Guyanatime 15 may 2018

Nurses are the “heart” of public P health care – Cummings 13

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Issue No. 3564

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SOCU no-show as Brassington, Singh turn up for questioning … PPP pickets SOCU's HQ

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Piracy massacre

Surinamese cop stabbed 5 times, shot P12 once …murder linked to driveby shooting in March

Page 3

SARA’s CEO claims political loyalty would not affect work

Page 9

Probe launched into Mother’s Day Page 10 ‘prison party’

Essequibians charged P8 with aiding carjacking 4 nabbed P2 with illegal guns, ammo

Highway smash-up

6-year-old succumbs to injuries P12 Garbage company dumping waste in housing scheme P7 – CH&PA

…as prisoners display highpriced liquor, drugs on Facebook

Demerara Bank records $907M net profit Page 7

Lindo Creek CoI

GDF transcripts deliberatelyPage withheld – 11 Commissioner

P13 GNBS to implement new hollow block standard Israeli forces kill 58 in Gaza as US Embassy opens in Jerusalem P17

2 news

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Market vendor stabbed to death by thief

T

hirty-four-year-old Fareez Yaseem of Lot 25 Belmonte, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara was on Monday morning stabbed at least 12 times during a confrontation with an intruder who was attempting to break into a storage bond at his home.

Reports are that the now dead father of three was awakened by a sound emanating from the lower flat of the house, and he went to enquire. As he walked down the flight of stairs, he reportedly saw the suspect trying to gain access to the bond, and a confrontation and ultimately a scuffle ensued between the two men, during which the suspect whipped out a knife and dealt Yasseem several stabs to his body.

The injured Yaseem fell into a drain and died almost immediately, while the perpetrator made good his escape, but reportedly left his pedal cycle and a slipper behind.

Dead: Fareez Yaseem

When Guyana Times visited the scene, Yaseem’s house was locked and no one was at home. The gate was also locked, and a car he had recently bought was parked in the garage.

A few houses away, a relative, Jason (only name given), who lives a few villages away, was preparing to hold a wake at the home of Yaseem’s mother-in-law.

He told Guyana Times that Yaseem had left his

(Jason’s) business place in Mahaicony, ECD at about 17:00h on Sunday to head home after a day’s work.

However, at about 02:00h on Monday, he received a telephone call informing him that Yassen had been stabbed dead.

To confirm the news, he telephoned another relative, who without hesitation rushed to the scene, only to see Yaseem’s bloodied body lying in a small drain in the yard.

“I can’t say how much time he get stab, and I couldn’t go close to see, because the Police been at the scene carrying out their investigations…,” that distraught relative explained.

He also explained that after speaking to the late Yaseem’s wife, he was made to understand that the deceased was only trying to protect his property.

“He wake up after he heard the sound, and went downstairs without waking up he wife… When he reach downstairs he see

The house of the murdered vendor

the man, and then is when he get stab,” the relative detailed. At the time of Yaseem’s demise, he was wearing his jewellery, but all were found intact.

The relative also confirmed that a one-side slipper and a bicycle were found in front of the dead man’s yard. These items have been taken into custody by the Police as evidence as investigations continue.

Jason also told Guyana Times that he, too, resided in the village for 15 years,

but made a decision to leave following an upsurge in criminal activities.

He recalled that his mother-in-law’s premises had been broken into, as well as his home. In both incidents, the bandits carted off millions in cash and jewellery.

To date, he stated, no arrest has been made although detectives had dusted the respective crime scenes for finger prints.

“I can’t raise my children in this village. Too

much happening…thief here and there, and the Police doing nothing,” he stated.

He is calling on the relevant authorities to solve this recent murder, and not let it be considered another unsolved mystery.

The late Yaseem has been described as a hardworking individual who used to “hustle” to making sure his family is taken care of.

He leaves to mourn his wife, Devi, who was at home when he was killed.

She reportedly hid in the upper flat of the house with her three children during the incident. After realizing that her husband was stabbed, she raised an alarm and neighbours rushed to the scene.

The man’s body was removed hours after, and taken to the Lyken’s Funeral Home to await a post mortem examination.

Up to late Monday evening, no arrests were made.

(Bhisham Mohamed)

4 nabbed with illegal guns, ammo

F

our persons, including the owners of a mining camp, were arrested on Sunday after they were found to be in possession of illegal guns and ammunition in separate incidents.

Based on reports received, Police ranks on mobile patrol arrested a passenger on public transportation with an unlicensed .38 revolver with five live rounds of ammunition. The vehicle was reportedly stopped and searched at Sussex and Smyth Streets, Georgetown.

Additionally, a 33-yearold labourer of South Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast

The unlicensed shotgun and 25 cartridges found at Big Hope Backdam, Waini River, North West District

The unlicensed .32 revolver, one spent shell and two live rounds along with the improvised pistol

Demerara was arrested at Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) with an unlicensed .32 revolver with two live rounds of ammunition, along with a spent shell, hidden in his crotch.

An improvised pistol was also found in a haversack that he was carrying at the time. Meanwhile, Police in F Division (Interior Locations) have arrested a man and his wife after an unlicensed single-barrel shotgun and 25 live cartridges were un-

The unlicensed .38 pistol and five live rounds of ammunition

earthed at their mining camp at Big Hope Backdam, Waini River, North West District. The couple were arrested at Carabese Hill, Bartica.

The four suspects are expected to make their court appearance shortly.

3 SOCU no-show as Brassington, Singh turn up for questioning news

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Tuesday, May 15 – a night retraction at 04:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Wednesday, May 16 – 05:00h- 06:30h.

… PPP pickets SOCU's HQ

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, May 15 – 16:35h-18:05h and Wednesday, May 16 – 17:00h- 18:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals along with cloudy conditions are expected in the early morning followed by light rain showers until the early afternoon. Light cloudy conditions will prevail for the rest of the day and into the evening. Temperatures will range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 5.81 metres.

D

ays after they were each released on $200,000 station bail following several hours of questioning by officers attached to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), former Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and former head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington, were asked to return to SOCU Headquarters in Georgetown on Monday; but when they did, no officer was available, or

Former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and former Head of NICIL, Winston Brassington, standing with their Attorneys in SOCU compound on Monday

High Tide: 04:15h and 16:42h reaching maximum heights of 2.85 metres and 2.78 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:15h and 22:30h reaching minimum heights of 0.33 metre and 0.47 metre respectively.

Former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds (second from right), along with PPP/C MPs and party members picketing SOCU’s Headquarters in Georgetown on Monday

sUNDAY, MAY 12, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS E

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MONDAY, MAY 14, 2018

DAILY MILLIONS 08 16 17 21 LUCKY 3 1 9

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turned up, to question them.

One of the men’s attorneys, Anil Nandall, told this newspaper that when the duo turned up at SOCU’s office at 09:00h, not only was there no officer present to question them, but they were asked to sign a diary requesting that they return next Monday.

Nandall said at that point he had to intervene and inform SOCU Head Sydney James that his clients would not be returning for further questioning. “…that while they were willing to assist with the investigations, they have no duty to do so. And they

have exhausted their willingness to help…I told him that they were there today (Monday) and were prepared to spend the entire day if that was to happen, but SOCU was not ready, and they won’t return,” Nandlall explained.

Nandall also said the men’s $6 million bail each on three counts of miscon-

duct places on them no condition that they must subject themselves to SOCU’s interrogation.

Asked whether the $200,000 station bail that they were put on Wednesday last is an indication that they could be slapped with additional charges, the attorney said, “I inquired, and I was told that apparently there are no new charges to be instituted; at least not in the near future. I don’t know what the bail was for.

However, we will have to take steps to recover those bail monies soon.”

TURN TO PAGE 5

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018

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

Focus on families F

amilies play an important role in creating and sustaining peaceful and inclusive societies, indispensable for sustainable and inclusive development. Children growing up in stable and supportive families develop positive cognitive, emotional and social characters, thus becoming stable and peaceful adults.

There are several important aspects of stable family environments ensuring children’s well-being and early socialisation, such as secure attachment and the process of the transmission and acquisition of values.

The 2018 observance of the International Day of Families focuses on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, relating to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development; this year’s theme is “Families and inclusive societies”.

The approaches to family policies for inclusive societies vary around the world. In some regions, emphasis is placed on social inclusion of various types of families and/or individuals, such as migrant or indigenous families, ethnic minorities, or families with persons with disabilities. In other regions, primary emphasis is placed on social protection for vulnerable families, to facilitate their full inclusion in the mainstream of society. As approaches vary, this year’s observance of the International Day of Families is to raise awareness of the role of families and family policies in achieving more inclusive societies from regional perspectives.

The international panel discussion will focus on the importance of ensuring equal justice to all family members, especially women. It will also address the efforts at universal birth registration and legal identity for all, especially targeting vulnerable families. The importance of social protection for social inclusion and other aspects of socially inclusive and family-oriented policies will be addressed as well.

Research demonstrates that children who developed secure attachment relationships in their families are more self-reliant and empathetic adults. They are more likely to be civically engaged and involved in community work, and have good problem-solving skills.

Although inclusive societies must ensure legal protection and rights of women, they should not only be linked to women’s roles as mothers and caregivers in their families.

Governments must ensure that women have equal access to economic resources, ownership of land and other property, as well as work providing decent living wage to sustain themselves and their families. Similarly, children have the right to adequate nutrition and shelter, and to grow up in the atmosphere of love and harmony.

A number of family-oriented policies, especially those targeting vulnerable families in indigenous communities, or those with family members with disabilities, have a potential to contribute to the achievement of SDG16. For instance, awareness-raising campaigns focusing on the importance of birth registration in remote communities have resulted in higher registration of births, even in some countries.

Expanding social protection programmes, reaching out to vulnerable families, and ensuring the coverage of all family members, including children and older persons, have contributed to creating more inclusive societies, which secure rights to basic social and economic rights for vulnerable family members.

The approaches to family policies for inclusive societies vary around the world. In some regions, emphasis is placed on social inclusion of various types of families and/or individuals, such as migrant or indigenous families, ethnic minorities, or families with persons with disabilities.

In some regions, primary emphasis is placed on social protection for vulnerable families, to facilitate their full inclusion in the mainstream of society. Inclusive education for all, especially children from ethnic minorities or those with disabilities, is also considered essential for social inclusion. As approaches vary, this year’s observance of the International Day of Families is to raise awareness of the role of families and family policies in achieving more inclusive societies from regional perspectives. It is heartening to know that the Government has reaffirmed its commitment to invest in programmes and policies that will seek to empower families and create the conditions in which strong, cohesive families can flourish.

Through the Social Protection Ministry, the Government must pledge to support families in parenting and in imparting core values; they will also work with communities and members of the private sector to recognise the importance of maintaining the family unit, while promoting a safe, stable and nurturing family environment for all members.

The Quire in St George's Chapel, at Windsor Castle, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will have their wedding service, is seen in Windsor, Britain. The Gothic St George's Chapel is located in the grounds of Windsor Castle, which has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1000 years. Within the chapel are the tombs of 10 sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I. In more recent memory, it was the venue of the wedding of Harry's uncle Prince Edward to Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999, and of a service of prayer and dedication to mark the wedding of Harry's father, Prince Charles, to Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005 (Reuters)

Cybercrime Bill reveals true character of Govt Dear Editor, I believe we are approaching a critical juncture in our nation’s journey, one that determines our future wellbeing. I sincerely believe that the Cybercrime Bill of 2016 has revealed the true character of the Granger Administration and its authoritarian ambition.

Our very freedom of speech is under attack by our Government. The charge is being led by a President who has eroded all goodwill and trust when he made that awkward attempt at Machiavellian manipulation in appointing Justice James Patterson (retired) as Chairman of GECOM. The evidence of His Excellency’s disingenuousness during the GECOM appointment process was clear for all to see; and yet, when it comes to calls for appointment of important judi-

cial posts of Chancellor and Chief Justice, the Guyana Human Rights Association and Transparency Institute of Guyana both engaged in appeasement by seeking to apportion blame for the delay on the Leader of the Opposition; who, in observance of the ‘once bitten, twice shy’ maxim, is being cautious in his engagement with President Granger.

The pattern of appeasement runs deep in our national psyche. Educator Sherene Noble explores this extensively on her blog (https://rootsandeduculture. wordpress.com/) a must-read for those truly interested in education reform. Noble says, “I believe that authoritarianism in education actually inhibits self-efficacy, making one less capable of functioning effectively in a Democracy.”

It has been three years,

22 forensic audits, billions of dollars spent in commissions of inquiry and funding of anti-corruption agencies by the new administration, and very little factual evidence that the present administration are anything ‘like’ the PPP. They are in fact an utterly corrupt, authoritarian regime that has rapidly emptied our nation’s coffers; put us is a position where we are beholden to ExxonMobil, an American corporation not known for largesse; displayed utter disregard for the democratic rules of engagement with the Opposition; and yet many still seek to appease.

Now is the time for those who value freedom and who care about our nation’s future to vigorously oppose the further erosion of our rights as citizens; oppose the ‘downward trajectory’ of our finances; oppose the blatant

corruption being practised.

