Guyanatime 29 may 2018

Oil & gas safety training course

Resilient sugar workers among 22 graduates P13

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Issue No. 3578

PRICE

Criminal charges against Ministers

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Opposition should challenge DPP’s discontinuance decision – TIGI Page 3

…expresses alarm over info leaks at SOCU

Miller owes Poor utility services Wakenaam rice dominate complaints farmers for paddy PUC end-of-year report

Page 7

…GPL still to submit expansion plans

$80 vat included

Page 10

Guyana map without Essequibo

Foreign Affairs Ministry probing possible ‘cyberP11 attack’

Rose Hall P14 street vendors calling on municipality to rethink vending policy

…non-payment causing default on GRDB fertiliser loan 13-year-old impregnated by step-father P11 Chief Justice orders AG to enforce P15 Judicial Review Act

…Williams to pay Nandlall $100,000 in costs

Blocked canal causes flooding for Fyrish cash crop farmers

Parika woman jailed for P2 trafficking young girl

Page 12

GPSCCU lashes out against Govt’s unilateral takeover Page 2

…accuses Minister of “grabbing” credit union’s funds

Mother’s day prison party

Disciplinary action underway against corrupt ranks – Prison Page Director 9

Mae’s “inappropriate” decision

Toshaos Council condemns banning of P9 Indigenous outfit …calls for apology to student

2 news GPSCCU lashes out against Govt’s unilateral takeover tuesDAY, may 29, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

…accuses Minister of “grabbing” credit union’s funds

From right: Committee of Management member Dawn Gardener; Chairperson of the GPSCCU, Patricia Went; and Vice Chairperson Vera Naughton

C

hairperson of the Guyana Public Service Cooperative Credit Union (GPSCCU), Patricia Went, has vented frustration that the Chief Cooperatives Development Officer has, with immediate effect, assumed control of the affairs of the credit union without proffering any reason therefor.

She explained on Monday that members of the GPSCCU Management Committee had on Friday received letters to that effect, but no reason was advanced to justify the move made by the officer. However, they later learnt in a section of the media the following day that the Management Committee’s unsatisfactory performance had caused the GPSCCU to be brought under new management.

“The Committee of Management objects to the

actions of the purported Chief Co-operatives Development Officer, since there was no investigation into the affairs of the Credit Union to support the published conclusion and accusation of unsatisfactory performance,” the piqued chairperson declared.

It was later explained that although the officer spoke of the Union’s unsatisfactory performance, “the matter was rooted in the demand by the Department of Cooperatives for an undue payment to the Audit and Supervision Fund for years 2002-2013 of an alleged balance of $49,691,682.00”.

The chairperson argued, however, that the Department of Cooperatives’ claim to outstanding payments towards the Audit and Supervision Fund could not be justified, since the already audited accounts of

the Credit Union for the years 2002 to 2010 reflected no such balance, as was claimed.

According to the chairperson, Chief Cooperatives Development Officer Perlina Gifth has also failed to acknowledge the waivers which were approved and granted by the previous Labour Minister, and are to date still in effect.

Went further noted that the Committee of Management was able to meet with Gifth and Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott, who maintained their demands to have the Credit Union pay over the disputed amount to the Department of Cooperatives.

According to Went, during a meeting held in April, Minister Scott had requested that the Committee

of Management sign the Adjusted Audited Reports, showing a balance of $49,691,682.00 as owed to the Audit and Supervision Fund.

Additionally, Went said Minister Scott had promised that on the GPSCCU signing the Reports, he would immediately approve the holding of the AGM for the years 2011 to 2013, and that after the AGM, negotiations would commence on an amount of

$24,381,256.

The chairperson said she considers the minister’s action a threat to “grab the funds of the Credit Union.”

She asserted that the Union remains surprised that Cabinet did not pronounce on its takeover of the GPSCCU, especially on the eve of Guyana’s 52nd Independence Anniversary.

The GPSCCU Committee of Management members have informed that they have

not yet decided their next move, and are contemplating seeking the advice of the Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally.

The step taken by the Government would severely affect the GPSCCU’s shareholders, since they would not be able to access loans or repay same at this time, given that the GPSCCU’s office remains locked. She noted that legal action is being contemplated.

In Persons (TIP) Unit, Coordinator Tanisha Williams-Corbin explained that the matter was tried ‘ex parte’. She urged the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to take the necessary action to ensure Hyman was found and brought to face her sentence.

“This is another conviction for 2018 and justice was served. We would have liked to see restitution ordered for the victim during the sentencing, taking into consideration the length of time it took for her to stand court …what the victim would have had to endure in terms of her employment, taking care of her children,” Williams-Corbin is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.

The Coordinator said that

the Ministry played its role in supporting the victims during that time.

In 2014, Hyman’s daughter recruited the two women to work as a cook and a shopkeeper at their shop at Mowasi Backdam. On their arrival, the accused told the women that there were no vacancies in those positions. She reportedly told them that there were vacancies for sex workers and that is the reason they were hired.

The girls refused and called their relatives, who immediately contacted the Social Protection Ministry.

The TIP department then contacted the Guyana Police Force. Measures were taken to rescue the females and have the accused stand trial in the court.

Parika woman jailed for trafficking young girl

A

Parika, East Bank Essequibo woman was jailed for three years after she was found guilty of human trafficking.

Loretta Hyman, a shopkeeper, was last week sentenced to three years in prison for trafficking a young girl in the Mowasi Backdam area back in 2014.

The charge had stated that between January 13 and January 20 that year, Hyman recruited and transported two women between the ages of 18 and 30, to the backdam for the purpose of sexual exploitation. However, she was just convicted under one count of TIP since the other victim refused to give evidence on the matter.

Social Protection Ministry’s Trafficking

news

Criminal charges against Ministers

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Tuesday, May 29 – a night-time retraction at 04:30h and a day retraction from 14:00h-15:30h and Wednesday, May 30 – 05:00h-06:30h.

Opposition should challenge DPP’s discontinuance decision – TIGI …expresses alarm over info leaks at SOCU

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, May 29 – 16:20h-17:50h and Wednesday, May 30 – 17:00h-18:30h.

law, notwithstanding the powers of the DPP articulated in Section 187 of the Constitution. We, therefore, believe that the decision of the DPP can and should be challenged in court. Such a challenge will clarify the appropriate procedure and serve as a guide for future actions.”

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions in the early morning hours are expected to be followed by lightly cloudy skies, with a brief late afternoon sunny interval. Partly cloudy skies will prevail in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from East North-easterly to Northeasterly between 1.34 metres and 6.25 metres.

High Tide: 04:04h and 16:29h reaching maximum heights of 2.67 metres and 2.56 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:04h and 22:14h reaching minimum heights of 0.54 metre and 0.67 metre respectively.

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

12

15

18

20

24

25

7 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

MONDAY, MAY 28, 2018

DAILY MILLIONS 10 11 14 17

23

LUCKY 3 9 5 8

2

Afternoon Draw

4

1

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02

04

07

09

12

13

3

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

17

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

Witch-hunting

The group went on to exDirector of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack

TIGI Head Troy Thomas

he Transparency Institute of Guyana Incorporated (TIGI) on Monday said that it remained concerned about the nullification of charges by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and perceived witch-hunting by law enforcement agencies.

TIGI expressed the belief that a legal challenge could be mounted against the DPP’s discontinuance of the criminal charges which the parliamentary Opposition had filed against several Government Ministers.

“TIGI believes that any current or former Government official or employee who mismanaged or misappropriated State resources should be held accountable and where appropriate be made to make amends inclusive of returning what was taken or given away.”

According to TIGI, as long as there is merit in the matters identified, alternative motives are of little importance.

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

They alleged a breach of the Procurement Act in relation to the expenditure of $906 million in public funds to a private company, Homestretch Development Inc, for construction of the controversial D’Urban Park Project, which has, for some time now, been a contentious issue.

