Guyanatime 20 July 2017

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Digicel introduces “unlimited rollover” to customers today Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3277

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, July 20, 2017

PRICE

GECOM Chair impasse

Jagdeo moving ahead with 3rd list ... as President dismisses Chief Justice’s ruling See stories on pages 9 & 10

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

P2 Jail escapee spotted in Corentyne

… eludes Joint Services, believed injured

… challenges separation of powers doctrine

Rupert Roopnaraine quits Government Page 7

Court of Appeal, Puisne Judges appointed

Page 2

Man blames P8 ganja use for committing robbery

Guyana, P7 India ink US$17.5M agreement

Gaskin P12 speaks to food security, sustainability …at launch of GMSA’s “Uncapped” Expo

NBS wrongful dismissal case

New judges: President David Granger is flanked by new Court of Appeal Judge Rishi Persaud (far right) and new Puisne Judge Damone Younge (far left), Puisne Judges Gino Persaud, Sandil Kissoon and Simone Morris-Ramlall who were all sworn in on Wednesday

Page 10

Vessel with 95kg cocaine nabbed in Pomeroon River

Luckhoo P14 expects swift court action for compensation

2 news

thursDAY, july 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.co

Court of Appeal, Puisne Jail escapee spotted in Corentyne … eludes Joint Services, believed injured Judges appointed

Chancellor (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards (far right) along with Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George (left) along with new Court of Appeal Judge Rishi Persaud (centre) and new Puisne Judges Damone Younge, Gino Persaud, Sandil Kissoon and Simone Morris-Ramlall

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ore than a year following recommendations for appointments from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) President David Granger on Wednesday swore in a Justice of Appeal along with four new Judges to serve in the chambers of the High Court.

High Court Judge Rishi Persaud has been elevated to serve in the Court of Appeal while attorneys Simone Morris-Ramlall, Damone Younge, Sandil Kissoon and Gino Persaud have been appointed Puisne Judges.

The Head of State speaking at the simple ceremony at State House reminded that the Judiciary is the guardian of the Constitution.

The appointments, he said, were made in exercise of the powers conferred upon him as President by article

128-1 of the Constitution of Guyana which states that “the Judges, other than the Chancellor and the Chief Justice, shall be appointed by the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, and article 128-2 which states “the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, may appoint a person to act in the office of Justice of Appeal or Puisne Judge, as the case may require”.

The new Judges have been appointed with effect July 17.

According to President Granger, independence of the Judiciary is necessary to protect the rights of citizens and ensure that legal controversies are settled in a lawful manner.

“It secures the rule of law and acts as a safeguard against tyranny and pressure. The Judiciary must be sustained if Guyana is to remain a law-based State,” he said, continuing that the Constitution of Guyana makes provision for allowing the independence of the Judiciary from the perils of Executive and Legislative encroachment.

“The Executive arm of Government is committed to promoting, protecting and preserving judicial independence.

In February 2016, the JSC had unanimously recommended that High Court Judges, Justices Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory be appointed to the Court of Appeal, and Attorneys Sandil Kissoon and Damone Younge be appointed Puisne Judges.

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Wanted: Mark Royden Durant, Uree Varswyck and Cobena Stephens

embers of the Joint Services have now focused their attention on Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), where escaped prisoner Stafrei Alexander Hopkinson was spotted on Wednesday.

Reports are Joint Services ranks acting on information swooped down on an area in Port Mourant, where a teenager and his mother were arrested for allegedly harbouring the criminal. Several other persons were also arrested as Police close in on a ring which was allegedly harbouring the wanted man.

Reports reaching Guyana Times stated that the wanted prison escapee was seen and shot at, but nevertheless managed to elude capture.

This publication was told that there were two bullet holes in the hammock in which the wanted man was seen sleeping. Police later

Spotted: Wanted man Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander

found a knife in the hammock. When this newspaper arrived at the scene, which is about one mile into the cane fields behind Port Mourant, Corentyne, there were a food box in the tree to which the hammock was tied and an empty water bottle.

According to a source, Joint Services ranks were transported to the area via boat about 05:45h. As they approached the man, two

shots were fired. It is believed that the wanted man was shot, as there were bullet holes in the hammock.

The ranks then began to search the area with the support of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) helicopter.

Guyana Times was also told that on Tuesday evening, Joint Services ranks were seen in Ankerville, Port Mourant.

According to one villager, five shots were fired, then rapid gunfire was heard.

“The shots come rapid, rapid,” a resident told this publication.

A food vendor and her son were subsequently arrested. Reports are the vendor’s son had reportedly taken food to Alexander.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan confirmed that Alexander was seen in Berbice, saying that the prison escapees have now split up. He said through intelligence the Joint Services acquired information that led to the operation.

news

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thursDAY, july 20, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, July 20 – a nighttime retraction at 01:30h and a daytime retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, July 21 – a nighttime retraction at 02:30h and a daytime retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, July 20 – 14:05h-15:35h and Friday, July 21 – 15:05h-16:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Thundery to heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected during the day while clear to partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging between Easterly and East Southeasterly and South Easterly between 1.34 metre and 2.68 metres.

High Tide: 01:25h and 14:04h reaching maximum heights of 2.52 metres and 2.45 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 07:32h and 19:55h reaching minimum heights of 0.66 metre and 0.76 metre.

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Oil & gas development

“We have to look out for Guyana” – Opposition Leader

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overnment has the ultimate responsibility to safeguard the country’s national interest and ensure that it benefits equally from the new oil and gas sector. However, in order to do this, they must ensure that the necessary mechanisms are in place to build local technical capacity to handle this new sector.

This is according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who said on Wednesday that there is no attempt by the current Administration to acquire these skills and the lack of transparency could mean that they are not prepared to work towards acquiring the best out of this sector for all Guyanese.

“My fear is that they will be hopelessly out manoeuvred not because ExxonMobil is a monster, but because ExxonMobil will look out for ExxonMobil and we have to look out for Guyana,” Jagdeo said while noting that if Government secures the technical expertise at all levels of this new sector, Guyana stands to benefit immeasurably from the continuing negotiations with these oil companies.

Through solid partnership, both sides are set to benefit. But Jagdeo said it must be met through solid engagement agreements.

“We have to build the technical capacity to make sure

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

that once we sign the agreement with ExxonMobil and there are agreements that can withstand international scrutiny, that we have the capacity to enforce those regulations and that agreement,” he added.

The Opposition Leader was quick to point out the magnitude of ExxonMobil’s global operation, whose earning alone would dwarf the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of many countries.

“ExxonMobil may have more technical people than Caribbean countries put together. So, when we deal with a company of this nature, we have to get as many skilled people who have clarity about our negotiation, who can prepare for any negotiation and discussion,” he added.

He continued: “I don’t care what they did in Trinidad and Tobago. Once we protect our national interest, we have a duty. ExxonMobil will always look out for them but the idea is we have to look out for ourselves to get a fair share and then the partnership will run smoothly.”

But Jagdeo again stated his lack of confidence in the current members of Government being able to lead technical negotiations with the US oil giant and other major oil companies. He said, “I know lots of APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) people who may do better, but they are not given

prominence, but who would do one hundred times a better job… but they are not there.”

While information about this sector has not been forthcoming, Jagdeo said in the name of transparency, Government should reveal to the Opposition who the lead negotiators for Guyana are, and what the negotiation briefs are about, so that they can share their views.

He even suggested that it be discussed in small circles, through committees so that the information does not become public.

GRA unit

While recognising that Government has moved to create a special unit at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to deal with invoices from ExxonMobil and other oil companies in the petroleum sector, Jagdeo said this new move paints a perfect picture that Government is getting ready for the new sector, but he is of the strong opinion that it is one that

does not defend the best interest of the country.

“If the GRA doesn’t even have the capacity to conduct audits on many of our businesses now, something has to be wrong. GRA is collecting our taxes. We have to have a unit that is properly staffed that has people with experience in dealing with the petroleum industry who can say this service we are buying here, we are aware that it could be competitively sourced from another place at same quality.”

Jagdeo said he had no confidence that GRA could manage this task. “They are struggling to go after people to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) and even complex local invoices they can’t handle,” he added.

“I would have preferred an industry that has longterm implications, would have been dealt with in a more apolitical fashion but when you try to raise issues of a technical nature…,” Jagdeo remarked.

He again stated reasons why the Opposition will not support the Petroleum Commission Bill stressing that it gives the Minister too much power, giving the Minister responsible for petroleum, the authority to terminate the Board of the Commission at any time. The Minister would also be granted the power to discharge the functions of the Board if the Board is not appointed.

On that basis, Jagdeo said the oil and gas model being developed by the current Administration, “will not allow us to build strong technical capacity. So that is the huge problem we have with the approach with this Government.”

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THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2017

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

GECOM Chair Saga

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t is rather unfortunate that the ruling by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George has not brought closure to the matter that has vexed our nation since the beginning of this year - -the selection of a chairman of GECOM. The facts are too well known to be rehearsed save for the actual statement of the constitutional Article that governs the issue.

Article 161 (2) states, “Subject to the provisions of paragraph 4, the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.

“Provided that if the Leader of the Opposition fails to submit a list as provided for, the President shall appoint a person who holds or has held office as a judge …”

After Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had submitted two lists that were summarily dismissed

by President David Granger, based on his own idiosyncratic interpretation of Article 161 (2), a private citizen, Marcel Gaskin, took the matter to the High Court to have a conclusive interpretation.

This the Chief Justice just did and concluded that the contention the President had been making from the beginning – namely that the nominated individuals must either be an ex-judge or a person qualified to be a judge – was not correct.

While we do not have a written explication of the judgement, it was clear to most that since the prior rule on selecting the GECOM Chair specified he/she be a judge, and this was being altered, the prior rule could not have been left intact. The Judge agreed that the stipulation of any other “fit and proper” person – of which a judge could be one specimen – would satisfy the condition. This, of course, was the common sense interpretation based on the intent of the framers in 2000 and their subsequent utilisation of the clause. We do not have to get bogged down in arcane arguments about constitutional “originalism” when the intent and application are so fresh. To have ruled otherwise would have made the law an ass.

The CJ’s ruling that the President must clearly state why any name submitted on a list was rejected is very useful, since even though he has provided a set of criteria, a court may have to interpret whether he is being arbitrary and capricious in his rejection.

Thus, while it is within the right of the President to reject any or all names on a list, his rejections are not unfettered.

But there is one matter which has already been raised by the plaintiff, who is awaiting the written judgement to ensure the verbal articulation was not ambiguous. This is when the acting Chief Justice purported to answer a question that was not posed in the pleadings, concerning the options available to the President after a rejected list. As has been stated by legal luminaries, this is obiter dicta – irrelevant in this case and not binding on any subsequent pleadings.

However, it does signal how the CJ would rule in the event the President uses this option, which it appears certain he would. But, once again, the rule for the President to unilaterally choose a GECOM chair is clear from Article 161 (2) – “Provided that if the Leader of the Opposition fails to submit a list as provided for…” Not if the President rejects all names on a proffered list, even with reasons provided. To allow the President to benefit from his own artifice, would be to degut the intent of Article 161 (2).

Workers check power lines during maintenance work in Laian, in China's eastern Anhui province (The Telegraph)

REOs are way below acceptable balance of regional administrators Dear Editor, Most of the 71 Local Authority Areas (LAAs) in Guyana are experiencing severe and increasing hardships. The creation of the situation is a matter of serious concern since no effort is being taken to alleviate the growing discomfort.

The sufferings are realised as a consequence of the Government’s junta type and militaristic under-cutting policies, led by the dictatorship Communities Ministry.

Candid evidence of the execution of this sinister plot exists in the new modelled approach of the Ministry to further empower the administrative officers they control, instead of the Councils elected by the people. In this respect, the Regional Executive Officers (REOs) and to some extent, overseers of some of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs); are being protected by the Minister to deliberately derail the programmes of the Council. With the REOs having some fiduciary oversight over NDCs, the extents of political biases are being fully manipulated.

Councillors in all of the LAAs have bitterly complained that they have engaged residents in discussions and held community meetings to work out proper work plans and work schedules for priority issues. However, the overseers and REOs are frustrating all their efforts to get things done in the communities.

Complaints to the Ministry

have been falling on deaf ears, even as it seems to be deliberately withholding the establishment of the Local Government Commission, as the constitutionally approved monitoring institution in these matters.

At the regional administration level, the exercise of bias is quite overwhelming. The REOs are making machinery available for works to be done only in A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) won constituencies. In many other cases, machinery is sent to work in the NDC areas on the behest of APNU/AFC representatives and Councillors, without the knowledge of the Chairmen and overseers.

Additionally, there are cases when machinery dispatched from the regional administration to do works in some LAAs, the partisan and glaring approach ensures that the APNU/AFC controlled constituents are served first. Subsequently, when the machineries are ready to service the People’s Progressive Party controlled constituencies, they are immediately removed from the LAAs. It is now public information that political regional representatives of the APNU/ AFC are being accommodated in office space at regional administration buildings.

It is an approach to facilitate their direct operational oversight, in a sense of being given the authority to make decisions for the regions in

keeping with the APNU/AFC agenda.

Some of these political persons are even advisors to the REOs. This as a consequence, realises a situation of ensuring that every project and most development works in the LAAs are politically directed; that the Regional Tender Boards are prejudicially configurated to carry out the political directives, in a manner that their supporters are the sole beneficiaries of contracts.

Further, the selective approach to effecting drainage and Irrigation along with the clog-up drains and trenches, are realising silted-up areas in front of the Kokers and sluices. It is also criminal and a waste of resources to try cleaning the areas when the rain is falling and the communities are under water. The reactive attitude of the APNU/AFC is a clear indication that they want the people to suffer, perhaps in the false hope that they may vote for new leadership at the next Local Government Elections. We will see what happens!!

Most of the NDCs are trying to get their constituency representatives to follow-up in their area of responsibilities; and to make representations for works to be done in an effort to make the environment friendlier to live.

However, it’s far too often that when request to get work done are sent for the approval of the REOs, weeks and months go by in utter frustrations before some

form of communication is received. The people should join in demanding the removal of these square pegs. Political frustrating cronies must get out of the way because proper coordination and improving relationships among the people is imperative for the further development in the communities.

These is no denying that the attitude of many REOs standout as falling way below acceptable balance of regional administrators. Some acts like gods unto themselves.

The Regional Executive Officer in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) is certainly an insult to our hard working teachers. For evidence of arbitrariness, incompetence and poor administrative ability, one only has to look at the serious flooding and the clogging up of the drainage trenches and the ineffective sluices in the region.

As for the REO in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), the floods and the non-development in the region are not worrying him at all. Some of these administrators are deliberately procrastinating and hindering development and local governance in the regions and LAAs as the responsible Ministry remains quiet and protective.

The appointment of the Local Government Commission is a matter of urgency for the staff to function in the interest of the people.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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thursDAY, july 20, 2017

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

Assault on separation of powers Dear Editor, Fundamental to our constitutional democracy is the doctrine of Separation of Powers. Under that doctrine, the Judiciary is that branch of the Government vested with the sole and exclusive responsibility to pronounce conclusively on legal matters. Additionally, the Judiciary is the guardian of our Constitution and only the Judiciary can pronounce conclusively on the Constitution, its interpretation and effect.

Against this backdrop, the statements attributed in the press to the President on acting Chief Justice Roxane George’s recent ruling on the Marcel Gaskin matter are nothing short of

an aggravated assault on the doctrine of Separation of Powers, the Constitution itself and on the Chief Justice of this country.

There are the most intemperate and contumacious utterances emanating from a Head of State and directed to a Chief Justice in the English-speaking Caribbean in recent memory.

The President must understand that in the face of a pronouncement from the Judiciary on legal and constitutional matters, his obdurate and obstinate personal perceptions of what the Constitution says or means fade into oblivion and must yield in deference to those judicial pronounce-

ments, whether he agrees with them or not. That is the unconditional and unqualified duty of every citizen of this land, without exception.

Unfortunately, the President’s remarks are not isolated. To understand the gravity of this situation, it is necessary to examine the President’s remarks against a larger mosaic of similar conduct from other functionaries in his Administration.

The Attorney General, the Chief Legal Advisor of the Government, is on record of unleashing a most scandalising attack on the former Chancellor of the Judiciary, as a result of a recent decision delivered

by the Court of Appeals of which the Chancellor was the President.

This was followed by the very Attorney General launching another contemptuous tirade against a High Court judge in open court causing that Judge to unceremoniously walk off the bench and lodge a letter of complaint with his superiors.

Then you have a series of well-documented policies and actions designed to undermine similarly independent constitutional oversight bodies.

