Guyanatime 21 june 2018

International Day of YOGA P 14

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

Issue No. 3600

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, June 21, 2018

PRICE

Election petition delay

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Judiciary undermining constitutional remedy for electoral breaches – Jagdeo Page 3

ExxonMobil finds more oil offshore Guyana Page 9

GEA staff dies in Essequibo Coast accident

$80 vat included

Phone card vendor robbed, murdered P10

Increase in water rates approved P15

Kamarang's new Toshao

Page 2

Inclement weather

Parts of Georgetown flooded again

Page 14

NTC opposes election of convicted child P7 molester

– to seek redress on legal breaches

P2 Govt gifts $57M to M&CC

Gym instructor charged for P8 stabbing sister

A woman navigates floodwaters with her son at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown on Wednesday as parts of the city were under water. The National Weather Watch

Centre, Hydrometeorological Service has reported more rain is expected over the next three days (Carl Croker photo)

Local content policy

UK expert advises level playing field Page 13

Ganja plant, improvised weapons found during Lusignan Prison raid Page 7

Wakenaam flood update

Defaulting P11 contractor compensates masjid – to meet with families severely affected

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thursDAY, june 21, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GEA staff dies in Essequibo Coast accident Govt gifts $57M to M&CC

…to be spent on community projects

Dead: Shankar Ram

A

23-year-old Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) staff died in the wee hours of Wednesday when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving and slammed into a utility pole.

Dead is Shankar Ram of Lot 14 Mon Repos Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD) while his colleague, Donetta Ramlakhan, of Enmore, ECD, is currently in critical state at the Suddie Public Hospital.

Reports are the two were travelling north along the western side of the Zorg Public Road, Essequibo Coast about 00:15 on Wednesday when Ram lost control of the vehicle and slapped into a Guyana Power and Light (GPL)

The GEA vehicle which was involved in the accident

pole.

After crashing, the vehicle turned turtle and in the process, Ram was thrown out face first onto a parapet a few feet away.

Ramlakhan was trapped inside the vehicle. The two were rushed to the hospital by Police ranks who were on patrol duties.

Ram was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital and Ramlakhan is said to be nursing serious injuries.

Guyana Times understands that Ram and Ramlakhan were in Essequibo on work-related duties. The motor vehicle, in which they were travelling – PJJ 1069 – belongs to the GEA.

Ram’s body has since been transferred to Georgetown by his relatives.

An investigation has been launched.

Meanwhile, the Energy Agency, in a statement on Wednesday, expressed condolences to Ram’s family on behalf of Ministers David Patterson and Annette Ferguson, the Chairman and Members of the Board of Directors, management and staff of the EPA. The GEA said that Ram was an employee of the Agency from June 6, 2013 to April 11, 2015 attached to the Licensing Division and then from May 15, 2017 to June 19, 2018 in the Fuel Marking Division. He leaves to mourn his wife, parents, relatives and friends.

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City Hall

he Mayor and City Council (M&CC) was gifted $57 million by Central Government to do works in local communities.

This was according to the Town Clerk Royston King who told media operatives that there were plans to allocate $75 million of the total $200 million that would be given to the Council by Government for community projects. However, they have received $57,688,022 to begin those works.

King posited that while those monies will be spent on rehabilitation, there are certain criteria that were agreed upon by the Council as it relates to the disbursement, management, completion and evaluation of the works.

He noted that a committee was appointed to spearhead these operations which comprises of Mayor Patricia Chase Green; the Finance Committee Chairman, Oscar Clarke; Chairman of the City Works Committee, Phillip Smith; City Engineer Colvern Venture; and City Treasurer Sharon HarryMunroe.

He explained that the projects should be examined and approved in writing by the committee and upon request by contractors; a mobilisation of 10 per cent of the total project estimate would be given to assist with the ejection of resources to commence works within the targeted communities.

Additionally, residents of the communities would be required to assist the contractors with manual labour to get the work completed.

“Fifty per cent of the work force where manual labour is required should be made up of residents of the communities where the works are executed,” King stated.

While these monies have been granted to the Councillors for development projects, City Hall ended 2017 with an approximate deficit of some $57 million, with less than two per cent of its capital works programme being completed for that year.

From the Treasurer’s report, it was recorded that the city earned $2.036 billion in revenues and spent in excess of $2.093 in expenditures.

The most significant income at that time was rates and taxes which accounted for some $1.1 billion of the total revenues earned.

However, there was a decrease in the projected revenue being earned from container fees which raked in $57 million and $183 million in 2016 and 2017 respectively, after it was expected to earn some $360 million.

Meanwhile, the parking meter project was expected to earn $120 million annually, but only $667,804 was tallied after only two months of operation.

news

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thursDAY, june 21, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Election petition delay

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, June 21 – 11:30h-13:00h and Friday, June 22 – 12:30h-14:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, June 21 – 10:30h-12:00h and Friday, June 22 – 11:45h-13:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thunderstorms throughout the morning hours are expected to give way to lighter rain showers in the mid-afternoon. Sunny intervals later in the afternoon will give way to cloudy skies in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-easterly to easterly and East Northeasterly to North-easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 11:05h and 23:40h reaching maximum heights of 2.29 metres and 2.30 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 04:35h and 17:06 reaching minimum heights of 0.94 metre and 0.91 metre respectively.

wednesDAY, June 20, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS D

07 13 17

19 23 24

06 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 01 03 04 05 22 LUCKY 3 2 0 4

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Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

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

Judiciary undermining constitutional remedy for electoral breaches – Jagdeo

M

ore than three years after the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) filed an election petition in the High Court, the matter is still to be heard. On Wednesday, PPP/C General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo said if this matter continues to languish in the court, it would mean that the Judiciary is violating laws.

Addressing a large gathering at Enmore in remembrance of the Enmore Martyrs, Jagdeo told his supporters that the Judiciary needs to understand the signal it is sending Guyanese if it does not act in an expeditious manner on these matters, particularly the election petition.

“We are not asking for a particular outcome, we’re asking for expeditious hearing of these matters. But if the Judiciary tolerates this sloth, then they will be violating undermining a constitutional remedy to rigs and flaws in the electoral process,” Jagdeo told a cheering audience.

The former Head of State was critical of the Judiciary, stating that the delays are causing people to lose confidence in a judicial remedy to rig the elections by keeping it languishing there. He argued that the law stipulates that this matter must be heard continuously, but that has clearly not been the case.

Jagdeo also used the opportunity to remind supporters that elections were rigged post 1992 and there is a possibility that it could happen again.

He referred to a case in Barbados where a citizen was denied the constitutional right to vote. The matter was nevertheless appealed and went as far as the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which incidentally handed down a ruling in the citizens’ favour, and that individual was allowed to vote.

“Ours has been languishing for three years. So, in this case with the (Guyana Elections Commission) GECOM Chairman, using the precedence in Barbados, we have applied to the Court of Appeal to hear this matter expeditiously because it has an impact; a bearing on the elections in the future,” he added.

The petition filed on behalf of the PPP/C seeks to challenge the validity of the outcome of the 2015 General and Regional Elections. Following the outcome of May 2015 elections, the party underscored that the elections were not held in conformity with the Constitution of Guyana.

The matter, which was filed in the name of PPP/C parliamentarian, Ganga Persaud, essentially re-

A section of the gathering at Enmore in remembrance of the Enmore Martyrs

quested a recount of all ballot boxes for the last elections and fresh elections were also called for. He had claimed that the elections were “unlawfully conducted” and that the results of the elections were affected.

He cited procedural errors and instances of fraudulent and/or suspicious actions during the elections.

Unrest, fake Statements of Poll (SOPs) and multiple voting were among the reasons for the petition.

Further, the presence of ‘huge mobs’ at several polling stations and other strategic places, particularly in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), were also cited by the party as another cause for intimidation and fear.

But the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield had described the petition as frivolous and vexatious.

He said too that the petition discloses no reasonable cause of the action and asked for it to be struck out.

But before demitting office, former Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang overruled Lowenfield’s summons to have the petition struck out.

Justice Chang had ruled that the summons to strike out the petition was premature and therefore the court should proceed in hearing it.

Attorney representing Lowenfield, Roysdale Forde, had filed an appeal and further disclosed that Chang erred in law when he failed to direct his mind to the summons and to apply the proper principles applicable to the striking out of the pe-

tition.

Forde said the Judge erred in law when he made a finding and determination with respect to Article 163 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana and its relationship with Section 42 of the National Assembly Validity of Election Act, Chapter 1:04 without affording the Appellant an opportunity of responding to the said finding.

The matter was last heard in 2017 before acting Chief Justice Roxane George and Justice Franklin Holder.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, june 21, 2018

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

Intervention at GECOM

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here is a cliché that refers to perception morphing into reality. This would have been known and probably tested throughout time and often a source of contention in politics.

Some of what transpired during the 2015 elections campaign would have brought it sharply into focus, testing believability almost to the point of confirming it in some instances. One of its unfortunate derivatives is the superimposing of what is supposed to be unreal over what is; in other words, fiction over fact.

This obviously has advantages and disadvantages for different sides one way or the other and with any shift in mindsets probably remaining long-lasting. It therefore becomes a monumental challenge for facts to become believable in such circumstances.

A cursory look at some aspects of international politics can easily substantiate, as fake news insidiously enters the realm of reality.

In every circumstance, it appears to be fast becoming more laborious for believability. In the process, sometimes sensitivities, individually and nationally, can be exacerbated thereby increasing the potential to negatively broadside societal social fabric. The dilemma created in such situations demands an uncompromising and transparent approach to verify and convey facts to mitigate the possible raising of tensions. This becomes even more necessary in a pluralistic society like ours.

As discussions over the employment practices at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) continue throughout society, clearly one section can be made to feel aggrieved based upon information within the public domain. Like everything else, there are two sides; however, our multifaceted makeup would demand an urgent ascertaining of the facts. Given the important role GECOM plays, the need for such an intervention is paramount.

For many, if not all, the result of an election is pivotal to their advancement in the future. For a nation, it can have tremendous bearing on its stability and by extension the economy, international credibility while impacting confidence. If the citizenry or a section of it develops a lack of confidence in the election machinery, then credibility in the process could become a major issue with its own spin-off effects.

The initial controversy at GECOM over its perceived employment practices led to some statistics and charts appearing in the media. While it may have provided a different perspective, it may not have changed the perception given, reportedly, concerns over source and accuracy. What subsequently transpired with regard to the appointment of the Deputy Chief Elections Officer, (DCEO), may have further incensed sentiments over an already sensitive situation.

From what was reported, the candidate, who scored the highest and who would have had three years on the job experience, was not appointed. When ethnicity is thrown into the milieu, it further heightens the perception of unfairness. This is not to say that the person appointed is not qualified, however the finality of the appointment process would have provided fodder to those who remain convinced of unfairness.

With the general tendency that one thing can lead to another, for those who are fortified in their belief of unfairness, it is not farfetched to posit that they can lose confidence in the electoral process regardless of perception or reality of the current situation.

That’s the unfortunate potential the situation can precipitate.

When other circumstances, such as alleged reports of mass firing based on ethnicity after the 2015 elections and the seeming unabated imposition of a particular party colour on public buildings and through other means, ethnic and political sensitivities can be offended.

Cleary our leaders and civil society cannot be oblivious of this, especially given our history. Therefore, the lack of or delay in a meaningful intervention to ascertain the facts on GECOM employment practices will contribute little or nothing to remove any perception of unfairness. It can also, fairly or unfairly, question commitment of the authorities to so intervene for the national good.

To establish the Social Cohesion Ministry, the Administration must have been aware of the compelling reasons to do so, guided by history, perception and reality. One can therefore safely posit that the need to mitigate ethnic sensitivities, more than likely premised on reality, would have been the foremost consideration for the Social Cohesion Ministry and for it to receive taxpayers’ funding to deliver its mandate of promoting national harmony.

With that in mind, it would not be unfair to expect a fact-finding intervention into GECOM’s employment practice, which in reality should have already been implemented. This is extremely crucial, not only in the quest to realise social cohesion, but for confidence in the nation’s electoral machinery. If partisanship through alleged political allegiance were to develop in the electoral machinery, the creation of suspicion over questionable elections could be moved from perception to reality.

In the interest of national unity, that intervention must be immediate and meaningful and not just for the purpose of mere appeasement. Its absence would not help the social complexities and could unfortunately and undesirably redound to a loss in democratic gains. That could be a result of perception morphing into reality.

People perform yoga during a practice session ahead of International Yoga Day, in Chandigarh, India (Reuters)

Is the Venezuela refugee crisis a Maduro ruse?

Dear Editor, A strange and troubling situation is developing in which people fleeing from Venezuela are coming here and claiming to be citizens of Guyana.

The media recently reported that 70 such persons are occupying tents in a mineral-rich area of Guyana, claiming to belong to one family and that the land is their ancestral property. Up to the time of this letter, another 182 are reportedly camping out at the border, eagerly waiting to come across and stake their claim to our land.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge was quite right when he said these people must verify their citizenship. People have a right

to re-migrate to the country of their birth, but if they left many years ago and do not have valid Guyanese identification documents, they must prove their citizenship. That is how it is done all over the world. What makes Guyana different?

Wouldn’t it be peculiar if none of the 70 people already in Guyana claiming land, and none of the 182 waiting to come over and claim, can prove their citizenship? Not even one? How strange. Something does not smell right here. I am interested in the findings of the team sent to investigate and report on this matter led by Minister Valerie GarridoLowe.

