Guyanatime 25 may 2018

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, May 25, 2018

Issue No. 3574

Jagdeo in favour of non-custodial sentences for small quantities of marijuana Page 9

– says APNU and AFC divided on issue; accuses AFC of being "opportunistic"

GDF aircraft “tried and tested” – Harmon Page 7

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WHAT'S INSIDE: Guyana’s 52nd Independence anniversary celebrations P14 “Do not

lose sight of developmental goals” – Better Hope/LBI NDC Chairman tells stakeholders – RDC Chairman urges focus on STEM, oil and gas sector

Female prisoner pardoned

P16

Armed men terrorise, rob poultry farm P9 owner – cart off cash, motor car

P10 Men pretending to be GRA agents seize imported liquor Soca King Machel Montano takes time out to get a selfie with students of the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus on Thursday during his visit to the tertiary institution (Carl Croker photo)

Minister’s brother pleads guilty to cocaine trafficking Page 13

– to pay G$5.7M fine or spend 3 years in jail

Taxi driver arrested for murder of Guyana Goldfields employee Page 7

– demand $125,000 not to prosecute

SOCU charges

Democracy under threat – former P12 President …says Govt out to get Jagdeo

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, May 25 – a night retraction at 02:00h and a day retraction from 13:30h-15:00h and Saturday, May 26 – a night retraction at 03:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, May 25 – 13:25h-14:55h and Saturday, May 26 – 14:15h-15:45h.

Govt’s plan to set up national oil company “utterly confusing” – Jagdeo ...says circumstances surrounding renegotiated oil contract ‘murky’

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

WEATHER TODAY Early morning thundery rain showers should be followed by light rain showers that are expected to last throughout the day, while thundery showers are expected to return in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging East North-easterly and Northeasterly between 1.78 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tides: 01:21h and 13:47h reaching maximum heights of 2.39 metres and 2.38 metres respectively.

Low Tides: 07:20h and 19:40h reaching minimum heights of 0.83 metre and 0.80 metre respectively.

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Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

W

hile the Government has announced plans to set up a national oil company where Guyanese will be allowed the opportunity to own shares in that company, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo claimed that there are several issues in relation to this and other issues which are still not clear.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman told the National Assembly during a special sitting of the Natural Resources Committee that this will not only enable them to benefit directly from the oil and gas sector, but locals may even be able to bid and have part of a concession.

Trotman said the idea is that the company will be able to issue shares – as Banks DIH, etc – so ordinary Guyanese can access those and for persons who have the means to go beyond that would be able to bid and have a part of a concession. He also highlighted that countries getting into the business of oil and gas are nothing new, using neighbouring Brazil’s Stateowned company, Petrobras, as a well-known example.

But the Opposition Leader told a news conference on Thursday that if a national oil company is to be set up to sell shares to Guyanese; that company will have to be vested with some assets. “What are the assets they are going to vest the company with? Are they going to vest the com-

pany that they are setting up for us to buy shares in Guyanese with the remaining oil blocks?” Jagdeo questioned.

If that is not the case, Jagdeo has now questioned whether Government will give the remaining oil blocks out to other people. The former President said that based on comments made by senior Government officials, the public is now being told that Guyanese may be able to bid against some foreign company.

“It is very confusing, because on one hand we have a moratorium, no commitment to the auction. Now he is saying that Guyanese will be able to bid against foreigners and he is saying that Guyanese can own shares in a company. They are very different things,” the economist added.

Jagdeo also made reference to several news reports which speak to Government stating that they plan to issue a moratorium on remaining oil blocks. But Government also spoke about issuing new licences upon acquiring the services of some international law firms.

“Is he (Raphael Trotman) saying that there is a moratorium until they get these firms to come and negotiate the contracts, or is he saying there is a moratorium period? And when the international advisers come, will they be tendering or auctioning the blocks. He did not give an answer to that. So the negotiation of contracts is one thing with the international law firms but they are still silent on the big question on whether they will auction future blocks or not,” Jagdeo observed.

According to Jagdeo, if one is to take into account the suggestions being made Guyanese will most likely want to get shares in the company. But there are still some answered questions.

“What are the assets they are going to vest into that company? If you auction the oil blocks now what would the company own as assets. What are we buying shares in a hallowed compa-

ny, a company that doesn’t have value? It is utterly confusing. If you look at the answers given.”

Contract

Meanwhile, Jagdeo pointed out that Trotman admitted that Government initiated the renegotiation of the ExxonMobil contract on the basis of threats made to Guyana’s territorial integrity by Venezuela. “You did not need a new contract to keep Exxon in that geographic area… ExxonMobil had already found oil, they were going to drill in any case in that same location,” he said.

PPP/C parliamentarian Odinga Lumumba who chaired that meeting drilled the Minister on several other issues in relation to the sector, but also touched specifically on controversial clauses in the oil contract for which Jagdeo said was not addressed significantly and there was also no clarity.

The Opposition Leader declared that the circumstances surrounding the signing of a renegotiated contract with ExxonMobil remain very murky based on the Trotman’s explanations.

“All of Guyana was hoping that the Minister would explain some of the very contentions clauses and how they managed to find themselves in the contract.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

I must say I was disappointed,” Jagdeo stated. Another issue that caught the attention of the Opposition Leader is that fact that there is “no paper trail” regarding the Government’s engagement with ExxonMobil on significant matters.

Jagdeo also explained that the announcement made by Trotman in relation to the hiring of an international law firm to help with the negotiations of future oil contracts, is something they have called for before.

“We have been saying that we need to get the best people in the room,” noting that the Government also ignored the advice of its own Petroleum Advisor, Dr Jan Mangal on the same matter.

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friDAY, may 25, 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

An insidious assault on press freedom

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ecently, the Guyana Times was the recipient of a number of threats from purported Government officers, demanding an end to publishing articles which are deemed critical of the administration. These threats are not new to the Guyana Times, but cannot be taken lightly. Not only has press freedom been assaulted, but lives and property are placed in danger.

Guyana Times, as it did in the past, reiterates that it will not be suppressed, nor will it succumb to these threats. More importantly, it will continue to deliver on its mandate to create informed citizens, which is the sine qua non of a functioning democracy.

The media has a crucial responsibility to act as a watchdog to protect public interests against depredations from all directions, and to create public awareness of these. As the fourth estate, exchangeable with the fourth pillar of democracy, the media’s role is to speak out against injustice, oppression, transgression and prejudice in society. This is not to deny or confirm a perpetuation of malpractice by the Administration; however, one interpretation that can be made of the threats is the belief in the exposure of same.

There is no ambiguity over reporting on issues which have a profound impact on people’s lives. It cannot be sterilized of criticisms of those entrusted to govern if those are deemed to be acting against the populace’s interest, either through poor execution of programmes and policies, or through lack of capacity to deliver.

While it may be acceptable that Government’s programmes and policies will not always meet the expectations of all, it does not mean the lapse is sacrosanct and therefore immune to criticisms.

The reasons are legion: skewed political preference of geography; unsuitable personnel in the implementation of these programmes; financial improprieties; racial and other discrimination, any of which retards the country’s development.

In these and other related circumstances, the populace has a right to be so informed. This right is entrusted to the media, which must be able to perform its task without interference, and be free from threats from Government officers. The Government, which boasts of being “a bastion of freedom of expression and transparency”, even given the benefit of the doubt of being unaware of the threats, must feel repulsed now that the threats have been revealed.

Unfortunately, optimism that an intervention is imminent has waned following Government’s lack of action in bringing to justice one of its own, who threatened to torch the Guyana Times facility, while others have been placed before the courts for using threatening language against officials on social media.

One can rightfully question whether it’s a coincidence that these latest threats surfaced shortly after the Head of State, during an address to his party’s general council meeting, stated that his Government is facing challenges from “sections of the media”.

While not identifying any particular media house, in a small society like ours, it is difficult to conceal those deemed “offensive”.

While Guyana Times has been objective and reports on, and with, facts, there is no ambiguity in how it is viewed by Government.

The General Council is the second highest decision-making body of the People’s National Congress (PNC), of which the President is the Leader. Given the emphasis of the comments at that forum, the question of the origin of the threat seems unavoidable. Of course there are those who can act independently, having been influenced by the utterances of leading politicians.

Regardless of whether they were by design or are acts of randomness, the threats are a brazen and serious assault on media freedom, and must be condemned by all. They undermine claims of coincidence in the context of the sedition clause in what currently constitutes the Cybercrime Bill. Many in civil society have condemned the clause, and have called for it removal. The Government remains defiant in its defence of the clause.

That and concerns raised over the Head of State’s comments in question present a very worrying situation. It simply means that freedom of expression by individuals and media entities in their quest to inform the nation seems officially under threat. This evokes painful and frightening memories of a time when freedom of expression was suppressed, when the same party the President now leads was in Government. The overall context seems definitive and unforgiving.

Freedoms that Guyanese have come to enjoy over time did not come easy; some unfortunately paid with their lives in the struggles for their attainment. These freedoms must be safeguarded, more especially as the world is fast becoming more democratized and liberalized, and as the country glows brighter under the international spotlight of oil.

The media across the globe, and as profound as in the United States of America, not only lead the efforts to protect hard-fought freedoms, but hold officials accountable. If by that mandate it is seen as a threat and is being threatened, then the ominous signs of an attack on democracy are becoming clearer, if they were not before.

Guyanese triple jump gold medallist Troy Doris paid a courtesy call on Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr George Norton, at his Main Street office on Thursday. Also in photo are Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, and Permanent Secretary of the Social Cohesion Ministry, Melissa Tucker (Carl Croker photo)

New foreign exchange controls a symptom Guyana is already contracting the ‘Dutch Disease’ Dear Editor, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has been caught in his web of lies yet again. At a press conference held recently by Minister Jordan, he pontificated to local journalists the stability of the economy.

Asked about measures to be taken by the Guyanese government – namely the Finance Ministry – his answers were half baked at best to give some sense there was no emergency.

Every economist knows a significant influx of US currency into the Guyana economy will see the Guyana dollar losing its value and competiveness.

This is an early symptom of the dreaded ‘Dutch Disease’, whereby companies and sectors operating locally will now have to confront the challenges associated with that influx of US currency.

First oil is March 2020 at a time when there is expected to be a significant influx of US currency into Guyana.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is a creature of the State and cannot be held accountable for the recent currency exchange rates now being used across country. Bear in mind that Jordan recently mandated a limit between buying and selling the US currency locally.

The eroding compet-

itiveness of the Guyana Dollar has already begun to take its toll on export sectors. Importers will also now be paying more for their imports. Simply put, now that the price for buying a US dollar has been increased to G$208 for US$1, it means that importers will have to increase their prices.

An importer who previous paid US$1 for an item at an exchange rate of G$200, will now have to find G$8 more to make the same purchase that is still being sold internationally at US$1.

Consider this being replicated across the other competitive sectors. When a fertiliser agent previously paid US$10 for a bag of chemicals at G$200 for US$1, he too will have to now find more Guyana currency to pay for the same item at the same prices previously paid. The difference in the price increase has to do with the strength of the Guyana Dollar.

Guyana is already contracting the ‘Dutch Disease’; its already crippled agricultural sector with the influx of US currency as a result of oil will no doubt bring additional pressures on the already struggling sector.

Manufacturing across the country will take its toll since the price of fuel on the world market has also been steadily increas-

ing and has been holding at a three-year high.

What this means is that the oil companies are poised to do well and government can look to 2020 with a smile on that front, but it also means that the cost of energy will undoubtedly also skyrocket.

I predict pretty soon the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) already saddled with numerous loans and capital costs, will soon increase it rates for both residential and businesses.

This would obtain since the billions in surplus made by GPL and the likes of the Guyana Oil Company when oil prices were lower was instead squandered through the ad hoc arrangements employed at the order of sailor Minister Winston Jordan.

As the price of electricity and transportation increases across country, these costs will no doubt be passed on to consumers, and businesses – in business for a profit ultimately – will have no choice but to pass on the additional overhead costs to the Guyanese consumer.

The ambitiously low inflation targets set by Minister Jordan could very likely reach double-digit figures by the end of the year. This since Government expenditure continues to rise, revenue sources have all but dried up and once productive sec-

tors are now not only struggling but are now on the brink of extinction in some cases – think sugar.

