Guyanatime 23 june 2018

Piracy massacre

President P declares June 25 as National Day of Mourning

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

Issue No. 3602

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, June 23, 2018

ERC to meet Jagdeo on GECOM racial bias complaint

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Caretaker P8 charged for burning child with hot iron

Page 3

– as Commission pays courtesy call on President Youths will P12 continue to get opportunities in PPP – Jagdeo …accepts that some “older” comrades against his leadership style Baramita Airstrip

Low maintenance, misuse of runway blamed for P11 deterioration President David Granger and members of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) during a courtesy call by members on Friday during which the Commissioners reaffirmed their commitment to working as a collective to fulfil the mandate of this important constitutional body

Private criminal charges

Jordan files $200M ‘malicious prosecution’ lawsuit against Edghill Landlord shoots former tenant who attempts to Page set him on fire 7

Ex-cop charged for defrauding,kidnapping Page pensioner 8

Tax boss calms business community's fears on oil contractors Page 9

…says rightful taxes will be demanded

Former Policeman jailed for robbery under arms P15

Corentyne murder

Attacker who ingested poison in stable P11 condition

GCCI launches inaugural Business Development P13 Forum

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, June 23 – a night retraction from 01:00h and a day retraction from 13:30h-15:00h and Sunday, June 24 – a night retraction from 02:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, June 23 – 12:55h-14:25h and Sunday, June 24 – 14:00h-15:30h.

ERC to meet Jagdeo on GECOM racial bias complaint – as Commission pays courtesy call on President the ERC as perhaps the single most important commission in existence in Guyana at this time.

He noted that there is a resurgence of xenophobia based on ethnic differences elsewhere in the world, and said the resuscitation and work of the ERC was therefore preventative action to ensure that ethnic harmony is maintained.

“Without a greater sense

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thunderstorms will prevail throughout the day and the evening, interrupted by light rain showers and cloudy conditions. Temperatures will range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South Westerly to East North-easterly between 0.89 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 13:09h reaching a maximum height of 2.29 metres.

Low Tide: 06:41h and 19:02h reaching minimum heights of 0.88 metre and 0.91 metre.

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that they would be expected to conduct outreaches and work to promote the message and practise of social cohesion.

The President also urged the Commissioners to ensure that their service is tailored to meet the needs of the indigenous population.

“You cannot ignore the peculiar reality in Guyana, whereby a large part of the population communicates

crimination at Mae’s School, which has since been resolved; and claims of ethnic imbalance at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The Chairman also informed that the Commission is currently refining its work plan, looking at its legal framework, and recruiting to bring its staff complement to working strength.

Retired Major General

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

T

he Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is expected to meet Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to discuss matters related to complaints of racial bias at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Jagdeo himself spoke of this impending meeting during his weekly press conference on Thursday.

According to the Opposition Leader, he received a letter from the Ethnic Relations Commission wherein he was informed of an intention to pay a courtesy call on him.

“Last week, I received a letter from the ERC saying that they would like to pay a courtesy call on me to have a discussion,” Jagdeo related. “So I’m waiting for that to take place. At that meeting, I will raise these and some other matters in keeping with their mandate.”

On Friday, when this publication made contact with ERC Chairman Dr John Smith, he confirmed that the commissioners intend to have a meeting with the Opposition Leader.

While there is no definitive date set aside, the Chairman noted, the meeting will happen soon.

Last week, GECOM Commissioners Bibi Shadick, Sase Gunraj and Robeson Benn wrote a letter of complaint to the ERC, contending there is a manifest ethnic imbalance at GECOM, and that hiring practices are being manipulated in favour of one group.

The letter has asked for the commission to investigate.

Asked for an update on this matter, Smith said investigations have not yet commenced, owing to financial and staffing challenges. According to Smith, the commission has “to get staff.

We advertised for staff and are working to get the machine in place so we can do the work.”

Meeting with President

Meanwhile, the commissioners met with President David Granger on Friday at the Ministry of the Presidency, during which the Head of State described

The ERC Commissioners meeting with President David Granger (centre)

of social cohesion, this country will remain unequal; and anything we try to achieve politically or economically will be difficult…Society has the potential for social cohesion, but we must not allow divisive elements to separate us…there is more that unites us than separate us,” the President said.

He reminded the Commissioners that a lot would depend on the advice of the ERC, and told them

in languages that people in other parts of the country cannot comprehend,” President Granger said.

Discrimination complaints

Meanwhile, ERC Chairman Dr John Smith informed that since resuscitation of this commission, the ERC has been flooded with requests. Some of the main issues that engaged the Commission’s attention were the allegations of dis-

Norman McLean, who is a member of the Commission, has said that despite the challenges, the Commissioners are committed to working as a team to ensure that social cohesion is truly realised. This, he said, is the main objective of the work programme that is being drafted.

Similar sentiments were also expressed by the other Commissioners. (Jarryl Bryan)

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saturDAY, june 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

Accountability

I

t was recently reported in the media that a multi-milliondollar fraud was uncovered at the Ministry of Public Health, in connection with the Health Expo which was held from May 30 – June 2 this year. Subject Minister Volda Lawrence herself came out very emphatically on the issue, and indicated a detailed overhaul of her ministry to stamp out what she referred to as “misappropriation of funds and blatant attempts to steal”.

The minister emphatically declared, “Fraud had been ongoing a long time at the Public Health Ministry…and some parts of the ministry’s train have been derailed”. Minister Lawrence then boldly declared: “The madness has to stop.

I will not compromise the issue of accountability within the public health sector”.

The minister should be applauded for grappling with this reality, since the quality of the ministry’s service to the public and her own success as a minister revolve upon running an efficient and clean ministry, where there will be no theft or misuse of public funds.

Very often, in recent years, whenever issues of corruption arise, ministers tended to be on the defensive, rejecting all criticisms and advice, as most emanated from the opposition party; although, in reality, much of it would have come from citizens who had no affiliation with politics, and would merely have desired to see ministries perform well and achieve their targets. Minister Lawrence seems to be freeing herself from the syndrome of defensiveness, and is taking matters in hand.

The Old Civil Service was known for its incorruptibility, and for its officers to act with transparency and accountability.

One of the main reasons for this was that there were the General Orders, and the financial regulations were well laid out and explained in booklets. Every public servant was expected to study these booklets which outlined the way administration works and how public funds are accessioned, received and used. The contents of these booklets are still part of the public service procedures, but they are obviously ignored, because, in most cases, they are not known to exist.

When Minister Lawrence cautioned her programme officers, “I am advising you to check what you sign, and ensure it meets the regulatory requirements and it is in keeping with your programmes”, it is quite obvious that those managers were not fully au fait with the financial regulations.

The fraud was uncovered in relation to the hosting of the health expo, but there are other areas of the ministry which need cleansing and strengthening, and these would include procurement, stores, and the public hospitals.

For example, Procurement: the rules affecting tendering and the quality of the goods and services received should be under constant surveillance. Once the rules are followed with full commitment, one would always be successful. If extraneous criteria are introduced into the processes, then this would open the doors to corruption and ultimate failure.

The Government has a tender procedure whereby orders must be tendered for, and those tendering must be reputable suppliers with proper cold storage facilities etc. This tendering procedure was established to protect Government and prevent public funds from being siphoned away. However, many believe that this tender procedure is very often being ignored by the officers of the GPHC and the regions.

Now that Minister Lawrence seems to have emerged from the ‘newness’ of ministerial office in relation to the stark realities of administration, she should be helped, once she is committed to acting objectively and strictly according to the rules and regulations. In this process, she may assemble a ‘think tank’ of capable persons irrespective of their political and other affiliations, and let them make recommendations as to how to achieve a health sector of which the nation could be proud. Such a ‘think tank’ would work for no more than three months, and may also consider other health sector matters of national importance, such as national drug security and the specialty hospital.

We had said before that the administrative structures of the health services are fairly good and workable, but they are not being worked by those employed to do so. We believe the time has come for an independent and thorough inquiry to be carried out with the aim of freeing the sector of corrupt and inefficient employees. Citizens must be able to have confidence in the manner in which the health sector is being managed, hence all efforts must be made to ensure public monies are not fritted away or siphoned off.

These two men are paddling down the Canal Polder Conservancy separating Canal Number Two Polder from the savannah. The water from the conservancy is used during the dry season for irrigation of farmlands, since most of the residents in that area are cash crop farmers. The Conservancy’s outlet is the Bonasika Creek, which empties into the Essequibo River, and is an ideal fishing place for fresh lukanani and tilapia (Deopaul Somwaru photo)

Democracy is in crisis Dear Editor, I refer to a letter written

by Mr Vincent Alexander captioned `No basis for Jagdeo to conclude GECOM Chairman has been biased”, which was published on June 14, 2018. This piece clearly illustrates how well adjusted Mr Alexander has become to defending the systemic injustices being imposed by the ruling “lumpen bourgeoisie” against the people.

This piece from Mr Alexander exposes the process by which four (4) of the seven (7) GECOM Commissioners are prepared to put the “boots on the neck” of the majority of our people in their quest to perpetuate administrative skullduggery and favouritism in public office. The facts would reveal that, after evaluating the job functions and interviewing the shortlisted applicants, the person with the highest score for Deputy

Chief Elections Officer was still denied the role. WHY? First off, all the taxpayers of Guyana are funding GECOM, and therefore this organisation must, in principle, be seen to be serving the entire nation. The team at all times must reflect Guyana in all of its shades and forms.

If one were to look at the top 13 officeholders in GECOM, just like the sitting list of Permanent Secretaries and Regional Executive Officers, one would safely see that, as a collective, none of these groups of public servants reflects the rainbow of talent that constitutes Guyana. This is an excellent case for the ERC and the Ministry of Social Cohesion to investigate.

In 1990, when discussions were being advanced and the system was constructed to restore democracy in Guyana, President Hoyte and the then Leader

of the Opposition, Cheddi Jagan, agreed to the Carter Model as a check and balance system to prevent exactly this situation that is happening today at GECOM. Their vision was that GECOM was going to be an independent agency created by law to conduct and regulate free and fair elections and elections free from fair. They provided GECOM and its predecessor with jurisdiction over the entire electoral process, and with systems to foster a collection of ethical people at the top, who at all times aimed to preserve its impartiality by fostering a course that was unbiased and dispassionately balanced. Unfortunately, today under Mr Patterson, this is not the case. In 2018, GECOM comes across as an organisation that is prejudiced and very biased.

So if Mr. Alexander was not stuck in that aloft gang of “pseudo-milquetoast”

elites, he would have realised that he holds a view that does not necessarily reconcile to that of the majority. Irrespective of what they do, if this course is pursued, this nation will, in the end, suffer. That is why the collective fight back must happen now, because unrighteousness must never be allowed to conquer righteousness, and we must never allow the rulers to walk the nation back to the days of colourful elections as practised by Burnham.

I am therefore calling on Guyanese in the diaspora to internationalise this fight by writing to your Senators, House Members, Members of Parliament and other dignitaries. The struggle must be taken to a different level.

The facts are there for all to see. Indeed, democracy is in crisis in Guyana today.

Regards, Sasenarine Singh

A veritable death trap

Dear Editor, Kindly allow me, through the columns of your newspaper, to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to the horrendous condition of the La Parfaite Harmonie access highway on the West Bank of Demerara. This three-kilometre road was constructed at a cost of over $600 million in 2014, and started to deteriorate rapidly within a few months of being commissioned.

Thereafter, frequent and inadequate repairs to a seemingly unending plethora of potholes have been effected every few weeks, with new potholes appearing within days of the old ones being remedied. This has continued in a wearisome loop for the last four years.

Regrettably, the situation that obtains now is one in which this so-called 'highway' has no adequate drainage, no lights, a no-

ticeable bend with no indicating signs, speed bumps, no reflectors, and gaping holes, one of which has spread across the entire width of the road. This combination undoubtedly makes this stretch of road a veritable death trap, especially at night.

Are we prepared to wait until innocent lives are lost before something is done? Is this acceptable value for the expenditure of our precious

tax dollars? We deserve and demand better. To this end, I hope that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure would initiate expeditious steps to ensure that there is an immediate structural assessment of the integrity of the road in this area. This is a travesty!

Yours sincerely, Edson Grenville Community activist

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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

Very ominous signs: time All is not well at GECOM (Pt 1) for democratic forces to stand up (Pt 2) Dear Editor, I refer to the case of Mr Vishnu Persaud, who was the Deputy Chief Elections Officer, and who was asked to re-apply for the job because his contract had expired and the Commission was not meeting at the time.

Mr. Persaud went through the process and was scored the top applicant.

However, the Chairman voted with the APNU/PNC appointed Commissioners to deny him that post.

The person who was given the job quickly took down her Facebook page, which was loaded with anti-PPP/C postings.

Clearly, that is showing that Mr. Patterson is not bothered about being fair, or even appearing to be fair.

The other issue of concern is the decision by the Chief Justice to rule against the case brought by Mr. Mustapha, in which it was argued that the Chairman was not appointed legally/ constitutionally.

It appears that the Chief Justice totally ignored the historical circumstances that brought the formula for the appointment of GECOM’s chair into being.

This came about after our country experienced massive fraud in elections and our people had lost confidence in the Commission.

The formula sought to build confidence as it promoted democracy in our country.

The dismissal of that

case has thrown us back to the days when the President did the appointment on his own. It was that power that facilitated rigged elections and the destruction of democracy in Guyana.

These things are really disturbing, since they will have an impact on the nation’s future wellbeing.

Guyana’s experience has confirmed the theory that there is a direct correlation between political democracy and socio-economic development.

The PNC did not wreck our country in every field because of the lack of intelligent people. No, it was practically destroyed because of the undemocratic practices. The rigging of elections was at the centre of our underdevelopment and pauperisation of the nation. It led to the alienation of the masses from the rulers.

The SIMAP report of 1991 estimated people living below the poverty line to be 80%. Guyana was a Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC).

