Guyanatime 23 april 2018

Linden Town Week officially opened P

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

Issue No. 3542

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, April 23, 2018

PRICE

Guyana's risk profile elevated as economy sinks deeper into decline – Jagdeo

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

WCD/EBE P13 drainage, road works ongoing

Page 3

Anti-money laundering fight

Cash dogs being sourced from US, Canada Page 7

– Inter-agency cooperation a work in progress – UK advisor

Security guard killed in West Bank accident

Page 8

Police still to question driver following Easter lorry accident P10 Bridge for Peace wraps up medical P12 mission at Linden Hospital

Law Reform Commission

Interview panel to be set up – as establishment gathers steam

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The Guyana Association of Women Police held their Annual Tea Party and Hat Show on Saturday at the Police Officers’ Mess Annex, Eve Leary

Traffic congestion to ease as Good Hope Bridge P11 reopens

Mentallychallenged man remanded for cocaine Page possession 10

Regional procurement breaches linked to P12 corruption, nepotism

State entities

Former Guyoil Manager sets record straight

Page 9 – contradicts Minister’s assertion on lost market share – clears air on sudden departure from State entity

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3 Guyana’s risk profile elevated as economy sinks deeper into decline – Jagdeo news

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, April 23 – 10:30h-12:00h and Tuesday, April 24 – a night-time retraction at 01:00h and a day-time retraction at 11:30h-13:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, April 23 – 10:05h-11:35h and Tuesday, April 24 –11:35h-13:05h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers and light rain showers with cloudy skies can be expected during the morning hours with sunny conditions in the afternoon. Partly cloudy skies will prevail in the evening. Temperatures will range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 6.25 metres.

High Tide: 10:35h and 23:35 reaching maximum heights of 2.25 metres and 2.19 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 04:02h and 16:51h reaching minimum heights of 1.08 metres and 0.93 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, April 21, 2018

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Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

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mid concerns that Guyana is still experiencing difficulties when it comes to foreign money transactions, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said that this situation could worsen as many international banks would not want to do business with Guyana for several new reasons.

While de-risking has been one of the major challenges, Jagdeo said that Guyana’s financial risk profile would be further elevated because of two recent occurrences locally. One has to do with the United States Government in its drug report for 2018 now identifying Government corruption as a primary source of money laundering and two, the borrowing policy of the new Administration.

“That was not there in 2017. They inserted the word Government corruption. Before that it was drug trafficking and money laundering. That pushed up our risk profile in the international banking environment and, therefore, if it was bad, it gets worse,” Jagdeo said, referring to the US report.

The Opposition Leader continued, “Countries look at sustainable management from an economic perspective, both at a micro level and in the banking institutions at the macro level.

Because if you have macro problems, it could lead to balance of payment difficulties, exchange rates moving

that will put their money and correspondent banking relationship at a risk.”

The former President wasted no chance to criticise the Government, therefore, for its plans to borrow US$900 million from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). Jagdeo said based on the admission of the Finance Minister Winston Jordan that US$100 million has been borrowed to date since the coalition took office, when that amount is added to the US$900 million, it adds up to US$1 billion and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) borrowing of US$150 million totals US$1.15 billion.

“Those three elements alone will be more than the entire stock of external outstanding debt of Guyana in 2015 when we left office. So they would have in three to four short years borrowed as much as we left the 23 years in office,” Jagdeo asserted.

But Jordan has claimed that between 1964 and 1992, the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government borrowed less than the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

Jordan said that approximately US$2 billion was borrowed in the 28 years under the PNC, while in the 23 years of PPP/C rule, US$2.6 billion was borrowed. But in fact-checking this information, Jagdeo, a trained economist, said if the PNC left US$2 billion and added US$2.6 billion of PPP/C borrowing that would be US$4.6 billion, but in reality it was US$1.1 billion.

He said, “What it meant is in spite of the fact that we borrowed $2.6 billion, we paid off US$3.5 billion in debt in our period…I am putting this simply because, of course, some of this is interest and principal payments so it’s a bit more complex than. But I’m just aggregating numbers so you can have a clear picture.”

De-risking

Responding to comments

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

made about the de-risking situation faced by Guyana and other countries in the Region, Jagdeo noted that large institutions have been giving up correspondent relationships with many banks in small countries, out of fear that they may be sanctioned or they may have to face this penalty.

He explained that in some instances, the rewards were not great enough and Guyana has been actively fighting this at the regional level. He explained the main reason for doing this is because this policy could take the country back into the ‘financial stone age’ and create more issues for locals.

The Opposition Leader explained that financial intermediation and a healthy financial system were critical to the well-being of any economy. But given Minister Jordan’s recent

statements, he feels that the Minister and by extension, the Government does not see de-risking as a priority. “So, Jordan is not so concerned and deeply involved,” Jagdeo said in response to Jordan’s limited knowledge about which of the local banks were being affected by the correspondent banks in the Region and further afield.

He argued, “The Minister should know this. First of all, he doesn’t know what’s going on with our banks and then the only impact that he could recognise is because he had to put through for himself and it cost him plenty. Rather than being concerned that this could affect every citizen of this country.”

Jordan said Guyana has requested the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to fight de-risking, consistent with the Financial Stability Board’s four-point plan.

The Finance Minister said that this plan includes a further examination of the issue, clarification of regulatory expectations, capacity-building jurisdictions where respondent banks are affected, and the strengthening of tools for correspondent banks to perform due diligence checks.

He said that implementing this plan would require cooperation with both international banks and regulators.

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monDAY, April 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

Caring for Mother Earth

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he 18th century “European Enlightenment” was supposed to have ushered in a new age: when man’s activities would be guided by reason and rationality, as opposed to the “superstitions” prevailing before.

Unfortunately, while leading to great progress in most areas of learning and the production of new goods for our consumption, it also led to the most destructive wars in the history of mankind, and to the creation of weapons which can literally destroy all life on Earth overnight.

By the 20th century, however, another threat to life on Earth was conceded, after the evidence accumulating since the previous century finally became incontrovertible: pollution and poisoning of the land and waters by the effluents from the industrial production and use of the same goods that were supposed to deliver the good life to all mankind.

The USA by then had clawed its way to become the most “advanced” country in the world, and it was therefore not surprising it had produced the most pollutants and became the most polluted country. By 1970, exactly one century after the Industrial Revolution” was accepted to have been launched, an American senator started a campaign for “Earth Day” to be commemorated annually on April 21, to publicise the need to reduce pollution of the Earth.

At that time, the leaching of fertilisers and dumping of industrial wastes into rivers were seen as the most potent polluters. The US and other developed countries have since done much to reverse that trend.

On the other hand, the Third World, in its quest to become First World, has now not only picked up the slack in the production of pollutants, but has surged past the polluters previously mentioned. In addition, it has been discovered that pollution of the Earth had been much more insidious and pervasive.

The burning of petroleum and other fossil fuels, such as coal, all produce the gas carbon dioxide, which accumulates in the atmosphere and acts to prevent radiant energy impinging on the earth from the sun from escaping into space. As such, with the onset of progress in the production of goods by the Industrial Revolution, its carbon dioxide waste was leading to the steady and inexorable warming of the atmosphere. This, in turn, unleashed all kinds of deleterious effects, such as a change in weather patterns and raised sea levels, caused by ever faster melting ice caps.

While “global warming” was fought by many, especially by those that benefited from the production of fossil fuels, the UN made a fin de siècle warning that we could not afford to go beyond a 2C rise from the temperature of the 19th century. This would push global warming beyond its tipping point, with its concomitant climate change that could lead to an even more rapid rise in sea level, crop failures, and the collapse of coral reefs and invaluable ecosystems. According to the report, the world can only continue to emit carbon for roughly another 23 years at current levels before it will have a more than two-thirds chance of going over the 2C limit.

But the theme for this year’s Earth Day highlighted yet another facet of our unwitting destruction of the Earth’s delicate ecosystem that permits life as we know it: ending plastic pollution by 2020. The production of plastic – a completely new substance never produced in the billions of years of Earth’s existence -- was seen as a wonder of the Industrial Revolution. Today, its use is ubiquitous, but so is its disposal; and since it is not “biodegradable”, it is now seen as a pollutant from several angles.

In Guyana, we should all be aware of its effects in clogging up canals and causing massive flooding on our coasts. But a new threat has been revealed: the amount of plastic in the oceans will soon exceed that of marine life, and pose a threat to the latter’s survival.

Maybe the old “superstitious” belief of regarding and treating Earth as our “mother” should be revived?

Some of the band members of the National Steel Orchestra on Sunday afternoon as they entertained the crowds at the opening of Linden Town Week (LTW) 2018

Guyana is moving backwards economically Dear Editor, The PNC-led Coalition, through its Finance Minister, has finally admitted that the economy is in declension. In fact, he used a euphemistic term to describe it, saying: “The economy did not perform as well as…had (been) predicted. Truly euphemistic terms used to explain away a dire, doomed situation.

But even this was not of his own undertaking, he only came out to admit his gross falsification of the growth figures after he was backed into a corner by stern agitation from the Opposition Leader. This has been the duplicitous nature of the Finance Ministry and this Government on a whole.

They have left this nation paralysed with fear and uncertainty. The deceptive mode in which Government has grooved itself into since it took office is appalling.

Everything the Finance Minister has projected as growth and development has plummeted. All the income-generating sectors

have seen massive decline, you name it and we can safely attach “failed” on its final report card. In forestry, mining, rice, construction and sugar, these have seen a dramatic downturn.

Strangely enough, all the massive layoffs and closure of sugar factories, a major stop to the bleeding of the economy, have been of little help where economic recovery is concerned. It was our belief that this sector would have at least seen a break-even position, but this is not to be, the economy continues to slide.

Like the proverbial whipping boy, the sugar industry (according to Jordan) continues to haemorrhage the national treasury...very interesting propaganda!

Another income-generating machine has been the heavy-handed tax measures implemented by this Government. Everything that could be taxed was taxed; from the international export traders to the humble donkey cart operator, all are netted in

by Jordan’s huge tax network.

Yet, amidst all of this income, the country limps along in hopeless failure. Why? A quick glance at the performance of the economy would reveal that our last known successful growth year was 2013, when we recorded 5.2% growth. The following year, 2014, we recorded 3.3%; in 2015, we recorded 3.2%; in 2016, we recorded 3.3%; and for 2017, we are getting news of a 2.1% growth rate and falling fast.

Please note that, from the last year of growth, the economy was in the hands of the PNC-led Opposition. With their one-seat majority, they tied the hands of the Ramotar Administration, even voting down his budget, thus putting his administration in a position of being considered a “failed state,” where nothing could have been done by way of spending or use of the national treasury. Guyana’s economy was prime property up for grabs, and plunder the incoming administration did with gusto!

When the coalition took

over the economy, they had the total use of all monies left in the treasury. They inherited a growing economy as well as a healthy treasury.

There should be no excuses coming from their lips now as regards the means to fund development, theirs was a fortune inheritance. That is evidenced from the fact that they raised their salaries and emoluments by 50%. Where did that money come from? It did not gratuitously fall from heaven, that fat pay rise came from a treasury brimful of funds left by the outgoing PPP/C Administration.

This clean bill of health that the treasury was afforded came from prudent management by the astute technocrat Dr Ashni Singh.

From the raping of the treasury to the naked aggression in the streets, all are telltale results of a doomed country Respectfully submitted, Neil Adams

Our banks must become more efficient Dear Editor, I experienced some anger when I recently attempted to conduct a business transaction at a city bank. On April 20, 2018, I and an overseas business partner went to the Republic Bank at Camp Street to conduct a significant business transaction.

After waiting for more than one hour, we received attention from two bank employees, a male and a female, as the bank was approaching its closing time. They asked for, among other things, proof of address.

I tendered a letter addressed to me with the Commissioner of Police letterhead and signed

by David Ramnarine DSM, Asst Commissioner of Police in his capacity as Commissioner of Police (ag).

The banking officials asked

for the envelope. I explained to them that a policeman in uniform delivered the document to me by hand, and that I did not have the envelope. They said that I must produce an envelope that came from a post office as proof of address, and that is the bank policy.

They blatantly refused to accept the letter in question.

They had, moments before, accepted from me a letter purportedly signed by the deputy head of the Human Resource Department of the company I worked for as proof of my employment, but refused to accept one signed by the Commissioner of Police (ag.) as proof of address.

Is it that they do not trust the Police? The female stated that some private persons do produce their own documents

as official ones. I then offered a copy of my TIN certificate as a proof of address, as my address was stated on that document.

They agreed that it can work as proof of address, but asked for the original copy of my TIN certificate. I told them I did not have it on my person; it was at my home. They refused to accept the copy as proof of address.