To compound this escalating situation, Guyana’s Business Ministry has in three years implemented not a single measure that has proved to be in aid of local industry; instead the Administration has resorted to doling concessions above and beyond what was done by the previous Administration; this, even though they complained bitterly ‘Jagdeo gave away Guyana.’

Guyana’s Private Sector is under threat and the David Granger Administration has not only done nothing to mitigate the pressures but in some cases have exacerbated the situation.

The David Granger’s economic tunnel vision pinned on the emerging oil and gas sector has already seen the contracting the ‘Dutch Disease’. Extreme situations call for extreme measures. Guyana’s economy in recent weeks was poised to flatline in 2020 ahead of first oil as the life-line, the new currency measures implemented by the GRA has now placed the country on an economic trajectory diagnosed only as ‘Dutch Disease.’

Sincerely, Peter R Ramsaroop MBA, PHD

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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

The impact of custodial sentences for Is Kaieteur News only possession of small amounts of marijuana interested in pushing Dear Editor, In the book Freakonomics, written by two economists (Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner) who dig through seemingly unrelated data, the phenomenon of rising crime statistics in the early 1990s in New York City, specifically murders by teenagers, was discussed.

Despite their best efforts, the city of New York had grappled with increasing crime rates for many years. Increased penalties, tougher policing methods and other strategies failed to arrest (pun intended) the crime situation.

Then circa 2000, the stats began falling, and continued falling. Nothing significant had changed that year that could explain the sudden but welcome decrease in crime.

The two economists took a broader view and tried to find out what situation or circumstance was responsible for the change.

Roe V. Wade In 1973 the Supreme Court of the United States passed landmark legis-

lation making it legal for women across the United States to legally terminate pregnancies.

Harsh as it seems, the resulting effects of the legislation did not become apparent until 2000.

The economists suggested that the change to allow legal termination of pregnancies resulted in hundreds, or possibly thousands, of unwanted pregnancies, many of whom would have been born into the socioeconomic conditions that foster or encourage a life of crime, simply were not born.

So, by 2000, many of the persons that would have reached the age of maturity and entered the criminal networks were not there to do so. This is a harsh lesson, but a lesson nonetheless.

The law in Guyana stipulates mandatory custodial sentences (3 to 5 years) for persons found with small amounts of marijuana.

We have read many stories about young men and women who are now locked away in prison for 3 years or

more for being in possession of a simple spliff/joint. I remember a case of a nursing mother in Albouystown who was sentenced to 3 years for possession of marijuana. In her case, the drug was not found on her, it was in the shop that she managed or owned.

I can go on to list dozens of other cases, including the most recent, of the father of 3 that caught the nation’s attention. But, more than the personal impact on the mother or father or the kids that are left behind, what impact does this archaic and oppressive law have on our society?

In a developing country like ours -- where single parenting is already too common, and its adverse effects already well documented -- what effect has this law had on families across this country?

What effect has it had on the young men and women who have been imprisoned for 3 years? What rehabilitation programmes do we have to help them re-enter society as productive, contributing members thereof?

I am not in possession of hard evidence, but I would be more than willing to wager that a check into the background of many bandits that terrorize us today would reveal a stint in jail for possession of marijuana.

Is their life of crime in later years directly linked to their incarceration, or the difficulties they encountered thereafter?

These are issues that must be thoughtfully examined by our leaders. It must be more than a taking point for 2020, it must come from a sincere place, from someone who has the foresight to see the long-term impact this law has on our youth and our society.

I’m calling on all our leaders to repeal the current law of mandatory custodial sentencing for small amounts of marijuana.

We must, as a society, find a better way to deal with that situation.

Yours sincerely, Michael Leonard AFC Region 4 Chairman

Decision-makers compassion-less about jobless sugar workers' plight Dear Editor, Our union has seen a report titled “APNU/AFC Govt has been visionless – David Hinds” which appeared in the May 21, 2018 Stabroek News. That newspaper, among other things, reports Dr David Hinds as saying in relation to the Government’s approach to the sugar industry that the coalition “…must be commended for confronting the problem”.

The Working People’s Alliance Executive and newspaper columnist, is then quoted to have said “[w] hile previous Governments have kicked the ball down the road, this one decided to tackle the problem…” In his comments, we also recognised that Dr Hinds decried the Administration’s failure to effectively communicate its approach to sugar.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is supportive of everyone’s right to an opinion; a freedom that is now under seeming threat by the Cyber Crimes Bill as currently crafted. At the same time we cannot fail to place on record our strong disagreement with the apparent plaudits Dr Hinds is showering on the administration for its destructive approach to the sugar industry and the well-being of thousands of Guyanese.

We wonder how one

can be pleased when sugar workers are the only group of the State’s employees to have had their wages frozen since the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change took office. Then the sugar workers have faced assault after assault with many of their hard won rights and benefits just taken away or ignored. Then after all of that, they are told that they are not needed and their jobs are taken away without any consideration about how they would survive. Certainly, in our view, it is not a situation in which one can commend, as Dr Hinds has done.

Moreover, the situation in the sugar belt need not be the way it is. There are real workable alternatives.

We see the Guyana Sugar Corporation itself borrowing $30 billion to make its estates viable by moving into greater diversification, something GAWU advocated and the Commission of Inquiry into Sugar recommended. The fact that as many as 70 parties are interested in acquiring the now closed estates, described as unprofitable and inefficient, in our view, says a mouthful. The future is not bleak as it is being made out to be.

The fact that so many people are suffering and so many communities are finding themselves in difficult times is a situation that

Guyanese, known for their concern for their fellow citizens, cannot take comfort nor pride in. The absence of any consideration of the implications of the decisions taken and, more so, the absence of any compassion, or even regret, by the deci-

sion-makers of the sad situation they created are beyond any reasonable words.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

one side of this story?

Dear Editor, Reference is made to certain sections of the media in response to my letter – penned in the Stabroek News captioned, ‘Questions for Minister Patterson’ – by one Leroy Nelson.

Two interesting facts, Kaieteur News chose to publish a response to my letter – that was published in the Stabroek News – but failed to publish my letter in the Kaieteur News in the first place.

Is this normal editorial practice? I thought the principle demands that all sides deserve a fair hearing? Or is Kaieteur News only interested in pushing one side of this story by pushing some letters and stalling others? What are the real objectives of the editorial team at Kaieteur News on this matter? Is there a design to muddle the issue and to cover for the Minister?

But secondly, I found it interesting that Nelson believes my intentions have unique designs and I want to reassure him that he is correct. I, like many other Guyanese, would like to

know if Derrick Patterson had facilitated Guyanese State supported access to the port of exits by way of a VIP Pass or any other preferential treatment because of his relationship with a serving Minister of the Government.

I am told every day that the security controls at the ports of exit in Guyana are of a very high quality and thus the opportunities to beat the system should be very low. Such a situation raises the two issues – either Derrick Patterson was one lucky person or he had help and if so, where did this help come from. That is my design, Mr Nelson, getting to the truth.

If we have a Minister and Cabinet official demonstrating fidelity to accountability and the rule of law, then clearly he can provide answers to the questions to reinforce these principles of transparency and accountability and set the record straight.

Yours truly, Sasenarine Singh Maryland

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Foundation

By Iben Sandahl

T

his weekend I celebrated my daughter’s 14th birthday with our entire family. At one point I’m in the garden with my beautiful three-year-old niece who was climbing trees for the first time.

She is used to climbing on playgrounds, but she had never tried climbing a tree. A chair helped her reach the first possible place to get a foothold. She handled everything herself, but in case she lost her balance, I had a hand close to her. From here she climbed about one and a half metres up, as she easily angled around the smaller branches that were in the way. From a point where I could still reach her from the ground, she threw herself into my arms, where I gave her a big applauding swing. She whistled and was delighted and it was obvious that she felt very happy about the fact that she actually mastered something new. She repeated it again and again until we had to return to the other guests.

Play is not a lazy luxury To get outside and move freely is great for most children. For some it is a natural element to be outside and for others it can feel more challenging. In my book: Play The Danish Way – A Guide to Raise Balanced, Resilient and Healthy Children through Play I emphasise why play is so valuable and why free unstructured play should be acknowledged as a natural ingredient in every child’s life. In Denmark, play is not seen as some lazy luxury but as a developmental cornerstone. In play, kids are free to explore their full potential and develop their individual talents, without the constraints of adulthood.

Foster happiness Playing outside can seem dangerous, yes, but so many things can happen all the time and today we spent most of the time protecting our children from bad things. By shielding them from the “natural hazards and ac-

cidents” – by not allowing them to use their imagination and play in nature, we risk having children who will be paralysed and frightened. Life is about getting skinned knees as well. It is about falling down and getting back up. No matter what, these experiences are small victories, which help shape resilience in a child in the long term. And resilience has been proven to be one of the greatest factors in cultivating more happiness. By overprotecting our children there is a risk we create children who do not dare to use and explore their imagination, fearing that something might happen – without even trying.

We have to remember that it is usually our (adults’) perceptions that prevent children from trying things out and playing freely.

My sweet niece’s satisfaction while mastering a new skill was precious. Her eyes tickled and she had red cheeks and I am sure she felt absolutely happy in the moment. She could have continued forever. I am convinced that play will soon be seen as the most educating practice in the future. And it does not cost a cent. At most it asks for a little presence and attention from us.

Let’s go wild I hope we together can break the chains of a planned structure of life and let our kids’ imagination run wild and instead find structure within. I hope, for the sake of our children’s future, that we understand the importance of raising strong and resilient human beings, that will develop such deep and strong roots that will not be torn up when hard wind rages and things around them crack.

One tip to get started: Go outside – nature is beautiful and it is a never-ending playground with all the facilities that’re needed. Maybe invite family members to come play. Play connects and makes everybody happier in the long run. (psychologytoday.com)

By Katherine Ziff, Assistant Professor in the Department of Counselling at Wake Forest University

I

n 2008, I began a journey with 29 children in the rural Midwestern elementary school where I spent six years as school counsellor. This journey led me to integrate

play into the school day for children referred to my office, most of whom needed help with stress, life transitions, struggles to behave appropriately in the classroom, and other social

emotional support. I modelled this programme after a small-group art studio taught by Mary Anne Bartley at the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Her studio was designed to be a creative a n d

re-

storative place to supp o r t medical students’ learning. There medical students, “dragging their cares and woes”, relaxed, expressed themselves, allowed creativity to flow, and emerged as active learners “ready to tackle whatever they confront from new and more productive directions”.

When I heard about this programme, I wondered, “If an art break could do this for medical students, what might it do for school children?” The resulting programme eventually served a broad spectrum of 150 K-6 children referred by their teachers, their families, and themselves for social emotional support, stress mitigation, arts enrichment, and the opportunity to develop creativity and problem-solving skills. We offered over 350 weekly, 40-minute small-group sessions that met for five years in multiage groups over the school year.

The idea of fun and joy as a companion to (much less a condition for) learning is often a suspect notion in schools. For quite a while

I felt that our ArtBreak work bordered on frivolous, as children continually described ArtBreak as “fun,” until I began reading the research on the educational ben- efits of fun. Fun creates en-

gagem e n t , meaning, purpose and joy. As neurologist and classroom teacher Judy Willis argues, “The truth is that when joy and comfort are scrubbed from the classroom…students’ brains are distanced from effective information processing and longterm memory storage.” Back in 1977, social worker Edith Cobb wrote that a sense of wonder, manifested as joy and surprise, is a prerogative of childhood and essential to the development of creative thinking.

The ArtBreak groups taught me about the natural and joyful dedication that children bring to play.

During a session in which children were using cardboard and assorted doo-dads to construct lots of objects (drums, dolls, small vehicles), hurrying to finish so that they might take them home, I asked, “What do you do with them at home?” The children put down their scissors and tape and cardboard, looked at me with disbelieving pity and chorused: “We play with them!” Of course, they were making toys! And they were incredulous that I could not recognise what they were doing. Absorbed in spontaneous mental images of things they wanted to play with, and inspired by the materials at hand, they were completely engaged in bringing their creative visions into form. (Excerpt from psy-

chologytoday)

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fridAY, may 25, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GDF aircraft “tried and tested” – Harmon

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midst concerns being expressed over procurement of four aircraft, the types of which are no longer manufactured, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon has again sought to defend the $697 million purchases.

