Guyanatime 27 february 2018

$10M ground coffee project launched in Santa Rosa P13

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

Issue No. 3487

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

PRICE

Sharma confesses forensic audits failed to unearth fraud

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Carjacking probe

Father, son P8 charged for welding false chassis number on cars

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…files not forwarded to Police

King's dethronement looms as Duncan submits no-confidence motion Gun-toting woman hijacks, burns car Page 3

Page 14

Gunmen rob P2 welfare officer of motorcycle OIA sexual assault

CANU, Police in blame game …family seeking legal advice

P14

Boat accident

Body of 2nd P7 miner found Environmental levy not P2 ‘earmarked tax’ – Jordan … admits no concrete plans outlined for usage

GuySuCo still buried under $77B debt – P9 Bhim

The burnt Toyota Carina on a lonely road in the Number 63 Beach area (Andrew Carmichael photo)

Industry man beaten to death by drug addict Page 10

New NOC sex scandal

Gunmen rob confectionery store owner, salesman …escape with over $2M Page 11

…trailed businessman from bank

Page 10

Social Protection Ministry launches investigation …3rd scandal at juvenile facility

…even as Govt seeks $30B ‘survival’ loan

Lindo Creek CoI

Witnesses to submit written testimony to Commission …before being allowed to testify

P9

2 NEWS Environmental levy not ‘earmarked tax’ – Jordan TUESDAY, February 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

…admits no concrete plans outlined for usage

T

he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has reportedly collected close to $1.2 billion in environmental taxes as at the end of 2017, but no specific usage has been earmarked for this new tax, nor has a fund been set up for it to be deposited into.

This is according to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who has said the environmental tax is not an “earmarked tax.”

The minister recently told Guyana Times that even if Government were to collect the entire $1.2 billion of that money, it would be used for various reasons.

Jordan said this tax only adds to the total revenue that is collected on an annual basis and used for multiple development projects.

“There is no environmental fund which these taxes are put into and the fund has specific uses. What we

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

have is an environmental tax designed to not destroy the environment and to discourage certain types of consumption. And that money now, since it’s gone into the Consolidated Fund, is in the wash,” he said.

Jordan explained that the $400 million given in subsidies to City Hall could be described as money used towards an environmental cause, but the money did not necessarily come from a spe-

cific fund set up to collect the environmental tax and used only for environmental purposes.

“When we have enough money to put into a fund and do specific things in the environment, we will do that,” he explained.

The minister said some people are under the impression that all taxes collected

by Government through the GRA are massive sums, but in actuality this does not cater for everything.

He said the country has never had a balanced budget, wherein revenues are just equal to, or greater than, expenditure.

“When I presented the last budget, and I’ll tell you again: despite all the revenue projections we have made for 2018 budget, we still have to borrow a net amount of in excess of $40

billion. So even if we were to collect the $1.2 billion this year -- which we are budgeting to collect -- until we can improve revenue collection and different sources of financing, and until our expenditure can plateau, we will always have deficit budgets. And to answer (the query): the environmental tax is not an earmarked tax.”

GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia told this newspaper recently that since implementation of this tax, some progress has been seen in recycling and re-exporting of bottles, something that had never happened in the past.

The Commissioner General noted also that there has been a substantial reduction in plastic being used by local manufacturers; because “the GRA has a way in which we check the weight and so on,” he explained.

“And there is at least one

company other than Banks DIH that recycles their plastic, and we give them a credit for what is recycled. It has been helping in a major way,” he posited.

The new environmental tax was implemented by the GRA with effect from February 1, 2017. A fee of $10 per bottle on non-returnable containers is being charged.

However, even as Government rakes in millions from this tax, environmental analysts are worried that not much is being done to ensure that Guyana’s environment remains pristine.

This concern arose since no concrete plan has been outlined by Government on how this money would be used for proper environmental management.

The levy, which accords with amendments to Section 7A (1) of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01, became applicable to non-returnable

units imported, locally manufactured, or produced in Guyana.

The Customs Act provides for the levy to be charged on every non-returnable unit of metal, plastic or glass container of any alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage or water, whether imported, locally manufactured, or produced in Guyana.

The levy also applies to the said products whether they are imported and not warehoused, or imported and removed from a warehouse, factory, bond or other place of storage.

Exports, on the other hand, are exempt from the environmental levy.

The law outlines that any person who fails to pay the levy would, upon summary conviction, be liable to a fine of $50,000 together with a sum of twice the amount of the levy payable.

Gunmen rob welfare officer of motorcycle

W

elfare Officer Alvin Leitch of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown was on Sunday night sitting on his motorcycle at the Conquerors Ground at Tucville when two armed bandits pounced on him as he was conversing

with two friends.

The bandits reportedly approached the 27-year-old Leitch and his friends from inside the ground, and one of them whipped out a pistol, pointed it at Leitch, and demanded that he hand over the motorcycle key.

Leith refused, but the bandit discharged two rounds into the air, and this prompted Leitch to hand over the key. The duo then escaped with the motorcycle.

The matter was reported, and an investigation has been launched.

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TUESDAY, February 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Tuesday, February 27 – a night retraction at 03:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Wednesday, February 28 – a night retraction at 04:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, February 27 – 14:10h-15:40h and Wednesday, February 28 – 15:05h-16:35h.

King’s dethronement looms as Duncan submits no-confidence motion …to be debated at next statutory meeting ing system for Georgetown,” the motion added.

Unilateral decision

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Partly cloudy to lightly cloudy skies are expected throughout the day, with sunny conditions in the late afternoon and partly cloudy skies returning in the evening. Overall temperatures are expected to range between 20 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly and North North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 14:50h reaching a maximum height of 2.56 metres.

Low Tide: 08:22h and 20:54h reaching minimum heights of 0.80 metre and 0.60 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, february 24, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

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MONDAY, february 26, 2018

DAILY MILLIONS 03 05 13 14 16 LUCKY 3 9 4 0

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Up for dethronement, Town Clerk Royston King

A

t Monday’s statutory meeting of the Georgetown City Council, Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor Sherod Duncan submitted a motion of no-confidence against Town Clerk Royston King, following several instances of him attempting to usurp the power of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

In his motion, submitted to the office of the Town Clerk, Duncan cited provisions in the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chap 28:01 that placed the responsibility and duty of ensuring that the Municipality is managed in a “professional and competent way by a qualified Town Clerk” on Councillors. He noted that from that provision, his vote of no confidence against King stemmed.

Gross disrespect

The motion stated that King acted outside the interests of the citizens of Georgetown and showed gross disrespect for the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chap 28:01.

Duncan cited several instances of the Town Clerk disregarding Chap 28:01.

“The removal of the vendors from the Stabroek Market and Robb Street environs in 2016/2017 without the authorisation of Council, which action brought great distress and hardship on said vendors and which situation saw Central Government intervening, reiterating that vendors ought to be treated with sensitivity; President David Granger describing the latter action as ‘reckless’,” the motion stated.

Additionally, the document identified the issues that stemmed from the controversial parking meter project outlining procurement issues and Government’s response.

“Councillors have made several enquiries/requests of the Town Clerk for specific information relating to the business of Council and have no responses; in particular, Councillor Gregory Fraser’s request for the Minutes showing where the former Council is alleged to have agreed to the metered park-

The implementation of container fees and the subsequent unilateral decision to block certain businesses for failing to comply; failure to account for $300 million allocated for the Georgetown Restoration Programme resulting in the Auditor General announcing a forensic audit of the city’s books; disrespect for the tendering process; non-payment of contractors and the inaccuracy in the financial reporting were all reasons that led to Duncan submitting the motion and fellow AFC Councillor and Deputy Mayor, Lionel Jaikaran seconding it. “[AND WHEREAS] the general welfare of workers of the City Council continues to diminish under the tenure of the Town Clerk due to the chronic late payments of wages and salaries and other benefits, while deduction of monies from workers’ pay for NIS, PAYE, etc, continue, but which are not transmitted to the relevant agencies… the Town Clerk unilaterally entered into an agreement with the company Impressions for the lease of numerous billboards and spaces said billboards occupied, without the authorisation of Council, and which issue caused the Minister of Infrastructure, Honourable David Patterson to write to the Town Clerk to correct,” Duncan said in his motion.

Bel Air Playground

In addition, the issue of the leasing of the Farnum Play Ground and the conversion of the Bel Air

Dethroning Councillor, Sherod Duncan

Playground area; the awarding of contracts without Council’s knowledge and the

gross disrespect meted out to Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan were all raised.

“NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council hereby moves and declares a vote of no confidence in Town Clerk Royston King,” the motion concluded.

Now that notice of the motion has been given, it is slated for the March 12 Statutory Meeting, where it will be debated in full. It is expected that most of the Councillors would vote in favour of the motion as they all have been complaining about the conduct of King since his ascension to office.

Turn to page 5

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, February 27, 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

“Is we own”

O

ver the past few weeks the nation has been in preparatory mode for the highly-anticipated 48th Republic Anniversary, which was celebrated on February 23. As is customary, many events were staged across the country; in every Region, there were flag-raising ceremonies, costume parades for children and adults, and a gamut of local talent shows. The country was abuzz with activity and revelry. In addition to these activities, it is also a tradition for the museums and libraries to host lectures and exhibitions with the aim of evoking a sense of patriotism and understanding of the Republic celebrations. Indeed, it should be a time of reflection; Guyana attained republican status on February 23, 1970, some 48 years ago.

Prior to the attainment of republican status, the country attained independence from Great Britain on May 26, 1966. These are significant milestones in the life of this country. More importantly, it provided us, as a nation, with an opportunity to reflect on the path we have traversed over these years as well as the pains and tribulations we experienced in the past. While the challenges are still formidable today, citizens should be reminded not to lose sight of the patriotism and resilience that brought us this far as a nation. Our leaders should also be reminded that it is their responsibility to foster a society in which there is peace, progress, prosperity and a sense of patriotism.

We have witnessed the coming together of our people over the last few days with respect to the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy and when thousands gathered as the Golden Arrowhead was hoisted, commemorating yet another milestone in Guyana’s history. While the older generation of Guyanese were undoubtedly reflecting on the journey and struggles that led to this point, we should pause to consider what the younger folks were thinking of. Was there a feeling of deep patriotism or national loyalty? Were there reflections on the struggles of our foreparents? More importantly, did the pomp and ceremony ignite within them the deep-seated sense of national pride?

Over the coming years, Guyanese at home and abroad will be preparing for the oil and gas sector. However, in the midst of preparations and the grand plans, the border controversy with Venezuela has gained new life. Venezuela has staunchly been against oil exploration in Guyana’s Stabroek Block, where multiple oil deposits were found

by ExxonMobil, and has since laid claim to the Essequibo region, which represents two thirds of Guyana’s territory.

The United Nations recently announced that it would be sending the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a judicial settlement. Venezuela, however, has strongly rejected the move. In essence, the country’s sovereignty is under threat.

Guyana’s Head of State, however, anticipates that Guyana’s successful defence of its territorial integrity will not only boost local development but investors’ confidence in Guyana, especially in light of the impending oil and gas production. The period ahead, therefore, will require maturity on the part of the two countries and the eventual acceptance of the ICJ’s decision.

Through it all, the citizens of Guyana will also be called upon to hold firm to their patriotism and to be steadfast in their support for our sovereignty. While there will undoubtedly be many instances in the future for the citizenry to band together, Guyanese from all walks gathered on Sunday at the Seawall bandstand for the “IS WE OWN” concert, which was organised by the University of Guyana and which featured renowned Guyanese musician Dave Martins and his Band. It was indeed a rousing and proud moment to be in the midst of the crowd singing in unison to the lyrics of the song “Not a Blade of Grass”. It was a fitting culmination of this year’s Republic Anniversary celebrations and reminder of the need for a revival of the patriotism that lies within all of us.

Iconic Guyanese singer and distinguished Visiting Artist-in-Residence Dave Martins performing at the Seawall Bandstand on Sunday at a command concert hosted by the University of Guyana

One world, one human race (Pt 1) Dear Editor, As this Black History Month, February of 2018, draws to a close in this the fourth year of the UNproclaimed decade (2015 to 2024) for “People of African Descent”, I hasten to yield to a challenge to write a letter on this subject.

We understand without question that the UN proclamation of this decade is directed at speeding the dissipation of the adverse legacies of that historical period of some 250 years, when tens of millions of black Africans were taken as chattel slaves by Europeans of that era, in their global expansion and dominance, to provide enslaved labour for their plantations in their newly discovered and conquered lands of the Americas and the Caribbean.

What should be the attitude today of people of African descent to that period of horrible slavery? That period cannot be erased from the history of Mankind, but in time it ought to become a bald fact of history -- much as England, along with a great part of Western, Middle and

Eastern Europe, unto the borders of Asia and North Africa, were brought under the dominion of Rome; much as we were taught in our Christian Sunday Schools about Moses leading the people of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt.

It was his brothers who had sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt, but fortune made Joseph, a slave, the right hand man of Pharaoh, and Joseph’s people were afforded a place of honour through that dynasty. However, as happens in the course of time, in the rise and fall of peoples and nations, there arose a new dynasty of Pharaohs who knew not, and would pay no heed to, the special honoured place of the people of Israel in Egypt, and made them slaves.

Slavery has been, it can be argued, one of the most common practices amongst Humankind: making forced servants of conquered people. There is probably no one who does not have a number of enslaved as well as slave-holding persons among his ancestors, but the

European slavery of black Africans had a number of particularly pernicious features.

During a tour of ancient sites in Greece in 1978 (after a bauxite conference), the tour guide pointed out the columns on which the names of erstwhile slaves were enscribed as they were freed. Most of those slaves were from other Greek city states, who had been on the defeated side in one of their frequent battles. In such circumstances, the fact of having been a slave might be lost within a generation with little, if any, adverse effects.

My mind turned to that quote from Alex De Tocquville, “the institution of slavery has disgraced the race, and the physiological peculiarities of the race (have) perpetuated the disgrace”. There was an interesting nuance in a quote from a Brazilian (Iberian) author, “the propensity to discriminate is a function of the degree of separation of the ideals of physiological beauty”.

For him, however, the ideal of physiological beauty is

the physiology of the conqueror, the winner, the successful – and he argued that Iberian people who had seen black Africans in the conquering Moor armies from North Africa saw beauty in the black African physiology, and were less inclined to discriminate against black Africans as absolutely as northern Europeans, many of whom only knew of black Africans as disgraced chattel slaves.

There was a lot unconsciously inherent in that cry, in the 1970s, about Angela Davis, “Bright, Beautiful and Black”.

