Guyanatime 1 march 2018 by Gytimes

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Sridevi’s funeral gets State honour as millions gather to bid farewell Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Clive Thomas booted Thursday, March 1, 2018

Issue No. 3489

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Housewife dies in Essequibo Coast accident

Page 3

… as SPU Head tipped to lead new GuySuCo Board

Region 5 REO Parika business chases unpaid goes up in flames guards seeking assistance …millions lost, 5 homeless Page 11

Man found guilty of raping 8-year-old

Page 9

Revolver found in plastic bag on fence P2 Lands and Surveys P12 Commission to develop code of ethics for surveyors – moves to improve relationships with regional administration in Region Six

Top Cop wishes Force success ahead of impending challenges ...as Govt revokes gun dealer licence

Pages 9&14

Outgoing Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud inspects Guyana Police Force ranks who gathered for his farewell parade on Wednesday at the Police Sports Club Ground

Granger must give New Demerara River crossing not ‘real’ reasons for Chinese interested in demoting Trotman current design – Jagdeo Page 2

Page 7

…Ambassador says it’s not 21st Century infrastructure

Corriverton flag raising sabotage P9 Council

unanimously condemns coalition’s interference

…agrees to write Caribbean Local Authorities, diplomats

2 NEWS

thursDAY, march 1, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

New Demerara River crossing

Chinese not interested in current design

…Ambassador says it’s not 21st Century infrastructure

An artist’s impression of the new Demerara Bridge

fter delivering the University of Guyana’s Vice Chancellor’s seventh Renaissance Lecture, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun, said that his country has no interest in the current design of the new Demerara Bridge, adding that it was far from a 21st Century design. He made the statement while responding to questions after delivering the Renaissance Lecture on the topic “A new era for China and China-Guyana Relations.” He noted that infrastructure was a critical part of any country’s

development, adding that the Chinese Government was committed to investing in the development of Guyana. “Frankly speaking, I am not interested in the current design of the Demerara Bridge, because I think that if we were building the bridge in the 1970, at that time, a bridge like that is okay, but now is the 21st century. We have modern design, modern technology, I know there is constraint for this bridge, but I think that really we need a 21st Century design,” the Ambassador said. “I cannot interfere and say what kind of bridge

you can build, but I think that from my perspective that really it is the 21st Century, so how can we build another floating bridge?” he questioned. Ambassador Cui said that he related this to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson at an earlier meeting, adding that no Chinese contractors have expressed any interest in the project yet. “I am really concerned about Demerara Bridge… so frankly speaking, I have talked to the Minister of Public Infrastructure, but I cannot tell you the details, but I told them if we

are still building a floating bridge, this is not 21st Century,” he reiterated. “I once asked him: “How can we help?” This bridge is very important for developing the western part of the Demerara, so you just mentioned really the infrastructure is meaningful,” the Ambassador said in response to a question from the audience. The diplomat urged the audience to do some research on the 55-kilometre Hong Kong-ZhuhaiMacau Bridge, adding that the current design for the new Demerara Bridge was in no way 21st Century infrastructure. The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge is described as the longest cross-sea bridge, which consists of a series of three cable-stayed bridges and one undersea tunnel, as well as three artificial islands, spanning the Lingdingyang channel that

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun

connects Hong Kong with Macau and Zhuhai, three major cities on the Pearl River Delta in China. Meanwhile, the proposed Demerara River bridge is approximately two kilometres north of the existing floating bridge, spanning Houston on the eastern bank of the Demerara River and Versailles on the western bank of the Demerara River. The new

bridge will be an essential part of the road network and will also have a significant impact on marine traffic passing under the structure. The project will see the construction of an approximately 1500-metre fixed bridge with a movable span and two approach roads of a total length of 600m. It is envisaged that the project will commence in 2018 and will be delivered in 2020.

Revolver found in plastic bag at Supply

olice acting on information on Wednesday visited a location in Supply on the East Bank of Demerara where a revolver without any ammunition was discovered. Guyana Times under-

stands that someone in the area observed a black plastic bag hanging on a fence and upon checking it, a .38 revolver was discovered. As such, the resident immediately contacted the Police who responded promptly.

Police have since confirmed that the revolver’s serial number was erased. Nevertheless, the weapon was lodged and would be sent for ballistics testing to ascertain whether it was used in the commissioning of any crimes.

news

thursDAY, march 1, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, March 1 – a night retraction at 04:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

… as SPU Head tipped to lead new GuySuCo Board

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, March 1 – 15:55h-17:25h and Friday, March 2 – 16:35h-18:05h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Partly cloudy skies and sunny conditions are expected throughout the day, with partly cloudy to clear skies in the evening. Overall temperatures are expected to range between 19 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly and North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres. High Tide: 04:11h and 16:28h reaching maximum heights of 2.68 metres and 2.79 metres respectively. Low Tide: 10:02h and 22:26h reaching minimum heights of 0.52 metre and 0.41 metre respectively.

wednesDAY, february 28, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS O

02 03

11 25

12 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 03 09 12 16 22 LUCKY 3 3 0 9

Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

Evening Draw

Clive Thomas booted

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By Samuel Sukhnandan

overnment has given its nod to the appointment of a new Board of Directors for the troubled and debt burdened Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) after booting Economist Clive Thomas from its chairmanship and replacing him with newcomer and head of the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited's (NICIL), Colvin Heath-London . A source close to Guyana Times said Wednesday that the decision was taken by Cabinet recently and the names of the other new Board members could be released soon. According to the source, the decision was made as a means of unifying the leadership of the sugar industry. At present, NICIL has direct responsibility for GuySuCo and that agency falls under the Finance Ministry. NICIL’s takeover was made official by a publication contained in an extra-ordinary issue of the Official Gazette dated December 30, 2017, which has responsibility for the divested sugar estates. However, it was made clear that the takeover does not include any assets, lands or property for the Berbice estates of Albion and Blairmont and the Uitvlugt Estate on the West Coast of Demerara, as those entities will remain under GuySuCo for the foreseeable future. This newspaper was told that Professor Clive Thomas, who served as Chairman, has been booted after first being appointed to the position in 2015, a few months after the new coalition Government took office. Heath-London was appointed head of the SPU back in October 2017, after a decision was made by the Government to process the selling of GuySuCo assets, including a number of estates.

No changes

When contacted on Wednesday for a comment, Professor Thomas was at first hesitant to speak but later denied that there were any changes made to the GuySuCo Board. He said, “I don’t know of any changes. I have not been officially informed. The only way the Board could be changed is if the Cabinet has deiced to change it. That’s a Cabinet

Colvin Heath-London

Professor Clive Thomas

decision.” Guyana Times also spoke with Agriculture Minister Noel Holder on Wednesday who also denied that any such decision was taken. “Not as far as I am aware, I don’t know of any decision. There is no appointment that has been made, at least not at Cabinet’s approval.” Already, international consultant, PricewaterhouseCoopers, has been hired to value the assets of the four estates, before the vetting of proposals of potential investors start. Only recently, it was announced that a list for new directors was submitted to Government for approval. The idea was to have a 12-member Board constituted with diverse team members that will lead the industry in its new form and guide decisions going forward as it relates to sugar. Government had pre-

viously expressed dissatisfaction with the old

Board headed by Professor Thomas which oversaw the closure of the four estates in the last 14 months. On Monday, SPU announced plans to obtain $30 billion in loans and investments to support GuySuCo. According to the Unit, the funding will cover a fouryear period and will provide capital, support infrastructure maintenance and upgrades at Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt. The funds are also expected to go towards developing new cogeneration capacity for the estate operations and the electric grid. Turn to page 11

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thursDAY, march 1, 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

Neanderthal economics

ne of the most perplexing characteristics of the present regime is while the President, the present leader of the PNC, vowed to complete the “legacy” of Forbes Burnham, he studiously avoids Burnham’s articulated pronouncements for an overarching vision grounded on an ideological framework. For instance, Burnham never veered from his insistence that he was a “socialist” and that the tenets of that ideology would guide his efforts towards creating an egalitarian society encompassed in the slogan: “The small man will be the real man”. Obviously, one accepts that times, circumstances and contexts change and so also, might ideology: but governments must have some guiding principles that, even very thinly, constitutes an ideology. Back in 1989, when then PNC leader Desmond Hoyte accepted the tenets of neo-liberalism dubbed “The Washington Consensus”, as a quid pro quo for the IMF loans, because he let it be known he was not a socialist. He therefore went along with their recommendations presumably because he accepted such tenets like a “night watchman state” and launched a traumatic downsizing of the Civil Service. He also launched the wave of privatization of the 80% of the economy that had been nationalized. Dr Cheddi Jagan, on the other hand, while accepting the new global realities, made a strong case for the stabilization of the Public Service (for which he has never been given credit) and for GuySuCo not to be privatized. He offered cogent social and political reasons why the neoliberal dogmas had to be modified for Guyana’s reality. His successors in the PPP also had to dance pragmatically between the raindrops as they reoriented the economy and stimulated modest but consistent economic growth during their terms of office so that the lives of the “working class” could improve. What might have helped them to become more “propeople” in their economic plans, which included subsidizing the depressed bauxite community of Linden even as they retained the sugar levy, was that the anti-people premises of the neo-liberal paradigm were beginning to unravel. Its edifice, of course, all came crashing down in 2007/2008. The US, for instance, was forced to intervene massively and directly into the private sector through their bailouts of the banking industry and the recapitalization of the manufacturing sector such as in the car industry. The interventory state was back. The changed outlook towards the neo-liberal model of “development” went as far as accepting that “market fundamentalism” – which advocated that all decisions, even moral ones implicit in the levels of employment and poverty were to be made by the “impartial, utilitymaximising” market – had to be jettisoned. The Brexit and Trump phenomena in Europe and the US respectively, are symptoms of large masses of citizen rejecting decisions being made by the market”. Interestingly, early last December speaking at a high level forum on “Combating Pollution in the Extractive Industries” at the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, President Granger offered hope he might have realized the direction from which the new economic wind was blowing and had rejected the neo-liberal dogmatism of ignoring that man had to be the centre of all development. He declared: “People, therefore, must be at the heart of the development of our natural resources. People must come before profits. The pursuit of profits has been accompanied, over the past century, by an exponential increase in extractive industries.” But he flattered to deceive. Even as he spoke, his government announced the closure of three other sugar estates –Skeldon, Enmore and Rose Hall, in addition to Wales which had been closed a year earlier. Four thousands sugar-workers joined the 1700 already on the breadlines and the 2000 that worked with now redundant private cane farmers. President Granger and his PNC have evidently embraced the failed Neanderthal neo-liberal economic model, even as it is being abandoned elsewhere. The irony is that as far back as 1979, when the medicine was suggested to him by the IMF, Burnham dismissed them as an “International Mother F*****”. How would he describe Granger?

Students of St Joseph High were happy to find their school in the Betsy Karim art piece “We are the World” which featured children representing various schools in Guyana. The exhibition of artwork by Betsy Karim, Bryan Clarke and Michael Khan is being held at Castellani House in commemoration of Guyana’s 48th Republic Anniversary under the theme “We the People” (Carl Croker photo)

An unconscionable contract can never be final (Pt 2) Dear Editor, The petroleum contract is an absolute disgrace, even the dead, the deaf, the dumb and the mute can agree symbolically on this. For our politicians to behave as if they have the authority to tie and chain the masses of Guyanese people to agreements of extreme exploitation, oppression, abuse and humiliation is very cruel and void of any virtue. As long as this contract remains in force, we will be seen as the idiots of the Caribbean, and the world; it is a perpetual shaming of Guyanese alive and dead. In my formative years, I grew up in a Guyana and West Indie, where we were Kings of world cricket, with heroes from Guyana such as Rohan Kanhai, Lance Gibbs, Clive Lloyd, Steve Camacho, Roy Fredricks, Alvin Kallicharran, Colin Croft and Faoud Bacchus. From further afield, we had Vivian Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Michael Holding, Lawrence Rowe, Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, Curtly Ambrose and Joel Garner, though not from Guyana, they all represented Guyana and the West Indies, against the rest of the world with such glory. These men imbued in us a sense of invincibility. This horrible and revolting petroleum agreement has conjured images of blind, bespectacled ants signing off on contracts with global corporations, and thereby, engendering more offensive and ridiculous contracts, which are all very disadvantageous to Guyana. This is no time for sophistry, doublespeak, party politics, showmanship or rhetoric. The contract is an abomination and a heavy millstone on the Guyanese people, future descendants and our ancestors: from the native Americans, enslaved Africans, and indentured labourers to those who now live off the sweat and bloody sacrifices they made

for their families; and our family. This obnoxious, objectionable and invasive petroleum agreement starts and ends with Exxon’s Esso. Guyanese must not be ensnared by Exxon and our politicians who seem to be compromised in Exxon’s tentacles; must be made to speak and act for the Guyanese people. Once we have the agreement renegotiated with Exxon; the other oil exploration companies will follow suit. According to the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris in December 2015 and the resulting conference of the parties pronouncement in February 2016, re: Of the 23 largest US oil and gas exploration and production companies Exxon holds almost a third of total reserves of this group and around 41 per cent of the combined market capitalisation. The reserves of Exxon certainly now exceed one-third of the total reserves of the group – primarily because of the additional oil finds in Guyana during 2016, 2017 and 2018. Exxon is the giant anaconda; the virtual nation state that our Government needs to ask for penitence. The egregious pronouncement from our Government does not end on the fake finality of the Exxon agreement; by some waffling of unimaginable arrogance, as detailed in Kaieteur News dated February 24, 2018; we have this headline “Worry about information overload leads Government to phase transparency”; the article includes the following statement from Minister Harmon, speaking on behalf of the Government “There must be a time framework. We cannot release everything at one time. I suppose in the fullness of time those documents will be released. It is a question of what is convenient because sometimes you release everything and you just flood people with

information that you almost suffer from information overload. “But I believe you can understand that these contracts as the President and the Minister of Natural Resources said, they will be released eventually.” Phased release! Is the Government saying that Guyanese are such dullards that we can’t analyse five to 10 oil contracts concurrently? How disrespectful; what effrontery to string together senseless mazes of words in a naïve attempt to dupe the Guyanese people; in paraphrasing Schopenhauer. It is infinitely more logical to have all the oil and gas contracts made immediately available to the Guyanese people for the much-needed comprehensive comparative analysis. It will make our overture to Exxon for contract renegotiation that much more informed, practicable and achievable. Sense can only be made of this ridiculous phased release approach, if the intent is not to renegotiate the contract with Exxon. Our politicians are intelligent people and this segway to contract entrapment must be rejected. We have struggled too long; we Guyanese were seen and treated as the pariahs of the Caribbean, rejected at every port with or without our rice bags, some gave up everything in Guyana to go and labour in North America, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean, we have lost too many lives along the way, to now reach the summit of our El Dorado that our founder leaders envisioned for us; and to just sign away a significant majority our new found wealth. We must renegotiate the agreement/s that robs the Guyanese people, and in addition, places double locks on the mental chains that trap us; then we are thrown overboard enchained, when

our Government shamelessly agrees to pay the contractor over US$460 million to have our oil resources plundered. With or without Esso finding oil in Guyana, we will always have Guyanese on the margins, who have relative power and wealth from both political parties, including private businessmen. The wealth from the oil find should be invested generously across our small population: amongst our youths, public servants, Private Sector workers and old age pensioners. I ask any Government official: What difference does it make, whether you have US$10 million or US$100 million? The virtue and purpose of living is not to make a few dollars more. Certainly, leaving a positive legacy to Guyanese is worth much, much more. Walter Rodney died almost 38 years ago, and everyday his good works are referenced. It is not how long you live or the wealth you have acquired; what matters is how as a citizen and servant leader you have uplifted your people. To all political parties and Private Sector leaders: President David Granger; Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, Private Sector leader Eddie Boyer; this petroleum agreement is literally burying the hopes and aspirations of Guyanese and their children. Immediately seek renegotiation of the petroleum agreement to obtain a 10 per cent royalty; remove the baseless US$460 million invoice from the contract with Esso and company; immediately table all oil contracts and endeavour to make the contracts fair to Guyanese. President Granger this is far and away worse than bones jammed in our throats. Sincerely, Nigel Hinds

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thursDAY, march 1, 2018

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Is GECOM intent on shifting the boundaries? (Pt 1) Dear Editor, The extremely sensitive issue of free and fair elections in Guyana has once again become the foremost concern of Guyanese citizens at home and across the Diaspora. Our acceptance, recognition, business with international institutions, partners and other countries, will also be significantly impacted, by the level of democratic image we portray. Negative intrusions of acceptable democratic standards as a global measure, must never be tolerated from any Government or force of power. The reasons are obvious since the ultimate result, is digression into a state of anarchy through warranted internal and external counter forces. Adherence to rule of law is intrinsic to prevention, and acceptance of its application vital. Trumped-up partisan interpretations when it solely suits the Government’s

interests against the will of citizens, have to be vigorously guarded against. Shamelessly and unfortunately, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government has gone right up this alley. The situation of President Granger’s inappropriate handling of the selection of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), sets up a most suspicious framework for the treatment and acceptance of results regarding future elections under the current structure. Obviously, the performance of the organisation and role of its Chairman, must and will justifiably, be given the highest level of scrutiny. As we approach the first elections under the enforced chairman of GECOM, all must be cognisant that allowance of due process is not surrender to the authoritative imposition of the Government.