We saw the benefits of democracy. With the return of free and fair elections in 1992, Guyana blossomed.

We moved from being a HIPC to being an upper level Middle Income Developing Country when the PPP/C left office in 2015.

If we want to be generous, we can argue that Burnham was probably not aware of what rigged elec-

GECOM must deliver free and fair elections Dear Editor, Recognising the many negative attributes and the delicate electoral system that exists at GECOM, it is critical to ensure that the future electoral processes in Guyana are politically free, inclusive, clean, competitive and credible.

President David Granger has defused the independence of GECOM by unilaterally appointing the Chairman of his choice, and as such would be destroying the quality and transparency of elections in Guyana since the watershed electoral reforms in 1992.

It is important to incorporate technical criteria and establish mechanisms that

guarantee independence and eliminate the perception of politicisation of the electoral process in Guyana.

The hierarchy of GECOM is mandated to guarantee that Guyana continues on the consolidation of more transparent, equitable and inclusive electoral processes.

The recruitment practices at GECOM are just the beginning of one of the many negative attributes that will emerge to destroy the quality and transparency of elections in future. As Guyanese, we have to stand up against injustice and ensure that democracy prevails.

Sincerely, Zamal Hussain

tions would have done to our country. He may have had no idea that it would have led us in a maze of corruption and led his regime to be involved in massive oppression. It even led to political murders. Walter Rodney being the most prominent.

However, we now know clearly where that road would lead. That is the road we are back on.

It is not only the political parties in power who are to be blamed for this deterioration and undermining of decisions, but those individuals in constitutional positions who, for whatever reason, allow themselves to be used to facilitate the growth of the dictatorship are just as culpable.

The practices of the APNU+AFC regime are clearly anti-national in content, and will impact negatively on all our people, no matter which party a person may support. I say this because the evidence of what will happen is there.

Yet this clique has chosen the path of destruction.

The signs are very ominous. It is time that all democratic forces in our country, regardless of political or non-political persuasion, to stand up now for a progressive and democratic Guyana.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

Dear Editor, The recent myriad of media articles regarding walkouts by PPP/C Commissioners from meetings of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) indicates that all is not well with the manner in which matters are being addressed by the Chairman.

It has brought to the fore questions of reasonableness and acceptance regarding the decision of sanctions exercised, as well as the role of the Commissioners.

The objective of functioning members of the Commission and the approach to achieving the ideals of the institution have been put into the public domain for scrutiny, given the recent handling of matters.

On one hand, there have been press conferences called by the Chairman as well as the two stakeholder political party Commissioners, through which the parties sought to clarify the obviously reprehensible treatment of divide over an issue raised by Commissioner Benn at the meeting forum. On the other hand, it is to be wondered whether the issues raised are appropriate or relevant.

The constitutionally enshrined autonomy of GECOM excludes direct external interference with decisions of the commission.

At the same time, it recognises the policy-making role of balanced representation through persons drawn from political constituencies. Under Article 226 of the Constitution, as amend-

ed by the Constitution (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2000, it is provided that the ‘quorum’ for a meeting of the Commission shall be the Chairman and not less than four members of the Commission – two each appointed by the President and the Opposition respectively.

In relation to the functions of GECOM on the part of persons exercising powers or performing duties connected with elections matter, the Commission is constitutionally obliged to act with impartiality and fairness in the execution of its duties, in keeping with Section 162 (1) of the Constitution, Cap. 1.01. Of note also is the insulation of the Commission’s decisions regarding policy matters.

Importantly too, the role of political party nominees to the GECOM (eg.

Commissioners) is posited in Section 161B of the Constitution, which states:

“It is hereby declared that the role of political parties and their nominees in the conduct of elections by the Elections Commission shall be limited to their participation in determining policy, monitoring the electoral process and the conduct of the election, but does not include active management of the electoral process.”

While this position is broadly articulated on the GECOM website, the recent revelations from the press conferences suggest that the concerns were appropriately raised in the context of impartiality and fairness. One has to now contemplate the many shades of grey and the need for multiple focal lens through which the organisation is seen based on published comments quoting the Chairman and members of the Commission.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar JP, MP

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By Art Markman, PhD

H

uman beings are a social species. As a result, much of your behaviour is affected by what other people are doing. You are more likely to exercise if you hang out with other people who exercise. You are more likely to smoke if you spend time with other smokers. You are more likely to succeed in school if your friends are also doing well in school.

Some of these effects come from the way people choose the groups they belong to. If academic achievement is important to you, then you may look to be with other people with the same values. Some of it also reflects goal contagion. When you see someone engaging in an activity, it makes you more likely to want to do the same thing.

Does mere membership in a group matter? To what degree are these behaviours

Foundation

affected just by your belief that you are part of a particular group? And, while we are at it, is this just something that happens to adolescents and adults, or is the behaviour of younger children affected by the groups they belong to?

These questions were explored in a paper in the May 2018 issue of Psychological Science by Sabine Doebel and Yuko Munakata.

These studies used the classic marshmallow task

as a measure of self-control.

In the marshmallow task, a three to four-year-old is seated before a marshmallow on a plate. The experimenter tells the child that they can eat the marshmallow, but if they wait while the experimenter leaves the room and gets another one, they can have two marshmallows when the experimenter gets back.

The length of time the child waits before eating the marshmallow is a measure of self-control. The ex-

perimenter stays out of the room for 15 minutes, so the maximum amount of time a child has to wait is 15 minutes.

In one study, the children were assigned to one of three groups. In all groups, participants were told that they are now a member of the green team. They are given a green shirt to wear and shown pictures of other members of the green team.

They are also shown pictures of a second group of

children with yellow shirts on, who are on the yellow team.

In the control condition, children are not given any other information about the green and yellow teams.

In the Green-waits condition, children are told that members of both teams did the marshmallow test and that the members of the green team all waited for the experimenter to return, while the members of the yellow team did not.

In the Yellow-waits con-

dition, children are told that members of both teams did the marshmallow test and that the members of the yellow team all waited for the experimenter to return, while the members of the green team did not.

In this study, children in the Green-waits condition waited much longer (and were about twice as likely to wait the full 15 minutes) than children in the Yellowwaits condition or the control condition. So, believing that you are part of a group that has self-control affects your performance in the marshmallow task.

A second study in this paper ran the Green-waits and Yellow-waits conditions again and observed the same pattern of results. In addition, children in this study were told about two other children who were not part of a team. One child waited for the experimenter to return before eating a marshmallow, while the other at the marshmallow before the experimenter returned. The children were asked several questions to express how much they liked each child.

The children in the Green-waits condition were more likely to prefer the child who waited for the experimenter to return than the children in the Yellowwaits condition. This finding suggests that children come to value a behaviour that distinguishes their group from the other group.

This finding is interesting because it adds a nice wrinkle to the influence of group membership on behaviours that require

self-control. It suggests that just having an identity as a member of a group can affect

self-control and that this can happen even in fairly young children. (psychologytoday.com)

By Nancy Darling, PhD

F

ragmented attention is one of life’s challenges. You are trying to have an important conversation and you get a text. You are running to the store while simultaneously listening the news, juggling the kids, driving, and trying to remember a grocery list. You walk in the woods while chatting on the phone.

We call it multi-tasking, but there's really no such thing. What we're really doing is rapid task switching. It is cognitively challenging to juggle multiple things. Every time we switch, we experience a loss of efficiency.

When writing, for example, research suggests that it will take me at least four minutes to get back up to speed if I stop to check a text or e-mail. It may take me a full half hour to recover my full.

Things may be even worse for children. Careful time sampling studies of adolescents show that they are more emotionally labile than adults (no surprises there!). But the reason they are more emotionally labile is not the oft-blamed 'teen hormones'. It's that their task demands are constantly changing. Gym to math to a social studies debate. Then lunch, science, and after school volleyball practice. Homework! And all interrupted by frequent social media updates. They are task switching machines. It can be particularly hard for them to settle down and focus for tasks like sleep or homework that really require it.

How can we help children and teens concentrate when they need to?

Classical conditioning was first documented by Ivan Petrovich Pavlov, a Russian physiologist studying salivation in dogs. Classical conditioning is an unconscious process by which unrelated stimuli become paired. In Pavlov's original experiments, meat was associated with dogs beginning to salivate. The meat is called an unconditioned stimulus because it's not something that the dogs needed to learn to associate with salivation.

When Pavlov rang a bell when he presented the meat, however, he created a conditioned stimulus. The dogs quickly learned that the ringing bell meant that meat would be coming. Soon, when they heard a bell, they began to salivate. Linking a previously neutral stimulus (the bell) to an existing response (salivation) is the core of classical conditioning.

This may seem pretty esoteric, but it can be REALLY useful when trying to help your kids (or yourself) to sleep or settle down for a focused task like homework. It is also useful if you or your child tends to be anxious and just needs to be able to calm down quickly.

Classical conditioning and sleep Ever since they were little, my children have listened to audiobooks when they went to bed. I was in grad school when my eldest was born, trying to get my dissertation done with no childcare available. His sleep was imperative to my ability to work. To start with, I'd get him to sleep by nursing him. It was easy at first – it took around 5 minutes and would relax both of us. He'd nod off and get popped into his crib and I'd head off to my computer. However, that 5 minutes soon stretched into 10 or 30 or 90. I was cranky and frustrated, and he wasn't sleeping as much either.

Classical conditioning to the rescue. While lying down and nursing him, I started to listen to books on tape (yes, this was a long time ago).

Soon, I realised that as soon as I popped in Winnie the Pooh, I would start to get sleepy. And he did too! After just a few days, I could start nursing him with the tape playing, get up, and he was still relaxed enough that he would nod off to sleep on his own. After a week, just playing the tape would put him down. Classical conditioning! What had started out as an association of nursing and cuddling with sleep had transformed into an association of listening to audiobooks and sleep.

This is why specialists working with sleep patients emphasise the importance of routine. You begin to associate turning off your computer, brushing your teeth, drinking that warm milk, saying your prayers, writing in your diary, reading or whatever else you do before bed with sleep. Those previously neutral activities tell your body that it's time to relax.

You can make those associations even more explicit by doing so consciously. (psychologytoday.com)

news

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saturDAY, june 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Private criminal charges

Jordan files $200M ‘malicious prosecution’ lawsuit against Edghill …over charges dismissed by DPP

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

By Vahnu Manikchand

F

inance Minister Winston Jordan has filed a $200 million lawsuit against Opposition Parliamentarian Juan Edghill, whose private criminal charges against several Government ministers, including Jordan, have since been dismissed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In the court document seen by Guyana Times, Jordan is claiming damages in the sum of $200,000,000; for the “Malicious

Prosecution of the Offence of Misconduct in Public Office” and other damages.

On April 23, Edghill initiated private criminal charges against Minister Jordan and Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson jointly as well as against Public Service Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine. The charges against the Ministers allege a breach of the Procurement Act in relation to the expenditure of $906 million in public funds to a private company, Homestretch Development Inc, for the construction of the controversial D’Urban Park Project, which has been a contentious issue for some time now.

Jordan and Patterson were jointly charged with misconduct and abuse of public trust for having allegedly authorised the payment, while Dr Roopnaraine, who was a director of the company, was charged with alleged misconduct and the abuse of public trust for having received, in his capacity as director, the $906 million in public funds while serving as minister.

However, those charges were subsequently discontinued by the DDP, Shalimar Ali-Hack, who said that in the interest of good governance, such allegations against serving ministers ought first to have been reported to the Guyana Police Force for an investigation to be launched and the advice of the DPP sought.

Despite the charges being dismissed, Jordan, in his application to the court, said the private criminal charges filed by the Opposition Parliamentarian was intended to embarrass, humiliate, and cause him to suffer public odium and contempt. “…the institution of the aforesaid Criminal Charge of Misconduct in Public Office against me were widely reported in the local newspapers, radio, electronic media, and was accessible and circulated on the World Wide Web and I thereafter received telephone calls from family, friends and overseas officials, inclusive of officials employed at international financial organisations… [and as such] I have suffered significant harm to

Opposition MP Juan Edghill

my reputation and integrity as a direct result of the institution of the criminal proceeding by the respondent against me,” Jordan said in the court document.

The Finance Minister went on to explain in his application that the $906 million was approved by the National Assembly, and thereafter, made available to the Public Infrastructure Ministry from the Consolidated Fund. He noted that as a Member of Parliament, Edghill could not honestly believe that he acted without reasonable excuse or justification in respect of issuing a Warrant

to effect disbursements and allocation of the money to the Public Infrastructure Ministry. “…the respondent was therefore aware, or ought to have been reasonably aware, that the sum of $906,000,000… was approved by the National Assembly ’nd as Minister of Finance, I was obligated by Law to issue the necessary warrant to ensure that the said approved sum of money was available to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, and as such there could be no honest belief that I willfully misconducted myself as alleged by the Respondent,” Jordan argued.

Furthermore, he pointed out that as Finance Minister, he did not and could not have paid or authorise the payment of the $906 million to Homestretch Development Inc., as alleged by the Opposition Parliamentarian. “…notwithstanding that the Respondent was… a former Minister of Finance within the Ministry of Finance…; even an or-

dinary prudent and cautious citizen placed as a Complainant in the said Criminal Proceedings of Misconduct in Public Office against me could not have reasonably concluded that I was guilty of the Offence or even draw an inference that I was guilty of the offence of Misconduct in Public Office as alleged…,” Jordan stated.

Those private charges that Edghill had initiated where the second set of charges filed by the Opposition that the DPP had thrown out, citing the same reasons.

Two days before dismissing the charges against Ministers Jordan and Patterson, the DPP also discontinued charges against Government Ministers Volda Lawrence and George Norton. Those charges were previously filed over the sole sourcing of over $600 million in drugs and other pharmaceuticals for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, and the rental of a house in Sussex Street, Albouystown, Georgetown to be utilised as a drug bond at a cost of $12M monthly respectively.