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

The charges were discontinued, just days after the dismissal of another set of charges against Government Ministers Volda Lawrence

and Dr George Norton over the sole-sourcing of more than $600 million in drugs and other pharmaceuticals and the rental of a house in Sussex Street to be used as a drug bond at a cost of $12 million monthly.

The DPP’s grounds for dismissing the charges had included the failure to file a police report. But Nandlall had affirmed that there was nothing in the law prohibiting the filing of charges without the Police being alerted and according to TIGI, it has also found nothing to justify the DPP’s decision.

“There are legitimate questions to be answered in relation to the Sussex Street pharmaceutical bond deal, procurement in the health sector and the D’Urban Park Project. TIGI agrees that the proper procedures must be followed in all legal matters. However, there are unanswered questions about the path taken by the DPP to disallow the charges against current Ministers of Government,” TIGI declared.

“We have also been unable to verify that such provisions are made in the

T

press concern over the perception of witch-hunting hanging over the heads of the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). This perception has remained prominent especially as, to the public’s knowledge, the Agency has never investigated members of the current Government.

Turn to page 11

4

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, may 29, 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

Destroying democratic governance

M

inerva is the Roman version of Athena, the Greek Goddess of wisdom, who is always depicted with an owl. Back in the 19th Century, the philosopher Hegel offered an aphorism that has withstood the test of time: “the Owl of Minerva spreads its wings (flies) only with the falling of the dusk”. Rather poetically, the usually plodding philosopher was telling us that wisdom only arrives after the fact; after the deed is done; when we can look backwards and reflect.

In Guyana, we have just commemorated our 52nd anniversary of our Independence, when we were promised the “democratic governance” finally ushered in after centuries of British “tutelage”. What can the Owl of Minerva tell us now about that promise? It is not a quibble whether the means of introducing that democracy was flawed, rather it is one of the fundamental facts to be considered when examining the state of our democracy today. And not only from the philosophical standpoint that means and ends cannot be disjunctured: we have to look at the concrete means used, the concrete ends sought and the concrete results achieved.

The People’s National Congress (PNC) achieved office, with the help of the much smaller United Force (UF) that agreed to coalesce with it to “outnumber” the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government. But it soon became clear this was a “coalition of convenience” – simply to oust their common PPP enemy – and not a “coalition of commitment”, wherein the parties to the coalition are genuinely committed to stated principles dedicated to the development of democracy in Guyana. The UF was soon diminished by the PNC; its Members of Parliament (MPs) bought out and eventually its leader, Peter D’Aguiar, quit in disgust.

What does the Owl of Minerva teach us from that sordid slice of history? That in any coalition Government, once the larger party breaks the agreement because of what they consider to be the “disequilibrium in size”, the smaller parties must quit if democratic governance is to be maintained. The moment they go along with the show of bad faith, the slippery slope of irrelevance gets slipperier.

Today in Guyana, it is an irrefutable fact that the smaller parties are only window dressing for the coalition since their views are irrelevant.

The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has made its position known to no avail – but yet it remains in the Government. While the Alliance For Change (AFC) initially complained the Cummingsburg Accord has been shredded by the PNC, its absolute irrelevance – and degutting of democratic governance – was recently illustrated again. The PNC usurped his role as Public Security Minister, yet the Chairman of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan could only mutter under his breath, like Galileo of yore being tried by the Pope for heresy to claim the earth and not the sun moved, “And yet it moves.”

Another lesson the Owl of Minerva should have taught us about maintaining democracy are the consequences of the PNC’s disdain for the co-equal role of the Judiciary in democratic governance. Democratic governance begins from the premise that the Leviathan must be checked at all levels. Ideally, in Governments, the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary would perform that role vis a vis each other. When, as in our parliamentary system, the Executive controls the Legislature, the role of the Judiciary becomes even more critical.

When the PNC flew its party flag over the Appellate Court of Guyana – when there was no CCJ – it demonstrated its contempt for the Judiciary and the Rule of Law. The identical stance of the present PNC Government – unfettered by any influence of its coalition partners – was illustrated by President Granger’s categorisation of a decision by the Chief Justice as her “perception” and that he will maintain his. It was not surprising that Granger did not nominate the Chief Justice to assume her acting position substantively.

Cry for Guyana’s democracy.

A man and his dogs perform a stunt before a wild horse show event in Duelmen, Germany (Reuters)

Cultural intolerance is unacceptable Dear Editor, In his speech to the nation to commemorate Guyana’s 52nd Anniversary of Independence, President Granger urged greater protection of the nation’s children, and said, “We need to bequeath to them much more than we inherited from our own parents.”

I’m sure the historian in him was not only referring to property and wealth, but also to moral values: ethics; integrity; and tolerance for someone else’s religion, ethnicity and culture.

Guyana is a country blessed with rich diversity, but, all too often, some in authority use their positions to discriminate against others.

On Independence Day, an article in the media confirmed a story of a student of Mae’s School that gained wide coverage in the social media the day before.

In the words of the student’s mother, Karen Small, “A letter came home from my son’s school requesting that he dress in an ethnic wear today. I decided to dress him like an Amerindian, and he was so happy when he left the house, as he was taught mostly by his father to be proud of his appearance and culture. Once he got to school, he was greeted

by the security guard, who told him he had to put on a top because he was inappropriately (dressed). This was also supported by some of the teachers, who said it was inappropriate to bring him to school like that. All this is unfolding in front of him, which of course brought him to tears, and later on, (he) went on to say he hated the way he looks. So it’s okay to dress like the other races, but inappropriate to dress like Amerindian?”

According to the article, the mother put a shirt on her son and left him at school for the day. But despite this, he was mocked and laughed at.

What was done to the little boy from Mae’s School is a violation of at least two Articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. These are: * Article 3 (Best interests of the child): “The best interests of children must be the primary concern in making decisions that may affect them. All adults should do what is best for children.

When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children”; and * Article 30 (Children of minorities/indigenous groups): Minority or indigenous children have the

right to learn about, and practise, their own culture, language and religion. The right to practise one’s own culture, language and religion applies to everyone; the Convention here highlights this right in instances where the practices are not shared by the majority of people in the country.

Despite the school’s explanation, the child was appropriately dressed in traditional indigenous attire in cerebration of his culture, an event that the school participated in. Had he turned up for school dressed like that on a regular school day, it would have been inappropriate and unacceptable. Mae’s cannot apply the school’s dress code on Culture Day, or even Halloween (if participation is encouraged by the school) now that Guyanese have adopted yet another American culture.

Cultural intolerance is unacceptable, and counterproductive to social cohesion. If the Ministry of Education fails to address this unfortunate incident, it may well affect future participation of our children in cultural events.

This incident should never have happened, but it once again demonstrates the lack of respect that is given to our First People,

the Indigenous People of Guyana.

Clearly, this would not have happened if the child was of African descent and was sporting a similar attire. For I have no doubt that the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) would have turned up at Mae’s with placards, urging its members to pull their children from the school.

Karen Small and her son have been traumatised by the cynical actions of these teachers. She finds it hypocritical. “This is just wrong.

You might as well tell them to wear culture wear except for those from the Amerindians.”

Who knows what devastating effect this will have on this child’s performance in school, and his relationship with his classmates.

The head teacher and the staff of Mae’s School owe Karen Small and her nineyear-old son a public apology. And in the interest of social cohesion, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs should demand that this be done.

Sincerely, Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

New Local Authority Areas are very worrying Dear Editor, The Guyana Elections Commission has commenced yet another Cycle of Continuous Registration.

This process started on Monday, 21st May, and is expected to conclude on 19th July, 2018.