Editor, all signs point to one logical conclusion: the APNU/AFC Administration has to win the next election to avoid prosecution and jail time. The Granger Government is laying the groundwork for a militarized state. The Brown shirts of the People’s Militia are being organized in secret, and GECOM’s integrity has been undermined by the unilateral appointment of a partisan chairman.

Are we going to keep up the pretense that these actions are ‘just like’ the PPP? My advice to those who want to be heard is to be honest with your words, and remember those of Sir Winston Churchill: “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.”

Sincerely, Robin Singh

Funding to refurbish GuySuCo’s divested sugar estates’ infrastructure

Dear Editor, It was reported in the Guyana Times of May 12 that Government has approved $600 million in supplemental finance for maintenance of infrastructures at GuySuCo’s divested Skeldon, Rose Hall, Enmore and Wales sugar estates.

The stated objective for this financial infusion is to refurbish the existing infrastructures, including drainage and irrigation in residential areas on the divested estates, to make them appear functional for sale as going concerns to investors, whom the Govt. assumes, without justification, would want to continue cultivating sugar. This “window dressing” to keep the divested es-

tates running prior to their sale appear to make economic sense to Government, but it does not necessarily mean that the would-be purchasers would consider the glossedover investment to be made to spruce up the properties as value added, and therefore increase their bids.

The infrastructures under consideration - pumps, canals, bridges, pathways, sluices, etc. -- are in such poor condition that the $600 million approved for their restoration would be wholly inadequate to make any meaningful improvement to their existing condition. Therefore, Minister Noel Holder should have been transparent in his deliberations and have the

Agriculture Ministry prepare and submit professionally prepared estimates for the proposed works, which Parliament could have then considered and approved, rather than bluff his way with guesstimates for the civil works, the repair costs for which are beyond his imagination.

Unfortunately, the political imperatives have forced the Govt. to approve expenditure for works based on shady returns and frothy expectations, as any future sale would clearly indicate.

Contrary to claims, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) does not have the managerial and technical personnel with the capability to undertake

additional contracting work on behalf of GuySuCo/NICIL/ SPU. NDIA’s poor planning and execution of the Central Government’s projects it has and is undertaking along the coastland clearly bears this out. Similarly, GuySuCo does not have the personnel with experience to handle complex construction/rehab works. If indeed it does undertake construction work, it cannot simultaneously have its personnel inspect and verify the works it will be doing on behalf of NDIA, as was reported in the MoU. This will clearly be a conflict of interest and another Skeldon factory fiasco.

Yours faithfully, Charles Sohan

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

SARA’s anti-corruption, inter-agency ­training seminar launched – agency signs MoU with FIU for increased cooperation

Participants at the anti-corruption seminar

By Jarryl Bryan

The State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) on Monday facilitated the first in a series of anti-corruption training seminars with Government agencies.

This came on the same day the Agency announced an amnesty for those in illicit possession of State assets, as well as upcoming cases for misappropriation of State assets slated for court.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was the first of the targeted agencies, with several of its staff attending the exercise at the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC).

Addressing the attendees was SARA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Aubrey Retmyer, who used various examples to emphasise the human impact of corruption and the underdevelopment it causes.

Retmyer made it clear that Guyana must clean up its act as developed countries were observing its efforts. He cited an acquaintance’s experience at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

“We could make this a far better country than what it is. Our healthcare system in this country needs improving. But corruption will cause all kinds of things to go wrong.

Two weeks ago, a person I know went to Georgetown Hospital. She went in there with a broken leg. And she died even before getting on the operating table. All they will say, if at all, is sorry. If we were to have a better health system, that would never happen. It’s not because (of) what we have or don’t have, but because our institutions are required to be much stronger and more vigilant.”

The “insidious plague”

Using a quote that described corruption as a plague, former GRA Customs Head Lancelot Wills stressed the need for such exercises. He also made reference to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).

“Our own Transparency Institute of Guyana Incorporated views corruption as an insidious plague that affects all of our being,” Wills said. “And not through the prisms of what we come to know as normal behaviour, which are in some ways corrupt but rather are outrightly corrupt.

“That convention sets out in its basic tenets preventative measures which States should adopt so as to prevent through coordinated policies and establishing bodies, criminalising bribery, embezzlement and other forms of deviant behaviour which lead to undue influence and advantages and undue gain.”

MoU

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was later signed between SARA and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) on Monday. It is understood that at this signing, SARA Director, Professor Clive

Thomas announced an amnesty that could see persons who stole and want to voluntarily return State assets being able to negotiate a deal.

At an interview earlier in the day, however, SARA’s CEO revealed that the agency would be taking its first batch of cases to court within another month.

The MoU in question addresses issues relating to the sharing of information between the two agencies in the fight against financial crimes. Inter-agency collaboration is an import-

FIU Head Matthew Langevine, along with SARA Director, Professor Clive Thomas

corruption both as a national good and as an international obligation,” Thomas said.

He noted that the increasing tendency globally was the recognition that the fight against corruption was a fight for the welfare and well-being of the broad masses of the population of the entire globe. Here, he cited the World Bank, which on its website, makes it clear that public corruption was the single biggest deterrent to development.

SOCU no-show...

FROM PAGE 3

Protest

Former Customs Head Lancelot Wills

ant part of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism fight.

“We are mandated, I think both by international law convention as well as domestic law, to cooperate because both of us share the same set of goals, and these relate to the reduction of

Meanwhile, supporters of the Opposition Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), together with Members of Parliament (MPs) from that party, picketed SOCU’s office on Monday, arguing strongly that there is no merit to the charges against the men, and there is therefore no need for them to be further interrogated and questioned by SOCU when clearly they have been processed by a court of law.

Nandlall supported those arguments, and said that charges brought against these two former senior Government officials are a clear case of innocent people being prosecuted. Nandall, a former Government minister himself, also criticised civil society organisations for

staying silent on the matter.

“Civil society needs to condemn what is taking place,” he stated.

Both men were recently granted $2 million bail on each of the three joint charges. The two former Government officials were charged for allegedly selling several plots of land on the East Coast of Demerara to National Hardware Guyana Ltd for over $598 million; to Scady Business Corporation at a cost of $150 million, and to Multi-Cinemas Guyana Inc at a cost of $185 million. The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) filed the charges against the two former Government officials early last month.

Following the court proceedings, both men were escorted by Police in handcuffs

and placed in the prisoner’s dock, where they remained for a few minutes before being released. Nandlall described the act of handcuffing Singh and Brassington as dehumanizing, and one that sought to humiliate these two former senior Government officials, who served their country with distinction.

Nandlall said once the current charges are over, there will be a barrage of civil proceedings that will be fielded for reputational damage caused to the duo. The attorney noted that persons are going to be charged personally for their involvement in the matter, and not the State alone.

Singh and Brassington are due to return to court on June 5.

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

– a strategy teachers can use to turn parents into partners when discussing difficult situations involving their kids falling behind in his class work and frustrating his friends [emotions], which is detrimental to the learning environment we’re trying to create [value]. Can you offer any ideas about why this is happening and how we can help Johnny improve [input]?

By Joe Hirsch

A

s educational partners, teachers and parents (or guardians) share responsibility for the success of children.

Keeping open lines of communication is essential to maintaining a relationship of transparency and trust.

Parents expect and deserve honest feedback about their children’s progress.

But when situations call for difficult conversations, teachers can become apprehensive. Will hearing negative feedback about their kids make parents defensive or supportive? Point fingers or lend a hand? Brain research shows that negative feedback floods neural pathways with cortisol, the stress-inducing hormone, and triggers our threat awareness. How can teachers give parents the information they need to know but might not want to hear?

A standard approach is the praise sandwich or feedback sandwich, which attempts to sidestep blame, conflict, and hurt feelings by surrounding negative feedback with positive statements. After opening with praise (“Johnny is so energetic”), the teacher brings up a specific critique (“With all that energy, he can become quite disruptive in class”), and closes on a positive note (“But he adds so much to our learning community”).

While this tactic remains popular, it’s not always effective: Since people tend to remember the first and last things they hear, they focus on the praise at the ends and not the critique in the

Approaching parents as partners

middle. The sandwich delivery softens the message and doesn’t necessarily drive it home.

A different approach to difficult feedback

An alternative might look more like a bundle.

Rather than buffering negative feedback with praise, teachers can offer direct feedback that comprises specific observations and value statements: Context: Where and when is the behaviour happening?

Observations: What has happened?

Emotions: What feelings do this cause?

Value: Why does this matter?

Input: What can be done to achieve success?

First, teachers establish a feedback context by naming the time and place the problem is happening.

Next, they provide specific and objective observations about the problem in action.

From there, they describe the impact of the problem on the emotions of others and its value to the group as a whole. Finally, they seek active input from the parents on how a positive and productive solution can be reached.

In the case of the excitable but disruptive Johnny, here’s an example of how the teacher can give his parents more productive feedback using the bundle approach: “Mr and Mrs Jones, I want to mention some concerns I have about the way Johnny is behaving during class [context]. In the past two weeks, he’s been calling out frequently during small-group instruction. He also riles up his classmates during transitions [observations]. As his teacher, I’m concerned that Johnny is

The teacher clearly defines the feedback context (small-group instruction and transitions), provides specific and targeted examples of the problem (calling out, causing distraction), expresses in personal terms what this means to her (“As his teacher, I’m concerned…”), gives a basis for her claims by tracing the behaviour’s impact on others (degraded learning environment), and seeks advice from the receiver on how best to resolve the conflict (“Can you offer any ideas?”). The teacher approaches Johnny’s parents as partners, not combatants, and uses matter-of-fact, nonaggressive language to win their support and find a solution.

This strategy also defuses the uncomfortable tension that surrounds difficult conversations. Both sides have a chance to state observations, offer input, explore solutions, and later reflect on progress made.

In my experience, parents find it refreshing and more productive when they have a chance to speak honestly and openly with teachers who clearly place a high value on their input and support. These encounters can

play out in one of two ways: (1) Refuse/Regret, or (2) Reflect/Repair. In the first outcome, negative feedback is framed by denial, blame, and helplessness. Both sides levy charges, trade accusations, reject accountability, and later regret the damage done. But in the second outcome, negative feedback is fuelled by acceptance, contribution, and action. Both sides have a chance to state observations, offer input, explore solutions, and later reflect on progress made.

As I describe in my book, The Feedback Fix, this approach looks past who people are and focuses on who they are becoming. It dumps

the past tense of traditional feedback and embraces the future-leaning language of “feedforward.”

Most importantly, bundling feedback this way moves the focus from blame to contribution by actively seeking the parents’ input on how to improve. It allows teachers and parents to hold honest and open conversation as true partners, and promotes positive problem solving that has a real shot at success. Parents will be grateful for the candour.

Teachers will be gratified by the consequences. Getting there requires a simple tweak, but the results can be quite significant. (edutopia.org)

Sleep well as a new parent

By Chuck Schaeffer, PhD

M

illions of new parents struggle to get good sleep, long after their babies have mastered snoozing through the night. But with practice and a little patience, it is possible to make sure everyone in the family can sleep through the night. Here are six strategies to restful, restorative sleep: Practise self-care. The physical, emotional, and sometimes financial, demands of learning how to care for a new person are the enemies of a good night’s sleep. Stress hormones keep you vigilant and ready to dash in to your sleeping baby. Putting in place realistic self-care practices is one of the most effective ways to combat stress.

Try this: Not many new parents have the time to get lost in a good book or the money to spend a relaxing day at the spa.

But most can find little spots in their day (or longer ones when the baby is sleeping) to indulge in a gossip magazine, watch a favourite TV show, or take a slightly longer shower or bath. Pick a few activities that help you unwind, and work them in a few times a week to help you release stress.

Log off and cool down. Although the connectivity and stimulation of smartphones, laptops, tablets, and TVs is useful during the day, at night it confuses your body’s clock into thinking it should stay awake. This is even true of baby monitors (video or audio) that promise to reduce anxiety but actually keep you vigilant and awake, listening for the next cry.

Try this: Create a cut-off time (about an hour before going to bed) to unplug and put in place rituals that tell your body it’s time to sleep. This means no more texting, online shopping, emailing, and yes, turning the volume down on the monitor.

Doing so shifts your body into what I call the “cool-down” zone. In the cool-down zone, you can practice sleep-promoting behaviours, such as dressing for bed, washing up, cuddling, reading a real book for 20 minutes. (Tablets don’t count – the light from the screen is stimulating to your brain.) Another good option is doing a few relaxation exercises or five-minute deep breathing meditations to unwind.

Cut back on caffeine and alcohol. Many new parents find that caffeine is the fuel that keeps them going after a sleepless night, so they keep the java flowing all day long. The problem is that a single serving of coffee stays active in your system for eight hours, elevating your heart rate and keeping your body stimulated. Similarly, alcohol, which can become a new parent’s companion to unwind from the stress of the day, also undermines your rest. While a glass of red before bed may initially make you sleepy, your body uses a lot of energy and water to break it down. That dehydration and digestion can interrupt your sleep and keep you awake, even when you are tired. (Excerpt from popularpsychology.com)

news

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tuesDAY, may 15, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Demerara Bank records $907M net profit T

he Demerara Bank Limited (DBL) has announced a net profit of over $900 million, a testament to the Bank’s performance in the first half of 2018 and an increase compared to the corresponding period last year.