Landlord shoots former tenant who attempts to set him on fire

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orty-two-year-old John Ramanand, a landlord and licensed firearm holder of Lot 109 Thomas Street, Kitty Georgetown, did not hesitate to fire three bullets that injured former tenant Chezley Tyndall, a 50-yearold taxi driver of Lot 809

Block V Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, who allegedly attempted to set him on fire.

Reports are that on Friday at about 09:00h, Ramanand was at a curtain store on Regent Street, between Albert and Light streets, when he was con-

fronted by Tyndall, who allegedly poured on him what is suspected to be gasoline while screaming that he would kill him.

Tyndall then reportedly reached for his lighter, but Ramanand drew his Taurus .32 handgun and discharged three rounds

that struck Tyndall about his body.

This newspaper was told that the dispute between the two started some time ago, after Tyndall paid Ramanand a security deposit of $60,000 to rent an apartment. He later moved out, and there was

a dispute over the security deposit.

Tyndall received bullet wounds to his left hand and left foot, and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where he is receiving medical attention.

Ramanand, meanwhile,

remains in Police custody with his firearm lodged while investigations continue.

Police have since collected surveillance footage from nearby businesses to verify the businessman’s version of the events.

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saturDAY, june 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Caretaker charged for burning child with hot iron A

caretaker who allegedly burnt a six-year-old with a hot iron was on Friday hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Nicole Rosemary, of Lot 31 Bent Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, denied that between June 1 and June 14, 2018, she burnt the child after he was caught playing with the electric iron.

The prosecution is contending that having caught the child playing with the iron, Rosemary allegedly took the iron and placed it on both of the child’s forearms, which resulted in him being burnt and scarring later appearing.

The incident was reported after the child’s teacher saw the burns and reported the matter to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA).

In court on Friday, the prosecution objected to bail. The prosecution is contending that the woman admitted to the offence when she was arrested.

However, Magistrate Leron Daly released the caretaker on $100,000 bail on the condition that she stay away from the child. She is also required to report to the Alberttown Police Station every Monday until the completion of the matter. Her travel document was also lodged.

The matter is expected to continue on July 20, 2018.

Accused: Nicole Rosemary

Ex-cop charged Sex worker remanded on for defrauding, armed robbery charge kidnapping pensioner

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atasha Singh, of Lot 22 Crane Old Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD), a former member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), was on Friday arraigned on fraud and kidnapping charges when she made her appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Singh denied the charges which stated that on June 18, 2018, at Georgetown, she demanded with menace the sum of $200,000 from 73-year-old Mohammed Yusif, a pension-

er with intent to steal same.

Police stated that on the day in question, the defendant went to the defendant’s home and allegedly kidnapped him after which she demanded the money for his release. The court was told the defendant and the victim knew each other.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh made no objection to bail being granted, and the mother of four was released on $60,000 bail. The matter was adjourned until July 20, 2018.

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19-year-old sex worker was on Friday remanded to prison when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a charge of robbery under arms.

Godfrey Cox, of Princes Street, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on June 20, 2018, at King and Charlotte Streets, Georgetown, while being armed with a dangerous weapon – that is a knife – he robbed David Harvey of $65,000 in cash.

The court heard that on

the day in question, Harvey was heading to the Shell Gas Station on Regent Street, Georgetown to pay workers when the defendant attacked him, held him at knifepoint and relieved him of the cash that was in his pants pocket.

The prosecution objected to bail based on the seriousness of the offence and the fact that the defendant has other pending matters of a similar nature in the courts.

Magistrate Leron Daly refused bail to Cox, and the matter has been adjourned until July 20, 2018.

Assault charge against Bent Street man discharged

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n assault charge brought against Easton Peters, of DD Bent Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, was discharged on Friday by Magistrate Leron Daly when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Peters’ then common-law wife, Elesha Leech, told the Court that she did not want

to proceed with the matter.

It was alleged that on June 5, 2018, Peters and his ex-lover had an argument during which he assaulted her with intent to cause bodily harm.

Citing the prevalence of the offence, the prosecution asked that Peters be placed on a bond to keep the peace and be sent to counselling.

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Lost at sea…

…with Budget priorities f there’s anything that’s revealed why our economy’s been adrift and slipping inexorably into the abyss of stagnation, one just has to explore the revelations coming out of the recent meeting with Budget Agency heads.

From his comments, Jordan has a fundamental disjunct about what a central government budget is all about in a mixed economy – one where there are both public and private productive enterprises. The Chronic’s headline summarised his confusion with his charge: “Deliver the goods…Min Jordan says gov’t will make resources available”!! It is now confirmed that Jordan and his PNC Government needs help for development of the country.

Rather, THEY’re driving the process of spending the Government revenues as THEY see fit!! Talk about the tail wagging the dog!! No wonder Guyana’s slip-slidin’ away!!

So your Eyewitness will offer him a quick tutorial of what Jagdeo and other economists were doing in the front room while he was filling in numbers in the back room: They were conceptualising the Government’s economic, social and political policies which would guide the budget process!! First, the Finance Minister should’ve briefed Cabinet about the state of the economy; and with ours in reverse gear, should’ve mapped out a plan for the “reallocation of resources” to promote growth!!

But what did Jordan tell his budget agencies about “reallocation of resources”? He boasted, “We have consistently improved wages and salaries; undertaken sweeping tax reforms to improve tax administration, and bring greater equity to the tax system”!!! Here’s a man boasting about improving tax collection so that he can increase public sector wages!! What’s this?? Budgetmaking on the Robin Hood Principle?? But even under that principle, there had to be enough RICHES to share!

And if “social welfare” is the concern, why close those sugar estates so precipitately? It’s all about politics, isn’t it? …and no ferries The bidding process for the Indian Governmentfunded ferries to the North West District was a revealing exercise: there were no Guyanese bidders. Now, you readers might be wondering whether your Eyewitness isn’t hanging Guyana’s hat where its hand can’t reach!!

But that simply shows how quickly we’ve forgotten the destruction wrought by the first PNC Government under their founder-leader Forbes Burnham.

When he was installed into power by the CIA, the PPP Government he replaced had already built a ferry locally at Sprostons – the MV Torani. After he nationalised Sprostons and changed its name into GNEC, Burnham politicised management so viciously that CEO Carmichael had to flee to Barbados. GNEC never recovered from the destructive policies of Burnham, and like what happened at Linden, a cadre of African-Guyanese craftsmen and engineers, painfully created in the century and a half after the abolition of slavery, was destroyed on his whim.

Granger, the present leader of the PNC, has vowed to ‘complete Burnham’s legacy”.

The question is: what industry built up under the PPP will be destroy? …with Police deployment The putative Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, (well, he at least collects the salary!!) announced that Police “F” Division of the hinterland will be ‘rejigged”.

Did he check with Felix, so it won’t be re-rejigged??

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

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saturDAY, june 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Tax boss calms business community’s fears on oil contractors …says rightful taxes will be demanded

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ith oil production to come on stream in two years’ time, Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General Godfrey Statia has assured the Private Sector that the Authority was making every effort in preparation for first oil.

Addressing the gathering at the 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the

Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Thursday, Statia sought to allay certain fears expressed by the business community, saying that notwithstanding the various challenges and risks associated with Guyana’s newfound oil sector, the GRA was building capacity to ensure that taxpayers pay their rightful taxes and the contractors in the oil indus-

try were no exception. “...With the right tools and attitude, the officers of the GRA should ensure that this vital resource contributes its rightful share to the coffers of Guyana.

Despite the gloom and doom and pessimism expressed by numerous persons and many experts in the field, the GRA, which is the premier tax collection agency in

Piracy massacre

President declares June 25 a National Day of Mourning

President David Granger

Dead: Danesh Persaud

Dead: Gavin Outar

Missing: Ramnarin Singh

Missing: Bharrat Heralall

Missing: Ganesh Beharry

lmost two months after the deadly piracy attacks that occurred in Surinamese waters had left four persons dead and 11 others still missing, President David Granger has issued a proclamation listing Monday, June 25, 2018 as a National Day of Morning in memory of the victims.

A statement from the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday said that this action was taken by the President using powers under Article 99 (1) of the Constitution. “…

Whereas His Excellency, the President, considers that the Cooperative Republic of Guyana should observe Monday the 25th day of June 2018 as a national day of mourning, as a solemn memorial to the victims of the massacre of Guyanese fishermen off the coast of Suriname between the 27th day of April, 2018 and the 3rd day of May, 2018; now, therefore…I declare Monday the 25th day of June, 2018 a national day of mourning for that purpose,” the proclamation details.

Moreover, the document calls on all “authorities, boards, commissions, corporations, public agen-

cies, ministries and citizens to fly the Golden Arrowhead of Guyana at half-staff to demonstrate solidarity with the families of those killed in these grisly and gruesome acts, and to accord due homage, respect and reverence to the memory of the victims.”

Late in the evening of April 27, 2018, four boats were attacked by a group of privates, who brutalised the occupants then threw them overboard. Two days later, another boat was attacked, and the captain was killed.

That crew is still missing.

Most of the victims from both attacks are Guyanese fishermen who were living in neighbouring Suriname.

Among those still missing are Guyanese Ramesh Sanchara, Ganesh Persaud, Bharat Heralall, Ralph Anthony and Tiaknauth Mohabir.

Only four persons from the first attack survived, while four bodies have since been recovered.

However, only two of the recovered bodies have thus far been identified. They are Danesh Singh who, along with the other two unidentified persons, was recovered in Surinamese waters, and 33-year-old Gavin Outar of 18 Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice, whose body

washed up at the Number 63 Beach in Guyana.

Meanwhile, 13 suspects presently remain in Surinamese authorities’ custody, including “Crackhead,” who confessed to killing at least five of the fishermen.

He reportedly was “following orders” to “get rid” of the men after brutalising them.

“Crackhead” did not divulge any information about his accomplices, but based on descriptions given by the five survivors, the other men arrested were picked up at several locations in Suriname.

Days after the breakthrough, Surinamese Police officer Premcharan Ravikan was found dead hours after allegedly being kidnapped

by Guyanese. His body was discovered with at least five stab wounds and one gunshot wound.

Hours after the discovery of Ravikan’s body, a Guyanese fisherman walked into a Police station in Suriname and confessed to the heinous crime. It was established after Ravikan’s death that he had provided the gun that was used in the execution-style killing of Guyanese businessman Somnath Manohar on March 30 last.

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GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia

Guyana, has embarked on a programme to ensure that Guyana benefits from every activity associated with first oil, be it at the upstream, midstream or the downstream,” Statia noted.

While distancing the Authority from the process of determining what fiscal tools were used and how they were applied to particular oil and gas projects as part of the country’s legal framework, the GRA boss posited that Government, while it may have preferences, must also respond to the needs of the companies if the State wanted to attract and sustain Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

“Further, the uniqueness of petroleum taxation, when compared to the taxation of other goods and services lie in the industry’s special characteristics – its contribution to national economies, the high operating and development costs, high uncertainty in exploration activities, the volatility

of oil prices, the inability of Government to fund its own exploration, the political and economic climate, and hostile neighbouring countries who harbour territorial claims which allow for increased risk, are all factors that warrant the demand for a higher rate of return by investors,” Statia asserted.

Given the impending development and expansion Guyana is about to experience, Statia nevertheless posited that neither the Private Sector, Public Sector nor Government could ignore each other’s role in using the newfound resource for national development.

“While the Private Sector can be the engine of growth, innovation and job creation, Government’s efforts to establish stable and supportive environments are also critical. The bottom line is clear: an array of actors is lining up to realise Guyana’s first oil era, and everyone has a role to play,” Statia noted, adding that such collective and interconnected actions were destined to achieve broad national development for the country and its people.

Moreover, the Head of the tax collection agency went on to note that having recognised that the GRA lacked the optimal capacity to fully scrutinise the oil industry, it has sought international assistance to learn from the experiences and best practices of other countries, so that Guyana understood the financial, technical, and socioeconomic challenges that emanate from the oil industry.

Don’t forget traditional sectors

Meanwhile, as US oil giant ExxonMobil prepares for first oil in 2020, former PSC Chairman Eddie Boyer is urging that the traditional sectors that have carried the country’s economy over the years not be forgotten.

In his final address as Chairman, Boyer called for much focus to be placed on Guyana’s traditional sectors.

“We should not look at oil and gas as the saviour only, but look at the industries that carried us to this point over the years and we are definitely conscious of those industries – the manufacturing, agriculture, mining and all the other sectors that we embrace in the Private Sector,” he posited.

According to Boyer, much of the focus this year was to get the local Private Sector prepared for the mammoth opportunities that would be available as Guyana got into oil production.

On this note, he urged that the Local Content Policy be examined carefully, emphasising that it should be balanced and advantageous to everyone.

“With the advent of oil and gas, Guyana has already started to attract investors and the industrialisation of the nation has begun. The potential influx of capital and growth in GDP [Gross Domestic Product] has already resulted in foreign and local companies becoming interested in expanding through partnerships and investments, and we see the need to be prepared,” Boyer posited.

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saturDAY, june 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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saturDAY, june 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Baramita Airstrip

Low maintenance, misuse of runway blamed for deterioration

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ollowing a social media post by a local pilot highlighting the deteriorating condition of the recently-repaired Baramita Airstrip in Region One (Barima-Waini), the Public Infrastructure Ministry has conducted an assessment during which several issues were identified.

On Friday, the entity said that a team of officials from the Ministry and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), along with the project’s contractor, on Tuesday last visited the

The condition of the recently-rehabilitated Baramita Airstrip

Airstrip to conduct an assessment.

During that visit, a number of issues were identified,

Corentyne murder

Attacker who ingested poison in stable condition

Tovannie Simmons and Imran Lyte in happier times

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he 28-year-old Corentyne, Berbice man who ingested a poisonous substance after stabbing his ex-wife to death is now in stable condition at the Port Mourant Hospital.

Imran Lyte, of Limlair Village, Corentye, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), stabbed the woman, Tovannie Simmons, some 10 times about her body following an argument at her Second Street, Limlair Village home.

