following Hurricane Irma, “we reiterate our call upon the Government of Guyana to immediately initiate steps to provide assistance to our Caribbean brothers and sisters and to assist with the evacuation of Guyanese living on the affected islands who are desirous of being evacuated.” The Party noted that it stands with those affected in this time of their tragedy.

husband, Michael, told this publication that the doctors refused to produce their daughter’s medical records when they requested a copy in their attempt to seek a second opinion and possibly treatment at other institutions.

“To get her out of the hospital was a problem and we tell them that we want to take self-discharge and take she to another facility and to give we

the baby and they don’t want to do that… They refused to give us the medical report and till this morning (Tuesday) when the baby done dead then they send the report. We had people going up to them telling them that we need the report to go overseas and they didn’t give the record,” an irate Michael Singh said.

The medical report, seen by this publication, stated the three-year-old was diagnosed with brainstem glioma.

Childhood brainstem glioma is a disease in which benign (no cancer) or malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissue of the brainstem. The report said that no surgical intervention was recommended.

The report did give permission for the parents to move the child via air ambulance for the requested overseas treatment. However, that consent came a little too late.

moved because it was dangerous. There was a demand for the child to be moved and the child was moved against the advice of the medical practitioners,” he said. Meanwhile, Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings told this publication on Tuesday that she is unaware of the incident but noted that she will ask for a briefing on the matter.

Challenge

Three-year-old Anisha Singh

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the GPHC George Lewis, told Guyana Times that he is aware of the incident.

“I know of the matter.

I know of the transfer that was requested by the relatives. I know that the doctors at the Georgetown [Public] Hospital advised the relatives that the child should not be

Anisha’s parents are now contemplating action against the doctors, whom they blame for the death of their youngest child. The grieving father noted that he hopes the hospital launches a probe into the death of the toddler.

On September 3, 2017, one-month-old Hailey Henry lost her life at the GPHC, with her parents claiming that she was overdosed with antibiotics.

14 news

wednesDAY, september 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Wapishana people addresses rights violation, harmful development …launches website to address concerns

T

he Wapishana people, also known as the Waipichan, of Guyana have launched a website to monitor their ancestral lands against exploitation and harmful development while defending their basic human rights as a tribe of Guyana’s Indigenous people.

Their territory is located in the south-western part of Guyana. The territory’s rich variety of rainforests, mountains, wetlands, savannah grasslands and tropical woodlands are the home-

land of 21 communities who make a living from smallscale farming, hunting, fishing and gathering, which they have practised over the whole area for generations.

The area supports an outstanding abundance of wildlife, including endangered species such as giant river otters, jaguars, and rare bush dogs as well as endemic species of fishes and birds.

The South Rupununi District Council (SRDC), in a press statement, said that community monitor-

ing teams, the use of smartphone technology, drones, and community digital maps would all form part of the monitoring system for the protection of rights and land.

It is the hope of the Wapichan communities that use of tools, like the Internet, will help raise national and international awareness about the pressures on their territory. Increased visibility of rights abuse and environmental damage is expected to give momentum to their calls for secure land

rights and national legal and policy reforms in support of community rights and protection of community conserved sites, including a Wapichan Conserved Forest, the statement said.

Chair of the SRDC, Paulinus Albert, said that their territory was under pressure from rampant mining and plans for agribusiness and road developments. “The situation is getting worse and threats are increasing. This is why we have decided to watch over our lands and forests, and to

Mining destruction at Locust creek

get organised to collect and publish information to tell the world what is going on,” Albert said.

According to the SRDC, in 2015, they recorded a number of harmful practices. These include: encroachment on customary land and forest by illegal gold miners; deforestation and destruction of water sources, creeks and wetlands, including a total wipeout of Toucan and Panche Creeks, and severe damage to Locust Creek; pollution of water courses with mercury and tailings sediment; illegal border crossings from Brazil used by miners, rustlers, smugglers and sports hunters and illegal opening of airstrips in the Parabara Savannah among others.

This is not the first time the Wapichan communities have denounced destruction caused by illegal and concession mining. They have been raising concerns since the mid-1990s about the detrimental impact of medium-scale mining and the risks posed by large concessions controlled by foreign companies in the Marudi mining fields.

The District Council has raised serious concerns regarding a current largescale licence held by Guyana Goldstrike Inc of Canada, which overlaps ancestral lands that the State still has not titled, including sacred mountains located in the forested southern part of Wapichan territory. Despite promises of environmental assessments and ‘clean’ mercury-free mining, little progress has been made.

Villages protest that a genuine, good-faith process of free, prior and informed consent has never taken place.

Shulinab Village Toshao Nicholas Fredericks said that they plan to feed their reports on mining impacts, rights violations and threats to territory into formal land talks with the Government of Guyana.

Some of their remedies and demands include: titling of village customary lands through accelerated progress in the land talks with the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs; suspension of all mining operations, licences and claims and a moratorium on all new mining roads in forest areas until a full Environmental Social Impact Assessment is completed in the Marudi mining field and surrounding areas (inside the mining licence and elsewhere in other mining claims); closure of Mining District No 6; full application of the principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) for all mining developments and other interventions that may affect community lands, forests and rights in general, including over untitled lands subject to community land claims; development of new land and concessions policies that fully protect fragile creek heads, watersheds and areas of high cultural, spiritual or livelihood value for Wapichan Villages from exploitation by extractive industries and stronger enforcement of national and international laws and environmental regulations and proper sanctions for legal infractions.

15 Sugar workers unpaid for 2 weeks – source Ramsammy’s Ruminations APNU/AFC oil lies are just F part of its trajectory towards news

wednesDAY, september 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

ollowing disclosures that an urgent high-level meeting regarding the financial state of the sugar industry was chaired by acting President Moses Nagamootoo, reports reaching Guyana Times suggest the state of the “cashstrapped” Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is directly impacting workers. This publication was informed Tuesday that for the past two weeks, several categories of workers have not been paid for their services.

Guyana Times was told that workers across the industry turned up the past two Fridays, only to be told that there was no money available to pay them.

Information obtained from a source close to the Corporation disclosed that workers still attached at the downsized Wales Sugar Estate were called to a meeting on Monday where they were informed of the industry’s financial state.

When workers inquired

when they would b e receiving payments, officials at Wales could not commit to a date but said that as soon as finances are available, they would be paid.

“Them tell we them going and meet with the acting President and Finance Minister to ask them for money and if [Government] give them the money, then [we will] get paid,” an individual present at the meeting disclosed. This publication understands that another meeting will be held sometime today to update workers on what the Sugar Corporation was able to secure, following an assessment of its proposals at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.