This is contained in the Bank’s interim financial statements. According to the bank on Monday, these figures represent a 17 per cent hike compared to 2017, all under challenging circumstances.

“The profit before taxation has gone up to G$1.5 billion from G$1.1 billion showing increase of 34 per cent over the previous year.

Loans and Advances has increased to G$25 billion from G$23.9 billion, registering an increase of 4.6 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2017,” the Bank’s branch coordinator, Christina

ers – Government through taxes, shareholders through dividend and capital appreciation. Demerara Bank is a pioneer bank in advancing the cause of green initiatives in Guyana,” the branch coordinator stated.

Demerara Bank Corporate Office, Camp Street

Correia, said in a statement on Monday.

“The Interest Income from Advances and Investment has also shown positive growth.

As a result of the Bank’s solid performance, the shareholders’ earning for the first half year has increased by 17.15 per cent to 4.03 per share on an annualised basis.”

She further related that

the Board of Directors has recommended a higher interim dividend of 35 per cent for the shareholders. Correia noted that the Bank paid an interim dividend of 30 per cent last year.

“At present, the Bank is having a network of seven branches countrywide. The performance of the Bank has benefited all the stakehold-

Garbage company dumping waste in housing scheme – CH&PA

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he Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on Monday announced that it recently discovered that a garbage company has been dumping refuse in a specific housing scheme.

It also revealed that over a two-and-a-halfmonth period, it has issued 3050 verbal warnings to residents of several East Bank Demerara communities owing to its rangers programme.

Although much detail was not provided on the issue of the illegal dumping, the Housing Authority noted that it was made aware of the situation by concerned residents who even provided photographic evidence. The agency said it would be soon making contact with that company to have the issue addressed.

The CH&PA on Monday also expressed appreciation to members of the public for supporting the rangers programme.

“During the period, 3050 verbal warnings were issued to residents in communities on the East Bank of Demerara. Of the figure, 2229 were issued in April, while 313 written warning were issued of which 283 were issued in March.

In April, 115 contravention notices were issued during the period,” it stated.

It went on to inform that the issue of dumping of construction materials on roadways and parapets, blockage of interlocking drains with building material, parking of storage containers on parapets, and dumping of derelict vehicles and garbage on parapets were some of the matters dealt with.

The CH&PA further re-

CH&PA Chief Executive Officer Lelon Saul

ported that a “significant” percentage of residents have been since complying; however, there still remained rebellious persons who continue perform the act, but the Authority was working to address this.

On another note, the CH&PA highlighted that it has received several complaints of violations in several housing schemes. The agency informed that their rangers “will only be working in housing schemes that were not handed over to town councils or Neighbourhood Democratic

Councils [NDCs]. For communities that were handed over, we will advise residents to take their complaints to the relevant town councils or NDCs to have them addressed.”

The agency, nevertheless, renewed its call to residents living in communities under its purview to adhere to the clauses agreed to in their agreements of sale, titles, and transports.

In order to better monitor the development of infrastructure within the prerequisite policy framework, the CH&PA had introduced rangers to execute that function.

Senior Development Planner Fayola Azore related that law enforcement for the Housing Authority has been a challenge and the introduction of rangers would significantly aid in combating that challenge.

“We recently hired a number of rangers that will aid in our enforcement and they will be out there going around seeing things that are going up and bringing that information back to us,” she said.

“The Bank’s Diamond and Corporate Branches are fully operational on solar energy.

The Bank has also developed and introduced green loan products for customers for installing solar equipment.

The outstanding achieve-

ment of the Bank for the last financial year as well as the half year ending 31 March 2018 is testimony to the commitment, dedication and vision of the Bank’s Chairman, Directors of the Board, management and staff.”

8 NEWS

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS

Seawall confrontation lands man, fiancée in court

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man who told Magistrate Judy Latchman that he caught his reputed wife cheating on him, “which is why us men does murder them,” was on Monday released on $120,000.

Forty-seven-yearold Laurel Gill of Lot 61 Cummings Street, North Cummingsburg initially admitted to unlawfully assaulting Seon Meredith at the seawall at Kingston, Georgetown.

Gill told the court that

he caught the woman whom he was about to marry in a compromising position with Meredith in a car at the Kingston seawall. He claimed that when he caught the two he almost “fall unconscious”. According to the man, he did attack them, but not with a knife. He said he left the scene in a shocked and stunned state.

After hearing his story, Magistrate Latchman entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Police Prosecutor Arvin

Moore, however, told the court that upon seeing the two, Gill pulled out a knife, which is in evidence, and attacked them, causing both to receive injuries.

He was nonetheless released on bail and expected to reappear in court on May 21.

Meanwhile, the reputed wife, 30-year-old Telesha Dazzle, and Meredith were also crossed charged for assaulting Gill, and were each placed on $30,000 bail.

Meredith told the court

he is the son of the owner of a property where Dazzle houses her business.

He noted that her husband constantly accuses him of having an affair with the woman, but he denied this accusation.

The man told the court that on the day in question, he and Dazzle went shopping when she started complaining of headaches. As such, they went to the seawall to “get some breeze.” That case will also continue on May 21.

Accused gold chain Essequibians charged thief remanded with aiding carjacking

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wenty-eight-year-old Peter Waldron was on Monday remanded to prison after he was accused of stealing a $71,000 gold chain.

The joiner and father of one, who resides at Lot 6 Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

The charge against him alleged that he, on May 8, 2018, at Cornhill Street, Georgetown, stole the chain from Deon Persaud.

The man denied that he was in the area at the time of the offence, telling the court that he was at home.

He told the court that he was taken out of his home by ranks, and was not even placed in an identification parade before the charge was instituted against him.

However, Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore told the court that the virtual complainant (VC) was standing on the roadway awaiting

Munesh Persaud (left) and Mahendra Lall

Peter Waldron hiding his face as he exited the court on Monday

transportation on the day in question when Waldron attacked him and removed the gold chain from his neck before escaping.

Moore objected to Waldron being placed on bail based on the prevalence of the offence.

As such, bail was denied and the defendant was remanded to prison.

He is expected to make his second Court appearance on June 11.

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wo men from the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) were on Monday arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for aiding the hijacking of a motor car belonging to Anthony Pickett.

The men – 30-year-old Mahadeo Lall of Airy Hall, Essequibo and 27-yearold Munesh Persaud of Columbia, Essequibo Coast – were both placed on $200,000 bail after they denied committing the offence.

The charge against them states that on April 30, 2018 at Princes Street, Georgetown, they aided

Edwin Angus

28-year-old Edwin Angus of Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) in stealing an Allion motor car.

The court heard that after the car was stolen, it was taken to Persaud’s workshop to be tinted and have other work done after which it was given to Lall to drive and monies had to be paid to Angus.

According to Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore, after the car was stolen, the Police were informed that it was taken to Persaud’s workshop. As such, a sting operation was planned and cops swooped down on the workshop and found the vehicle.

The case will continue on June 4, 2018.

Angus was charged last week for stealing the car from Pickett, who also lives in Providence.

The charge against him states that on March 14, 2018 at Princes Street, Georgetown, while being in the company of others and armed with a firearm, he robbed Pickett of his silver Toyota Allion motor car, a cellular phone and cash, collectively valued $2.2 million.

Angus was adamant that he did not commit the act, telling the court: “I know this man my whole life. I grow up in front of he, I would never trouble this man thing… I was at home when this thing happened.”

Plodding on…

E …with the Ming Swing

ven with all the criticisms of the illegal, sole-sourced design for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) – for both procedural and substantive reasons – the PNC-led Government, as usual, are plunging straight ahead. And, if their attitude’s anything to go by, the Devil should take the hindmost – which includes, obviously, those Guyanese who’ve expressed doubts about the project design!

The bids from the 11 mostly Chinese bidders will now be evaluated by this month-end, and three will be shortlisted.

Even this procedure is highly suspect…since the criteria for the culling of 11 companies to 3 hasn’t been spelled out.

This refusal to have all 11 companies submit bids stinks. It screams to high heavens that something rotten is in the making. It’s a crock to say it’s easier to pick from three bids than from 11!!!!

Then, with so many Chinese companies involved, why would the Chinese Ambassador – a diplomat, mind you!!

-- say the design is so last century they wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole!! Imagine, China was the poster boy for backwardness and poverty back in the sixties, when we were flying high – and can now talk to us about backwardness!! That’s because those who make decisions about our development are not concerned about our development!

Why was the ambassador so scathing? For the same reason any Guyanese who even cursorily considers the approved design would be. Guyanese know of the frustration caused to Demerara commuters over the last forty years, when the present DHB had to retract a span to allow ships to proceed upriver!! Now with us building a new bridge in the 21st century, you’d think any sane administration would build a fixed-span bridge, wouldn’t you?? The PPP thought so!!

After all, Suriname built TWO, decades ago!! But no… rather than having a span RETRACT like the old DHB, this Government boasts about having a span LIFTED as if it’s technological leap forward!! The bottom line is that traffic would still be halted when the bridge is “open”!! This Government would like us to go along with spending all those hundreds of millions of US dollars for the “lifting” structure, rather than the present floating pontoons, because VEHICLES WOULD NOW BE ABLE TO PARK ON THE BRIDGE, RATHER THAN ON THE ROAD!!

So what gives, since your Eyewitness doesn’t believe Minister Patterson can pass the McNaughton test to qualify for an “insanity plea”?!! The sudden swing of the Bridge as it approaches the western bank of the river offers a clue: it ends at land owned by PNC financier Stanley.

We’ll leave it to you, dear reader, to figure out the reason for the “Ming Swing”!!

…with antique aircraft

Well, now your Eyewitness has heard it all!! Prodded by the PPP as to why they’re spending $484 million on four planes -- manufactured forty years ago -- for the GDF, the Government said the planes were like “Rolls Royses” – and age doesn’t matter!! Really?!! So we wonder why airlines aren’t flying those old Constellations from the WWII era!!

Those were real beauts, weren’t they??

But even if we’re to buy the argument about equating 1970s Skyvans and Islanders with Rolls…do these people know why Rolls become “vintage” and “antiques”? They aren’t used to fetch cargo all year round. With all the maintenance in the world, if these planes are used by the army as planned, they’ll be scrap in a few years. Just like those old Bell helicopters Burnham’d bought while he was around.

The Skyvan – known as “the Flying Shoebox” – is pretty much extinct, with only 40 left as of 2009. And the GDF really believe they’ll be able to get spares??

Your Eyewitness has the Brooklyn Bridge to sell!!

…with GWI hanky-panky

Last June, Mayor Patricia Chase-Green was appointed to Chair GWI’s Board…to deal with procurement “irregularities”.

Minister Bulkan’s now miffed GWI’s still sole sourcing.

Wasn’t appointing Chase-Green tantamount to putting the cat to guard the milk??

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

News

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tuesDAY, may 15, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SARA’s CEO claims political 2 months later loyalty would not affect work Eccles residents still waiting

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top official from the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) was put in the hot seat on Monday, and was forced to defend the Agency in the face of perceived bias even as members of the former Administration are being brought before the courts to answer to various charges.

SARA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Aubrey Retmyer was asked about this perceived bias on the sidelines of a training seminar. Reference was made to Retmyer’s perceived affiliation with the People’s National Congress (PNC).

However, noting that Guyana is a small country, he claimed not to know many people without political allegiances.

“I believe I can have a preference for a political party, but I can be unbiased in a professional sense. And I don’t think that is too much to ask a Guyanese, even if you’re a member or a follower of a political party, to operate professionally.

“It’s when you don’t operate professionally, and I’ve said that before that I have no qualms dealing with people that the evidence leads to. And in whatever environment, we’re not going after people because of their political alliance. We’re going after people because of where the evidence leads to.”

He was also asked whether SARA has investigated anyone from the current Administration. According to Retmyer, however, a procedure has to be followed, one that involves the provision of information.

“No. I remember the PPP, in replying to an invitation they had when we asked them to participate in the

SARA CEO Aubrey Retmyer

anti-corruption walk, they did raise some questions. But we just don’t go after cases.

There’s a procedure we use to go after cases. We will stick to that procedure. If we have evidence or information that requires us to investigate something current, we will do it.

“What we started off with was the audit reports. Those reports went first to [Special Organised Crime Unit] SOCU; SOCU decided they would take it to PLA (Police Legal Adviser); the PLA took it to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions). We didn’t just jump off and start investigating because people said this or that individual was corrupt.”

In April, SARA had invited Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to an anti-corruption walk. The Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) had declined this invitation, citing several cases which SARA had failed to investigate. The Party had noted that in the meantime, fabricated charges had been instituted against former Government officials.

In declining the invitation, the Opposition Leader

said that he viewed the walk as it was – a mere “smokescreen” to detract from the grossest violations of the constitutional and statutory provisions regarding financial probity, transparency, and accountability ever witnessed since independence.

Further, he added that he would not participate in such a walk while members of successive PPP/C Governments and other public officials have been discriminated against, victimised, and targeted by a State-sponsored witch-hunt on frivolous, manufactured charges.