Since Government announced its intention to buy two Islander and two Skyvan reconditioned aircraft, which are no longer being manufactured, questions have been raised on various issues, including maintenance and sourcing of parts. The Islanders will be purchased from a company in neighbouring Brazil, while the Skyvans, from Belgium, are owned by a United Statesbased company.

State Minister Joseph Harmon has explained that a team from the Guyana

Defence Force (GDF) has inspected the planes to be procured from a company in Brazil, and has submitted positive reports on the condition of these craft.

“I can also say to you that the aircraft…were inspected, and that the team of inspectors sent back a very positive [preliminary] report about the condition of (the) aircraft, and they believe that we have a very good buy…and I have every confidence in the quality of personnel that actually inspected these aircraft and recommend them for purchase by us in Guyana,” he stated.

According to the State Minister, Guyana, like many countries around the world, already has operating similar aircraft which were manufactured sometime around 1977.

“These were aircraft that

A Skyvan already in the GDF’s fleet

people don’t sell them when they have them… What I can say to you is that these are tried and tested aircraft all around the world. In fact, here in Guyana, there is a large fleet of that type of aircraft, and when people have them, they don’t sell them,” he said.

Asked about the lifespan of these aircraft, Minister Harmon pointed out, “These engines can be changed,

they can be upgraded and all of that; so there’s no single statement that says, ‘This aircraft will run for five years, 10 years…’ Once the airframe is solid -- and I can say to you the airframe is very solid -all of the other parts can be changed as you go along. So you’ll have good lifespan off these aircraft.”

Earlier this month, the National Assembly approved $484,239,000 for the GDF

to make final payments for the four aircraft. The army had already identified some $213,885,000 from its 2018 capital programme to make initial payments.

Harmon, who also sits on the Defence Board, told the House’s Committee of Supply the foregoing in answer to questions from Opposition Parliamentarian and former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira had asked whether Government had considered procuring Twin Otter aircraft instead. In response, the State Minister explained that while the Twin Otters are as good as Islanders, the latter are more versatile, and spares are easier to source.

He had noted, too, that the GDF is better equipped to deal with these types of aircraft, while adding that the price was also a deciding factor, since a Twin Otter costs somewhere between US$2.4 million and US$4 million for a used one, and a new one is being sold at US$7 million.

The two Islanders will be used to ferry passenger and cargo, while the two Skyvans will be used for paratrooping and “troop-carrying purposes”.

Taxi driver arrested for murder of Guyana Goldfields employee A s investigations continue into the murder of Neil Whyte who was found dead with at least seven stab wounds to his neck, a taxi driver was on Thursday arrested and is being grilled in connection with the murder.

The suspect has been identified as a 28-year-old man of La Penitence, Georgetown. He was arrested based on several leads that were available to detectives.

Guyana Times was told that the lawmen are also working with circumstantial evidence since no one has confessed to the heinous crime.

Hours after Whyte’s body was found in an apartment owned by Guyana Goldfields Inc at Thomas Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown, a Berbice resident was arrested and remains in custody.

This publication understands that the security officer who made the discovery remains in an unconscious state after suffering cardiac arrest.

Before the arrest, he spoke with the Police and would have divulged some critical information.

However, information reaching Guyana Times also suggested that there might have been someone else in the building on the night the company’s Supply Chain Manager

Murdered, Neil Whyte

was found dead.

The dead man’s laptop which was reportedly missing from his bedroom was found in the compound of the head office. However, the Police are still to locate the man’s other personal belonging including his debit and credit cards, as well as his passport.

Relatives of the now dead man are hoping for some answers from the Police since marks on his hands proved he had put up a fight. “No one person can hold down Neil, much less to tie his hand and feet… there had to be an accomplice and we want to get down to the bottom of this issue,” a relative told this newspaper.

The relative also related

that Whyte’s recent promotion came with lots of enemies. “We know who Neil is… we don’t want people to be dragging the family members in the mud… we want the killers to be brought to justice,” a cousin explained.

The cousin who was expected arrive in the country on Thursday evening stated that the Guyanese media has already painted a “bad picture” of his cousin and feels that the public is more interested in his cousin’s lifestyle rather than assisting the Police in solving the murder.

The nude and bloodied body of Whyte was found on his bed between 22:22h and 23:45h on Monday evening. At the time of the discovery, his hand and feet were bound and several stab wounds were seen on his neck and other parts of the body.

Prior to the discovery, the security guard for the apartment confirmed that Whyte escorted a friend into the apartment. At the gate, the friend’s name was given as Arif Alli who is former employee of the Guyana Goldfields.

Shortly after, Alli was seen leaving with a haversack claiming that he was going to collect an item. Instead, he joined a taxi at the corners of Thomas and Middle Streets.

Following protocol, the guard went to check on Whyte and it was then the gruesome discovery was made.

Whyte’s body was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary where it awaits a post-mortem exam-

ination today. Whyte was expected to leave the country with his parents for Canada on Thursday evening.

8 news

friDAY, may 25, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cross-dresser charged with assaulting cops, damaging Police Station door

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2 1 - y e a r - o l d cross-dresser was on Thursday granted bail by Magistrate Leron Daly when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to three charges.

Nicholas Kissoon of B Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him. The court heard that on May 23, Kissoon while in custody at the Brickdam Police Station damaged a door and door lock.

He was also charged for assaulting Police Constables Tavon Watts and Ryan Fields. Kissoon

Nicholas Kissoon

was also charged with resisting arrest from Constable Fields.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh did not have objec-

tions to bail being granted to the defendant.

The unrepresented Kissoon was released on $90,000 bail. The charges stemmed from an incident which occurred on April 27, 2017 at the Georgetown Prison, following an altercation between Kissoon and a female prison officer.

Kissoon said she visited the prison to take “support” for a family member and got into an argument with the female officer at the gate.

“She cuss me first, so I cuss her back and they took me to Brickdam Police Station,” Kissoon related.

“They took me to the

[Brickdam Police] Station to have a seat; they beat me and start discriminating my lifestyle I live … they are finding a lot of charge because they lash me to my head and bust it,” he explained.

As it relates to the issue of attempted suicide, Kissoon said that it was a “trumped-up” charge and he had no knowledge as to why the Police would charge him with such an offence. “I have no knowledge about that, that’s a false allegation made against me by the Police.”

Meanwhile, Kissoon is expected to return to court on May 28, 2018.

Herstelling man arraigned for reputed wife’s murder

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Herstelling, East Bank Demerara man who allegedly strangled his reputed wife, Lowtie Atwaroo, to death on Monday evening was on Thursday arraigned for the heinous crime.

Thirty-eight-year-old Daniel Watson, of Lot 1262 Plantation Walk, Herstelling, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on May 21, 2018, he murdered Atwaroo, called “Mona”.

Defence Attorney Bernard Da Silva claimed that his client was beat-

Daniel Watson

en by Police ranks in order for him to sign documents that he was not too famil-

iar with. He asked that his client be medically examined and be given an early date for a Preliminary Inquiry (PI).

However, Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh told the court that the investigations into the matter were ongoing and were awaiting statements.

It was reported that the incident occurred about 21:00h on Monday last when Atwaroo went to visit her reputed husband.

Investigations revealed that Atwaroo moved out of the couple’s home over two months ago after being al-

legedly abused by Watson.

However, they allegedly continued a visiting relationship.

Reports are that on the day in question, the woman went to visit her reputed husband and shortly after was seen submerged in a drain.

Watson reportedly fled the scene, but was later apprehended, arrested and charged with the capital offence. The accused was remanded to prison by Magistrate Leroy Daly and would make his next court appearance on May 28.

4 arrested as human trafficking ring busted

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s investigations continue into a Trafficking In

Persons (TIP) ring that was busted on Tuesday, the Police have arrested

four persons at a bar along Garnett Street, Newtown, Kitty Georgetown.

The men were arrested on Thursday afternoon in connection with human trafficking.

This is according to a Police source who confirmed that the men were taken to the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters for questioning.

It is believed that the men had a hand in the discovery of 16 females suspected to have been trafficked during a raid by the Major Crimes Unit within the Guyana Police Force at a David Street, Kitty Home.

The women –- 14 Venezuelans, one Cuban and one Dominican Republic national – provided statements to investigators on Wednesday. The security guard attached to the building where the women were being kept was also arrested as investigations intensify.

Moreover, it is alleged that the home that was raided belonged to a Guyanese cricketer.

This information was confirmed by a senior Police source who said that the rescued females “are suspected to be victims of human trafficking at a bar … situated at Garnett Street”.

Investigations are ongoing.

Signalling…

Y

…extremist strategy?

our Eyewitness returns to that upcoming heavyweight bout in August, between the incumbent Chairman of the PNC, in the red corner, Basil Williams; and in the green corner, his erstwhile challenger, Joseph Harmon. Since this is such a highly anticipated bout between two bruisers who weren’t around during the 60s “disturbances”, let’s see what they bring to the hustings.

We can do worse that begin with Basil Williams.

Pedestrian at best as a lawyer, Williams unfortunately doesn’t know he “doesn’t know” and so keeps on going when others would’ve already thrown in the towel! There were trenchant criticisms from the PNC when Nandlall was made Attorney General by the PPP. Said it was bucking Guyanese tradition which insisted that position be filled by someone senior at the bar. But c’mon now… can Williams even hold a candle to Nandlall??

So what exactly is Williams’ claim to the PNC’s chair being used as a stepping stone to “Leader” and then “President”?? Well, he’s been around for a long time… around the PNC that is, starting all the way back to being one of the water boys to Burnham (“Personal Assistant”) back in 1983, fresh out of law school. But cockroaches have been around even before the dinosaurs, much less humans! The question is: have they – like Williams – evolved?? It doesn’t appear so.

But looks like Williams intends to imitate Burnham in at least one respect – to signal a violent response by the PNC ground forces against the Opposition and their supporters. Just listen to his charge to the PNC’s General Council: ‘Stand up for the PNCR and defend it!!” Burnham would use what’s been called “esoteric” language known to the followers, creating a climate of threat to their security and to which they had to respond violently.

During the sixties rallies – segued – into riots against the PPP Government, his speeches were punctuated with references to “violence”.

Williams was there for “the boys in Buxton” during the PNC-precipitated “Decade of Death” – and was even said to have cavorted with them on the “line top”. He eventually got one of them, “Biscuit” freed from charges related to several massacres – including that of Sash Shah. Most infamously, he was on the other side of the line with Winston Felix, gyaaffing about the Agricola massacre, to throw the PPP Administration “’off scent”.

Right Bannuh??

More recently, he demonstrated another qualification for PNC leadership when he told Justice Holder – in court!! – “I could say what I want to say and when I want to say it, I have always been like that.” No reprimand followed, even though the Judge called the outburst: “despicable”!!

That, obviously, was just the Judge’s “perception”!!

…AFC’s ganja outrage

We live in a crazy world, don’t we, dear reader?

After three years in office – having taken the PNC over the winning tape – the AFC’s suddenly “outraged” that a three-year sentence was handed down at the possession of eight grams of ganja!! Was the law suddenly changed??

No…the release acknowledged the Magistrate had to follow sentencing guidelines under the law.

Is this possession of small quantities of ganja being a criminal offence, a new matter? Hardly!! The Rasta community’s been bringing it up every opportunity they can: it’s used in their SACRAMENTS!! Then the AFC NEGOTIATED and RECEIVED the Public Security Ministry (MPS) in the new Government. The MPS enforces what the law deems to be illegal. So how come Ramjattan, Public Security Minister, hasn’t been in the forefront to have the law changed so the Police could quit harassing folks just taking a spliff?

And then there’s the man who would be PM (he sure ain’t one NOW!!) Nagamootoo.

He thinks folks don’t know about the “use and abuse” of ganja??!!

…more graft

After years of milling around and wringing their hands, City Hall seems to have reeled in the EU to provide $400 million to repair City Hall.

Now they can RUB their hands in glee!! Mo’ money!!

Mo’ money! Mo’ money!!

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

News

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friDAY, may 25, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Jagdeo in favour of non-custodial sentences for small quantities of marijuana – says APNU and AFC divided on issue; accuses AFC of being "opportunistic"

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has thrown his support for custodial sentences for small quantities of marijuana to be removed from the law books in its entirety, but maintained that he is not in favour of the legalisation of marijuana for commercial purposes.

