Guyanatime 24 april 2018

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Guyana, India sign agreement for rebuilding Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Issue No. 3543

Criminal charges filed against 3 more Govt Ministers See stories on pages 3 and 12

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WHAT'S INSIDE: Despite economic woes

Guyanese enjoying the good life P10 – Amna Ally …claims PPP blinded by Govt’s “progress”

Plumber charged for shooting at Police P8

…over controversial D’Urban Park Project …Lawyer charges discrimination against Ashni Singh, Winston Brassington …as DPP halts charges for Volda Lawrence, George Norton ...DPP office compromised of independence, autonomy – PPP

2.1% growth rate

Guyana drifting on economic strategy – Jagdeo Page 7

– commends PSC for presenting economic recommendations

Essequibo Coast drinking spree ends in murder Page 9

…drunken uncle stabs nephew to death

PSC confirms Company prepares Govt plan to severance package implement VAT for workers …employees stand to receive little despite on exports Oldendorff Carriers' closure

Page 13

years of service – Union

Page 9

…says move ill-advised, counterproductive

Parking meters return

Public has until May P11 8 to raise objections

Plagiarism leads to postponement of Guyana P11 Magazine launch

Driver kills P17 10, injures 15 ploughing van into Toronto sidewalk crowd

City Hall financial woes

“City running on shoestring budget” – King ...as staff cuts are proposed

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Tuesday, April 24 – a night-time retraction at 01:00h and a day-time retraction at 11:30h-13:00h and Wednesday, April 25 – a night-time retraction at 02:00h and a daytime retraction at 12:30h-14:00h.

Criminal charges filed against 3 more Govt Ministers …over controversial D’Urban Park Project

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, April 24 –11:35h-13:05h and Wednesday, April 25 – 12:45h-14:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected to prevail. Partly cloudy skies will prevail in the evening. Temperatures will range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.49 metres.

High Tide: 12:03h reaching a maximum height of 2.24 metres.

Low Tide: 05:31h and 18:14h reaching minimum heights of 1.08 metres and 0.91 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, April 21, 2018

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Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

lose to one week after private criminal charges were filed against two Government Ministers, the Opposition on Monday moved to the courts to file charges against three other Ministers in the coalition Government in relation to the controversial D’Urban Park Project.

The private criminal charges were filed against Finance Minister Winston Jordan; Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and Public Service Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, as the Attorney and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Juan Edghill as an applicant.

The charges against the Ministers alleged 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 have been 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, has been 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.

The $1 billion project has been cloaked in secrecy and has been considered to be a highly corrupt deal. The public was kept in the dark over the source of financing and the process by which contractors were selected. But after months of intense pressure from the Opposition, a motion was eventually presented in the National Assembly which forced Government to present all facts about the project.

It was revealed that a special company was set up to manage the project by collecting donations from the public, both monetary and otherwise (materials and services).

At first, Government had pumped $400 million into the project and eventually more was pumped into it, taking the total expenditure to $1 billion.

Government had also moved to Parliament to seek $500 million in extra-budgetary spending to pay contractors it owed. But more contractors were still owed close to $200 million for works done at

D’Urban Park.

The move to file additional charges against Government Ministers comes on the heels of “misconduct in public office contrary to the common law” charges that were filed against former Health Minister, Dr George Norton and current Minister Volda Lawrence.

The duo was charged with regard to the sole sourcing of drugs for the Georgetown Public Hospital from ANSA McAL Trading Limited. The other issue pertains to the rental of a house in Sussex Street, Albouystown, Georgetown to be utilised as a drug bond at a cost of $12 million monthly.

The move to press private charges against sitting Government Ministers was described by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo as not being “tit for tat” as they were, according to him, a long time coming. Jagdeo had said “this is not the end, we’re not stopping at these two charges, there’re several others who will be charged”, as he addressed the charges filed against Dr Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington.

Jagdeo had asserted that if Government charges held merit, then the cases filed by the People’s Progressive Party

C

(PPP) would also hold that same weight. “… so if what Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington did, which is follow a Cabinet instruction, is misconducting in a public office… (They followed a Cabinet instruction, and did this…) then these (Ministers’ breaches) are a million times worse because they result in large amounts of money leaving our treasury and going into private people’s pockets, then this has to be misconduct in public office if those are the standards now… If these issues, the cases that we are filing don’t amount to misconduct in public office, nothing can in this country and so we will test it in the courts now.”

Summonses were issued

Public Service Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

for the three Ministers by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Monday.

The matters were adjourned to April 30, 2018.

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TUESDAY, April 24, 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

Importance of immunisation

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mmunisation is estimated to save between 2 and 3 million lives every year, yet too many people still do not have access to these life-saving tools. Globally, one child in seven children is excluded from the full benefits of vaccines, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). World Immunisation Week, celebrated from April 24th - 30th, aims to promote vaccines as a way to protect people against diseases. Immunisation saves millions of lives every year, and is one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions.

These observances, the WHO emphasises, aims to highlight the collective action needed to ensure that every person is protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.

This year’s theme: “Protected Together, #VaccinesWork”, encourages people at every level – from donors to the general public – to go further in their efforts to increase immunization coverage for the greater good.

It has been sixteen years since the beginning of Vaccination Week in the Americas, and 41 years since EPI (Immunisation Programme) started in Guyana. In her message on the occasion, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, proudly announced that Guyana’s vaccination coverage continues to be 90% and above for the under-5 population. She said, too, that for the last 30 years, Guyana has been free of several vaccine-preventable diseases, including poliomyelitis, diphtheria and yellow fever.

This year’s local theme, ‘Strengthen your defense, get vax’, she said, is appropriate since, for the past years, the Ministry has placed an ardent focus on Guyana’s borders and points of entry. As such, both active and passive surveillance systems have been strengthened to keep at bay the diseases that spate and have caused epidemics in our neighbouring countries of Brazil and Venezuela.

At the beginning of its immunisation programme, Guyana sought coverage primarily for its young children five years and under, from birth to their last dose; however, according to the Minister, during the last years, this programme has expanded across the life cycle to encompass pregnant women and the elderly. “Our focus has shifted to strengthening the defences of each member of the household as we provide coverage for our most-atrisk groups,” the Public Health Minister stated. She also underscored the fact that the coverage extends to the military and armed forces, teachers, health care workers, children, and adolescents.

Despite a coordinated effort to boost coverage rates over the past decade, the WHO states, 19.5 million infants still do not have access to vaccines that protect against life-threatening yet easily preventable diseases, such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and rotavirus.

According to WHO statistics, approximately 60% of these under-vaccinated children reside in only 10 countries (coloured pink): Angola, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa. Overall, GlobalData believes that a strong patient-provider relationship, coupled with public awareness campaigns that tout the benefits of vaccination while simultaneously debunking anti-vaccine beliefs, are essential to bridging these diverse coverage gaps across the developing and developed world.

In Guyana’s context, healthcare workers have been recognised for their tireless efforts in conducting community outreaches to meet the vaccination targets. In addition, the Public Health Ministry also congratulated parents for their role in ensuring that their children receive the appropriate vaccines that could ultimately save their lives.

The WHO and its partners hope to improve vaccination rates in the developing world through targets set by the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP). However, a 2017 status report revealed that progress toward achieving these goals by 2020 is behind schedule. The primary goal of this week’s global initiatives, therefore, is to increase vaccination coverage by raising awareness of the importance of immunisation among parents and caregivers, health care professionals, policy and decision-makers, and the media.

Dancers performing at State House on Monday during the Earth Day observance, which was organised by the Department of Environment. The event was held at the Baridi Benab at State House

Machinations to postpone elections

Dear Editor, Finally, it seems that the machinations to postpone the Local Government and General Elections are set in motion.

It must be recalled that after Dr Jagan wrote to US President George Bush in December 1989, pleading with him to support free and fair elections in Guyana, it actually took until October 5th 1992 before such an election can be held, nearly three years after. There was a drastic need to completely sanitize the voting system, since the entire voting machinery had become so geared in favour of rigging by the PNC. It is an undeniable fact that all the elections from 1968 -- 1973, 1980, and 1985 -- were massively rigged. The 1978 referendum was also massively rigged. Therefore, the entire voting system had to be revamped: from the Chairman of GECOM, to the Chief Elections Officer, to the voters’ lists, to the counting of votes at the places of poll, and so many other administrative and lo-

gistical issues had to be attended to before a free and fair election could be held.

Indeed, with strong support from the US Government, the Carter Center, the Electoral Assistance Bureau, the UNDP Development Agency, and of course a constitutionally elected GECOM Chairman and a host of local and regional bodies, a free and fair election held in October, 1992 rectified the ‘grave injustice’ that was meted to not only Dr Jagan, but the Guyanese people.

Now, after just three years in Government, and numerous alleged corrupt transactions which have now caused ‘government corruption’ to be highlighted in the United States Drugs Report to be the main source of money laundering, the PNC knows too well that it will never retain power in a free and fair election.

The economy is sinking, and the old PNC habits of spending recklessly and borrowing indiscriminately are back with a bang.

Therefore, with General Elections due in 2020 and LGE due December this year, the PNC needs to buy or borrow time to put its machinery in action, with the hope of using billions in oil dollars to finance it.

The PNC has so far been successful in unconstitutionally appointing the GECOM Chairman.

It has cut the GECOM Budgetary allocation by $1 billion, even though the Opposition strenuously argued against this, and now Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield says that more than that sum is required for house-to-house registration. On top of that, it will take at least a year to be done. The PPP has refused to play the PNC’s game from the inception.

The PPP had pointed out in October 2017 that the late appointment of the GECOM Chairman will have dire consequences for the timely holding of elections. The Opposition Chief Whip had reminded the Government that the GECOM Chairman plays several major roles, including signing the orders

to begin the next cycle of continuous registration and acquire new identification cards, hold a next round of house-to-house registration, to have preliminary and final voters lists or for Guyana to go to elections at the local, regional or national levels. Now the purpose of this delaying tactic is clear.

It must be recalled that Mr Ramjattan at that time had stated, “I would not countenance, at this stage, any circumstance for the delay of elections; and I would want to say that I would ensure, as Chairman of my party, that is in this partnership with APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) that we do have the elections in 2020.” So I do wonder if Mr Ramjattan still holds this view after APNU is now calling for house-to-house registration with the main purpose of postponing the elections.

In 1989 even, the late Desmond Hoyte had said that the errors in the voters list were “too many, too serious, and too pervasive”.

Continued on page 5

No proper health care in Mahaica Creek Dear Editor, World Health Day was observed on April 7th, 2018, and saw a number of celebrations being held across Guyana at a number of health facilities where residents were able to access free health care, which was indeed commendable.

The question is: are residents afforded this kind of service only on World Health Day? I am a resident of Mahaica Creek, an area where there is a health centre located in Biabu, part of Mahaica Creek. There

is no medical practitioner at that health care facility, nor is there any proper medication. If a resident is sick or there is an emergency health problem, one has to travel all the way to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital for treatment.

Sometimes transportation is not available right away (this is a riverine community) to take a patient to the hospital, and delaying medical treatment can cause more complications.

There are a few questions to be noted: if there is a facility, why is there no

Medex, doctor or community health worker designated to work there? Under the previous administration, doctors with long boots and coats traversed the area, using boat in setting up medical outreaches at least once a month, what happened to those times? The Government boasts so much about training medical personnel in so many fields, is there not one of them who can serve our community?

Will the facility become another ‘white elephant’?

The Ministry of Public Health has set out on a

mandate to provide all citizens of Guyana with universal healthcare. I would like to remind the minister that Mahaica Creek is a part of Guyana, and no exception should be made. This community is an agricultural one, and our produce is circulated across the length and breadth of this country, making us citizens who contribute to the development of this country; therefore, it is our right to be afforded proper health care.

Sincerely, Resident

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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

Despicable Kissoon instigating an insurrection against Jagdeo (Pt 1) Dear Editor, I have said repeatedly that the greatest obstacle to an APNU/AFC re-election bid in 2020 is the man who now holds the strategic positions of Leader of the Opposition and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo. The thought of running against this political maestro must be nerve-racking for the coalition leadership and the likes of Freddie Kissoon.

But before I deal with Freddie’s nightmare, I concur with Vishnu Bisram, in his letter published on March 9 in sections of the media, when he wrote that

Kissoon’s claim that he had no control over what was published in the letters column of the Kaieteur News does not hold water. I would venture further to say that Freddie Kissoon was being downright dishonest when he wrote in a letter stating, “I have no control over the publication and non-publication of letters. I have absolutely no authority at the Kaieteur News. I am its independent columnist. That is all I am.”

Well, perhaps that is all he is now, but just a few months earlier, Kissoon was the one editing all of the letters sent to Kaieteur News. During that peri-

od, all of my letters sent to that media house were given the axe. Not one was published. After making inquiries, I was told that Freddie Kissoon was “helping out” as KN was short of an editor to edit the high volume of letters. It was not until I called the Editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris, that a few of my letters were published, after being heavily edited.

One such letter was chopped in half, and made no sense at all.

Freddie Kissoon has a political agenda that’s as clear as daylight. He has an ongoing vendetta against the leadership of the PPP/C, whom he blames

Wake-up call for our people Dear Editor, The announced intention of the cessation of operations by Oldendorff was indeed saddening, and provides a stark reminder of how a situation between two countries could affect us. It must be seen as a wake-up call for our people to recognise the interconnected world we live in.

I was indeed happy to see that, within hours of the Oldendorff announcement, the Ministers of Natural Resources and Members of Parliament from Region #10 engaging the company on the way forward. The press

also reported that a ministerial team will meet with the workers of Oldendorff and Rusal in the coming days.

For me, it’s pleasing to recognise that Administration’s swift and prompt response to the situation in bauxite.

While the Government moves with great alacrity on the bauxite matter, a similar enthusiastic attitude has evaded it when it comes to the sugar workers, whom the Government, I might add, laid off. The rationale for this may be interesting. If the Government’s different treatment of the

sugar workers was politically influenced, then this is nothing more than patent discrimination. At the end of the day, whether they be sugar workers, bauxite workers, or whatever other workers, they are Guyanese, and the Government is there not to serve the interests of its supporters only, but is obligated to serve the interest of all Guyanese, irrespective of their political, ethnic, religious or whatever persuasion there may be.

Yours faithfully, Liebert Alleyne

Machinations to postpone...

Yet, despite all the work done, in 1992 we had a situation where the list was still not perfect, the Elections were held, and no one questioned the veracity of the results. It took 2 years, and still there were minor flaws.

In this case, there were numerous cycles of continuous registration being done all the time, and if there was a need for house-to-house registration, it should have been done by the timely appointment of the GECOM Chairman and the appropriate budgetary allocation. APNU did not see the need and cut the budget.

Moreover, there is an acceptable limit of error, and a few instances of fake IDs

should not be the reason for the postponement of the LGE and General Elections.

GECOM needs to clean up its act by ensuring that dishonest practices are weeded out.

The PPP has made it clear that it is willing to go to the polls with the voters list, as it is disallowing the PNC General Secretary’s call for house-to-house registration to sanitize the lists, and has exposed the intention of the PNC. The time to do that is long gone, and our elections should not be delayed. The LGE will confirm the abysmal failure of this Coalition Government, and they must not be allowed to hide this fact.

From page 4

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor, Region 6

for the loss of his job as a lecturer at UG, and the termination of his wife’s employment as a Government employee. He also blames the PPP for the fetus that someone threw in his face a few years ago.

Whatever Kissoon writes must therefore be viewed

in the context of his hatred for Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP/C; his shameless inability to tell the truth; and the skillful way he misrepresents the facts in an effort to give credibility to his columns.