The advertisement is indeed most interesting, as it

speaks about Claims and Objections and Registration Phase 2 exercises. During the present period, it is of significance to note that all forms of objection and application for correction of particulars and transactions shall be sent by the Registration Officer to the Commissioner of

Registration. Applications may be made by persons whose names appear in the Preliminary List for changes and corrections of particulars as shown in the List, and effect transfers from one Registration District/ Division/Sub-Division/ Local Authority/Area / Constituency to another.

This is very important, and it is imperative that the Guyana Elections Commission provide citizens with the most appropriate Preliminary Voters List. A thorough check should be made with the list that is posted by GECOM in a division/sub-division. continued on page 5

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, may 29, 2018

5

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

CCTV systems and crime issues Remembering the struggle

Dear Editor, There are many reasons available for blaming the crime situation, and many people are investing their hard earned money for some sort of protection. One of the most comforting means for them is security cameras.

Now, a lot of unscrupulous people are obtaining outdated/condemned CCTV systems from overseas and selling them to people at exorbitant fees, and these systems do not provide the expected proper service. Some of these dishonest people are using footage from other systems, and even from what makes the news, and promoting themselves on social media as if the system they are selling is responsible. Whilst they cannot be charged for false promotion, the unsuspecting victims’ money is being wasted, because they eventually have to buy new systems because they are not getting the service they expected from the waste they purchased.

Quite a few people have been scammed, and l bluntly told them so after I was asked to look at their system when they encountered problems.

A while back, I penned a

series of letters advising on the type of system and camera they should look for, and setting for their system to help get better footage.

Editor, a woman’s shop at Zeelugt was recently twice broken into. This happened one Wednesday night, and again on the following Saturday night. A few weeks after, thieves again broke into the shop. On each of those occasions, she suffered great losses. Now she has a security system installed, but when she could not locate the footage on the DVR, she called me after the first two times. I went, and was able to locate the footage, which showed four boys committing the crime. The footage could not identify any of the criminals properly, so no one was charged. That was because the cameras were not properly set, and the lighting was bad. On my advice, she rearranged the cameras and lights, and was quite pleased with the results after. The footage was hard to locate because the CMOS battery had gone bad in the DVR, thus every time the DVR is switched off or there is a blackout, the DVR goes back to the manufacturing timing and starts re-

cording. So, what you have is a DVR with multiple footage of same dates and timings all over the hard drive.

One way to eradicate that problem is: if you notice your DVR timing/date going back to the default settings or DVR malfunctioning, chances are the CMOS battery is bad and should be changed immediately, because definitely you would encounter problems when you try to retrieve footage.

These are simple problems, but apparently many so-called experts cannot solve those minor problems. Many are setting cameras in such a way that it would be impossible to capture an intruder’s face properly if that person is wearing a cap. Criminals are becoming wary of cameras, and people should explore the possibility of installing cameras in concealed places. Security system installation has many issues, but as I have stated, these are some of the main issues. I hope people would have their security apparatus fixed, so they could get help from them.

Sincerely, Sahadeo Bates

New Local Authority Areas...

from page 4

The appropriate list is the Constituency List, whereon the citizens, and particularly the village leaders, can look and have a clear understanding of the List, which will have the voters in the correct constituency.

This is the Eleventh Cycle of Continuous Registration, and it is sad to note that GECOM is not providing the NDCs with the respective Constituency List. Local Government Elections are all about the first- past-the-post constituency and proportional representation elections in the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and Municipalities.

Hence the citizens must be fully aware of the people who are on the List within the specific boundaries.

The suggestion that there will be several new Local Authority Areas is very worrying. Further, there are also reports that there will be adjustments to constituency boundaries.

These changes cannot be catapulted on GECOM and the Guyanese voters.

Mobile registration would also be done during this cycle; however, the commencement of mobile registration would depend on the Tender Board approv-

al of the costs for land, water and air transportation, among other administrative expenses. The Tender Board procedures should have been completed before the Cycle of Registration commences, to ensure that the mobile registration exercises commence in time, with two rounds in the hinterland regions other than the one round that was done in the previous Cycle of Continuous Registration.

If the Tender Board does not approve the quotations to provide services in a week’s time, then certainly GECOM would have the excuse to do only one round of Mobile registration in the hinterland, considering that this Cycle of Registration has already been delayed by two weeks merely because of the Order not been gazetted and published.

GECOM has to do better to provide the services to the citizens of this country, to ensure that they are registered among the other transactions that they are doing. The Registration Officers at GECOM Centre have to be more encouraging and tolerant to persons who are seeking to have transactions done.

The dress code should

also be relaxed to accommodate persons other than to inconvenience them to change clothing before they could enter a Registration Centre. The onus of GECOM is to have everyone registered, thus they should be flexible to accommodate persons who might not return if they are sent away for change of clothing.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

for independence Dear Editor, Recently, I enjoyed reminiscing with those of the older generation, and hearing their stories of the struggles and sacrifices that took place during the fight for the independence of our great nation, Guyana.

The story’s setting began in the living room of a small home on Camp Street, where plans were being laid to shut down the ferries, train and buses (i.e. the transportation system of Guyana) during 1952. In attendance was Mr John Ivan Edwards, trade unionist of the Transport Workers Union; Dr Cheddi Jagan, and Forbes Burnham.

At the time, all were very close friends and active members at the forefront of the PPP. They were also fully aligned and committed to the fight for our nation’s independence.

However, the British team -- being led by Sir Winston Leonard SpencerChurchill, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Sir Charles Campbell Woolley, the then Governor of British Guiana; and Sir Alfred William Lungley Savage, the Governor of the British Colony of Barbados -- was focused on ending the disturbance of the Independence Movement in what was considered to be a key colony of the British Empire.

It was only five years prior, in 1947, that the United Kingdom had lost India to independence, and the pressure was building to stop such movements within the remaining colonies.

The following year, in 1953, Sir Winston Churchill would transfer Sir Savage to British Guiana, to place increased pressure on the Independence Movement.

Returning to 1952. The three men -- Edwards, Jagan and Burnham -- were beginning to make inroads into disrupting the transportation networks, and thus also disrupting the business of the Crown in British Guiana. This would have a significant impact on the PPP obtaining control of British Guiana in 1953.

In order to end the problem, it is said, the UK lured trade unionist Mr John Ivan Edwards to Barbados to attend a seminar, where he drowned in knee-deep water on the beach, thus ending his interference in the Crown’s business via the Transport Workers Union.

What was interesting in the discussion was how the older generation mentioned that the three men (Edwards, Jagan and Burnham) would work tirelessly together in good teamwork to accomplish their objectives. The British astutely dismantled this team, starting with Mr John Ivan Edwards, who was in a multiracial marriage and had influence across various races and socio-economic classes.

His funeral was a display of a sea of red when they walked his casket from the funeral home in Georgetown to Le Repentir Cemetery.

This sea of red was the result of him being embraced by his fellow PPP party members, the Transport Workers

Union, and his Lodge colleagues. Both Burnham and Jagan were also present, and the camaraderie between the two men was still alive and well in 1952. After all, the three families had grown close over the years because of their joint efforts to obtain independence for Guyana.

In 1953, after Sir Alfred Savage’s success in Barbados with Mr Edwards, Sir Winston Churchill would appoint Sir Alfred Savage to British Guiana, where he was successful in dismissing the newly elected PPP government led by Dr Jagan (Chief Minister) and supported by PPP member Burnham (Minister of Education). The British also called the PPP government communist and suspended the constitution, taking back full control of the British Guiana colony with the help of British troops.

The strong alliance between the two PPP ministers would never return, and their separation due to race would ‘take over’ for years to come. Mr Edwards’s multicultural perspective was now missing, and a clear divide could easily be made between the two gentlemen. It would be a great achievement today if we, the Guyanese people, could recapture the union of our nation’s will, especially for the betterment of future generations in this current difficult economic environment, and in an environment of strong opposition from Venezuela.