In this admixture, one must add the fact that the President dithered and dilated for one and a half years on recommendations

Police permission reversal a worrying sign Dear Editor, A vigil organised by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) outside of the State House, Main Street, Georgetown for July 19, 2017, had to be abandoned after the Guyana Police Force withdrew its approval. The decision by the Police Force is very upsetting and seems to indicate that there is a concerted attempt to silence the voices of dissent and disagreement.

The FITUG-organised vigil had sought to express solidarity with the nation’s beleaguered sugar workers. It was also intended to call to attention that thousands of ordinary, hardworking Guyanese are threatened with impoverishment and misery as a result of the Administration’s plans to close and sell a number of sugar estates.

The Federation had hoped that the vigil in front of the President’s residence would highlight the difficulties that would confront the communities of Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon as we see nowa-days playing out at Wales.

The Federation by letter dated July 13, 2017 to the Commissioner of Police sought permission to conduct the activity. We next heard

from the Police Force by letter of July 17, 2017 which advised “…that approval is given for you [FITUG] to hold a “VIGIL” on Wednesday 19th, July 2017”.

The FITUG was then unpleasantly surprised when we received another letter from the Police Force dated July 18, 2017 saying inter alia that “…due to the present situation in the country approval cannot be given as this time for the VIGIL.” The sudden and short reversal in positions by the Police Force for us is both perplexing and of great concern. It would not be unusual to hold, that the Police when examining our request must have taken into account the prevalent situation in the country. The Police’s explanation, in our view, seems to have provoked more questions than answers.

The revocation cannot be disconnected from a somewhat similar incident which confronted the GAWU a few months back when the Police, for inexplicable reasons, denied that Union permission to conduct a march on the East Coast of Demerara. Certainly, this latest action serves to heighten our anxieties and reminds of a time in our nation when democratic expression was

curtailed The FITUG cannot help but wonder, this time around, whether the “present situation in the country” will be used as a guise to undermine and deny Guyanese their inalienable rights and to deprive our people of their constitutional freedoms of expression and assembly. Is it that the July 9, 2017 Camp Street Prison incident is being used as the pretext to heighten surveillance and to promote invasion of privacy on the ground of so-called searches.

The 180 degree turn in this matter is of grave concern and is very worrying to us in the FITUG.

While we uphold and promote respect for the laws of the lands but must place on record our strongest condemnation at this revocation which, in effect, is not in keeping with established Trade Union rights and serves to deny citizens their rights as enshrined in the Constitution.

The FITUG believes that this development does not augur well for our democratic future or for the touted ‘Good Life’ which is so elusive to the workers. We call on all right-thinking Guyanese to condemn this denial.

Sincerely, FITUG

from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to appoint Judges, when the Constitution mandates him to act promptly.

Lastly, the nation is also aware of the President’s belief that he can determine the legality of important documents such as 99-yearold leases and eject from the leasehold premises the occupants within 48 hours, without any resort to the Judiciary.

The above are by no means exhaustive. But they all support a contention which I have consistently advanced over the last two years that there is a rise of authoritarianism in Guyana and that the authoritarian perceives dem-

ocratic and constitutional institutions as nothing but obstacles. This recent incident has again vindicated my contentions.

It is the duty of every citizen to protect and preserve the independence of our Judiciary and similar independent institutions.

For it is only the Judiciary and those institutions, which will restrain this Administration from continuing to violate the rule of law, our Constitution and the civil liberties of our citizens. We need them now more than ever.

Sincerely, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP

One of the more educated, intelligent, articulate politicians of our time Dear Editor, This is truly a difficult one. My memories of Dr Rupert Roopnaraine go back to him on the campaign trails in earlier elections. I remember him very energised and reaching into his soul during his deliveries, convinced that common sense would prevail at the polls.

I remember him during this 2015 election, with less steam, less enthusiastic about the outcome, convinced that racism would triumph again.

I am sure that he was more than overjoyed that the country had overcome that hurdle this time. So had the country, Dr Roopnaraine, so had the country.

Dr Rupert Roopnaraine will undoubtedly stand as one of the more educated, intelligent and articulate politicians of our time. Dr Roopnaraine, please accept my respect and humble tribute to your seeming lifetime efforts at righting Guyana’s political and economic problems.

I sincerely hope that you continue to make a difference behind the scenes, and may the Guyanese who followed your work take up the mantle you just passed to them and carry on the struggle for a better and more prosperous Guyana.

Yours faithfully, Craig Sylvester

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thursDAY, july 20, 2017

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Foundation

Parenting in the age of YouTube kids

– Benjamin Burroughs studies how new media industries channel children’s attention

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enjamin Burroughs spends hours studying children's videos on YouTube.

A father of three kids who teaches and researches how technology shapes people's lives, Burroughs is fascinated by the growing number of fun, elaborate entertainment videos aimed at babies, toddlers, and children up to five years old. The videos may offer parents a break and provide young minds with stimulating content. However, many of the videos Burroughs explores also include either explicit or masked advertising, and the mobile applications used to view them create a perfect environment for targeted advertising and data tracking.

Burroughs, an assistant professor in journalism and media studies, published a research article on this phenomenon this past May. The article, “YouTube Kids: The App Economy and Mobile Parenting” appears in the journal Social Media + Society.

Burroughs talked with us about how these videos and applications work, their benefits and risks, and how mobile entertainment options influence parenting. After watching his children learn to swipe through mobile applications, he’d like to foster a dialogue on these new and growing spaces.

What first interested you in the role media and apps plays in people's lives?

I've grown up using media, and it was very apparent to me that social media was going to be kind of a big deal. If you want to understand digital culture, social media is increasingly not just digital culture but culture in general. It is something that is integral to fields like business, journalism, and just the way we live our lives. It increases the penetration of media into our lives, and things like businesses' usage of social media increases their presence in our lives.

What’s so special about mobile apps, specifically?

Everybody has a smartphone, and with smartphone technology, apps become a really important part of connecting to content. Apps are big business. They really connect us to specific forms of content, and they become powerful in the way they contain that specific connection. If you build an app that's specifically developed, it can be a big source of income, engagement, and all that. Apps can also be a really good source of user data.

guyanatimesgy.com

And they open up targeted markets to advertisers, like kids watching videos?

We've always had advertising that's tried to target children, but this idea of building a data profile and having children be a segment of the market is newer. The ways in which advertisers and companies are connecting with that target demographic is different than before, and the reach that these companies have through these newer technologies is different than it used to be.

It used to be with advertisements, "OK, go get your parents to buy something," but now, they want a 0-to-4-year-old's engagement. Netflix, Amazon, Hulu — they're all developing content specifically for this demographic. A large portion of YouTube's growth is in this market, which is fascinating.

One ethical issue is that advertising can sneak into content ...

Some of the most popular videos for young children now are in the unboxing genre, which involves people, who may or may not be anonymous with only their hands showing, "unboxing" or opening toys and other products then creatively explaining them.

However, many people don't know that a lot of the folks who are doing the unboxing are getting paid to unbox or promote, whether it's intentional or subconsciously, that product that they're unboxing. The product might be provided for free or the person might be paid. So people are getting paid to do this, and they’re making a lot of money.

The entire phenomenon raises questions about parenting in this era...

I come at this topic as a parent who is trying to understand these new developments.

How does this change parenting? What does it do to the relationship of a child to media, and what does it do to the relationship of a child to advertising? Are we OK with that level of pervasive advertising being embedded in the lives of our children that young?

There are privacy concerns, concerns about the building of data profiles for children — there are a lot of concerns in terms of privacy, safety, and security. But you have to balance that against the positives that go along with digital technology. There's a lot of educational value here. Children can learn in ways they can't in other spaces, learning can

be tailored to them, communities can form.

The YouTube Kids app is a popular example of something tailored to kids...

YouTube obviously saw the development of a kids’ app as a big moneymaker, but they wanted to make sure it was family friendly and that parents would be OK with it. YouTube's kids app provides this cordoned off, well-guarded space that is apart from the YouTube platform and where they can filter content and only provide videos that are appropriate for that age group, based on algorithms. It's advantageous because they can advertise directly to children and they know that children are in that space.

The data would be valuable because it tells you what kids are interested in right away, but also, it tells you how to develop products for children. YouTube has gone to great lengths now in their terms and services to say that the data won't be stored or used for nefarious purposes, but it's only a matter of time before these types of apps do, in one way or another, start to keep track.

And the app has some control over what the child watches...

Before this technology, parents could have control over what children would watch just by saying, "OK, there's a schedule, you can watch this, you can watch that." And of course, not all parents were actively involved in the lives of their children. Some would just sit kids in front of the TV and they could watch Saturday morning cartoons.

But now, based on the very first thing you watch, the app generates a list of suggestions and can just jump from video to video in the sequence if the parent hasn't prescheduled content. I think that's interesting because the parent's role is lessened in deciding which content the child should or shouldn't watch.

Even myself, I try to be an active participant when my children are watching things, but I know that I'm not able to program that algorithm. I'm not able to say to the program that it cannot jump to or suggest this or that kind of content when I haven’t scheduled content, and I think the concern is that we're increasingly ceding parenting control to those algorithms and technology.

What can be done?

The reason why for all those years we've had these restrictions on advertising and children is because children have

been shown to be extremely impressionable at these young ages, so collectively we have to ask: Is there an age where too much advertising penetrating into the lives of these children is problematic? If so, we need to apply more regulation to the space. I always encourage parents of any age to play with the technology themselves, to download the apps and experience them. Be aware of what the privacy settings are. Be aware of the control, however limited it is, that the app is giving you of the data. Sit down and

watch the content yourself.

Also, I think it's a good idea to view browsing history as much as possible. Have discussions with children about the content they're watching and empower the child, if you feel like it's too much advertising or too much that you've deemed negative content. Have an open dialog, even with young children, about how they feel and how that content makes them think about the world or certain brands, just so that they can start to become critical thinkers. (UNLV)

BY DAN TYNAN

4. Choose carefully. Just be sure to watch the videos all the way through before you add them to a list, Knorr says. Otherwise you could fall prey to a phenomenon known as “YouTube Poop,” in which videos that start out innocuous contain obscene or otherwise objectionable content midway through. Also be wary of gaming videos with voiceover narration from the gamers themselves. These are often incredibly vulgar and profane.

5. Monitor as needed. As your children outgrow the playlists, you may want to install Web filtering software such as Symantec’s Norton Family Premier (Windows, Android) or McAfee Security’s Safe Eyes (Windows, Mac). For US$50 a year, these programmes will notify you whenever your Children watch a video and/or block the objectionable ones.

6. Eschew the Tube. If policing YouTube content is too much of a hassle, you can block it using a Web filter and redirect your children to family-friendly video sites. Common Sense Media has published a handy list of YouTube alternatives, filtered by age range.

SprogTube also curates YouTube videos for kid safe content, though these skew toward preschoolers.

7. Upload with extreme caution. Monitoring what your children see on YouTube isn’t nearly as important as keeping an eye on what they show. You don’t want young ’uns uploading videos unsupervised, if you allow it at all.

This is a good time to sit down and have a conversation with your children about what they should and shouldn’t share on YouTube, says Larry Magid, co-director of ConnectSafely.org.

8. Post in private. When you click the Upload button, you’re given the option of making videos public (the default setting), private, or unlisted. Make them private, at least at first. You can still invite friends and family to see them by adding the appropriate Google Circles to the Share to box or plugging in email addresses.

9. Kill comments. Your children don’t have to go swimming in the YouTube cesspool; you can turn comments off. You have two options: Kill comments entirely, or block them until you’ve had a chance to approve them.

As children get older, you may want to allow comments and use them as an opportunity to teach them how to deal with difficult people online, suggests Stephen Balkam, CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute.

10. Accentuate the positive.

YouTube can be a great resource for education as well as entertainment. You have to help children discover the good stuff and guide them toward it, Knorr says. (Excerpted from Yahoo! TECH)

W

hen I was in school, I used to come home each day and spend a few hours hanging with my peeps: Samantha and Darrin, Jethro and Elly May, Gilligan and the Skipper.

Yes, I wasted much of my youth watching stupid ’60s sitcoms. I’m not proud of that.

Children today are different.

Instead of the boob tube, they’re glued to YouTube. It’s mostly innocent, but there’s also a dark side to YouTube you may be unaware of. As with the rest of the Internet, you can find porn, hate speech, profanity, and also stolen content on a massive scale. But the biggest difference is that YouTube allows Children to create and share videos as well as consume them.

In theory, you have to be at least 13 years old before you can upload videos. That’s the minimum age for creating a Google account, thanks to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The reality, though, is quite different.

There are vast numbers of underage YouTubers uploading content. If you don’t believe that, search for “Am I Pretty?” and count the number of videos posted by little girls. If that isn’t an engraved invitation to creeps and bullies, I don’t know what is.

If your children upload videos without your knowledge, they might reveal personal information to thousands of total strangers.

They will certainly expose themselves to bullies and worse in that cesspool of human depravity known as YouTube comments.

If you’re blithely letting your children on YouTube without thinking twice, it’s time to start thinking twice. Here are 10 ways to make YouTube a kinder, gentler place for your children.

1. Set up a family account.

Setting up a shared Google account lets you keep an eye on the videos your children watch and upload, as well as the information they share. This also lets you get around Google’s minimum age requirements. As your children get older, they will probably demand their own accounts (or just create them without telling you), but this is useful for younger tykes.

2. Turn on Safety mode. It’s kind of hidden, but YouTube has a Safety mode that will block most (but not all) objectionable content. You’ll have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the home page to find it, however.

3. Create playlists. YouTube’s Safety mode is far from foolproof.

If the person who uploaded a nasty video hasn’t selected Enable age restriction, or other users haven’t flagged it as objectionable, YouTube’s filter probably won’t block it. So you’ll need to take additional steps.

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thursDAY, july 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Rupert Roopnaraine Guyana, India ink US$17.5M agreement quits Government … regional hospitals to be upgraded

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he Government on Wednesday signed a new line of credit with the India’s Government’s Export Import Bank (EXIM Bank) which will see US$17.5 million invested in the rehabilitation and modernisation of three regional health-care facilities. The Suddie, West Demerara and Bartica regional hospitals are all slated to be rehabilitated.

The agreement was signed by Finance Minister Winston Jordan and EXIM Bank’s resident representative, Sailesh Prasad at the Finance Ministry’s, Main Street office.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, said the inking of the agreement solidifies the Indian Government’s support towards developing Guyana. He added that the EXIM Bank of Indian already relayed the list of companies approved for Project Management Consultancy to the Guyanese Government.

“We have already conveyed the list of companies which can act as project management consultants, which will eventually prepare the detailed project report. One of them will be chosen as the Project Management Consultant and then the project will take off,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister Jordan said the signing of the agreement solidifies the Indian Government’s commitment towards aiding in the development of Guyana.

“Through the signing of this agreement the Government of India would provide financial assistance to assist our Government to upgrade and modernise three regional hospitals in Guyana. Resources will be used to refurbish existing facilities and construct new buildings at the Suddie

Finance Minister Winston Jordan and India’s Export Import (EXIM) Bank’s Resident Representative, Sailesh Prasad signing the agreement. Also in photo Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam

Regional Hospital in Region Two [Pomeroon-Supenaam], the West Demerara Regional Hospital in Region Three [Essequibo Islands-West Demerara] and the Bartica Regional Hospital in Region Seven [Cuyuni-Mazaruni],” he said.

“Additionally, medical equipment would be procured to furnish the new and renovated facilities. When completed, residents in the immediate and surrounding areas can expect to benefit from improved healthcare delivery and services,” Minister Jordan added.

He noted that the provision of quality health care remains the primary objective of his Government and added that an effective public health system is essential in providing care for the sick and for instituting measures that prevent diseases.

He stated that once the upgrade is complete, the burden on the Public Health Ministry’s budget would be eased. He alluded to the effort and resources expended for medical evacuations especially in the hinterland regions.

“Many residents from the outlying regions prefer to seek medical attention at the

Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation believing that the services provided there are superior to those provided by the regional healthcare facilities. This intervention is expected to change that perception while allying fears about the quality of the regional health systems and facilities,” he explained.

Also at the signing on Wednesday, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, expressed gratitude to the Indian Government while assuring that the monies would aid in the fulfilment of the Ministry’s mandate of delivering quality primary health care in Guyana.

“It is my belief that this is the most important level of health care and it is incumbent on the health sector to interact with our people to ensure that we deliver comprehensive services including prevention, promotion, rehabilitation… it is our intent to ameliorate the services at our health centres and clinics since these facilities play a critical role in a population’s health,” she added.

Bilateral relations with India started in 1966 following Guyana’s Independence.

W

eeks after he was demoted from Education Minister and placed to work within the Ministry of the Presidency, Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive Member, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine has resigned from both Parliament and Government.