To make matters worse, the AFC he campaigned for

in 2015 has turned out to be a major disappointment, and the APNU reminds him of the Burnham dictatorship.

Sincerely, Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

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By Marcia Morris, MD

H

ave you ever talked with your high school senior about mental health? In my experience, parents may discuss majors and housing, not major depression and anxiety. However, I encourage parents to talk about these issues because rates of mental health problems continue to soar on college campuses. According to the recently posted results of the American College Health Association fall 2017 survey, one of three college students have been diagnosed with or treated for a mental health disorder in the last year, one of five for anxiety and one of six for depression.

One of eight college students seriously considered suicide. Since 2011, rates of anxiety have doubled and rates of depression have risen by 50 per cent.

By talking about mental health, parents can reduce stigma and let children know it is okay to pursue treatment.

The earlier your college student seeks help for a mental health problem, the more quickly he or she will recover. As a psychiatrist providing clinical care to college students for over 20 years, I have seen too many young adults delay seeking treatment because they feel they have some kind of moral weakness rather than a biological and psychological condition that can be treated with lifestyle changes, therapy, and if needed, medication.

Here is what I recommend every parent tell their high school senior about mental health before they go to college.

Pressures – I am very proud of you as you prepare for your college journey and I know you will do a great job. I also want you to know that college students today can feel a great deal of academic, social, and financial pressure. If the pressure ever gets overwhelming, you can call me anytime, day or night.

Problems – If there is a problem you feel uncomfortable talking about with me, don’t hesitate to call another family member. I won’t be insulted – I just want you to get help. I support you talking with a therapist at the campus counselling centre if you need another sounding

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Foundation board.

Academics – I want you to do well in school, but not by sacrificing your health in the process. Regular sleep, exercise, and a healthy diet are necessary for good mental and physical health. I understand there might be times, like during midterms and finals, that you sleep less, but this should not happen on a regular basis.

If you find you don’t have time for good self-care, meet with a wellness or success coach on campus who can teach you how to manage your time better. You could also speak with your academic advisor about taking a more balanced course load.

Social connections – Meeting people and making friends can be more challenging in this age of social media when people might be communicating online rather than face to face.

Join one or two

clubs, talk with people in classes, go to your professor’s office hours, and make at least one or two good friends. Having strong social connections can improve your mental health, physical health, and GPA. Anxiety – Anxiety is the number one mental health problem on campus.

It’s normal to feel anxious about exams and meeting new people, but if your anxiety is so high that it is hard to sleep and concentrate, your heart sometimes races, you feel like it’s hard to catch your breath, and your stomach is always upset, I want you to talk with a therapist.

If therapy does not reduce your anxiety, you can also meet with a psychiatrist, who

may prescribe medication. Participate in activities to lower your anxiety like yoga, exercise, and meditation.

Depression – Sometimes students can feel sad and homesick during their first days of college. But if the sadness never leaves, it becomes harder to get to class, you stop spending time with friends, or you feel there is no hope that things will get better, I want you to call me and also see a therapist and/or psychiatrist.

Depression is highly treatable.

Alcohol – I know most college students drink alcohol, and I would prefer you didn’t drink. But if you do drink, I want you to be safe. Avoid binge drinking – four or more drinks for a woman and five or more for a man in one sitting. Heavy drinking in college is associated with worse academic performance, and of even more concern, can contribute to physical assault, sexual assault, injury, and death.

Drugs – Avoid drugs in college.

There is a great deal of controversy about risks and benefits of marijuana, but until there are more studies, I would prefer you not use it. Most marijuana now has a much higher THC content than it did 30 years ago, potentially causing more problems with anxiety and paranoia. Studies show regular marijuana use decreases motivation and GPAs in college students. As for other drugs on campus – cocaine, opioids, and LSD – these drugs put your life at risk and I never want you to try them.

Psychosis – While psychotic experiences occur far less frequently than anxiety and depression in the college years, there can be an increase in these experiences during young adulthood.

Psychosis means you have perceptual disturbances, like believing things that may not be real or hearing voices that are not there. If this happens, I don’t want you to be scared. But I do want you to let me know and also speak with a mental health professional to see if this is a temporary experience or a long-term mental health problem requiring treatment.

Resilience – During your college journey, you will experience many highs and a few lows. With your inner strength

and the strength of the many people you connect with, I know you will emerge with great knowledge, courage, and creativity.

These tips are not meant to be discussed at one time, but can be part of an ongoing dialogue about mental health between parent and child. These topics are bound to come up in the news or in a family, and you can ask your children what they already know. As you might imagine, I inundated my children – now in their early twenties – with mental health information before their college experience. Of course, I discussed many other topics related to school – including majors and housing. But mental health needs to be a priority. Even if your child never experiences a problem, a roommate or friend may. Your child can steer another student toward resources and recovery. The knowledge you share with your child could save a college career or even a life. (psychologytoday.com)

By Peter Badalament

I

magine that you have a fulltime job that requires you to be at the office for seven to 10 hours a day, and your boss tells that you that you will also need to work offsite on nights and weekends. After a few weeks, the after-hours projects are taking anywhere from five to 20 hours a week, and you find that you don’t have a free minute. Your job performance and your home life suffer – you’re only sleeping five hours a night, and you missed a family celebration.

Unfortunately, this is the only job you’re qualified for, so you can’t quit.

If you’re a high school student these days, this is your job.

After serving as a high school principal for a decade and a half, I became increasingly concerned at the net effect that homework was having on our students. After hundreds of conversations with students, teachers, and parents, I came to believe we were reaching a tipping point.

Students told me how little sleep they were getting, parents described how stressed out their kids were, and teachers commented on how they spent endless hours grading the very work they had assigned.

And the results from our 2014 Youth Risk Behaviour Survey were alarming: Sixty-one per cent of respondents reported experiencing “somewhat high” or “very high” levels of stress as a result of their academic workload.

Seventy per cent reported that they got seven hours of sleep or less each night.

In another survey we conducted on homework with all 1300 of our students, 51 per cent reported doing more than three hours of homework per night. This flies in the face of research showing that the benefits of homework diminish

after approximately 2.5 hours a night for high school students.

The Working Group on Homework With all of this in mind, I decided it was time to make the lives of our students better, so I formed the Working Group on Homework. I wanted to make sure that student voices informed everything we did. They were the ones experiencing the stress and the ones who had the first-hand knowledge of how difficult it was to do the work night after night.

I selected four students with very diverse academic profiles and backgrounds.

This diversity is critical. If you do something like this and only pick overachievers and student leaders, they may only tell you what they think you want to hear. One of our struggling students talked about the hopelessness he felt when multiple assignments “snowballed” behind him.

Another piece that was critical to successfully incorporating student voice was meeting with the students on their own prior to the first full group meeting. I knew that with many adults in the room, the students might be hesitant to fully share their experiences.

They needed to be coached, so I previewed the process for them, let them know who would be involved, and got them to outline the ideas they wanted to share. We even did some role-playing to practice what it would be like to make a point and how to respond to a follow-up question.

In addition to incorporating student voice, the best thing I did was to make it very clear to both the students and the faculty that there were no preordained conclusions going into the process. The goal was to determine simple steps we could take as a school to help bring the lives of students back into balance. (Excerpt from edutopia.org)

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TuesDAY, april 24, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2.1% growth rate

Guyana drifting on economic strategy – Jagdeo …commends PSC for presenting economic recommendations

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ith Guyana’s growth rate regressing, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has stepped up to the plate by compiling a report detailing several recommendations to put the country on a path to greater economic growth.

That PSC “Action plan for the sustainable development of Guyana” report was formally presented on Monday by representatives from several PSC member organisations to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who saluted the gesture. According to the former President, Guyana is presently adrift when it comes to economic strategies from the Government.

This renders the PSC’s input timely.

“I believe that we’re adrift now policy-wise, as a country. Predictability and clarity (of policy) are very important for the future and for investments. So, any role we can play in helping to create that environment, (we will play).”

He noted that he was happy that the Private Sector has taken “this bold step of trying to put things on paper, so then you’d have a specific response from Government about those measures”.

“Personally, I’m not hopeful that that would happen in the Government, due to the deficit of understanding of what makes an economy tick…,” he continued.

Jagdeo reminded that the PSC has played critical roles in the past to help previous Governments strategically plan their economic policies. He pointed to its role as job creators in an economy where recent reports indicate there was a large num-

PSC Vice Chairman Desmond Sears hands over the report to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

Also in photo is PSC Executive Director Elizabeth Alleyne

ber of the unemployed.

“I think it’s great that the Private Sector bodies of Guyana, they’re taking a leadership role in helping to define a future Guyana. We do have challenges now, and I think we have to work to overcome these challenges.

“Nevertheless, I remain optimistic.

The Private Sector is a critical stakeholder in wealth creation and by extension jobs and well-being. They must be listened to and be part of a process of contribution to the creation of that vision,” Jagdeo stated, adding that he and his team would take time to study the report before making comments on its contents.

Unemployment

An Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)funded quarterly Labour Force Survey done during the period July to September 2017 had revealed that the

unemployment rate for persons aged 15 and above was 12 per cent. In addition, the situation for women was found to be substantially worse than that for men.

The survey was done from a total population of 550,831 persons aged 15 years and above, with some 72.2 per cent living in urban areas. Given these figures, only 271,068 persons comprised the total employed population during the time of the quarterly survey – 166,873 males and 104,195 females. Urban workers totalled 188,774, while their rural counterparts numbered 82,294.

The labour force participation rate for all persons aged 15 and above is 56 per cent, roughly equal to the corresponding 2012 value of 55.7 per cent. All other data gathered were compared to information contained in the 2012 census.

According to the findings of the survey, unemployment among women was 15.3 per cent and among men

9.9 per cent. The youth unemployment rate among 15 to 24-year-olds was almost twice that of adults, with 21.6 per cent. Young women continued to face severe hardship, with 28 per cent of them being unemployed.

Meanwhile, the employment rate for persons aged 15 and above was 49.2 per cent, with 62.1 per cent being males and 36.9 per cent being females. It was noted that the percentage of employed people in time-related underemployment was 4.2 per cent, with 72.2 per cent of the underemployed based in urban areas. The survey also found that 28.4 per cent of the labour force is underutilised, while between 48.3 per cent and 52.6 per cent of the persons employed hold informal jobs.

“The percentage of male workers holding informal jobs is higher than that of fe-

male workers (57.6 per cent for males as against 44.6 per cent for females),” the survey detailed.

Further, it was found during the surveyed quarter that the average salary per month for employed workers is $82,636 while the figure decreases to $67,064 for self-employed workers.

Guyana’s unemployment rate is coupled with 2017’s growth rate of just 2.1 per cent. Previously, Government had said the economy was expected to grow by 2.9 per cent, failing to meet the revised growth projection of 3.1 per cent for 2017.

The initial projected growth of the economy was 3.8 per cent. This was, however, revised by midyear to 3.1 per cent after the economy only grew by 2.2 per cent

by July.

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tuesDAY, april 24, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS

Plumber charged for shooting at Police

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plumber and father of a fourmonth-old baby was on Monday charged with discharging a loaded firearm and hauled before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Twenty-five-year-old Keiron Hinds, of Lot 4 Smyth Street, Georgetown, denied that he fired gunshots at a Police Constable who was pursuing him.

The first charge stated that on April 16 at Fifth Street, Alberttown, Hinds had one Taurus pistol in his possession without being a licensed firearm holder.

He was also charged for having five rounds of ammunition in his possession on the same day at the same location.

It is also being alleged that on the same day at the same location, he discharged rounds in a public place.

According to Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore, the rounds were discharged in the direction of a Police Constable who was pursuing Hinds.

Keiron Hinds

The Police had reportedly received a 911 call informing them that someone matching Hinds’s description was firing gunshots on the seawall.

However, while at Alberttown on patrol, ranks saw Hinds, who started to run when he saw the Police vehicle.

According to the Prosecutor, Hinds was

pursued by Police Constable Holder, at whom he fired shots. Other ranks joined the chase when they noticed the defendant throwing something under a car.

After they managed to catch him, Hinds was taken back to the said location where the gun was discovered under a car.

However, Hinds’s Attorney denied that the gun belonged to his client. He noted that his client ran from the ranks when he noticed them because his father was allegedly killed by Police some years ago.

In his bail application, he told the court that it was the Police who discharged rounds at Hinds as he was running, but the bullets hit a motor car.

He further revealed that his client was beaten by the Police and was not able to get medical attention.

Magistrate Latchman remanded Hinds to prison. The case will continue on May 14, 2018.

Teen, vendor remanded for narco trafficking

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teenager who appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman on a narcotics charge was remanded to prison on Monday.

Eighteen-year-old Travis Dinero of Lot 18 Bel Air Village, Greater Georgetown, denied that on April 20 at Stone Avenue, Georgetown, he had 38 grams of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

He was represented by Attorney-at-Law James Bond.

Bond, in a bail application, told the court that his client was walking in the company of others and the narcotics which was found in a clump of bushes by ranks was falsely deemed as belonging to his client.

Travis Dinero

The Police Prosecutor revealed to the court that Dinero was found with the drugs in his pocket, and as such, he was arrested and taken to the Kitty Police Station, where he was later

charged for the offence.

He was remanded until May 7, 2018.

Meanwhile, in the same court, a Campbellville, Georgetown resident denied that on April 20, 2018, he

was found with 954 grams of cannabis in his possession.

Wayne Edwards, of Lot 56 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, denied the charge.

It is alleged that on April 20, 2018 in Campbellville, Edwards had the cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

His Attorney, George Thomas in his client’s bail application denied that the narcotic drug was found on his client, stating that it was found in a yard where some 30 persons live.

He noted that his client has no previous convictions or pending matters, but was gainfully self-employed as a grocery vendor.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore told the court that the 27-year-old man was seen by ranks with the drug in his possession which he attempted to hide. According to the Prosecutor, when the bag he had hidden was retrieved, the drug was found inside. As such, he was arrested and later charged.

Magistrate Latchman remanded Edwards to prison.

The case will continue on May 14, 2018.

Do fuh do…

A

…on criminal charges

fter futzing around with two years of throwing shade at the PPP, after the highly publicised “audits” were conducted by one Goolsarran, the PNC-led Government charged ex-Finance Minister Ashni Singh and ex-head of NICIL, Winston Brassington, with “criminal misconduct in a public official”. Your Eyewitness already weighed in on the ridiculousness of instituting an archaic, COMMON LAW criminal charge.

So, have no fear, he isn’t going to regale you again, dear reader, with the arcane technical minutia of that loose and imprecise medieval charge -- which has caused England to propose it be eliminated altogether for a statutory alternative.

‘Cause the PPP has come up with the identical charge against two sitting ministers of the PNC-led Government!!

Payback’s a bitch!!

Basil Williams, the foot-and-mouth-prone Attorney General, immediately erupted about the “ridiculousness” of this move. He knows he’s been checkmated. While maybe not having the pedigree of, say, the maxims of equity, our local principle of “do fuh do na obeah” does seem to be apropos!! Williams has all but demanded the constitutionally independent DPP file a nolle prosecui -not to prosecute – in the PPP charges.

But that’s exactly what the PPP wants!! The DPP would have to state on what “substantial grounds” she’s halting that prosecution – impreciseness of the common law charge? Availability of statutory alternatives?? Whatever!

-- and those are the very reasons the PPP can use to demand the charges against THEIR two officials be also dropped!! Our local expression, “what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander”, after all, is as English as you can get, and might very well be the basis of “Equity”, which puts a halt to the arbitrariness of the common law!!

