Guyanatime 23 march 2018

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Afro-Guyanese no longer emotionally attached to PNC – Dr Hinds warns

guyanatimesgy.com

Friday, March 23, 2018

Issue No. 3511

Page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

4 detained P9 in relation to carjacking ring

… says party cannot win elections on its own, undermining AFC, WPA detrimental Sovereign Wealth Fund

End window dressing – Jagdeo urges Govt Page 7

…prepared to engage, offer advice

India interested in exploration, buying Guyana’s oil

Corentyne P10 man killed by drunken driver

Page 12

Lindo Creek CoI

Post-mortems conducted by foreign team – Govt pathologist ... says he never participated

Beauties vying for Miss Bartica Regatta Crown 2018

P2

P10 ACCC to reopen by May

The reigning queen, Gabrielle Chapman (centre), meets the new contestants in the Miss Bartica Regatta Pageant 2018. The pageant is slated for March 31, 2018 at the Basketball Court, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

Guyana-Venezuela controversy

“Guyana’s ICJ case in good hands” – Sir Shridath Ramphal

Teenager fatally stabbed at Barima River

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Page 11

Kwakwani Utilities Inc commissions new engines

Page 14

Ex-Policeman accused of rape to stand trial P8

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friDAY, march 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Lindo Creek CoI

Post-mortems conducted by foreign team – Govt pathologist

...says he never participated

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s the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Lindo Creek massacre continued, Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh on Thursday testified that he became aware that the post-mortem examinations (PMs) were conducted by a foreign team and that he was introduced to the pathologist.

He, however, informed the Commission that at no time did a local pathologist perform examinations on the eight dead miners.

Dr Singh has performed over 25,000 PMEs and testified over 5000 times. He stated during his testimony before Commission Chairman, retired Judge Donald Trotman that it was on Saturday, June 21, 2008, that he received information on the killings.

The Pathologist observed that he along with two mortuary attendants travelled up to Kwakwani the follow-

Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh during Thursday’s testimony at the Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry

ing day. However upon arriving at a nearby camp, he could not reach Lindo Creek because of the conditions to reach that location. He recalled that Police Officers who were present went to the creek.

“We were there at the old camp sitting in the rain and they came back about almost an hour and a half

after 5pm and they showed me some pictures on a camera of some bones and skulls but the rain was falling and you couldn’t see anything much,” he noted.

While watching the news on Monday, June 23, 2008, Dr Singh also recalled that he heard the Police brought out the bones from Lindo Creek, which were wrapped

in tarpaulin; this was before the time he learnt that foreigners conducted the post-mortem examinations on the eight miners. He added that a Joint Services team had gathered at Prime Minister Samuel Hinds’ residence for updates on the situation. Hinds, he noted, was acting President.

Singh stressed that he was never contacted to do an independent autopsy.

He noted that he thought his team would have been given orders to conduct the PMEs as practiced on the Wednesday. The doctor however claimed that late Police Commissioner, Henry Greene, called him and informed him that the foreign experts would conduct the examinations.

“He said that the experts would be coming from Jamaica and that they would be doing the examination and I told him frank

CoI Chairman, retired Justice Donald Trotman

that I am not going to be observing or working together with that person,” Singh said.

Dr Singh also testified that he was introduced to the foreign doctor, an Indian national with the Jamaican team, who said he was hired to conduct the PMEs. “He was one of the persons who came to the office on a Tuesday and he said that he, along with his team, was retained by Government to conduct post-mortems on the remains so I took him downstairs and showed him where the (Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation) mortuary was. I introduced him to the staff and that was the end of my participation,” Dr Singh observed.

The Government Pathologist however said that he never saw any PME report from the foreign Pathologist. Singh later on stated that conducting PMEs would have been difficult because the bones of the miners were stored together and not in eight separate bags.

“You got to be careful how you removing these things. The problem is that you need to get it separated as much as possible. You just can’t go and scoop them up and put them in a bag and bring them,” he stressed.

He also declared that the miners’ bones should have been buried in a mausoleum so that relatives could have closure and that the bones could have been easily ex-

humed from this location.

More than that, he however stated that it would be difficult to gather any findings from exhumation since 10 years have passed and much of the bones would be disintegrated. The veteran Pathologist also recalled that during 2008, he told then Commissioner Greene that examining bones would be easier if Guyana had an anthropologist and Singh noted that he even told him that he had a friend from overseas who was willing to take up the post.

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

The Lindo Creek CoI is the first of what the coalition Government has said would be a series of inquiries into the hundreds of killings which occurred during a crime wave that began in 2002. Justice Trotman in a recent televised interview said however that the 10-year time lapse is proving to be a disadvantage as the Commission does its work, especially since some of the key persons involved have either died or emigrated. Nevertheless, the public hearings will continue on March 27 at 13:30h.

Teenager fatally stabbed by drinking buddy at Barima River

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ighteen-year-old Lawrence Leon, a labourer of Kariabo, Barima River, was stabbed to his upper back by the suspect, 22-year-old Eon Charles on Wednesday but took his last breath on Thursday.

Based on reports received, the suspect, along with his wife and Lawrence, was consuming alcohol when an argument ensued.

During the argument, the now dead man stabbed the suspect to the left hand with a knife and in retaliation, the suspect armed himself with a lance and stabbed the

now dead man to the upper back.

Both men were taken to the Barima Health Centre, where they were treated and referred to the Mabaruma Hospital. While there, Charles was treated and sent away, while Leon was admitted a patient at the medical facility.

He later succumbed to his injuries.

His body is at the Hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem. The suspect, however, was arrested and presently in custody assisting with the investigation.

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FriDAY, march 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Afro-Guyanese no longer emotionally attached to PNC

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Friday, March 23 – 09:00h-10:30h and Saturday, March 24 – 09:30h-11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, March 23 – 07:45h-09:15h and Saturday, March 24 – 08:50h-10:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Sunny intervals with light cloudy skies can be expected during the day, while partly cloudy to clear skies can be expected in the evening. Overall temperatures are expected to range between 19 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from East North-easterly to Northeasterly between 1.34 metres and 6.25 metres.

High Tide: 08:28h and 21:08h reaching maximum heights of 2.53 metres and 2.36 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 02:00h and 14:34h reaching minimum heights of 0.77 metre and 0.69 metres respectively.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

DAILY MILLIONS 05 10 14 23 26 LUCKY 3 3 9 1 Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

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…party cannot win elections on its own, undermining AFC, WPA detrimental – Dr Hinds warns …says those ‘not worried’ about coalition’s future making serious political miscalculation

By Michael Younge

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midst growing concerns that the People’s National Congress (PNC) continues to show disregard and disdain for the spirit and letter of agreements it signed with key coalition partners, Political Scientist Dr David Hinds says the PNC must recognize that it cannot win a free and fair election on its own at this juncture in Guyana’s history, as its core support group is no longer emotionally attached to the party.

Dr Hinds was referring to the charter which was signed between the PNC and the Working Peoples Alliance party (WPA) along with a handful of smaller parties, which resulted in the formation of ‘A Partnership for National Unity’ (APNU), and the Cummingsburg Accord which was negotiated with the Alliance for Change (AFC) ahead of the 2015 elections.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Thursday during an exclusive interview, Hinds, who is an Executive Member of the WPA, said also said that current political and electoral demographics are not in the PNC’s favour.

His comment comes on the heels of widespread suspicions that the PNC, which now has access to Executive power through the coalition arrangement, had no problem contesting the upcoming 2020 elections alone, hence the disregard and neglect shown to the concerns raised by other coalition partners about some of the decisions that have been made by the David Granger Administration without their consultation and consent in some instances.

"The PNC cannot win a free and fair election on its own at this historical juncture. The demographics are not in its favour.

When you add to that the fact that a new generation of African Guyanese (has) no emotional attachment to the party and are more inclined to the APNU, that possibility becomes so remote. The PNC’s only chance of remaining in Government is via a partnership or Coalition. In that regard, it needs the AFC and the WPA”, the Political Scientist said.

He explained that it was important to note that the WPA and AFC bring votes to the Coalition because they reassure voters that the historical baggage of the PNC would be contained.

“So every time the PNC faction behaves in ways that undermine the AFC

Dr David Hinds, WPA Executive and WPA, they alienate not only Indian Guyanese but the growing African Guyanese section of the society that (is) not wedded to party paramountcy and the notion of PNC invincibility”, he remarked.

Dr Hinds expressed the strong conviction that “African Guyanese voters are not as monolithic in their political instincts as some PNC leaders would

is that there is need for a look not at the content of the APNU Charter, but at whether we have lived up to its letter and spirit. At first glance, there is a strong view within the leadership of the WPA that we have not honoured the letter and spirit of the charter insofar as it relates to intra-partnership decision-making and discharging of governmental duties”, he related.

Asked whether the WPA has written the Political Head of the APNU, President David Granger, to address these burning concerns, the University Professor said this has been done formally on many occasions. “…whenever the Leadership Council meets, we (members) raise our concerns, but not much has changed; we are still sidelined and taken for granted. The attitude of the leadership has been to engage

President David Granger, PNC Leader and APNU Chairman and Desmond Trotman have been appointed to Parliament after being selected by the WPA as its representatives.

After the coalition won the 2015 elections, Dr Roopnaraine was first appointed as Education Minister, before being demoted to head a Department of Public Service within the Ministry of the Presidency,

The launching of the APNU back in July, 2011 have us believe”; and he supported his argument by stating: “…that community has always accommodated a variety of influences.

Whether it was Kwayana’s ASCRIA, Rodney’s WPA, Hamilton Green’s GGG, or Raphael Trotman’s AFC, African Guyanese have shown that they are prepared to be plural in their political behaviour.

“That’s why the notion of a Partnership and a Coalition appealed to them in 2011 and 2015, and I think it would again be a deciding factor in 2020. So those who are not worried about dissatisfaction within the coalition are making a serious miscalculation”, the WPA Executive said.

Addressing the WPA’s own agreement with the APNU, Dr Hinds admitted that there have been no formal talks between the PNC and WPA, or within the APNU since the 2015 elections.

This is despite the fact that the charter makes provisions for meetings and discussions on a continuum between those who form part of its structure.

“But my personal view

selected individuals from the party, while ignoring our collective concerns. To its credit, the APNU leadership put in place a mechanism to address our concerns, but it has taken little action on the reports and findings that emanate from this process”, he informed.

It is felt that Dr Hinds may be referring to the relationship that currently exists between President Granger, who is the leader of the PNC and APNU, and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who is an Executive of the WPA. Dr Roopnaraine

where he serves as Minister with responsibility for Public Service.

Only recently, Dr Roopnaraine broke ranks with key players in the WPA who had critcised the coalition’s leadership for not practising good governance, inclusivity, and democratic decision-making tendencies by saying that they would have a hard time trying to convince him that the WPA should walk away from the coalition in order to save its image and preserve the legacy of Dr Walter Rodney.

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friDAY, march 23, 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

Engaging the media

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he Guyana Press Association (GPA) over the coming years will have its work cut out for it given the worrying trends and patterns that are developing in Guyana under the current A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition Government.

While it can be argued justifiably that previous People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) governments were also guilty of undermining press and media freedoms on several occasions, it can also be argued that those governments never adopted a total anti-media policy.

In fact, the GPA can attest to the PPP’s track record of consistently holding media conferences and briefings to keep the press and public updated about issues and events which were important and had an impact on the overall socio-economic development of the country. While access to some public servants and officers were restricted under PPP Government’s, there never was a time when there was a complete information block out.

Government Ministers under the PPP were given the freedom to host their own media conferences and address as they see fit, the issues which concern their portfolios. The media was allowed to investigate, probe and expose all malpractices which were uncovered. Presidents Cheddi Jagan, Samuel Hinds, Janet Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar continued the trend set by their predecessors Presidents Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte by hosting regular press conferences where they were made to explain and defend the actions or inaction of their Governments on several national matters.

In short, these Presidents respected the media and upheld their right to report the news freely. They also felt strongly that the media must be responsible, honest and fair in its reporting and coverage of news related even. As a result, various entities were called out for their reporting, especially when the Government of the day felt that the reporting was not factual, dishonest and void of facts. This was seen as a healthy exchange within a developing democracy like ours once in the end no lines were crossed and the truth is some lines were crossed and corrective action was taken.

Today, the situation has worsened on certain fronts. Public officials under the coalition Government have gone mute.

President David Granger refuses to hold regular press conferences and has retrieved to the safe confines of having staged and controlled media engagements where if the media are lucky, they are able to solicit a comment here and there on topical issues. His Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, who presumably still has responsibility for public information, is also unavailable to the media and does not host press conferences to update the media or the public on what is going on with his office or the Government.

Unlike what had obtained under the PPP, a Minister of Government as opposed to a public servant hosts the post-Cabinet press briefings. These briefings alone, though regular, are not enough to deal with the concerns that media personnel have with respect to a series of controversial and questionable undertakings that are taking place.

Also a new culture is seemingly developing where Ministers of Government are abusing and assaulting the media directly whenever they are displeased with a specific line of questioning, coverage of an event or editorial position of a newspaper on a particular matter. Such was the case with Minister Ramjattan when the media was told to “haul ya ass”. This behaviour was deemed acceptable in some quarters of officialdom and resulted in the Regional Executive Officer for Region Five Ovid Morrison attempting to abuse and restrain a media operative of this newspaper from executing his duties. Morrison had called in and instructed the Police to remove that media operative because he was displeased with his coverage and exposure of several corrupt actions within the region.

Other officials are fearful of being sanctioned by the respective Ministers and are now referring all queries, even the simplest, to the political directorate. The abuse and politicisation of the State media continues with party PR pundits being recruited and stacked in these entities. While there have been attempts at appointing impartial and experienced media personnel to key State media boards, the entire rebranding process is being undermined in the long run. Just look at the situation at the State-owned Guyana Chronicle where two newspaper columnists have been sent packing because of their perceived criticisms of the Government and the Editor is made into the fall guy.

The GPA must remain vigilant and responsive to all threats to press freedom and the rights of its media workers. It must continue to lobby for better working conditions and for the Government to loosen its fatal grip on public information. Officials, trained public servants, must be allowed to speak freely to the media and the President must be made to host much more frequent conferences to face the press. This Government can ill afford to repeat the mistakes of the PPP and must do all that is necessary to change how it engages the media.

A group of young performers strikes a pose at the International Day of Forests forum, held at the Umana Yana on Wednesday (Carl Croker photo)

We should not promote Creolese within our education system

Dear Editor, I want to thank Alim Hosein for the letter, “We need to teach English and other languages, but this does not preclude respect for Creolese” (SN, 22nd March 2018) in response to my letter, “What is the merit of learning Creolese at university level?” (SN, 20th March 2018).

Alim Hosein listed six points that I will debate: Point One: Creolese is our language, and everyone speaks it.

Creolese is not our national language, nor is it our mother tongue, as the

vast majority of our ancestors came from different parts of the world.

Point Two: Other countries have not abandoned their mother tongues to learn “foreign languages” (English).

On the contrary, many countries of the world have evolving languages and cultures. There are now more English speakers in the world. As I noted in point one, our national language is NOT Creolese.

Point Three: What is wrong of building national pride?

It is good to build na-

tional pride, but too much pride is arrogance.

Point Four: Why should the various dialects of Creolese be a hindrance to promoting Creolese?

I am sure that there is an opportunity cost in promoting Creolese; in that money, time and people (resources) can be better utilised elsewhere.

Point Five: The rest of the world is interested in learning Creolese.

Really? How many Creolese converts have there been in the last twenty years, in comparison to people learning English

Language?

Point Six: Mr Ori’s thinking is the old, Imperialistic thinking.

Not true. We have been a colony of England, which has shaped us. No amount of rebranding will change that.