On Monday, Prime

M i n i s t e r Nagamootoo along with GuySuCo’s Chairman of the Board of

Directors, C l i v e Thomas and Chief Executive Officer, Errol Hanoman, met to discuss “urgent cash flow relative to wages, salaries and other payments at GuySuCo.” GuySuCo revealed that at the high-level meeting, it was agreed on the steps to be taken to ensure that employees are paid for services provided to the Corporation for the past weeks. GuySuCo had disclosed that the Chairman and the CEO were “given assurances that the matter is being given the ut-

most consideration by the Government and the Corporation.”

Following the shutdown of the Wales, West Bank Demerara sugar factory in December 2016, Government announced planned closures of the Enmore and Rose Hall sugar estates, and the privatisation of the Skeldon Sugar Factory. At present, the Guyana Sugar Corporation employs close to 17,000 people but it has been estimated that the planned downsizing could directly affect the livelihoods of some 10,000 sugar workers and thousands more via their family members and communities that depend on the sugar industry. Government has long contended that the necessary measures to re-organise sugar must be implemented for it to be sustained and the Wales Estate was the first entity to be closed under the policy decision which was met with much criticism and protests.

RUSAL workers take labour grievances to Minister

A

staged meeting on Tuesday between past and present employees of RUSAL’s local subsidiary, the Guyana Bauxite Company Inc and Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott, has resulted in Government prom-

ising interventions.

Also present at the meeting was the Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GBGWU), represented by the President, Leslie Gonsalves and the General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis.

During this meeting, a num-

ber of issues that affected the employees and their community were brought to the attention of the Minister.

According to a statement on Tuesday, prominent issues highlighted included the dismissal of 62 employees between the years 2009

and 2010. It was highlighted by the Union that RUSAL continues to refuse to have any engagement with the recognised trade union as it relates to this matter.

The deteriorating Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) environment for the employees of RUSAL since the Minister’s last visit was also brought up. The workers explained that there has been a regression of exercising responsibilities that address Occupational Health and Safety on the part of RUSAL. According to the statement, claims were made of RUSAL’s refusal to negotiate better wages, with workers complaining of the low wages and salary that are paid to them by the company. It was also noted that RUSAL has been selectively using the Collective Labour Agreement to discipline employees and would neglect to use such to negotiate better wages and salaries.

It was highlighted that RUSAL has failed to exercise its corporate responsibility to ensure the proper maintenance and repair of the roads within the community. As such, residents of the community are complaining about the conditions of the roads that they are forced to traverse daily.

Employees also expressed discontent that the matter of a tax waiver on overtime pay has not been resolved. The workers complained that the management of RUSAL continuously advised them that it was the Government that continued to hold up the waiver on overtime pay.

As such, having being brief on the issues, Minister Scott reassured the parties that their concerns have been heard and he would take swift action to address their issues.

a kleptocratic state

D

o you know what KLEPTOCRACY is? The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) is on a fast-track to establish a kleptocratic dictatorship.

Oil is at the centre of the APNU/AFC kleptocracy. The daily staple of lies, misdirection and obfuscation are significant elements in the recipe for implementing APNU/AFC’s kleptocracy plan.

This past week, Minister Patterson, the Public Infrastructure Minister, shamefully lied when he told the nation that former President Bharrat Jagdeo, had “given away all the available blocks for oil exploration in Dr Leslie Ramsammy Guyana”. Minister Patterson was responding to concerns widespread in Guyana that APNU/AFC is pursuing a sickening policy of issuing available blocks for oil exploration to companies without any experience and any resources, companies that include relatives and friends of APNU/AFC politicians. As the Leader of the Opposition cautioned, there is a rush to establish these local companies which will then turn around and sell their shares and interests to international companies, without any tendering and for huge profits. None of these profits will benefit Guyana.

Almost instantly, it became pellucidly clear that Patterson knowingly lied. The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission has a map that indicates all the possible oil blocks, those that have been assigned to a known entity, such as EXXON, REPSOL, CGX etc, and those still available. The map makes clear that significant acreage and numbers of blocks are still unassigned. This is not a secret map. It is public property and well-known to many people. We also know this very APNU/ AFC Government earlier this year gave out one of the blocks to an international consortium. We are aware that a number of the new companies have been requesting grants of oil blocks from the Natural Resources Ministry. It was a brazen lie. Minister Patterson needs to apologise to the Guyanese people. His disrespect, however, was designed to misdirect people away from a classical kleptocratic policy and focus attention on their favourite bogey man, Jagdeo.

Earlier, Minister Trotman had just as brazenly lied when he informed people that he and APNU/AFC are prohibited from making the EXXON contract public because Bharrat Jagdeo had inserted a secrecy clause in the Petroleum Act through an amendment in 1997. First, Jagdeo was not the President in 1997, Sam Hinds was. Second, the 1997 amendment, far from inserting a secrecy clause, made it possible for the Government to publicise any oil contract. It was a lie to misdirect people, just as Patterson was trying to misdirect and obfuscate the issue. As they are exposed and caught with their pants down, they offer clumsy and reprehensible defence.

Oil can be a positive game-changer for Guyana. But the way APNU/AFC is managing this game-changing national asset is plunging Guyana into a mess. It is not a secret that BIG OIL is the Wizard of Corruption, the worst example of corruption and thievery in the history of human kind. The examples are all around us, in the US, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Ecuador, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, the Equatorial Guinea, Russia, Indonesia and many other countries. Global Witness, a global NGO which monitors corruption in the oil industry, has documented the many horrifying examples around the world. This is why so many of us are worried that far from improving the economic and social conditions of Guyanese, oil might very well impoverish us even more, just as we see in Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Uganda and Ghana.

Minister Gaskin, the Business Minister and son-in-law of President Granger, chides us for our pessimism, saying that the AFC is not bribable and, therefore, will ensure that big oil will not be able to impose its legacy of corruption and expose Guyanese politicians to allure and temptation. It has not escaped us that most of the lies being peddled about oil are being peddled by AFC leaders, like Trotman, Ramjattan, Nagamootoo and Patterson. Far from assuring us, the behaviour of APNU/AFC is signalling a nightmare for Guyana.

