Guyanantimes 22 june 2017 pt2

Miss World Guyana P14 contestants applauded for focusing on social issues Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3249

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, June 22, 2017

1 killed, 1 critical in NA Prison brawl

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

P11 Guyana prepares fiscal plan to avoid resource curse

Page 2

Injured: Ramnarine Jagmohan (left) and dead:Neeshan Jagmohan

Stop playing of degrading music on airwaves – Speaker urges

Deportee beats ex-wife to death P9

Page 12

Vietnamese, Mauritian diplomats accredited

“Roach” jailed, fined $1.5M for narco trafficking P8

Page 9

Friends robbed at gunpoint on seawall P7 …cash, jewellery, vehicle stolen

Poor coordination led to conflict at KNP – miners P10

Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Guyana, Do Ba Khoa presenting his Letters of Credence to President David Granger in the presence of Minister of State and Acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Joseph Harmon and Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Audrey Waddell at State House on Wednesday

Integrity Act breach

PPP moves to have delinquent MPs criminally charged Page 3

Liberalisation of telecoms sector top P5 priority of PUC …as new Chairman sworn in

2 NEWS 1 dead, 1 injured during NA Prison brawl O THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ne man is now dead and his brother injured following a brawl inside the New Amsterdam penitentiary on Wednesday afternoon.

Prison officials confirmed that 27-year-old

Neeshan Jagmohan, of Lot 28 Belvedere Squatting Area, Corentyne, was killed after he and his brother, Ramnarine Jagmohan, were attacked by three fellow inmates.

The two brothers along

with a third, Tameshwar Jagmohan, are on remand for separate murders and made another court appearance on Wednesday morning at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court. Following their re-

turn from court to the correctional facility, the siblings were attacked. Neeshan Jagmohan was stabbed multiple times to his abdomen and was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Murder victim Devindra Deodat

Ramnarine Jagmohan is being treated at the medical facility. His condition is listed as critical. Officials at the Prison were unable to provide a motive for the attack, but the suspects were placed in solitary confinement as investigations continue.

Both Ramnarine and Neeshan Jagmohan were accused of murdering Devindra Deodat, also called “Dave”, a businessman of Hampshire

parade.

One of the siblings was released from prison on the same day that the businessman was attacked and murdered. He was reportedly incarcerated for unlawful possession of a firearm.

Meanwhile, Tameshwar Jagmohan was charged for the murder of 37-year-old Pawan Chandradeo; his 15-year-old son, Jaikarran Chandradeo; and his 33-yearold brother-in-law, Naresh Rooplall, who were all shot dead in Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder on July 21 last year.

Two others were charged along with Tameshwar Jagmohan for the murders.

Earlier in the year, the three siblings were injured during another brawl at the New Amsterdam Prison.

During that fight, an inmate, Asif Hamid, 22, of Kingston, Corriverton, Corentyne, was stabbed to his abdomen, feet, and hands. In addition, 19-yearold Davanand Dhandhari was wounded to his head, and stabbed thrice to his hands. It was reported that

Ramnarine Jagmohan and Neeshan Jagmohan

Squatting Area, Corentyne, on October 7, 2013.

The businessman was chopped and shot dead after a group of masked men stormed the grocery shop which he operated. The masked men also chopped Deodat’s wife in the head and shot her father, Rafeek Abdul.

The men were recognised by the businessman’s wife after they unmasked themselves following the attack.

The Jagmohan brothers were identified by the victims during an identification

Hamid and one of the brothers, Tameshwar Jagmohan, were involved in a fight over a mobile phone during which Hamid dealt Jagmohan several punches to his face and took control of the phone.

This, however, prompted Jagmohan’s older brothers, Ramnarine and Neeshan, to intervene. They stabbed, beat and chopped Hamid several times with ‘jukas’ and other improvised weapons. All of the men who were involved in the January 8 brawl were on remand for murder.

news

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, June 22 – a night retraction at 03:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, June 23 – a night retraction at 04:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, June 22 – 15:20h-16:50h and Friday, June 23 – 16:10h-17:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Thundery to heavy showers can be expected during the day, while light cloudy cover can be expected in the evening. Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from East North-easterly to North-easterly and Easterly between 2.23 metre and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 02:44h and 15:17h reaching maximum height of 2.72 metres and 2.64 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:48h and 21:06h reaching minimum heights of 0.46 metre and 0.58 metre respectively.

WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017

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DAILY MILLIONS 07 08 14 18 24 LUCKY 3 4 8 9 Afternoon Draw

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

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thursDAY, june 22, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Integrity Act breach

PPP moves to have delinquent MPs criminally charged

T

he People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Opposition is forging ahead with plans to have private criminal actions brought against People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) parliamentarians, who breached the provisions of the Integrity Commission Act. The Party wrote the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency, Abeena Moore, on Wednesday requesting the relevant information about the delinquent PNCR and APNU parliamentarians, a statement from the Opposition Leader’s Office said.

The letter was sent

by Opposition Member of Parliament, Juan Edghill, in his capacity as a private citizen, which is allowed under provisions of the Access to Information Act of 2011.

In the letter, which was released to the media, Edghill indicated to Moore, in her capacity as a public authority, that the information being requested is intended to be used in the pursuit of private criminal charges against identified delinquents, who failed to file declaration with the Integrity Commission, in accordance with section 22 of Integrity Commission Acts 1997.

The Opposition parliamentarian is asking for the names of the PNCR parliamentarians of the 8th and 9th Parliament, who failed to submit to the Integrity Commission of Guyana the statutorily required submission of the schedule iii declaration forms (2) disclosing their Income, Assets and Liabilities of themselves and immediate family for the years 2001 to 2006 and 2006 to 2011.

Edghill is also requesting information on APNU parliamentarians in the 10th Parliament who failed to submit to the Integrity Commission of Guyana the statutorily required submission of the schedule iii declaration forms (2) disclosing their Income, Assets and Liabilities of themselves and immediate family for the years 2011 to 2015.

The Commission which is responsible for accountability of persons holding public office has been without a

to make such disclosures to the Integrity Commission instead. It had said that such a move would violate privacy of the members.

In defeating the motion, the Government MPs had proposed amendments to the motion for the National Assembly to support the enforcement of the legal requirement for all MPs to file their Income Tax returns and make declarations to the Integrity

Opposition parliamentarian Juan Edghill

Chairman for some time and has reportedly been functioning with a skeletal staff.

Only a month ago, Moore appeared before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and admitted that the Integrity Commission has been basically dismantled by the coalition Government with only one staff member at the Commission’s Secretariat.

This comes even as Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, on numerous occasions before, called out Government for refusing to support an Opposition sponsored-motion to have all parliamentarians make certain submissions to the Integrity Commission.

In January 2016, Government used its oneseat parliamentary majority to turn down a motion tabled by the Opposition that would provide for all Members of Parliament (MPs) making public declarations of taxable income and all assets over the last 10 years to the Integrity Commission and released to the public.

The coalition noted that it was not in favour of the public declaration, and would prefer

Commission.

However, that proposal was protested by the Opposition and eventually resulted in Edghill calling for his motion to be withdrawn, arguing that the amendments significantly changed the intent of the original motion.

But the coalition MPs declined the withdrawal request and at the end of the debate, succeeded in passing the amended motion.

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thursDAY, june 22, 2017

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

Guyana’s Sovereign Wealth Fund

D

uring the debate on the “Petroleum Commission of Guyana Bill 2017”, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo suggested that on the proposed Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) the Government had proposed for the petroleum revenues that are expected to start flowing from 2020, they should follow the example of Norway rather than our neighbour Trinidad and Tobago. During the last election campaign, the People’s Progressive Party has already suggested a SWF. The suggestion seems to have struck a raw nerve in Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, who burst out: ““How dare you lecture us? …we will not be lectured by the Leader of the Opposition on good governance!!”

This intemperate outburst was rather unfortunate, to say the least, since it touches on what will perhaps be the most important decision to be made in the country in this century: what to do with our oil revenues.

While there is no one definition of a SWF – and that in itself tells a story) – it is generally accepted they are dedicated Government-owned investment vehicles (“sovereign) funded by identified foreign exchange inflows which manage those assets separately from official reserves and invest them with a “buy-and-hold” perspective. Both Trinidad’s and Norway’s SWF’s (respectively “Heritage and Stabilisation Fund” (HSF) and Pension Fund Global (PFG) are based on oil revenues unlike those of China – the largest, based on revenues from “non-commodities”.

While both countries belong to the “International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds” (IFSWF), which follows the non-mandatory “Generally Agreed Practices and Principles (the GAPP) known as “the Santiago Principles”, these focus on the investment principles to be followed rather than what revenues flow into the funds and how they are expended. These, however, are the crucial variables that the Opposition leader would have been emphasising.

From a utilisation perspective, SWF’s can be broadly classified as “savings” or “stabilisation” funds – or a mixture of both. In Trinidad, the Government is required by law to deposit 60 per cent of the surplus of actual oil revenue over projected oil revenue. In this way, the Government can “game” its HSF by ensuring the projections are either negative or very minimal. In 2009, for instance, the projections were negative and no funds went into the HSF, yet when in 2013, oil spiked to over US$100/barrel, the 60 per cent surplus was not deposited without any repercussions.

While Trinidad’s HSF purports to be a mixture, in reality, based on its history the emphasis has been used for “stabilisation” due to profligate current spending that ensures budget deficits. After 50 years of oil production, the HSF had just US$5 billion in 2015 and US$2 billion has already been used for “stabilising/spending” since. The Government has announced it will now split the Fund into two components – Heritage and Stabilisation, but it is almost certain not much will be left for future generations in an economy where Government expenditure is still over 33 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. Very little of the Fund was used for diversification and TT’s economy is an example of “Dutch Disease”. From the utterances of Trotman and the Finance Ministry, Jagdeo has good reason to fear Guyana is going down the road of Trinidad.

In Norway, on the other hand, explicitly seeking to avoid Dutch Disease, ALL petroleum revenues go into its SWF and only a maximum of four per cent can be used for interventions in budgetary current spending. As a result of this discipline, their PFG has grown to US$930 billion in assets even while the country has over two billion Euros in debt. While in the last two years Norway has had to make emergency withdrawals from the funds because of low oil prices, these have scarcely made a dent in their PFG because of the size of the latter.

One report from the IFSWF recommends: “small population, resource-dependent, non-diversified economies must use SWFs to convert resource windfalls into permanent financial assets through tightly controlled savings.”

Appropriating these resources, to do otherwise would be to doom us into poverty in perpetuity.

US Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway in deep conversation with Chilean Ambassador Claudio Rachel Rojas as they view this Michael Griffith’s piece at the opening of the University of Guyana art department show entitled Aspects of Perception: The Renaissance at the Umana Yana, Kingston

Situation at Patentia Primary Dear Editor, I would like to bring attention to a situation that has been happening at the Patentia Primary School, West Band Demerara.

There are a few sellers outside of the school but there is one in particular who is in

the habit of bulling children to buy from her and calling them names when they do not support her.

This situation was reported to the teachers and the Parent Teacher Association of that school. Several parents already went to the

head teacher and reported this behaviour but the situation remains the same.

This woman has gone as far as calling a child a perverted name. It is upsetting to think that an adult working in an environment with children and using those kind

of words. I am highly upset about this situation and would like for something to be done to protect and prevent this from happening to more children.

Sincerely, Concerned parent

Step in the right direction

Dear Editor, Some writers feel Guyana’s current Burnham Constitution does not allow for pre or post-election coalition.

Coalitions are allowed and have been used by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in its Civic appendage and the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) alliance. But the Civic component has become dysfunctional. If the PPP is to improve its chances at the next election, coalition with other forces is the way to go.

Coalition formation has been utilised in countless countries including UK, Germany, France, etc. In Guyana’s constitutional setting, because the party or alliance that wins the most votes forms the government, pre-election coalition boost electoral chances. The PPP should have formed a coalition

in 2011 when it lost its majority for government survival. The People’s National Congress (PNC) and the AFC have learned from the PPP’s failure at embracing coalition politics and is now in office to the detriment of the PPP. The PNC, Working People’s Alliance, the Justice For All and other minor parties formed a coalition (APNU) and contested the 2011 elections.

The PPP won the most votes and formed a minority Government (32 out of 65 seats). Recognising they can’t win an election on their own, the APNU (PNC) and AFC formed a coalition with agreed upon terms and conditions in contesting the 2015 elections. The coalition removed the PPP from office although many of the agreed upon conditions were not enforced because the AFC has not insisted on implementation. The

AFC should have insisted on honouring the agreement – it would have gotten its way and Guyana would have been a much better place today.

There was nothing precluding the formation of an alliance between the PPP and another party in 2011.

One party majoritarian politics cannot work in multi-ethnic Guyana; parties must be prepared to share power. In political science, I learn half a loaf is better than none.

In elections, outcomes are not guaranteed as the PPP found in 2011 and 2015 and as Prime Minister May found in the UK. It is better to share power rather than be completely out of power. If nothing else, the PPP should have learned that basic lesson from the last two elections.

Coalition or alliance will help the PPP at the next election. Those opposed to

coalition politics are not political science scholars who have studied ethnic politics. Had they studied ethnic politics worldwide, they would think differently.

The PPP Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, is talking national unity; his party should line up behind him.

Jagdeo stated publicly in NY, he would embrace all opposition and civic groups willing to work with him.

This is a step in the right direction quite different from the position of his predecessors and the tact adopted by the PPP prior to the 2015 election that cost it the government.

The terms and conditions for such an engagement or alliance needs clarification to attract takers. The PPP must show it is willing to work with all for improvement of Guyana.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

Liberalisation of telecoms sector top priority of PUC

…as new Chairman sworn in

T

he much-anticipated liberalisation of the telecommunications sector is a top priority of the Public Telecommunications Ministry and the new Public Utility Commission (PUC).

The assurance was given on Wednesday by Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes and the new PUC Chairperson, Attorney-at-Law Della Britton. Britton was sworn in on Wednesday at State House by President David Granger.

According to Britton, the Commission is being retooled to work speedily towards liberalisation.

“We are on the eve

of liberalisation, so the Commission is being retooled and I hit the ground running tomorrow to have it in place. All the necessary directives have to be put in place, because our mandate under the new regulations will expand beyond what is currently in place.”

The two bodies are working towards a July monthend deadline for the freeing up of the monopoly on the telecommunications sector. Britton said her team, which comprises a dynamic group of professionals, is well schooled in the critical areas to take the process forward.

Minister Hughes said

New PUC Chairperson Attorney-at-Law Della Britton taking her oath of office before President David Granger on Wednesday at State House

the legislation, which was assented to by President David Granger last year, has a number of new requirements that the Ministry was working through. Coupled with that, she said negotiations were

ongoing between GTT and Atlantic Telecommunication Network (ATN), covering two tracks at the same time.

“The outstanding issues are issues in terms of the new pricing for spec-

Anti-Cuban speech Dear Editor, On June 16, 2017, US President Donald Trump delivered a speech full of hostile anti-Cuban rhetoric reminiscent of the times of open confrontation with our country in a Miami theatre. He announced his Government’s Cuba policy, which rolls back the progress achieved over the last two years since December 17, 2014, when Presidents Raúl Castro and Barack Obama announced the decision to re-establish diplomatic relations and engage in a process towards the normalisation of bilateral relations.