To promote Creolese because our education system (English in particular) is failing Guyanese, and promoting Creolese (in general) is a waste of time and effort.

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

Procurement of drugs by APNU/AFC is a failure Dear Editor, The procurement of drugs and medical supplies since the APNU+ AFC Government came into power in 2015 is a complete failure.

If you visit various hospitals and health centres in the country, your experiences would be very much shocking because of the time to receive attention; and even if you are attended to and receive a prescription of three drugs, you will not get two basic drugs.

There is clear evidence that two-thirds of your medication is not available at the hospital and health centres. The reason for this is because of the coalition Government’s victimisation of certain certified suppliers. There is a vacuum created, and the suppliers who are being favoured by the Government, some of them can’t deliver the drugs and medical supplies in a timely manner, which creates shortages.

Drugs and medical supplies’ shortages continue to

be of major concern to every patient that’s going to the hospitals and health centres in Guyana.

During the PPP/C time in office, there were minimal shortages because the New GPC was a very efficient supplier of drugs and medical supplies.

I would like to highlight this situation, because any contractor who is not being favoured by this Granger government is finding it hard to secure contracts.

Kickbacks and bribes are the mantra in every

sector of this Government.

Families friends activists and supporters of the APNU/AFC coalition Government are slowly but surely taking over the Government contracts in the entire country.

The actual fact is that the coalition Government continues to fail the health system in Guyana Sincerely, Zamal Hussein Regional Health Committee Chairman Region 6

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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

Rigged City Council elections just a symptom of APNU/AFC politics

Dear Editor, The approach used to brutally ‘kick out’ former Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikarran from his previous role on the Georgetown Municipality is certainly a serious blow to the democratic rights of the elected councillors. However, given that the objectivity he displayed during the past term conflicted with the irrational behaviour of most on the Council, one would have expected a natural challenge at these elections.

There is no denying that most would be inclined to accept the results of such challenges, whenever they occur under conditions of transparency and without violation of people’s rights.

According to unchallenged media reports, however, the ‘kick in the butt’ effected on

the previous deputy was exercised in a shameful and most undemocratic manner.

The occasion of the election for the mayor and deputy mayor was forcefully imbued with much vindictive, power drunk arrogance, exemplifying the partisan party paramountcy position of the PNC of old.

Presiding over the proceedings of the rigged elections of the deputy mayor was the returned mayor herself. In a most undemocratic and vicious manner, she moved swiftly to silence any dissenting voice, even among the PNC-laden Council. Although persons stood to identify their intent of making nominations, no other was allowed under the seeming one-person judge, jury and executioner. The nomination of the Deputy

Mayor Lionel Jaikarran or other should have been allowed and put to a vote. The covering up of the sore in this case, however, would only serve to keep the infection locked inside.

It is as clear as day follows night that the PNC racist elements wanted to get rid of the Indian Lionel Jaikarran. Objectivity is of no consequence to this group, (only) the need to send a strong message to any intruding elements of more intent than acceptable procedure. The undemocratic foul-play that took place must not be allowed to continue. Guyanese MUST rise up and be prepared to struggle against all forms of racism and rigged elections.

This brutal assault on local democracy in the local government areas must

be forcefully confronted.

Mr. Bulkan’s attitude and his high-handed approach to governance in the RDCs and NDCs must now be vehemently opposed. The PNC party paramountcy is drilling deep holes in our people’s minds, evens as efforts (are being made) to impregnate our existing space with the suffocating culture of PNC darkest days.

What is more disgraceful is the fact that Minister David Patterson was present when all the shenanigans were allowed to masquerade. Further, in several RDCs, the open racism and political directives by the Regional Executive Officers will have to be dealt with. As for functioning of the Local Government Commission, this must get into full operation. And the time is most

opportune when the LGC must deal with the inept Town Clerk in Georgetown.

We have also witnessed the Minister of Communities’ continued moves to undemocratically enforce and install chairmen and mayors to LAA areas that were tied during the 2018 internal elections.

The minister has made an unconvincing effort to explain his undemocratic move by saying that the laws do not provide for by-elections, thus he has the authority to install persons of his choice for the statutory “elected” positions as Chairmen or Mayors of LAAs. With poor leadership, the LAAs where Bulkan has placed his cronies would continue to retrogress like the other Government sectors in this country. This is

a clear case of politics before progress or development for the people, something that this dictatorial Government has been practising since it took office.

The APNU-appointed political REOs, like the questionable Town Clerk of the Municipality of Georgetown, continue to follow the instructions of their masters to disintegrate and divide our society along racial lines. Bulkan sits back and does nothing to address the calls of the people for better services.

The Town Clerk and the Mayor of Georgetown have become the least favoured couple in this country, with the entire city is calling for their replacement.

Regards, Neil Kumar

WPA must ensure it's on the right side of history Dear Editor, We are now past the midway point of the APNU+AFC government in office. It is that time when the Government is taking stock of its performance in office and actively preparing for the next elections.

It is in this light that the firing of Dr David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis as columnists must be examined.

There is a general consensus that both Hinds and Lewis were critics of the Government, despite the fact that they were also supporters of the Government -- not unusual roles for these two persons with a long history in the political struggle of Guyana. They both were outspoken critics of the PPP/C government, and worked for the removal of the PPP/C regime.

There is a fundamental difference between critique and criticism. It is one thing to tell someone that their shoes need polishing in order to raise them up to a higher level. It is another thing to say that their shoes need polishing in order to ridicule them.

Hinds and Lewis should have been appreciated for the role they played in alerting the regime to the shortcomings of the Government policies, providing an invaluable service, one that the supporters of the regime did not perform, perhaps blinded by a narcissistic impulse of party loyalty gaining paramountcy over critical

thinking.

It was rather ingenious for the AFC, several months ago, to claim that David Hinds was the beneficiary of the freedom that the present regime had fought for. The AFC obviously has no understanding of the historical struggle for Guyana’s freedom.

Dr. Hinds spent several years in Burnham’s prison in his effort to rid Guyana of a dictatorship. So did Tacuma Ogunseye. These men do not roll over and play dead in the struggle for democracy. They did not do it in the darkest of days, and it is unlikely that they will do so now.

What is not a self-evident truth is who were responsible for the firing of these two columnists from the state-owned Guyana Chronicle. There has been many readings of the tea leaves on this matter, and any gestalt psychologist will interpret the speculations with extreme caution.

Were the WPA totally compliant with the Government in terms of lauding all of its efforts in governing, it would have been welcomed as a dutiful member of the Government.

Unfortunately, the WPA is burdened with its history of fighting against the PNC dictatorship, and is held to a higher standard than the other political parties. This is expected as a birthright, given the assassination of its leader, Dr. Walter Rodney, and other activists

that lost their lives in the struggle against the PNC dictatorship.

If the assault on Dr David Hinds is symptomatic of the contempt for the WPA by the PNC/R and the AFC, it is a foregone conclusion that the current Government seems convinced that the criticism by the WPA and its members is a serious liability in the forthcoming elections.

Tacuma Ogunseye’s historical analysis is rather enlightening, and he made the point that the WPA was accepted into APNU not as a ‘silent’ partner, but one with an uncompromising record of struggle against censorships of all kind.

The WPA, having

fought to remove the PPP/C and to bring the APNU+AFC regime into power, was expected to give the Government some time to get its act together.

Ogunseye noted that in the aftermath of the 2015 elections, the APNU grouping never met to have any discussions regarding governance. During this period, many decisions were taken without consultation with the WPA, despite having troubling consequences for the WPA. The WPA’s exclusion from the decision-making process reached a crisis level last year, leading to an emergency meeting being held. There was much hype after the meeting, but

time has revealed that it was just that, hype.

The WPA is left with no choice but to sound the warning bell, or be smothered by its silence if it does not rebel or revolt against its treatment by the current Government. Three years is enough time to test the goodwill of the Government towards the WPA. It could not be expected to attack the Government from day one if it felt maltreated, despite the debacle concerning the shutting down of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry. It had to give the Government enough time to have a track record that could be critically examined. It has done so for the past three

years, and has paid a terrible price in the process. But it cannot remain silent if it is to remain alive as a viable political entity.

We are at a point in the life of the present Government where there is a public outcry for the WPA to remain true to its Rodneyite agenda, for it not to betray the legacy of its assassinated leader. This is a remarkable moment in Guyana’s historical development. Is it possible that this is the historical moment that the WPA has struggled for?

Sincerely, Rohit Kanhai, WPA Overseas Member (WPAOA)

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Foundation

Why does fairness matter?

– how we can foster greater equality at home and at work

By Jennifer Verdolin, PhD

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n relationships, in families, and at work, fairness seems to get a bad rap. When someone shouts “That’s not fair!” we are quick to respond with, “Too bad! Life isn’t fair.” And that’s the message, isn’t it? Don’t expect life to be fair. You’ve got to take what you can get and if it’s unjust to another, so be it.

But is this reasonable?

The paradox is that we are capable of detecting inequality instantly and are extremely sensitive to it. In relationships we call it keeping score. Usually people dislike score-keeping and strangely it is the people that are ahead of the game who resent it. Why? Because keeping score is a way to balance the scales and restore equality. Humans don’t have a monopoly on this strategy.

Vampire bats also solve the problem of potential disparity by keeping score. Tit-fortat, to be exact. While many people find them scary, vampire bats know more about give and take than a lot of people. To avoid mass starvation, the bats cooperate, adopting a life-saving strategy.

A hungry bat can ask for and receive help. A fellow group member who returns to the roost after having successfully found food will regurgitate blood for its hungry pal. Then, if the one who

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donated food finds him or herself in need of assistance on another evening, the one who earlier received a blood donation has to reciprocate. It’s only fair.

If he or she doesn’t reciprocate, his or her buddy finds a new partner immediately. What are the general animal rules for keeping score? It’s pretty simple: (1) never be the first to defect, where defect means failure to cooperate (or be fair), (2) retaliate only after your partner has defected, where retaliate means do not cooperate and be unfair, (3) carry out only a single act of retaliation then for-

give (cooperate again), and (4) only use this strategy where you know you will interact repeatedly with the same individual. Like it or not, keeping score is an effective way to make sure your partner is contributing equally to the interaction. Given our sensitivity to fairness, instead of asking why your partner is keeping score, maybe

you could ask yourself whether you are contributing equally and cooperating.

When it comes to family life, treating children unequally is a recipe for discord because children, like adults, keep score. Hadn’t you noticed? Parents frequently assert that they love all their children equally, but many of us, having all been children at one point, know unequivocally that this does not reflect our own experience. Wandering albatross chicks know all too well about disparate treatment.

Quite sim- ply male chicks are fed more and as a result they are more likely to survive and thrive. There can be many reasons a parent will treat one child differently from another. The key is communication. Parents can, and should, explain to their children any differences in treatment and balance the scales in other ways to diminish the risk of serious problems emerging in their “disfavoured” offspring. Aside from causing psychological problems, including depression, low self-esteem, and reduced overall success, favouritism also leads to sibling hostility and resentment. Arbitrary favouritism is fertile ground for sibling rivalry. Only by recognizing our tendency to play favourites can parents make an effort to level the playing field. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

for E

very parent wants his or her child to grow up to be an achiever.

Simply pushing your child to study harder is not going to do it. Read on. If you take a look at the most successful people in the world, many have certain habits that have contributed greatly to their success.

Here are some of the habits of successful people, and how you can inculcate them in your child.

Hard work Possibly one of the best habits you can inculcate in your children is that of hard work. If your child is not used to working hard, chances are that he will find ways to get away with doing less work. How many

times have you seen people that do just enough work to avoid getting fired? And then they get upset when they get passed over for a promotion, they grumble about their jobs, hate their bosses, and are basically discontented.

Perseverance Teach your child to persevere at whatever he is doing, and not to lose heart too soon.

If you enrol your child in a sport, encourage him to stick with that sport and try and reach a certain level, so he is a good player in that sport.

See that he doesn't give up too soon. Of course, he doesn't need to reach national levels, but he can be one of the good players in the sports club.

This will help him later on in life. Things go wrong almost every day, and if your child has staying power he will weather out all the storms without quitting.

Setting priorities Although you feel your child's priority should be his homework, perhaps his music lesson is more important to him. Teach your child to prioritise his activities. Don't set

his priorities for him. Instead, work with him. The best way to do this would be to prepare a list of things to do for the day, together. Of course, your child has to do his homework, but give him a choice as to when he wants to do it. Most children would want to put off doing their homework to the last possible moment. You could work around this by perhaps telling your child that his favourite show is coming on television at that time, so perhaps he could finish his homework now, so he will get to watch his favourite show. Gradually your child will start figuring out what is more important to him, and will start setting priorities accordingly.

Sticking to commitments Always make your child stick to his word. If your child says that he will do something at a particular time, then make sure you don't let him escape his commitments, because then giving him a choice about when he will get something done, will be a meaningless exercise.

Playing Devil's Advocate Encourage your children to look at situations from another person's point of view.

So when your child has a fight with a friend, ask him what may have caused his friend to behave in a particular way.

You don't have to play Devil's Advocate endlessly, as your child may stop confiding in you because he feels he gets no sympathy from you at all.

Show him that you're on his side, but just encourage him to look through the situation through all vie points, and then let him come to his own conclusion as to who's fault it was. This will help your child gain a better understanding of human behaviour, helping him become a better manager. (Indiaparenting)

news

7

friDAY, march 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Sovereign Wealth Fund

End window dressing – Jagdeo urges Govt …prepared to engage, offer advice

By Samuel Sukhnandan

G

uyana’s parliamentary Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has expressed its willingness to assist in discussions surrounding the planning of a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) and the setting up of a body such as a Petroleum Commission that will help to guide the sound management of the impending oil and gas sector in Guyana.

This disclosure was made on Thursday by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who was asked at a press conference whether consideration has been given to this idea, and what level of assistance the Opposition is willing to give. Jagdeo maintained, however, that institutions set up to manage the oil and gas sector must be free of politics.

Jagdeo said he knows of examples where countries rich in oil resources and exporting millions of barrels earn miniscule finances because they have treated the sector in a political fashion.

He said he doesn’t want this for Guyana, because the people should be able to feel the real benefits of the sector.

“If it is treated in an apolotical manner, then our country will make long-term progress. We will be able to really translate the barrels export and revenue earned to real development for our people. But it has to be treated in that manner if we are to see some progress,” he maintained.

The former Head of State noted that this has been the

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

message of the PPP even before the 2015 elections. He said that message was reinforced when he called for the (Petroleum) Commission to be apolitical and made up of purely technical people. He still believes it must be free of ministerial interference, and he said he would support a two-thirds vote, so no party can change it.

Jagdeo detailed how his party would want to see the SWF operate. According to him, the first approach would be to define all the sectors that should benefit from the resources; define the investment policy for the fund, and then decide what conditions could trigger a release from the SWF to the Treasury.

“You then have an independent assessment that those conditions are met, and once they are met, you have a report with a request for money to be transferred to the Treasury. Go to Parliament, debate it, and then the money gets transferred and it get spent on the sectors you want it spent

on,” he explained.

Shifting his attention to another issue relating to the oil sector, Jagdeo said the Cabinet caucus with international experts about the petroleum sector is just another public relations show.

He urged the coalition to engage more with its own people in formulating a plan for the sector.

The high-level meeting Jagdeo referred to was held on Wednesday at State House, and members of Cabinet talked with international experts on developing a strategy for the country’s oil and gas sector. The expert group included Sir Paul Collier, a Professor at Blavatnik School of Public Policy at the University of Oxford, among other academics and experts from across the world.

While he acknowledged that the international advice is good, the Opposition Leader called for the Government to interact more with the local experts and civil society. “They haven’t seen it fit to include the

Gun-toting bandits rob Corentyne pensioners

A

Injured: Memlall Bhawanie

Sumintra Roopnarine

rmed bandits on Wednesday evening robbed two Corentyne pensioners while chopping a labourer in the process.