President David Granger on Wednesday confirmed that he did receive a resignation letter from the WPA co-leader, but is yet to make a determination, as the former Education Minister could only resign if his letter was approved by the Head of State.

“I received a letter from Dr Roopnaraine, the contents of which I will not disclose. But he cannot resign until I accept a resignation, and as far as I am concerned, I have not done so.”

As of now, Dr Roopnaraine remains a member of Cabinet, the President assured.

Guyana Times understands that the letter was given to the President on Sunday after WPA executives met with Roopnaraine.

On Wednesday, WPA Executive Member, Dr David Hinds told this publication that the party was fully consulted on Dr Roopnaraine’s decision.

“We met with him and after listening to his reasons, we agreed with his decision to resign from Government.

In the final analysis, it is Dr Roopnaraine’s decision to make and he has made that decision and the party supports his decision,” Hinds told this newspaper.

He said the party would hold on to the reasons given

by Roopnaraine for his resignation for now and await the conclusion of a meeting the

President David Granger

Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

President has with the WPA co- leader.

According to Hinds, he could not say if the President, who was expected to meet with Roopnaraine on Wednesday, would be able to influence him to change his mind.

“What I can say is that he (Dr Roopnaraine) was very firm in his decision to resign. What happens when he meets with the President, that is a matter for him and the President, but I can tell you that he was very firm in his decision to leave Government.”

With Roopnaraine’s resignation, Government will need to replace a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly. Hinds said the WPA hoped that with the President’s stated commitment to the inclusion of all coalition party members in Government that a request would be made for a WPA replacement. He said the party was prepared for such.

What seemed to be a

small falling-out between the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the WPA came to the fore days after President Granger announced in June that the former Education Minister had been asked to head the Public Service Ministry, a new ministry created within the Ministry of the Presidency.

The WPA had raised concerns that the move by Government was a premature one and the party was never consulted on the matter. It had also asked that Dr Roopnaraine be vindicated, following the results of the 2017 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), which showed a stark improvement in the critical areas of Mathematics and English.

The President had said that Roopnaraine was re-assigned to lead improvements in the Public Sector.

It is not clear if the Minister’s demotion was the reason for his resignation.

8 news

thursDAY, july 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Man blames ganja use for committing robbery

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Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown man, who claimed that he was under the influence of marijuana when he committed robbery under arms, was on Wednesday remanded to prison when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Nawali Clarke of Lot 464 Section B, Turkeyen, admitted to the charge when it was read to him by Magistrate

Fabayo Azore.

Clarke admitted that on June 6, 2017, at North Road, Bourda, Georgetown while being armed with a knife, he robbed Sally Khan of one Samsung S5 cellphone valued $120,000 and on the same day, he robbed Joel Ramsarran of one Samsung S4 valued $45,000.

Police Prosecutor Simone Payne told the court that Clarke pounced on the

Virtual Complainants (VC) from behind. He placed a knife to the neck of one of the VCs before relieving them of the valuables.

The matter was reported to the Police and CCTV footage showed the defendant carrying out the act. As such, he was arrested and charged with the offence.

It was also revealed that he was convicted previously for unlawfully wounding an-

other.

Clarke apologised to the VCs and said he was sorry for what he did.

However, he was remanded to prison as a probation report needs to be presented to the court before sentencing.

He is scheduled to reappear for sentencing on August 2.

Poultry farmer slapped with fraud charge

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poultry farmer who allegedly used money entrusted to him for his own benefit was on Wednesday taken before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

Mohammed Khan, 22, of Independence Boulevard, Georgetown, was made to answer to the charge at the

Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge stated that Khan, on June 26, 2017 in Georgetown, while being solely entrusted with $500,000, property of Steve Rogers, to deposit, converted the money to his own use and benefit.

Khan denied the allegation brought against him, pleading not guilty to the charge.

The prosecution revealed that the defendant has no

prior convictions and no pending matters.

He was granted bail in the sum of $100,000. The case will continue on August 22.

Cocaine user jailed for 3 years

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handyman who was found in possession of a quantity of cocaine was on Wednesday charged, and appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Mark Anthony, 63, of Guyhoc Park, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was jailed for three years after he admitted to the charge brought against him.

The charge stated that on July 18 at Bourda, Georgetown, Anthony was found to be in possession of 4.3 grams of cocaine.

The defendant pleaded for leniency, revealing to Magistrate Azore that he was in the process of seeking help as he was an addict.

However, Magistrate Azore jailed the man for three years.

Equal opportunity…

F

…at LG?

rustrated at its messiness and sloth, Winston Churchill once remarked, “Democracy is the worse form of government – save for all the others!”

There’s a lot of truth in his witty remark. So, until we can invent a better way of governing our societies, we just have to do our best to make sure we grease the wheels of democracy.

The essence of democracy, of course, is ‘rule by the people’. And towards this end, we’re exhorted to involve ‘the people’ as much as we can in making decisions that affect them. The premise, of course, being they know – best of all – where the shoe pinches. So democratic governments try to bring their operations as close to the grassroots as they can – without using a grass mower!

Their preferred instrument is “local government”.

Here in good, old mudland, there was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth by the Government when they were in the Opposition that there were no Local Government Elections for over two decades under the PPP. New legislation was crafted and passed to make the system supposedly more responsive to “the people’ – and finally, the blessed event happened! Local Government Elections were held in 2016.

But a funny thing has happened since then – nothing!

Ask anyone in the country – whether in NDCs or Towns – as to what’s it like under the new LG regime and they’ll tell you “It’s the same ole, same ole!!” And that’s due to any number of factors but the main one is – as usual – political! The problem is – for the Government – since they allowed political parties to contest the LGE the PPP won most of the NDC’s while the PNC won the big municipalities, including Goergetown, Bartica and New Amsterdam.

So while the Government’s been doling out the big bucks to their municipalities under all kinds of subterfuges like “greening” and “independence bonanzas” – the NDC’s have been starving. They were just given a subvention of $2 million each – far less than the $3 million the PPP had disbursed. The Government hasn’t even shared out the slick brochures they printed to explain all the new powers that have been placed in the hands of the locals. Is it because they figure “knowledge is power”??

For instance, the LG organs can now raise money on their own initiative and get into services like garbage collections – for which they can collect payment. But who’s to provide training and organisational advise. The Opposition? No funds!

Maybe they can lift themselves up by their own bootstraps?

But how to do that when they don’t even have boots?!!

…stereotyping?

So, after receiving sustained flak from some quarters for rushing to Buxton to hunt for the four hardcore prison escapees – and so stereotyping those poor souls in our historic village – the Joint Services switched their operations to Port Morant over in Berbice. Yup!! You read that right!! The birthplace of the father of the nation – nations can have more than one father, ok?!

– Cheddi Jagan!! In fact, the cream of our Army and Police actually scoured Babu Jaan – where Jagan was cremated.

Your Eyewitness is still trying to figure out the logic of this move. And the only explanation that makes sense is they want to show they’re not picking on any one group!

After all, surely the Forces couldn’t have concluded the bandits thought they’d blend in in Port Morant, could they?? Maybe Rose Hall Town…but CERTAINLY not Port Morant!

So, with equal opportunity and all that, will our defenders of the realm next conduct a search of Paramakotoi, or Konshen?

Can’t tee off our Indigenous brothers and sisters!!

…in STEM

A hat tip from your Eyewitness to our doughty STEM Robotics team, which took on 160 other countries – including every developed country in the world – and emerged in 10th place.

We really need something to cheer about!

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

News

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thursDAY, july 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GECOM Chair impasse

President dismisses Chief Justice’s ruling … challenges doctrine of Judicial Review

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cknowledging that the acting Chief Justice has a right to give her interpretation of the law, President David Granger has maintained that he will continue to act in accordance with his interpretation of the Constitution regarding the appointment of a chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Giving his reaction to the ruling handed down in the High Court on Monday by acting Chief Justice Roxane George, the Head of State said he would not appoint anyone who he believed was unfit for the post.

“That is to say, I will not appoint somebody who I don’t consider to be fit and proper,” he said.

Asked if he would now give reasons for rejecting the names on the two lists submitted by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, Granger said, “If you could show me the Article of the Constitution which requires me to give reasons, I will comply with the Constitution, but I will not do what the Constitution does not require me to do.

I do not believe that anything the Chief Justice said has diminished my regard

for the word and spirit of the Constitution.”

He maintains his belief that the person chosen must be independent and impartial and, according to him, he is still looking for that independence and impartiality.

Justice George, SC, on Monday overruled the President’s interpretation of the Constitution regarding the appointment of a chairman for GECOM, finding that there is no particular preference for the appointment of persons within the Judiciary.

In her determination, Justice George found that there was no valid argument to support the idea that the Chairman should be a judge, former judge or person eligible to be a judge, and noted that persons from each category are equally eligible for the post. However, in an issued statement after the ruling, the applicant, Marcel Gaskin highlighted that the acting Chief Justice went to address the proviso to Article 161 (2), which applies to the instance of the Opposition Leader failing to submit a list.

Included in the ruling on Monday was that the per-

President David Granger

sons proposed for the post of GECOM Chairman must have judge-like qualities and possess integrity, honesty, and impartiality. The acting Chief Justice also said that the word “any” in the other category, any other fit and proper person” widens the category and “does not restrict the qualification or profession” from which the nominee should be drawn, and noted that there was no mandatory category and all the categories had equal weight.

In March, Gaskin, a local businessman and brother of Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, had moved to the High Court to challenge the constitution-

Oil and gas lecture

Safety paramount to reducing accidents in sector – expert

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rawing reference to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill of 2010, the largest marine oil spill in history, caused by an April 20, 2010 explosion and other major catastrophic incidents, a safety expert from Trinidad has warned that if safety does not take prominence in Guyana’s oil and gas operations, it could lead to similar incidents that could have a damaging effect on the country.

Director and Principal Consultant for inCrEdible Safety Services Limited, Edward Brathwaite, was addressing the 5th public lecture hosted by the Guyana Oil and Gas Association Incorporated (GOGA) in collaboration with El Dorado Offshore at the Marriott Hotel on Tuesday evening, which focused on the cultural impact on safety in oil and gas, when he made those remarks.

In most instances, safety professionals are viewed by oil and gas workers as a “pain in the neck,” but Brathwaite said while this may be true, safety procedures should never go unnoticed. Referring to the 2010 oil spill again, he said, “All of the equipment and processes were available to avoid such an outcome. What made the difference is the quality of the conversation that took place with human beings on

Director and Principal Consultant for inCrEdible Safety Services Limited, Edward Brathwaite

board this facility, to the peril of 15 men and countless others who were impacted by this incident.”

The safety expert emphasised that undertaking the job the right way requires all workers in the oil and gas sector to do it the safe way each and every time. “And having their needs met over and above procedures that are outlined is not something that is easily tolerated or is not something that usually ends well,” he lamented, explaining that these workers have to always remember the consequences.

But equally important, Brathwaite who has exten-

sive experience working in the energy sector, particularly in the Caribbean, said that those in the local oil and gas sector have to be able to craft an environment where workers can see what is happening and what they need to do to identify the hazards and be prepared to take the appropriate actions now, in order to obtain a safe outcome later.

In emphasising that safety is good business for every oil operation, Brathwaite told those in attendance at the lecture that specific focus must be placed on ensuring that there is constant dialogue among all levels of the workforce and that prominence must be placed on enabling quality conversations.

“The conversation has to be meaningful, it has to be real, people have to be listening and acting in good faith.

Your culture will be a starting point. You have to know where you are before you can figure out where you are going,” he explained while noting that most Caribbean countries may have a culture of taking shortcuts to doing something but the outcome is not always favourable.

“We have to take time to prepare to work together. It’s very easy to say let’s start a company and we will provide this service turn to page 10

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

ality of President Granger’s reasoning behind his rejection of Opposition Leader Jagdeo’s first list of six nominees for the GECOM chairmanship. Jagdeo had submitted a second list, which the Head of State also rejected. A third list is slated to be presented. It is currently being complied by the Opposition Leader.

In the court action, Gaskin sought a declaratory order from the Court as to whether the list of nominees to be submitted by the Opposition Leader must include a judge, a retired judge, or a person qualified to be a judge.

President Granger, how-

ever, held out that Article 161 (2) of the Constitution prescribes for the Chairman of the Elections Commission to be “a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court…or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person…”

Having interpreted “fit and proper” to mean another group of qualified persons, the Opposition Leader in December submitted his first list and nominated: Attorney and Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram; Conflict Resolution Specialist Lawrence Lachmansingh; retired Major General

Norman McLean; business executive Ramesh Dookhoo; Indian rights activist Rhyaan Shah, and History Professor, Dr James Rose.

However, the Head of State rejected that list on his aforementioned grounds.

Following weeks of impasse, Jagdeo finally agreed to return to the drawing board and submit a new list of nominees.

Consultations were held for several weeks with civil society representatives, since there were difficulties in conforming to the criteria outlined by the President.

Nevertheless, Jagdeo submitted a second list of six nominees for the post of Chairman of GECOM to the Head of State in April.

The nominees were: retired Justice of Appeal BS Roy; retired Justice William Ramlall; former Magistrate Oneidge Walrond-Allicock; Attorneys Kashir Khan and Nadia Sagar; and businessman and pilot, Captain Gerald Gouveia.

Again, President Granger rejected the list, saying that it was “unacceptable” and reiterated his stance that all of the nominees should be a judge, retired judge, or qualified to be a judge.

10 news

thursdAY, july 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GECOM Chair impasse

Opposition moving ahead with 3rd list … despite CJ’s ruling

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espite the recent court ruling on President David Granger’s interpretation of the Constitution regarding the appointment of a Chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the Opposition says this will not affect the process of selecting the third list of nominees.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has said he will have further internal discussions on the matter and will seek some engagement with the Executive on the outstanding issues. Jagdeo Opposition Leader said, “I am still discussing Bharrat Jagdeo with people… I am still going court matter. through the process of meetHe was making refering people.” ence to the issue of whethThe Opposition Leader er President David Granger told a press conference on can unilaterally select someWednesday, however, that he one of his choice and who was is still awaiting the written not submitted by the Leader judgment from acting Chief of the Opposition, to be apJustice Roxane George, and pointed. expressed caution while pro“So far, it seems to be a viding comments on the re- matter that has been ruled cent ruling, promising that on or mentioned in the judgemore would be said after such ment. We don’t know if it will time. be an aside or it would be Last week, Jagdeo re- part of the ruling,” he stated. vealed that he had 10 persons If that is so, Jagdeo affirmed shortlisted, but hinted that that the Opposition will there might be some difficulty have to support Mr (Marcel) finalising that list. According Gaskin in challenging the to him, one of the 10 persons matter. shortlisted has already indi“And the reason is that cated a reluctance to be nom- you would recall that there inated, because of fear of pub- were several submissions but lic humiliation. this issue was not a matter Nevertheless, the that was in Mr Gaskin’s case Opposition Leader said it to the court and so neither seems as though based on side. The plaintiff nor the depublic perception that a rul- fendant made submissions on ing was made on a matter these matters because that that was not a subject in the question was not put to the

court,” he pointed out.

Further, Jagdeo said not only did Gaskin not make a submission on that matter, but the Guyana Bar Association, the Attorney General (Basil Williams) nor his lawyers made submissions on that specific issues.

“So, unless the matter was raised in the hearing and both sides were called in court to make arguments or they were asked to do so in writing, then we believe that it would be an extremely strange sort of ruling,” Jagdeo observed.

The acting Chief Justice in her ruling said the President is not required to give reasons for rejecting nominees by the Opposition Leader but in the spirit of good governance and democracy he should do so.

However, Granger told the media that he will not be providing any reasons.

Jagdeo asserted that the court ruling was diametrically opposite to what the President said that he will only look at the list if he finds all the names acceptable. “And the court said even if there is one name acceptable he is obligated to examine that name and you can’t reject the list until it’s a perfect list.”

He argued also that the court stated that the list could also have six persons in the fit and proper category too.

Jagdeo said, “So, in light of this and the President’s public statement sometime back that he found at least one of the persons acceptable, someone should ask him in light of

the court ruling on this matter, then he was obligated to go ahead and appoint that person according to the court judgement.”

In her determination, the acting Chief Justice also found that there was no valid argument to support the idea that the Chairman should be a Judge, a former Judge or a

person eligible to be a Judge, and noted that persons from each category were equally eligible for the post.

Included in Justice George’s ruling on Monday was that the persons proposed for the post of GECOM Chairman must have Judgelike qualities and possess integrity, honesty, and impar-

tiality. She also said that the word “any” in the other category, “any other fit and proper person” widens the category and “does not restrict the qualification or profession” from which the nominee should be drawn, and noted that there was no mandatory category and all the categories had equal weight.