However, they had accepted the same copy as proof that I was registered as a tax payer.

Perhaps, what is good for the goose is not good for the gander, according to banking policy and procedure. I must mention that the employees were extremely courteous, but they stuck slavishly to their unjust policy. I was perturbed. I left the bank without doing any business. I vowed never to do

any more business there, or with any other branch of that bank. My hard-earned money will now go elsewhere.

As I was leaving the bank, I wondered how many more like me -- retirees, pensioners and others -- will have to suffer in the name of anti-money laundering policy Republic Bankstyle, as that bank unjustly enforces its unnecessary and draconian policies on persons wanting to do legal business with that entity.

I also wonder: Why are certain things in Guyana so inherently incredible?

Yours faithfully, Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

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MONDAY, April 23, 2018

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

Implications of the corruption charges against Singh, Brassington Dear Editor, Please allow me space to expound on the ramifications of the recent charges brought by SOCU against Messrs Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington for purported ‘misconduct in public office, contrary to public law’. The basis of the charges call every single Government decision since Independence into question. I aim to show clearly by using dubious ‘real estate’ values as the sole basis for land distribution value, SOCU and its United Kingdom adviser Dr. Sittlington have implicated every Government official ever involved in any transaction since 1966.

Governments are not real estate sales offices, the value of land is not calculated solely on square footage.

A Government must consider the benefits that accrue through sale or lease of land for whatever purpose: job creation, health benefits, economic activity, infrastructural development et al. The example most often cited in support of this type

of land distribution is the United States Land grants to the railroad companies between1860 and 1900.

“Building a railroad was an expensive venture. Private Banks, fearing the railroad companies would need a long time to pay off their debts, were reluctant to loan money to the companies. To remedy the situation, Congress provided assistance to the railroad companies in the form of land grants. The land grant railroads, receiving millions of acres of public land, sold the land to make money, built their railroads, and contributed to a more rapid settlement of the West. In the end, four out of the five transcontinental railroads were built with help from the federal government.” By SOCU definitions, this is an example of great corruption. I have no doubt Dr. Sam Sittlington has no idea of what Guyana’s economic position was during the post PNC years; having arrived post PPP, he must have assumed that Guyana was always economically stable and attractive

to investors. Someone needs to educate the good doctor. SOCU has a mandate to find corruption; it needs to do just that, not engage in ‘political misconduct’, SOCU must build cases based on provable malfeasance, not wishful thinking.

Editor, the further issue is that the institution of these charges by SOCU and the private charges laid

by Anil Nandlall have created an atmosphere of uncertainty and doubt of the ability of any Government of Guyana to do business of any kind in any manner. The land deals referred to in the charges went out to public tender, is value not actually ascribed in what the top bidder is willing to pay? For someone to suggest that five acres of cow pasture in rural Georgetown is worth seventy-two million, three hundred and forty thousand dollars per acre is patently outlandish. I would be curious to know on what basis the Rodrigues & Associates valuation was made, on square footage or per kilogram? Could the present

Administration be able to find anyone willing to pay this price even post-oil discovery? How can any investor now proceed with any business in a country that has a perpetually retroactive review as law?

SOCU has made it impossible to invest in Guyana with any confidence.

Should we be seeking the blessings of Her Majesty’s Government to ensure future decisions are ‘proper conduct’? Wither Independence?

The People of Guyana are not amused by the actions of Government and Opposition. We know they have both gone far and above to provide representation in the House of Assembly of all Guyanese, from the intelligent to the downright ignorant. We have looked on with disgust as debates over important aspects of our governance have been waylaid by behaviour best left in fish markets, but we cannot continue to be silent as this new phase of charge and counter-charge is played out in the courtrooms and all media formats.

Administration and Opposition need to start immediate dialogue and get us out of this quagmire in which the slippery slope of politically motivated charges has entrapped us. Country before Party must become the ethos for all.

Our future depends on growth and development based on investment. For guidance, I offer the words of one of the Founding Fathers of The United States of America: “Capital is wayward and timid in lending itself to new undertakings, and the State ought to excite the confidence of capitalists, who are ever cautious and sagacious, by aiding them overcome the obstacles that lie in the way of all experiments.”… Alexander Hamilton (Chalmers Johnson, ‘’Introduction: The Idea of Industrial Policy,” in C. Johnson, ed., The Industrial Policy Debate (San Francisco, ICS Press, 1984), p. 17.)

Sincerely, Robin Singh

Agriculture is not only about baigan, ochro and bora Dear Editor, Kudos to the Government and Ministry of Agriculture for coming up with the idea of holding the Uncapped Agricultural Expo.

Agriculture expos are very dear to my heart. I have fond memories of those held years ago at Skeldon and Albion estates when I was a boy. Such events are valuable because they enable Guyanese to showcase local foodstuff and other agro-products, and also put the spotlight on new techniques and equipment and supportive business ventures.

Prime Minister Forbes Burnham had included some vibrant and tangible entertainment in those expos.

That said, I am extremely disappointed that the organisers of the Uncapped Agricultural Expo seem to think that only direct producers of agricultural crops qualify to participate in the exhibition. If that is the case, they should remove the word ‘uncapped.’ Do they think agricultural items are limited to things like coconut water, eschallots, bora, pumpkins and cows, goats and sheep?

Back in the day, I attended agricultural expos sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture under the auspices of the late Prime Minister and President, Forbes Burnham. He was never my favourite person when it came to certain aspects of politics that struck me as a kid in the Upper Corentyne, including during the 60s and 70s, but I had a lot of respect for his style of communication, his oratory, and his wisdom with regard to agriculture.

I am writing this public complaint with much passion and drive, but with due respect for authority, because the organisers of the Uncapped Agricultural Expo denied my business the opportunity to showcase its three-wheel Trikes at the event.

To me, the organisers’ refusal to allow us to showcase our Trikes by contending that they are not agricultural items or products shows the possibility that some of the middle management administrators of the nation’s agriculture are dangerously short-sighted.

Let me declare openly and fearlessly that anyone who thinks an agricultural exposition is all about cows, goats, sheep, eschallot, carrots, peas and so forth is someone who has zero understanding of the sector, and lacks the vision to move it forward.

Persons like that make Burnham look like a mighty man of agriculture, because he saw Guyana as the

breadbasket of not only the Caribbean, but the entire Central and South America, and he knew that the fulfilment of this dream would require land, labour, capital and know-how.

Burnham had the good sense to realise that it is essential that the leaders and people involved in the agricultural industry have the basic know-how to move it forward. They have to know that agriculture does not revolve around direct inputs alone. Bringing it all together requires both direct and indirect inputs.

This Government is supposed to be comprised of inheritors of the Burnham philosophy. They ought to know

that he was keenly aware of the importance of agriculture, and he knew that every facet of the agriculture industry is important to its success, not just crops.

The three-wheelers we wanted to showcase are used internationally by agricultural vendors and food processors at all levels to access farms, move around agricultural sites, and transport and market livestock, vegetables, meat and fish.

If our agricultural authorities go to Indonesia right now,

they will see fish and chicken being transported and sold via three-wheelers, and in some cases slaughtered and processed on the spot. Others sell plucked chicken, fish and meat, and others yet frozen vegetables and fruits as well as fresh vegetables and fruits.

They will see goats, sheep, all kinds of agricultural produce, fruits and vegetables transported on three-wheelers in Palestine, in Nigeria, in Ghana, Vietnam and Thailand. It is also famous in the hilly and flat land farming

areas of Italy, and is growing in popularity in the United Kingdom. It is also taking hold in Central America, and RK’s Eco-Star Motors has been the pioneer in Guyana and the West Indies so far.

Our efforts have been gaining attention, but the business has been moving very slowly as it is difficult to get Government’s input in the Caribbean in new ventures such as these.

Sincerely, Roshan Khan Snr.

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monDAY, April 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

What measures should motorcyclists take to prevent or decrease the number of reported accidents?

Soshesana Bhagwandin “When it comes to sharing the road with other motorists, motorcyclists should keep their distance between other vehicles, as a preventative measure should an accident occur. Also, motorcyclists should be very cautious when at intersections, since they’re more prone to accidents at intersections.”

Jabreel Craig “Yes, I believe that motorcyclists should be more careful. Most motorcyclists are of the view that they are invincible, and as such ride in a reckless manner, as such putting themselves and others at risk. In some cases, I would see traffic ranks turning a blind eye to persons riding without helmet. I believe if Police do their jobs and pay more attention to motorcyclists, accidents among these riders will decrease.”

Onika Lawrence “I believe that motorcyclists should take their lives more (seriously) and try to follow all the rules when it comes to using the road and safety.”

Jeremy Bagot “In order to prevent or reduce reported accidents involving motor cyclists, first I think that they should be well educated on the traffic laws that relate to motor cycles, which is the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02. Secondly, I believe that adherence is the mother of all solutions. If we have motor cyclists who wear helmets, ride in their lanes, do not undertake, keep within the speed limit, obey the traffic lights, and ensure proper lighting on their vehicles, we will surely achieve the stated objective.”

Cassie Carryl “I think that motorcyclists should always wear their protective gear, especially helmets. This will aid in the reduction of fatalities by preventing traumas and injuries to the head, which is one of the main causes of these fatalities.”

Jonathan Persaud “Okay, well a few times I saw some people on motorcycles, and to me I know there is supposed to be two persons on it, but I saw two adults and a child on one. In that scenario, the child was on the gas tank and was not wearing a helmet and the rider was even going really fast, so I think that

they should not overload the bikes to make them harder to control. That is just one thing that motorcyclists can do to avoid accidents and be safer. A next thing is the way they ride the bikes through the traffic.

Most of them behave like little kids that got set free to run in the yard, so they do all sorts of wild stuff, and that is one

of the major reasons for most accidents that motorcyclists cause in Guyana. I think most of them feel that they are at a race track when they are going through the traffic, and of course, doing that is very dangerous. What’s crazy is that when those accidents happen, others are blamed for their foolishness.”

Linden Town Week officially opened

Linden Mayor Waneka Arindell (centre), Deputy Mayor Wainwright Bethune (first from left), and Linden Town Clerk (ag) Orleena Obermuller (right) stand during a march past by members of the Constabulary

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“Celebrating culture, talent, creativity in a clean, green 2018”.

The official opening kick started with a grand march past by members of the Linden Constabulary, followed by an official ceremony held at the LindenGeorgetown minibus park at Mackenzie, Linden.

Linden Town Week 2018 features over 10 days of activities in the areas of fete, education, tourism and exhibition, among other aspects.

i n i s t e r of State, J o s e p h Harmon, on Sunday evening declared Linden Town Week (LTW) 2018 celebrations officially opened.

This year’s event is being held under the theme, A section of the gathering at the official opening of Linden Town Week 2018

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monDAY, april 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Law Reform Commission

Interview panel to be set up – as establishment gathers steam

A number of laws are likely to be targeted when the Commission is established

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he Government is in the process of putting together an interview panel, with the view of officially establishing the long-awaited Law Reform Commission – a commission that despite being allocated monies since 2016 is yet to get off the ground.

During a press conference on Saturday, Attorney General Basil Williams related that two persons have already been brought in for the three-member panel. However, he shied away from providing a timeline on when the Commission would be operational.

“We are establishing an interviewing panel. And, of course, we’re looking for qualified people who can perform that task. We have two; we have to get a third one. And we’ve had applications. So, that’s ongoing.”

In a recent notice, the Legal Affairs Ministry solicited applications from eligible candidates to sit on the Commission, which

will be tasked with reviewing many of Guyana’s laws inherited from colonial times.

According to the Ministry, the Commission’s terms of reference will include “keeping under review the laws of Guyana with a view to its systematic development and reform, including in particular the modification of any branch of the law, the elimination of anomalies, the repeal of obsolete and unnecessary enactments”.

The Ministry also noted that the Commissioners, who would be employed on a full-time basis, would be focused on reducing separate enactments: simplifying and modernising the laws of Guyana.

In January of 2016, Government had approached the National Assembly to pass the Law Reform Commission Act Number 4 of 2016 and appropriated millions for the Commission’s establishment. But the Commission was not established, with its future in limbo up until

Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s announcement.

The Commission is also mandated by the law to receive and consider suggestions for the reform of laws. These suggestions, according to the Act, can be made on the invitation of the Commission and can come from Judges, public officials, lawyers, and the general public.

The Commission also has to “prepare and submit to the Minister specific programmes for the examination of different branches of the law with a view to reform, including recommendations as to whether such examination should be carried out by the Commission or some other body.”

In order to fulfil its functions, the Commission is allowed to set up law reform committees that would examine particular aspects of the laws to make their recommendations.