I welcome the work being done to make available a history of black Africa before and beyond that of the land from which captive black African slaves came the emerging stories of ruling families and kingdoms, and intrigue in black Africa, which would be the match of similar ones from Europe.

Yours truly, Samuel A A Hinds Former President and Former Prime Minister

What can be done about Guyana’s sugar industry Dear Editor, About a century ago, Japan was perceived as an undeveloped nation; today it is seen as a developed, economic giant. How did this transformation take place?

The Japanese sent people abroad to find out how to do things. They then implemented what was learnt.

Which brings me to the topic at hand -- what to do about Guyana’s ailing sugar industry?

There are many largescale sugarcane producers in the world. Brazil, India, Thailand, China are a few examples. Perhaps what GuySuCo can do is to send people abroad to find out exactly how these countries manage to produce sugar cheaply for the world. By doing so, Guyana will get a better insight into how to reduce the production cost of sugar and increase productivity.

In the meantime, there

is really no need to “downsize” the sugar industry, as GuySuCo would still need to service/repay its debt. Only by increasing production and reducing the production costs can GuySuCo ever hope to service/repay its debts.

Foreign currency would as well be lost from the export revenues, and nearly 5,000 sugar workers would be left without an income.

Not only does “downsizing” the sugar industry re-

duce the amount of sugar produced; the rum industry and maybe a couple of banks would also be affected.

The PPP/C Government managed to subsidize sugar and grow Guyana’s economy. I am sure everyone would agree that the APNU/ AFC Government can do likewise, especially with oil revenues around the corner.

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, February 27, 2018

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

Returning Mashramani Minister Holder cannot wash his hands to its original route Dear Editor, First and foremost, I ventured out to witness the Guyana Mash Celebrations 2018 to capture my ‘Kodak Moments’. My first point of placement was the National Park, because I was almost certain that I had heard the float parade was starting from that point. However, I was informed that the starting point was at Thomas Lands and Camp Road.

If I am correct, it got started after 11 am instead of 10 am. Well, that’s a norm with most events in Guyana.

My first impression and my personal belief was that it was a dead zone. I was expecting persons in the hundreds taking up spots on the lawns of the National Park and the road ways, but it was not evident. The persons I saw were like a few raindrops in the Atlantic Ocean.

I stand firmly convinced, and say publicly with absolutely no apology that until Mash is given back its original route of the Church Road, we will not have the full-blown Mash celebrations as they should be and

had been over the years.

I always remember the late President Hoyte and former First Lady sitting on the balcony of their historic building, enjoying the Mash Parade and waving to the citizens as they pass by.

I reiterate that the National Park is the original home for the Mash Parade, and I appeal to the Government of the day to return that home to the general public.

Perhaps they can transform the National Park and have cushioned seats for the President, Government officials and members of the diplomatic corps; and implement a seating facility like the Providence Stadium for the citizens.

If the government of the day is bent on having the Mash Parade headed to the ‘Cuffy Backdam’, I will accept. But at least return the Church Road route, and they can turn off to the new venue.

Also, if it is a case that the Government of the day insist that they don’t wish for citizens to use the Malls on that day, they can have it

locked off in some way, and I am sure citizens would work on using the roadways and stand around.

I will admit that there were some quite impressive costumes for Mash 2018, but many of the ‘floats’ were a disaster. The one that blew me away was the ‘Egyptian Queen’ in her carriage. I hope that float is accredited with a prize. The other impressive scene was to witness a Chinese national revelling on the road. That was a knockout.

Respectfully, GTT, I was totally disappointed... When I heard that GTT was hitting the road for the 2018 Mash, my first thought was that it was coming with a bang and will showcase a band with its newly added colour of ‘ORANGE.’..I don’t think the colour orange was evident, and I wish you had contracted your independent music band rather than merging with the Pulse Music Band. Well, perhaps funding was not available.

Yours faithfully, T Pemberton

King’s dethronement looms...

The royal attack

After giving notice of the motion, Duncan left the Chambers of the M&CC about 16:10h and was approached by reporters for a copy, since he publicly stated that it would be tabled at Monday’s statutory meeting. In what can only be described as a state of paranoia, King instructed his Public Relations Officer, Debra Lewis, to seek a copy of the motion from reporters, which she did and reported back to him.

Armed with this information, King gave Duncan a tongue bashing in his absence. He called the move unethical and offensive while accusing the Councillor, without any evidence, of leaking confiden-

tial information to the press corps.

“I just received a motion and that unethically, and with emphasis on the word unethically, was shared with the press so long before Councillors had a chance to look at the motion and to decide on the motion. I am just bringing this to the attention of Council so that they are aware where the press got it from,” King said.

“In the letter I saw the officer sent to your Office (Mayor Patricia Chase Green), the officers spoke about the misconduct of Councillors. That (sharing of the motion) is misconduct; in the law, there are sanctions against misconduct of Councillors and this is a misconduct… we have

Dear Editor, The GAWU has recognized, from reports appearing in several sections of the media, that Agriculture Minister Noel Holder has informed that the GuySuCo is no longer under his charge, following the decision to transfer responsibility of the sugar company to NICIL, which falls under the Ministry of Finance.

While our Union did hear about the transfer of GuySuCo, we also recognized recently that Minister Holder was speaking to matters concerning GuySuCo. Minister Holder is reported in the February 06, 2018 Guyana Times -- just about two weeks ago -- speaking about the Wales cane cutters’ demand for severance. If it is that the minister was not in charge, then why did he not inform the press to seek an audience with the relevant minister, in this case Finance Minister Winston Jordan?

The GAWU sees Minister Holder’s sudden, and obviously belated, announcement being linked to a picketing exercise outside of his Ministry by the affected cane cutters of Wales Estate on February 21, 2018. They are

From page 3

seen the leaking of information, even confidential information in the press by Duncan and it is damaging the reputation of this council; it is eroding public confidence and trust because the Honourable Councillor is undermining the very authority of the Council he is a part of. This is completely unethical,” King said, visibly upset.

In the end, after his rant,

Mayor Chase Green assured King that the motion would be debated at the next statutory meeting.

Over the past months, dissatisfaction with King’s performance has grown and pressure has mounted for his removal since the hierarchy of the People’s National Congress Reform has expressed no confidence in his ability to function.

(Lakhram Bhagirat)

demanding that their severance payments be honoured.

It seems that the workers’ spirited and vociferous picketing probably got under the minister’s skin, and thus his quick resort to the media.

Though Minister Holder is no longer responsible, he cannot wash his hands when it comes to this matter. He was, since August 2017, asked by President David Granger to respond to the workers’ call for their severance. Though having clear instruction from President Granger, Minister Holder had never responded to the workers’ demand; until a few weeks ago, when he said that the matter has to be addressed by the Judiciary.

Even though the GAWU

did appropriately respond to Minister Holder’s misguided contentions, he -- even at that late stage -- did not see it fit to advise that he should not be speaking on matters concerning GuySuCo. The fact that the minister is now ignominiously seeking to extricate himself says a lot about the respect he has for the workers. It clearly seems that the minister responds only to determined and collective demands, as shown by the February 21, 2018 demonstration by the workers of Wales.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary, GAWU

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tuesDAY, February 27, 2018

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By Signe Whitson

N

ot long ago, an organisation that provides mental health services for school-aged children posted an open question for followers on its social media page: You witness a student being bullied; what do you do?

Hundreds of people responded right away. The majority of their answers focused squarely on punishing the child who bullied – most with the type of language that would shock the very children they felt so strongly about protecting. “Shame the bully!” responded one teacher, who boasted that her 22 years of classroom experience validated her answer. “Kick the kid out of school,” demanded a professional counsellor.

Ouch.

If social media is a reliable barometer of public opinion, it seems clear that the knee-jerk solution to the problem of bullying is hostility and vengeance.

The response is understandable: adults who were bullied during their own youth often feel a strong urge to protect the current generation of young people from the same kind of abuse.

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Likewise, many adults feel justice is best served when aggressors are punished for their wrongdoing.

Yet the problem with bullying prevention strategies that centre on the behaviour of children who bully is that they leave targeted children in a powerless position, assuming that their lives will only get better if the child who bullies changes his/her ways. In fact, in their landmark study, Davis and Nixon (2010) found that adult actions aimed at changing the behaviour of children who bully are actually more likely to make things worse for their victims – not better.

B u l l y i n g Prevention strategies that shift their focus to building positive social skills in all young people achieve better results.

Studies by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL, 2011) clearly show that effective SEL programming drives important social outcomes such as positive peer relationships, higher levels of

exercise, timeouts, etc.

Fortify young people with the skills they need to cope with the anxiety, frustration, loneliness, fear and/or sadness caused by bullying.

Express

Teach children that they have choices when it comes to emotional expression.

Provide instruction on anger expression styles: aggression, passive aggression, passivity, and assertiveness.

Cultivate

kindness and empathy, increased social engagement and reduction in problem behaviours such as bullying. What’s more, students who receive SEL programming academically outperform their

peers and graduate at higher rates. For schools driven by standardised test scores, this approach to education cannot be ignored.

What follows are 10 practical ways that educators, counsellors, caring adults, and parents can build social and emotional competence in the children with whom they work and live:

Cultivate children’ extracurricular interests. Doing so allows children the opportunity to develop new and different friendships, which can be an excellent source of social support when children are struggling with their peers at school. Nonacademic pursuits can also add joy to a child’s life – an emotion that is drained by experiences of bullying.

Demonstrate

Be a role model of assertive emotional expression, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.

Educate

Teach

Make social skills instruction a part of the school-wide curriculum and everyday interactions with children. Place particular emphasis on emotion management, building empathy and kindness, problem-solving, assertive expression, and forming positive friendships.

Practice

Talk to the students in your school about which skills they think they need to effectively handle bullying. Use interviews, anonymous surveys, large group discussions, and small group activities to find out what students find most helpful – and least helpful – when it comes to bringing an end to bullying.

When children show cruel behaviour toward one another, approach them from a teaching framework, rather than a punitive one. Role model and teach young people the skills they need to treat others with dignity, then hold them accountable for maintaining those standards of conduct.

Use role play to help children practice using assertive phrasing, neutral tones, confident body language, and other effective communication skills.

Brainstorm

Engage children in conversations about what positive friendships should feel like. For example, have children brainstorm ideas such as: A friend is someone who you can laugh with A friend is someone who helps you to feel good about yourself A friend is someone who doesn’t put you down

Regulate

Teach children skills for regulating emotions, such as mindfulness, deep breathing, journaling, positive selftalk, talking with a friend,

Empower

Organise

Organise walks, establish Buddy Programmes, encourage poster campaigns, celebrate Kindness Weeks, and facilitate other structured, organised activities to make it clear that forming positive friendships is a priority in your school and to jump-start the process of getting children to interact with people from outside of their regular social circles. (psychologytoday.com)

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TUESDAY, February 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Sharma confesses forensic audits Boat accident Body of 2nd miner found failed to unearth fraud …files not forwarded to Police

B

ack in 2015, millions were spent on 50 forensic audits into a number of state agencies.

However, the administration has been silent on these audits, even as only a handful of them have resulted in Police action.

Speaking to this publication, Minister within the Finance Ministry, Jaipaul Sharma, disclosed that a number of these forensic audits had failed to unearth any instance of fraud and corruption.

“The ones that Cabinet has said (are) to (be forwarded) to the Police have been forwarded to the Police. And so the other reports weren’t sufficient to send forward to Police,” Sharma said. “So they had to determine if they would go to Police.”

According to Sharma, once an agency was identified to have administrative issues rather than fraud, the report would ultimately be sent to the relevant agency.

This, he noted, would then be used to improve that agency’s operations.

“These reports were meant to get an insight into the functioning of these organisations. The reports weren’t to go after fraud or what not. The auditors conducted their work. Most of these reports, once they are not pointing to fraud, (are) sent to the various agencies for them to incorporate the various findings,” Minister Sharma explained. “(For example) student loans: All of those actions the Minister of Finance did to improve on the quality of the student loan agency and the operation was because of the forensic audits. These

Minister Jaipaul Sharma

were all recommendations,” Sharma disclosed.

While he declined to cite the particular agencies that had their matters ended at the administrative level, he pointed out that those determinations were made at Cabinet level.

Million on audits

Over $130 million had been spent on these audits, which totalled 50. Having been completed by a number of local audit firms, some were, quite some time ago, handed over to the Police for investigation.

The audits which have resulted in Police action include probes into the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments limited (NICIL).

Former General Manager (GM) of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Jagnarine Singh; his former deputy, Madanlall Ramraj; and former GRDB accountant Peter Ramcharran

were jointly slapped with 34 charges alleging fraud committed between the years 2011 and 2012. Charges against Ramcharran were withdrawn last year, as he was out of the jurisdiction.

Then prosecution against former GMC General Manager Nizam Hassan and his co-accused, Felicia De Souza-Madramootoo, collapsed after a total of 34 witnesses were called by the Prosecution to support the allegations of fraud against the duo. One of the first victims of the audit, Hassan had the allegations dismissed due to lack of evidence, and he has been reinstated to his job as GMC Chief Executive Officer.

After several months of investigating a case born from the NICIL audit, SOCU officers, back in March 2017, arrested several former Government ministers and officials, including former President and current Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, over the purchase of plots of land at the Sparendaam seawall area commonly known as “Pradoville II”.

While the current Administration contends that the transaction is a criminal act because the land was allegedly sold below market value, the PPP had argued that subsidized housing has always been a part of the legacy of the People’s Progressive Party, and that countless Guyanese have benefited from lands sold below market value.

No further action was ever pursued against these former officials, whose arrest had prompted resounding cries of ‘witch hunting’.

T

he body of the second miner who went into the water after a boat capsized in the vicinity of Makari Backdam, Cuyuni River, on Saturday evening was recovered on Sunday evening a short distance from where the incident took place.

F Division (Lethem and Interior Locations) Commander Kevin Adonis, when contacted, confirmed that the body was retrieved from the river and transported to the Lyken Funeral Home to await a post-mortem and identification.

“As of now, the only name we have for the second man is “Fineman”,” the Commander noted.

The body of 26-year-old Jeffrey Dirwar, of Lot 111 Miles Mahdia, Region Eight

(Potaro-Siparuni), which was fished out of the river on Sunday was also transported to Georgetown to facilitate a post-mortem.

The post-mortem performed on the body of Dirwar, also called “Dougla”, proved that he died from drowning and trauma to the head. It is believed that after the boat capsized, Dirwar might have hit his head thus rendering him unconscious.