In a letter sent to SARA Director, Professor Clive Thomas, Jagdeo stated that the parliamentary Opposition held firmly to this position, which was reflected in the PPP press release of April 14, 2018 that stated, among other things, “after being in office for only three years, the APNU/AFC Government can easily be classified as the most corrupt Government in the post-independent English-speaking Caribbean. Indeed, its corruption is only surpassed by its incompetence.”

The letter to Dr Thomas added that “the passage of the SARA Act has given you, sir, enormous, in fact, super powers – something we abhor as it is in total contravention to human rights and due process – but sir, you have those powers, so why have you taken no action as a so-called anti-corruption champion to bring members of the present Government to book? As they say, clean your own house so that others can see the light and know you are serious about fighting corruption.”

for barricade to be repaired

…as container, heavy-duty trucks traverse residential road

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he destruction of a barricade at Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), which prevented container and heavy-duty trucks and other large vehicles from entering the industrial site through the residential area, is causing much worry for residents.

Residents of the community have reached out to Guyana Times, pointing out that having waited for years for their roads to be properly fixed, they are fearful that the traversing of heavy-duty trucks will destroy the infrastructure.

The barricade was placed at the beginning of the industrial site so as to prevent heavy-duty vehicles from using the residential area’s roads.

The destroyed overhead barricade which previously prevented large vehicles from entering the residential access road

since the overhead barricade was broken, no measures were put in place by the Ramsburg-Eccles Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), to prevent the container trucks from using the residential roads, rather than the industri-

contacted the RamsburgEccles NDC, the overseer Ryan Singh indicated that the Council was working with the company, whose driver broke the overhead barricade.

However, “inclement weather conditions” during

Two heavy-duty trucks using the residential road to gain access to the industrial site

“It is not a case where the Eccles residential road is the only access to the industrial site. There is a dedicated road for these trucks.

However, they purposefully knocked down the barrier so as to use this particular road, because it’s a shorter distance for them,” an annoyed resident said.

The industrial site is accessed through the Eccles, EBD access road leading to the Haags Bosch landfill.

According to residents,

al one which is allocated for large vehicles.

For the past eight weeks since the barricade broke, these trucks have been seen traversing the newly-built roads, especially in the wee hours of the morning.

Residents reiterated that they have waited for years to have their roads properly fixed and it would be unfair to have them in a deplorable state again because of unscrupulous truck drivers.

When this publication

the past two months proved a hindrance for the workers who were tasked with fixing the barricade.

“We went to fix it, but every time we go, we couldn’t because the rain was falling.

The man can’t do the welding in the rain, so they had to come back,” Singh stated.

However, residents in the area are calling on the NDC to have the barricade fixed as soon as possible, saying that rain was not an excuse for such a long delay.

10 news

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Probe launched into Mother’s Day ‘prison party’ …as prisoners display high-priced liquor, drugs on Facebook

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fter a social media post of prisoners at the New Amsterdam Prison hosting a party with rum and drugs went viral, an investigation has been launched.

The social media post, which was uploaded by Abdul Andre Azimullah, who is on remand for murder, showed inmates sporting high-priced liquor and drugs during what they labelled a Mother’s Day party.

When contacted, Director of the Guyana Prison Service, Gladwin Samuels said that while there was no exact or direct evidence as to how the liquor got into the penitentiary, the prisoner who posted the pictures on Facebook has identified the person who took the items into the facility.

“There is no direct evidence pointing to any prison officer who would have facilitated the movement of the contraband into the prison,” Samuels said.

However, investigators noted that the bottles of pricey liquor – Cîroc and Hennessey – were smuggled into the jail yard on a town council tractor.

“Based on video evidence, the tractor was searched, and the search seemed to have been properly conducted based on what the video is

One of the photos that were posted on Facebook showing prisoners posing and consuming alcohol while being detained at New Amsterdam penitentiary

revealing,” Samuels noted.

He added that this was an indication of a lapse in supervision of the prison yard on Sunday, while citing his disappointment, he further noted that sanctions would be taken against those persons who are found culpable.

“We still have to do further investigations to estab-

lish if that was so because, as it is right now, that is the prisoner’s account,” the Prisons Director explained.

Samuels said a news conference would be hosted during which time the supervisor would discuss what occurred.

“I have made it clear that the Officer-in-Charge of the

facility must be at the press briefing, because it is time that they are made to answer for their stewardship,” he noted.

The Prisons Director said he alone would not be taking blame because officers must understand that they have to take responsibility for delegated authority.

Moreover, concerns continue to be raised about how prisoners gain possession of illegal items that are found in the prison.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Monday, the Public Security Ministry said that the mobile device which was used by the inmate to post the pictures on social media has since been seized, as investigations continue.

“The ministry is extremely disappointed that alien objects and other material, inclusive of drugs and liquor, find their way into the various prisons as obviously happened here. There is no doubt collusion with prison wardens and prisoners which is causing this. This kind of misbehavior by the culpable prison wardens will be dealt with very seriously after the ongoing investigations reveal who they are. The public will be further advised on this matter after investigations concludes,” the ministry noted in its statement.

Lindo Creek CoI

Investigative team visited site 6 days after report made – Ward

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uyana Defence Force (GDF) Lieutenant Colonel Fitzroy Ward testified that the Joint Services team tasked with capturing Rondell “Fine Man” Rawlins in 2008 received information about the June 2008 Lindo Creek Massacre some six days before the crime scene team visited the site.

Ward, who was at the time in charge of the Joint Services Taskforce sta-

GDF Lieutenant Colonel Fitzroy Ward

Detective Sergeant Rodwell Sarrabo

tioned at Kwakwani, took to the stand before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Lindo Creek killings and testified that following the capturing of gang

member Dwane Williams on June 16, 2008, information on the killings was related.

Ward said a statement was taken from Williams at the Ituni Police Station in the presence of ranks, whose names he cannot remember.

The retired rank testified that following the provision of that information, some time later, he visited the Lindo Creek area where he was exposed to the first mining camp, but did not seek any evidence to corroborate the story as told by Williams. He said because of time constraints, the team could not venture further up to the crime scene.

Continued on page 11

news

11

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lindo Creek CoI

GDF transcripts deliberately withheld – Commissioner

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indo Creek Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Chairman, retired Justice Donald Trotman on Monday said that the Commission was forced to come to the conclusion that transcripts from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) investigation were being deliberately withheld.

The CoI is tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of miners Cecil Arokium, Dax Arokium, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny Harry and Nigel Torres who were shot dead and their bodies burnt at the Upper Berbice River mining camp between June 12 and 24, 2008.

Justice Trotman’s statement came after GDF Major Andy Pompey last week testified that he headed an inquiry team to investigate the foundation of the allegations against the Joint Services ranks in relation to the Lindo Creek killings.

He told the Commission that he interviewed a number of GDF ranks who were part of the Joint Services team charged with recapturing notorious criminal Rondell “Fine Man” Rawlins and his gang. The

transcripts from those interviews were subsequently handed over to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) since

Retired Justice Donald Trotman

they were conducting a criminal investigation at that time.

The Commission has requested those transcripts, according to Chairman Trotman, and to date, the GPF and the GDF through its counsels have not brought them forward.

Trotman said he was now forced to arrive at the conclusion that the statements were being deliberately withheld.

“At this time, the feeling [is] that they are be-

Investigative team visited...

From page 10

He further related that the information was passed onto the Joint Services Coordinating Council on June 19, and a team of Police investigators would have made the discovery between June 21 and June 22, 2008.

He added that Williams would have given a detailed account of how the men were murdered. He recalled specifically that Williams had told him that “Fine Man” took a hammer and hit one of the miners in the head; one of the skulls recovered had a “hole” that was consistent with that injury.

Ward told the Commission that when the investigative team came out of Lindo Creek, they brought the remains of the eight miners wrapped in a blue tarpaulin stuffed into a “blue drum”. It was when they took out the remains Ward was able to corroborate Williams’ statement.

The Lieutenant Colonel said while being in charge of the operation he would have also been taking photos for the Army and presented a number of those to the CoI. When pressed, he said he never took any photos of the remains nor of the impact site at Goat Farm, where two accomplices of “Fine Man” were killed during a shootout with the Joint Services ranks.

However, Detective Sergeant Rodwell Sarrabo

testified that on June 16, he took Williams into custody at Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary where he was interviewed in relation to the Lusignan and Bartica Massacres. He told the CoI that Williams never made mention of the Lindo Creek killings until July 4, 2008 after he was charged with murder.

Those charges have since been dropped and Williams is in protective custody since he is the State’s key witness in a number of cases against his former gang mates.

Williams was 15 at the time of the incident, which means he was a minor and the Police took his statement and questioned him in the absence of his parent or legal guardian. When asked about this, Sarrabo said that he waived the right to have his parent/guardian present and the Police accepted that and went about doing their work.

Sarrabo will continue his testimony today when the public hearings conclude.

Some time between June 12, 2008 and June 24, 2008, miners Cecil Arokium, Dax Arokium, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny Harry, and Nigel Torres were shot dead and their bodies burnt at the Upper Berbice River mining camp, which was being operated

by Leonard Arokium.

ing deliberately concealed, but I would hope that that feeling be dispelled by honouring the requests by both agencies (GPF and GDF),” Trotman noted.

When former GDF Chiefof-Staff, Rear Admiral Gary Best took the stand Monday morning, Justice Trotman renewed his plea to have the transcripts handed over. However, Best testified that the statements were handed over to the Police Force immediately after the final report of the investigation was handed over to him. He added that they have not retained any copies, nor would he have seen the statements.

Meanwhile, GDF Counsel Roysdale Forde said they would have written to Crime Chief Paul Williams since last week, requesting the statements but have not received a response to date. Forde sug-

gested that the Commission call someone from the GPF to answer the question about the location of the transcripts.

Additionally, while on the stand on Monday, Best read from a prepared statement where he detailed his role during the “Operation Restore Order”. He said that as Chief-of-Staff, he was appointed to head the Joint Services Coordinating Council and after news of the killings surfaced he would have seen reports of persons accusing the ranks of committing the crime; hence, the reason he ordered an investigation.

Best explained that because of jurisdiction issues, both the Police Force and Army had internal investigations that cleared their ranks of any wrongdoings.

The investigation was supported by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s

Former Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Rear Admiral (ret’d) Gary Best takes the stand before the CoI into the Lindo Creek Massacre

Special Operations Team, which was in Guyana between July 8 and July 10, 2008.

He also told the Commission that he never spoke to gang member

Dwane Williams nor saw the statement he gave to the Police, while stating that he also never had any interaction with the Arokium family.

12 news

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Piracy massacre

Surinamese cop stabbed 5 times, shot once …murder allegedly linked to drive-by shooting in March

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remcharan Ravikan, a Surinamese Police Auxiliary Agent, who was found dead hours after he was allegedly kidnapped

by Guyanese was reportedly stabbed five times and shot once.

A source in the Dutchspeaking country told Guyana Times that the man’s throat was also slit, and a single bullet wound was evident on his abdomen.

The body of the 23-yearold was discovered in his Toyota Prado luxury vehicle in the wee hours of Sunday at Passiebloemstraat, Paramaribo. The now dead Policeman’s pistol was not found in his vehicle and as such, it is suspected to have been taken by his abductors.

Hours after the discovery, a man claiming to be the murderer surrendered to the Police, but the lawmen are yet to ascertain the motive behind the killing although they suspected it was connected to the shooting to death of boat captain Somnath Manohar, which occurred on March 30. The Surinamese lawmen are tight-lipped about the suspect in custody.

The dead boat captain

Dead Police rank: Premcharan Ravikan

was the brother of Nakool Manohar of Number 43 Village, Corentyne, Berbice who was last week arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on two counts of robbery at sea.

This publication was told that the gun that was used in the drive-by shooting was reportedly given to the perpetrators by the now dead Police rank. After the young Police rank was abducted, a text message was reportedly sent to his family stating that Ravikan had sold a gun

to someone and it was “payback time”.

It was reported that Manohar and a 45-year-old worker were shot at by unknown suspects in two motor vehicles. The businessman was shot several times and was taken to a medical facility where he succumbed while receiving medical attention. The co-worker survived the attack, but it is not clear if he saw the occupants of the vehicle during the ordeal.

However, the lawmen are yet to release any information with respect to the recent killing of the Policeman.

The dead Policeman left home on Saturday at about 13:00h without informing his relatives about his destination. However, after some time elapsed, his parents attempted to contact his mobile phone, but the calls went unanswered.

Soon after, his family received a text message, and it was then they suspected that the Police Constable had been kidnapped by Guyanese.

It was reported that the text message indicated that the man would have provided a firearm that was used in one of the recent pirate

attacks that left four men dead and 11 still missing.

However, the family without hesitation immediately contacted the Police and handed over the critical information. In addition, it was reported that the Officer joined the Police force less than a year ago, but lived a lavish lifestyle.

It is also believed that the dead Policeman might have been working for the “Crackhead” gang, whose leader was arrested in Suriname on Wednesday last. Upon his arrest, he reportedly confessed to killing

Ravikan’s car being searched following the discovery of his body

five fishermen in the recent attacks.