In what constitutes a setback in the relations between both countries, President Trump gave a speech and signed a policy directive titled “National Security Presidential Memorandum”, which provides the elimination of private educational “people-to-people” exchanges and greater control over all travellers to Cuba, as well as the prohibition of business, trade and financial transactions between US companies and certain Cuban companies linked to the Armed Revolutionary Forces and the intelligence and security services, under the alleged objective of depriving us from income. The US President justified this policy with alleged concerns over the human rights situation in Cuba and the need to rigorously enforce the US blockade laws, condition-

ing its lifting, as well as any improvements in US-Cuba bilateral relations to our country’s making changes inherent to its constitutional order.

The measures announced

by President Trump run counter to the majority support of the US public opinion, including the Cuban emigration in that country, to the total lifting of the blockade and the establishment of normal relations between Cuba and the United States.

The Government of Cuba condemns the new measures to tighten the blockade, which are doomed to failure, as has been repeatedly evidenced in the past, for they will not succeed in their purpose to weaken the Revolution or bend the Cuban people, whose resistance against aggressions of all sorts and origins has been put to the test throughout almost six decades.

The Government of Cuba rejects political manipulation and double standards in human rights. The Cuban people enjoy fundamental rights and freedoms and can proudly show some achievements that are still a chimera for many countries of the world, including the United States, such as the right to health, education and social security; equal pay for equal work, children’s rights as well as the rights to food, peace and development.

Cuba, with its modest resources, has also contribut-

ed to the improvement of the human rights situation in many countries of the world, despite the limitations inherent to its condition as a blockaded country.

The United States is not in the position to teach us lessons. We have serious concerns about the respect for and guarantees of human rights in that country, where there are numerous cases of murders, brutality and abuses by the Police, particularly against the African-American population; the right to life is violated as a result of the deaths caused by fire arms; child labour is exploited and there are serious manifestations of racial discrimi-

nation; there is a threat to impose more restrictions on medical services, which will leave 23 million persons without health insurance; there is unequal pay between men and women; migrants and refugees, particularly those who come from Islamic countries, are marginalised; there is an attempt to put up walls that discriminate against and denigrate neighbour countries; and international commitments to preserve the environment and address climate change are abandoned.

Also a source of concern are the human rights violations by the United States in other countries, such as the

trum (the main one) and then, of course, the process by which we would then receive applications for new licences.” She said the system and process were completely new and would therefore take time to plan, recruit the right persons and move ahead.

The Telecommunications Bill was first introduced in 2011.However, it was revised in 2013 before being sent to a Parliamentary Special Select Committee in the 10th Parliament, and was near conclusion when that Parliament was prorogued in 2014 by the then President, Donald Ramotar.

When the legislation was taken before the National Assembly by the

Government, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) had called for the Bill to be sent to a Special Select Committee for further consideration, but Minister Hughes had argued that the Bill had been long promised and was overdue.

The sector, she emphasised, must be an open one, so that the country can progress and not lag behind its sister Caricom countries and the rest of the world.

The legislation provides for the fostering of an open, competitive telecoms sector to which investors will be attracted, and in which a fair, competitive environment for sector participants is created.

arbitrary detention of tens of prisoners in the territory illegally occupied by the US Naval Base in Guantánamo, Cuba, where even torture has been applied.

The Government of Cuba reiterates its will to continue a respectful and cooperative dialogue on topics of mutual interest, as well as the negotiation of outstanding issues with the US Government.

During the last two years it has been evidenced that both countries, as was repeatedly expressed by the President of the Councils of State and of Ministers, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, can cooperate and coexist in a civilised manner, respecting the differences and promoting everything that benefits both nations and peoples, but it should not be expected that, in order to achieve that, Cuba would

make concessions inherent to its sovereignty and independence, or accept preconditions of any sort.

Any strategy aimed at changing the political, economic and social system in Cuba, either through pressures and impositions or by using more subtle methods, shall be doomed to failure.

Just as we have been doing since the triumph of the Revolution on January 1, 1959, we will take on every risk and shall continue to advance steadfastly and confidently in the construction of a sovereign, independent, socialist, democratic, prosperous and sustainable nation.

Kind regards, Julio César González Marchante Cuban Ambassador Government of Cuba

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THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

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Foundation

Why parents should not make children do homework

Survive and thrive during testing season

BY HEATHER SHUMAKER

W

e’re currently enmeshed in a high-pressure approach to learning that starts with homework being assigned in kindergarten and even preschool. Homework dominates after-school time in many households and has been dubbed the 21st century’s “new family dinner.”

Overtired children complain and collapse. Exasperated parents cajole and nag. These family fights often end in tears, threats, and parents secretly finishing their kid’s homework.

Parents put up with these nightly battles because they want what’s best for their children. But, surprise, the opposite is more likely to be true. A comprehensive review of 180 research studies by Duke University psychologist and neuroscientist Harris Cooper shows homework’s benefits are highly age dependent: high schoolers benefit if the work is under two hours a night, middle schoolers receive a tiny academic boost, and elementary-aged children? It’s better to wait.

If you examine the research – not one study, but the full sweep of homework research – it’s clear that homework does have an impact, but it’s not always a good one. Homework given too young increases negative attitudes toward school. That’s bad news, especially for a kindergartener facing 12 more years of assignments.

Children rebel against homework because they have other things they need to do. Holler and run. Relax and reboot. Do family chores. Go to bed early. Play, following their own ideas.

Children have been told what to do all day long at school – which is mostly sitting still and focusing on the academic side. Academic learning is only one side of a child. When school is out, children need time for other things.

Some schools are already realising this. New York City’s PS 116 elementary school made news last year when

its principal Jane Hsu abolished homework and asked families to read instead. Individual schools and teachers from Maryland to Michigan have done the same, either eliminating homework in the elementary years or making it optional. But schools also report that if teachers don’t give it, some parents will demand it.

Believers in homework say it teaches soft skills like responsibility and good study habits. That’s another problem with homework in elementary school. Young children can rarely cope with complex time management skills or the strong emotions that accompany assignments, so the responsibility falls on parents. Adults assume the highly undesirable role of Homework Patrol Cop, nagging children about doing it, and children become experts in procrastination and the habit of complaining until forced to work. Homework overtakes the parents’ evening as well as the child’s. These roles aren’t easy to shake.

When homework comes at a stage when it can academically benefit students, it can also be a student’s responsibility. That means a high school student should be expected to do her homework without being reminded. It may take a year or two of practice in middle school, but it doesn’t require years of practice. Before age 11, responsibility can be taught in other ways. For a six-year-old, that means remembering to feed the cat and bring home her lunchbox.

If we want students to improve

memory, focus, creative thinking, test performance and even school behaviour, the answer is not more homework, the answer is more sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation reports that our children are suffering sleep deprivation, partly from homework.

If we pride ourselves on a rational, research-based approach to education, we must look at the right facts.

Parents often feel stuck with homework because they don’t realise they have a choice. But they do. Schooling may be mandatory, but homework isn’t. Families can opt out. Parents can approach the teacher either about homework load or the simple fact of doing homework at all, especially in elementary school. Many teachers will be more than happy with the change.

Opting out, or changing the homework culture of a school brings education control back down to the local level. That’s another thing the new Education Secretary has promised: to turn more control for education decisions over to states and local school districts. That could spell good news for students – if local teachers and principals do their own homework and read up on what the research says about making children do school work after school is done. (Time Magazine)

BY DR LORI DESAUTELS (CONTINUED FROM WEDNESDAY)

F

or the very first time in the history of this test-taking movement in education, I am intimately involved. Last week, I found myself rushing through fifth grade instruction, neglecting the personal and emotional comments and questions from 11-year-olds in a way that should have demonstrated a “felt presence.” I felt pressured to make sure that we spent every minute re-teaching, reviewing and testing their endurance for academic mastery. Then I remembered that the brain is a social organ, and within the context of relationships and felt connections, we learn through the brain-compatible strategies of questions, discussions, reflection, story-telling and modelling.

6 brain-compatible strategies

Connections and relationships created between students and educators are game changers for academic success. What can we do when reviewing and re-teaching to prepare our students emotionally? How can we stimulate an environment where creative thinking, self-efficacy and problem solving are brought to life? I suggest: * We can engage our students by helping them see their own expertise in so many areas within their own cultures and lives. Share with students that these tests are important, but they do not define their personhood or intelligence. * We can encourage and notice every small effort or action that is positive, no matter how insignificant.

Create a sheet for positive, on-target behaviours that you notice in each student, and send it home every day during the weeks of test prep and testing. * Share your concerns and stories that invite empathy, letting students know that “you are not alone in your thinking and feelings.” This strategy is extremely effective when the dialogue is respectful and neutral with regard to tone and disposition. For example, you might say, “I know how nervous you must have felt before the first part of the test yesterday, as I remember taking my college entrance test, and my hands were so sweaty I could hardly grip the pencil.” * We can weave the tested material into stories where we create context and patterns, because our brains are wired for storytelling. For example, if I am teaching persuasive writing passages, I can create my own passage in an area of student interest, and model a story of how I came up with the topic. Or you might compare the topic sentence to the boss of a company like Hershey, while equating the details of the paragraph in the story to the employees in the chocolate factory. * We can take brain breaks, pulling up casual and mutually inclusive class discussions for a few minutes on a popular topic, or read a story of interest together.

We can get up and move, practice some deep breaths, or listen to music for five minutes. * We can encourage our students to write out their sadness or worries on small sheets of paper to be tossed in a basket before an assignment or test. Research reports that when we write out any worry or concern before a test, we create space and cognitive capacity in the working memory.

Remember, emotions are contagious, and how we feel at any given moment can be subconsciously mirrored by our students. Be aware of your moods and feelings, and of how these directly impact the dispositions and overall enthusiasm of your students. We are wired to model behaviours even subconsciously, and with awareness, we can shift our perspective, our emotions and our behaviours. (www.edutopia.org)

news

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thursDAY, june 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Granger denies sidelining WPA R esponding to claims by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) of being shafted and sidelined by the major partner in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition, President David Granger on Wednesday said such an assertion was untrue as there was a fair partnership in the five-party unit.

Granger said the People’s National Congress (PNC)led APNU has been an equal

playing field for all of its partners since its establishment in 2011.

He was responding to claims made directly by the WPA that it felt side-lined by the actions of the coalition, which now sits in the seat of Government.

“We have not sidelined any party…I was very careful in 2015 to ensure that every party in the APNU is represented in the National Assembly and have positions.”

To this end, he said, Minister within the Labour Ministry, Keith Scott represents the National Front Alliance (NFA); Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma represents the Justice For All Party (JFAP); Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock represents the Guyana Action Party (GAP) and former Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine represents the WPA. “So there is no sidelining

Friends robbed at gunpoint on seawall – cash, jewellery, vehicle stolen

P

olice are investigating a possible “setup” on Tuesday evening which resulted in over a million dollars in cash and valuables, as well as a new model white Toyota Raum, being stolen at gunpoint as a couple returned from a date at the Ogle seawall, East Coast Demerara.

The two victims were identified as 41-yearold Jeanine Odel, a hairdresser of Eighth Street, West Half Paradise, East Coast Demerara and Declon Pierre, 41, an overseas-based Guyanese of Lot 161 Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara.

Based on information received, around 22:45h,

while the two were on their way home from a date, Pierre told Odel – who is the owner and driver of PNN 3885 – that he wanted to urinate. As such, the woman pulled onto the corner of the road near the Ogle seawall and he exited the vehicle.

However, shortly after, three men, two of whom were armed with hand guns, approached Odel and while holding a gun to her head, demanded that she turn over her rings (three gold and diamond rings) and other valuables. After she complied, one of the men pulled her out of her motor vehicle and they drove away with it.

Police reports indicate that at no time was Pierre pounced on by the men.

The duo then made their way to the Sparendaam Police Station on foot, where they lodged their report.

In addition to her rings valued at $800,000, Odel lost one HP laptop valued at $120,000, one Samsung S7 mobile phone valued at $140,000, a $49,000 gold chain, and her $2,600,000 Raum and US$1000 in cash.

Pierre, as a result of leaving his belongings in the motor car, lost US$3700.

Investigations are ongoing.

President David Granger speaking to the media on Wednesday

of any one of the parties and I had the option of making a selection after May 15. And I made my decision based on my commitment to inclusionary democracy and to ensure that all members of the partnership are all represented.”

Meanwhile, President Granger said he was disappointed that the WPA would take the business of the coalition to the public realm.

He sought to assure that he ran a coalition, had never attacked any of the partners, had not expressed any con-

cern or shown any reaction.

“I know where we are going; I know the importance of the coalition to social cohesion, inclusionary democracy and the future of this country.”

“I do not believe that the business of the coalition could be efficiently and effectively transacted in the media, and I don’t do business like that,” Granger told journalists on Wednesday.

On Monday, WPA Executive Members Tacuma Ogunseye and Dr David Hinds said there was no doubt the party, which may not have taken a substantial amount of votes to the table, was being sidelined.

Dr Hinds said the infraction has been so significant that executives were being hammered by party members and supporters both locally and abroad to cut ties with the grouping. He said, however, that was not a consideration at this time.

The party’s top brass is scheduled to meet with other members of APNU in July. Ogunseye said that the meeting would provide them with answers to give to its members on the way for-

ward for the party.

“There, we will have a frank discussion with our partners and use the opportunity to assess the way in which they respond to our concerns and after that exercise, we will come back and decide on a line of action. But the approach of that meeting is to try to be objective as possible and try to enter the discourse with 100 per cent goodwill,” Ogunseye said.

He said too that the meeting could have a very serious impact on the future of relations between the WPA and its partners.

Hinds had said there were a range of issues in the WPA about how the party should treat Government.

“It ranges from those who feel that we should disengage with Government immediately…we are confident that if we should hold a members meeting, that there would be a strong opinion among our members for us to disengage from the Government.”

The meeting with Government, he added, will give leaders an idea of what to tell the members.

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS Zeelugt woman slapped with narco trafficking charge

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oxanna Burnett of Zeelugt New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, was granted bail after she denied a charge of trafficking in narcotics when she appeared before Magistrate Rushell Liverpool at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The woman was busted with 358 grams of cannabis on June 2, 2017. In court on Wednesday, Attorney Bernard Da Silva during

a bail application told the court that the alleged narcotic was found in a yard, adding that his client was not in physical control of the any narcotic, moreover, she exercised no control over the plot of land where the narcotic was allegedly found.

The court heard that the prosecution’s file is still incomplete. The Magistrate released Burnett on $200,000 bail and the case will continue on July 21.

“Roach” jailed, fined $1.5M for narco trafficking A

man who was nabbed at a local airport with 592 grams of cocaine, was on Wednesday jailed after he made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Rudolph Muir, also called “Roach”, of Enterprise, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara

(EBD) admitted to Magistrate Fabayo Azore that he had swallowed 72 pellets of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The 32-year-old man confessed that on June 18 and 19 at the Eugene F Correia Airport, he had 592 grams of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. As such he

Convicted drug trafficker, Rudolph Muir

was jailed for three years and fined $1.5 million.