Has anyone considered that these so-called refu-

gees might be El Sindicato operatives working in cahoots with Maduro to promote Venezuela’s interests? On that note, what is the extent of the influence of El Sindicato here anyway? Is it true that this gang already controls significant areas in Region One (Barima-Waini)? Does this Venezuelan cartel already have a vice-like grip on local miners and residents of remote communities in the Barima-Waini area?

Large groups of fake refugees, or even real ones, can easily create little Spanishspeaking villages in our country. Each one would be a ‘little Venezuela’, so to speak, and that would constitute a monumentally dangerous national securi-

ty risk. How in God’s name could we even think of allowing Venezuelan refugee camps or ‘little Venezuela’ communities to take root in the very same territory that Venezuela wants to steal from us?

From what I can see, the problem with Venezuela is not going anywhere in a hurry.

I firmly believe that Guyana should try to accommodate Venezuelans who genuinely seek refugee status. But I also advocate careful management of this, bearing in mind that we have an unresolved territorial dispute with Venezuela.

Sincerely, Roshan Khan Sr

Waiting on payment from Govt since 2017 Dear Editor, I am the owner of Hyper Soundz Music system. I played on September 8, 2017, for the Education Department for the activity Literacy Road March. The said activity commenced from the Jaigobin Tarmac in Henrietta to Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary compound, Essequibo Coast. For this activity, I had to hire a lorry with a generator and my cost was $35,000. So far, I have great embarrassment in my efforts to collect my money.

On Monday, December 19, 2017, I visited the

Education Office in Cotton Field, where the education officer informed me that the contract is missing, and I will have to sign another one. I was assured that payment would be made before the end of 2017. No other contract was prepared for me to sign.

After constantly checking with the Education Department and the regional system I was given a royal run-around.

On Monday, February 12, 2018, I communicated with the Regional Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt, who promised to follow up on this

matter. However, his efforts were to no avail.

I checked with some finance officers in the region’s accounting system and they have told me my contract passed through the system and payment should have been made.

Editor, it is very disconcerting that many have played music after me and have been promptly paid.

On the other hand, I have experienced, to my mind, deliberate attempts to deny me payment.

As an elected Councillor of the Anna Regina Town Council and Cotton Field

being part of my constituency, I had a confrontation with the Regional Executive Officer, Rupert Hopkinson on November 11, 2017. The REO is the last person to sign my contact. It is my firm belief that I am being victimised. The ridicule in securing my money is a shame to the notion of social cohesion Government is trying to promote. However, at the end of the day, I must be paid. I shall continue to vigorously pursue this matter.

Sincerely yours, Herman Persaud

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, june 21, 2018

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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

Region 6 REO CoI into GECOM should resign employment practice Dear Editor, At the very first Regional Democratic Council (RDC) statutory meeting in January this year, the entire RDC boardroom listened in shock to a narrative that an old decrepit bulldozer parked precariously outside the RDC Compound actually belonged to the region and was newly purchased for a whopping $15 million.

The Regional Executive Officer (REO) wasted no time in claiming that she is not aware of the bulldozer since from all records, it did not belong to the RDC since no money was paid. She further claimed that she had only heard about its ‘arrival’ at the said meeting when the issue was raised. The REO was adamant that the bulldozer was not the property of the RDC. She further asserted that once the bulldozer is found to be defective, she will send it packing. Upon inspection it was found not only to be defective, but it was not the bulldozer specified in the tender advertisement. This junk bulldozer arrived nearly five months after the contract was awarded to KP Project Management Company.

It was later revealed that 53 per cent or $8 million of the purchase was paid in advance before the bulldozer was supplied and the remaining sum of $6.8 million was paid in December 2017 before its arrival. The REO is the accounting officer so it is alarming that she was not aware of these payments at the statutory meeting in January. Did she not lie to the RDC? Later on, the REO

said the supplier has agreed to repair the bulldozer even though it was not the bulldozer specified in the tender. She had said also that the contractor gave a oneyear warranty on the ‘junk’.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, this repair did not materialise as well. Another blatant lie? From all indications, it became pellucid that she feigned ignorance of the bulldozer at the very first RDC statutory meeting! It was also clear that the contractor is heavily favoured in someone’s eyes at the RDC. It is difficult to return bribes and kickbacks once given!

Furthermore, this deal was rotten since the advertisement stage of the tender. It was advertised in one newspaper only, which is a breach of the Procurement Act. This Act stipulates that this should be done in newspapers of wide circulation. The auditors concluded that this was the reason for the receiving of only one bid. Moreover, the auditors found several fundamental breaches which I have outlined in my letters to the press. In addition, they found that there was no security bond on the contract, the bulldozer was not according to specification, the chassis plate was tampered with, there were numerous defects and the contract did not provide for the $8 million advance payment to the contractor. When I had said that there was no bond, the REO threatened to sanction me at the RDC meeting!

Ultimately a bond was secured but there was no new

contract to support it as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) also discovered. When I raised the issue of this bond at the statutory meeting on June 7, 2018, the REO then told the RDC that they will acquire the services of a lawyer to levy on the performance bond from Caricom General Insurance Company on June 11. It is now clear from the report in the media that she tried to levy on the bond the same day I raised the issue at the RDC. But this also now seems to be just a ruse and an attempt to deceive. Unfortunately, from what the PAC has concluded the lies of the REO will cost the region $14.8 million! The region has no claim against KP Project Management Company!

What is more damning is the fact that the REO tried to implicate the previous REO, Dr Verasammy Ramayya in this bulldozer scam. I spoke to Dr Ramayya and he told me that he resigned since September 2016. The bulldozer contract was signed in September 2017, one year after. Lies and more lies!

From the inception, this bulldozer issue was shrouded in lies, secrecy and attempts to deceive the RDC. I am calling on the RDC to move a motion to sanction this REO and the Communities Minister to remove her from office. She should do the honourable thing and resign forthwith.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor, Region Six

Dear Editor, The Indian Action Committee (IAC), having followed the recent developments at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), calls for an immediate investigation primarily through a Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

The IAC is of the firm belief that given what has been made public regarding the issue and the uncertainty which continues to prevail over what is factual, the circumstances demand that level of intervention. Further, it becomes compelling given the national sensitivities involved and the impact it could have on the credibility of GECOM and the national election machinery.

In the interest of national harmony and confidence in the electoral process, the IAC urges Head of State David Granger, to not delay the commissioning of an independent CoI into the employment prac-

tice at GECOM. The focus must be on the revelation of facts about whether the integrity of the process has been deliberately compromised to give an unfair advantage to those perceived to be in allegiance with the Government as alleged.

The CoI, through its findings, must also thoroughly explain why Vishnu Persaud, who reportedly scored the highest in the evaluation process and who has some three years on the job experience, was deliberately overlooked for the position of Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), which he held, by someone who scored lower and believably has no related job experience.

The IAC is also mindful of information in the public domain which alleges the composition of the senior staff at GECOM reflecting only one ethnic group and an allegation that applicants of Indo-Guyanese extraction were deliberately scored low in the evalua-

tion process.

While the IAC believes that meritocracy must be foremost, it finds it difficult to accept that persons from other ethnicities could not have been found to be competent. If true, the impact of this on other groups, including Indo-Guyanese, would be devastating, disrespectful and clearly, a calculative ploy to not only deprive them of their rights for employment but a strong signal that they do not belong within the confines of this important national institution.

The IAC reiterates that Indo-Guyanese, like other groups, is an integral part of this nation and its proud cultural mosaic. They have and continue to make invaluable contributions to the development of Guyana and for the advancement of its all of its people.

Sincerely, Indian Action Committee

RDC ignoring ECD residents

Dear Editor, Not only the drainage infrastructure in Chateau Margot on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) is very poor and ignored by the Regional Democratic Council at Triumph village or even the Neighbourhood Democratic Council, which is at Better Hope, ECD, but also the damaged unsuitable roads and streets. Children who walk to local school have to dodge wide street pot holes, made by large and very heavy ve-

hicular traffic, on their way back and forth; morning and afternoon.

Several resident have already made their fears known palpable and subtle via all or most of the known legal channels, but it seems like ancient Nero of old Rome they ( ie the

authorities), have plugged all their fingers in their ears and pretend that they do not hear or just do not care and want to even listen.

Yours faithfully, Rooplall Dudhnath

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thursDAY, JUNE 21, 2018

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By Robert J King, PhD

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awoke to the sound of children crying, sobbing, and begging for their parents. This morning, I guess that a lot of us who have newsfeeds for alarms had a similar experience.

Oddly enough, the crying for their parents somehow managed not to be the only disturbing sound in the sequence – but I’ll come to that other part in a minute.

If you haven’t heard it: This is the noise that some of the 2000 children –some of whom are toddlers – make when they are forcibly separated from their parents at the Mexico/USA border by immigration officials.

Children taken away are held for an average of 51 days at an Office of Refugee Resettlement before finding a sponsor in the USA. I’m sure that they are fed, clothed, and sheltered. However, this does not constitute the limit of a child’s needs. This should not be news, and there really should be no confusion about this. The effects of deprivation of attachment – because that is what we are talking about here – is one of the most heavily researched areas in behavioural science.

Furthermore, we have an integrated picture of its effects from

Foundation

comparative biology, neuroscience, genetics, developmental psychology, and psychiatry. We know what happens to separated children in the short, medium, and long terms. None of it is pretty.

So – let’s warm up by starting with something that is pretty.

Have you ever wondered why so many animals are cute? And not just cute to us – cute to other animals who are not even their parents? This cuteness has a technical term—altriciality. And we can measure it.

Large head in relation to the body. Large eyes in relation to the head. Small mouth.

Squashed-in features.

Prominent brow. It is a

set of features that elicit caregiving (along with that "aw" feeling) in parental members of the species.

And sometimes of other species. The technical term for such signals is “releasers” and the fact that the cuteness ones are pretty much common to all mammals (and some other classes of animals) tells us something important: It’s a very old set of mechanisms. At least 100 million years old. That’s deep in us. Deep in us, before we even became us.

This predates humans by a very long time.

Mammals vary in the amount of helplessness they show. For example, a baby horse can run within minutes, a baby human takes several years. But – for all mammals – it's built-in deep that they need parental care.

All mammals are to some extent social, and we are the most social of them all.

To build that sociality, the young of each species – but most especially our species– need someone they can trust.

This may be common sense (although I’m starting to wonder how common it is) but in any case, scientists didn’t always know this. In the early days of psychology, the two dominant theories of child att a c h ment were t h e be-

haviourists and the Freudians.4 Both of them got child attachment equally wrong. The two schools of thought were in (incorrect) agreement that the love children had for parents was “cupboard” love—arising from a primary need to be fed. It turns out that the cupboard love theory is simply wrong, and not just with humans. All mammals have a primary need for love from a trusted caregiver. And this is over and above the needs for food, shelter, and the rest. The evidence for this came from two sources to begin with, but over the years we have confirmed it to a degree almost unparalleled in behavioural science.

If there is anything close to being an axiom in de-

velopmental psychology it would be this: Children need love. Love is not some enjoyable add-on to life. The absence of love produces measurable effects immediately on a child. In the medium to long-term neglect can cause effects so profound that they are visible to the naked eye.

What were the two sources of our knowledge about this that I mentioned? One was a (behaviourist) scientist called Harry Harlow, who accidentally undermined the behaviourist take on attachment with a series of famous experiments on social primates.

The second was John Bowlby, a Freudian who found evidence to undermine Freud’s version of the cupboard love theory. (psychologytoday.com)

A

re you living smart and helping your children to live smart? Take action to incorporate better nutrition and more physical activity into your daily life.

Eat at least 2½ cups of vegetables and fruits every day.

Eat whole-grain bread, pasta, and cereal instead of refined grain products.

Try to choose foods low in calories and fat.

Rarely eat red meat or processed meat like bacon, hot dogs, and sausage.

Take it easy on high-calorie, baked goods such as pies, cakes, cookies, sweet rolls, and doughnuts.

Rarely add butter, margarine, oil, sour cream or mayonnaise to foods when cooking or at the table.

Rarely (less than twice a week) eat fried foods.

Try to stay at a healthy weight.

Get at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate or 75 minutes (1 hour 15 minutes) o f vigorous physical activity throughout each week.

Try to spend most of your free time being active, instead of watching television or sitting at the computer.

Never, or only occasionally, drink alcohol.

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thursDAY, june 21, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ganja plant, improvised weapons found during Lusignan Prison raid

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ust over one week after alert prison officers foiled a plan to smuggle illicit items into the Lusignan Prison, a routine search on Monday at the East Coast Demerara facility unearthed a quantity of contraband items, including a ganja plant and over 30 improvised weapons.

The search, which was carried out by ranks of the Joint Services, lasted some three hours, the Police said in a release on Wednesday.

In addition to the ganja plant and the 31 improvised weapons found in the possession of inmates, other prohibited items found include: eight cellphones; 10 cellphone batteries; five cellphone chargers; two SIM cards; two memory cards; 11 pieces of metal pipes; nine pieces of wood; seven phone cards; one tattoo machine, along with

ink; three ziplock bags with cannabis; one small bottle of cannabis seeds; one packet of cigarettes, and a quantity of ziplock bags.

This incident comes on the heels of the June 11 attempt to smuggle contraband items. It was reported that just after midnight on June 11, Police and prison ranks stationed at the eastern towers of the Lusignan Prison spotted a male wearing a hoodie emerging from the nearby bushes.

A “warning shot” was fired causing the suspect to flee back into the thick vegetation. The area was immediately combed, but the man was nowhere to be found. Nevertheless, the ranks discovered a bag containing a number of illicit items such as a lighter and cellphones, along with accessories.

The smuggling of contra-

Contraband items confiscated during the raid

band items remains a perennial problem within the prison system and while authorities have been working to curb the practice, several prison officers have been caught facilitating the illegal trade, which is said to be “big business”.