Instead of pursuing policies and actions that will optimise the benefits of oil for Guyana, APNU/AFC is at the centre of a horrifying con-job, lying, misinforming, misdirecting and obfuscating about oil. The secret one-on-one negotiation for oil blocks off-shore and on-shore in Guyana with companies that are closely linked to politicians with power is the hallmark of the kleptocratic legacy of oil. While there is no single answer, transparency and accountability can be a powerful tool to stop kleptocracy. The Leader of the Opposition has suggested a public auction for assigning available blocks.

The World Bank and other international organisations, the EU etc, have all supported public auctions. Will APNU/AFC support public auction?

16

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, september 20, 2017

News

Budget 2018 preparations

FITUG calls for VAT removal from utilities, private education …urges rise in threshold

H

ighlighting that many of its recommendations advanced through consultations have not been taken on board, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has expressed hope that Government will “positively” consider implementing the body’s proposals for Budget 2018 which could bring “greater tax relief” to workers.

FITUG, through an official statement on Tuesday, said that it was looking for Government to increase the income tax threshold to $100,000 per month, which would reflect a near 67 per cent increase from the current threshold, which stands at $60,000.

FITUG is also seeking to have Government re-introduce tax breaks for taxpayers with dependents, in addition to removing about one-third of the tax threshold for income earners who earn in excess of $180,000 per month and to have a second tax tier

set at $250,000 per month at a chargeable rate of 40 per cent. The umbrella union is further requesting the removal of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on private health care and private education, in addition to removing the tax from electricity and water – which attracts VAT on

bills i n excess of $10,000 and $1500 respectively.

Other proposals the union body made include increasing the Old Age Pension to $30,000 monthly, reintroducing electricity and water subsidies for pensioners, and increasing public assistance from $7300 to $12,000.

FITUG is also calling on the present Administration to examine the introduction of 24-hour State-operated

day care for single parents and utilising the Government school buses, when not transporting students, to transport pensioners to uplift their pensions and to visit medical facilities.

Sugar industry

FITUG also noted the plight of employees in the sugar industry and called on Government to seriously re-examine its plans, especially given the “sad reality of Wales”, referencing the reduced employment and decreased business sales in the area and its surrounding communities.

The body also called on Government to consider school bus services to transport all school-aged children to and from the area; to establish programmes to promote investment in the area with a view to spur job creation; to establish skills training programmes to allow the former sugar workers and the youth to receive skills and to provide social counselling to reduce the “depression and social anxieties” that FITUG

noted, exist in the Wales area.

Early budget danger

Recognising that the 2018 Budget will again be presented before the commencement of the fiscal year, FITUG affirmed its contention that the “full 2017 economic picture” would not be known at the time of its presentation.

On Monday FITUG met with Minister within the Finance Ministry, Jaipaul Sharma at the Finance Ministry where the union body shared its vision for the 2018 National Budget.

“The Federation did point out to Minister Sharma that it was disappointed that proposals it submitted regarding the 2015, the 2016, and the 2017 National Budgets, it seems, were not considered,” FITUG explained.

According to the Union, Minister Sharma advised that several other bodies will be engaging the Government on the Budget and after a complete review is conducted, “the Administration will decide on what matters would be featured in the 2018 Budget”.

Police called in as school feeding probe heats up

E

ven as State Auditors are probing allegations of fraud in the National School Feeding Programme, things have progressed to the point where the Guyana Police Force has been called in and an official report made.

This was confirmed by Auditor General Deodat Sharma.

According to Sharma, contrary to media reports the probe has not been completed. In light of this, the Auditor General when asked could not divulge what major recommendations have been made.

“The report has not been completed. We are presently still investigating it although the Police have also been asked to look into the matter,” Sharma related, in a brief interview with Guyana Times on Tuesday.

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the education sector, which was completed earlier this year, had recommended that an investigation be launched into the school feeding programme to ensure Government was getting value for money.

Following this recommendation, State Auditors had embarked on an investigation targeting the programme. They had reportedly found major “spending” inconsistencies plaguing the

programme in two remote villages in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) during the period 2016/2017.

Notwithstanding the lofty ideals of the programme, coordinators in the red-flagged region have reportedly been abusing the responsibility and power vested in them.

The particular scrutiny that was brought to bear into the expenditures for each meal revealed that costs were inflated. This had raised further queries as to whether the correct procurement procedures were followed during the award of the contracts.

Some $1.3 billion and $1.9 billion were injected into the programme in the years 2016 and 2017 respectively. It was set up in all 10 administrative regions. It was the previous Administration that had started the National School Feeding Programme in February 2010.

The National School Feeding Programme targets all nursery and primary school students in Grades One and Two. The school feeding programme was implemented in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, and 10 and Georgetown. Regions Seven, Eight and Nine are treated separately. The programme consists of biscuits and juices.

WednesDAY, september 20, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Trump to UN: ‘Rocket Man Hurricane Maria regains strength after battering Dominica is on a suicide mission’

P

resident Donald Trump delivered Tuesday a doomsday warning to North Korea and mocked its young leader, a pugnacious escalation in rhetoric in a wide-ranging debut address to the United Nations, the world’s foremost diplomatic body.

In blunt terms, Trump warned the US would “totally destroy North Korea” if forced to defend itself or its allies. He said while the US has “great strength and patience,” its options could soon run out.

Directly putting the country’s leader on notice, Trump suggested Kim Jong Un could not survive an American attack. “Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself,” he said.

It was a characteristically bombastic approach to a crisis that’s growing in scale.

Throughout his address – the most closely watched foreign policy remarks of his

The French Caribbean island of Martinique suffered minor damage from Hurricane Maria (as pictured in a satellite image (right) early Tuesday morning)

President Donald Trump delivered his speech on Tuesday at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly in New York

presidency – Trump brought frank assessments to a range of sticky global flashpoints.

He declared the Iran nuclear deal all but dead, saying it was an “embarrassment” to the United States.

He bluntly described some regions of the world as “going to hell.” And he revived his use of the term “radical Islamic terrorism,” vowing to stamp out terrorists

worldwide.

But it was Trump’s remarks about North Korea that prompted the loudest buzz in the soaring, greenhued General Assembly hall, where Trump spoke to more than 100 world leaders and diplomats.

He directed similar ire toward Iran, which he accused of supporting terrorists and destabilizing the region. (Excerpt from CNN)

China and India water ‘dispute’ after border stand-off

C

hina and India may have defused a potential border conflict but the stand-off seems to have led to dispute over another contentious issue: water.

Delhi says it has not received any hydrological - the scientific study of the movement, distribution and quality of water - data for the Brahmaputra river from upstream China this monsoon season, despite an agreement.