In court on Wednesday, Muri said he was paid US$1700 to traffic the illegal substance.

Muir was nabbed at the airport after he was spotted by drug enforcement officers perspiring profusely. He was transported to a city hospital where he excreted 72 pellets filled with cocaine.

At the time of his arrest, Muri was an outgoing passenger on a Liat flight to Barbados.

Man on trial for rape of underage girl

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he trial of Julius Tejowah commenced on Wednesday morning before Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Georgetown.

The accused has denied allegations that on July 31, 2015, he engaged in the sexual penetration of a child under 16 years. The matter was said to have

occurred in the county of Demerara.

Tejowah is being represented by defence counsel Maxwell McKay, while Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy is leading the State’s case.

On Tuesday, a 12-member jury was empanelled to hear the case in which several witnesses are expected to testify.

Man charged for assaulting another

A

man was placed before the courts to answer to as to why he assaulted another.

Keith Jerome, 34, of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, denied the charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.

The charge against him stated that on June 19, 2017, he unlawfully assaulted Mark Gatsby with intent to cause him bodily harm.

The prosecution told the Court that the defendant

and Virtual Complainant (VC) were consuming alcohol on the day in question when an argument ensued between the two.

As the argument escalated, the defendant took up a glass bottle and dealt the VC several lashes to his face which caused the bottle to break.

The matter was reported, and the defendant was arrested and charged with the offence.

He was granted bail in the sum of $30,000, and was expected to next appear in court on June 26, 2017.

Nuff respect…

Y

… to the Rastafari

our Eyewitness is very pleased President Granger will be addressing the “National Rastafari Unity for Recognition, Justice and Development” Conference at UG, next month. He (your Eyewitness) has always been bothered that not enough respect’s been given to the Rastafari in the Caribbean. Sure, there’s loads of youths wearing dreads and red, black and yellow knickknacks…but have they bothered to reflect on the philosophy of the Rastas?

Nowadays, most don’t even listen to Reggae – which would be grounded on that philosophy. They gyrate to the parody dancehall. For instance, did most who saw the pic of the Nyabhingi Rastas meeting Granger, reflect on the significance of the hand gesture of all the Rastas – with all the tips of their fingers touching? Guess not!

Now UG is as fit a place as any for having this Conference – but not because of anyone at UG being in a position to teach the Rastas anything. But rather for the Rastas teaching THEM more than a thing or two!!

The first thing the 8000 at UG should learn – and this especially includes the VC and his Cabinet – is not to be riding on their high horses because of their “education”.

Very frankly, it’s been mostly MISEDUCATION! Take the mandatory “close reading” of texts that modern and postmodern theorists like Derrida enjoin. UG would be enlightened if they were exposed to the Biblical Hermeneutics of Rastafari. They wouldn’t be prancing around the place praying to a blonde, blue eyed Jesus.

But just as the Europeans did, a thousand years after the Bible was in Ethiopia, they INDIGINISED the text so that they weren’t alienated to reach for something that’d always be outside their grasp.

UG would also learn a thing or two about the Rasta concept of “Babylon” vs “Zion”. In the words of Marley – “We refuse to be/What you wanted us to be/We are what we are/That's the way it's going to be, if you don't know/ You can't educate I.” They wouldn’t be prancing around UG doing all in their powers to become one with their oppressors with their bow-ties! All that does is lead to self-contempt and self-hate.

The objective of the conference is to discuss “reparation, repatriation and restoration”. What better way of summarising the 10 principles of the Caricom Declaration on Reparations? And what better way to remind UG to cease being an instrument of Babylon and begin to insist on the creation of Zion? Again as Marley, echoing Garvey said: “Babylon system is the vampire for the empire/ Sucking the children day by day/ …Building church and university/Deceiving the people continually.”

…for indigenising Parliament

Your Eyewitness knows he’s going to take the road less travelled on this one – but he has to compliment Raphael Trotman for his outburst in Parliament when he let it all hang out against Jagdeo. While Trotman doesn’t look like a Rasta – he’s not to be blamed since he’s crinalously challenged (OK…the fella’s bald!) – he’s also on the indigenising track.

Now let’s get something clear – if Britain (and especially the English) kept us in bondage for hundreds of years – who else can be Babylon? So whatever they taught us, we should know it can’t be good for us. So we arrive at the ridiculous way they taught us to speak in Parliament - “Honourable this” and “Honourable that”!! And the bowing and scraping to the Chair!!

Jeez!!

So rather than castigating Trotman for “behaving bad”, we must compliment him for finally throwing of his mental slavery and embracing his true, inner self!!

Next time, expect Trottie to let loose some “F’s” and “S’s”. He’s free at last!!

…for Darryl Sammy

Sammy spoke his mind once again about the wannabe Massas in the WICB – led by David Cameron – who’s insisting the players act like house slaves.

But Sammy reminded them, “Massa Day done!!!”

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

news

9

thursDAY, june 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Vietnamese, Mauritian Deportee hacks diplomats accredited ex-wife to death

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s Guyana seeks to strengthen ties with its international neighbours, President David Granger has accredited two new diplomats of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Mauritius.

The Guyanese leader accepted the Letters

not only in the Region but the world.

Nevertheless, the non-resident diplomat noted that this renewed bilateral will see the two countries benefiting from each other in their respective national development.

“The Government and people of Vietnam are very

He recognised too that the countries have both adopted the 2020-2030 agenda for Sustainable Development as well as signed the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. To this end, the Guyana Leader underscored the progress Vietnam has made in these areas, saying Guyana in pushing its green

Mauritian High Commissioner to Guyana Sooroojdev Phokeer with President Granger, Minister Harmon and Ambassador Audrey Waddell

of Credence from the Vietnamese Ambassador and Mauritian High Commissioner at State House on Main Street, Georgetown.

The newly accredited Vietnamese Ambassador, Do Ba Khao, highlighted his country’s own outstanding Gross Domestic Product (GDP) performance over the past three decades, while recognising that Guyana continues to maintain political and economic stability despite external challenges

pleased with the new step to develop our traditional relationship and cooperation. We would like to further out bilateral relations,” Ambassador Do Ba Khao stated.

Delivering remarks, President Granger outlined that both Guyana and Vietnam have identified similar areas such as coast to coast protection, forest protection, bio-diversity cultivation as sustainable development priorities in their environmental strategies.

economy agenda, looks forward to benefit from its 42-year-old diplomatic relationship with Vietnam.

Meanwhile, President Granger in his remarks to the non-resident Mauritian diplomat, Sooroojdev Phokeer, outlined that the adverse effects of climate change pose common challenges to the national development goals of the two countries.

On this note, the Head of State pointed to the need for Guyana and Mauritius,

as member countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, to continue cooperation within that framework on matters relating to Small States.

“Guyana looks forward to consolidating its cooperation with Mauritius… (since it) is moving towards the establishment of a green state; one that will place emphasis on the protection of our environment, on the preservation of our biodiversity, the provision of ecotourism and eco-educational services, and on the promotion of renewal energy and practicable measure to ensure climate adaptation,” the President noted.

The MauritianHigh Commissioner, on the other hand, said this renewed bi-lateral relations would pave the way for the two countries to achieve common goals as Small States.

“Guyana and Mauritius as Small States rely on credible international institutions to realise our economic potential…

I have no doubt that the Republic of Mauritius and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana will continue to work hand-in-hand to further our bilateral relations to achieve common goals and objectives,” High Commissioner Phokeer noted.

Diplomatic ties between Guyana and Mauritius was established in December 1992.

P

Dead: Mintie Karamchand

olice in Berbice is on the hunt for a man after he hacked his ex-wife to death and escaped after plunging into the Canje River.

Dead is Mintie Karamchand, 40, of 19 Sheet Anchor, Berbice. The restaurant waitress and mother of five, was killed at her home in the presence of one of her children.

The suspect, 47-yearold Goldburn December, is said to have fled the scene.

Police are on the hunt for him.

December and Karamchan separated eight years ago after a 20year relationship and he migrated to Suriname but was deported last month and returned to Sheet Anchor.

It is still unclear what triggered the brutal attack. However, the couple’s second child, Drucilla

Suspect: Goldburn December

December, 21, said her mother returned home at 06:00h on Wednesday.

She related that even though her father had moved back home, he and Karamchand had not rekindled their relationship.

“He try touching her since he come back but she says that she have somebody and that she don’t want anything to do with him and I tell him not to touch Mummy, and since then he never try to touch her again,” the daughter related.

Meanwhile, she noted that shortly after her mother arrived home, an argument broke out between her and her mother. According to the young mother, she decided to move out with her baby but her mother said she will move and started to pack some of her belongings.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

10

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

News Amerindian land CoI

President admits no consultation held … to meet with Toshaos Council today

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resident David Granger said on Wednesday that he did not hold any consultation before the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into Amerindian land titling.

He said however that the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry was expected to make recommendations.

“We had embarked on a procedure. The Ministry of the Indigenous People’s Affairs had to make certain recommendation. I did not have a consultation, but what I’m doing now, I’m meeting with the National Toshaos Council tomorrow (today). I met with the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) and we have agreed on a way forward,” the Head of State told journalists at State House.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Monday chided Government over its “unilateral” move to establish the CoI into land titling in Amerindian communities.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said his Party condemned the move

by Government, as it would drive a much wider wedge among the people. He said there was no need to appoint a single commission for the Amerindian communities and African ancestral lands.

“We believe that the

Last Friday, the political Opposition pressed through a motion calling for the immediate suspension of the CoI that was established by President Granger.

Government, however,

maintained that the Inquiry would move ahead. In fact, Minister within the Labour Ministry, Keith Scott said the Amerindians were greedy for requesting security for the lands they own.

He opined that sovereignty now belonged to the State, governed by the coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

Poor coordination led to conflict at KNP – miners

S Chairman of the National Toshao Council, Joel Fredericks, and Vice Chairman Lenox Shuman

Government doing it in this fashion (in a single commission) would drive a wedge, because it may look as though we are trying to balance interest here.”

The Opposition Leader said his travels to Amerindian communities across the country have garnered utmost disagreement on the ongoing CoI. He said it therefore came as a surprise when Government announced in the National Assembly last week that the CoI was established after consultation. He called that

a blatant lie.

He lashed out also at the talks in Parliament about the rights the Head of State has to establish CoIs. He said, however, that there was no need for any noise to be made about that, since, at no time – in this case in particular – was that fact challenged. What is being challenged, he said, is the “efficacy or the lack of common sense of putting together two issues that may cause conflict between people of two different ethnic backgrounds in Guyana”.

everal miners from the Amerindian Village of Chenapau, who were removed, and in some cases arrested, in connection with the alleged illegal mining at the Kaieteur National Park (KNP) believe this was caused by a lack of coordination on the part of the relevant authorities.

Former Toshao of Chenapau, Tony Melville, told Guyana Times on Wednesday that the issue at the KNP could have been avoided, had there been proper coordination between the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) which has responsibility for the KNP. “There is no coordination, because when the incident occurred up there, when we went about to find out from people if we could get an idea of what’s happening, one time we were referred to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and then the PAC. And when you ask these people about what going on, they give you different answers,” Melville explained. As such, there is some level of ignorance among residents and miners on the exact boundaries that prohibit them from entering certain areas.

According to the miner, there was also a lack of communication in all areas during the exercise which was initiated to have the alleged illegal miners removed. Melville said if there was a better approach to this issue, then the matter

Former Toshao of Chenapau, Tony Melville

would not been blown out of proportion, noting that there was no need to have the area militarised because it was not necessary.

Asked what could be done going forward to address this issue, he suggested that there be open dialogue between all parties concerned. The former Toshao believes with the absence of dialogue, this could just worsen the situation, but if discussions are held, then everyone will have a clear understanding of the issue at hand and how they could all work towards resolving it amicably.

“They need dialogue with the entities and sit with us.

We are not people who have antagonism towards each other and create animosity among ourselves. We need dialogue from all lev-

els, so we could understand that these are the rules and guidelines,” she added.

Nevertheless, other miners told Guyana Times that soldiers destroyed their equipment, material and other items in several mining camps. These mining camps were given a cease order since April, but the miners claim they were not given enough time to relocate their equipment.

The miners, who are prohibited from returning to their camps, also expressed pleasure at less military presence in the area, saying that it’s a sign of relief because residents and those working in the industry felt intimidated by their presence and were not too happy with their actions.

A few weeks ago, President David Granger ordered the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Guyana Police Force to commence an operation to combat illegal mining in the protected park.

During the operation, 21 residents of Chenapau were arrested while on the ancestral trail; none were caught mining, and they were brought to Georgetown where they were charged.

President Granger, as an act of “goodwill” later instructed the charges to be dropped.

The residents vehemently deny mining in the KNP, noting they have a much deeper emotional connection to the Park, since it was their tribe that settled there.

thursDAY, june 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Guyana prepares fiscal plan Sophia lad died from drowning, early reports say to avoid resource curse

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uyana is in the process of designing a dedicated fiscal framework with prioritised clear objectives to be put in place before oil production starts in 2020.

According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, the Guyana Government is looking to “adopt a coherent macro-economic management strategy that fosters economic growth and sustainable development outcomes”.

Jordan made these comments at the opening of a two-day seminar hosted by the Chatham House’s New Petroleum Producers Group.

Oil revenues provide a “golden opportunity” to reverse “centuries of mis-development”, the Minister noted.

Guyana has been continuously warned that if it does not properly manage its oil revenues, it could retard economic development. This is commonly known as the resource curse. Oil revenues will be used to invest heavily in core traditional sectors to reduce full dependence on oil to sustain the economy, the Minister said.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, Minister Jordan explained that Guyana will also

– mother revisited scene of discovery

E Finance Minister Winston Jordan shares the head table with Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, and Dr Valérie Marcel of the New Petroleum Producers Group

rely on a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) to guard against the resource curse. “We will ensure that the elements of this fund are compatible with the developmental objectives of the Government,” he said.

Guyana’s draft SWF was created with input from the Commonwealth Secretariat, and has since had input from other international agencies, including the World Bank.

The Government is looking to have the SWF in place before Guyana’s first oil.

Meanwhile, the Minister emphasised that there has to also be management of domestic expectations in tandem with the resources.

“People are already calling (asking) when we are going to start distributing money, so it is extremely important that

Deportee hacks ex-wife...

FROM PAGE 9

She said she went out of the house and then heard a loud voice coming from the lower flat and rushed to investigate. As she got close to the window, she saw her mother covered in blood jumping out of the window. She said her father was at the time holding a chopper and she went between her parents in an attempt to protect her mother.

At the time she was holding her baby who is a few days old. “He tell me to move and I run outside and holla for help…”

She noted that December picked up a bench and went towards her mother but she did not see what happen next since she was trying to get assistance.

Eyewitnesses say December used the bench to hit the woman in her head.