According to reports, four masked men, one armed with a handgun and three with cutlasses, invaded a home at Lot 24 Sand Reef, Albion, Corentyne, Berbice.

Rookmin Roopnarine, 85, and Sumintra Roopnarine,

also called “Chandra”, 64, were in the lower flat of the house conversing, with the front door open when the masked men rushed in and held them at gunpoint before demanding cash and jewellery.

Both residents were robbed of $20,000. According to Sumintra, the bandits held her daughter-in-law hostage and had a cutlass at her neck during the attack.

Meanwhile, Memlall

Bhawanie, 44, said he was at the next-door mandir when his son told him that thieves had gone to their house. He said he did not believe him and laughed, but a few minutes later as he was making his way home, he saw someone moving in the dark.

He stopped before taking a step backwards, but by the time he did, there were four men around him.

One held a cutlass to his neck and then he was chopped. Bhawanie said he fell, got up, ran and attempted to jump over his neighbour’s fence, but could not make it.

However, his screams alerted the neighbour who raised an alarm, forcing the bandits to flee, but as they did, several shots were discharged in the air.

Bhawanie was treated at the Port Mourant Hospital and sent away.

Police are investigating. No arrests have been made.

Opposition. They haven’t seen it fit to engage civil society in a manner that will address their concerns,” he said, while explaining that Government does not even have to formally engage the PPP. “Even if the people bring the best practices from around the world and speak to this Cabinet about it, there is no guarantee that they will implement any of those things, because they have been given world-class advice prior to this and until now they have ignored it.

It’s absolutely no guarantee.

It’s a show. They just parading the people to say they are doing something about

the sector,” he observed.

While citing some comments made by President David Granger at the caucus, the Opposition Leader said he is taken a back by the comment, especially in light of the fact that the President had promised a Petroleum Commission, an SWF and other promises related to the oil sector, which are still to be delivered.

“This framework should have already been in place.

And that is why they were so upset when the United States (US) Ambassador (Perry Holloway) said when are you going to start working on the SWF? Because that’s the key thing. So now

he is talking about that, the President woke up a week ago, organised this, and realised that we need an organisation and structure to manage the resources,” he stated.

The Opposition, he said, feels that the Government is dragging its feet on the issue, and needs to start making moves to prepare now for first oil in 2020. Jagdeo said the issue is not about rushing the process, but taking all the necessary steps to prepare for an industry that could bring enormous benefits to Guyana and all Guyanese, something that is needed and will be welcomed.

8 NEWS

friDAY, march 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Man granted bail for causing death of Melanie woman

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arsigh Jagsar, of Supply, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Thursday released on $300,000 bail after he appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh in the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

Jagsar was remanded to prison on March 5, 2018 for causing the death of an elderly woman on the Melanie Public Road.

Jagsar was represented

by Bernard Da Silva, and is expected to return to court on April 5, 2018.

Eighty-seven-year-old

Eighty-seven-year-old Lydia Rodriguez, called “Aunty Baby”

Lydia Rodriguez, called “Aunty Baby”, of Lot 51 North Melanie, was struck down around 06:00h, just 15 minutes after she left her home.

Reports stated that minibus BKK 6714, which was being driven by Jagsar, was proceeding west along the southern lane of the said road while the pedestrian was standing on the northern side of the road.

However, as the minibus approached, Rodriguez began to cross the road from north to south, end-

ing up on the southern lane. As such, she was struck by the vehicle.

Rodriguez, who sustained head injuries, was picked up by public-spirited persons in an unconscious state and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

A breathalyser test conducted on Jagsar showed no trace of alcohol in his system. He was taken into Police custody and was assisting with the investigation.

Physical trainer Ex-Policeman released on bail accused of rape for sexual assault to stand trial A A physical trainer was on Thursday released on bail after he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Sherdel Marcus Isaacs to answer to a sexual offence charge.

Michael Sampson, 27, of Lot B Plot A, Delhi Street, Prashad Nagar, is accused of touching the breast of a woman with whom he shares a common-law relationship without her consent while at his home on February 19, 2018.

The unrepresented man pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on $75,000 bail.

Michael Sampson

He is expected to make his next court appearance on March 28, 2018.

Former Policeman Deon Aaron

former member of the Guyana Police Force, Deon Aaron, who is accused of raping a three-year-old girl, will face a Judge and a jury as he was on Thursday committed to stand trial in the High Court.

At the conclusion of a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) conducted before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Magistrate Latchman noted that the prima facie case was made out.

Aaron, of Craig, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleged that on March 14, 2016, at Friendship Squatting Area, EBD, he engaged in sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16.

Moreover, it was alleged that on the day in question, the child was left in the care of Aaron by her mother. When she returned home, the child complained that she was not feeling well.

The mother, upon checking the three-yearold, observed that she may have been sexually assaulted.

The matter was then reported, and an investigation was carried out. The accused was arrested and charged for the offence.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield strongly objected to bail being granted to the accused, citing the serious nature of the offence, the penalty that the charge attracts, and the fact that a young child was involved.

Magistrate Latchman granted Aaron $200,000 bail pending his High Court trial.

The matter was held in camera.

Dealing with…

W

…Racism?

ell, another year has passed with the world “observing” the “UN Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination”. And what exactly has happened since the “Day” was created in 1966 – the same year we achieved “independence”? In the estimation of your (observant) Eyewitness, racism has actually INCREASED since then.

Let’s just look at this year’s theme – “Promoting tolerance, inclusion, unity and respect for diversity in the context of combatting racial discrimination”. Are they kidding? Over in good old Blighty - the “Mother Country” that’s still head of our “Commonwealth” of ex-colonies – they’ve just decided they’d rather pull out of the EU than have open immigration from “across the Channel”. This, of course, is exactly 50 years since it cut off “open” immigration from the non-white members of that Commonwealth!!

It did that in the inimitable British style of deflecting from its racist premises by inserting a “grandfather clause” in its immigration regulations. To wit, if your grandfather was British, you could always come “home”!! And this, of course, goes to the root of racism, doesn’t it? Ain’t no black in the Union Jack!!

There were always two sets of rules as the Europeans conquered the world and remade it to their liking – one for whites and another for “others”. And it’s also why in the US, with its “internal colonies”, there has to be a “Black lives matter” movement in 2018!

We’ve heard so much about racism arising out of slavery in the colonies, haven’t we?? But have we really grappled with how it’s being replicated even among some who were at its receiving end?? After all, the Empire – which was built of racism was – set free – like us in Guyana – for over half a century. It’s not like we’re in Australia, where the descendants of white European convicts are imposing their racism on new immigrants – and the native Aborigines. If we’ve been independent countries since then, what exactly have we done to eliminate racism right here??

Can anyone say with a straight face that a government of a country where no one group is 40 per cent, yet 90 per cent of Ministers and top Government officials are from one racial group, isn’t racist?? Or why 90 per cent every batch of new Police and Army recruits and school cadets and peoples Militia are from that same racial group?

Especially when the Disciplined Forces Commission – on which the President was a member – mandated that an affirmative action programme be implemented to have a more representative Disciplined Forces?

The sad thing is it’s easy to condemn the (racial) mote in the white man’s eye – but somehow we’re comfortable with the plank in our own eye!!

… coalition scuttling

The most senior member and leader of the WPA came down from the mountain and shared his oracular wisdom on the tiff created over the firing of Executive member David Hinds from the Chronicle. Dr Rupert Roopnaraine declared that the WPA’s better off INSIDE the APNU coalition. So there you have it!!

Now, your Eyewitness won’t bother to remind you, dear reader, he’d already predicted the WPA ain’t going nowhere!! Roopnaraine – as revealed by Ogunseye was the Big Enchilada the WPA seconded to APNU as Granger’s running mate in 2011, when there wasn’t an “Indian” in sight to correct the “optics”!! Imagine the sacrifice of Roopnaraine to admit he was running as an “Indian” when he’s always boasted he and the WPA were “above” race!!

But as Ogunseye said, it did work!! APNU reversed the abysmal 2006 PNC performance. And the rest, as they say, is history.

So if a maltreated Roopnaraine can advise “stay”… one doesn’t need to be an Exxon petroleum lawyer to figure out the WPA’s between a rock and a hard place!!

…snow

First Air Jamaica announced it was cancelling a flight to NY because of snow up there. Then there was the news that one of its employees was caught with cocaine strapped to his legs.

Was Air Jamaica using the word “snow” in its colloquial sense?

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

News

9

friDAY, march 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4 detained in relation to carjacking ring

F

our persons were arrested on Wednesday as A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) Police ranks continue their investigation into the carjacking ring.

Reports are the four per-

sons were detained during an intelligence-led operation by ranks of the A Division in which two vehicles were also intercepted.

According to information received, the vehicles’ chassis numbers appeared to

have been tampered with.

Additionally, the drivers alleged they were given the vehicles to operate by a close relative of a suspect and another who is on remand.

The suspect, who is

3 vying to be Batavia’s new Toshao

B

atavia Village, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) launched its Village Council elections campaign at the Batavia Primary School on Wednesday, and prospective Toshaos had the opportunity to present their manifestos to the residents.

At the launching ceremony, the current Toshao, Eyon Boyal outlined the successes and challenges of his six-year tenure as village leader.

A section of the villagers witnessing the presentation of the manifesto

Toshao Eyon Boyal (right) along with the nominees Oren Williams, Ralph Jeffrey and Royston Rodrigues

Toshao Boyal stressed the importance of developing a manifesto that spoke to the development of the community and its people. This, he said, will serve as a guide for them, and also boost candidates’ chances at captivating the hearts of the people.

Following Toshao Boyal’s presentation, the other nominees then delivered their manifestos. Ralph Jeffrey, who was the first, made several important suggestions

for development in the areas of health, education, mining, social cohesion, alcohol and drug abuse, and water, among others.

Oren Williams, who was next to present his manifesto, presented a clear and concise plan for village development over the next five years. Some areas he addressed were the resuscitation of Village Sub-Groups, revitalisation of sports, village land election, improved connectivity through road

networks, construction of a multipurpose meeting hall, realisation and operation of the ICT Hub, mining, village signboards, Indigenous Heritage site, and an ancestry monument.

The final presentation was done by Royston Rodrigues, whose village development plan focused on upgrading education and health delivery, youth and sports, the Nature Park, bridges and also the establishment of a women’s sewing group.

Following the presentation of each manifesto, the nominees were asked to present a copy to the Village Council. The nominees were then informed that they were now free to use whatever means to get their messages across to the villagers Village elections are expected to be held on May 21, 2018, in all Indigenous communities throughout the country.

currently being sought by Police, is believed to be the “mastermind of the carjacking ring”, while the other who is on remand has been charged with five counts of receiving stolen property and three counts of limitation of identification mark.

Earlier last month, ranks attached to the A Division, acting on information received, swooped down on a property at Monument Hill, Kuru Kuru Linden/Soesdyke Highway and conducted a search in which several vehicles and auto parts were found. The vehicles were suspected to be stolen and were lodged at the Timehri Police Station.

An ex-Policeman, Jason Harry was later apprehended in relation to this incident.

Meanwhile, in Vryheids Lust, a couple was arrested after ranks of the Major Crimes Unit unearthed a quantity of number engraved car mirrors, doors, lights, wipers and other vehicle parts.

During the Force’s look-

out for the suspected mastermind of the carjacking ring, discoveries of were also made at Lodge Housing Scheme, where a black Mazda Axela motor car with licence number PTT 2794 was found.

In addition, 12 registration certificates were unearthed in which a 52-yearold woman was taken into custody after her name appeared on two of the registration certificates of the

seized vehicles.

In respect to these cases, at least 15 persons were taken into custody, including a father and son duo, Nigel and Ricky Chung, who were charged for allegedly welding false chassis numbers onto an Allion and Spacio motorcar. Shawn Archibald and Timothy Waldron, both of Unity Place, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, were also accused of carjacking and robbery.

10 NEWS ACCC to reopen by May Corentyne man killed friDAY, march 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes on a tour of the main conference hall

T

he Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) will once again open its doors to host events after undergoing rehabilitation works for the past two years.

The Conference Centre, which would host events like international summits, regional conferences, award ceremonies and graduations, had been showing signs of deterioration. It was reported that staff members had noticed cracks in the ceiling, uneven flooring, broken tiles and issues with the underground insulation system. As such, the facility was closed in December of 2016 with the safety of staff and patrons in mind.

P u b l i c Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes explained the need for works was timely since it coincided with the due date for renovations that was agreed upon before the building’s construction. “An agreement was signed between the Guyana

Government and the People’s Republic of China, one of the stipulations in the agreement was that the Chinese contractor that constructed the Centre would have to carry out repairs and maintenance after 10 years of use,” Hughes stated.

When questioned about Guyana’s financial obligation for the ongoing works, Minister Hughes explained that the initial project and subsequent rehabilitation were the financial responsibility of the Chinese Government and the Chinese company that constructed the building.

She said, “The first time this building was constructed, [it] was completely funded by the Chinese Government, and I want you to know that the complete rehabilitation project was once again funded by the Chinese Government.”

The conference facility has not only been rehabilitated, but would also see a number of improvements and technological upgrades. “The

main conference hall will be equipped with a digital conference system that can accommodate three languages spoken simultaneously, 372 new theatre chairs, video matrix switcher, LED screens and overhead projectors,” ACCC General Manager Nancomar Ramdial said.

The much-anticipated completion is scheduled for May 27, 2018. The elated General Manager noted that major companies have already expressed interest in utilising the facilities as early as June. “The final date for completion of all works is May 27, right on the 18-month schedule and the Centre already has bookings from June of this year to the first quarter of 2019,” Ramdial disclosed.

The newly-renovated Centre boasts a main conference hall, eastern and western conference rooms- which can be divided into smaller rooms, business centre, conference secretariat, computer lab, first aid clinic, dining hall and kitchen.

What was initially named the Guyana International Conference Centre was unveiled on February 16, 2006 and saw 13 conferences in its first year. That number grew to 114 by 2016. The facility was later renamed the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in 2015, to honour the legacy of Guyana’s first President, Arthur Chung, who served from 1970 to 1980.

by drunken driver

A

taxi driver of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice is currently in Police custody after he struck down and killed pedestrian Donovon Chunilall Baromsi Jakaran, a 54-year-old truck driver of Lot 86 Bloomfield Village, Corentyne.

The accident occurred at sometime around 20:25h on Wednesday on the Corentyne Highway at Broomfield/Letter Kenny village, and significantly, when this driver was in a drunken state, according to Police reports.

Investigations revealed that this 33-year-old driver, a resident of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, was driving HB 7178, proceeding east along the northern carriageway of the road when Jakaran reportedly walked across the road from north to south and into the path of the vehicle, resulting in him being struck down.

He was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

However, Jakaran’s wife, Kamilowattie Mohipat, has refuted the version of the Police report of her husband’s death, saying Jakaran had no reason to cross the road.

The grieving woman told Guyana Times she and her husband had left home, a stone’s throw from the Public Road, to go wait for their son who was on his way home.

Dead: Donovon Jakaran

After walking to the Public Road, Mohipat recalled, she told her husband that she was tired, and then went to go sit in their truck, which was parked on the Public Road, while he stood on the corner of the road waiting on their son.

“He was standing on road, then I see a car coming and it hit him. He and the car just keep going, and then I couldn’t see him, and then the car turn back and drive and go away,” the woman related to this newspaper.

Mohipat further recalled that she began calling out for her husband several times, but got no answer.

“Then I see something looking like a wood far away, and I went close; then is when I see that is he lying there…

His feet were bent up, hands broken, side dig away and face damage,” the woman revealed.