These committees, according to Section 8 (2) of the Act, do not have to be restricted to legal professionals.

During his budget presentation, Attorney General Williams had argued that the Commission would undo the laws Guyana inherited from the United Kingdom before independence, “many (of which) are archaic and irrelevant to our society”.

There are a number of legislative acts likely to be scrutinised and changed if the Commission comes on stream. These include the laws pertaining to the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) and laws regarding possession of marijuana.

Anti-money laundering fight

Cash dogs being sourced from US, Canada ...Inter-agency cooperation a work in progress – UK advisor

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he Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) had previously been cited for not implementing a number of recommendations made by a special security advisor brought from the United Kingdom. Among those recommendations were the institution of cash sniffer dogs at ports of entry.

Providing an update on the progress SOCU has made since his return early this

year, UK-based advisor Sam Sittlington revealed that these specialist dogs are being sourced from the United States and Canada… though they will have to be trained and acclimatised locally.

“Regarding the cash dogs, this is in process,” Sittlington explained. “And I’ve spoken to them, and they have a good arrangement for bringing dogs here to be utilised at the airports. That’s very important.

SOCU Advisor Sam Sittlington

Things are just taking their time, but I’m gradually seeing improvements.”

Sittlington acknowledged that while dogs here could be used, they are not trained specifically to sniff out cash. He cautioned that, because of the need to train these cash dogs, it would take time to get the programme up and running.

Cash sniffer dogs are a crucial component of the anti-money laundering fight

turn to page 17

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monDAY, april 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Security guard killed in West Bank accident

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Dead: Keith Redmond

eith Redmond of Lot 149 Centre Road, Bagotville, West Bank Demerara is now dead after being slammed off his bicycle by an allegedly drunken driver as he was heading home at about 05:15hrs.

Police preliminary investigations have revealed that Redmond, a 60-year-old Security Guard attached to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), had just finished his eight-hour shift, and was proceeding south on the Pouderoyen Public Road on his way home when motorcar PMM1895, being driven by a 37-year-old resident of La Parfaite Harmonie, and proceeding in the same direction, became uncontrollable and slammed into him.

Eyewitnesses say the impact of this collision sent Redmond and his bicycle flying for more than two hun-

dred feet from the site of the accident.

Redmond was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body is at that hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

Information reaching Guyana Times suggests the blood alcohol level of the driver was found to be exceedingly above the legal limit. This driver was allegedly out drinking with his friends, and was heading home when he lost control of his vehicle while navigating a turn.

After hitting Redmond, the car skidded off the road,

Sinking…

The mangled bicycle

morning I hear a big bang and then a car alarm start going off; so me and my wife rush out, and we see this man in a red car battling to get out. The man head was bleeding and so, and we didn’t know he knock somebody down, but then we see

The car

uprooting a series of flower plants before coming to a halt in a nearby yard, completely wrecking a portion of a fence.

“Around ten past five this

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the bicycle and then we see the man in the drain there

by NIS (National Insurance Scheme), and he was already dead,” eyewitness Mark (only name given) said.

Mark further related that they then summoned the ambulance and attempted to free the driver of the car because he was briefly pinned. The ambulance and ranks from the Vreeden-Hoop Police Station arrived mere minutes after being summoned, and quickly rushed Redmond to the WDRH, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver was also taken to the hospital, and it is reported that he suffered a broken shoulder and a series of minor injuries.

Witnesses and relatives of the dead man said the driver was so inebriated that he had to be physically restrained so he could be treated.

“He was still drunk when we went to the hospital, and them nurse had problem to get he to stay on the bed,” the dead man’s wife, Sellis, related.

She said her husband had left for work at about 20:30hrs on Saturday, and she received a call at sometime around 05:40hrs, informing her that her husband was involved in an accident and she should proceed to the WDRH. “When we went to the hospital, them show me he and I identified him, and then the Police take a statement and them take he to the parlour. Tomorrow is the post mortem, and we gon know what exactly cause he to dead,” the grieving woman related.

Stellis said her husband had been working at the WDRH for over five years, and had been attached to the Sentinel Security Services for a few months, since the contract with the previous firm had expired.

The driver of the car is still in Police custody, assisting with investigations.

…of the traditional he philosopher Antonio Gramsci – who did try to change the world, rather than just explaining it – made an observation that’s most apropos to our present situation: “The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum, a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.”

Unfortunately, the PNC government completely misapprehend what Gransci was saying, and as a result, they’re about to launch another 28 years of destruction on Guyana, especially in the economic sphere. Having been installed right after oil was struck off our shores – and the two events are definitely NOT coincidental – they salivate at the prospect of a new Guyana floating on a sea of plenty, through oil revenues.

Nothing wrong with that – although that sea of plenty would’ve been much “plentier” if Trotman hadn’t sold us down the river. What IS wrong is: the PNC seem to think they’ve got to actually KILL the old economy! Even during the 2015 elections, Granger had insisted sugar had to go… and it was only to get the AFC fly into the PNC parlour that Granger changed his “mouth”. But from what he did immediately after, he certainly hadn’t changed his mind!!

Sugar is gone because Granger knows this will also be the death knell of the PPP’s staunchest base.

What Granger and his PNC will never understand – because, like Clive Thomas, they’re all deskbound “moutars” – is Gramsci’s ‘death of the old’ isn’t meant “literally”! The old has to be TRANSMUTED into the new… and it represents continuity with change.

Of course sugar had to go!! Under the old relations of production, the workers were always oppressed by a monstrous hierarchical system. But where it had to ‘go’ was to a higher level, where those objectionable features were removed….not to throw thousands of workers into the streets!!

Sugar should’ve been diversified, and workers should’ve been facilitated by the coming oil revenues to become farmers for a world where ‘food security” is the mantra of the age. But because of the vindictiveness of a Granger, who’s vowed to fulfil the ‘legacy” of his mentor, Burnham, he’s unleashed the “morbid symptoms” of hopelessness, starvation and unemployment on seventy thousand affected persons by his sugar closures. Just because they supported the PPP. But history has a way of unfolding where it can creep up and bite smart alecks like Granger and the PNC right on their behinds. The dust hadn’t even settled on his sugar workers’ dust-up when an innocuous butterfly released

by Trump over in USA triggered a tsunami in the bauxite industry here.

And guess which party they support? Payback’s not only a bitch – it can be poetic justice!!

…in fraud While Clive Thomas was marching under the midday sun – without the “Cork-Hat” he had at Queen’s – railing against corruption in the company of the British High Commish, right across town, the folks who were supposed to be doing the actual fighting were having their pics taken with their trainers: Security Reform Advisor to the President, Russell Combe; Irish security expert Sam Sittlington, and the UK-based facilitators Tony Crampton and Mark Dilliway.

Was it because of this top-heavy presence of foreigners that Thomas later insisted he “wants local ownership of corruption”?? Surely, he couldn’t have meant he wanted locals to be actually INVOLVED in corruption, right? He already pronounced the local PPP had CRIMINALISED the state and “SIPHONED OFF” billions and billions!! That’s LOCAL, right?

Anyhow, he’d barely finished speaking when it was announced there was a $35 million fraud at GuySuCo!!

Since he was Chair of GuySuCo’s Board and had a fiduciary duty to prevent fraud, is he going to investigate himself for criminal negligence?

The job of a corruption fighter’s never done, is it??!

…the Justice System How can Basil Williams, the (Executive’s) Minister of Legal Affairs, tell the DPP the charges brought by the PPP against Lawrence and Norton for “criminal misfeasance” should be “reviewed”??

That’s her prerogative, and his call is intimidating to the judicial branch.

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

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monDAY, april 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Supermarket Former Guyoil Manager shoppers urged to use reusable bags sets record straight State entities

– contradicts Minister’s assertion on lost market share – clears air on sudden departure from State entity

Guyoil Chairman Mark Bender

Former Sales and Marketing Manager Eric Whaul

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

espite a recent statement from Finance Minister Winston Jordan that the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) lost market share in 2017 owing to its performance, a former high-ranking official at the State agency is actually debunking this assertion.

Eric Whaul, who worked at Guyoil as its Sales and Marketing Manager until his services came to a sudden end earlier this month, would have worked at the State entity throughout the 2017 fiscal year.

Questioning the data being fed to Jordan, Whaul revealed to Guyana Times that the entity sold 23,000 more barrels of fuel in 2017 when compared to its sales in 2016. Whaul officially took over the portfolio of Sales and Marketing Manager in May 2016.

“Guyoil did not lose market share in 2017,” he stated. “In 2017, Guyoil Aviation Services Inc sold 34,500 barrels aviation fuel above its 2017 budget and more

than what it sold in 2016.”

He added, “In 2017, Guyoil sold 145,000 litres lubricant more than what it sold in 2016.”

“In 2017, Guyoil surpassed its budgeted after-tax profit. Guyoil revised its after-tax profit upwards in 2017 to $1.89 billion and we achieved $1.85 billion.

Guyoil was 4700 barrels ahead of its 2018 Budget at the end of February 2018.”

While he acknowledged that Guyoil fell short on its budgeted volumes in 2017, Whaul pointed out that the entity exceeded its original budgeted after-tax profit. However, the marketing specialist noted that the business climate has not been a productive one.

“It is no secret that companies were complaining all year about the decrease in business and in September 2017, the numbers showed that reported fuel imports were down by over four per cent. In fact, in that same printed article, growth rate for 2017 was reported at 2.1

per cent against projected growth of 3.9 per cent.”

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Departure

There have been open questions as to the circumstances that precipitated Whaul’s sudden departure from Guyoil. These questions would gain traction when one considers the entity’s performance in 2017 – as one of the few State entities to exceed the previous year’s performance.

But could the answers lie in changes at the board level? According to Whaul, he and the new Chairman, Mark Bender, have history together… having both worked at TCL Guyana Incorporated.

“When I joined TCL Guyana Inc in 2011, he was the person in charge and the company was operating at a loss,” Whaul related. “Through the implementation of prudent marketing strategies, it started making profit from late 2011, which increased yearly until 2016 after the implementation of

certain strategies against my advice.

“The resulting strained relations were responsible for my eventual departure in 2016 to join the team at Guyoil and I must confess that there was no love lost.

I thought it was necessary that I clear the air on this matter by highlighting these facts as I move on,” Whaul concluded.

During a recent press conference, the Finance Minister had zeroed in on Guyoil. Jordan related that its performance left more to be desired.

However, he added that the entity was expected to get a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) soon. Guyoil has been without a substantive CEO since Badrie Persaud, who was fired from the post in 2016 on the heels of a Nigel Hinds Financial Services’ conducted forensic audit.

“Guyoil kept within the realm of what they said they were doing, but they lost some market share. The performance was up to standard, but it could have been better. But they did transfer a billion plus in dividends to us.”

“They have a new Chairman there, Mr Mark Bender and they should get a new CEO there shortly,” Jordan related.

“They’re making some other personnel changes and hopefully, they’ll become a bit more aggressive, stem the fall in the market share and hopefully, improve it.”

But Jordan had noted that building on 2016; he had expected the company to do better than it actually did.

…as Guyana observes Earth Day

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Persons making use of the reusable bags at Massy Stores

s Guyana joined the rest of the world on Sunday to observe Earth Day, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched an initiative with several supermarkets in Georgetown to minimise the use of plastic bags which was well-received

by Guyanese shoppers.

EPA Senior Environmental Officer Candacie Thompson said that hundreds of reusable bags were distributed to customers at the six participating supermarkets, who were in favour of same. Some, she related, even called for the initiative to be implemented as law.

“Every customer received at least one reusable bag; some received several based on the quantity of items they purchased. Based on observation, customers were very receptive to the bags; no one showed apprehension about not being given single-use plastic bags,” she said.

Thompson reminded that the initiative of reducing the use of plastic bags aligned with this year’s theme for Earth Day, which is “End Plastic Pollution”.

The participating supermarkets are Bounty, Mattai’s, Survival, Budget, Distribution Services

Limited (DSL), and Massy, along with their branches.

These supermarkets will use boxes, reusable bags and biodegradable bags to pack their customers’ goods. They are also urging persons to walk with their bags, so as to curb the use of plastic in Guyana.

The environmentalist told Guyana Times last week, ““We are looking at it as a launching pad and to raise awareness on the consequences of plastic pollution… many people are so accustomed to using these ‘single use’ plastic bags and basically like the name suggests, you can’t get much use out of it. When you take stuff away from the supermarkets in it, it cannot be reused except for garbage and it ends up in these landfills and accumulates because they are not biodegradable.”