Sincerely, Jamil Changlee

6

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018

Page

Foundation

Continued from monday

By Jim Taylor, PhD

Pleasers Pleasers will do everything they can to get the love and attention they crave.

Pleasers may often be perceived as model children who are successful and exceptionally giving to others. Yet, in pleasing others, they often neglect their own needs and, as a result, are unfulfilled, resentful, and unhappy.

Reactors Reactors do the exact opposite of whatever their parents want them to do.

Parents often interpret this behaviour as independence, but in actuality, Reactors are highly dependent on their parents, in a paradoxical way. Reactors feel controlled by their parents and feel powerless to directly assert themselves against their constraints. Reactors wait to see what their parents want them to do and then they choose the course that is in direct opposition to it. This reactive behaviour usually emerges in the form of nonconformist dress, poor grades, "unacceptable" peer relations, and, possibly, alcohol and drug use.

Disappointers Disappointers are non-achievers who never live up to expectations. They are usually bright and demonstrate promise in a number of areas, for example, they often score highly on IQ and achievement tests, yet they rarely accomplish anything.

Disappointers relieve the pressure they feel from their parents by simply not trying.

Disappointers avoid their parents' expectations by sabotaging themselves, for example, with lack of effort or avoidance of the achievement activity, or significant problem behaviour such as drug use or criminal misconduct.

Frustrators Frustrators, not surprisingly, cause tremendous frustration in their parents. Frustrators are not "bad kids" and they rarely get into trouble. They do fairly well in school and in other achievement settings, yet are often viewed as underachievers who don't perform up to their ability. For example, a Frustrator might get a B+ rather than putting in a little extra effort to get an A in a class, or be named as an alternate to perform in a musical recital, or lose a tightly contested sports competition.

Rejecters Rejecters refuse their

Types of contingent children I have identified five types of contingent children. All of them are created in similar ways. Children develop a particular contingent style depending on their temperament and that of their parents.

parents' expectations, choosing a course of their own in spite of their parents' objections. Rejecters do not simply react by choosing the opposite, but rather thoroughly discard whatever their parents have to offer. Rejecters

may be viewed as the most healthy and adaptive of the five kinds of contingent children, because they have separated from their parents and become autonomous and self-directed people.

But Rejecters pay a price for their extreme disengagement by damaging their relationships with their parents and discarding even the positive contributions their parents made.

Raise independent children Independence is not something that your children can gain on their own.

They have neither the perspective, experience nor skills to develop indepen-

dence separately from you.

Rather, it is a gift you give your children that they will cherish and benefit from their entire lives. You can provide your child with several essential ingredients for gaining inde-

and respect.

Show confidence in your children's capabilities.

Teach them that they have control over their lives.

Provide guidance and then give them the freedom to make their own decisions.

pendence: Give your children love

Teach responsibility One of your tasks as the parent is to teach your children about responsibility. The best way to ensure that you and your children assume the appropriate responsibilities is for each of you to know what your responsibilities are.

If you and your children have a clear understanding of what is expected of each of you, then it will be easier to stay within the confines of those responsibilities.

Make a list of what you as a parent will be doing to

that nothing is their fault.

Whether rationalising bad behaviour, looking for scapegoats on which to blame misfortune, or faulting others for their failures, children are constantly told that they do not need to be responsible for their actions. Yet, the ability of children to hold themselves accountable for their actions is a critical part of becoming independent.

The reluctance of children to take responsibility for their actions is based on their desire to protect themselves from failure.

By blaming outside factors, such as other people, bad luck, or unfairness, children can safeguard their egos from harm. Yet, responsibility is to both sides of the same coin. Your children can't take responsibility for their achievements

Activities to foster independence in kids

Picking out clothes This is a great activity to do at night before bed, especially if the morning is busy. You can also have children pick out clothes for the whole week on Sunday. Fashion battles may happen, but it’s a good learning experience for everyone.

Getting themselves dressed Preparing toothbrush and brushing teeth Setting table or cleaning up the table after a meal. Giving the kids a role in the family meal is not only great for building independence, but it also models the value of everyone pitching in with chores.

Putting away toys. This one can be a struggle, especially when the play area looks as if a tornado hit it.

Cleaning room – making bed, dusting, putting away laundry. There are lots of chores that kids can help do.

Getting bath ready, washing body and hair, putting on pyjamas Putting away shoes, backpacks, lunchboxes when entering the house Taking care of a pet.

help your children succeed.

Then, make a list with your children of what their responsibilities should be.

Next, identify other individuals who will have responsibilities (and what they are) in your children's achievement activities, such as teachers, instructors, or coaches.

There should also be consequences for not fulfilling responsibilities. The best consequences are those that remove something of importance to your children and give them the control to get it back by acting appropriately. This process provides absolute clarity to both you and your children about what your "jobs" are. It also allows for no confusion at a later point when either of you step over the line and assume the other's responsibilities or neglects their own.

Demand accountability Many parts of our culture send a message to children

and successes unless they are willing to take responsibility for their mistakes and failures.

Encourage exploration Early in your children's lives, you need to keep them on a fairly short "leash" to ensure their safety. This care builds your child's sense of security by teaching them that they have a safe place to return to if they venture too far and that you are there to protect them when needed.

There is, however, a fine line between security and dependence. When your children have established their sense of security, you must then encourage them to explore the world beyond the safety net that you provide.

This "push out of the nest" allows your children to test their own capabilities in the "real world" and to find a sense of competence, security, and independence within themselves. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

news

7

tuesdAY, may 29, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PUC end-of-year report

Poor utility services dominate complaints …GPL still to submit expansion plans

T

he Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has released its 2017 annual report, detailing its handling of complaints against poor utility services in Guyana.

Dominating the list of complaints are those against the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and GTT. According to the PUC in its report, a total of 296 complaints were received against GTT for last year.

This figure is almost double the complaints – 162 – received about GPL’s service.

Coming in a distant third was the Guyana Water Inc (GWI), as 38 complaints were recorded. U mobile cellular incorporated (Digicel) customers registered a mere three complaints for the year.

“The complaints received from GT&T followed the same trend as previous years with the majority of complaints received pertaining to technical issues.

GTT has advised that the company is in the process of providing new technological installations to some of the areas which were previously served by the obsolete Fixed Wireless System (FWA),” the report noted.

“Data service via Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology is being offered to the Essequibo Coast. Areas such as La Grange on the West Bank of Demerara that was once served by the obsolete FWA system benefited from Fibre to the Home (FTTH),” the report adds.

The PUC expressed expectations that other areas would benefit during the year 2018 as GTT continued its FTTH rollout. It

Public Utility Commission Headquarters

also noted that the company has been installing its new Blaze system using fibre as opposed to copper technologies.

In a regional breakdown, 227 GTT complaints were received from Region Six, while the region produced 63 complaints for GPL and three for GWI. In Region Five, there were 21 complaints for GTT, 12 for GPL and none for GWI. The Commission noted that it was able to resolve 107 complaints against GTT, 28 against GPL and three against GWI, in the favour of the consumers.

GPL was the only company that was able to have any complaints resolved in its favour – 10.

GPL

The Commission noted that 24 per cent of the complaints received against GPL were for technical matters, while 22 per cent represented meter tampering.

In contrast, 18 per cent of the complaints had to do

with applications for service and the remaining 36 per cent concerned billing issues, disconnection, change of tenancy and claims for compensation.

Besides this, the Commission had some harsh words for GPL on account of the company failing to submit to the Commission a copy of its 2017-2021 Development and Expansion Plan. The PUC noted that this is required by Section 38 of the Electricity Sector Reform Act (ESRA).

“Section 38 3(a) of the ESRA states as follows: ‘except as otherwise provided in its licence, every public supplier shall, no later than 60 days prior to the end of each of its financial years, submit seven copies of its annual development and expansion programme and a current version of its five-year development and expansion programme, as approved by the governing body of the public supplier to the Commission for ap-

proval in accordance with part seven of the Public Utilities Commission Act 1999.”