Based on reports received, the now dead men were in the company of three others transporting a dredge from one location to another in a small boat propelled by a 15 horsepower outboard engine. As they journeyed to their destination, the engine reportedly developed mechanical issues.

Owing to the rough ter-

rain and water, the boat, on account of its weight, capsized and subsequently sank.

Three of the five men made it safely to shore, but “Dougla” and “Fineman” vanished.

After realising that the two men were missing, a search party was established, but after searching in the dark for several hours, the mission was aborted without any signs of the two men.

The search recommenced on Sunday morning and after a few hours, Dirwar’s body was found, but there was no sign of the second miner. The search continued late into the night and it was then the other body was found.

Statements are being taken from the three survivors as investigations continue into the boat incident.

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TUESDAY, February 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS Carjacking probe

Father, son charged for welding false chassis numbers on cars

A

s the carjacking probe continues to widen, a father and son -- both welders -were on Monday charged for fraud and taken before Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman.

The indictments against Nigel Chung, 43, and his son, Ricky Chung, 23, both of Lot 5 Coverden, East Bank Demerara (EBD), detail that between August 7, 2017 and February 13, 2018; and between December 9, 2017 and February 10 2018, they used two vehicle chassis numbers registered to one Spacio and one Toyota Allion motorcar, knowing same to be false. The men denied the charges.

Their attorney, Dexter Todd, revealed that his clients are cooperating with the prosecution to strengthen its case into the car-

jacking ring, and are being charged only as a result of a misunderstanding.

The court heard from Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore that the welders, who operate at Soesdyke, EBD, reportedly had the two cars and chassis numbers taken to them to be welded on.

However, Police swooped down on the workshop and the cars were seized. The vehicles were later identified by their respective owners.

Further investigations were carried out, and the two defendants had the charged brought against them.

They were each placed on $200,000 bail, and are expected to return to Court on March 12.

Earlier this month, two ex-Policemen were among others charged for carjacking as ranks finally got a

breakthrough into the series of car theft.

Of the 15 persons taken into Police custody when investigators swooped down on the Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown home of the prime suspect in this investigation and conducted a search, Jason Harry, Shawn Archibald and Timothy Waldron have since been charged.

During that surprise raid in Lodge Housing Scheme, investigators found a black Mazda Axela motorcar with licence number PTT 2794, and have unearthed 12 certificates of registration for various vehicles. A 52-yearold woman who was at the Lodge residence has been arrested.

‘A’ Division ranks conducted a 10-hour operation at Kuru Kururu, LindenSoesdyke Highway which

resulted in six persons being arrested, including an ex-Policeman and women.

Two motor cars and a canter truck which is registered to a Barr Street, Kitty resident were also seized and lodged. The truck was loaded with the shell of a silver Toyota Spacio and a quantity of vehicle parts suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.

Police ranks from the Major Crimes Investigation Unit have also swooped down on a North Vryheid’s Lust premises on the East Coast of Demerara. It was occupied by a 29-year-old taxi driver and his 25-yearold wife, and several car mirrors with engraved licence plate numbers, beside doors, lights, wipers and other vehicle parts for Toyota Allion, Spacio and Premio motorcars, were seized.

Indian nationals fined for forging Canadian visas

A City

husband and wife found themselves appearing before Magistrate Judy

Latchman after they were taken off a Fly Jamaica Airlines flight because their passports had fake

Canadian visas.

Pakaj Kumar Patel, 24, and his wife, Roshini Benn Patel, 32, both busi-

ness owners, initially denied that on February 22, 2018, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, and with intent to defraud, they uttered to Customer Service Representative Lorisa Lewis Primo forged Canadian visas inserted into their Republic of Indian passports purporting to show that same were issued by the Government of Canada when they knew that to be false.

Attorney for the defendants, Adrian Thompson, said his clients had no intention of using forged documents. However, following consultations, Magistrate Latchman reread the charges to the defendants, and they pleaded guilty.

According to Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore, the couple was staying with a family member at Fifth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown. After spending a month in Guyana, they attempted to leave for Canadian, but were subsequently taken off the flight, which they had already boarded.

They were told that the visas being used were forged, and they were taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where they were told of the offence they had committed and were charged.

The Patels were each fined $100,000, failing to pay which would result in a 12-month prison sentence.

What’s the plan?

Y

…to rig, of course! ou’ve got to give Lincoln Lewis credit for consistency in the trade union business. But he seems a bit naïve on the institutional memory of the PNC. Or is it he can’t bring himself to believe old dogs still like to suck eggs? Addressing the seeming intransigence of the PNC-led APNU/AFC Government to stick their finger in the eyes of the citizenry, he’s reported as concluding: “This Government continues to behave as though it doesn’t care about governing after 2020. Never before has there been a group of people who achieved political power and national goodwill but are seemingly doing everything to give it up.”

But Lewis would remember, from his youthful days as a trade union representative at DEMBA, that the PNC of Forbes Burnham ran roughshod over Linden bauxite workers, even though they were his most rabid followers.

Remember him teargassing those who protested over the fate of their RILA pension fund money?

Burnham’s point -- as anyone who wants to complete his “legacy” would know – is that by the 1970s he didn’t need the votes of those supporters anymore. He’d rigged the 1968 elections and convinced the Americans to go along, because the alternative – the bogeyman Cheddi Jagan -- had formally declared the PPP “communist” in 1969.

Burnham had already set into motion another “innovation” to ensure the coming 1973 election was “in the bag”. We now know he’d arranged for the GDF to do the “counting” of votes at Camp Ayanganna!

So Lewis should know that, whether or not then Major David Granger personally had a hand in the collection of votes, he had to be in the know. He was, after all, in charge of Burnham’s ideological training in the army, and has pronounced in his book, “New Road”, that the soldiers in 1973 performed their roles “splendidly”!

The prospective historian took great care to describe the directive the Burnhamite government gave to the army, and the activities of the soldiers in carrying out those orders.

Your Eyewitness would suggest to Lewis that David Granger, who’s now the PNC leader, has the 2020 elections “in the bag”. And would’ve convinced the Americans – whose strategic interest in oil has now replaced the old strategic interest in ideology – to go along. The oil contract “Nassau” Trotman “renegotiated” is the PNC’s demonstration of their “good faith”. Brigadier Granger didn’t hurt his credentials by flaunting his contacts with the US military at SouthCom. And then, of course, “Nassau” Trotman flaunted his sponsorship even more publicly in 2006!!

So Lewis should know the PNC isn’t taking any chance on “giving it up” when they do whatever they want.

They know all will be forgiven!! …on sugar We know, dear readers, you’re scratching your heads over the seemingly inconsistent gyrations of the Government on GuySuCo’s closure. And it’s nothing less than “closure”. First, the Government said they had to close the 4 estates because the subventions to keep them going were too high. So they fired 5700 workers just like that!!

Then we heard the SPU/NICIL wanted $15 billion to $20 billion to spruce up just TWO of the closed estates, to make them “attractive” to prospective buyers!!

Then the Finance Minister said, “No!! NO!!” the money’s for the “operational” estates. So the mass firings and closures didn’t help GuySuCo’s bottom line, did it? And now they’ve announced they actually need $30 billion for the sprucing up of the two closed estates!!

Can you believe this?? First of all, if they think they’ll even get $30 billion for the factories – since the land will be leased – they’re living in cuckoo land!!

And do these jokers think SERIOUS prospectors need cosmetics to get them to buy?? …for AFC’s Chairman Yesterday, your Eyewitness wrote that Rumjattan compensated for his emasculation in his security portfolio by spiting some Berbicians who’d rejected him as a speaker.

But, sadly, the situation’s even worse.

He had to beg Ammna Aly to intervene with the Police to do the dirty deed!! Just leave, fella!!

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

News

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tuesDAY, February 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GuySuCo still buried under $77B debt – Bhim …even as Govt seeks $30B ‘survival’ loan

W

hile $30 billion in loans are being sought for the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo’s) operations over the next four years, the corporation is still to clear the $77 billion in debt it had accumulated by January of last year.

In an interview with this publication, GuySuCo’s Finance Director, Paul Bhim, was questioned on this situation; and according to Bhim, the corporation has not been able to acquire any write-off of its debt since appearing before the Economic Services Committee last year.

“That’s still there at the moment,” said Bhim regarding the mountain of debt.

“But we are actively pursuing the restructuring of the debt.”

Services Committee, the Minister within the Finance Ministry, Jaipaul Sharma. He assured that, in 2018, the committee would continue examining the corporation and its financial status.

“The first interim report was discussed in Parliament; that report will tell you that we only interviewed GuySuCo,” Sharma said. “We didn’t come up with any recommendations; we have to continue looking at GuySuCo.” It was announced over the weekend that the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited’s (NICIL’s) Special Purpose Unit (SPU) is seeking some $30 billion in loans and investments to support its new ward -- the Guyana Sugar Corporation

One of GuySuCo’s estates

In January of last year, the National Assembly’s Economic Services Committee was informed by then GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer, Errol Hanoman, that the debt stood at $77 billion. This money was owed to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and other entities.

This publication made contact with current Chairman of the Economic

(GuySuCo).

It is understood that this funding would cover a fouryear period, and would provide capital and support infrastructure maintenance and upgrades at Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt.

The funds are also expected to go towards developing new co-generation capacity for the estate operations and the national electric grid.

One of NICIL’s first acts since assuming responsibility for GuySuCo has been to abruptly end the life of

GuySuCo’s Finance Director, Paul Bhim

the old Board of Directors.

Coming out of a special board meeting, a decision was taken to have a new board installed as of February 14.

The NICIL board has also handed down instructions to GuySuCo to freeze all hiring. According to NICIL’s public relations consultant Alex Graham, instructions have also been handed down to not renew any employee contracts that are in the process of expiring.

Graham also revealed the status of negotiations between the state and Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL). In January, DDL had submitted an Expression of Interest (EoI) for the purchase of one of the estates.

This was even as the SPU was seeking interested buyers for the Skeldon and Enmore estates.

DDL, which produces the international award-winning El Dorado rums, has raised concerns over Government’s plans to downsize the sugar sector.

The company heavily depends on molasses for its production of rums.

Graham had also noted that PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the firm blacklisted in India but valuating GuySuCo’s assets, had raised concerns about the need to have the estates seen as “fully functioning operations and facilities”.

Lindo Creek CoI

Witnesses to submit written testimony to Commission …before being allowed to testify

T

he Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry (CoI) remains undaunted, even though it has failed to attract witnesses to its hearings. It has issued another notice calling for witnesses to the inquiry, provided they first submit whatever documents and testimony they intend to make public.

According to the Commission in a statement on Monday, the next hearing would be held on March 1. Persons desirous of appearing as witnesses have to submit statements of their intended testimony to the commission before the hearing. They also have to submit any letter or memorandum they may wish to enter.

Regarding subsequent hearings, the commission announced that it “will be accepting original and follow-up statements from interested parties during the life of the Commission, and will be setting subsequent hearings to facilitate the attendance of witnesses.”

The commission will be holding its hearings at the Ministry of the Presidency’s COI Secretariat, Department of Public Service, on Waterloo Street. The CoI will be administered by retired Justice Donald Trotman, father of Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman.

Lack of willingness on the part of witness to come forward had been blamed for the delay in the commencement of public hearings of this Commission of Inquiry into the Lindo Creek massacre.

The initial public hearing was postponed when Commissioner Trotman, re-

ported that there were some internal prerequisites and logistical issues that caused the postponement, and he did not announce a recommencement date.

However, a press release from the Commission had related that the next date for public hearings would be Monday, February 19. When reporters turned up at the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Citizenship’s Waterloo Street, Georgetown Office, they were informed that all public hearings had been “postponed until further notice.”

When asked why, the Commission’s Public Relations Department related that the initial reason remains valid.

The Lindo Creek CoI is the first of what the coalition Government has said would be a series of inquiries into the hundreds of killings which occurred during a crime wave that began in 2002.

The CoI, established two weeks ago, will inquire into the circumstances surrounding the killings of eight miners, and would submit its findings and recommendations to President David Granger.

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

The Lindo Creek massacre, which has been dubbed

Justice (Retd) Donald Trotman

a “kangaroo commission”, is being headed by Justice Trotman, 80, the lone commissioner selected for the job.

President Granger has described Lindo Creek as a “massacre of the innocent”, saying that his Government believes the way the investigation was handled indicated that there was a high level of collusion. He had also rejected suggestions to extend the CoI’s focus to several years before 2008, when other major criminal activities had plagued the country.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has expressed skepticism about participating in this CoI and supporting the work of the Commission, as the Party believes that given the manner in which the CoI was constituted, and the commentary from senior Government officials, it is designed to achieve a political outcome and continue the Government’s programme of witch-hunting Opposition personalities.

Accused child rapist charged

A

n alleged paedophile who reportedly raped a six-year-old found himself arraigned before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs on Monday.

Thirty-year-old Val Smith

of the North-West District in Region One faces a charge which details that on July 28, 2012, in the North-West District, he engaged in sexual activities with a child under the age of 16.

The child is now 12 years old.

Smith was placed on $200,000 bail, and is expected to return to court on March 5, 2018, when the matter will continue.

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TUESDAY, February 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Industry man beaten to death by drug addict

Deceased: Hazrat Shaffie

H

azrat Shaffie of Lot 114 Fifth Street, Industry East Coast Demerara, beaten unconscious by an alleged drug addict on Friday evening, succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) on Monday morning from the injuries he had received in that

encounter.

The 46-year-old father of four had travelled to Ogle, ECD to collect his medication from Dr Nelson Sinclair’s Clinic, but had instead allegedly been attacked and beaten by the doctor’s 29-yearold son, who is reportedly a drug addict.

Picked up in an unconscious condition and rushed to the GPHC, Shaffie had remained in that state until his demise.

Asif Shaffie, one of the dead man’s brothers, explained that when he heard about his brother having been beaten on Friday evening, he went to the home of the doctor to enquire, and was told that his now dead brother had been attacked and beaten by the suspect, Neil Sinclair.

“The father told me that his son violently dealt some blows in my brother head on the road, and although he

The bridge on which the incident occurred

tried to intervene, he was attacked by his son”, the aggrieved brother stated.

In giving his account of what had transpired, an eyewitness explained that he had heard screams at about 20:00h on Friday, and upon checking, had seen the sus-

pect beating the man. It is believed that as the late Hazrat Shaffie was proceeding towards his car after collecting the medication, he was dragged on the roadway and beaten.