Vessel with 95kg cocaine nabbed in Pomeroon River

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wo men were taken into custody by ranks of the Customs AntiNarcotic Unit (CANU) following the discovery of more than 95 kilograms of cocaine in a vessel that was intercepted along the Pomeroon River on Monday.

Based on reports received, the vessel was stopped and searched by members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard and it was during

Guyana suspected to have been carrying cocaine but was allegedly released.

However, one month after its release, President David Granger ordered that a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) be launched to determine the role played by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the GDF Coast Guard in the detention and release of the vessel.

The findings of the CoI were later handed over to

Five W’s and the one H; the Who, the What, the Where, the Why and the When and it also goes a bit further and seeks to recommend what should be done to prevent any further occurrence,” he noted.

He further noted that in the recommendations, the Committee looked at a number of systematic issues, doctrine, organisation, training, leadership, personnel, facilities and, of course, policies.

The cocaine that was intercepted in the vessel along the Pomeroon River

that operation that several well wrapped packages were unearthed and upon checking, the illegal substance detected.

The men and the suspected cocaine were transported to CANU’s headquarters as investigations continue.

According to a release issued by the drug enforcement unit, the men are being interrogated and charges are likely to be instituted shortly.

However, it is not clear if the vessel is owned by Guyanese or originated from neighbouring Venezuela, since the information provided by CANU was limited.

Earlier in the year, a vessel was discovered in

Minister of State Joseph Harmon by Chairman, Brigadier (Retired) Bruce Lovell.

Brigadier Lovell, in an invited comment, stated that inquiries are important particularly in matters of national interest.

The report that was presented, he noted, will assist Guyana in making some important decisions in the security architecture of this country and that it will assist in making decisions, particularly as it relates to the fight against narcotics trafficking.

“Inquiries do what any good journalist would do and that is to answer the

The other members of the Commission were former Assistant Commissioner of Police, Winston Cosbert and Christine Bailey.

Meanwhile, at the commencement of the CoI, Head of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit, James Singh was asked to proceed on annual leave and Major General Retired, Michael Artherly assumed the post at the helm of the Unit.

Singh however, was subsequently relieved of his duties as the head drug enforcement body. It is believed that based on the findings during the COI, recommendations were made for him to be relived from his post.

Safety paramount to reducing...

We will go and get the financing. That is the easy part. The soft human interaction part is the real difficulty and if we don’t get that right we are going to struggle all the way.

Whether located on or offshore, drilling rigs and operations pose inherent risks to workers, who must cope with extremely harsh and demanding environmental conditions.

At sea, risks include storms and inclement weather, humidity, strong winds, tides and sun exposure, as well as relative isolation for extended periods

of time. On land, workers may experience excessive heat and humidity or, at the opposite extreme, cold temperatures and strong winds.

In both locations, long shifts, arduous labour, wet, slippery work surfaces and uneven terrain may create potentially hazardous conditions under foot that may result in falls and injuries.

In addition, constant exposure to excessive noise is fatiguing and working with heavy equipment daily may lead to safety lapses that result in both minor and major threats to life safety and health.

from page 9

To avoid or minimise potential accidents, injuries and fatalities on oil rigs, proper safety training, safety audits and drills, and a range of personal protective equipment is usually required. Well-managed oil companies worldwide have proven over the years that unexpected accidents, injuries and loss of life can be significantly reduced through the implementation of current safety best practices, site engineering modifications, improved safety equipment, and worker training programmes.

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THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Deadly boat accident

Operators were unlicensed – MARAD

Body of pensioner discovered in EBE trench

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he boat operators of the two vessels that collided on Friday killing two persons in the Moruca River, North West District (NWD) were unlicensed, preliminary investigations have found.

This was confirmed by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) in a statement on Wednesday.

“A preliminary investigation conducted regarding the recent boat collision in the Moruca River involving a 40HP and 75HP powered wooden vessels which claimed the lives of two passengers stated that the operators of both vessels were unlicensed.”

Additionally, MARAD disclosed that both vessels were not equipped with navigational lights.

On Friday, 18-year-old Rovin Piper and his father, George, were returning from the Pomeroon River when their boat collided with another vessel near the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Moruca River. As a result of the impact, the father and son duo of Father’s Beach, NWD, were thrown overboard.

The teenager’s body was recovered on Sunday morning and his father was found days later. Two other passengers that were in the same vessel as the Pipers were rescued shortly after the collision.

It was reported that the second boat involved in the accident is operated by the Kumaka District Hospital

Dead: Ravin Piper

Missing: George Piper

at Moruca. The hospital’s vessel was reportedly transporting a sick patient to Charity on the Essequibo Coast at the time of the accident.

“Passenger vessels are allowed by the administration to operate after sunset whenever there is an emergency case involving the transporting of sick persons to the nearest hospital; however, some operators are non-compliant in this regard,” MARAD stated.

MARAD has since announced that it will be cracking down on riverine areas to ensure that the safety rules are maintained on the country’s waterways.

To this end, the administration joined forces with the Guyana Defence Force’s Coast Guard to have joint enforcement, marine exercises throughout the riverine areas of the country.

These activities commenced on Monday in the

Parika/Supenaam area. The marine exercises will be ongoing.

It involves joint patrols comprising of MARAD officers, fisheries officers, and the Coast Guard, who will check the certification and registration of vessels and boat operators, and also ensuring that the operators comply with all river safety rules.

Areas to be targeted include Bartica, Mazaruni, Charity, Pomeroon, Moruca, Mabaruma, Morawhanna, Port Kaituma, and Berbice.

MARAD, being the regulatory agency for the river laws, has the responsibility for the registration and licensing of vessels and operators in Guyana, under the River Navigation Act Chapter 50:01, while the enforcement of these laws, lie within the constabulary powers and capabilities of the Guyana Police Force and the Coast Guard.

Nearly US$59B in World Bank support to C’bean in 2017

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he World Bank says its commitments to help developing countries, including those in the Caribbean, take on poverty and boost opportunity reached nearly US$59 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees in fiscal year 2017 (July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017).

"With aspirations of the poor on the rise, and overlapping crises, such as forced displacement, famine and climate change adding urgency to our mission, our staff this year worked to provide marked increases in financing from IDA, IFC, and MIGA," said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim on Tuesday.

IDA is the abbreviation for International Development Association, IFC for International Finance Corporation and MIGA for Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.

"While this year we have had to actively manage IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) lending, the Board and management are discussing approaches

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A small crowd gathered at the area where the body of the elderly man was found

to ensure adequate capacity across the World Bank Group to best help countries achieve their development goals," Kim said.

"As always, we are committed to working with our member countries and other partners to crowd in private investment and maximise resources for the poor," he added. The World Bank said commitments from IBRD, which provides development knowledge to countries, combined with financing and risk management products, amounted to US$22.6 billion in FY17.

"This reflects the Bank's careful attention to ensuring continued strong capital adequacy ratios and prudent financial management into the future, while responding to client countries' most pressing development challenges," the World Bank said.

It said commitments from the IDA, which provides zero or low-interest loans and grants to the world's 77 poorest countries, hit US$19.5 billion in FY17.

"IDA's increased commitments reflect strong de-

mand for financing, as well as IDA's efforts to better leverage resources and expand financing options for borrowing countries," the World Bank said. "FY17 continued to reflect very high demand for IDA financing from clients, fully committing the threeyear resource envelope of IDA17."

The Bank said these efforts include an additional US$3.9 billion allocated for non-concessional lending to finance transformational projects in qualified IDA countries.

Increased financing has also allowed IDA to respond rapidly to global crises.

The World Bank said the IFC, the largest global development institution, focused exclusively on the Private Sector, leveraged its capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities wherever they were needed most.

Preliminary and unaudited data as of June 30 indicated that IFC's long-term investments totalled about US$18.7 billion, including funds mobilised from other investors. (Jamaica Observer)

he body of an elderly man was on Wednesday afternoon recovered of a trench at Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, suspected to have drowned. Dead is Herman Benjamin, 82, of Lot 16 Vergenoegen, EBE. Reports indicate Benjamin’s body was discovered at about 15:45h by a man who was weeding in the area.

While it is suspected that the elderly man may have slipped into the trench and drowned, the Police have launched an investigation.

Mervin Nurse, a nephew of the dead man, when contacted explained that the

now dead man left home early Wednesday morning but did not tell anyone where he was heading. However, after some time had elapsed and the man did not return home, this prompted relatives to search the area but he was nowhere in sight.

He refuted claims that his uncle left home to collect his pension, claiming that the man did so earlier in the month.

However, at about 16:00h, he was at home when he received a message stating that his uncle’s body was spotted in a trench. Nurse noted that he rushed to the area where

he saw his uncle’s lifeless body and immediately contacted the Police.

“He forehead get a bruise but it nah had none marks on he body… it nah look like when anyone do he anything… it just look like he slipped in the trench while he de walking,” Nurse added.

The man explained that his uncle cared for his visually impaired wife and was always at home looking after her. He had one daughter but she died several years ago.

Benjamin’s body was taken to a funeral parlour where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Parliament Office invited submissions on Petroleum Commission Bill

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he Special Select Committee of the National Assembly is inviting members of the public, individuals and organisations to forward written submissions of their views on the Petroleum Commission Bill of 2017.

The Petroleum Commission Bill was sent to the Select Committee in June, when it was read for a second time in the National Assembly, by Natural

Resources Minister Raphael Trotman.

The Committee has begun its work and made the invitation for submissions via advertisement in the local newspapers.

Interested persons have until Friday, July 28 to forward their submissions on segments of the Bill that are of interest to them.

Submissions by post/hand must be addressed to: The Clerk of the

Committee Special Select Committee of the National Assembly [Petroleum Commission of Guyana Bill 2017- Bill No. 4/2017] Submissions can also be sent by email to: committees_ division@yahoo.com.

The Petroleum Commission Bill seeks to provide for the establishment and functions of the Petroleum Commission of Guyana and for related matters. (DPI)

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RDC 9 accused of neglecting Gaskin speaks to food Karasabai Village security, sustainability

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he regional authorities in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) are being accused of ignoring the concerns of the residents in Karasabai and surrounding villages.

The residents say that they have repeatedly complained to the authorities about the condition of the Uraurau Bridge, Region Nine, but they have failed to heed the concerns.

According to residents, because of the heavy rains and intense flooding in the area, the bridge was “washed away”.

After the water receded, residents made several complaints to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), but no steps were taken to remedy the situation. The bridge is a critical link to the South Pakaraimas.

According to sources from within the RDC, monies were budgeted for the bridge repairs, but to date, the project is yet to be advertised or works commenced.

Following the washing away of the bridge and lack of action of the RDC, the residents of Karasabai Village pooled their resources and repaired the bridge themselves. The repairs were

– at launch of Uncapped Expo

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Residents repairing the washed away bridge after no help was forthcoming from regional officials

done to get goods into the South Pakaraimas District.

“We had to repair this bridge, because we tired of running around to the region and nothing is happening. We complained to the Regional Chairman and the REO and none of them are doing anything to help the situation,” one resident related.

When contacted, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Kerwin Ward said he was unaware of the bridge being washed away.

However, he promised to check with the regional engineers and relay the information to this publication.

Subsequent calls to Ward were unsuccessful.

Indian engineers to conduct study on ECD-EBD road link project

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ndian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, on Wednesday disclosed that a team from Indian Engineering Company, RITES, is expected to arrive in Guyana on July 30 to conduct a feasibility study on the project that would see the construction of a road linking the East Coast of Demerara to the East Bank of Demerara.

Back in 2016, the Government of Guyana signed a Dollar Line Agreement with the Government of India’ Export Import (EXIM) Bank amounting to US$50 million for the construction of a road that would link the East Coast to the East Bank of Demerara.

According to the High Commissioner, the Project Management Companies – National Highways Authority of India and National Highways (NHAI) and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) – would have initially made submissions but these were deemed too large for the project; hence, they had to resort to other options.

“Those two companies after a very long time since they were Public Sector companies they were not willing to say no in the first instance and they were trying to find some reasons. We realised that they were too

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam

big to come for a small project like this. For them it is a small project but for us it is a very important project,” he related.

“We had to go for some other company, one of the other known Public Sector companies called RITES. RITES is a very well-known company that has been doing projects all over the world and had implemented many road projects,” he added.

RITES was founded in 1974 and is a Public Sector company in India. The company boasts high-quality service and a team of capable engineers.

High Commissioner

Mahalingam said engineers from RITES are expected to arrive in Guyana by monthend to conduct the feasibility study. Following completion of the study, the engineers will return to India and prepare the detailed project report and work would subsequently begin.

The project, which is expected to be financed through the EXIM Bank of India, is expected to be completed by the end of 2018 and will see improvements for commuters and an ease in the traffic congestion on the present roadways. The road is likely to link the communities of Diamond, East Bank Demerara and Ogle, East Coast Demerara.

The loan will cater for the first phase of the major road project that began under the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government but which dates back to the early 1970’s.

Current areas of bilateral cooperation between India and Guyana include the establishment of a centre of excellence in Information Technology. The centre will offer training to professionals in the Public Sector in the areas of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in order to develop their competencies. Also, the Indian Government is in the process of procuring an ocean going vessel to ply the Georgetown-Port Kaituma route.

his is not just a business event, an agro event or an expo event; it is also a security initiative…Guyanese food from Guyanese farms.

This is how we intend to build our capacity to feed ourselves and feed others and to make agriculture and agro-processing an important part of our national economy and our national security in a way that is sustainable.”

Those were the words of Business Minister Dominic Gaskin in a feature address at the official media launch of “Guyanese Flavour Uncapped; Agro processors Exhibition, Market and Food Festival” at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Greater Georgetown on Wednesday afternoon.

The Minister alluded to the fact that Guyana has extensive land, water and labour, which includes the farmers and producers in various aspects of agriculture. According to Gaskin, the Expo seeks to match those people with opportunities to market their produce to increase consumption of local products. He also noted that it was important to reduce the food import bill.

“Our economy simply cannot sustain an appetite for foreign foods. We are pressuring ourselves unnecessarily by importing foods that we can very well be producing ourselves…,” he posited.

From a health perspective, the consumption of foreign products has the detriment of affecting the quality of life of the Guyanese people in the long run if smart choices are not made now about the kinds of foods that are consumed in excessive amounts. Gaskin noted that a healthy nation could not thrive on other people’s “left overs”, while in the same breath he clarified that he was not campaigning for the total abolition of food importation, but rather a reduction. “We need to produce more of what we consume and consume more of what we produce,” he postulated.

Gaskin also highlighted the importance of the quality of food produced locally, as he recognised that it would prove challenging to secure markets for (local) products, which were not as good or as attractive as foreign products.

“If we are to be importing food to other countries, we need to understand the requirements of those markets and be able not only to meet those requirements, but to provide the certification to say that our products meet those requirements.”

He urged the public to support local producers at the Agro Processors Exhibition while relay-

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin delivering his feature address at the Expo Launch

ing that the Government was committed to supporting agriculture in Guyana and making farming a viable business option for

proximated cost of US$4 billion annually, and this figure had increased by 50 per cent since 2000 and was expected to double by 2020.

Nokta questioned whether Guyana was marketing its produce sufficiently or whether enough support was being invested in local producers, in light of the relatively high level of foreign products in local supermarkets, some of which we can or are already producing locally.

He further highlighted the importance of agro-processing, saying it played a vital role in the livelihood of farmers, both on the coast and in the hinterland.

The recent call by Government for the manufacturing sector “to do more” is what has prompted the GMSA, despite challenges, to find an initiative to exhibit the produce of small

Some of the local packaged products on display

Guyanese. The Exhibition would be used as a forum for sharing information about market requirements with producers while reaching out to businesses and consumers to secure effective marketing.

Minister Gaskin concluded his address by acknowledging the collaboration led by the Private Sector with the support of Government.

“The Ministry of Business recognises the importance of business support organisations and we have given our commitment to working with those associations to help develop industries that seem not to be taking off on their own,” he affirmed.

The Ministry is reportedly seeking to work with relevant organisations to examine the value-added industry on a sector-by-sector basis and to arrive at solutions to make each sector more viable.

Meanwhile, Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) President Shyam Nokta touched on the broader context of food within the Caribbean Region, stressing that it was a net importer of foreign products at an ap-

and medium manufacturers while providing opportunities for them to market themselves. The exhibition also presents an opportunity for established manufacturers to promote existing grants.

The GMSA President proudly declared that the Expo would become an annual activity as he called on the general public and the Private Sector to support the event.

Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) CEO Ramesh Persaud made a surprise announcement by disclosing that the institution would in a month be launching a special facility to support technology in agriculture, and IPED is seeking 25 micro businesses to participate in the programme. Costs are attached to entries, but where necessary IPED will assist in covering same.