One of Asia’s major rivers, the Brahmaputra, originates in Tibet and flows down to India before entering Bangladesh where it

joins the Ganges and empties into the Bay of Bengal.

Beijing has said its hydrological stations are being upgraded which means it cannot share data. But the BBC has found that China continues to share data for the same river with Bangladesh, the lowest downstream country in the Brahmaputra basin.

The river data issue between China and India comes after the two countries ended a tense stand-off over a disputed Himalayan border area that lasted more than two months.

The Brahmaputra gets

severely flooded during monsoon season every year, causing huge losses in northeast India and Bangladesh. The two countries have agreements with China that requires the upstream country to share hydrological data of the river during monsoon season between 15 May and 15 October.

The data is mainly of the water level of the river to alert downstream countries in case of floods. Officials from Bangladesh, however, said they were still receiving water level and discharge level data of the Brahmaputra from China.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Hostage situation at T&T’s MIC Institute of Technology

T

he first day of skills training at the MIC Institute of Technology (MIC-IT) in O’Meara, Arima, on Monday turned out to be traumatic for close to 70 trainees, after a gunman ran in, opened fire and held one of them hostage.

The gunman had minutes before opened fire on a group of responding police officers, who also returned fire as he was attempting to elude them. Luckily, no one was injured during the ordeal.

The suspect, a 32-yearold Santa Cruz man, was eventually subdued and arrested by officers after a brief negotiation to get him to release his hostage.

The incident stemmed

Policemen walk with tape to cordon off the area around MIC’s O’Meara, Arima campus following the hostage incident

from an argument between the suspect and a 20-yearold MIC trainee, who was on her first day of training in a construction technology programme.

After holding the male trainee hostage for about ten minutes, the suspect released him and surrendered himself to the police around 09:00h. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

T

he latest major Atlantic hurricane of the season, Maria, has powered back to category five strength after pounding the Caribbean island of Dominica.

It weakened to a four after wreaking “widespread damage” on the island but is now packing maximum sustained winds of 260km/h (160mph) again.

The storm is moving roughly along the same track as Irma, this season’s other category five hurricane. At least one person was killed and two others are missing in Guadeloupe.

Local officials said one person was killed by a falling tree in the overseas French territory, while at least two more people were missing after their ship sank near Desirade, the easternmost island in the archipelago.

Maria is now heading towards the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The governor of Puerto Rico, a US territory, has told the island’s 3.5 million people to seek shelter. A curfew was imposed on the British Virgin Islands on Monday night and residents have been asked to stay indoors until the storm has passed.

Officials there fear the debris left by Irma earlier this month could now prove extremely dangerous in the winds of Maria. The new storm is proving particularly treacherous as its strength can change dramatically in a matter of hours.

The former British colony, which has a population of 72,000 and is less than 50km long and 25km wide, escaped the worst of Hurricane Irma two weeks ago.

But on Monday the eye of the new category five storm passed directly over, making landfall at 21:00 local time (01:00 GMT Tuesday).

The roof of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s official residence was blown off in the storm. “My greatest fear for the morning is that we will wake to news of serious physical injury and possible deaths as a result of likely landslides triggered by persistent rains,” he said in a Facebook post.

“So far the winds have swept away the roofs of almost every person I have spoken to or otherwise made contact with. The roof to my own official residence was among the first to go and this apparently triggered an avalanche of torn away roofs in the city and the countryside.”

Air and sea ports would probably be “inoperable for a few days”, the Prime Minister added.

Hurricane warnings have been issued for Guadeloupe, St Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, the US and British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Culebra and Vieques.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, september 20, 2017

ARCHIE

ARIES

Emotions

will

surface

(March 21- when dealing with partnerApril 19) ship issues. Stay calm, since

getting all worked up won't make matters better. Listen to complaints and do your best to adjust.

Interaction should be your

TAURUS intent. Sharing your thoughts (April 20- and ideas with like-minded peoMay 20) ple will encourage you to not

dilbert

only talk about your ideas, but also to make them come to life.

Your dual personality will GEMINI (May 21- cause uncertainty and make June 20) you appear inconsistent when it comes time to make a decision. Listen to whatever advice is offered, but in the end, do what's best for you.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Make a physical change that will lift your spirits and give you greater incentive to get out and enjoy life. A proposal should be seriously considered.

An opportunity to do something you enjoy and earn a living is within reach. Refuse to let someone stifle your plans with negativity or by burdening you with matters that aren't your responsibility.

Self-awareness, prepaVIRGO ration and development will (Aug. 23help you move closer to your Sept. 22) goal. A unique approach will cause others to take note of you. Personal, physical and financial gains are highlighted.

Emotional matters will LIBRA (Sept. 23- leave you feeling exhausted.

Oct. 23) Don't start something you cannot finish. Look for refuge with someone you view as reliable and trustworthy. Walk away from temptation.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — HOMOGRAPH

Before you move on to SAGITTARIUS more enjoyable tasks, be sure (Nov. 23- to take care of your responDec. 21) sibilities. Being dependable will help you avoid complaints that could lead to an unnecessary argument.

(HOMOGRAPH: HOM-uh-graf: One of two or more words with the same spelling but different meanings or pronunciation.)

Average mark 12 words Time limit 25 minutes

Tidy up loose ends. Avoid CAPRICORN anyone pushing a risky ven(Dec. 22- ture. Go it alone if you want Jan. 19) to control how your money is spent. Joint ventures look dicey.

Can you find 24 or more words in HOMOGRAPH? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — MIRAGE magi mare mire image rage

ramie ream rime ager amir

game gamer gamier gear germ

gram grim grime emir

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

Ask and you shall reSCORPIO ceive. What you have to offer (Oct. 24is more valued than you realNov. 22) ize. Stand tall and be proud of your actions and creations.

Romance is highlighted.

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle A money deal will bring AQUARIUS you good returns. Invest more (Jan. 20- time in yourself and your talFeb. 19) ents. Greater interest will be shown if you market what you have to offer.

Put your best foot forward PISCES (Feb. 20- and share your thoughts.

March 20) You'll encounter someone who is on the same page as you and has something special to offer. Romance is on the rise.

wednesDAY, september 20, 2017

Zidane signs new Real Madrid contract R eal Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane says he has signed a new contract with the Spanish champions, which was set to run out at the end of the season.

In 18 months in charge, the former Real midfielder has won the Champions League twice and La Liga once.

Madrid have renewed several players’ contracts in recent weeks and the Frenchman told a news conference that he too has extended his deal.