The witness recalled the drug addict shouting, “Me

want back me money!” He recounted that his wife had tried to call off the younger Sinclair, since he would usually listen to her when he goes into his rages; but this time it proved futile, since he continued to beat the man, who had already been slipping into unconsciousness.

The perpetrator reportedly walked away from the scene briefly, but returned and continued to thrash the defenseless man. Upon hearing the commotion, Dr Nelson Sinclair came out and attempted to ward off his son, but he, too, the eyewitness said, was attacked.

The witness related that Shaffie would usually visit the clinic with a young man as company, but the young man is overseas, hence the father of four went alone.

Guyana Times understands that no one went in aid of the injured man, since the

residents were all afraid of the perpetrator.

The doctor has reportedly given a statement to the Police admitting that his son had beaten the late Hazrat Shaffie, and suggesting the perpetrator should face the consequences of his actions.

Guyana Times understands that the violent behaviour exhibited by the suspect is a norm, and it has not been the first time he had physically assaulted someone.

The 29-year-old perpetrator is currently in Police custody, and is expected to be arraigned in court today.

Meanwhile, a post mortem performed on the victim has determined that his demise resulted from shock and hemorrhage due to the blows he had received to his head.

Hazrat Shaffie was laid to rest on Monday afternoon, in accordance with Muslim rites.

New NOC sex scandal

Social Protection Ministry launches investigation

this official explained that this is the first time she is dealing with an issue of this nature, and that measures would have to be put in place to prevent a recurrence of incidents of this nature.

However, this is the third time such allegations have been made in regard to this juvenile facility.

…3rd scandal at juvenile facility

F

ollowing a report appearing in Sunday’s edition of the Guyana Times, highlighting a cover-up of sexual activities between staffers and female inmates at the New Opportunity Corps, the Social Protection Ministry (MSP) has launched an investigation to determine the

veracity of the accusations.

According to MSP Deputy Director of Social Services, Abike Benjamin-Samuels, a letter has been written to the Permanent Secretary recommending an investigative team be assembled and dispatched to the NOC. “I saw it yesterday (Sunday) online, so we will

be starting an investigation into the matter. It will be up to the investigators to deal with the issues of what needs to be done to prevent that,” Benjamin-Samuels told this publication on Monday.

Asked about systems to be put in place to deal with allegations of this nature,

The New Opportunity Corps

continued on page 11

NEWS

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TUESDAY, February 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Gunmen rob confectionery store owner, salesman …escape with over $2M …trailed businessman from bank

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hree gunmen on Monday afternoon relieved a Drysdale Street, Charlestown, Georgetown businessman and his worker of over $2 million in cash and other items.

The victims, Jonathan Alli, 30, of Drysdale Street, Charlestown and 35-yearold Dexter Cyrus, a salesman of La Grange, West Bank Demerara, were held at gunpoint by the three men about 14:20h and re-

lieved of $2 million in cash, one Samsung Galaxy S5 mobile phone and a Samsung Galaxy A3 cellphone.

Reports are Alli owns and operates a grocery and confectionery business in Section A, Block X, Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and about 12:10h, they left the business place in a motor bus, bearing registration number GVV 7960.

They proceeded to a bank at Diamond, where they reportedly changed

two cheques – one amounted to $1.5 million. After that transaction, the duo proceeded to Demerara Bank branch, which is a stone’s throw away and changed another cheque totalling $500,000.

The businessman then drove to his home at Drysdale Street, where he parked his bus in front of the yard and as he exited, a silver-grey motor car bearing registration number HC 4682 pulled up on the other

Social Protection Ministry...

side of the road and stopped.

As the car came to a halt, three men exited the car and held Alli at gunpoint demanding that he hand over the money that he had col-

lected from the bank.

The money, which was reportedly in a black plastic bag that Alli was carrying in his hands, was taken away by one of the men while another relieved Cyrus of his Samsung Galaxy A3 cell-

phone.

The gunmen then walked back to their car, and drove off. The matter was immediately reported to the Police and an investigation was launched.

Over the past week, at least four persons were relieved of large sums of money by armed men who trailed them after they left commercial banks primarily on the East Coast of Demerara. In two instances, the victims were injured – one was shot to the head while the other was shot to the left leg.

As the Police continue to probe these robberies, no arrests have been made.

From page 10

A staff member at Guyana’s largest juvenile detention centre — the New Opportunity Corps at Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast -- has accused a certain senior official of orchestrating the cover-up to protect his friends.

The inside source told this newspaper that more than six female inmates have reported instances of having been forced to participate in sexual activities, and of being subjected to inappropriate behaviours from two particular staff members; but those complaints have fallen on deaf ears.

This source further stated that the senior official would even make sexual advances towards the female staff members, and when they refuse his advances, they would be subjected to undue pressure and other acts of victimisation.

The source added that there currently are two other members of staff -- a driver and the agriculture instructor -- who are in active relationships with female minors, but no action is being taken against them.

The New Opportunity Corps houses youths between the ages of 10 and 18

who have been sentenced by the courts to participate in this correctional facility’s programmes, lasting up to three years.

Most of them are sentenced there for petty offences, such as wandering, minor assault and theft. More than 50 percent of the more than 100 inmates are at the NOC for wandering.

Since the Coalition Government came into power, responsibility for the NOC has been assigned to the Social Protection Ministry.

Several accusations of rape have in the past been levelled against both MSP officials and NOC staffers.

This is the third reported allegation of incidents of this kind ongoing at the NOC. In 2014, the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) was asked to investigate an allegation of sexual molestation of females at the NOC, after a senior Government official from the then Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry had been accused of being a participant in this transgression.

One year earlier, authorities had launched a major investigation into the circumstances that had led to at least three female NOC inmates becoming pregnant.

Bicycle bandits rob businesswoman

B

usinesswoman Felicity Carmichael of North Sophia, Georgetown was walking along Pike Street, Campbellville at about 22:20h on Sunday when two armed bicycle bandits approached her and confiscated her purse, which contained her cell phone and jewellery and cash valuing $273,000.

In carrying out their attack, the duo first rode past her and proceeded to block

her path. One of the riders then pulled out a pistol from his pants waist and pointed it at her, demanding that she hand over her valuables.

Immobilised with fear, the 49-year-old could do nothing as one of the bandits grabbed her bag from her shoulder.

The men then quickly rode away in a westerly direction in making good their escape. The matter was reported, and the Police are investigating.

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TUESDAY, February 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Senior public officials urged to “step up their game” …as PPAM/PCM training programme launches in Guyana

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s several senior public service officials, mainly Permanent Secretaries (PSs) and Regional Executive Officers (REOs), gathered for the opening of a Public Policy Analysis Management and Project Cycle Management Training Programme, they were urged to step up their game and make more effort to become efficient in handling Government’s affairs on a daily basis.

This advice was given by Minister of State, Joseph

Harmon, who delivered the feature address at the opening of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)sponsored workshop that started as an online study programme and on Monday continued with face-to-face interactions, deliberations and discussions.

Harmon said the role of these senior public officials, who are decision makers and senior technicians within the public sector, was one which was important to the Government.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon delivering the feature address at the opening of the Public Policy Analysis Management and Project Cycle Management Training Programme being held at Grand Coastal Hotel

“And as you are well aware, there is cause to have serious conversations with PSs and REOs with respect to the manner in which we were handling our responsibilities…We have to step up our game and become better,” he asserted.

The Minister told the participants that they should not see their role as clerks. “The Ministers of the Government lays out policies and you are responsible for administration. So, do not see yourself as pen pushers and paper pushers. You have an important responsibility in ensuring that the projects which have been identified and for

which budgetary allocations have been made, that they are carried out.”

He also noted that the management of the Finance

CDB for choosing Guyana as one of three Caribbean countries selected to participate in the revised pilot programme. He noted that Guyana’s Public Sector Improvement Programme (PSIP) is largely funded by international donor agencies like the CDB. “This developmental partnership has seen Guyana benefiting from many loans and grants administered through the Ministry of Finance. These funds are usually aimed at social and economic infrastructural projects providing skills training and support for Small and Medium Enterprises.”

The Minister said the training was not only timely but it was also in keeping with Government’s commitment to the creation of a

ing 200 from Guyana, were being trained based on the home-grown needs of individual Member States. He said based on a visit by a CDB team in 2016 and follow-up work, the training programme has been crafted specifically for Guyana. He said already, online courses have been pursued by the Guyanese participants and plans were in the pipeline to train trainers who would continue to train the relevant public servants.

The training aims to minimise disparities between policy commitments and the implementation of projects and programmes, build capacity, and assist to increase the rate of project implementation. It focuses on the areas of policy development and implementation, risk management,

Participants from various Government Ministries are taking part in the training

Ministry recognised the need for improvement in the way public sector projects were handled. “We recognised that in our Green State Development Strategy, that there were several innovative projects which we were embracing and which we will soon roll out…We must learn how to manage these effectively,” he added.

Harmon also used the opportunity to thank the

highly-skilled professional public service and to build the capacity of our human capital. He highlighted some of the work the Government has done to improve the public service, especially with the launching of the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service, among others.

CDB Consultant Coordinator Reginald Graham said more than 2300 public officials, includ-

project appraisal, monitoring and evaluation, and other critical topics, including cross-cutting themes.

The PPAM and PCM Training Programme is the most recent iteration of training initiatives introduced by CDB, to strengthen efficiency and build capacity across the Region.

It promotes a sustainable, country-led approach to professional development that responds to national needs.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, February 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Wales conversion plans?

Agriculture Minister avoids question on broken promises

S

ome two years ago, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder made several announcements about wide-ranging diversification plans for the Wales Sugar Estate, signalling that many workers from that entity could be retained under the new venture.

However, the initiatives never materialised – so much so that land that was to be converted into rice cultivation has been overtaken by weeds and bushes.

On Monday, the Agriculture Minister was questioned by Guyana Times on the status of the conversion plans, but he declined to provide an update on the basis that management of the sugar industry was transferred to the Finance Ministry. The Minister similarly avoided responding to the assertion that he broke promises to sugar workers and to the public concerning the plans for diversification announced in 2016.

“How can I offer a comment when it’s not under my purview? It would be wrong,” Minister Holder told this publication on Monday.

Last Wednesday, the Minister pointed out that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was no longer under the Agriculture Ministry. He made these

Former Wales Estate worker Alex Paul Singh

comments around the time that dismissed workers from Wales were protesting in front of the Ministry, calling for his removal.

“GuySuCo is vested in National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). NICIL falls under the Ministry of Finance. In short, GuySuCo has been removed from the ambit of agriculture to the Ministry of Finance,” Minister Holder had stated.

However, it is not clear whether or not the Minister’s disclosure of GuySuCo coming under NICIL was ever

A section of the land overgrown with weeds and bushes at Vriesland, West Bank Demerara (Shemuel Fanfair file photo)

$10M ground coffee project launched at Santa Rosa

Some of the villagers at the launch

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10-million-dollar initiative to produce ground coffee has been launched at Santa Rosa in the Moruca sub-region of Region One (Barima-Waini).

The project has been launched as one of the green sustainable initiatives to be implemented within the hinterland for this year, and it is intended to boost the region’s economy.

Members of the village are required to select 12 farmers who would each be required to plant an acre of coffee, which would be used to produce Robusta Coffee. Each acre will host six hundred coffee plants.

Addressing those gathered at the launch of the project, Minister within the Indigenous People’s Affairs

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

Ministry, Valerie GarridoLowe, said Santa Rosa coffee must be known for its special blend. She added that demand for the product will grow, and employment opportunities would increase accordingly.

The area chosen, Moruca, used to produce coffee, and Minister Garrido-Lowe revealed that Santa Rosa was chosen because of the presence of knowledgeable persons who can assist in reviving the coffee industry.

This initiative is expected to support sustainable income generation and environmentally friendly projects from which villagers can benefit.

The aim of this project is to make Guyana a coffee-producing nation, and partnerships have been forged with the Social Protection Ministry; the

Business Ministry; and the Agriculture Ministry, through the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC).

There also are plans to visit Brazil, the world’s top coffee-producing nation, to acquire firsthand information on the production and quality of the coffee being grown.

The seeds will be set and nurtured with assistance from NAREI. Farmers would be educated on the correct planting methods of the seedlings. The Business Ministry would be responsible for packaging and production. Minister GarridoLowe is positive that this brand would be as successful as the Pakaraima Flavours brand.

legally stipulated, as it was the closed estates that were transferred under the State-owned company. The January 7, 2018 edition of

this newspaper published that the divested estates were transferred to NICIL as guided by the Public Corporations Act, Chapter 19:05. The estates included Skeldon, East Demerara and Wales. There was no mention that GuySuCo in its entirety was ever transferred to NICIL. In February 2017, the Minister told the National Assembly that the Wales Sugar Factory would be converted into a business establishment that would see the rearing of poultry and livestock. Prior to that, Minister Holder had announced in May 2016 that Government was examining the feasibility of converting the factory into plants that would have processed dairy products and fruit juices, among other products.

Meanwhile, as Government-recruited international accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers continues to evaluate GuySuCo’s assets for privatisation and divestment, former Wales workers are asking when they will receive their severance pay.

Guyana Times understands that even some of the workers who were transferred to Uitvlugt want termination benefits from their years of service at Wales. This newspaper was told that many opted against receiving severance, because they were under the impression that they would continue work-

ing at Wales under the diversification plans, namely rice cultivation.

Former Wales worker Alex Paul Singh told Guyana Times that during 2017 he worked on the rice field in the backdam, but he stressed that this was not his field of work as he was a “bull man”, that is a worker who pulls punts along the estate canals.

“Me ah bull man and me wuk come redundant and as such, me like to get severance,” Singh stressed, claiming that his colleagues in that department have not received their termination benefits.

Speaking in December 2016, GuySuCo Finance Director and now acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Paul Bhim had told reporters that some 100 of the 1000 Wales dismissed workers were identified for the rice conversion plans, including husbandry practices. This came in light of the promises by GuySuCo that it intended to convert some 485 acres of land at Wales Estate to rice cultivation.

It was during a visit to Wales earlier this month that Guyana Times was shown sections of the land that were being overtaken by weeds. Workers who live in Vriesland, West Bank Demerara had expressed much dismay that, to date, no rice has been reaped.

14 news

TuesDAY, February 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

OIA sexual assault

CANU, Police in blame game …family seeking legal advice

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op officials from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) have withdrawn themselves from the alleged sexual assault perpetrated on a teen at the Ogle International Airport (OAI).

A 17-year-old girl was alleged to have been cavity searched over the weekend as she was about to depart Guyana for Barbados. In the process, she was sexually assaulted.

While Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Major General (Retd) Michael Atherly, has acknowledged receiving a report of the incident, the

top CANU official has denied that one of his officers was responsible.

Atherly told Guyana Times on Monday that the offence was carried out by a member of the GPF, whom he claimed allegedly conducted the search of the passenger’s cavity.

Contacted on Monday,

‘C’ Division Commander Eon Cooper also denied having knowledge that a Police rank was responsible for the act. He brushed aside allegations that the rank is under close arrest, but said he received reports surrounding the matter and an investigation has been launched.

Efforts to contact Head of

the Criminal Investigations Department, Assistant Commissioner Paul Williams, proved futile.

A close relative of the young lady has said the family is seeking professional/ legal advice on the matter, and, as such, declined to comment further.

If the Policewoman is

found culpable, she stands to be demoted, fined, or dismissed from the GPF. The female teen was in process of visiting her relatives on Sunday when she allegedly was subjected to a “strip search” by officers at the airport before being placed in a room.

It was there that a female officer allegedly inserted her “finger” in the girl’s private parts. The law enforcement rank reportedly asked the teen to “spread out and cough”.

But Atherly has already condemned the officer’s actions as he stated that the search done on the teenager was carried out in an improper manner.

This incident is being seen as important given the Shanique Myrie case which saw her being paid US$38,000 by the Barbadian Government after she alleged that she was sexually assaulted and raped by a female immigration officer in Barbados during a cavity search.

Myrie was awarded damages by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) after she filed a lawsuit claiming she was subjected to a dehumanising cavity search by the female immigration officer at Grantley Adams International Airport, locked in a filthy room overnight, and deported to Jamaica in March 2011.

Gun-toting woman hijacks, burns car Health Minister announces …driver runs for life improvement in TB treatment

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olice are on the hunt for a woman who hijacked a taxi and told the driver to run for his life before setting it alight.

The incident occurred on the Upper Corentyne on Monday at about 06:40h.

The driver of the car, 32-year-old Ravindra Mohabir, told Guyana Times he had never seen the woman before. He said she had

The burnt Toyota Carina

Hire car driver Ravindra Mohabir

hired the car to go to the Number 63 Beach to purchase fish.

“She stop me on the road and ask me how much to take her to the beach to buy fish, and I told her $2000, and she jump in and pay me,” he told Guyana Times.

Mohabir said he had, on Monday, left his home at Number 59 Village, Corentyne and had gone to fix a vehicle belonging to a Surinamese. On his way back, he met the hijacker.

“I reach the lady by 61 [Village]. She went by the bushes, so when ah ask she where she going, she said that she going to 63 Beach, she going and buy Banga Mary.”

After agreeing on the fare, he headed towards the beach. However, instead of going to the waterfront, the woman asked him to use the road just behind. The sand

road is considered part of the Number 63 Beach.

“When we reach about halfway, she pull out a gun; she went at the back. She put the gun to my head and say, ‘Give me all the money that you gat!’ ” Mohabir said he was able to recognise that it was a gun the woman had placed to the back of his head by using the rearview mirror in the car.

He said he handed the woman the $2000 which he had collected from her and his cellular phone which was in the same pocket. She then demanded more, but he indicated that it was all that he had at the time.

“She say, ‘Alright, jump out the car’. So I stop the car and didn’t cut off the engine and jump out and start run.”

On his way out of the beach, Mohabir said, he met a gentleman who was riding a bicycle. He said he asked for a telephone call, and after explaining to the Police, the man told him he was seeing smoke.

“I did not worry to go back. I continue and go to the Police; and then me and the police go back, and we see the car burning.” Police searched the area but were unable to find anyone.

When Guyana Times arrived on the scene, the

Toyota Carina AT 192 was still smoking. Previously HB 7773, it was valued at $850,000.

Persons doing business at the main entrance to the beach told this publication they had seen no one fitting the woman’s description exiting the beach. Those who live along another beach entrance also gave the same report.

Meanwhile, Ravindra Mohabir’s father, Dasrat Mohabir, has said he went to an insurance company on behalf of his traumatised son, and had met an attendant who laughed at him.

“After I told her what happen, she asked for the insurance. So I give her the paper, and she say, ‘This is a third party’, and she watch at me and start to laugh.

She say, ‘Don’t you know that you have nothing to get on this insurance?’ ” Meanwhile, as Police continue to hunt for the hijacker, Mohabir has described her as being a slim, light skinned individual who was standing with a large empty paint bucket, and appeared to be going to purchase fish.

He also reiterated that he had never previously seen this woman.

Police are continuing their hunt for her.

he recently-concluded Andean Group of countries forum held in Lima, Peru heard that Guyana was currently winning the war against tuberculosis (TB).

This announcement was made by Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings.

The forum heard that in spite of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causing a spike in the number of TB cases dealt with last year, the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) and the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) were working round the clock to heighten the Isoniazid Preventative Therapy in citizens living with the deadly disease.

Minister Cummings also informed the Andean forum that the best initiative implemented has been the provision of nutritious drink and food hampers. This is since the NTP began effecting a number of enablers and incentive initiatives in 2005. These initiatives seek to not only boost the health of patients suffering from the disease but to foster adherence to treatment.

“The case notification rate over the past five years decreased from 92 per 100,000 in 2012 to 70 per 100,000 in 2017. This is a good indication as TB has been on the decline significantly in key populations, namely the prisoners, children and elderly,” Dr Cummings stated.

She highlighted the improvement of the TB treatment success rates since 2005.

The rates, which were just under 50 per cent in 2005, have skyrocketed to 78 per cent, according to the most recently available national figures.

This improvement is as a result of the implementation of the Directly Observed Short Course Treatment (DOTS) in Guyana. However, the na-

Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings addresses the conference

tional rate is still below the target for the World Health Organisation (WHO) END TB Strategy 2025 of 90 per cent.

Dr Cummings said while the country’s strategy was to addresses social protection, poverty alleviation and actions on other determinants of the contagious TB disease, “Guyana will continue exploring ways to enhance the socioeconomic conditions of less fortunate TB patients by implementing ‘more robust initiatives’, which will target Pillar 2 of the country’s “END TB STRATEGY”, which are Bold Policies and Supportive Systems.”

The event, which was organised to help complement the functioning of, and assist in capacity building among national TB laboratories, also focused on strengthening the technical and administrative capacity of the three supranational reference laboratories in the Americas located in Argentina, Chile and Mexico, and fortify the national laboratory networks of the 20 countries of the Americas through technical and managerial skills-building.

While addressing the meeting, Dr Nila Heredia, Executive Secretary of the Andean Health Organisation ORAS-CONHU, noted that resistance to first and second level treatment of tuberculosis

continued to be a major public health concern around the world.

“This space will give routes that allow us as integration agencies to contribute to this struggle,” he said, stressing the importance of having the presidency of MERCOSUR Health; the Executive Secretariat of Council of Ministers of Health of Central America (COMISCA) and the General Directorate of South American Institute of Government in Health (ISAGS) of UNASUR which are integrating mechanisms together with the ORASCONHU, which are expected to work with the same mandate of the presidents and contribute to the elimination of tuberculosis globally.

Also speaking on the need to strengthen the laboratory network and integration of the ORAS–CONHU was Vice Minister of Health of Peru, Dr Percy Montes. “This meeting means a stop along the way to see how far we have progressed on the issue of tuberculosis, what we are going to do together, what are the challenges and challenges that we as a State have to face in the future,” he noted while expressing that the forum would bear many results in the field of improving diagnostic capacity for laboratories.

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tuesDAY, February 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

City Hall crumbling

“Part of the building fell off” – King tells M&CC

…adds that roof lined with tarpaulin to prevent leakages

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here was a moment of tension when Town Clerk Royston King announced that a part of the northern section of City Hall simply fell off last Wednesday or Thursday, bringing the issue of urgent repairs to the building back on the front burner.

King’s revelation came after Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen, at Monday’s statutory meeting, called for an urgent meeting to discuss the state of the building and for the realization of a restoration fund.

“I am asking to meet with the General Public and National Trust and let us launch the restoration fund. We will open an account with signatories of Councillors and general public to manage the fund,” Chase-Green said.

She said the council needs to start somewhere and then help would follow. Accordingly, ordered that the Administration fix a date in March for a public consultation to determine the way forward. She added that after work would have commenced, the other agencies -- inclusive of governmental, private and international -- would follow suit and join the bandwagon.

However, King disclosed that he had received a notification from the City’s

prevent storm water,” King added.

To this Chase-Green advised that the City is in no financial position to rent a building for administrative purposes.

“If we have to move, I don’t think this council is in any position to rent a building at any exorbitant sum. We can’t afford to rent a building. I would propose that we build a complex. The time it will take to spend money to rent a building, you can use that money to build a building, so you will have something and not pay the bank to pay rent,” Chase-Green noted.

She further related that the council was informed that the building’s founda-

City Hall

Engineers Department informing that the building would no longer be suitable for human occupancy, since it is rapidly deteriorating.

“I received a notification from the City Engineer with respect to this building, and I suspect that very soon we would not be able to use it for any meetings. I have asked him to look at it again, and he is in the process of giving the Office of the Town Clerk a citation, and we perhaps

would need to meet urgently to decide what we will do,” he related.

“That notification was triggered by the fact that last Wednesday or Thursday, part of the building fell off -that is, more to the northern side of the structure -- and I received notification. We need to meet urgently to discuss this, and it is in a state where we can no longer continue (occupying it). The roof is lined with tarpaulin to

Five Star Backdam killing

Pathologist takes to witness stand

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o v e r n m e n t Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh appeared at the High Court trial of Marlon Marion Freeman on Monday, and testified to having conducted the post-mortem examination on miner Timothy Adams, who was killed at Turtle Creek, Five Star Backdam, North West District (NWD) on December 22, 2013.

Adams was killed while en route to a mining camp.

Freeman has been accused of killing Adams before stealing his gold following a confrontation between the two. Freeman has, however, denied that he murdered Adams.

During Monday’s trial, led by State Prosecutor Lisa Cave, Dr Singh explained that during the examination he discovered an abrasion to the left side of Adams’ face, a cut to the foot and a cut to the top and back of the head.

The expert witness also discovered an incised wound to the neck and determined that a sharp object was used.

As such, he gave the cause of death as haemorrhage and shock compounded by blunt force trauma to the head.

The testimony of the Government Pathologist correlated with what Police Detective Corporal Bryan

Murder accused: Marlon Freeman

James had testified to the jury when he disclosed that he penned the caution statement of the accused, who allegedly admitted to the killing. Corporal James had claimed that the defendant might have killed Adams, because he thought the miner was going to pull a gun after he confronted him over money that was owed to him.

Bryan, who administered the caution statement on December 25, 2013 in the presence of then Police Constable Zane Williams, had indicated Freeman saying that he first went to work with his uncle at Five Star Backdam, but after they

“got wrong”, he went to work at Gavin Blacks’ mining camp. According to the caution statement, Freeman, a pork-knocker, was promised $5000 a day by Blacks, but after three weeks passed, he was only paid $30,000. He had enquired from Blacks about his money and some time after lunch on the day in question, he bought a “piece of weed” and then saw Adams coming to the camp about 15 minutes later.

According to the caution statement, Freeman also enquired of Adams about his money, saying: “Big man, wam to me money?”

“I see he go to he waist and I didn’t know if he had a gun or wah, but I had a spoon which I sharpen and I just jook he by he neck and he fall down. After I see he ain’t moving, I get nervous,” the defendant reportedly said. He then left the scene.

He also claimed that the gold he later gave a female was not taken from the deceased man, but it was gold that he had in his possession.

Presiding Judge James Bovell-Drakes adjourned the matter to Wednesday afternoon when the State’s final witness is expected to testify. Freeman is being represented by defence counsel Folio Richards.

tion is in tip-top shape and only the structure needs repairing. She added that it was also advised that the building remains occupied to slow the deterioration rate, but she opined that it should be repaired at the soonest time possible.

City Hall is a nineteenth-century Gothic Revival building located at the corner of Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic in Georgetown, Guyana. The building was designed by architect Reverend Ignatius Scoles in 1887, and was completed in June 1889.

According to the National Trust of Guyana “City Hall, an eloquent example of Guyana’s built architectural heritage, is located with its

main façade facing Avenue of the Republic, and is bordered by Regent Street to the north and Charlotte Street to the south.

The foundation stone was laid in the north-eastern corner of the structure. The building was completed 18 months later, and declared opened before a large audience by Governor Viscount Gormanston, K.C.M.G, on July 1, 1889, during a heavy downpour of rain.

The Town Hall represented an excellent example of Neo-Gothic colonial architecture in British Guiana.

The 29-metre (96 feet) tower with its conical pinnacles was and still is considered one of the building’s main attractions.

Barima-Waini on a mission for a new landfill location

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ayor of Mabaruma, in Barima-Waini (Region One), Henry Smith, has said the slated landfill which aims to provide a sustainable approach to sanitation management for the region is being delayed as the municipality looks for a suitable site for its establishment.

During a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), the mayor said the administration had encountered “some problems, where residents were objecting to it (landfill) being stationed at its set location”.

The mayor stressed that, at this moment, there are talks about acquiring alternative sites which would not only be approved by the administration, but the residents for their benefit.

According to the mayor, for health purposes, the administration would be looking for locations away from persons’ homes.

Last year, the

Mayor of Mabaruma, Henry Smith

Communities Ministry signed a $6.5million contract for hydrogeological and geotechnical investigations at proposed landfills in Region One (Mabaruma and Port Kaituma). The work is to be undertaken by E&A Consultants Limited.

Mayor Smith has said that these efforts to establish the landfill sites are in keeping with the Government’s ‘Green Economy’ agenda.

He also highlighted that despite the pause on the landfill, there was tremendous improvement regarding the region’s healthcare services, teachers being trained, and

educational opportunities being available. He also noted the ongoing lessons being provided to secondary school students at the Mabaruma Settlement, to improve students’ knowledge now that more qualified teachers are resident in the region.

“Things are looking up for us, really looking up for us; and you can see in the surroundings (that) people are more conscious about their environment. Even all of the lands are being taken up, as everyone wants to be in this development,” Mayor Smith has said.

Grenada reiterates calls for cheaper intra-regional travel

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renada’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell reaffirmed his call for a collective agreement to reduce airline ticket taxes and some other fees attached to intra-regional air travel.

The former Caribbean Community (Caricom) Chairman made the call at the opening of the 29th Intersessional Heads of Government Meeting being held in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Meeting concludes today.