Jagdeo made this announcement on Thursday during his weekly press conference at his Church Street, Georgetown office. He reminded that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has made a commitment to support a ‘conscience vote’ should the matter come up for a vote in the National Assembly.

“To send somebody, a young person or even an older person…to jail for less than a quarter ounce of marijuana for three years, when we have people who are traffickers, and we have people growing large quantities of marijuana, because they have money they get off from the system,” he explained.

The former President said

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

he is not opposed to having them face some penalty, but he would recommend alternative or non-custodial sentencing such as: community work and rehabilitation. “Sentence them to community work, sentence them to rehabilitation… you don’t want them locked away,” he added.

Jagdeo noted that it was not a contentious issue as that of the death penalty and could be resolved.

Further, the PPP General

Secretary noted that it is clear that the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is divided on the issue. Also, the AFC he said, has used the recent sentencing of a father to three years to speak about it, describing the party as opportunistic.

For almost three years, the AFC has still not managed to find support from the APNU to support the motion in the name of AFC

parliamentarian, Michael Carrington, to move the first reading of the Narcotics Drug and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill.

The motion to have the first reading of the Bill was tabled since December 10, 2015. The Bill itself has not been made public.

Former AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes, with the help of Attorney Mark Waldron, had drafted the bill, which seeks to soften the penalties for marijuana possession. That draft bill stipulates that persons who are found in possession of the drug for personal use would be required to pay a fine of $10,000, or perform community service for a period of time, something that is being widely supported.

But Jagdeo also explained that calls for public consultation on this very issue by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, is just an attempt to delay the issue. He said AFC members in Government are also being pressured by its

Armed men terrorise, rob poultry farm owner – cart off cash, motor car

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he owner of the Lalbeharry Poultry Farm, Craig, East Bank Demerara (EBD) is now counting her losses after bandits stormed her establishment and carted off a quantity of cash, along with her son’s motor car.

The victim, Patsy Lalbeharry, called Lalita, of Buzz-Bee-Dam, Craig, is still left in shock following the daring robbery, which occurred about 04:14h on Thursday.

When contacted, Lalbeharry’s son, Deonauth, explained that his mother resided with him and another son in the two-storey structure. On the morning of the robbery, Deonauth explained that he was awakened by the sound of a “loud explosion”.

“I start thinking it is some

electrical problem, but then I heard my mother pleading and saying ‘Oh God, don’t kill me!’” the man recalled.

At that time, he said three men barged into his room, armed with handguns.

Guyana Times understands that the bandits kicked open the door leading to the businesswoman’s bedroom after which they made their way to the two sons’ rooms.

The armed men threatened the trio, demanding that they turn over their “cash and gold”.

Fearful for her life and her sons’, the 56-year-old woman immediately complied and the men escaped with one of her son’s motor car – a silver grey Toyota Premio, PTT 502.

Law enforcement ranks were immediately contact-

The home which the bandits broke into

ed and checks at the home revealed that the bandits might have been hiding in the house for quite some time.

“We found cigarette ash in the lower flat and it appears as though the men were in the house and waiting for someone to come downstairs,” Deonauth noted.

This is the first time the

family has been robbed at their home, but back in 2017, the family suffered significant losses following a burglary committed on their business located on the public road.

Meanwhile, the Police have dusted the crime scene for fingerprints as they continue their investigations.

No arrests were made.

party members to push for the changes to the marijuana laws. “Their best way to deal with it (division) is to push it off via a call for public consultation,” Jagdeo observed.

He said, “This public consultation, I think is to solve the contradiction that they have among themselves.”

When questioned as to whether he would support looking into the economic benefits of marijuana, Jagdeo said, “I am not supporting the legalisation of marijuana, growing marijuana, trading marijuana, selling marijuana in Guyana, you go to jail for that sort of thing, that’s our law I am not supporting that.”

Minister of State Joseph Harmon has also affirmed that decriminalising the use of this substance is not on its immediate radar. He instead has laid that responsibility at the feet of the Judiciary, stating that the matter of sentencing lies within the purview of the Judiciary.

“With respect to decriminalisation of marijuana, that is not a matter that is engaging our immediate attention.

What we have (is) a motion in the National Assembly by one of our members about the sentencing policy with regard

to marijuana,” he explained.

Carrington’s draft legislation intended to reduce the penalties attached to possession of small amounts of marijuana intended for personal use has been pending for a year now in Parliament.

While a number of developed countries have acted to decriminalise marijuana, and the movement is gaining momentum worldwide, President David Granger has instead cautioned against buying into practices being embarked upon by developed countries that have the requisite framework in place to support such legislative reforms.

The President has made it clear that such reforms are currently not a concern of the Government; and, on a more personal note, has declared that he would not subscribe to the usage of marijuana.

According to Guyana’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, once someone has summarily been convicted of possession of any narcotic, that person is liable to be imprisoned – for at least three years and at most five.

There is also a fine attached to such conviction.

10 news

friDAY, may 25, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Men pretending to be GRA agents seize imported liquor – demand $125,000 not to prosecute

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67-year-old caretaker of Amazon Delight located at Regent and Oronoque Streets, Georgetown was allegedly scammed of almost $300,000 in imported liquor and cash from two men pretending to be officials of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

“Aunty Seeta” told Guyana Times that the men turned up at the business place about 10:00h, fully dressed and carrying badges with the GRA logo.

“They said GRA sent them to seize the imported liquor because she didn’t have their [GRA] stamp on it,” she explained.

This publication understands that GRA’s Customs, Excise and Trade Operations (CE&TO) has made mandatory the application of Excise Stamps on imported alcohol (excluding beer) and tobacco products.

As such, importers, businesses and persons selling alcohol and tobacco products are expected to have these stamps on their products to verify that the items were legally imported into Guyana.

According to “Seeta”, she was ordered to turn over $150,000 in import-

GRA Headquarters

ed liquor— namely, tequila, whiskey, Black Hennessy, Ciroc, Grey Goose, Apple Smirnoff and Vanilla Smirnoff.

Moreover, the men advised her that if she did not want to face criminal charges, she should pay them $125,000. The woman said that she complied.

However, after the men left, the distraught woman said she began to feel sceptical about the way in which the men operated. As such, she reportedly contacted the GRA office on Wednesday and reported the matter.

However, she was then informed that the entity

did not order the seizure of items belonging to the establishment. It was then that the pensioner realised she had been conned.

“I called 911 and they took a statement from me and the person on the other end of the line told me to report the matter to the Alberttown Police Station,” the woman explained.

The woman has been taking care of the business for the past 14 years and according to her, this is the first time she has been conned.

Both the GRA and the Guyana Police Force have launched an investigation into the matter.

S RAIGHT Platoon of former military men entrusted to deliver transformation Guyana needs

S

ome 15 years ago, false intelligence reports and a compliant American News Media helped to sell the idea that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction that created the reason for the invasion of Iraq. Today we are finding out it was just a strategy to recapitalise and create new sale opportunities for the military-industrial complex.

The New York Times did an excellent job of exposing that part of the media sales pitch to the unsuspecting public, which was scripted by the Pentagon itself by way of a slew of welltrained Generals who were given special training to deliver talking points. Many of these military pundits were presented as military experts but the evidence reveals that the majority of the times, their futuristic recommendations were dead wrong. Further, their high-salaried sales consultancies to the Private Sector companies that dominate the military-industrial complex were not disclosed. Every now and then, the public catches on to this scam and they rebelled – the outcome – Donald Trump.

Similarly, in 2015, a platoon of former Generals and Colonels were presented to the Guyanese public as the team to deliver the economic, political and social transformation needed. Well, the transformation never happened. What is becoming absolutely clear today is that these former officers have a casual relationship with what needs to be done and are at sea when it comes to delivering on the promises made? It is all a big scam. But what is most discerning is that the Guyanese media has failed to expose this scam.

With three years gone, one would have wanted to evaluate the change in service at the Georgetown Public Hospital, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) and the many other places that this elitist group has invaded. The evidence reveals that these people have gotten worst in their performance every day and continue to arrogantly pass themselves off as the only group that can get things done.

Their strategy is extremely simple. With military precision, they hide from the media, continue to draw heavy-duty salaries, under deliver and under develop the nation in step with their Commander-in-Chief. But this entire operation is nothing but an old-fashion money-grab by a small elite for services not rendered over the last three years. There is one exception to this rule and he is Major General (Rtd) Joseph Govinda Singh, who has literally retired himself from the public service after he was found to be unfit and improper by the President to serve as the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission.

These former military men present themselves as the responsible resistance to the people who are clamouring for good governance. They claim that their game plan is to clean up the corruption. But when their records are analysed, they sit on top of even greater levels of kleptomania compared to what the nation experience before May 2015. When caught, all they do is pass the buck and make excuses, knowing their Commander-in-Chief will give them an automatic free pass from his man cave on Main Street.

If one reflects on the CHPA as an example of this abuse, this organisation has delivered less than 300 houses in three years since President Granger arrived on the scene. To bolster this mega-level of incompetence, a former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Colonel was appointed and he promised to deliver 8000 houses in three years? But we are all fully aware this is just another gimmick at fooling the people in this money-grabbing scheme for this small elite.

That is why I, like many other Guyanese, are extremely concerned of this doggedness on the part of President Granger at wanting his ex-GDF man at the top of the Judiciary. No regard is being paid to the fact that under the current leadership of Justice Cummings, the Judiciary has been at its most efficient in decades. Why would you want to destroy what works?

When you allow the former military brass numbering less than 25 men to influence the political, economic and social spheres of Guyanese life so extensively; especially in areas in which they have no expertise, it normalises incompetence, underperformance, and underdevelopment. But they all serve at the pleasure of the President and therefore this is where the buck stops.

Burnham was always careful to keep these military types as far as possible away from the People’s National Congress (PNC) and he had valid reasons for doing this. The empirical evidence proves that military men struggle at leadership in civilian life. At the PNC upcoming Congress, a military man may be appointed its Chairman. If such a possibility does occurs, that man will become the candidate in 2020 for that party. We have enough evidence that the current model does not work because of the poor performance of the current President, David Granger, so why would the PNC want to pursue such failed model again?

Please share your thoughts at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

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friDAY, may 25, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mother’s Day smashup claims 4th life A

lmost two weeks after a horrific accident along the Kuru Kururu Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, 46-yearold Rookmin Persaud of Kaneville Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara died while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

The housewife reportedly took her last breath on Wednesday evening.

Persaud was an occupant of the minibus which was involved in the accident. So far, four persons have now perished from the two-vehicle smash-up which occurred on Mother’s Day. One day after the accident, six-year-old Arianna Hughes of Rohan Housing Scheme and Back Half, Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), died. Her mother, Shennelle Hughes, 31, also died a few days later.

Shennelle Hughes was reportedly the driver of the mo-

The now dead woman moments after the accident on Mother’s Day

torcar on the day of the fatal accident. Quinton Odle, 42, of Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara, also died following the smash-up.

However, Prem and Lakeram Persaud of

Kaneville, EBD; Jada Enmore, nine; and four-yearold Tyrese Authur who were admitted patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital following the accident were discharged.

Three of the four people who have died were occupants of motorcar PMM 548 which collided head-on with the minibus bearing registration number BHH 8451.

The minibus was reportedly heading to Grove, EBD, while the motorcar was heading towards Linden.

Initial investigation revealed that the driver of the motorcar, Shennelle Hughes, drove into a pool of water, causing her to lose control of the vehicle. She swerved into the path of the minibus resulting in a collision.

Several persons from both vehicles sustained injured and were rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where they were treated but those with the more serious injuries were transferred to the GPHC. Of the eight, four persons are now dead while the others are said to be in stable conditions and are resting at home.

12 news

friDAY, may 25, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SOCU charges

Democracy under threat – former President

…says Govt out to get Jagdeo

Dr Ashni Singh

Winston Brassington

Anil Nandlall

head of Guyana celebrating 52 years as an independent nation, former Head of State Donald Ramotar has noted with great concern that “the very heart” of the Guyanese democracy may be under threat following the recent arrests of several officials under the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government. He shared these sentiments in an interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday where he concurred with former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, that the charges pursed by the

Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) is aimed to prosecute his predecessor, Bharrat Jagdeo who served as Finance Minister before his presidential reign.

“It is very clear that the real target is Jagdeo and that the regime is out to try to find some way to get him and that is why they’re breaking all laws and precedents going back all of these years to try to see if they find any nonsense of what they may describe as misconduct in office.