But behind the gamesmanship of the PNC pandering to its gallery -- in which it raised great expectations -- is the serious matter of them once again putting pressure on the judicial system to do their dirty work. Back in the day, Burnham moved the Arnold Rampersaud case from Berbice to Georgetown for that reason. He was disappointed…and we believe once again he will be, from his residence at Seven Ponds.

While Williams thought he was clever to use the ambiguities and looseness of the common law charge to give the Judiciary wriggle room to convict the PPP’s exministers, they’ve now been placed in a double bind if they don’t apply the same “rules” to the PNC ministers.

And it matters not that the DPP might’ve interjected with a nolle prosecui – as Ramkarran SC predicted. Even Williams would know that this does not operate as an acquittal.

Lawrence and Norton can always be charged again by the PPP!!

…on People’s Power

Opposition Leader Jagdeo quite rightly raised the impropriety of Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan pronouncing conclusively that the CCJ WILL rule for his PNC-led Government on the “sovereignty of the people” case in front of the CCJ. Ramjattan, of course, could be whistling in the dark, because he’s scared sh*tless his nemesis Jagdeo might be running again!! That’s his and Nagamootoo’s worst nightmare.

He therefore deliberately obfuscates the issue in the case: that the “sovereignty of the people” is possibly infringed by the amendments restricting qualifications on running for the presidency. The term limit is only ONE such restriction. So Ramjattan can be excused for avoiding the “basic structure doctrine” our Supreme and Appellate Courts utilised to reach their decision.

But how can AG Williams actually claim “the doctrine does not apply to Guyana and any other CARICOM country that has a constitution that mirrors the Westminster model”? As your Eyewitness pointed out before, there are two such cases from Belize – Bowen (2009) and BCB (2011)!!

Have his octogenarian 5 Legal Advisers fallen asleep?

…and the IMF’s advisory

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

The Government-controlled Chronic bigged up the IMF’s new anti-corruption guidelines. Will they now highlight the same IMF’s criticism of the obscene terms of Trotman’s oil contract?

He who comes to equity must come with clean hands!

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

News

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TuesDAY, april 24, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PSC confirms Govt’s plan to Essequibo Coast implement VAT on exports drinking spree …says move ill-advised, counterproductive

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ust a few days after Finance Minister Winston Jordan denied that Government was seriously considering having zero rating of exports for Value Added Tax (VAT) purposes removed, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has come out confirming that such a move was intended and has expressed its deep dissatisfaction.

The PSC said it considered the decision by the Government and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) ill-advised and counterproductive to the interests of businesses and to the economy of the country.

“We wish to place on the public record our dissatisfaction over the decision by the Government to disallow exporters the right to reclaim the VAT paid on inputs used to produce goods and services to be exported from Guyana. Such refund claims were allowed since 2007 when the VAT was introduced,” the entity said on Monday.

While the Government, through Minister Jordan, has advised that the export of rice is an exempt item, that exempted goods and services are not considered taxable goods and services, and that the provisions of the VAT Act which provide for the zero-rating of exports do not apply, the PSC had a different opinion.

“We respectfully point out that it appears the Minister is misled on the chronology of amendments he has made to the VAT Tax Act since 2017 and on the specific provisions of the Act. Nevertheless, the Minister must be held responsible for the amendments which he piloted in the National Assembly,” the PSC said.

Jordan’s response was in relation to concerns raised by the President of the Guyana Rice Exporters and Millers Association, that the

PSC Chairman Eddie Boyer

action by the Government was negatively affecting the competitiveness of the rice exporters. His justification was that he consulted with the Commissioner General of the GRA. The Private Sector body strongly believes that the GRA is fusing two amendments, neither of which supports the interpretation and advice offered by the GRA to the Minister.

The PSC said the GRA is causing the Minister to reverse an undertaking given to the National Assembly in January

2018 that “none of these proposed amendments will negatively affect any individual or business”.

The first amendment, which became effective on February 1, 2017, resulted in a significant shift of items from the zero-rated list to the exempt list, the PSC stated. But, exports remained on the list of zero-rated items. The second amendment, which became effective on January 24,

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

2018, resulted in a deletion of guidance from the VAT Act on how to treat with an item appearing on both lists.

It was observed by the P S C that no change s were made t o the zero-rated list in respect of exports, but the

Minister and the GRA were advising that exports of goods and services listed in the exempt schedule were not zero-rated even if they were listed in the zero-rated schedule.

“The consequence of denying VAT refunds is that the exporter must either absorb the VAT, which can make their operations lossmaking, or seek to recover these losses by increasing prices for their exports of the goods and services, making them uncompetitive,” the PSC noted.

Speaking on behalf of other organisations such as the Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Guyana Rice Exporters and Millers Association, the PSC said while the margin in trade for their goods and services internationally was often small, it allowed local exporters the opportunity to offer competitive prices on the domestic market. “We, therefore, consider that should the Government proceed with this policy, the country, the economy, the exporters and consumers will suffer,” the statement from the PSC added.

The PSC maintained that Government should encourage the export of products to earn foreign exchange and to avert the Dutch Disease and the creation of a “onehorse economy” referring to the impending oil sector.

The new measure has the potential to negatively affect the following products: raw brown, white and parboiled rice; paddy; raw brown sugar; vegetable, corn or coconut cooking oil; fresh fruits and vegetables; plywood, logs and construction lumber; raw gold or diamonds; sanitary napkins; and bleach, among others.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has described the initiative as a misguided approach aimed only towards collecting more taxes. He said it could destroy the entire local export sector reducing its competitiveness; factories would have to close and more people could lose their jobs.

ends in murder …drunken uncle stabs nephew to death

Undertakers removing Naresh Ramdass’s body

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drinking spree among family members ended in murder at Bush Lot, Essequibo Coast on Monday.

Dead is Naresh Ramdass, a father of one of Fourth Street, Bush Lot, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Reports are Ramdass, along with his brother and uncle, was imbibing when an argument ensued.

Guyana Times was told that the trio usually imbibed together, and it has become a norm for them to fight in the process. However, on Monday, the fight ended with Ramdass’s death.

A relative told this newspaper that about midday on Monday, Ramdass was seen with a piece of wood in his

hand heading in the direction of the seawall, which is about 80 feet from his home with blood on his body. The Police were informed and responded promptly. However, by the time they arrived, Ramdass was dead and his uncle fled the scene. He was subsequently apprehended at a Police road block in Suddie.

Ramdass’s body was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital mortuary. Ramdass leaves to mourn his wife and daughter. Police are investigating.

(Mohanlall Seulall)

10 news

TuesDAY, april 24, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Despite economic woes

Guyanese enjoying the good life – Amna Ally …claims PPP blinded by Govt’s “progress”

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espite the regressing economic growth rate, the thousands of laid off sugar workers, and multiple challenges being faced by the private sector, such as taxes, the Government is contending that “people at all levels” are enjoying the good life.

Making this statement was Social Protection Minister Amna Ally. In her capacity as People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) Chairperson, she insisted in a statement on Monday that the Opposition Peoples Progressive Partywas in fact “blinded” by the coalition’s “progress.”

While her statement was ostensibly in response to concerns raised by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on carrying out new house-to-house registration for elections, Ally also boasted of the Government’s work in installing street lights and potable water, among others.

“Street lighting has given many the opportunit to light up their lives. Our interior locations can now boast of a new consciousness with the installation of radio stations, keeping them informed of current events.

Our aerodromes and airports, which are properly maintained add pride to our successes. Do not let me give you more examples. Guyana is better off under this gov-

government, is now making calls for a new houseto-house registration. After the completion of two cycles of continuous registration and two periods of claims and objections…This reluctance to engage in the process is as a result of the despondency precipitated from the economic hardships that the PNC government contin-

ue to stack on the backs of Guyanese” the PPP said.

Moreover, the party outlined in its release that house-to-house registration is a meticulous process that necessitates a protracted time period for its completion and accuracy.

Therefore, “having realized that its support is diminishing, this desper-

ate call for a new house-tohouse registration by the PNC three years hence can only be seen as a deliberate attempt to postpone or even derail Local Government Elections (LGE), scheduled for later this year, and General and Regional Elections constitutionally due in 2020? the PPP remarked.

Human rights in Guyana

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

PNC/R Chairperson, Social Protection Minister Amna Ally

ernment,” Ally said, claiming that the Government has no intention to delay Local Government Elections.

imated a once vibrant economy, but has made it virtually impossible for Guyanese, including their own supporters, to eke out a living after falsely promising a good life…

“Their failed economic policies have removed confidence from local and foreign investors, thereby compounding the woes of a now wary Guyanese populace.”

The PPP reminded that after the 2015 General and Regional Elections, it “called not only for new house-to-house registration by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), but for electronic voting utilizing enhanced biometrics with a paper- ballot trail which could be audited.”

“Having ignored our calls, the PNC, having completed almost three years in

Desperation

The PPP had said in a statement that recent calls by Ally for a new house-to-house registration ahead of this year’s Local Government Elections (LGE) were a desperate attempt to delay or postpone the elections.

According to the PPP, the call by Ally has nothing to do with the PPP, but more so to do with the PNC, since they “discovered the harsh reality that (their) supporters are not heeding their calls to register.”

The party attributed this to what it said is APNU/ AFC’s woefully inept management that “not only dec-

US report casts light on pre-trial detention – says rights of suspects not always respected

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US State Department report has raised questions about the rights authorities accord those in their custody, even as Guyana is moving towards reforming its security apparatus through the Citizen Security and Strengthening Programme (CSSP).

According to the recently released 2017 Human Rights Report, there were cases wherein authorities did not respect the rights of persons it detained, such as the right to prompt access to an Attorney-at-Law. “An arrest requires a warrant issued by a court official, unless an officer who witnesses a crime believes there is good cause to suspect a crime or a breach of the peace has been or will be committed. The law requires that a person arrested cannot be held for more than 72 hours unless brought before a court to be charged,” the

The report has raised questions on whether the rights of suspects are being trampled on

report states.

“Authorities generally observed this requirement. Bail was generally available, except in cases of capital offences and narcotics trafficking.

Although the law provides criminal detainees prompt access to a lawyer of their choice and to family members, authorities occasionally did not

fully respect these rights”, the report noted.

The report said the state provides legal counsel for those without the resources, but this is only in cases when such persons are charged with a capital offence. It acknowledged the existence of the Legal Aid Clinic, a non-governmental organization (NGO) which it noted provides legal counsel at a reduced fee in certain circumstances, which the clinic itself determines.

“Police routinely required permission from the senior investigating officer, who was seldom on the premises, before permitting counsel access to a client.

Pre-trial Detention

Lengthy pre-trial detention remained a problem, due primarily to judicial inefficiency, staff shortages, and cumbersome legal procedures”, the report said. turn to page 13

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tuesDAY, april 24, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Plagiarism leads to postponement of Guyana Magazine launch …National Library hosts World Copyright Day lecture

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he launch of the Guyana Annual Magazine for 2018 has been postponed on account of plagiarism and other violations in respect to the content of its literary pieces.

This was revealed by National Library Chairman Petamber Persaud, during a conference held on Monday in celebration of World Book and Copyright Day. “The launch of the 2018 issue of the Guyana Annual Magazine was pushed back to way down in May due mainly to two factors – plagiarism and unacknowledged sources of information. These surfaced from two competitions: the oil and gas essay [competition] and the journalism competition. Plagiarism and unacknowledged sources also showed up in poetry and short story,” he stated.

Persaud further stated that there was the need for the Magazine, which has been in existence for more than a century, to be precise

National Library Chairman Petamber Persaud

before it is revealed to the public.

“We, the custodians of that magazine, couldn’t go ahead and publish this Guyanese tradition, which is over 100 years old, because of the harm it may do to the consumer of that product,” he indicated.

The Chairman also gave a brief insight into the importance of World Copyright Day and the significant role it played in appreciating reading and encouraging creativity in the minds of

both readers and writers.

“The main aim of World Intellectual Property Day is to raise awareness in how patents, trademarks, copyright, etcetera, affect the daily lives and how it helps to promote creativity and innovation,” Persaud said.

Meanwhile, the lecture featured three presenters who gave their contributions so as to better understanding the term ‘copyright’. However, the main focus was placed on plagiarism, a common practice by most students when obtaining information.

Head of the Readers’ Services Division at the University of Guyana (UG), Clyden Harris, during her remarks, highlighted the ways in which plagiarism could occur and stressed that writers must establish originality and acknowledge their sources of information.

“You must make sure you do not create the misleading impression that the paraphrase wording or se-

Parking meters return

Public has until May 8 to raise objections

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he Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown has extended the stipulated 14day public scrutiny period for its amended parking meter by-laws by an additional 14 days expiring on May 8, according to Town Clerk Royston King.

King made the disclosure at Monday’s statutory meeting of the Council.

The Town Clerk told the Councillors that they have received a number of written comments as it relates to the amended by-laws hence the suggestion to have the public scrutiny deadline extended.

“We have been receiving written comments on those by-laws and in discussions you (Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen) asked to expand the time for public inspection and we had extended time to May 8, 2018; the last 14 days came to an end to April 19,” King said.

Currently, the amended by-laws are posted at the Agricola Post Office, General Post Office, East Ruimveldt Market, Albouystown Market, Bourda Market, Stabroek Market, Festival City Clinic, the Mayor’s Office, the Offices of the Town Clerk and Chief Constable, the City Treasurer’s Department and the Dorothy Bailey Health Centre.

The current set of amended by-laws was approved at an Extraordinary Statutory Meeting on April 4. Since then an oversight committee was established to supervise the proper functioning of the

controversial parking meter project. The committee has two Councillors, Noelle Chow-Chee and Akeem Peter, along with two members of the contractor, Smart City Solutions and an independent member.

After the by-laws have undergone their round of public scrutiny, the written comments along with the by-laws will be forwarded to Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan for his approval and then be published in the official gazette.

The parking meter project was initially launched in January of 2017, but received high levels of rejection and criticism from the public. The lop-sided contract was contested by drivers and even Councillors of the municipality; this led to the suspension of the by-laws by Central Government.

Following a renegotia-

tion, Smart City Solutions and the M&CC reached a new agreement under the controversial parking meter project, which would now see persons paying $150 per hour and $800 for eight hours of parking in the city. Meanwhile, residents of the city would be issued with a restricted residential pass for free parking from 17:00h-19:00h Monday to Friday while parking would be free on Saturdays.

During the renegotiation, the subject of share profit and contractual obligations were discussed and it was agreed to have them remain the same – 20/80 M&CC-SCS for a period of 20 years. It was also disclosed that in the event of arbitration, the proceedings would be held in Miami despite the jurisdiction being Guyana.

quence of ideas are entirely your own,” she said to the audience.

“Question and evaluate the ideas of other authors.

You also provide credibility for your work,” Harris added.

Additionally, Attorneyat-Law Teni Housty briefed the audience of primarily students on the determination which they should have within to produce original pieces, rather than to plagiarise works available on the Internet or by any author.

“There must be some sufficiency of application of skill and labour on your (the students’) part to produce a work that is recognised by copyright,” Housty stated.

Meanwhile, UG lecturer Mark Tumbridge while recognising the ways in which information could be obtained, explained that the Internet was one of the main distractions in today’s world since it was seen as the source for most copyright violations.

Linden Town Council gets 2 more compactor trucks

The 2 recently acquired compactor trucks

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he Mayor and Town Council of Linden (LM&TC) has secured two additional compactor trucks, which are expected to boost and strengthen its waste management capacity.

According to the LMTC, the purchase of the additional compactor trucks would be of great benefit in servicing Linden's eight constituencies on a regular basis.

The process of procuring and facilitating the trucks

had been executed under former Mayor, Carwyn Holland.