He claimed that he was following orders, which were to attack the boat and “get

rid” of the occupants. Five of the men survived the attack while four bodies were recovered; to date, 11 persons are still missing.

Highway smash-up

6-year-old succumbs to injuries

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ours after a horrific smash-up involving a motor car and a minibus on Sunday, sixyear-old Arianna Hughes of Lot 23-44 Rohan Housing Scheme, Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) succumbed while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The young girl sustained

The mangled minibus after the collision

The motor car which was driven by Shenelle Hughes

severe internal and head injuries as a result of the head-on collision. She reportedly took her last breath about 03:45h on Monday.

Her mother, 31-year-old Shennelle Hughes along with Jada Enmore, 9; Tyrese Arthur, 4; Prem Persaud, 46; Lakeram Persaud, 21, and Rookmine Persaud all remain patients at the med-

ical facility nursing head injuries and broken bones.

The victims were occupants of minibus BHH 8451 and motor car PMM 548, which collided head on while travelling along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway on Sunday.

Initial investigations revealed that the driver of the motor car, Shennelle Hughes, drove into a pool

of water thus causing her to lose control of the vehicle and swerve into the path of the minibus resulting in a collision.

Several persons from both vehicles sustained injuries and were rushed to the Diamond hospital where they were treated, but those persons with the more serious injuries were transferred to the GPHC. When Guyana Times contacted the relatives of the dead child, they refused to comment on the matter.

However, according to reports, the child’s mother remains in critical condition at the medical facility.

Investigations into the accident are ongoing.

news

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tuesDAY, may 15, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

are the “heart” of public PSC endorses Nurses health care – Cummings Guyana’s GSDS M – urges more companies to ‘go green’

T

he Private Sector Commission (PSC) has endorsed the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) and is committed to lending support to its development and implementation. This was according to Chairman Edward Boyer.

During his address to a GSDS workshop, Boyer urged more companies to ‘go green’. He noted that responsible businesses can be more successful if they pursue knowledge and practices that could lead to more environmentally-friendly and ecologically-responsible decisions. This in turn, he noted, will help to preserve the environment.

Boyer explained that companies could make a concerted effort to reduce negative environmental impacts by improving efficiency; reducing energy consumption; using sustainable materials; eliminating waste; complying with environmental regulations, and purchasing green products, equipment, and services.

“You have to be ahead of the curve. If certain green

PSC Chairman Edward Boyer

laws aren’t in place, they soon will be and we are seeing it in Guyana in terms of packaging…Increasing energy efficiency saves on utility. Reusing existing materials in creative ways means that fewer dollars are spent to create products. Streamlining transportation saves the earth and a substantial amount of money. Therefore, I challenge you, my fellow businessmen

and colleagues, to make the changes in going green,” he said.

Already, some businesses and companies have adopted the initiative. Demerara Bank Limited has already switched to solar panels to generate electricity. “I can tell you when you enter the bank, you will feel the difference,” Boyer noted.

Therefore, he is urging commercial and retail banks to allocate funds at “encouraging rates”, for individuals and companies who wish to pursue green sustainable projects.

The PSC Chairman also asked that the Government channel more revenues to the green sectors, including agriculture and tourism, once Guyana started to benefit from first oil in 2020.

The GSDS will guide Guyana’s economic and socio-cultural development over the next 20 years, by laying the foundations for inclusive green economic and social growth, providing a roadmap for achieving the GSDS and outlining a longterm vision for a wealthy and equitable future.

inister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings described nurses as the “heart” of the public healthcare system and said they should be shown more appreciation for their priceless contribution.

“The hardworking men and women who are responsible for the treatment, safety, and recovery of acutely or chronically ill or injured persons must be profoundly recognised for their unrivalled commitment and dedication. We must also celebrate the work that nurses do in maintenance of the healthy and the treatment of life-threatening emergencies in a wide ranged healthcare setting,” the Minister is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying. This was highlighted on Saturday during an International Nurses Day ceremony at the Woodlands Hospital.

Minister Cummings noted that though many may overlook the hard work and devotion demonstrated by nurses, the Ministry commended them for their priceless contribution.

“While nursing is a tough, challenging profession, it is also a noble one and while it could be physically, mentally and emotionally demanding at times, it

GNBS to implement new hollow block standard I

n its attempt to provide quality products to the consuming public, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) would be undertaking a countrywide campaign aimed at assisting manufacturers of hollow blocks to provide consumers with products of a standardised high quality.

This was revealed by the GNBS on Monday when it announced that it had successfully passed the Concrete Hollow Block Standard. It has been indicated that manufacturers would be responsible for having their hollow blocks tested to ensure they possess the required PSI (pound per square inch) before being placed on the local and international markets.

Kenrick Singh, a laboratory technician of the GNBS, related that the GNBS is working towards having standard requirements which all manufacturers can follow.

“We’ve had the Hollow Blocks Standards passed, and we’re going to get all the manufacturers to register with us, so that they could manufacture to one specific PSI,” he said.

He noted that manufacturers are responsible for having their standards fully

compliant with those of the GNBS, lest they be restricted from marketing their blocks to consumers. This will ensure that only superior materials are produced in Guyana.

In this case, the new standard that will be used in PSI readings is GYS 215:2002 for load-bearing blocks, and GYS 216:2002 for non-load-bearing blocks.

Singh noted that while the hollow block is first and foremost on the GNBS agenda, standards are currently being drafted for PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) pipes produced in Guyana. The standards being tested for will be GYS 99:2010, ASTM D 1785-06, also in PSI readings.

“For the PVC pipes, it’s the burst pressure, and this is a newly introduced testing which we’ve introduced for the testing of PVC pipes,” he explained.

“We will be testing the pipes and hollow blocks of all the manufacturers in the country, to see if they reach the standards that they say that they are,” Singh disclosed.

Consultations conducted in various regions of Guyana last year encouraged manufacturers to participate in discussions in relation to the drafts that would be made, in order to simplify the passing of the Concrete Hollow Block Standard.

This decision flowed from the fact that many contractors and homeowners were raising concerns about the poor quality of concrete hollow blocks being sold by manufacturers.

In a few days’ time, tests will be conducted to ensure that the blocks are of the PSI touted by the manufacturers, and also to determine whether they surpass the new standards set by the GNBS. This goes with

the bureau’s mission to improve the services and goods produced in Guyana through standardisation.

Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings

can also be rewarding. We, at the Ministry, salute you all for hard work and hope

that you continue to help those in need to assist in achieving the Health Vision 2020,” the Minister noted.

She reiterated that the Ministry also recognised the critical importance of investing in human capital which is necessary to enable nurses to strive prosperously in a dynamic healthcare environment. She further thanked the nurses for performing their tasks with the utmost respect, professionalism, dedication, and commitment.

Obstetrics/Gynaecology Managing Director, Dr Neville Gobin also lauded the nursing staff for their hard work over the years.

14 News

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Poor lighting, overcrowding among issues at Region 10 schools

I

n his monthly report, Regional Vice Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), Elroy Adolph, has outlined a number of issues which he has observed at primary schools in the region. As a result, he has asked the administration of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to pay closer attention to having these issues resolved. Adolph told members of the Council that during a recent visit to the One Mile Primary School in Linden, he observed that several lights in the institution were malfunctioning, resulting in poorly lit classrooms.

"We find that there are a number of lights in the classrooms that are not work-

ing. The classrooms are very dark. (In) Some classrooms, there (is) no proper lighting for the children...there's a poor lighting system at the One Mile School,” Adolph pointed out.

Additionally, the Regional Vice Chairman stated, there is limited space in some of the classrooms within the school, and as a result, they have been divided into two parts and students have been made to 'double up'.

The space is so limited, he noted, teachers have a hard time displaying their teaching aides.

"They have the vent holes yes, but on those vent holes the teachers have their teaching aides, because they don't have space,” Adolph

Regional Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph

said.

He added that he would have spoken with the

school's headmaster, who informed him that the situation has been in existence for a long time. "He said he has written several reports to the (Education) Department and on to that day when I went there, nobody hasn't responded to him. He hasn’t had any response from them.

So, I'm appealing to the administration: ‘Please check it out’, so that the children wouldn't trouble with their eyes after a while,” Adolph added. The Regional Vice Chairman noted that there were also complaints of malfunctioning door locks, which he said was also reported to the Department by the headteacher. There is also the issue of an unfinished fence at the school, construction of

which the contractor reportedly has abandoned.

"The yard, people walk to and fro. There is no gate and lots of activities taking place even though they have guards,” he declared.

He also pointed to the issue of flooding at the school.

"There is a gutter there, like 10 feet long. He (headmaster) says for the past two years it is like that:- when the rain falls it comes down and it goes into the school's classrooms,” the Regional Vice Chairman added, as he appealed to the administration for assistance.

He further indicated that, over at the Kwakwani Primary School, the washrooms are in desperate need of servicing. "Water is not

going into the washrooms, so the cleaners have to fetch water to keep flushing the toilet.”

Meanwhile, speaking in relation to the issue of lighting at the school, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Orrin Gordon said there appears to be this issue at all of the schools in the Region.

"We went to Regma, Mackenzie High School, and we went to Republic Avenue Nursery, and they, too, are experiencing the same problem with electricity. We have engaged LEI (Linden Electricity Inc.), and when they came we had to engage one of their specialists to deal with it directly in its own time,” he said.

(Utamu Belle)

Mothers of Mashabo “Mahdia township will not impinge Indigenous villages’ rights”– Bulkan Village honoured

The mothers of Mashabo Village who were honoured on Sunday pose for a picture during the event

S

hawn's Mini Mart of Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast honoured mothers of the Amerindian community of Mashabo on Mother's Day. Despite the inclement weather condition, the trip to the Amerindian Community of Mashabo, which sits on the banks of the Ituribisi Conservancy, was a well-deserved one, the businessman, said.

Gifts in the form of clothing, footwear, food and drinks were donated to about 125 mothers.

According to the businessman, the activity is an annual event to pay tribute to his own mother, and he will continue to give to mothers.

In response to the donation, Mashabo Toshao Sylvin Raphael said he is very thankful to the businessman and family for choosing his community, Mashabo, and to bring joy to the hearts of the many mothers, because most families cannot afford a gift, and the gesture has brought joy to the community.

Micobe Toshao John Andre

T

he Mahdia township will not impinge on the authority of indigenous village councils, Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, has assured.

The minister offered this reassurance during a community meeting in Micobe Village, Region Eight, over the weekend. The meeting was at-

tended by indigenous leaders and residents of Micobe, Campbelltown, Princeville, and other indigenous communities within the environs of the proposed township of Mahdia, Region Eight.

Minister Bulkan, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock, and members of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) were part of a team that went to Region Eight to explain the boundaries of the Mahdia township and the roles of indigenous villages within the township.

The minister explained that indigenous villages will not lose any of the existing rights they enjoy under the Amerindian Act of 2006.

Additionally, becoming a part of the township would increase the opportunity for villagers to play a greater role in the development of their communities, he added.

“If you become part [of this township], then what you

Deputy Toshao of Campbelltown, Marbell Thomas

have earned or gained is the ability to have an organ separate and apart from your village council that can make representation on your behalf,” Minister Bulkan further explained.

Residents had, during a recent outreach, raised with

Minister Allicock the concern of losing land if they became part of the Mahdia township.

Micobe Toshao John Andre said he was reassured by the explanations. “The meeting was an excellent briefing. I had a long list of questions…most of them I get rid of because it was so clear.

I really understood,” he said.

He will confer with his villagers before making any determination on becoming part of the township. Campbelltown Deputy Toshao Marbell Thomas said she is expecting “far more improvement” if her village is to become part of the township.

Mahdia is expected to become a town later this year.

GECOM Commissioner Charles Corbin explained that the town has been divided into five constituencies, inclusive of indigenous villages.

The voting process for the municipality, that is for mayor and councillors, was also explained to indigenous leaders.

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tuesDAY, may 15, 2018

Regional

Venezuela should T&T: SSA gets directive suspend presidential to spy on cops election – diplomats

V

enezuela should suspend the presidential election scheduled for May 20, Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said on Monday, speaking on behalf of the so-called Lima Group of 14 countries.

The Lima Group, formed last year to put pressure on Venezuela, includes Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru .

On Saturday, Chile’s Foreign Minister said in a newspaper interview the Group should raise its pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to a “new level” when it meets this week in Mexico City.

Roberto Ampuero, who is in the United States before attending the last Lima Group meeting planned ahead of Venezuela’s May 20 presidential vote that many countries have said they will not recognise, added that Chile may not fill

Mexico’s Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray delivers a joint message with US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen in Mexico City, Mexico, March 26, 2018

its empty ambassador seat in Caracas to send a “clear” signal.

“If there is a Lima Group statement ... it cannot be just another statement,” Ampuero told Chilean newspaper La Tercera. “It has to be a statement of a new

quality, of a new level.”

Maduro is widely expected to win re-election in a vote which the mainstream Opposition is boycotting as two of its most popular figures have been barred from standing, the election board and courts lean toward the Government, and State giveaways to voters and a formidable party machine benefit Maduro.