In fact, only last month, two prison ranks were charged and remanded after they were found with a parcel containing marijuana, which was given to them while on duty at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The culture of contraband smuggling has proven fatal on repeated occasions. A similar raid back in March 2016 led to inmates setting alight an entire holding block inside the Camp Street penitentiary, resulting in the deaths of 17 inmates. Just over a year later in July 2017, a riot

broke out at the same facility when inmates started another fire that completely gutted the Georgetown Prisons. During that inferno, over a dozen inmates escaped and went into hid-

ing. A few days later, 13 prisoners, including some who were moved from the burnt-out Camp Street prison, dug their way out of the Lusignan Prison.

Authorities were able to

recapture all but two of the escapees. The Director of Prisons earlier this year reassured the public that the search for the remaining escapees has not been abandoned.

Kamarang’s new Toshao

NTC opposes election of convicted child molester

– to seek redress on legal breaches

T

he National Toshaos Council (NTC) is at a loss as to why a convicted child molester was elected to the office of Toshao in the village of Kamarang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and the Council is contemplating its options to correct what it deems a legal breach.

The body’s stance on the matter was confirmed by its Chairman, Joel Fredericks, who told Guyana Times on Wednesday that the NTC will be officially writing Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Alicock on the matter as it seeks a joint investigation to address the issue.

“The NTC’s position is that it’s breaking the law.

No one who has a criminal record should be elected as a Toshao and that is something we need to investi-

gate because how [could] the residents allow that to happen? The Returning Officer should have also looked at it,” Fredericks told this publication.

He confirmed having received an official complaint from a resident in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni district. Fredericks indicated that the representative body cannot support Luther Krammer, who is the embattled Toshao that was recently elected.

“The National Toshaos Council condemns that; it’s not right. We would have to seek some legal advice,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry, Valarie Garrido-Lowe confirmed to Guyana Times that the matter is under investigation. She howev-

er declined on giving a time frame, having only received a letter of complaint in recent days. She indicated that the Ministry will make public disclosure once the matter is concluded.

“We can’t say how long the investigation will last; we only received the letter two days ago. We have to work on that, it’s a serious allegation. When we are in a position, we certainly will issue a statement,” she told this newspaper.

Meantime, Amerindian People’s Association (APA) Executive Director, Jean La Rose has also expressed her displeasure over Krammer’s election, saying any person with a serious criminal record should not be elected as Toshaos or Councillor. continued on page 11

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thursDAY, june 21, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Gunman, female accomplice rob businessman A

41-year-old businessman is now left traumatised after he was robbed by a man who he employed to clean his coconut trees on Tuesday.

Shawn Ramai was in his Lot 8 Hadfield Street, Lodge, home when he was attacked by the man, who was armed with a handgun and a woman at about 22:00h.

Ramai had employed the man earlier that day, at about 12:00h to cut branches from his coconut three.

However, at 22:00h, Ramai heard a knock at his door and upon checking, he saw the man and a woman outside, and as such, opened his door.

He was immediately attacked and taken inside where he was relieved of

$65,000, a gold ring valued $50,000 and a BLU cellphone value $4000.

The bottom flat of his premises was ransacked before the two perpetrators made good their escape.

The matter was reported to the Police.

An investigation has been launched.

However, no arrest has been made.

Recaptured prison escapee facing retrial for attempted murder

R

ecaptured prison escapee Stafrei Alexander is facing retrial at the High Court for the attempted murder of Curtis Thom three years ago.

Alexander, who was nabbed in Berbice last year, is now appearing before a different Demerara High Court judge, Justice Sandil Kissoon after his previous appearance ended in a mistrial.

On Wednesday,

Stafrei Alexander’s trial will last for the next few days

Alexander once again denied attempting to murder his fellow Laing Avenue, Georgetown resident on March 23, 2015 by way of discharging a loaded firearm in his direction. The matter was adjourned to June 25, 2018.

The accused is being represented by Senior Counsels Stanley Moore and Maxwell McKay while Attorneys Lisa Cave and Orithia Schmidt are appearing for the State.

At his last hearing in November 2017, Alexander turned up at the High Court for sentencing, a month after he was found guilty but it was announced that the accused would have to undergo another trial as a result of an unacceptable verdict.

In October 2016, Alexander was committed to stand trial by Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Lindener freed of narco-trafficking charge

T

hirty-five-year-old Lindener, Quacy Giddings, was found not guilty of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, when he made his final appearance before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Giddings was accused of having in his possession 49 grams of cannabis sativa for the purpose of trafficking on November 3, 2017, at the Mackenzie Market in Linden. The prosecution’s case had contended that

Quacy Giddings

Police on foot patrol at the Mackenzie Market had observed Giddings acting in a suspicious manner and conducted a search of his person.

Ranks had allegedly unearthed a pink and white plastic bag containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis, nine small ziploc bags also containing leaves, seeds and stems and a quantity of empty small ziploc bags.

However, in making his ruling in the matter on Tuesday, Magistrate Nurse after perusing the evidence which was presented to the

court, ruled that the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was indeed guilty of the offence. He cited several inconsistencies and discrepancies regarding the handling of the evidence as well as contradicting testimonies by Police witnesses. He said the witnesses contradicted each other.

He noted that as a result of the discrepancies, the court could not rely on the evidence presented and was doubtful regarding the handling and investigation of the matter. Giddings, who was represented by Attorney Yondessa Welcome, walked out of court a free man after thanking the Magistrate.

Gym instructor charged for stabbing sister

A

gym instructor, who allegedly stabbed his sister to her chest, was on Wednesday slapped with a wounding charge and brought before a Magistrate at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Twenty-three-yearold Darius Ramsammy, of Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown, denied the allegation put to him by Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

It is alleged that he stabbed Donatta Bobb to her right-side chest on June 16, 2018.

However, Ramsammy claimed that he acted in self-defence as he was attacked by Bobb. The prosecution had no objections to bail being granted as the case file is still incomplete.

As such, bail was granted in the sum of $50,000. The case will continue on July 18.

Not playing ball…

W

…on Human Rights

e all know of the rich kid who owns the cricket bat…and if he doesn’t get to be at the crease as long as he wants, then he goes home – WITH his bat!! The other kids are helpless, since there’s at least a CHANCE they’ll get to play once he’s around. Maybe he’ll get tired of batting?? With Donald Trump at the helm of the US, in addition to his actual pouting in public, it’s clear he sees himself as the rich kid with the bat…AND the ball!!

He just pulled out the US from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)…following doing the same from COP 25 on Climate Change and his unilateral imposition of tariffs on aluminium and steel – which may just set off a trade war to end all trade wars. And of course, when the elephants fight, it’s shithole countries like Guyana that gets stomped further into faecal matter. And that ain’t no laughing matter.

But this quitting the UNHRC is in a class by itself.

Every year, the US issues its report on the status of human rights in countries across the globe – including, as we know to our cost, our dear old mudland. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, and the irrelevance of the litmus test that authorised the US to intervene in any country that tested “red” – like Guyana circa 19611992 – its Human Rights Report gives them the “right” to tell countries to straighten up or else!! Remember TIP??

So what happens now? Do we now get a free pass on human rights abuses? Well, to answer that question, we need to look a bit more granularly at the reasons the US gave when they picked up their bat and ball and stormed out of the UNHRC’s playing field.

Firstly, they complained that some named members of the 47-member UNHRC – Russia and China, etc – were thwarting the US’s efforts to “reform” the Council.

Meaning, the US wanted to remove the need for a twothirds General Council majority to expel a country for “human rights” abuse, which would make it easier for them to have their way!!

The second reason was the UNHRC was being “too harsh” on Israel because of “political bias”. That charge would’ve resounded much more rousingly if the US had also panned some of their allies such as Saudi Arabia for their violations against Yemen. Not to mention the US’ own actions in separating the children of illegals from their parents and keeping them in concrete holding pens!!

So will our Government be rapped on human rights abuses?? Not if they support the US down the line!!

It’s called “pragmatism”!!

…on sharing power

Remember when David Granger ran around the country, holding hands with Moses Nagamootoo promising once they won the elections he’ll make the Government “more inclusive” by sharing power?? Well, a heck of a lot of water has flowed under THAT bridge, hasn’t it? Is there ANYONE – even in the AFC – who still believes the PNC will share power? Nagamootoo?

Naaaah!! He may utter some inanities and genuflect in that direction, but he KNOWS he’s already sung his swan song as far as ever being anything but a ribboncutter and water boy!!

In the face of the clear abandonment of powersharing by the PNC – assuming they ever EMBRACED it!! – Henry Jeffrey still believes the PPP should play the role of the willing and waiting bride!! Now if the PNC’s unwilling to share even one per cent real power with the AFC that brought in 11 per cent to take it over the line – why would it take aboard the PPP that controls 49 per cent of the electorate??

Does Jeffrey really think Jagdeo is as naïve as Jagan??

…with Trotman

After Exxon’s announcement of its eighth oil strike, Trotman – supposedly stripped of oil? – complained about those who want “Guyana to begin embarking on an irresponsible spending and borrowing spree”.

Wasn’t it he who wanted monies from future revenues?

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

9 ExxonMobil finds more oil offshore Guyana News

thursDAY, june 21, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

U

The Stena Carron drillship that made the discovery

nited States (US) oil giant ExxonMobil on Wednesday announced another oil discovery following drilling at the Longtail-1 exploration well in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.

This is ExxonMobil’s eighth oil discovery offshore Guyana. The company said in a statement that the well encountered has approximately 256 feet (78 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoir.

The well was drilled to 18,057 feet (5504 metres) depth in 6365 feet (1940 metres) of water.

The Stena Carron drillship commenced drilling on May 25, 2018.

President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Steve Greenlee, explained that the Longtail discovery is in close proximity to the Turbot discovery South-east of the Liza field.

He said the Longtail drilling results are under evaluation. However, the combined estimated recov-

erable resources of Turbot and Longtail will exceed 500 million barrels of oil equivalent, and will contribute to the evaluation of development options in this eastern portion of the block.

The company said it is currently making plans to add a second exploration vessel in addition to the Stena Carron drillship, bringing its total number of drillships on the Stabroek Block to three. “The new vessel will operate in parallel to the Stena Carron to explore the block’s numerous high-value prospects,” it stated.

At present, the Noble Bob Douglas is completing initial stages of development drilling for Liza Phase 1, for which ExxonMobil announced a funding decision in 2017.

The company said Phase 1 will consist of 17 wells connected to a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. This is designed to produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day.

Meanwhile, Phase 2 concepts are similar to Phase 1 and will involve a second FPSO with production capacity of 220,000 barrels per day. A third development, Payara, is planned to follow Liza Phase 2.

ExxonMobil noted that Guyanese businesses, contractors and employees will continue to play an important role in its operations in Guyana.

It reminded that over $24 million was spent in partnership with project partners with more than 300 local suppliers in 2017.

Also, the company opened the Centre for Local Business Development in Georgetown to promote the establishment and growth of small- and medium-sized local businesses.

“ExxonMobil’s priorities in Guyana are focused on enabling local workforce and supplier development and collaborating with Government to support the growth and success of its economy,” it added.

Confidence

Following the announcement, Government issued a statement congratulating the company, stating that this other discovery is an “unmistakable demonstration” of it confidence in Guyana’s offshore reserves.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said the 8th discovery at Longtail-1 is yet another verification and validation of Guyana’s massive offshore oil reserves.

“All Guyanese will be brimming with further excitement of this historic news which reinforces that in the near future, Guyana’s share of profit oil will allow for national infrastructural, economic

and social transformation hitherto unimaginable,” he added.

Further to that, Trotman said Guyanese have the assurance that Government will ensure that the sector is managed responsibly, with their best interest and the interest of future generations in mind.

Only in late February, ExxonMobil had announced its seventh oil discovery at its Pacora-1 well.

The company had said it

encountered approximately 65 feet (20 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoir. The well was safely drilled to 18,363 feet (5597 metres) depth in 6781 feet (2067 metres) of water. The Pacora-1 well is located approximately four miles West of the Payara-1 well.

ExxonMobil had announced project sanctioning for the Liza Phase 1 development in June 2017.

Following Liza-5, the Stena Carron will conduct

additional exploration and appraisal drilling on the block.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited holds a 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 per cent interest.

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thursDAY, june 21, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Phone card vendor robbed, murdered A 37-year-old phone card vendor was on Tuesday evening shot dead by a bandit in front of his home in what seems to be a robbery.

Dead is Ron Mansfield of Lot 772 Westminster, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Reports are Mansfield had just returned home on his motorcycle, when he was approached by a young man. A single gunshot was heard, and the perpetrator then fled the scene with a bag, which contained the man’s earnings for the day, phone cards and other documents.

When Guyana Times visited the scene on Wednesday, his wife explained that her

Dead: Ron Mansfield

husband returned home at about 20:30h after he would

have finished selling his phone cards. She said she heard the sound of the motorcycle after which their two children – ages 13 and 15 – opened the door for their father.

“I was in my bedroom, I heard the motorcycle came in and the children went to open the door for him. He was going to get some water, so they went to give the bottle to him,” she recalled.

However, the woman related that as her husband went to his motorcycle, which was parked in front of the yard, he was confronted by a lone gunman.

“I don’t know when he went out back if the person

The dead man’s motorcycle

run him but he ended up till over at the neighbour’s entrance. So it’s either someone run him or they had a scuffle but whatever happened, it resulted in a gunshot…,” she explained.

After hearing the gunshot, she explained that the children started to scream and on rushing outside, she saw her husband lying on the ground bleeding from

his chest.