Thompson noted that the engagement with the supermarkets was just one of the activities being done for Earth Day. According to her, it is being done with the intent of analysing the public’s response to the initiative, even as the EPA seeks to change persons’ attitude to the use of plastic. turn to page 17

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Police still to question Pure water supply project commissioned at Sheet Anchor driver following Estate lorry accident

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Students of Sheet Anchor Primary enjoying pure water

he Rotary Club of New Amsterdam on Friday commissioned a pure water supply project at Sheet Anchor, Canje from which some 200 children from two schools would benefit.

Over the past year, the Club has been able to ensure that students attending eight schools benefit from treated water through the installation of water filtration systems in those schools. The Number Two Nursery and Sheet Anchor Primary which are housed in the same compound are the beneficiaries of the new project, which cost in excess

of $500,000.

Club President Ramroop Rajnauth explained that both schools were now accessing clean water.

“Before the water was of a high iron content. Right now, the water is filtered and clean because we installed systems that we secured in all of the water tanks in the school compound,” he explained.

The project was a joint effort between the Club and Rotarian Jerry Outar. The pure water project commenced in March of last year at Fort Ordinance Primary, and to date, Cumberland Primary, Edinburgh Primary

and Nursery, St Therese and Fort Ordinance Primary, Number Two Nursery, and Canje Secondary have all benefited.

“GWI is now coming on board to install a water treatment plant in the Canje area, but we have already installed water filtering systems in most of the schools in that area. We are looking at other schools along the East Bank of Berbice and even on the Corentyne where the residents do not receive treated water. We feel that our children who are the leaders of tomorrow need clean water. Water is life and with clean, potable water it would eliminate chances of diseases and assist in producing healthy

graduates for tomorrow’s world,” Rajnauth said.

The Club has, over the years, been focusing on many areas to improve residents’ quality of life. In the area of education, the Club has built a nursery school at Manchester. In the area of health, it has worked on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the New Amsterdam Hospital, providing the equipment for that facility among other areas.

However, the pure water supply project is now the Club’s main area of focus.

“We would have dug a well at Gangaram providing potable water for the residents of that area,” Rajnauth said. (Andrew Carmichael)

Mentally-challenged man remanded for cocaine possession

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man who is said to be of unsound mind was remanded to prison on Friday after he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Leron Daly Marvin Prince pleaded guilty to the charge that was read to him which stated that on April 17, 2018 he was found with 0.5 gram of cocaine in his possession.

The homeless man plead-

ed guilty and explained that he would use the drug as pain medication since he suffered from several ailments.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh made objections to bail being granted, and the defendant was subsequently remanded to prison.

The matter was adjourned, and Prince was expected to return to court on May 5, 2018.

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olice are still to question the driver of the lorry which was taking estate workers into the field when it turned on its side and knocked out a concrete fence in the process, resulting in five persons being injured.

Officer-in-Charge of Traffic B Division, Assistant Superintendent Timothy Williams told Guyana Times that the lorry driver would be questioned. He noted that when officers went to question him initially, he complained of being in pain and as a result, law enforcement arranged to meet with the driver at a subsequent date.

Meanwhile, the two cane harvesters who were severely injured in the acci-

dent, Fazeem Latiff and Rashad Alli, both of Cotton Tree, Berbice, and who were transferred from the Fort Wellington Hospital to the Georgetown Public Hospital have since been released.

The accident occurred on April 11, 2018 on the Zee Zight Public Road, West Coast Berbice. At the time, there were 55 persons at the back of the lorry and the supervisor and driver in front.

The men, who form the 6B2 gang, were on their way to Bath Settlement to harvest cane.

At the time, the road was wet and the driver was reportedly attempting to stop the lorry when he lost control and ran off the road.

(Andrew Carmichael)

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Refunds for Traffic congestion to ease as Dynamic Airways Good Hope Bridge reopens passengers to commence in May C

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The embattled airline

he Public Infrastructure Ministry , which has taken on the responsibility to compensate some 600 Dynamic Airways passengers who were forced to use alternative air transport last year, on Sunday published a list of the names of persons who are expected to be reimbursed, beginning on May 2.

According to the published notice, “refunds will be issued Mondays to Thursdays from 09:00h to 15:00h and Fridays from 09:00h to 14:00h at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Accounts Department, Fort Street, Kingston”.

The inconvenienced passengers are being asked to have in person their national identification card or passport along with proof of ticket purchase, whereby persons making claims on behalf of others are required to walk with an authorisation letter, with two signed witnesses, of the passenger whose name appears on the list, as well as his or her identification card or passport.

Important to note is that the Ministry has made a call for passengers of the airline to make their claims on the date their name has been assigned. The notice read, “Furthermore, to allow for smooth processing, the following passengers are asked to appear on the identified dates. Please note that if you do not appear on your identified date, there will be a fallback period from May 14, 2018 to May 25, 2018.”

More than $40 million will be repaid to the 600 passengers during the scheduled eight days.

Just last week, Guyana Times was told by the Head of the Guyana Civil Aviation

Authority (GCAA), Captain Egbert Field that the organisation was in talks with the airline to iron out arrangements about how the passengers would be compensated.

When questioned about who would reimburse the monies that were owed to the Guyanese passengers since 2017, Field stated that the company would have to take on that responsibility.

Dynamic Airways abruptly ended its service in Guyana in October of 2017 owing to bankruptcy, leaving local travel agents in hot water, with them having to relate to passengers that their flights were cancelled and their monies were lost.

The onus of reimbursing passengers then fell on the Government and the decision was made to utilise the company’s US$200,000 (G$40 million) bond to repay all the passengers. However, the bond proved to be inadequate to repay the passengers.

The company moved out of its bankruptcy status in March of this year, stating that it would be providing charter flights until it has reconstructed its finances. At that point, it will begin to provide services to its previous markets. The company has changed its legal name to Eastern Airlines.

Additionally, the airline is hoping to expand its fleet of planes from five to ten.

Meanwhile, it has been disclosed that the embattled airline has intentions of returning to the Guyanese market. In response to this, Field noted that the company would have to come with all the necessary documentation intact. “I have not seen any application from them, neither have they approached the Authority directly.”

ommuters are now traversing the Good Hope Bridge, on the East Coast of Demerara which was reopened officially on Saturday afternoon, despite not being fully completed.

The Bridge is expected to reduce traffic congestion on the East Coast Highway, popularly referred to as the ‘road top’.

In a statement issued by the Public Infrastructure Ministry, it was related that the Bridge was “95 per cent completed with a few minor works to be done”.

The Bridge was under construction for almost three weeks. Commuters were forced to use the highway, which remains under construction, thereby creating a major issue.

The rehabilitation of the Bridge began earlier this month. The contract was awarded to BK International and saw some $23.5 million being expended to cover the

Commuters making use of the new Good Hope Bridge

total costs.

The project saw the demolition of the old Acrow Panel structure and construction of a concrete one.

Coordinator of Works, Geoffrey Vaughn noted, “When we change from the Acrow Panel bridges to the free stress concrete bridges, there is no disruption to traffic, no maintenance issues, and everything flows

smoothly. We don’t expect to have any problems with the Bridge in the near future.”

It was also explained that the Good Hope Bridge, along with the Annandale and Lusignan Bridges, should have been rehabilitated since last year, but there were challenges with regard to the traffic.

“We thought it best not to run all three bridges at the

same time, because of traffic issues with the construction of the other two; but because they were in an area where there were more access points to leave and enter the railway embankment [road], the traffic burden wasn’t felt much by the driving public.

But because of the location of this bridge, there seems to be a greater impact on traffic,” Vaughn added.

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Regional procurement breaches linked to corruption, nepotism

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pposition Member of Parliament, Juan Edghill has decried the constant breaches in the Procurement Act of Guyana, which he argued was as a result of corruption and nepotism although he admitted that these kinds of breaches were not peculiar to Guyana as they occurred in other parts of the world.

Edghill further argued that while Central Government was guilty of some of the most egregious breaches, several regional administrations throughout the country were also culpable, especially those where a majority of the officials were closely associated with the coalition Government.

He said the ulterior motive was to have hundreds of contracts to the value of billions of dollars handed to cronies and campaign financiers. “It is clear that regional and other subordinate officials are following the example of the top bosses,” he stated.

In making reference to serious breaches in the Procurement Act in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) that were discovered by the Auditor General’s Office, Edghill said this was just one region where the issue existed.

According to the Act, an award of a contract should be made to the lowest responsive evaluated bid. The former Junior Finance Minister explained that in the procurement process, the evaluation committee evaluated all the bids and ensured that they satisfied all the requirements before awarding the contract.

Opposition MP Juan Edghill

The Auditor General had pointed out that an examination of the evaluation reports for a sample has revealed that in 22 instances, contracts were not awarded to the lowest or most competitive bidders, despite the evaluation committee recommending the lowest evaluated bidder in each instance.

In addition, no reasons were given in the Tender Board minutes as to why the recommendations of that committee were not followed. Edghill said the report also pointed to one example, which involved the fixing of a structure at Pouderoyen. Twenty-four bids were submitted and the award went to the ninth bidder.

The Opposition MP, who sits on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) at Parliament, said these issues were now coming to light during their regular weekly sittings and this was just one prime example. He noted that the PAC continued to find many breaches of the Procurement Act at other regions also.

Training conferences have been held with the Regional

Executive Officers (REOs) through the Finance Ministry, the Ministry of the Presidency and Communities Ministry.

The Communities Ministry, which has direct responsibility for the REOs, has repeatedly emphasised to these regional officials the importance of staying within the boundaries of the law and the Public Procurement Act. Last month, PAC Chairman Irfaan Ali slammed Region Two REO Rupert Hopkinson for being aware of breaches of the law, but going ahead with the projects out of the belief that they were in the best interest of the Region. Ali proposed to the Finance Secretary that disciplinary measures be pursued against him.

Hopkinson is under fire for using savings from Current Expenditures in order to execute capital projects in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Such actions must have the approval of Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

The projects included the construction of a bus shed at Dartmouth, construction of the Anna Regina Health Centre, construction of a fence at Unity Park Phase One, construction of a fence at Unity Park Phase Two, construction of a sitting area at Cotton Field, and construction of a landing at Liberty, Pomeroon.

And only one week ago, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) officials were asked to leave the chambers after they failed to answer PAC questions regarding issues raised in the Auditor General’s Report. At the last PAC sitting, chaired by MP

Pauline Sukhai, Region Nine REO Kerwin Warde was questioned on the Region’s procurement of drugs through interdepartmental warrants (IDWs).

Warde could not even provide definitive details on the reconciliation from the Materials Management Unit (MMU) of the Public Health Ministry, as recommended by the Auditor General in 2016.

In response, Warde indi-

cated that he could not answer that question. At this point, Sukhai upbraided the REO, noting that on appearing before the Committee, he had a duty to come prepared to answer whatever questions were put to him. Describing Warde’s statement as unacceptable, Sukhai asked him to confer with his support staff to get the information.

The Audit Office had rec-

ommended that the Regional Administration put systems in place to reconcile supplies received by the respective health facilities with the drugs’ lists initially submitted. It had also advised that the Region obtain the cost of the drugs and medical supplies from the Ministry, so as to reconcile the value of the drugs and medical supplies received with that of the sum warranted to the Ministry.

Bridge for Peace wraps up medical mission at Linden Hospital

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he Bridge for Peace: RaphaEl Medical Mission team has wrapped up yet another successful medical mission at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The team commenced services on April 7 and ended on April 14, with the aim of providing specialty surgical services, including Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and gynaecology during the one-week trip.

The team included three surgeons, an anaesthesiologist, two nurse anaesthetists, an internist, and approximately five nurses (operating room, recovery and clinic).

Dr Kevin Braat, an ENT surgeon from South Hampton, New York, returned to the Hospital for his third visit to the Region in the past two years with the team. According to information from the medical team, Dr Braat conducted daily clinics at the medical institution where he performed a variety of surgical procedures at the LHC Theatre on both children and adults.

The team has reported that hearing loss was the most common condition which Dr Braat encountered during the week, with some patients being assisted by simple ear cleaning

Some of the members of the medical team

while many others were found to be in need of the additional assistance of hearing aids.

The Public Health Ministry recently partnered with Starkey Hearing Aid company to provide hearing aids in Guyana free of charge.

Patients are encouraged to take advantage of this service by making an appointment with the LHC Audiology Department for testing and more information. According to Denroy Tudor, Coordinator at the International Desk at the Public Health Ministry, the Ministry is elated to have partnered once again with the Bridge for Peace: RaphaEl Medical Mission.

“This Government has recognised the importance of the

continuance of such initiatives for they assist in relieving some of the health ailments facing our Guyanese people...

Their medical professionals have expertise within internal medicine; obstetrics/gynaecology (OB/GYN); pre-op and postop services and ENT specialists,” he noted.