Ampuero’s comments come after US Vice President Mike Pence told a regional body this week that its members needed to do more to isolate Maduro, who the United States blames for Venezuela’s recession and hyperinflation that have caused food shortages and sent an exodus of migrants into neighbouring countries.

Maduro says Washington and its “lackeys” in the Region are bent on toppling socialism in Venezuela via a coup in order to take control of the nation’s oil riches.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Nicaragua: Ortega to allow inquiry into protest deaths

N

icaragua says it will allow an independent inquiry into the killings of dozens of anti-Government demonstrators as two more people were killed in fresh clashes on Saturday.

“We agree to work on each of the points raised (by the Bishops), taking into account that all of them reflect their goodwill as mediators and witnesses,” President Daniel Ortega said in a letter to the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua.

The country’s influential church had urged the initiation of dialogue in the wake of the worst protests in decades that left nearly 50 peo-

ple dead.

“We are all ready to attend your call for dialogue at the earliest possible date, for the peace of all Nicaraguans,” the letter said.

We are all ready to attend your call for dialogue at the earliest possible date, for the peace of all Nicaraguans.

Among the bishops’ conditions are the ending of repression and allowing the entry of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to investigate the deaths that occurred during anti-Ortega protests.

In the letter, the President said he agreed with the Bishops on “the ne-

Popular Jamaican Reggae singer on rape charge

R

eggae artist Capleton was released on J$250,000 (US$1995) bail after appearing in court on a rape charge on Monday morning.

The 51-year-old Jamaican entertainer, whose real name is Clifton Bailey, was ordered not to have any contact with the complainant, as a condition of his bail release.

However, Capleton, who has to perform at several overseas shows from May 25 to June 27, will not have to surrender his travel documents.

He returns to court on June 14.

The entertainer was last week questioned by detectives at the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse about having sexual intercourse with a hairdresser without her consent on April 28.

It is alleged that Capleton raped the complainant when she went to his hotel that day to groom his hair.

She reported the incident to Police four days later, but Capleton subsequently claimed that the woman was trying to extort him.

Police are investigating the extortion allegation.

(Caribbean360)

cessity of ceasing the violence, intimidation and aggression against citizens”.

The United Nations human rights office on Friday asked Nicaragua to allow it to carry out an investigation into “credible” reports that at least 47 people, most of them students, have been killed since the series of protests began on April 18.

“What started as a student protest against pension cuts has exploded into a nationwide movement against a government long accused of abuse of power,” Al Jazeera’s Latin America editor, Lucia Newman, said from the capital, Managua.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

N

ational Security Minister Edmund Dillon is taking a not-so-novel approach to keeping members of the T&T Police Service on their Ps and Qs on the job.

In response to complaints over the years about Police Officers who may possibly be involved in illegal activities, Dillon has reportedly ordered members of the elite Strategic Services Agency (SSA) to monitor the activities of officers on the job.

The T&T Guardian understands that Dillon gave the direct instructions to the SSA since December.

They have been ordered to focus their efforts on first responders, crime scene in-

vestigators and elite units within the T&T Police Service (TTPS).

Speaking to the T&T Guardian under strict anonymity, an SSA officer said: “They have their work cut out for them.”

Police Officers from the Central Division are on top of the SSA’s list at the moment, the officer said.

“There is too much evidence against Police Officers, much of which alleges that they are heavily involved in gang and drug-related activities,” the SSA source said.

“We have been going to communities, especially where shootings and murders take place and gather-

ing intelligence. You would be shocked to know the things we are getting on the Police.”

He said the recent spate of shootings in the Western Division, including murders and drive-by shootings, are also on their radar.

“We also go to the Forensic Science Centre to gather whatever information and evidence we can. We also pay close attention to Police shootings where there are fatalities reported.”

In the past two weeks, the SSA has also been engaged in probes into the shootout between two Police Officers at Grand Bazaar, Valsayn among other incidents. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Hurricanes Irma and Maria a hint of what the future holds, Caricom SG warns

C

aricom Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has warned that Hurricanes Irma and Maria which devastated many countries in the Region last year were “a hint at what the future holds”.

Speaking at the opening of a meeting with the Heads of Institutions of the Community at the Marriott Hotel in Guyana’s capital Monday morning, he noted that the long-term forecasts for climatic activity in the region were even “more foreboding as the effects of climate change become more pronounced.”

The meeting was aimed at strengthening the coordination among the Institutions and the Secretariat as the Community builds resilience to encounter the new normal of more intense and frequent climatic activity. A review of the preparedness and management of the response to the events of last September has been undertaken by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management

Hurricane Maria left a trail of destruction in her wake last September

Agency (CDEMA) to glean lessons learnt.

“We are in a race against time to protect the people, the environment, and our countries. Strategic efforts must be harnessed to build resilience in the Region,” Ambassador LaRocque pointed out that.

Recognising that there already was in place a Comprehensive Disaster Management framework, he stressed that it was imperative that “we pool our skills and resources to make

it work”.

The Secretary General also alluded to the foresight of Caricom’s five-year Strategic Plan which focussed on building resilience – environmentally, technologically, socially and economically.

“That shows we were right on target with our priorities,” he said.

The life of plan ends in December 2019 and the process to develop the new plan from 2020 will be discussed at today’s meeting. (Caribbean360)

Gunmen attack Govt building in Haiti

T

he Haitian Government has condemned what it described as a “despicable act” after gunmen fired shots at the building which houses the central office of the Electricity of Haiti (EDH) last weekend.

The Ministry of Communication said that the Police and judicial authorities have been called upon to investigate the incident and to find “the actors of this terrorist act”.

The Government said significant damage had been done to the building and it “condemns with the greatest vehemence this despicable act perpetrated against a public building”.

The authorities gave no reasons why the building in the heart of the capital had come under attack. They did not say whether anyone had been injured during the incident that occurred over two nights. (CMC)

The Government said significant damage had been done to the building and it “condemns with the greatest vehemence this despicable act perpetrated against a public building”

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Israeli forces kill 58 in Gaza as US Embassy opens in Jerusalem

I

sraeli troops shot dead dozens of Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border on Monday as the United States opened its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem, a move that has fuelled Palestinian anger and drawn foreign criticism that it undermines peace efforts.

It was the bloodiest single day for Palestinians since the Gaza conflict in 2014. Palestinian Health Ministry officials said 55 protesters were killed and 2700 injured either by live gunfire, tear gas, or other means.

The bloodshed drew calls for restraint from some countries, including France and Britain, and stronger criticism from others, with Turkey calling it “a massacre”.

Senior White House adviser Ivanka Trump (left) stands next to the dedication plaque at the US Embassy in Jerusalem, and (right) Palestinian demonstrators run for cover from Israeli fire and tear gas at the Israel-Gaza border in the southern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2018

The White House declined to join in urging Israel to exercise restraint and pinned the blame squarely on Gaza’s ruling Hamas group – backing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described

Family of 5 bomb Indonesia Police headquarters

A

suicide bombing at a Police headquarters in the Indonesian city of Surabaya on Monday was carried out by a family of five riding on two motorbikes, Police say.

It came after another family carried out bomb attacks on three churches on Sunday.

Police blamed an Islamic State-inspired network.

An eight-year-old daughter survived the latest attack, Police say.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslimmajority country.

The archipelago, home to 260 million people, has seen a resurgence of Islamist militancy in recent years, but the scale of the attacks in Surabaya has raised fresh concerns about the potency of jihadist networks.

17

Video footage of the latest attack on the Police headquarters shows two motorbikes approaching a checkpoint just before the blast. Six civilians and four Police Officers were injured, the authorities say.

The young girl who survived had been wedged between her mother and father on the motorbike as they carried out the attack. CCTV footage shows her stumbling around after the blast.

Indonesia was on high alert after bombings on Sunday by a single family targeted three churches in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province.

The mother targeted one church alongside her two daughters, aged nine and 12, while the father and two sons attacked two other churches.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

the Israeli military’s actions as self-defence of his country’s borders.

In contrast to the scenes in Gaza, Israeli dignitaries and guests attended a ceremony in Jerusalem to open the US Embassy following

its relocation from Tel Aviv.

The move fulfilled a pledge by US President Donald Trump, who in December recognised the holy city as the Israeli capital.

Netanyahu thanked Trump for “having the courage to keep your promises”.

“What a glorious day for Israel,” he said in a speech.

“We are in Jerusalem and we are here to stay.”

Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a state they hope to establish in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Israel regards all of the city, including the eastern sector it captured in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in a move that is not recognised internationally, as its “eternal and indivisible capital”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Melania Trump undergoes surgery for "benign kidney condition"

U

S First Lady Melania Trump has undergone surgery for what the White House described as a benign kidney condition.

Her office said surgeons had performed an embolisation procedure at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre.

The surgery was successful and there were no complications, her spokeswoman added.

Mrs Trump, 48, is expected to spend the rest of the week recovering at the medical centre, in Bethesda, Maryland.

President Donald Trump tweeted that he was on his way to visit her.

Embolisation is most often used to block the blood supply to a tumour, benign or cancerous.

"The First Lady looks forward to a full recovery so she can continue her

work on behalf of children everywhere," Mrs Trump's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.

Last week, Mrs Trump unveiled a "Be Best" initiative aimed at teaching children the importance of social, emotional, and physical health.

She said the campaign aimed to promote healthy living and to combat opioid abuse.

It was also announced on Monday that former US Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, 78, had undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer.

Reid's family said surgeons at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore were "confident that the surgery was a success and that the prognosis for his recovery is good". (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Congress politician charged over wife's death

S

hashi Tharoor, a prominent Indian public personality and Member of Parliament from the Opposition Congress party, has been charged with aiding the suicide of his wife four years ago.

Delhi Police on Monday filed a 3000-page charge sheet in the long-drawn-out case involving the death of Sunanda Pushkar.

Tharoor has been charged under sections of the Indian Penal Code that relate to abetment of suicide and cruelty against wife.

Pushkar was found dead in her hotel room on January 17, 2014, after publicly accusing Tharoor of having an extra-marital affair with a Pakistani journalist.

A Delhi Police statement said a probe by a special investigation team "on the basis of medico-legal and forensic evidence analysed

Congress politician Shashi Tharoor has pledged to contest the 'preposterous' charges 'vigorously' [Arvind Yadav/Getty Images]

during investigation as well as opinion of psychological autopsy experts" had resulted in the charge sheet.

"The matter is now sub-judice, so we cannot reveal contents of probe report," Deependra Pathak, Delhi Police Chief Public Relations Officer, said in Delhi.

An autopsy initially concluded Pushkar probably died of an overdose of anti-depressants, but a year later Indian Police said she was poisoned and announced a murder investigation.

Tharoor called the charges "preposterous", adding that he would contest

the charges "vigorously".

The Congress party said it stands by the legislator, who represents Thiruvananthapuram in the southern state of Kerala.

"We won't cow down or bow down. This is a conspiracy to defame Shashi Tharoor," Randeep Singh Surjewala, a Congress party spokesperson, said in a statement.

"We reject the charges totally. This is being done on instructions from the BJP and Narendra Modi-led Government. BJP's revenge factory is at work."

Tharoor, a prolific author and commentator, was an Under Secretary General for Communications and Public Information during Kofi Annan's tenure as Secretary General of the UN. He also ran for the post of UN Secretary General in 2006. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Double amputee Xia Boyu makes "The clock is ticking": EU warns history on Everest summit Britain of poor Brexit progress

In 1975, Xia Boyu handed his sleeping bag to a suffering teammate – and lost both feet to frostbite

A

Chinese climber who was crippled by frostbite on Everest more than 40 years ago has scaled the summit at the start of this year's climbing season.

In 1975, Xia Boyu lost his feet after giving his sleeping bag to a sick teammate during a high-altitude storm.

Now aged 69, he became the second double amputee to scale Everest – and the first ever from the Nepalese side.

Australian Steve Plain, meanwhile, set the record for the fastest climb of the highest mountains on seven continents.

Plain's achievement also features a story of overcoming physical challenge, coming four years after he broke his neck in a surfing accident.

The storm that caused Xia's frostbite struck in the "death zone" above 8000m (26,200ft) and stranded his team for three nights, not far from the summit.

As a result, he needed to have his feet amputated. Then, in 1996, his legs were amputated above the knee as he battled lymphoma.

Despite his injuries, he never abandoned the notion of reaching the summit.

"Climbing Mount Everest is my dream," he told AFP news agency in April. "I have to realise it. It also represents a personal challenge, a challenge of fate." (Excerpt from BBC News)

T

he European Union on Monday warned Britain time was running out to seal a Brexit deal this autumn and ensure London does not crash out of the bloc next March, adding to pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May. May’s spokesman, however, said the “focus is on getting this right” rather than meeting a deadline.

The EU’s Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told 27 Ministers of the bloc meeting in Brussels on Monday that “no significant progress” had been made in negotiations with London since March, the Bulgarian chairwoman of the talks said.

Diplomats and officials in Brussels have raised doubts about whether the bloc and London will be able to mark a milestone in the negotiations at the summit of EU leaders on June 28-29.