According to one neighbour, Vanessa Artiga, after inflicting the injuries, December fled. Artiga said she was told of the incident and rushed over by which time other neighbours were flocking into the yard and Karamchamd was lying in a pool of blood.

Shortly after, she saw the suspect returning to the yard.

“She was breathing then the husband, which is Goldburn, he run back inside the yard and he say, ‘Oh you ent die yet, you hard fo dei.’

And he pick up a short piece of wood and give she like three or four hit on she head.”

Artiga said the Police were contacted but they were advised to take the victim to the hospital and then go to the station and make a report.

A taxi was called and the badly injured woman was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Asked why December was not apprehended, Artiga said that there was not enough manpower to do so.

According to Drucilla, many persons were afraid of her father including her 23-year-old brother. She referred to him as a person who frequently consumed alcohol.

This practice, she said, started before he left Guyana and was one of the reasons for the separation. She noted that after being deported, he had not been taking many drinks but recently returned to his old habit.

Meanwhile, residents say the man left with a rope and headed for the Canje River.

According to one eyewitness, they were on a wharf and saw a man wearing only trousers.

The man swam the river and used a tree to climb onto shore in the vicinity of the National Psychiatric Hospital. At the time he was not carrying anything in his hands.

Police arrived on the scene and, up to press time, were still searching for the suspect.

we are able to manage domestic expectations,” Jordan said.

The Ministries of Natural Resources and Finance along with country representatives from Trinidad and Tobago are participants in the two-day seminar, which will examine mechanisms for saving petroleum revenues.

ight-year-old Isaiah Smartt who was found dead in a swamp near his Block E, Sophia, Greater Georgetown home on Tuesday may have died as a result of drowning.

According to a Police source, the lad was found motionless in a drain, which contained about three feet of water. Guyana Times learnt that the boy was clad in a blue raincoat at the time of his demise.

Smartt, who attended the FE Pollard Primary School in Kitty, Georgetown, was found around 19:00h by residents. Eyewitnesses say the body was swollen when found which suggested that the lad may have been there for more than 24 hours.

This publication was told

Wednesday that the area where the lad was found was alongside an unoccupied concrete house, whose former inhabitants were reportedly overseas. This newspaper was later told that the proprietors of the house at the back were relatives of the family who own the unoccupied concrete house. It was, however, claimed that they do not access their home through the yard of the unoccupied house.

Guyana Times understands that the lad on Monday afternoon was playing, but after a relative retired to sleep, he was discovered missing. According to reports, Isaiah’s mother, Joycelyn Pickett, was under the impression that the child went to his father’s

home and as such, when he did not return home, she did not pay any heed. However, things took a turn for the worse when Pickett learnt that her son had died.

On Wednesday, Pickett returned to the scene where her son was discovered, but had to be ushered away to lessen the trauma on recalling seeing her son’s body.

The cause of death will soon be determined as the body awaits a post-mortem examination at the Lyken Funeral Home. The family of the boy believes that foul play might have been involved. Isaiah was described as a mannerly child and a great cricketer by those who knew him.

Police investigations are continuing.

12 news

thursDAY, june 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Stop playing of degrading music on airwaves – Speaker urges

I

n presenting two reports to the National Assembly on Wednesday, the Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC) was urged to do more to stop systemic misogyny in Guyana and prevent the public airing of certain types of music that degrade women in general.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland said he believed that the Commission could find more creative ways of doing this and encouraged the members to take this recommendation into serious consideration so that corrective action could be taken soon.

“I am happy to see that it is a continuing concern about the preference … a section of our citizenry … continue to have about certain types of music and certain lyrics which offend people…I am saying that, because I don’t think it’s only women who are annoyed or upset by it, but it needs to be put into the mainstream of concerns, because it is something that ought not to happen,” he explained.

According to the Speaker, while people have the right to play these kinds of music at their homes or at a private party, he stressed that they should not regale the community with it. “There is nothing wrong with us being creative enough to put something, to do something…” he

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland being presented with the 5th and 6th Annual Reports of the Women and Gender Equality Commission by its Chairperson, Indra Chandarpal

added.

While recognising that this may take some time to materialise, Dr Scotland encouraged the WGEC to begin working now and that would lead to other stages that would hopefully lead to the ultimate goal.

Domestic violence

Meanwhile, he said the issue of domestic violence and women rights in the home have now become commonplace in Guyana, especially since many people have certain views that were being nurtured.

“We could also look at how law enforcement can help and whether you are satisfied that resources available in terms of training whether those need to be constantly brought to the fore.”

The Speaker also used the opportunity to congratulate the WGEC for its work and said he remained hopeful that the routine handing over of these important reports could advance to other stages.

WGEC Chairperson Indra Chandarpal said while it was a statutory requirement to submit these reports, she also agreed with the Speaker that work should continue beyond just submitting the reports.

Chandarpal recalled that she had, through the Parliamentary Management Committee, proposed that the Parliament reviewed its standing orders with the view of making changes on how to proceed after a report was submitted.

“All these reports I believe are important, because

a lot of valuable work is done and when you present it and lay it and that’s all you do.

But we need to take it a step further,” she emphasised.

It was further recognised that the Commission has never taken a vote to come to a decision even though it was diverse. “This is to show that there is that will within that commission to work around the issues to have consensus,” Chandarpal said, stating that the body has done a good job despite the difficulty and challenges it has faced over the years.

Chandarpal also singled out Commissioner Nicole

Cole, who she said had exposed the degrading music being played on local airwaves. Cole also represents the WGEC on the Mash Secretariat and has been advocating for less degrading music to be played during those celebrations.

“There is that concern that we have been expressing. And I believe that it will take a little while to make changes, but at least the process has started not only by the Commission but other organisations.”

The WGEC Chair said some 22 recommendations were made to the National

Assembly for serious consideration, including the possible enactment of legislation and policy on sexual harassment in the workplace; delivery of comprehensive sexual and reproduction age-appropriate health and rights education in school, and promoting parenting skills training in pre- and postnatal clinics in all health centres.

The Fifth and Sixth Annual Reports of the WGEC were handed over to the Speaker in the presence of all Commissioners, Parliament staff and other women rights advocates.

Carter Center rep wraps up stint in Guyana

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arter Center country representative Jason Calder is wrapping up his stint in promoting transparency and multistakeholder cooperation in Guyana.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Wednesday, Calder recalled his Center’s role in establishing the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (G-EITI), as this country heads towards becoming an oil and gas economy.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo, according to a statement from his office, expressed gratitude for the critical work of the Carter Center in bringing good governance to Guyana, and con-

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo meeting Carter Center country representative Jason Calder on Wednesday

veyed his personal appreciation of former US President Jimmy Carter “for his outstanding role in the political life of Guyana”.

The Prime Minister also applauded the initiative by Calder in “promoting understanding of the constitutional reform pro-

cess, and indicated willingness to work with the Carter Center in the future to realise the goals of the process, which include GovernmentOpposition cooperation.

Calder leaves Guyana next month after his oneyear stint.

NEWS

13

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Miss Guyana UK visits Linden Guyana to host CASC in July … makes donation to Linden Special Needs School

… over 160 individuals to undertake excursion in Rupununi Savannahs

T

R

Lauren Hosannah at Richmond Hill during her tour of Linden

eigning Miss Guyana United Kingdom (UK) Lauren Hosannah on Tuesday visited the community of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

During the visit she met with some of the town's representatives and visited a few learning institutions and community sites. Hosannah, who was born to a Guyanese father and Pakistani mother, is on her first visit to Guyana, which will wrap up on June 27. Presently a student of the University of Birmingham pursuing a Masters Undergraduate Course in Psychology, the reigning queen as part of her visit met with Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland. She also visited the Mackenzie High School where she delivered a motivational speech and the Linden Special Needs School where she made a monetary donation.

Hosannah, who was also treated to the beautiful sceneries at Richmond Hill Linden said Holland's

team had been very welcoming in facilitating her visit.

Hosannah, who has been actively involved in the sponsoring numerous charities in Guyana has also donated to the Girl's Brigade and Youth Centre at Victoria in addition to making monetary contribution towards the town. She is also slated to visit Joshua House and a mental health hospital in Georgetown during the course of her visit. She has also pledged to donate educational resources to some schools in the Linden community.

"It's really important for me to make a difference in Guyana… even if it's a small difference I've made quite a big difference in London but now it's nice to actually go back to my hometown. I was saying to the Mayor, there was a need in the schools for computers and for some more technology and one of my secondary schools back home is sponsoring some of this trip and

some educational resources. As a university student, I know how important education is," Hosannah noted.

She related that she was pleased about her visit, noting that she learned a lot about the Guyanese culture.

Hosannah also stressed the importance for girls like her, who are of Guyanese ancestry not to forget their roots and to take the opportunity to learn about their culture as she expressed her interest in continuing to represent Guyana at the Miss World or Miss Universe pageants.

Mayor Holland said he was pleased to host the beauty queen, as he described her as a very wonderful, charming and intelligent individual who is not only talking the talk but walking the walk. Holland pointed out that Hosannah took the time to encourage students to take their education seriously, which shows that pageantry is more than just modelling on a stage.

wo men from Region One (Barima-Waini) appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday to answer to charges of breaking and entering.

Forty-six-year-old Deon Allicock and 19-yearold Leroy Singh, both of Kamaka Water Front, North West District, Essequibo, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Both men pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on June 15, 2017 at Kamaka Water Front, they broke and entered James Campbell’s property and stole three gold rings valued $100,000; two gold chains valued $200,000; one gold band valued $60,000; 10 cartons of Bristol cigarettes valued $50,000; 90 $500 Digicel phone cards valued $45,000; and $1.6 million in cash.

Their attorney made a successful bail application on behalf of both accused, arguing that Allicock and Singh were both wellknown in their community and posed no flight risk.

The prosecution did not object to bail, which was granted in the sum of $250,000. Both men are expected to reappear at the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court on August 22, 2017.

welve countries across the Caribbean will participate in the Caribbean Award SubRegional Council (CASC), which is set to be hosted in Guyana this July, according to Executive Officer of President’s Youth Award, Allister Collins.

On Monday, Collins announced that over 160 individuals from across the Caribbean will be undertaking the excursion in the Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo).

“Last year it was held in Trinidad and this year we are grateful that we’ll be the host country… we will have about 12 Caribbean islands coming here to do the silver and the gold expedition and we will be taking them to our beautiful Rupununi region. You will be seeing over 160 individuals coming to do the hiking, as we would call it, the adventurous journey,” Collins disclosed.

Propelled under the theme “Legend of the eleven giants”, this expedition aims to promote the virgin beauty of Guyana by exposing participants to (giant) wildlife in the Rupununi District, Region Nine.

Executive Officer of President’s Youth Award, Allister Collins

PYARG is a voluntary programme, which enables youths between the ages of 14 and 24 with non-formal platform, which entails a balanced programme of activities designed to boost one’s skills in fostering social-economic enhancement for personal development, while seeking to maximise potential.

Collins noted that the programme which is established in all 10 administrative regions (in most schools, community and church groups) seeks to foster discipline and social cohesion among diverse youths while

exposing them to the rare parts of Guyana via an annual expedition undertaken at different stages; Bronze, Silver and Gold.

“PYARG forges selflessness and for love of our country and patriotism we try to expose young people to various parts of Guyana; for example this year we will be taking the Gold participants to Kaieteur, not many Guyanese have the opportunity to boast that they would’ve hiked the majestic waterfall.

The bronze participants will be going to Regions One [Barima-Waini], Two [Pomeroon-Supenaam], Nine and 10 [Upper Demerara-Berbice], while silver participants will be going to Regions Seven [Cuyuni-Mazaruni] as well as Eight [Potaro-Siparuni].”

PYARG in collaboration with other non-governmental organisations have been actively involved in community services such as clean-up campaigns, literacy awareness and specific training programmes in areas such as entrepreneurship and agriculture.

Interested persons can visit the head office at 91 Middle Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown.

GWI partners with GEA to provide potable Man, teen charged for robbery water to Mabaruma T

M

abaruma Village in the North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini) is the latest beneficiary of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) partnership with the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), which seeks to provide potable water by the construction of an intake facility to facilitate water movement from the Hosororo waterfalls into the community of more than 2000 residents.

GWI Managing Director, Dr Richard Van WestCharles said GWI in collaboration with the GEA has

reconstructed a reservoir in Mabaruma. According to the Department of Public Information/Government Information Agency (DPI/ GINA), the GWI’s Managing Director explained that the previous reservoir had to be replaced.

“GEA is going to use the falls in terms of energy, so we worked with them, so we are going to move some water from the falls into the reservoir and then gravity feed into the community,” Dr Van West-Charles said.

An intake facility is presently being constructed and a transmission main

will be installed to activate the new system, while secondary wells will also be constructed to ensure full coverage, according to Dr West-Charles. In addition, a chlorination system will be installed to ensure good water quality.

According to media reports, this project is expected to be completed by the end of August.

GWI’s statistics revealed that more than 100,000 persons have benefited from infrastructural development and improved water service over a period of 18 months.

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thursDAY, june 22, 2017

News

Miss World Guyana contestants applauded for focusing on social issues

F

irst Lady Sandra Granger applauded the Miss World Guyana contestants for selecting complex social issues that are affecting Guyanese to be the focus of their “Beauty with a Purpose” one-year projects.

She made these comments when nine of the 10 contestants vying for the Miss World Guyana crown paid a courtesy call at her State House office on Wednesday. The projects they discussed are a required part of the competition, which culminates on Sunday, and range from domestic, sexual and child abuse to teen suicide, hunger and malnutrition, and chronic diseases.

Granger urged the young ladies, who have been dubbed beauty ambassadors, to ensure that they use empirical data to carefully plan and execute the projects they are undertaking. “When people are asking you questions, you can answer and defend yourself better and promote your platform by saying I am focusing on this community [and] this is what we have,” the First Lady said.

The First Lady told the contestants that to better address the social issues they have chosen, they

O

First Lady Sandra Granger and Natasha Martindale pose with the contestants vying for Miss World Guyana

must understand the complexities of each and how these are linked to other social problems. Making reference specifically to child abuse, Granger said that “in my experience we have had children being abused by a relative and the parent not taking any notice of it, because the person may be giving them groceries every month or helping them out in some way, so they will turn their eyes away.”

In this regard, she urged that the beauty ambassadors be cognisant of what is taking place in both the rural and urban communities.

Some of the participants present at the procurement and project implementation workshop in Region Three on Wednesday

C

Parliament seeking advice on monies owed …as Peter Ramsaroop withdraws case

She further encouraged them to carefully research the regions that they are representing so that they can adequately articulate the various peculiarities that make each one unique. National Director of the Miss World Guyana Pageant, Natasha Martindale said that while the traditional view was that women involved in pageantry were constantly bombarding each other with negativity, the coordinators were taking a different approach by promoting oneness and building a sisterhood among the contestants. “Miss World Guyana would only

be given to one of them, but at the end of the day they have embraced this journey and all of the ups and downs, and they have learnt so much about each other. They are like sisters. It was a real bonding experience,” she told the First Lady.