Rather, it reflects an acknowledgement of certain counter-checks in the legal electoral system that will be depended upon. GECOM operations have not been without fault and the Commission’s obligation to correct outstanding anomalies is expected to be systematically advance in a transparent way. It is of note that nothing much or corrective have come from the Commission, and there are significant concerns that must be highlighted. The administrators of GECOM must move to get the required deliveries of the institution right, and ensure acceptability through transparent mechanisms. The organisations’ most recent public activity was another cycle of continuous registration. This, according to Minister Ronald Bulkan, is part of preparations for Local Government Elections to be held during late 2018. However, there are

Failing to remit NIS money is fraud Dear Editor, It is a national disgrace that the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) is often forced to list the names of employers who fail to remit NIS deductions from their workers’ pay, as well as the employers’ contributions. I contend that if employers who deduct PAYE and NIS contributions from workers’ salaries then keep it for their own use for whatever length of time are committing fraud, which is a criminal offence. It is incomprehensible to me that so many companies and businesspersons in Guyana seem willing to attempt to steal their employees’ NIS contributions and face public shame and ridicule. Are these employers not human beings with feelings for fellow human beings, especially those who are at or beneath the poverty line? What happens to these poor employees if there are accidents or sudden medical emergencies and they find out belatedly that they are not covered by NIS? Lives and families could be destroyed. I know personally some of the persons listed by NIS for withholding workers’ con-

tributions. People who steal NIS contributions will also be stealing Pay as you Earn (PAYE) Income Tax deductions, corporate taxes and VAT. Government needs to investigate them for that. As I am writing, security guards in Regions Five and Six are protesting another company. Can you imagine the thinking of these people who indulge is such criminal conspiracies and skulduggery? Breaching the NIS laws does not result in criminal charges even though it involves acts of theft, which is a criminal offence. The NIS is in the habit of going to employers and begging them to pay; they allow the employer to pay their outstanding sums without interest and then they grant such businesses compliance certificates although they owe outstanding monies and the promises to pay are never kept. Deducting money to remit to NIS and failing to do so is fraud. This must be prosecuted as criminal offences. If it will take some time to enact the required criminal laws to support NIS, there is the route of private criminal court

action. With appropriate laws in place, NIS could seize the employers’ properties and watch the money roll in. If they do not have properties, rework the laws so that NIS can go after the properties of the general secretaries and the heads of such businesses and watch the money roll in. This is why NIS is suffering. They lack money; people are not paying. NIS and the Guyana Revenue Authority pressure people like me who are fully compliant and operate in an honest and principled way because they don’t have the gall or the capacity or wisdom to figure out how to go after the real culprits. Sincerely, Roshan Khan Snr

already observed stumbles which demand clarifications. These concern serious questions asked by many with respect to the Official List of Electors (OLE) that the entity has circulated for political parties to validate in their house to house verification of the persons included. Notably, the unresolved issue of boundaries in some Local Authority Areas (LAAs) has been problematic, as these would have been responsible for confusion and ties at

the last Local Government Elections. However, instead of providing clarifications regarding the tenuous situation, the GECOM OLE (dated Friday, June 30, 2017), creates a further and wider conundrum. Reference is made to the fact that this GECOM OLE; misrepresents the actual constituencies where voters reside, by use of descriptions of the Sub-Divisions. An example includes the case of the Eccles Ramsburg LAA where

the E List (412234), now includes numerous names of persons residing in other constituency sub-divisions that does not fit the stated description of the Sub-Division on this list. This would have resulted in changing the content of other lists in the LAA. Is GECOM intent on shifting the boundaries or deliberately confusing the situation at the LGE? Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Cummingsburg Accord is now nothing but a sham Dear Editor, Every time one watches a press conference from the Granger Administration, one can easily conclude that some Ministers are part of a gang of talentless hicks and political hacks who are clueless as to what it really takes to run the affairs of a nation. If one reflects on the sugar issue as an example, Minister Noel Holder took the decision to shuts down four estates over a 12-month period (in his words “to cut the losses”), only to have Minister Jordan reopen two of them weeks after at an even great cost to the nation? Is this a joke? But what is even worse is that the largest portfolio in the Agriculture Ministry was ripped from the control of Holder and the Alliance For Change (AFC) poodles in the coalition who were promised the agriculture portfolio under the Cummingsburg Accord and placed firmly in the People’s National Congress (PNC) corner under Winston Jordan’s control. Whatever was the Cummingsburg Accord has now been smashed to smithereens and is now nothing but

a sham. This very act hammered the last nail into the political coffin of the AFC; they are finished politically. Their only option now is to become PNC members en-mass, which I am told half of their leaders have already done. So much for the concept of a third party! The whole idea today is nothing but one big charade. If one considers the obstacle the Granger regime faces on this sugar issue, it now makes absolute sense that the better option all along was to pay the annual G$9 billion transfer from the Consolidated Fund and concomitantly take resolute and firm operational action to reduce the losses incrementally. This could have been achieved by actively eliminating the non-value added cost elements, attacking the rampant corruption in the Guyana Sugar Corporation at the managerial levels, consolidate the business where possible (merging Rose Hall and Albion as an example) and moving up the value chain (into ethanol, alcohol, more packaged sugar, agro-energy and possible refined sugar). Unfortunately, this course

that the Granger regime took will only become more costly as the days go by and will hurt the taxpayers even more than the original path taken under the People’s Progressive Party. Now we are hearing that they need a loan of some G$30 billion just to keep the residual operation afloat over the next four years. What a disaster! When will President Granger spare the Guyanese people the indignity of listening to the confused positions of his competing Ministers and make a final and definitely pronouncement for the nation? After all, he should have some sort of vision for the sugar industry other than what passes for strategy today where his Government is responsible for the actively destroying of the assets in the sugar belt. I suspect if the President speaks decisively on the issue, he will spare the taxpayers the unending financial exposure and liability from this badly managed sugar issue. Regards, Sasenarine Singh

thursDAY, march 1, 2018

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By Natalie Altieri

was always a planner. So when I got pregnant in December 2011, I made my lists and made sure they happened. My husband and I decided to buy a house. After months of looking, we finally found a house in Queens, NY, and my mom moved into the downstairs apartment, so she could help us with our baby. Little did I know that four months after my son was born, my husband would die. So, there I was – a widow mom at age 37, with a mortgage and a newborn son, John, to take care of. I was utterly distraught, but I went straight into survival mode. I went back to work just one week after he died because I had to pay the bills. At work, I was able to put on a smile and talk to people like nothing had happened. At home, it was a different story. I was mentally exhausted from being positive all day. I often couldn't leave my bedroom and left most of the parenting to my mother – something I still feel guilty about. One day melted into the next, and I felt as if I couldn't get out from under the black cloud that seemed to be tacked above my head. After a year or so, I decided I needed to make a change. My son was starting to walk and talk, and I didn't

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Foundation

want him to have a mom who was so depressed. So, I started to go to therapy and think about what I really wanted for both my son and me. It took some time to actually figure out what that was. But I realised that I wanted to be a writer, so I worked on transitioning my career from being a project manager to a copywriter. Now, we are in a better place. I can function in the world with other people and actually have a good time. I think my son can see that as well. He has become quite the motor mouth, and I can communicate with him. I can say that I am definitely present with him. I no longer feel like I am hollow inside. That helps make me a better parent. Like most working mothers, I feel guilty that I have to work so much and am not able to be with him like my mother was with me. I have three jobs: one full-time job as a copywriter and two online jobs as a writing advisor and adjunct writing professor. They take up much of my time. But I have support: my mother cares for him when I am at work, and he is going to nursery school. My late husband's family also helps when I am in a pinch. I learnt to ask for help. I show him pictures of his father, and he says "daddy" when he

sees them. Some times are more difficult than others. Just recently at a friend's birthday party, my son saw my friend's boyfriend and repeatedly called him "daddy". I said, "John, that is not your daddy." But he continued to call him that while playing with balloons. Then, about a week later, he saw our neighbours, a young couple, and said, "There is mommy and daddy." My heart sunk at that very moment. I thought to myself, "Why couldn't he have that conventional family: mom, dad and child?" That is just not how our lives turned out. My own father passed away when I was 18, and I always felt that my father would never be able to be with me all of the time if he were alive, but now that he has passed, he will always be with me in some way. So, I told my son that his dad lives in the sky and in his heart. I don't plan things out now. I often can't think past two weeks ahead, and I think it is better this way. Life will always have its ups and downs, and one must take it as it comes. That is also what being a parent is. Parents are not always in control, if ever. So, I live in the moment with my son. And when I look into his eyes, I know he is right there with me. (Excerpted from par-

enting.com)

By Meri Wallace, LCSW

Respect your child's privacy. Teens often see their room as their castle and connect it to their individuality. It is best to establish a family policy whereby members knock on the door and not barge into each other's rooms. Walking in unannounced leads to unnecessary battles. Teens also feel very protective of their possessions, so it is always advisable to ask to borrow something and avoid going through your child's things. Avoid infantilising your teen. Teens have an allergic reaction to being babied. She wants to feel you respect the fact that she is no longer your little baby and that she can take care of herself. Any hint of babying will make her livid, and she will scream, “I don't need you.” Double standards reign, however. If she has a science project due, she may ask you to race out immediately and get her some poster board. It's best not to jump in and fix something for your child without asking if she would like your help. Avoid criticising his every move. Teens feel insecure and hate feeling controlled. Therefore, it's best to avoid giving your child an endless list of instructions, barking commands at him, or engaging in a running critique of him. Speaking in a respectful way is recommended to all people, but to a teen who feels easily insulted, and each experiences each criticism as a blow to his self-esteem, it's best to choose your words carefully. Spend time with your teen. Even though your teen constantly seems to want distance and keeps pushing you away, she still wants your love and attention. Though she will not be around much and won't want tons of interaction, try to establish a few family routines. If she enjoys playing games, set up an hour or two on a specific night for a family game night. Sneak in a pizza dinner, or a walk to the doughnut shop to give you a few moments to catch up. Set up a weekly meeting. Most teens are allergic to talking about college applications or other major responsibilities. A parent can feel anxious when the days are passing by, a deadline is nearing and nothing is getting done. Establishing a set time for a short meeting once a week to work on a large issue such as college applications, will lower your anxiety and reduce the feeling that you need to nag him to get anything done. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

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thursDAY, march 1, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Granger must give ‘real’ reasons for demoting Trotman – Jagdeo A decision taken by the Government to strip Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman of his responsibility for the oil and gas sector has raised many eyebrows, but Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo believes that there might be a specific reason why such a move was taken. Jagdeo told Guyana Times on Wednesday that President David Granger should “come clean” and state what exactly caused him to make such a decision to have the responsibility for the oil and gas sector placed under the Ministry of the Presidency instead, which is headed by Minister of State Joseph Harmon. “What did he (David Granger) discover that caused him to take away the portfolio from (Raphael) Trotman and he needs to come clean with the country. Don’t cover it up!” Jagdeo stated, while noting that he will expand on this issue during a press conference scheduled to take place today. The announcement of Trotman being stripped of his responsibilities for oil

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

was made in a taped interview with the Department of Public Information, where he said, “Government will, in the coming months, establish the Department of Energy which will be housed in the Ministry of the Presidency.” Trotman said also that the department will be “focused only on the development of the petroleum sector,” based on a proposal that he made to President David Granger last year. “Eventually, the expectation is that the Ministry

of Natural Resources will hand over responsibility of the function of petroleum to this department and we will see a more direct and focused mandate from this Department of Energy and we will, of course, as a Cabinet be supporting the Department.” This decision was handed down at Cabinet’s meeting on Tuesday. Nevertheless, Trotman has been appointed head of the task force which will be responsible for submitting to Cabinet a proposal on how the Department of Energy is to be structured and staffed. “This task force will be meeting and will make a proposal to Cabinet as to how the new department of energy will be comprised, staff and what its mandate will be,” Trotman said. Besides this, there have been calls in the past to have Trotman removed from his position as Minister, especially when it was discovered that Government stashed US$18 million in a private account in the Central Bank, which it received from ExxonMobil as

Housewife dies in Essequibo Coast accident

mother of five was on Tuesday evening killed by a speeding car as she attempted to cross the Affiance Public Road, Essequibo Coast. Dead is 55-year-old Nandranie Singh, a housewife, of Lot 74 Queenstown, Essequibo Coast. Based on reports received, the 23-year-old driver of the motor car, HB 5965, was reportedly on his mobile phone when the accident occurred. The pedestrian was about to cross that road when she was struck by the young man, who was also speeding at the time. The injured woman was rushed to the Suddie Regional Hospital in an unconscious state and succumbed while receiving medical attention. The driver, who cleared a breathalyser test, was arrested and was now assisting traffic ranks with their investiga-

Dead: Nandranie Singh

tions. One of Singh’s sisters, Tara, Guyana Times that on the night of the accident, her sister and one of her daughters went to purchase some items at the supermarket while her grandchildren were left at a play park, which is a stone’s throw away. After purchasing the

items, the grieving sister explained, her niece was left in the supermarket while her sister made her way back to the play park. “She was on the pedestrian crossing going to the park when the car with loud music hit her down… he was also on his phone,” she noted. The woman further stated that she received the news about 20:30h and immediately went to her sister’s home. She noted that her sister received severe head injuries and from all indications, her arms and legs might have been broken as a result of the impact. “After she was taken to the hospital, the doctors tried with her, but she couldn’t make it,” the sister cried. Singh leaves to mourn her five children, grandchildren, and siblings. A post-mortem is expected to be performed on Friday.