Meanwhile, the couple’s

21-year-old son, Kevin, whom they had gone on the road to receive, told this newspaper that when he arrived, he saw his father lying on the road, but he was still breathing.

The grieving young man recounted calling out for help, but no one came; and so he decided to rush home to get his car. However, he noted that by the time he returned to the spot where his father’s body was, the man had died.

“When I look at his body, I could see that he get dragged under the car, because he had a set of bruises,” the son related.

He went on to say, “There (were) no skid marks from the tyre on the road, which means the man did not try to stop or slow down; and then he turn back and pass my father lying down on the road and go to the Rose Hall Outpost and give himself up.”

The young man noted that on Thursday morning, the Police brought the driver back to the scene. He said that from the point of impact, where one side of his father’s slippers was, to the spot where his body was, measured 192 feet.

To this end, the grieving family of Jakaran is seeking justice. Jakaran leaves to mourn his wife and two children.

A post-mortem examination will be conducted today.

Meanwhile, the driver remains in police custody, assisting with the investigation.

S RAIGHT

NEWS

Guyana/Venezuela controversy

“Guyana’s ICJ case in good hands” – Sir Shridath Ramphal

A

Guyana and the World – Where is the new business in 2017/2018?

W

hen you come from a small country like Guyana, you should always be outward looking. You have to! This was the modality adopted by great successes like Singapore and Ireland. Right here in the Caribbean – Jamaica is doing fantastic on the export of foods. When you are a small country and you are always aware of the world around you and you must know that you have to be better than the rest of the world at a specific niche to get ahead or you shall be left behind.

So for a small country like Guyana, exports must become second nature. According to the Bureau of Statistics, in 2017 Guyana exported US$1.438 billion. In 2016 Guyana exported US$1.441 billion. In reality, that means a reduction in exports by US$3 million or G$615 million.

How did the Guyanese economy get trapped in this vicious cycle after a sustained period of growth in exports from 1991 to 2012? We must not forget that in 1991 after the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) under Hoyte was implemented, Guyana was able to see its first growth in exports since 1980, stemming a decade of export declines under the then PNC Government. In 1991, the export value was US$0.356 billion. By 2012, Guyana exports had peaked at US$1.666 billion, computing as an export growth of 368 per cent under a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government. Since then exports have been all over the place like a cork in the sea.

First and foremost, Guyana thinks it is a Caribbean country and I think this is where the geo-economic problem really lies. If one is to observe our export profile, our top three export destinations are Canada, the United States, and the UK, which take off some 56 per cent of our exports. Significant potential markets that surround us (Brazil, Suriname or Venezuela) are not even in our top 10 destinations. This is a fundamental problem that has to be fixed.

The second fundamental trade problem Guyana faces is 85 per cent of our exports in 2017 are raw products? Total insanity.

Three years after President Granger stood on the Berbice River and commented on all the raw bauxite and raw lumber floating down the river and his commitment to changing that reality within 100 days, he has done absolutely nothing to deliver on his promise to the people on the trade front. The table below as published by the Bureau of Statistics is telling. But what was even more glaring was sugar exports dropped to US$48.5 million, compared to an average of around US$120 million during the period 1993 to 2014 under the PPP. Was this adventure led by Clive Thomas/Errol Hanoman/Noel Holder on a "highway to do where" worth it? These three men collectively led to the destruction of some US$70 million in annual value for a nation with no replacement and that is nothing short of criminal. They should all be banished to Timbuktu for such anti-national and anti-patriotic actions. But yet they continue to hold senior roles in the Granger Government save and except for Hanoman who cut and run right back to his handlers when he was properly exposed. Clearly, Thomas and Holder have no professional integrity since the best option for them is to at least bag their faces and run for the hills after harming the nation this much.

The third fundamental problem on the trade front is that we must fix the mismatch in our trade balance (exports vs imports). When the Granger Government slaughtered any chance of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project being built, I became convinced that Guyana was going to retrogress economically until it changes course. That single act has condemned the nation to economic backwardness with no second chance.

As a country, our principle aim should have been to become a beacon of private enterprise and innovation with a clear focus on South America. We must increase our exports to Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela and such a strategy must become a priority because Caricom has very little to offer Guyana. That means we must find out what these South American countries want, find our niche and produce it at the right quality in the right amounts for them at the right time. But if we do not have adequate low cost and reliable electricity, the process is like pushing a rock up a hill but it is not a lost cause.

We still have the six sisters (gold, bauxite, sugar, rice, seafoods, and forestry) and we should seriously consider a jewellery manufacturing industry as the first jump into South America.

The time is now to seize the opportunities. Not next year but now!

Please share your thoughts at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

11

friDAY, march 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

s Guyana prepares to put together all the necessary documents before it files an official petition with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to challenge the Guyana/Venezuela controversy, Government’s top legal adviser in that case, Sir Shridath Ramphal has given his assurance that the matter is in good hands.

While explaining that it is not to be seen as a failure on the part of Guyana that the Good Offices Process did not meet the objective, Sir Shridath told the local press on Thursday that the case has been referred to the ICJ under the Geneva Agreement that was agreed to prior to Guyana’s independence.

The former Commonwealth Secretary General claimed that Venezuela has filibuster and tried to avoid the day when the matter would be sent to the ICJ. “But the day has come and the application (petition) is in train. When that is done, the case is in the hands of the ICJ,” he explained.

Sir Shridath said Guyana could not expect better and

Sir Shridath Ramphal

it is for the country and its Government to establish to the world what has always been the case, which is sticking by the agreement that was signed.

On that note, he said the case is in good hands and that the same team that won judicial proceedings with Suriname has been retained to fight this case. “We got to work again to finish the job,” he stated.

The team which was headed by Paul Reichler, a partner in the Washington office of law firm Foley Hoag LLP, was successful. The matter was settled by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in 2007.

Asked whether there would be any issues similar to that of the Guyana/ Suriname where certain difficulties were encountered relating to sourcing supporting documents to fight their case, Sir Shridath said, “Well its much the same but the archives are in better condition and there are that rest all over the world because this is an international case. The arbitral tribunal sat in Paris and it has material there too.”

Sir Shridath had said that the time frame in which this matter could be completed depends on the two parties involved. He said, “It is a very difficult question because it can depend on what Venezuela ultimately does that can determine the length of time, the character of the proceedings. It could be shorter if they persist they are not involved and if they change their minds, and it’s a fullfledged hearing, it could be longer. But you are talking about a matter of years.”

He further explained that the ICJ would hear the case under the United Nations Charter and the Geneva Agreement of 1966

that had provided for, among other means, mediation and judicial settlement.

The coalition Government had said that it has plans to use a signing bonus of US$18 million received from ExxonMobil to stand the expense of a legal team. The money was however kept in a secret account at the Central Bank. This information was exposed by private media companies, including this newspaper.

After years of mediation, the United Nations (UN) in January announced its decision to finally send the ongoing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela to the ICJ. According to the UN’s Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, the decision came after careful analysis of the Good Offices Process.

President David Granger has welcomed the Secretary General’s decision to refer the matter to the world court. According to Granger, “Guyana remains confident in the correctness of its case (and) looks forward to the reaffirmation of the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award before the (ICJ).”

The XXIV CITUR Congress for tourism deemed successful

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he 24th InterAmerican Ministerial Congress on Tourism today, wrapped up its twoday session at the Marriott Hotel with more fruitful discussions by ministers and high-level authorities on achieving sustainable tourism, through multi-destination travel and building resilience in the tourism sector.

Following ten plenary sessions by officials, today’s all-day meeting concluded with the adoption of the ‘Declaration of Georgetown’.

This document forms the basis for the development of partnerships for the growth of the tourism industry in the Americas.

Minister of Business with responsibility for Tourism, Dominic Gaskin, who chaired the conference, noted that the discussions will ensure a transformed

Executive Secretary for Integral Development of the Organisation of American States, Kim Osborne

tourism sector in Guyana.

“What was good about it (the Congress) were the discussions…a lot of the topics discussed were very relevant to Guyana.

We have a lot to learn. We are fairly young as a tourism destination. To have

all these expertise from different countries in the same room is very good exposure for us”, Minister Gaskin said.

He added, “It was very valuable for us and it gave us a sense of where we are and where we need to go with tourism in Guyana.”

Executive Secretary for Integral Development of the Organisation of American States, Kim Osborne highlighted some of the high points stemming out of the meeting for most of the representatives.

“What we had was strong indications of support, collaboration and co-operation between and among countries, to share dialogue and experiences, to share lessons learnt and good practices; to the extent that member states have offered co-operation to each other. We are grateful for the outcome of

the meeting”, Osborne said.

She also commended Guyana for hosting a memorable event. She enthused, “Guyana did an amazing job at hosting and showing the product it has to offer.

I think it hosting this ministerial congress really positions it as an emerging destination in the Americas with the flora and fauna, and amazing natural products. It is something people were not really aware of, and it was an opportunity to tell the rest of the Americas what Guyana has to offer.”

This year’s InterAmerican Congress of Ministers and High-Level Authorities of Tourism saw a total of 26 Organisation of American States (OAS) member states representatives, participating. The next Congress is expected to be held in Paraguay in 2021.

Businessman’s car damaged after accident at stelling

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usinessman Guru Jagnarine and his wife Umadai of Deonarine New Amsterdam, Berbice, were on their way to Essequibo Coast on a business trip when they encountered problems at the Supenaam Ferry Stelling, in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

According to Jagnarine, while disembarking the ferry at Supenaam in their motor car – bearing registration plates PWW 2434 – on

Repair works being done on the damaged car

Wednesday morning (March 21, 2018), there was a heavy downpour and he was forced to drive in the corner of the Stelling due to passen-

gers exiting the ferry at the same time.

Jagnarine stated that he was unaware his car was damaged until he was in-

formed by a passenger.

When he exited the vehicle, he saw that his car was damaged by a pair of Bollards which was placed dangerously on the Stelling.

He was told by staff of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) at the Supenaam Stelling that the T&HD was not responsible for the damaged done to his vehicle. The couple has taken their vehicle to a body workshop in Affiance, Essequibo Coast to repair the damage.

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friDAY, march 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

India signals interest in exploration, buying oil from Guyana

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here are uncertainties regarding whether Guyana would keep or share out its remaining offshore oil blocks, but the Indian Government has indicated its interest in exploration activities here.

This was revealed by Indian High Commissioner Venkatachalam Mahalingam during a press conference held at his Church Street, Georgetown office on Thursday. “…definitely, there is an active interest by Government of India in exploring oil by having an oil block in Guyana,” he said.

According to the High Commissioner, this was conveyed to Guyana’s Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, who was part of a high-level delegation to India, led by Second Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge back in February.

The Guyanese Ministers had met with Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan.

While High Commissioner Mahalingam has noted that there has been follow-up correspondence between the responsible ministries of the two countries, he could not say whether the Indian

Second Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman with Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas following a meeting in New Delhi back in February

Government had made a formal application to obtain licences to conduct exploration of Guyana’s offshore oil blocks.

“I don’t know; it is quite possible, because, you know, sometimes our Ministry directly gets in touch with the relevant Ministry. They don’t come through the Foreign Office because it’s a big business, and then there’s an established practice of just (go-

ing) directly… So it’s quite possible that the Ministry of Oil and Gas could’ve written to the Ministry of Natural Resources, but we don’t know and we’re not aware of it,” the Indian diplomat stated.

During the February ministerial meeting with Guyanese representatives, Minister Pradhan had stated on his tweet that he “had a useful discussion” with the Guyana delegation, and

that they “discussed the possibilities of E&P (exploration & production) activities by Indian companies in Guyana.”

According to the Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas on his twitter handle, the meeting with the Guyanese Ministers was useful, since they “discussed the possibilities of E&P (Exploration & Production) activities by Indian companies in Guyana.”

Moreover, he noted that India had agreed to work with Guyana and share its experience in the oil and gas sector. In fact, Pradhan had twitted: “(India) agreed to work with Guyana and share our experience in the entire gamut of hydrocarbon sector… (We) will share India’s cumulative experience in refinery, petrochemicals and capacity-building in the oiland-gas sector.”

“Guyana being the new member of the oil club, last time when Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister visited, there was an assurance that India can help in downstream, midstream and upstream; and it is for the Government of Guyana to come back to us in which area Guyana would like to have cooperation with India,” High Commissioner Mahalingam added on Thursday.

He went on to say that, in addition to wanting to help Guyana develop its oil and gas sector, India is also interested in buying oil from Guyana when production starts in 2020.

“We have also expressed our interest in buying oil if it’s available, because we buy oil from Latin America and South America. We buy oil from Venezuela, we buy oil from Colombia; so we can also buy oil from Guyana,” he posited.

According to the Indian diplomat, there has since

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam

been correspondence between India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Guyana’s Natural Resources Ministry to exchange relevant data.

Even as Government contemplates its next move regarding Guyana’s offshore oil blocks, former President and current Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, has called for the implementation of competitive bidding for the remaining oil blocks, or for the blocks to be kept for future generations.

Jagdeo has been extremely critical of Government’s handling of the Petroleum Sharing Agreement (PSA) with the oil companies that have interests in Guyana.

However, Government has said that a process of both direct engagement and selective bidding would be used to allocate the remaining blocks.

In fact, Minister Trotman has expressed that direct engagements with other Stateowned companies, such as Brazil’s Petrobras, would be sought in the future, But local attorney Melinda Janki, who has extensive experience working with many oil companies, has cautioned Government against making rash decisions when it comes to the

remaining oil blocks offshore Guyana.

Janki, who worked as an in-legal counsel for British multinational oil and gas company BP, at its head office in London, has reminded that the Constitution of Guyana sets limits on what can be done with Guyana’s natural resources.

During an exclusive interview with Guyana Times last week, the attorney further opined that there is a legal duty to hand on to the next generation, an intact natural capital base.

According to her, this is clear from Article 36 of the Constitution, which also states: “The wellbeing of the nation depends upon preserving clean air, fertile soils, pure water, and the rich diversity of plants, animals and eco-systems.”

Janki maintains that money can’t be eaten, nor can oil be drunk.

“The Government has to comply with Article 36. They have to preserve clean air, fertile soils, pure water, and the rich diversity of plants, animals and eco-systems.

Before they auction any blocks, they must correct the mistakes they have made in the deal with Esso, Hess and Nexen,” she added.

13 Stage set for Wedding Expo 2018 L news

friDAY, march 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ocal organisers have promised glitz and glamour as well as a celebration of Guyanese artistry when the 10th edition of Wedding Expo kicks off on Friday with patrons being allowed free entry into the event.

The Expo, which will be held at the Duke Lodge, Kingston, will feature a formal opening ceremony with remarks by key personalities.

This year, the keynote speaker will be the Resident Representative of the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), Sophie Makonnen, who is likely to highlight the importance of wedding destination tourism, and the positive impacts it has on the nation’s economy, especially as it related to the provision of pertinent services by artisans

and small-scale businesses.

Meanwhile, Tourism Ministry Director General Donald Sinclair is also listed to give its contribution.

In commemoration of the anniversary celebrations, there will be a display of Guyanese culture which includes a parade of various wedding fashions from Guyana’s ethnic groups. The musical aspect will comprise tassa drumming and steel pan renditions.

The official Expo, slated for March 23-25, will showcase products and services for weddings by Guyanese businesspersons such as dressmakers, jewellers, cake decorators, and tailors. Other service providers such as musicians, photographers, make-up artists, and limousine services will also be pres-

Flashback: Models showcasing various wedding fashions from Guyana’s ethnic groups pose with officials at Wedding Expo 2017

ent to give an insight to the services being offered by their respective businesses.