“The Guyanese Flavour Uncapped; Agro Processors Exhibition, Market and Food Festival” is the fruit of collaborations between the GMSA, IPED, Sterling Products Ltd and the Business Ministry. This event is set to be hosted from October 27 to 29, 2017.

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THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Digicel introduces “unlimited rollover” to customers today

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igicel Guyana Inc customers are in for a treat as the telephone giant promises that “unlimited rollover data and talk” and “lost data and talk” features are now in the past due to the emergence of a new and exciting structure that takes effect today.

The total communications and entertainment provider announced that all prepaid and postpaid customers can browse, stream, share and chat to their hearts content on Digicel’s 4G network and roll over all their unused bundle.

The company noted that its customers will find Unlimited Rollover Data and Talk

easy to understand and easy to use.

By simply renewing their smart bundle before it expires or paying their postpaid bill on time, customers can immediately start enjoying these amazing benefits.

Prepaid customers also get to retain their unused bundle if they choose to upgrade to a higher plan.

Gregory Dean, CEO for Digicel Guyana, said “This is all about simplicity and putting

November deadline for 5 overpasses on EBD W ith the aim of reducing road carnage and enhancing public safety, works have commenced for the construction of a series of pedestrian overpasses along the East Bank of Demerara.

The project is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and has a deadline of November 15. It entails the construction of five overpasses at Houston, Greater Georgetown; and at Eccles, Peter’s Hall, Providence and Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

The contract for the overpasses at Houston, Eccles and Peter’s Hall were awarded to B&J Civil Works for the sum of US$1,034,326.

Meanwhile, there are separate contracts for the Providence and Diamond

The pile driving exercise at Providence last weekend (MPI photo)

soil to provide foundation support for structures) at Providence and Diamond are completed and other earth work such as sand filling and compacting have

Workers at the crack of dawn doing pile driving works at Peters Hall (MPI photo)

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

Works have commenced at all five locations with pile driving exercises. Speaking with Guyana Times, Project Manager (ag) of Donor Programmes at the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Mark Greene, explained that these works are currently being done in the early morning hours from 04:00h to 07:00h so as to avoid any impeding of the rush-hour traffic.

He noted that the pile driving exercise (the installation of piles/poles into the

commenced at those locations.

At Peter’s Hall currently, there are about three piles remaining to be driven and several have already been driven at Houston, while five piles were driven at Eccles. At that location, there were some hiccups in terms of delays, Greene said, due to utilities having to be removed.

With these foundation works ongoing, the contractors have commenced working on the fabrication of a steel structure for the overpass. “That’s being done off site, simultaneously,” the Project Manager noted.

He added that one of the contractors has sub-con-

tracted the steel fabrication work, while the other contractor is doing most of it in house but is also sub-contracting because of the amount of work to be done.

The construction of these steel structures commenced about two weeks ago and according to the senior engineer at the Public Infrastructure Ministry, these super-structure works can be seen by early to mid-August. “So if you pass at the sites, you probably won’t see much works being done but you will definitely see it next month,” he said.

Asked about the integrity of these steel structures given that it’s the first project of its kind being undertaken in the country, Greene pointed out that they were designed to international standards. In terms of integrity, he added, the designs are a “1000 per cent spot on.”

Moreover, the Project Manager stated that the Ministry has contracted a Trinidadian supervision firm – RM Engineering Limited – to oversee the construction of the overpasses.

According to Greene, as soon as the pile driving exercises are completed at all the sites, the concrete foundation would be cast and will have to be cured for some time before the steel structures can be erected.

The steel structures, according to the work plan, will take about 30 to 40 days to be constructed. The greatest amount of work, the Project Manager outlined, is to finish the fabrication. He noted that when

that is done, there would be no difficulties in assembling it.

“So once they finish a lot of the works in the fabrication yard, all that’s remaining is to bring them on site and assembling it. That process won’t take very long, the assembling part,” he stated, emphasising that they are working to meet the November deadline.

While the project is on schedule, Greene noted that it has not been without any setbacks. The issues have to do mostly with utilities being in the way of construction works. He said they have found pipelines, telephone cables, GPL cables and even buried fibre optic cables in the way as well as an e-governance cable and Atlantic Cable Network cables.

At the Eccles site in particular, the Project Manager explained that they have made arrangements to have all the cables there removed.

“So it’s not like you can simply remove them, you have to contact the individuals and agencies to have them relocated,” he noted.

Thus far, GTT and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) have already relocated their cables and contact has been made with the other agencies to do the same.

According to the senior engineer, these disruptions are nothing new to this kind of construction works.

With regards to the performance of the contractors, Greene posited that both companies are seasoned and well experienced.

our customers in control. What people want most of out of their smartphone experience is to be able to enjoy every bit of data and voice they paid for. With unlimited rollover, customers keep what theirs is rightfully for as long as they want to and use it whenever they want.” Digicel’s Smart Bundles are designed to keep customers always on and always connected to the things they love. Jampacked with value, Digicel’s Smart Bundles combine data, talk and text.

Plus, with MyDigicel app, customers can easily track their usage. With Unlimited Rollover, Digicel is ensuring customers always win.

Region 10 intermediate savannahs earmarked as Guyana's new agricultural frontier

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espite the absence of a regional agriculture budget for a number of years, the intermediate savannahs of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has been earmarked as Guyana's new agricultural frontier, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder has indicated. The Minister was at the time speaking at a meeting with regional officials in Linden, where they met to discuss the situation with agriculture in the region and plans for its development.

In his address, Minister Holder outlined that Guyana has two distinct areas of savannah lands which can be utilised for agricultural expansion – the intermediate savannahs of Region 10 and the SouthEast Rupununi savannahs of Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo).

Noting that the country has limited financial capacity to conquer the worst impact of climate change, Minister Holder said it has opted to follow the pathway leading to a green economy instead.

"In this regard, the intermediate savannahs of Region 10 have been earmarked as Guyana's new agricultural frontier as the country continues the quest to narrow the gap between the coastland and hinterland region," he outlined.

The Minister noted that agricultural stations are being constructed in the major eco zones in the country, including one at Ebini, Region 10. These stations, the Minister said, demonstrate agricultural potential for orchards, nurseries and seed production as well as for small ruminants. According to the Minister, it will also create new employment opportunities and compliment other activities such as mining, as he stressed that Region 10 is the gateway to the interior savannahs with vast land resource.

"There is no doubt in my mind that Region 10 is vital to the development of Guyana. It is strategically located in the heart of the country... It is my belief that the transformation of the re-

gion lies with agriculture.

Economic conditions of the mining industry forces us to accelerate the rate of activity for investment and development in Region 10 through agriculture," he continued.

The Minister added that good planning and governance is necessary, however, in order to achieve the successful agricultural development of the intermediate savannahs and as such, a number of studies have already been incorporated into a detailed plan.

Budget

He pointed out that the region's budget has increased by 39 per cent over the last three years which is an indication of the importance of the region.

"However, I note... that there's no allocation for agriculture in your budget and this needs to be addressed."

Additionally, Holder said the Ministry will commence the design and upgrade of facilities to the Ebini agricultural station, through the Sustainable Development Agricultural programme.

Additionally, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has budgeted $105.7 million for manual cleaning of drains in various communities in addition to other rehabilitation projects which Ebini and West Watooka will benefit.

There are also plans to enhance the programme at Ebini to include the breeding of farm animals, soya beans production and evaluation of new crops such as potatoes.

Using the four pillars outlined by the President, including 'Investment, Information Technology, Infrastructure, Innovation', Holder said this will be used as a backdrop to set the stage for developing the region's agriculture plan, adding that the Ministry has already examined studies and plans to determine a new course of action for agricultural development.

Of 58 farm lots identified so far, 22 are situated at Ebini and about five at Wiruni among other areas.

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THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NBS wrongful dismissal case

Luckhoo expects swift court action for compensation – after plaintiff waited nearly 6 years for decision

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enior Counsel (SC) Edward Luckhoo who represented former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maurice Arjoon in the High Court case against his former employer, the New Building Society (NBS), is hopeful that Arjoon will soon be paid the required compensation.

Earlier this week, presiding Judge Brassington Reynolds ruled in favour of Arjoon, who sued his former employer for some $550 million in damages on grounds that he was wrongfully dismissed from his post and for withholding his pension and other benefits.

In a brief interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday, SC Luckhoo related that he has submitted proposals to the Court regarding how much his client should be paid in compensation. It is now left to the Court to compute the amount of damages Arjoon must be awarded. This pub-

lication, however, understands that counsel for the respondent, NBS, Ashton Chase, SC, can lodge an appeal against the determined amount.

Reports surfaced that the Court was expected to provide a computation of the payments on Tuesday.

Responding to concerns over the delay, Luckhoo reasoned that standard court procedure could be responsible for the holdup. Arjoon, who is reported to be sick, was waiting for the High Court’s decision for almost six years before Justice Reynolds ruled in his favour on Monday.

The former CEO was fired over a decade ago in a matter that stemmed from the Magistrate’s Courts, where he, along with Operations Manager Kent Vincent and Assistant Mortgage Manager Kissoon Baldeo, were all accused of conspiracy to defraud the company of $69 million. An

Former NBS CEO Maurice Arjoon

Senior Counsel Edward Luckhoo

investigation claimed that the fraud was committed in 2006 and the men were fired the next year after it was determined that they were at fault for dereliction of duty, negligence and/or serious misconduct.

However, the matter was subsequently dis-

missed owing to insufficient evidence at the lower court and in 2011, Arjoon had taken his former employer to the Supreme Court to be paid what he believes is owed to him. But the matter dragged on for over five years and was listed for decision on November 29,

2016. It was only after repeated media reports that the Court handed down its ruling on July 17.

In Monday’s ruling, Justice Reynolds, in effect, indicated that Arjoon suffered as a result of his wrongful dismissal from the NBS. As such, it was stated that the former CEO should receive financial compensation. Justice Reynolds also explained that Arjoon was entitled to his pension and severance benefits in accordance with provisions as stipulated in the laws of Guyana.

While the Court did not say what this figure should be, the plaintiff’s Attorney expressed that the Court should make the calculations rather than leave it up to the opposing side. The respondent’s counsel concurred. The High Court has awarded Arjoon some $200,000 in court costs.

According to the facts of the now dismissed 10-year-

old fraud case, the NBS had stated that an unauthorised withdrawal of nearly $70 million was taken from an account that Bibi Shamina Khan held.

The financial institution’s issue with the withdrawal was that it was made through a Power of Attorney and so determined that Arjoon was at fault by way of serious misconduct.

However, in the court’s view, the NBS failed to provide evidence that supported its claim of misconduct, whether serious or otherwise.

Worthy of note is Arjoon’s contention that he was set up on the fraud allegation as a result of his alleged refusal to approve the lending of some $2 billion in 2006. Arjoon claimed that it was later that same year that the investigation was conducted into the fraud allegation in which he, as CEO, and others were implicated.

2017 National Toshaos Conference

Mining, other issues affecting livelihoods to be addressed

National Toshaos Council Chairman Joel Fredericks

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ational Toshaos’ Council (NTC) Chairman Joel Fredericks has announced that issues surrounding mining and matters concerning the livelihoods of Indigenous persons will come into focus at this year’s six-day meeting.

Fredericks made these comments during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) ahead of the NTC meeting, which is slated to be held from August 22 to 27, 2017 in Georgetown.

On Wednesday, Fredericks was quoted by the DPI as saying that the Conference will be able to address serious issues faced by the Indigenous peoples.

He also indicated that the majority of the minor issues were addressed at the regional level, at the Regional Toshaos Conferences, which were held countrywide. Fredericks also noted that this year’s Conference would place much emphasis on “bigger issues like the land and the mining and we can spend more time and give more space for people to address those issues”.

It was explained that Indigenous leaders from more than 200 communities across the country would gather in the capital city, where they would deliberate on issues affecting their livelihoods. According to the DPI, the six-day event

One of the hot-button matters expected to take centre stage at the 2017 NTC Conference relates to the Chenapau, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), miners who were briefly detained by ranks attached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) for illegal mining in the Kaieteur National Park (KNP) in May of this year.

In early June, Government had dropped charges against the 20 miners in what was described as “a show of good faith”, after the NTC had called for their release.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had reminded that the area was part of the protected areas system of

will also provide Ministers with a chance to outline their immediate and longterm plans for Indigenous peoples’ development.

Guyana, and stressed that mining was not permitted under the law. He then highlighted that any further mining would see the

Chenapau residents protested their community members being detained earlier this year

perpetrators being arrested.

However, residents of Chenapau felt that mining in the area was a matter of their livelihood and protested the heavy military presence in their community. Conversely, Protected Areas Commission (PAC) Board Member Raquel Thomas-Caesar described the heavy military presence in the KNP as a “temporary operation” that was conducted to deal with alleged mining in the reserve.

In a social media post, Thomas-Caesar had said, “…we don’t want the world to know we are going in as they would run away…there is mining in the park and there is a monitoring operation for a period (not permanent)…everyone knows this is a very sensitive issue

for Chenapau Village and for the Government, and we all need to sit together as I have told Chenapau Village Council and work this out.

Issues are sorted when people work together.

This KNP has had a difficult history and there are some key issues to address.”

Nevertheless, the NTC had called on President David Granger to examine the dynamics of the alleged illegal mining in Chenapau more closely, in order to amicably resolve the issue.

At that time, the NTC reasoned that the matter should not have been viewed and assessed only from a humanitarian perspective, but also for the very survival of the Patamona peoples of the upper Potaro region.

The NTC, on June 2, further described the arrest of

Indigenous people as an infringement on their human rights, which denied them the ability to survive by traditional means and criminalising their activities.

A subsequent fact-finding mission into the Joint Services operation in the KNP took a drastic turn when a Capitol News cameraman Rudy Morris and Chenapau resident Anthony Melville were arrested by Army ranks. On June 12, it was reported that Morris and Melville were both taken into custody at the Muri Muri Landing in Region Eight. They were released shortly afterwards but the move was condemned by many Indigenous stakeholders groups, including the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) and the media fraternity.

THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2017

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15

of the Lingerie Shop I

t is clear that lingerie is more than sensuous undergarments for Sarah Ibrahim of the Lingerie Shop – although she confesses that she loves fashion and “all things beautiful”— it’s about building women’s confidence and empowerment.

“I’m the eldest of four girls, and it was a constant headache to find quality undergarments,” she said, reminiscing on what prompted her to open the store.

“No matter what you wear, I think all women can agree that what’s underneath matters… makes you feel comfortable, confident, and sexy,” the entrepreneur declared when questioned about the seemingly incongruity of her faith and owning a lingerie store. Noting that she has faced this question many times in all the years she has had her business, she later added wryly, “Because I dress modestly, a lot of people think I have no idea about sex or what is sexy.”

“I am a woman and I

Investing in business

Y

ou will commonly hear this refrain from successful business owners: nobody ever got rich working for somebody else. A cursory glance at the Forbes 400 gives credence to this statement; the list overwhelmingly comprises of entrepreneurs and business owners. When you give it some thought, it makes sense, too: working for somebody else means that you’re always capped by what they are willing to pay you. Work for yourself, and the limit is only what you’re willing to work for.

The three primary types of investments

Businesses possess high value and low liquidity, property is of medium value and medium liquidity, while stocks are strictly a low-value, high-liquidity asset. Each of these investments requires you to take a different approach in order to have them serve as suitable assets rather than liabilities. Understanding where businesses fit into that triad will better equip you to maximise its value. It’s difficult to understate the importance of this: businesses have the potential to contribute far more than property and stocks combined to your overall net wealth.

Because businesses possess a low level of overall liquidity, they are not suitable as quick sources of income. While business-

es add the most overall value, they cannot be sold quickly. A business takes an average of 10 months to sell, whereas a piece of property might take a little more than a single month. Stocks can be sold in the space of an instant. This is why wealthy people typically keep a healthy assortment of properties and stocks on hand; businesses add the most value, but they cannot be liquidated so easily. If you find yourself in sudden need of cash, you need an asset with a higher level of liquidity to meet that crunch.