Bridge for Peace: RaphaEl Medical Mission completed its first surgical mission trip at the LHC in October 2016.

The team comprised four physicians and four nurses, specialising in the areas of Anaesthesia, ENT, Internal Medicine, and OB/GYN. The project received approval and licensing from the Health Ministry.

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WCD/EBE drainage, road works ongoing

Road rehabilitation works ongoing in De Kinderen

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he West Coast of Demerara (WCD) is now benefiting from a region-wide maintenance programme on various roads and waterways, including drains and canals, through a Region Three Regional Democratic Council (RDC) project.

Funded through monies allotted in the Region’s budget, the project aims to tackle “major issues” in various villages on the West Coast.

The community of De Kinderen, WCD, is currently benefiting from rehabilitation of all of its roads.

Through assistance from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), all drains in the area are also being maintained.

Maintenance works have also commenced on trenches throughout the WCD, with 10 being dug out and cleared and several more to be tendered for.

The communities of Zeelugt, Tuschen, Zeeburg, Ocean View (Uitvlugt) and Meten-Meer-Zorg are also said to be benefiting from similar works.

Some $1.6 million was allotted and used for concrete strips to be constructed in Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Additionally, burial grounds in each of these areas are currently benefiting from major improvements.

According to TuschenUitvlugt Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman Vishal Ambedkar, the project is targeting areas based on the seriousness of the issues, whether road or

drainage related or otherwise.

“We want everybody to benefit from the money so we are looking into the situation and rectifying depending on the state [of the infrastructure],” the NDC Chairman explained.

He, however, noted that although consultations with the RDC and NDCs were limited, as “we have not been notified on many issues”, the Tuschen-Uitvlugt NDC is happy with the project.

Ambedkar further noted that one area that needed urgent attention was Tuschen Phase Two where the roads were a major cause of concern for residents in the area.

“We are seeking Government’s assistance to rectify that issue, because the global state of the road in that area is a major cause of distress,” Ambedkar revealed.

“Cars taken by the residents to go into the area have since raised their fare since the road is in such a deplorable state.”

The NDC Chairman revealed that recent talks were had with Minister of State, Joseph Harmon as well as Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson regarding these issues and the need for Government’s urgent assistance.

Several letters were also sent to Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan and the NDC and RDC were hoping for a favourable response.

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17 Lindeners march against all forms of violence A news

monDAY, april 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

s the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) organized "Speak out, Speak up" march to end violence against women and children across the country got underway on Saturday, the message was clear: "No form of violence against women or children is acceptable”.

Led by Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell, the march commenced at the Bayroc Community Centre Ground and culminated at the Georgetown minibus park. In the spotlight was the newly formed community group 'Fix her crown', formed by a group of young women from Linden with the aim of lending support to persons affected by any form of abuse and domestic violence.

In her address to the gathering, Arindell urged the community to stand together to "secure our children and look out for our families and friends" in the quest to stand against all forms of violence.

Some of the residents of Linden who participated in the march

She urged women not to be silent on the issue, as she pointed out that the LM&TC is working to create a safe home for affected women.

"Women, speak out, speak up...The law is there for the lawless, and so let the law do what it has to do.

Do not be afraid", she urged.

Linden Councillor Nikeza Noel also urged men to lead by positive example, and women to stand together against abuse.

"Each woman has a story. We need to take the time to listen to that story... Tonight, women, arise!

We will stand together, against every form of violence against our women and our girls... Today, women, take pride in what we've accomplished so far. I say thank you to the men who would have stood and taken up their positions, and (I say to them) you have taken care of us...,” she noted.

Women’s group completes 1st Essequibo kayaking expedition

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The group who undertook the journey

group of women on Tuesday completed the first-ever kayaking expedition journeying from the source of the Essequibo River to the river mouth.

Commencing two months ago on February 2, 2018, the expedition lasted some 75 days.

It was headed by Laura Bingham, while hailing from the United Kingdom and Ireland were her two companions, Ness Knight and Pip Stewart.

With a combination of both

hard and soft adventure experiences, the group was able to enjoy the awe-inspiring vast landscapes of Guyana – waterways, rain forests, savannahs and mountain ranges.

The expedition included a visit to the Indigenous community of Konashen with the team also passing through Fairview, Apoteri and Iwokrama. The journey provided excellent exposure for Destination Guyana, with a great focus on community tourism and Guyana's waterways.

Some of the highlights of the journey included the warm hospitality of the Indigenous communities along the River, especially the Wai Wai who were the main guides for the almost twoand-a-half-month journey, as well as the pristine nature of the rainforest and the wildlife.

The team was accompanied by Faye James of King William Adventures, as well as Wai Wai guides Romel and Anthony.

Cash dogs being sourced from...

“There are dogs being trained in Canada and the US. They have to be brought here and be trained specifically on certain cash, and that takes about three to five months.

They have to be introduced to their trainers, and the process of working together has to take place before they can actually be utilised,” Sittlington explained.

Interagency cooperation

Coordination between different agencies in the anti-money laundering fight is a sore point, especially with the release of a recent United States report that has turned the spotlight on inter-agency fractions.

The US International Narcotics Control Strategy

Report (INCSR), volume two of March 2018, declared there was a lack of strong interagency cooperation among AML and drug-fighting agencies, adding that these departments did not have adequate human resources and the necessary training for complete effectiveness.

It was outlined that Guyana should continue to provide training to “increase awareness and understanding of AML laws within the Judiciary and agencies. The major agencies involved in anti-drug and money laundering efforts, such as the Guyana Police Force (GPF); the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU); the Special Organised Crime Unit

from page 7

(SOCU), and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), were observed as not being effective enough, owing to “inadequate human resources, insufficient training, and a lack of strong interagency cooperation”.

That report had also listed Guyana among many other countries as “major money laundering jurisdictions in 2017”. But according to Sittlington, inter-agency cooperation is an ongoing process.

“We have regular inter-agency meetings. That’s an ongoing process. Everyone knows the protocols, everyone knows the importance of collaboration; and that is happening. I can say categorically it is happening, and it’s improving,” the specialist advisor said.

Speaking on behalf of the Muslim community, Brother Jafar Mohamed called for stricter punishment for crimes against women. He pointed out that men are failing to properly take care

of women. "...what we're seeing today in society is as a result of us as men failing to liberate ourselves...in order to deal (with) and handle a woman properly...This failure, it has to do with spirituality, it has to do with economics, it has to do with morality, it has to do with social life.

“We, as men, fail to prepare ourselves in a holistic way. Hence, when a woman enters our lives, we don't know how to handle her properly", he noted.

Mohamed said that while it takes a village to raise a child, today's community is doing something wrong. He added that when a woman is disrespected, an entire community is also disrespected.

Meanwhile, Manager of the Gender- Based Bureau

within the Ministry of Social Protection reiterated that no form of violence is acceptable, whether in schools, relationships, or in the home. He said the Social Protection Ministry, over the past 3 years, has implemented a number of programmes to address domestic and sexual violence.

He encouraged all to get on board, noting that it cannot be a one-sided approach, and that no one should be alienated as it relates to sexual and domestic violence. He added that one of his tasks this year is to address the issue of negative masculinity, and he stressed that everyone has a role to play. He further urged women to report first instances of abuse, and everyone to be their neighbour's keeper.

Guyana banned from Miss Universe Pageant for next 2 years

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fter being mired in controversy following the crowning of Rafeiya Husain as the local representative to compete for the Miss Universe 2017 crown, Guyana has now been reportedly banned from participating in the international pageant for the next two years.

A committee member revealed that after complaints were filed which indicated that the Director of the Miss Universe organisation in Guyana ran an illegitimate competition, an investigation was launched by the pageant’s head organisation.

Based on findings of results tampering, etc, Director Jyoti Hardat has now been allegedly fired and Guyana given the ban.

Guyana Times attempted several times to contact Hardat in New York for a response and confirmation, but the calls went unanswered and were not returned.

The organisation will reportedly be issuing a press statement next week.

After Husain’s crowning at York College Performing Arts Center in New York, the 15 other delegates reported that the pageant was rigged, and Husain was

Miss Guyana Universe Franchise Holder Jyoti Hardat

hand-picked as the winner even though the crown was not rightfully hers.

The young women alleged mistreatment, sexual harassment, and disrespect by the organisation.

Some took to social media and told tales of what occurred during their Miss Universe journey.

Two contestants who spoke out were Altea Kelly and Sharisse Victor.

According to Kelly, Hardat introduced her to “a potential sponsor” who later made sexual advances towards her.

A number of committee members who confirmed the accusations by the delegate also immediately resigned.

The pageant received many negative views after Husain, who was the 2016 pageant’s runner-up, entered to compete despite the fact that the pageant contract specifically asked that the delegates not be a current title holder or first runner-up in any national pageant.

Section One, Sub-section ‘H’ of the delegates’ contract reads: “I represent and warrant that I have never been a contestant or delegate in a previous Miss Universe Pageant. I am not the current title holder or first runner-up in any national pageant or competition.”

Delegates complained of her being given special treatment throughout the journey and privileges.

Husain, however, did not place in the international pageant despite the high hopes of some Guyanese.

She took to social media some time after the pageant to reveal that she got little to no support from Guyana during her time in the international pageant.

Supermarket Shoppers...

She said too that the EPA may consider taking the idea to a governmental level, based on the public’s response to the initiative and after the necessary sensitisation would have been conducted to alert the public on the dangers of plastic bag use.

The implementation of this new initiative comes at a time when Guyana happens to be one of the countries in the Caribbean that are significantly affected by plastic pollutants.

Over the years, plastic items, specifically plastic bags have been the reason for clogged drains, trenches and canals that often times result in flooding.

The Government of Guyana took the decision to ban Styrofoam back in 2016, after much contention.

Earth Day is a global event which sees the participation of approximately one billion people in 192 countries.

The EPA of Guyana will be endorsing this message as it strives to end this type of pollution – one of the major types in Guyana.

World Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 in the United States. It later became recognised and accepted worldwide by the year 1990.

According to the organisers of World Earth Day,

from page 9

at least two million people die globally, owing to indoor and outdoor pollution. It also estimates that by the year 2030, food prices will go up by 50 per cent owing to climate change.

The rising temperatures, global warming and other ecological imbalances are a result of half of the world’s rainforests being gone. The deaths of 70,000 persons in Europe were caused by rising temperatures in 2003. These imbalances are also leading to frequent flooding and other disasters across the globe, which include forest fires, again impacting the trees.

18 News

monDAY, april 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Festival City Health Centre UN expresses concerns over Trinidad’s treatment of Venezuelans to be reconstructed

…as it deported 82 nationals, inclusive of asylum seekers

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he United Nations system in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday registered its concerns with the decision of the island’s Government to facilitate the return of 82 Venezuelan nationals, including asylum seekers, who had been in detention back to their homeland.

“The United Nations is concerned for the welfare of these people and is in contact with the appropriate authorities in Port of Spain to ensure that any person in need of protection will get it without fail,” the T&T UN Resident Coordinator Richard Blewitt said on Sunday.

Blewitt’s comments came after the island’s Ministry of National Security announced that 82 Venezuelan citizens who had been held in detention in Trinidad and Tobago had been turned over to the Venezuelan Embassy for repatriation to Venezuela.

“The group, comprised of 53 men and 29 women, included several individuals who had been registered as asylum seekers in Trinidad and Tobago as well as others who had initiated asylum requests or had signalled an intention to do so. They were flown out of Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday aboard a Venezuelan Government aircraft. The Ministry statement said all returns were voluntary although this could not be verified independently by United Nations observers,” the UN said in a statement.

“Venezuelans have been leaving their country in growing numbers, many in need of international protec-

The Venezuelan military plane at the Piarco International Airport

tion and seeking temporary refuge in countries of the Americas region, including in some Caribbean small island States like Trinidad and Tobago. The United Nations and its local partners have encouraged the prompt adoption of national legislation on refugee issues, and work together to support the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in its efforts to develop an efficient and secure asylum system,” the statement added.

T&T National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said the arrangement was finalised on Friday between the two Governments. The military aircraft, flight number FAV2410, landed at the Piarco International Airport South Terminal at 10:51h from El Libertador Air Base Airport in Palo Negra, Venezuela on Saturday.

The Trinidad Guardian reported that just under 40 of those 82 Venezuelan nationals were said to have applied for asylum and refugee status in T&T, but the certif-

icates they had in their possession were allegedly disregarded by immigration officers in T&T. Over the last two weeks, members of the T&T Police Service as well as immigration officers made several raids in the southern part of the island where they detained a number of Venezuelan nationals who were in the country illegally.

It was reported that approximately 2000 Venezuelans have applied for asylum in T&T and the numbers are increasing.