I think the Guyanese people are on to this military-type

Government,” Ramotar expressed.

Commenting on the dangers such actions could place of the democratic process, he indicated that the country’s economy and independence of various constitutional bodies and agencies could be infringed.

“It goes to the heart of our democracy and I think it will have some very serious consequences on our country as a whole because many banks and business people will be afraid to do business with the Government because they are

A

Former President Donald Ramotar

going all these years to charge people. They are vicious and vindictive in their actions [which are] very discouraging to business people who would like to do business with the Government,” he added, references the concern operatives within the Private Sector have raised.

Following the high-profile arrests and $6 million bail each granted to former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and former National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Head Winston Brassington, former

Finance Minister Sasenarine Kowlessar was recently arrested and questioned by SOCU. He served as Jagdeo’s Finance Minister from 1999 to 2006. In Ramotar’s view, the coalition Government is using Executive powers to “pressure” its opponents. “[The Government] is undermining our democracy – the very fact that you are charging officials of the former Government. It’s very clear that the APNU/AFC regime is undermining all our institutions and the Judiciary is not totally excluded from some the pressures that the Executive is putting in trying to undermine the constitutional bodies in our society including the Parliament and the Police.

When one looks at some the decisions in the Judiciary, one wonders if some members are bowing and breaking to pressure to the Executive,” he claimed.

It was earlier this week that Nandlall expressed that the arrest of Kowlessar came as no surprise to members of the Opposition as they have always felt that the motive has been clear from day one. “It is clear beyond any doubt that these investigations are driven by a political and vindictive

motive.”

Nandlall had said, ultimately, this strategy is designed to get to the period when Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo was the Finance Minister. Jagdeo served as senior Finance Minister in May 1995 under Dr Cheddi Jagan. In December 1997, he was appointed as second Vice President.

While noting that constitutional immunities prevent them from charging Jagdeo while he was President, Nandlall is of the opinion that the coalition Government will go as far as it take even if it meant returning to two decades ago to persecute him for transactions done while he was Finance Minister. Nandlall concluded that it is unfortunate that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) does not see it as part of its constitutional mandate to protect the citizenry from these types of investigations, which are widely regarded as abusive and oppressive, but rather is part of the design that is promoting it. “If this is not the use of the criminal legal process to persecute political opponents, then I do not know what it is,” he told this newspaper.

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friDAY, may 25, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Minister’s brother pleads Best visit to Guyana – King guilty to cocaine trafficking of Soca tells UG students – to pay G$5.7M fine or spend 3 years in jail

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he younger brother of Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson was on Thursday given the option of paying a hefty fine or being jailed for three years after he pleaded guilty in a Grenada court to the charge of cocaine trafficking.

Derrick Patterson, 47, confessed to the crime when the charge was read to him

by Magistrate Tamara Gill at the St George’s Court in Grenada. The accused was ordered to pay EC$75,000 (G$5.789 million) or serve three years in jail, if he was unable to pay the fine.

It was previously reported that Patterson was visiting Grenada and resided at Captain Harris apartments in Grand Anse, St George’s.

However, on May 2, 2018, officers attached to the Drug Squad of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) intercepted a vehicle that was driven by Patterson.

The vehicle was searched and a total of 2.325kg of cocaine, worth approximately US$232,500 were found hidden in a plastic bag.

Derrick Patterson, younger brother of Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

Meanwhile, back in Guyana, the Public Infrastructure Minister made a public statement, noting that if his brother was found culpable of the offence, he would have to bear the brunt of his actions.

“Our position is that Derrick [Patterson] is a matured adult of 47 years and he must bear full responsibility for the consequences of his actions. Neither I nor any other member of my family can take responsibility for his own, deliberate actions,”

the Minister said in a public statement made on Facebook.

The Minister further explained that his family’s initial reaction at the news was that of shock, and while they remained deeply distressed and concerned, there was some hope that the law enforcement officials in Grenada may have made a mistake.

Nevertheless, he emphasised in his post that his younger brother must face the consequences if he was found guilty in the court of law.

Moreover, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had later called on Government to have a full-scale investigation launched in Guyana to ensure that the country’s security was not compromised, given the fact that the accused was a family member of a Government Minister and would have been granted certain “VIP treatment”.

“This is where the Government should launch a full investigation into it since this is a clean Government that doesn’t tolerate drug dealing,” he had stated.

Machel Montano poses with a few staffers from the University of Guyana

I

n an electrified atmosphere, pumped and ready for fete season, the King of Soca, Machel Montano, visited the University of Guyana (UG) Turkeyen Campus, where he told excited and screaming fans that this is his best visit to the country. His visit to the institution was made possible by the GTT. The soca genius was greeted by screaming fans and flashing lights as he took to the stage.

The musician said he has never experienced Guyana in such a way, since he was treated to some Guyanese folklore music, which blew him away. This, he said, definitely makes his visit memorable and the best so far.

Montano said he has been singing since the age of seven and became a profes-

sional musician at just nine years old.

The now 43-year-old energetic performer shared that he believes cooperation is better than competition.

While responding to a question, he said he does not have a favourite song to perform.

“It’s not about the song, it’s about the audience,” he said that makes his performances special.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Ivelaw Griffith said the University is proud to be partnering with HJ and the other promoters to make the show a success.

“This is a symbol not only of the recognition our University pays to the arts, to music, to drama, to sculpture, it is also testimony of the recognition of our partnership with companies, great companies like GTT,”

according to the Professor.

Second Vice Chancellor, Paloma Mohamed expressed gratitude for the event, since funds will go towards to University’s music and arts division.

“This event is of course in support of our artist and residence programme at the University of Guyana.

It started about two years ago, a new initiative by the VC (Vice Chancellor)… so the funds from these tickets go towards supporting that initiative,” Mohamed explained.

A number of tickets for the ‘RevelNation’ slated for this evening at the Guyana National Stadium were given away to special audience members, who not only seized the opportunity for a photo, but to dance with the performer.

14 News

friDAY, may 25, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s 52nd Independence anniversary celebrations…

“Do not lose sight of developmental goals” – Better Hope/LBI NDC Chairman tells stakeholders – RDC Chairman urges focus on STEM, oil and gas sector

Part of the flag raising ceremony

By Michael Younge

D

ozens of residents from the Better Hope/ La Bonne Intention (LBI) communities on the East Coast of Demerara braved a bout of inclement weather to be part of the Neighbourhood Democratic

Council’s (NDC) annual Flag Raising Ceremony and Cultural Show on Thursday which was executed as part of a menu of events to mark the country’s 52nd Independence anniversary which will be celebrated tomorrow.

The hoisting of the flag

took place at the NDC building in the compound of Better Hope Community Centre Ground and saw in attendance Regional Chairman for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Genevieve Alleyne; NDC Chairman, Dr Zaman Shaw; Ministry of the Presidency

Representative Ernest Elliot; senior functionaries of the Guyana Defence and Police Forces and other regional representatives.

Speaking at the event, Dr Shaw underscored the importance of Guyana’s attainment of Independence from British colonial rule as he told residents that a lot of sacrifices were made by scores of Guyanese to ensure that Guyana could determine its own destiny and future.

Dr Shaw said Guyanese cannot downplay the important role played by several architects in the entire process to build a more united and cohesive society. He urged those present to never lose sight of the goals and aims of developing a

A section of the gathering

more modernised and unified Guyana as he called on all those present to put their backs to the wheel to ensure that they play their part.

Shaw was also adamant that while the NDC has done a lot to improve the livelihoods of residents in the Better Hope and La Bonne Intention catchment area, more work needs to

be done to strengthen the NDC’s performance in core areas.

He spoke of the need to also redouble efforts to tackle the issue of advancing the educational needs of students and young people as he referenced the fact that the NDC has already managed to reopen the community’s public library and partner with the Government to benefit from its E-Governance Initiative which sees more young people accessing free ICT and Internet services.

Dr Shaw also explained that as Guyana marks its 52nd anniversary, his NDC remains open to working with all stakeholders and non-governmental groups to achieve its overall goals and objectives.

Similarly, RDC Chairman Alleyne encouraged students and residents to turn their minds to the opportunities that are being created in the country as a result of the emerging oil and gas sectors which she said offer tremendous possibilities for them to become leaders of modern forms of technological and innovation.

She also explained that much has been accomplished in Guyana since 1966 as she stressed that Guyanese ought to be proud of their culture, heritage and ethnic diversity.

According to Alleyne, there is much to be celebrated and there is an urgent need for all the communities to work together to achieve the country’s motto of “one People, One Nation and One Destiny”. She was hopeful that more emphasis would continue to be placed on creating the right type of communities that can mould and rear responsible citizens who were committed to Guyana’s developmental thrust.

A traditional march-past and parade was done by the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.

Students from various schools including Montrose Primary, Plaisance Secondary and LBI Nursery delivered dances, poems and patriotic songs during the programme.

news

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friDAY, may 25, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

City Hall still to acquire garbage trucks M

onths after the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) announced it will purchase two garbage trucks to minimise its expenditures and improve efficiency in the area of garbage collection, those vehicles are yet to be secured.

Director of Solid Waste, Walter Narine, during an interview with Guyana Times explained that the project was sent to tender in March and is awaiting selection.

In addition to the garbage trucks, City Hall also intends to purchase a tractor and two trailers to aid in the area of garbage collection, Narine posited.

“Ministry of Communities of course is doing all the tendering from Government and also on our behalf. Ministry of Communities would have advertised for tender in the newspapers and interested suppliers would have sent in their tender documents.

They are in the process of evaluating and awarding the contracts for these vehicles that we requested,” the Solid Waste Director explained.

He said during a previous statutory meeting, the Council decided that $75 million will be allocated to his department, which will be entirely used to fund the purchase of the vehicles.

The two trucks the M&CC intend to purchase will be financed using the $200 million subvention from the Communities Ministry, which was granted in this year’s budget.

Currently, City Hall pays approximately $90 mil-

other company after they would have pulled their services owing to non-payment.

The bailout was granted and Central Government decided to pick up the tab until December 31, 2018, after which the M&CC would

Director of Solid Waste, Walter Narine

lion per month in garbage collection fees to its two major contractors, Puran Bros Disposal Service and Cevons Waste Management Inc. “In our 2018 Budget, the $200 million that was given to us by the Government will be busted to purchase two new garbage trucks.

Until those trucks are here, I don’t think we have the capacity to clear effectively the areas that the Council controls and we are still looking at that,” Mayor Patricia Chase Green has stated.

The two waste management firms had withdrawn their services on July 30, 2017, as City Hall’s debts had risen to the multimillion-dollar range.

According to the companies, the issue of non-payment has been a long-standing one, with many debts going as far back as 2015.

However, they have since resumed collection after the municipality approached Central Government through the Communities Ministry for a bailout of $475,635, 245 to settle the city’s debt to Puran Brothers, Cevons, and an-

National mining syndicate urges small miners to sell to GGB

T

he National Mining Syndicate (NMS) of Guyana is urging small miners that it is imperative for them to sell their gold production to the Guyana Gold Board (GGB).

The NMS in a statement reiterated that in so doing, they are contributing directly to Guyana’s economy.

The release added that while that National Mining Syndicate is aware that some small miners have over the years grown accustom to selling their gold production to authorised dealers who in turn sell to the Gold Board, there is significant financial returns and other benefits which small miners can enjoy if they engage the Gold Board directly.

“Further, we stand firmly being small miners who seek to do business with the Guyana Gold Board,” the statement added.

In addition, the small miners are reminded that one of the requirements for working on syndicate mining properties is that production should be sold to the GGB. “We also seek to remind all small miners to take their obligation to the State’s tax authority, namely the Guyana Revenue Authority, very seriously”.

This obligation, the release posited, allows for several benefits, including but not limited to them accessing their duty-free concessions.

step in.

On September 1 last year, the M&CC implemented fees for commercial waste collection. Small business operators are required to pay $5000 per month while medium businesses will con-

tend with $8000 per month.

However, large business operators across Georgetown are required to pay the most significant figure of $12,000 per month for their waste collection.

The Solid Waste Director

had told the Council that while the originally approved fees for commercial garbage collection were $5000, $10,000 and $15,000 – the last two were reduced to $8000 and $12,000 after consultations.