The flip side to this is that businesses add more value than anything else you can own. (Excerpted from ActionCOACH)

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Calculated at 94% purity, June 29, 2017

Selling

GBP

$268.29

$271.70

CAN

$163.10

$164.99

USD

$205.98

$208.44

EURO

$237.27

$240.31

USD

$1243.50

Gross

$242,626

Net

$225,643

Indicators as on June 29, 2017 Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$47.52

Price

USD

Rough Rice

$260.66/ton

London Sugar

$390.00/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change %

+0.86 Change %

+0.07 -1.09 USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1241.60

$1220.00

Low/High

$1235.50

$1244.60

Change

Business Concept – Short Selling

+0.60

-0.08%

Profiting from an anticipated drop in the price of a commodity, financial instrument, or security by (1) borrowing and selling it now, or by (2) selling a firm promise (futures contract) to deliver it on a later date at the current (or a specified) price. In either case, the seller counts on buying the item at a cheaper price to return (with a fee) or deliver it. A short seller is a ‘bear’. Also called selling short. (Business Dictionary)

know what women want. I’m also married with children and know our husbands love us looking and feeling beautiful and confident.

More women need to realise lingerie is for home and we should always look amazing for our spouses. And for ourselves.”

Her one-of-a-kind store is filled with wonderful diaphanous and cotton pieces and offers make-up and other body products as well, because she believes in “taking care of yourself”. “We have wonderful customers who have realised that our service and quality and prices are unmatchable.

We have regulars as well as new people discovering the store every day,” Ibrahim says of the response the store has received over the years.

For the stylish b u s i n e s s w o m a n , determination is key to running the business that has been providing exquisite underthings for women for 17 years. The East Bank Demerara resident says it is the most important quality an entrepreneur can possess. “…without determination, you’re just an idea. You have to go out there and make your dreams a reality.”

Through all the ups and downs, including a fire last year that destroyed the building that housed the Lingerie Shop,

betrayal b y trusted staff members that damaged the store’s reputation and almost cost her the business, Ibrahim, with the support of her husband, has persevered – “at the end of it all, there’s a silver lining to every rainy cloud” – rebuilding the brand and moving to a new location.

Asked what keeps her going through all these setbacks, she said simply: “We are Muslim and our faith has a lot to do with how we handle unimaginable situations.

We have looked at each setback as a stepping stone.

Determination to succeed, to not let anyone or anything affect our success.”

Her advice to young

entrepreneurs “believe in yourself and prepare your mind that the road to success rarely is an easy one.

Remember to save, be humble and be kind. You never know what the other person out there is facing maybe your smile is the one that brightens someone’s day”.

“And always, never think you are too big to take advice or correction.”

Contact: 146 Regent Street, Georgetown, Guyana – two buildings from Alexander Street in the top flat of the Techsource; 225-0578; www. facebook.com/saytlsgy/ is

Investors’ Guide

Wall Street at new highs as tech breaches dot-com era record

T

he major US stock indexes closed at record highs on Wednesday helped partly by technology stocks, which surpassed a long-standing mark, despite gains on the Dow being capped by a sharp drop in IBM shares.

The S&P 500 tech sector broke its previous record closing high that had held since March 2000 in the midst of the dot-com and Y2K tech stocks bubble. It has been the best-performing sector this year with a 22.8 per cent advance.

Vertex jumped as much as 26.4 per cent to an alltime high of US$167, a day after it reported positive results for its cystic fibrosis treatment. The stock ended up 20.8 per cent at US$159.69, and was the biggest boost on the S&P and the Nasdaq.

IBM was a drag on the Dow industrials after its quarterly revenue came in below expectations and the stock fell 4.2 per cent to US$147.53, having hit a 13-month low of US$146.71.

The Atlanta Federal Reserve raised its sec-

ond-quarter GDP estimate by one-tenth of a percentage point to a 2.5 per cent annualised rate after data showed US homebuilding surged to a four-month high in June. The economy grew at a 1.4 per cent pace in the first quarter.

“Markets are focused on fundamentals, and earnings and the economy are underpinning equities,” said Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist at Prudential Financial in Newark, New Jersey.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 66.02 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 21,640.75, the S&P 500 gained 13.22 points, or 0.54 per cent, to 2473.83 and the Nasdaq Composite added 40.74 points, or 0.64 per cent, to 6385.04.

The Dow, S&P, Nasdaq and the small-cap Russell 2000 indexes all set record closing highs.

Analysts estimate an 8.7 per cent rise in second-quarter earnings and a 4.6 per cent increase in revenue for the S&P 500 companies from a year earlier, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/

E/S. Morgan Stanley rose 3.3 per cent to US$46.62 after the Wall Street bank reported better-than-expected profit and bond trading revenue declines that were modest compared with arch-rival Goldman Sachs.

The KBW bank index fell 0.4 per cent.

Bank earnings “have come out pretty well, but apparently not enough for investors to keep them running, to keep the prices up,” said Giri Cherukuri, head trader at OakBrook Investments LLC, which oversees US$1.3 billion in Lisle, Illinois.

“People were expecting good earnings, and people were expecting the (Federal Reserve) to raise rates, which would be good for the stocks. A lot of the expectations were built in already.

It was tough to go further.”

The transport sector was also hit by declines in airlines as United Continental Holdings fell 5.9 per cent to US$74.24, a day after it forecast “disappointing” passenger unit revenue for the third quarter. (Reuters)

16

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THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2017

Regional

Chile moves towards legalising Jamaica to host electrical engineering abortion in limited cases

S

enators in Chile have voted in favour of a proposal which would end the country’s total ban on abortions. The measure would allow abortion in cases of rape, if the mother’s life was at risk or if the foetus would not survive the pregnancy.

Currently, women can be prosecuted if they have an abortion.

The bill, which has the backing of President Michelle Bachelet, will now go back to the Chamber of Deputies for approval. The proposal was first introduced two and a half years ago and has faced by stiff opposition from the Catholic Church and socially conservative groups.

Senators voted separately on each of the three cases in which women would be allowed to have an abortion: * The vote in favour of allowing abortion in cases in which the mother’s life is at risk was 20 in favour and 14 opposed * That of allowing a termination in cases where the foetus is unviable was 18 to 14 * The closest result was for the vote

conference

H

Senators debated into the early hours of the morning

on whether to allow abortions in cases of rape. Eighteen senators voted in favour and 16 against The voting went late into the night and was further delayed when police had to remove abortion opponents who had interrupted proceedings with their chanting and shouts.

Supporters of the bill hope the Chamber of Deputies will now swiftly approve the document without further changes so it can be sent to President Bachelet for signing. Changing Chile’s strict abortion laws has been one of the president’s main goals. (Excerpt from BBC News)

undreds of engineers from across the Caribbean and Latin America will gather in Montego Bay, Jamaica, July 23 to 28 for the 2017 Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) Engineers Conference.

In a release on Wednesday, the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) said this year’s conference will look at the changes in the energy industry, and the opportunities presented by these changes. As such, the theme is “Re-Engineering our Energy Future: a Utility in a Disruptive Age”.

The power company said the conference is open to engineers, utility workers, petroleum dealers, and indus-

try professionals, as well as vendors wishing to showcase new technologies, goods and services applicable to the utility sector.

The conference will feature a combination of presentations, panel discussions and open sessions, covering a wide range of topics, including emerging trends in power generation, smart grid engineering, security plans for protecting the grid, and the re-tooling of workers for the utility of the future.

The training component of the conference will include seminars on: power fault cable locating, energy storage, fuel management, and transformer distribution. (Jamaica

Observer)

Caribbean must strengthen Brazil freezes accounts of exits Internet infrastructure President Silva in graft case

T

he Caribbean will have to strengthen its Internet infrastructure if it is to keep pace with the world’s growing digital economy.

That’s the view held by Bevil Wooding, an Internet strategist with US-based non-profit Packet Clearing House, an organisation providing operational support and security to critical Internet infrastructure around the world.

Speaking to an audience of telecoms sector executives and Government officials at the Caribbean Peering and

Interconnection Forum in Phillipsburg, St Maarten, Wooding contrasted the high speed of change in the global Internet landscape with the relatively slow pace of Internet infrastructure development in the Caribbean.

But while the rest of the world rushes to cash in on those lucrative markets, Wooding says the Caribbean faces a real risk of being left behind. A major factor, he said, is the persistently slow pace of Internet infrastructure build-out across the region.

Telecommunications ser-

Uruguay pharmacies start selling recreational marijuana

U

ruguay has become the first country in the world to legally sell marijuana for recreational use. Sixteen pharmacies started dispensing marijuana on Wednesday.

Almost 5000 people have signed up to a national registry to be able to buy marijuana legally. They will be able to buy up to 10g (0.35oz) a week and no more than 40g a month.

The move comes four years after a law was passed which fully legalised the cannabis trade. Supporters of the law argue that it will help stop the illegal trade

in marijuana and put drug dealers out of business.

Customers will be able to choose from two varieties of marijuana dubbed Alpha 1 and Beta 1. Both contain two per cent Tetrahidrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of marijuana.

The price for five grams has been set at 187 Uruguayan pesos (US$6.50; £5). The marijuana sold at the pharmacies comes from state-supervised fields.

The law also allows users to grow their own at home or join co-operative clubs that farm it. (BBC News)

vice providers aren’t the only firms that will need to upgrade their hardware.

Government ministries and private companies across the region will also have to invest more heavily and wisely in the technology underlayer that drives modern digital economies as well.

He also predicted that the global economy will become increasingly unforgiving to regions with failing and outdated infrastructure, particularly small-island developing states like those in the Caribbean. (Excerpt from

Caribbean News Now)

A

Brazilian Judge says bank accounts belonging to ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have been frozen due to his conviction on corruption charges.

The office of federal judge Sergio Moro said Wednesday that the frozen assets amount to over 600,000 Brazilian reals (US$190,000) in four accounts.

Moro is the same Judge who sentenced Silva to nine and a half years in prison in connection with a sprawling graft probe involving staterun oil giant Petrobras. Moro also blocked Lula from using three apartments, a piece of land and two cars linked to the former President.

Silva denies any wrongdoing and will remain free until his appeal is decided.

A spokesman for Silva confirmed the assets were blocked by Brazil's central bank, but did not comment further. (Yahoo! News)

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Aruba to hold Caribbean’s largest vow renewal ceremony

A

ruba has invited lovebirds to renew their vows on the world’s number three beach this summer in what will be the Caribbean’s largest vow renewal ceremony.

More than 100 couples from across the globe are expected to say “I do” again as the sun sets on Eagle Beach on August 8.

The event’s ambiance and décor will be inspired by real destination weddings in Aruba, and couples are encouraged to don white attire with pops of Caribbean colour.

And while next month’s event will be the largest in the Caribbean, it won’t

The event’s ambiance and décor will be inspired by real destination weddings in Aruba, and couples are encouraged to don white attire with pops of Caribbean colour

be the first Aruba is involved in. On Valentine’s Day 2013, hundreds of couples renewed their vows in an Aruba-sponsored event

in Times Square, New York.

Then on Valentine’s Day last year, the Aruba Tourism Authority partnered with the Empire State Building to

give one couple a honeymoon in the island following their vow renewal ceremony.

“From the Empire State Building to Times Square, Aruba has brought its world-famous love and happiness to some of the most iconic US locations in recent years,” said Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes, CEO of the Aruba Tourism Authority.

“This year, Aruba is pleased to share romance and warmth at Eagle Beach, one of the most beloved spots on our one happy island.”

More than 10 hoteliers are offering vacation specials to those who choose to be part of the renewal in August.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Former Opposition in Bermuda forms Govt; changes at helm of losing party

T

he Progressive Labour Party (PLP) on Tuesday swept the One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) out of power in the general elections. The result prompted former Premier Michael Dunkley to step down as OBA

leader and his losing deputy to quit politics altogether.

The PLP won 24 of the 36 seats in the House of Assembly, while OBA took the other 12, which meant that none of the five independent candidates – including

former premier Paula Cox – got any success at the polls.

In addition to holding on to the 17 seats it won in the 2012 election, the PLP captured seven others from the OBA, including some regarded as safe seats for the former

ruling party.

PLP Leader David Burt will this afternoon be sworn in as Premier – the youngest in Bermuda’s history. While Dunkley won his seat, his deputy in Government and in the party, Bob Richards, lost

his to the PLP’s Christopher Famous.

The Royal Gazette reported this morning that Dunkley resigned as party leader after the election defeat.

Meantime, the defeated OBA deputy leader, who first en-

tered the House of Assembly as an MP in 2007, announced that he would no longer continue in active politics.

“I’ve done my best. This has accelerated my retirement from politics,” Richards said. (Caribbean360)

thursDAY, july 20, 2017

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17

Around the World

Trump tells Republicans Earth is becoming 'Planet Plastic' to get health care done U

P

resident Donald Trump made a lastditch bid to salvage a central campaign pledge Wednesday, deploying a mix of threats and flattery as he told Republican senators to pass health care reform before their summer break.

With his credibility on the line, Trump told a group of 49 Republican senators assembled at the White House that they must try again to repeal and replace Obamacare and not leave Washington until they do so.

For seven years, Republicans have promised to gut the policy – which has extended health care coverage to millions of Americans – saying it is unaffordable and unsustainable.

Failure to do so – despite Republicans controlling the White House and both houses on Congress – would drive a stake through Trump's claim to be the only one sav-

Donald Trump meets with Republicans as Democrats in Congress express their frustration with a motion of no confidence in the US President

vy enough to get things done in Washington.

As senators filed into the State Dining Room and found paper folders marked with their names, there were a few smiles, but most were grim-faced. They laughed as Trump joked about being ready and waiting to sign the bill. "Believe me, I'm sit-

ting in that office, I have pen in hand," said the real estate mogul-turned-President.

But the mood became more solemn when Trump insinuated that those opposing the measure might face a White House-backed primary opponent and potentially lose their jobs. (Excerpt

from Yahoo! News)

Thailand convicts traffickers after 2015 mass graves discovery

A

Thai Judge has found dozens of people guilty, including senior Army General, in the country’s largest ever human trafficking trial following the discovery two years ago of mass graves in a squalid jungle camp where hundreds of migrants had been brutally exploited.

Sentencing began on Wednesday morning for 102 people, including 21 government officials, and was still continuing 12 hours later.

Most of the 62 found guilty so far were brought to trial on charges of forcible deten-

tion leading to death, trafficking, rape and belonging to organised transnational criminal networks.

Police opened the case after more than two dozen bodies were discovered in a shallow grave in southern Songkhla province in 2015.

Authorities said the victims had been held captive by people-smugglers who kept migrants as hostages for ransom.

The case led to a crackdown on smuggling networks that brought people from Myanmar and Bangladesh to Thailand.

But government action resulted in a secondary crisis in which smugglers, fearing arrest, abandoned boatloads of migrants. The UN refugee agency estimated hundreds died at sea, primarily as a result of starvation, dehydration and beatings by boat crews.

The highest-profile defendant was Lieutenant General Manus Kongpan, who was found guilty of multiple human trafficking charges, an extremely rare occurrence in a country controlled by a military elite.

(Excerpt from The Guardian)

Navy charges sailor who hid on ship for a week with abandoning watch, dereliction of duty

T

he missing sailor from the USS Shiloh who triggered a massive man overboard search in the Philippine Sea, but was later found alive on board the ship, has been charged with abandoning watch and dereliction of duty, a US Navy spokesman said Tuesday.

Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical)

Petty Officer 3rd Class Peter Mims admitted that his disappearance on board the Shiloh was intentional and that he took steps to avoid detection, Lieutenant Paul Newell, spokesman for the US Navy's 7th Fleet told ABC News.

Mims, 23, disappeared on June 8 while the Shiloh was operating 180 miles east of

The USS Shiloh, a US Navy's Aegis-equipped destroyer, arrives at the port of Yokosuka, home to the Navy's 7th Fleet near Tokyo, August 29, 2006

Okinawa, Japan. The U.S. Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force and Japanese Coast Guard then spent over 50 hours and covered roughly 5500 square miles looking for the sailor.

The search was suspended at midnight on June 11 and the Navy released the sailor's name, presumably after he was determined to have been lost at sea. Four days later, Mims was found in the ship's engineering spaces alive. He attended an "Admiral's mast," a non-judicial punishment within the Navy, "due to the seriousness this had on the strike group and our Japanese allies," Newell said. The charges violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice's Article 86, abandoning watch, and Article 92, dereliction in the performance of duties. (Excerpt from Yahoo! News)

S scientists have calculated the total amount of plastic ever made and put the number at 8.3 billion tonnes. It is an astonishing mass of material that has essentially been created only in the last 65 years or so.

The 8.3 billion tonnes is as heavy as 25,000 Empire State Buildings in New York, or a billion elephants.

The great issue is that plastic items, like packaging, tend to be used for very short periods before being discarded.

More than 70 per cent of the total production is now in waste streams, sent largely to landfill – although too much of it just litters the wider environment, including the oceans.

"We are rapidly heading towards 'Planet Plastic', and if we don't want to live on that kind of world then we may have to rethink how we use some materials, in particular plastic," Dr Roland Geyer told BBC News.