The perpetrator was in the process of making his escape with the bag.

“The sound of the gunshot is what alerted me to go outside and of course, the screams of the children. I run outside and when I ran, I saw that this person was running away. What I can say is that it is a slim person, young male, not an old

person but I can’t give a detailed description because it was pretty dark,” she recollected.

Mansfield was picked up and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital but succumbed to his injuries while on the way.

It was related that the now dead man has been in that type of business for about five years. However, in the nine years that the family has resided in that area, the family explained that there are frequent incidences of crime and other criminal activities.

“There is a lot of heightened robberies and crime within the area. It just never came to my doorstep until last night.”

The man leaves to mourn his wife, two children and other relatives.

No arrests have been made.

Stabbed cop discharged from hospital …Police on the hunt for teen suspect

A

Policeman who on Monday evening was stabbed eight times while on duty, has been discharged from the New Amsterdam Hospital as Police hunt his 17-year-old attacker.

Commander of B Division (Berbice), Lyndon Alves, told Guyana Times on Wednesday that Constable Randy Claxton was discharged from hospital. According to the Commander, Police are currently hunting his attacker, who is a ‘known individual’.

The Police Officer was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital on Monday, after he was stabbed eight times with a knife by a high school student.

The 32-year-old Constable of Central Police Station, who is attached to the Anti-Crime Motorcycle

Injured Police Constable, Randy Claxton

Patrol Unit, was at the time of the incident performing his duties.

Reports are he and another Constable from the Unit were on patrol in the vicinity of Main and Pitt Streets, New Amsterdam, when they observed close to 10 men in a group smoking what appeared to be marijuana.

The officers reportedly came off their motorcycles and approached the gang.

However, one of them ran but was eventually apprehended.

Meanwhile, the teenager, who was part of the gang, reportedly approached the Police Officer with a knife in his hand and despite being told to put the weapon down, he attacked Claxton, stabbing him once to the back of his neck, four times to his back, two to the left side hip and once to his left forearm.

The teenager then made good his escape. The officer was picked up and rushed to hospital where he was treated and admitted.

The Police have since made several attempts to apprehend the teenager but up to press time, he was still on the run.

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thursDAY, june 21, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Wakenaam flood update

Defaulting contractor compensates masjid – to meet with families severely affected

A

s the flood damage and needs assessment continues on the Essequibo island of Wakenaam, the contractor who has accepted partial blame, Deowdat Singh, has donated some $500,000 to the San Souci Sunnatul Jamaat Mosque, which was adversely affected.

Guyana Times understands that members of the masjid, which is in front of the breached sea defence, received a cheque from the contractor pre-dated for next month, and they were appreciative, since it would assist in replacing the wall-to-wall carpet that was immersed in three feet of salt water which came rushing in during the spring tide on Sunday.

This newspaper was, however, told that total damage to the concrete building built in the 1960s was estimated at $1.5 million.

W a k e n a a m

Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman Sheik Amad told this publication on Wednesday that operatives at the NDC were continuing to assess the sea

NTC opposes...

Guyana Times first reported that residents were shocked when the Returning Officer declared victory in favour of Luther Krammer. It was related that he was accused of and found guilty of molesting a nine-year-old a few years ago and was sentenced to 18 months in jail for the offence. The newly elected Toshao was only released from prison last year.

As per the Amerindian Act of 2006, nominations were held for the Office of Toshao where a fellow villager nominated Krammer who accepted the nomination. Following the nomination, several villagers approached the Returning Officer and questioned the nomination, only to be met

ing on Sunday, which resulted in damage to appliances, carpets, and other household items. Many officials, including Regional Executive Officer (REO) Denis Jaikarran and the NDC Chairman have contended that the flooding came as a result of negligence on

Scenes from last Sunday’s flooding

defence structure to ensure that no further seepage was observed. He added that residents were still in the process of cleaning up. Speaking on compensation for those

from page 7

with silence.

This publication understands Krammer has been living in Kamarang for most of his life and prior to his sexual molestation conviction, he was a teacher at the Kamarang Primary School.

Having been dismissed as a teacher, Krammer now works in the mining industry. The villagers are meanwhile calling for another election since they feel Krammer would be an inappropriate person to represent their interests.

Some of the functions of the Village Council includes providing planning and development of the village; managing and regulating the use and occupation of village lands; and provide strategic

severely affected, Amad stressed that the contractor would meet with them in the coming days.

“He will visit each of the 12 homes next week and donate based on the assessment,” the Chairman observed.

direction and advice to the village.

During the 2016 Local Government Elections, a similar controversy erupted when it was revealed that A Partnership for National Unity-approved candidate for Constituency 13 (East and West Ruimveldt Georgetown), Winston Harding, was charged at least two times with child molestation, though he was never convicted for the offence.

Harding was elected as representative of the Constituency and currently holds the post of Councillor in the Georgetown Municipality.

Following the allegations, Harding’s party withdrew its support.

Residents in Melville and Sans Souci woke up to flood-

the part of the contractor.

However, Singh was quoted

in the press as saying that the situation was being “grossly exaggerated” even though he was taking responsibility. In fact, he claimed that the sea defence did not suffer a breach, but rather the tide was “too high”, noting that it exceeded what they were expecting and they had not catered for such height.

Guyana Times reported that some two weeks ago, construction began on a riprap seawall at the back of Sans Souci Mosque, but the structure started seeping last week Tuesday and the contractor was called in to do remedial work.

REO Jaikarran and a team from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) visited the area to assess the situation on Sunday, and together facilitated distribution of hampers to residents which included disinfectant, bleach and other cleaning materials.

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thursDAY, june 21, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Elderly patients left abandoned at Linden Hospital

O

fficials attached to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) have noted with concern, an increase in the prevalence of elderly patients being abandoned by their relatives at the medical institution for extended periods.

According to the officials, persons, who are somewhat incapacitated are deliberately left at the medical institution. While there has been an influx of such cases at the hospital over the years, its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Toshanna Alicock, noted that presently there are seven persons at the medical institution who have been abandoned by their relatives. The figure, she noted, refers to persons left at the hospital for extended periods of time even though they no longer require medical attention.

As such, hospital officials are urging persons to desist from such practice, as concerns continue to be raised over the need for an elderly care home in the Linden community.

Social worker attached to the hospital, Laurette Smith-Gray, said the medi-

PRO Toshanna Alicock (left) and social worker Laurette Smith-Gray

cal institution does not have the capacity to deal with long-term patients.

“Most persons that we’re dealing with are persons who would have been here months after the doctors would have written their discharge. It therefore means they’re no longer under medical management, but they fall as social patients. Now, the hospital does not have the capacity to hold persons who are not patients that are in dire need of medical attention,” Smith-Gray said. She added that on any given day, most of the beds in the female, male and paediatric wards are filled to capacity and are

sometimes overfilled, even more so when there are surgeries. This, she noted, puts the hospital in a difficult position. “When we have people here as social cases, it then puts the hospital in a situation where we are pressed for space, where we may have to turn away some persons, where we may have to send some persons away without fully assessing their condition before they’re fully discharged,” she said. As such, the social worker is asking family members to take responsibility and look into the care of their relatives.

Smith-Gray also urged that persons desist from

calling the ambulance services to have their relatives removed from their home under the guise that they are ill, in the event that there might be a real medical emergency.

She said recently, there has been an increase in cases where an ambulance is called for persons who are not ill and they are left abandoned at the hospital.

Smith-Gray said there has also been cases of minors, who are left at the hospital, however such cases are referred to the Child Care and Protection Agency for them to be placed in the necessary homes.

The social worker said while some persons may be terminally ill, relatives are expected to take them home after hospitalisation so as to provide continued management. In some cases, she said family members are a no show even after contact is made for them to collect

their relatives.

“I have had persons here for months, never heard from any relative until they would have died...,” she noted. Even more worrying, she said, persons left in the hospital environment for an extended period are at risk of contracting nosocomial infections (infections acquired from being in hospitals for prolonged periods).

Over the years, residents and officials of Linden have voiced concerns over the absence of an elderly care home to cater for elderly people in vulnerable circumstances. The situation at the LHC has also reiterated such calls by hospital officials. (Utamu Belle)

Education Ministry launches Mobile Counselling unit for schools

T

he Education Ministry is currently streamlining a new project which will aid in meeting the needs of students in need of counselling.

The announcement was made by Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson as he launched a new programme on Wednesday at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) on Battery Road, Kingston, Georgetown.

“Shortly you will see another initiative in the Ministry of Education… pertaining to the Welfare Department is that of a Mobile Unit. This Unit will be driven into different areas (and) communities based upon the needs. There is also a schedule (or) a document prepared as to how this unit will be used so that the children will be exposed to psychosocial counselling and whatever need that they might have that we need to respond quickly in terms of emergency,” Hutson explained.

He went on to say that the need for the upcoming project was recognised after examining the Ministry’s Welfare Department data.

Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson

“We recognise that we need to move and to reach into some places very quickly if we’re going to effect the kind of change that we want to see,” he added.

Although the CEO did not elaborate much on the issue, a welfare officer reliably told Guyana Times that the project would actually be about transporting resource officers to particular locations of crisis, where an intervention could be done on the spot.

According to that officer, vehicles for the new initiative have already been procured and they were awaiting Cabinet’s approval before the official launch.

Currently, there are offi-

cers in each Region who are responsible for conducting counselling sessions with students, be it one-on-one, smallgroup or large-group interventions, the officer related.

The Mobile Unit will, however, be a tool to bring together not only psychologists from the Education Ministry but officials from other agencies who may be necessary for specific cases.

It was clarified by that officer that it was not a case where counselling was not being done, but this new initiative was a step taken by the Ministry to ensure that counselling could be done in a more effective manner.

The officer explained, “Let’s say it’s a case where a student or a mother or a father commits suicide, we need to be there on spot to ensure that the students in that child’s classroom are exposed to the intervention that is necessary. Likewise for the child or children if a parent would have committed the act.”

It was further explained that in a situation where students were found drinking alcohol, the team would also be activated, with not only the welfare officers but with public health officials who will make the process more influential.

The welfare officer was keen to note that the new programme would, however, not be used only in emergency cases, but would also facilitate preventative counselling.

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thursDAY, june 21, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Local content policy

UK expert advises level playing field

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nited Kingdombased local content expert, Dr Michael Warner, has underscored the importance of Guyana’s draft local content policy providing a level playing field for both local and for-

likely it is you’re in breach of WTO rules…,” Warner cautioned.

The British specialist was at the time making a presentation to local stakeholders in the Private Sector on the best practices in im-

in 2020.

Having examined Guyana’s local content policy, Dr Warner noted that the draft document was “heading in the right direction”. However, he pointed out that the focus would now

Dr Michael Warner delivering his presentation on Wednesday at the Pegasus Hotel

eign investors so as to avoid any breaches of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Provisions under the WTO TRIMS Agreement bar against measures that discriminate against suppliers who are foreign investors from other WTO Member States in favour of suppliers who are nationals of the host country.

“Leave the canvas wide for different class of alliances … The more the policy is interpreted to give direct preferences of the market to local suppliers … the more

plementing a local content policy. He is currently in Guyana working with the Centre for Local Business Development – a global developer. The event hosted by Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) on Wednesday at the Pegasus Hotel saw the attendance of representatives from the Private Sector and legal fraternity as well as officials from ExxonMobil. The US oil giant has been successful in its offshore exploration activities in Guyana, thus paving the way for first oil

have to be on the implementation of the policy.

Referencing the impacts, a non-pragmatic and non-collaborative approach had in African countries, Dr Warner lauded Government for pursuing a pragmatic and collaborative method of implementing its local content policy. He mentioned that those countries copy local content policies from each other, but later found that the policies could not hold up in their domestic environment; and as such, he cautioned Guyana against

this. Nevertheless, the local content expert noted that the pragmatic and collaborative approach also has risks. To this end, he re-emphasised the need for market opportunities to be made available to both local and overseas players in order to create a level playing field.

According to Dr Warner, there needs to be a balance in pushing local content.

“But I think Governments are maturing … Politicians and the policy makers have to deliver the expectations of their society … and the two can come together, especially in a place like Guyana, where relatively people meet and talk…,” he posited.

While further warning against Guyana falling victim to the ‘Dutch Disease’, the British expert outlined

that the entire Guyana would have to work hard to maximise the opportunities that would become available, suggesting that extensive on-the-job training be done. “There’s going to be huge amounts of opportunities for local folks to raise their game and meet the standards of international requirements,” Dr Warner stated.

14 NEWS

thursDAY, june 21, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Inclement weather

Parts of Georgetown flooded again

hindu swayamsevak sangh - guyana International Day of YOGA

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lthough hundreds of millions have been expended to rectify drainage issues in the capital city, residents and others traversing some parts of Georgetown on Wednesday were once again met with flooded streets, as experts are predicting that the conditions will continue over the next three days.

A section of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown under water on Wednesday

poured into flood control in areas such as Alexander Village, Ruimveldt, Campbellville, some sections of Queenstown, West Ruimveldt and La Penitence. At that time, Town Clerk Royston King said City Hall was contemplating using drones to get This motorcyclist skilfully makes his way through the floodwaters

Guyana Times visited several areas within the city after a few hours of heavy rainfall on Wednesday morning, which affected the free movement of persons.

Though the afternoon sunshine saw much relief to the flooding in various wards, commuters and residents should take the necessary precautions as the Agriculture Ministry’s National Weather Watch Centre Hydro meteorological Service has reported that light to moderate rain showers are expected over the

A man sits with his goods at High Street, Georgetown

next three days.

The Centre estimates expected rainfall in amounts of 5.0 mm to 35.0 mm.