16 news

friDAY, may 25, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Former SWAT Guyana signs on to ratify Head sent on Caricom Arrest Warrant Treaty leave with pay G T

he former Head of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, Motie Dookie, who was entwined in an alcohol smuggling scandal late last year was on Tuesday last sent on “special leave” with pay, following directions from Government.

A Police source confirmed that the directive was made by a Government Minister.

Less than two weeks ago, although the investigation was ongoing into the smuggling allegation, Dookie was posted to A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) as one of the five Sub Divisional Officers.

Earlier this year, Dookie was removed from his post as the Commander of the SWAT Unit, pending the outcome of an investigation into alcohol smuggling that he was implicated in.

According to information at the time, on December 31, 2017, Dookie was taken into Police custody at the Whim Police Station and placed under close arrest after 30 cases of illegal whiskey was discovered in a vehicle in which he was travelling.

The discovery was made when officers stopped the minibus on the Whim Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice, to conduct a routine search.

Dookie reportedly told the Police that there were

Former SWAT Head Motie Dookie

only 10 cases of whiskey but a search later unveiled that there were actually 30 cases.

A source at the time told iNews that following interrogation by officials attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Dookie “was not able to provide us with all the necessary documentation but is insisting that there was no wrongdoing on his part. We have questioned the driver of the minibus too. He said the alcohol was to be used at a party.

Dookie was not given permission to leave Georgetown by his commanding officer.

At that time, the former SWAT Head had only been at his appointed post for three months following the dismissal of his predecessor, Deputy Superintendent Lonsdale Withrite.

uyana has ratified the Caricom (Caribbean Community) Arrest Warrant Treaty, paving the way for Member States to arrest and hand over criminals to authorities in other participating countries where the crime was committed.

At the post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon explained that this move by Guyana, along with two other Member States, would allow for the ratification of the Treaty.

“The Treaty requires three Member States to sign for its entry into force and Guyana, having received the approval of Cabinet, will be the signatory of that treaty to bring it into force,” he stated.

The objective of the Caricom Arrest Warrant Treaty is to “…establish, within the Caribbean Community, a system of arrest and surrender of requested persons for the

... comments “unfortunate” – Guyana’s retired Chancellor

By Shemuel Fanfair

I

ncoming President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice

…ahead of Independence celebrations

P

Pardoned prisoner Shremattie Singh

President Granger faced much criticism over these pardons when they were first done back in 2015, mere days after his assumption to office. He had pardoned over 50 criminals on two separate occasions in 2015 – 40 for Guyana’s 49th Independence Anniversary and 11 for that year’s Christmas holidays.

However, no pardons were done during the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary last year, and President Granger had explained that this was as a re-

purposes of conducting a criminal prosecution for an applicable offence; or executing a custodial sentence where the requested persons have fled from justice after being sentenced...”

According to the Treaty document, it will enter into force 60 days after the deposit of the third instrument

sues in relation to security throughout the Region and this treaty was one of the instruments formulated to enhance cooperation in this area. This was in light of the difficulties experienced with the extradition process.

The Treaty recognises that “… the current extradition framework among Member States is complex, costly and limited, and does not allow for a system of surrender of persons between judicial authorities of Member States; [and] recognising also that a system of surrender between the judicial authorities of Member States is desirable in the context of the integration objectives of the Caribbean Community for its economic and social development…”

It is expected that the Treaty will remove the complexity, costs and potential for delay, while establishing a more efficient system of surrender among participating Member States.

Barbados elections held CCJ’s hand from responding to PM’s exit promises

Female prisoner pardoned resident David Granger has extended pardon to yet another female prisoner in observance of the country’s 52nd Independence Anniversary.

According to a statement from the Public Security Ministry, the presidential pardon was granted with powers under Article 188(2) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

This year's lone beneficiary has been identified as 30-year-old Shremattie Singh, an inmate of the New Amsterdam Prison. She was convicted and served a portion of her sentence for a false pretence offence.

The presidential pardon takes effective from today.

Singh was found to be “fit and proper to receive such pardon,” the statement from the Public Security Ministry said.

“It is expected that this expression of compassion and humanity by His Excellency will result in this prisoner reuniting with her family and leading a good and useful life hereon,” the Public Security Ministry added.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

of ratification. Barbados and The Bahamas are said to be the other two countries to effect the ratification.

During the 38th Regular Meeting of Caricom Heads of State in July last year in Grenada, not all Member States, including Guyana, had formally signed onto the Treaty. The others were Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia.

At the conclusion of the regional meeting, then Caricom Chairman, Grenadian Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell was reported confirming that not all 15 Member States had signed onto the Treaty. He went on to explain that this was largely owing to internal issues regarding the laws within the respective Member States.

These countries were allowed to make the necessary changes to conform to the requirements of the Caricom Arrest Warrant Treaty.

Member States have often recognised major is-

sult of the selected prisoners not fully meeting the criteria set out. The same obtained for the 2016 Christmas holidays.

Meanwhile, last year, some 10 female prisoners were released – five during the 51st Independence Anniversary and another five for the Christmas holidays.

The pardoned criminals programme is an initiative of the Guyanese Leader, and is intended to give young “petty” convicts a second chance at life. Initially, the criteria used to select the beneficiaries included prisoners who are facing short sentences; those who are incarcerated for petty, non-violent offences; and those between the ages of 18 and 24.

However, this decision of pardoning criminals had caused uneasiness among Guyanese, especially business owners. Persons were also calling for the identities of these convicts to be made public, but it was explained that this would hinder the reintegration of these young people into society.

Adrian Saunders, has indicated that the CCJ would eventually respond to statements made by Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart in relation to his country withdrawing from the regional body should he win the elections.

Justice Saunders made the remarks at Duke Lodge in Georgetown during the University of Guyana’s fourth hosting of its Conversation on Law and Society.

Saunders gave a well-received lecture on rule of law and the Caribbean Court of Justice at Thursday’s event. However, during the conversation aspect of the night’s proceedings, the CCJ President-designate was questioned directly if a CARICOM (Caribbean Community) member state would be justified if it felt that the CCJ is being adjudicated by politicians in robes, as per the Barbados PM’s comments made in St Michael, Barbados.

Justice Saunders responded by indicating that the CCJ had been inclined to respond, but avoided such, as the response “could be misinterpreted and used for political purposes, so we didn’t think it prudent to respond... but at some point we will,” he said.

The much celebrated legal luminary informed the gathering that CCJ Justices reviewed the footage of the Barbados Prime Minister’s comments and found “factual inaccuracies,” but noted that the election period was considered before a response was made.

“Our litigation is one where you have winners

Justice Adrian Saunders

and losers at the end of the day, and a losing litigant is not likely to be happy with the court. My colleagues and I listened very carefully to a clip of what the Prime Minister or Barbados said, and there were just some factual inaccuracies which we thought that we would have responded to, but we thought that we shouldn’t respond in the height of an election campaign,” Justice Saunders stressed.

The Barbadian Prime Minister had cited disrespect from the Port of Spain-based court and the limited number of cases being brought before it. He had also stated that he would ensure that Barbados does not return to the Privy Council, which in effect means the Barbados Appeal Court could be made the country’s final court.

Meanwhile, retired Chancellor of the Judiciary in Guyana, Justice Carl Singh, deemed the political comments unfortunate, but reminded the gathering

at Duke Lodge on Thursday that politicians are subject to the people of a country.

“We have heard some unfortunate comments from politicians with respect to the CCJ, and much was said about the politicians’ will; but we, as a region, need to understand that the politician’s will is controlled by the will of the people,” the former head of Guyana’s Judiciary observed.

Local commentator and Attorney Christopher Ram had also disagreed with the PM’s statement.

“I think that is most unfortunate, because we should be trying to develop some kind of Caribbean jurisprudence, which admittedly the CCJ has not been able to do, or has failed to do,” he told <<Guyana Times>> earlier this week.

Other areas the conversation at Duke Lodge focused on were the region’s justice system, sentencing policies, and the need for political non-interference in the judiciary. Thursday’s event was facilitated by University Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith. The conversations seek to have participants and the public examine the social implications of legal issues in a way that ideas could be shared to contribute to positive change.

The CCJ was established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council as the region’s final court, but while many of the 15-member Caricom countries are signatories to the court’s original jurisdiction, only Barbados, Guyana, Belize and Dominica are members of its Appellate jurisdiction.

friDAY, may 25, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

News

Nandlall apologises for late CLC opens oil submission in Red House matter and gas training

Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall

A

ttorney-at-Law for the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) Anil Nandlall apologised to acting Chief Justice Roxane George, who chided him for his late submission to the Attorney General’s Chambers regarding the organisation’s challenge to

President David Granger’s revocation of the Red House lease.

Justice George had set out precise timelines for both sides to make submissions, but when the matter was heard earlier this week, Solicitor General Kym Kyte disclosed that she never received submissions from Nandlall. According to information received, the former Attorney General explained that he had the submissions with him.

Guyana Times understands that the acting Chief Justice appealed for the timelines to be honoured, saying that other predetermined timelines have been totally derailed owing to Nandlall’s late submissions.

However, Justice George gave both sides until June 1

Red House

to exchange submissions after which the matter would return on June 19 for clarification. The previous date for clarifications was May 15.

It was in December 2016 that President David Granger gave the occupants of the CJRC 48 hours

to clear the premises, but the move was halted via a High Court injunction.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Leader expressed that the President’s decision to revoke the 99-year lease was “unconscionable and vindictive”.

Linden youths benefit from ICT training

– under First Lady's Youth Development Initiative

O

ver the course of the next six weeks, approximately 30 youths of the Linden community will be trained and certified in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

The training was made possible through the Linden Information Communication Technology Training programme, an initiative which was made possible by the Office of First Lady Sandra Granger as part of the First Lady's Youth Development Initiative.

The training workshop, which is a collaborative effort with the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), was launched during a ceremony at the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) Resource Centre on Monday in the presence of participants and officials.

During the course of the programme, youths will receive training in the areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics); robotics; soft skills (communication skills, telephone ethics, etc); introduction to computers, mouse basics and keyboard references, micro enterprise, literacy and numeracy as well as sexual and reproduc-

Some of the young people currently being trained in ICT

tive health.

Trainer Fitzroy Younge emphasised that ICT was the new frontier of change and to this end, its immense potential was being overemphasised. "...the First Lady, through her initiative, has demonstrated that IT (Information Technology) would never be restrained from meeting areas such as Linden. The objective of the programme is to empower, not only young adults, but also the unskilled and vulnerable groups...in addition to enhancing the standard of living. The new IT skill will enable you, the participants, to perform effectively in various working sectors of Linden, while simultaneously improving your employability skills...," he stated.

At the end of the programme, Younge said

there would be trophies for the most improved student, valedictorian and second-best graduating student.

Upon completion of training, participants will be certified under the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment.

BIT Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Maughn shared with participants seven habits of successful teens as a means of encouraging youths to focus during the workshop.

"Opportunities can be given to you, but it's what you do with those opportunities that come your way will say whether or not you are truly empowered or embrace empowerment," Maughn related.

He further encouraged them to be committed and

take responsibility for their own learning.

In his remarks, Director of the Resource Centre, Deron Adams urged participants to stay engaged and proactive throughout training.

He told the youths that Guyana's ICT sector was presently at an exciting place marked by remarkable change, great challenges, and exciting opportunities, where communication and technology were making the world more connected than ever before.

"We'll continue to meet and bring inspired people together in forums like this to ensure that our people continue to stay strong, relevant and connected, particularly our young people. We stand at the leading edge of a time of amazing development under His Excellency, President David Granger, both within our communities and the country. It's people who make a difference, just like all of you who took time out to be here.

Together we're working towards an exciting future..," Adams said.

The training will be facilitated by nine facilitators and will conclude on June 27.

Consultation begins on Good Hope/ Supenaam Waterfront Improvement Project

A

consultation on the Good Hope/ S u p e n a a m Waterfront Improvement Project was held on Wednesday last at the Good Hope Centre, Essequibo Coast, with representatives from the Public Infrastructure and Communities Ministries, as

well as from the Region Two administration.

Persons who participated in the consultation were drawn from the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce, the Speed Boat Association, Forestry Commission, vendors, the Good Hope Transform Committee, Councillors of Neighbourhood Democratic

Councils, the Regional Democratic Council, as well as members of the public.