The contestants, who each represent one of the ten administrative regions of Guyana, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for accommodating them and for hosting an informative session that will help them to further develop and execute their projects in the respective communities.

Region 3 contractors now able to bid for Govt contracts

ontractors in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) are now able to partake in Central Government-funded projects, thanks to a procurement and project implementation workshop.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, the workshop is one of several being undertaken by the Communities Ministry. It was hosted on Wednesday

Rental of Bel Air property

by the Ministry at Phoenix Park tarmac.

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan explained that regional contractors, particularly small ones, have complained of being excluded from participating in Government-funded projects. This workshop, the Minister said, seeks to stop that discrimination.

“This initiative forms part of the Ministry’s response to cries from residents and contractors of

discriminatory practices in the regional procurement system and it aims significantly to reduce the level of nonresponsive bids, to widen the number of contractors and suppliers executing regional contracts and to improve the quality of work executed in the Region,” Minister Bulkan explained.

Participants included small contractors, community artisans and other service suppliers who may have felt excluded from the procurement system.

The Minister noted that the workshop was designed for their empowerment and to create a new generation of reputable and reliable regional and national contractors and service providers. This will be accomplished by providing information on standard practices of project implementation and building confidence for increasing participation in Private Sector implementation projects by small and com-

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan addressing the workshop in Region Three

munity-based contractors.

Minister Bulkan is confident that this workshop would positively impact local and economic development, improving the quality of lives in the community. In the coming months, the Ministry, with support from the regional administrations, will conduct similar workshops in other regions.

fficials of the Parliament of Guyana are seeking legal advice on the way forward for recouping funds in excess of $1.5 million, as the dispute over who owes the security deposit and other payments for a Bel Air property continues.

In a brief interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs confirmed reports that the property owner, Dr Peter Ramsaroop had withdrawn the lawsuit he had filed for non-payment of rent and the security deposit.

“The Deputy Clerk

Proprietor, Dr Peter Ramsaroop

(Hermina Gilheous) who signed the contract with Mr Ramsaroop was told by the [Attorney General’s] Chambers not to be in court, because the matter was withdrawn,” Isaacs noted.

This publication had obtained a copy of the legal proceedings, which show that Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry, Simona Broomes was a co-defendant in a default of over $1 million in house rental payments as a Member of Parliament (MP).

The payments were owed for the period November 2016 to January 2017.

However, the National Assembly Clerk noted that Parliament could take steps to retrieve the monies that it believed it was owed.

“We have to contact the AG’s chambers, the Deputy Clerk only yesterday (Tuesday) told me this; we are guided by the AG’s chambers, [but] I don’t know what they would do,” Isaacs stressed.

This newspaper was told

Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs

that while the Parliament was yet to officially act on the matter, the body was said to be waiting on the return of its accounting officer, who signed the contract.

Thereafter, Parliament officials will meet with operatives of the AG’s chambers for advice.

Before the suit was withdrawn, the plaintiff, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, had taken to the court against three co-defendants – the Attorney General of Guyana, Basil Williams; the Parliament of Guyana and Minister Broomes.

The lawsuit had noted that on January 13, 2016, the plaintiff, for his Lot 27 Jacaranda Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown property, entered into a written Agreement of Tenancy with the Parliament of Guyana, the second defendant, represented therein by the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, for the said body to let the premises from February 1, 2016 to February 1, 2017 at a monthly rental of the Guyana dollar equivalent of US$2500 (GYD $520,000).

According to the Agreement of Tenancy, upon signing, a deposit of the Guyana Dollar equivalent of US$7500 (GYD $1,560,000), being two months’ rent and a security deposit, was to be made and was duly made by the tenant to the plaintiff.

The withdrawn suit alleged that Parliament was in breach of the Tenancy Agreement, claiming that the second defendant had “failed, refused and/or neglected to pay to the plaintiff the said sum of the Guyana Dollar equivalent of US$7500 (GYD $1,560,000).

thursDAY, june 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Wendy Walcott of Storm Talent Agency: Memorable-Powerful-Unstoppable W

ith a sweeping, all-encompassing glance, Wendy Walcott, the mind behind Storm Talent Agency, strides forward, hand outstretched for a firm handshake. Tall and svelte, the former beauty queen and model makes a striking first impression that only grows upon further acquaintance, as her warmth, strong will, supreme confidence and genuineness become evident.

At the modelling and talent agency that Walcott set up aged only 21 – fresh off of coordinating all the models for Digicel’s 2007 launch, personality and personal development are the bedrock upon which models are moulded.

Drawing on all of Walcott’s experience as a model and beauty queen, Storm provides pageantry grooming services and models for advertising shoots, promotions and fashion shows/ displays with a difference.

With more than 54 models and talented individuals, the diversity of the models in terms of age, gender, and size is one of Storm Talent Agency’s advantages in the marketplace. It also reflects Walcott’s belief that all persons are equal.

The native Essequibian entered her first pageant – the Miss Anna Regina Secondary School contest, against the wishes of her army father – her innate

desire bolstered by the example of a famous cousin, the first Miss Universe Guyana (1999) Morvinia Sobers.

“My dad saw me as a

politician/lawyer and I saw myself as a beauty ambassador and all the other things that come with fashion, … but my dad when I won was like “That’s my daughter!”

That vindication from her father meant so much to Walcott, and fuelled her ambitions even more. After several pageants in five years with three crowns to her name and numerous appearances on catwalks around the region, Walcott made the leap into the rarefied sphere of ownership in the fashion and beauty world.

“It’s not as you imagine,” she says. “I thought I would get my degree before I started…at the time, I only had my diploma in communications and was

working at the Ministry of Health”, but she has no regrets.

“The most important thing is to like what you do,” the multi-talented Walcott, who is also a marketing manager and events planner, advised. “To have a passion for it. But there are certain things you have to go through to develop yourself.” Her number one challenge starting out was the lack of respect for the girls and the idea of modelling as a business, and she has worked hard to overcome that challenge.

Walcott, who despises

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Calculated at 94% purity, JUNE 21, 2017

Selling

USD

$1244.50

GBP

$261.19

$264.51

Gross

$242,642

CAN

$154.90

$156.70

$225,651

USD

$205.98

$208.44

Net

$ 229.40

$232.34

EURO

Indicators as on JUNE 21, 2017 Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$44.82

Price

USD

Rough Rice

$245.96/ton

London Sugar

$397.20/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change %

-2.68 Change %

-0.36 -2.53 USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

1253.40

1254.40

Low/High

1240.60

1254.70

Change

+7.10

+0.57%

Business Concept – Amortisation Preferred term for the apportionment (charging or writing off) of the cost of an intangible asset as an operational cost over the asset's estimated useful life. It is identical to depreciation, the preferred term for tangible assets. The purpose of both terms is to (1) reflect reduction in the book value of the asset due to usage and/or obsolescence; (2) spread a large expenditure proportionately over a fixed period; and thereby (3) reduce the taxable income (not the actual or cash income) of a firm. In effect, it is a process by which invested capital of a firm is recovered by gradual sale of the firm's asset(s) to its customers over the years.

2. Gradual repayment of a loan in equal (or nearly equal) instalments which include portions of interest and principal amounts. (Business Dictionary)

the stereotype that models are dumb, purposely seeks out individuals who are studying and want to make careers for themselves outside modelling

and puts them through a three-month personal development course before she even considers them for her agency, which she runs with the help of a committee. The successful ones graduate into the pink level – Memorable – and even then they are not guaranteed placement because Walcott carefully matches her clients’ needs and the models’ qualities.

Models as they grow move from the purple (Powerful, ie professional) level to black (Unstoppable), a des-

ignation reserved for the top models.

Walcott, who says she no longer publicises the agency as she once did because she prefers to be hands-on and ensure that her models are properly trained and each client and model are given that individual attention to help them achieve the best results, is very much an advocate for empowering and educating individuals to achieve betterment. She fiercely protects her models from the exploitation present in the industry although she acknowledges that things have gotten better. In July 2015, she set up the Survivor Foundation after suffering a motor accident that had doctors fearing she would never walk again.

The Foundation, which seeks to create awareness of, and provide for, the needs of people who are differently able as well as the less fortunate, flowed from Walcott being bed-ridden for almost five months.

With a huge smile on her face, the mother of a precocious six-year-old who inspires her every day, praised her own mother, Debra Ann Sobers, as her biggest influence. “I am a strong woman, because she is a strong woman… When she is around, I don’t have to worry because she’ll

keep me on track. And she has not only done this for me… many girls call her mom.” The relationship is such that Walcott’s mom, who has always acted as her chaperone for her overseas pageants, is her plus one to many events.

For Walcott, success is accomplishing whatever goals you set yourself and she is currently working on a degree in travel tourism and hospitality and pushing Storm Talent Agency to greater heights.

Contact: Lot 3 Aubrey Barker and David Rose Street, Georgetown, Guyana; 689-0610; Facebook @stormtalentagency; Instagram @ stormtalentagency

Investors Guide

Asian stocks climb as oil crawls up from 10-month low

A

sian stocks advanced on Thursday as oil prices inched up after hitting a 10-month low overnight on concerns over a supply glut and falling demand, dragging US and European shares lower.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up 0.2 per cent.

Japan's Nikkei and South Korea's were flat, while Australian shares rose 0.4 per cent.

Crude oil crept up from multi-month lows hit on Wednesday on concerns over growing US production and reduced Chinese refinery activity.

"The time for contrarian trades in oil is fast approaching, but I would want to see some stability in price and the technicals start to become more convincing," said Chris Weston, chief market strategist at IG in Melbourne.

US crude futures rose

0.3 per cent or 13 cents to US$42.66 a barrel. They closed down 1.6 per cent on Wednesday after touching their lowest level since August.

Global benchmark Brent climbed 0.2 per cent or one cent to US$44.92. It closed down 2.6 per cent on Wednesday after touching a seven-month low.

The resulting decline in oil stocks hit stocks in Europe and on Wall Street overnight.

Britain's FTSE, Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 closed between 0.3 per cent and 0.4 per cent lower.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.3 per cent, while the S&P 500 was slightly lower. Nasdaq closed up 0.7 per cent, lifted by biotech stocks.

Financial stocks also contributed to losses on Wall Street, driven lower by a drop in the Treasury yield

curve to its flattest in almost a decade, as investors tried to reconcile a hawkish Federal Reserve with deteriorating inflation measures.

Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren and Fed Vice Chair Stanley Fischer suggested they are concerned less about raising rates too fast or too high than about keeping them too low for too long.

“I think the market may be pricing in a little higher odds of another rate hike before the end of the year, and that is helping drive some of the flattening,” said Gennadiy Goldberg, an interest rate strategist at TD Securities in New York.

The yield curve between five-year notes and 30-year bonds US5US30=TWEB flattened to as low as 95.20 basis points, the narrowest since December 2007, on Wednesday and again early on Thursday. (Reuters)

16

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, june 22, 2017

Regional

OAS nations make last-ditch effort Venezuela: Attorney General Luisa to condemn Venezuela for crisis Ortega to face trial

V

M

exico and the United States pushed on Wednesday to condemn Venezuela’s government for its handling of the political and economic crisis in the South American country, on the final day of a meeting of the Organization of American States, sources told Reuters.

Foreign Ministers from the 34-nation OAS bloc failed on Monday to agree on a resolution formally rebuking Venezuela, where at least 75 people have been killed in more than two months of protests.

Now a group of nations, led by the United States, Mexico and regional allies, may try to include a declaration on Venezuela, tucking it into a more general resolution on human rights, according to two officials close to the closed-door talks.

The officials asked not

Venezuelan Opposition lawmakers Franco Casella and Wilson Flores protest inside the venue where the Organisation of American States (OAS) 47th General Assembly is taking place in Cancun, Mexico June 21, 2017

to be identified in order to speak freely.

A strongly worded declaration statement criticising the socialist government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro would likely set the stage for another confrontation with Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez,

who has fought back hard at every attempt to chastise her nation during the OAS meeting, accusing US allies of being “lapdogs of imperialism.” Former Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla implored her peers to take action on Venezuela. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Brazil pilot survives crash landing in Amazon but dies in rescue

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Brazilian pilot who crash-landed into an Amazon River, saving the life of his passenger, has died after falling from a rescue helicopter.

The single-engine plane managed to land on the river after an electrical fault. It submerged within seconds. Both pilot and passenger managed to escape and waited hours to be rescued in a hard to

reach area in the jungle.

When rescuers threw a rope for them to climb up, the pilot lost his grip, fell into the river and was dragged away. The 64-year-old pilot, Elcides Rodrigues Pereira, has been hailed as a hero after footage emerged of the dramatic crash landing, last Wednesday, in the northern state of Roraima.

Mr Pereira and Ednilson Cardoso, a 28-year-old

nursing technician, were on a health mission to visit a remote Indigenous tribe.

Cardoso told local media that he had tied the rope around the pilot, who was tired, but he fell into the Catrimani River.

The failed rescue operation was organised by the owners of the aircraft, and not by the authorities.

Fire-fighters only managed to find the body of the pilot on Saturday. (BBC News)

C’bean healthcare professionals form groundbreaking Alzheimer’s Association

enezuela’s Supreme Court has approved proceedings against Attorney General Luisa Ortega who is accused of allegedly committing “grave errors” in her role as the nation’s top law enforcement official.

The country’s highest court accepted a lawsuit request against Ortega by a Socialist Party MP Pedro Carreno on Tuesday.

Ortega, a strong critic of President Nicolás Maduro, has been called a “traitor” by the ruling Socialists since

March when she opposed a bid by the Supreme Tribunal to strip the Oppositioncontrolled National Assembly of its powers.

She has also launched legal challenges to Maduro’s plans to rewrite the constitution, which critics view as another attempt to cling on to power as he faces increasingly violent protests against his Government.

Ortega remained defiant in the face of the high court’s move, saying the ruling was an attack not against her but the very foundations of

the Venezuela’s democracy.

Meanwhile, President Maduro fired four top military commanders and the head of the Police on Tuesday, as protests continued in the capital.

Maduro also announced the recruitment of 40,000 new Police Officers and national guardsmen, the BBC reported. Opposition leaders placed cardboard coffins and body bags at the gates of the National Guard headquarters after the killing of another protester. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

US releases multiyear strategy for engagement with the Caribbean

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epresentative Eliot Engel (D-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), the chairman emeritus of the committee, on Monday announced the release of a new US government strategy on future engagement with the Caribbean.

The strategy was mandated by the US-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act (Public Law 114-291), authored by Engel and RosLehtinen and signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 16,

2016.

“We spend a great deal of time focusing on challenges and opportunities in faraway places. But, it’s important that we never lose sight of our partners closer to home. In December, when Congress unanimously passed and President Obama signed into law the US–Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act, my colleagues and I made it clear that we will prioritize US– Caribbean relations for many years to come,” Engel said. “The release of today’s strategy is an important first step. I look for-

ward to working with the Administration to ensure that it is fully implemented with the support and input of the vibrant CaribbeanAmerican diaspora community.” “The US-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act, which reaffirms our commitment to our allies in the Caribbean, became law last December thanks to the leadership of Eliot Engel.