Linden larceny accused remanded to prison

Lindener who was charged with the offence of breaking and entering and larceny was remanded to prison by Magistrate Clive Nurse on Tuesday when he made an appearance at the Linden Magistrates’ Courts. The defendant, Paul

Marciano is accused of stealing a flatscreen television, an amplifier and a mixer from the business place of Audie Webster, situated at Burnham Drive, Wismar, Linden between October 29 and October 31, 2017. Several witnesses were called to testify, including

Webster, who gave further evidence in the case and positively identified the stolen items in court. One witness testified that the defendant tried to sell him the stolen amplifier. The matter was adjourned until March 8, 2018 where further evidence would be presented.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

a signing bonus. Though this discovery was made since last year, the Government has made no attempts to have the money placed into the Consolidated Fund. Many have argued that Article 216 of the Guyana

Constitution dictates that all public revenue be placed in the Consolidated Fund with the exception being where a specific law allows for the money to be placed in a special account. Trotman was also criticised for his handling of the oil contracts between Government and ExxonMobil. Even the Government’s own adviser on petroleum, Dr Jan Mangal has criticised Guyana’s two per cent royalty on earnings from ExxonMobil’s oil sales, which he said is low, compared to global standards. While Dr Mangal is not in disagreement with 5050 per cent profit share Guyana will receive, he does believe that the zero tax, and two per cent royalty is nothing to boast about. Others have also come out criticising Trotman,

President David Granger

including outspoken political commentator and Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram, who believes that Trotman handling of the oil sector could lead to future disaster. He has said repeatedly that the Minister is not competent for the job.

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thursDAY, march 1, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS Man found guilty of raping 8-year-old

he Sexual Offences Court in Georgetown will soon hand out a custodial sentence on Collin Cummings, who was on Wednesday unanimously found guilty of raping an eight-year-old girl. The 12-member jury, which returned the verdict after two hours of deliberations, made its decision after considering the evidence presented over the few days of the trial.

Convicted: Collin Cummings

The act for which Cummings was found guilty occurred on August 20, 2016, in the county of Demerara, but after the jury foreman announced the verdict, the defendant maintained that he was not guilty. “I am innocent of this charge brought against me,” he noted before spending the next few minutes implicating others in the crime. After an interjection by the court, which remind-

ed him that he was found guilty, Cummings petitioned to be given the minimum penalty. However, his lawyer, Clyde Forde, requested a probation report be prepared and presented to the court before sentencing. As such, presiding Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall adjourned the matter to March 7, 2018. Orinthia Schmidt presented the prosecution’s case.

Christmas Day stabbing

Victim died from stab wound to the neck – pathologist

he High Court trial of vendor Mark Greaves commenced before Justice Navindra Singh and the 12-member jury on Wednesday following the defendant denying the State’s contention that he murdered Owen Fredericks on December 25, 2015 at James Street Albouystown, Georgetown. The Prosecution called

Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Brijmohan as its first witness who testified that when he conducted the post-mortem examination on December 30, 2015 at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) Mortuary, he observed a 1.8 centimetre stab wound to the upper left neck, which was some seven centimetres from the earlobe. Dr Brijmohan concluded

Accused: Mark Greaves

that the death was unnatural and noted the instrument used was sharp and could have been a knife or a cutlass. He gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage via a cut to the artery from stab wound. The jury was told that Fredericks would have suffered “extensive” blood loss. Former Police Constable Xavier Vasconselos, who now lives in Miami, Florida, United States, testified via Skype that he was performing duties at the Ruimveldt Police Station on December 25, 2015, when about 19:00h, he escorted the accused, Greaves, to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where the defendant was examined by a doctor. The Police witness

said a medical report was handed over to him. Vasconselos noted that after this, they went to the Golden Grove Police Station where Greaves was placed into custody. The Policeman claimed that the accused was not injured along the way, nor was the transporting vehicle involved in any accident. The said medical report was tendered into evidence after the Judge overruled the prosecution’s objection which contended that the exhibit did not form part of its case. Under cross-examination by the defendant’s lawyer, George Thomas, Vasconselos indicated the document saying that the deceased was stabbed to the chest. During the afternoon session, Police Inspector Herbert Henry told the court that he administered the caution statement of the accused on December 26, 2015 in the presence of Deputy Superintendent Kingston who was present and signed as a witness. Earlier on, Police Constable Leslie Williams told the 12-member jury that he was on duty at Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters on the day in question when at 16:45h a request was made for a Police photographer. He noted that he visited the scene at James Street and took several photographs which showed suspected blood stains. Williams recalled that the said photographs were tendered and marked as evidence at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on March 9, 2016. When State Prosecutor Abigail Gibbs presented the opening address, she indicated that the deceased did odd jobs and noted that the Fredericks and Greaves had a verbal exchange which, according to her, led to the stabbing. Gibbs told the jury that the deceased died as a result of injuries. It was reported that Fredericks was pronounced dead at the GPHC. Prosecutor Shawnette Austin is also appearing for the State while Attorney Nekeisha Persaud is assisting the Defence. The trial continues before Justice Singh. (Shemuel Fanfair)

Clipping wings…

…or misdirection? fter a year of pungent criticism about his gross mishandling of Guyana’s right to getting a fair value for its oil reserves, Raphael “Nassau” Trotman will be handing over that segment of his “Natural Resources” portfolio to a “Department of Energy” within the Ministry of the Presidency. Some may believe it’s some kind of demotion but they couldn’t be more mistaken. This is, as we Guyanese say rather elegantly, “a cock”! First of all, the Department will not be any kind of autonomous agency or company that most other oil producers insist on, to reduce political meddling and corruption. Ghana, for instance, which isn’t even the strongest player out there, has its Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC). Then “Nassau” will be leading the “Task Force” setting up the Unit!! How more incestuous can you get?? Especially when the other members are Harmon and the tight little circle from the AFC that’s returned to the PNC! Do you think this group will select the kind of petroleum and financial professionals that’ll do what’s best for Guyana? If you believe that then you’re obviously living in la-la land – or, you’re a true believer!! What you’ll get is a bunch of tightly controlled automatons under the control of the Minister of State. Note the other divisions of the Ministry of the Presidency – State (Harmon), Citizenship (Felix); Social Cohesion (Norton) are all under high PNC executives. And don’t even mention the agencies!! But it’s also a way to deflect from the gross negligence (being kind here!!) of Trotman in handling our oil revenues. If he were the head of any private company, he’d be long gone! This is just a tactical gambit to remove “Nassau” Trotman from the line of fire. He’s too much of a lightning rod right now and the Energy Agency will make folks think “something was done”!! Just look at how things unfold in the next few months! “Nassau’s” well protected by the terms of HIS contract he struck with Granger at Nassau. As an ardent admirer of Burnham, his job will be to maintain the façade of the AFC bringing “multilateral” support to the PNC. You ask what about Nagamootoo and Ramjattan, dear readers? Have you forgotten “Nassau’s” now the LEADER of the AFC?? Those two worthies are just (toothless) poodles who are used as props to flank Granger in the official Ministry of the Presidency photos! They’re Vice Presidents, you see! Your Eyewitness has already pointed out the oil contract’s void since “Nassau” Trotman was not in his right mind when he “renegotiated”. Since we (unfortunately) don’t have the tradition of Hara Kiri, maybe he can redeem himself by confessing!! …and oil production Well, Exxon just announced its seventh oil strike – this one in the Pacora field. Some may know that “pakoras” have a thin crust filled with goodies and are scrumptious. This Pacora must be so filled with such scrumptious oil that Exxon is now projecting a production of 500,000 thousand barrels per day!! Imagine that!! Since the one FPSO already commissioned can only process 200,000 bpd, does it mean they’ve placed an order for another two of the monsters that cost US$1 billion each? But that raises the question: was the government consulted on the new level of production? Apart from a better price split (Ha!!) that’s supposed to be a benefit of a PSA – where the country owns the oil and the oil company’s a contractor – the production level is another tool for the country to control its destiny. As one expert recently pointed out – and your humble Eyewitness did a year ago – we don’t have the capacity to absorb multibillion cash infusions right now. Production should therefore be tailored to match our absorptive capacity. …or plain meanness? Did the Chronic HAVE to publish COP Persaud’s applications to himself for a licence for a firearms dealership on the day he was being honoured?? Ow, man, that was low! Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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thursDAY, march 1, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt revokes Top Cop’s gun dealer licence – Persaud said he did “nothing wrong” – Ramjattan tells reporters to “haul yuh ass”

he coalition Government has forced outgoing Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud to revoke the approval of a firearm dealer licence, which he granted himself last month, a move which the Top Cop says is now unprecedented. A section of the State media on Wednesday reported in a staged fashion exclusively on the story which was the same day the Police Force held a farewell parade for Persaud, who goes off on pre-retirement leave next Monday ahead of his April retirement. When asked about the matter following the farewell, the outgoing Top Cop told reporters that there was nothing wrong with him applying to himself and then granting approval for a licence to set up the dealership. In fact, he noted that this was done before. “In the 1980s, there was a Commissioner who granted himself dealership licence … There is precedence for it … something is wrong with this Commissioner that they tell the public that it was wrong,” the outgoing Top Cop asserted. Asked whether it was ethical for him to make this move just a few weeks before his retirement, the outgoing Commissioner pointed out that the business would have only become operationalised in May, after his retirement. “There was precedence, it’s a business and I can’t do business on the job, so it would have only been operational after I retire,” Persaud said.

He went on to point out that almost all past Commissioners of Police applied for and grant gun licences to themselves. “If you look historically over the past 25 years, all the past Commissioners, maybe with the exception of one, granted themselves firearm licences. So it’s not anything new but you know we live in a society today where one set of circumstances is good for one person, but not good for the other,” he posited. Nonetheless, Persaud said he would not be challenging the decision to revoke his licence, as he has since become discouraged with the idea of opening his own firearms dealership. “It doesn’t matter; it was one line of business I was contemplating and that won’t happen any longer. But I have a lot of experience; I have a lot of credibility and I’m very confident in my next phase in life,” the outgoing Top Cop stated. It was reported in the State’s newspaper that Persaud on January 29, 2018 responded to an application previously made in his name, approving his business – Professional Outdoors Supplies – as a registered firearms dealer. Reports revealed that the outgoing Top Cop three days earlier granted approval for two gun licences for a 9mm Pistol and a 12, 16 or 20-Gauge Pump Action Shotgun. However, it was reported that the matter reached and engaged Cabinet’s attention and Persaud was since instructed by Public Security Minister Khemraj

Outgoing Top Cop Seelall Persaud

Ramjattan to revoke the dealership licence. The authority of granting firearm licences and licences for gun dealers falls under the remit of the Commissioner of Police, who, upon receiving an application, forwards it to the relevant Policing Division for an investigation into the background and character of the applicant. Based on the findings of the probe, the Commissioner makes a recommendation to the Minister, who then forwards it to the Firearms Licensing Approval Board for review. The Board will then make its own recommendations to the Minister, and based on that or his own deliberate judgement, the Minister grants the licence. When approached following the farewell parade on Wednesday afternoon for a comment on the matter, Ramjattan was hostile towards the media, telling reporters to have ‘time and place’. He then pointed out that he spoke with online news site Demerara Waves earlier and was promptly remind-

Corriverton flag raising sabotage

Council unanimously condemns coalition’s interference

…agrees to write Caribbean Local Authorities, diplomats

he Corriverton Town Council on Wednesday unanimously condemned the move by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition Government which saw them allegedly passing instructions to the Guyana Police Force to sabotage and stop the Council’s programme which was organised to mark Guyana’s 48th Republic anniversary on February 23, 2018. The Council registered its disgust and dissatisfaction with the conduct of Social Protection Minister Amna Ally who is also the General Secretary of the People’s National Congress and her involvement in the entire controversy. It has continued to allege that the Minister may have been the one who passed operational instructions to the Police Commander who was

posted to B Division (Berbice) to ensure that the event did not take place, even though she has since admitted responsibility for the sabotage but denied that she passed any instructions. The controversy saw the Police seizing the public address system, drummers were instructed not to perform, children who had prepared their cultural presentations for weeks prior to the event were prevented from stepping on to the stage and the town’s Mayor, Krishnand Jaichand, was denied the right to address those gathered. “I can’t instruct the Police. My understanding from the Police is that they [Town Council] haven’t sought permission. They didn’t do that. And they only acted based on what was presented to them,” Minister Ally had said. But Councillors said they

were going ahead with a proposal to inform the ABC countries about the saga with a view of ensuring that they are made of aware of the threats being made to local democratic organs and local democracy. Corriverton Town Council is also considering the idea of shifting the venue to the compound of the Council where they perceived there will be less interference by the Police or others. It also plans to inform the Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities (CALGA) and the diplomatic community locally about the Police's interference at the event last Thursday evening. One of the Councillors abstained on approaching the diplomatic community even though he did condemn the Government’s and Police’s interference in the manner.

ed that he “cursed” in that conversation, to which he responded, “Yes, there are times when I could use expletives.” Further pressed on the matter, Ramjattan, who is also performing duties as acting Prime Minister, declared: “I am not dodging no issue.” He then proceeded to walk away, heading to his vehicle and uttered over his shoulder, “haul yuh ass”. Nevertheless, this most recent scandal involving the outgoing Police Commissioner comes on the heels of the damning report from the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Police Force’s handling of the probe

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

into the alleged assassination plot against President David Granger.

The CoI, headed by Retired Police Commissioner Paul Slowe, recommended that disciplinary actions be taken against Persaud and that he be made to resign or be removed for misbehaviour and investigated for perjury. The Commissioner subsequently proceeded on four months of vacation leave and a few days prior to his November return, he was sent on two months “special leave”. That move was translated by social commentators as Persaud getting the boot. However, he resumed duties in mid-January.

Region 5 REO chases unpaid guards seeking assistance

ecurity guards attached to Integrated Security Service who are still to collect their February and January salaries and part of their December salary were on Tuesday chased out of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) boardroom at Fort Wellington by Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ovid Morrison. The guards had initially been calling on the Government to address their concerns since some of them have already lost their telephone service while the electricity to their homes has been disconnected for non-payment. With no response from the Government, the Region Five Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal met with the guards to address the issue, but the REO tried to stop the meeting and chased the guards out of the boardroom. About two minutes into the meeting, Morrison had stormed into the boardroom and demanded that the room be vacated. Following that, the guards were forced to continue the meeting cramped in the Chairman’s office.

Ramphal said he was disappointed by the actions of the REO, adding that he had informed the REO that the boardroom was going to be used for that meeting. He noted that the boardroom was the property of the Region and hence belonged to the people of Region Five. “Whatever asset this region has belongs to all of you, the people of this region… What took place this afternoon clearly shows the disregard and disrespect that leaders in this region have for our people. I am very disturbed about what took place this afternoon, because I made arrangements to have the boardroom available to all of you to vent your concerns and dissatisfaction of how you have been treated by Integrated Security Services,” he said. While the Regional Chairman focused his attack on the disrespect shown by the REO and its impact on the people of that region, the guards were given an opportunity to air their concerns. Katy Fraser, 32, from Number 29 Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), said she was presently sending her

two children, one to primary school and the other to nursery school without any lunches. "When me son get assignment, me can't afford to give him money to go on the Internet, he losing marks every day for that," she said. Fraser is extremely concerned for the well-being of her children and is worried that their education will be drastically affected if her salary is not immediately paid. According to Fraser, the company reportedly let her go last Wednesday after she and others began to complain about the non-payment and threatened to go to the media. Another guard, Mohamed Ayube, 69, of Lot 123 Shieldstown, WCB, said he received a sum of money on Tuesday, but it was a portion of his salary. Another worker, Terry Abrams, said the officials were not looking at the relevant issues and addressing them in a timely manner for the betterment of citizens. He encouraged his colleagues, "We will have to continue pressing on for ourselves until we get what we need.”