One of the many concerns raised was to cater for persons with disabilities and as such, assurance was given that such persons will be considered in the designing of the project.

The project consists of a

new revetment on the waterfront, appropriate vehicle parking, improved drainage to the immediate area, new boat landing facilities, arrival and departure wharf, tourism booth, new vending facilities, garbage receptacle, recreational space, solar lighting systems and general enhancement of the area.

Participants of the inaugural oil and gas training

T

he Critchlow Labour College on Thursday morning commenced its inaugural training sessions on oil and gas in its brand new wing on Wolford Avenue, Georgetown.

Citing the importance of the two-day training in the of oil and gas field, Principal of the institution, Ivor English, welcomed the 23 participants, who were drawn from Regions Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten. English said the training comes at a special time in the College’s history, since the institution is in its 50th year.

“After several months of discussions and negotiations, we are finally able to sign a memorandum of understanding so that this programme can be put into operation. So the end product is the establishment of a

ing expended on each of the students in the programme.

Over the two-day training, participants will be schooled in 12 different areas, some of which include the history of oil and gas and oil refining, gas processing, and downstream industries. Facilitating the sessions will be Kevin Durham, Chairman of the Trinidad institution.

The Principal charged the participants to be attentive as they engage in the educative sessions, which seek to provide them with the necessary skills in the natural resource field.

While reflecting on the establishment of the college, English said its primary objectives are to create opportunities to improve the quality of the labour force through training and education, as well as to give

From right: Principal of Critchlow Labour College, Ivor English; Chairman of the Energy Institute, Kevin Durham; and Secretary on the Board of Governance, Lincoln Lewis

centre for oil and gas technical and vocational training,” the Principal explained.

He added that persons attending courses in this field would be certified with an internationally recognized certificate issued by the Energy Institute.

The Principal told Guyana Times that the training is being funded by the College as well as

by Kaizen Environmental Services, Apollo Global Vision, and the Energy Institute of Trinidad & Tobago.

He expressed hope that other businesses would come on board to sponsor the students, since that would mean giving back to the country. The Principal noted that about $140,000 are be-

ordinary Guyanese an opportunity to pursue further education at a tertiary level.

He said although these objectives have been successfully achieved over the years, the College recognises a “compelling need” to offer programmes that are more relevant to the developmental needs of the people, hence the launch of this new training.

Lincoln Lewis, Secretary on the Board of Governance, said the recent discoveries have prompted discussions and have undoubtedly planted curiosity in the minds of the Guyanese men and women, and so the Critchlow Labour College is delighted to be offering training on this vivid subject.

guyanatimesgy.com

A

fter weeks of intense training, public appearances and preliminary competitions, the 10 delegates competing for the title of Miss World Guyana are ready for the grand coronation set for this evening at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston.

Less than two weeks ago, Andrea Marslowe, Lalita Baliram, Joylyn Conway, Lateifha Goodluck, Donnette Linton, Nichola Munroe, Dianna Persaud, Ambika Ramraj,

“R

evelNational” – one of the most talked about events goes down this evening at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara. The event is one of the signature events at Guyana Carnival 2018.

The headlining act for the event is the king of soca, Machel Montano and the HD Band.

Known for his energetic performance, the soca king is in Guyana and promises his fans an unforgettable evening.

Upon his arrival in Guyana, he had an engagement with

Tracy Smith, and Breeanka West were sashed as regional representatives for the pageant and from that moment they have all been great ambassadors.

After the sashing, the delegates were engaged in the fitness competition at the Lusignan Golf Course followed by the top model segment at Marriott Beach front and the Beauty with a Purpose Fair.

Now with the preliminary scores in, the

friday, MAY 25, 2018

delegates will have the most important task ahead of them; that is, to impress the esteem panel of judges and the audience this evening.

The scores from the preliminary competitions will be tabulated and will assist in the elimination process. The quest for the Miss World Guyana title began with at least 35 delegates indicating their interest in vying for the crown but after the interview segment, a total of 18 delegates were shortlisted then

again another eight were eliminated and today, we have the “cream of the crop”.

It all boils down to this evening as the delegates showcase the culmination of beauty with “Super G’s” as they display qualities such as “generous, genial, good, gregarious, golden, global, gifted, graceful and Guyanese”, and highlight the Miss World Guyana organisation’s commitment to promoting Guyanese talent to the rest of the world.

his fans at the University of Guyana, where he spoke of his musical career.

The event was organised by the GTT. However, this evening, he will be accompanied by Bunji Garlin and Fayann Lyons with the entire Vyking Band. The show is expected to start at the stroke of midnight and will go until six in the morning in time for the road tramp.

However, the J’Ouvert parties that were expected to take place this evening were held on Thursday evening instead. The Ignite concert featuring KI and Shal Marshal was also held on Thursday evening.

guyanatimesgy.com

O

n Saturday, hundreds of revellers are expected to take to the streets for the road tramp as Guyana celebrates its 52nd Independence anniversary.

This is the first time; Guyana will actually host a carnival-like event with the hope of making it an annual event.

However, after the road tramp, the excitement continues at the National

T

he eleventh edition of “Nothing to Laugh About” will be held at the National Cultural Centre from June 1-4, and from all indications, it is expected to be ‘hotter than ever”.

Under the 2018 themes “All now we unruly” and “Somebody say seditious?” this year, the franchise, which focuses on theatrical comedy production, comprising of satirical slapstick skits and stand-up comedy by some of the most seasoned actors in Guyana, intends to up its game.

friDAY, may 25, 2018

Park with “Soca Rave” promoted by Wildfire Entertainment and King Leo Promotion. The event will see a list of well-known artistes entertaining their fans to the max. Most of the artistes are already arriving in Guyana and have promised to treat their Guyanese fans to fabulous performances.

The concert will feature Kerwin Dubois, Patrice Roberts, Blaxx, Nailah Blackman, Rupee, Ravi B,

“This show is dubbed as the best of those that have been done thus far. From politics to religion to trending topics, NTLA has it all!

No one will be spared from the caricature,” the team said in a press statement.

The 11th edition of the show would feature performances from renowned local actors such as Michael “Credit” Ignatius, Lyndon “Jumbie” Jones, Kirwyn “Sir Mars” Mars, Clemencio Goddette, Brian Goodman, Chris Gopaul, Leza “Radica” Singh, Simone Persaud, Mark

Orlando Octave, Timeka Marshall, Jumo Primo and a superstar studded line-up of international soca deejays who will add excitement to the night’s activities.

All the listed artistes are known for their energetic performances and will ‘mash up’ the place. General admission tickets for the event cost $4000 while the VIP experience is $10,000 and the VVIP experience is $20,000.

“Chinee Man” Kazim, Zoya Moore, Ashley Alfred, Kijana Lewis, Ann-Marie Singh, Mark-Luke Edwards and Jermaine Grimmond.

Tickets are available at the National Cultural Centre, Gizmos and Gadgets, Elegance Jewellery, Payless Variety (Vreed-en-Hoop and Georgetown), KFC (Regent Street), Kirwyn Mars, Survival Supermarket, Igloo Outlet (Providence) and Giftland Mall. The prices range from $1000 to $2500.

19

S

imone Persaud, or as you may know her, “Sister Patsy” from the popular radio serial Merundoi, is an outspoken woman who is not afraid to share her opinions. Nervousness was never a factor for her as her confidence exudes all boundaries.

This confidence is what has catapulted her to higher levels within the acting fraternity and despite many challenges, she has managed to maintain her place in an arena that can devour the weak.

A mother of three fabulous children, who has proven time and time again that she is indeed a force to be reckoned with, Simone has been with “Nothing to Laugh About” for 11 years and has always delivered on stage. She has not only grown as an individual but as an actress.

A seamstress and designer by day, Persaud’s many talents make her an asset to the cast of NTLA. There is no doubt in our minds that Simone Persaud will rock the house when NTLA stages our 11th edition on June 1-4 at the National Cultural Centre.

O

ne of the hottest party spots, the District Ultra Lounge, Giftland Mall, is celebrating its first anniversary on May 26, at an event titled “GVO – Good Vibes Only”. Over the year, the party spot has become the household name for Team MMR parties and would have seen performances from the likes of Kees and other regional artistes and international deejays.

However, as the party spot turns one, the party will be nonstop. At the anniversary celebrations, one lucky person will win the Ultra Package of $150,000. In addition, there will be Moet and Hennessey Specials all night.

In order to ensure patrons and special guests have a grand time, Deejay Jam out of Toronto will be on the console. He is known for his excellent juggling skills and is ready to mash up the District Ultra Lounge on Saturday evening.

Ladies will be admitted to the event free before 21:00h.

20

friDAY, may 25, 2018

Malteenoes SC implementing plans to move forward T

– karaoke on tonight at Club’s pavilion

he new executive body of the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) recently held its first statutory meeting to name the sub-committees and plan for the way forward.

It was decided that despite the other activities slated for tonight as part of Guyana’s 52nd Independence Anniversary, Monthly Club Night and Karaoke would be held tonight at the club’s Thomas Lands venue, and all overseas members back home for the Independence celebrations are encouraged to attend.

Several projects have been set for the year, including construction of a multi-purpose, all-weather sports facility; increasing

the pool of youth cricketers, and enlarging the general membership of the club.

A brainchild of Owen John, construction of the practice facility is estimated to cost $3.3 million, and would include three pitches. Several businesses will sponsor this project for the MSC. The club hopes to develop a facility which can accommodate a basketball, volleyball and futsal court, in addition to cricket.

The entire sports facility should cost approximately $6.5 million, and would be rented to sports promoters to generate funds for the Club, which plays in GCA’s competitions.

The club also has plans to install floodlights, and is seeking sponsorship for this

Winston Semple (seating middle) with the new Malteenoes Sports Club executives

project.

Several overseas players have expressed willingness to contribute in whatever way they can. A number of

former players are seeking development of the infrastructure and other amenities at the club, and are keen to play their part in this re-

gard.

It has also been noted that past presidents Claude Raphael (who implemented a youth section in 1984), Lance Hinds, and (immediate past) Neil Barry have all indicated their willingness to contribute to the club’s development.

A Malteenoes’ president is limited to two terms in office, and current President Winston Semple and Secretary Adrian Smith are ex-officio members of each sub-committee.

Sub-committees are as follows: PUBLIC RELATIONS: Sean Devers (Chairman), Kurtis ‘DJ Casual’ Armstrong, Owen John, Darien Best.

FINANCE: Troy Lewis (Chairman), Shawn Holder,

Marcus Watkins, Deborah McNichol, Lance Hinds.

GROUND COMMITTEE: Troy Lewis (Chairman), Winston Semple, Shawn Holder.

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE: Adrian Smith (Chairman), Shawn Holder, Sean Devers, Quasen Nedd, Theresa Pemberton. FUND RAISING COMMITTEE: Deborah McNichol (Chairman), Oswald Pearce, Kurtis Armstrong, Owen John, Troy Lewis, Marcus Watkins, Darien Best, Kefa Naughton, Steven Jacobs, Theresa Pemberton, Alisha Dalrymple.

CRICKET COMMITTEE: Shawn Holder (Chairman), Steven Jacobs, Sean Devers, Marcus Watkins, Owen John, Darien Best and Oswald Pearce

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Doris visits Linden – urges support for local athletes

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21

Troy Doris, accompanied by the ministers and Director of Sport Christopher Jones

C

ommonwealth Games gold medalist Troy Doris was given a warm welcome at Linden on Wednesday when he attended an event organized by the Linden Youth Leaders (LYL) accompanied by Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Yearwood; Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes; and Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, among others.

Arriving via special motorcade, he held a meet-and-greet with local athletes, officials, and residents of the mining town.

Speaking at this event, hosted on Republic Avenue Mackenzie, Doris declared how elated he was to be in Linden, which he described as a "Mecca of athletics".

Doris said he was happy and excited to finally get to meet the people who are very happy for him; and he noted that nothing beats that happiness and joy coming straight from Guyana.

He thanked everyone for their support, and pointed out that his victory was not only for himself, but for all of Guyana.

"I think it's very safe to say that this is a personal victory, but this is a vic-

tory for all of us -- winning the gold medal. This is not just for me, this is for all of Guyana; this is for everyone! And the support shows, the appreciation shows. And being here and finally getting to interact with people, instead of being in offices all day, it makes it even better.

It makes that connection with the victory even better," Doris disclosed.