He then fled the scene of the crime and was later rushed to the Hospital by relatives after ingesting the substance. Lyte remains under Police guard at the Port Mourant Hospital.

It was previously reported by Guyana Times that Lyte and his sister went to Simmons’ home to discuss a

matter involving her brother, which allegedly occurred last Sunday when a heated argument ensued and the suspect whipped out a knife and attacked his ex-wife.

The dead woman’s mother, Jacklyn Henry, related that Simmons was visited by her ex-husband and his sister and they were sitting at the table having a discussion when he started stabbing the mother of four.

“He grab she and start jooking she and she holla and jump on me; I went in the chair sitting down and I try fuh block he and he fire the knife at me and she run out on the landing,” Simmons’ mother said.

Henry further explained that Lyte went on to the veranda where a relative tried to restrain him, but he was able to free himself and pur-

Wanted bulletin issued for fraudster

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he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a wanted bulletin for 36-year-old Sagar Hossain Faruk, a Bangladeshi, whose last known address is given as Brandsville Hotel, Campbellville, Georgetown.

Faruk is wanted by the Police for questioning in relation to uttering forged documents between June 13 and June 20, 201 8.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Faruk is asked to contact the Police on phone numbers 226-2870, 229-2655, 229-2289, 227-1149, 226-

Sagar Hossain Faruk

7065, or 911 or at the nearest Police station.

sued Simmons, continuing to stab her.

On Saturday last, Simmons had gone to collect her children from another part of the village and on her journey, she was confronted

by Lyte, who accused her of allowing her friends to taunt his new lover. Lyte reportedly hit Simmons, and in retaliation, one of her sisters reportedly kicked him causing him to fall into a nearby trench. Her brother then intervened, and he was stabbed by Lyte. A report was made to the Police.

including the lack of routine maintenance of the Airstrip and misuse of the runway.

As such, the Ministry noted, “A report outlining the condition of the runway and the way forward was also compiled.”

In the meantime, the Ministry will undertake inspections of all other airstrips where a similar method of sealing was used, to ensure similar issues do not occur. It said it would also review the performance of maintenance contractors to ensure that projects were executed properly.

“If it is discovered that same is unacceptable, immediate action will be taken since the safety of passengers is the top priority,” the Public Infrastructure Ministry posited.

Furthermore, the Ministry said it would take advantage of the opportunity at the upcoming National Toshaos Council (NTC) conference to hold discussions with village leaders on usage and their responsibilities for airstrips in their villages, with the aim of working more closely with the elected councils in the future.

Last Saturday, Captain Learie Barclay took to his Facebook page to express his disgust at the condition of the runway and parking area at the Baramita Airstrip, where rehabilita-

GCAA Director General Egbert Field during the assessment visit on Tuesday

tion works were completed less than six months ago. It was reported that the $70 million contract for the project was awarded to Mohammed Ramzan Ali Khan Construction.

According to Barclay’s social media post, “… It is a deplorable condition due substandard work. The bitumen layer [which he subsequently said was actually stabilising compound sprayed on the surface] is less than a 1/4 inch thick.”

Three days after his Facebook post, Captain Barclay was part of a crew that flew out the high-level team, led by GCAA Director General Egbert Field, to carry out the assessment. He said that Field had emphasised the need for maintenance and the fact that the runway belonged to the community.

Nevertheless, the following day, Barclay again took to his social media account to highlight a similar situation, this time at the Port Kaituma Airstrip.

“What is NDC [Neighbourhood Democratic Council], who has a maintenance contract for the runway doing?... [I] just went in there for a medevac and was forced to dodge a large number of deep and wide potholes,” he said, while calling on those responsible to do better.

The coalition Government has been placing much emphasis on developing infrastructure in the hinterland regions, including in the aviation sector.

In fact, some $250 million was set aside in the 2018 Budget to improve airstrips and aerodromes across the country.

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saturDAY, june 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Youths will continue to get opportunities in PPP – Jagdeo …accepts that some “older” comrades against his leadership style

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he Peoples Progressive Party will continue its policy of affording its younger and more talented members and supporters access to meaningful opportunities to serve the party at various levels, as it continues its bid to regain the reins of executive office.

This is the only way the PPP can train and nurture the best quality of leaders, who will be tasked with continuing the legacy, political ideology, and belief system of the PPP. These sentiments were expressed by that party’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, who on Thursday told media operatives that he is fully aware that there are some older members of his party who disagree with his leadership style and the fact that they are sometimes not being selected for certain roles.

Jagdeo, one of Guyana’s youngest and longest serving former Presidents, made no apologies for putting youths

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

first, but insisted that in order for the PPP to survive in the current political climate, a new cadre of leaders must, from within its youth corps, emerge capable of carrying on the struggle with the full support and mentorship of their elders and the party’s treasured “old guards”.

“For me, one thing is important for the party…I got an opportunity as a young man from this party…and that this party continues

to appreciate professionals, continues to give young people room to grow,” he insisted when asked if he was concerned that there may be divisions within his party because of the nonsupport of some seniors, which is seen as vital to his success as General Secretary.

Acknowledging that it is a fact that “many have a problem” with his leadership style, the PPP General Secretary said he is con-

cerned about the energy and vitality of those who wanted to serve the party in its quest to move forward.

“If you’re spent, there is a place for you”, the General Secretary remarked, before adding, “But you shift down a bit and allow others to emerge and be new leaders. And you can be spent as a young person or as an old person”.

Jagdeo explained that he is doing his best; and for him, the future of the PPP is more important than personalities and people’s quest for personal aggrandisement and fame.

He stoutly defended his style as GS and the policies he has embarked upon, stating that while “there may be occasional concerns about that…we have no choice but to do that for the sake of the future of Guyana, future of our party”.

Jagdeo explained: “We have to get the older comrades to see their responsibility as incubating another generation of leaders, bring-

ing in young people.” He was confident, nonetheless, that he is making the right choices and decisions at this time in Guyana’s history; choices that would result in innumerable benefits for the party in the long run.

He reasoned that it was

not possible to get the support of “100” percent of all of the members, but he insisted that a major of the top ranking and grass roots supporters and PPP members were firmly behind him and supporting his leadership.

(Michael Younge)

Region 5 RDC impasse

APNU/AFC Councillors disrupt RDC meeting

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P N U / A F C Councillors in Region Five (Mahaica/ Berbice) are reportedly maintaining their unwillingness to sit around the horseshoe table to discuss the region’s business with People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillors at monthly statutory meetings.

On Thursday, the Coalition again deprived Region Five residents of the services the RDC has to offer by disrupting the Council’s statutory meeting.

Convicted AFC councillor Abel Seetaram, who is out on bail pending an appeal of a wounding charge, was very prominent at Thursday’s meeting.

Under agenda item correction/omission, Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal said the Council must ratify the minutes of the February Statutory Meeting, since he had presided over that meeting.

The APNU/AFC Councillors, along with the Clerk, had, in March 2018, reconvened a meeting and prepared illegal minutes and wanted the Council to preside over those.

Regional Chairman Ramphal said because the Council could not reach an agreement, he was forced to adjourn the meeting.

In Region Five, the general infrastructure is collapsing. Drainage and irrigation canals and trenches are heavily clogged with weeds, and many farmers have suffered losses due

to the Council not making sound decisions for people of the region.

The Regional Chairman has since made a call for councillors of the coalition to work in the best interest of the people of that region.

In 2016 and 2017 the Coalition councillors had refused to sit in most of the meetings.

Between January and July 2016, the Coalition councillors refused to sit in the meetings, demanding an apology from the Chairman for not attending a function in the Region at which President Granger was the guest of honour. In was not until the President had addressed the issue in August of that year by stating that he did not want an apology that the Coalition counsellors returned to the table.

In May 2017, they walked out after Regional Executive Officer Ovid Morrison demanded from the Chairman an apology, saying that his credibility was at stake when Ramphal called for an investigation into allegations that two NDC officials had used an NDIA machine to carry out personal work.

Morrison said he had seen the machine being used, and is of the opinion that since he stated that he saw the machine carrying out personal work, no investigation is needed; and to call for an investigation is an insult to his integrity.

(Andrew Carmichael)

President declares June 25...

From page 9

After his death, Manohar’s family had allegedly offered members of a gang US$50,000 to revenge his killing.

Suriname law enforcement officials believe the recent piracy attacks were in retaliation for Manohar’s death. However, one of the men fingered in the piracy attacks is Nakool Manohar, brother of the late Somnath Manohar.

Last week, Nakool Manohar, called “Fyah”, 39, of Number 43 Village and another one of the attackers, Premnauth Persaud, called “Sanbad” or “Boy”, 43, of Cromarty Village appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court, where

they were jointly charged with two counts of murder.

They were not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that between April 27 and May 3, at sea, they murdered Tillacknauth Mohabir, called “Caiman”; and Mahesh Sarjoo, called “Koba,” during the course of a robbery.

The men were previously charged separately, but those charges were withdrawn and reinstated jointly. Nevertheless, as investigations continue, the two countries are looking for a breakthrough, as well as to place the suspects before the courts. (Vahnu Manikchand)

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saturDAY, june 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GCCI launches inaugural Business Development Forum

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he Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Friday afternoon launched Guyana’s first-ever Business Development Forum, which will target the development of all businesses, whether small or large.

The Forum, which is to be hosted July 20-21 at the Pegasus Hotel, is being spearheaded by GCCI President Deodat Indar; ActionCOACH Guyana Head Vishnu Doerga and Masterclass Institute Head Dr Rosh Khan. It will seek to take businesses in Guyana to another level.

Themed “How to be competitive, compliant and get compensated”, the Forum will focus on areas such as access to capital, insurance policies, incentives for investment, export market readiness, donor agency funding, modern marketing tools, registration and compliance.

According to Indar, the Forum is a new platform for business enterprises to evolve their roadmap to success.

It will be targeting businesses that are ready to grow in their scale of operations and will provide relevant information for each category of business with

From left: ActionCOACH Guyana Head Vishnu Doerga; GCCI Vice President Timothy Tucker; GCCI President Deodat Indar and Masterclass Institute President, Dr Rosh Khan

ample opportunities for questions to be posed to the conducting experts.

“I’m very happy that this event is taking place under the leadership of the cur-

Drafting of Guyana’s National REDD+ Strategy begins The US$3.8 million FCPF Project, scheduled to end December 2019, supports key REDD+ Readiness Activities aimed at building Guyana’s capacity to implement REDD+, specifically by creating the organisational structures and enabling environment that could attract future investment projects for reducing carbon emissions.

REDD+ stakeholders making their input into developing the National REDD+ Strategy

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ork has begun to draft a National Strategy for Guyana to implement Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).

A critical component of Guyana’s REDD+ Readiness Process, the Strategy aims to maintain the country’s low rate of deforestation and forest degradation by continuing related policy, procedures and programmes; and by strengthening monitoring, reporting and verification systems.

The Strategy, expected by November 2019,

is being developed under the Natural Resources Ministry’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) Project.

The Ministry contracted a consortium of consultants in April 2018 to prepare the REDD+ Strategy along with a Social Environmental and Strategic Assessment (SESA) and an Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF). The latter is crucial to the REDD+ Strategy, which will also respond to environmental and social priorities for land use taking into account expected local, regional, and global bene-

fits and opportunity costs of conserving forests.

The consortium of consultants includes Winrock International, Climate Law and Policy, Conservation International (CI) Guyana and Sylvan Acres.

CI has been engaging key stakeholders from Government, Private Sector, civil society and Indigenous/forest-dependent communities, to review the draft assessment of governance, and to contribute to the analysis of indirect drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, both historically and looking forward.

rent council, and we look forward for it to be something that is reputable, it’s sizable and can make the impact that we designed for it,” Indar noted.

Former GCCI President Doerga, who would be making a presentation during the Forum, said that he would be focusing on those businesses that were seeking to expand their markets.

“In our segment, we will be focusing on the medium-size businesses, more specifically how to systemise your business operations and how to set them up in such a way for them to be able to scale up and

to serve many more clients, to extend beyond the borders of Guyana,” the ActionCOACH informed.

Dr Khan called the Forum a timely and relevant one. He said: “This initiative is not just an important one; I think that it is very relevant and very timely. I believe that we are on the verge of economic transformation, as we had a few announcements the other day from ExxonMobil and we’ve had a few agreements signed for potential trade investments, and I think it’s time for small businesses to really get their houses in order, to really leverage these opportunities.”

The Forum is being hosted in partnership with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); Nations University; Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business; Republic Bank Guyana Limited and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

A fee of $20,000 is attached to the two-day event.

The GCCI continues to lead the charge for improving the economic climate and quality of life in Guyana through policies that stimulate investment and expand economic opportunities for its members.

14 NEWS

saturDAY, june 23, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Budget 2019

Ps, REOs confronted on spending – urged to come up with workable solutions; improve agencies' performances

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he first of the budget sessions for 2019 opened with Finance Minister Winston Jordan confronting programme heads and questioning why allocations to certain agencies are being increased but improved results are not evident.

On Friday, budget 2019’s sensitisation and training programme kicked off at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre with Jordan reading the riot act to various heads of budget agencies, permanent secretaries and regional heads.

He questioned the rea-

son for the lack of performance from certain ministries. For instance, he noted, the increased allocations to the health sector has seen continued drug shortages.

He also made reference to the performance of the education sector and the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

“Why do we have increasing allocations to the health sector but continued drug shortages and less hospital inspections than previous years? Health accounts for 12.5 per cent of the national budget, in 2018. What intervention within the budget

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

CCPA addressing social issues in Kwakwani

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resident Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) officer has been appointed to Kwakwani in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) to monitor and provide the needed guidance and assistance on the ground.

The announcement comes one day after Guyana Times reported that the social worker attached to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) and the Kwakwani Hospital in Region 10 , Laurette Smith-Gray indicated that there was a “high level” of social problems affecting the Kwakwani community, in the Upper Berbice region. The social worker pointed to the prevalence of teenage pregnancies, statutory rape, sexual assault and other issues.