“The Commission, therefore, is uncertain what were the approved targets the company was mandated to achieve in 2017. The Commission whilst not authorised to approve the targets to be achieved by the company, is required to review the performance of those targets and in the event, they are not achieved may require from the utility the reason(s) for its failure and to decide what action, if any, should be taken against the company.”

According to the PUC, it found GPL’s omission of its objective disturbing and indicative of the company’s “uncertainty in planning”. And with no 20172021 development plan, the Commission stated that this

GPL Chief Executive Officer Albert Gordon

leaves the company no approved targets to work with.

This is particularly troubling as the PUC in its report noted GPL’s failure to meet its loss reduction targets for another year.

“System losses were projected at 27.6 per cent for

2017. Technical losses were estimated at 12.9 per cent and non-technical losses at 14.7 per cent. At the end of 2017, the total combined losses were 29.5 per cent.

Technical losses were 14.5 per cent and non-technical losses 15 per cent. GPL did not meet this target. In 2016, the overall target was 28.6 per cent. With 29.2 per cent losses, GPL did not meet their target. Losses increased by approximately 0.3 per cent from 2016,” the Commission noted.

It was only earlier this month that GPL was fined by the PUC. According to the order, dated April 25, 2018, GPL will have to forfeit five per cent of its total dividend payments for 2017.

The PUC noted that despite cautioning the power company in a previous order, certain expectations for service quality were not met.

8 news

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

La Grange man gets 3 years for ganja farming

A

La Grange, West Bank Demerara man was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment on Monday by Magistrate Clive Nurse when he appeared at the Linden

Magistrate’s Court charged for cultivation of cannabis.

Imtiaz “Sancho” Shaheed admitted that he was found tending to ganja plants on May 26 during a Police eradication exercise at Ituni Road, Upper

Political football…

T

Imtiaz “Sancho” Shaheed at the ganja farm on Saturday

Demerara. The ranks of E Division (Linden-Kwakwani) during the raid discovered a three-acre cannabis farm, two tents, and a quantity of dried cannabis along with a quanti-

A section of the marijuana farm

ty of groceries.

The suspect was reportedly alone. The Police destroyed the plants and tents.

The 41-year-old man was also fined $30,000.

Teenager jailed for 3 years for narco-possession

A

Nickey Nirmal

teenager was on Monday sentenced to three years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to a narcotics possession charge when he appeared before Magistrate

Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

Nickey Nirmal of Lot 3 Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, was in a Route 43 minibus when he was arrested by an off-duty Police rank. Based on information received, the Policeman observed Nirmal acting in a suspicious manner.

At the time, he was carrying a bulky 10kg rice bag.

The Police ordered the vehicle to stop at the Amelia’s Ward Police Outpost, where a search was conducted on the bag during which 297 grams of compressed marijuana was found. The 18-year-old was told of the offence and admitted to ownership of the ganja.

The marijuana that was found in the rice bag

Apart from the three years’ sentence, he was also ordered to pay a fine of $445,000.

Security guard charged for punching ex-friend

A

34-year-old security guard attached to the Sandy Mining Company was on Monday placed on $60,000 bail for reportedly cuffing a former friend.

Dexter Cush, a father of three children, denied the charge read to him by city Magistrate Judy Latchman when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge stated that on March 20, 2018 at Sussex and Lombard Streets, Georgetown, he assaulted Edwin Miles so as to cause him actual bodily harm.

According to Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore, the men had a misunderstanding and Cush dealt Miles one punch to his head.

The matter was reported by Miles, and Cush was arrested and charged for the offence.

The case will continue on June 31, 2018.

…and sugar he Leader of the Opposition predicts that, the way things are going, the entire sugar industry will soon be shuttered. But that was always on the cards, wasn’t it? Right now, the Opposition Leader’s being very generous to suggest that the collapse is being triggered because of the vicious infighting for turf between the PNC’s Jordan and the AFC’s Holder. Jordan’s backed the SPU – part of NICIL -- which he controls. But who exactly is Holder backing??

In fact, it surfaced sometime ago that Holder wasn’t even nominated by the AFC to be the Minister of Agriculture. He is Granger’s man, and that’s who he’s backing!! As we knew from the beginning – before the infamous Valentine’s Day “Accord” -- Granger insisted the sugar industry should be sold off. So the struggle is actually between Tweedledum and Tweedledee as to who should read the last rites over an institution which, via its workers, has defied the PNC since that strike in 1964 -- the “troubles”, according to Granger!!

He must also be chafing that his soldiers and GNS had to be commandeered to cut cane in 1976 when sugar workers struck for GAWU to be recognised. He obviously believes revenge is best served cold! The PNC and Granger can talk all they want about “rationalising” the industry, but until they explain why they threw Granger’s own CoI recommendations into the garbage, they cannot be given any benefit of the doubt about their intentions.

That CoI – which included their Chairman of GuySuCo, Clive Thomas – recommended that the industry be subsidised and brought to a point of sale within three years – which would’ve been this year. Under that scenario, the entity would have been able to transition to a viable future not only its operations, but also the workers. As it is right now, from the latter’s standpoint, they’ll now lose corn and husk.

A bond for over $30 billion has been floated to maintain the operations of the four closed estates – at least their field components – to make them attractive to prospective buyers. Well…duh!!...why wasn’t a bond raised to bring the entire GuySuCo operation to a point of sale?? The Govt would not have been subsidising anything. This nonsense about “subsidising” GuySuCo is also being exposed, as NDIA will demand billions annually to keep the canals going – something GuySuCo had done “for free”.

So what’s going on? GuySuCo is now a political football between two supremely incompetent ministers, who’ll be allowed to fiddle while sugar burns to the ground. Granger couldn’t care less, since the squabble takes the focus away from his initial callous declaration.

And the AFC, which thought they’d made Granger change his mind in 2015? They’ve been dumped like bagasse!! …AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES Once again, the scab’s been torn off the sore that lies at the heart of the scorn of the Indigenous Peoples of this land by Guyana’s elite. Your Eyewitness, of course, is talking about that poor Amerindian boy who was humiliated by the staff and fellow pupils of Mae’s, which brands itself as catering to the children of that elite. Well, we hope all those Amerindians who adorn this Government know exactly how that Georgetown elite feels about them and their culture.

Let’s face it: the incident had nothing to do about the boy not being “properly” covered up. The elite that Mae’s caters to overwhelmingly DOMINATED the just concluded Carnival events, in which so much skin was exposed; the boy’s outfit was verily puritanical!! Maybe the boy should’ve “wined down” into the school – to show “real” Guyanese culture??

Wouldn’t have helped. The scorn wasn’t for the outfit; it was for what it represents.

An alternative authenticity that’s rejected because the governing elite still considers Amerindians as literally “beyond the pale”. …AND POLITICAL CHARGES The CCJ has upheld the right of AGs to bring charges of “public misfeasance in public officials” as a tort – to allow the state to recoup gains in real estate “giveaways’.

So why the CRIMINAL charges here?? Spite and bile against the PPP. Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

News

9

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mother’s Day prison party

Disciplinary action underway against corrupt ranks – Prison Director

By Jarryl Bryan

F

ollowing the now infamous Mother’s Day party held by inmates at the New Amsterdam Prison, Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels has assured that disciplinary action was currently being taken against the offending ranks.

The Director of Prisons provided this assurance on the side-lines of an event at the Police Training Centre on Monday. According to Samuels, the matter is being treated as a priority and once some additional information was acquired, a neutral adjudicator would be brought in.

“The procedure for internal charges is similar to the court system. The person must be issued with a charge sheet; they would have time in order to prepare for their trial, so we’re currently in the process of doing that,” Samuels said.

“They also have a right to object to the adjudicator.