Venezuelans have been seeking refuge in T&T as a result of their country’s current situation.

The Trinidad Guardian reports that on a weekly basis between 150 and 200 Venezuelans come to T&T via the sea, but noted that based on the numbers seen at the Immigration Detention Centre, the majority of them—at least 90 per cent – have entered the country illegally or have a criminal conviction.

…Discussions for a Kitty Health Centre ongoing

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esidents of Festival City, Sophia, Albouystown and Kitty are soon to benefit from better health care. A new health centre is to be constructed at Festival City, and discussions are ongoing for the erection of a health centre at Kitty and for the Albouystown Health Centre to undergo improvement.

Coming out of a recent meeting between the Public Health Minister and the Mayor of Georgetown, it was decided that the Public Health Ministry and the Mayor & City Council (M&CC) would oversee these works.

According to Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, “We are at the stage where we have already designed, and are about to go to tender. So what I discussed with her (Mayor Chase-Greene) is our approach in terms of the billboard we want to put up so the community could see what is coming.”

The new centre at Festival City will remain at its current location on Aubrey Barker and Blue Mountain Roads in

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence and Mayor of Georgetown Patricia Chase Greene

North Ruimveldt, but a ramp will be constructed at the entrance to cater to persons with disabilities.

The two-storey building will house additional services besides those that are already offered, making it a community hospital.

Laboratory, X-Ray and Ultrasound services would be provided there, as also would be the establishment of an

adolescent clinic.

A health centre for Kitty, which can be facilitated at the upper flat of the Kitty Market complex, was also discussed.

The Public Health Ministry would also work with the Albouystown Health centre to ensure this facility can effectively provide the level of health care needed by the community.

CRMA facilitated over 1000 jobs for youths in 2017

– 700 registered in 2018

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he Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency, under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Protection, registered some 2000 job-seekers drawn from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten for 2017.

One thousand of those registered were provided jobs.

Most persons seeking jobs are between ages 15 and 35, Chief Recruitment and Manpower Officer Valarie Moore told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

She said that for 2018 (January to March), some 700 persons registered for jobs, about 200 of which were placed in jobs.

Moore explained that for January alone, the agency saw a total of 95 persons, while in February some 169 persons registered. These numbers, she said, do not include those that are already in the system awaiting job placement.

“We have a term we call submission, which means sending someone to take part in interviews. And so

Chief Recruitment and Manpower Officer Valarie Moore

sometimes that number will be more than the registration that we have, but we normally look at those persons in the system already,” Moore added.

For those persons with two and three subjects at Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) and little or no skills, Moore said the call

centres usually take off those persons.

Moore noted that they advise persons on where they can go to improve their qualifications and get assistance. They also share with job-seekers what are some of the benefits of obtaining a skill and/or academic qualifications.

The agency also collaborates with the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), which provides training for unqualified individuals through the Government Technical Institute (GTI) and the Guyana School of Agriculture.

However, she said that sometimes some of the youths do not need jobs, but need advice, or in some cases public assistance. Those persons are referred to the Woman of Worth (WOW) and the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programmes under the Ministry of Social Protection.

The Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency is a division of the Social Protection Ministry. It registers applicants for employment, taking specific note of their occupational qualifications, experiences, and desires. It evaluates, if necessary, their physical and vocational abilities. Its objective is to place individuals seeking jobs in suitable employment, while providing career guidance and counselling. The Agency was established by the Government of Guyana in October 1944.

monDAY, april 23, 2018

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Archer, Gowtham hand Mumbai another final-over defeat

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t the player auction in January, Rajasthan Royals spent INR 7.2 crore (USD 1.1 million approx) on Jofra Archer and

INR 6.2 crore (USD 9,70,000 approx.) on K Gowtham.

That’s a lot of cash to splash on two uncapped players.

Given his IPL exploits, the

SCOREBOARD Mumbai Indian Innings (20 overs maximum) SA Yadav c †Buttler b Unadkat 72 E Lewis b Kulkarni 0 Ishan Kishan † c †Buttler b Kulkarni 58 KA Pollard not out 21 RG Sharma (c) run out (Rahane) 0 KH Pandya c Klaasen b Archer 7 HH Pandya b Archer 4 MJ McClenaghan b Archer 0 M Markande not out 0 Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 3) 5 TOTAL 167-7 (20 Overs, RR: 8.35) Did not bat: JJ Bumrah, Mustafizur Rahman Fall of wickets: 1-1 (E Lewis, 0.4 ov), 2-130 (Ishan Kishan, 14.2 ov), 3-135 (SA Yadav, 15.2 ov), 4-136 (RG Sharma, 15.4 ov), 5-153 (KH Pandya, 18.1 ov), 6-158 (HH Pandya, 18.4 ov), 7-158 (MJ McClenaghan, 18.5 ov) Bowling: DS Kulkarni (4-0-322), K Gowtham (3-0-20-0), JC Archer (4-0-22-3), JD Unadkat, (4-0-31-1), S Gopal (2-0-300), BA Stokes (3-0-31-0)

Rajasthan Royals Innings (target: 168 runs from 20 overs) AM Rahane (c) c KH Pandya b McClenaghan 14 RA Tripathi c Yadav b KH Pandya 9 SV Samson c HH Pandya b Bumrah 52 BA Stokes b HH Pandya 40 JC Buttler † b Bumrah 6 H Klaasen c †Ishan Kishan b Mustafizur Rahman 0 JC Archer c & b HH Pandya 8 K Gowtham not out 33 JD Unadkat not out 0 Extras (nb 2, w 4) 6 TOTAL 168-7 (19.4 Overs, RR: 8.54) Yet to bat: DS Kulkarni, S Gopal Fall of wickets: 1-14 (RA Tripathi, 2.2 ov), 2-38 (AM Rahane, 5.4 ov), 3-110 (BA Stokes, 14.1 ov), 4-125 (SV Samson, 16.2 ov), 5-125 (JC Buttler, 16.3 ov), 6-125 (H Klaasen, 17.1 ov), 7-158 (JC Archer, 19.1 ov) Bowling: MJ McClenaghan (3-0-32-1), JJ Bumrah (4-028-2), KH Pandya (4-0-33-1), Mustafizur Rahman (4-0-351), M Markande (2-0-15-0), HH Pandya (2.4-0-25-2)

bidding war for Archer wasn’t a surprise; Gowtham, a solid, late-blooming offspinning allrounder at first-class level, wasn’t as much of a known quantity in T20 cricket.

On Sunday both announced themselves in the IPL with performances that swung an exceedingly tight game. First up, Archer, returning from a side strain and making his IPL debut, bowled with effortless pace and grabbed 3 for 22, all three of his wickets coming in a 19th over that sucked all momentum out of Mumbai Indians’ innings and helped restrict them to 167. Then Gowtham, coming in at No. 8 with Royals needing 43 off 17 balls, clattered an unbeaten 11-ball 33 to win it with two balls to spare.

For the fourth time in five games this season, Mumbai suffered a final-over loss. The seeds of the defeat, however, were sown much earlier, in the last five overs of their own innings, in which they only managed 32 for 5 after a second-wicket stand of 129 between Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, off only 82 balls, had set them up for a total of 180 at least.

In the 21st match of this IPL season, Rohit Sharma became

only the second captain to choose to bat first. He felt the large boundaries at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium could aid the team defending a total.

Though he ended up on the losing side, the events of the match showed there was logic behind his decision. There were 29 twos and only ten sixes in the match, and Mumbai hit seven of those sixes. A team being so far ahead on the six count generally doesn’t lose; Mumbai, however, didn’t make that advantage count.

Six of Mumbai’s seven sixes came during the SuryakumarKishan stand, which showcased some of the cleanest ballstriking you can see from two uncapped players.

Suryakumar’s wristwork was a delight to watch, the highlight of his innings a flicked six off Dhawal Kulkarni. In the same over, the fifth of Mumbai’s innings, Kishan showed off the full arc of his bat-swing, high backlift flowing into a full follow-through, to launch the ball high over wide long-on.

When their partnership came to an end in the 15th over, Mumbai were perfectly placed for an end-overs blast, with Rohit, Kieron Pollard and the Pandya brothers to follow.

As it happened, that

fearsome middle order managed a combined 32 off 29 balls.

Royals’ other bowlers played some part, varying their pace and forcing Ben Stokes sweeps during his innings of 40 against the Mumbai Indians the batsmen to try and muscle the ball to the sixes in an innings just over a long boundaries, and there week ago, batting through a was one needless run-out, significant chunk of that time. which took out Rohit Sharma, This was down to some good but the chief architect of bowling from Mumbai, and Mumbai’s slide was Archer. also the sheer size difference He showed no aftereffects between the outfields of of his side strain, pushing the Jaipur and Bengaluru. Samson speedgun needle towards had to do a lot of running this the 150kph mark on multiple time, only hitting four fours in occasions, giving his bowling his 39-ball 52. attack a dimension it had sorely The required rate inched missed in previous games. Two slowly upwards, and when of his wickets came via the fast Samson holed out off a Jasprit and full route, Hardik Pandya Bumrah slower ball in the 17th and Mitchell McClenaghan over, Mumbai were perhaps bowled off successive balls, favourites for the first time and the other by means of since the three-quarters mark a change-up, in this case a of their innings. Bumrah knuckleball that Krunal Pandya produced a fast nip-backer to miscued to long-on. bowl Jos Buttler off the next There was only one six in ball, and Royals were 125 for the first 17.4 overs of Royals’ 5, needing 43 from 21 balls. chase, this despite Ben Stokes, Three successive dots from one of the cleanest strikers Bumrah to Archer made it 43 around, and Sanju Samson, off 18. a man who had struck 10

Rayudu, Chahar the difference as CSK win

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mbati Rayudu's masterclass was nearly outdone by one from Kane Williamson, but Chennai Super Kings survived that attack from Sunrisers' captain and then a Yusuf

Pathan cameo to crawl to the top of the table. In a match where all the action happened at the back end of the two innings, the difference was only four runs.

The difference, perhaps,

SCOREBOARD Chennai Super Kings Innings (20 overs maximum) SR Watson c Hooda b Kumar 9 F du Plessis st †Saha b Rashid Kh an 11 SK Raina not out 54 AT Rayudu run out (Pandey/ Kaul/Williamson) 79 MS Dhoni (c) † not out 25 Extras 4 (w 4) TOTAL 182-3 (20 Overs, RR: 9.1) Did not bat: SW Billings, DJ Bravo, RA Jadeja, DL Chahar, KV Sharma, SN Thakur Fall of wickets: 1-14 (SR Watson, 3.3 ov), 2-32 (F du Plessis, 7.1 ov), 3-144 (AT Rayudu, 16.4 ov) Bowling: B Kumar (3-0-22-1), B Stanlake (4-0-38-0), Shakib Al Hasan (4-0-32-0), S Kaul (40-33-0), Rashid Khan (4-049-1), DJ Hooda (1-0-8-0) Sunrisers Hyderabad Innings (target: 183 runs from 20 overs)

RK Bhui c Watson b Chahar 0 KS Williamson (c) c Jadeja b Bravo 84 MK Pandey c Sharma b Chahar 0 DJ Hooda c Jadeja b Chahar 1 Shakib Al Hasan c Raina b Sharma 24 YK Pathan c Raina b Thakur 45 WP Saha † not out 5 Rashid Khan not out 17 Extras 2 (w 2) TOTAL 178-6 (20 Overs, RR: 8.9) Did not bat: B Kumar, B Stanlake, S Kaul Fall of wickets: 1-0 (RK Bhui, 0.5 ov), 2-10 (MK Pandey, 2.1 ov), 3-22 (DJ Hooda, 4.2 ov), 4-71 (Shakib Al Hasan, 10.3 ov), 5-150 (KS Williamson, 17.6 ov), 6-157 (YK Pathan, 18.4 ov) Bowling: DL Chahar (4-1-153), SN Thakur (4-0-45-1), SR Watson (2-0-23-0), RA Jadeja (4-0-28-0), KV Sharma (3-030-1), DJ Bravo (3-0-37-1)

was that Super Kings had kept more wickets in hand up front than Sunrisers had.

Seamer Deepak Chahar took three wickets inside the Powerplay as Sunrisers put up a poor response after being set 183 in the absence of the injured Shikhar Dhawan.

Super Kings found it hard after being put in. Afternoon games in Hyderabad have often brought out low-scoring games because the summer heat - the temperature was in the mid-30s today - dries the surface up.