The LM&TC has struggled in the past with the issue of garbage collection and disposal, due to the lack of necessary equipment, funding, and a steadily malfunctioning compactor truck.

The additional trucks are expected to greatly assist in this regard.

The LMTC had placed the trucks on display at the opening of the Linden Town Week event on Sunday.

12 news

tuesDAY, april 24, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lawyer cites discrimination against Ashni Singh, Winston Brassington …as DPP discontinues criminal charges against Lawrence, Norton …DPP office compromised of independence, autonomy – PPP

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ollowing a decision

by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack to drop private criminal charges filed against two Government ministers, former Attorney General Anil Nandall has said it points to discrimination against two former PPP Government functionaries who are facing similar charges.

Hours after private criminal charges were filed against three more Government ministers on Monday by Nandlall, as the attorney representing Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Juan Edghill, the DPP announced discontinuance of the case filed on April 19, 2018 against Ministers Volda Lawrence and Dr George Norton.

The DPP said in a statement that these charges concern a grave issue under the criminal law in relation to two serving ministers. “In the interest of good governance in the State of Guyana, such allegations ought first to have been reported to the Guyana Police Force for an investigation to be launched and the advice of the DPP sought,” a statement from her office explained.

But Nandlall has said that, as far as he is aware, no one wrote requesting a review of the charges against Ministers Lawrence and Norton. “I am aware that at a press conference held on Saturday, the 21st day of April, 2018, Attorney General Basil Williams stated that ‘the Government expects’ the DPP to review the

Former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

private criminal charges filed against the ministers.

It is now apparent that, even without a request, the Government’s expectations were met,” he observed.

Nandall also recalled writing the DPP inviting a review of the charges filed against former Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and former head of the National Industrial & Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington, and to date he has not received any response.

While the DPP has noted that the charges with reference to the former and current health ministers were discontinued in the interest of good governance, Nandlall, the attorney representing Dr Singh, said there is nothing that confers a power on the DPP to be responsible for “good governance in the State of Guyana, especially in Article 187 of the Constitution, which sets out the functions of the DPP.

“You will note that the term ‘good governance’ appears nowhere in these functional responsibilities. This must be the first and only DPP office in the Englishspeaking Commonwealth that views itself as being responsible for ‘good governance’ within a State. In this regard, the DPP has clearly been influenced by extraneous and irrelevant considerations, (and) has acted ultra-vires and unconstitutionally by ascribing to her office functional responsibility with which it is not endowed,” he added.

The former minister also pointed out that the institution of private criminal charges has been part of the local criminal jurisprudence for over a century. He reminded that it was always initiated by a private individual without the involvement of the Police and the DPP, and that there is absolutely no known legal requirement that the allegation must first be reported to the Police and the advice of the DPP sought.

In fact, Nandlall argued that in many instances, it is the failure of the Guyana Police Force to act, or to act professionally, that led to the evolution and practice of private criminal charges.

“The position adopted by the DPP on this occasion will retard the advancement of our criminal jurisprudence, and stultify the right and freedom of the citizen to institute and prosecute a private criminal charge without the involvement of the State,” he opined.

Linden to benefit from solar agreement – Harmon

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon delivering the feature address at Linden Town Week 2018

T

he Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) community of Linden is set to benefit from projects under the International Solar Alliance (ISA) agreement recently signed by President David Granger, as Guyana forges ahead towards becoming a “solar State”.

This is according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who made the disclosure while delivering the feature address at the official opening ceremony of the Linden Town Week (LTW) 2018 event in the mining town on Sunday.

Harmon explained to residents and officials, who gathered for the occasion at the Linden-Georgetown minibus

park, that he had received such information and indication of the benefits for the town, adding that the community was “poised for better days”.

“I have some indication and I have some information which I have received and which I verily believe to be true that Linden will be the beneficiary of projects under the International Solar Alliance Agreement that was signed by His Excellency a few weeks ago in India. The solar footprint of Linden is one of your greatest assets and this is something that we have to explore, and you have to understand there’s a benefit for that,” the Minister indicated.

As such, he said the mining community’s mined-out areas which usually serve as demotivators should now be seen as a positive since they would allow for greater access to solar power and the recently-established ISA. “I have some indication as well, that these minedout areas can be, and there’s some conversations taking place now (that they can be), converted to green tourism and conservation facilities. I also have information which I verily believe to be true as well – that Conservation International and the World Wildlife Federation collaboratively will be looking at that...,” Minister Harmon told the gathering.

Last month, President Granger travelled to New Delhi, India where he attended and spoke at the ISA Founding Conference and Solar Summit. The Head of State reportedly referenced Guyana’s strategic equatorial location in the Tropic of Cancer, which places the country at an advantage of becoming a “solar State”. The President also alluded to the country’s transitioning to the use of solar energy.

the two ministers, but apparent refusal to do likewise in relation to Singh and Brassington’s charges, smacks of discrimination and inequality before the law,” he stated.

Nandall also feels the DPP’s latest action has strengthened Singh and Brassington’s intended challenge of their charges in the High Court; and he can only conclude that both Singh and Brassington have been discriminated against by the DPP. Former NICIL Head Winston Brassington

The Opposition MP also reminded that when Christopher Ram had instituted private criminal charges against former President Bharat Jagdeo, the matter was neither reported nor investigated by the Police. Yet the DPP did not consider it a part of ‘good governance’ to discontinue those charges.

“I feel the DPP’s discontinuance of the charges against

Independence, autonomy

The Opposition Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) also added its take on the discontinuance by the DPP of the private criminal charges filed against ministers. The party also acknowledged the DPP’s reluctance to do likewise, in relations to similar charges instituted against Dr Singh and Brassington.

The party believes this move “is a clear demonstration that the DPP has buckled under pressure exerted

by a Government that has caused criminal investigations to commence against her in relation to a plot of land allocated to her under the People’s Progressive Party Civic Administration.”

The PPP has described the DPP’s action as “comical”, given her explanation to drop the charges against the ministers on the basis of good governance. The party has said it questions whether the DPP is now saying that ordinary Guyanese cannot exercise their right to file private criminal charges against an official of the state.

The party is also alleging that the DPP office has willingly compromised its independence and autonomy.

“There is no doubt that we are rapidly descending into an authoritarian Police state, where independent constitutional bodies are being contaminated and pressured by this Government to relinquish their independence and constitutional responsibilities,” the party said.

City Hall’s financial woes

“City running on shoestring budget” – King ...as staff cuts are proposed

Town Clerk Royston King

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he average monthly revenue of City Hall is between $78 and 80 million, while its monthly wage bill is $112 million.

According to Town Clerk Royston King, who provided the above figures, the City is running on a “shoestring budget” and it is time for the Mayor and City Councillors (M&CC) to seriously consider revising the staffing structure.

During City Hall’s statutory meeting on Monday, King said: “It is becoming increasingly challenging for us to sustain current staff members and at the same time provide certain basic municipal services. I am recommending that the Council look at an approaches that will allow us to properly and carefully rationalise current staff.”

He noted that in addition to the municipality having an exorbitant wage bill, it is battling to settle its accounts with various agencies, such as the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL).

He said the administration is behind on payments to the National Insurance Scheme, the Guyana Revenue Authority, and employees

Credit Union, and is currently working with those agencies to determine a way forward.

He said the proposal at this time is for the M&CC to pay workers’ salaries while holding back on remitting the statutory deductions, but he explained that it is not the ideal step to take.

“We are managing this council on a shoestring budget, and at the end of the day, we are out of funds. We need monies to manage the council.

I am appealing to you, Your Worship, and the Council to look at new revenue earning avenues, since we are unable to (undertake) revaluation of properties so that we can have the kind of revenue we need to manage the city. We really need revenue to manage this city; I cannot over emphasize this,” King said.

He related that while the M&CC has to consider social implications, economic considerations ought to be looked at.

King said he had had to meet with President of the Guyana Labour Workers Union, Carvil Duncan, after Duncan had threatened industrial action over the administration’s inability to reach an agreement with the union.

“If people understand our circumstances and support us in this time of difficulty…. We have a situation where even the very people we are moving to support and help, we have to consider our economic circumstances. The fact is, if you are having a budget of $78-80 million and your wages bill is $112 million, then right away you see the only sensible approach is to downsize and re-engineer, if we are unable to generate more money,” he explained.

“Some of the very staff are

City Mayor, Patricia Chase Green

not sympathetic to our situation, to the point where when we are unable to pay on time, there are strikes and protests and we have to face all kinds of snide remarks. We have to have a very sensible approach; we are in April, and we are finding it difficult,” he added.

King said the municipality should immediately begin to put systems in place to address the situation.

Meanwhile, Mayor Patricia Chase-Green has said she is not in agreement with putting people on the breadline. She contends that the issue needs to be looked at holistically.

“I know it is an issue we have to look at. I don’t want to take ‘a top of the head’ decision. It has to be carefully thought out, and that is going to take some time. Let us thread cautiously. We know the constraints, but please appeal to the people to pay their taxes,” she said.

At an Extraordinary Statutory Meeting on November 14 last, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Oscar Clarke, had suggested that the municipality consider downsizing the staff number.

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tuesDAY, april 24, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Oldendorff Carriers’ closure

Company prepares severance packages for workers …employees stand to receive little despite years of service – Union

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s Oldendorff Carriers prepares to close its operations in Guyana, several plans are being made to work out severance packages for the close to 200 workers who are likely to lose their jobs.

This move comes as a result of the United States (US) sanctions against Russian Aluminium (Rusal). Oldendorff Carriers is a transshipment company that has operations both in Linden and Berbice.

The People’s United and General Workers Union (PU&GWU) said on Monday that it was in the process of submitting to the Natural Resources Ministry a proposed payment package for these workers.

The Union said during a meeting with Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman; Minister within the Ministry, Simona Broomes and Union representatives on Monday, a commitment was given by the Government representatives to support reasonable benefits for the Oldendorff workers.

Oldendorff had related that it would be closing its operations by June 5 if no major change had occurred in relation to the US sanctions. The Ministry informed that

Oldendorff operations at the mouth of the Berbice River (Oldendorff image)

Oldendorff has also declared its intention to pay the workers their severance, but the Union has expressed its concerns over these possible payments.

“The PU&GWU informed the Natural Resource Ministers that since acquiring legal status to represent Oldendorff workers in November of 2015, the company has failed to commit to a wages and salary agreement and has continued to impose same on workers,” it said.

The PU&GWU, therefore, informed the Ministry that the company had also taken two years be-

fore it recognised the Union as the workers’ representative. The Union had sought the support of the last Administration and the current, to hold Oldendorff responsible, but did not receive any.

“Our agreement spoke to possible closure of the business, where they would have been required to open an account to place workers’ payments before they left. The agreement also involved the company not being able to move any of its assets until workers were paid off,” it recalled.

However, without this collective agreement, the PU&GWU

said workers stood to get very little despite their years of service to a company that has been operating in Guyana for some 13 years. The severance pay legal requirements point to means minimal benefits which the Union believes is unacceptable.

Nevertheless, the PU&GWU said it would propose the package and the Ministry has promised its support, with the engagement of all parties. The Ministry also informed the Union that there were interested parties who were willing to replace Oldendorff. “The Union has opted to provide the Ministry with information regarding the workers as we advocate for them receiving first preference amongst these new companies.”

Another issue raised by the Union is the fact that after several years of operations in Guyana, the company has constantly recorded a loss. Both Ministers have committed to ensuring that that some measures were put in place to address these matters, since it was hard to believe that for the 13 years the company has been in Guyana, it has not managed to make any profit according to its financial records.

“In other countries, if after five years a company is making no

profit, operations are closed, but Oldendorff remained in Guyana.

Minister Trotman did promise to take this particular concern to Cabinet. The Ministry and Oldendorff have planned to meet with staffers in Berbice by the weekend,” the Union added.

Ever since the US sanctions against Russian business tycoon Oleg Deripaska, the main owner of the EN+ conglomerate — the co-owner of Rusal — began to sink in, the local operation in Guyana has significantly scaled back on its exportation of bauxite.

Rusal is one of the largest aluminium producers in the world, and has operations here in Guyana in the form of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), employing over 500 persons.

According to reports, the sanctions against Rusal have caused aluminium prices to surge, since the sanctions freeze all of the company’s assets under the US jurisdiction.

BCGI said recently that it has continuously been monitoring the situation. A senior management official at the company had said that since the news broke, there has not been any change to operations here.

Workers under 25 more vulnerable Sophia accident Pensioner died from fractured skull to accidents – Scott …calls for programmes to sensitise workers

Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott

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inister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott has stated that various surveys conducted by the ministry indicated that young persons who are under the age of 25 are more susceptible to injuries at the workplace.

This statement was made on Friday, when the Minister indicated that the key reason for this was the fact that these employees do not possess adequate experience, which would alert them to dangerous practices.

“Within the rim of occupation and employment of young workers – which we consider to between the ages of 15 to 24 – is the available statistics and it shows that that area of youth are more vulnerable. They are much more exposed than the mature counterparts to occu-

pational accidents and occupational diseases,” he said.

However, Minister Scott noted that measures must be put in place to prevent these accidents, and the safety of young employees must not be jeopardised, especially those who work in perilous environments.

“Attention must be paid to the health and safety of young workers who comprise a significant percentage of our population and our workforce,” the Minister stated.

“The report on our most recent population and housing census shows that youth constitutes almost 20 per cent of the population. By any standards, that is not a group which should be treated lightly. They comprise the future of our nation and must be nurtured and protected at all costs,” he added.

Additionally, Minister Scott has called for the establishment of formal programmes to educate employees on various practices which they should always follow when on the job.

Furthermore, experienced employees should be tasked with the responsibility to ensure that the younger persons are following company guidelines and regulations. This, he said, will reduce the number of workplace hazards and accidents from a general standpoint.

“There is need for policies and programmes [to be] put in place to educate, sensitise and protect them from the risk and dangers associated with work,” Scott insisted.

Recently, the management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) modified the company’s occupational outfits by incorporating reflective equipment. This is in light of the fact that employees expressed their disagreement with wearing the mandatory reflective safety vest.

Minister Scott, in his final remarks, stated that the attention being placed on workers’ safety should be amplified this month, since World Day for Safety and Health at work will be celebrated on April 28.

Additionally, the entire month of April is dedicated towards this observance.

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post-mortem examination has revealed that the pensioner who died on the spot on Friday last after a collision with a taxi on Dennis Street, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, died as a result of a fractured skull.

This was according to the dead man’s widow, Nandranie Kelawan, who during an interview with Guyana Times recollected the devastating moment she received the news of her husband’s demise. She noted that her husband, Mohan Ram, was on his way to cut bamboo for a relative when the accident occurred.

“He was at home then he say he going to pick bamboo and he left, so after I see a certain time and he ain’t come home, I called his sister and she say he left her long and I say but he ain't reach home yet. Anyhow, we think he stop somewhere before coming home,” the grieving woman recalled.

Dead: Mohan Ram Kelawan

Kelawan noted that her husband was well-known to villagers and would normally stop and talk with people around the area, so it did not come as a surprise when he did not return earlier than expected.

“My son and I was sitting in the yard when a boy

on a bicycle come in and tell he “you father just get knock down”, so we take a taxi and go out, but by the time we meet, he was already dead.

We couldn’t do anything to save him. He had a big buss at the back of his head and blood was everywhere,” she told this publication.

The 70-year-old security guard of Lot 725 Sixth Field, South Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, died following a collision with a car.

Police initially revealed that the motor car, HC 7724, and the pedal cyclist were proceeding along Dennis Street, Sophia when the now deceased man reportedly rode into the path of the motor car.