The coordinators are expecting to see approximately 40 exhibitors in addition to a wedding ceremony and reception of the winning couple in this year’s “Race to the Altar” competition, which will be

Jury acquits man for Eccles stabbing

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he trial of George Dover concluded at the High Court on Thursday when a 12-member jury panel acquitted him on two counts of attempted murder committed on fellow Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident Kester Yamster on April 10, 2015 at Eccles.

Dover had always maintained that he was innocent of the allegations, and the jury, by way of its decision which came after two-and-a-half hours of deliberations, concurred with the contention of the former accused.

On first count of attempted murder, he was unanimously found not guilty but on the second count he was acquitted via a proportion of 10-2.

After he was freed, Justice Navindra Singh, who had presided over the trial, encouraged Dover to make more informed decisions in life, considering he is still a young man.

The State was represented by Abigail Gibbs, Tiffini Lyken and Shawnette Austin, and the defence team was led by attorney George Thomas, while Retired Rear Admiral Gary Best and Keisha

Persaud had also appeared for the accused.

Dover had, on Wednesday, given an unsworn statement to the jury, denying he was the aggressor in the incident, and saying it was in fact Yamster who had approached him. The virtual complainant Yamster was only 15 at the time of the stabbing.

“He ask me what game you want play. He draw for something from he waist; he rush me and I hold onto he.

We had a scuffle, he ease off of me and I run straight to Providence Police Station,” the former accused testified.

However, on Tuesday, the virtual complainant, Kester Yamster, had positively identified the defendant as the one who stabbed him at a plantain chip stand at Eccles. His story was that he clearly saw Dover’s face for about 10 seconds before he left the area in a northerly direction.

“I saw a shadow passing, and when I turned around to see who it was, I saw Mr. Dover; (he) came at me three times. He had a black handkerchief wrapped around his hand. He was coming to my chest; I feel a numbness in my chest,” Yamster told the court

earlier this week.

According to Yamster’s story, he placed his hand on his chest and noticed that he was bleeding. Yamster, who lives about one corner away from where the incident had happened, said that after Dover had run off, he also ran, but to his parapet, where he sat in the presence of relatives before he lost consciousness.

The next thing he remembered was waking up in a wheelchair at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where he was later treated for his injuries, and discharged a few days later.

Questioned by the Prosecution, Yamster admitted he had run-ins in the lead up to the night in question. He said he had confronted Dover over rumours that Dover had kissed his aunt.

When he first heard those rumours, Yamster said, he had run home crying.

Further, he said he confronted Dover over money owed to him for a toque (headwear) that Dover got from him. Yamster said he told him it was used, and claimed that he opted to sell it because his father had said it made him look like a thief.

held on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Roraima Group of Companies Chief Executive Officer (CEO),

Captain Gerry Gouveia shared his thoughts on the anniversary celebration and their journey throughout the years.

“It is with a proud feeling of achievement that we at the Roraima Group of Companies welcome our exhibitors, sponsors, and the general public to this milestone 10th anniversary Wedding Expo. I am particularly elated by the success stories that have emerged over the past 10 years for small artisans and entrepreneurs as a result of their participation in Wedding Expo,” he stated.

He also highlighted the

fact that new Guyanese artisans were given a chance to promote their businesses, adding: “There are new young artisans now springing up all over Guyana who deserve the opportunities which were afforded those who came before them. We must not fail these emerging entrepreneurs.”

The expo is open to the general public from 17:00h on Friday, March 23 and from 14:00h to 23:00h on Saturday, March 24 and Sunday, March 25.

Members of the public are urged to visit the Expo and partake in the activities being offered to support local businesses.

GPF announces major road closures for roundabout work

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he Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Thursday said that the following roads will be closed to vehicular traffic for continuous road work at Kitty roundabout today from 08:00h until further notice.

Camp Road and Carifesta Avenue – No entry East Kitty Public Road and

Vlissengen Street – No entry West David Street and JB Singh Road – No entry North Therefore, vehicles proceeding west on Kitty Public Road are advised to turn south into Vlissengen Road while others proceeding north on Camp Road are advised to turn east into Thomas Lands.

It said too that vehicles proceeding north on JB Singh Road are advised to turn east into David Street while others proceeding east on Young Street are advised to turn north on Camp Street, then east into Seawall Road.

It said it regretted any inconvenience caused as a result of the road closures.

GPL says line disturbance caused power outages

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uyana Power and Light (GPL) Deputy Chief Executive Officer Renford Homer said on Thursday that there was a mini disturbance on a primary line at the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) in Duke Street, Kingston, resulting

in a total shutdown of the system.

In a statement on the Government’s Department of Public Information (DPI) website, he said this subsequently led to power outages in several areas in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

“Currently, technicians

are working expeditiously to resolve the situation,” he said on Thursday evening.

Homer had anticipated then that power would be restored in approximately 45 minutes after 21:00h in all areas while investigations continue.

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friDAY, march 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Climate Change Office targets 51 Lindo Creek CoI schools in outreach programme “We wanted a proper burial”

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climate change education and sensitisation campaign aimed at raising awareness about the phenomena and what it means for Guyana was on Thursday launched at the St Ambrose Primary School. The 2018 outreach programme which targets the students of 51 primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in 11 districts countrywide, is organised by the Office of Climate Change (OCC), which falls under the purview of the Ministry of the Presidency, in collaboration with Guyana Youth and Environment Network (GYEN).

Yasmin Bowman, Communications Specialist at the OCC, in an invited comment, explained that part of ensuring climate change resilience is ensuring there is an educated populace. “We [the OCC] believe that our young ones should be enlightened and informed about climate change because from our experience last year, we’ve noticed that a number of our children are not informed at all about climate change… We’re targeting both primary and secondary and also tertiary institutions throughout the year. We have post-secondary schools as well. We want students and young people to know how Guyana is being affected and ways in which they can adapt to change in climate,” she said. Bowman also noted that the sessions are designed to ensure that the delivery is tailored to match each school through a

– miner’s niece

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Guyana Youth and Environment Network (GYEN) facilitator, Godfrey Scott during an interactive session with the students at St Ambrose Primary School

unique interactive approach, which is appropriate for the students’ level of understanding.

During the course of the session at St Ambrose Primary on Thursday, a short film; ‘Siege on my land, Guyana’s Battle with Climate Change’ was shown.

The video details the effects and causes of climate change, providing definitions for vital terms and showcases solutions for adapting to climate change, among other related areas. Subsequently, the team conducted an interactive session where the students were quizzed on what they learnt from the video and given prizes.

GYEN’s executive member and one of the programme’s facilitators, Saliqa Zaman, said the organisation focuses on promoting education, training and involvement in all matters pertaining to the environment and sustainable development among young people. The

organisation, apart from its collaboration with the OCC, is also partnering with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to execute activities for World Earth Hour. “For four years now, our members have been working with WWF in planning Earth Hour. This year we have a number of activities on Saturday, March 24. We have the main activity which is the lights out concert beginning at 6:30 [18:30h] at the National Park. We also have lights out concert on the same day at Linden and Bartica beginning at 08:00 [20:00h],” she explained.

The OCC last year executed a similar school programme where they held ‘green’ agenda sessions in schools located in Regions Four, Five, Six and 10. These sessions focused on effects of rising sea levels, the importance of water management and the impact of climate change on Guyana and the Caribbean region.

Kwakwani Utilities Inc commissions new engines

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The newly commissioned engine

esidents of Kwakwani are now benefiting from improved electricity supply thanks to the commissioning of two new engines by the Kwakwani Utilities Inc (KUI).

A simple ceremony commissioning the two new 260-kilowatt engines was held at the power station.

The new sets more than meet the demands of the community.

This is according to KUI’s General Manager, Fitzhubert McPherson, who said that the new sets would allow for much improvement within Kwakwani. McPherson has been General Manager since January 2017.

“When I took over, there were a lot of complaints and people were dissatisfied with

the power they were having ‘cause it was on and off…and the thing is, you weren’t notified about the power outage. With that, I sat with the technical guy and I said we have to get this thing right and we started doing checks and tests,” he said.

He foresees the new sets allowing residents to enjoy 24 hours of electricity, a marked difference from the irregular access they previously had. The old engine, he added, was in dire need of overhauling.

“We had two CAT sets before; one engine was costing us a lot of money due to a leak it had that was throwing away most of the oil,” McPherson explained. He further said that the decision to purchase the new engines

was taken following a July 2017 study by the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

Meanwhile, McPherson emphasised that KUI was serious about ensuring the longevity of the new sets and, as a result, staff members have already been exposed to training in the use of the new engines.

“We had a transition to get people knowledgeable of the new sets because we don’t want any mishaps. The representatives from Doosan [the engines reseller] are here doing on-the-job training, getting the guys them sensitised on how to put the engines on and off. There’s a special way to do it and deviating from that would cause a lot of problems,” McPherson further explained. He hopes to have at least two members of staff exposed to more training.

Furthermore, McPherson anticipates a massive expansion project to get underway thanks to the new engines.

While KUI currently serves approximately 1200 households, this number is expected to grow as the company turns its sights to lighting other areas such as West Bank Kwakwani, Jonestown, New Scheme, and Staff Hill.

onda Hudson, the niece of Compton Speirs, one of the miners who were killed in the Lindo Creek massacre, stated that her uncle did not deserve to die the way he did, and said she was even more upset that he did not get a proper burial.

She made these comments on Thursday at the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into those killings, where she observed that Police officers had visited her family’s home in Meten-MeerZorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD) and had brought a bag with military clothing, asking if it belonged to the slain miner. Hudson told the commission that, after all these years, her relatives are saddened that they never got any part of their loved one to bury.

“Imagine you are sleeping and somebody just shoot all around you and we didn’t even get a piece of bone of our uncle to even be satisfied that we get something that when his birthday comes (where we) can go (to emotionally connect with him).

All we have (are) memories (of) the good times,” she testified.

Speirs’s niece added that her uncle had financially supported her and other relatives, as he lived with them after her grandparents and parents had passed away. Hudson told the Commissioner, Justice Donald Trotman, that when they received word of Speirs’s death, she was in

total disbelief. She later recalled that some days after they had learnt of the murders, about eight Police officers came and met with relatives and brought a black garbage bag of clothes that she said did not belong to the miner.

“They open the bag and pour (the contents) out on the ground. There was a soldier pants and some T-shirts, and while two of them were talking and asked where he lived, I showed them the downstairs, and after that they left,” the woman, who was sobbing at times, explained.

She added that no member of her family was contacted about the burial arrangements for her uncle, but noted that she had accompanied two relatives who gave DNA samples to the Police.

In early March this year, it was disclosed that former Crime Chief and outgoing Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud had ordered that the remains of the eight miners killed at Lindo Creek be buried in one coffin, some four years after they were killed, despite the advice of the Lyken Funeral Home.

Dr Dawn Stewart of the Lyken Funeral Home had testified that on the day of the incident, back in June 2008, she had received a call for the pick-up of the remains. However, when she received the remains, she did not open them, as she did not want to tamper with the evidence. The remains,

Ronda Hudson, niece of slain miner Compton Speirs, testifying before the CoI on Thursday

she had said, were at the funeral home for some four years -- the longest time any corpse has been at the facility in its 95-year history.

According to Dr Stewart, the Home had advised the Police to have the remains buried; however, the Home was told not to so do, since the investigation was still ongoing.

She said that, within the first year, some family members had been making inquiries about the remains, but they were always referred to the Police.

Dr Stewart said that when the funeral home was finally given the go-ahead to bury the remains, the home were told that “one coffin would do” by then Crime Chief Seelall Persaud.

However, the remains were eventually buried in three coffins at the Le Repentir Cemetery. She explained that the home took it upon itself to have a short service “for closure” with a few family members of one of the victims.

Mae’s reportedly hikes school fees – despite Education Ministry’s decision to withdraw VAT on education

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everal parents of the Mae’s Schools have voiced their concerns in light of the institution’s decision to raise its fees.

While some parents were informed of the hike in the rates, others indicated that they were unaware of this decision.

One concerned parent, who spoke to Guyana Times on Thursday afternoon, indicated that she was uninformed of the increase, adding “…but I wouldn’t be okay with that”.

Meanwhile, some parents who were made aware of the fee increase were also not in agreement with it.

A concerned parent explained that he was given a notice a few days ago that the fees were to be increased by 33 per cent and 25 per cent respectively for nursery and primary levels.

As such, he said he would appreciate some explanation so as to justify the magnitude by which these increases were necessary, referring to it as “bewildering” and questioned the possibilities of further increases in the

future.

Since the school’s financial performance is also unknown, given its status in the law books, the disturbed parent also related that he could not determine whether or not the institution needed this increase in revenue in order to prevent it from going under. When looked at from an economic standpoint, the size of the increase cannot be justified.

Furthermore, the timing of the increase was rather alarming, given the fact that the current Government of Guyana had rescinded the

Value Added Tax (VAT) of 14 per cent on school fees, after an outcry from affected parents.

When Guyana Times tried to contact the head teacher and owner of Mae’s Schools to justify why the increase was necessary, she was unavailable to give a comment and indicated that the publication will be contacted to address this issue.

However, this was not done.

Meanwhile, parents who are bothered about the sudden increase in rates are calling for some clarifications on their concerns.

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friDAY, march 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Linden Hospital maternal death

Family refutes officials’ claims regarding C-section – says prenatal documents not released

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he family of 41-year-old Jennifer Gill of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, who died at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) on Monday evening fol-

lowing the delivery of a healthy baby boy has refuted claims that she did not require a C-section delivery.

One of Gill’s family mem-

bers has also indicated that officials are in possession of the now deceased woman’s prenatal health documents which they have not yet released, add-

PM Modi’s visit to further strengthen bi-lateral ties

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he impending visit of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Guyana later this year will be a trademark in further solidifying the bi-lateral relationship between the two countries.

This is according to Indian High Commissioner Venkatachalam Mahalingam, who at a press conference on Friday said while Guyana and India already enjoy strong relations, 2018 thus far has been good for bi-laterals.

This, he added, will be further strengthened during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The announcement of Prime Minister Modi’s visit was made last week during President David Granger’s visit for the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Founding Conference and Solar Summit held in New Delhi, India.

According to a missive from the Ministry of the Presidency, the two leaders had a bi-lateral meeting during which Prime Minister Modi pledged to strengthen the historical ties between Guyana and India through cooperation. The Indian leader also said it was indicated that his country is willing to do whatever it can to support Guyana’s development. During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed the scale of Guyana-India relations and agreed to continue discussions when Prime Minister Modi visits Guyana later this year.

According to High

Commissioner Mahalingam on Thursday, that high-level visit will take place sometime in November or December. He noted that the visit will be one that will cover overall bi-lateral relations between India and Guyana. “…there will be a political element, it will have a commercial element, a cultural element and it will have the other elements such as consulate, you know like visa-free agreement, etc. So it will encompass all the areas which are basically looked after by the High Commission here,” Mahalingam said.

The Indian diplomat went on to say, however, the visit will be a furtherance to ongoing discussions on Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector as well as it’s heavily indebted and cash strap sugar industry.

“By that time, I think there will be some clarity about what kind of cooperation we are going to have on sugar. Like how Government of India can help the ailing sugar industry of Guyana, for which we expect some kind of detailed request from the Government of Guyana. And with Guyana being the new member of the oil club… there was an assurance that India can help in downstream, midstream and upstream; and it is for the Government of Guyana to come back to us in which area Guyana would like to have cooperation with India,” the High Commissioner posited.

He went onto say that there will also be other areas of interests to further develop between the two countries. These include: agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, IT cooperation and education.

“So these are general areas but of course there could be new areas (of cooperation during or prior to Prime Minister Modi’s visit),” the High Commissioner said.