Shane Watson, whose explosive batting had helped Super Kings put up 107 for 1 in the first ten overs against Rajasthan Royals on Friday, was kept quiet. At the other end, it didn't appear part of the returning Faf du Plessis' brief to take on the bowling. With a a struggling Suresh Raina at No. 3, Super Kings put up both the season's lowest Powerplay score - 27 for 1 - and ten-over score - 54 for 2, almost half of what they'd got against Royals.

Rayudu approached it differently. Moments after walking in against Rashid Khan in the eighth over, he hit a mistimed sweep over

midwicket. When Williamson brought Bhuvneshwar back for a third over to try and break the partnership in the 10th over, he picked his slower ball and nailed a slog sweep for six.

For most of his 112run partnership with Raina, Rayudu looked like he had a plan for this kind of a surface.

It was, after all, his home ground. While Raina looked decidedly on the defensive, trying to walk around in the crease to drop balls on either side with soft hands, Rayudu first maneuvered the spinners around with use of the feet to get settled, and would then mess with the seamers' lengths when he got boundaries at third man trying to slash them onto the leg side. In his last 16 balls Rayudu scored 48 runs, with six fours and three sixes.

It was, however, a Raina blitz against Rashid that signalled the attack in the 12th over. The legspinner had been caned by Chris Gayle in his last match, often bowling flat and full to allow him cleans swings through the line. When Raina slogged a loopy googly over midwicket in his second over, he quickly resorted to the same strategy despite finding

success with flight earlier.

He darted the next one full outside off and it ended up in the same place.

Suresh Raina

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, april 23, 2018

Greater emphasis on structure at GTTA nationals

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fter a one-year absence in 2017, the Guyana National Junior and Senior Table Tennis Championships will return this year with an increased focus on structuring the sport.

This flagship event, which will kick start the work of the newly elected executive committee, includes three catego-

ries, namely: the Senior leg, scheduled for 20th to 23rd May 2018; Junior leg, scheduled for June 2nd to 4th, 2018; and the National Veterans and Doubles championships, slated for September 2018.

The competition will also focus on a number of areas that need attention in the GTTA. Foremost, the association is seeking to establish a benchmark to which players must aspire in effort to improve the competitiveness of the sport domestically. Additionally, implementation of a ranking system and marketability of play-

ers are on the cards. However, the most important step that the association is looking to make is the crowning and naming of national champions in the respective categories.

The junior players will be contesting in the boys’ 18 yrs and under singles; girls 18 yrs and under singles; boys’ 15 yrs and under singles; girls’ 15 yrs and under singles; boys’ 13 yrs. and under singles; girls’ 13 yrs and under singles; boys’ 11 yrs and under singles; girls’ 11 yrs and under singles; boys’ 9 yrs and under singles; girls 9 yrs and under singles; girls’ 9 yrs. and under singles, novices girls singles, novices boys singles categories.

The seniors, however, will compete for the men’s singles, women’s singles, B Class open singles, 21-and-under male singles, 21-and-under female singles, ‘C’ Class Open singles.

The ever-improving Shemar Britton

Chelsea Edghill in action

With several of the players coming off great performances in domestic and international competitions, the tournament will pit defending champion Christopher Franklin, remerging 2010 champion Nigel Bryan, the talented and fast improving Shemar Britton, Joel Alleyne, Edinho Lewis, Elishaba Johnson, Kyle Edghill, Orin Hickerson Jonathan Sankar, Miguel Wong, Jamal Duff and the ageless Colin France, among other contenders, against each other to see who will be Guyana’s national men’s champion. This, the GTTA feels, would truly provide some exciting action.

On the distaff side, Chelsea Edghill, who is currently playing on the US intercollegiate circuit, will be pitted against former women’s champion Trenace Lowe, coming off her great performances at the CAC games trials. The ever improving Natalie Cummings, former Caribbean junior champion

Jody Blake, Delcia Cummings, Neveah Clarkston, Priscillia Greaves,Selenas Jackman and Ambrose Thomas all provide a roster for some competitive table tennis.

The GTTA is anticipating a riveting competition, with players looking to create and settle rivalries. Any Guyanese player who is eligible according to the ITTF Handbook 2017-2018 is welcome to participate.

Series of upsets Brewley leads Christianburg to title recorded at Chess weekend “Screw” Richmond U-18 School Football…

Two of the attentive minds at work

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Christianburg/Wismar Secondary celebrate their title

goal scored by menacing striker Omar Brewley five minutes before half time was enough to land Christianburg Wismar ‘Multi’ Secondary their second straight title.

They nipped New Silvercity Secondary 1-0 in the Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Linden Secondary Schools Under-18 Football final played on Friday afternoon at the Wisburg Secondary School ground.

It would be the fifth such title for the ‘Multi’ side, their having won in 2013, 2014 and 2015, before going out against Wisburg in the semi-finals in 2016.

Play in what turned out to be a tough encounter for both sides would see another close finish to determine the winner. While the exchanges were fairly competitive, Brewly, who a year ago separated them with a double-strike in a 3-1 win,

Omar Brewley

would again essay the fortunes of this final.

Andse Mayers, the Multi defender who also was outstanding last year, was there to release from the left side a through ball which Brewley would chase and unleash atop of the 18 yard box. The strike would beat the new Silver city goalkeeper for the decisive goal in the 40th minute.

The game remained a hard fought encounter, but the man in the citadel for Christianburg Wismar Secondary would show his class with some brilliant saves whenever the New Silver city side made forays towards the goal.

Throughout the rest of the match, both teams tried their best to hit the back of the ne,t but to no avail.

In the other game for third place, Mackenzie High won 2-1 over Wisburg Secondary, but the names of the scorers that game were not available to this publication.

Coach of the wining team, Dellon Peters, was not surprised by the struggle his team had against New Silvercity. He said, “We did not come here expecting a walkover or a cake walk, because it’s New Silvercity Secondary (we were playing against), and they have always been our

main nemesis, so to speak.

But we are always winning by the slightest of margins, such as a goal.”

Compton ‘Cha Cha’ London, a member of the Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Foundation, was among those who handed over the prizes won at the presentation after the final.

For his role in preventing the New Silvercity side form levelling things, Decklan Lee would be named the Best Goalkeeper, while Mayers earned the Best Defensive Player award. Brewly would be named the Best Forward, New Silvercity’s Coach, Dwalon Farrel, would come out as the Best Coach, and his striker Emanuel Atkins copped the Most Goals Award with seven goals.

Another New Silvercity Secondary player, Ojai Whittington, would be adjudged the Best Midfield Player.

I

t was a buzzing weekend in the local Chess world, as the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) concurrently hosted two of its premiere tournaments.

In the female category, seven competitors vied for the title of Female National Champion. The women were also competing to be among the top five players, who will go on to represent Guyana at the World Chess Championships later this year.

On the other side, the quick minds were competing for top honours in the Georgetown Chess Classics. Chess coach and assistant tournament director Wendell Meusa explained that, at present, the competition is open only to men.

It is Meusa’s hope that the federation will not only be able to expand the competition to other regions of the country, inclusive of Linden, Berbice, and West Demerara; but to also host a female version of the competition.

Contrary to a normal game of chess, the chess classics give players one hour of sudden death game time. This format, which requires players to think and manipulate their game faster, saw stellar performances from the usual suspects. It also saw shocking defeats. Ranked at #2, Anthony Drayton dominated the board in Saturday’s proceedings. Keon Scott of Albouystown Open Minds Chess Club crushed Guyana’s Junior #3, Jaden Taylor.

FIDE Master Maria Isabella Thomas was the favourite of the women’s competition, delivering a number of solid plays throughout the day. However, the experienced Sheriffa Ali was defeated in a shocking upset by promising youngster Nellisha Johnson of Christ Church Secondary School.

Based on the level of competition displayed on Saturday, it is still unclear who will emerge as the champions of both competitions.

sports

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Ryan Hercules

Sherlan Anthony

Joshua Jones

Joel Fortune

ssequibo Coach Ryan Hercules has said that despite having their opening match versus Demerara washed out, his players are still fired up, and are training overtime ahead of the next round, set to bowl off on Tuesday.

Following Sunday’s no-play result at Bourda in round one, Hercules told Guyana Times Sport that his players were ‘on the job’ in regard to their training and preparation, and the spare time will facilitate more practice sessions.

“There are times when games do get washed out, but we are not looking at that, we are here to play cricket. We have used the opportunity to push in more training, because we had

training Saturday and Sunday.

We want to keep improving our game,” he explained.

Essequibo thumped Demerara in the final round of the 3-dayers, gathering momentum heading into the 50Over format; and Hercules, the county’s senior coach, pointed out that the transition process for the youngsters was similar to that of the older crop of players.

“Well, the transformation was just like in the 3-day for the seniors. These players are talented, they just know what to do when it comes to transitioning from 3-day to 50- over cricket.

Some areas we focused on were ground fielding, catching, backing up in the fields, sport bowling, (all of) which will help

the batsmen,” he declared.

He continued, “It’s 50-overs’ cricket, but it’s still 300 balls, and players till need to be patient when they bat. And those were some of the areas we were working on in the nets for the past three days.”

Regarding his thoughts on the quality of his team, the former national U-19 pacer said he was very impressed with some of the players on the team.

He wants some of them to have immediate grooming into the Jaguars Academy.

He highlighted a few of his players whom he believes will play a crucial role in the county’s success during the 50-over tourney as well as in the future.

“We have a few good senior

players. Pacer Joshua Jones is one; batsman Kurt Lovell, who has been scoring runs in the 3-day tournament, (is another); left-arm spinner Joel Fortune, leg-spinner Sherlan Anthony who got five wickets... “…also, the captain, Kevin Christian; he plays for the senior team. So these are players whom we have high expectation of, and they just need to go out there and understand their roles, and we will get the results,” he assured.

Weather permitting, Essequibo will put Sunday’s woes behind them as they seek to lock horns with the Under-17 Select in round two, which is tentatively set for the Everest Cricket Ground. (Clifton Ross)

E

Sport tourism on the rise in Guyana

S

port tourism is becoming rampant in Guyana, and this is being credited to a number of seeking the participation of international athletes in local sporting events.

The disclosure was made by Director General of the Tourism Ministry, Donald Sinclair, who said both entities work hand in hand for the benefit of each other.

At a press conference, Sinclair explained that sport tourism contributes significantly to the entire industry by creating a boost in the hospitality sector as well.

“You need a certain volume of persons coming in, either to play, as spectators, or as officials. That is an important factor in sport tourism,” he

Tourism Ministry DirectorGeneral Donald Sinclair

explained.

He said the Tourism Ministry has noticed this trend, and has sought to capitalize on it by inviting sport organizers to a

workshop, where they were able to strategize and create a calendar of sporting events that would attract tourists to the country.

Citing the Caribbean Premiere League as one of the most prolific events of this kind, Sinclair stated, “Cricket is always an important sport tourism event. Those events are like magnets.”

He is urging other sporting fraternities to get on board.

One major benefit of sport tourism, Sinclair explained, is that it creates a platform for local athletes to improve their skills by learning from others.

“It is not only tourism helping hotels and taxi drivers.

Yes, it does that, but the sport itself is helped in that the level

of the game is improved,” he stated. He then expounded, “It exposes our players and athletes to international competition, and that helps (them) to up the level of (their) game.”

Aside from improving the skills of local athletes, Sinclair explained, sport tourism is of massive importance to the industry. “It also improves the level of organization, like airport protocols, security, and off-programme events that are needed to make the destination different,” Sinclair noted.

Sinclair is encouraging more of Guyana’s sporting organizations to pursue internationally recognized tournaments and competitions, so as to boost the sector and their respective sport.

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imehri Panthers were officially crowned inaugural champions of the East Bank Demerara Football Association (EDFA) leg of the GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U-15 Intra-Association League.

Timehri’s most prolific scorer, Ishmael Pulsarran, ended his campaign on 17 goals, two less than top goal scorer Shoran James of Herstelling Raiders (19).

The league had kicked off in January and had attracted 12 teams. In its final match, Mocha Champs handed the champs their first draw of the competition. Pulsarran had handed his team the lead in the 37thminute of a keen contest, but Mocha Champs, which got into their stride in the latter stages of the league, kept taking the attack to the home

team, and were rewarded with the neutralising goal in the 54th minute, compliments of a Shamel Alleyne strike.

The exchanges continued at both ends until the final whistle sounded to bring an end to what has been described as a very successful league, which provided well over one hundred players the opportunity to showcase their skills and abilities over a three-month period.

At the presentation ceremony which followed the match, EBFA president, Franklin Wilson, expressed gratitude to sponsors Pele Alumuni Corporation for their continued investment in youth development through this league. Wilson also extended gratitude to the Guyana Football Federation under whose auspices the Intra Association

League is being administered.