So, more than likely because of the nature of the offences, we would have to have neutral adjudicators travel to New Amsterdam, in order to deal with those cases. But it is something being given priority.

“What we are waiting for right now is some exter-

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels

nal information that we have written to request, in terms of (combining) some of the information that we would need during the investigation.”

This, he said, will serve to establish if indeed the prisoners were in contact with prison officers who were named as having provided the alcohol and drugs that were seen on the Facebook posts.

Besides information suggesting telephone contact to facilitate the collusion, Samuels said that four ranks who failed in their duties on the day in question have been identified. He noted that the lapses were evident by the very pictures that were circulated of the

party-loving inmates.

“Closely examining the photographs on Facebook, it would show you that the drinking took place in two parts of the prisons…the dining hall, where prisoners would be during the day and then the number one dormitory,” Samuels observed.

“Many of the prisoners who were seen drinking in the number one dormitory, based on our segregation that we do, they should not have gone to that dormitory. So, it shows clearly that there was a breakdown in terms of the management of the prisoners on that day.”

Pay

Samuels acknowledged recent comments from Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan about the small salary being paid to prison officers. He, however, maintained that officers who are dissatisfied with their salaries should resign, rather than endanger the lives of others through collusion with prisoners.

IDB/CSSP study

Monday also marked the official launch of the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP) prison survey report. The report was a collaborative effort with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

Prisoners sporting high priced liquor at the New Amsterdam Prison on Mother’s Day

and the University of Guyana in keeping with component three of the programme.

In the report itself are some compelling findings.

For instance, the report found that six out of ten inmates were physically punished to some degree by their parents or guardians, when they were children.

“One out of four respondents reported that their father or mother's partner used to beat their mothers. In four out of ten cases, the inmates’ parents or adults with whom they lived as children drank alcohol frequently.

“One out of five inmates said there were gang members or they belonged to criminal groups in the neigh-

bourhood where they lived as minors. Four out of 10 inmates stated that they had a family member who had been sent to prison,” the report states.

The survey also found that most inmates have either used marijuana or have actually been incarcerated for drug possession or dealing. This is a poignant finding, as decriminalising marijuana is a prevalent topic at the moment.

“Six out of 10 prisoners reported having consumed marijuana, 7.6 per cent cocaine base paste, cocaine, or crack, and 6.4 per cent pills or ecstasy. Two most frequent crimes for which the inmates were arrested in Guyana was intentional ho-

micide or murder – 34.9 per cent and drug possession or drug dealing – 21.3 per cent.”

The CSSP is funded by the IDB, with US$74,200 being allocated for the survey. At the handing-over ceremony on Monday, Resident Representative Sophie Makonnen laid bare some of the challenges.

Makonnen cited statistics on the Guyana prison system, such as the prison population rate.

CSSP Project Manager Clement Henry hailed the initiative as one that would highlight the root causes of criminal recidivism. He noted that the results of the survey would aid development of rehabilitation and reintegration policies for prisoners.

Mae’s “inappropriate” decision

Toshaos Council condemns banning of Indigenous outfit …calls for apology to student

T

he National Toshaos Council (NTC) has condemned the actions taken by the administration of Mae’s school last week to prohibit a student from displaying his Amerindian traditional outfit at the institution’s culture day event, after labelling it as “inappropriate”.

National Toshaos Council Chairman Joel Fredericks told Guyana Times on Monday that he was aware of the incident via a post on social media, which explained the discrimination that was faced by the stu-

NTC Chairman Joel Fredericks

dent after he dressed as an Amerindian, to participate

in his culture day activities.

“In my opinion, if it was so then, it was wrong because as you know, Guyana has six races and under the Constitution of Guyana, the laws of Guyana state that every race and person has a right to a religion, cultural belief, and tradition. You have that right.”

He later stated that it was completely erroneous on the part of the school to disallow the child from participating, since that is the cultural wear of the Amerindian people. As a result, the culture of the Guyana’s first people

should be respected as any other ethnicity.

“For me if it was so that whoever prevent the child from entering the school, that is wrong. When [it] is heritage month, I as a Chief would dress in my traditional wear and I go anywhere.

That is my culture and I respect other peoples’ culture,” the NTC Chairman stated.

He added that the Council has shown its disapproval of the manner in which the child was treated and demanded that the staff of the school be educated on the practices of the Amerindian people so that other children are not con-

fronted with this situation in the future.

“We need to teach not only the children, but we also need to educate adults also because that adult maybe didn’t know the right of every individual. I am disappointed and the way the school treated it was wrong.

I don’t support that. The guard need to be educated because how can that be inappropriate when that is one’s culture. He was just wearing a tibisiri skirt, a necklace and a headdress. That is our culture,” Fredericks explained.

Turn to page 13

10 news

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Miller owes Wakenaam rice farmers for paddy …non-payment causing default on GRDB fertiliser loan

A

group of frustrated farmers who reside on Wakenaam Island in the Essequibo River on Monday said they are desperately trying to repay loans taken to procure fertilisers, fuel and equipment after waiting for almost three months to begin receiving payment for paddy sold to Essequibo-based miller Wazeer Hussein.

Guyana Times was informed by the frustrated farmers that Wazir Hussein has not paid them for paddy he had purchased since March, although he has already converted same into rice.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the farmers disclosed that having to go for

months without payment has put them under grave financial strain, and they are now beginning to default on loan repayments, which is affecting their livelihood and sustenance.

“This is de end of May and we can’t do rice. Me personally don’t have money to buy fuel.

I owe de fuel station, and de man said he can’t give credit,” one farmer disclosed to this newspaper.

Another indicated that farmers also owe the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) for fertiliser taken on credit. In that arrangement, announced last June, the farmers are to repay the Agriculture Ministry’s

Rice cultivation

sub-agency at the end of the crop.

The system was designed to assist members of rice farming communities who had encountered financial difficulties. The farmers have long decried the reduced payments they were receiving for their paddy as affecting their ability to acquire the necessary equipment and chemicals needed to produce the crop.

Guyana Times understands that GRDB officials have, within recent weeks, visited farmers and the default of loan repayments was discussed. It was pointed out to this publication that farmers explained the reasons why they could not make their payments to GRDB, which reportedly gave assurances to look

Mining dispute

Bauxite Company pays US$250,000 to dredging company

T

he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Monday issued an order settling a matter valued at nearly US$1 million between Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc and Haresh Narine Sugrim.

On 19th April 2018, the CCJ heard the case, during which the judges urged the parties to make every effort to come to an agreement. A mere four weeks later, the Court was informed that both parties had reached an agreement, wherein the Bauxite Company would pay the sum of US$250,000 to Sugrim. A consent order, which sets down formally what each side has agreed to, was issued by the CCJ on Monday.

The appellant, the Bauxite Company of Guyana, had entered into an agreement with Sugrim

to perform dredging works at Aroiama and Kwakwani, in the Berbice River, to clear approximately 15,000 cubic yards of sediment from the river. However, while the agreement prescribed a specific method, known as “barge displacement calibration”, to measure the amount of material that was dredged and removed from the river, it did not state whose responsibility it was to calibrate the barges.

Sugrim subsequently submitted invoices which totalled US$992,123 based on 105,545 cubic yards of sediment being dredged and removed from the river. Both the sum claimed in the invoices and the amount of sediment dredged were rejected by the Bauxite Company.

The High Court of Guyana ruled in favour of

Sugrim, who was granted the amount claimed in the invoices. However, the Court of Appeal, while agreeing with the general approach employed by the High Court in assessing the amount due to Sugrim, reduced this amount by 20%.

Both parties appealed to the CCJ, as they were dissatisfied with the ruling of the

Court of Appeal.

During the CCJ hearing of the matter, members of the Bench repeatedly expressed the view that the nature of the dispute readily lent itself to mediation.