In June 2017, $120 million of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council’s $240 million budget was

information on overtopping, traffic and security within Georgetown. He had also reported that squatting hinders access to many key drainage networks.

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wenty one days flew by so quickly, didn’t it? We will certainly miss this column and having your com-pany. We hope that over these past days you have seen the serious health benefits of yoga and How important it is for us to get in shape. We trust that these few days have helped you to appreciate Your physical as well as spiritual surroundings.

We would like to wish everyone a happy World International Day of Yoga and hope that you would have done some form of yoga today whether if it’s for five minutes –we appreciate that you would have done something and for those who have not done anything yet…please it is not too late. Actually it is NEVER too late. We would like to tell you that International Day of Yoga (IDoY) has been adopted to fulfill the following objectives: To let people know the amazing and natural benefits of yoga.

• To connect people to the nature by practicing yoga.

• To make people get used of meditation through yoga.

• To draw attention of people worldwide towards the holistic benefits of yoga.

• To reduce the rate of health challenging diseases all over the world.

• To bring communities much close together to spend a day for health from

busy schedule.

• To enhance growth, development and spread peace all through the world.

• To help people in their bad situations themselves by getting relief from stress

through yoga.

• To strengthen the global coordination among people through yoga.

• To make people aware of physical and mental diseases and its solutions through practicing yo-ga.

• To protect unhealthy practices and promote and respect the good practices to make health better.

• To let people know their rights of good health and healthy life style to completely enjoy the highest standard of physical and mental health.

• To link between protection of health and sus

tainable health development.

• To get win over all the health challenges through regular yoga practice.

• To promote better metal and physical health of people through yoga practice.

Regular practice of the yoga in the morning provides outer and inner relief by keeping away from the countless ailments at the physical and mental level. Practicing postures or asanas strengthens the body and mind as well as creates the feeling of wellbeing. It sharpens the human mind, improves intelli-gence and help in high level of concentration by steadying the emotions and feelings.

The feeling of wellbeing creates helping nature within us and thus enhances the social wellbeing. Im-proved concentration level helps in meditating and provides calming effect and inner peace to the mind. Yoga is like a practical philosophy which develops self-discipline and self awareness within us through regular practice.

Yoga is very safe, easy and healthy way to get fit whole life without any problems.

It just needs regular practice in right way of body movements and breathing.

It regularizes the connection between three components of our body such as body, mind and soul. It regularizes the functioning of the all body organs and prevents the body and mind to get disturbed because of some bad situations and unhealthy lifestyle. It helps in maintaining the health, knowledge and inner peace. By providing a good health it fulfils our physical needs, through knowledge it fulfils our psychological needs and through inner peace is fulfils the spiritual need thus it helps in main-taining the harmony among all.

news

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thursDAY, june 21, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Increase in water rates approved

…as GWI urged to improve its overall services

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uyanese will see an increase in the rates for water effective October 2018 following a decision taken by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to approve the request of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI).

The PUC said in a statement that the final increase will be made effective from October 2019. It said the implementation of the increases in a graduated format was an attempt to alleviate the financial burden on consumers when compared to the last implemented charges as awarded under an order of 2005.

But the PUC said it also recognised that the increase with respect to the proposed monthly consumption charge would initially result in great hardship to the rural areas. As a result, the Commission has determined that there would be a graduated rate for consumers who are currently paying $60.90 per cubic metre.

In its filing, the GWI has requested a two-tiered rate tariff for its metered pensioners and a flat rate for its non-metered pensioners.

The aim of this request is to offer a reduced tariff to this category of consumers. As such, the PUC said it has favourably considered this request.

Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Bowman (right) and a fellow student at the National Defence University

GWI's panel at one of the Public Utilities Commission hearings

As such, the new charges for metered residential consumers will comprise a fixed monthly charge of $250 and a monthly consumption charge of $86 per cubic metre for consumers in the $60.90 per cubic metre category. On the other hand, all customers will pay $112 per cubic metre. However, with the second increase, the monthly fixed charge will be $500 and the monthly consumption charge $112 per cubic metre.

Meanwhile, the new monthly fixed charge for unmetered residential consumers as of this year will be $250, along with a monthly consumption charge of $1100. From October 2018, these charges will be increased to $500 and $1450

respectively.

While there will not be any fixed monthly charges for metered pensioners, a consumption charge of $74 will be applied for every cubic metre for the first ten cubic metres. There will also be an increase to $112 for each cubic metre thereafter. For unmetered pensioners, they will incur no fixed charges while their monthly consumption charge will be a flat fee of $740 per month.

Further, there will be no new charges for metered non-residential and unmetered non-residential consumers.

However, as a pre-condition to applying these new tariffs, the PUC has mandated that the GWI improve its system and, therefore,

Guyana participates in 10th GAELF meeting

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s Guyana seeks to improve collaboration with its global partners in vector bionomics research, vector control strategies and acceptability of the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) exercise, Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings participated in the 10th meeting of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GAELF), in New Delhi, India.

During her address, she noted, “It is important to note that the Government of Guyana sees the elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a national, regional, and global priority and pledges its continued support to the successful implementation of this exercise.”

Dr Cummings emphasised that Guyana was interested in continuing to work with partners at the regional and international levels to gain further support as it strove to achieve elimination of lymphatic filariasis. Areas for collaboration include research on vector bionomics, vector control strategies, as well as acceptability of the MDA. Dr Cummings was among several officials who spoke during the opening ceremony, and the Minister highlighted Guyana’s progress in the elimination of lymphatic filariasis and the

GDF Lieutenant Colonel graduates with honours from Washington university

India’s Union Health Minister, JP Nadda with Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings

country’s commitment to helping eliminate the disease as a global health problem by 2020.

The three-day meeting was held under the theme, “Celebrating Progress Towards Elimination: Voices From the Field on Overcoming Programme Challenges.”

Also representing Guyana were the Director of Vector Control Services, Horace Cox and National Supervisor for the Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Campaign in Guyana, Allena Hercules.

Cox, in his presentation, outlined the challenges and the respective solutions that Guyana undertook to achieve its first successful MDA in 2017.

Some of the solutions, Cox said, included use of the

Tool for Integrated Planning and Costing (TIPAC), the introduction of micro-planning at the level of health centres, and implementation of new service delivery strategies.

Participants at the 10th GAELF were also involved in various working groups’ sessions which covered, inter alia, aspects of elimination of the disease such as, best practices in MDA; Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E); Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention.

Future focus on the elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Guyana will target the ending of the spread of infection through large-scale annual treatment for vulnerable groups in the 10 administrative regions and alleviating the suffering caused by the disease.

recommended that it implement a system which would allow pensioners to be added to its database which may require a period of time beyond the GWI-proposed 2018 timeline.

The company was also urged to sanitise its database and create the necessary platforms. One of the recommendations is to have a consumer database, which should be continuously sanitised to reflect legitimate debtors. This should be accomplished no later than June 30, 2019, while the collection rates on annual billings should increase incrementally each year to a level of 96 per cent by the end of December 2020.

The PUC said all disconnected consumers who have not been legitimately reconnected should be revisited at least within 60 days of being disconnected, to ensure that these consumers were not illegally reconnected and the collection of outstanding balances should be vigorously pursued.

A

Lieutenant Colonel of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has completed a Master of Arts Degree in Strategic Security Studies and a War College Diploma in International Security and Combating Terrorism from the College of International Security Affairs (CISA) at the National Defence University, Washington, DC. Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Bowman recently graduated with honours after successfully completing the programme conducted from July 3, 2017 to June 7, 2018. Lieutenant Colonel Bowman received honours for his research paper titled “Lessons from Trinidad and Tobago: Addressing Crime and Preventing the Rise of Radicalism in Guyana.”

The Combating Terrorism Fellowship Programme is the flagship academic programme conducted by CISA, which targets the development of strategic leaders to confront complex national, regional, and global security challenges such as State instability, insurgency, and terrorism.

The Lieutenant Colonel

noted that the programme showed a troubling convergence of terrorism and crime, underscoring the importance of a holistic rather than militarised approach in combating security challenges.

For Guyana, he explained, “it is of particular relevance, as our country still wrestles with crime at both the domestic and transnational levels. Moreover, our emerging oil economy will see an influx of foreigners into the country. This dictates that the terrorist threat should never be disregarded.”

Apart from this recent achievement, Lieutenant Colonel Bowman has successfully completed several courses overseas, including the Jungle Warfare and Jumpmaster Courses in Brazil, the Special Operations and Psychological Operations Courses in the USA, and the French Commando Course in both French Guiana and Martinique.

The Lieutenant Colonel is also the only serving GDF officer to complete the AllArms Commando Course conducted by the British Royal Marines, UK.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, june 21, 2018

Regional

Sir Fred passes PAHO begins debate on strategies, plans for improving C’bean health

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he retired founding Chairman of the Nation Corporation and One Caribbean Media Group, Sir Fred Winlyn Gollop, died early this Wednesday morning.

Sir Fred was the Chairman of the Nation Group of Companies for 34 years, having been one of the founders of the Nation newspaper in 1973, and he was instrumental in the group’s acquisition of Starcom Network and the formation of the One Caribbean Media Group.

He served on the boards of many corporations in the Public and Private Sectors, including First Caribbean International Bank Limited and Fortress Fund Managers’ Limited and was a partner of the law firm of Yearwood & Boyce from

T

The late Sir Fred Winlyn Gollop

1972 to 1984.

Sir Fred was a member of the Disciplinary Committee of the Barbados Bar Association from 1982 to 1995 and, from 2009 to 2012, he served as a commissioner on the Judicial and Legal Services Commission of the

Caribbean Court of Justice.

Sir Fred was a director of the Central Bank of Barbados for ten years and was president of the Senate of Barbados from 1994 to 2008. He acted on occasion as Governor General. (Nation

News)

Venezuelans threaten to sue over T&T’s asylum policy

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awyers representing two Venezuelan asylum seekers have written to National Security Minister Edmund Dillon and acting Chief Immigration Officer Charmaine Gandhi Andrews, threatening to sue the state over what they say is the failure to make to make transparent, its policy for refugees.

In a pre-action protocol letter sent to both government officials on Monday, lawyers for Carlos Jose Perez Arias and Maria Carolina Olivares Sahad sought clarification on the policy and its applicability to them.

According to one of the legal representatives, Darrell

Allahar, the letter arose out of concerns from his clients over the Government’s role in repatriating 82 of their compatriots in April and conflicting and evasive statements from Government officials over whether some of the group were registered asylum seekers.

Allahar pointed out that the policy to address the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees and how the State would determine their status, was passed by Cabinet in June 2014.

He said this was mentioned by Dillon’s predecessor John Sandy at a meeting of the Council of the International

Organisation on Migration in November 2014, and by Gandhi-Andrews at a meeting of the executive committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in October 2016.

The attorney said that while both officials announced the policy to their international counterparts, only a draft document on the “phased establishment” of it was published.

In addition to the applicability of the draft policy, Allahar is seeking the disclosure of the Government’s standing operating procedures related to asylum seekers. (Excerpt from Nation News)

he Executive Committee of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has begun its 162nd session at the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) regional office for the Americas in order to discuss strategies and plans of action to improve the health of the Americas, including the Caribbean.

Chaired by Panama, PAHO said the committee will meet until June 30 to discuss strategies and plans, developed in consultation with its Member States, which guide regional coop-

eration.

“As we look towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda as well as our own Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas, 2018-2030, there are some imperative priorities to be addressed in the next five years,” said PAHO’s Dominican-born director Carissa F Etienne.

PAHO said issues to be discussed during the Committee include: action plans to ensure the health of women, children and adolescents; the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer; and the human resources re-

quired for universal health access and coverage.

PAHO said the Committee will also address issues around entomology and vector control, and the strengthening of tobacco control measures in the Americas.

“In spite of our current successes in the health area, we cannot fail to recognise that there are many persons who still cannot afford to pay for the medicines and treatments that they need,” Etienne said. “Our principal charge must be to help to significantly diminish these unmet needs.” (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Regional leaders to attend opening of Grenada’s new Parliament building

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lmost 14 years after it was destroyed by the category three Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the Houses of Parliament will have a new home with the official opening of a new Parliament building today.

The event will be attended by regional leaders – Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, of Trinidad and Tobago; Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines; and Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque .

Local diplomats are also scheduled to attend the ceremony.

The new building which is located in Mt Wheldale is built within close proximity to the residence of the late Prime Minister Maurice Bishop. The new building was constructed with funds from the Governments of Australia, Mexico the United Arabs Emirates and Grenada.

Representatives from the donor Governments are also scheduled to witness the opening which takes the form of a joint sitting of the both the Lower and

Upper Houses of Parliament.

The former Parliament building called York House that was located on Church Street was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

Since the devastation, parliamentary sessions were temporarily held at the Grenada Trade Centre while the offices of Parliament are housed next door in a ministerial complex.

Designed by Caribbean Office of Caribbean Architecture, the EC$23 million environmentally friendly building was built by Quinnco Design and Construction.

(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

More deaths in Nicaragua violence as talks collapse IDB launches

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t least three people were killed and many injured as Government forces in Nicaragua launched an operation to regain control of the city of Masaya.

Residents say security forces and militias used disproportionate force to clear barricades on Tuesday.

The operation was launched a day after the collapse of talks between President Daniel Ortega’s Government and the Opposition. More than 180 people have died in two months of anti-Government protests.

Residents in Masaya say militias loyal to Ortega were responsible for most of the vi-

Opposition activists fought Government militias in the streets of Masaya

olence. They arrived in the early hours of Monday on tractors and lorries to regain control of the city.

Young protesters used homemade mortars and

slingshots to repel them, Reuters news agency reports.