The pedal cyclist was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of the motor car was taken into custody, and was currently assisting with investigations.

US report casts light...

from page 10

“The average length of pre-trial detention was three years for those awaiting trial at a magistrate’s court or in the High Court.

This was often beyond the maximum possible sentence for the crime for which they were charged.”

Reform

The security reform project which began in 2007 was scrapped in 2009 after the British Government had requested to have oversight of the programme to ensure that there was ‘value for

money’.

The former Government had disagreed with the manner in which the British Government had wanted the programme to be run, claiming that Britain had sought to intrude upon Guyana’s sovereignty.

However, the British Government said the Government of Guyana had submitted a different proposal, one which had focused on Police modernisation rather than a holistic approach to reform. The intention was to build a workable

basis for improving national security while reducing crime in Guyana.

Government believes that, once implemented, Guyana’s security sector will be significantly strengthened, and hopefully, this would lend to reduction in the number of illicit activities that take place.

President David Granger has said, too, there is need for a stronger Police Force, one that is better equipped with all tools necessary to function adequately.

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tuesDAY, april 24, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Body of former Guyana, India sign agreement estate worker for rebuilding found in canal Indian Arrival Monument

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fter much controversy surrounding the construction of the Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra, East Coast Berbice and the embarrassing collapse last year of the structure being erected there, the Governments of Guyana and India have signed an agreement to help rebuild this monument which will be dedicated to Indian arrival in Guyana.

A high-level ministerial team headed by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman who was performing the functions of Foreign Affairs Minister, and inclusive of Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and Social Cohesion Minister Dr George Norton, visited the site at Palmyra on Sunday.

Minister Trotman revealed that a cooperation agreement signed between the two Governments will soon see commencement of reconstruction of the historic monument. This is according to the Department of Public Information, which said that a team from the Indian High Commission had also visited the site.

For its embarrassing collapse, the Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) Administration has blamed secrecy in the way the coalition Government had undertaken construction of the Indian

Dead: Sunil Mangra The current state of the monument

Arrival Monument. The base of the monument crumbled on April 26, 2017 in the wake of claims by some workers of their not being paid.

Prominent national artist Philbert Gajadhar, who along with Winslow Craig designed the Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra, also blamed the contractors for the collapse. Gajadhar had said

the design was not in keeping with what was originally agreed on during the initial phase of the project design.

During the visit to Palmyra, Patterson said a soil test showed the 17-ton erection was too heavy to lay on the swampland, which formerly was used as a cane field.

Turn to page 15

Driver’s theoretical test

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he lifeless body of a 23-year-old former estate worker was on Monday morning discovered floating in a trench at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.

The dead man has been identified as Sunil Mangra, of Lot 176 Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

According to information received, the body was found about 06:30h, and it is suspected that the young man

might have drowned.

Police stated that there were no marks of violence about the body when it was discovered. The now dead man had last been seen at his mother’s home on Saturday.

He was reportedly described as an alcoholic. A post-mortem is expected to be performed on Wednesday to determine the cause of death.

Rayan Carter

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Dead: Ishwar Ramanah

wenty-two-year-old Rayan Carter, accused of killing Kaneville machine operator Ishwar Ramanah, called “Jack”, in December 2017, was on Monday committed by City Magistrate Judy Latchman to stand trial in the High Court.

The magistrate told Carter a prima facie case has been made out against, but he informed the court that he had two witnesses to call to the stand to testify on his behalf.

His mother, Coretta King, and his mother-inlaw each gave their testimony, after which Magistrate Latchman told the accused that the evidence against him, as presented to the court, is sufficient to warrant his standing trial in the High Court.

Carter, of 12th Avenue Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for killing Ramanah, 30, called “Jack,” of Lot 624 Macaw Drive, Kaneville, East Bank Demerara during

the furtherance of a robbery.

Ramanah was injured after being shot to his abdomen when two armed bandits invaded his home just after midnight on December 13, 2017. He died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital on January 13, 2018.

In that robbery incident, the machine operator was attacked and relieved of a gold chain valued at $40,000 before the bandits made good their escape.

The injured man was taken for emergency attention at a medical facility, and had undergone surgery.

However, he succumbed to his injures one month after the incident.

The Police were able to recover a spent shell casing of a small calibre weapon at the crime scene.

Carter was subsequently arrested by ranks of “A” Division and placed on an Identification Parade, where he was positively identified as the man who had killed Ramanah during the home invasion.

Police expected to wrap up probe this week Machine operator to stand trial T in High Court he investigation into the massive irregularities unearthed in the learner driver’s theoretical test, written on April 12, and discovered on April 17, is expected to conclude this week.

This was confirmed on Monday by a senior rank close to the investigation, who told this newspaper that the investigations had been expected to conclude on Friday last, but more time was requested for the probe.

He also informed that no date has as yet been set for students to rewrite the examination.

The source said this is not the first time such an irregularity has been discovered. He said there was a similar case in one of the Policing Divisions, but declined to disclose which division. He would only say that in that particular case there were 20 extra examination scripts submitted. He noted that 80 persons were scheduled to sit the exam, 72 actually turned up to write the exam, but 92 scripts were submitted to the invigilators.

He informed that in that case also, the students were required to re-sit the exam. However, although all the

students were contacted to rewrite the examination, a mere 15 persons turned up.

A statement from the GPF has detailed that a report was lodged by a senior pastor -- the Force’s Chaplain -- to Commissioner of Police (ag) David Ramnarine and to an invigilator of the April 12 examination.

The allegation contained in that report is that 174 persons were registered to write the examination but 106 persons presented themselves to so do on the day in question; however, 207 scripts were received at conclusion of the examination, and 155 of 207 scripts were completed.”

Police say initial inquires reveal that a senior subordinate officer who

was mandated to oversee this theoretical examination, in collaboration with two Pastors from the COPS and Faith Community Network partnership with the GPF and along with three junior ranks, left the venue shortly after the examination commenced, and did not return.

Further, it was reported that a junior subordinate officer who ought not to have been at the examination venue presented himself, spent some time, and left subsequently.

“The three constables left the examination venue prior to the counting of the examination scripts by members of the COPS and Faith Community Network after the conclusion of the examination,” the Police report said.

This newspaper understands that only the two pastors of the COPS and Faith Community Network were left in possession of the completed examination papers.

According to the Police, preliminary inquiries revealed a complete breach of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) governing the administration and conduct of the learner driver’s theoretical examination.

Corentyne accident driver on $1M bail

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he man who was driving the car which crashed into a parked lorry, killing two persons on the Corentyne in Berbice last week, was on Monday placed on $1 million bail.

Navindra Premnauth, also known as Avinash, 25, of Lot 35 Grant 1802 Crabwood Creek, was placed on self-bail on one charge and $1 million bail on the second charge when he appeared before Whim Magistrate Charlyn Artiga.

The magistrate had initially suggested $2 million, bail on the charges, but defence Attorney Mursaline

Driver: Navindra Premnauth

Bacchus successfully advocated for the bail to be reduced to $1 million.

The charges Premnauth

face allege that on April 16 he drove motorcar HC 2217 in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of Khemnie Chanchal and Soorajine Surjraj.

As a condition of bail, Premnauth has to report to the Skeldon Police Station fortnightly, and has had to lodge his passport.

Both matters have been transferred to the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court, and will continue on May 23.

Reports are Surjraj, her mother and daughter were passengers in the car when the accident occurred.

The family was return-

ing from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) when the accident occurred.

Reports are that the driver of HC 2217 might have fallen asleep behind the wheel, resulting in him losing control of the vehicle and driving it into lorry GMM 9207 which was parked on the eastern side parapet of the Number 58 Village Public Road, Corentyne.

The body of Surjraj was cremated at the Number 66 Crematorium on Sunday, while Chanchal’s was cremated on Monday. (Andrew Carmichael)

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tuesDAY, april 24, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cabinet to consider proposed ban on plastic items – Harmon

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proposed plan that could affect a ban on the use of plastic items will be presented to Cabinet for its consideration; a move that is supported by the Department of Environment.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon made the disclosure on Monday while addressing the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Environment’s Earth Day celebrations at State House.

“We would have introduced to Cabinet a memorandum prepared by the Department of the Environment, which Cabinet will consider seriously. It’s a very solid piece of document, a very solid memorandum,” Harmon is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon speaking at the Earth Day observance which was organised by the Department of Environment and hosted at the Baridi Benab at State House

Minister Harmon, who also has responsibility for the environment, said he has already asked the Department of Environment to have the technical officers be present at that Cabinet session to properly explain the measures proposed.

The Department’s Head,

Ndibi Schwiers said the document was a simple draft that was seeking to reduce on a short-term basis, the importation of single-use plastic items. It is hoped that by 2020 there will be a complete ban on the product.

Earth Day 2018 is being

celebrated under the theme “end plastic pollution”. Data from the day’s proceeding showed that nearly two million single-use plastic bags are distributed worldwide every minute. One million plastic bottles are bought every minute around the world. That number is ex-

pected to top a trillion by the end of 2021.

One million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals are killed every year by the ingestion of plastics in the ocean.

According to Minister Harmon, plastic remains a useful material. However, it is also responsible for the degradation of the earth.

As part of the Government’s commitment to care for the earth and preserve its eco-systems, Minister Harmon said several measures have been implemented to curtail the use of plastic receptacles in Guyana.

In January of last year, the Administration had tabled and passed an amendment to the Customs Act, which stipulated that importers of plastic contain-

ers pay an environmental levy to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The levy was not a revenue collection initiative, but a measure to encourage the recycling and reduction of the use of plastics.

Speaking also at the event, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin said the use of plastic bags must be addressed with urgency.

“Guyana has a big problem with single-use plastic items and these needs to be addressed with urgency if Guyana is to become the green State that we all look forward to.”

Minister Gaskin observed that there needed to be a long-term solution to address the issue of plastic pollution in the country, so that “we can be green and clean again”.

Vaccination Week 2018 – Stakeholders trained for aiming for 100% coverage possible oil spills

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he Georgetown District officially launched its Vaccination Week activities, which place emphasis on the importance of vaccines and their effectiveness.

At the formal opening ceremony, District Medical Officer (ag) of Georgetown, Dr Dianele Drepaul pointed out that Guyanese must take advantage of this exercise since it can contribute to an overall coverage rate of 100 per cent.

Dr Drepaul added that “we still have a lot to do given the current situation in our neighbouring countries and with such porous borders that we have, we are quite susceptible to outbreaks. A parent who decides not to vaccinate their child runs the risk of that child becoming sick and also others who have not been vaccinated.”

The local launch was hosted at the Sophia Health Centre under the theme “Strengthen your defence” #GetVax #VaccineWorks. It is being observed concurrently with the regional launch in Havana, Cuba, while countries in the Americas will observe the week from April 23 to April 27.

Students of the Sophia Nursery and Primary Schools, along with pub-

Georgetown District Medical Officer (ag), Dr Dianele Drepaul

lic health representatives from various health centres in Georgetown, marched through the streets surrounding the health centre, kicking off the week’s observance.

It has been noted that vaccines guard the human body against 17 antigens which include Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR); Diphtheria, and yellow fever.

Vaccination Week facilitates protection of the population against vaccine-preventable diseases and national coverage is over 90 per cent for all antigens under one year.

According to Family and Community Health Specialist at the Pan American Health

Guyana, India sign...

It was revealed also that Guyana has agreed to utilize Indian expertise in engineering, architecture and sculpting for the completion of the project.

Trotman said the matter would be discussed at Cabinet soon. He said all relevant documents have already been sent to India, and are being examined by experts there.

Minister Patterson said the results of the soil tests and other requirements have been provided to the Government of India.

While the overall costs

Organisation (PAHO), Janice Woolford, Guyana’s vaccination package has expanded from one that caters to children, to a family immunisation programme. Vaccination Week is now being used as a platform to integrate other activities into the week’s schedule.

This is the 16th year the Health Ministry is collaborating with PAHO/World Health Organisation (WHO) to host Vaccination Week in Guyana. It is a PAHO/WHO initiative and is inspired by the FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Russia, hence the theme “Strengthen your defence”.

Since 2003, more than 720 million people of all ages have been vaccinated under the framework of this programme. “Vaccination Week in the Americas began in 2003 as part of a response to an epidemic outbreak which was between Venezuela and Colombia in 2002,” Woolford said.

The objectives of Vaccination Week are to advance equity and improve access to vaccination services, improve coverage, raise awareness on how vaccines work, and promote the transition from child to family health.

From page 14

associated with reconstruction of this monument are still to be finalised, the Government has said it is keen on having the monument completed soon, especially in light of previous issues experienced.

The Government has also said it hopes the monument could be completed in time for the first official visit to Guyana of India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, before the end of this year.

The initial project, costing $97 million, included construction of a base for a threeton monument depicting six

persons (four adults and two children). The six-foot structure depicting six bronze figures of three men, two women and a child illustrates Indians in their everyday life.

In March 2017, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, V Mahalingam, unveiled a signboard depicting the artist’s impression of the monument.

The base collapsed on April 25, 2017 as workers were sand filling the structure. A number of Government agencies have since distanced themselves from the project.

M

embers of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan Committee, first responders and department heads are among some 60 persons being exposed to training, to effectively and efficiently respond to both onshore and offshore oil spills.

The Incident Command Systems and Oil Spill Response three-day training workshop which is being held at the CDC’s Conference Room, Thomas Lands, is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Natural Resources, ExxonMobil and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

It seeks to improve the country’s national oil spill response capacity to ensure the well-organised development and deployment of systematic tools for command, control, and coordination of a multi-agency response to incidents. The course will provide the means to coordinate the efforts of individual agencies in their common goal toward the stabilisation of an incident and the protection of lives, property, and the environment.

The training session is a standardised, on-scene, all-hazards approach to incident management and allows responders to adopt an integrated organisational structure to match the complexities and demands of the incident while respecting agency and jurisdictional authorities.

At the opening ceremony today, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon noted that issues, such as oil spills, are a major concern for the government, given its emphasis on the creation and maintenance of a safe, healthy and sustainable environment within the context of its thrust of developing a green state and economy.

“We, therefore, look forward to the production of our first oil and the subsequent exploitation of this valuable resource, but we are equally,

if not more concerned about the preservation of our environment, the integrity of our coastline and the safety of our marine resources. Therefore, even as we place a greater emphasis on safety and prevention and mitigation of oil spills and its related consequences, we have to pay greater attention to these things not occurring,” Minister Harmon underscored.

The State Minister who also has responsibility for Disaster Risk Management explained that the exercise is part of the government’s partnership with ExxonMobil to create an enabling environment for persons to benefit from various forms of training relevant to the oil and gas sector.

He said that the administration is cognisant of the interest and in some cases unease that the citizenry has about of the consequences of a possible oil spill,’ as well as the potential dangers associated with the production of oil and gas. Minster Harmon, therefore, urged the agencies involved in the training exercise to keep the public fully informed of these and future similar activities.

The session provides the working conditions that will see the coordination of efforts to ensure all responders are utilising standardised terminology, interoperable technologies, organisational structure, and management techniques. This allows any responder to have a common expectation and understanding of how agencies and departments will organ-

ise when working together in response to an incident.

ExxonMobil’s Country Manager, Rod Henson said that the oil company was pleased to be a part of a training session that will help to strengthen Guyana’s national oil spill plan. “Those plans are evergreen, they always change and that’s normal and natural and we are happy to be a part of it and we are proud to help out this week,” Henson is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

According to the DirectorGeneral (ag), Civil Defense Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, the skill sets and best practices attained during these sessions will increase the knowledge pool of the members of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan Committee as they further the strategy.