The Court observed that it was virtually impossible to arrive at a sum with any degree of mathematical certainty. It advised the parties

that should a formal judgment be issued in the case, it would more than likely be met with great disfavour by one side. The Court gave an undertaking to reserve delivery of its judgment for six weeks from the date of the hearing, to provide the parties with sufficient opportunity to explore mediation. It was also agreed that each party would pay its own costs in the proceedings before the CCJ, as well as in the proceedings in the courts below.

The Court has expressed deep appreciation to the parties for what it deems a mature and sensible approach to the resolution of this matter.

The Bauxite Company of Guyana was represented by Edward A. Luckhoo, SC, and Andrew MF Pollard, SC. Sugrim was represented by Chandrapratesh V Satram.

into the matter. It is understood that rice farmers were given more time to pay for the fertiliser they acquired.

This newspaper was told that farmers are contending that depleted finances are affecting them from sowing the next crop on schedule, with one farmer observing that the current rainfall is ideal for rice planting on Wakenaam.

“Time ah go; we surrounded by salt water on this island.

The day the rain cut off two weeks, the salt water [would] rush in,” the resident and farmer stressed.

Farmers have also claimed they have been making several attempts to contact the miller, who is reportedly avoiding their calls. Guyana Times has learnt on Monday that a ship supposedly bound for Mexico is expected to dock at a local port sometime this week. The farmers remain hopeful that they can receive their funds after an extended wait.

Withholding payments to farmers is in contravention of the Rice Factories (Amendment) Act of 2009, which stipulates that farmers need wait no longer than the mandatory 42 days before being paid for their paddy.

According to the Act, the manufacturer (miller) is required to pay the paddy producer (farmer) half the amount due that farmer within two weeks of receiving that farmer’s paddy, and the remainder of the liability must be liquidated within 42 days of the parties signing the agreement of sale for the paddy.

Before the cancellation of PetroCaribe (rice-for-oil) deal

by Venezuela in 2015, farmers were obtaining premium rates for their paddy crops.

Under that arrangement, farmers accrued some $9,000 per bag of paddy, but this was reduced to between $1800 and $3,000, depending on location.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

news

11

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana map without Essequibo

Foreign Affairs Ministry probing possible “cyber-attack”

I

n light of two instances on social media where the map of Guyana was depicted without its Essequibo region, the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Monday expressed “deep concern” and asserted that it was “looking into the matter”. The first instance of this image surfacing was on the Facebook page of the American Home and Beauty Centre – a local company – on May 24, 2018, as the business wished Guyanese a “Happy Independence Day” while advertising a “Sale”.

However, an ‘Essequiboless map’ popped up on the website of the State-owned newspaper, the Guyana Chronicle on Independence morning. After the images went viral, the two entities posted apologies. The newspaper’s principal editor said that the matter was being investigated.

However, on Monday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the shape of Guyana’s 83,000 square miles is unmistakable.

“From the dawn of our independence to this day, we have spared no effort to preserve our sovereignty and territorial integrity. This act which occurred on our 52nd Anniversary of Independence should serve as a sobering reminder that the threats to our territory remain real and dangerous,” the Ministry said in a statement issued.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry also said that it has not ruled out the strong possibility that these instances were a cyber-attack, and was looking into the matter.

Border controversy

In March, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge filed the border controver-

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

sy case at the International Court of Justice at the Hague asking the World Court to confirm the legal validity and binding effect of the 1899 Arbitral Award.

The court document notes that while Venezuela has never produced any evidence to justify its belated repudiation of the 1899 Award, the neighbouring country has used it as an

13-year-old impregnated by step-father …man committed suicide after matter reported

A

nother teenager allegedly fell victim to rape at the hands of her now deceased step- father, who was left to care for the teen while her mother left for vacation in the United States last year.

According to reports, the 13-year-old victim told relatives of the instances when she was molested by her mother’s lover, but was ignored after he denied the accusations when confronted.

The teen continued to complain to relatives as the

man would constantly attack her, but was on several occasions silenced about the ordeal.

Relatives of the teen, who is almost 24 weeks pregnant, reported that when the girl’s mother returned from her overseas trip, she made several more complaints against the man and even told her mother that the abuse had increased.

This time she was again silenced.

However, the teen then confided in one of her school

teachers, who then reached out to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA).

The Agency has since launched an investigation into the matter.

One of her relatives said that the man ingested the poisonous substance after he was told that an investigation has been launched into the matter. His body was found in a nearby cemetery where he allegedly consumed the substance and later died.

Opposition should challenge...

The group also pointed to the inappropriateness of the threats SARA executive Eric Phillips had issued against Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in March of last year.

“SARA’s mandate is too important for it to be compromised by any single individual,” TIGI indicated.

“We are also floored by the fact that SARA was burgla-

rised and wonder at the confidence this inspires in its international partners and in Guyanese.

“SARA is in need of a clear and transparent policy on case selection and on the basis for deciding whether to pursue civil or criminal prosecution, and on the circumstances under which it will allow individuals to return assets and

From page 3

avoid prosecution.”

When it comes to SOCU, TIGI expressed alarm over the headlines and apparent leaks concerning the arrests of former Government officials. According to the transparency body, SOCU must address these issues or it will continue to be seen as a tool used to embarrass the former Government.

excuse to occupy territory awarded to Guyana in 1899,

to inhibit Guyana’s economic development, and to violate Guyana’s sovereignty and sovereign rights. In filing the application, Minister Greenidge, who will serve as Guyana’s agent in the proceedings before the ICJ, had said: “… Guyana has respected the Secretary General’s decision and placed its faith in the International Court of Justice to resolve the controversy in accordance with its Statue and jurisprudence, based on the fundamental principles of international law, including the sanctity of treaties, the maintenance

of settled boundaries and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States”.

Venezuela had only changed its position formally in 1962 as the United Kingdom was making final preparations for British Guiana’s independence when the Spanish-speaking republic had threatened not to recognise the new State. Venezuela renewed its Essequibo claims after United States oil giant ExxonMobil had announced a major oil find off Guyana’s Stabroek Block in May 2015.

12 news

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Blocked canal causes flooding for Fyrish cash crop farmers

R

ecent heavy rainfall compounded by a blocked canal has left sections of the Corentyne, East Berbice village of Fyrish inundated.

The hardest hit areas are in the backlands, which cash crop farmers have recently started to cultivate.

The farmers and the Fyrish/Gibraltar Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) are accusing a poultry farmer in the area of deliberately blocking canals at Fyrish, and pumping water into the backlands. This, they contend, has compounded the problem for the farmers.

All of the farmers who have recently opened new lands and cultivated same with cash crops have reported 100 per cent losses.

They told this publication that the water cannot drain

the canal which he has blocked.

“When we were doing a survey check in the cultivation area two weeks ago, we observed a poultry farmer had blocked off several areas, which include the drainage canal, more so the canals which are controlled by the Fyrish/Gibraltar NDC,” Crawford explained.

Crawford took this publication to several sections of the cultivated area and showed permanent pumps which were being used to pump water into the cultivation area, which is known as “Forty” and is also referred to as the second depth.

While Crawford complains, he stands at the head of the NDC in which

A canal blocked by a dam erected through it

off the land because a dam runs adjacent to a chicken

cerning the issue, and he acknowledged blocking the drainage canals for his personal gains, but he promised the following day to remove all of the blockages; and until now, nothing has been done.

Mega poultry farmer Deonarine Arjune, who has over half a million birds, met some of the farmers and the NDC Chairman on Sunday as they were in the backlands, and said he had received none of the notices which the Chairman had served on him. He, however, promised to provide some relief to the farmers.

However, the farmers say more needs to be done, since he is utilizing the NDC’s property for his business and has used sections

farm, presumably the largest in the country, and that dam has been constructed across one of the canals.

Some of the affected farmers claim they have even lost permanent crops, which were too young to withstand being in water for several weeks.