10 news

thursDAY, march 1, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

New oil contract released

Ratio contract outlines 50% profit oil, 1% royalty for Guyana

Ratio Guyana Limited operates in the Kaieteur Block

contract signed between an international oil firm and the Guyana Government has been released, which shows that Guyana has accepted royalty payment of one per cent and a 50/50 profit-sharing arrangement. The contract which was released on Wednesday is that of Israeli-based oil exploratory firm, Ratio Guyana Limited and Government that was signed on the April 28, 2015. Ratio Guyana commenced negotiations with the previous Government for a petroleum licence within the ultra-deep water Guyana Basin area in mid2012. At the time, that area was known as “Annex B”. Negotiations were nearly completed when the October 2013 Anadarko/Venezuelan incident occurred. It took until the first quarter of 2015 before negotiations resumed. On April 28, 2015, accord-

ing to the Natural Resources Ministry, the production sharing agreement was signed by both the then Government of Guyana and Ratio’s principals. The concession was then renamed the “Kaieteur Block”, and totals approximately 13,535 square miles. Ratio Guyana is in a joint venture partnership with Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), a subsidiary of US oil exploration giant ExxonMobil, in the Kaieteur Block, offshore Guyana. Ratio Guyana Limited has a 25 per cent stake in the Kaieteur Block. Ratio Energy Limited has another 25 per cent of the Kaieteur Block while EEPGL has a stake of 50 per cent. The Kaieteur Block is located to the North and adjacent to the Stabroek and Canje blocks, approximately 250 ki-

lometres offshore in ultra-deep water, where a 3-D seismic survey is underway. The Ministry said the release of this contract is in keeping with its commitment to release major contracts between the Government of Guyana and companies in the extractive industries. Close to two weeks ago, the Government also released a contract signed on February 12, 2013 with Canadian-based company CGX Resources Inc (CGX Energy). The agreement with CGX energy stipulated a 53 per cent: 47 per cent profit sharing. Under the ‘Cost Recovery and Production Sharing’ heading of the contract, it was found that the Government will receive a 53 per cent profit af-

ter recoverable contract costs have been satisfied for either crude oil and natural gas. CGX currently holds an interest in three petroleum agreements – the Corentyne, Berbice and Demerara Blocks – covering approximately 3.3 million gross acres offshore and onshore Guyana. The petroleum agreements between the Government and ESSO Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, CNOOC NEXEN Petroleum Guyana Limited, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited, were also released. These agreements also provides for a 50 per cent profit sharing and a two per cent royalty. The first oil contract to be released was that between ExxonMobil in late December

2017. However, this contract was only released following heightened public pressure from the general public. When it was released, it was revealed that it contains clauses for the company to put aside millions for local content, and makes provisions for them to be granted sweeping tax concessions. The contract was signed in June 2017 between the coalition Government, ExxonMobil and its partners in the Stabroek Block. In Article 15 of the contract, Exxon is exempted from paying Corporation, Excise or Value Added Tax (VAT) on its earnings from petroleum. Article 15.4 also provides for the Government itself to pay the company’s Income Tax. To facilitate this, the oil compa-

ny has to submit tax returns to the Government. Article 32 also stipulates that Government cannot modify the contract or increase any fiscal obligation the company has. In addition to that, information was leaked to the media that Government secretly received US$18 million as a signing bonus from ExxonMobil which was kept in a private account at Central Bank. Since the revelation of this secret signing bonus, the emerging sector has been mired in controversy. Government had failed to disclose this transaction to the nation, despite several officials, including Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, being questioned about it by the media.

Republic Bank rewards high-flyers R

epublic Bank Guyana Ltd (RBL) took the opportunity on Wednesday to reward 2017’s most outstanding academic performers as part of its “Power to make a difference” initiative. The Bank collaborated with the Education Ministry and the University of Guyana (UG) in order to honour the most exceptional performers in the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. “This initiative is among our various efforts to serve, honour, encourage and empower Guyana’s youth to-

The awardees/their representatives (sitting) surrounded by Education Minister Nicolette Henry (centre); UG Vice Chancellor Ivelaw Griffith (second left) and RBL Managing Director Richard Sammy (second right)

wards a life and a future of excellence,” RBL Managing Director Richard Sammy stated. While highlighting that the Bank was in the habit of tracking excellent academic performances of their past awardees, he referenced one of this year’s awardees, Michael Bhopaul, who performed excellently at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) in 2012 and recreated a similar feat at the 2017 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exam.

Among the other awardees were Saskia Twahir, the 2017 NGSA top performer; Shannon Woodroffe, the 2017 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) top performer; Elsie Harry, the 2017 UG Valedictorian and Shania Annirood, the best graduating banking and finance UG student. The awardees were in receipt of monetary gifts, plaques, and tokens. The feature address was presented by Professor Ivelaw Griffith, Vice Chancellor of UG. The

Professor charged the students to not only continue working hard to achieve their goals but to remember those who have fuelled their success and be rounded students and individuals. In quoting Isaac Newton, the Vice Chancellor stated, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. Do not forget the giants in your life.” Also in attendance of the annual “Power to make a difference” ceremony was Education Minister Nicolette Henry.

NEWS

thursDAY, march 1, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Parika business goes up in flames …millions lost, 5 homeless

The building engulfed in flames (credit: Melvin Singh)

Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) business place on Wednesday afternoon went up in flames leaving five persons homeless and millions in losses. According to reports, the fire started at the Lot 174 Parika Junction, EBE, building at around 03:30h. Guyana Times understands the property comprised a house on the upper flat and a cook shop below. This publication was informed that the owner of the house, Pinky Williams was at home with her daughter and nephew when the fire started. The family was inside when they heard a loud explosion coming from one of

the bedrooms in the upper flat of the two storey wooden and concrete structure. Following the explosion, smoke was seen emanating from the bedroom and by the time checks were made, the entire bedroom was already engulfed in flames. As such, the family sounded an alarm and quickly exited the house. Neighbours reportedly formed a bucket brigade while the Fire Service was called. When the Fire Service arrived at the scene, the entire building was engulfed in flames. By the time they brought the fire under control, nothing was salvageable. Speaking with this

newspaper, one of the occupants of the house, Stacy Williams, explained that she was not at home at the time of the fire. She however revealed that the fire could not have been as a result of electrical issues as Parika was without electricity for the entire day. “Whole day the place had blackout so we know that the fire couldn’t have been from electrical issues,” Williams said. The distraught young woman disclosed that her family was unable to save anything and millions were lost. The matter is being investigated and arson has not been ruled out.

WCB farmer found hanging, hands bound ...murder suspected

farmer was on Tuesday found hanging from the rafters of his Lovely Lass Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) home with his hands tied behind his back which raised suspicions that he might have been murdered. The dead man has been identified as 25-year-old Rohit Devnarine, who resided in an isolated area in the village. It was reported that neighbours noticed the door to the man’s house was slightly ajar but there were no signs of movement inside. However, the neigh-

Dead: Rohit Devnarine

bours, after not seeing the man, went to the house and it was then the gruesome discovery was made. Based on reports gathered, the

Clive Thomas... GuySuCo has a history of debt; at the end of 2015, the Corporation owed $78.6 billion. In January of last year, the National Assembly’s Economic Services Committee was informed that the debt showed a marginal decrease to $77 billion. This money was owed to the National Insurance Scheme, the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Caribbean Development Bank and others. One of NICIL’s first acts

man was fully dressed. The now dead man’s mother recalled seeing her son late Monday evening when he visited her Number 22 Village, WCB home. During his visit, the woman could not recall her son looking depressed or as if something was bothering him. She described her son as a cheerful person. The body is at the Fort Wellington Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem. Devnarine leaves to mourn his son, seven siblings, and parents. Police are continuing their investigations.

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since assuming responsibility for GuySuCo has also been to abruptly end the life of the old Board of Directors. Coming out of a special Board meeting, a decision was taken to have a new Board installed as of February 14, 2018. The acting Finance Director and CEO was Paul Bhim. NICIL Board has also handed down instructions to GuySuCo to freeze all hiring. In addition to that, a decision was taken not to renew any

employee contracts that are in the process of expiring. Government’s explanation for downsizing the industry has always been to cut costs. But there has been persistent criticism, however, that the decision is political in nature. While the parliamentary Opposition had welcomed the move taken by Government to have at least two sugar estates reopened soon, the Opposition again argued that it is purely political.

12 news

thursDAY, march 1, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lands and Surveys Commission to develop code of ethics for surveyors – moves to improve relationships with regional administration in Region Six

hief Executive Officer and Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), Trevor Benn announced the Commission is currently in the process of developing a code of ethics that will be used to guide and Police the work of land surveyors across Guyana. Benn made this announcement during a community meeting, held on February 26, 2018, in Corriverton as part

manner the sanctioning of surveyors,” he said. The Commission has held one consultation with surveyors in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and will continue consultations in all other administrative regions of Guyana. The consultation process is set to be completed at the end of May, with the ultimate goal of completing the draft bill and presenting it to Cabinet in June 2018. Benn said the outreach was planned Commissioner Trevor Benn and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Region Six outreach team paid a courtesy call to Mayor of New Amsterdam, Winifred Haywood to discuss land issues in New Amsterdam

A Berbice resident voices his concerns to Commissioner Trevor Benn during the Corriverton/Springlands community meeting held at the Guyana Lands and Surveys office in Corriverton, Berbice. The meeting was held as part of a GLSC outreach to East Berbice-Corentyne

of a three-day outreach from February 25-27, to Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). This code of ethics, Benn said, is being drafted into a bill and tabled in the National Assembly. “People have been complaining about the way work has been done with surveying. So, we’re working on a bill that we hope to take to Cabinet and then to Parliament in relation to the work of surveyors; a new code of ethics that will govern the profession. At the moment, we don’t have any and so surveyors go out there and work without any real sanction for bad behaviour… We’re putting this bill in place to make sure that there is something we can go by and we don’t treat in an ad hoc

in response to an increasing number of land inquiries and complaints coming from Region Six. Accompanied by a 10-person team from the Georgetown GLSC office, the Commissioner was able to listen to the issues of over 60 residents from Kildonan, Fyrish, Springlands, Corriverton, New Amsterdam, and their surrounding villages. “At the Lands and Surveys Commission we take very seriously the work that we do and in order for us to be able to understand the issues affecting our work on a daily basis we have organised ourselves to do several outreaches across the country… We do these outreaches primarily because often the true picture of [what is]

happening on the ground is unknown from the office. So, we come out with the staff to sit and air the views from the people themselves who live in the issues on a daily basis and who understand [them] better than we do… We can, together with them, find resolutions on the many issues,” the Lands Commissioner said during an interview at Dave’s Reception Hall, Chapel Street, New Amsterdam. With the hope of healing Commission-municipal relations that may have been strained in the past, Benn made courtesy calls on Mayor of New Amsterdam, Winifred Haywood and Regional Chairman of Region Six, David Armogan. We intend to do this wherever we do outreaches; to meet with the local authorities… to let them understand what… we are about, to let them understand the do’s and don’ts, and to let them understand how we can support them and vice versa… In the past, a lot of decisions were [made] without the involvement of these stakeholders… We believe [that] it was wrong, which is why I apologised to the Mayor and Town Council this morning and promised that in the future we will do better,” he said. Mayor Haywood ex-

pressed her appreciation for the GLSC outreach and said she is happy to work to improve New Amsterdam’s relationship with the Commission. As a result of the

meetings, Commissioner Benn and a team from the Georgetown GLSC office will return to Berbice on March 10, to help conduct an occupational survey with the hope of solving

land disputes in Kildonan. The Commissioner also met with GLSC branch offices in New Amsterdam and Corriverton and hosted a staff dinner in appreciation of their hard work.

FCPF boosts National Toshaos Council for REDD+ Readiness

(From left to right) GFC’s Chairman Jocelyn Dow, FCPF’s Project Assistant Michelle Astwood and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry’s Coordinator Jude Da Silva, addressing the gathering at the workshop

he Natural Resources Ministry, through the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) project, conducted a consultancy programme last month with the intention of strengthening the National Toshaos Council (NTC). The event was a threeday familiarisation workshop, which concluded on February 28, at the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) Multiplex Building at Kingston, Georgetown and featured 20 elected executive members of the NTC. Present at the workshop was FCPF’s project assistant, Michelle Astwood, who stated that the 21-month consultancy will improve the organisational, governance

and financial capabilities of the Council as well as other related stakeholder organisations. Astwood also reiterated that special emphasis was being placed by the FCPF to involve women in the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) Readiness Process. She also urged the NTC to extend its support for the forthcoming activities. Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) Chairman Jocelyn Dow stated that the NTC’s role was to ensure the availability of local content in international-led sustainable development programmes and policies such as the FCPF-

REDD+, which she guaranteed the GFC would support. Additionally, the NTC’s Chairman, Joel Fredericks addressed the gathering, stating that the Toshaos were contented that the much-anticipated project has commenced, and they were all eager to support it. An outcome of the project will be the provision of financial assistance for office rental and the appointment of three permanent staff for the NTC’s secretariat. The FCPF Readiness Process aims at preparing the NTC and other stakeholders to be involved and make valid contributions towards the national programme for REDD+.

Lindener on trial for narco possession

orty-two-year-old Ceon Grant on Tuesday appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrates’ Courts for alleged narco trafficking.The defendant, of

35 Wisroc Housing Scheme, Mackenzie, Linden, is accused of having 1100 grams of cannabis sativa in his possession on Monday, January 16, 2017 at Mabura Public Road, Region 10 (Upper

Demerara-Berbice). The defendant, who was previously granted bail, is being represented by Attorney Gordon Gilhuys. The matter was adjourned until March 14, 2018.

NEWS

thursDAY, march 1, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

China ready to aid Guyana’s CAPAM Conference relevant infrastructural development to Guyana’s ‘green’ agenda

hinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchu said his country stands ready to aid the infrastructural development of Guyana in light of the expected oil and gas boom, adding that in order for a country to develop, the necessary infrastructure needs to be put in place. The Ambassador made the statement while delivering the Vice Chancellor’s Seventh Renaissance Lecture on Monday at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus. He told the gathering of students, lecturers and members of civil society that the Chinese businesses are willing to invest in Guyana’s development and that the Private Sector should play a much more integral role in the country’s development. He added too that Guyana is on China’s list for aid and as part of his Government’s strategy of extending diplomatic relations, the idea of President David Granger’s dream of realising a paved highway from Linden to Lethem would be realised. “In China we have a thing that if you want to get rich then you have to build your road. There is the opportunity in Guyana for China and Guyana because we not only have the experience, we have the human power and we think the two countries can work together,” he noted. “The President told me how can we build the road from Lethem to Linden and I told my colleagues we have to spend time to go there and to drive there. We think

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchu

that if we develop Guyana, we know you have gas and oil by 2020 but we think we could have the opportunity to invest more resources in infrastructure and I think that is a good move,” the diplomat added. He further stated that he is committed to working with the Guyanese businesses and Government to realise the infrastructure potentials, making specific reference to the current expansion project at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) being executed by China Harbour Engineering. “I am ready to work with the Guyanese business people, the Government to make the infrastructure. To try to make the infrastructure first eye, the vision into action and to make reality. The Cheddi Jagan Airport is done by Chinese Harbour and it is expected to be finished by year end and it is really important step. We also want to see how can

we have deep harbour, how can we have the highway because in China we have suffered a lot… without infrastructure we cannot support development in the country,” Jianchung related. He added that they are aggressively working with the Government to implement the “Jainchung Initiative” or the 5 IT strategy that focuses on: Infrastructure, Information Communication Technology (ICT), Investment, Industry and Integration in addition to Talks, Talent, Technology, Trade and Tourism. He said the initiative is consistent with Guyana’s green agenda as well as its overall development policy and it can form the basis for increased investment and trade between Guyana and China. “Integration – this is one of the hardest for us because not a lot of Chinese know about Guyana and those here are recognised as one of the nations. We have them in every field and we are working to have them integrated in the Guyanese society,” he highlighted. The ambassador said as a part of facilitating development in developing nations, the Chinese Government started the One Belt One Road Initiative (OBORI) or simply called the Silk Road Economic Belt. The OBORI aims to connect the disparate regions in China’s near and distant neighbourhood through a massive programme of infrastructure building and is expected to cost some $100 trillion with over four per cent of that amount already being invested.