Craig also reiterated that the exercise will strengthen the response capacity and preparedness of all the agencies and ministries which have a role in maintaining the Plan.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director of the Petroleum Department, Nicholas Chuck-A-Sang emphasised that the oil response is a national agenda that all government agencies must be exposed to.

The workshop is the first of two Incident Command Systems and Oil Spill Response courses scheduled for this week. The other event is slated for April 2628 at Splashmin’s Resort.

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, april 24, 2018

Regional

Mario Abdo Benítez wins Paraguay’s presidential election

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ormer Conservative Senator Mario Abdo Benítez has been elected President of Paraguay.

He beat his closest rival, Efraín Alegre from the liberal Opposition alliance, by four percentage points.

The result means the right-wing Colorado Party, which has dominated Paraguayan politics for decades, will maintain its hold on power.

Abdo Benítez, 46, has promised to retain low tax policies and boost agricultural exports.

With almost all of the ballots counted, he had won 46.46 per cent of the vote compared to 42.73 per cent for Alegre.

"My administration will be committed to gaining the confidence of those who did not accompany us," he said in his acceptance speech on Sunday night. "[We] welcome those who want to build a just homeland, a homeland with equity, a homeland with moral,

Mario Abdo Benítez won by a smaller margin than predicted

strong, independent institutions."

Alegre has not yet conceded victory, but he told reporters that he "respects" the preliminary results.

Abdo Benítez is the son of a close aide to former military dictator General Alfredo Stroessner, and has faced criticism for defending the former leader's record.

General Stroessner ruled the country from 1954 to 1989 and is viewed by critics as one of Latin America's most secretive and sinister dictators.

Paraguayans also voted to elect senators, parliament deputies, governors and other local officeholders on Sunday.

Outgoing President Horacio Cartes, who triggered riots last year when he tried to change the Constitution to allow him to seek a second term, won a seat in the Senate.

The current constitution, established in 1992 after the dictatorship, limits the Head of State to a single five-year term. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Jamaica earmarks $$$M to strengthen National Air Quality Programme

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he Government will be spending J$9 million this year to strengthen the National Air Quality Management Programme.

The money will be used to, among other things, expand Jamaica's monitoring regime and build technical capacity to further bolster and enhance procedures, protocols, and standards.

This was disclosed by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Daryl Vaz, in a speech read

by Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Lieutenant t Colonel Oral Khan,

during the opening ceremony for a five-day ambient air quality workshop at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, on Monday.

Vaz said despite several achievements with respect to the Programme's implementation, a number of areas remain to be addressed.

These, he pointed out, include: expanding the monitoring network to incorporate regions outside the Kingston Metropolitan Area, Montego Bay, May Pen, Spanish Town and Mandeville; expanding the number of pollutants being monitored to include gas-

eous substances (currently only particulate matter is monitored); and developing the capacity to conduct elemental speciation.

Other areas, the Minister said, include: publishing an Air Quality Index which provides daily information to the public on air quality in their respective areas as also precautionary measures for personal protection; implementing strategies to reduce pollutants being emitted by various sources, including a licensing and monitoring regime; and establishing air-sheds to limit emissions in specific areas. (Excerpt from JIS)

Nicaragua riots: Relatives of US Embassy staff told to leave

The protests have turned increasingly violent during the past five days

T

he State Department has ordered relatives of US Government employees based in Nicaragua to leave the Central American country.

Services at the US Embassy in the capital in Managua will be curtailed.

The order comes after days of deadly rioting triggered by planned changes to Nicaragua's social securi-

ty system.

Even though Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega had scrapped the changes, the situation remains tense and more protests are expected.

The State Department also said it would authorise US Government personnel to leave Nicaragua, but that those decisions would have to be taken on a case-by-bycase basis.

In a statement, it warned that "political rallies and demonstrations are occurring daily, often with little notice or predictability".

"Some protests result in injuries and deaths," it says, adding that buying food and fuel could become a challenge and access to the airport in Managua could be blocked.

A human rights group says at least 27 people have been killed in total as a result of the unrest, more than double the official death toll of 10.

The unrest first started on Wednesday when hundreds of people, mainly pensioners, took to the streets of the capital, Managua, to protest against changes to the country's social security system. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Arrested Chevron workers could face treason charge in Venezuela – sources

T

wo Chevron Corp employees detained in Venezuela last week could be charged with treason for refusing to sign a parts contract for a joint venture with State-owned oil company PDVSA, according to two sources familiar with draft charges against the US firm’s executives.

The arrests, by national intelligence agents, marked the first at a Western oil firm in Venezuela and represent a dramatic escalation of growing tensions between PDVSA and foreign companies over control of supply contracts, the sources told Reuters.

The widening dispute could worsen operation-

al chaos that has caused the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) nation oil output to plunge by 23 per cent, or 450,000 barrels per day, since October.

“These detentions are going to accelerate the operational crisis,” another source with knowledge of Chevron’s operations told Reuters. “Procurement could end up in paralysis if nobody wants to take the risk of signing or authorising anything.”

The draft treason charges – seen by Chevron lawyers last week, the two sources said – raised concern that the oil major could get caught in the crossfire between Washington

and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who accuses the US Government of sabotaging the economy to topple his administration. The United States has imposed sanctions on senior members of Maduro’s Government and PDVSA. The two Chevron employees were jailed when they refused to sign a supply contract written by PDVSA executives under an emergency decree – which skips the competitive bidding process, according to a half dozen sources close to the case. Such decrees have been cited by Venezuela prosecutors as a means of extracting bribes in some recent PDVSA corruption cases. (Excerpt from Reuters)

laws of Trinidad and Tobago and will take the necessary steps to ensure repatriation.

“To this end, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of Venezuela have been engaged in discussions to reduce the length of detention for those Venezuelan nationals in breach of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago and to repatriate them to their homeland as soon as practicable,” the Ministry of National Security said in a

statement.

At least 82 Venezuelan nationals, including 29 women, were deported to their homeland last Saturday and the Ministry of National Security said the Venezuelans “were voluntarily repatriated…to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela with the assistance of the Ambassador of Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago, Her Excellency Coromoto Godoy”. (Excerpt from

T&T Govt says no Venezuelans were forced to leave

T

he Trinidad and Tobago Government, in responding to claims that Venezuelan asylum seekers were forcibly repatriated to their homeland, says no Venezuelans were compelled or coerced into leaving the country last Saturday.

The Ministry of National Security of the twin-island republic, in a statement issued after the United Nations expressed concern that a number of Venezuelans asylum seekers may have been deported, said it respects the rights of any person to seek asylum in the country as well as the decision of any foreign national to voluntarily return to their country of nationality.

“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago also has a right to repatriate any foreign national who is found to be in breach of the

CMC)

Canadian lynched in Peru as locals accuse him of murder

O

fficials in Peru are investigating the lynching of a Canadian man in the remote Amazon region of Peru.

Police found the body of Sebastian Woodroffe, 41, on Saturday buried near where an Indigenous spiritual healer had been killed days previously.

Investigators say locals suspected Woodroffe of the murder of 81-year-old Olivia Arévalo, who was shot dead on Thursday.

Officials said they would not rest until both murders had been solved.

Woodroffe was a Canadian citizen from the town of Courtenay on the east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

Canadian broadcaster CBC quoted a friend of Woodroffe as saying that the 41-year-old had travelled to Peru on a number of oc-

Sebastian Woodroffe went to Peru to learn from Indigenous plant healers, a friend said

casions to experiment with ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic drug.

Yarrow Willard described Woodroffe as a gentle person on a journey to find enlightenment and “deeper meaning”.

According to Canadian news portal Canoe.com, Woodroffe went to the Ucayali region in Peru’s rain-

forest hoping to do an apprenticeship with a plant healer from the Shipibo Indigenous group.

“I feel responsible trying to support this culture and retain some of their treasure in me and my family, and share it with those that wish to learn,” Woodroffe wrote on a fundraising site.

His goal was to change careers to become an addiction counsellor using hallucinogenic medicine.

A family member’s struggle with alcoholism inspired Woodroffe’s decision to help “fix the family spirit”, he said in a 2013 YouTube video.

Police launched a search for the Canadian after a video emerged on social media showing a man identified

by Peruvian prosecutors as Woodroffe lying in a puddle groaning while another man puts a rope around his neck and drags him along. (Excerpt from BBC News)

TUESDAY, april 24, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Driver kills 10, injures 15 ploughing Suspected Waffle House van into Toronto sidewalk crowd gunman arrested in

A

driver deliberately ploughed his white Ryder rental van into a lunch-hour crowd in Toronto on Monday, killing 10 people and injuring 15 along a roughly mile-long (1.6-km) stretch of sidewalk thronged with pedestrians, Police said.

The incident – which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a “tragic and senseless attack” – was one of the most violent in recent Canadian history.

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders identified the suspect as Alek Minassian, 25, who he said had not previously been known to authorities.

“The actions definitely looked deliberate,” he told a late-night news conference close to the site of the incident in the northern section of Canada’s biggest city, noting the van had been driven

Nashville after killing 4

A The vehicle fled the scene after the incident at a busy intersection in the north of the Canadian city, Police say

along sidewalks.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp, citing Government officials, said Minassian was not associated with any organised militant group.

Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, standing next to Saunders,

said: “There would appear to be no national security connections.”

The driver steered his vehicle toward people just before 13:30h. (1730 GMT). A Reuters witness saw at least two tarp-covered bodies at the site of the incident.

The CBC aired a video it

said was shot by a bystander that showed police arresting a suspect at the scene as he shouted: “Kill me” and pointed an unidentified object at an officer. The video later showed what appeared to be the same man lying down, being handcuffed. (Excerpt from Reuters)

man suspected of killing four people at a Waffle House in Tennessee has been arrested by Police in Nashville.

Police said Travis Reinking, 29, was caught in a wooded area. He allegedly opened fire at the restaurant on Sunday with an AR-15 rifle, before discarding his coat and fleeing naked.

A customer, James Shaw Jr, prevented further bloodshed by wresting the rifle out of the suspect's hands.

Police photos showed Reinking with a ripped shirt and scratches on his body.

He was found with a handgun and ammunition in his backpack when he

was detained, Police said.

He requested a lawyer and refused to answer questions.

Investigators have not established any motive for the shooting. "We don't know why he went into the Waffle House," spokesman Don Aaron told reporters.

About 160 law enforcement officials were involved in the search for the Reinking, who was added to the list of the top ten most-wanted fugitives in the state.

Nashville Mayor David Briley said a tip from a member of the community led to Reinking's arrest.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

US soldier gets world's 1st Royal baby: Duke and penis and scrotum transplant Duchess show off new son

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team of US doctors has successfully carried out the world's first total transplant of a penis and scrotum.

Surgeons at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, performed the operation on a soldier who had been wounded by a bomb in

Afghanistan.

They used a penis, scrotum and partial abdominal wall transplanted from a deceased donor.

They say the soldier should be able to regain sexual function, which is impossible with penis reconstructions.

The team of 11 surgeons performed the transplant

over 14 hours on March 26.

It is the first surgery on a combat veteran injured on duty and the first to transplant a complete section of tissue including the scrotum and surrounding abdominal area.

Doctors said the donor testicles were not transplanted, due to ethical considerations. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Armenia’s Opposition Leader demands snap election after PM resigns

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rmenia's Opposition Leader has demanded a snap parliamentary election in the wake of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan's resignation over widespread anti-Government demonstrations.

Nikol Pashinyan told a rally on Monday in Armenia's capital, Yerevan, he was "ready to discuss conditions of Sargsyan's resignation and transfer of power".

"The National Assembly shall be entitled to nominate candidates for Prime Minister within a week. Until then, an interim government will be formed, after that snap extraordinary parliamentary elections are needed," Pashinyan said,

Serzh Sargsyan was appointed Prime Minister after serving 10 years as President [File/Dmitry Lovetsky/ AP]

according to Armenian website NEWS.am.

Sargsyan resigned earlier on Monday following days of protests in Yerevan against his government, which critics accuse of corruption and authoritarian rule.

Thousands of anti-Government protesters have taken to the streets since demonstrations began on April 13.

Sargsyan said he would adhere to the demands of the protesters and step down. "[Opposition leader] Nikol Pashinyan was right. I was wrong. This situation requires solutions, but I won't participate in them. I leave the post of this country's Prime Minister," a statement on Sargsyan's website said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Aide to Baroness Scotland forced out after he criticised Commonwealth spending

B

aroness Scotland of Asthal, the Commonwealth Secretary General, oversaw “wholly inappropriate” public attacks on a senior aide she blamed for leaks about her behaviour and spending, a tribunal has said.

The former Labour Attorney General was criticised by a panel, which ruled that a former senior civil servant at the Commonwealth Secretariat was unlawfully forced out of his job.

Ram Venuprasad, 45, is entitled to damages that could be in the tens of thousands of pounds after Lady Scotland

was found to have unfairly disciplined him over the leaks, which he has always denied responsibility for.

Venuprasad’s lawyers said that he had been “marked out” by Lady Scotland after he raised concerns over her decision to spend £50,000 on a garden party shortly after she had taken office.

The disciplinary processes used against him were “seriously flawed”, the tribunal found.

Lady Scotland, 62, has been criticised since she took the top job at the Commonwealth for her spending on decorating the

organisation’s headquarters in St James’s, central London.

The ruling from a specially convened tribunal held at the headquarters, in Marlborough House, came hours after the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting concluded last week.

Venuprasad, who joined the Secretariat in 2001, was the deputy head of office under Lady Scotland.

The tribunal heard that relations between the two deteriorated quickly after his appointment in April 2016.

(Excerpt from The Times)

T

he Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have left hospital after the arrival of their third child, a boy.

The couple’s second son, who was born at 11:01 BST, weighing 8lb 7oz, is fifth in line to the throne.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte had visited their brother at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, London.

Leaving the hospital, Prince William said the couple were very happy, before holding up three fingers and joking he had “thrice the worry now”.

“We didn’t keep you waiting too long this time,” he added.

When someone asked

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge emerge from St Mary’s in London with their newborn prince

him whether the couple had decided on a name, he said: “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Minutes earlier, Prince William and Catherine had come out of the hospital briefly to greet the crowds

with their new son.

They then returned inside to put their newborn son in his car seat before driving away towards their home Kensington Palace. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Former President Bush in ICU following wife’s funeral

F

ormer President George HW Bush was admitted to a Houston hospital Sunday after contracting an infection, according to a statement from his office Monday evening. The 41st President of the United States is 93 years old.

“President Bush was

admitted to the Houston Methodist Hospital yesterday after contracting an infection that spread to his blood,” the statement read.

“He is responding to treatments and appears to be recovering. We will issue additional updates as events warrant.”

His wife, former First

Lady Barbara Bush, was buried Saturday. Barbara died Tuesday at her Houston home. She was 92.

Former Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, George W Bush and their spouses attended the ceremony along with current First Lady Melania Trump.

(Excerpt from CBS News)

South African women win Goldman prize for stopping nuclear deal

T

wo South African women who successfully challenged a secret, multibillion-dollar nuclear deal have won a major environmental prize.

Makoma Lekalakala and Liz McDaid led a five-year court battle against South Africa's plans to build nuclear power plants with Russia.

South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma had reached an agreement with

Russia's leader Vladimir Putin in 2014.

It was worth an estimated US$76 billion.

The US and South Korea had signed co-deals, in 2009 and 2010 respectively, to be involved with the project.

But last year a high court ruled the plan was unlawful and unconstitutional, agreeing with Lekalakala and McDaid's claims that it had been arranged with-

out proper consultation with Parliament.

The BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says the nuclear plans were met with huge criticism and calls for protests in some quarters, not least because finance officials, including then Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene, insisted that South Africa could not afford the ambitious project. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, april 24, 2018

ARCHIE

Sign up for something you would like to do, but first take (March 21care of your responsibilities April 19) to avoid backlash from someone who depends on you.

ARIES

Take care of your responTAURUS sibilities and refuse to let (April 20- anyone talk you into spendMay 20) ing money on something you don’t need. Avoid someone using emotional manipulation to try to get his or her way.

dilbert

Initiate the changes that GEMINI (May 21- will make your home life betJune 20) ter. An opportunity will come from an unexpected source.

Instigate a move that is long overdue, and don’t look back.

Refuse to let anyone force unwanted change on you.

(June 21- Walk away and proceed to do July 22) your own thing rather than go through the motions to appease someone you don’t agree with.

CANCER

Peanuts

Prepare to make a change.

LEO An offer will be too enticing to (July 23- pass up, but also worrisome Aug. 22) due to what other people will think or feel about your choice. Diplomacy will be required.

Calvin and Hobbes

The changes others make VIRGO or the temptation that is dan(Aug. 23gled in front of you should Sept. 22) not entice you. You are better off observing, gaining experience, and doing your own thing.

Refuse to let your emoLIBRA (Sept. 23- tions get you into trouble.

Oct. 23) When it comes to important decisions, a practical approach will far exceed an unpredictable move. Protect your assets and reputation.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — CONFERS (CONFERS: kun-FURS: Bestows.)

SUDOKU

You’ll have to take betSAGITTARIUS ter care of your health and (Nov. 23emotional welfare. Someone Dec. 21) will take advantage of you if you show your vulnerability. Concentrate on finishing what you start.

Average mark 18 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 24 or more words in CONFERS? The list will be published Monday.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY’S WORD — NOMADIC nomad maid main manic mano mica mind moan monad acid amid

anodic anomic damn danio domain icon camion coda coin coma

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

Spend some time with SCORPIO colleagues participating in (Oct. 24some relaxing or enjoyable Nov. 22) activities. Having fun with the people you work with will make your job less tedious.

solution AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

A change someone makes will entice you to follow suit.

Don’t get involved in a risky venture that you know little about. Moderation should be implemented. Offer mental support, nothing more.

Concentrate on what you can accomplish and work alongside like-minded people. Your success will be determined by what you do and who you align yourself with.

An unexpected change at work or with one of your peers will cause anxiety.

Don’t feel threatened by what’s going on. Do your best and finish what you start.

tuesDAY, april 24, 2018

19

Varona-Thomas crowned Female Chess Champion W

hen the curtains came down on a busy chess weekend, FIDE Master (WFM) Maria Varona-Thomas found herself being crowned best female Chess player in the nation.

Guyana's Female National Chess Championships were hosted by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) over the course of Saturday and Sunday. They were the first competition of this kind to be held in Guyana. With a total of seven participants, the competition was orga-

nized not only to crown a champion, but to identify a five-member team to represent Guyana at the World Chess Championships.

Despite the small number of participants, the competition saw an exhibition of riveting chess action by the females. Known for her creative and aggressive style of play, (WFM) VaronaThomas played undefeated, obtaining 5.5 points from her maximum 6 games.

Having learnt to play under the highly recognized Cuban Chess Programmes, VaronaThomas was the favourite

F

Maria Varona-Thomas

fourth spot w i t h 3 . 5 points. Prestigious lawyer, Chess Arbiter and FIDE Development Instructor, Ms. Yolander Persaud, took 5th position with 3 points from her 6 games.

On the male side of things, Anthony Drayton is expertly positioned to take the Georgetown Chess Classics crown, being 1.5 points ahead of the closest opponent. The final round of that competition is slated for Wednesday evening at the National Racquet Center conference room.

“It was a close one,” says Team Mohamed’s driver

FIFA set to meet over US$25B offer to launch 2 tournaments Gianni Infantino was elected President of Fifa in February 2016

IFA is planning to hold a special meeting next month at which two lucrative tournaments could be given the go-ahead.

Football's world governing body is said to have held "promising" consultations in recent weeks with regional confederations, individual football associations and leading clubs over the creation of a revamped Club World Cup and a new 'Nations League'.

The tournaments would generate $25bn (£17.9bn) in revenue.

A source close to the organisation told BBC Sport that if the governing body believes there is an appetite for the competitions, it will invite its ruling council members to an extraordinary session which will likely be held at its headquarters in Zurich and is tentatively scheduled for mid-May. Europe's elite clubs have recently called for fewer matches, mandatory rest periods for players, and the alignment of confederation tournaments but FIFA officials are confident their proposals meet those demands

for the tournament.

In a shocking twist, 16-year-old Nellisha Johnson beat her more qualified opponents to emerge as the second-placed candidate.

Of their six games, Johnson and Candidate Master (CM) Sheriffa Ali gained four points each, but Johnson was awarded the second position because she had upset Ali on Saturday.

Having threatened her sister’s dominance by handing her a defeat in the second round, 15-year-old Waveney Johnson copped the

and have held "positive" talks with top sides in recent days.

"Not everyone will agree with this but we want to give an opportunity to discuss the offer that has been made," said the source.

"The discussions so far have been promising. This is not about selling football. We have serious investors and the secure finances would be shared with everyone involved in the game."

48-team World Cup on horizon?

Attendees at FIFA 's annual congress, which is being staged in Moscow this year on the eve of the World Cup, will be asked whether or not to approve a feasibility study to examine if the 2022 edition should be expanded to 48 teams.

Qatar has always insisted that it did nothing wrong when bidding for the tournament and, when the idea of 48 teams was first raised earlier this month by South American football associations, organisers said in a statement "we are confident in our ability to deliver a successful World Cup in 2022". (BBC)

A

merican Terence Cox was the man behind the wheel of Team Mohamed’s winning Nissan GT-R at “King of the Strip 2” drag-racing meet staged at the South Dakota Circuit

ond compared to the rail’s 0.101s.

“The drag meet is awesome. I cannot believe all the people that come out here, all the fans. I really enjoy the people walk-

the meet with great hype, given the track record of his car - 7.29 seconds on home soil - expressed dissatisfaction with the track: “The track in Trinidad is well-prepared, and this track is not

Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) president, Ramez Mohamed, revealed that work was ongoing assiduously to improve the condition of the track.

Questioned whether on a

prepared at all! These cars need proper track preparation to run well! To run on this type of surface is really tough to get any good times,” he declared.

“We ran close to the GT and finished! That’s a fourwheel drive car (GT-R), which makes it easier to hook up on bad tracks”, he added.

Prior to the event being staged, Guyana Motor

better surface he would take down the GT-R, Bissessar responded, “Yes! He would be at a disadvantage on a good track, whereas I am at a disadvantage on a bad track”.

And regarding making a return, Bissessar said, “There definitely needs to be a well prepared track; and if it is well prepared, then we can come back”.

The Nissan GT-R and the railcar were locked in a battle that has doubtlessly been etched on the memory of its spectators

on Sunday.

Cox was part of an intense battle of speed with Trinidadian Andy Bissessar and his rail-car, which was edged at the finish line in a time of 7.527s compared to the rail-car’s 7.637s.

“It was a close one, but I just barely got it. Maybe it was all in the reaction time,” the American expressed.

However, the GT-R had a reaction time of 0.192 of a sec-

ing by. Guyana is a country where they all come together and we have great race out here”, Cox stated when questioned on his impression of the event.

With just a change in transmission two days before race-day, Cox highlighted, the car is low maintenance and can run even faster, a possible 7.40s on the quarter-mile.

Bissessar, who came to

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, april 24, 2018

Indian Premier League 2018...

Kings XI struggle to hold on for dramatic victory against Daredevils

Mujeeb Ur Rahman rejoices upon picking up a wicket © BCCI

K

ings XI Punjab staved off a spirited Delhi Daredevils chase in a thrilling finish to a match they won by four runs.

After Kings XI posted a total of 1438, the Daredevils bottom of the IPL - got off to a shaky start in their pursuit of an achievable target, dropping three wickets in the opening six overs.

But Shreyas Iyer put on a fantastic display to steer his side to the brink of an unlikely victory, producing a knock of 57.

And it was Iyer who faced the final ball of the match needing five runs to win or four to force the super over, having kept his team's hopes alive with a boundary from the penultimate delivery.

However, his high chip to long-off fell kindly for Aaron

Kings at the summit having played a game more, while the Daredevils have now won just one of their six matches this season.

Gambhir doesn't pay off

Finch to take the catch and leave the Daredevils four short.

The result lifts Kings XI for whom Karun Nair top-scored with 34 - two points clear of Chennai Super

Shreyas Iyer lofts one over the covers © BCCI

G a u t a m Gambhir had recorded at least 50 runs in three of his last four i n n i n g s against Kings XI coming into this match, including a knock of 55 earlier this season.

However, the batsman was unable to replicate that kind of showing on Monday, as he chalked up only four before being seen off by Andrew Tye. Gambhir was one of the three Daredevils batsmen - along with Prithvi Shaw (22) and Glenn Maxwell (12) - who contributed to the team's unsteady start at the crease by making early exits.

Monday motivation

Both teams came into this match with the added motivation of breaking dismal runs of form in matches played on Mondays.

Kings XI had won just one of their last seven played on the first day of the week, while the Daredevils had lost each of their last seven.

After their latest defeat, the Daredevils will not be happy to see their match with the Super Kings scheduled for next Monday. (Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD

Kings XI Punjab Innings (20 overs maximum) K Rahul † c A Khan b Plunkett 23 A Finch c Iyer b A Khan 2 M Agarwal b Plunkett 21 K Nair c Iyer b Plunkett 34 Y Singh c †Pant b A Khan 14 D Miller c Plunkett b Christian 26 R Ashwin (c) c Tewatia b Boult 6 A Tye b Boult 3 B Sran not out 0 Extras (b 1, lb 8, w 5) 14 Total (8 wickets; 20 Overs) 143 Did not bat: A Rajpoot, M Rahman Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Finch, 1.3 ov), 2-42 (Rahul, 4.3 ov), 3-60 (Agarwal, 7.3 ov), 4-85 (Singh, 12.4 ov), 5-116 (KK Nair, 16.1 ov), 6-127 (DA Miller, 17.3 ov), 7-140 (R Ashwin, 19.1 ov), 8-143 (AJ Tye, 19.6 ov) Bowling: Boult 3-0-21-2, A Khan 4-0-36-2, LE Plunkett 4-0-17-3, D Christian 3-0-171, Mishra 4-0-33-0, Maxwell 1-0-4-0, R Tewatia 1-0-6-0

Rashid, Shakib and Tamim join World XI to face Windies W

Delhi Daredevils Innings (target: 144 runs from 20 overs) P Shaw b Rajpoot 22 G Gambhir (c) c Finch b Tye 4 G Maxwell c Tye b Rajpoot 12 S Iyer c Finch b Rahman 57 R Pant † b Rahman 4 D Christian run out (Agarwal/ Ashwin) 6 R Tewatia c †Rahul b Tye 24 L Plunkett c Nair b Sran 0 A Mishra not out 1 Extras (lb 2, w 7) 9 Total (8 wickets; 20 Overs) 139 Did not bat: A Khan, T Boult Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Shaw, 2.3 ov), 2-41 (Maxwell, 4.5 ov), 3-42 (Gambhir, 5.3 ov), 4-61 (Pant, 8.1 ov), 5-76 (Christian, 11.6 ov), 6-123 (Tewatia, 17.6 ov), 7-124 (Plunkett, 18.2 ov), 8-139 (Iyer, 19.6 ov) Bowling: Rajpoot 4-0-23-2, Sran 4-0-45-1, Tye 4-0-25-2, Ashwin 4-0-19-0, Rahman 4-0-25-2

Ramdin blasts fake news drugs charge report

A

Rashid Khan

fghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan, the No. 1 ranked T20I bowler, has been added to the World XI squad that will take on West Indies in a one-off T20I at Lord's on May 31. The match is being organised to raise funds for the reconstruction of stadiums that were damaged in the Caribbean last year

by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Rashid's participation, along with the Bangladesh pair of Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, was confirmed by the ICC on Monday.

The trio joins Pakistan's Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik, and Sri Lanka allrounder Thisara Perera.

The team is being led by the England limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan.

Tamim, whose only international appearance at Lord's came in 2010, when he struck a fifty and century in a Test against England, said: "I am delighted to have been chosen to once again represent the ICC World

XI for a cause which will days. only make cricket a bigWest Indies squad: ger and better sport. The Samuel Badree, Carlos West Indies' contribution Brathwaite (capt), Rayad to the global game is un- Emrit, Andre Fletcher, matched and unparalleled, Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, and if the cricket f r a - Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, ternity can get t o - Rovman Powell, Denesh gether to play Ramdin (wk), Andre a small role in Russell, Marlon the rebuilding o f Samuels, Kesrick their damaged Williams (Cricinfo) venues following last year's hurricanes, then this is a very small price with hugely positive results."

The West Indies squad is led by Carlos Brathwaite, and includes players such as Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Samuel Badree. The match will also mark the international return of Andre Russell following a year-long ban for a doping-code violation.

More names are expected to be added to the World XI squad in Shakib Al Hasan the coming

indies wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin has hit out at false reports which claimed he was held in the United States on drug charges.

According to the reports, which surfaced on social media between Friday and Saturday, Ramdin had been arrested at the JFK Airport in, New York, for attempting to smuggle 20 kilos of cocaine.

Ramdin, who took to Twitter to deny the reports, posted a 30-second video with his son from his family home in Trinidad and Tobago. In his message, the cricketer labelled the rumours as ‘not true’ and ‘disgraceful’.

"There is some disturbing news that has been put online by someone that is tarnishing my name, saying I've been arrested for drugs in America, which is not true,” Ramdin said.

“I'm home with my family, I'm here with my little son Matt. Whoever did that, it's really disgraceful and not good. I'll like to tell everyone I'm happy and safe in

Trinidad and hopefully, the person who did it can take it down."

Ramdin was recently recalled to the Windies squad for what turned out to be a disappointing tour of Pakistan last month. (Sportsmax)

Denesh Ramdin

sports

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Defending champs Dave & Celina back on track

N

ational and Zone champions Dave & Celina All Stars, who suffered a penalty shootout loss on opening night of the action, rebounded in emphatic style to inflict a 5-0 hammering on Amazings in the third night of action in the Linden segment of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ competition, which continued on Sunday at the Mackenzie Market Tarmac.

Mortimer Giddings and Tyriq McAllister led the rout with a Guinness goal apiece, netted in the 18th and 20th minutes respectively; while Stephon Tappin’s 12th minute strike gave them the lead.

Another team that recovered from a first round defeat to register a win was Assassa Ballers, which

The action continues to keep temperatures rising in Linden

played impressively to beat Team 25 by 4-1, thanks to two Guinness goals off the boots of Kester Randolph.

Silver Bullets, courtesy of a

brace from Omar Williams, romped to a comfortable 2-0 win over Next Level, to continue their unbeaten run.

Amelia’s Ward Russians

also remained undefeated after outlasting Hard Knocks 2-1 in an entertaining encounter, while Quiet Storm edged Cherokee Park

1-0 in a penalty shootout, after their clash ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

High Rollers’ Quelley Andries hit in a pair in the 8th and 10th minutes to condemn the much fancied Wisroc to a 2-1 defeat.

The winning team will take home $400,000 and a trophy, along with automatic berth in the national playoffs; while second, third and fourth place finishers receive $150,000, $100,000 and $75,000 respectively, along with trophies.