A paper authored by the industrial ecologist from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and colleagues appears in the journal Science Advances. It is

described as the first truly global assessment of how much plastic has been manufactured, how the material in all its forms is used, and where it ends up.

None of the commonly used plastics are biodegradable. The only way to permanently dispose of their waste is to destructively heat it – through a decomposition process known as pyrolysis or through simple incineration; although the latter is

complicated by health and emissions concerns.

In the meantime, the waste mounts up. There is enough plastic debris out there right now, Geyer and colleagues say, to cover an entire country the size of Argentina. The team's hope is that their new analysis will give added impetus to the conversation about how best to deal with the plastics issue. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Why is India drilling deep into an earthquake hotspot?

I

n the windswept skein of mountains in India's Western Ghats, geologists are drilling some of Asia's deepest boreholes in an audacious attempt to unlock the mysteries of earthquakes.

The site is Gothane, a table-top 3051feet (930 metre)-high mountain in the western state of Maharashtra, lashed by squally winds and ringed by looming wind farms and damp green forests populated by Asian antelopes, wild boars and deer.

More significantly, the place is barely 10km (6.2

miles) from Koyna, the site of a devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake in 1967, five years after a big, hydropower dam was built in the region. The December quake killed 177 people, injured more than 2000 others and caused widespread damage and destruction.

Mountains are ideal places to set up water reservoirs for generating electricity, but water pressure can build up in the pores of the Earth and stress the crust to danger levels.

Quakes can also be triggered by mining, fracking (hydraulic fracturing to re-

cover gas and oil from shale rock) or extracting water from under the ground.

Geologists believe there are more than 100 sites around the world where quakes have been triggered by filling of water reservoirs.

At Koyna, geologists say, earthquake activity began after the reservoir was filled with more than a trillion litres of water in 1962. Seismologist Harsh K Gupta says the Koyna region "is the best site anywhere in the world where an earthquake can be observed". (Excerpt from BBC News)

Zimbabwe: Lion kills 10-year-old girl in Chiredzi

A

The attack is believed to have happened near a game reserve

young girl has been killed by a lion while relieving herself at night at the back of a hut in a rural part of Zimbabwe, a police spokesman told

the state-linked Chronicle newspaper.

The aunt of the little girl, named as Mitchell Mucheni, saw the lion drag her into the bush, Assistant

Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwathe said. The child's body was later found about 300m away, he added.

The incident happened on Saturday night in Chiredzi. Conflict between humans and animals is common in this south-eastern part of Zimbabwe. Last month, Chief Maranda of nearby Mwenezi appealed to the national parks authority for help after stray lions killed livestock belonging to villagers. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authorities (ZimParks) has yet to comment on this latest case. (BBC News)

18

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thursDAY, july 20, 2017

ARCHIE

Reconnect with someone from your past to gain a dif(March 21- ferent perspective on how April 19) others perceive you. What you learn will be to your advantage. Romance is featured.

ARIES

Pour your emotions, talent TAURUS and discipline into doing the (April 20- best job possible. Let your exMay 20) perience help you finish what you start without interference. Say little and do a lot.

dilbert

Emotions will be running GEMINI (May 21- high, but before you let your June 20) enthusiasm spin out of control, make sure you are being honest in your assessment of what’s actually happening.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Physical, emotional and domestic changes can be made, as long as you stick to a strict budget and are detailed and precise in your assessment and plans.

If you reconnect with someone you have worked or collaborated with in the past, new opportunities will develop. Sincerity and the willingness to put in extra effort will lead to a solid partnership.

Keep your opinions to yourVIRGO self. Don’t give anyone access (Aug. 23to your passwords or personal Sept. 22)

information. Take care of your emotional and physical health.

Demanding, negative people will take advantage of you.

Taking a trip, attending LIBRA a conference or trade show (Sept. 23or just spending time with Oct. 23) someone you can learn something from or enjoy being with will make your day. A commitment can be made.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Don’t feel that you must SCORPIO jump into something because (Oct. 24someone else does. Do your Nov. 22) own thing and don’t feel the need to explain your decision to anyone. Being different or unique is encouraged.

Travel, communication SAGITTARIUS and positive changes to your (Nov. 23- life are favored. Get the facts Dec. 21) and execute your plans with finesse. Put time aside for a little family fun or a romantic evening.

Don’t take on more than CAPRICORN you can handle. There will (Dec. 22- be a difference between what Jan. 19) you can do and what someone wants you to do. Make your position clear.

solution for Last Published Puzzle Socialize, plan an event or AQUARIUS get involved in a joint venture (Jan. 20you find intriguing. Speak up Feb. 19) and share your ideas if you want good things to happen.

Romance is highlighted.

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

Your charm will attract PISCES attention.

Don’t lead anyone (Feb. 20March 20) on or get involved with someone you know little about.

Ask questions and figure out who and what is good and bad for you.

thursDAY, july 20, 2017

19

Gayle mulls future Chelsea agree £60M deal to sign Real away from RCB Madrid striker Morata W

est Indies star batsman Chris Gayle has already began to consider a future outside of Indian Premier League (IPL) team Royal Challengers Bangalore for the upcoming season.

The 37-year-old has been a part of the squad for the last six years, but had season to forget in its most recent edition. Gayle scored a total of 200 runs in 9 games at an average of 22.22. The player did manage a high score of 77, which was second to only AB de Villiers but spend several games watching from the stand in frustration.

With league expected to undergo a complete overhaul for next season, it is unknown whether the player will be resigned, but Gayle hopes to continue in the competition.

“To be honest with you, whatever team it is, wherever I wind up, I’ll be most

C

West Indies star batsman Chris Gayle

privileged to produce the goods for the team I end up representing. So, I’ll just wait and see what happens next year,” said Gayle told Sportskeeda.

“Once I’m associated with the IPL, I’m good to go. Same entertainment, the same passion for whichever team I play for.”

(Sportsmax)

helsea have agreed a deal to sign Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata for about £60m.

The Spain international must now agree personal terms and pass a medical to complete the transfer.

The 24-year-old would be the Premier League champions’ fourth signing of the summer, after goalkeeper Willy Caballero, defender Antonio Rudiger and midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.

Morata scored 20 goals last season after rejoining Real from Juventus.

He won La Liga and the Champions League, but the majority of his appearances were as a substitute.

Morata could replace Spain team-mate Diego Costa, who says he has been told by manager Antonio Conte that he is no longer in Chelsea’s plans.

Manchester United had been interested in Morata prior to signing Everton striker Romelu Lukaku for

Froome in control

Alvaro Morata scored 20 goals for Real Madrid last season

an initial £75m.

Morata joined Real Madrid’s youth team in 2008 and was handed his senior debut aged 18 in 2010.

The 6ft 3in striker moved to Italy in 2014, scoring 27 goals in two years for Juventus, winning both Serie A and the Coppa Italia twice and playing in the

2015 Champions League final.

Real exercised a buyback option in June 2016 to take him back to the Bernabeu.

Morata has won 20 caps for Spain, scoring nine goals, since his international debut in 2014. (BBC)

York to sell £2.5M Cheshire mansion after company’s assets plummet

as Aru slips down the rankings

C

hris Froome kept control of his rivals in a gruelling Alpine ride to move a step closer to a fourth Tour de France title on Wednesday, retaining the leader’s yellow jersey after the 17th stage, won by Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic.

The defending champion was attacked by last year’s runner-up Romain Bardet and Ireland’s Dan Martin in the lung-busting ascent to the Col du Galibier but he stayed calm and covered every offensive move.

Bardet and Martin’s accelerations, however, were damaging for Fabio Aru as the Italian lost 31 seconds and slipped from second to fourth place overall.

Froome leads Colombian Rigoberto Uran and Bardet by 27 seconds each, while Aru is now 53 seconds off the pace.

“It is not a massive margin but it’s a margin that I’m relaxed and happy with if I can go into the time trial in Marseille with the same

Dwight Yorke

F

Chris Froome kept control of his rivals in a gruelling Alpine ride to move a step closer to a fourth Tour de France

margin I’ll be pretty confident,” said Froome.

“My team mates rode out of their skin today. I am certainly feeling a lot better than I did in the Pyrenees which is a great sign and hopefully I’ll have good legs again tomorrow.”

“I was surprised by Aru

dropping time today. I expected him to go on the attack but it’s the third week of a Grand Tour that tests everyone and there is no hiding place if you’re having a bad day in the third week.”

Cycling enthusiasts had anticipated an Alberto Contador victory as the two-

time champion, too far down in the general classification to threaten Froome, threw caution to the wind with a long-range attack shortly before French President Emmanuel Macron went into Tour director Christian Prudhomme’s car to follow the stage until the finish.

(Reuters)

ormer Trinidad and Tobago international and Manchester United star Dwight Yorke has listed his £2.5m Cheshire mansion up for sale following the shocking decline of his company’s assets.

Yorke established the company, Dwight Yorke Promotions in 1997, but last month faced a bankruptcy hearing after the business assets plummeted. According to records released in 2015 the company currently holds assets of £6,094, down 73% from 2014. However, with the business owing £6,092 in bank overdraft fees and long term loans it currently has net assets of just £2.

The six-bedroom proper-

ty, which Yorke once shared with his former partner, English television personality and model Katie Price, is located on the outskirts of Manchester, a hotbed for footballers residences, and is listed as having a games room and bar.

The 45-year-old has been working as a TV pundit and Manchester United club ambassador since retiring from football in 2009. In the late 1990s Yorke formed half the legendary Manchester United double-act with Englishman Andy Cole - the pair bagged an incredible 53 goals in for United in their treble-winning season of 1998-99. The retired striker made 74 appearances for Trinidad and Tobago and scored 19 times. (Sportsmax)

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Bolt confident he will end career West Indies Under-19 with win at World Champs South Africa U-19 v West Indies U-19

D

clinch series

The West Indies Under-19

W

est Indies Under – 19 narrowly dismiss their South African counterparts to win by two runs at Chatsworth Stadium Durban, South Africa to take the five match series 3 – 2 earlier today in the final One Day International.

Keagan Simmons belted 14 fours in a top score of 107 as the Caribbean lads posted244 for 5 batting first.

Simmons shared in an 83 run opening stand with

Guyanese Joshua Persaud (46) to set a solid platform for the young Windies side.

Alick Athanaze (40) and Bhaskar Yadram (21) were the other main contributors to the total.

South Africa in pursuit of the total and a series win, ended their inning on 242 – 7 when their overs expired.

Matthew Breetzke stroked an even century for his side as Yadram returned to take 3 – 37 to hand West Indies the nail biting win. (Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD West Indies Under19s innings (50 overs maximum) K Simmons not out 107 J Persaud† c Breetzke b de Klerk B Yadram c Breetzke b 21 Rolfes EWJ Stewart* c Breetzke b Ntini 0 b Ntini 40 A Athanaze J Royal run out (de Klerk/ 16 Rolfes/†Makwetu) C Cooper not out 1 Extras (b 1, lb 6, w 5, nb 1) 13 Total (5 wickets; 50 overs; 244 213 mins) Did not bat: N Young, T Alleyne, M Patrick, D Nedd Fall of wickets 1-83 (Persaud, 20.6 ov), 2-122 (Yadram, 31.4 ov), 3-122 (Stewart, 32.1 ov), 4-215 (Athanaze, 47.4 ov), 5-243 (Royal, 49.5 ov) Bowling: Curtis Campher 10-2-45-0, T Ntini 8-0-382 (2w), G Coetzee 10-2-390 (1w), J de Klerk 8-0-39-1 (1w), KT Smith 5-1-19-0, H Rolfes 9-0-57-1(1nb, 1w) South Africa Under19s innings (target: 245 runs from 50 overs) M Breetzke c †Persaud

b Yadram 100 J Pillay c †Persaud b Royal 44 G Coetzee c Athanaze b Royal 33 J Christensen c Nedd b Yadram 17 W Makwetu† c †Persaud b Yadram 0 H Rolfes run out (Athanaze) 21 R van Tonder* c †Persaud b Alleyne 4 not out 3 KT Smith Curtis Campher not out 3 Extras (lb 4, w 11, nb 2) 17 Total (7 wickets; 50 overs; 217 mins) 242 Did not bat: J de Klerk, T Ntini Fall of wickets 1-112 (Pillay, 20.3 ov), 2-182 (Coetzee, 38.4 ov), 3-206 (Breetzke, 43.2 ov), 4-206 (Makwetu, 43.3 ov), 5-215 (Christensen, 45.3 ov), 6-233 (Rolfes, 48.2 ov), 7-237 (van Tonder, 48.6 ov) Bowling: D Nedd 5-1-200 (3w), T Alleyne 6-0-481(4w), N Young 5-0-27-0 10-0-31-2, (2w), J Royal M Patrick 10-0-41-0 (1nb, 2w), B Yadram 7-0-37-3, A Athanaze 7-0-34-0 (1nb)

F1 to introduce Halo protection system from 2018

T

he Halo has been deemed the best frontal protection system by Formula 1’s governing body and will feature on cars from next season.

Formula One cars will be fitted with the Halo frontal protection system from the 2018 season, the FIA has announced.

The decision was confirmed following Wednesday’s meeting of F1’s strategy group - with representatives of all 10 teams in attendance. An alternative concept known as the Shield was trialled at Silverstone last week, but Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel complained it made him dizzy. And despite reports the majority of teams rejected the introduction of the

Halo at Wednesday’s meeting, it will be introduced from next season.

“Following the unanimous agreement of the Strategy Group, in July 2016, to introduce additional frontal protection for Formula One and the repeated support from the drivers, the FIA confirms the introduction of the

Halo for 2018,” an FIA statement read. “With the support of the teams, certain features of its design will be further enhanced.

“Having developed and evaluated a large number of devices over the past five years, it had become clear that the Halo presents the best overall safety performance.” (Reuters)

espite relatively ordinary performances in his two races this season defending 100-metre world champion Usain Bolt has expressed confidence in his ability to win a fourth blue-ribbon title in London next month.

The 30-year-old Jamaican was speaking at a press conference in Monaco on Wednesday prior to his 100m race at the Monaco Diamond League meeting on Friday, his final warm-up race before the IAAF World Championships in London starting August 4. “I am always expecting to win.

If it’s one thing you know about me I am always confident,” said the world-record holder, who is yet to break 10 seconds this season after runs in Kingston on June 10 and Ostrava on June 28.

Notwithstanding the pedestrian times, he believes he will be ready to take on the world’s best like he has so successfully done in the past decade. “The moment you start having doubts it doesn’t make sense you show up at the line so, for me, it’s all about winning. I am not worried about world records. I have it already so no stress.”

The man who has won 11 World Championships gold medals during his illustrious career that has spanned

Usain Bolt

15 years, said his goal in London this summer is a simple one. “My main aim is to just to win. I want to retire on a winning note. That has always been the goal throughout my career, just to continue dominating and to continue winning.”

Bolt will line up in Monaco against compatriot, Olympic 110-metre hurdles champion Omar McLeod,

the only sprint hurdler in history to go below 10 seconds in the 100m and 13 seconds in the sprint hurdles. He will also take on the likes of South Africa’s Akani Simbini who boasts a season’s best 9.92, Great Britain’s Chijinduh Ujah, and the USA’s Isiah Young and Christopher Belcher, all of whom have broken the 10-second barrier this season. (Sportsmax)

Last Sri Lanka tour changed India’s mindset – Kohli

T

he odds were against India the last time they toured Sri Lanka in 2015, but Virat Kohli led the inexperienced side to a comeback win in the test series which changed the team’s mindset, the captain said on Wednesday.

“That tour for us was a landmark tour,” Kohli told reporters before India’s departure for the island country, where the team will play three tests, five oneday internationals and a one-off twenty20 match.

“If you look at the average age of that team a couple of years back...

Obviously the players have matured from there on.”

India lost the first of the three-test series against their South Asian neighbours but won the next two matches. They have since gone on to beat West Indies away and registered home victories against South Africa, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia. Kohli’s men are currently ranked number one in the world.

“That tour for us was start of the belief that we can win, win away from home and we have the side to win away from home.”

India arrived in Sri Lanka in 2015 having lost test series in South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia, during

The odds were against India the last time they toured Sri Lanka in 2015

which long-term captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni retired from the format, handing over the reins to Kohli.

The 28-year-old couldn’t lead India to a win in a oneoff test against Bangladesh, and criticism of the team reached its nadir after the loss in the first test against Sri Lanka.

“We showed more belief in our abilities and that we could win from any situation,” Kohli said, referring to the victories in the second and third test.

“That really turned our mindset around. From then on you can see the results.”

India’s preparation has been less than ideal this time, too, with head coach Anil Kumble stepping down last month citing a breakdown in his relationship with skipper Kohli.