The Department of State has now complied with the law by developing a strategy, which is a positive step forward…,” Ros-Lehtinen said. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Crowd cheers Argentina ex-leader Cristina Fernández

T

ens of thousands of people cheered former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. Fernández, 64, launched a new political party, Citizen’s Union, ahead of legislative elections on October 22.

The move has triggered speculation that she will run for a senate seat in the midterm poll. The ex-President has until Saturday to decide. Supporters shouted “Cristina for senator!”.

One-hundred-and-

twenty-seven seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 24 in the Senate will be up for election. Fernández governed from December 2007 until December 2015, when Mauricio Macri defeated the candidate she backed.

Since leaving office, Fernández has been a vocal critic of President Macri and his pro-business policies, in particular budget cuts.

She has also been battling corruption charges.

She is under investigation in connection with three different corruption cases and fac-

es trial over alleged financial mismanagement during her time in office. Fernández says the charges against her are politically motivated.

It had been widely expected that she would reveal at Tuesday’s event whether she would return to frontline politics, but despite the cheers of her supporters, she would not be drawn.

Saturday is the deadline to register for primaries due to be held on August 13. (Excerpt from BBC News)

J’ca launches programme to benefit juveniles within State correctional institutions

W

Members of the Alzheimer’s Association of the Caribbean

ith the number of people living with dementia projected to reach 74.7 million in another 13 years and 131.5 million in 2050, a group of Caribbean healthcare professionals has come together to form an association to tackle the problem here in the region.

The Alzheimer’s Association of the Caribbean (AAC) was launched during the fourth Alzheimer Disease International (ADI)

Non-Latin Caribbean Regional Conference in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this month.

The three-day meeting was hosted by the Alzheimer Association of Trinidad and Tobago with the support of Alzheimer’s Disease International, the global voice on dementia, under the theme “Dementia in the Caribbean: No time to Lose”.

The AAC’s first executive committee says the aim going forward is to reach and

provide services and support people across the Caribbean living with dementia and those that care for them.

During the conference which discussed challenges and opportunities for the Caribbean, recommendations for a national dementia strategy in Caribbean territories were also presented. There are currently only 29 countries in the world – none of them in the Caribbean – with a national dementia plan. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

J

amaica has launched a programme that will allow juveniles within State correctional facilities to benefit from mentorship, skills training and job placement.

Dubbed the ‘WE TRANSFORM’ programme, the youth empowerment and reintegration initiative will target 272 children, aged 12 to 17 years, who are on remand or serving a sentence within the four juvenile centres operated by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).

The programme aims to equip the children in these facilities with the requisite skill sets, character, attitude and support to become productive law-abiding citizens.

National Security Minister, Robert Montague, said the programme is one of the “out-of-the-box strategies which we know will contribute to the reduction in the youth offending and reoffending, and, by extension, crime in Jamaica”.

“My Ministry believes that each of these young

persons deserves a second chance in life. We are committed to helping our young offenders to get back on the right side of the law and remain there,” he said.

State Minister for National Security, Pearnel Charles Jr, noted that the programme is crucial to the success of the programme is support from all stakeholders, including the Private Sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), international partners, churches, parents and other interest groups. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World Islamic State blows up historic Mosul mosque where it declared ‘caliphate’

I

slamic State militants on Wednesday blew up the Grand al-Nuri Mosque of Mosul and its famous leaning minaret, Iraq’s military said in a statement, as Iraqi forces seeking to expel the group from the city closed in on the site.

It was from this medieval mosque three years ago that the militants’ leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a self-styled “caliphate” spanning parts of Syria and Iraq. ‘’Blowing up the al-Hadba minaret and the al-Nuri mosque amounts to an official acknowledgement of defeat,’’ Iraqi Prime Minister said in a brief comment on his website.

The Iraqis called the 150-foot (45-metre) leaning minaret Al-Hadba, or “the

Al-Hadba minaret at the Grand Mosque is seen through a building window in the old city of Mosul, Iraq June 1, 2017

hunchback”.

Baghdadi’s black flag had flown over it since June 2014.

Islamic State’s Amaq news agency accused

American aircraft of destroying the mosque, a claim swiftly denied by the US-led coalition fighting the militant group.

“We did not strike in that area,” coalition spokesman US Air Force Colonel John Dorrian told Reuters by telephone.

“The responsibility of this devastation is laid firmly at the doorstep of ISIS,” US Army Major General Joseph Martin, commander of the coalition’s ground component, said in a statement, using an acronym for Islamic State.

The media office for Iraq’s military distributed a picture taken from the air that appeared to show the mosque and minaret largely flattened and reduced to rubble among the small houses of the Old City, the historic district where the militants are under siege.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

In high-level talks, US asks China to do more to rein in North Korea

T

he United States pressed China to exert more economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea to help rein in its nuclear and missile programmes during a round of high-level talks in Washington on Wednesday.

The meeting of top US and Chinese diplomats and defence chiefs was held a day after President Donald Trump said China’s efforts to use its leverage with

Pyongyang had failed, raising fresh doubts about his Administration’s strategy for countering the threat from North Korea.

The death of American university student Otto Warmbier this week, after his release from 17 months of imprisonment in Pyongyang, has further complicated Trump’s approach to North Korea, his top national security challenge.

“We reiterated to China

that they have a diplomatic responsibility to exert much greater economic and diplomatic pressure on the regime if they want to prevent further escalation in the region,” US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters at a joint news conference with Defence Secretary Jim Mattis. Mattis vowed to “continue to take necessary measures to defend ourselves and our allies” against North Korea, which is working to

develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the United States.

But with the long-standing option of pre-emptive military strikes seen as far too risky for now, Trump’s aides are stressing economic and diplomatic pressure.

Tillerson said Trump would make a state visit to China this year, and Mattis said both sides agreed to expand military-to-military ties. (Excerpt from Reuters)

More than 5 million children need urgent humanitarian aid in Iraq – UNICEF

M

ore than 5 million children are in urgent need of aid in Iraq, the United Nations said on Thursday, describing the war on Islamic State as “one of the most brutal” in modern history. “Across Iraq, children continue to witness sheer hor-

ror and unimaginable violence,” the United Nations Children

Fund (UNICEF) said in a statement. “They have been killed, injured, abducted and forced to shoot and kill in one of the most brutal wars in recent history.” In Mosul, children are being deliberately targeted and killed by Islamic

State militants to punish families and deter them from fleeing, it said. International organisations estimate that more than 100,000 civilians, of whom half are children, are trapped in extremely dangerous conditions in the Old City centre, the last district still under the militants’ control in Mosul. More than 1000 children have been killed and more than 1100 wounded or maimed since 2014, when the ultra-hardline militants seized large swathes of Iraq, it said. More than 4650 children have become separated from their families. (Excerpt from Reuters)

A Syrian refugee child looks on, moments after arriving on a raft with other Syrian refugees on a beach on the Greek island of Lesbos, January 4, 2016

Saudi king empowers young reformer son in succession shake-up

S

audi Arabia’s King Salman made his son next in line to the throne

on Wednesday, handing the 31-year-old sweeping powers as the kingdom seeks a radi-

cal overhaul of its oil-dependent economy and faces mount-

ing tensions with regional rival Iran. Although Mohammed bin Salman’s promotion to crown

prince had long been expected among those who follow the royal family closely, the tim-

ing was a surprise and puts the kingdom’s future in relatively untested hands. Mohammed

bin Salman replaces his cousin, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, a veteran security chief who led the Saudi campaign against Islamic State

and al Qaeda, at a time when Riyadh faces tensions with

Qatar and Iran and is locked into a war in Yemen. His appointment may make Saudi

policy more hawkish against arch-rival Iran and other Gulf rivals such as Qatar, increasing volatility in an already unstable region, analysts said. “Under

his watch, Saudi Arabia has

developed aggressive foreign policies (Yemen, Qatar) and he has not been shy about making strong statements against Iran,” said Olivier Jakob at Switzerland-based oil consultancy Petromatrix.

“It is not really a question of if, but rather of when, a new escalation with Iran starts.”

(Excerpt from Reuters)

US official: Russia ‘hacked’ 21 US states in election

There was no evidence to suggest actual vote ballots were altered in the election hack

R

ussian hackers targeted election systems in 21 US states during last year’s campaign, said a US official.

Jeanette Manfra of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) refused to identify the states during her testimony before a Senate panel, citing confidentiality agreements.

But she added there was no evidence to suggest actual vote ballots were altered in the election hack.

US intelligence agencies believe Moscow interfered to help Donald Trump win.

Manfra, the department’s acting deputy undersecretary of cyber security, testified on Wednesday before the Senate Intelligence committee, which is investigating Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 election.

“As of right now, we have evidence that election-related systems in 21 states were targeted,” she told the panel.

She said DHS still had confidence in the US voting system because they are “fundamentally resilient”.

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement in election cyber hacks, while Trump has dismissed allegations that his campaign colluded with Russia as “fake news”.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Tuesday refused to say whether Trump believed Russia interfered in the 2016 election.

“I have not sat down and talked to him about that specific thing,” Spicer said during a daily news briefing. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Exploding cream dispenser kills French fitness blogger

A

well-known lifestyle blogger in France has been killed by an exploding whipped cream dispenser.

Rebecca Burger’s death was announced on Facebook in what her family called a “domestic accident”.

A warning against the faulty dispensers was also posted to her Instagram account, saying it “exploded and struck Rebecca’s chest, causing her death”.

French media reported

she died of cardiac arrest after the incident, despite medical attention.

The popular fitness and travel figure was wellknown in France, with some 55,000 Facebook fans and 154,000 followers on Instagram.

One of Burger’s family members took to Instagram, warning readers not to use the dispenser, saying that tens of thousands of “defective devices” remain in circulation. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

Thailand King shot at with air pistol

T

he authorities in Germany say the King of Thailand was unhurt when two teenage boys shot at him in the dark with an air pistol.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn – who spends much of his time in Germany – was cycling late at night with his entourage near Munich airport.

The boys – aged 13 and 14 – shot at him from the window of a house in the town of Erding on June 10, prosecutors say.

It’s not clear if they hit the king, but no one was injured.

King Vajiralongkorn, 64, took the throne last year following the death of his father.

“As of now it is not certain that the king himself was hit,” a spokesman for the local prosecutor’s office, Thomas Rauscher, told BBC Thai.

“All that is known is that the king was part of a group of cyclists and that shots were fired at this group.”

He said shots were also fired later when the group drove past in the king’s car. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

ARCHIE

Listen to someone else’s suggestions, but don’t feel (March 21- the need to follow them. You April 19) must do what works for you if you want to get ahead. Stop second-guessing and start making progress.

ARIES

Look back to get a better TAURUS feel for what you can achieve (April 20- in the future. Revive old ideas May 20) that were successful in the past and revamp them to fit current trends.

DILBERT

Emotions will take control GEMINI (May 21- and are best monitored beJune 20) fore you do or say something that may jeopardize your position or reputation. Someone is watching your every move.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Physical transformation and discipline will go hand in hand. Starting a healthy routine will help you shed bad habits and start anew.

Strive for personal perfection.

Romance is encouraged.

Be careful when it comes to generosity. Don’t make donations or lend money or possessions. It’s important to read the fine print when negotiating or signing contracts.

Deception is apparent.

Keep your emotions in VIRGO (Aug. 23- check and your mind focused Sept. 22) on the people and projects that bring you the most joy.

Live in the moment and explore new possibilities.

Help the vulnerable peoLIBRA ple in your life, but don’t feel (Sept. 23Oct. 23) the need to take charge or fight a battle that isn’t yours.

Offer advice and support.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Travel to a destination SCORPIO that will inspire you to ex(Oct. 24pand your knowledge and Nov. 22) work hard in pursuit of your goals. Mix business with pleasure for stellar results.

A problem will surface if SAGITTARIUS you or your partner is vague (Nov. 23- or deceptive regarding the Dec. 21) facts. Proceed with caution and protect your assets.

You’ll be given false infor-

CAPRICORN mation or led astray by someone (Dec. 22- with savvy business experience.

Jan. 19) Don’t make a commitment until

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

you get the advice of an expert.

Avoid overspending, indulgence and making snap decisions.

Participate in events AQUARIUS that will expand your mind, (Jan. 20strengthen friendships and Feb. 19) boost your ability to advance.

Listen carefully to what’s being offered you, and weed out what’s true and what’s false.

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

An emotional setback will PISCES occur if you make assump(Feb. 20March 20) tions or act without proof.

Focus on the positive aspects of whatever situation you face and take a wait-and-see attitude.

thurSDAY, june 22, 2017

Webb to

19

Windies Women will find right combination ‒ Williams

sell Georgia W mansion

est Indies assistant coach Stuart Williams insists there is no need for the team to panic, despite losing four consecutive games on the trot in preparation for the Women’s World Cup. The Windies, who are based in England for a two week camp expected to aid ormer CONCACAF with acclimatization and president Jeffrey team chemistry, have had Webb is expected to a torrid time in warm-up sell the lavish Georgia manmatches so far. The team sion that US prosecutors began the tour with a defeat have alleged is part of the to a strong England IV, folproceeds of fraudulent aclowed by losses to the South tivity.

Vipers, India and Pakistan.

The house located in a Williams is, however, consmall community in eastfident that the team is a ern Atlanta is listed at work in progress and will be 9,851 square feet, has six ready for its opener against bedrooms, eight bathrooms Australia on Monday. and a swimming pool. The “It’s just about getting property is estimated to be that combination right. We valued at US$931,000. As Former CONCACAF haven’t played our best team part of a plea deal with US president Jeffrey Webb as yet so there is no cause for prosecutors Webb is expect“in an effort to conserve panic or anything like that,” ed to turn over proceeds of their financial resources.” Williams said sale from the home to the The 52-year-old Webb, American federal court. who pled guilty in November The property is one of sev2015, has successfully aperal Webb owns in the state pealed to have his sentencthat were potentially subing put off on four separate ject to asset forfeiture prooccasions, the latest date ceedings. set for July 11. His attorThe former CONCACAF neys have now also requestboss has agreed to the fored another extension until feiture of more than US$6.7 January 2018. Reports indi-

‒ applies for 5th sentencing delay

F

C

The Atlanta property is listed at 9,851 square feet, has six bedrooms, eight bathrooms and a swimming pool and is estimated to be valued at US$931,000

million in cash and assets.

Webb is currently under arrest at the Georgia mansion where he awaits sentencing on charges related to racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies. Webb and wife Kendra Gamble-Webb will according to court documents move to another home in Georgia

cate that Webb will also apply to have the conditions of his house arrest amended to allow for “light travel” within the continental U.S. A further request, if granted, would allow the disgraced FIFA official to take domestic flights around the US to visit family and friends.

The court is yet to rule on the matter. (Sportsmax)

aribbean football players in Major League Soccer (MLS) are paid significantly less than their counterparts from other regions, despite the fact that many have been integral to their teams’ success. This, according to a report Wednesday in the Trinidad Guardian that said that no Caribbean player will be among the best paid in the league this season.