“More work is needed to prepare for the UK’s orderly withdrawal... Allow me to repeat myself: we are not there yet,” Barnier

Diplomats and officials in Brussels have raised doubts about whether the bloc and London will be able to mark a milestone in the negotiations at the summit of EU leaders on June 28-29

said on Monday, adding the outstanding issues, including the Irish border conundrum, were “very serious”.

The current schedule puts progress in June as an important step towards a final Brexit deal in October, which would leave enough time for an elaborate EU ratification process before the Brexit day. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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tuesDAY, May 15, 2018

ARCHIE

Don’t let impulse take the reins. A snap decision will (March 21result in backtracking. Put April 19) more time and effort into personal changes and your quest for inner growth. Physical activity will relieve stress.

ARIES

Deal with matters that TAURUS can help you improve your (April 20- daily routine. Positive change May 20) will come through hard work and following what makes you happy, not by doing what others want you to do.

dilbert

You are best off keeping GEMINI (May 21- your whereabouts and plans June 20) secret. Avoid people who tend to pry or use manipulative tactics to meddle in your affairs.

You can make fabulous con-

CANCER tributions if you get involved in (June 21- something meaningful. Whether July 22) helping a friend, organization or

Peanuts

cause, your input will be appreciated and will lead to new connections and opportunities.

Moderation will be necesLEO sary. If you overreact or take (July 23- on too much, it will be difficult Aug. 22) to properly take care of your responsibilities. Stay focused on what’s important.

Calvin and Hobbes

Put your best foot forVIRGO ward. Don’t hesitate to take (Aug. 23control, sign up for courses or Sept. 22) see an expert to broaden your horizons and boost your opportunities.

Don’t try to change othLIBRA (Sept. 23- ers. Take a critical look at Oct. 23) yourself and make adjustments that will leave you feeling good about who you are and what you have to offer.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — LAMPOONS (LAMPOONS: lam-POONS: Written attacks ridiculing a person, group or institution.)

Listen to your inner SAGITTARIUS voice, not to what someone (Nov. 23tells you.

Someone trying to Dec. 21) take advantage of you will give poor advice. Physical changes should be made cautiously.

Average mark 27 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 40 or more words in LAMPOONS? The list will be published tomorrow.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY’S WORD — SYLLABLES sable sale sally says seal sell slab slay yell label

lase lass less able ably abyss alley ally bale ball

base basely bass belay bell belly blase bless easy essay

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

Partnerships are faSCORPIO vored.

Both personal and (Oct. 24professional relationships Nov. 22) will motivate you to use your skills and draw on your ability to set new trends.

solution AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Altering your environment at home will be beneficial. Getting along with the people you live with and designating space and chores will encourage everyone to strive for personal growth and greater contributions.

Think before you act.

Keep your emotions in check when dealing with a friend, relative or loved one. Focus on physical improvements, romance and exuding a fun-loving attitude.

A financial gain will come your way if you renegotiate a contract or settlement. Trust your insight and make an offer that’s hard to refuse. It’s in your best interest to take control.

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018

19

Indian Premier League 2018…

Umesh Yadav leads RCB's rout of Kings XI

U

mesh Yadav ambushed KL Rahul and Chris Gayle with short balls and the rest of Kings XI Punjab's batting line-up made lemmings seem cautious as they were knocked over for 88 in 15.1 overs. Royal Challengers Bangalore chased it down with almost 12 overs to spare and boosted their net run-rate, from -0.26 to +0.21, and qualification chances for the playoffs.

The result also confirmed a top-two finish for current table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Kings XI had suffered a big blow even before the first ball was bowled: their top wicket-taker Mujeeb Ur Rahman was sidelined with a hand injury sustained in his previous game against Kolkata K n i g h t Riders. On the flip side, they recalled Marcus Stoinis to bolster a batting line-up that had Axar Patel at No. 6 on Saturday. Stoinis, however, yorked himself against Yuzvendra Chahal and was part of an irreparable collapse. Three of the last

four wickets were chaotic run-outs, which summed up Kings XI's approach on a pitch that wasn't as flat as the one that produced a run aggregate of 459 on Saturday, but it wasn't unplayable either.

Short ball leaves Kings XI short-changed

U m e s h t e a s e d G a y l e with a

cluding one that grazed the outside edge, but Parthiv Patel dropped it to reprieve the batsman on 0 in the first over. He then ventured short and kept attacking the body of Gayle, who took seven balls to get off the mark against Umesh. In all, Umesh bowled 15 short or shortof-good-length balls in his three-over first spell, and fetched two wickets with such lengths. In his third over, he first had Rahul pulling a catch to deep square leg for 21 off 15 balls and then dismissed Gayle in similar fashion. In the next over, Mohammed Siraj dug one in outside off and coaxed an outside edge from Karun Nair to leave Kings XI at 41 for 3 in the sixth over.

The middle-order implosion

brace of outswingers in the corridor, in-

In the next over, Stoinis misread the length of a googly from Chahal and was bowled for 2. His Australia team-mate Aaron Finch, though, threatened to haul Kings XI to three figures, but the other end was a revolving door with batsmen entering and exiting in a flash.

Virat Kohli

Besides Rahul and Gayle, Finch (26) was the only other Kings XI batsman to move into double figures. He, however, fell in the 12th over, when he pulled a short ball from Moeen Ali straight into the lap of Virat Kohli at deep midwicket. The RCB captain was simply having fun. He broke into an animated jig, and his team was in such a dominant position that he could afford at least one slip till the end of Kings XI's innings. Kings XI's misery, on the other hand, deepened when R Ashwin, Mohit Sharma, and Ankit Rajpoot all ran themselves out. Kings XI's 88 was the second-lowest total this season, and their joint second-lowest overall.

RCB's 'perfect' day

In the absence of swing and scoreboard pressure, Kohli and Parthiv Patel launched a flurry of boundaries and took RCB to 66 for 0 in the Powerplay. Three overs later, Kohli capped an early finish with a top-

Umesh Yadav

and it will work well for us. Other teams will be wary of a team with such mindset."

If RCB win their remaining two games against Sunrises Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, they could sneak into the playoffs. (ESPNcricinfo)

edged four. He l a t e r said: "It was a perfect day for us. We are in the nothingto-lose zone

SCOREBOARD Kings XI Punjab Innings (20 overs maximum) KL Rahul † c de Grandhomme b Yadav 21 CH Gayle c Mohammed Siraj b Yadav 18 KK Nair c Kohli b Mohammed Siraj 1 AJ Finch c Kohli b Ali 26 MP Stoinis b Chahal 2 MA Agarwal c †Patel b de Grandhomme 2 AR Patel not out 9 R Ashwin (c) run out (sub [Negi]/†Patel) 0 AJ Tye c †Patel b Yadav 0 MM Sharma run out (de Villiers/ Ali) 3 AS Rajpoot run out (Southee/Ali) 1 Extras 5 (lb 2, w 3) TOTAL 88 all out (15.1 Overs, RR: 5.8) Fall of wickets: 1-36 (KL Rahul, 4.3 ov), 2-41 (CH Gayle, 4.6 ov), 3-41 (KK Nair, 5.2 ov), 4-50 (MP Stoinis, 6.5 ov), 5-61 (MA Agarwal, 8.5 ov), 6-78 (AJ Finch,

11.5 ov), 7-78 (R Ashwin, 11.6 ov), 8-79 (AJ Tye, 12.4 ov), 9-84 (MM Sharma, 13.6 ov), 10-88 (AS Rajpoot, 15.1 ov) BOWLING: UT Yadav (4-0-23-3), TG Southee (2-019-0), Mohammed Siraj (3-0-17-1), YS Chahal (2-06-1), C de Grandhomme (20-8-1), MM Ali (2.1-0-13-1) Royal Challengers Bangalore Innings (target: 89 runs from 20 overs) V Kohli (c) not out 48 PA Patel † not out 40 Extras 4 (lb 2, nb 1, w 1) TOTAL 92/0 (8.1 Overs, RR: 11.26) Did not bat: MM Ali, AB de Villiers, Mandeep Singh, SN Khan, C de Grandhomme, TG Southee, UT Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, YS Chahal BOWLING: R Ashwin (1-0-9-0), AJ Tye (4-0-33-0), AS Rajpoot (1.1-0-21-0), MM Sharma (10-15-0), MP Stoinis (1-0-120)

Interesting battles on the cards at GTTA’s seniors T

Christopher Franklin

he Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) will be hosting their senior championships this weekend (May 19-20) at the National Gymnasium, and some must-see battles will be on the cards.

The two-day event, in which competition will be staged in both Male and Female Open, B-class, C-class, and 21-and-under categories, should produce some interesting battles. Several seniors have recently competed at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, and this should make it match-perfect competition.

Given that defending Open champion Chelsea Edghill as well as the evergreen Trenace Lowe will not be participating because of overseas commitments, Natalie ‘Speedy’ Cummings should be favourite to take the crown.

The road to victory should not be an easy one though, as Priscilla Greaves, a Caribbean bronze medallist, is expected to pose a serious threat to Natalie’s ambitions; as would Jodyann Blake. There are also budding prospects in Thuria Thomas, Neveah Clarkston, Delcia Cummings, Selenas Jackman and Ambrose Thomas.

The steal of the action, though, lies in the Men’s category; as defending champion Christopher Franklin, re-emerging 2010 champion Nigel Bryan, and the talented and fast improving Shemar Britton would be in da house with their ambitions afire; as would be Joel Alleyne, Edinho Lewis, Elishaba Johnson, Kyle Edghill, Orin Hickerson Jonathan Sankar, Miguel Wong, Jamal Duff and the ageless Colin France.

This tournament will serve as ample preparation for the Central American and Caribbean Games to be held in Colombia from July 19 to August 3.

Natalie Cummings

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018

Man City have chance to dominate Premier League

M

anchester City have "a hell of an opportunity" to go on and dominate the Premier League after winning the title this season, says Alan Shearer.

Pep Guardiola's side amassed a record 100 points and 106 goals on the way to winning by 19 points

from nearest challengers Manchester United.

City also recorded the most wins in an English topflight season with 32.

"I wouldn't be backing any other team at this moment to win the Premier League," said BBC Sport pundit Shearer.

"Manchester City have

put out a brilliant statement this year."

City also won the Premier League in 2011-12 and 201314, and Shearer believes that to "be a great team" City must win again next season.

"They have produced some football that we have never witnessed in the Premier League before," he

said. "But to be a great team you've to go on and win successive titles.

"Of course, Manchester City haven't done that in the past. They've got a hell of an opportunity to go and do that.

"They've said to the rest of the Premier League 'catch us if you can - good luck'."

In Guardiola, they have

a manager who has won consecutive league titles at former clubs Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

The 47-year-old led Barcelona to the Spanish title in his first year as manager in 2008-09 and followed that up with two more in successive seasons.

He then became Bayern

Munich boss after a year's sabbatical and won three consecutive Bundesliga titles with them before his switch to City in 2016.

His first season as City manager ended with the team 15 points adrift of champions Chelsea. Victory this time round came with five matches to spare. (BBCSport)

Serena can win at Banned Australia Roland Garros, says batsman cleared to Coach Mouratoglou play club cricket S

Serena Williams reached the final of the French Open in 2016 – her last appearance on clay

erena Williams can win the French Open even though she "came back too early" after giving birth, says her coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion has not played a match on clay since reaching the final at Roland Garros in 2016.

Williams, 36, withdrew from tournaments in Madrid and Rome this month, casting doubt over her participation at the French Open, which begins on 27 May. "Serena can achieve anything," Mouratoglou told t h e WTA website.

"She is working extremely hard, she is improving in all the areas fast.

I am very satisfied and confident that she will be ready for Roland Garros."

Williams returned to the WTA Tour in March, six months after giving birth, but has struggled to find top form.

She reached the third round at Indian Wells, where she was beaten by sister Venus, before falling in the first round of the Miami Open to Japan's Naomi Osaka.

Mouratoglou says the goal is for Williams to get "even stronger than before", although he admits she was "far from being 100%" on her comeback.

"Serena clearly came back too early," he said. "She was not ready yet but needed to feel the competition, so she decided to play.

"It was a good experience as she realised all the work that needed to be done in order for her to be really ready." (BBCSport)

O

pening batsman Cameron Bancroft has scored 402 runs in eight Test appearances for Australia Australia batsman Cameron Bancroft has been cleared to play club cricket while serving a ban for ball-tampering.

Bancroft was banned for nine months by Cricket Australia (CA) for using sandpaper on the ball during a Test against South Africa in March.

The 23-year-old has been given special dispensation to play for Willetton in Western Australia.

Then-skipper Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were also given year-long bans over the incident.

Under Western Australia Premier Cricket rules, any ban by CA applies to club cricket.

The 16 Western Australia clubs voted to allow Bancroft to play at a

meeting on Monday.

Warner and Smith are also free to play with their club sides in New South Wales - who do not automatically enforce bans by CA.

(BBCSport)

Opening batsman Cameron Bancroft has scored 402 runs in eight Test appearances for Australia

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sports

Sublime Vieira leads Guyana’s rally at Jamwest

F

ormer Caribbean Motor Racing Champion (CMRC) Matthew Vieira got his 2018 campaign off to a wonderful start with two first place finishes at the Jamwest circuit in Negril, Jamaica on Sunday.