In an article by the Department of Public Information (DPI), the Social Protection Ministry, through the CCPA, said that it has noted the prevalence of social issues in the Region 10 community and has sought to put systems in place to reduce the cases of teenage pregnancy,

Social worker Laurette Smith-Gray

school dropouts, and statutory rape.

The report stated that all other programmes and systems implemented for Linden and coastal areas will be rolled out in Kwakwani.

CCPA Linden officer Huette Moore is quoted by the DPI as saying that teenage empowerment sessions will be held, targeting young people to prevent early sexual activity. Empowerment sessions include a teenage pregnancy prevention pro-

gramme as well as the initiating of community action groups.

This publication had reported on Friday that on average each year, there are more than 15 pregnancies recorded, which accounts for underage mothers (below age 16) in Kwakwani.

Smith-Gray had said that this was only the number recorded by the system, but admitted that there were other cases which the system may not come in contact with in riverine areas. She stressed that many of these cases go undetected. Asked whether there were any plans in the pipeline to initiate a similar teenage pregnancy clinic like the LHC’s, Smith-Gray said patients from the riverine communities were facilitated at the Linden Hospital.

Zeroing in on the situation, Smith-Gray opined that issues such as these were not treated with much seriousness by some residents in the Kwakwani community, and attributed this to the culture of acceptance of such issues there.

In relation to statutory rape, the social worker said in most cases, perpetrators were not prosecuted, since in many instances family members decide to settle the issue outside of court. “Most of the times, persons tend to want to cover the situation because it might be a close relative involved and on the other hand if the victim does not give a statement, then we don’t have a case. So, if the person refuses to identify who the person is, then we can’t take the matter,” she said. On a brighter note, Smith-Gray said there were active teenage empowerment groups in the community. She said teens were empowered through various sessions via these groups as well as other support groups.

proposal will resolve this conundrum of increasing allocations but declining availability?

“Why do we have increasing allocations to education but still less than 50 per cent of our children as passing Math and English?

Education accounts for 17.2 per cent of the national budget in 2018. What in the budget proposal will resolve this?” Jordan questioned.

“Why do we have increasing allocations for maintenance and infrastructure development, yet our Public Sector Infrastructure Programme is filled with requests to rehabilitate exist-

ing infrastructure?”

What these things could point to is inefficient management, something Jordan acknowledged. The Minister urged them to do introspection and critique their systems. This means, according to Jordan, offering workable solutions.

“Are you, as Heads of Budget Agencies, approving performance-based gratuities without measuring performance? Or worse, are you signing off on poor performance and shying away from your responsibility to take decisions in the best interest of achieving desired results? Are you putting pen to paper when staff do not deliver, or (are you) simply sitting lamenting in your offices?”

The workshop is of twoday duration, at the end of which these technocrats are expected to be better equipped to formulate their budget requests.

Government is known for cutting agency budget requests. Last year it used its majority to push millions of dollars in budget cuts through the National Assembly.

According to the 2018 annual budget proposals of con-

stitutional agencies which were tabled in Parliament, the Audit Office’s request for $844.4 million was slashed to a proposal of $783.8 million. In slashing the amount, it was noted that Budget 2018’s submission did not fulfil certain requirements set out in a budget circular.

The fact that the Government was cutting the requested capital sums of $19.9 million to $14 million from the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) provoked a firestorm between the Government side and the Opposition.

Cuts to the Office of the Ombudsman, Indigenous People’s Commission, the Women and Gender Equality Commission and the Public Procurement Commission were also passed by the House.

Other agencies on the chopping block for 2018 were the Parliament Office, the GECOM, the Supreme Court of Judicature (request of $2.7 billion was reduced to $1.8 billion), the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (request for $223.8 billion was reduced to $174.2 billion) and the Office of the Ombudsman.

De Willem fatal accident

GDF coastguard for court on Monday

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s the body of 3 5 - y e a r - o l d Roopchand “Charles” Ramkellawan was laid to rest on Friday, the coastguard who is reportedly responsible for his death is expected to be arraigned at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

According to information received, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack recommended that Lieutenant Eson Trim be charged with causing death by dangerous driving and driving under the influence of alcohol.

The file was returned to the Police late Friday afternoon by which time the Court was adjourned for the day.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) coastguard is accused of killing Ramkellawan of Lot 4150 Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE)

Dead: Roopchand “Charles” Ramkellawan

on Sunday evening along the De Willem Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

It was reported that the father of one was attempting to cross the roadway when he was struck by motor car

PWW 5680, being driven by the 28-year-old gazetted officer of the Joint Services, who allegedly was speeding.

Ramkellawan, who was knocked unconscious, was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, the Police have claimed that an unlicensed pistol with four matching rounds was found in the late Ramkellawan’s possession.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver, who hails from South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and it proved that he was over the legal limit of alcohol. He was arrested.

A post-mortem performed on the body of Ramkellawan revealed that his death was caused by multiple injuries that were consistent with a vehicular accident.

Alleged motorcycle thief remanded to prison

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enzil Adams appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday morning, and denied that he stole a Honda XR motorcycle valued at $435,000, property of

Julius Brown.

According to facts presented in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, the stolen motorcycle was recovered in Adams’ possession on June 14, 2018.

Adams, who is a known character to the Police, was refused bail. As such, he was remanded to prison and was scheduled to make his next court appearance on July 13, 2018.

news

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saturDAY, june 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Attempted murder-arson

Corentyne woman fears for her life …says justice system has failed her

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he Corentyne, Berbice woman who had a near-death experience when her ex-husband tried to kill her is urging Police to catch her assailant before he finds her.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Friday, Owamawattie Alvin admitted being fearful for her life.

According to the 47-yearold, she was attacked on Wednesday evening when her ex-husband allegedly tried to kill her using a knife, a piece of wood, and a broken glass. She is seeking to relocate somewhere outside of Berbice until the perpetrator is apprehended. She told this publication she cannot not remain in Berbice while her ex-husband, Lionel Thomas, 62, of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, remains on the run.

“He can be anywhere, and come from behind and kill me; because it seems that is his intention.”

However, even as she is calling on the Police to capture the man, she is questioning the seriousness of officers at the Whim Police Station to fight domestic violence.

“When we go at the sta-

Owamawattie Alvin

tion, the station was full with Police; was about 15 of them there, and when we go in the station, they all left, and only one Constable remain.”

Alvin had gone to the Whim Police Station on Wednesday evening covered in blood and wearing torn clothing. She was accompanied by her pregnant 17-year-old daughter, who was also bleeding.

“I sit down there about 45 minutes, and then the OC [Officer-in-Charge] come, and when I tell him what happen, he call back

the patrol and start to quarrel with them, and he tell them that they should have carried me to the hospital; and he tell a CID [Criminal Investigation Officer] officer to leave what he doing and take me to the hospital,” Alvin related.

Thomas and the mother of four had been together for 28 years. Two years ago, Alvin walked away from the abusive relationship.

“He want me find everything fuh he and he always beating me up. One time he chop me on me hand, so I decide to end the relationship; but he ain’t want done de abuse,” the woman said.

According to Alvin, the justice system does not seem to be working, and based on her experience, she has little confidence in the system.

According to Alvin, both she and Thomas are before the court on two separate matters. Both, she said, are in relation to threats to her life.

“The magistrate put him on a bond, and he always breaking the bond and threatening to kill me.

When he go back, the magistrate put him on $20,000 bail,” she detailed.

Former Policeman jailed for robbery under arms

Imprisoned: Shawn Archibald

Imprisoned: Timothy Waldron

former member of the Guyana Police Force was on Friday sentenced to five years’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of an armed robbery committed on New Year’s Eve at the Mackenzie Market, Linden.

The sentence was handed down by Senior Magistrate Clive Nurse against Timothy Waldron, 29, of Lot 1832 Unity Place, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown when the trial came to an end on Friday at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

Initially, Waldron was charged jointly with Shawn Archibald, 38, of the same address for robbery under arms which occurred on December 31, 2017 at about 21:42h at the Mackenzie Market Area, Republic Avenue.

While armed with a gun, the men robbed Trava Campbell, a 31-year-old miner of Lot 193 Dacoma Circle Mackenzie, Linden, of three gold chains valued $600,000.

According to the Police, who were able to secure footage of the robbery from CCTV, Waldron and Archibald were identified by the victim during an identification parade at

the Brickdam Police Station in Georgetown on January 13 of this year.

Campbell was reportedly standing on the market pavement among his friends when three men approached him with guns, telling him that he owes them. The men then pulled off the businessman’s gold chains and gun-butted him before escaping through Pine Street Mackenzie, Linden, in a Toyota Allion which bore registration number HC 5801.

The men were subsequently arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on January 19, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where they both pleaded not guilty and were remanded to prison.

The case was then transferred to Linden, and during the trial on May 10, before the CCTV footage was tendered as evidence, Archibald changed his plea and was sentenced to four years along with a fine of $75,000.

Meanwhile, in addition to the five-year sentence, Waldron was also fined $100,000 on Friday.

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The woman said that on Monday Thomas was arrested after chasing her with a cutlass at Port Mourant on Saturday, and was expected to be taken to court on Thursday. However, he was released from the Rose Hall

Town Police Outpost on Wednesday.

It is believed that after Thomas was released from Police custody, he went to Alvin’s home and tried to kill her. The woman was able to escape with

the help of her pregnant daughter. However, hours later, flames were seen coming from the Lot 192 Area ‘R’ Ankerville Port Mourant building. The building was reduced to rubble. (Andrew Carmichael)

Businessman charged for selling expired, foreign-labelled items

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he Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) has filed charges against a businessman after seizing several expired and foreign-labelled items at his business.

According to the Department, it recently seized 63 tins of “Anglo Corn Beef” labelled in a foreign language, and during this exercise has encountered expired items at the premise of the proprietor. However, the GA-FDD did not revealed the name of the businessman.

The Department’s prosecutor on Thursday filed criminal charges against the proprietor for “knowingly and deliberately offering for sale expired and foreign-labelled items.”

The Department has reiterated calls to all consumers to carefully examine all food products before making purchases, to ensure that these foods are labelled in English and contain all the required labelling information, which includes brand name, com-

mon name, net contents, list of ingredients, storage instructions, name and address of manufacturer or person preparing the food, and its country of origin, expiry and manufacture dates.

The GA-FDD disclosed that it has had cause to refuse entry to containers of food bringing in foreign labelled “Ovaltine” from Vietnam on May 10 last, and “Confectionery” from China on June 6th that were labelled in a foreign language, had no address of manufacturer, and were without date marks.

“Wholesaler [and] retailers also have a legal responsibility to ensure that wholesome foods reach the consumers, and to ensure that all labels are in English.

The Department is calling on these proprietors to adhere to the Food and Drugs Regulation or face prosecution,” the Department said in a statement.

Under Regulation No. 18 of the Food & Drugs Act (Chapter 34:03) of the Laws of Guyana and the Food &

Drugs Regulations No. 10 of 1977 of Guyana, it is a requirement for all foods, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices that are imported for sale or use in Guyana to have labels that are in English and comply with the requirements of Part II Section 18 (1) (2) which states the necessary information that the label should carry.

However, the GA-FDD pointed out that it has been observed that there are numerous foreign labelled food items being offered for sale on the local market.

“It is essential that regulated products be labeled in English so persons offering these products for sale and those using them can clearly understand important information, such as their direction for use, expiry date, ingredients, name [and] address of manufacturer, storage condition and necessary precautions. This enables consumers or users to make informed choices on products,” the Department emphasised.

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, june 23, 2018

Regional

Antigua and Barbuda confronts US at Venezuela crisis: UN says security forces killed hundreds WTO over still unsettled gaming dispute

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enezuelan security forces have carried out hundreds of arbitrary killings under the guise of fighting crime, the United Nations’ human rights body says.

In a report, it cites “shocking” accounts of young men being killed during operations, often in poor districts, over the past three years.

The UN’s human rights chief said no-one was being held to account, suggesting the rule of law was “virtually absent”.

Venezuela has in the past dismissed human rights allegations as “lies”.

The country is going through a protracted political and economic crisis.

Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves. When socialist President Hugo Chávez was in power, from 1999 until his death in 2013, he used oil money to finance social programmes.

But the Opposition says much of the income was lost to mismanagement, patron-

Under the EU sanctions, arms exports to the Venezuelan security forces will no longer be allowed

age, and corruption.

Critics accuse Chávez’s successor, President Nicolás Maduro, of using increasingly authoritarian tactics as the economy collapsed, prompting hundreds of thousands of people to flee abroad.

Last year, dozens of protesters were killed in clashes during protests against hyperinflation and food shortages.

Maduro was re-elected in May, in a poll boycotted by the Opposition and criticised by the UN and other inter-

national bodies.

The UN Human Rights Office alleges that extra-judicial killings were carried out by officers involved with the Operations for the Liberation of the People, ostensibly a crime-reduction initiative.

These officers may have killed more than 500 people since July 2015 as a way to showcase crime-reduction results, it says. They are alleged to have faked evidence to make it look as though the victims died in exchanges of fire. (Excerpt from BBC News)

ntigua and Barbuda is losing hope that “a sense of justice and fairness would prevail” in its 15-year dispute with the United States. And now it may ask the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to appoint a mediator in its 15year contention with the United States, the twin-island nation’s Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders told the Organisation’s Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on Friday.

The dispute between the two countries revolves around the US Government’s efforts to prevent Americans from gam-

bling at online sites based in Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua and Barbuda won the right to suspend obligations to the US in respect of intellectual property rights to recover US$21 million annually.

“Antigua and Barbuda has not acted on that authorisation in the hope that the United States would agree to a fair and reasonable settlement. It has not done so, because we continued to hope that a sense of justice and fairness would prevail. But we are now losing all hope,” Sir Ronald told the DBS. “After a long period of exhausting attempts to engage

the United States, Antigua and Barbuda is now contemplating approaching the Director General under the DSU provisions to join in seeking a mediated solution that would bring much-needed relief after these arduous 15 years of damage to our economy.”