In what has been an ongoing issue for some time, the Guardian reported, MLS clubs often point to the relative lack of experience among their Caribbean players, who are also believed to be hindered by the belief that they have no reputation of excelling outside the MLS. “I think when it comes to the Caribbean player it is all about market value perception,” said Damani Ralph, a Jamaican-born agent and former MLS player. “People

The Windies Women will seek to bounce back after suffering four consecutive losses in preparation for the Women’s World Cup

“We have one or two little niggles by the time next week comes we will be alright,” he added.

Williams is, however, hopeful that the team will be able to record its first victory of the tour against

South Africa on Thursday as it looks to gain assurance ahead of the tournament start.

“Runs gives you confidence and winning gives you confidence so it’s very important that we put in a

good performance tomorrow and hopefully we come out with a win and that will give the guys confidence heading into the first game.”

Caribbean players in MLS get shafted on salaries ‒ report will only offer you what you will accept. We have a right to say no to an offer, but if we say no, where else do we go? That is the problem for the Caribbean player.”

According to the Guardian report, Englandborn Jamaica international Simon Dawkins, a designated player with San Jose Earthquakes, is the highest paid Caribbean national in MLS. His guaranteed compensation for 2017 is $800,000. Dawkins is followed by Orlando City SC’s Giles Barnes, another England-born member of the Reggae Boyz, who is assured $781,250 this season.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Kenwyne Jones, who plays for Atlanta United FC, is guaranteed $413,333.33, while his compatriot Kevin Molino of Minnesota United FC is due $402,504. Rounding out the Caribbean’s top five is Jamaica’s Darren Mattocks

of Portland Timbers. He will earn at least $316,666.67 this season.

“Look in every one of the MLS teams where there is, and I’m being specific, a Jamaican player, three quarters of us that’s in a MLS team are starting in our team, and, you know, that alone says a lot about it,” said Jamaica international Kemar Lawrence of the New York Red Bulls.

“So they respect us, but I don’t think the respect is where it needs to be same way. It has to do with salary. Because look at the way they pay any European player that is coming in.”

The numbers support Lawrence’s claim. Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco of Italy is guaranteed US $7,115,555.67 this season and the highest paid MLS player is Brazilian Kaka of Orlando City, who is guaranteed $7,167,500 this sea-

son.

Ralph believes the environment has to change before Caribbean players can begin to benefit.

“Once we can find a market to give the players an opportunity (things will improve),” he said.

Meantime, the players will have to continue to endure until those opportunities become reality but it doesn’t make it easier for them to deal with.

“It is what it is,” said Lawrence. “If it continues to change then maybe over time we can continue to be that big input that sparks the big changes. The league overall can do a lot better in the way, financially, they pay the players coming from the Caribbean. Because I think like if we compare what we get to some players that not even getting on the field sometimes, it’s a big joke.” (Sportsmax)

20 3 Russian runners banned for 4 years after Beijing retests T

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

hree Russian runners whose samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics tested positive for a banned steroid have been handed four-year suspensions after retests, Russia’s athletics federation said on Wednesday.

Long-distance runner Inga Abitova and 400-metre specialists Anastasia Kapachinskaya and Denis Alekseyev had already been disqualified by the International Olympic Committee last year after their samples from Beijing were found to contain banned substances, including the steroid turinabol.

Alekseyev won bronze in Beijing as part of the Russian men’s 4x400-metre relay team, but the IOC ordered that he and his teammates be stripped of their medals.

His results between August 2008 and June 2013 are annulled, the Russian athletics federation said in a statement.

Kapachinskaya and her 4x400-metre relay teammates were also stripped of their silver medals from Beijing. Her results starting from August 2008 are annulled, the federation said.

Inga Abitova of Russia celebrates after winning the silver medal in the women’s 10,000 metres final at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona July 28, 2010

The suspensions handed to Abitova and Alekseyev will end next year because they include two-year bans they had previously served for doping offences, the federation said.

The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) provisionally suspended Russian track and field athletes from international competition in 2015 over a report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) alleging rampant state-sponsored doping in the sport.

Russia’s track and field

team, with the exception of one athlete based in the United States, was banned from the Rio Olympics last summer. The majority of Russian athletes are also set to miss the world championships in London in August.

In recent months the IAAF has cleared a total of 15 Russian athletes, including 2015 world champion hurdler Sergey Shubenkov, for having demonstrated that they are training in an environment that meets its anti-doping requirements.

(Reuters)

India arrests villagers for

cheering Pakistan cricketers

Pakistani cricket captain Sarfraz Ahmed acknowledges fans as he holds the Champions Trophy following his arrival home from London (AFP photo)

N

ew Delhi (AFP) Indian police said Tuesday they have arrested 15 Muslim villagers and charged them with sedition -- punishable by life in prison -- for celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India’s cricketers in the Champions Trophy.

The villagers were arrested in thr Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh state on Monday after police received a complaint that they set off firecrackers and shouted slogans following Pakistan’s dramatic win on Sunday.

“We received a complaint from a local Hindu man who

accused them of celebrating after India lost the match,” Burhanpur police chief Raja Ram Parihar told AFP. The accused have also been charged with criminal conspiracy, the officer said, adding the celebrations continued for hours in the sensitive locality.

The village has a large Muslim population and a history of communal clashes between the two communities.

Passions run high over cricket in India -- particularly when it comes to arch-rival Pakistan.

Cricket fans in both countries have been arrest-

ed in the past for supporting the rival teams or players.

Around 60 students from India were arrested on sedition charges after they were accused of celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India in 2014.

Last year a Pakistani man was arrested for waving an Indian flag after his idol Indian batsman Virat Kohli made a match-winning century.

The nuclear-armed have a history of animosity dating back to independence from Britain in 1947 and partition of the subcontinent. They have fought three wars.

Bolt confirmed Hamilton determined to deliver in Baku for Monaco Diamond League A

U

Usain Bolt

sain Bolt will run his last race before the IAAF World Championships in London this summer, at the Herculis EBS Diamond League meeting in Monaco on July 21.

The meet organisers have confirmed that the 11time world champion will compete at the meeting as part of his farewell tour.

Returning to the Louis II Stadium for the first time since 2011, the Jamaican superstar will contest the 100m. When he raced in Monaco six years ago, Bolt won in 9.88.

The Herculis EBS meeting is the final IAAF Diamond League fixture before the IAAF World Championships London 2017, which will be Bolt’s last major championships appearance.

Bolt opened his compet-

itive season at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston on June 10. There he won the 100m in 10.03s in what was his final race on Jamaican soil.

He has also been confirmed to compete in Ostrava on June 28.

Other confirmed stars for the Herculis EBS meeting include the likes of pole vault world record-holder Renaud Lavillenie, world and Olympic triple jump champion Caterine Ibarguen, Olympic javelin champion Thomas Rohler, Olympic 1500m champion Matthew Centrowitz, world 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop, world javelin champion Julius Yego, world high jump champion Maria Lasitskene and Olympic steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto. (Sportsmax)

zerbaijan, a new race last year, is the only grand prix on Formula One’s current calendar that Lewis Hamilton has yet to win and the Briton heads back to Baku determined to deliver this weekend.

After a dominant weekend in Canada where he led a Mercedes one-two to regain momentum after a stinging defeat to Ferrari in Monaco, Hamilton is on a high and with the praise of team boss Toto Wolff ringing in his ears.

“Lewis is in the best place I have seen him during any of the last five years since he joined the team,” the Austrian said this week.

“Not only because he had a great weekend in Montreal, but because he is coping so well with the difficult days. This is what the very best are made of.”

Hamilton will also be keen to banish the memory of a disappointing first visit to the anti-clockwise track running along the shores of the Caspian Sea and around the walls of the medieval old town.

“Last year I think I was very quick there; I just didn’t deliver. So the plan is to make sure I deliver,” he said in Montreal after

Lewis Hamilton

closing the gap between him and Ferrari’s championship leader Sebastian Vettel to 12 points.

Hamilton hit the barriers in qualifying in Baku last year, lining up 10th on the grid. He then struggled with engine modes before eventually finishing fifth.

His then team mate and eventual champion Nico Rosberg, who retired at the end of last season, took pole, fastest lap and victory in a race that was designated the European Grand Prix but has since changed name.

That means that nobody on the current starting grid is a previous winner in Baku and only Vettel,

who was a distant second that day, and Force India’s Mexican Sergio Perez have stood on the podium there.

Fighting display

Mercedes struggled in Monaco with getting performance out of the tyres but, after a huge effort at the factory, were back to their best in Montreal. Hamilton will apply the lessons from both to the searing heat of Baku.

“You take each experience and you pile them up. What we learned in Monaco will definitely impact Baku. It’s a much longer circuit; I think it’s very smooth, a lot more flat,” he told reporters.

“Downforce efficiency is going to be important there.”

Hamilton and Vettel both have three wins from seven races, with champions Mercedes -- despite trying to portray themselves as underdogs -- ahead 4-3 thanks to Valtteri Bottas’s win in Russia.

Bottas clocked the highest ever recorded speed in a Formula One session during qualifying in Baku last year with Williams, hitting 373 kph on the longest straight of any race on the calendar.

Vettel showed all his mettle in Canada, however, when he started on the front row, dropped to last and came back through the field to fourth with a fighting display that earned him the Driver of the Day award.

“I wanted to get a trophy. I didn’t get one,” he said after his first non-podium finish of the year.

He should resolve that on Sunday.

Behind the leaders, Red Bull’s Australian Daniel Ricciardo will be gunning for a fourth successive podium appearance while Force India pair Perez and French youngster Esteban Ocon aim for more solid points. (Reuters)

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sports

Glasgow Jr, GTT’s future Guyana Amazon Warrior

G

By Akeem Greene

uyana Telephone and Telegraph on Tuesday earmarked Seon Glasgow Jnr as their future Amazon Warriors Player and concretised this by pledging to make a handsome investment in the teenager’s future.

This was disclosed at the signature sponsorship ceremony with Guyana Amazon Warriors, held at the National Stadium in Providence.

According to the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd, GTT will immediately provide full sponsorship Glasgow’s participation in the Sir Garfield Sobers Schools Cricket Tournament in Barbados in July. Glasgow has been selected to be part of the Electra Sports Academy that will be representing Guyana at the tournament.

Nedd disclosed that GTT will be working closely with

the future star. “We will also pursue Seon’s training with the Guyana Amazon Warriors team here in July in preparation for the CPL [Caribbean Premier League] Games in August.”

Speaking with Guyana Times Sports the 15 yearold Glasgow contended that the investment will help in achieving his dreams.

“I think it is a good investment in me, it will mould me as a cricketer. It will inspire me to become a better person and better sportsman so I can do well in my cricket career,” the young cricketer declared.

The Bush Lot Secondary School student hopes he can have more National duties and even play for a West Indies Youth team in the next three years once he continues to train diligently.

Commenting on being able to practice with some of the world’s best players, the all-rounder claimed that it will be a dream come through to rub shoulders

taxi services GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 2257878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

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W

est Indies’ upcoming ODI series against India isn’t going to be an easy one for them at all. But a series win is a must if they need to secure automatic qualification for the 2019 ICC?World Cup. It’s hard to believe that the West Indies - the 1975 and 1979 World Champions and the formidable force in global cricket throughout the 1980s - are behind the likes of Bangladesh and Afghanistan in terms of form and rankings at the moment.

In what can be termed as the lowest point in their cricketing history, West Indies didn’t feature in the Champions Trophy 2017 as they weren’t among the top eight teams in ICC rankings on September 30, 2015 - the cut-off date for qualification.

Currently ranked ninth, Jason Holder’s side are afraid of failing to qualify for the 2019 World Cup too and the upcoming series against India could be their last

GTT’s CEO Justin Nedd embraces Seon Glasgow Jr (Carl Croker photo)

with the likes of Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan and Berbicians Shimron Hetmyer and Assad Fudadin.

The Warriors have been one of the most consistent teams in the tournament reaching three of the four finals but failed to secure to the coveted trophy.

Given those performances and the current batch of players, the Blairmont

Cricket Club player feels the Warriors can go “all the way”.

“I think this year they have a very good and strong team. The players are capable of making big scores, the bowlers can take wickets and if they come together as a team they can win the tournament”.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors 2017 squad includes: Martin Guptill,

Rayad Emrit, Sohail Tanvir, Chadwick Walton, Christopher Lynn, Rashid Khan, Jason Mohammed, Steven Taylor, Veerasammy Permaul, Roshon Primus, Gajanand Singh, Assad Fudadin, Steven Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Steven Katwaroo, Shimron Hetmyer and Muhammad Ali Khan.

The league will run from August 4 to September 9 and the Warriors will have four home matches during the period of August 17 to 22 at the National Stadium, Providence.

On the 17th they play the Jamaica Tallawahs followed by a match against arch rivals Trinbago Knight Riders two days later. The Warriors then clash against Barbados Tridents on the 20th and then have their final home match against the St Lucia Zouks on the 22nd.

The Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago will host the finals this year from September 5-9.

IND vs WI: Windies’ last realistic chance for direct World Cup qualification

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chance to seal direct qualification.

The last time they won an ODI series against a full-member nation was way back in 2012 (vs New Zealand). The preceding statement is enough to describe the sorry state of the West Indies cricket. With India arriving for a fivematch ODI series and a solitary T20, life isn’t about to get any easier for them.

Roston Chase:

Roston Chase, who has been impressive in his short Test career, made his ODI?debut in the recently concluded series against Afghanistan. Chase – who has smashed 728 runs and three centuries since making his debut last year - will look perform well against Bhuvneshwar Kumar and co. and press his claim for a permanent spot in the limited-overs side.

The all-rounder played his first international game against India only and

didn’t take long to show he belonged. His unbeaten 137 helped the Windies register an improbable draw at Sabina Park. Plus, he bowled more overs than anyone else in India’s only innings to finish with the

figures of 5/121.

His outstanding efforts with the bat coupled with his useful off-spin bowling will only add value to West Indies’ ODI squad.

Squad Jason Holder (c),

Devendra Bishoo, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shai Hope (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammad, Ashley Nurse, Kieran Powell, Rovman Powell, Kesrick Williams

Ronaldo ready to pay $16.39M in Spanish tax fraud case ‒ media

R

eal Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to pay Spain’s tax authorities 14.7 million euros ($16.39 million) - the amount he has been accused of defrauding by a prosecutor - ahead of a court hearing next month, Spanish state TV said on Wednesday.

Broadcaster TVE said, without identifying its sources, the 32-year-old would make this payment as a gesture of good will.

The report added

Cristiano Ronaldo

Rolando will reiterate at a hearing on July 31 that he is innocent and has never hidden any income from the taxman or committed any tax fraud in Spain.

Representatives for Ronaldo declined to comment.

The Spanish prosecutor says the Real Madrid forward knowingly used a business structure to hide his image rights income in Spain between 2011 and 2014. Ronaldo has denied the charges. (Reuters)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursdAY, june 20, 2017

“Maybe one day I can bring home a World Title” – Ming

By Akeem Greene

“I

just love racing and would like to get on top. I would like to go towards Formula One or Indy Car and maybe one day I can bring home a world championship title”. Those were the words of overseas-based Formula four driver Calvin Ming in an interview with <<Guyana Times Sport>> on Tuesday.