27 charities benefit from Banks DIH

The recipients of the cheques donated by Banks DIH

anks DIH Limited (D’Aguiars Industry Holding) on Wednesday made their annual donation to 27 charities from across the region at Thirst Park, Greater Georgetown. Every year, the company presents a list of organisations that will be presented with the ‘covenant’ cheques. However, there are also letter requests from other entities that wish to be part of this initiative. The presentation of these donations is made possible after they are presented by the Board of Directors of the company and approved by the shareholders.

Some of the charities that benefited from the donations this year included St Joseph Mercy Hospital, St John’s Ambulance Brigade, Guyana Society for the Blind, Dharm Shala, Shaheed’s Boys and Girls Orphanage, the Scout Association of Guyana, Uncle Eddie’s Home among others. Human Resources Director of Banks DIH, Paul Andrew Carto explained that this is the company’s way of serving Guyana through charitable institutions. He noted, “We see this as part of our corporal social responsibility but we also do this because of our exceed-

ingly good relations that we have with the public and the organisations that work within the wider community doing various forms of charitable and social works.” The cheques were presented by Operations Director, Henry Perriera and the Engineering Operations Director, Shabir Hussein and the Human Resources Director, Paul Andrew Carto. This is the second year the company has held a ceremony to present the awards to the charity foundations and organisations; and they are certain that this venture will be continued in 2019.

uyana’s affiliation with the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) and its role as the host country for the entity’s 12th Biennial Conference are increasingly relevant to the country’s green state policy agenda. The theme for the October 2018-billed conference is “Transforming the Public Sector for Climate Governance”, which falls in line with President David Granger’s push towards a green development trajectory by allowing conference participants to explore means through which the Public Sector can reduce its carbon footprint, while still contributing to the country’s development through the sustainable management of the country’s natural resources. During a press briefing, held on Wednesday afternoon, at the Marriott Hotel, CAPAM Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gay Hamilton said that the theme of the conference complimented Guyana’s ‘green’ initiative. “We think that we’ve come to the exact right country to deal with this issue. Guyana has … a strong history of conservation of a beautiful world with … very green heartland, conservation of animals, and the environment, but it also has an economy to grow and

Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management Chief Executive Officer Gay Hamilton (left) and Permanent Secretary of the Department of Public Service, Reginald Brotherson hosted a press briefing concerning Guyana's hosting of the 12th Biennial CAPAM Conference

citizens who have expectation of the Government growing that economy … This is what the conference is about: how do Governments deal with that duality? How do Governments grow an economy, stay abreast of what the rest of the world is doing, and still remain good conservationists and environment stewards,” she said. Additionally, Hamilton mentioned that the theme was inspired by a global prioritisation of sustainability within government planning. “We picked a theme for this particular conference by looking at one of the really trending issues in public service and that is through the lens of the [United Nations’] Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)… We looked at

how countries are doing their planning over the next five to 10 years and what stood out was that climate change, or particular aspects of climate change, [and] environmental development came to the fore,” she said. The CAPAM Conference provides a space for Government leaders within the Commonwealth to share knowledge and network in order to improve governance. Guyana is expected to host approximately 350 international delegates on October 22 to October 24, 2018. As a tangential component to the conference, Guyana will also host the CAPAM’s International Innovation Awards, an award ceremony highlighting pioneering ideas from global participants in the Public Sector.

National Drama Company launches 2018 production

ith the aim of promoting the talents of young Guyanese artistes, the National Drama Company (NDC), in collaboration with the Department of Education – Unit of Allied Arts and various Private Sector entities, on Wednesday launched their annual school productions for this year. The National Drama Company will be presenting six days of spectacular stage performances titled “The

Tempest”; a romantic comedy composed by the famous William Shakespeare at the National Cultural Centre. The upcoming events will feature professional artistes trained in the field of theater arts and drama. The organisation targets the promotion of quality theatrical performances in every aspect of theatre arts while entertaining their audience and engaging the general public. The plays are also part of

the Drama Company’s mandate to deliver a vivid scenario to students who will be studying the various pieces of the English literature syllabus, for the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) examination. The production is slated for April 13-15 for evening shows while there will be several matinees shows from April 1719 for students at $1000 and $500 for each show respectively.

14 news

thursDAY, march 1, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Top Cop wishes Force success ahead of impending challenges – formally bids farewell to Force after 33 years

ith less than a week before he officially leaves the Guyana Police Force after 33 years of service, Top Cop Seelall Persaud on Wednesday afternoon wished the law enforcement agency success ahead of impending challenges the country is likely to face. This sentiment was expressed at a farewell parade organised in his honour at the Police Sports Club Ground. The event featured much pomp and ceremony as the Force formally bid farewell to its 31st Police Commissioner. The ceremony saw the attendance of several senior and junior ranks as well as former members of the Force. In addition, heads of other sister law enforcement agencies and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan were also pres-

Seelall Persaud delivering his final address as Commissioner of Police at his farewell parade on Wednesday

ent at the ceremony. Delivering his final address as Top Cop, Persaud pledged his continued support for the Police Force, as he mentioned impending challenges the organisation

will face. “The Force and country at this particularly time, see several factors that will contribute to an environment that is likely to pose a greater challenge to the Force in the future. Those will include the operation of western businesses in Guyana and the raise of terrorist threats within the region. I’m sure the Security Sector Reform study that was conducted recently would have addressed most of those issues, if not all. And so, I want to wish my successor and his team at the top management, the best for the future… my full support will continue to be with them,” he posited. During his eight-minute long speech before a packed gathering, the outgoing Commissioner reflected on his years of service saying the varying exposures he

Outgoing Commissioner Seelall Persaud saluting his final March Pass at the Police Sports Club Ground

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan was among the gathering of top ranking officials from the Disciplined Forces who were in attendance at the farewell parade

has had in the Force contributed significantly to his development over the years. He added that the training and interactions he has had locally and overseas have certainly impacted his development through a unique brand of learning experience. Touching on his work over the years, the outgoing Top Cop reflected on the last four years at the helm of the Police Force which saw him crossing unchartered territories, particularly as it relates to building public trust and improving the Force’s welfare as well as capacity. Persaud went on to recognise that he would not have had such a “good journey” in the country’s premier law enforcement agency without the unwavering support of his family and the commitment of both senior and junior ranks he worked with over the years. “I was a long, eventful

but enjoyable journey that I have had, and I did not come this distance in isolation. So there are many whom I need to thank for it; highlights of those, I’ll start by thanking God for bring me this far. I’m leaving the Force in good health and with full confidence of facing and going into the next phase of my life,” posited the Commissioner. The Essequibo-born Persaud joined the Force in October 1984 and served in several high ranking positions including Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) before being appointed acting Commissioner in 2014. His confirmation as Top Cop then came the following year. During his three-decades plus years of service, he was awarded the Disciplined Services Medal (DSM) for his “dedication to duty and steadfastness of mind and body”. He also used opportunities afford

to him to obtain a Degree in Public Management and Diploma in International Studies. Persaud also served as Chairman of the Caribbean Working Group on Illicit Narcotics, Chairman of the Caricom Standing Committee on Intelligence and Guyana’s Expert on the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism of the OAS (2009-2013) respectively. More recently during his four-year tenure at the helm of the Police Force, the outgoing Top Cop spearheaded several projects aimed at building public trust and boosting not only the Force’s capacity but its welfare as well. These include the highly successful social crime prevention programme, the establishment of the Fallen Heroes Foundation and the procurement of a US$2.6 million donation in vehicles from the Chinese Government, among others.

Sridevi’s funeral gets State honour as millions gather to bid farewell

illions of people joined film stars and celebrities to bid adieu on February 28 to the first lady superstar of India, Sridevi, who was cremated there with State honours amidst outpourings of grief by her fans. Sridevi's daughters Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor performed the final rituals before the body was consigned to flames in the electric crematorium in Vile Parle with husband Boney Kapoor standing by. The funeral, marking the final journey of Sridevi, who died due to drowning in the bathtub of her hotel room in Dubai on the night of February 24, was one of the largest in recent times in Mumbai city. It started near her residence before reaching the crematorium after a threehour long journey in a tall, open truck, fully decorated with white flowers – her favourite colour – with the body draped in the national tricolour and carried in a glass casket, as cries of “Sridevi Amar Rahe” from her fans rent the air. The Maharashtra government accorded full State honours for the funeral of Sridevi – who was conferred

Producer Boney Kapoor accompanies the body of his wife, the late actress Sridevi to the Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery for cremation in Mumbai on February 28, 2018 (IANS photo)

a Padma Shri in 2013, which included draping her body in the national tricolour, elaborate arrangements by the Mumbai Police and a gun salute before the cremation. Inside the truck was Sridevi lying serene with full make-up, a large south Indian style vermillion and wearing a ceremonial gold and maroon coloured Kanjeevaram sari. A heavy, large necklace adorned her since she died a 'suhaagan' (one whose husband is still alive), giving the appear-

ance of a resplendent 'devi' (Goddess) in deep slumber. Her grieving family members including husband Boney Kapoor, her step-son Arjun Kapoor and brothers-in-law Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor were among those who travelled in the truck with the body. The truck slowly negotiated the approximately six kilometres passing through some of the poshest areas of Andheri and Vile Parle suburbs, with a massive portrait of Sridevi visible from

a distance. Several million people including students, office-goers, and others accompanied or waited on both sides of the roads, and looked on from buildings and bungalow terraces. Many climbed on signals and lamp posts for a last glimpse of their beloved heroine. In terms of sheer numbers, Sridevi's funeral is estimated to have attracted the highest number of mourners, ranking on par with the previous biggest funeral processions of the legendary singer Mohammed Rafi (July 1980: around a million mourners), and India's first superstar Rajesh Khanna (July 2012: a little less than a million mourners). The other big funerals of non-political personalities in Mumbai included those of Raj Kapoor (June 1988) and Vinod Khanna (April 2017). The procession was led by several family members, close relatives, friends and even neighbours of the Green Acres society where the family lived in Lokhandwala Complex. Among the prominent personalities who attended the funeral in Vile Parle were Amitabh Bachchan,

Shah Rukh Khan, Randhir Kapoor and others who came to bid a final goodbye to Sridevi. Earlier, since dawn, thousands of teary-eyed fans and admirers of the late actress, many carrying flowers, had queued up outside the Celebration Sports Club at Lokhandwala Complex for a final 'darshan' of their idol. After the flower-bedecked body was brought to the club premises, a steady stream of celebrities came in their vehicles and were whisked inside to pay their last respects. Among the early callers seen were Rekha, Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, Arbaaz Khan, Madhuri DixitNene, Akshaye Khanna, Tabu, Farah Khan, Nitin Mukesh, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Vidya Balan, Sushmita Sen, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Madhur Bhandarkar, Deepika Padukone, Sanjay Leela Bhandsali, Jackie Shroff, Farhan Akhtar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, John Abraham, Ajay Devgn and Kajol, Anupam Kher and Sulabha Arya. In the past four days since her demise, the Kapoor household has witnessed a

steady stream of visitors including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Krishna Raj Kapoor. Most of the visitors on February 28, sporting dark sunglasses to ward off the harsh early-summer glare, carrying flowers or small bouquets, embraced and consoled the bereaved family members, entering from the main entrance and leaving quickly from the other side as fans tried to catch a glimpse. Sridevi's body was flown to Mumbai from Dubai where she passed away following an accidental drowning in a bathtub in her hotel room around 23:00h on February 24, and from the airport was taken to the Kapoor residence in Green Acres. Meanwhile, Green Acres housing society cancelled Holi celebrations as a mark of respect for Sridevi. For the final journey, at the club and the crematorium, the Mumbai Police implemented elaborate security arrangements at various venues and arranged special traffic and crowd management measures.

thursDAY, march 1, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

or as long as he can remember Chris Stewart has had the urge to sell. "Even in my school days, I was always selling," he reminisced, attributing his salesman instinct to the fact his mother, Barbara, was a trader. However, when Stewart graduated from the North Ruimveldt Multilateral high school, he decided to take a job in the lab at Omai Gold Mines, analysing rock samples to determine where best to dig for gold. His entrepreneurial drive saw him a few years later, working for himself as a taxi driver, but his reputation as a good salesman meant he was the goto guy for any friend or acquaintance who had items to sell. "I would have them in my trunk and would pop it if anyone needed anything," he explained. That trunk operation

would later evolve into a brickand-mortar store, C&C Prestigeous Styles, on Regent Street, the commercial centre of Guyana, all thanks to Stewart's love of

Market statistics

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Cambio Rates

Calculated at 94% purity, Feb 28, 2018

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

hard-to-find American Eagle T-shirts. "I like wearing American Eagle and people would always come up to me and ask me where I got them." So on a trip to Canada with his wife, he decided to bring back a few T-shirts for resale. Locals' enthusiastic response made the decision to open a fashion boutique easy for Stewart and he registered his new business on February 12, 2009. His attention to detail, friendly personality and willingness to go the extra mile, as well as his careful selection of trendy styles and pendant for photo shoots showcasing his stock have earned many fans. His Instagram and Facebook profiles are filled with his latest styles on voluptuous models. Now as the fashion-forward boutique continues to celebrate nine years of operation, Stewart is grateful to still be in business, grateful to God and his customers and family. "We have been through the fire – literally," he smiled ruefully, referring to a fire that almost wiped out the store in 2014. "Sometimes business is tough," said the young businessman who returned to the taxi operator business, opening up Gemini Taxi Service last year with several cabs to help offset the economic downturn. "Now

Selling

USD

$1317.85

GBP

$285.56

$289.16

Gross

$258,137

CAN

$161.33

$163.20

Net

$240,067

USD

$205.98

$208.44

$ 251.67

$254.88

Indicators as on February 28, 2018

EURO

Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$66.63

Price

USD

Change %

1.31 Change %

Rough Rice

$275.73/ton

3.62

London Sugar

$350.50/ton

-2.48

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1317.80

$1318.80

Low/High

$1315.60

$1323.10

Change

0.00

0.00%

Business Concept – Debenture A promissory note or a corporate bond which (in the US) is backed generally only by the reputation and integrity of the borrower and (in the UK) by the borrower's specific assets. When unsecured, it is called a bare debenture or naked debenture; when secured by a charge on a specific property, it is called a mortgage debenture. (Business Dictionary)

business is picking up and I am thankful... can't complain, you know." The customer appreciation and anniversary sale going on at C&C Prestigeous Styles is plenty evidence of his gratitude. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to love whatever it is they want to do. “Don’t do it for the money; have heart for the business and make people look good… Don’t jump into business thinking it will be all

good: you’ll make a lot of money all the time. There will be good days and there will be bad days, just stick to it.” Contact: 225-2494; 135 Regent Road, Bourda between Cummings & Light Streets above Julius Baby Store; www.instagram.com/ccprestigeousstyles/ Want to be featured on the Business Page or know someone who should be or may-

be you just have a comment? Contact businesspagegy@ gmail.com

Business News

Spotify plans public share listing

potify, the world's biggest music streaming service, has filed paperwork to start trading its shares publicly on the New York Stock Exchange. The firm said it expects shares to sell at prices that could value the firm at more than US$23 billion. It plans to list shares directly on the NYSE, bypassing the traditional stock offering process. In a typical public offering, companies issue new shares, with the initial price underwritten by investment banks. With a direct listing, current Spotify shareholders will

take their shares directly to the market. Spotify said its shares sold for between US$37.50 and US$125 each in private transactions last year and more than US$132 this year. The valuation is based on how many shares it has outstanding. The US Securities and Exchange Commission filing contains financial details previously shielded from view. The Swedish company's 2017 revenue came in at €4.09 billion (US$4.99 billion) compared with €2.95 billion a year earlier, Spotify said in its filing. But it still experi-

enced more than €1.2 billion in losses. Spotify, which launched in 2008, is the biggest global music streaming company and counts tech giants Apple and Amazon as its main rivals. It has more about 159 million monthly active users and 71 million paid subscribers. Europe is its top market. In its filing, the firm says it aims to "unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by these creators". (BBC News)