The Plate final carries a top prize of $50,000.

The other sponsor on board is Colours Boutique of Robb Street.

The competition resumes on Wednesday evening with six more games at the Silver City Hardcourt.

RHTY&SC gear up Saints Senior to host 28th Annual trounce Hikers Awards ceremony

Bounty Paper 2nd Division Hockey…

A

ccording to all indications, plans are running smoothly as the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club continue preparing to host their largest awards ceremony yet. The pomp and splendor will do down at the Training Hall of the St. Francis Community Developers located in Berbice.

Club Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, who is spearheading the planning of the event along with Vice President Mark Papannah and Assistant Secretary Simon Naidu, has disclosed that all plans are in place for a highly successful affair.

President David Granger is expected to grace this prestigious event with his esteemed presence. No stranger to this organization, he will be delivering the feature address. Rose Hall Town Mayor Vijai Ramoo, Region 6 Chairman David Armogan, and Director of Sport Christopher Jones will also be in attendance.

The RHTYSC will be distributing over $2.4 million worth of prizes, trophies, medals, certificates and other awards, and would have the pleasure of presenting their highest award to nine influential persons.

On the list to receive ‘The Dolphin Award of Excellence’ are GWI Chief Executive Officer Dr. Richard Van WestCharles, Minister S i m o n a

Broomes, Businessman Bishwa Panday, Cricketer Roger Harper, Attorney-at-Law Arudranauth Gossai, Banker Harry Dass Ghaness, Poonai Bhigroog, Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs, and NBS Deputy CEO Anil Beharry.

The RHTYSC would also be handing out in excess of $1M in donations to small groups and cricket clubs in the Berbice area as part of its Patron’s Fund.

The Award Committee has shortlisted National Junior Cricketers Kevin Sinclair and Kevlon Anderson for the Prestigious Cricketer of the Year award, while other awardees expected to be honoured include Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Jeremy Sandia, Mariam Samaroo, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Eon Hooper, Clinton Pestano and Shabika Gajnabi.

Club Captain Shawn Pereira will receive the Benefit Year Award, while Mark Papannah, Ravindranauth Kissoonlall, Keith Hicks, Joel Pike, Elizabeth Brusch, Lucy Pike, Simon Naidu, Navin Raghoo, Pamela Brusch and Sunil Madrimootoo would be honoured for their dedication to the club.

A comprehensive report of the club’s work will be presented, and plans for the 2018 calendar year will be rolled out. The club, in 2017, successfully completed a record 712 activities/programmes under a wide range of activities.

on

223-7230-1 Phone: 223-7230 (Ext 55)

EXT: 55

RHTYSC CEO, Hilbert Foster

A

s the first round of the gling Hiker Cadets. With the Bounty Paper Towels match still deadlocked at minmen’s second division utes to half time, player-coach league winds down, Old Fort Robert Fernandes intensiand Sequel have found them- fied the attacking play, and selves in the prime position this resulted in a goal from for victory, while Bounty GCC Kevin Edwards three minhave made a leap to the third utes before half time. From that point, it was no turning spot.

Saturday’s action kicked off with Ezekiel Springer of Saints U-19 building momentum, which eventually led to this team’s lone goal, scored in the 17th minute when Shakeen Fausette latched on to a loose ball in the scoring circle and eased it past goalkeeper Rahim Oliver.

The GCC team dominated the remainder of the game with a rain of goals whilst denying Saints any attempt at another goal. Team Captain Ezekiel Springer put in a controlled Kareem McKenzie performance for Saints U-19 calmly flicked the GCC equalizer -- just before the half -- through a back, as Saints Senior scored penalty corner which was one two additional goals in quick of a number of such oppor- succession to defeat Hiker tunities for the Bourda side. Cadets 3-0. Sequel and Old Shaquille Leung’s blistering Fort are currently tied at the shot in the 25th minute and top spot with 12 points, whilst a Meshach Sargeant rebound Bounty GCC follows closely goal four minutes later put with 9 points. Saints U-19 has the game beyond the reach 6, Saints Senior 3, and Hiker of Saints. The 3-1 victory el- Cadets are yet to gain their evated Bounty GCC to third first point. Old Fort will come position, and within conten- up against the Hikers in the final match of the first round. tion for the title.

Senior Saints enjoyed The action continues at the their first win of the tourna- Saint Stanislaus ground on ment by trouncing the strug- Saturday.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, april 24, 2018

Road to Mecca V…

Colts, Ravens to battle in final D

efending champions Bounty Colts will have a chance to retain their title after surging into the final alongside Ravens on Sunday evening when the semis of the Road to Mecca V National Club Championships was contested at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

This Saturday, April 28, former champions, Ravens, will be looking to dethrone Colts, who have their sights set on the ‘3-peat’.

When the semis of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation-sanctioned event

tipped off, Ravens used their experience to shut down an aggressive Kobras team 7358 in the opening match, then Colts brushed aside Victory Valley Royals 84-70 in the feature.

This also means that Royals and Kobras play the tournament’s penultimate match, the third place showdown which carries a winning incentive of $200,000.

Colts made their way into the final in commanding fashion, securing the lead early against Royals and continuously keeping them at bay until the final

whistle.

Shane Webster topscored for the Colts with 23 points, while Shelroy Thomas sank 18 points on Colts’ way to victory.

After the win, Thomas said the match was Colts’ most challenging one yet, because the opposing team was very strong, but helped by experience, the Colts were able to pull through. Colts had defeated Royals to claim the Road to Mecca IV title in 2017. Meanwhile, in the night’s first match, Ravens led at the first quarter 1711, but Kobras rebound-

ed in the second, and piled on a tenpoint lead to finish the half ahead 34-24. Ravens persevered in the third, and once the lead was gained, slowly shut the door on Kobras. At the end of the third quarter, Ravens led 50-44, and eventually secured the 15-point win. Ravens’ Anthony Moe turned in 25 points and nine rebounds, and was supported by Darcel Harris who had 16 points, while Travis Burnett led for the opposition with 24.

Shelroy Thomas

Bishoo gets Digicel’s Youth Cricket Series rolling in Berbice

D

igicel Youth Cricket Series Ambassador Devendra Bishoo surprised the students of Berbice High School by kicking off phase one of the series. More than 300 schools across the country will be vying for a chance to win a weekend coaching session with the best the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has to offer, the communication giants stated in a release to the media on Monday.

“As of April 16, the public will have a chance to vote for the school they want to see benefit from specialized training through the Digicel Youth Cricket Series”, the Digicel release has detailed.

Now in its second year, the programme has been expanded to include/allow more children to participate in the high school training. One registered high school in Guyana will be an-

Devendra Bishoo

nounced as the winner of the Digicel Youth Cricket Series coaching session, which will be organized by Digicel and CPL in June/July. The general public will also be allowed to vote for the school which they deem to be most deserving of the coaching session. To vote, persons can use this link www.digicelguyana.com/cplyouthseries Over four hundred (400) students across the region will participate in this year’s programme, and this is a significant increase from last year’s numbers.

“Youth engagement is a big focus for Digicel, and w i t h this pro-

gramme, we believe that schools all across Guyana w i l l jump in on the opportunity to coachs i o n school. t h e t o s e a

win that ing sesfor their We figured best way kick off this ries is with surprise visit to the school, and w e are happy that the students of the Berbice High School were overjoyed with this visit.

“The students at the school were thrilled and had lots of questions for Devendra Bishoo. Of course, we now need them to channel that excitement into spreading the word and voting for their school!” said Gregory Dean.

“It was a pleasure to be

part of this excitement today, and I am happy to be part of it, thanks to Digicel and CPL”, said Bishoo.

Each school will have a fair chance to win the coaching session, as the votes are being calculated as a percentage of the student population. “Today meant a lot.

I personally have never met a cricketer before, and it was a great opportunity for me and my school. I really liked how he encouraged students to live up to their dreams and don’t fall back, no matter what people say,” said Faith Gajadhar.

The 2018 Digicel CPL

Youth Series will take place in the six competing countries: Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts & Nevis, and St. Lucia, and will provide more children the opportunity to hone their cricket skills and learn from the best talents in the game.

Upward movement for drag-racing, says GMR&SC VP

H

ansraj 'Richie' Singh, VicePresident of the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC), is convinced that the sport of drag-racing is on the rise.

He expressed his conviction after a successful meet on Sunday, when GMR&SC staged the second edition of ‘King of the Strip’, which attracted a healthy turn-out of drivers -- estimated to be about 70 -- and also four motor cycles. There were also competitors from Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

“First of all, the turnout was great; best for the year so far. Definitely, drag-racing is growing rapidly, and

we need to keep abreast with the modern times as regards the facility and the competition, as well to make sure we as a club continue to grow with the sport”, Singh stated on Monday.

He added, “We are definitely working on building a new strip along with the new circuit at South Dakota”.

The event, which used the Portia Timing–three system, may need to be extended to two-days to allow a smooth flow of the “finals,” but for now, Singh expressed confidence in the system being utilized.

“We do time bracket racing, which means that your competition will only

be people that are doing similar times, hence it will always be fair play. If by chance you do faster than the bracket in which you were originally placed, you will be placed in that faster bracket,” he explained.

Singh also applauded Ricardo Fagundes, the lone biker from Guyana, who with his Suzuki 750 managed to finish second in the unlimited group.

The event was sponsored by Tropical Shipping, JAPARTS, Mohamed’s Enterprise and ANSA McAL; BM Soat, Trans-Pacific Motor Sales and Spares, Prem’s Electrical, E-Networks and DEL Ice Co and Crystal Ice House.

tuesDAY, april 24, 2018

Doris unfazed by being Guyana’s

guyanatimesgy.com

“lone wolf”

By Akeem Greene

G

uyana, a country undoubtedly chockfull of talented sportsmen and women, more often than not finds one thing challenging: transferring domestic dominance to the international stage.

Luckily for the Land of Many Waters, gold was struck when Chicago- born Triple Jumper Troy Doris decided to form an alliance with his ancestral ties.

He started the world-stardom ball rolling with a seventh place finish at the Rio Olympics, and just over a week ago, he added both icing and candles on the cake with a Commonwealth Games gold medal.

The medal was the first for Guyana since Aliann Pompey claimed the women’s 400 metres title at the games in Manchester, England in 2002, and that’s 16 years ago.

Young track sensation Daniel Williams would have just begun hitting the young “stumbling blocks” at his age when Pompey saw the Golden Arrow Head being risen and heard the anthem being played.

Pompey, too, had spent most of years gaining exposure on the foreign circuit, and in some regards, it

shows the seeming ‘investment’ being made by those in control were not being channelled in the right direction. Maybe it’s a mixture of planting the seed on local turf and allowing it to blossom on the foreign circuit. There might not be a precise formula, since different persons have different strokes, but the person who

best is 17.18m.

It is certainly not to take anything away from his monumental feat, since athletes have certain periods when they peak, but it does show that the lanky 29-year-old is medal quality even when not at his best; and while having a minuscule presence in Guyana, he has gigantic nostalgic connection.

His most prized possession, the Commonwealth Gold

can mask them, at least for now, is Doris. So let’s return the focus to him.

His wining jump at the 21st edition of Games in Australia was by far not his best. The jump which brought the silverware was 16.88 metres. His personal

“When I got my title, it was a feeling of joy. I was happy to carry the flag around the track. Putting so much work into the one moment, and it finally came true had so many emotions.

Kind of my motivation at the Games was that I didn’t

want to hear any other anthem played in my event”, he expressed to Guyana Times Sport in a recent interview.

Not devaluing the performances of track star Brenessa Thompson in the United States, or the “never say never” attitude of Winston George and those of the past, Doris’s effort has helped Guyana into the infancy stages of world recognition in athletics, and it’s now time to build on this toehold.

“Being the lone wolf for Guyana in international meets is a lot of positive pressure. It gives me the energy to compete. I want to be in the top four when they show the results, I want the announcer to say, ‘Troy Doris from Guyana’. Doing well for the country is always important,” Doris conveyed.

Doris, a Political Science graduate from the University of Iowa, said there is not much financial allure in representing Guyana, but he still chose to channel his energies in that direction. Albeit, athletes can receive at stipend from the Guyana Olympic Association.

“The decision to represent Guyana was mine ultimately. My career could have

Solo U-19 Hockey…

b e e n aimed to represent U n i t e d States, but as an athlete it is best to represent your country to the best of your ability, and I always reflect on having all of these Guyana roots, which makes me feel at home”, Doris said.

The big question is: Can he replicate his performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games?

For Doris, now is just about re-grouping and not looking too far ahead, since a world of unknowns is on the horizon.

“The big picture is the Olympics 2020. It is a long time from now, and anything can happen, athletes can emerge from anywhere.

You have to be willing to sacrifice time from now, with your mind on whether you want a place in the finals or

Spartans hammer Saints I

t was a battle of the giants when the Bingo Spartans met Saints in their first-round clash in the Solo Under-19 Hockey League on Saturday afternoon at Saints ground.

With each team entering the game boasting a winning record, outcome of the game would determine the winner of the first round and the favourite to take the trophy at the end of the second.

The Spartans looked as though they would dominate the match from their third minute goal by prolific striker Abosaide Cadogan, but it was Saints who would come ever so close on two occasions in the first half.

Goal line saves by Madison Fernandes and Makeda Bingo Spartans midfielder Sarah Klautky about to score her second goal against Saints Harding, however, manThe Spartans continued ond half, and were a more in the first half. Midfielder aged to keep Saints scoreless and give the Spartans to enjoy majority posses- productive side in their for- Sarah Klautky scored for sion in midfield in the sec- ward line than they were Spartans with a powerful a 1-0 lead at halftime.

23

A leap of uncertainty may lie ahead for the Commonwealth Gold medallist but what is certain, handsome investment can reap great rewards (Michael

Steele/Getty Images AsiaPac)

whether you want a place on the podium,” he said.

H i s shockwave performance even got the attention of President David Granger, who expressed via a release to the media: “The win has made every Guyanese exceedingly proud, and demonstrates that with hard work and sacrifice, great feats can be accomplished.” Given that his winning leap stands at sixth best in the world, maybe, just maybe, those in high office can plot for Doris a financial course which leads to 2020, and the hope - while ambitious - of hearing the national anthem being played.

5-1

shot in the first minute of resumption to nudge the Spartans’ lead to 2-0.

While through Kizia Chinian Saints managed a breakaway goal 11 minutes later, the outcome appeared to be resting in the hands of the Spartans, who seemed increasingly dangerous with every attack.

Klautky scored a second goal for the Spartans in the 33rd minute, and teammate Kirsten Gomes added a double of her own in the closing minutes, to give the Bingo Spartans a comfortable 5-1 victory.

St. Joseph’s versus the GCC Her-ricanes was the other girls’ match of the afternoon. It proved to be a war of attrition, with both teams seeking their first points of the competition.

With the game being played mostly at mid-pitch, both

sides struggled to put together any meaningful attack, leading to a scoreless first half.

While the second half saw a bit more excitement at the goal ends, it would not be until six minutes from full time that St. Joseph earned a penalty corner that would be converted through the powerful Janelle Frederick.

Frederick’s strike was the lone goal of the match, giving St. Joseph a 1-0 victory.

The Bingo Spartans emerged at the top of the pool at the end of the first round with nine points, followed by Saints with six, St. Joseph with three and the GCC Her-ricanes on zero. Matches will continue every weekend at Saints ground until May 20.

tuesDAY, april 24, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Road to Mecca V…

Colts, Ravens to battle in final Pg 22

Solo U-19 Hockey…

Spartans hammer Saints Pg 23

5-1

Makeda Harding put in an impressive performance in midfield for the Spartans

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