The Ambassador told the WTO Member States that Antigua and Barbuda feels disadvantaged by the US, whose violation of the General Agreement on Trade in Services “has caused trade losses of US$315 million to Antigua and Barbuda’s small economy over the last 15 years”.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Windrush anniversary celebrated at Westminster Abbey

Jamaica not accepting recommendation to give Caricom ultimatum on CSME

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amaica’s Parliament has adopted the report of the Commission set up to review the country’s relations within the Caribbean Community (Caricom), but Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Government will not insist on the five-year timeline for the implementation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), as recommended in the document.

The Commission to Review Jamaica’s Relations Within Caricom, chaired by former Prime Minister Bruce Golding, had been charged with evaluating the effects of Jamaica’s membership in Caricom on the country’s economic growth and development, with particular reference to trade in goods and services, investment, international competitiveness and job creation.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness

One of the 33 key recommendations was that Jamaica should withdraw from the CSME if it cannot get Caricom Heads of Government to agree to fully implement the single market and economy within the five-year period.

But Holness said during debate on the report in the House of Representatives that the timeline was not realistic.

Instead, he said, Jamaica would seek to “get commitments from the various Heads for the full and effective implementation of the Common Market, which are things that we can do within the five years.”

He noted the Commission’s recommendations boldly project a way forward in addressing aspects of regional relationships that are not fully meeting their intended objectives.

“Our extensive review of the report has identified recommendations at various stages of readiness for implementation, including some that may not be within our reach at this time for various reasons,” he said.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Windrush generation members and their families were invited to the Westminster Abbey service

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ore than 2000 people attended a thanksgiving service marking 70 years since the arrival of Caribbean migrants on the Empire Windrush ship to the United Kingdom.

Hymns, including “Amazing Grace”, were played on steel drums as guests, including families of the Windrush generation, entered Westminster Abbey.

The migrants were among the first to be recruited to rebuild post-war Britain.

But there continues to be concern over a scandal which saw some of the generation wrongly face deportation.

As the music played in

Bahamas to introduce digital currency

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he Central Bank of The Bahamas has announced plans to introduce a pilot digital currency for the country.

This is according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, K Peter Turnquest who made the revelation earlier this week during The Bahamas Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference.

“The production of a modern fully digital payment service is the way forward for this era of gover-

nance. A digital Bahamian currency is especially important for the many family islands as they have seen many commercial banks downsize and pull out of their communities, leaving them without banking services. As an island nation, where transportation can be an inconvenience for many, especially the elderly, and costly, we must offer financial services digitally and securely,” said the Deputy Prime Minister, who added that he hopes the island of

Grand Bahama will become the digital paradise of the Region.

“Digitisation of our government and financial services complements both our ease of doing business initiatives and our digital Bahamas framework. As a first step in our ease of doing business initiative, we would have moved to a new online interface for startup companies registering their business for the first time in The Bahamas.”

According to Turnquest, in the near future, he

hopes the Government will be introducing a pilot programme using block chain certifications for people who complete studies at the National Training Agency.

“Even though it is at a very preliminary form, the Government is looking to see other ways in which certificates such as business licences, passports, national insurance can make use of blockchain technology to enable persons to maintain their data and share it in a secure and verifiable way.”

(Excerpt from CMC)

the abbey, Baroness Floella Benjamin was applauded as she briefly danced in the nave.

The Liberal Democrat peer and patron of the Windrush Foundation said that she felt “joy”, adding: “I was floating, like a bird, free.”

Prime Minister Theresa May, Home Secretary Sajid Javid and London Mayor Sadiq Khan attended the service, along with shadow home secretary Diane Abbott.

Among the guests was Baroness Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen.

At the service, a short drama telling the story of how Caribbean mi-

grants were invited to “The Motherland” to help rebuild post-war Britain was performed by actors.

Addressing the congregation, the Reverend Canon Joel Edwards said: “Settling down hasn’t been plain sailing.

“The children of Windrush have experienced over-representation in Britain’s prisons and mental health institutions. Knife crimes.

“Underachievement in education and the job market. Settlement has meant racism, sometimes too much policing and not enough protection. And Stephen Lawrence.”

But he added: “Windrush resilience arises, supremely”

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Earthquake jolts sections of Dominican Republic

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n earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 rocked sections of the Dominican Republic late Wednesday.

The Santo Domingo State University (UASD) Seismology Institute said the tremor occurred at 18.88 degrees latitude, 69.9 longitude, at a depth of 72 kilometres.

The US Geodetic Survey placed the quake’s epicen-

tre at five kilometres from Sabana Grande de Boyá, Monte Plata province.

It’s the second moderate quake registered in the Monte Plata area this month, after a 4.9 tremor, hit on June 3, with a depth of 47 kilometres.

That tremor was also felt in Greater Santo Domingo.

There have been no reports of injury or damage.

(CMC)

saturDAY, june 23, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Syria’s Assad defies US, EU leaders set to prolong presses southwest assault Russia sanctions again

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yrian Government helicopters dropped barrel bombs on opposition areas of the southwest on Friday for the first time in a year, a war monitor and rebel officials said, in defiance of US demands that President Bashar al-Assad halt the assault.

Assad has sworn to recapture the area bordering Jordan and the Israelioccupied Golan Heights and the army began ramping up an assault there this week, threatening a “de-escalation” zone agreed by the United States and Russia last year.

The United States on Thursday reiterated its demand that the zone be re-

The United States on Thursday reiterated its demand that the zone be respected, warning President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian allies of “serious repercussions” for violations

spected, warning Assad and his Russian allies of “serious repercussions” for violations. It accused Damascus

of initiating air strikes, and artillery and rocket attacks.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley

said on Friday that the Syrian military escalation “unambiguously violates” the de-escalation arrangement and that more than 11,000 people had already been displaced.

“Russia will ultimately bear responsibility for any further escalations in ?Syria,” Haley said in a statement.

A big offensive risks a wider escalation that could draw the United States deeper into the war. The southwest is of strategic concern to US-allied Israel, which has this year stepped up attacks on Iran-backed militia allied to Assad. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

E

uropean Union leaders will next week extend until the end of January economic sanctions against Russia over its intervention in Ukraine, diplomats and officials said.

The curbs on Russia’s energy, defence and financial sectors have been prolonged every six months since first being slapped mid-2014 after Moscow annexed the peninsula of Crimea from Kiev and backed rebels fighting Government troops in east Ukraine.

EU leaders meeting in Brussels on June 28-29 will agree another six-month extension of the curbs on doing business with Russia currently in place until the end of July.

Moscow vows to never return Crimea and the east Ukraine conflict has killed more than 10,000 people and turned into a frozen confrontation, with low-intensity, sporadic fighting still taking place regularly.

The decision follows talks between the world’s seven most industrialised countries (G7) who met in Canada earlier in June. The format used to be held as G8, but Russia was kicked out in 2014 over Crimea.

Since then, the leaders of the world’s leading powers have used their annual meetings to coordinate their stance. This year, they called on Moscow to stop undermining democracies.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Italy says Malta not taking in Anti-trafficking activists raped migrant ship is “inhumane” after staging street play

Migrants are seen on the deck of the Mission Lifeline rescue boat in the central Mediterranean Sea, June 21, 2018

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taly said on Friday Malta had refused to take in a Dutch-flagged ship carrying more than 200 rescued migrants and said the decision was “inhumane”, 10 days after shutting its own ports to a migrant vessel.

The new stand-off between the neighbouring Mediterranean countries arose as Italy’s new

Government has been pressuring European partners to shoulder more of the burden of immigration from North Africa.

Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli criticised tiny Malta on his Facebook page, where he also posted a photo of an email full of nautical information and signed by the Armed Forces

of Malta inferring that it was not responsible for the latest ship as it was not in a “SAR (Search and Rescue) Situation”.

Anti-immigrant Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has said the ship, the Lifeline, should take the migrants to the Netherlands since it is flying a Dutch flag.

Malta’s Government spokesman said in a separate statement that the country was not the competent authority because initial “Search and Rescue” was done by Libya and that the ship had breached its obligations to oblige by Libyan instructions.

While Toninelli said the ship was in Maltese search and rescue waters and in difficulty, the Maltese email said the ship “has not manifested any distress”. (Excerpt from

F

ive Indian anti-trafficking activists performing a street play were gang-raped at gunpoint in the eastern state of Jharkhand, Police have confirmed.

The women were forced into cars and raped in a “secluded area”, Police told BBC Hindi.

Police say they are investigating the incident but have not made any arrests.

The women were working with a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to raise awareness about human trafficking in the remote

Khunti district.

About 40,000 rape cases were reported in India in 2016.

Many cases, however, are believed to go unreported because of the stigma that is attached to rape and sexual assault.

“After performing, they headed towards a local mission school,” senior police official AV Homkar told BBC Hindi’s Niraj Sinha.

“Around the same time, some armed people reached the school. They abducted five girls from their team and took them to a jungle and raped them. We have

Putin, Moon agree that Trump-Kim summit to help denuclearisation

Reuters)

MP takes Tanzania to court over rap song ban

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anzanian MP Joseph Mbilinyi says he will sue the Government for banning his rap song about the state of prisons.

Basata, the Kiswahili acronym for the country’s arts council, banned the song for using words that “incite public violence”.

The song was leaked after the Opposition MP, popularly known as MC Sugu, was jailed for allegedly defaming President John Magufuli.

The ban comes amid complaints about restrictions to freedom of expression.

Basata said in a press statement that the song, which it dubbed #219, had generated numerous complaints from the public and “brings into jeopardy the reputation of the arts indus-

Russian President Vladimir Putin and South Korean President Moon Jae-in attend a welcoming ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, June 22, 2018

R

ussian President Vladimir Putin and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed on Friday to support “efforts to establish complete denuclearisation on

Member of Parliament Joseph Mbilinyi was sentenced to five months in jail for allegedly defaming the President

try in composing songs”.

“How can the song be a threat?” Mbilinyi, who was released from jail in May, asked the BBC. “I was merely talking about real experience in what goes on in prison, and urging the authorities to rectify the situation.”

The opposition Chadema party MP has asked his lawyers to begin the process of taking Basata to court “to ensure that the agency desists from interfering, censuring and destroying the works of artists,” Mbilinyi said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

dedicated three teams of Police to interrogate several people.

Another Police official told BBC Hindi the five women were now safe under Police protection, awaiting the results of medical tests.

Officials believe the rapists could be supporters of a group that that is extremely hostile to “outsiders” entering the region.

The group, which enjoys popular support among the district’s tribal population, has even put up signs warning visitors about entering the area. (Excerpt from BBC News)

the Korean peninsula” following the US-North Korea summit last week.

A joint statement signed by the two leaders during a state visit by Moon to Russia was released by

South Korea’s presidential Blue House. Moon arrived in Russia on Thursday, the first official visit by a South Korean President since 1999.

The Russian and South Korean leaders agreed that last week’s historic summit in Singapore between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would contribute to denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

Putin and Moon agreed to “continue joint efforts to establish complete denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula and secure permanent peace and stability on the peninsula and (in) Northeast Asia”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

OPEC reaches deal to raise oil output

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eaders from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have agreed on a modest increase in oil production from next month.

The agreement on Friday came after a week of tense negotiations amid calls from major consumers to help reduce the price of crude and

avoid a supply shortage.

Top OPEC producer Saudi Arabia said the move would translate into a nominal output rise of around 1,000,000 barrels per day (bpd), or one per cent of global supply.

Iraq, however, said the real increase would be around 770,000 bpd, because several countries that had suffered production de-

clines would struggle to reach full quotas.

Iran, OPEC’s third-largest producer, had demanded the Organisation reject calls from Trump for an increase in oil supply, arguing that the US has contributed to a recent rise in prices by imposing sanctions on Iran and fellow member Venezuela.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, june 23, 2018

ARCHIE

Listen to others and choose your words wise(March 21- ly when responding. SelfApril 19) improvement projects will bring high returns. Make romantic plans and strive to get along with others.

ARIES

Home improvements may TAURUS not go as planned and could (April 20- cost more than anticipated, May 20) but in the end, with a little help from friends and family, you’ll overcome any obstacles you encounter.

dilbert

Taking a day trip, visiting GEMINI (May 21- friends or relatives, or makJune 20) ing plans to do something energetic with a loved one will help you relax and put work-related matters aside.

Having fun with youngsters, friends or relatives will (June 21- brighten your day and spark July 22) ideas that will lead to a new beginning. Embrace change and enjoy life.

CANCER

Peanuts

Too much going on will LEO lead to confusion and uncer(July 23- tainty. Take a breather and Aug. 22) go over the do’s and don’ts before you sign up for something that is over budget, time-consuming or risky.

Calvin and Hobbes

You’ve got what it takes to VIRGO bring about positive change, (Aug. 23and now it’s up to you to make Sept. 22) it happen. If you speak up and follow through with your plans, others will follow.

Stay focused on the task LIBRA (Sept. 23- at hand. Don’t let what othOct. 23) ers say or do interfere with your ability to get things done. Plan something romantic for the evening.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — CHARACTER (CHARACTER: KAR-ik-ter: The mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.)

Average mark 39 words

SUDOKU

Be secretive about perSAGITTARIUS sonal, financial, medical or (Nov. 23legal matters.

The less othDec. 21) ers know, the easier it will be for you to get things done.

Romance is encouraged.

Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 55 or more words in CHARACTER? The list will be published Monday.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — FUNICULAR fail fair faun filar final firn flair flan frail franc

furl ulna uncial uncurl unfair unfurl uranic uric urinal naif

nail incur cairn calf clan curl laic lain lair liar

lira luau lunar anil aril auric rail rain rani ruin

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

If you are going to share SCORPIO your feelings or opinions, (Oct. 24prepare to butt up against Nov. 22) someone else’s agenda and spark a debate. It’s better to compromise and collaborate than to argue.

solution for last published puzzle

Don’t hesitate to bring CAPRICORN about change. Making a move (Dec. 22- or altering your living arJan. 19) rangements will do you good.