Investor’s Guide

Wall Street slides late; S&P 500 caps worst month since January 2016

S stocks sold off late to end sharply lower on Wednesday, dragged down by continued worries over rising interest rates, and the Dow and S&P 500 capped their worst months since January 2016. The S&P 500 and the Dow also snapped a 10-month winning streak, closing out a month marked by spikes in volatility and fears that rising inflation would prompt the Federal Reserve to pick up the pace of interest rate hikes. New Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s Tuesday remarks, which revived fears about more rate increases than expected this year, continued to weigh. “Investors are still trying to digest where the Fed is going to be between now and year end, and Powell has given it a hawkish tilt,” said Bucky Hellwig, senior vice

president at BB&T Wealth Management in Birmingham, Alabama. The late-day weakness underscored lingering skittishness amongst investors. “We’d rather see strength coming in the last hour,” Hellwig said. Energy shares dropped with oil prices and the sector had the biggest daily decline in the S&P 500, but a break below the 50-day moving average on the S&P 500 triggered further selling in afternoon trading. “You get the algorithms responding to the technical break and initiating sell programmes,” said Ken Polcari, director of the NYSE floor division at O‘Neil Securities in New York. The Cboe Volatility Index, the most widely followed barometer of expected nearterm volatility of the S&P 500 index, closed up 1.26 at 19.85,

its highest close in a week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 380.83 points, or 1.5 per cent, to 25,029.2, the S&P 500 lost 30.45 points, or 1.11 per cent, to 2713.83 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 57.35 points, or 0.78 per cent, to 7273.01. For the month, the Dow lost 4.3 per cent and the S&P 500 fell 3.9 per cent. The Nasdaq declined 1.9 per cent, its biggest monthly percentage fall since October 2016. On Tuesday, Powell gave an upbeat view on the US economy and said data had strengthened his confidence on inflation. Traders boosted bets the US central bank would squeeze in a fourth rate hike this year following the remarks. Retailer shares were among the bright spots of the day. (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

ThursDAY, march 1, 2018

Regional

Venezuelan Opposition expels Mexico concerns about steel tariffs hang Henri Falcón over poll decision US over NAFTA talks

enezuela’s Opposition has expelled a former state governor after he said he would stand against President Nicolás Maduro in April’s election. The Democratic Unity Opposition coalition is boycotting the vote. It said Henri Falcón was wrong to validate what it called a fraudulent electoral system. Falcón defended his decision, saying he wanted to defeat a government that had “promised Venezuelans paradise, but given them hell”. Henri Falcón was a close ally of the late President Hugo Chávez but later joined the opposition.

Henri Falcón was governor of Lara state

“We repudiate the unilateral registration of Henri Falcón,” Democratic Unity said on Twitter, referring to the election as a “farce”.

Falcón, who was governor of Lara state from 2008 until last year, said he wanted to stand “on behalf of millions of Venezuelans who want to

live in dignity”. He said he offered “a government of national unity... that can save us from the misery to which this incompetent Government has taken us”. Venezuela is going through a protracted political and economic crisis. It has suffered for years from high inflation and a chronic shortage of food and medicines. President Maduro has said elections would be held “with or without” the Democratic Unity Opposition coalition, which he accused of “erratic conduct”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Court orders release of Metal detectors in schools not J'cans, other C'bean nationals the answer, says Barbados AG detained in The Bahamas arbados’ Attorney become [President of the

High Court Judge has ordered the unconditional release of eight Caribbean nationals who had been detained by the authorities for illegally entering the Bahamas. Justice Gregory Hilton ordered their release from the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, noting that in the case of one of the former detainees “it seems to me, however, that to establish that a person is ‘found in The Bahamas after landing in contravention of this (Immigration) act’, it must be first determined or proven by some court on a judicial hearing”. The Caribbean nationals have been identified as Jamaicans Earl Burton, Kediesha Bent-John, who is married to a Bahamian, and her daughter, Chitara John, Ancelet Curry, a Bahamas-

born national of Haitian descent and Haitian nationals Gerna Jean-Tinord, her daughter, Gemma Joseph; and Verante Mocombe and her daughter, Claudia Norcin. In his ruling, the judge made reference to a 2004 case where the former Court of Appeal President Dame Joan Sawyer “confirmed the legal position in The Bahamas that detention or arrest with a view to deportation without being taken before a court is not permissible”. He also cited section 18 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which states that, after an arrest, a peace officer “shall without unnecessary delay and not later than 48 hours after such arrest, take or send the person before a Magistrate”. (Excerpt from Jamaica

Observer)

General, Adriel Brathwaite believes that placing metal detectors in schools is not the ideal solution to stop students from taking weapons to school. Brathwaite said while there have been calls for authorities to search students and install metal detectors, there is no school in Barbados where it is impossible to access the premises, other than through the main gate. He said most institutions have numerous access points. “Name one school that you can’t climb in through the fence, or the children don’t go through the fence. Or there isn’t a fence that the children can go into that they can walk across. So that cannot be a solution,” he said. “I mean, have we all

United States] Donald Trump? Let’s arm every teacher in Barbados? Let’s search every child that goes in. Let’s have metal detectors,” the Attorney General added. Brathwaite made the comments, as he spoke about the need to address the issue of violence in society, at the opening of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) St Michael East Constituency Office, last Friday. There, the Attorney General admitted that like most countries, Barbados has been experiencing challenges with troubled young people. He said the region is facing challenges with the level of violence among the youth, but noted that initiatives must be introduced to get the problem under control. (Excerpt from Barbados Advocate)

Court rules Commonwealth citizens can vote in next Barbados election

ommonwealth citizens living and working in Barbados have already started taking advantage of a High Court decision, handed down on Monday, which reaffirmed their right to vote in the next general election. Wilfred Abrahams, one of the lawyers who successfully argued that such citizens living or working in Barbados for at least three years were entitled to be registered to vote, told the media some eligible citizens were able to start registering with the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC) from yesterday. In a landmark decision in response to a class action lawsuit filed last year, Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson ruled that the EBC was in contravention of the Representation of the People Act by not allowing a number of Commonwealth citizens to register to vote.

The plaintiffs in the substantive matter were St Lucian professor Eddy Ventose, Shireen Ann Mathlin-Tulloch of Grenada; Jamaican Michelle Russell and Sharon EdgecomeMiller of Montserrat, who were all denied the chance

to register to vote in the next election, constitutionally due by June. Speaking during a press conference at the offices of the Barbados Bar Association on Roebuck Street, St Michael, Abrahams and fellow at-

torney Gregory Nicholls said they were glad the matter had been settled, since it would allow scores of Commonwealth citizens to exercise their democratic right under the Constitution. (Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

exico’s trade minister will discuss the threat of US steel import tariffs with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Wednesday, two sources said, adding to trade tensions during the latest push to renegotiate the NAFTA trade deal. The meeting in Washington between Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo and Ross comes as US, Mexican and Canadian officials are meeting for a seventh round of negotiations to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement in Mexico City. The NAFTA talks have been made halting progress in the past six months, though officials say a number of less controversial issues under discussion could be resolved in this round. Trump is current-

ly considering Commerce Department proposals to impose steel and aluminium tariffs on imports from China and elsewhere following a so-called Section 232 probe looking at whether imports of the metals threatened US national security. Guajardo flew to Washington on Tuesday, and an official said that the metal tariffs would be on the agenda as would tomatoes, another area of bilateral trade that has been dogged by disputes and subject to periodic renegotiation. If the United States imposed steel tariffs on it, Mexico’s Government would seek to retaliate, the official said – just as it vowed last month to act against a decision by Washington to slap tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Crime and violence taking heavy toll on Region – Caricom SG

ecretary General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has called on the regional grouping to counteract the threat of crime and violence which are taking a physical, social and psychological toll on the region. And he has suggested revisiting the Caricom Crime and Security Strategy (CCSS) signed five years ago to identify areas for improvement in order to make it more effective. He pointed to the toll on societies through loss of lives, injuries and psychological trauma and observed that the greatest impact was on families. In addition to calling for a review of the CCSS, the Secretary General pointed to a number of legal instruments which he said were significant additions to Caricom’s armoury against trans-border crime. He singled out the Caricom Arrest Warrant Treaty and the Agreement on the Return or Sharing of Recovered Assets, and stat-

Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque

ed that he looked forward to the Treaty being ratified as soon as possible and to the completion of the negotiations for the Agreement. The Caricom Arrest Warrant Treaty simplifies the procedure of returning fugitives to the country where charges have been laid, while the Agreement on the Return or Sharing of Recovered Assets provides a framework for the return or sharing of criminal assets which have been moved to another jurisdiction. (Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

Rio military deployment stirs controversy in Brazil

While some residents have welcomed the presence of troops, others say they have been harassed

welve days after Brazil's President Michel Temer deployed the military to boost security in the state of Rio de Janeiro, criticism about the move continues.

Officials have so far provided little detail about what has been achieved while residents complain about harassment and intimidation. The General in charge of the operation said Rio was a "test

case" for military deployments in other parts of Brazil. The move came after a surge of violence in the state during Rio's carnival. President Temer issued a decree on February 16 putting

the military in charge of security in Rio de Janeiro arguing that he was "taking this extreme measure because the circumstances demand it". The presidential decree was approved by Brazil's

National Congress only four days later by an overwhelming majority. While soldiers have been deployed to the crime-ridden neighbourhoods of Rio before and were also used to patrol the streets during the 2016 Olympic Games, the decree puts the army in charge of Rio's Police Force for the first time since a new Constitution came into force in 1988 following the end of military rule. About 3000 soldiers have been sent to patrol the streets of the city. But questions have been asked about the effect of the operation. (Excerpt from BBC News)

thursDAY, march 1, 2018

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Around the World

Sridevi Kapoor: India crowds Germany confirms Govt computers say goodbye to Bollywood star breached by hackers

Fans thronged the roadsides to say goodbye to the Bollywood icon. Sridevi's body was wrapped in the India flag for the State funeral

ollywood superstar Sridevi has been cremated in the Indian city of Mumbai as thousands of fans gathered to pay their last respects. Earlier, crowds clutching roses queued outside the Celebration Sports Club in the city to bid farewell to the star. A specially decorated truck carrying her body took hours to travel the 7km (4.3 miles) to the cemetery. The actress, 54, was cremated with full state honours. She died in Dubai

where she was attending a family wedding. Police said her death on Saturday night had been "due to accidental drowning following loss of consciousness". She was found in her hotel bathtub. It had earlier been reported she died of cardiac arrest. The full post-mortem report has not yet been released. Known simply as Sridevi, the actress was considered one of the very few Indian female superstars capable of huge box-office success without the support of a

male hero. She appeared in nearly 300 films over five decades. Film stars from Bollywood as well as the South Indian film industry were among the mourners at the sports club in the Andheri West area of Mumbai, home to Bollywood. Large numbers of police were deployed outside the star's house, on the procession route and outside the Vile Parle Seva Samaj crematorium where the body was taken. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Syrian Govt ground forces attack Ghouta despite Russian truce plan

yrian Government forces launched a ground assault on the edge of the rebel-held eastern Ghouta enclave on Wednesday, seeking to gain territory despite a Russian plan for five-hour daily ceasefires, a war monitor and sources on both sides said. Hundreds of people have died in 11 days of bombing of the eastern Ghouta, a swathe of towns and farms outside Damascus that is the last major rebel-controlled area near the capital. The onslaught has

been one of the fiercest of Syria’s civil war, now entering its eighth year. The UN Security Council, including President Bashar al-Assad’s strongest ally Russia, passed a resolution on Saturday calling for a 30day countrywide ceasefire. But the measure has not taken effect, with Moscow and Damascus saying they are battling members of terrorist groups excluded from the truce. Russia has instead called for daily five-hour local ceasefires to establish what it calls a humanitar-

ian corridor so aid can enter the enclave and civilians and wounded can leave. The first such truce took place on Tuesday but quickly collapsed when bombing and shelling resumed after a short lull. There were no air strikes during Wednesday’s fivehour ceasefire, but heavy bombardment resumed in the afternoon, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported. There has been no sign of aid deliveries to the besieged area. (Excerpt from Reuters)

he German Government has confirmed that it is investigating a cyberattack against Government computer networks, according to local media reports. The country's Interior Ministry said on Wednesday that the incident was "isolated and [had been] brought under control within the federal administration". Earlier on Wednesday, German news agency DPA reported that hackers had

used malware to target Germany's foreign and defence ministries and steal data, according to security sources. The hacking appeared to have originated from the APT28 group, also known as Fancy Bear, which many experts think has ties with the Russian Government, DPA reported. The news agency said the attack had been detected by German authorities in December and possibly lasted more than a year. The

Interior Ministry did not respond to the allegations that APT28 was behind the attack. A spokesperson said appropriate measures had been taken to investigate the breach and protect data. Moscow has denied involvement with the group, which has been blamed for operations including an attack on the German parliament in 2015, and the Democratic National Committee in the run-up to the 2016 US elections. (Al Jazeera)

Nigerian masterpiece 'Tutu" sells for £1.2M at auction

missing Nigerian masterpiece found in a "modest north London flat" has sold for more than £1 million at auction. Ben Enwonwu's 1974 painting of the Ife princess Adetutu Ademiluyi, known as “Tutu”, became a symbol of reconciliation after Nigeria's Biafra conflict. The painting, expected to fetch £300,000, sold for £1,205,000 – a record for a modern Nigerian artist. Novelist Ben Okri said its discovery was "the most significant in contemporary African art in 50 years". Bonham's director of modern African art Giles Peppiatt discovered the painting after he was invited to appraise artworks at a "modest north London flat". Peppiatt said he was regularly asked to look at versions of Tutu which turn out to be copies.

Ben Enwonwu's masterpiece "Tutu" was lost for more than 40 years

It is not known how the piece came to be in north London and the owners have requested anonymity. "The portrait of Tutu is a national icon in Nigeria, and of huge cultural significance," Peppiatt said. "I am delighted that it generated so much interest and set a new world record for the artist. It is very exciting to have

played a part in the discovery and sale of this remarkable work." Enwonwu, considered the father of Nigerian modernism, painted three versions of Tutu. All three went missing after his death in 1994. The whereabouts of the other Tutu paintings remain a mystery. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

4 UN peacekeepers killed in Mali

UK PM May rejects EU's draft option for Northern Ireland

UK Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party, Theresa May

n EU proposal for the Northern Ireland border threatens the "constitutional integrity" of the United Kingdom, Theresa May has said. The EU's draft legal agreement proposes a "common regulatory area" after Brexit on the island of Ireland - in effect keeping Northern Ireland in a customs union - if no other solution is found. May said "no UK Prime Minister could ever agree" to this. The EU says the "backstop" option is not intended to "provoke" the

UK. Unveiling the draft agreement on what has proved to be a busy day for Brexit news, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier called on the UK to come up with alternatives. He said the text was "no surprise" and was just a legally-worded assessment of what had been agreed in the negotiations so far. The EU's 120-page paper covers the issues which have been negotiated so far – including the UK's financial settlement, citizens' rights and the future of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland – which is a member of the EU – after Brexit. On how to avoid border checks in Northern Ireland, the EU says a "backstop" is needed in case neither of the UK's preferred solutions can be found. This would involve an "area without internal borders in which the free movement of goods is ensured", covering customs, VAT, energy, agriculture, goods and other sectors, across the island of Ireland. Other options – a UK-EU deal that means checks are not needed and technological solutions for a "virtual" border – will also be explored. Barnier said the document contained "concrete and realistic solutions".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

The UN mission in Mali is one of the most dangerous peacekeeping operations in the world

our UN peacekeepers have been killed and four more were wounded after their vehicle hit an explosive device in Mali's central Mopti region. The UN's mission in Mali, MUNISMA, said the vehicle transporting the blue helmets struck an improvised explosive device on Wednesday. The medical evacuation of the four "seriously injured" peacekeepers was under way, a statement said.