Based on reports coming out of Jamaica, Vieira was well on his way for a clean sweep, holding a healthy lead when he veered off the track in his final race. Powering his Yamaha R6, he clocked a fastest lap time of 1:20.00, and was simply two gears ahead of his opponents on a grid which had 28 riders.

Upcoming Talent Raverio Tucker, on his first outing at the track, had a personal best of 1:23.00, finishing sixth in his third race.

His other two positions were 9th and 10th.

Leroy Cort, who spends most of his time

racing in the United States but represents Guyana in competitions, finished 8th, 12th, and 9th; while veteran Paul Yearwood got a 13th position and two 15th places.

Both Tucker and Yearwood expressed gratitude for the support of Mohamed’s Enterprise, who made it possible for them to travel.

On the 4-wheel side of competition, Rameez Mohamed in Group 2 was dogged by mechanical issues and was unable to get his Honda Civic to the grid. In Group 3, Mohamed secured a 4th place finish in the 1st race, but did not run in the second.

The second of the four-leg championships will be held at the Wallerfield Circuit when action moves to Trinidad and Tobago on June 24.

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Director of Sports, Christopher Jones handing over the donation to a school representative

$5+VAT per word

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Matthew Vieira was deemed the champion rider.

He is flanked by Jamaica’s Robert McDonald and Trinidad and Tobago’s Keil Abraham

RHTY&SC Teams assist 5 schools under

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21

I

n effort to see a continuous rise in excellence in the lives of youths, both academical-

ly and in extra-curricular activities, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) recently made

noteworthy donations to four secondary and one primary school in the Lower Corentyne area under its campaign Say No/Say Yes Programme and Patron’s Fund.

The schools benefitting from the contributions were Lower Corentyne Secondary, J.C. Chandisingh Secondary, Port Mourant Secondary, Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary and the Rose Hall Town Primary School.

The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, under the Patron’s Fund, assists schools, churches and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from the million-dollar donation made to the Club by its Patron, His Excellency President David Granger.

The monetary donation was allocated between

the schools in the forms of sporting equipment, while the Rose Hall Town Primary School received a $50,000 cash donation to assist construction of the school’s benab.

President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and Secretary/CEO of RHTYS&SC, Hilbert Foster, related that the RHTY&SC is totally committed to making sure that every student in the educational sector fulfills his/her potential in the classroom and on the sport field.

Special emphasis, he said, would be placed on football, volleyball and basketball during 2018, and the club would try to assist schools in the Lower Corentyne as much as possible. Foster also urged the schools to use the donation to produce basketballers,

footballers and cricketers for the club’s structure, continuing the club’s rich history of producing talented athletes.

The Lower Corentyne Secondary School has been a productive cricket nursery for the RHTY&SC over the years, and the donation of cricket gear was made to assist the school to participate in cricket tournaments. Players like Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson and Keon Sinclair are all products of the school, and they have gone on to play for Guyana’s five-time Club of the Year.

The BCB president pledged the RHTY&SC’s continued cooperation, as the Club cherishes its relationship with all the schools in the Rose Hall Town attachment area.

22

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018

Meusa, Persaud reign supreme at

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Clash of Champions chess A

fter a weekend of stiff competition and back-and-forth chess action, the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) concluded their May Open Clash of Champions with national coach and chess champion Wendell Meusa and attorney-at-law Yolander Persaud being crowned male and female champions respectively.

In the male category, Meusa fought hard to maintain the first position, which he gained over the previous weekend. In what was deemed the game of the tournament, Meusa suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Loris Nathoo.

The game became intense when both players found themselves in time trouble.

However, Nathoo capitalized by securing his point with a basic king & pawn vs king endgame.

In the said competition, Roberto Neto also held Meusa to a good draw in a king’s pawn end. Neto played a great hand of defense, eventually countering Meusa’s attacks with simple exchanges, which resulted in the drawn endgame.

Meusa eventually man-

missing, Yolander P e r s a u d made light work of the female category, surging to an undefeated win.

Persaud’s superb performance has secured her spot in the female Guyanese team

Wendell Meusa aged to bounce back in the seventh round. Playing with the white pieces, he executed the ‘London System’ with rigid resistance from Calvin Giddings.

Having missed a winning chance in the middle of the game, Giddings made way for Meusa to convert a small advantage into a knight & rook vs bad bishop & rook endgame.

Roberto Neto returned to the chess arena with a solid performance to take second place. Neto and Meusa were tied on 5.5 points, but

the Swiss Manager Chess Program declared Meusa as the winner. In his quest, Neto defeated the in-form Glenford Corlette with some strategic playing. Corlette ended the competition with 5 points to take the third place position.

Loris Nathoo, Calvin Giddings and Davion Mars took fourth, fifth and sixth positions with 4.5, 4 and 3.5 points respectively. Marcelius Cornelius, Pasqual Cornelius, Ghansham Allijohn, Jaden Taylor followed with a tie on

Yolander Persaud 3 points. Saeed Anwar Ali and Savir Gookul rounded of the male category with 1 and 0 points.

With WFM Maria Thomas and CM Sherifa Ali

Rupununi Football Association on the rise

T

he Rupununi Football Association (RFA) was recently honoured for being the most improved association within the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).

The award has come at an appropriate time, since the association has been striving to improve the level of football within the region.

“Football is changing in the Rupununi,” executive member of the RFA, Rayan Farias, declared.

The three-year-old RFA started out with a small total of five male clubs and four female clubs. Tasked with popularizing and streamlining football within the Rupununi, the RFA had initially found its task difficult, its lone support system being the GFF. The association began to host leagues, which ran for 4-5 months (usually from February to June). Those leagues eventually gained popularity in their respective communities, and attracted much crowd support and sponsorship from various business

Program a w a r d ed second place to Chelsea Juma of Saint Stanislaus College, third to Sasha

entities.

As such, football grew within area to the point where the RFA needed to implement short tournaments to keep its male and female senior players occupied. The association now has 17 male clubs and 16 female clubs.

Speaking on the operation of the association, Ferias disclosed that the authorities have been strict with the use of drugs and alcohol, and that has had a ripple effect on the society outside of football.

“Regarding the use of drugs, alcohol and the abuse of these things, what we found is we hardly have footballers now indulging in these things, because that’s one of the areas we got serious with.

They’re thinking more football,” he stated.

As testimony of their improvement, not only are they the most improved association, but one of their players, Orville Daniels, was hailed as the

Junior Male Footballer of the Year. Farias is optimistic that the association would continue to develop. He says, “I think we’re heading in the right direction.

Individually and as clubs they’re improving as well.”

that will travel to Batumi, Georgia. Although the remainder of the girls ended with three points apiece, the Swiss Manager Chess

Shariff of Marian Academy, and fourth to Waveney Johnson of Christ Church Secondary School.

Wakapao win Mother’s Day friendly

The victorious Wakapao team

T

Rayan Farias

he Indigenous community of Mashabo came alive on Sunday, May 13, as villagers from the surrounding communities sought to bring some Mother’s Day entertainment to their area.

A cricket match was organized, and this saw a Mashabo team face off against a Wakapao team in a T/20 encounter.

Wakapao, batting first, racked up 256 runs from their 20 allotted overs. Wayne Narine terrorized the Mashabo bowling line-up, singlehandedly contributing 121 runs (17x6s and 2x4s) to the Wakapao score.

During their time at the crease, Mashabo found the going tough, and struggled to 128 runs before they were bowled out. The Wakapao bowling attack was spearheaded by Sanjay Ramdeen with a five wicket haul, whilst his teammate Jamol Narine took 2 wickets. Elton John, Devon Conyers and ‘Montey’ took one wicket apiece to demolish the Mashabo team by 13.4 overs.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018

Edghill lands Portugal training stint

G

uyana’s female table star Chelsea Edghill has been given a chance to further embellish her blossoming career. She landed in Portugal on Monday for a training and Internship at Club Ponta Do Pargo in Madeira.

The talented racquet wielder, a scholarship student at the Lindenwood educational institution in Missouri, plays on the intercollegiate circuit in the United States.

As part of her quest to explore professional sojourn engagement, the internship will last for 6- 7 weeks, and she will play and train with high level players and coach-

RDC/DEVCON/Lloyd Britton/REO Inter Secondary School Cricket…

es, work with junior players, and play in competition and matches representing the club She will take a break from her engagements to represent Guyana at the 2018 South America Games in Cochabamba, Bolivia from May 28 to June 8, along with her team mates Natalie Cummings and Trenace Lowe Her stint will extend from the South America Games, where she would travel back to Portugal to continue training and internships duties until July 2nd 2018, when she will depart club in preparation for participation at the Central America and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla

T

Clayton Hall and Yogesh Debidin took 3-25 and 2-24 respectively, as the BV bowlers offered a whopping 32 extras to the batting side, helping Lancaster to 140-5 as they declared in 20 overs.

With just 10 overs left in the day’s play, BV could muster only 74-8, with no batsman other than Yogesh Debidin and Chidanand Persaud offering a start at the crease with 19 and 25 runs. Bowling for Lancaster, Puran Mangal claimed match figures of 4-32.

With BV going through to the next round of the competition by winning the coin toss, Lancaster has been automatically knocked out.

The competition, which will see 16 teams competing, runs from May 14th with the finals slated

f o r M a y 24th.

It was d i s closed t h a t t h e G u y a n a Cricket Board have given their support to the staging of the competition.

Colombia.

She was invited by Celeste Araujo, Director of Sports at Club Ponta Do Pargo Madeira Portugal, who also serves as trainer; and Gilberto Garrido, Club Manager, who saw her play in the nationals of the Inter-Collegiate Championships and was very impressed with her level of talent.

Club Ponta Do Cargo Madeira Portugal are the 2018 division two league championship winners in Portugal, Portugal has highly competitive leagues with highly skilled players.

Wiltshire, Cadogan dominate as Jr Squash Championships end

BV Secondary advance to 2nd round S

he Beterverwagting (BV) Secondary School was declared winners in their match against Lancaster Secondary due to inclement weather as the Regional Democratic Council (RDC)/ DEVCON/Lloyd Britton/ Regional Executive Officer (REO) Inter Secondary School Cricket Competition got underway on Monday at the Everest Cricket Club.

Due to torrential May/ June rain that has affected other sporting activities over the weekend, the match, contested as a 30 overs per side affair, was limited to a mere 30 overs in total of day’s play. The final outcome of the match was decided by a coin toss; BV Secondary, winning the toss, have advanced to the next round after they were 74-8 from their allotted 10 overs replying to Lancaster’s 140-5 declared off 20 overs.

L a n c a s t e r Secondary, batting first, saw their captain and opener Emmanuel Fedee scoring 52 (3x4, 2x6), while middle order batsman Jemari Fredricks supported with a cameo 34 ball 24 (3x4).

23

quash sensation Shomari Wiltshire completed a dominant and clean sweep through the Under 15, Under 17and Under 19 categories as the Guyana Squash Association’s (GSA’s) Woodpecker Products Junior Nationals Squash Championships had its conclusion played out on Sunday at the Georgetown Club.

In the presence of a large and enthusiastic audience, Wiltshire, deemed t h e Most

Outstanding Boy, showed immense form and skill to defeat the ambitious Daniel Islam in an intense bout that saw Wiltshire winning his sets (11-5, 11-9, 11-5.)

Abosaide Cadogan likewise defeated Kirsten Gomes in a highly competitive Under 15 girls’ bout that went 11-5, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5 in Cadogan’s favour.

Cadogon also secured h e r three-categoShomari Wiltshire ry domination as she scoured the under 15, under 17 and under 19, then topped this off

by taking home the Most Outstanding Girl recognition.

Also in a hard fought battle, Anthony Islam defeated Samuel InceCarvalhal in their first game (19-17), and (12-9) in the second. He then continued his dominant r u n with 11-5 in their third meeting.

I n

the other categories, the boys under 11 saw Louis DaSilva beating Chad DeAbreu in straight sets (11-2, 110, 11-1) and winning the under 11 crown, and in the under 13s, dominant Michael Alphonso completed his clean sweep by beating Demetrius DeAbreu 3-0.

Meanwhile, the Fernandes sisters -- Christina and Paige -- won their respective under 11 and under 13 categories against Malia Maikoo and Beau Fernandes.

Most Improved Boy recognition was taken away by Nicholas Verwey, and Most Improved Girl was taken by Madison Fernandes.

Trophies were handed out by the mothers of the winners in celebration of Mother’s Day. Sponsors of the Junior National Championships, Woodpecker Products, who have annually supported the Junior Championships and Banks DIH for its contribution of PowerAde drinks for the event.

Abosaide Cadogan

tuesDAY, may 15, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Sublime Vieira leads Guyana’s rally at Jamwest

Pg 21

Matthew Vieira won two of his three races on Sunday at the Jamwest circuit in Jamaica

Wiltshire, Cadogan dominate as Jr Squash Championships end

Pg 23

Winners pose with their awards at the National Junior Championships

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