Former all-rounder Ravi Shastri was named as head coach last week, while Bharat Arun was appointed bowling coach and Sanjay Bangar was named assistant coach, following Shastri’s recommendations.

Shastri said he will approach his role with a fresh mind.

“Mine will be a refresh button that will be pushed and I will carry on from where I left. I don’t come with any baggage,” the 55-year-old said.

“The team has done exceedingly well over three years and they are the people who deserve the credit more than anybody else.

These Ravi Shastris and Anil Kumbles will come and go. The fabric of Indian cricket will remain.” (Reuters)

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Williams, Bright satisfied

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with performances at World Youth Championships – athletes call for more exposure on international stage

By Akeem Greene

N

ational junior athletes Daniel Williams and Chantoba Bright expressed satisfaction over their performances at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Youth Championships held in, Nairobi, Kenya last week.

Both athletes returned home on Wednesday morning at the Cheddi Jagan International airport to a warm welcome from family members along with the President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Aubrey Huston and officials.

Williams ran his personal best time of 46.72s in the Boys’ 400 metres Final to capture a silver medal. He joined Kadecia Baird, who won a World Junior silver medal in 2012, as the only two athletes to gain a World medal at any level for Guyana.

Daniel Williams and his World Youth Championship silver medal

Guyana.

“It is just another medal to me but it means we can strive for greatness and athletics and can take you far since there is a saying in the country that ath-

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best record of 6.30m which is still the third leading in the world.

“It was difficult, the weather was not what I expected and the competition was higher than I ever came into contact with but I gave my best” She added, “the weather was cold and it took a while for me to be warmed and when I got warmed the breeze took it right away and it was difficult entering the event and not being fully warmed”.

Given the jumper had copped gold at the CARIFTA Games and South American Youth championship, she expressed that she entered the World Championships with a great degree of confidence but not over-confident since she was unaware of

the level of the competition.

“It was lovely experience for me. I know I will go out and perform better given I had a taste at the World Championships”.

Both athletes are expected to return into training in the mining town as they seek to enhance their growing reputation as Guyana’s best hopes for Olympic medals.

Meanwhile, Huston pledge greater support for the two noting that the performances are attributable to the investment they made in the athletes.

The AAG President said he wants to be able to monitor their performances and ensure they keeping producing similar feats for the country.

James Lewis Organised KO Tourney

CARICOM prevail as champions

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Shantola Bright landed in fifth place but her personal best this year is still the third leading distance

“I didn’t expect to medal according to the performance that was displayed by the other persons since I was nowhere near the standard they had; so I was very surprised when I got the medal”, the sprinter stated.

He credited the second place finish to increase strength and conditioning training which helped him improve his speed during the closing stages the races.

The 17 year-old contended that while the accomplishment is just another accolade to him it is also a significant step regarding the future of the sport in

letics cannot take you far and this should hopefully be the change for that”, the McKenzie High School student contended.

The South American Youth Championship Silver medallist is already setting his sights on attending another World Championship and the Olympics but felt that more exposure is vital in him developing as well as creating a pathway for other sprinters to improve.

Teammate and fellow Lindener Bright finished fifth in a pool of 15 in the girls long jump with a leap of 6.14 metres, some distance behind her personal

O

The victorious CARICOM team

n the back of a solid batting display CARICOM claimed the Ministry of The Presidency Trophy over Guyoil on Sunday in the James Lewis organized Ministry of Foreign Affairs Knock Out Tape ball tournament.

Played at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac, CARICOM got the better of their opponents by 52 runs in the six- over affair.

Batting first CARICOM blasted 103-3 in their quotas of overs, with Imran Abdool (31) being the prin-

cipal scorer. Guyoil in return were restricted to 51-4 from six overs as Sherwin Burnette snatched two wickets.

Abdool won the prize for the highest score in the final

while Burnett walked away with the accolade for most wickets in the said match.

In earlier matches, CARICOM defeated Ministry of Agriculture by eight wickets. CARICOM successfully chased 34 for victory losing just two wickets as they finished on 36-2 in 4 overs. Burnette captured 4-13 when Ministry of Agriculture batted first to score 33-6.

In the other semifinal match Guyoil defeated Craig NDC to advance to the final.

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23 CSKA students graded by Master Frank Woon-A-Tai T

wenty three karatekas from the Central Shotokan Karatedo Association (CSKA) were on Saturday last (July 15) graded by Shuseki Shihan, Frank Woon-ATai, M.S. at the Georgetown C r i c k e t Club (GCC) Pavilion.

M a s t e r Woon-A-Tai is currently in Guyana to conduct the second grading examinations for the year at the various IKD member dojos. He was assisted by Sensei Kenrick Cheeks and Senpai Michael Hing.

Aniyah Couchman and

Saidah

Bradford were promoted from 2nd Kyu (2nd Brown) to 1st Kyu (3rd Brown) while Ayden Doris and Kyle Couchman moved from 3rd Kyu (1st brown) to 2nd Kyu (2nd brown).

Promotions were as follows: 2kyu to 1kyu (2nd to 3rd brown belt) – Aniyah Couchman and Saidah Bradford 3kyu to 2kyu (1st to 2nd brown belt) – Ayden Doris and Kyle Couchman 4kyu to 3kyu (purple to 1st brown

Petra/Corona football tournament resumes Friday ...”Fans and supporters in for a treat” – Mendonca

T

he exciting Petra Organised Corona Beer Football Tournament will resume Friday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC), Bourda with three matches.

After two nights of intense action at the venue, the inaugural tournament was halted due to the inclement weather.

According to Co-Director of the Organising body Troy Mendonca, once the weather holds play will reconvene since it vital to build momentum in the tournament “As you know it is just about momentum, everything is in place. I know some teams are happy for the little break to fine tune

scores were a reflection of the difference in teams.

“I think what we had is a reflection of the differences in terms of the teams and it just a matter of those teams getting themselves together.

Our mandate is get football being played at the senior and the results are a reflection of where we are at:” The organiser also expressed thanks for the sponsors and made an appeal for patrons to come and support given that ladies will have free entry to the venue.

While GFC is only listed venue currently for matches, the organisers is expected to release name of other venues.

Once the weather holds, lively action is expected at GFC

themselves so I think we anticipate stiff competition going forward from Friday.

Fans and all supporters will be in for a treat”. Mendonca told Guyana Times Sport in an interview on Tuesday.

While some matches took a needle eye to determine the winner, some were extremely one sided with some teams netting as much 14 goals to one. In this regard, Mendonca felt that

On Friday, Pele FC will clash with Eastveldt from 17:00 hrs followed by Flamingo and Santos FC from 19:00hrs.

The final match will pit Riddim Squad against Northern rangers from 21:00 hrs.

The tournament is being played on a round-robin knock-out phase, with two groups of six teams.

The top four from the re-

belt) – Che Talbot, Daniel Cameron, Keron Prescott, Reilon Smith and Savitha Singh.

5kyu to 4kyu (blue to purple belt) – Lataliya Norton 6kyu to 5kyu (green to blue belt) – Darrell James, Nathaniel Singh and Nicholas Alencar 7kyu to 6kyu (orange to green belt) – Jemacy Holder, Kellon Barkoy, Lucas Alencar, Mortimer Duke and Raphael Ali. 8kyu to 7kyu (yellow to orange belt) – Aiden Lovell, Chad Lovell, Gabriel Lewis, Jelani Armstrong and Uthan Henry.

The next grading examinations will be held in November of this year.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Domino Tournament

NDIA crowned champions T

he Agriculture Ministry’s NDIA won the top prize at last weekend’s Foreign Affairs Ministry’s James Lewis organised Domino Knockout Tournament which was held at the Public Service U n i o n

Auditorium at Regent Road, Bourda, Georgetown.

The NDIA got past the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the Telecommunications

Ministry in the final.

The team was rewarded the Foreign Affairs Ministry trophy, along with $40,000 for winning the event; while the GPHC g a i n e d $20,000 for finishing as the runner-up.

The next domino competition is set for Saturday, July 29, and will be the pre-Emancipation workplace knockout competition.

The venue for that tournament will be announced at a later date.

From sports star to inmate: OJ Simpson to plead for parole

Petra Organisation CoDirector, Troy Mendonca

spective group will advance to the knock-out phase.

The tournament will feature Guyana Police Force FC, Campton FC, Santos FC, Pele FC, Georgetown

Football Club, Beacons FC, Northern Rangers, Western Tigers, Riddim Squad, Flamingo FC, Black Pearl and East Ville FC. The teams are playing for first place prize of one million dollars and championship trophy, while second to fourth-placed teams would pocket $400,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding accolade.

OJ Simpson appears in court with attorneys Gabriel Grasso (L) and Yale Galanter prior to sentencing in 2008 (Getty)

O

J Simpson once thrilled crowds as he ran for touchdowns and hurdled airport seats in car rental ads to achieve Hollywood celebrity before he was acquitted of murder in the 1995 “trial of the century” in Los Angeles.

Now, an aging Simpson will appear as inmate No 1027820 in a starkly plain hearing room in a remote Nevada prison today to plead for his freedom. He’s spent more than eight years behind bars for armed robbery and assault with a weapon after trying to take back sports memorabilia in a budget hotel room in Las Vegas.

Simpson, 70, will ask four parole board members who sided with him once before to release him

in October, a likely possibility with his clean prison record.

It will be a stunning scene for a charismatic star once known as “The Juice” who won the Heisman Trophy as the best US college football player in 1968 and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

He appeared to have it all.

He went on to star in Hertz commercials and movies like the “Naked Gun” comedies and serve as a commentator for “Monday Night Football” before his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman were slain in 1994.

Simpson is expected to reiterate that he has kept a promise to stay out of trou-

ble, coaches in the prison gym where he works and counsels other inmates.

“I guess, my age, guys come to me,” Simpson told parole officials four years ago.

The same commissioners granted him parole on some of his 12 charges in 2013, leaving him with four years to serve before reaching his minimum term.

At Simpson’s side in his bid for freedom will be lawyer Malcolm LaVergne, close friend Tom Scotto, sister Shirley Baker and daughter Arnelle Simpson.

Simpson is expected to explain what he would do and where he would live if he is granted parole after reaching the nine-year minimum of his 33-year sentence. (Excerpt from Chicago Tribune)

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, july 20, 2017

23

T&T’s Stewart wins Para Athletics javelin gold

Youth Commonwealth Games

Moore into quarter-finals

– Allicock battles for semi-final spot today

L

ightweight boxer Christopher Moore started Guyana on a winning note at the Youth Commonwealth Games in The Bahamas when he defeated Dimitris Christofi of Cyprus on points

storm into the quarter-finals.

“It was a classical performance from Christopher Moore. He did all that I asked him to do. He out boxed his opponent and won on aggression. I really cannot complain with his performance. He won all the rounds,” Blake said.

According to the AIBA Three Start coach, Moore’s next bout should be a tough one. He however assured that the Guyanese

Akeem Stewart

The Guyanese boxing team with Coach Sebert Blake (centre)

Wednesday afternoon.

In what was described as a classical dis- Flyweight Keevin Allicock getting ready play by coach Sebert for today's bout Blake, Moore, a gold medalist at the 2016 is focused and has the abilCaribbean Development ity to overcome any hurChampionships, dropped dles.

Christofi in the first min“We now have to turn our ute of the third round to attention to Friday when

Wimbledon and French Open matches trigger fixing alerts

L

ONDON (Reuters) Matches at Wimbledon and the French Open triggered alerts for potential match-fixing in the second quarter of the year, the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) said on Wednesday.

It said in a statement that one match at Roland Garros and three at Wimbledon, two of them in the qualifying tournament and one in the main draw, would be assessed and reviewed.

Alerts are raised in response to unusual betting patterns, which are not in themselves evidence of

match-fixing and can be due to a number of other factors, including conditions and player fitness.

The TIU said 40 of 53 alerts received were for matches played on the lower level men’s ATP Challenger and ITF Futures circuits.

Three were on the men’s ATP Tour, one on the women’s WTA Tour and five on the ITF women’s circuit.

During the April-June period, 31,281 professional matches were played.

The cumulative six month match alert figure was 83, compared to 121 received for the same period in 2016.

Moore will take on Englishman Charles Frank.

If he (Moore) continues where he left off today then we will be looking good,” Blake added. Frank drew a bye into Friday’s round.

Guyana would be back in the ring today when flyweight Keevin Allicock battles Kian Bittles of Northern Ireland.

The winner earns a semi- final place against

Jordan Mathieu of Canada.

“We expect a tough fight but Keevin Allicock is a very determined fighter.

He knows what he wants and I anticipate that he will give 110 percent.

Moore and Allicock are a part of a 10-man team of athletes from Guyana participating at the Games.

Meanwhile, St Lucian lightweight Kareem Boyce lost to Tryagain Morning Ndevelo of Namibia in the second round.

T

rinidad and Tobago’s Akeem Stewart broke his own world record en route to a gold medal in the men’s F44 javelin at the World Para Athletics Championships yesterday at London’s Olympic Stadium in England.

Stewart’s produced his record-breaking throw (57.61m) on his second attempt, smashing his previous mark of 57.32 set at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

Afterwards, he admitted he didn’t think he had a shot at a medal.

“I didn’t think I would get a medal in the javelin but I’m very, very happy. I didn’t get it in Doha but now

I am a world champion and a world record breaker. It is a dream come true,” the proud Stewart said. “I definitely didn’t expect a world record, but I am a very competitive guy so whatever the guy from Iceland threw, I had to try to beat it.”

Silver medallist Helgi Sveinsson of Iceland set a championship record of 56.74 before Stewart surpassed him while the bronze went to Canada’s Alister McQueen (55.72).

Stewart’s gold was the second medal of the Games for T&T. Sprinter Nyoshia Cain won bronze in the women’s T44 100m final on Monday. (Sportsmax)

2011 Cricket World Cup: Did Lanka throw final vs India?

– Minister hints at probe

S

ri Lanka’s sports minister gave his support Wednesday for an investigation into the country’s controversial 2011 Cricket World Cup loss against India, amid fresh allegations of match fixing.

The Sri Lanka cricket team lost the World Cup decider by six wickets at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, stunning the cricket-mad island. Then Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara resigned soon after the match.

Pressure has since been mounting for an inquiry into the shock defeat, with a former cricket captain and a previous sports minister going public with their suspicions that Sri Lanka deliberately lost the match.

“The allegations merit an investigation,” Dayasiri Jayasekera told reporters in Colombo.

“As soon as I get a written complaint, I will start a probe.”

Sri Lanka, batting first, scored 274-6 off 50 overs and appeared in a commanding position when Indian super-

star Sachin Tendulkar was caught for 18.

India turned the game dramatically thanks partly to poor fielding and bowling

by Sri Lanka.

The sports minister at

the sports minister, breaching convention.

“Then there are also questions about the behaviour of a very senior player. During the match, instructions sent to the field

Indian cricket team players celebrate after winning the 2011 ICC World Cup final against Sri Lanka

the time Mahindananda Aluthgamage has raised fresh concerns, telling local media there were “several disturbing factors about that game”.

Four last-minute changes were made to the Sri Lankan side without prior approval being sought from

were ignored,” Aluthgamage said, without naming the player in question.

The former minister said he launched an inquiry after the match, but the investigation was scuttled.

His concerns followed quick on the heels of comments from former Sri

Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, who last Friday demanded an inquiry be held to expose the “dirt” on dodgy cricketers.

Last year, the International Cricket Council imposed a threeyear ban on a top Sri Lankan official Jayananda Warnaweera for failing to cooperate with an anti-corruption investigation.

Sri Lankan players and umpires have been accused of match fixing in the past, but Warnaweera was the first high ranking official to be found guilty and penalised.

Betting is illegal in most of the cricket-mad Indian subcontinent, but backstreet bookmakers -- many with underworld links -- still flourish.

Although no big-name Sri Lankan player has ever been convicted of corruption, several former stars have made allegations of match fixing or spot-fixing -- when players deliberately bowl or field badly to give away a set number of runs. (HindustanTimes)

THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Youth Commonwealth Games Pg 21

Pg 23

Williams, Bright Moore into satisfied

quarter-finals with performances at World – Allicock battles for semi-final spot today Christopher Moore was focused before Wednesday's bout

Youth Championships

– athletes call for more exposure on international stage A warm welcome! AAG President Aubrey Hutson (far left) along with marquee junior athletes Daniel Williams (second from left) and Chantoba Bright (first from right)

23 CSKA students graded by Master Frank Woon-A-Tai Pg 22

The 23 successful CSKA karatekas flanking Chief Examiner, Master Frank Woon-A-Tai, MS, who trained under Senpai Michael Hing (right) and Sensei Kenrick Cheeks (not in photo) – photo courtesy of Artistic Marketing

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