President Granger’s visit to India earlier this month follows closely on a visit to India, back in February by a delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge during which Guyana and India signed three cooperation agreements – one on renewable energy, one on cultural exchange and the framework agreement on ISA. Guyana and India established diplomatic ties in 1965 and have since maintained a strong bond on the bi-lateral and multi-lateral fronts given the similarities of not only its democracy and colonial background, but also its multi-racial and multi-cultural societies.

Over the years, Guyana has become the beneficiary of several loans and lines of credit from the Indian Government towards infrastructure, healthcare and education development.

Currently, there are seven projects that the Indian Government is either fully or partially funding in Guyana.

WCO Secretary General visits GRA to discuss technical support, capacity building

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ntensive interactions between the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in recent months reached a high point in March when the WCO’s Secretary General, Ambassador Kunio Mikuriya paid a two-day visit to Guyana.

In a release to the media, the GRA said Mikuriya, who has been serving as the WCO Secretary General since 2009, was in the company of Sharon Davies, Technical Attaché, Capacity Building Directorate, when he met Commissioner General of the GRA, Godfrey Statia and senior officials in Customs Excise and Trade Operations on March 19 and 20.

“The two sides discussed national and regional support to implement the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement which Guyana ratified in November 2015 and Mr Mikuriya was briefed on the trade facilitation status by the GRA”, the release said.

Meanwhile, day two of the visit saw the Secretary General being guided on a tour of key areas in customs operations such

WCO Secretary General, Ambassador Kunio Mikuriya (second from right); with GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia, along with Deputy Head of Customs Excise and Trade Operations Patrick Hyman

as the entry processing unit, wharves and the Scanner operation site. He used the opportunity to interact with customs officers stationed at these points, giving them guidance on best practices.

“Mikuriya also met participants in the ongoing Customs Officer III Training Programme where he delivered remarks highlighting the importance of the Harmonised System (HS) training which was ongoing at the time. The HS was developed by the WCO to standardise tariff codes in accordance with international beast practices. Mr Mikuriya indicated that HS combined with valuation best practices, rules of origin, trade

facilitation and enforcement, constitute some of the core requirements for customs officers in any jurisdiction to effectively carry out their functions,” the GRA said.

The GRA was commended for some of the various customs modernisation measures already implemented, as the Secretary General pledged the WCO’s continued technical support and future capacity building assistance to the GRA. In February this year, the WCO completed a Mercator Programme Scoping Mission to Guyana that identified key areas of customs operations where the GRA could benefit from WCO’s assistance.

LHC CEO, Dr Farouk Riyasat (left); PRO Toshanna Alicock (centre) and CMO, Dr Romesa McDonald during the press briefing on Wednesday

ing that they believe this action should be investigated.

They said the woman’s fiancé has opted not to disclose much until a post-mortem examination is conducted. The family failed to show up for the procedure, which was expected to be conducted on the body of the deceased woman at the Hospital on Wednesday.

Gill’s niece, Tashanna, who resided with her, noted on Thursday that the family has not yet decided when they would have the procedure done, but confirmed that they would go through with it.

LHC officials have since noted that the family would now have to travel from Linden to Georgetown to have the procedure done, since pathologists would not return to the said hospital to conduct the post-mortem.

Hospital officials have so far indicated that the medical institution would have so far completed its investigation into the matter and an official report was prepared and sent to the relevant authorities, including the Chief Medical Officer and

the Director of Regional Health Services.

The medical institution’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Farouk Riyasat noted on Wednesday that based on his medical knowledge and facts of the report, he believed that Gill died after suffering a blood disorder, referred to as Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), which caused rapid blood loss and thinning, eventually leading to shock and kidney failure.

The CEO made the revelation, which he stated was his belief, during a media briefing, which was also attended by the Hospital’s CMO, Dr Romesa McDonald and Public Relations Officer (PRO) Toshanna Alicock.

Dr Riyasat also said that the family’s failure to show up for the post-mortem examination has hampered the flow of information for the report.

The Hospital’s PRO had noted that according to facts from the report, on first assessment by the doctor on duty, Gill was in active labour when she arrived at the Hospital, being dilated at six centimetres (cm)

and did not require a C-section.

This was also reaffirmed by the CEO, who said that a C-section would have also proved fatal for the deceased woman given the alleged blood disorder which she suffered from. The Hospital CEO also refuted claims by the family that a C-section was not performed since there was no doctor available, as he claimed that the Hospital provides for doctors to be on call 24/7.

He said only the anaesthetic consultant was later called in, but an obstetrician had been present with the patient at all times. Dr Riyasat also stated that an obstetrician was the one to decide if Gill needed a C-section, but he said Gill was found to be in the position to facilitate a normal delivery. Dr Riyasat reiterated that General Medical Officers (GMOs) were on site while consultants were always on call and theatre staff always available, adding that a doctor was on site when Gill arrived.

However, with regard to the conditions which the officials noted reportedly led to her demise, Gill’s niece, Tashanna, has since indicated her disbelief. “It’s all a lie. Everything that they’re saying is not true.

At this point, I’m just putting everything in God’s hands.

They’re not letting go of anything. They have all those documents. They holding on to all the papers,” she said.

Officials had also indicated that the family had been kept up to date on the now deceased woman’s condition, and that she was given the best possible care.

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friDAY, march 23, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

– the main attraction at Kids Fest 2018

F

ifteen young ladies will be the centre of attraction on Sunday, April 1, at the Promenade Gardens as they compete in the Kids Fest pageant. Of the 15, seven will participate in the 4-6 age

Anisa Johnson

Jasmine Jackson

category; six in the 7-11 age category and two in the 12-15 age category.

The grand princess pageant is the main attraction for the Kids Fest 2018 organised by AOne Events. The delegates

Jaquesha Richmond

Kassia Liverpool

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Dana Todd

Katianna Ross

in each category will be competing in talent, theme wear (Easter) and formal wear.

Each group will have an overall queen and runner-up.

Special awards will be given in each age group for best

Jahaniya Rahaman

Latisha Walker

he “Living with Intention” motivational tour has crossed borders to our neighbour to the East, Suriname, and the first stop was AlphaMax Academy Private School where Guyanese fashion Icon Sonia Noel had an interactive session with students and teachers.

AlphaMax Academy is a valuesbased institution of education with an international curriculum that is delivered in English. Well known reporter Tasha Aveloo was tasked with introducing the Philanthropist who has used the fashion platform to inspire lives.

Both were raptly engaged, as the audience fielded dozens of interesting questions. The Embassy of Guyana in Suriname hosted a reception two Fridays ago for special invited guests; among them some members from the diplomatic corps.

Noel shared with her guest the reason she decided to write not only “Living

dress, best personality and most creative. The winners in each category will also receive trophies and medals. There will also be an award for the most photogenic girl.

The delegates will be judged

Jewel Perreira

Malika Ramnaught

Okedra Dover

on personality, performance, smile, confidence, dress, grooming, stages presence, modelling ability, overall presentation and spirit.

Apart from the pageant, there will be other attractions

Felisha Roberts

Tia Vincent

such as candyland, bouncy castles, magic shows, Disney characters, clowns and the signature activity and the talent show which aims to nurture character and build confidence in children.

Kathelia Rambahadur

Tonola Robinson

motivational tour goes to Suriname

with Intention” but also “Women Across Borders” anthologies. Persons were excited to purchase their autographed copies of this inspiration book. In addition, Jomax Restaurant hosted a book signing and

fashion showcase last Saturday evening.

The main objective of the tour is to assist people in finding their purpose and to give the world the best version of themselves. Noel had a very empowering

meeting with Reina Kolf, the founder of Rise Sister Rise to explore future collaborations.

“This tour has energised from the feedback received. We intend the take this motivational tour through all 10 regions of Guyana, several Caribbean countries and the US. How far we go is heavily dependent on the resources,” Noel explained.

The Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts in collaboration with the Lusignan Golf Club will be hosting a fundraising Tea Party and Fashion Show at the Lusignan Golf course this Sunday and all proceeds will go towards that tour.

At the event, models will showcase pieces designed by Sonia Noel, Lorane Sears, Vanda Allicock ,Veronica Glenn and hats by Melba La Gadoue.

Tickets are available at Makin’ Style Boutique, Courtyard Mall or check out the Foundation’s Facebook page for details on how to support this tour.

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, march 23, 2018

A

fter a hiatus for over three years, the Miss Linden Pageant is back under the theme “the dawning of a magnificent beginning” as part of the annual Linden Town Week celebration. This year’s pageant is being coordinated by Crystal Lam Designs and

will see seven delegates competing for the coveted crown of Miss Linden 2018.

As part of their platforms, delegates chose themes that coincided with the Linden Mayor and Town Council’s vision of a green economy, such as clean transportation, renewable

Contestant # 1 Name: Melita Antigua DOB: 15/09/1999 Community: One Mile Height: 168cm Hair colour: Black Eye colour: Brown Age: 18 Brief personality summary Antigua’s goals are to complete her studies at the Cyril Potter College of Education and to open an ice cream shop. This beauty spends her free time interacting with children from her community and enjoys cooking scrumptious meals.

Should Antigua become the next Miss Linden, she will strive to put a stop to littering, promote reforestation, and reduce the use of motor vehicle carbon emissions, thus reducing global warming.

Contestant # 7 Name: Chrisann Stephens DOB:01/07/1993 Community: Blueberry Hill Height:157cm Hair colour: Brown and Black Eye colour: Brown Brief personality summary Chrisann Stephens is an audiologist who is aspiring to become a doctor in Audiology.

This beauty spends time reading stories to patients of the Paediatric Ward of the Linden Hospital Complex.

Should Stephens win the title, she will strive to work with the relevant authorities to structure a feeding programme for each school and to educate young women and men on the importance of completing school.

Brief personality summary Natasha English is an aspiring therapist, who enjoys belly dancing and reading exotic novels; she prides herself as a renowned chef. Should English win, it will be an honour and a privilege to wear the crown but to bring about change through her platform.

Brief personality summary Nikita Boyce is a jovial yet respectable young woman who is working towards become an entrepreneur. This gorgeous young woman enjoys modelling, dancing and interacting with

young people.

Should Boyce become the next Miss Linden she will strive to work along with relevant authorities to create a centre for school dropouts and to educate the youths on the importance of staying in school.

T

he Indian High Commission will host its second annual sari draping demonstration and exhibition on Sunday, March 25 at the Pegasus Hotel.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam explained that while many Guyanese women are willing to wear a sari, they are afraid of the difficulties of draping it.

However, he noted that it is quite simple to do and the demonstrations at the exhibition will be a testimony to that.

“People are fond of wearing a sari, but in today’s generation, they don’t know how to wear saris so we thought we will at least make an attempt to tell them that wearing [a] sari is not all that complicated,” he explained.

Mahalingam highlighted that there will be a variety of

T

suing studies in Portuguese. Her breakout song “Come Over”, which is receiving rave reviews, is arranged

by Bonny Alves, produced by Bonny Alves and Charmaine Blackman and recorded mixed and mastered at SSignal Studio. The track is a prelude

to her soon to be released 10-track album.

She is also a part of the new CineGuyana Movie ANKOKO presently in production. The beautiful Nikita loves socialising as she brings a smile to everyone’s face.

amounting to over $1.5 million will be shared among the queen, 1st runner-up, 2nd runner-up, Miss Congeniality, best smile, Miss Fitness, Miss Photogenic, Miss Intelligence, best evening gown, Miss Green and best talent.

Contestant # 3 Name: Lynesha Barclay DOB: 16/07/99 Community: Amelia’s Ward Height: 167cm Hair colour: Dark Brown Eye colour: Brown Age: 18 Brief personality summary Lynesha Barclay is currently pursuing her studies at the Cyril Potter College of Education.

This simple, yet unique melanin beauty, likes to push herself out of her comfort zone to achieve all that she can in her youthful stage.

Barclay says if she should be the next Miss Linden she will advocate for employment opportunities on behalf of her town.

Contestant # 6 Name: Ju Dyaha Simon Community: Silvertown Height: 162cm Hair colour: Black Eye colour: Brown Age: 19

Contestant # 5 Name: Nikita Boyce DOB: 05/08/1994 Address: Amelia’s Ward Height: 158cm Hair colour: Black Eye colour: Brown Age: 23

Ignacio-Ferguson set to launch her debut album on April 28 wenty-two-year-old Nikita Ignacio-Ferguson is a member of Signal Productions and is the newest talented artiste out of Kuru Kururu on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

She is a singer/songwriter who plays the guitar and is currently pur-

pool side while the intelligence segment will be held live on Wednesday, April 18 on the National Communications Network (NCN). The grand finale is set for Saturday, April 21, at the McKenzie Sport Complex Ground.

On the final night, all prizes

Contestant # 2: Name: Natasha English DOB: 10/20/91 Community: Amelia’s Ward Height: 161cm Hair colour: Black Age: 26

Contestant # 4 Name: Cavern Hinds DOB: 09/08/1997 Community: Amelia’s Ward Height: 164cm Hair colour: Brown Eye colour: Brown Age: 20 Brief personality summary Cavern Hinds is the former President of Youths for Change (Linden) and is currently pursuing her studies in Computer Science and plans to further her studies at the University of Guyana in coming months.

This beauty enjoys volunteering, helping the less fortunate and advocating on behalf of youths during her leisure time.

Should Hinds become the next Miss Linden, she will strive to develop the agriculture sector in Linden and Guyana as a whole.

energy, agro-processing, etc.

The competition will include a community project, as well as a talent, recycled wear, swimwear, evening gown and intelligence segments.

The swimwear segment is set for Sunday, April 15, at the Toucan Mall

17

Brief personality summary Ju Dyaha Simon is a petite model who spends her leisure time reading to the differently able. When not engaging in such activities, she loves dancing and singing. This 19-year-old dreams of becoming the next Miss Linden 2018 and alludes it would be an honour and privilege to serve her community as an ambassador for Linden while using her platform “a green economy” to make Linden a greener ecofriendly town.

saris on display, which are popular in India and commonly worn on an everyday basis.

The event, which is associated with Namaste India, is expected to feature an Indian tea and wine tasting, display of Indian spices, cosmetics and fashionable jewellery and henna designs.

However, the signature event will include the exhibition of exotic saris and the sari draping and demonstration.

The exhibition is scheduled to commence at 11:00h. Meanwhile, the main attraction will kick off at 18:00h with an Indian cultural show. Admission to the event is free of cost.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, march 23, 2018

Around the World

ABLP returned to Government Trump announces US$50B in China tariffs after early elections in Antigua

US President Donald Trump

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he United States plans to impose tariffs on about US$50 billion in Chinese goods and limit the country's investment activity in the US as payback for what it alleges is years of intellectual property theft.

The White House said the actions are a necessary step to counter unfair competition from China's Stateled economy.

It said years of talks about the issue failed to produce change.

China said it was ready to retaliate with "necessary

measures".

The back-and-forth, following other trade penalties the Trump Administration has imposed on foreign goods such as steel and aluminium, has raised the spectre of a trade war.

US stock markets sank ahead of the announcement on Thursday, but pared losses as the President seemed to indicate his willingness to negotiate.

US President Donald Trump said he was looking for "reciprocal" trade terms for American companies.

"We've spoken to China

and we're in the midst of a very large negotiation," he said at the White House as he signed a memo regarding the activities. "We'll see where it takes us."

The tariffs follow an investigation of Chinese policies that US President Donald Trump ordered in August.

The White House said the review, called a 301 investigation, found a range of "unfair" practices, including using restrictions on foreign ownership that pressure companies into transferring technology.

The US also found evidence that China imposed unfair terms on US companies; steered investments in the US to strategic industries; and conducted and supported cyberattacks.

The White House said it has prepared a list of more than 1000 products that could be targeted by tariffs.