If someone doesn’t condone your choice, persuasive tactics or an incentive will help.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Moving too fast will lead to regret. In all aspects of your life, you should be methodical and think matters through before you begin.

Partnership problems are likely to surface.

Dream on and you’ll come up with a plan that will bring about positive change.

Discussing your plans with someone close to you will encourage forward movement.

saturDAY, JUNE 23, 2018

19

Coutinho, Neymar snatch win to sink Costa Rica W

ell, that was late; and indeed a little ugly at times. On a breezy afternoon by the Gulf of Finland Brazil beat Costa Rica 2-0 at the St Petersburg Stadium to ease their route towards the knockout stage of Russia 2018.

The goals were both scored in injury time, the first by their best player on the day Philippe Coutinho, who came haring through a crowd on to a touch from Gabriel Jesus to poke the ball through the legs of Keylor Navas and send the yellowshirted stands into a fever.

As the clock ticked down Neymar added a second, the Costa Rica defence finally parting after some fine, dogged efforts.

Brazil’s captain celebrated like a World Cup winner after stabbing the ball into the net from Douglas Costa’s cross. And it was an eventful day all round for Neymar, who grumbled and moaned and threw himself to the floor, and might have been sent off in the second half for a combination of dissent and diving.

At the final whistle the world’s costliest player could be seen weeping dramatically on the pitch, shoulders shuddering, hands shielding his visage from the world. Indeed.

Brazil have four points in

Group E. A draw with Serbia will guarantee progress. This game will be remembered for Coutinho’s fine driving efforts in central midfield and for some well-timed substitutions by Tite.

But it will also be coloured by Neymar’s preposterous antics, and for a sense of lost focus at various stages.

A turning point seemed to have arrived around the hour mark as the referee Björn Kuipers of the Netherlands, finally snapped. As Brazil defended a corner Kuipers could be seen telling Brazil’s captain to be quiet in the way an exasperated father might speak to a sullen and spoiled teenager.

Seventeen minutes later Kuipers was finally beaten into submission. No doubt it wears you down. As Giancarlo González brushed the Neymar abdomen with his hand Brazil’s captain toppled backwards in ludicrous fashion, a dying sapling swept away by a mudslide. Kuipers gave the penalty. Neymar lay on the floor being nursed by his teammates, as though finally victorious in his battle with injustice.

Out of his sight Kuipers trotted off, looked at the VAR screen, and reversed the decision. He should also have booked Neymar for cheating. But

Philippe Coutinho breaks the deadlock

well-played Kuipers. A penalty would have been reward for superstar strops and generally graceless behaviour. A Brazil World campaign is a notch in the nation’s pop-cultural history. It deserves better than this.

This World Cup has been waiting for a statement performance, for one of the more celebrated teams to decide that in fact this tournament is there for the taking if somebody can get the thrusters lined up.

This wasn’t it from Brazil, at least not for the opening 85 minutes.

Hopes had been high at kick-

off. The stadium in St Petersburg is a stunning thing with a roof fanned out around steel girders of dizzying scale, ranged above the pitch like an iron giant cradling his fingers.

Brazil did press hard at the start, Coutinho shooting just over after Bryan Ruiz had given him the ball. After which, the congealment. The blue shirts were slow through midfield, a porridge of sideways passing. It was Costa Rica who should have taken the lead on 12 minutes, as Celso Borges shot low and hard but past the left-hand post from

a cut-back from Ruiz.

Neymar began to intrude, writhing and leaping at every challenge. He is targeted for rough treatment but he invites it too, never once hiding his disgust and his distraction.

Again he went down, this time after “putting a hat on” Cristian Gamboa (nicking the ball over his head) a terrible humiliation in Brazilian football.

Again there were chunterings to the referee, constant close-ups of that pained Neymar face. This is a different player right now to the sprightly warrior of 2014,

transformed into a mardy drama magnet. Life moves pretty fast, Neymar old boy. If you don’t stop rolling around once in awhile, you could miss it.

As the teams penetrated the dressing rooms at half-time Neymar approached the referee and prattled on some more.

Clearly he has rushed his way back to this tournament. But he doesn’t deal with rustiness well. And he was overshadowed

by Coutinho here, who was the hub of the team and who should be given as much leverage as he likes to make the game up in front of him.

Tite took off Willian at halftime and put on the more direct Douglas Costa. Suddenly Brazil were surging forward, Gabriel Jesus heading powerfully on to the bar from a Douglas cross. The ball bounced out to Coutinho whose shot was deflected just wide by Gamboa.

Tite twisted again, bringing on Roberto Firmino for Paulinho.

Neymar shot wide of the post on the run with space in front of him. And moments late he was finally booked, this time for a pathetic hissy fit after a foul. Two late goals disguised a distracted performance that improved as the tempo rose but Tite will have plenty to ponder from here. (The

Guardian)

Musa punishes wasteful Iceland to give Argentina hope T

his was a lifeline for Nigeria and, in the wider picture, an injection of hope for Argentina too. It would take a brave punter to confidently predict who will join Croatia in qualifying from Group D but the Super Eagles, who deserved this win after a vastly improved second-half performance, hold the advantage and will be guaranteed to reach the last 16 if they defeat Jorge Sampaoli’s side in St Petersburg.

Ahmed Musa, brought in to provide greater cutting edge, rewarded his manager Gernot Rohr with two exhilarating goals and there was added misery for Iceland when Gylfi Sigurdsson missed a late penalty. They can still go through by defeating the Croats but will need to quickly rediscover their famed levels of organisation, which deserted them after the break.

Rohr had suggested the blazing summer conditions in Volgograd might lend his team an edge. In reality more than that would be needed to erase the damage done in a sluggish opening defeat against Croatia; Rohr knew it and, in switching to a 3-5-2, gave chances to Kelechi Iheanacho and Kenneth Omeruo as well as Musa.

Yet it was Iceland, unperturbed by the 32C heat, who began with more thrust.

Gylfi Sigurdsson tested Francis Uzoho, Nigeria’s 19-year-old goalkeeper, twice in the first six minutes and might have done better with the second effort when

Ahmed Musa seals the deal for Nigeria

space opened up near the edge of the ‘D’. The buildup to that chance, worked intricately via Alfred Finnbogason, was a reminder that Iceland are more than the artisans popularly cast and it signalled, too, that their opponents’ new setup was a work in progress.

Not that Iceland are inclined to turn their noses up at old habits. Three times in the first 20 minutes they deployed the long throw of Aron Gunnarsson, a spell of pressure on the last of those occasions forcing Uzoho to twice claw crosses from under his bar. Few can

match Gunnarsson’s range of propulsion but Wilfred Ndidi had a couple of tries in the same period, failing to make any meaningful indent in the Iceland defence.

That went for Nigeria as a collective although they did offer more purpose than last Saturday. Their starting position was noticeably higher and there was a snappiness that occasionally promised more. As the first half went on, though, a pattern memorable to anyone who watched them in Kaliningrad became clear: for all their territory down the

flanks, most attacks finished with crosses of which the intended destination was unclear.

At least their endeavour could not be faulted, as Ndidi and Ogdenekaro Etebo both showed with perfect recovery tackles after errors from teammates.

But what threat the game held at this point came from Iceland. Birkir Mar Saevarsson, an experienced right?back who these days plays part?time football in the domestic league with Valur, handed out a lesson with a series of laser-like deliveries that begged for a decisive touch. When Finnbogason did get something on a teasing Gylfi Sigurdsson free-kick shortly before the interval, he glanced wastefully wide. Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, brought in to partner Finnbogason up front, then failed to find a teammate with a free header at the far post.

Upon the whistle, Nigeria’s players went into a huddle while Iceland filed indoors. Whatever was said had a dramatic effect. They restarted at speed and, within four minutes, scored in the fashion that suits them best. It was an emphatically executed finish from Musa, who reacted ahead of a passive Ragnar Sigurdsson to control Victor Moses’s centre with an outstretched leg and blast past Hannes Halldorsson. Gallingly for Iceland the move came about after another attempted exocet from Gunnarsson was headed clear; their

organisation deserted them as Nigeria countered blisteringly, Musa winning an important challenge before arriving 50 yards further forward to prove that, given space to stretch out, his team pack a genuine punch.

Now Iceland had to rediscover some initiative while avoiding being undone in a similar manner. The quandary was underlined when Halldorsson had to flip a deflected Ndidi shot over; they were further inconvenienced when Ragnar Sigurdsson, who briefly struggled on with a bandaged head after taking a knock when attempting to thwart Musa, was forced to depart.

Ruruk Gislason, whose looks caused minor hysteria online when he came on against Argentina, drove forward but failed to cause similar flutters, shooting over. Most of the traffic was now firmly in the other direction, Leon Balogun heading over and Musa curling against the bar. It was no surprise at all when Musa, racing on to a direct ball down the left channel soon afterwards, blazed past Kari Arnason and rounded Halldorsson before finishing coolly.

Nonetheless there was plenty of time left for the obligatory recourse to VAR, which correctly resolved that Tyronne Ebuehi had, after all, fouled Finnbogason in the area. Gylfi Sigurdsson’s penalty sailed over and the celebrations resounded from Lagos to La Plata. (The Guardian)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, JUNE 23, 2018

Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri stuns Serbia with late breakaway O

f all the people, it had to be them.

Suddenly, in the last minute, Xherdan Shaqiri was racing away, Serbs pursuing him but unable to catch him before he slipped the ball under Vladimir Stojkovic. It was the goal that defeated Serbia and put Switzerland in a strong position to progress to the next round, but it was also much more than that. As he turned and screamed, he took his shirt off, flexed his muscles and performed a double-eagle celebration in honour of Albania.

Alongside him, Granit Xhaka did the same – for the second time.

Xhaka had scored the equaliser, now Shaqiri had the winner. Two Kosovans, two goalscorers, in a stadium where Russian and Serbian fans had come together to support a team that they did not see as simple opponents. A team who had looked superior in the first half, but were hauled back early in the second, and beaten at the death.

Dusan Tadic cut back on the right and curled in a lovely cross for Aleksandar

Xherdan Shaqiri squeezes the ball past Vladimir Stojkovic to score a late winner for Switzerland

Mitrovic to leap above Fabian Schär, who bounced off him, and head past Yann Sommer from seven yards.

It was only five minutes in, but it hadn’t been their first opportunity – from virtually the same spot, Mitrovic had drawn a sharp save from the goalkeeper a minute before, this time supplied by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – and it wouldn’t be the last either.

The same three men were

Roger Federer beats Matthew Ebden to reach semi-finals

at the heart of everything Serbia did, combining to the right of the attack.

Outside them, Aleksandar Kolarov and Branislav Ivanovic occasionally arrived too in an opening 25 minutes in which all Switzerland could aspire to was resistance, with Mitrovic pushing them about. For the Swiss, every ball in was a drama, and there were many of them.

Mitrovic controlled one on the chest and sent an overhead kick sailing just past the bar.

Slowly, though, this became a game, Shaqiri involved at last. Blerim Dzemaili couldn’t quite guide Steven Zuber’s pass beyond Stojkovic.

If the goalkeeper reacted swiftly then, five minutes later Dzemaili wasted an opportunity when he chose

other Kosovans, he had been whistled by a crowd where Serbs were supported by Russians, a banner declaring them “brothers”. There were chants too of Serbia came back at Switzerland, led by the same three, Tadic in particular. He delivered a cross from which Mitrovic, hauled to the floor, appealed for a penalty and then sent the ball fizzing across the six-yard box. And yet perhaps the best opportunity came to the substitute Mario Gavranovic. Played through by Shaqiri, he hit the side-netting.

Switzerland accelerated too, the changes having an impact, Shaqiri running at the Serbs. Gavranovic got another superb chance when the other substitute Breel Embolo – who had almost been the beneficiary of a goalkeeping error just before – leaped superbly to head the ball into the area, leaving him in front of goal near the penalty spot. That time, Stojkovic scrambled to save. He could do nothing when Shaqiri ran towards him at the very end.

(The Guardian)

Argentine squad is the "worst in their history", says Cup winner Ossie Ardiles

A

rgentina’s World Cup squad is the “worst in their history” and not even “the best player in the world” can make them competitive, says Ossie Ardiles.

Thursday’s 3-0 defeat by Croatia has put Jorge Sampaoli’s side at risk of an early exit from the tournament.

World Cup winner Ardiles, 65, criticised Sampaoli’s tactics and overreliance on captain Lionel Messi.

The former midfielder said the “prestige” of the two-time world champions had been “thrown overboard”.

“From world champion to being the worst national team in Argentina history. Where to begin?” the former Tottenham player tweeted.

Argentina, who drew their first group game 1-1 with Iceland, are no longer in control of whether they reach the last 16 with one game remaining, against Nigeria on Tuesday.

R

oger Federer beat Matthew Ebden to win his 19th successive match on grass and reach the Halle Open semi-finals.

The Swiss, who is aiming for a 10th title in Germany, beat Australian world number 60 Ebden 7-6 (7-2) 7-5.

Victory in Halle will ensure 36-year-old Federer retains his world number one ranking.

He will face qualifier Denis Kudla in the next round, following the American’s 6-2 7-5 win over Yuichi Sugita of Japan.

Federer hit 43 winners to Ebden’s 32, but the 20-time Grand Slam champion had to come back from a break down to ensure victory.

After dominating the first set tie-break, Federer trailed his 30-year-old opponent 4-3 in the second set after a poor return game.

However, he rallied to win the final four games for victory in 89 minutes. (BBC Sport) Roger Federer

to hit a cross – and really hit it, too – rather than take on the shot, when Shaqiri left him in a superb position.