“In terms of the renewal, it’s al-

Zinedine Zidane’s Madrid are currently fourth in La Liga, four points behind leaders Barcelona

ready done,” said Zidane.

“I care about the day to day and I’m not looking further than that.”

The deal has not yet been formally announced by the club.

Zidane took charge of Real in January 2016 and has led them to consecutive Champions League trophies and their first La Liga title since 2012, as well winning the Uefa Super Cup twice and the Fifa Club World Cup. In August he said that the deal, thought to be for three years, had been agreed but not signed.

The 45-year-old former France international managed Real’s B team before replacing Rafael Benitez.

Real Madrid continue their league title defence on Wednesday as they host Real Betis, although they will be without defender Theo Hernandez who injured his shoulder in Sunday’s 3-1 win at Real Sociedad.

“He has been diagnosed with a partial dislocation of the right shoulder,” Madrid said in a statement on Tuesday. Hernandez is expected to be out for two weeks. (BBC Sport)

Rossi rides again after double leg fracture N

Valentino Rossi won the Dutch TT in June

ine-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi has returned to action 18 days after suffering a double leg fracture in a training accident.

The Italian, 38, will decide on Wednesday whether to compete at the Aragon Grand Prix in Spain.

Rossi is fourth in the standings, 42 points behind leader Marc Marquez with five rounds to go.

His Movistar Yamaha team said on Monday that he had managed a couple of laps at the Marco Simoncelli Circuit in Italy.

Rossi, who had a successful operation after damaging his right leg on 31 August, had to cut short Monday’s session because of rain.

A Movistar Yamaha statement said: “As today’s riding session was cut short due to the change in weather, the evaluation of Rossi’s physical condition was inconclusive.

“He will decide by the end of Wednesday, 20 September, whether he will attempt to take part in this weekend’s Gran Premio Movistar de Aragon.” (BBC Sport)

Haiti-China friendly postponed

A

friendly international between top-ranked Caribbean team Haiti and PR China scheduled for October 6 has been postponed until next year.

The match was expected to be part of a two-match tour of Asia for the Caribbean team next month, as it looks to maintain its current spot in the world’s top fifty ranked teams.

However, according to reports, recent correspondence from the Chinese Football Association (CFA) to the Haiti Football Federation (HFF) through Secretary-General Carlo Marcelin, indicated that the game would be postponed until next year.

The CFA, while issuing its apologies noted that the match would be played when both associations could agree on a suitable date. The friendly international between Japan and Haiti scheduled for October 10 at the Nissan Yokohama Stadium, in Kanagawa, is expected to go ahead as scheduled.

The delegation is expected to arrive in Japan on October 7, four days before the match.

Haiti has previously played two friendly internationals against China, a 4-3 win at the Lockhart Stadium in Florida, in 2003, and a 2-2 draw at the Helong Stadium in 2015.

The match-up against Japan will be the first time the teams have met at the senior level. Saeta the national team’s official kit sponsor is reportedly designing a special jersey for the encounter. (Sportsmax)

Part of the action during the 2-2 draw at the Helong Stadium

19

Rio Ferdinand to launch boxing career

Rio Ferdinand poses with Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight belts after he (Joshua) beat Wladimir Klitschko

R

io Ferdinand is launching a new career as a professional boxer, two years after he retired from football.

The 38-year-old’s move into the ring is being backed by betting company Betfair, which announced the news on Tuesday.

Former Manchester United and England defender Ferdinand works as a TV pundit and he has his own clothing line.

“I’m doing this because it’s a challenge,” he said.

“I’ve won titles and now I’m aiming for a belt.”

He has posted several social media videos in recent months showing him boxing and working with personal trainer Mel Deane.

Ferdinand, who won the Premier League six times and the Champions League once during his time in Manchester, may follow in the footsteps of former Birmingham City midfielder Curtis Woodhouse and former Crystal Palace forward Leon McKenzie, who became professional boxers after quitting football. Woodhouse became British super-lightweight champion.

Former England cricket captain Andrew Flintoff also launched a boxing career after retiring, winning his only pro bout in December 2012 against American Richard Dawson at Manchester Arena on points.

It was Betfair who approached Ferdinand about making the switch, and the betting company will help him qualify for his British

Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) licence before he begins training and competing.

The company previously backed Victoria Pendleton in her transition from Olympic cyclist to Cheltenham jockey.

“When Betfair approached me about the challenge, the chance to prove myself in a new sport was a real draw,” Ferdinand added.

Ferdinand will be coached by Team GB coach and former WBC super-middleweight champion Richie Woodhall.

“In all honesty, I think Rio can definitely box as a professional given time. He has natural power in his right hand, is extremely fit and is very enthusiastic to learn which is encouraging,” Woodhall said.

“Style wise, he’s very raw and I’ll have to develop this, which will take time, but he has all the natural ingredients, height and reach advantages over boxers in his weight division and definitely has potential to win a title in the future.”

The former centre-back started his career with West Ham and also played for Leeds and QPR, making more than 500 career club appearances. He was capped 81 times for England.

Promoter Barry Hearn said he thought there was only a 50/50 chance that Ferdinand would receive a boxing licence, and told BBC Radio 5 live: “It’s laughable. I like Rio, don’t get me wrong, but this is an advert for a reality TV show. (BBC Sport)

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wednesDAY, september 20, 2017

Singh, Joseph selected for Windies “A” against SL C

onsistent Guyana Jaguars players Vishaul Singh and Keon Joseph have been named in a Windies 13man squad for the first two “Tests” of their home series against Sri Lanka “A” which will take place next month in Jamaica.

Singh and Sheldon Cottrell are the two players in the squad with international experience while Sunil Ambris is currently with the Windies senior One-day International squad playing against England.

Barbados Pride top order batsman and former West Indies Under 19 captain, Shamarh Brooks has been named captain of the side while Singh, who has played

three Tests earlier this year against Pakistan, will be his deputy.

Joseph, who was part of the last Windies “A” team tour to Sri Lanka last year October is one of four fast bowlers selected for the opening two matches of the three-match series.

The squad features players who were part of previous series either for Windies “A” or in tour matches against visiting international teams in the last two seasons.

Commenting on the squad, Chairman of the CWI Selection Panel, Courtney Browne said: “Our A-Team is the feeding ground for our senior men’s team and so we are looking to continue the

development of our second-tier players.

With a strong focus on consistency in selection, this series is another opportunity for them to continue to press their claims for a place in the senior side, thus placing selection pressure on incumbents, ensuring there is healthy competition for spots and growing our talent pool.”