“This would represent a significant instalment to the regional integration account,” Dr Mitchell said.

Regional transport and travel continue to challenge

Caricom. Dr Mitchell said the community must take “due responsibility” for failing to properly respond.

Addressing connectivity should be an urgent priority for regional leaders, Dr Mitchell added.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge also reiterated the call for more cost-effective intra-regional travel.

He noted that this was the focus of one of the legal instruments that would be discussed at this Intersessional Meeting.

“There are a number of things the Attorney Generals have been asked to look at which have to do with aviation, trying to ensure that the aviation in-

dustry in the Region meets the needs of the Region,” Minister Greenidge said.

Last July, affordable intra-regional travel was addressed at the Caricom Heads of Government Conference in Grenada.

Leaders were expected to sign off on an age-old Multilateral Air Services Agreement that sought to pave the way for easier inter-regional travel.

Antigua, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago have all ratified the Multilateral Air Services Agreement, which came into force in 1998.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, February 27, 2018

Regional

Election date announced in Antigua; candidates have just 3 weeks to woo electorate

Grenada PM promises speedy implementation of national health insurance after elections

Prime Minister Gaston Browne made the announcement at a rally at which he introduced his Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party’s candidates for the polls [Antigua Observer]

Argentina sub: ARA San Juan relatives to crowdfund new search

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esidents of Antigua and Barbuda now know exactly when they will be asked to elect a new government – and those contesting the poll will have less than a month to convince voters to give them their ‘X’.

After hinting late last week that elections would be held “in coming weeks”, Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced March 21 as the date for the polls at a rally of his Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) on Saturday.

Parliament was due to be dissolved Monday and the election writ issued today, Browne told supporters, as

he expressed confidence that the ABLP would be victorious over the other political parties and take all the seats in Parliament.

“I am giving them 21 days to give them 17-none,” he declared before giving the election date.

Browne explained that the reason he called the election a year early was to protect the EC$1.5 billion in projects that his government has earmarked.

“Our primary purpose for calling the election early is not about politics, it is about development….We can’t allow the destructive forces to stymie the progress we have made,” he said.

Browne urged candidates not to be complacent, despite the “weakness” of the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), and to ensure they hit the campaign trail.

The ABLP, the UPP, the new Democratic National Alliance, and the Antigua and Barbuda True Labour Party will contest the general elections.

The ABLP won 14 seats in the last election in 2014 while the UPP took the other three.

UPP leader Harold Lovell, responding to the election announcement, said the early polls were a sign of a failed ABLP government.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Crime and violence high on agenda as Caricom Heads meet

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rime Minister Freundel Stuart has given the assurance that Caricom leaders intend “to get to the bottom of some of the issues that are spawning the level of violence that we are seeing across the Caribbean today”.

Speaking prior to the start of the 29th Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government underway in Haiti, he said the Caribbean had been witnessing a gradual and, at times, rapid deterioration in the state of the societies as a result of crime and violence, and the issue will take centre stage at the summit.

“At the regional level, crime and violence has become a serious issue for us.

It’s actually threatening the stability of our societies and, therefore, not without significance, the distinguished Prime Minister of Jamaica requested at the last Heads of Government meeting in Grenada, that rather than just discussing the issue of regional security, that we should also discuss the issue of crime and violence since that was a pressing issue for him in Jamaica from day to day,” Stuart said.

“And, therefore, that is going to be an important agenda item at this meeting.”

The Barbadian leader was optimistic that regional leaders would come to a

consensus on adopting measures “to counteract these tendencies and to create a more peaceful civilization for our people”.

The Caricom Conference officially opened Sunday evening with a reception at

the Karibe Hotel, hosted by Caricom Chairman Jovenel Moïse and First Lady, Martin Moise.

The formal business session started Monday at the Marriott Hotel. (Caribbean360)

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onfident of his New National Party (NNP) being returned to power in the March 13 general election, Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell has promised to move speedily with the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) after the polls.

Under the NHI, Grenadians will be able to access a range of health services. The Government said the insurance plan is geared towards making health care

affordable and accessible.

Speaking at an NNP rally, Prime Minister Mitchell said the implementation of the NHI will be a top priority after the polls.

“We have watched our health care system in this country over the years – governments go, governments come. We have seen the fundamental problems…

“I want to tell you, in the next term of our Government, starting March 14th, we are going to move speedily and im-

plement a National Health Insurance,” he said.

Mitchell pointed out that healthcare is an election issue not only in Grenada or the Caribbean, but internationally as well.

The NHI Secretariat was officially launched in October last year at the same time that the Government signed a deal with the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) to provide technical support for the NHI. (Caribbean360)

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elatives of the 44 crew members of a lost Argentine submarine have begun raising funds to search for it privately.

The navy called off its rescue mission for the ARA San Juan in December, two weeks after it went missing.

Relatives have opened an account and asked for the public to donate.

No trace of the vessel has been found despite extensive searching underwater and by air. All those who were on board are presumed dead.

They were understood to have had air for no more than 10 days.

The navy stopped its rescue mission two weeks after the sub's disappearance saying there was no longer hope of finding any survivors.

The search for the missing vessel and the bodies of the crew continued but with a reduced number of ships.

"We want to keep look-

“Uncle, we are waiting for you” reads these children’s poster

ing, we are not going to stop," relatives said in a statement.

"We are looking for the truth and you can accompany us. With a small donation we will take a big step.

Help us." The families of the crew members have long expressed dissatisfaction with the navy's handling of the aftermath of the sub's disappearance.

At the time, some said they did not believe the offi-

cial version of events, while others said they needed to find the bodies of their loved ones in order to be able to grieve.

Some relatives suggested the submarine, which was 34 years old, had been in a bad state of repair. The Argentine navy said it had passed system safety checks and President Mauricio Macri said it had been "in perfect condition". (Excerpt from BBC News)

Regional media workers to Likely centrist Brazil presidential discuss disaster issues

contender says he would sell Petrobras

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ore than 40 Journalists and representatives of regional and international organisations will meet in Barbados on March 2 and 3 when the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) hosts a Disaster Reporting Symposium in the face of last year's devastating hurricane season.

Several Caribbean countries, most notably Barbuda, Dominica, British Virgin Islands, The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands were severely impacted when Hurricanes Maria and Irma passed through the Lesser Antilles in September last year, killing at least 30 people and leaving damage estimated at billions of dollars.

In addition to representatives of the ACM's 14 national associations and focal points and other Journalists, the symposium will include resource personnel from the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA); Caricom

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Hurricane damage in Dominica

Secretariat; Caricom Climate Change Centre (CCCCC); Regional Security System (RSS) and the Public Media Alliance (UK).

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO); UN Information Centre for the Caribbean (UNIC); Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU); Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) and Latin American and Caribbean Alliance of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX)

will also be represented.

The event is being supported through an IFEX grant and will focus on media involvement in management and coordination issues through all phases of natural and man-made disasters.

ACM President Wesley Gibbings said one of the highlights of the symposium will be “the development of protocols to identify the rules of engagement between journalists and disaster response agencies and personnel.”

(Excerpt from CMC)

he governor of Sao Paulo and likely centrist presidential candidate Geraldo Alckmin said on Monday that he would privatise Brazil’s Staterun oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA if he wins the elections in October.

Alckmin, who has single digit support in opinion polls, said during a television interview with Band TV that he favoured private ownership of Petrobras, as Brazil’s biggest company is known, as long as the sale was conducted within a strict regulatory framework.

Once a taboo issue in Brazilian politics because of national sovereignty concerns, the privatisation of Petrobras is set to become a campaign issue this year as Brazil struggles to bring an unsustainable budget deficit

under control.

Brazil’s left fiercely rejects the sale of Petrobras, but the leftist leader leading early opinion polls, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, will likely be barred from running because of a corruption conviction and there are no obvious politicians who can fill his shoes.

It is not clear where the far right candidate Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently second in opinion polls, stands on relinquishing state control of Petrobras.

But his economic policy advisor Paulo Guedes told Valor newspaper in an interview published on Monday that he favoured selling all State companies to raise 700 billion reais that would help pay off one fifth of Brazil’s public debt. (Excerpt from Reuters)

tuesDAY, February 27, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Syria conflict: Putin orders Eastern Ghouta 'humanitarian pause'

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ussia's President Vladimir Putin has ordered a daily fivehour pause in the Syrian Government's assault on the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta area.

It will start today, and include the creation of a "humanitarian corridor" to allow civilians to leave.

The rebel enclave near Damascus, where 393,000 civilians are trapped, has been under intense bombardment

by Government forces with Russian support.

More than 560 people have been killed in eight days, a monitoring group says.

Russian Defence Minister

A doctor in Eastern Ghouta says there is still shelling, but "the level is less than before"

Sergei Shoigu made the announcement about the "humanitarian pause", saying it would run from 09:00 until 14:00 local time (07:00-12:00 GMT) daily.

In a further statement, the Ministry said the Syrian

Red Crescent would help set up the corridor and people would receive information about it via leaflets, text messages and videos.

A UN Security Council resolution passed on Saturday demanded that "all

in Yemen, where a Saudiled coalition is fighting rebels, is nearing the end of its third year.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is believed to be behind various recent shake-ups in the country.

Last year dozens of prominent Saudi figures, including princes, ministers and billionaires, were locked up in Riyadh's fivestar Ritz-Carlton hotel

as the prince led a drive against corruption and abuse of power.

This is another sweeping overhaul of Saudi institutions that has become the hallmark of the reign of King Salman, although the driving force is once again his son and heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The Saudi intervention in the Yemen conflict was his initiative – one of the first indications of just how

parties cease hostilities without delay for at least 30 consecutive days" to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and medical evacuations of critically ill people.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that the resolution needed to be implemented immediately, warning: "Eastern Ghouta cannot wait.

It's high time to stop this hell on Earth."

But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters that the UNmandated truce would "start when all sides of the conflict agree on how to introduce it".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Saudi king sacks military chiefs

S

audi Arabia has sacked its top military commanders, including the chief of staff, in a series of late-night royal decrees.

Saudi King Salman also replaced the heads of the ground forces and air defences.

The news was published by the official Saudi Press Agency, but no reason for the sackings was given.

They come as the war

17

dramatically he was going to break away from the country's traditional caution.

And it has so far failed, even if it has forced the Houthi rebels out of the south of Yemen and allowed the ousted Government to re-establish a foothold. The cost for Yemen itself has been a humanitarian disaster, while it has also drained Saudi coffers in a time of austerity. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Seoul pushes for USKorea talks; Trump says “we'll see”

I

n the latest attempt to defuse the crisis over North Korea’s weapons programme, South Korea urged Washington and Pyongyang to give ground to allow for talks and US President Donald Trump reiterated he would negotiate with North Korea, but only under the right conditions.

“Recently, North Korea has shown it is open to actively engaging the United States in talks and the United States is talking about the importance of dialogue,” South Korean President Moon Jae-in said during a meeting in Seoul with Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong.

“There is a need for the United States to lower the threshold for talks with

North Korea, and North Korea should show it is willing to denuclearise. It’s important the United States and North Korea sit down together quickly,” he said, according to a statement from his office.

South Korea, a close US ally, has engaged in a flurry of talks with North Korean officials since January, hoping to use the South’s just-concluded Winter Olympics as a catalyst for rapprochement.

But the United States has insisted that any future talks with North Korea must be aimed at that country’s denuclearisation, something Pyongyang has rejected. North Korea on Sunday expressed willingness for dialogue, Seoul says. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

China pushes back against criticism of plan for Xi to stay in power

Bollywood star Sridevi Kapoor 'drowned in hotel bath'

S

uperstar Bollywood actress Sridevi Kapoor died of accidental drowning, a Dubai post-mortem report has said.

The 54-year-old actress, known simply as Sridevi, drowned in her hotel apartment's bathtub following loss of consciousness, it says.

It had earlier been reported that she died of cardiac arrest on Saturday while at a family wedding in Dubai.

Bollywood stars, sporting giants and leading politicians have reacted with

Sridevi was an icon in Bollywood cinema

shock to her death.

The media arm of the

Dubai Government said the post-mortem analysis had

been completed and the cause of death ascertained.

The case has been passed to the Dubai Public Prosecution for what officials said were "regular legal procedures".

The post-mortem report has been released by Dubai Police to Sridevi's family and the Indian consulate, the Gulf News says.

The paper said the report could mean a delay to the repatriation of the body. It had been expected to be flown home on Monday. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Brussels to force homeless into shelters during cold snap in danger by refusing accommodation", he added.

Each homeless person will be taken to a heat-

ed room and seen by a doctor, who will then advise on whether they can safely return to the streets. (Excerpt from

A woman picks a souvenir necklace with a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping from a selection that also includes necklaces featuring late Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong at a stall in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, February 26, 2018

C

hina’s plan for President Xi Jinping to remain in office indefinitely has sparked social media opposition, drawing comparisons to North Korea’s ruling dynasty and prompting a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist to accuse it of creating a dictator.

The social media reaction late on Sunday quickly saw China swing into a concerted propaganda push by

BBC News)

Congo asylum seeker in US separated from child for months – ACLU

There are fears for homeless people in Belgium as a sub-zero cold snap looms

H

omeless people in Brussels could be detained overnight if they refuse shelter, as extremely low temperatures grip the Belgian capital.

At the weekend police in the Etterbeek suburb were asked to remove people from the street for their own protection.

The mayor of Brussels later issued a similar order in the city centre.

Like much of Europe, the city is going through a bitter

cold spell and temperatures could fall to as low as -10C (14F) in the coming days.

Etterbeek Mayor Vincent De Wolf said people would be forced into shelters only "in cases of absolute necessity".

"The homeless who would stay outside in these conditions may fall into hypothermia and even die of cold," he said.

The aim of the order was "to protect homeless people who would put themselves

U

S immigration authorities have held a Congolese asylum seeker and her sevenyear-old daughter in separate detention centres for months, a new lawsuit alleges, stoking fears Donald Trump's Administration plans to keep families apart in a bid to stem asylum requests.

In a claim filed on Monday in a US District Court in California, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the mother and daughter have

been detained since they arrived and filed for asylum in San Diego in November of last year.

Known only as "Ms L" in the court filing, the woman fled violence in her native Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been wracked by political instability, armed clashes and an increasing humanitarian crisis.

While the mother is being detained in the San Diego area, her child is held more than 3,000km away in Chicago, ACLU said.

"The Trump Administration is using this little girl and her mother as pawns in its draconian public policy experiment," said Lee Gelernt, deputy director of ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project, in a statement.