Ming raced his way into the history books by becoming the first Guyanese driver to win the Mexican NACAM FIA Formula 4 championship series which he accomplished last weekend.

Competing at the world famous Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez Formula 1 Circuit in Mexico City, the 20 year-old sealed the top spot due to calculated and clinical driving.

Commenting on the achievement, the son of former local speed ace Stanley Ming acknowledged that he

is still a bit dazed.

“Becoming the first Guyanese F4 champion is an amazing feeling. Whole year I had my eyes set on it, I have been training every day and I did not want anything but the championship , so being able to accomplish my goal is a great feeling”.

After 23 rounds of racing, the RAM Racing Driver accumulated 399 points ahead of Mexicans Jose Sierra (336) and Alexis Carreio (254).

“Before the weekend, I knew I was leading by 55 points and I calculated everything I needed to win. I already calculated the places I needed to finish and what places my opponents needed to finish in order for me to win”, Ming explained.

Though there was much joy and the ‘champagne party’ on the podium, the aspiring mechanical engineer revealed that the season had its ups and downs.

“The high point was win-

Green Machine, USA South clash possibly shifted to July 29 G

uyana’s National Rugby team, the Green Machine, were initially set to do battle with USA South Panthers on July 1 for the Rugby Americas North (RAN) 15s title but due to unforeseen circumstances, the match has possibly been shifted to July 29.

According to a source

close to the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), the extension was given by RAN as the Panthers were not able to secure tickets for the entire team travel to Guyana for initial date.

The source explained the confirmation on the date and possible venue will be made when the Local Organising Committee meets on Friday

The shining light for Guyana’s motor racing

ing my first race at the famous F1 track [Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez Circuit] and then winning (June 23).

It was also disclosed by the source that the extension will aid in their preparation and promotion of the event.

The meeting of the teams comes after they defeated Trinidad and Tobago 24-17 to win the South Championship. The prediction was that Guyana would have to travel to Mexico City to play the home side in the North versus South final. Last year Guyana lost lost 32-3 to host Mexico.

However, Mexico suffered a 39-17 loss to Cayman Islands on Saturday, which meant that USA South topped their group. It is understood that Panthers had 11 points compared to Mexico and Cayman

here again to seal the podium finish was a great feeling. The lows were not being able to finish some races

that I was leading, due to gear problems and the other after being involved in a ma-

jor accident”.

With the F4 title now under his belt, the youth sensation is hoping to now venture into F3 but will first enjoying his recent success and relax with family members.

He expressed gratitude for the support of his father, who has been his main driving force since the age of six, giving both moral and financial support.

In addition, he thanked his sponsors and team RAM Racing for their behind the scene help.

In giving a word of advice to his fans and upcoming motor racers he emphasised the point of remaining determined.

“For the fans back home thanks for all the support and never give up at your dreams because they are a lot of people that keep telling you that can’t but if you keep trying you will be able to do it, nothing is impossible”,

Whichever date is decided upon, a high octane clash is expected between both sides

Islands, who both ended on nine points.

This translates into Mexico falling from 9th to 12th in the Americas’ Rankings. The Cayman Islands move up one spot to

11th. There are also gains for Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago.

In 2014, the Green Machine etched their names in the history books after edging the Panthers

to claim their maiden RAN (formerly North American and Caribbean Rugby Association) 15s title with a come-from-behind 30-27 win.

India wants to host 2032 Olympics, 2030 Asian Games ‒ IOA chief

I

ndia’s Olympic Association has asked the government for permission to bid for the 2032 Olympics and 2030 Asian Games as part of a drive to put the country at the heart of the international sporting community, IOA President N. Ramachandran has told Reuters.

Ramachandran said the IOA also wanted India to host the Asian Beach Games in 2020, the Olympic Council of Asia’s general assembly that year, and the International Olympic Committee session in 2021.

The aim, Ramachandran said, was to use the engagement as a catalyst for the growth of Olympic sports in India and to help improve the country’s miserable standing in pretty much every sport apart from cricket.

As the world’s second-most populous nation after China, Ramachandran said it was time for India to follow its powerful neighbor in showcasing its burgeoning economic muscle through sport.

Dismissing concerns about whether India can afford to stage such huge sporting spectacles, Ramachandran said the country was one of the few in the region that did have the means.

It was up to the government to set

the wheels in motion, he told Reuters in an interview. “From my part, I am telling them if you bid, I will make sure you get it,” he added. Ramachandran said he had spoken about India’s prospects of hosting an Olympics with IOC President Thomas Bach, an indication of the early groundwork required for a serious bid.

“You cannot take a decision today and say, ‘I want to host an Olympic Games tomorrow.’ It is an eightyear process. So you have to start now,” Ramachandran said. “If you are looking at anything it’s 2032. That will give you 10 years to improve the infrastructure and you will have a decision (to make) in the next four to six years.”

The Indian government had agreed to discuss the proposals in cabinet and revert back to the IOA, Ramachandran added.

Economic power Winning the hosting rights for an Olympic Games is not the hot ticket it once was.

Los Angeles and Paris are the only candidates left in the race for the 2024 Olympics after four other cities

pulled out over cost concerns. The IOC will award both the 2024 and 2028 Summer Games at the same time and the expectation is that the two cities will host one each.

For the 2022 Winter Games, four of six bidders pulled out citing high costs or lack of support, leaving Beijing to beat Almaty in the final vote.

Ramachandran was confident India,

which has Asia’s third-largest economy, would be capable of meeting the costs.

“India is one of the emerging economies,” he said. “Even assuming you spend $12 billion on an Olympic event, $6 billion will be given to you by the IOC. “What is $6 billion over a period of eight years for a country which

has the size of the economy which India has today? “Not many countries today wish to host the Olympics. China has already had everything possible that can be hosted.”

In terms of hosting experience, India has successfully staged several global cricket tournaments, and FIFA say they are satisfied with preparations for the Under-17 World Cup in October.

But a question mark over the country’s ability to host an international multisports event has hung over India since the 2010 Commonwealth Games, a $6 billion event billed as Delhi’s answer to the Beijing Olympics.

A series of embarrassments over leaking stadiums and filthy accommodation culminated in Games chief Suresh Kalmadi spending nine months in prison for inflating tenders worth millions of dollars.

Ramachandran said there would be no repeat of those blunders.

“We have learnt from our mistakes.

You see the South Asian Games (in 2016) that was hosted in Guwahati.

Nobody said anything,” he added.

“We should stick to what we know best - technical conduct of the Games. Even when we hosted the Commonwealth Games in India, (the IOC) praised the technical conduct of the event. And we also did very well in the medals tally.”

While the hosts finished second to Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, to say that India has underperformed at the Olympics is an understatement. India has won just 28 medals since 1900, with Abhinav Bindra claiming the country’s only individual gold medal in the men’s 10 meter air rifle in Beijing.“We have very clearly advised the government that if you are just going to send your athletes to participate in international tournaments, that alone will not be sufficient for sports to grow in India,” Ramachandran said.

“You also need to conduct multisports events in India. Because then you will have more referees, more officials, your administrators can get into international sports federations.

“If you are on an international body then you can help your athletes more.”

(Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, june 22, 2017

GBTI Open Tennis

Lopes/Leacock win doubles titles after major upset L

ocal tennis suffered its biggest upset in recent years when Leyland Leacock and Daniel Lopes dethroned Men’s Doubles Champion Anthony Downes and Jason Andrews in the final of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Men’s Doubles on Tuesday.

Spectators present (GBTI) Recreational Facility in Bel Air Park were treated to tennis of a high quality as the `thriller’ lasted its full quota of three sets and ended 6-3 1-6 6-3 in favour Leycock and Lopes. In the emotionally charged event Downes and Andrews started off quickly and secured a 2-0 lead before a rain delay (approximately 20 minutes) disrupted their momentum.

Aggressive play by Lopes/ Leacock, who combined well-placed serves with decisive volleying, turned the tide and allowed them to win points as they pressured their opponent. A feature of the match was their ability to poach at the net and put away weak returns or groundstrokes. The first set ended 6-3.

Top seeds Downes/ Andrews then changed gear in the second set winning it decisively 6-1 to set up the third.

Lopes and Leacock continued to serve well whilst Andrews was put under

pressure as he started to miss on his first serves. The teams were on serve at 3-4 before Lopes and Leacock were able to secure the crucial break. Up 15-30 on Andrews serve, Leacock hit a crunching backhand which set up two break points and changed the match.

The pair then held their nerves and served out the match as they continued to dominate at the net and clinched the set 6-3 to break Downes’ stranglehold on Doubles title which he controlled for the last four years while partnering with Andrews or Harry Panday.

Downes will get an opportunity for revenge when he faces off against Daniel Lopes in the Men’s Singles Final.

In the Ladies Doubles final junior Afruica Gentle and Christy Campbell outlasted veteran player and coach Shelly Ramdyhan who teamed up with improving

newcomer Fiona Bushell in straight sets 6-2 6-3. The match had its share of excitement as the experienced Ramdyhan tried to get her team level with their more proficient opponents.

Gentle, known for her hard hitting, and Campbell outlasted their opponents on rallies and were able to take home the title.

Gentle had previously won the Ladies Singles category which was played on a round-robin basis as she accumulated the most wins and finished ahead of fellow junior Kalyca Fraser to cap off a successful tournament.

In the Men’s Over 35 Doubles, Godfrey Lowden/ Ronald Murray defeated Sanjeev Datadin and Steve Surujbally 6-2, 3-0 ret. to finish as Men’s 35 Doubles runners-up behind Andre Lopes/Sandeep Chand who won all their matches in the round-robin format.

23

Fifa referees Sherwin Moore and Trevor Porter to officiate in Caribbean Cup finals

G

Sherwin Moore

uyanese FIFA referee Sherwin Moore and FIFA Assistant Referee Trevor Porter will officiate at the finals of the Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup, scheduled for the 22nd – 25th June, 2017 in Martinique.

A release from the Guyana Football Federation stated that Stanley Lancaster, Head of the Guyana Footfall Federation’s (GFF) Refereeing Department said dubbed their participation as is a positive step for Guyana.

“It shows that we have the quality referees to officiate at the highest level. We’ve seen Kevin Stephens done his part at the CONCACAF U17 finals in Panama and now we’re seeing Trevor Porter and Sherwin Moore participating in the Scotiabank finals in Martinique. With the developmental programmes that we now have in place, we should see more of our officials moving from the national programme to competing among the best in our region,” Lancaster said in the release.

“Congratulations to the two match officials, we offer our complete support and wish

Trevor Porter

them well throughout the tournament.”

Moore along with Trevor Porter, Venton Mars and Sherwin Johnson formed a Guyanese quartet that officiated in several rounds from the commencement of the Caribbean Cup tournament in 2017 leading up to the final. Moore’s appointment also follows his participation in the final round of the Caribbean Club football championship in May as a fourth official, the release added.

The four teams vying for the top spot are Jamaica, French Guiana, Curacao and host Martinique on June 22 with the Jamaica / French Guiana match on at 18:00hrs and the Curacao / Martinique match on at 20:30hrs. The final and third place game will take place on Sunday June 25, 2017 where the opening day looser will come up against each other in the third place game and the winners contest the final. The four Caribbean Cup final round teams have already qualified for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup to be played in July. This tournament will be used to crown a Caribbean Champion.

Playing for Tridents a dream Virat Kohli forcing Anil Kumble come true – Tino Best F

ast bowler Tino Best says playing in the Hero Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 competition for his hometown Tridents has always been his goal. Best was drafted by the Tridents in March and will appear in his second stint in the league after previously playing for the St. Lucia Stars.

“Playing for Barbados is what I always wanted from the inception of the CPL,” Best said. “To have the opportunity to play for the Tridents finally; I will go out bowl fast, get wickets and bring fans to the Kensington Oval.”

Captain Kieron Pollard leads the Tridents into the 2017 season with international signees Wahab Riaz of Pakistan and Kane Williamson of New Zealand.

Tridents have also retained the services of batsman Dwayne Smith, who was integral in the team’s sole championship in 2014.

“We have a good squad with a blend of talent and youth,” Best said. “Pollard is a very good leader with his experience at the top level playing around the world in various leagues. Adding guys like Wahab Riaz and Kane

out ‘sad day for Indian cricket’ ‒ Sunil Gavaskar A

Tino Best

Willamson gives us a very good blend of youth and experience, I think we will compete and do well.”

A fiery fast bowler capable of delivering at speeds over 95 mph, Best is known for his boundless energy on and off the pitch. Now in his mid-thirties Best maintains an impressive dedication to fitness and bowling quickly.

He has focused heavily on fitness in an effort to prolong an almost two-decade long international career.

“My pace has always been

a weapon for me. I haven’t really lost any pace, I have maintained my pace for the last 17 years playing professionally by the way that I train and the desire I have for bowling and bowling quickly.”

He is currently using a stint at English club side, Lashings, to prepare for this summer’s campaign and expects to join the Tridents ready and raring to go. “I am bowling quick, feeling fit and strong. It is all about a lifestyle, being fit and strong is not a problem.” (Sportsmax)

nil Kumble resigned as Indian cricket team’s head coach on Tuesday. He said his ‘untenable’ relationship with captain Virat Kohli led to the decision. unil Gavaskar has lashed out at the way Indian cricket team coach Anil Kumble had to relinquish his top post following an ‘untenable’ relationship with captain Virat Kohli.

“I have very little knowledge about the differences between Virat and Anil. But it is a really sad day for Indian cricket,” Gavaskar said.

“India have won everything since the time Anil took over. I can’t see Anil doing much wrong in one year. Difference happens in any team but see at the results,” he told NDTV. During his playing days, Kumble was known

Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli’s relationship with coach Anil Kumble soured (AFP/Getty Images)

as a feisty fighter, even winning matches by bowling with a broken jaw, and Gavaskar wondered why he did not stand up this time.

“Anil must have had his reasons (of resigning).

I would have thought Anil would carry on. Once the CAC expressed their confidence in him, Anil should have stuck around. Hope

he will take it on the chin and comes back stronger.

But it is the first time a known fighter like Anil did not stand up,” said the former captain.

He said India will have to appoint a coach before the team goes to Sri Lanka. “It is for the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) to take a call on that,” said Gavaskar.(HindustanTimes)

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

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

“Maybe one day I can bring home a World Title” – Ming Pg 21

Glasgow Jr,

Pg 22

GTT’s future Guyana Amazon Warrior

The future star! 15-year-old Seon Glasgow Jr is seen by the GTT as a future Guyana Amazon Warrior (Carl Croker photo)

After winning the Mexican F4 Championship, the young driver has set himself some illustrious goals

GBTI Open Tennis

Lopes/Leacock win doubles Pg 23

Leyland Leacock/Daniel Lopes Men's doubles winners

titles after major upset

Jason Andrews/Anthony Downes Runners-up

Christy Campbell/Afruica Gentle Ladies doubles winners

Shelly Ramdyhan/Fiona Bushell Runners-up

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