Local representative for the Pele Alumuni Corporation, David Gomes, in feature remarks, extended congratulations to the champion team; runners-up, Kuru Kururu Warriors; and all the other teams for making the tournament a reality.

Gomes, himself a former player, gave the players, parents and spectators a brief overview of the Pele Alumini Corporation, and the work they have been doing over the years to empower young people.

Trophies, medals and one set of complete uniforms were presented to the top two teams

by Gomes on behalf of the sponsor. Backpacks containing educational and personal supplies were also presented to the top eight goal scorers, while the top two received trophies

Shoran James

and a football each.

Those players were Shoran James (19) of Herstelling Raiders; Ishmael Pulsarran (17) of Timehri Panthers; Brian Lambert (14) of Agricola Red Triangle; Tyrone Burnette (8) of Soesdyke Falcons; Kevin Scott (8) of Kuru Kururu Warriors; Azeem Calistro (8) of Swan FC; Kevin Daniels (7) of Swan FC; and Solomon Austin (7) of Herstelling Raiders.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, april 23, 2018

National School cricket…

Charlestown take spot in South Georgetown final T

he 2017/2018 National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) recommenced with matches being played in a number of zones.

This tournament is being sponsored by the following entities: the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), the Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited (DMLAS), and the National Sport Commission (NSC).

Over at GNIC, Charlestown Secondary competed against North Ruimveldt for a place in the South Georgetown Zone Finals.

North Ruimveldt, winning the toss and electing to bat first, posted 64 all out in 12.4 overs, Sunil Ramlall top-scoring with 24. Ravi Hanuman was the most instrumental bowler, grabbing 5 for 7 from 3 overs, inclusive of a hat-trick.

He was supported by Dante Sookram, who picked up 2 for 24 off 3 overs. Colin Smart and Raymond Bandhu took one wicket apiece.

Charlestown, in reply, raced to 68 from 9.2 overs, winning the contest by 8 wickets. Raymond Bandhu top-scored with 46 not out, while Brandon Volney score 5 not out.

At the Bayroc ground in Upper Demerara, New Silvercity Secondary won the toss and chose to field first. They struggled to contain Wisburg Secondary, who blazed to 207 all out in 17 overs.

Delroy Peters top-scored with 45 not out, while Shamar Edwards scored 30 and Elmont Edwards 28. Holland Cambridge

grabbed 2 for 18 off 2 overs.

In reply, New Silvercity Secondary fell for a meagre 108 all out in 18.3 overs, with Harvey Fraser top-scoring with 22 while Latini Potor contributed 19. Eyan Parnamee grabbed 3 for 18 off 3 overs, while Elmont Edward and Ronaldo Fortune took 2 wickets each.

Wisburg Secondary won by 99 runs.

Over at Jain Hind ground, touted as having one of the best outfields in the county, Port Mourant Secondary defeated Black Bush Secondary by 145 runs.

Sent in to bat by Black Bush Secondary, Port Mourant Secondary scored an imposing 202 for 6. Raj Persaud top-scored with 63, which included 7 fours and 2 sixes; while Roopnarine Ramnauth and Jai Tikia chipped in with 26 and 48 respectively.

Bowling for Black Bush Secondary, Jason Lachmandaya took 2 for 39, and one wicket each went to Tarendra Roopnarine and Terry Ramiah.

In reply, Black Bush could only muster 57, with Chovesh Atmaran top-scoring with 30, which included 2 fours and 2 sixes. Bowling for Port Mourant Secondary, Pawan Ramkehlawan grabbed 3 for 8, while Matthew Pottiah and Angelino Ramdial took 2 for 18 and 2 for 20 respectively. Port Mourant won by 145 runs.

At Albion, JC Chandisingh Secondary defeated Corentyne Comprehensive High School by 47 runs. Winning the toss and batting first, JC Chandisingh

made 144, with Lucas Arthur top-scoring with 35, which included 5 fours and 1 six. Jonathon Rampersaud supported with 20.

Bowling for Corentyne Comprehensive, Terry Park took 2 wickets, each falling for 26.

In reply, Corentyne

Mae’s Secondary will do battle with North Georgetown Secondary on Tuesday for the East Georgetown Zone title, while Chase Academy will compete with Christ Church to determine the North Georgetown Zone champions on Wednesday.

Raymond Bandhu (left) and Ravi Hanuman

Comprehensive could only manage to post 98 for 7 off their allotted 30 overs. Horace Gordial top-scored with 26, inclusive of 5 fours. Richard Rahaman supported with 16. Bowling for JC Chandisingh, Lucas Arthur and Troy Sealey took one wicket each. JC Chandisingh won by 46 runs.

On Monday, Charlestown Secondary will oppose Tucville Secondary in the South Georgetown Zone Finals.

Solomon wins Muneshwers 10th Annual Golf Open

V

eteran golfer Maurice Solomon outplayed some keen competition to emerge winner of the Muneshwers Travel Agency’s 10th Annual golf tournament and return himself in the champion’s seat after a brief absence therefrom.

The Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) Course was again the battlefield for the coun-

try’s top golfers, who came out this past Saturday keenly seeking to capture the famous title. In the end, it was the seasoned pro Solomon (66/25) who defeated the lot while capturing the Best Net award.

Other notable performances came from golfers of the calibre of Avinash Persaud (best gross score of

76), Satrohan Tiwari (nearest to the pin), Haresh Tewari (69/18 – 4th best net), Joaan Deo (69/18 – 3rd best net), and Chatterpaul Deo (68/16 –2nd best net). Solomon himself capped off first spot.

Apart from the top guns who managed to steal the spotlight, there were good performances from Ayube Subhan,

Saturday’s winners pose with the sponsor. From left are: Satrohan Tiwari; Avinash Persaud, Chatterpaul Deo, Robert Hanoman, Maurice Solomon, Joaan Deo and Haresh Tewari

71/18; Robert Hanoman (Sponsor), 71/28; Aleem Hussain, 72/11; Kassim Khan, 73/10; Bholawram Deo, 73/18; Persaud, 74/2; Roy Cummings, 74/9; and

Parmanand Persaud, 74/12.

Director of Muneshwers Travel Agency, Robert Hanoman, who endured a good day on the greens, congratulated the winners

and expressed Muneshwers Travel Agency’s delight that despite the threatening weather, the course and the greens were in fine condition.

GSM contributes to table tennis development

T

he Guyana Strategic Metals (GSM) Inc. has been the latest company to contribute to the development of table tennis in Guyana.

The metal company, a few days ago, made a cash donation to National Junior Table Tennis Player Terrence Rausch in the presence of president of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Godfrey Munroe, at the company’s Charlotte Street headquarters.

The donation formed the company’s sponsorship to assist a young table tennis talent in his development efforts.

Kevin Piepgrass, president of GSM, speaking at the simple handing over ceremony, said his company is thrilled to be partnering with the GTTA to foster development of the sport in Guyana.

According to Piepgrass, GSM and Greenpower Energy (ASX: GPP) are joint venture partners, and have been exploring for lithium, tantalum and rare earth elements in the Morabisi area since early 2017. GSM are continuing efforts based on the large lithium-rich area discovered last year.

Terrence Rausch

monDAY, april 23, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

23

GMR&SC “King of the Strip” 2

Still no stopping Team Mohamed’s Sean Persaud and the rail car about to take off for a thrilling battle (Akeem Greene photo)

Team Mohamed’s principal, Azurddin Mohamed; driver Terence Cox and his mechanic along with heartened supporter Chunia

By Akeem Greene

T

he rain held for most of the day and the beasts were un-

leashed at the South Dakota Circuit when the second edition of the King of the Strip Drag Racing meet was

GCB/Hand-in-Hand U-19, 50-Over Inter-County RD1

Simpson, batsmen flatten U-17s

held on Sunday.

Reigning above all the machines was Team Mohamed’s lightning fast Nissan GT-R, which was driven by American Terence Cox. It clocked a time of 7.527s to win the unlimited category (7-seconds), bettering its previous best of 7.569s.

That time came after an intense battle with Trinidadian Andy Bissessar’s rail-car.

Bissessar clocked 7.637s, below par his best of 7.29s,

achieved on his home track.

All eyes were on the Trinidadian to see if he could produce an upset of the local contingent. Well, he certainly gave a good account of himself pushing the GT-R to the line in an intense battle of speed.

Just as fans assumed they would have seen enough, the long-awaited local mega clash between the GT-R and Sean Persaud’s powerful Toyota Caldina was at the starting line.

The deafening sound of the engines only engrossed the sizable crowd in attendance. They were off, raising the hair of those close by, but it was a rear-light

viewing for the Caldina as it clocked 8.729s compared to the GT-R’s 7.637s.

Persaud also waged a valiant battle with the rail-car, but the 850-horsepower it produced when the nitrous oxide system (NOS) was activated was overwhelming. Joy, however, came for him in the eight-second clash which he won quite impressively.

Fans had to hold their breaths for just one more mega battle; the clash of the GT-Rs .

The Nismo took an early lead, but the beast which is nicknamed Goliath hit top gear and pulled ahead easily.

Road to Mecca V…

Colts, Kobras top groups T he preliminary round of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation’s (GABF’s) ‘Road to Mecca V’ National Club Champions concluded on Saturday with four matches at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Royals recorded the highest score of the tournament when they took on Jets and won 104-84; while Pacesetters, Ravens and Plaisance Guardians also claimed wins.

Pacesetters sank Nets 93-71, Ravens blew away Canje Knights 9164, and Guardians outplayed Raiders 97-62.

B

Keith Simpson receiving his award from match official Arleigh Rutherford

erbice completed a resounding 9-wicket win over the Under-17 Select in the rain-affected opening round of the 50-Over leg of this year’s inter-county competition over at Tuschen.

A smooth spell of 3-14 from MVP spinner Keith Simpson saw Berbice again flex their bowling muscles to knock over the young team for just 61 runs in 18.4 overs.

Opener Sachin Singh was top-scorer with 28.

Simpson was duly supported by left-arm spinner Kelvin Umrao, who ended with three wickets; and skipper Kevlon Anderson, who snatched a pair.

Rain almost delivered the same fate to the contest as it did when it forced the clash at Everest between Demerara and Essequibo to be washed out, but that did not deter Berbice, replying to their meagre target, from speeding to 63-1.

Despite inclement conditions, in-form opener Alex Algoo smashed two fours and three sixes in his 29, while partner Junior Sinclair carved two fours and two sixes in his 28 not-out, as the pair did most of the work during the chase, to take their team home with ease.

Round two’s action is set for Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the nine-second class was won by Raj Pandy and his Toyota Altezza while the 10-second went to Sean’s son, Damion Persaud.

The Surinamese pair of Michael Namchand and Raymond John won the 11and 12-second races.

The 13-second race went to Troy Kowelesar while two bike categories were won by Trinidadians Ian Atherley and Sean Briggs.

The accident-free meet, which was organised by the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC), saw 70 cars and four bikes take to the starting line.

The respective semis between Ravens and Kobras and Colts and Royals were scheduled for last night, while the tournament wraps up next Saturday, April 28.

Championships prizes for the tournament will see the first and second placed teams carting off $600,000 and $400,000 respectively; while the third placed team claims $200,000.

Individual prizes totalling $200,000 will be shared among the MVP; the player scoring the most points, and the player with the most rebounds.

School/Youth Cricket continues in Essequibo

A

Some of the students during last weekend’s school cricket at Anna Regina

nother epic youth showdown between Anna Regina Secondary School and Reliance Youths concluded last Saturday.

Played at the Anna Regina Secondary School Ground, the home team

made 179-7 off their allotted 20 overs, with Captain Havinesh Persaud making 38. He received support from Avinash Shivpersaud with 29, and Samuel Narine with 28, among the other top-scorers.

Reliance’s bowling was

led by Navindra Lall, who starred with 3 for 32 runs off his 4 overs. Regrettably, his team failed to chase the big target, and were shot down for a mere 80 all out off 10.5 overs, with Nasio Toll leading with 14 and Krishna Lall supporting with 12.

Bowling for Anna Regina, 12- year-old Raj Ramballi assumed the role of tormentor-in-chief. His returns of 5 for 11 off 2.5 overs included a hat-trick, and he was ably supported by Havinesh Persaud and Chilendra Kishore with 2 wickets each.

monDAY, april 23, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

GMR&SC “King of the Strip” 2

Still no stopping Team Mohamed’s Pg 23

It’s on! Team Mohamed’s Nissan GT-R takes an early lead against the rail car in the blockbuster battle on Sunday at the South Dakota Circuit (Ackeem Thomas Photography/GT Vibes)

Road to Mecca V…

Colts, Kobras top groups Preliminary round action in Road to Mecca V National Club Championships wrapped up on Saturday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall

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