A former stronghold of the Sandinista Revolution in the 1970s, Masaya has now become a symbol of Opposition

to the Ortega Administration.

The barricades were set up weeks ago in cities across Nicaragua by opposition activists, who are demanding the resignation of Ortega.

The protests were triggered by government cuts to pensions and social security announced on 18 April.

The legislation, which has since been revoked, prompted nationwide demonstrations. Many people died in the marches – most of them university students – after a Government crackdown.

The opposition now demand the resignation of Ortega, a former Sandinista leader, and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Jamaica to fight crime with CCTV cameras all over the island

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he Jamaica Government will install 1000 closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) in strategic locations across the island by the end of the year, under the JamaicaEye initiative by the National Security Ministry.

JamaicaEye is a public-private partnership designed to network CCTV

cameras owned by the Ministry as well as accommodate feed from privately owned CCTV cameras.

The feeds will provide useful footage in relation to criminal activities and other emergencies and will be monitored by a team of security professionals.

Details were provided by Senior Director,

Modernisation Initiatives and Strategic Projects, Ministry of National Security, Arvel Grant, following a seminar presentation on JamaicaEye earlier in the week.

Grant said at least 300 cameras have been installed in high-priority areas as part of the initiative. He added that several cameras were

procured during the latter part of last year and early this year.

The Senior Director noted that Jamaicans have been receptive to the initiative.

The Ministry has already installed cameras in public spaces in Kingston, Montego Bay, Mandeville, Ocho Rios, May Pen and Negril. (Excerpt from

St Kitts and Nevis Observer)

call for proposals from start-ups in Caribbean

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he Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has launched a call for proposals that will reward the most disruptive ventures in Latin America and the Caribbean that are using innovation to improve lives.

The Washington-based financial institution said the selected start-ups will participate in Demand Solutions Chile, which will take place on November 21 in Santiago, Chile.

Demand Solutions is the IDB’s flagship innovation event that brings together “the world’s most forward-thinking minds to share creative solutions to the development challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean,” the statement said.

In this edition, the IDB said start-ups can participate in two thematic areas.

In the first, they must

provide solutions in four categories related to the cultural and creative industries – design with social sense: sustainable fashion, smart fashion, urban art, wearable technology; and multimedia that improves lives: videogames, digital content, audiovisual content.

The other categories are – New technologies: 3D printing, blockchain, internet of things, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics; and export of services to global markets: production and commercialization of cultural content, export of goods and creative services.

The IDB said the 10 most innovative start-ups in the creative industries will be selected to participate in Demand Solutions Chile with all expenses paid for one representative per startup. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

thursDAY, june 21, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Trump backs down on migrant North Korea, China leaders agree to boost family separations policy

U

S President Donald Trump has bowed to public pressure and signed an executive order promising to "keep families together" in migrant detentions.

Trump reversed his own policy amid international fury over the separation of undocumented parents and children.

He said he had been swayed by images of children who have been taken from parents while they are jailed and prosecuted for illegal border-crossing.

It was not immediately clear when Trump's order would be implemented.

"It's about keeping families together," Trump said

US President Donald Trump reversed his own policy amid international fury over the separation of undocumented parents and children (Reuters)

at the signing ceremony on Wednesday.

"I did not like the sight of families being separated," he said, but added the Administration would con-

tinue its "zero-tolerance policy" of criminally prosecuting anyone who crosses the border illegally.

The executive order states that immigrant fami-

lies will be detained together, except in cases where there are concerns about the child's welfare, but it is unclear for how long.

Trump's order also calls for prioritising immigration cases involving detained families.

The President said his wife, Melania, and daughter, Ivanka, who reportedly have been applying pressure on him to drop the policy in recent days, "feel strongly" about ending the practice of separating migrant families.

"I think anybody with a heart would feel very strongly about it," he said. "We don't like to see families separated." (Excerpt from BBC News)

EU to begin counter trade tariffs against US on Friday

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etaliatory trade tariffs by European Union(EU) countries on a list of US products – agreed in response to US tariff hikes on steel and aluminium imports from Canada, the EU, and

Mexico – will come into force on Friday, the European Commission announced on Wednesday.

From the start of June, the EU was hit by tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on alumini-

um imports imposed by US President Donald Trump, who justified the move on the grounds of national security.

"We did not want to be in this position. However, the unilateral and unjusti-

fied decision of the United States to impose steel and aluminium tariffs on the EU means that we are left with no other choice," EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

May faces down pro-EU rebel lawmakers to win Brexit vote P rime Minister Theresa May won a crucial Brexit vote in Parliament on Wednesday, keeping her divided Government’s plans to end more than 40 years of British partnership with the European Union on track.

After pro-European Union Conservative lawmaker Dominic Grieve said he would support the Government’s proposal for a “meaningful vote” in Parliament on Britain’s exit, a potential rebellion that could have undermined May’s authority was averted.

May adopted a high-risk

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, June 20, 2018

strategy by facing off with rebels in her Conservative Party, and it paid off. The

Upper House of Parliament later approved the bill, paving the way for it to be-

come law after gaining formal “Royal Assent” from the Queen.

May said in a statement that the bill’s passage was a crucial step in delivering Brexit, and more details of proposed future links with the EU would be published in the coming weeks.

But the battle over the EU withdrawal bill, her Brexit blueprint, may be a taste of things to come. May needs to get several other bills through Parliament to prepare Britain for life outside the EU, a momentous change to its trading and political relationships after decades in the bloc. (Excerpt from Reuters)

South Sudan's President and rebel leader meet for peace talks

S

outh Sudan’s President and the rebel leader met on Wednesday for the first time since 2016, when a peace deal collapsed and fighting re-erupted between their forces, the Ethiopian prime minister’s chief of staff said.

“The PM Abiy Ahmed hosted a private dinner to President Salva Kiir & Dr Rieck Machar together,” Fitsum Arega said on his Twitter account.

“Faced with the continued suffering in South Sudan, Ethiopia simply can’t stand by. With more work, a peaceful future is possible.”

The meeting had been billed by Ethiopia’s Government as a step towards ending a five-year-old civil war

South Sudan's Opposition Leader, Riek Machar (file photo)

that has killed tens of thousands of people and forced more than three million to flee their homes in the world’s youngest country.

The oil-producing nation gained independence in 2011 from north Sudan, but fighting broke out two years later.

Kiir and Machar met individually with Abiy before the three sat down together, South Sudanese Opposition party officials and Western diplomats said.

The Ethiopian Government has been a key actor in the regional bloc IGAD’s faltering peace process for South Sudan.

A ceasefire the warring sides signed in the Ethiopian capital in December was violated hours later. (Excerpt from Reuters)

'strategic, tactical' cooperation – KCNA

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orth Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed measures to bolster “strategic and tactical” cooperation between the two countries in a second meeting on Wednesday, the North’s State media said on Thursday.

The meeting between Kim and Xi came on the North Korean leader’s second and last day of his latest visit to Beijing where he briefed the Chinese President on his summit with US President Donald Trump last week.

They exchanged “serious views” on the present and “new” situation, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

On Tuesday, Kim and Xi were reported by North Korean media to have reached an understanding on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula after discussing the outcome of the US-North Korea sum-

mit.

Before meeting with Xi Jinping on Wednesday, Kim visited an agricultural institute run by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, KCNA said, where he observed vegetables being grown inside.

The North Korean leader also visited a traffic control centre in Beijing before departing for Pyongyang on Wednesday afternoon, KCNA said. The visits to the two locations were also reported by Chinese media on Wednesday.

Kim has pledged to make the economy in North Korea a priority after he had announced the achievement of a long-held ambition to develop nuclear weapons.

North Korean media has in recent months, frequently stressed advancements made in its agricultural and industrial sectors. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Indonesia Lake Toba: Nearly 200 feared dead after ferry sinks

Devastated friends and families have been waiting for news on the shore

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ore than 190 people are now thought to be missing after Monday's ferry disaster on Lake Toba, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

The number, revised up from 130, is three times the number of passengers the ferry was licensed to carry.

Lake Toba, the world's largest volcanic lake, was busy with tourists celebrating the annual Eid holiday when the ferry sank in poor weather.

Many victims are thought to have been trapped inside the vessel, Police said.

Indonesia's national search and rescue agency

said only 18 survivors had been found, all within hours of the tragedy. Three bodies have been recovered.

Authorities say the boat operators didn't hand out tickets so there are no records of who was on board.

Desperate families have spent the past days desperately waiting for news and hoping that the search and rescue boats returning to shore might bring any news.

On Wednesday, divers and an underwater drone joined the search efforts. The teams still need to locate the wooden ferry at the bottom of the 450 metre (1500ft)deep lake. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, june 21, 2018

ARCHIE

Emotions will escalate if you get into a discussion with (March 21- someone you work or live April 19) with. Listen and respond diplomatically to avoid ruining your plans and day.

ARIES

You may crave change, TAURUS but not everyone around you (April 20- will, so present your intenMay 20) tions in a persuasive manner to avoid an argument.

dilbert

Personal improvements are GEMINI favored. Get into shape or phys(May 21ically move things around to June 20) improve your current environment or reconnect with an old friend and catch up. Romance is highlighted.

Don't get depressed when you should be disciplined in (June 21- bringing about change. It's July 22) up to you to make things happen, so embrace the future and get cracking.

CANCER

Peanuts

Think about what you say LEO and do before you take action.

(July 23- Hurt feelings will not help Aug. 22) you gain popularity or get the support you need to bring about change.

Calvin and Hobbes

A last-minute change of VIRGO plans will end up being ben(Aug. 23eficial. Changing your surSept. 22) roundings will give you a boost and the energy to tie up loose ends.

A physical challenge will LIBRA (Sept. 23- motivate you to put more efOct. 23) fort into the way you look and feel. Problems at home should be given time to settle. A day trip is favored.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — TEASER (TEASER: TEE-zer: An ad that attracts customers by offering something extra or free.)

Elaborate on an idea you SAGITTARIUS have and consider the best (Nov. 23way to move forward. Make Dec. 21) sure you have the right to use something that you may have shared with someone from your past.

Average mark 21 words Time limit 30 minutes

A serious approach to CAPRICORN partnerships will bring out (Dec. 22- the pros and cons of certain Jan. 19) arrangements. To bring about change, you must discuss the best way to move forward.

Can you find 29 or more words in TEASER? The list will be published tomorrow.

LAST PUBLISHED WORD — UPSTAGES upset usage page pass passe past paste pate pause

peat pest puss sage sagest sate saute seat sept

seta setup spat spate stag stage stapes step suet

tape taps taupe ague apse asset gape gases gasp

gate gauss guess guest gusset gust guts east

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

You'll have a good idea, SCORPIO but make sure it's within (Oct. 24your budget before you folNov. 22) low through on it. Simplicity will help to ease your stress.

Clutter will slow you down and cause depression.

solution for last published puzzle AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Invest time and energy in yourself. Striving to be your best will also help you bring out the best in someone you love. Don't overreact to negativity; merely adjust and simplify your plans.

Learn all you can about challenging financial, medical or legal situations to come up with a plan that will ensure that you overcome any dilemma.

thurSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018

19

Ronaldo strikes again for Portugal to send Morocco out F

ernando Santos had wanted to see more from his supporting cast but, well, while the Portugal manager has Cristiano Ronaldo, it is probably not essential. Ronaldo did what Ronaldo does. He got into dangerous areas, he scored and he was decisive.

It did not matter that this was not a vintage Portugal performance. They got the job done and they have put one foot in the second round.

Ronaldo’s goal came early and, after his hat-trick in the 3-3 draw with Spain, he is making the running for the Golden Boot.

Imagine if he were to win that to place alongside his Ballons d’Or. Ronaldo is a current European champion at club and international level. Imagine if he were to crown the lot by winning the World Cup. What Morocco would have given for some of Ronaldo’s cutting edge.

They had none and that is why their World Cup is over, which is a shame because there is much to like about Hervé Renard’s team.

Driven by Hakim Ziyach and Noureddine Amrabat,

Portugal’s Rui Patricio saves what was potentially the equaliser

the wide midfielders, they made the running and wove plenty of pretty patterns.

But when the chances came in the second half, they blew each one.

Ronaldo’s bravery has never been open to question and the goal came when he plunged into a header as the boot of Karim El Ahmadi wafted about his ears. Once he had the position, the outcome was not in doubt.

Portugal had worked a short corner routine, allowing João Moutinho to whip in the outswinger,

and Ronaldo’s connection was true, unlike Morocco’s marking. It was unusual for Renard’s team to be so loose but costly. The ball fizzed past Munir El Kajoui Mohamedi and Morocco’s grip on their World Cup status looked more fragile than ever.

Everybody connected to the north African nation had said the same thing before the tournament – the opening game was crucial.

Everything depended on it but, against Iran, they had found a way to lose. That

way was a 95th minute own goal from Aziz Bouhaddouz.

They were in the lastchance saloon but they were determined to play their high-tempo passing game, heavy on movement and pace in wide areas. They looked slick and they got in behind the Portugal defence, through Ziyach and Amrabat. But the question nagged: did they have the end product?

Amrabat shouted loudly for a penalty in the 26th minute, having wriggled past Raphaël Guerreiro

and made it into the area.

They were both at grabbing each other, before Amrabat went down, but neither the referee, Mark Geiger, nor his VAR team were moved to act. Guerreiro could be seen to inspect a set of deep scratch marks across his side after the incident.

Renard wanted to know why VAR did not intervene while he and his players also complained when José Fonte cleaned out Khalid Boutaïb in the box shortly afterwards. Again, there was no censure.