Businesses will have the opportunity to comment before the final list goes into effect.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

I

t wasn’t the clean sweep he was hoping for, but Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Wednesday led his Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) into another term in office, winning 15 out of 17 seats in a poll that also featured a victory for his wife who contested her first election, and a defeat for the leader of the main Opposition party.

The preliminary results released by the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) showed that among those winning seats for the ABLP were Maria BirdBrowne, who contested the St John’s Rural East seat that had been held by her uncle, Sir Lester Bird before his retirement from active politics.

But leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP) Harold Lovell and his deputy, Wilmoth Daniel, were not so fortunate.

They both lost their races in an election that was called more than a year earlier than constitutionally due.

In the one constituency won by the UPP – All Saints East and St Luke’s constituency – ABLP candidate Colin James challenged the result after losing by 10 votes to Jamal Pringle. However, after a recount, Pringle was confirmed the winner.

Trevor Walker of the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) – which had formed an alliance with the UPP going into the elections – defeated incumbent Arthur Nibbs of the ABLP to become the representative for the sister isle.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne led his Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) into a second consecutive election victory

Browne told supporters Thursday morning that it was not time to “gloat about the victory”. Instead, he encouraged all parties to “cooperate toward the betterment of Antigua and Barbuda” and to forego “the division of politics” in order to “reunite” the nation following a swift but divisive campaign.

“Whereas we have our differences, I say to you that those differences should not result in any form of permanent division.

So we must be able to forgive those who would’ve offended us. There were many offences during this campaign, but at the same time, I say to you that uniting this country is quintessential to its socioeconomic development,” he said.

“We have to bring all the people together.” Browne declared Thursday a public holiday. (Excerpt from caribbean360)

Fly Jamaica Airlines employee 11 jailed for life over India 'beef' murder nabbed with cocaine at airport in New York

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crew member on Fly Jamaica Airways recently discovered that he could not get a leg up on US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in his attempt to transport illegal drugs into the United States.

Jamaican Hugh Hall was nabbed with cocaine tapped to his legs at the John F Kennedy International Airport (JKF) last weekend, CBP revealed in a statement issued on Wednesday.

He had arrived at JFK from Montego Bay, Jamaica on March 17, and presented himself for inspection. Hall was escorted to a private search room where CBP officers discovered the four packages, all of which contained a white powder that tested positive for cocaine.

The cocaine seized weighed about nine pounds and had an approximate street value of US$160,000.

Hall was arrested for the importation of a controlled

substance and was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations.

“This seizure is another example of our CBP officers being ever vigilant in protecting the United States from the distribution of illicit drugs,” said acting Director of CBP’s New York Field Operations, Leon Hayward.

Hall faces federal narcotics smuggling charges. (Excerpt from caribbean360)

Cow vigilante groups often check vehicles for illegal transportation of cows in many states

A

court in the northern Indian state of Jharkhand has sentenced 11 men to life in prison for lynching a Muslim meat trader last year.

Alimuddin Ansari, 55, was beaten to death by the men for transporting beef.

This is the first time India has convicted anyone for “cow vigilantism”, de-

spite a spate of attacks on Muslim meat traders in the last few years.

Hindus consider cows sacred and killing them is illegal in several states, including Jharkhand.

Incidents of cow vigilantism have become increasingly common in India, but Police investigations have often led to acquittals of those accused.

Twelve men were arrested over Ansari’s murder but the court deferred its decision on the 12th accused, who is reported to be a juvenile. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Syria war: First rebels leave Deadly car bomb blast rocks defeated Eastern Ghouta town

Somalia's capital Mogadishu S

yrian rebels and their families are being evacuated from a key town in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region as part of an agreement with the Government.

Buses carrying 1480 people, including 600 Ahrar al-Sham rebels, drove out of Harasta as night fell, en

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t least 14 people have been killed in a car bomb blast outside a popular hotel in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, according to a Government official.

The explosion on Thursday happened near Weheliye hotel on the busy Maka Al-Mukarrama Road.

A spokesman for the Somali Interior Ministry confirmed the death toll to Al Jazeera, adding that 10 others were wounded in the blast.

Witnesses at the scene said the powerful blast struck a street filled with civilians.

“Most of the casualties are ... people who were spending time to take tea, there was devastation and buildings were damaged,”

route to the rebel-held northern province of Idlib.

A military source said hundreds more were expected to follow on Friday.

The evacuation deal is the first agreed since the offensive on the Eastern Ghouta was stepped up a month ago.

A monitoring group says the air and ground assault

has killed 1500 civilians, injured 5300 others, and forced 82,000 to flee in recent days.

Government soldiers and allied militiamen have driven rebel forces out of about 70 per cent of the region, cutting it into three pockets – one of them around Harasta. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Trump's top Russia lawyer John Dowd resigns The powerful explosion struck a busy street filled with civilians, witnesses said [Feisal Omar/Reuters]

Mohamednur Abdirahman told AFP News Agency.

“The blast was so huge, a vehicle containing explosives went off near a teashop in front of Weheliye hotel, leaving more than

10 people dead. I saw people being rushed to hospital and some of them were already dead,” another witness, Abdulahi Moalim, told AFP. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

U

S President Donald Trump’s lead lawyer for the special counsel investigation into Russia interference in the 2016 election has resigned, US media reported.

John Dowd, 77, is reported to have concluded that Trump was increasingly ignoring his advice.

Other reports say Trump

had lost confidence in Dowd’s ability to handle special counsel Robert Mueller.

In an email to news outlets, Dowd wrote: “I love the President and wish him well.”

The special counsel is investigating possible links between Trump’s associates and Russia, as well as whether the President has

obstructed the inquiry.

Last week, Dowd called on the Department of Justice to immediately shut down Mueller’s investigation – initially saying that he was speaking for the President. But he later clarified that he was speaking for himself and not on Trump’s behalf. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, March 23, 2018

19

ARCHIE

Be aware of what everyone around you is doing.

(March 21Don’t share your personal seApril 19) crets or anything that may be used against you. Protect, reflect and pinpoint your goal.

ARIES

Take the past into acTAURUS count. The experience you (April 20- have had will help you avoid May 20) making the same mistake again. Don’t share secrets or get involved in other people’s affairs.

dilbert

The things you do for othGEMINI (May 21- ers should be carried out with June 20) no expectation of recompense.

Genuine generosity will be satisfying and will eventually lead to an unexpected surprise.

Make creative endeavors your priority, and spend less (June 21- time discussing other peoJuly 22) ple’s private affairs. If someone has trusted you with information, it’s best to keep it to yourself.

CANCER

Peanuts

Helping someone in need LEO or a cause you believe in will (July 23- make you feel good and give Aug. 22) you a better understanding of how you can use your skills to make a difference.

Calvin and Hobbes

Keep a close watch over VIRGO what others do and say. You’ll (Aug. 23be surprised by the lack of Sept. 22) honesty and integrity shown by someone. Don’t leave anything to chance. Preparation is in your best interest.

Don’t lose out because LIBRA (Sept. 23- you aren’t informed. It’s up Oct. 23) to you to ask questions and sort through any pertinent reading material you can find. Read the fine print before making a commitment.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — ADROIT

SUDOKU

Pour your heart out to SAGITTARIUS someone you care about.

(Nov. 23Your words and gestures Dec. 21) will make a difference that will change the dynamics of a relationship. Honesty is encouraged.

(ADROIT: uh-DROYT: Dexterous; deft; skillful.)

Average mark 13 words Time limit 25 minutes Can you find 18 or more words in ADROIT? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — CERAMICS came care caries case circa cire cram cream cries crime emir race racism raise

ramie rase ream rice rime rise acme acre amice amir arise armies arms mace

marc mare maser mecca mesa mesic mica mice mire miser same sari scam scar

scarce scare scram scream scrim seam sear semi serac sire smear

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

A change at work will alSCORPIO low you to take advantage of (Oct. 24one of your skills that you’d Nov. 22) like to use more. Don’t be shy; let others know what you have to offer.

solution for Puzzle

Joint money ventures CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- are discouraged. Someone Jan. 19) will withhold information to avoid looking bad. Emotional tactics will be used to distract you. Don’t share personal information or passwords.

Getting together with AQUARIUS someone you haven't seen in (Jan. 20- a long time will bring back Feb. 19) fond memories as well as past dreams. Consider resurrecting an old plan with a new twist.

Trust in what's tangible.

PISCES (Feb. 20- Make sure you have evidence March 20) to back up your views before you get into a discussion with someone who tends to be manipulative or misleading.

20

friDAY, march 23, 2018

ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers…

UAE beat Zimbabwe in thriller – all but eliminate hosts

U

nited Arab Emirates entered their final game of the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier with little more than pride to play for, having lost all their games against the other Super Sixes sides up to this point. But they played as if there was much more at stake, beating Zimbabwe by three runs in a pulsating game that all but knocked the hosts out of qualification contention.

Only an unlikely low-scoring tie between Ireland and Afghanistan in the final Super Sixes fixture on Friday can still send Zimbabwe through.

It was a game that swayed to and fro with neither side ever holding the ascendancy for long.

Zimbabwe drew first blood having won the toss and chosen to bowl, the dismissal of Ashfaq Ahmed (10) coming as early as the fourth over, but that was the only bit of

cheer they had for a while.

Rohan Mustafa, the captain, supported the excellent Ghulam Shabber in a 74-run stand for the second wicket.

The pair were never bogged down; they played positively, kept the scoreboard moving and, when given the chance, they looked for the

ropes.

The 50-run mark of their partnership came up in the 14th over, but as is so often the case, a drinks break was followed by a breakthrough – Sikandar Raza trapping Mustafa in front as he attempted a reverse sweep for 31.

Player of the Match Mohammad Naveed grabbed 3-40 to claim his reward

Eoin Morgan to captain ICC World XI against Windies T

Eoin Morgan

he International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday, announced that England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan will lead an ICC World XI in a T20I against the Windies at Lord’s on May 31, 2018.

The game will raise funds for two stadiums in the Caribbean that were damaged following Hurricanes Irma and Maria last year.

Defending ICC World T20 Champions, the Windies will face what is expected to be a very strong World XI side with Morgan at the helm and the England captain is relishing the prospect: "I am delighted to captain the ICC World XI at Lord’s in May against the West Indies,” said Morgan.

"The cricket family always comes together to support worthwhile causes

and this one-off T20I, featuring some of the best players in the world will be a great spectacle at the home of cricket.

"I am sure the sporting public will come out in force and help raise money and awareness towards restoring parts of the Caribbean hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September last year, which ripped through many communities in this beautiful part of the world."

Tickets for the match, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, are available from just £20 for adults and £10 for children at www. lords.org./tickets.

“Eoin Morgan as captain is a wonderful first name on the ICC World XI team sheet and in due course we’ll have more players from around the world lending their support to what I’m sure will be a highly entertaining and competitive day of cricket at Lord’s in May.”

One wicket brought two, Raza striking again as Shabber looked to sweep but exposed his middle stump and was bowled for a 40. At this point, UAE were 106/3, but Shahzad and Shaiman Anwar compiled another partnership to frustrate the home side and the sizeable crowd that had gathered at the stadium.

There were no boundaries for a while as the two batsmen focused on settling down and rotating the strike, but Shahzad got going in the 31st over. He found the fence off both Sean Williams and Blessing Muzarabani, the former even being taken for an inside-out six over cover.

Shahzad brought up his half-century off just 51 balls and looked for more, but was done in by the extra bounce of Tendai Chatara and sliced a skier to cover, precipitating a slide from 180/3 to 198/6 before the tail wagged.

Mohammad Naveed, who scored an enterprising 45 against Afghanistan in the previous game, once again swung his bat around, hammering three consecutive boundaries off Kyle Jarvis.

Zimbabwe’s nerves were evident when Raza then dropped a high ball soon after, before the rain came to bring a premature end to the UAE innings, the Asian side having made a creditable 235/7 from 47.5 overs.

After a long and nervy delay – a wash-out would have effectively eliminated Zimbabwe – it was confirmed they would have to chase 230 from 40 overs.

Their pursuit started badly as they slipped to 18/2 within five overs, Mohammad Naveed beating both openers for pace. The first, Solomon Mire, was rushed into top-edging a hook, while the second, Hamilton Masakadza, was bowled by one that kept low and cut back in.

When Brendan Taylor, the tournament's leading run-scorer, fell with the score on 45, and with the run rate becoming cause for concern, the situation looked dire for Zimbabwe. But slowly through PJ Moor and Sean Williams, who added 59 in 16 overs, and then quickly through Williams and Raza, who added 61 in 6.5 overs, they clawed their way back into contention.

Williams' innings was particularly heroic, with the middle-order batsman bat-

tling cramp for large parts of it as he and Zimbabwe began to feel the heat, and when he fell for a run-aball 80 the game was in the balance, with 24 needed off three overs.

UAE applied the squeeze, especially Amir Hayat, who bowled the penultimate over and conceded just four.

Zimbabwe found the boundary just once more in their innings after the dismissal of Williams but some good running kept them just about in the hunt with 16 needed off the last.

Naveed, who had started so well with that two-wicket burst, bowled the final over.

A sliced four through third man f r o m C r a i g Ervine and a couple of singles m a d e the equation six needed off the final ball.

Ervine swung, miscued, and Zimbabwe's hopes were virtually extinguished, with the winner of Afghanistan's game against Ireland on

Friday 23 March set to qualify in their place.

Zimbabwe's Sean Williams during his innings of 80 against UAE

SCOREBOARD

United Arab Emirates Innings Rohan Mustafa (c) lbw b Sikandar Raza 31 Ashfaq Ahmed c †Taylor b Chatara 10 Ghulam Shabber † b Sikandar Ra za 40 Rameez Shahzad c Cremer b Chatara 59 Shaiman Anwar c Muzarabani b Sikandar Raza 33 Muhammad Usman c Ervine b Williams 04 Adnan Mufti not out 10 Ahmed Raza c Mire b Muzarabani 08 Mohammad Naveed not out 22 Extras (lb 4, w 14) 18 TOTAL (47.5 Overs) 235-7 Did not bat: Amir Hayat, Qadeer Ahmed Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Ashfaq Ahmed, 3.3 ov), 2-92 (Rohan Mustafa, 20.2 ov), 3-106 (Ghulam Shabber, 24.1 ov), 4-180 (Rameez Shahzad, 38.5 ov), 5-194 (Muhammad Usman, 41.3 ov), 6-198 (Shaiman Anwar, 42.4 ov), 7-211 (Ahmed Raza, 45.4 ov) Bowling- Jarvis (8-2-38-0), Chatara (7-0-49-2), Muzarabani (7.5-1-40-1), Sikandar Raza (10-0-41-3), Cremer (10-1-34-0),

Williams (5-0-29-1)

Zimbabwe Innings (target: 230 runs from 40 overs) SF Mire c Shaiman Anwar b Mohammad Naveed 06 H Masakadza b Mohammad Naveed 07 PJ Moor c Adnan Mufti b Qadeer Ahmed 39 BRM Taylor †b Ahmed Raza 15 SC Williams c Amir Hayat b Rohan Mustafa 80 Sikandar Raza c Shaiman Anwar b Rohan Mustafa 34 CR Ervine not out 22 AG Cremer (c) b Mohammad Naveed 0 KM Jarvis not out 06 Extras (lb 8, nb 1, w 8) 17 TOTAL (40 Overs, RR: 5.65) 226/7 Yet to bat: TL Chatara, B Muzarabani Fall of wickets: 1-6 (SF Mire, 2.1 ov), 2-18 (H Masakadza, 4.6 ov), 3-45 (BRM Taylor, 11.4 ov), 4-124 (PJ Moor, 27.4 ov), 5-185 (Sikandar Raza, 34.3 ov), 6-206 (SC Williams, 36.6 ov), 7-209 (AG Cremer, 37.4 ov) BOWLING- Naveed (8-0-403), Ahmed (8-0-38-1), Hayat (8-0-47-0), Raza (8-0-371), Mustafa (8-0-56-2)

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21

GABA 2018 Knockout B-ball Tournament…

Colts, Guardians

sweep Divisions finals I n game two of the under-23 and First Divisions finals played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Wednesday evening, Colts and Guardians both won to claim the titles of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) Knockout Tournament.