The incident happened a day after six Malian soldiers were killed in another blast. "MINUSMA is currently upgrading its security presence in central Mali," mission chief Mahamat Saleh Annadif said. "Cornered, the terrorists are multiplying their attacks of unspeakable vileness." The UN mission in Mali, which has more than 11,000 troops and was established in 2013, is one of the most dangerous peacekeeping op-

erations in the world, with troops and convoys regularly coming under attack from armed groups. According to UN figures, more than 146 members of the mission have been killed since 2013. The security situation in Mali has been fragile since 2012 after armed groups captured the entire northern part of the country and were only pushed back a year later following a military intervention by France.

(Al Jazeera)

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thursDAY, March 1, 2018

ARCHIE

You can take action, but don't expect it to be smooth (March 21sailing. You'll face opposition, April 19) setbacks and stress. Be prepared to alter your course to ensure success. ARIES

Avoid joint financial venTAURUS tures. What you do on your (April 20- own will prove to be a much May 20) better way to spend your time and money. Celebrate your success with someone you love.

dilbert

Emotional matters will surGEMINI face regarding partnership is(May 21sues. Do your best to understand June 20)

the motives behind what someone is asking of you. Be reluctant to take on another person's problem.

Listen attentively and get along with the people you (June 21- need on your side. Networking July 22) will give you the opportunity to convince others to listen to your plans. A romantic opportunity looks promising.

CANCER

Peanuts

You'll be dancing to a difLEO ferent beat when it comes to (July 23- work and getting things done. Aug. 22) Don't underestimate someone trying to take control or make you look bad. Don't get angry, get moving. The more you interact with VIRGO others, the better. The infor(Aug. 23mation you are given and the Sept. 22) related ideas that sprout will bring you closer to the people you enjoy working alongside the most.

Calvin and Hobbes

Take care of any matters LIBRA (Sept. 23- pertaining to financial, mediOct. 23) cal or legal institutions before you move on to more enjoyable tasks. Protect your assets and personal documents. Don't lend or borrow.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — RECEIPT

Your help will be valued SCORPIO and will lead to better relation(Oct. 24ships with your peers and emNov. 22) ployer. Embrace change and the chance to use your unique talents to get ahead.

You'll be caught in the SAGITTARIUS middle if you meddle in oth(Nov. 23er people's affairs. Keep your Dec. 21) distance from anyone trying to lure you into something questionable.

(RECEIPT: rih-SEET: A written acknowledgment that a given article or sum of money has been received.) Average mark 20 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 27 or more words in RECEIPT? The list will be published tomorrow. YESTERDAY’S WORD — SCALENE

sale sane scale scan scene seal seance seen

cane case cease cense clan clean cleanse acne

alee lace lance lane lase lean lease lees

lens ease easel elan else encase enlace

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

solution for Puzzle

Reconnecting with someCAPRICORN (Dec. 22- one from your past will give Jan. 19) you a chance to revisit some of the things you used to do. An opportunity that comes your way should be considered carefully.

Listen attentively to othAQUARIUS ers' viewpoints and carefully (Jan. 20consider every angle of a cerFeb. 19) tain situation. Having a precise view will help you find a workable solution to a problem that concerns you. PISCES Listen to people's advice, (Feb. 20- but do what works best for March 20) you. Drawing from all sources of information will give you a well-rounded view of what's possible.

thursDAY, march 1, 2018

Martin Guptill was cautious early, before showing off his range (Getty Images)

en Stokes shook off any rust following an enforced break with his 11th ODI half century as he guided England to a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the second game of their five-match series at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Wednesday. Stokes only made his return to international cricket in the first match in Hamilton on Sunday after an incident outside a Bristol nightclub last September led to him being charged with affray and being stood down by selectors. He entered a plea of not guilty on Feb. 13.

The 26-yearold scored 63 not out and combined with captain Eoin Morgan (62) in an 88-run partnership as the visitors cantered to 225 for four in 37.5 overs to level the series at 1-1. Jos Buttler finished 36 not out. Stokes also claimed two wickets and was responsible for one of New Zealand’s four runouts as the hosts were bowled out for 223 with two balls remaining. The total, however, was never enough for the powerful England batting lineup even if Jason Roy and Joe Root both failed to get into double figures. Morgan, who was dropped on 27 by wicketkeeper Tom Latham and then Henry Nicholls at midwicket on 40, brought up his 35th half century before he hit a return catch to Colin Munro. “We wanted to come

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand Innings (50 overs maximum) MJ Guptill c Roy b Ali 50 C Munro c †Buttler b Woakes 1 MS Chapman c Willey b Woak es 1 LRPL Taylor run out (Willey/†Buttler) 10 TWM Latham† c Curran b Ali 22 HM Nicholls c Roy b Stokes 1 C de Grandhomme run out (Bairstow/†Buttler) 38 MJ Santner not out 63 TG Southee* run out (Stokes/†Buttler) 6 LH Ferguson c Rashid b Stokes 19 TA Boult run out (Stokes/Woak es) 2 Extras (lb-5, w-5) 10 Total (All Out; 49.4 Overs) 223 Fall of wickets: 1-6 (C Munro, 1.3 ov), 2-9 (MS Chapman, 3.2 ov), 3-48 (LRPL Taylor, 14.5 ov), 4-79 (MJ Guptill, 23.5 ov), 5-82 (HM Nicholls, 24.4 ov), 6-108 (TWM Latham, 29.6 ov), 7-141 (C de Grandhomme, 36.3 ov), 8-147 (TG Southee, 37.2 ov), 9-216 (LH Ferguson, 48.3 ov),

10-223 (TA Boult, 49.4 ov) Bowling Willey 5-0-16-0 (w-2), Woakes 7.4-1-42-2, Rashid 10-032-0, Curran 9-0-53-0 (w-3), Ali 10-0-33-2, Stokes 8-0-42-2 England Innings (target: 224 runs from 50 overs) JJ Roy c Santner b Boult 8 JM Bairstow c sub (Astle) b Ferguson 37 JE Root c de Grandhomme b Bo ult 9 EJG Morgan* c & b Munro 62 BA Stokes not out 63 JC Buttler† not out 36 Extras (lb-2, w-8) 10 Total (For 4 wickets; 37.5 Overs) 225 Did not bat: MM Ali, CR Woakes, DJ Willey, TK Curran, AU Rashid Fall of wickets: 1-15 (JJ Roy, 3.3 ov), 2-47 (JE Root, 9.5 ov), 3-86 (JM Bairstow, 15.2 ov), 4-174 (EJG Morgan, 30.3 ov) Bowling Southee 7-0-55-0 (w2), Boult 8-1-46-2, Santner 7.5-0-40-0, Ferguson 8-0-481, de Grandhomme 2-0-11-0 (w-1), Munro 5-0-23-1 (w-1)

Stokes scripts series levelling win

Ben Stokes finished with a 74-ball 63 to earn a Man-of-the-Match award in his second ODI back to the England set-up (Getty Images)

back strong after the defeat in the first game,” said manof-the-match Stokes. “We thought we let ourselves down in the first game and the lads showed that with the intensity in the field. “It’s good to get out here and train and implement it in the games. I wanted to make sure I was in the end

and it was a good stepping stone for the games coming up.” New Zealand struggled throughout their entire innings in the face of some superb England fielding, with Roy taking two brilliant diving catches. They had slumped to 108 for six after 30 overs, despite Martin Guptill scoring

50, his 34th ODI half century. All-rounder Mitchell Santner, who hit the winning runs on Sunday, however notched his first half century and finished 63 not out while Colin de Grandhomme added 38 as the lower order ensured they made the final over. “We raised our level of

intensity, especially with the first 10 overs with the ball and that was backed up in the field,” England captain Eoin Morgan said. “It was as good a performance we could have hoped for in the field.” The third match is in Wellington on Saturday. (Reuters)

Neymar out for 6 weeks P

aris St Germain forward Neymar will undergo surgery in Brazil this week after he suffered a fractured metatarsal and a sprained ankle, the French club said on Wednesday. “After tests, and with the player’s agreement, it has been decided that surgery is the best option,” PSG said in a statement. “Neymar Jr will be operated on in Brazil at the end of the week.” The surgery will be performed by the Brazil national team doctor and means the 26-yearold Neymar will miss next week’s Champions League match against Real Madrid. PSG trail Real 3-1 ahead of the last 16 second-leg game in Paris on March 6. Neymar’s father predicted the injury would

Neymar is taken off on a stretcher by medical staff after sustaining an injury

keep him out for between six to eight weeks, meaning he would return to action in plenty time for the World Cup in Russia which begins on June 14. In addition to missing PSG’s sea-

sons-defining match against Real, Neymar will also sit out Brazil’s March friendlies against Russia and Germany. Neymar, who became the world’s most expensive player last August

when PSG paid 222 million euros ($271 million) to sign him from Barcelona, has scored 28 goals and provided 16 assists for the Ligue 1 leaders this season. (Reuters)

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thursDAY, march 1, 2018

Federer named World Sportsman of the Year 2017 T

wenty-time tennis of it," said Mercedes' world the Laureus Academy grand slam cham- champion Lewis Hamilton Exceptional Achievement pion Roger Federer Also at the ceremony in award. has won the 2017 Laureus Monaco, golfer Sergio Garcia Brazilian football club World Sportsman of the secured the Breakthrough Chapecoense were given Year and Comeback of the Year awards. The 36-year-old Swiss won the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles in 2017 after nearly five years without a major. "I didn't believe I would ever come back to this level," said Federer. "The year I had was something else." Serena Williams took the World Sportswoman of the Year award after winning her 23rd grand slam in 2017. "This means the world to me," added world number one Federer. "The comebacks are always extremely emotional. Last year was a dream come true." Formula 1 constructors' champions Mercedes picked up the Team of the Year accolade, and wheelchair Roger Federer posed with the other Laureus award winners for a selfie athlete Marcel Hug won Sportsperson of the Year the Best Sporting Moment cling, Lewis Hamilton (GB) with a Disability. prize following his Masters of the Year for their re- Formula 1, Rafael Nadal "There's so much exper- success, while recent- sponse in adversity follow- (Spain) tennis. Sportswoman of the Year tise in all parts of our team, ly-retired Roma forward ing a plane crash in 2016 in I feel so proud to be a part Francesco Totti clinched which they lost the majority award Serena Williams. of their team. (BBC Sport) Also nominated: Garbine Muguruza (Spain) tennis, Winners: Caster Semenya (South Sportsman of the Year Africa) athletics, Allyson award Felix (US) athletics, Katie Roger Federer. Also nominated: Ledecky (US) swimming, Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Mikaela Shiffrin (US) alpine football, Mo Farah (GB) ath- skiing.

Bolt's big football announcement was surprising

aving suggested he was about to join a football team, 100 metre world-record holder Usain Bolt revealed he is to take part in Soccer Aid. Sprint legend Usain B o l t h a s a n -

nounced he is to take part in Unicef's Soccer Aid charity match in June, apparently laying to rest reports he was set to sign for Mamelodi Sundowns. The eight-time Olympic champion teased fans on social media with a video on Sunday in which he claimed to have signed for a football team, causing speculation to go into overdrive. Bolt, 31, has often spoken of his love for football, previously calling himself a supporter of Manchester United and Real Madrid, while he also claimed in January that he will have a trial with Borussia Dortmund in March. A tweet posted by South African club Sundowns on Monday hinted Bolt was primed to transfer his sprinting talents to professional football for them, uploading a photo of Bolt in their training gear with the caption "football will never be the same". However, Bolt's announcement revealed he will actually be appearing alongside singer Robbie Williams in a charity football match at Old Trafford on June 10. (Sportsmax)

letics, Chris Froome (GB) cy-

Roger Federer poses with the Laureus World Sports Awards â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;doubleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Team of the Year Mercedes.

Also nominated: France's Davis Cup team (tennis), Golden State Warriors (basketball), New England Patriots (American football), New Zealand's America's Cup team (sailing), Real Madrid (football). Breakthrough of the Year Sergio Garcia. Also nominated: Anthony Joshua (GB) boxing, Kylian Mbappe (France) football, Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) tennis, Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) basketball, Caeleb Dressel (US) swimming. Comeback of the Year Roger Federer. Also nominated: FC Barcelona (Spain) football, Valentino Rossi (Italy) motorsport, Sally Pearson (Australia) athletics, Justin Gatlin (US) athletics, Chapecoense (Brazil) football. Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability

Marcel Hug. Also nominated: Yui Kamiji (Japan) wheelchair tennis, Oksana Masters (US) cross-country skiing, Bibian Mentel-Spee (Netherlands) snowboarding, Jetze Plat (Netherlands) ironman, Markus Rehm (Germany) long jump. Action Sportsperson of the Year Armel Le Cleac'h. Also nominated: Tyler Wright (Australia) surfing, John John Florence (US) surfing, Anna Gasser (Austria) snowboarding, Mark McMorris (Canada) snowboarding, Nyjah Huston (US) skateboarding. Best Sporting Moment of the Year Chapecoense. Also nominated: The Iowa Hawkeyes and the 'Kinnick Wave' (US) American football, Bradley Lowery and his special bond with Jermain Defoe (GB) football, Kimi Raikkonen and his six-year-old fan Thomas Danel (Finland) Formula 1, Billy Monger (GB) motorsport. (BBC Sport)

Dravid's request to halve U-19 reward granted

Rahul Dravid (right) speaks to Simon Doull after the U-19 World Cup final in New Zealand

t can be assumed that Rahul Dravid doesn't take anything for granted since he has twice declined doctorates that were being conferred on him by two different universities in Karnataka. Dravid believed in earning the honour. No surprise then that Dravid recently asked the BCCI to halve the monetary reward he was being allotted for helping India win the Under-19 World Cup. To celebrate the victory, the BCCI, at the behest of the Committee of

Administrators (COA), decided to give Dravid, the Under-19 coach, INR 50 lakhs while granting the players INR 30 lakhs each, and the support staff members INR 20 lakhs each. Once the garlands and bouquets were binned and the celebratory noise died, Dravid quietly contacted the BCCI chief executive officer Rahul Johri and informed him that as a matter of principle, he would not want any more than the players or the support staff members, who had played an equal role in

India winning the title. In fact, Dravid expressed his disagreement over the BCCI's decision on the day India beat Australia in the final to win the Under-19 World Cup. ESPNcricinfo understands Dravid informed Ratnakar Shetty, incharge of women's and Under-19 cricket at the BCCI, of his displeasure, saying the board could not hold him over the rest of the coaching staff. The CoA chief Vinod Rai confirmed that Dravid's request was accepted at a

meeting in Mumbai this week. Although the BCCI is yet to communicate the decision officially to the Under-19 support staff, they are set to receive the same amount as Dravid: INR 25 lakhs each. "He felt that all the support staff should be adequately compensated, too. So he gave a viewpoint," Rai told ESPNcricinfo. "He (Dravid) said you can reduce my [reward] but pay the players and other people, too." In the past, whenever India have won global tournaments, the BCCI has paid the players more than the coach. This was the first time the coach was getting nearly double that of the players. According to Rai, the decision to pay Dravid more was because of his seniority. "Our logic was since he is a senior official and he has been involved with the team [for a long time], so we can't equate him with the junior players. But he talked about principle and so we have acceded to his request and accepted his proposal." (ESPN Cricinfo)

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sports

Bush Lot trample Floodlights in fundraising T20

he Bush Lot United Cricket Club of West Coast Berbice defeated Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association’s (GFSCA) Floodlights Masters by 6 wickets with 5 balls to spare in a thrilling T20 fund raising match played at the Bush Lot Cricket Ground on Mashramani Day. The match was part of a family fun day organized by the executive members of the Bush Lot Mandir, proceeds of which will go towards repairs to the fence of the place of worship. On a hot day with cloudless skies, Floodlights Masters won the toss and took first strike. They galloped to 42 for 1 wicket in the first four overs. Opener Robin Bacchus, a national senior cricketer and guest player was the first to go bowled by R Kishun for 19. His partner national under 19 opener Alex Algoo, another guest player, continued the assault in the company of Uniss Yusuf and former Berbice under 15 all-rounder Aaron Beharry, to take the score to 143 in the 15th

Steve Narine of GFSCA (left) hands over the winning trophy to Rajbance Hemraj in the presence of his Bush Lot United Cricket Club teammates

over. Algoo made 58 with 3x6 and 9x4, Yusuf 26 and Beharry 22. Thereafter, the innings fell part with the visitors losing quick wickets in quest for runs ending on

171 for 8 off their allotted 20 overs. Tameshwar Persaud was the pick of the bowlers taking 3 for 22 off 4 overs. In reply, the host started poorly, losing their first

wicket at 20. A. Matabeek join Raphael Estriado and played positively to take the score to 60 for 2 in just the fifth over before losing Matabeek for 22.