Windies “A” Full squad reads; Shamarh Brooks (Captain), Vishaul Singh (Vice-Captain), Sunil Ambris, John Campbell, Yannic Cariah, Rahkeem Cornwall, Sheldon Cottrell, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge,

Keon Joseph

Vishaul SIngh

D a m i o n J a c o b s , Keon Joseph, R e y n a r d Leveridge and Oshane Thomas.

Itinerary

Petra plotting more football for Georgetown

1st “Test” – Trelawny Multiplex, Jamaica, October 11 to 14 2nd “Test” – Trelawny Multiplex, Jamaica, October 19 to 22 3rd “Test” – Sabina Park,

Jamaica, October 26 to 29 1st One-day Match – Sabina Park, November 1 2nd One-day Match – Sabina Park, November 3 3rd One-day Match – Trelawny, November 5

Archery to be centre of attraction – Heritage Games begin on Friday Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton preparing to take a shot at last year’s Heritage Games archery competition

The Corona Invitational tournament gave Georgetown teams many matches after a prolonged absence

W

hile other associations are having football played at an acceptable on a regular basis, Georgetown has found it difficult to produce leagues or tournaments to cater for youth to senior.

However, in an attempt to spark a rejuvenation for the sport, the Petra Organization just after hosting the exciting Corona Invitational Football Tournament, are already planning to have a greater inject of football in the city.

“I don’t want to be premature in making statements but we have something in the pipeline. Hopefully the players and those responsible for administering the sport [will] continue to give us [their] support because we definitely want to keep this momentum going,” Co-Director Troy Mendonca disclosed in a recent interview.

The former footballer further stated, “our organization is willing to fill in areas that needs assistance. The sport needs football to be played and that is what we set about to do and we will continue to try our best to give assistance where necessary. We have developed a working relationship with all stakeholders and we will use it to the advantage of the sport and keep foot-

ball being played.”

In hindsight of their Corona Invitational tournament which attracted 12 teams and was played on a round-robin knock-out basis, Mendonca contended it was a success.

“What we set about to achieve, I think tonight [Sunday] we can very well say

Petra Organisation Co-Director Troy Mendonca

we achieved it. We wanted revitalize the sport in this jurisdiction and to see the crowd come out tonight [Sunday] in support is very heartening for us.”

The final-played at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC), Bourda- was contested between the home side and the Guyana Police Force FC with the latter winning 4-0 due to clinical displaying of mature football.

“From a personal stand point we didn’t expect that score line but you can see where experience took its toll tonight [Sunday] but nevertheless it was the best two teams in the final. It was unfortunate for GFC that Police won by a large margin,” the organizer commented on the final.

The lucrative tournament which kick-off in July was the first for the city since March and that possibly could be a factor in Mendonca stating some teams lacked match readiness.

“From a technical standpoint you can see a lot of players were suffering from match readiness. All teams displayed a lot of enthusiasm. With more regular matches we will see a smoother flow because all teams showed commitment from coaches to players,” he expressed. (Akeem Greene)

A

rchery Guyana has once again partnered with the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs to assist with the smooth run off of their archery competition at this year’s Indigenous Heritage Games which will be held this weekend at the Everest Cricket Club Ground, Carifesta Avenue and Camp Road. The games will be held over three days beginning from Friday September 22 to Sunday September 24.

In an effort to make it even bigger than last year, this year’s games will follow a much more traditional format, and the archery competition will also fall into that category; therefore, archers coming from the various regions in both male and female categories will bring their own archery equipment to complement what will be provided by the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs and Archery Guyana.

The competition will also be held closer to the middle of the field to allow spectators in the stands and clubhouse to have a better view of the action, with qualifiers set for Saturday from 11:00 to 14:00h while the semi-finals and finals will be on Sunday from 13:00 to 15:00h.

World Archery rules will be applied with regards to safety and scoring with targets set at three different distances - 10, 15 and 25 metres while children (under 12) will shoot at a distance of 15 metres. Also included this year are moving targets as part of the competition. Small circular targets will be rolled along the ground to be shot at.

The Prize categories are; Adults (male and female) 18 years and over; Youth (male and female) 12 to 17 years old and Children-Under 12 years old.

Archery Guyana and the hosts are advising members to take along their own bows however, no stabilizers, sights or sighting aids on their bows will be allowed.

The Competition is open to the general public and registration will be done on Saturday morning only.

sports

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Andrew “Padlock” Green crossing the finish line ahead of Andrew Hicks

21

“Padlock” Hawk-Eye locks out to replace line judges Hicks in Rose Hall Town day 40-miler L Hawk-Eye technology was first used at Wimbledon in 2007

ndrew ‘Padlock’ Green returned to the winners’ rows on Sunday when he outsprinted Andrew Hicks to win the Rose Hall Town Day 40-miler.

The two cyclists were off of their seats in the last 100 meters leaving the chasing pack out of sight. It was Green who proved he was the better sprinter crossing the finish line well ahead of his rival.

The five sprint point prizes were shared between the top two riders with Green taking three.

The Event was organised by the Rose Hall Town Anniversary organisation

and saw cyclists peddling off from the Arch in the Town to Number 51 Police Station before returning to Rose Hall for the finish at Sha’veh Enterprise.

Occupying the third spot was Jason Cameron ahead of Balram Narine the only rider from Corriverton to finish in the top six.

The other two riders to be awarded prizes for their effort were Clement Doris from West Berbice and Odrel Ross finishing in that order.

Meanwhile, the lone female to participate was Shanika Teixeira.

Organiser and Coach of the Flying Ace Cycle Club

Randolph Roberts said the event was possible because of the support of the Corentyne business community.

Among the sponsors were the Regional Democratic Council, Josh Babulal, Lewis’ General Store, Anamayah Memorial Hospital, Fiesta Night Club, Prophecy Sports Bar, Churches Chicken, Poonai’s Pharmacy, Shav’a Restaurant, Lucky Dollar, Godfrey Persaud Button Shop, Circuit City General Store, Wynette's Beauty Salon, Touch of Class Boutique, Balram Shane General Store, Homeline Furnishing and Lewis’s General Store.

ine judges will be replaced by Hawk-Eye technology at the inaugural Next Gen Finals in November.

For the first time at an ATP event, the umpire will be the only official on court at the tournament in Milan.

The decision has been described as a possible "landmark moment" for the sport by ATP official Gayle David Bradshaw.

The tournament will feature the top eight players aged 21 or under and takes place from 7-11 November.