He shared what he believes are necessary requirements for victory and success, which he noted as support and dedication.

"There (is) no set formula, but there are a few steps that every person in their

personal life has to take to have success.

And I think (that), for me, it mirrors a lot of the formula that these athletes have here. The first thing is to have the support. You need that support from your home crowd...and the second step is dedication," Doris outlined, as he pointed out that local athletes Chantoba Bright and Daniel Williams are a direct reflection of this.

Additionally, he said that having opportunities and support will make athletes excel and place them in a better position. "...this victory, it came from that support and that dedication," Doris said.

The ministers congratulated Doris on his achievement, and Minister Yearwood promised there would be a surprise for the Gold medalist at the Independence observance.

Jones noted that it was a pleasure to have Doris in Guyana. Declaring him a beacon light of hope, he said that light was more so extended to Linden, which is noted for producing champion athletes. Jones said that despite challenges, Linden, which as yet does not have a synthetic track, has supported its athletes, and he predicted that much more will be seen from Linden’s athletes when the track comes on stream. He praised Guyana's athletes even as he pledged the administration's full support for them.

Chairperson of this event, former mayor Carwyn Holland, predicted that lots more are in store for Guyana, and encouraged all to look out for Doris again on the world stage in 2020, when he is set to triple jump his way to centre podium at the Olympics.

Bowling constant, batting the X-factor as KKR face SRH challenge

K

olkata Knight Riders (KKR)?will look to continue their winning run in the tournament when they take on The aura around Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) hasn’t dimmed despite four successive defeats before Friday’s qualifier against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) here.

“They are probably the favourites,” said Heath Streak, the bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), on Thursday.

Streak did speak about the advantage of being backed by a vociferous Eden, the confidence KKR would take into the game after four consecutive victories, how the Knights are peaking at the right time but he isn’t undermining a team that won nine of their first 11 matches in IPL 11.

“T20 games are won or lost in a matter of two or three overs. So, we need to forget that and focus on tomorrow,” said SRH wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha who missed the last five games due to a shoulder injury and loss of form.

Crucial to that is how Prasidh Krishna has shaped up. “He has pace and height. He is not letting batsmen guess what ball is coming next. Guys like Jaspreet Bumrah came on the scene doing exactly what he has. He is another one of those names IPL has unearthed,” said Streak.

“I still think in the first 10 overs we can improve and if we can do that tomor-

row and continue what we have been doing at the middle and backend, we can really put them under a lot of pressure,” he said.

This match could also hinge on which teams’ spinners make the best use of the track that could help them. SRH bring that element of unknown in that department, Saha said.

“Not many really know about Rashid Khan but we have all played Sunil Narine, Kuldeep (Yadav) and Piyush.” If SRH have better swing bowlers, KKR have ones who are faster. If KKR have more experienced spinners, SRH have a leggie who has flummoxed Virat Kohli. KKR may bat deeper but in Kane Williams, SRH have the man with the Orange Cap. Like a ‘semi-final’ should, this match may be decided by fine margins.

Possible XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Chris Lynn, 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Robin Uthappa, 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Dinesh Karthik (capt & wk), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Shubman Gill, 8 Javon Searles, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Piyush Chawla, 11 Prasidh Krishna Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Shreevats Goswami (wk), 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Yusuf Pathan, 7 Carlos Brathwaite, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Siddarth Kaul, 11 Sandeep Sharma

22

Kentucky Universitybound Natricia Hooper named NJCCA Regional Field Athlete of the Year G

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

fridAY, may 25, 2018

uyanese jumper Natricia Hooper has on Wednesday been named the New Jersey Child Care Association’s (NJCCA’s) Division One Atlantic Region Female Field Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Essex County sophomore won the NJCCA Outdoor Championships triple jump title last weekend with a best mark of 13.37 metres (WIND: +2.2m/s).

It would’ve surpassed her own school record she set in April en route to defeating a strong field of mostly NCAA Division 1 jumpers to win the Penn Relays title if the wind was not slightly over the allowable limit of +2.0m/s.

Two weeks prior, she finished 8th overall representing Guyana at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games with her lifetime best of 13.36m (+1.3m/s).

Hooper has carried over the momentum from a very

Budhai, Daesrath slam centuries in ORSCA opening round

F

Natricia Hooper

successful indoor season wherein she was also named the region’s field athlete of the year after going toe to toe with some of the best jumpers in the country at the NCAA Divisions I and II levels, and in most cases besting them.

Though she missed both the Regional and NJCAA Indoor Championships, the 19-year-old went over 13m at four different meets, finishing with a season and personal best of 13.33m.

Her college best of

13.20m, with which she won the event at the Dr. Sander Invitational Armory Challenge over a slew of NCAA Division I athletes, was the 7th best on the week across all divisions, and finished the top mark in the NJCAA at the end of the season by 0.19m.

The 2017 CARIFTA Games triple-jump gold medalist is one of the brightest track and field prospects coming out of the Caribbean, and will be making the transition from the Junior College (NJCAA) level to NCAA Division 1 this summer.

The Georgetown, Guyana native, who is a solid 400m runner as well, caught the attention of several top NCAA Division 1 institutions, but chose to sign with the University of Kentucky.

She received offers from other top universities such as University of Nebraska, Louisiana State University (LSU), Florida State University, University of Florida, Mississippi State, Clemson University and UCLA. (sayfcarib)

ormer Guyana Skipper Damodar Daesrath slammed a century (111) for Titans as action began in the 2018 Ontario Round-arm Softball Cricket Association’s (ORSCA’s) 20over competition in Toronto.

The other centurion on the first day was Khemraj Budhai, who showed more belligerence than Daesrath, pounding 19 sixes in his 164, as he represented Arisha Boyz XI .

Amar Singh was also outstanding with the only five-wicket haul, grabbing six for 14 from his allotted four overs, as he delivered for Cambridge Jaguars.

Apart from those three top-performers to mark the commencement of the season, several other reputable batsmen chalked up impressive half-centuries, including Looknauth Ramsuchit, Ramesh Lall, Amrit Rukhram, Avinash Sookdeo, Rovendra Mandolall, Farouk Wahid and Mahendra Nauth.

The tournament: 20-over test, 20-over competition, and 10-over competition, will resume on Saturday with a series of matches across the Greater Toronto Area, after a break last weekend owing to a national holiday (Victoria Day) in Canada.

President of the Association, Patrick Singh, has said he is delighted to see a good start to the season, with a number of quality performances being recorded.

He has thanked the teams for participating in the tournament again in 2018.

Formed in 2012, the ORSCA has since attracted a number of high-profile soft-

ball players, with Canadabased Guyanese Amrit Rukhram creating history two years ago when he scored 1, 026 runs from 14 matches in a single season, including a double-century.

Meanwhile, skipper of Sunrisers, Kristendatt Bhawan, has expressed great confidence in his team retaining the 20-over test and 20-over trophies. According

Damodar Daesrath

to Bhawan, his team again wants to dominate the action, because the same set of players would be in action.

Like Bhawan, Steelcity Warriors, who won the 10over competition, are banking heavily on their talent to come to the fore again during this competition. Captain Amrit Rukhram has mentioned that the side is very optimistic of taking possession of the trophy, and is eager to be victorious in the other two versions.

In addition to the ORSCA tournament, the Ontario Softball Cricket League and Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs’ competitions will be rolling off on Saturday.

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, may 25, 2018

23

Upenn Champions meet Minister Norton T

he Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Sport, Dr. George Norton, was on Thursday paid a courtesy call by

the students of the New Campbellville Secondary School who were successful at this year’s University of Pennsylvania Relay Festival. The six-member

CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s Qualifiers…

Guyana tackle Suriname today

C

oming off a solid draw against Bermuda in the opening match of the CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s Qualifiers, on Wednesday evening at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, Guyana’s Lady Jags will take on Suriname this evening to see if they can record their first host victory. The action starts from19:30 hrs, and Guyana will be up against a raging Suriname side made desperate by a 2-1 defeat by Barbados on Wednesday. Pyrotechnics and drama are accordingly expected.

Barbados, on the othe r hand, will be l o o k ing to continue their good fortune and secure another win when they take on Bermuda in the opening match

of tonight’s double-header.

The Bajan team sits atop Group E with three points, while the hosts and Bermuda have both secured a point after their draw. Suriname is in the cellar position, and are yet to be recorded in the points’ standings.

On Sunday, the action returns to the West Demerara Coast with the final two matches: Suriname meeting Bermuda in the curtain raiser, then Guyana going head-to-head with Barbados to wrap up the night.

team came out on top of a large batch of Caribbean and international athletes in their 4x 400m relay event.

The visibly elated stu-

dents, accompanied by their coach, had the opportunity to interact with the minister, sharing with him their experiences and giving him a glimpse of their

accolades.

“It was a great experience, but at first we were a little nervous,” expressed team member Binka Joseph, who declared the

team proud to be able to bring back a win to their homeland. She also disclosed that the team is set on participating in the Olympics in future.

Teenagers among Chess Olympiad selection

T

wo of Guyana’s upand-coming chess players have been handed the opportunity of their lifetime after being selected to represent their homeland at the World Chess Olympiad slated for September 23 to October 6 in Batumi, Georgia.

Sixteen-year-old Nellisha Johnson of Christ Church Secondary School and 14-year-old Sasha Shariff of Marian Academy have played excellently for the past year, and have each had an impressive showing at this year’s CARIFTA Games. While they have both received international rankings from the World Chess Federation (FIDE) this year, Johnson also placed second in the National Female Chess Championships.

Expectedly, the team is also comprised of WFM Maria Varona Thomas, and

Nellisha Johnson (left) and Yolander Persaud locked in battle

the highly experienced CM Sheriffa Ali will spearhead the team.

“It’s evident that WFM Thomas is our best female player, and CM Ali continues to show improvements and dominance among women/girls in chess,” a statement from the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) said.

The final member on the team is Attorney-at-law Yolander Persaud, who recently registered a win at the May championships.

On the male side of things, Guyana’s Number 1 ranked player, Anthony Drayton, is expected to represent his homeland alongside National Coach Wendell Meusa. The third member of the team is Taffin Khan, for-

mer junior and senior national champion, who is consistently successful.

After a huge leap in his international rankings and a successful outing at the national championships, Loris Nathoo will be a part of the team for the first time.

Glenford Corlette will round off the 5-member team. Based upon the criteria of the selection process, Corlette gained more points than CM Ronuel Greenidge, who was the other player being considered as the 5th player.

The criteria for selection includes international ratings, performance, participation in local and regional tournaments, international titles; and other considerations, such as potential and discipline.

GCB/DMLAS/NSC/NSSCL

Anna Regina Multilateral beat Charity Secondary by 45 runs

T

he 2017/2018 National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL), sponsored by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and the National Sport Commission (NSC), continued with competitive action in the Essequibo Coast District, where Anna Regina Multilateral whipped Charity Secondary by 45 runs.

Playing at the Imam Bacchus Ground on the Essequibo Coast, Anna Regina Secondary won the toss, elected to bat, and made 94 for 8 in the process.

National youth all-rounder Sheldon Charles starred in both departments for his team

Openers Kamesh Lall (32), national youth all-rounder

Sheldon Charles (22), and Lance Roberts (26) were among those who starred with bat for their school.

Bowling for Charity Secondary, Roniel Gobin bagged the prized wickets of the numbers two, three and four batsmen to record excellent returns of 3 for 8; while Monty Boyan, Tekchan Dialla and Desmond Carmen each chipped in with a wicket. In reply, Charity made heavy work of an apparently meagre victory target of 95, reaching 49 for 8 when their allotted overs expired.

Number three batsman

Desmond Carmen was the only Charity player to reach double figures, with 11.

The carnage was led by Badesh Parsatam, who mesmerized the Charity batsmen to end with exceptional figures of 3 for 7. There was a wicket each for Raphael David, Lall, Roberts, Raj Ramgobin and Sheldon Charles.

This competition is sponsored by the Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited (DMLAS) in partnership with the GCB, and it is endorsed by the NSC.

friDAY, may 25, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Upenn Champions meet Minister Norton Pg 23

Members of the victorious team pose for a photo op with Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton

CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s Qualifiers…

Pg 23

Guyana tackle Suriname today Calaigh Copland goes on the attack against Bermuda on Wednesday evening in the CONCACAF Caribbean Women’s Qualifiers

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