The three-game series saw Colts follow up their 6859 win against Nets in the first division on Monday with a comfortable 86-62 win on Wednesday night.

Skipper Shelroy Thomas led from the front with 20 points while Stanton Rose (15 points) and Sheldon Thomas’ contributions were vital for Colts’ blowout against a tired looking Nets team. Hodayah Stewart led

the opposition with 15 points but it was not near enough.

Meanwhile, the under-23 division finals’ second game saw Guardians sink Pacesetters 65-51. In game one, Guardians won in similar fashion, 73-59.

Guardians’ Terrence Daniels finished the tournament with another strong performance while their skipper and center (C) Akeem Crandon was equally important with an impactful performance during the win.

The Guardians under-23 team composes their second division squad that defeated Colts on Tuesday night, hence the group of players competing three consecutive nights and yet appeared too much for Pacesetters.

Colts! The First Division Knockout champs

Squash action heats up in Skill Tourney A

ction continued on Wednesday evening when the Guyana Squash Association’s (GSA) Toucan Distributors Junior Skill Level Tournament continued at the Georgetown Club Inc. courts.

Headlining the day was the Category B encounter between, Kirsten Gomes and Madison Fernandes who provided the highlight clash of the evening, treating fans and spectators to an exciting match. Gomes won a close first game 11-9 and then took the second game 11-6. Madison then bounced back to win the third game 11-8 before going up 11-7.

Madison then jumped out to an early three love lead in the fifth game but Kirsten won the next two points to close within one point. Madison again went up by three points to lead 5 - 2 but Kirsten rallied to win the next four points to lead 6-5.

Madison won the next point to even the score at six and from that point the game went back and forth but Kirsten, eventually closed out the fifth game 119.

Category B’s action also saw Demetrius De Abreu picking up two wins after beating James Mekdeci by three games to nil, 11 - 5, 11 - 2, 11 - 7 before whipping Lucas Jonas three nil, 11 -

7, 11 - 5, 11 - 9.

Meanwhile, in category D; Teija Edwards proved too strong for a much improved Joshua Verway winning the first game 11 - 7. The next two games proved to be nail bitters with Teija being victorious

in both, winning 13 - 11, 15 - 13.

Matches continue daily at the Georgetown Club courts starting at 6.00pm with the finals being scheduled for Saturday March 24, 2018 at 5.00pm.

Results of all the matches played on Wednesday were as follows.

Category G Safirah Sumner beat Lashaunte Berkley 11 – 9, 12 - 10 Tianna Gomes beat Thandi Dean 11 – 4, 11 – 9 Category F Christiana Fernandes beat Demetri Lowe 7 – 11, 11 – 3, 11 – 6 Noah Rahaman beat Malia Maikoo 11 – 13, 11 – 5, 11 – 2 Kaden Pynaendy defeated Grant Fernandes 11 – 9, 12 – 10 Monisha Persaud defeated Keenan Naraine 11 – 5, 11 – 4 Category E Rayad Boyce beat Aram Chan 11 – 7, 11 – 4 Javed Saul beat Arvin Seelall 12 – 10, 7 – 11, 14 – 12 Lajuan Munroe defeated Angel Rahim 11 – 6, 11 - 6 Category D Teija Edwards beat Joshua Verwey 11 – 7, 13 – 11, 15 - 13 Category B Demetrius De Abreu defeated James Mekdeci 11 – 5, 11 – 2, 11 – 7 Demetrius De Abreu beat Lucas Jonas 11 – 7, 11 – 5, 11 – 9 Kirsten Gomes beat Madison Fernandes 11 – 9, 11 - 6, 8 – 11, 7 – 11, 11 - 9

Elizabeth Styles U-21 Tourney bowls off on Saturday in Berbice

T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Inter-Club Cricket season bowls off on Saturday with the hosting of the first round of the Elizabeth Styles Under-21 Cricket Tournament at venues across the Ancient County.

The Tourney involves 19 teams and will be the second Under-21 Tournament organised by the BCB in its 79year history. In 2012, the first competition of such was held with Blairmont Cricket Club emerging as Champions.

Sponsor of this 50-over tournament is Elizabeth Styles, an American-based Cosmetics Company.

This event is opened to players born on or after the September 1, 1997. It bowls off at 09:30 hours on scheduled days.

BCB President Hilbert Foster stated that the Tournament would serve as a bridge between the Under-19 and First Division levels while it would encourage Under-19 players to prolong their playing careers as some normally quit after completing their junior career.

He is also urging Clubs to avoid bringing players from across the country as the Board is organising tournaments to develop cricketing skills in Berbice.

Teams are also reminded that their players must be attired in white clothing and walkovers are effective if a team fails to turn up half of an hour after the scheduled start while any team who fails to complete the fixtures, will be debarred from other junior tournaments in 2018.

The second round of matches is scheduled for Sunday April 1, 2018.

The fixtures for the opening round on Saturday 24th March, 2018, are: * Blairmont vs. Young Achievers (Blairmont Gnd) * Bush Lot Rising Star vs. D’Edward (D’Edward Gnd) * Bush Lot United vs. Paradise (Paradise Gnd) * Tucber Park vs. Kendall’s Union (Kendall’s Union Gnd) * Rose Hall Canje vs. Young Warriors (Rose Hall Canje Gnd) * Albion Cricket Club vs. Port Mourant (Albion Gnd) * Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets vs Whim (Whim Gnd) * Kildonan Cricket Club vs. Tamarind Root (Hampshire Gnd) * Ramnarine Memorial vs. Big Star (Bush Lot Gnd) * Upper Corentyne – rewarded Bye to next round

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friDAY, march 23, 2018

RHTY&SC teams assist in their

"DareProgramme to Dream"

T

he Rose Hall Town Gismos & Gadgets Under-21 and First Division Teams continue to reach out to Students and Non-Governmental Organisation across Berbice with donations of trophies, medals and educational materials.

The donations were made under the teams’ Dare to Dream Programme, which seeks to assist youths to aim to fulfill their full potentials in the classroom and in sports. They donated $120 000.00 worth of trophies and medals to six Secondary School Students, six NGOs and two Churches.

One of the Students receiving the donations was 18-year old Trolston Embrack of Belair Village, West Coast, Berbice.

Embrack, a student of the New Amsterdam Secondary School is preparing to write the subject of Physical Education Unit 2 at the upcoming CAPE exams. The determined stu-

dent who hopes to have a career in the Physical Fitness Department is tasked at organising a One-day InterSchool Cricket Tournament at the Rose Hall Welfare Community Centre as part of the r e q u i r e ment of the Examination.

Six teams

i n cluding the New Amsterdam Secondary School are involved in the tournament. He sought the assistance of the two cricket teams and received three trophies. Five other students drawn from across Berbice also received assistance as they strive to fulfill their dreams of being successful at the CXC and

CAPE levels.

The two teams also contributed trophies to eight Non-Governmental Organisations and Churches.

Among those receiving were the Flying Ace Cycling Club of New Amsterdam and No. 53 Sports Club led by Jean Dorsett. The trophies d o nated to the Flying Ace Cycling Club are to be used in a race organised in honour of the Mayor of New Amsterdam while the No. 53 Sports Club would use their trophies for a Memorial Day of Sports in honour of Dorsett’s husband.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that since its formation in 1990, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC)

has been very passionate in assisting others as it strongly believes that Sports is the best avenue in keeping youths off the road.

As Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, RHTY&SC wants all other Clubs to join in at the top and most importantly keep youths away from drugs, crime and alcohol.

The long serving Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Official urged Embrack, success in his exams and expressed confidence that the New Amsterdam Secondary School Student would be successful. He urged the attentive student to work hard as it is the only path to success and to also develop a habit of reaching out to those less fortunate than him.

Embrack, in response expressed gratitude to the Management and Members of the Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets Teams for their assistance and pledged to make them proud with his exams results. He

Kevin Sinclair and Keith Simpson of the Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets Under-21 Team make a donation to Trolston Embrack of New Amsterdam Secondary School

wished both teams success on the cricket field as they prepared for a very busy 2018 Berbice Cricket Board Season.

Cycling Coach Randolph Roberts of the Flying Ace Cycling Club also expressed words of gratitude to the RHTY&SC for its continuing support of cycling in the Ancient County while Mrs.

Dorsett of No. 53 stated that the Club was a remarkable organisation which is a true friend of every sport club in Berbice.

The Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets Under-21 Team in 2018 will be led by Kevin Sinclair while former National Under-19 Captain Shawn Pereira is in charge of the First Division Team.

‘FireSide Grill N Chill’ on board

Hairoun Beer 7s Rugby Tournament

H

arvard Rugby Club will arrive in Guyana today ahead

of Saturday’s showdown at the National Park, in the Guyana Rugby Football

Union (GRFU)/Hairoun Beer Sevens tournament.

Claudius Butts, the lone

Rawle Toney, GRFU’s Vice President (right) receives FireSide Grill N Chill’s sponsorship from Ms Deodat, at the entity’s Garnett Street location

Guyanese on the club, stated that the team has been in preparation for their trip to Guyana since last year, and as such, will be taking the tournament seriously, but at the same time coming to have fun.

Butts, a long-standing member Guyana’s Sevens and 15s National Rugby Teams, is one of the most recognizable figures in the sport and he highlighted his excitement of playing against his ‘Green Machine’ teammates.

The Winger named Wayne Kelly, Shaquille

Dyte, Keston Earl and Nigel Barrington; all national players of Trinidad and Tobago, who will be making the journey with Harvard Rugby Club to compete against Pepsi Hornets, Yamaha Caribs, Guyana Police Falcons, Panthers and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

With $200,000 set as the winner’s purse, this will be the most lucrative rugby tournament ever held in Guyana, and Butts believes the attractive prize money will no doubt bring out the best in the players.

“This is a touring team and the guys have been putting in some work to come to Guyana and put on a good show. They will be taking this very serious and are coming here to win, but at the same time, we want to have fun, so it will be good for people to really come out and see some good rugby on Saturday,” Butts said.

Meanwhile, yesterday, the GRFU benefited from more corporate for the event, when ‘FireSide Grill N Chill’ handed over an undisclosed sum.

The entity, located on Garnett Street, Georgetown, known for their tantalizing and tasty grill food, noted that when approach, they were more than willing to help what they deem as one as the country’s most successful disciplines. This is their first time sponsoring Rugby and pointed it that it will not be their last.

Rawle Toney, the GRFU’s Vice President, upon receiving the sponsorship, thanked ‘FireSide Grill N Chill’ for their support, calling it a timely one.

The tournament will ‘scrum off’ at 11:00hrs and the team finishing second will receive $100,000 and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) will pocket $20,000.

friDAY, march 23, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Top Brandz backs

Faye Joseph million dollar domino tourney

Parker a bigger allround threat than Wilder, says Joshua B

T

op Brandz distributors through its Hairoun Beer; have thrown their support behind the Guyana National Dominoes Federation (GNDF) 5th annual Faye Joseph million-dollar tournament; set to bang off on Good Friday Night.

The official venture between the federation and Top Brandz; distributors of the popular Corona Beer brand, took place at the company’s Broad Street head office, where GNDF President Faye Joseph along with members of her federation, received the sponsorship cheque from Marvin

Wray, Beer Manager of Top Brandz.

The event’s Brainchild, Joseph, said she expects a bigger turnout than ever as teams from Linden, Berbice and Essequibo will participate while international teams from Barbados, Canada, Colombia and others are set to spice up the tournament.

With their hands in Football, Rugby and other popular beats; Wray pointed out that his company has been doing much for sports as of late and they will continue to do so, regardless of the sport in question.

Wray said the move to

support the federation came after carrying out successful assessments of the support for the sport. He said they have identified the domino fraternity as one that needs the boost as they have been keeping the passion and love for the sport going for years in Guyana while striving to make it an international event.

First prize is $500,000; Second - $300,000; third $200,000, with winners each receiving trophies and medals. Meanwhile, Registration fee for the event has been reduced to $20,000 as compared to before when it was $40,000.

Chanderpaul, main attraction in Masters friendly

S

hivnarine Chanderpaul was the main attraction when Parika Masters hosted Everest Masters in a friendly cricket match at the Parika Saleem Ground.

T h e visitors won t h e toss and opted to bat in the 25-overs per side contest but the main attraction was sent back early after being bowled for three.

However, the nice gathering of

Guyana and West Indian Cricket legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul

spectators stayed with the action and saw Everest Masters post 169 for 7 with Sahadeo Hardaiow top scoring with 60 while Saheed Mohamed had 24. The hosts’ main destroyer with the ball was A. Fredericks who picked up 5 – 7.

In reply, Parika were pegged back when Chanderpaul and Hardaiow picked up two wickets each early to set the cat among the pigeons.

However, B. Singh stood firm for his 60 runs and almost saw his team home. The game was very close with Parika needing four runs from four balls with the last pair at the crease. Everest then sent down a wide that went past the wicketkeeper and into the boundary to hand Parika the win by one wicket as they ended on 171 for 9.

Rakesh Gangaram and Ronald Jaisingh also picked up two wickets each for the visitors.

The day's event was organized and sponsored by Everest player, Imtiaz Sadik who also presented the Guyanese batting legend, Chanderpaul with a plaque for keeping his promise of playing the match.

After the presentation ceremony, the crowd stayed on and took the opportunity to get photos with their hero who more than happy to partake.

Interested teams are also asked to contact members of the GNDF for further information regarding the competition, while registration will commence from 11:00am on Easter Saturday.

The Faye Joseph Million Dollar event which started back in 2014 is the biggest international dominoes event held in Guyana and will be played at the President’s residence located at 1222 Gaulding Place, South Ruimveldt Gardens.

(Clifton Ross)

23

ritain’s Anthony Joshua says his next opponent, WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, is a more well-rounded fighter than Deontay Wilder and does not appear overly impressed with the WBC belt holder’s recent win over Luis Ortiz.

Joshua holds the WBA, IBF and IBO crowns and boasts a perfect 20-0 record.

The 28-year-old has exchanged jibes with American Wilder, who has won all 40 of his fights.

But while many boxing fans are talking up a clash between the two, Joshua says he is looking no further than New Zealander Parker.

“Parker is a better all-rounder,” Joshua told reporters at his training camp. “He has a good left hook, right hand, he wings a right to the body, he likes a

left hook to the body. I haven’t seen Wilder throw that many body shots.

“Wilder relies on the right hand. There has never been one champion in the heavyweight division that relied solely on power and one punch ... Parker has an all-round game. That is what makes it a dangerous fight.”

Wilder retained his title with a win against Ortiz this month but Joshua was not dazzled by his rival’s victory over the 38-year-old Cuban.

“When he won, I just thought he’s supposed to do that,” Joshua said, adding, “... by my 40th fight, no one should be giving me problems. By my 40th fight, I should be a seasoned professional.”

Joshua will fight Parker at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on March 31. (Reuters)

friDAY, march 23, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 23

Top Brandz backs Faye Joseph million dollar domino tourney GNDF President Faye Joseph accepts the sponsorship cheque from Top Brandz executive Marvin Wray (Clifton Ross Photo)

Pg 21

ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers…

UAE beat Zimbabwe in thriller

– all but eliminate hosts

The UAE cricket team celebrates winning the World Cricket League Division 2 title after beating Nepal in the final. They advance to the next phase of qualifying in Zimbabwe in March ( Photo Courtesy ICC)

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