Serbia still threatened and it continued to be Tadic, Mitrovic and MilinkovicSavic who led. They might have had a second just before half-time, too, when Dusko Tosic dived through the air, barely four yards out but failed to reach the corner, which carried through to Nemanja Matic. Standing by the far post, he was unable to react and deflect it over the line. Next, Tadic struck a lovely shot on the bounce that flew just over.

Switzerland needed a goal and they got it soon after the break, when Shaqiri’s blocked shot ran to Xhaka and he thumped it first time from 20 yards, bending the ball hard into the net. Xhaka, whose father was imprisoned and beaten in the former Yugoslavia for campaigning in favour of Kosovan independence and whose brother Taulant plays for the Albanian national team, celebrated by forming that double-eagle. With Shaqiri and Behrami, Switzerland’s

‘There is no plan B’

Argentina Coach Jorge Sampaoli

Messi, Argentina’s record goalscorer with 64, scored a hattrick in their final qualifying game to secure his country’s place in Russia.

But the Barcelona forward, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, has struggled so far in the tournament and missed a penalty against Iceland.

After the Croatia defeat, Sampaoli said the rest of the team “clouds Messi’s brilliance” and that “the team doesn’t gel as well as it should”.

Ardiles, who won the World Cup in 1978, called Sampaoli “dreadful, arrogant and ignorant”.

“Even having the best player in the world was not capable of creating a competitive team,” said Ardiles.

“Plan A of Sampaoli. Give the ball to Messi and wait for a miracle. If Plan A doesn’t work, Plan B. Errr. There is no plan B. Let alone plan C or D. “All the decline of recent times was hidden by this unrivalled genius [Messi].” (BBC Sport)

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From left: LBI Community Centre Cricket Club President Yeuraj Khemraj and GCB representative Alexce Bobb

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), in keeping with their mandate to assist clubs across the country, recently donated one Honda brush cutter to the LBI Community Center Cricket Club.

GCB’s timely gesture to the club came on Wednesday, June 20, at a brief presentation which took place at the GCB office on Regent Road, Bourda.

Present at the mini ceremony was president of the club, Yeuraj Khemraj, along with members of the board.

Khemraj, who received the brush-cutter on behalf of the club, was in high spirits. He said the piece of machinery would come in use-

ful for the maintenance of the East Coast ground.

The board has donated brush cutters to several locations across Guyana, including Bayroc and East Bank as well as the University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus.

The aim thereof is assisting in the maintenance and upkeep of cricket grounds in these areas.

It was with the aims of ensuring that cricketers in the area can benefit from the donation, and that the club would be able to function effectively to prepare facilities in a timely manner to accommodate matches and practice sessions that the contribution was made.

Williams, King rewarded by GCS S

eventeen-year-old Jermain King has been honoured by the Guyana Committee of Services (GCS), in collaboration with Payless Variety Store and Star Party Rentals, for his exceptional performance at the last South American Games in Chile.

The six-footer had placed second in the 100m race in last September’s games, and his effort has not gone unnoticed, as the presentation was done to aid the aspiring athlete, who hails from East Canje, Berbice.

Linden’s Daniel Williams was also rewarded for his effort of striking silver in the 400m of the same event.

Jermaine King (right) at the second South American Youth Games in Santiago, Chile

GUYANA Sri Lanka trio admit “serious TIMES in your area? law breach” over delay Contact our

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21 LBI Cricket Club receives brushcutter courtesy of GCB T sports

S

ri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal, coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and manager Asanka Gurusinha have admitted a “serious law breach” after the team delayed play during the drawn second Test against West Indies.

The International Cricket Council said the two-hour delay on day three was “contrary to the spirit of the game”.

It was a protest over Chandimal’s ban for ball-tampering on the second day. The 28-year-old will appeal against his one-match suspension on Friday.

Sri Lanka said they played the remainder of the second Test “under protest”. The third Test begins in Bridgetown on Saturday, with West Indies leading the three-match series 1-0. (BBC Sport)

Sri Lanka Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe (centre) and manager Asanka Gurusinha (right) have been charged by the ICC for delaying play

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ngland midfielder Dele Alli has not returned to training and is likely to miss their second World Cup Group G game against Panama on Sunday.

The Tottenham player, 22, has missed training with a thigh injury picked up during Monday’s 2-1 win over Tunisia.

Pictures of assistant manager Steve Holland’s training notes seemed to indicate Ruben Loftus-Cheek would replace him in England’s starting XI. Sunday’s match in Nizhny Novgorod is live on BBC One from 12:10 British Standard Time (-5). World Cup debutants Panama were beaten 3-0 by Belgium in their opening match. (BBC Sport)

Dele Alli

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, JUNE 23, 2018

Archery Guyana commemorates Olympic Day 2018

– other disciplines join the celebration

A

head of Sunday’s Olympic Day observance, World Archery Guyana’s (WAG) Nicholas Hing has said that all systems are in place for Region 4’s Indoor Target Archery Competition.

The one-day event, being held to commemorate Olympic Day, which was introduced in 1948, will be conducted under the strict safety rules which are a standard of the World Archery and its af-

World Archery Guyana will be gearing up to host a one-day Indoor Target Competition in commemoration of Olympic Day

filiated organisations.

Archery Guyana, as an affiliate of World Archery (WA), aims to uphold at all times the standards and rules of this body. The birth of the Olympic Games occurred on June 23 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris. The goal was to promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.

President of the International Olympic

Committee, Thomas Bach, had opined: “Every year, Olympic Day allows the whole world to unite behind the Olympic dream.” Guyana is no different.

AG member Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon has noted that on June 23rd every year, millions of people across the world get active to celebrate Olympic Day. She added that in Guyana, Archery Guyana will continue to commemorate this day, as it has

been doing since 2015; but this time AG will be expanding to the various regions.

Archery made its Olympic debut at the Olympic Games from 1900 to 1920, becoming in 1904 one of the first Olympic sports to include women.

Coaches from across Guyana shared some plans to commemorate Olympic Day this weekend in their communities.

Coaches Ainsworth

Pritchard, Trevor Jocintho and Carl Albert from Region 1, who recently introduced the sport to Hosororo Primary School, are very enthused with the feedback.

Coach Jocintho indicated that a simple competition will be hosted in Region 1 using a recently built target board.

Meanwhile, Coaches Shunette Thompson and Manley Polo Thomas from Region 9 are excitedly plan-

ning for this weekend; and in Region 8, Coach Gavin Gounga and Joseph Edwin will be doing a session on Saturday with the Mahdia Secondary School.

Additionally, other sporting disciplines throughout Guyana that will be participating in the commemorative day are Badminton, Athletics, Weightlifting, Rugby, Volleyball, Cycling, Swimming, Taekwondo and Table Tennis.

Cummings Lodge crowned tape-ball champs again

C

ummings Lodge Secondary found themselves cruising to victory last weekend as they were competing in the finals of the Goodwood Racing Service and P&P Insurance Brokerssponsored Schoolboys tapeball cricket competition.

Seven secondary school teams from the coastland came out to put on a show. In the first match-up, Annandale Secondary racked up 123 in their six overs and managed to restrict IAE to 39. In the second match-up, Trust College took care of Sophia Special’s

total in just 5.3 overs to win the encounter. Later on, North Georgetown defeated RBI, with North Georgetown posting 78 in their six overs.

RBI fell short with a total of 69. In the last of the group stage, Cummings Lodge had an impressive win by 42 runs after putting 83 runs on the scorecard, which St John ’s College failed to make.

The semis saw North Georgetown and Sophia going head to head. Sophia fell short of the 61-run target with a total of only 28. As expected, Cummings Lodge

The Cummings Lodge Secondary team

dominated their semi, chasing down Annandale’s 71-run target.

Playing at the D’Urban Park tarmac, in a final that seemed like déjà vu, North Georgetown Secondary had the opportunity to bat first and registered a total of 48 from their allotted six overs.

Cummings Lodge, however, stormed the pitch when it was their turn to bat, knocking down the total in just 4.5 overs.

The competition was organised by Royal Tape Ball Academy and coordinated by James Lewis.

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saturDAY, JUNE 23, 2018

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Windies looking to tie up series in historic day-night Test T

he historic day/night third Test will be a crucial one, as hosts West Indies seek to wrap up the series with a win over the afflicted Sri Lankans this weekend at the Kensington Oval Ground, Barbados.

The visitors, who lost the first Test before being outplayed again in the drawn second match at the Darren Sammy Ground in St Lucia, head into the final encounter in a depleted state.

With Captain Dinesh Chandimal's place for the final Test in limbo after he received a suspension for ball tampering and was charged with a level 3 offence for refusing to take the field on the third day in St Lucia, injuries have now arisen in the camp.

Veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, according to a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) release, split the webbing between the fourth and fifth fingers of his right hand during a practice session ahead of the third Test.

Herath, an ex-Test Captain, was tipped to stand in as skipper for the third Test with Chandimal being in doubt, but the situation has left fast-bowler vice-captain Suranga Lakmal being likely to lead the dwindling Asian side that is still hopeful of success. Chandimal’s

appeal was set to take place on Friday.

Barring all the afflictions plaguing the Sri Lanka camp, the hosts will certainly be going for the kill, especially at Kensington, where they have recorded a number of match winners.

Pacers Miguel Cummins, Kemar Roach and captain Jason Holder; wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich, Shai Hope, Roston Chase and vice-captain Kraigg Brathwaite have all played match-winning innings in some way

Shane Dowrich

Kasun Rajitha

or fashion, which aided in their team’s success.

With the aforementioned players going home to Barbados, the Windies will definitely rely heavily on their Bajan-born players to deliver at home.

Also, with speedster Shannon Gabriel being in venomous form, bagging 13 wickets in the last game, another X-factor could be added to the equation.

In regard to batting, Windies will celebrate their entire batting order for the form shown in recent times; with batsmen such as Devon Smith, Kieran Powell, Kraigg Brathwaite and Shane Dowrich in particular managing half-centuries.

Although depleted, Sri Lanka is still a dangerous contender, and has proven that throughout the series. Their spearhead, Lahiru Kumara, has been rivalling Gabriel for pace and wick-

wicket-taking ability and extreme pace.

While not as hostile as Kumara, Lakmal has been consistently bagging wickets, and will add ideal support to his faster partner.

The Asian side would want more from their younger crop of players in mainly the in-form Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Roshen Silva, and Dananjaya DaSilva, all of whom showed glimpses of genius.

With Herath out of the spin department, off-spinner Akila Dananjaya could likely step up in his place, while fast-bowler Kasun Rajitha made a strong case in his debut Test, bagging five wickets overall.

Meanwhile, with Guyanese left-hander Shimron Hetmyer ruled out due to illness, his countryman and former Windies U-19 teammate Keemo Paul was recently named as his replacement for the final Test.

Saturday’s first ball in the historical test is expected to be delivered at 13:30h local time. (Clifton Ross)

ets, as he has been one of the Windies batsmen’s major concerns because of his

Hamilton fastest Wiltshire teams up with in France as Perez Sunflower Hotel to host loses wheel Domino Competition – R&F Wholesale Depot on board

M

M

ercedes driver Lewis Hamilton set a blistering pace in second practice at the French Grand Prix.

The world champion was a massive 0.704 seconds quicker than his closest rival, Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo.

Hamilton's title rival Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari was only fifth fastest, 1.150secs adrift of Hamilton.

The session included a 10-minute red flag period, caused when Sergio Perez's Force India lost a wheel, which potentially distorted the picture.

The team will investigate how the wheel became detached at around 170mph on the Mistral straight, violently pitching the car into and 180-degree spin.

The delay meant drivers made their qualifying simulation runs at different times, when the track conditions may have been differ-

ent.

Vettel, for example, set his time on the fastest ultra-soft tyres before the session was stopped, and Hamilton after.

But the race runs also suggested Mercedes had an advantage - Hamilton was about 0.5secs a lap on average faster than Raikkonen on their long runs on the ultra-soft tyres, with Ricciardo behind the Finn.

Neither Vettel nor Verstappen did comparable runs on the same tyre.

The French Grand Prix returns to the calendar for the first time in 10 years, and this is the first race at Paul Ricard in Provence since 1990, when Alain Prost won for Ferrari.

Hamilton heads into the weekend one point behind Vettel in the championship and with an upgraded Mercedes engine which contains both performance and reliability improvements.

The debut of the engine was originally scheduled for the last race in Canada only for Mercedes to postpone it at the last minute when reliability concerns emerged on the test bed.

Since then, Mercedes say they have been able to improve the specification again and it will run in the factory cars and customers Force India and Williams for the rest of the weekend - and presumably the next six races after that.

Vettel said: "Overall, it is not the most exciting track.

It is quite tricky here and there. There are some places technically that are quite demanding, the timing needs to be right.

"On one lap it looks like we are a little bit behind. It is understanding what the car needs and what I need to do with the car. I did not put good laps in on one lap so I am not too stressed. We should be fine tomorrow." (BBC Sport)

ark ‘Jumbie’ Wiltshire, in association with Sunflower Hotel & Bar of Charity, Essequibo, is hosting a 2-day domino competition which starts today and concludes the following day at the sponsor’s location in Essequibo.

According to a release from Wiltshire, the competition is open to all interested teams, and persons can contact Johnny on tele# 641-1131 or Wiltshire on 665-5855.

The release added that over $400,000 in prize monies and trophies will be up for grabs, with the winning team set to receive $200,000, runner-up $120,000, a n d 3rd p l a c e $60,000 along with trophies.

The Most Valuable Player of the final w i l l

R&F Wholesale Depot’s Amrita Singh (right) presenting the trophies to Jane Chase

be awarded $5,000, while entrance fee per team is $20,000, and this must be paid before commencement of play.

Starting time is 14:30hrs.

Meanwhile, R&F Wholesale Depot of Bourda

Market has been the latest entity to throw its support behind the tournament, following a presentation of trophies on Thursday at its location.

Staffer Amrita Singh presented the sponsorship to Organising Committee member Jane Chase in the presence of Wiltshire.

SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2018

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

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Windies looking to tie up series in historic day-night Test

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