Germany's world number four Alexander Zverev, 20, has qualified for the event after winning two Masters 1000 titles this year.

Shorter sets and a shot clock are among the ideas that will also be trialled at the event.

Hawk-Eye allows players to use video replays to question line calls. It was first used at Wimbledon in 2007.

At the Next Gen Finals, decisions will be final and players will not be able to challenge calls as they do at most tournaments via Hawk-Eye playback.

However, marginal calls will still be accompanied by a visualisation on screens around the stadium.

Foot-faults, usually called by judges positioned in line with the baseline, will be decided by a review official using a camera to monitor the server's feet. (BBC Sport)

he 2017 Inter Ward School boys’ six-aside cricket tournament sponsored by PKF Barcellos Narine and Co. bowled off last Saturday with a series of matches on the tarmac of the National Cultural Center, Hadfield street Lodge.

Batting first in the round-robin stages, Queens College made 31 runs in their allotted overs while Christ Church Secondary sped to 32 in 3.2 overs to win the match. Charlestown Secondary snatched a last ball win over South Georgetown Secondary School after the latter made 55-4 in their six overs before Charlestown ended on 56.

Queenstown then beat Cummings Lodge after the latter scored just 41 batting first, as they failed to defend the runs with the Queenstown side cruising to 43 off their six overs. Christ Church, after advancing then whipped Tucville Secondary in a low scoring encounter after the eventual losers could only muster 30 runs, to which the former chased down to end on 38.

The competition which is sponsored by the Royal Tape Ball Cricket Academy, continues this Saturday from 9:30h with the knockout stages at the same venue.

fter a safe and successful Twenty20 series in Pakistan, Paul Collingwood sees no reason why others should not tour the nation.

Paul Collingwood believes other sides should consider touring Pakistan again after the recent Twenty20 series involving a World XI passed without incident.

Several teams have refused to visit the country amid security concerns since the Sri Lanka bus was attacked by gunmen in March 2009.

Former England all-rounder Collingwood, who made more than 300 international appearances during his career, was part of a squad that played three matches in Lahore earlier this month, with the home side prevailing 2-1.

The World players were heavily guarded throughout their stay, and Collingwood sees no reason why other nations should not follow suit, providing that similar safety measures can be guaranteed.

Pakistan have been forced to play their home matches in the United Arab Emirates, but it was announced last month that both Sri Lanka and West Indies would arrive for tours later this year, in the event of the World series go-

ing ahead undisrupted.

"We were there five days and if you had that level of security for a longer tour, I can't imagine how much it would cost," Collingwood told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It was like having the army around you at all times, which was excellent because we knew we were

Collingwood admitted to having doubts before taking the trip, but said the response received from the Pakistan players and supporters made it more than a worthwhile exercise.

"I was a bit sceptical when I first signed up, and I haven't had a great time with Pakistan crick-

A

Christ Church Collingwood supports whip QC in more tours to Pakistan tape ball tourney A T

ture and to see the Pakistan players' faces to play in front of their home crowd, to get their feelings and how much it meant to them, they were saying 'thank you, it means so much to us'.

"You feel as though you've done something good for the game. I probably didn't realise the impact it

The crowds’ response was very clear

safe, [but] the disruption it must cause to every day living, because they literally closed all the roads to get to the ground.

"If you can sustain that level of security for a longer period of time, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't tour there."

et in the past in terms of [Mohammad] Amir and noballs [in 2010], the ball tampering [allegations in 2006] etc so I was thinking 'do I want to support that' but after the week I've had I'm really proud I've been involved," he said.

"There's a bigger pic-

had. We're a cricketing family and you have to help each other out.

"It's a small stepping stone, we know it's not the final piece of the jigsaw, and Pakistan cricket know that but they're trying their hardest to get things happening again." (Sportsmax)

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wednesDAY, september 20, 2017

Windies' World Cup hopes dented – Bairstow's ton gives England big win

I

t has looked likely for quite some time, but defeat at Old Trafford confirmed that West Indies will have to progress through next year's qualifying tournament to reach the 2019 World Cup. Barring some early striking from Chris Gayle it was an insipid performance as England secured their 13th victory in the last ed ODIs between the teams.

14 completJonny Bairstow, opening the batting, took his opportunity in

commanding style with a maiden ODI century from 97 balls, celebrated with a skip of delight when he completed a three with just a handful of runs needed

Windies Captain Jason Holder top scored with an unbeaten 41

for victory. He and Joe Root added 125 in 19 overs for the second wicket to ensure a canter for England in their first ODI since the semi-final defeat against Pakistan at Cardiff.

West Indies limped to 204 for 9 in their 42 overs - the match trimmed after a two-hour delay due to a damp outfield which threatened to become a significant issue as the sun shone in Manchester - and even those heights required Jason Holder's unbeaten 41.

Gayle, playing his first ODI since the 2015 World Cup, was dropped third ball by Root at second slip and plundered three sixes in the first four overs but that was deceptive: from 43 without loss after five overs, West Indies made 161 for 9 in the remaining 37.

Spin played an important part with Moeen Ali breaking the opening stand when brought on in the sixth over - albeit with a long hop and Adil Rashid claiming 2 for 31 in nine overs.

Ben Stokes was the leading wicket-taker with 3 for 43 and the disappointment that his figures were dented somewhat by a 15-run final over, which included two full-toss no-balls, will have been tempered by the fact that Marlon Samuels was among his successes. Stokes had not taken Samuels' advice to go and "field on the boundary", standing at slip to the spinners, but kept his thoughts to himself.

The main hope for West Indies was that, as in the T20 at Chester-le-Street, spin and pace off the ball could leave stroke-making tricky for England's dashing batting line-up. That was not the case, though, and they could not push the required rate into anything bordering a challenging situation. Alex Hales was again

quickly out of the blocks before driving Jerome Taylor to backward point, but Bairstow and Root didn't need to do anything more than bat properly.

Root was just Root, moving along in unfussy fashion to a 49-ball half-century, against a side whose interest in the contest quickly waned as the target was hauled in, until he chopped on against Kesrick Williams, who added a second

wicket when Eoin Morgan edged behind. But it made no difference. The main interest was whether Stokes would leave Bairstow enough runs to play with for his hundred. There was no stealing his thunder.