Christendat Bissoon came and went early for 10 with Floodlights fighting back. However, Bush Lot United had other ideas as the skipper Rajbance Hemraj came to the crease. He lost Estriado for 31 but teamed up with Ralph Ogle to take his team to victory in the final over. Hemraj was unbeaten on 59 (2x6; 6x4) and Ogle was 17 not out. Anil Beharry took 2 wickets. He got support from his son Aaron Beharry and 2018 Inter County under 15 selectee Ajay Gainda 1 wicket a-piece. At the after match presentation ceremony, Hemraj was named Man of the Match. He thanked the organizers for the game, congratulated his team and wished the opponents better luck next time. Speaking on behalf of the visitors, Steve Narine congratulated the winners and thanked the organizers for the invitation. In a kind gesture, Ricky Deonarain donated $50,000 on behalf of GFSCA. Lalta Gainda of Gainmart, UG Road and of Bel Air Rubis also made a contribution of $25,000 towards the project.

Poole “100% confident” boxers will qualify for CAC Games G

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Collin Lewis

u y a n a B o x i n g Association (GBA) Technical Director Terrence Poole is overwhelmed with confidence that Keevin Allicock and Collin Lewis will qualify for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games slated for July 19- August 3 in Colombia. The duo departed Guyana on Wednesday destined to Mexico City where they participate in a training programme from March 1-8 ahead of the qualifiers from March 10 in Tijuana. “That is the reason they are going there. Both of them have 100% chance each of qualifying for CAC Games but before they get into that they will do the training camp. They were in preparation since last year so they definitely should see themselves going to the games,” Poole told Guyana Times Sport

on Wednesday. He added, “The great advantage for them is acclimatisation which is important as we know Mexico is a very high place but they have enough days to settle and if they do this they will be able to perform at their best.” Poole who is the country’s first Three Staraccredited coach gaged their readiness based on Sunday’s

Patrick Ford Memorial card where both fighters showed ominous signs. The 18 year-old Allicock who fights for the Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym got in the ring with Jamal Eastman of the Rose Hall Gym and battered the Berbician until the final three seconds into the final round in their bantamweight bout. While Lewis, a 24 year-old from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) gym

for the second time in two months ‘parked’ St Lucia’s Nathan Ferrari with a knock-out blow just one minute 54 seconds into the first round. “The results showed progress was made with training; Ferrari is not any easy opponent and Lewis destroying him in half of a round was tremendous while though Allicock had defeated Eastman before the coaches were not stratified in the manner but this time he came better which shows improvement.” A number of Caribbean and Latin American countries are set to participate in the qualifiers in which Poole will join the team on March 8. After the qualifiers, the boxers will turn their attention to the Commonwealth Games from April 4-15 in Australia. Though Poole was unable to confirm any overseas training stints, GBA President Steve Ninvalle had submitted a proposal to the Guyana Olympic Association for duo to be engaged in a training stint with the renowned trainer Gary St. Clair at his gym Australia. (Akeem Greene)

Keevin Allicock

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, march 1, 2018

“To be the best you have to beat the best” …Britton expresses confidence in securing CAC spot

ineteen-year-old national racket-wilder Shemar Britton knows a tough task is on the cards but is by no means fazed as he participates in the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Table Tennis qualifiers which got underway Wednesday and concludes Sunday in Cuba. “I am not nervous at all; to be the best you have to beat the best so I am looking forward to defeating the best players Central and Latin America has to offer” he told Guyana Times Sport prior to depar-

ture on Tuesday. He added, “My technique is sharper, I am sharper, I am psychically fitter; I am ready for the battle.” Britton forms part of a contingent that includes Christopher Franklin, Joel Alleyene and Nigel Bryan, Natalie Cummings, JodyAnn Blake and Trenace Lowe. Given only the top eight of the 13 male teams make the cut and the top four for singles, he expressed confidence they can accomplish those requirements for the July 19 to August 3 CAC Games in

Colombia. “We have earned a top five in the CAC but we are still looking to move from there and break into the top three. We are building a bond since we train with each other and are all friends, so it’s now about executing our tactics.” Immediately after these qualifiers Britton and Allyene will stay on in Havana for the Latin American championships from March 4-9 after which his attention turns to the Commonwealth Games from April 4-15 in Gold Coast, Australia.

Corona Futsal Tournament…

CONCACAF Elite Referee Course 2018…

Johnson eager to share knowledge with colleagues N

Tucville, Showstoppers produce 10-goal thriller The action is picking up with every game at the National Gymnasium

t was goals non-stop when Tucville and Showstoppers clashed on Tuesday on the the second night of the exciting Corona Futsal Tournament held at the National Gymnasium. It seemed difficult for any of the fans to take their eyes off the action as the two teams traded goals one after the other. In the end, it was the West Demerara unit that edged ahead in the final minutes to win 6-4. Dexroy Adams was the man for Showstoppers with a hat-trick of goals in the 5th, 13th and 18th minutes. He was ably being assisted by Trayon Bobb (19th), Marvin Josiah (12th) and Ryan James (13th) while Edwards brothers Raphael (14th) and Dennis (17th) along with Dellon Williams (3rd) and Jahaal Greaves (6th) netted for Tucville. New-comers Alpha Warriors who mauled Kingston 5-1, were lead by

Benji (only name given) with strikes in the 1st, 8th and 10th and supported by Akosi Jervis (15th) and Delwin Fraser (17th) while Nigel Denny found the back of the net for Kingston in the 5th. California Square were also served a 5-0 thumping by title favourites Bent Street; the shared goals came from Ryan Hackett (6th & 12th), Solomon Austin (12th), Travis Lyken (19th) and Andrew Murrary Jr (19th). Old Skool Ballers were too much for New Market Street winning 4-1 on the back of a double by Raushan Ritch (12th & 13th) and strikes from Fabian Crawford 11th and Omari James 18th; Orlando Rickett scored in the 13th for the losers. Likewise, North East La Penitence were perfect against Channel Nine Warriors winning 4-0 with Kelvin Moore (5th & 6th), Mickel Brandt

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Scotland, the senior Caribbean Bronze medallist was the youngest of the lot with the likes of Franklin, Paul David and Idi Lewis as company. “It was a great tour for me, I was able to go with the senior guys and I learnt a lot that tour, being able to just watch on and soak up as much information as possible. Now I am more seasoned and ready to give a better account of myself”, the fore-arm dominant player posited. (Akeem Greene)

(13th) and Keifer Brandt (14th) doing the business. The final match of the night saw West Front Road’s Gold is Money trouncing Sophia 4-1 as brothers Jamal Pedro (6th) and Hubert Perdor netting in the 6th and 18th respectively while Collin Nelson and Joshua Browne made additional inroads in the 16th and 17th; Dwayne Lowe brought some consolidation for the opposition with a goal in the 17th. The tournament which is collaboration with NAMILCO Wheat Gem and Hero Motorcycle will continue on Saturday with six more group matches commencing at 19:00h. The winning purse for teams is the $600,000 and the championship trophy while two Hero motor cycles will be awarded to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the other to a lucky spectator at the finals on Easter Saturday (March 31).

ational FIFA referee Gladwyn Johnson on Wednesday, wrapped up a three-day training programme for CONCACAF 2018 elite referees in Costa Rica. The programme, which began on February 25, 2018, was aimed at the continued development of the elite referees, both male and female. Johnson’s participation was part of the “Targeted Advanced Referee Programme” (TARP). In an invited comment, Johnson, who successfully completed the fitness test as part of the programme, said he was eager to share the knowledge acquired with the other national referees: “I will continue to work, do well at the fitness test, and perform all classroom tests as well as training on the field. As I strive for excellence to officiate at the highest level (World Cup), I will pay attention to all details so that I can get better than I am. When I return home, I will share the knowledge I gain with my fellow referees so that everyone can be at their best.” Johnson also expressed gratitude to the Creator for having the opportunity of being among the

top referees who participated in the CONCACAF programme, which included 19 Elite referees and 12 targeted referees. Among the key areas focused on were the physical fitness testing, practical and technical training and classroom and field sessions, including video tests.

Gladwyn Johnson

thursDAY, march 1, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018…

Today is Player Draft in London …live coverage available worldwide

fter the final list of players were submitted to the various franchises, the most crucial Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) draft to date takes place today in

London, England. The marquee event will be televised and streamed for fans around the world to watch the teams select their squads for the 2018 tournament. Today’s draft holds slightly more interest following the drastic increase of players that are included for the sixth edition of the ‘Biggest Party In Sport.’ This year, the number of players that have put their names forward for selection to the six franchise teams has increased from 258 in 2017 to 348 with 227 of those players coming from out of the Caribbean while 121 are Regional players. The international players are from 18 countries where 53 are from Pakistan and 32 from Sri Lanka while the other 142 are from England, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan,

I r e l a n d , Canada, USA, Oman, Hong Kong, Scotland, Nepal, UAE and Kenya. Some of the

players that will be available for selection or retention are B r e n d o n McCullum, Chris Lynn, Mohammad Amir, D’Arcy Short, Kieron Pollard, Chris Rashid Khan was the Guyana Amazon Warriors' most economical bowler in 2017

Gayle, Hashim Amla, Shahid Afridi and Usman Khawaja as well as English players Alex Hales and Adil Rashid. Additionally, this year the tour-

nament window means that all West Indies players are also available for the duration of the tournament. Prior to today’s draft, teams are allowed to retain as much of their players from 2017 and will complement their squads by selecting from the wider pool of players in the draft as well as a player from the ICC Americas. Speaking about the broadcast being available across these various platforms, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hero CPL, Damien O’Donohoe, said: “The Hero CPL draft is where we begin the buildup to the Biggest Party in Sport and we are delighted that fans from around the world will be able to watch as teams fill their rosters with the best players from across the cricketing globe. The Hero CPL continues to grow year on year and with all West Indies players being available for the 2018 tournament the standard of cricketing talent on display is better than ever.” The draft gets underway at 11:00h Guyana time (15:00h GMT, 20:30h IST, 11:000h ECT, 10:00h EST) at the state of the art Gfinity eSports arena in London. There will be analysis from Daren Ganga and Harsha Bhogle who will be discussing the world-class cricketers that will be taking part in this year’s tournament that gets underway on 8 August.

Meanwhile, the following platforms will be showing the broadcast: Facebook – www.facebook. com/CarnivalT20; Twitter – www. twitter.com/CPL and Sportsmax across the Caribbean. In the 2017 edition of the tournament, Chadwick Walton was the leading run scorer with 458 runs at an average of 41.63 in 12 matches for the Guyana Amazon Warriors while Luke Ronchi who was a replacement for martin Guptil (142 runs from 7 matches) topped the averages with 57.33 after scoring 172 runs in four matches. Jason Mohammed who had a dream season in 2016 scored 292 runs in 12 matches while Gajanand Singh made 151 runs from 11 matches in his debut season last year. W i t h the ball, Sohail Tanveer picked up 17 wicke t s ,

Rashid Khan 16 and Rayad Emrit 15. Against the Barbados Tridents in Bridgetown, Tanveer took 5 for 3, the best figures in 2017 while Khan was the most economical going for just 5.82 runs per over.

Pakistani left-arm seamer Sohail Tanveer has been the Guyana Amazon Warriors' leading bowler over the last two seasons with 37 wickets

JJTRC/Triple Crown 1…

Organisers reaching out to horse owners

i t h

three days to go before the first running of the inaugural Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee (JJTRC) Triple Crown begins, the organizers have announced that they are reaching out to bring all horses on a level playing field. In what was considered as another major step in assisting smaller owners to make the sport of kings to continue to grow in Guyana, Nasrudeen Mohamed Jr said that the JJTRC have decided to transport horses to and from the Rising Sun Turf Club on the Corentyne at a heavily subsidized rate. “All the horse owners need to do is to make contact with any

…as 1st leg draws close

committee member and we will transport their horses to and from the race track for less than half of the price they currently pay,” Mohamed said. What’s more, the organizers are offering a great entry to the 2018 Guyana Cup to any horse that participate in the Triple Crown event. “Any horse that wins three races, even if it's three races in two of the Triple Crown race days will be granted free entry to the Guyana cup 2018,” the event organizer told Guyana Times Sport. The inaugural Triple Crown opens on Sunday March 4 at the Rising Sun Turf Club where seven events are carded for the day. The second leg is on April 1 at the Port Mourant Turf Club where 1,000 kites will be distributed to turfites

Vera Finally had a productive 2017 and will be enthusiastic to go in the Triple Crown

at no cost. The curtains will come down on the Triple Crown in April 29 when the action returns to the Rising Sun Turf Club. In excess of $20M is at stake across the three days. So far there are approximately 70 entries including Just Call Me Boss, Princess She's Not, Vera's Finally, Storm bird, Honey Flow and Its ‘My Choice. Mohamed also reported that the track at Rising Sun is in immaculate shape and that the races will produce fast times like never before. The feature race of the day is for horses classified “C” and Lower covering a distance of 1,200m with $1,000,000 going to the winner. The other events are for horses classified “F” and Lower and the E Class None-Earners at their last start; 3-year-old Guyana Bred

horses; those classed “H1” and Lower; “K” Class None earners in their last race and the “L” and Lower. All events will see the horses galloping over 1,200m except in the “K” Class None Earners race which will cover a distance of 1,100m. Additionally, tickets will be on sale throughout the day for the grand raffle where the first prize of a brand new the Nissan Tida motor car will be up for grabs. The JJTRC especially thank Banks DIH Limited, Republic Bank, K. Jagdeo Construction, Chester Fried Fried Chicken, The Trophy stall and Jumbo Jet Auto Sales for their support so far. The first race is at 12:00h and admission is $1,500.

thursDAY, march 1, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018…

Today is Player Draft in London …live coverage available worldwide

Pg 23

Rashid Khan and Chadwick Walton were impressive in their opening season for the Guyana Amazon Warriors

JJTRC/Triple Crown 1…

Organisers reaching out to horse owners

Pg 23

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