Mehdi Benatia could not react at the far post to convert a flick-on in first-half stoppage time but Portugal had the clearer chances before the interval. Following a surging run by Guerreiro, Ronaldo dragged narrowly wide of the far post while Ronaldo played in Gonçalo Guedes and he was denied

by Munir.

There was needle between Benatia and Ronaldo, which first sparked when the Juventus defender went through the back of him on 26 minutes, treading on his foot in the process. Benatia would be booked for a tackle

from behind on him later in the first-half.

Morocco continued to push in the second half and Santos, the Portugal manager, changed his shape to 4-33 or 4-5-1 when his team did not have the ball. It was a slender lead but it would do.

Morocco had their chances and only a wonderful save

by Rui Patricio, the new Wolverhampton Wanderers signing, kept out Younés Belhanda’s flick header.

Patricio got across to deflect up and over the crossbar. Twice, Benatia made smart moves inside the area only to blaze his shot wildly while Ziyach cut inside and saw Pepe deflect his effort over the crossbar.

It was not all perfect from Ronaldo on an individual level. He blasted two free-kicks from the edge of the area into the wall while he skied horribly when he ran onto an inviting chance.

There was also the moment towards the end when he initiated contact inside the area and went down. He was lucky not to be booked.

But, yet again, Ronaldo had found a way to win. (The

Guardian)

Suárez sends Uruguay into last 16

U

ruguay's slender victory over Saudi Arabia ensured that they and host nation Russia reached the last 16 of the World Cup. Luis Suárez scored the only goal at the Rostov Arena, sweeping in from close range on his 100th international appearance.

It was hard on the Green Falcons, who were knocked out despite a vast improvement from their 5-0 defeat by Russia in the tournament's opening game.

However, while they largely eliminated their defensive errors and enjoyed more possession than their opponents, they were made to pay for one lapse by goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais, whose misjudgement allowed Suárez to score.

Russia's 3-1 win over Egypt on Tuesday means both

they and Uruguay have collected maximum points from their two Group A games.

Both nations are six points clear of third-placed Egypt with one game to play.

Yet with Portugal and Spain as prospective last-16 opponents, it remains to be seen what advantage either could grasp from winning the group when they meet in Samara on 25 June (15.00 BST kick-off).

In truth, it was another stuttering display from Oscar Tabarez's Uruguay team. They were more functional than exhilarating and reliant upon the threat carried by Barcelona's Suárez and strike partner Edinson Cavani.

The Paris St-Germain forward's vision and perseverance should have resulted in a second goal, but Carlos Sanchez spurned a headed

Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani gets ready to pull the trigger

chance and Al Owais saved at Cavani's feet in the closing stages.

Centurion Suárez Suárez may be entering the latter part of his career but the former Liverpool for-

ward's predatory instincts showed no signs of dimming during his 100th appearance for his country.

The 31-year-old was largely anonymous during Uruguay's opening win against Egypt, and though far from the effervescent figure that Premier League and La Liga audiences are familiar with, he remains a difficult opponent to pin down over 90 minutes.

He scored his volley and combined well with Cavani early on - but thereafter Saudi defender Ali Albulayhi acted as his shadow, dispensing several tough challenges and moments of gamesmanship that appeared to rile Suárez.

To his credit, the Barcelona forward - who has received bans in his previous two World Cups - passed the test of temperament.

And his goal ensured Uruguay reached the knockout stages for their third consecutive finals. (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thurSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018

Costa gets luck of the bounce as Spain deny stubborn Iran

A

mid the din, Iran’s footballers collapsed to the floor exhausted and someone decided to put Y Viva España on the PA system. Spain had lived, but dangerously. Iran had been defeated, but only just.

Three times Carlos Queiroz’s team might have scored: the first had hit the side-netting, subs and staff running from the bench before they realised it had gone wide; the second was ruled out for offside, but not before celebrations were well under way; and the third flew over the bar from six yards, Mehdi Taremi barely able to believe it.

Fernando Hierro’s team, meanwhile, did score, but only once. And when the breakthrough came, for all the football, for all the intent, it did so via Diego Costa’s knee.

The fortune Iran had enjoyed in the first game against Morocco deserted them. It also forced them into a change of plan that almost worked too, the talent brought to the fore. As for Spain, they secured a victory that leaves them wellplaced to progress.

After a first half when they had the ball but were unable to produce the goal they needed, Spain got it early in the second. They needed it, but had not always looked like getting it during an opening 45 minutes in

The ball cannoned off the knee of Diego Costa

which Iran had played deep, waited, defended. Spain had expected that but they had not found a solution for it.

In part, that is because Iran do it well. Unbeaten in four years of competitive matches, they had played 22 times without defeat, keeping a clean sheet in 18 of them. “They are,” Hierro had warned, “a team that’s solid defensively, is very clear in its ideas; a hard team that let in few goals and has scored 37 in their last 19, 40% of them from set plays. We will see a team that’s tough, physically very powerful and that will make it very difficult.”

They did that, all right.

What surprised perhaps was that they did not only do so

when they were defensive, they did so when the game changed and they went for Spain. Ultimately, they were unfortunate not to be rewarded for it.

Hierro had insisted that he would change as little as possible but given their opponents, there was a switch here. Koke was removed from midfield, Andrés Iniesta and David Silva playing alongside Sergio Busquets. That allowed greater creativity and swifter circulation in the middle; it also allowed for Lucas Vázquez to be included up front, giving width and a willingness to run on the right. That, at least, was the theory. In practice, it was rather different.

NY Knicks to play Washington Wizards in 2019 game

To start with it appeared that Iran would look to step out, but they soon settled into what was often effectively a 6–3–1, the first two lines close, only Sardar Azmoun a little further forward. The game squeezed into a 20-metre strip that ran the width of the pitch, beginning near the edge of Iran’s area. Inside it Spain passed, heading from side to side, occasionally accelerating, usually led by Silva, whose best move saw him link with Iniesta, who was primed before the space before him was closed and the shot blocked.

Spain sought to break through those lines, but that was one of the few moments they did so. Lucas had been

T

he New York Knicks will play the Washington Wizards in London as part of next season's NBA Global Games series.

The Knicks last played in the UK in 2015 while the Wizards will make their London debut on Thursday, 17 January.

It will be the ninth regular-season NBA game to be played at London's O2 Arena.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said: "Over that time the games and the surrounding festivities have grown into the equivalent of an NBA All-Star experience

transported to Europe."

The Wizards reached the Eastern Conference play-offs last season but the Knicks missed out after finishing 11th.

The first regular-season games in London were held in 2011, with the New Jersey Nets beating the Toronto Raptors twice, while Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers in last season's event.

All eight previous games in London sold out and tickets for next season's game will go on sale in the autumn. (BBC Sport)

ting. It had come from a long throw. And then, barely a minute after that, they were racing off the Spain bench instead. Iniesta found Costa and as he turned, Rezaeian sprinted towards him to clear, thumping the ball off Costa’s knee and into the net.

That, you suspected, was that. But Iran stepped forward and very soon there were people running from the bench again. This time it was all of them and they made it all the way down to the corner, celebrating what they thought was an equaliser when Saeid Ezatolahi put the ball past David de Gea as the ball dropped from a clipped free kick. As they celebrated, though, the linesman’s flag went up and the referee stood in the area.

Players circled him but he sent them away, trying to hear the message in his ear. It took a while, pause pressed on everyone’s emotions, but eventually Andrés Cunha disallowed the goal for offside.

Iran pushed Spain back.

Gerard Piqué scrambled to get one over the line and at the other end Vahid Amiri was desperately close to a wonderful ball, sliding into the six-yard box. Amiri then brilliantly slipped the ball through Piqué’s legs and delivered a superb cross which Taremi, steaming in, headed over from six yards. (The

Guardian)

F1 extends contract of Spa-Francorchamps track Belgium has played host to some of the most dramatic F1 races in history, including a huge pile-up at the start in 1998

T

Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers at London's O2 Arena on January 11

brought in for this, but the space he is adept at running into did not exist. Costa, too, was struggling, bouncing off defenders but not beyond them. Isco’s moments were fleeting.

Dani Carvajal sliced over early; that Silva shot hit the shoulder of Majid Hosseini; Sergio Ramos’s free kick went into the wall, and Silva hit another into the goalkeeper’s hands. Iran stood firm. The few occasions they did look vulnerable came when they were caught coming away with the ball, which perhaps only increased the inclination to send it sailing into the wide open space before them, but did not see them desist entirely. Ramos then headed away Ramin Rezaeian’s cross from the right after a slick, swift move through the middle saw Iran open the pitch out to the right.

With every clearance there was a roar, insofar as any could be heard over the constant din of air-horns.

This was an Iranian crowd, and a female one too, and it suffered when Silva’s deflected shot looped up and just wide.

Busquets was denied on the line and soon after the stadium erupted. Subs and staff leapt from Iran’s bench, thinking they had scored.

Karim Ansarifard’s shot, though superbly struck, had flown into the side-net-

he move secures the immediate future on the calendar of one of the world's classic race tracks - Spa-Francorchamps in the Ardennes mountains.

The track first hosted a Grand Prix in 1925 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest challenges for a driver.

Chloe Targett-Adams, F1's director of promoters, said: "F1 was born in Europe and the future of the sport needs to maintain its solid roots."

F1's new owner Liberty Media said when it bought the sport in January 2017 that it was determined to protect the major historical races.

The Spa renewal is the first new deal with such a track since Liberty took over and ousted former boss Bernie Ecclestone.

But the future of many other classic races remains up in the air.

The contract for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, regarded by some as the greatest challenge for drivers, expires this year.

The German Grand Prix has returned to the calendar this season after an absence in 2017 but its contract also expires at the end of 2018.

The British Grand Prix has only this year's race on 6-8 July and next year's be-

fore it, too, is out of contract, after Silverstone decided last year to exercise a break clause because hosting the race was becoming too expensive.

Liberty is keen to expand the calendar into new territories in addition to protecting historical races.

F1 is close to securing a new race in Miami, Florida, which is expected to take place for the first time in 2019 and would make a second Grand Prix, in the USA, in addition to the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.

There has also been talk of a street race in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.(BBC Sport)

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OSCL team for New York Cup

F

ormer Guyana First-Class skipper Damodar Daesrath and ex-Guyana and West Indies youth player Hemnarine Chattergoon have been named in the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) team for the forthcoming New York Cup slated for three consecutive days (June 29-July 1).

Teams from Canada, New York, Guyana and Florida are set to participate at the 12th edition, and some keen contests are highly predicted as a large number of high-profile softball players will be on show in both the Open and Masters’ categories.

Daesrath, who represented his adopted country Canada also at the highest level, featured in the tournament previously playing for other teams while Chattergoon, who as well wore the Canadian national colours at the senior level, will be looking to make an

Damodar Daesrath

impression.

Several other players have represented Guyana and Canada in hardball cricket. Riaz Kadir and Raja Pooran are in the lineup to play for OSCL while Berbician Aftab Shamsudeen, who played for Canada at the international level, is included.

Assistant manager of the team, Canada-based Guyanese Bobby Ramlagan

is pleased with the selection and is very optimistic the players will create a big impact on their first outing representing the OSCL. With the reintroduction of white ball cricket in the OSCL’s various competitions this season, Ramlagan mentioned the guys were more equipped now to compete against these quality teams. Ramlagan, who was born in Wakenaam, also expressed that a captain would be named just before the competition starts. He further related that preparation for this mega softball tournament was very crucial and the team were set to have done that before proceedings begin in the United States of America. Veteran Sports Journalist and OSCL’s Secretary/Public Relations Officer, Frederick Halley is the manager. Ramlagan is also an executive member of OSCL in the position of Assistant Secretary/

Hemnarine Chattergoon

Treasurer.

The full squad reads: Damodar Daesrath, Riaz Kadir, Hemnarine Chattergoon, Rabindra Diaram, Anil Ramotar, Yadram Bohj, Aftab Shamsudeen, Bolanauth Sukhu, Zaheer Allard, Muniram Karran, Ravin Babulall, Anand Monelall, Shah Mahabir, Fizul Haniff, and Raja Pooran.

Tour de France…

Hinault urges Tour riders to

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B

ernard Hinault, the five-times winner of the Tour de France, has called on riders in this year’s race to strike in protest at the presence of Chris Froome, who is awaiting the outcome of an adverse analytical finding for the asthma drug salbutamol.

Since news of the test result from a sample taken during his victory in the Vuelta a España in 2017 was published in the Guardian in November, Froome, the defending Tour champion, has maintained his innocence of any wrongdoing and reiterated his certainty that he will be cleared when the case is resolved.

Speaking to the newspaper Ouest-France, Hinault, who no longer has an official role with the Tour de France organisers ASO since his retirement last year, said the riders should refuse to start when the race begins in the Vendée on 7 July. “The peloton should put its feet to the ground and say, if he is starting the race, we won’t start.”

Hinault was known as a

Bernard Hinault said Chris Froome should not be competing in the Tour de France while he awaits the outcome of an adverse finding for an asthma drug

spokesman among the riders during his career which lasted from 1975 to 1986, and during his first Tour de France exactly 40 years ago he became celebrated for leading a riders’ strike after the organisers attempted to make them race three stages in a single day.

“Christopher Froome should not be at the start of the Tour,” Hinault said.

“Quite simply because he has tested positive, for me this is not an abnormal test.

As always, people do not take the decision when it should be taken. The people at the UCI should have said, you have been caught, so you should not be racing.”

Salbutamol is classified in a different way to other substances in that it is permitted up to a certain threshold – which Froome’s A and B samples exceeded – after which a rider has to explain the result. Until the case is resolved an athlete is permitted to race, although

teams who are members of the voluntary Movement for Credible Cycling, which does not include Team Sky, go a step further and impose a ban on its cyclists.