The second match of the five-match series is at Trent Bridge on Thursday and another uphill assignment awaits the Windies. (ESPN Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

West Indies Innings (42 overs maximum) CH Gayle c Root b Woakes 37 E Lewis c Hales b Ali 11 SD Hope† c Bairstow b Stokes 35 MN Samuels c †Buttler b Stokes 17 JN Mohammed c Hales b Rashid 18 R Powell c Willey b Woakes 23 JO Holder* not out 41 AR Nurse c Root b Rashid 1 D Bishoo b Willey 5 JE Taylor c †Buttler b Stokes 2 KOK Williams not out 0 Extras (lb-3, nb-2, w-9) 14 Total (For 9 wickets, 42 Overs) 204 Fall of wickets:1-45, 2-53, 3-103, 4-107, 5-149, 6-150, 7-160, 8-187, 9-202 Bowling; Woakes 8-0-41-2 (w-2), Willey 6-0-39-

1 (w-1), Ali 2-0-5-1, Rashid 9-0-31-2, Plunkett 8-0-42-0 (w-2), Stokes 9-0-43-3 (nb-2, w-4) England Innings (target: 205 runs from 42 overs) JM Bairstow not out 100 AD Hales c Lewis b Taylor 19 JE Root b Williams 54 EJG Morgan* (c) c †Hope b Williams 10 BA Stokes not out 23 Extras (w-4) 4 Total (For 3 wickets; 30.5 overs) 210 Did not bat: JC Buttler†, MM Ali, AU Rashid, CR Woakes, DJ Willey, LE Plunkett Fall of wickets:1-31, 2-156, 3-175 Bowling; Taylor 7-0-46-1 (w-1), Holder 3-0-18-0, Williams 6-0-50-2 (w-1), Nurse 8.5-0-48-0 (w-1), Bishoo 6-0-48-0

Paul pushing in extra hours RHTY-SC celebrate Rose as Regional 4-Day looms

Hall’s 175th anniversary A in grand style R

ose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTYSC) commenced its 175th anniversary celebration of the village of Rose Hall last Thursday, with a series of events and activities including a huge parade to mark the event.

According to a release from the RHTYSC, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency David Granger while delivering the feature address stated that the 57 founders of Rose Hall would be very proud of the Village they purchased, describing Rose Hall Town as an economic powerhouse and one which is a place on the move. The Head of State further noted that the Village was built of homes, education, churches and farms and urged the present generation to follow in the footsteps of the original founders.

The parade consisted of over 800 persons and commenced its proceedings at the Dr. Tulsi Square in Williamsburg and ended at the Area ‘H’ Ground in Rose Hall Town. President Granger took the March Past in front of the J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School and as supporters from the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service, Guyana Fire Service, Rose Hall Town Constabulary and

President David Granger proudly displays a gift he received from the RHTY-SC

other recognizable institutes were a part of the ceremony.

Secretary/CEO of the Club and Chief Organiser of the event, Hilbert Foster described the Parade as a fitting tribute to its 57 Founding Fathers who purchased the Village of Rose Hall some 175 years ago from European Planter John Henry Baird.

Some nine cricket teams from within the RHTYSC namely; Poonai Pharmacy Under-13, Farfan & Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-19 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Females and Gizmos & Gadgets Under-21 and First Division, have organized a series of ac-

tivities to mark the anniversary, some of which include; Cross Country Race, Fitness Walk, Domino Competition, Diabetes Clinic, Health Fair, Evening of Music among others.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman of Region 6 David Armogan hailed Rose Hall Town as a community on the move and praised the membership of RHTYSC and its CEO. The club also handed over twelve wheelchairs, honored four outstanding females, commissioned the 175th Anniversary Monument and Unveiled a Cricket Scoreboard in honour of President Granger’s 72nd birth anniversary.

fully-fit, hungry for further success Keemo Paul says he’s aiming to be the top utility player for Guyana across all formats, while pushing in some extra training to ensure he makes the final cut ahead of the upcoming Cricket West Indies Regional 4-Day tournament.

The hard-hitting batsman told the Guyana Times Sport on Tuesday, during an exclusive interview, that following the recent end of the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), he immediately got back to training and playing in the local Jaguars 3-Day Franchise League as a means to further maintain form and increase his chances of representing the Guyana Jaguars again.

“I have been training pretty hard since I came back from CPL and I’m feeling very fit so I just want to make full use of the remaining 3-Day franchise games in order to do well and to get selected for

CPL brimming with confidence despite not blowing the roof off the tournament the way he had wanted, the 19-year-old explained that the exposure and the chance to learn from a bevy of international and regional players was a huge plus, adding that he learnt a great deal from a few of his Guyana Amazon Warriors teammates.

“Playing CPL was a tremendous step for me, but I just want to take it all in and improve my cricket, work harder and become a household name in the Caribbean.

I have learnt a lot from my CPL stint, I have boosted my self-confidence and it has encouraged me to train even harder and be a better cricketer.” He continued, “I learnt a lot from the likes of Luke Ronchi and Chadwick Walton in the batting department, in terms of keeping my shape when trying to go big and reading game situations better. I have also altered my

Keemo Paul (left) and Luke Ronchi in a celebratory mood during the recent CPL

the 4-day team,” Paul stated.

After returning from the

batting stance a bit because I was falling over sometimes,

so I am definitely working hard on that because I want to be a consistent all-rounder for Guyana in all formats.”

With Guyana bagging the Regional 4-Day title for a record three years in a row, the Essequibian had his moment in the spotlight when he bagged a career-best 6-28 against the Windward Volcanoes in the penultimate match of the 2016/17 competition, effectively bowling his team to their third title with a match to spare.

He highlighted the importance of being part of the national camp which he said has done wonders for his career “Being part of the Jaguars set up has been a tremendous boost for my career, getting to train 4 days a week in order to get better while being paid is excellent. I’m contracted now so the work gets a bit tougher but I’ll be looking to improve day by day,” the all-rounder admitted.

Concluding his interview, the former West Indies U19 Vice-captain said his journey to date has been nothing short a wonderful experience, further reiterating the opportunities to play for the West Indies youth team, Guyana Jaguars and in the CPL as key factors to his ongoing development.

“Winning the World Cup was truly great but that’s gone now, so I just want to keep improving and be the best I can be. I’m not satisfied at just being good, I want to be excellent and I will strive for that. I’m gaining maturity all the time but I’m still learning my trade as I go on the hard work never stops, I’m always motivated to do better,” Paul stressed.

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wednesDAY, september 20, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Windies' World Cup hopes dented Pg 22

– Bairstow's ton gives England big win

Archery to be centre of attraction

Pg 20

– Heritage Games begin on Friday Some of the participants in the Men’s category from last year’s Heritage Games archery competition

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