The lawsuit accuses US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security, among others, of violating the plaintiffs' right to due process and violating federal asylum laws. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Monday, blocking some articles and publishing pieces praising the party.

The ruling Communist Party on Sunday proposed to remove a constitutional clause limiting presidential service to just two terms in office, meaning Xi, who also heads the party and the military, might never have to retire.

The proposal, which will be passed by delegates loyal to the party at next month’s annual meeting of China’s largely rubber-stamp Parliament, is part of a package of amendments to the country’s constitution.

It will also add Xi’s political thought to the Constitution, already added to the party constitution last year, and set a legal framework for a super anti-corruption superbody, as well as more broadly strengthen the party’s tight grip on power.

But it seems the party will have its work cut out trying to convince some in China, where Xi is popular thanks in part to his war on graft, that the move will not end up giving him too much power. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, February 27, 2018

ARCHIE

Take part in a regimen, retreat or seminar that will (March 21give you greater vision and April 19) strength and the courage to do what pleases you instead of continuously trying to please everyone else.

ARIES

Helping others will bring TAURUS the highest reward. Get out of (April 20- the house and volunteer your May 20) time, services and knowledge to an important cause. Don’t make a fuss. Make your actions count.

dilbert

Don’t trust someone from GEMINI (May 21- your past to change and start June 20) treating you better. Beware of empty promises and ulterior motives. If you want something done, do it yourself.

Give everyone around you space to do his or her own (June 21- thing. If you don’t interfere in July 22) other people’s affairs, you will be offered the same respect and privilege.

CANCER

Peanuts

You will inspire others if LEO you get involved in a team (July 23- effort. Anger will mount if Aug. 22) someone challenges you. Be ready to make unexpected changes if you want to remain in control.

The changes you want VIRGO to make will have to be dis(Aug. 23cussed with everyone affected Sept. 22) by your plans. Being up-front will help you gain respect and get the go-ahead.

Calvin and Hobbes

Civil discussions with LIBRA (Sept. 23- partners or people you are Oct. 23) trying to help should be followed by action. Keep your promises. Positive change will help to keep the peace.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — TENDONS (TENDONS: TEN-duns: Cords of fibrous tissue that connect muscles to bone.)

Average mark 18 words Time limit 30 minutes

Tend to your personal fiSAGITTARIUS nances and investments and (Nov. 23negotiate on your own beDec. 21) half. Don’t share personal or financial information with others or let anyone pressure you into a joint venture.

Can you find 25 or more words in TENDONS? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — IMMERSES mere mess messier mime mire miser miss emesis emir remise remiss

rime rise seem seer seism semi sere series simmer sire

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Stay focused on what you SCORPIO can accomplish and refuse to (Oct. 24let emotional situations dicNov. 22) tate how you move forward.

Stay on top of matters that can influence your income.

Take care of business.

solution for Puzzle

You don’t have to share CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- personal thoughts or inforJan. 19) mation if you don’t want to.

Don’t feel obligated to do so just because someone is pressuring you. Play it safe and avoid interference.

Put more time and efAQUARIUS fort into important relation(Jan. 20ships to make your life easFeb. 19) ier. Sharing, comparing and understanding will encourage trust, loyalty and greater stability.

PISCES Take good care of your (Feb. 20- health. Refuse to let anyone March 20) fluster you or coax you into an argument. You’ll accomplish much if you ignore negativity and meddling.

tuesDAY, february 27, 2018

19

most decorated swimmer

Seaton named Silver Sharks' Y

oung swimming prodigy Leon Seaton Jr was deemed Silver Sharks Aquatic Swim Club most decorated and accomplished swimmer for 2017 after a fleet of impressive performances. The announcement was made on Saturday when the club held its annual award ceremony at the Herdmanston Lodge.

The 13 year-old had a sublime year in the water for club, school and country which has seen him earn a spot on the team for the upcoming CARIFTA Games swimming championships which will be held in Kingston, Jamaica from March 30 to April 3.

One of his most notable performances has been constantly lowering his times in the 50m Freestyle to which now stands at 25.35s.

More so, at the XXIII Goodwill Swim Meet held in August at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal, he competed in thirteen events, consisting of 10 individual races and 3 relays. He won

Several of the awardees after the ceremony on Saturday at the Herdmanston Lodge

9 Gold medals, 2 Silver medals and 1 Bronze medal, for a total of 12 medals.

Also on the awards list for

outstanding performances were Jadyn George, Danielle George, Joseph Matthews, Nathon Hacket, Latisha Blair, Trumaine

Cole and Shamal Bryan.

Improved participation by swimmers came from Darion

Pereria, Daniel Claxton, Nickel Charles, Adasema Roberts, Anan Roberts, Kenmar Roberts, Nicholas Verwey, Emani O'Brien, Joshua Pitt, Joshua Verwey, Vonique Stewart, Hamani Paul and Leancia Smith.

Certificates were also given out to persons who made over 90% attendances at the Aquatic Centre or the Colgrain pool. For the Aquatic centre were Seaton Jr, the George twins, Cole, Blair and Matthews while for Colgrain Nikaquan Browne, Pierre Wallace, Omari Parris, Ethan Parris, Arian Shako, Keziah Archer, Aditya Singh, Tamesh Ragnaith, Akintunde Dairymple and Ahkiel Mc Koy. According to club representative Leon Seaton Snr the vision is to promote swimming by enhancing the skills and commitment.

Seaton Snr also wished to thank some sponsors such as GO-Invest, Scotiabank and Maggie's catering service.

ICC World Cup Qualifiers, Zimbabwe…

Windies take on Afghanistan in warm-up match W

indies’ quest for a place in the main draw of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) World Cup 2019 will begin with a warm up against the highly touted Afghanistan side today at the Harare Sports Club.

The Caribbean side, twotime former World cham-

Shimron Hetmyer in the nets ahead of today’s warm-up match

pions, are the favourites to grab one of the two remaining spots for next year’s World Cup in England, especially up against the likes of minnows United Arab Emirates and Papua New Guinea in the peliminary round which begin on March 4. Following today’s warm-up match against

Afghanistan and Thursday’s against Nepal, West Indies open their bid on March 6 against UAE, who recently w o n the ICC W o r l d

Cricket League Division Two tournament in Namibia, before taking on PNG two days later and Ireland on March 10.

They wind up their group action against the Netherlands on March 12.

Windies boast the likes of veteran batsmen Chris Gayle and Marlon

Lots will depend on the experienced Devendra Bishoo in Zimbabwe

Samuels, who among them have played a combined 467 One-DayInternationals, and also include the youth of Shai Hope,

Rovman Powell and 20-year-old former Youth World Cup skipper, Shimron Hetmyer.

Experienced seamer Kemar Roach has been included along with all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite and skipper Jason Holder.

The top three from each group will advance to the Super Sixes, where they will each play three matches against teams they did not meet in the preliminaries.

The finalists will secure the final two berths at the ICC World Cup scheduled for

England next year from May 30 to July 15.

Windies squad reads: Jason Holder (captain), Jason Mohammed (vice-captain), Devendra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Sheldon Cotterell, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Nikita Miller, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels and Kesrick Williams.

Afghanistan is coached by former West Indies all-rounder and Head Coach, Phil Simmons and recently beat Zimbabwe 4-1 in a five-match One Day International series.

They are a strong contender for a spot in the World Cup in England next year as well.

Afghanistan squad reads: Asghar Stanikzai (captain), Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Ihsanullah Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad, Nasir Jamal, Javed Ahmadi, Mujeeb Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Rashid Khan, Samiullah Shinwari, Shahpoor Zadran and Sharafuddin Ashraf.

The first ball is at 03:30h Guyana time.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, february 27, 2018

Rutherford using 'heartbreak' as learning experience

By Akeem Greene

B

eing run out one shy of a maiden List A half-century which essentially dashed Guyana Jaguars’ hopes of reaching the 2018 Regional Super50 final are two heart wrenching experiences Sherfane Rutherford plan on remembering for years to come.

However, he plans on using it as a fuel to reap success.

After soaring to the top of their group, Jaguars suffered a 52-run defeated via D/L method to eventual champions Windward Islands Volcanoes due to a meek performance with the bat on Thursday at the Coolidge Cricket ground.

It was the first time in three years, the four-day powerhouses reached the semi-finals and for the 19 year-old it was one of the most disappointing experiences of his blossoming career.

“It was very disappointed losing at that stage because it was a crucial time of the tournament and the runchase was not that big but I still think we tried our best as a team and it’s just for us

Sherfane Rutherford's run-out during the semi-final against Windward Volcanoes will be one etched in his memory for a long time to come © CWI Media

to learn fast and improve in those situations when it arises,” the all-rounder expressed to Guyana Times Sport on returning home from Antigua.

Scoring 163 runs at an average of 32.60; strike rate was 90.05 and taking four wickets in his first List A season, he reflected on the

tournament as decent given the calibre of the players who competed.

“I think it was a pretty decent tournament; the experience was good knowing that I came against some good teams who had top players. Playing in front of the large crowds was a bit nervous at first but I be-

came more comfortable as the tournament progressed.”

Though wickets were tumbling in clatters during the final, the flamboyant left-handed batsman looked assured at the crease and waged a fight back in the late hour with Veerasammy Permaul via a

brisk eight-wicket partnership which gave a glimmer of hope.

According to the Demerara Cricket Club cricketer, he wanted a stable partner so he can launch a counter-attack.

“I just told the guys at the other end to stick around, look to tick it over and I will take the chances to win the match because I was already set at the crease.”

Now with full exposure to the rigours of regional cricket and given his commendable run in the preceding fourday championship, the man from Enmore thinks he is ready for a long stay at the top. “I think I can handle it there because at the end of the day it is all cricket and that was what I was engaged in day after day to get here. Now that I am here it shouldn’t change and so I am ready for whatever is thrown at me.”

He added, “Since I got into the senior set up, players like Permaul, [Chandrapaul] Hemraj and [Christopher] Barnwell always around me showing me ways I can improve and

The 19 year-old looked to be a one-man show for the Guyana Jaguars in the semifinal © CWI Media

also it couldn’t be possible without the Almighty so I want to thank him too for good health and strength.”

With a break regional cricket until the Hero Caribbean Premier League in August, Rutherford hopes the praiseworthy season is good enough to get him a stint with one of the franchises in the “Biggest Party in Sport.”

Until then he plans on working rigorously on his fitness and ways to improve his technique for the 201819 season which is expected to commence in October.

Australia series will be Morkel’s last

S

Morne Morkel began his international career back in 2006 against India

outh Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel has announced he will retire from international cricket at the end of the Australia Test series. South Africa will host Australia for four Tests starting March 1 in Durban. "It was an extremely tough decision but I feel the time is right to start a new chapter," Morkel said. "I have a young family and a foreign wife, and the current demanding international schedule has put a lot of strain on us. I have to put them first and this decision will only benefit us going forward.

"I have loved every minute that I have played in the Proteas jersey, and I am incredibly grateful to my team mates, Cricket South Africa, and my family and friends for the support over the years. I still feel there is a lot of cricket left in me and I am excited for what lies ahead. For now, all of

my energy and focus is on helping the Proteas win the upcoming series against Australia."

When South Africa were in England last year, Morkel was pursued by at least three counties as a Kolpak signing for the 2018 season.

The 33-year-old was linked to a Kolpak deal most recently during the India Test series. Indian media reported that Morkel's father said his son needed to "secure his future" and was considering the Kolpak option but Morkel strongly denied that he was nearing retirement.

"There's still plenty of goals I want to achieve. There's no truth to that," he said on January 15, during the Test at SuperSport Park.

He will now end his international career when the fourth Test ends on April 3 in Johannesburg. Provided he plays all four matches, Morkel will finish with 87 Tests and will add to his

current tally of 294 Test wickets - fifth overall for South Africa.

Since making his Test debut in 2006, Morkel has been a vital part of South Africa's most potent pace attack along with Dale Steyn, especially after Makhaya Ntini's last Test in 2009.

More recently, he led their pace attack in late 2015 in India when South Africa were without Steyn and Vernon Philander.

Limited-overs formats took a backseat as Morkel's career went on. He faded into and out of the South Africa limited-overs side after finishing as their top wicket-taker in the 2015 World Cup. He was not named in the 2016 World T20 squad, did not play in the 2017 IPL as he sought to find form ahead of a demanding international season, and was unsold in this year's auction. His involvement in the 2019 World Cup

was also unclear.

At the start of the summer, Morkel said he needed to discuss with new coach Ottis Gibson about whether he would feature in the white-ball set-up before deciding on his future. In the weeks that followed, Gibson said he had spoken to Morkel and explained that, like every other player, he would be considered if he performed well.

Morkel played in five of the six ODIs against India and appeared to be among South Africa's candidates for the 2019 World Cup until his retirement announcement on Monday. He will end his ODI career with 188 wickets from 117 matches at an average of 25.32 with two fivefors. In T20 internationals - which he last played in Lahore for the World XI side - he collected 47 wickets from 44 matches at an economy rate of 7.50. (ESPN Cricinfo)

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sports

Floodlights no match for Albion Masters

I

n perfect conditions for cricket, Albion Masters of Berbice defeated softball powerhouse, ‘Floodlights’ Masters in a friendly T20 match by 7 wickets with 15 balls to spare at the DCC ground, Queenstown on Saturday night.

The host, more known for their exploits on the softball arena, won the toss and took first strike with opening pair of Ricky Deonarain and Ramo Malone racing to 37 in four overs before they lost Malone for 20. It turned out to be the breakthrough Albion Masters wanted as they took control from there onwards.

Inter-county under-15 player, Aaron Beharry and Deonarain then put on 33 runs for the second wicket before Beharry went for 7 followed by Deonarain for a well-played 39. The innings went into further decline as former national senior all-rounder Hubern Evans and Powan Baldeo made scoring very difficult.

The Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) ‘Floodlights’ Masters lost three quick wickets before former

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Berbice all-rounder Anil Beharry came to the rescue with a rapid unbeaten 38 off 15 balls (4x6; 2x4) before the innings closed at 130 for 6 off 20 overs. Evans took 3 for 28 off 4 overs.

Albion Masters in reply, lost Subramani

Mangali without scoring before Khemraj Sumair and Baldeo put on a fine second wicket partnership of 63. Sumair who enjoyed a charmed life, went for 31 bowled by Dharam Persaud.

Baldeo went for 38 but Imran Hussain contributed

a rapid unbeaten 35 to see his team to victory. Persaud ended with 2 for 29. Baldeo was adjudged the Man of the Match.