There is no indication when Froome’s case will be resolved. The Tour organisers have called for it to be done as soon as possible but the head of the UCI, David Lappartient, has said he fears the outcome will not be known before the start of the Tour. (BBC Sport)

Gabriel’s performance pushes him Classified to 12th in ICC Test rankings Ads

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21 Daesrath, Chattergoon named in sports

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S

hannon Gabriel's historic wicket-taking performance has propelled him to number 12 in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings.

The burly West Indies fast bowler ended with the astounding match figures

of 13 for 121 in the drawn second Test match between West Indies and Sri Lanka which ended on Monday at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia.

It was the third-best bowling figures by a West Indian bowler and best by

any fast bowler in international cricket in 17 years.

Following his performance, Gabriel reached 754 rating points, surpassing his previous best of 636 points which was good enough for 18th last August.

It launched him 11 places in

the latest rankings, moving him up from 23.

Gabriel's teammates Roston Chase and Jason Holder had minor improvements in their bowling rankings. Chase moved one spot up to 38, while Holder moved one spot up to 64. (CMC)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, JUNE 21, 2018

CBC Championship Food Town to host inaugural golf tournament looms near – men’s team depart Friday R

T

Kevon Wiggins

he Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has named the following 12 players to represent Guyana at the 2018 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Senior Men’s Basketball Championship and the FIBA

AmeriCup 2021 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers in Suriname from June 22 to June 30.

Eighteen-year-old Stanton Rose has retained his post as Captain and will have alongside him: Harold Adams, Orland Glasgow, Shaine Webster, Ray Victor, Anthony Moe, Travis Burnett, Felix Hamilton, Travis Belgrave, Denzel Devonish, Timothy Thompson, and Kevon Wiggins.

Head Coach duties have been taken on by Junior Hercules while Dennis Clarke is the Assistant Coach and the Manager is Nigel Hinds.

The team, led by Guyana’s youngest-ever National Captain, includes five overseas-based players, comprising professional players Moe and Hamilton based in the United States of America and Antigua; former US college players Victor and Devonish

Stanton Rose

along with Berbice-born 17-year-old Kevon Wiggins, the youngest player on the team.

Guyana depart for Suriname on Friday, June 22 and will play Grenada on Sunday, June 24 at the Anthony Nesty Indoor Stadium in their opening game.

ecently opened Food Town Restaurant and Distribution Outlet, located at 266 Newton Street, Enmore, East Coast Demerara, has partnered with the Lusignan Golf Club to host its first ever golf tournament this Saturday, June 23.

After a full week of preparation, the course is in magnificent playing condition as the weather has cooperated and it is expected that a full field of golfers will take part in the competition which tees off at 12:30h.

Great food and lots of prizes will be provided by Food Town Restaurant and the owner has offered a special prize of $200,000 in food to any orphanage if a player scores a Hole-in-One during the tournament.

"The golf course is the

perfect place to relax with your family and since Food Town Restaurant is all about tasty, affordable food and a fun environment, the partnership makes good sense,” said the proprietor Rudy, who decided to incorporate family values, great food and an entrepreneurial spirit to assist anyone who has a desire to start a

food business but does not have the capital or resources to do so on their own.

Food Town Restaurant allows all licensed food vendors to order from a wide ranging menu, as much as they feel they will be able to sell on a daily basis, and simply have it delivered to their location. No shopping for ingredients, no early morning cooking or transportation costs; simply show up and sell at your location. The restaurant has committed to several charitable contributions and will continue to feed orphanages. The proprietor disclosed that his establishment will remain alcohol free to maintain a family-friendly environment at all times.

He intends to add a family playground in Enmore to provide a safe and comfortable location for families to enjoy.

Unity Cup Softball League…

National champs to be named this weekend T

he Unity Cup organised by the Guyana Softball League (GSL) will conclude with the national champions in three categories being crowned over the weekend of June 23-24.

The tournament which attracted some 79 teams and lasted just over one month has seen some interest in areas being realised. The goal of the tournament was to resuscitate the sport in various areas and to some extent this was achieved according to the GSL. The categories were male open, female and Under-15.

The winner of the male open category will receive the Unity Cup plus $50,000; while the winner of the female cate-

gory will receive several prizes as well. The MVP will be chosen from the semis and finals of each category, while the Under-15 winner and runner-up will receive medals and trophies.

Meanwhile, in the run up to the finals, these results were recorded:

West Coast Demerara: 1 - Omesh XI gained a walkover from Speedboat 2 - Crossbreed Warriors defeated V&R in the 2nd semi final Crossbreed racked up 147-6 in 10 overs and limited V&R to 51 all out. In the final Crossbreed XI MADE 93-9 in 10 overs. Omesh XI replied with 94-5 in 8.5 overs. Omesh

XI through to the overall semifinals.

Lower East Coast: 1- Farm XI got a walkover from Durban Quarry Enterprise defeated Success Enforcers by 12 runs.

Enterprise batted first and made 90-8 in 10 overs. In reply, Success Enforcers were held to 78-4 in 10 overs. In the final, Enterprise were sent in and made a challenging 1243 in 10 overs with Roy Beepat hammering 75. In reply, what seemed to be a challenging total was merely a warm up for Farm XI as they raced to 128 without loss in 7 overs, with Travis Alphonso 57 not out (5x6;1x4) and Rajesh Reddy 59 not out (4x6;2x4) making

light work of the total. Farm XI through to the overall finals playing unbeaten in this tournament.

N/A Canjie: Flying Stars defeated all and sundry to capture this zone, winning their semi-final by a huge 79 runs versus Edinburgh, then they defeated the star studded Rotterdam in the final by 20 runs. Flying Stars made 1205 in 10 overs then limited Rotterdam to 100 in their 10 overs. Flying Stars through to the overall semis. All the male open teams are strong and can win this tournament as all have shown their ability to remain calm under pressure and the bowlers and batters all being in form.

In the female category, All

Stars playing out of Berbice have the strongest batting line as both of their victories were achieved through their batting strength as the batters dominated all that were thrown at them. Cane Grove’s Queen of the Boundary seemed to rely on their overall team spirit to gain the advantage and have shown that when support each other they win. Linden All Stars have always been thereabouts with individual performances lighting up their game and if they can bring their A game with more contributions from all players can be victorious. Mahaica Combine are a moody set and are a dangerous side on their day but that is left to be seen which team will take the field considering

the various moods they turn up with.

In the Under-15, most of the players seen are very talented and it will be a tussle for all the teams as the abilities of the players are equal but the edge can only be given on the day.

Additionally, the winners of the one ball in the various regions will battle it out with Khalid Mohamed and Romel D’Aguair winning West Demerara and Berbice respectively easily. Upper East Coast winner Travis Maynard was given a run and only triumph after a persevering performance.

Banks DIH has kindly consented to sponsor the day with music and a well-stocked bar. The entrance fee is free.

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, JUNE 21, 2018

Lamichhane pumped and ready for CPL 2018

23

India to start World Test

C/Ship with WI series

Sandeep Lamichhane

T

he duo of Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis will have some reinforcements in their bowling side in the form of Nepal’s magic man with the ball, as the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots campaign to once again reach the finals of the Hero Caribbean Premiere League and maybe win it all this time around.

Seventeen-year-old Sandeep Lamichhane, who will be 18 by the time he travels to the Caribbean, has already had an eventful cricket career at such a young age with much more in store.

Lamichhane has represented his native land, Nepal, a record 25 times and also copped a spot in the Delhi Daredevils’ line-up three times in the 2018 edition of the Indian Premiere League. Additionally, the teenager was selected to play for the World XI in their charity match against the Windies at Lord’s Stadium a few weeks ago. Now, he will don the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots colours in the 2018 Hero CPL. During this year’s CPL draft back in February, thousands of Nepalese fans tuned in to witness their local hero being selected for the T20

tournament.

“I was in Zimbabwe then, I was playing World Cup qualifiers and I got lots of messages from well-wishers. By the time I got selected for the CPL everyone was so happy and they were cherishing all these moments,” Lamichhane told CPLT20.com.

The young man even admitted that he has viewed CPL before and is actually a fan of the “biggest party in sport”.

“I used to follow CPL from the beginning and I’ve been selected for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. It’s a big achievement for me, and again a good challenge for me ahead.

I hope I’ll make it count, to play with big names; Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis it will be a good booster for me,” he said.

After being asked what he hopes to gain out of the experience, Lamichhane said, “I just want to grow my cricket every time so that I can help Nepal cricket to go on a good high range of cricket. The journey has been good so far and I would like to keep it on the same form so that I can

India have been the number one Test team in the world since October 2016

I help Nepal cricket.”

H e also went on to note that he is optimistic for the future of h i s h o m e team, “We are now ODI status and we’ve secured ODI status for four years. We are looking forward to make an impact on the international arena so that we can be in the Test playing nation very soon.”

The teenager will bring his expertise on leg spin bowling to the St Kitts franchise, with his best figures being 3-7 in a match up against Hong Kong back in March of this year.

ndia will kick off their World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with a two-match series in the West Indies in July-August next year and play South Africa next at home in a three-match series, the International Cricket Council announced on Wednesday.

The ICC released the men’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) from 2018-2023 on Wednesday.

The inaugural WTC will run in two cycles – 2019-2021 and 2021-2023 and feature nine top-ranked Test teams.

It will run from July 15, 2019 to April 30, 2021 and the top two ranked teams will play the final at Lord’s in June. Teams will play six series in the two-year cycle on a home-and-away basis against opponents mutually selected, the statement said.

India will follow their Caribbean series by hosting South Africa (3 Tests) and Bangladesh (2 Tests) in Sept-Oct, 2019 with a twogame away series against

New Zealand in early 2020 in the next competition as part of the Test championship cycle.

The WTC will kick off with the Ashes series in England next summer.

The ICC bid to provide focus to international competition will include a 13team men’s ODI league that will act as qualification for the ICC Cricket World Cup. The 12 Test teams and Netherlands will figure in the ODI competition, which will run from May 1, 2020 to March 31, 2022.

Each side will play eight series over two years, homeand-away. India’s first ODI series in the league will be away in Sri Lanka, in June 2020, which will start the build-up to the 2023 World Cup to be held in India.

Hosts India and seven highest-ranked sides as on March 31, 2022 will qualify directly for the tournament while the bottom five sides will compete in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier to find the last two sides.

The Test and ODI championships have been scheduled in a way that would allow teams to plan bilateral series outside them.

“The agreement of this FTP means we have clarity, certainty, and most importantly context, around bilateral cricket over the next five years,” ICC CEO Dave Richardson said in the statement.

“Bringing context to bilateral cricket is not a new challenge, but with the release of this FTP, our Members have found a genuine solution that gives fans around the world the chance to engage regularly with international cricket that has meaning and the possibility of a global title at the end.”

The structure of men’s FTP includes the ICC Cricket World Cups (2019, 2023), ICC World T20s (2020, 2021), World Test Championship cycle 1 (20192021 with final), cycle 2 (2021-2023 with final) and all bilateral Tests, ODIs and T20Is. (HST)

National Women’s Basketball Team NSC’s National Swim off to a rough start in Suriname Programme to kick off in July

T

The National Women’s Basketball Team

he 12-member team, comprising mostly high school aged players, that travelled to neighbouring Suriname for the Caribbean Basketball Championships (CBC) suffered two tough losses in their first two games this past week.

Playing at the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall in Paramaribo, Suriname, the Guyanese just could not find their footing against the much stronger Barbadian team, which quickly got ahead of the local ladies with an 18 point lead after the first quarter.

Guyana was expected to put up much more of a fight but their lack of international playing exposure proved to be a huge disadvantage for them. Toni Atherley and Shakila Small lead the charge for the winning Barbados team, with 19 and 16 points respectively. While Guyana’s Miriam McKenzie and Jada Mohan put up a fight with 12 and

10 points respectively, they were no match for Barbados who eventually won 79-39.

In game 2 against hosts Suriname, Guyana played a much more composed game with both their offence and defence working in perfect harmony. Although the Guyanese team played much better in their second game, the local girls still fell short of a victory.

Again, Miriam McKenzie took charge of the side netting 24 points, whilst Kennesha Leacock ably assisted with 13 points.

Suriname’s Cyarah Kensmill and Zephanya Zeeluk put up 22 and 17 points to hand Guyana yet another defeat this time 73-52.

The Guyanese women are in Group B with Suriname, Barbados and The Dominican Republic. They will play another game before they return home on June 22.

T

he annual ‘Learn to Swim’ programme which is organised by the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion and the National Sports Commission (NSC), is aimed at teaching the skill of swimming to children, especially those within the school age.

In past years, the programme has been a huge success, attracting over 100 students at each session and ensuring that they leave with the much need skill. Organisers have even gone as far as to implement an Easter version of the programme. This year’s instalment of the vacation edition will run from July 9 to August 17.

Colgrain swimming pool located on Camp Street, will be host to the children 6-10 years, while the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, will be home to the 1116 year sessions.

Parents and guardians who are interested in registering their children can do so at the National Sports Commission, Homestretch Avenue; Colgrain pool; or the National Aquatic Centre. There are limited spaces available and as such, registration will be on a first come first serve basis. Registration fees are set at just $1000 and registration will begin on Monday, June 25.

thursDAY, JUNE 21, 2018

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Ronaldo strikes again

Pg 19

for Portugal to send Morocco out Cristiano Ronaldo

CBC

Championship looms near Pg 22

– men’s team depart Friday

Suárez sends Uruguay into last 16 Pg 19

Luis Suárez celebrates after opening the scoring for Uruguay

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