At the presentation, captain Rajin Moonsammy thanked Floodlights Masters for the invitation and prom-

ised to host the next encounter. Speaking on behalf of the host, Deonarain congratulated the winners and expressed gratitude to them for travelling all the way from Berbice. He also said that his team is looking forward for the return match.

Georgetown successfully completes level 1

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Rajin Moonsammy, captain of the winners, collects the trophy from Rakesh Arjune (2nd from right) of GFSCA

Chess in Schools - Teachers' Training Programme…

FIRST AID/CPR AND HOME NURSING TRAINING COURSES. To enroll: St. John Ambulance Brigade. Call 2259082 or visit 110 Cowan Street

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21

Chess for Education seeking to use the mental benefits associated to chess for a greater and better development of every child. This programme was organized and instructed by Guyana's National Champion, FIDE National Instructor and NSC National Chess Coach CM (Candidate Master) Wendell Meusa and Chess Assistants Orel Richardson and Arianna Lalloo. This workshop is one of many and

T

he Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Cohesion/ National Sports Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Education conducted Part One of the Chess in Schools -Teachers’ Training Programme at the National Aquatic Center - V.I.P Gallery which consisted of teachers from primary and secondary schools from The programme began on Wednesday February 21and the next day with the Georgetown division. The programme taught teachers the fundamentals of how to play chess, World Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Laws and How to Teach Chess.

The participants will be working along with National Chess Coach Wendell Meusa to successfully implement chess into schools locally.

The main aims of this programme was to: To introduce chess into the national school systems, create school chess clubs that will be overseen by teachers and managed by National Coach, to introduce teaching of chess as a regular subject within official school curriculum countrywide and

Some students enjoying the beautiful game of chess

to improve mathematics competence as well as general (educational, psychological, social and emotional) development of our primary children.

The purpose of this programme was to: prepare and train teachers on how to teach chess and manage school chess clubs, provide schools with free chess equipment, provide methodological support for teachers, launch an Annual National Conference on Education through Chess in School, provide textbooks in preferential price for school children participating in the

programme and assist schools in organizing chess tournaments and events.

This programme was structured around the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess in School initiative and follows the implementation steps of countries such as Armenia, Russia, USA, China and even Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados to have chess implemented in schools mandatory as a subject or as a after school club.

Additionally, the preparation for special training programmes for teachers work-

Wendell Meusa makes his way around during the session with Georgetown teachers in the National Aquatic Centre viewing gallery

ing with students of special educational needs (Deaf & Dumb) in cooperation with special education specialists are being planned. The Chess in School initiative promotes

will be completed across various regions in Guyana such as Berbice, Bartica, Essequibo and Lethem.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, february 27, 2018

CWI confirms increases in Women’s

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) has confirmed its continued commitment to further developing Women’s Cricket in the region.

Following the successful declaration of the three host countries; Guyana, St. Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda, for the upcoming ICC Women’s World T20 2018 that will be held in the Caribbean in November, CWI Chief Executive Johnny Grave said, “As defending World T20 Champions, the ICC Women’s World T20 2018 provides us with the perfect platform for promoting and growing the women’s game throughout the Caribbean.

The CEO added “we will shortly be announcing our new fiveyear strategic plan and improving the opportunities for women and girls to get involved in cricket is one of our top priorities. Our

annual investment in Women’s Cricket is now approaching US$3 million a year, which includes significantly increased retainers for our WINDIES Women’s team, as well as their participation in the 2nd Edition of the ICC Women’s Championship.”

CWI confirmed the following: As part of the new CWI fiveyear strategic plan (2018 – 2023); achieving equality in women’s cricket is one of the organization’s eight strategic objectives.

The new WINDIES Women’s retainer contracts are higher than the regional professional male counterparts.

The WINDES Women’s team are taking part in the 2nd Edition of the ICC Women’s Championship, and the recent series against Sri Lanka was streamed live on www. windiescricket.com.

Cricket

CWI Director Jennifer Nero at the launch of Guyana as a host venue at the Umana Yana

CWI’s regional Women’s tournament will take place in Jamaica in June with teams playing both 50-over and T20 formats.

CWI has confirmed its support to the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) in hosting the second edition of a Women’s T20 Franchise Tournament. The event is open to all women’s players from the region and is scheduled for April 30 to May 12 this year.

More than 50 per cent of CWI’s executive workforce is female and Jennifer Nero has served on the board as an independent director for almost a decade.

CWI will soon announce the appointment of a full-time WINDIES Women’s team head coach.

The WINDIES Women are now in New Zealand preparing for their upcoming series of three ODIs and five IT20s. (CWI Media)

Corona Futsal Tournament

Bent Street clash with California Square

T

h e second day of the round-robin in the Corona Futsal Tournament will kick-off tonight at the National Gymnasium with six more matches after an action-packed opening night on Saturday where defending champions Sparta Boss fell to Tiger Bay. Tonight could be filled with more upsets and thrills given the quality that is expected to be on display. The first match from 19:00h, pits the compact Tucville against West Demerara’s Showstoppers who have shown from previous tournaments they are no push overs.

Next on the battle line will be new-comers Alpha

Warriors led by the dynamic Job Caesar and Kingston from 19:50h followed by the colossal clash between the powerful Bent Street and California Square from 20:40h. Bent Street recently lifted a title and added Pernell Schultz to their strike force which already features Daniel Wilson and Solomon Austin.

Dark horses Old Skool Ballers will meet New Market Street from 21:30h then North East La Penitence clash with Channel 9 Warriors from 22:20h. The final match of the night engage the services of West Front Road’s Gold is Money and Sophia from 23:15h. The tournament which is collaboration with NAMILCO Wheat Gem and Hero Motorcycle has a winning purse of $600,000 and the cham-

The excitement was non-stop on the opening at the National Gymnasium

pionship trophy. Second to fourth will take home $300,000, $150,000 and $75,000 along with the corresponding accolades Additionally, the group action is expected to be intense since $40,000 goes to the team that finishes

first, $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000 will be awarded to second to fourth-place. Two Hero motor cycles will be awarded to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the other to a lucky spectator at the finals on Easter Saturday (March 31).

C

Everest Masters draw first blood over Bacchus XI

C

ity side, Everest Cricket Club Masters team journeyed to Administrative Region number two last Friday where they challenged an Imam Bacchus select team in a feature cricket match at the Affiance and easily winning the contest by seven wickets.

The visitors won the toss and invited Imam Bacchus XI to take first strike in the 25 overs per side game.

Due to tight bowling, the host only managed 124 for 7 from their allotment of overs with Rakesh Gangaram leading Everest Masters’ charge with 3 for 33 from 5 overs.

Captain Rajesh Singh supported with 2 for 15 from 5 overs of tidy off-spin while Saheed Mohamed and Ronald Jaisingh had a wicket each for 9 and 16 respectively.

For Imam Bacchus XI Fazir Khan scored 33 (3x4), Roy Gonsalves 23 (2x6; 1x4), Latchmikant Narine 16 and Besham Seepersaud 10.

Walsh is Bangladesh’s interim Head Coach

Everest Masters won the toss and elected to field at the scenic Imam Bacchus Cricket Ground, Affiance

Everest Masters scored 126 for 3 in 20.1 overs winning by seven wickets. Hemraj Garbarran blasted 46 (5x4) and got admirable support from Essequibo’s pride and joy Ramesh Narine with 26 not out (2x4), Saheed Mohamed 22 not out (2x4) and Sahadeo Hardaiow 16 (2x4).

Besham Seepersaud, Latchmikant Narine and Fazir Khan picked up a wicket each but failed to prevent the visitors from romping home with 29 balls to spare in splendid conditions for cricket.

A return fixture is fixed for Easter weekend at the Everest Cricket Club, Georgetown.

ourtney Walsh has been named Bangladesh's interim head coach for the Nidahas Trophy as the BCB is yet to narrow in on a replacement for Chandika Hathurusingha.

Walsh joined the Bangladesh coaching group in September 2016 as a bowling coach on a three-year deal. He is currently the senior-most coach in the group and was an obvious candidate.

Meanwhile, Khaled Mahmud will no longer be a part of the support staff. Formerly the technical director, he is now expected to return as team manager. The former Bangladesh captain made public his displeasure at the function of the team earlier this month, calling the environment "dirty."

"Since I will be going to Sri Lanka, a lot of the directors also will come with me. I personally feel that [Khaled Mahmud] Sujon should go as team manager," said BCB president Nazmul Hassan. "We still haven't talked to him about it. We have finalized on the other roles like we have also decided to give the batting duties to someone which we will announce on Tuesday."

Hassan is also likely to have a more hands-on involvement in the team's affair. "I didn't bother about playing XI selection in the last series. I left it to everyone else, including players and management," he said.

"This time we have made a squad after considering who will play in the playing XI. So since there is a final decision being taken, there is obviously a direct involvement." (ESPN Cricinfo)

tuesDAY, february 27, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

CAC Table Tennis Qualifiers…

23

Mental strength will determine our qualification – Franklin …as team depart today for Cuba

By Akeem Greene

E

xperienced National table tennis player Christopher Franklin has pinned their qualification for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games on whether the players can withstand the mental rigours when they compete in the qualifiers from Wednesday to Sunday in Cuba.

“It will come down to mental strength; physically everyone is prepared so mentally we have to be able to push ourselves until the end, don’t touch the brakes just keep playing to the best of our ability”, the team captain told Guyana Times Sport at the final training session held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Monday.

Franklin, Nigel Bryan,

Yonex extends deal with

Ramdhani

G

uyana's Top Badminton Player Narayan Ramdhani was again endorsed by the Team Yonex to become their ambassador for 2018.

The signing means that Ramdhani will be exclusively using Yonex equipment including racquets, bags, shoes, apparel and accessories for the second consecutive year.

Yonex USA was very pleased with Ramdhani’s performance in 2017-2018 when he managed a medal in every event he participated in on the Canadian Circuit where he is based for the last 18 months.

H e

Guyana’s world rated badminton player, Narayan Ramdhani

bagged two golds in the VCR Jack Under-Hill Open Singles & Doubles tournament, gold in the BC Under-23 Circuit- VRC Remembrance Day Open 2017, bronze in the BC Senior Circuit 2-Shuttlesport Open 2017, bronze in the BC Under-23 Championships 2017 and bronze in the BC Senior Circuit 1-VRC Jack Underhill 2017.

Narayan is also stepping up his training for the Commonwealth Games which will take place in Gold Coast Australia in April 2018.

Yonex Company Ltd manufactures golf, tennis and badminton equipment and offers racquets, shoes, clothing, bags, strings, stringing machines and putters. The company also provides accessories, such as over grips, replacement grips, vibration stoppers, towels and bands, umbrellas, and travel covers. The products are distributed in Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and America.

Yonex was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Yonex has managed to become the dominant corporate player in badminton. Yonex sponsors the All England Open Badminton Championships and is a partner of the Badminton World Federation which organizes the World Championships. Upwards of 80% of competitive players use their racquets, as it is the preferred choice amongst professionals. Yonex is significant in both the tennis and golf industry and is a major sponsor of professional athletes in all three sport.

Shemar Britton, Joel Alleyne, Natalie Cummings and JodyAnn Blake will leave these shores today to meet Trenace Lowe in

year [at the senior championships] with limited preparation, we took notes from that to improve and are familiar with the environment [in Cuba]”.

At the 2010 CAC Games which were held in Puerto Rico Franklin played a sub-

others the player plans on using to guide his teammates.

“As a team leader now I have to share my experience with them, I have been to a lot of games and will share my knowledge with the other guys to help them get better at their game so that they can play to their potential and help put us on the map in the sport”, the 33 year-old posited.

Team Guyana is ranked fifth team behind Venezuela, Dominica Republic, Guatemala and Panama. Their chances of

male and the nine female

same of the teams.

However, only the top four for singles make the qualification which follows the Olympic format; teams that do not qualify there will have an event for singles which two can participate.

The CAC Games are scheduled for July 19 to August 3 in Barranquilla, Colombia and immediately after these qualifiers Britton and Allyene

Christopher Franklin in deep concentration during practice on Monday afternoon

Havana for the five-day event.

The seven-member team is not short on experience at this level and preparation has been on-going for over three months which gives optimism to the seasoned racket-wielder “I am very impressed with the hard work and dedication given the time slots we have been getting to train but everybody has been giving 110%”.

He added, “Based on what we did in Cuba last

The national male team (L-R) Christopher Franklin, Nigel Bryan, Shemar Britton and Joel Alleyne

lime role in the country reaching the quarter-finals.

It such experiences among

qualification seem very good given the top eight of the 13 teams make the cut for the

Xavier cops Caribbean Beat pool title attracted a large pool of 63 players was played using the Straight-Pool format on a straight knock out basis with only the final being two-best out of three.

In the final, Mangra who is also known as “Sunil” and “Mahaica Man” won the first game to put pressure on Xavier who responded by winning the second game easily.

Andre “Butcher” Boyce (right) hands over the winning trophy to the champion, Anthony Xavier

A

nthony Xavier came from behind to beat Gowkarran Mangra in the final of the Caribbean Beat Restaurant and Bar Mashramani Pool competition on Sunday to walk away with the Carib Beer Trophy and $60,000 first prize.

In the competition that

Gowkarran “Mahaica Man” Mangra (right) receives the V-Net Communications Trophy for finishing in second place

will stay on in Cuba for the Latin American championships from March 4-9.

With the series locked 1-1, Xavier saved his best for last to stun the crowd favourite Mangra to walk way the champion.

In addition to winning many hearts and fans, “Mahaica Man” won the V-Net Trophy and $40,000 for finishing second.

Other prize winners are Richard Sewnarine also known as Smallie who finished third and took away $20,000 and the Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop Trophy and Sean DeSouza won the Ariel Enterprise Trophy and $10,000 for finishing fourth.

Proprietor of Caribbean Beat Restaurant and Bar, Andre “Butcher” Boyce said he was pleased with the support and thanked the players, sponsors and fans for the support. Boyce told Guyana Times Sport that another competition is in the planning stages and will make the grand announcement as soon as all the details are finalized.

tuesDAY, february 27, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI confirms increases in

Women’s Cricket

Pg 22

Windies Women will defend their World T20 title on home soil in November

CAC Table Tennis Qualifiers…

Mental strength will determine our qualification – Franklin

Pg 23

…as team depart today for Cuba Nigel Bryan and Shemar Britton battle with Christopher Franklin and Joel Alleyne during their final practice session at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall before today’s departure for Cuba (Akeem Greene Photo)

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