Dwayne Smart, one of the affected farmers, has said he has ten acres of cultivated land in two different sections of the village.

“Right now, the first depth is under water but the second depth is okay. All of the water (has been) left in the first depth, because it can’t drain nowhere,” he explained.

He also said he has about 300 suckers to plant, but cannot do so because the farm is inundated.

“I could have planted them already, but the land under water, so I can’t plant them… All of them on the ground waiting,” he said.

Meanwhile, NDC Chairman Urwin Crawford

A poultry farmer pumping water into the farmers land

has invited this publication into the backlands to experience first-hand what the farmers are going through.

He said that although the farms were under water, the poultry farmer was adding to the farmers’ woes by pumping more water into

the poultry farm and the farmlands are situated.

“After our statutory meeting last Monday, myself, the Vice Chairman along with some councillors and the Overseer confronted the proprietor con-

of the dam to fill up around his chicken pens.

On Monday, when this publication contacted the NDC, the situation was unchanged. (Andrew Carmichael)

news

13

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Oil & gas safety training

Pomeroon Farmers’ Resilient sugar workers among 22 graduates Association gets outboard engine

From left: Leowood Paul, top performer Mark Bihkhari, Vishwapremi Ramkellawan, and Duvendr Lalla

I

n spite of the economic challenges that thousands of sugar workers have faced across the industry, some are trying to attain alternative skills to secure their livelihood. These sentiments were expressed Monday by three former employees of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), who were among 22 men who successfully completed the inaugural oilfield safety and operator training and development course.

A graduation ceremony was held at Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD), where Mark Bihkhari, Dexter Vangronigen and Courtney John respectively received top honours for their outstanding performance. The nine-week course was facilitated by international marine and petroleum training academy TotalTec Oilfield Services.

All graduates were praised for their relative quick grasp of the concepts and practical aspects of programme.

However, the spotlight was on the three former sugar industry employees, who showcased much resilience having to adopt a completely new career path in the wake of the downsizing of the sugar industry.

Former La Bonne Intention (LBI) fitter machinist Vishwapremi Ramkellawan told the media that he was severely affected by the closure of his workplace after seven years of employment. The father of two noted that

despite some challenges, he used the skills he knew as a basis for his development.

“I went to GuySuCo training school and [this] made it a lot easier comparing to the others that didn’t have GuySuCo training. I left and go into the mining industry, because I’ve seen the decline in GuySuCo and now I’ve made the transition from mining straight into the oil and gas industry,” he stressed.

“I have two children and a wife and [closure] affected us a great deal but as a man, you have to stand up and go and get what you have to get for your family to survive and that’s why exactly I did,” Ramkellawan said.

Duvendr Lalla, who said that he was hopeful to start his family, was a 15-year veteran in the mechanical department in the sugar industry. Noting that he found out about the training in the press, he jumped at the challenge and even encouraged some unemployed colleagues to apply. He said too that his training at the Port Mourant Centre was an asset in his oil and gas training. Observing that he received half of his severance pay, Lalla told Guyana Times that he was saddened over the fact that he dedicated his life to the sugar industry.

“From school [I went] straight into sugar – my whole work-life experience is from GuySuCo and it is sad to know that it has come to an end, but hopefully one door close, a better one open and you just

have to take it step by step from there and hopefully I’ll develop my skills in oil and gas,” he expressed.

Lalla hopes that he would be one of the graduates selected for further training in the oil and gas sector in Trinidad and Tobago and the United States.

His younger colleague, Leowood Paul, who had worked three years attached to the field lab, said too that the training was “a great experience to be part of something new”. The programme comprised 56 separate theory and practical base modules that focused on areas including emergency response, oil and gas preparation and platforms, and counterbalance forklift truck operations.

TotalTec Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lars Mangal said as Guyana prepared itself for oil production in 2020, Guyanese need to be trained in the basics of the industry so that locals could be able to access jobs both onshore and offshore.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman praised Mangal for returning to his homeland to impart his oil and gas skills to others. Organisers announced that a batch of 50 more recruits was currently being trained and expressed hope that future batches would include female participants.

Earlier this month, the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF), an international trade union confederation, through its General Secretary Sue Longley, wrote President David Granger expressing strong concerns over the downsizing of sugar. In its letter to President Granger, the IUF, which speaks on behalf of 10 million workers through its 422 affiliated unions in 131 countries, said it was aware that the sugar industry “…has made substantial contributions to your country’s national life and development … Its role as a national institution cannot be diminished, especially recognising the absence of alternatives at this time”. In its endof-year statement, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) highlighted that come 2018, there would, in fact, have been 5000 sugar workers who would be left unemployed if Wales was factored into the current numbers.

Guyana to develop e-commerce, postal database mechanisms

The participants of the workshop pose for a photo outside the Guyana Post Office

G

uyana is finally taking steps to improve the relationship between customs and e-commerce, as it engaged 22 countries on Monday, in a discussion on the procedures that will lead to a successful data exchange system.

This was revealed by Regional Project Coordinator for the Caribbean with the Universal Postal Union (UPU), Wenabi Pottprice, at the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC).

Pottprice noted that countries were working together on a solution to further develop the competency of their postal and communica-

tion systems.

The workshop was held in association with the joint World Customs Organisation (WCO) workshop and the UPU, with its main focus on addressing one of the key strategic projects of the UPU, which is operational readiness for e-commerce.

“We’re looking to assist designated operators to maintain, expand and strengthen their operational network. Of course, when looking at e-commerce, customs is very important to that process. It is important that both customs and postal work together and collab-

orate at all levels, both at the strategic and national levels,” she stated.

She noted that since the countries were in the process of collaborating at a strategic level, the coordinators were hoping that this could be replicated at the national level, within the 23 participating countries.

“We’re looking at an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) between customs and the post and how that can be implemented at the national level, because it’s already at the strategic level between the WCO and the UPU. We’re also going to be looking at data-

base exchange, advanced database exchange between customs and postal and also amount of post in the regions,” Pottprice explained.

Additionally, it was mentioned that the main emphasis will be placed on improving the working relationships between postal entities and customs, which will be addressed primarily in these consultations.

While this is the first workshop of its kind in Guyana, there have been similar consultations on data exchanging, projects to enhance working relationships, and e-commerce.

Alfro Alphonso and Sons Enterprises General Manager Eric Gomes handing over the engine to Pomeroon Farmers Association member Rudolph Garraway

T

he newly-formed Pomeroon Farmers’ Association was on Monday gifted a 15 horsepower Power Tec outboard engine from the Pomeroon Oil Mill Inc. Handing over the engine, Alfro Alphonso and Sons Enterprises General Manager Eric Gomes said that the company decided to assist the farmers in the Pomeroon River who could not afford to transport

their produce to market at Charity. Accepting the donation, association member Rudolph Garraway said that the group was very pleased with the gesture, as it was a timely one and would be used to assist farmers to transport their produce to market at Charity. He said that the Pomeroon farmers, especially those living in the canals, were very poor and the Association was formed to bring some relief to them.

Toshaos Council...

The NTC Chairman has called for Mae’s Schools to publicly apologise to the parents of the child and Indigenous people, for the manner in which their traditions were treated. He noted that all ethnicities should be treated with the same respect and importance.

“The National Toshaos Council is made up of Amerindian people and when is Heritage Month, we have our celebrations and we respect other races’ celebrations and they need to respect us.

“This is a little kid who went to school with his traditional wear and it offended people. They disrespected the kid and offended his parents. I believe the school and the principal should apologise publicly to the Indigenous peoples of Guyana.”

Last Friday, Mae’s Schools held their culture day activities. The child’s mother took to social media to voice her disapproval after her child was prohibited from entering the school after his Indigenous outfit was deemed as “too inappropriate”.

The disturbed mother related that the child was brought to tears and then expressed loathing for the costume, which he once admired. She explained that if the school was sceptical about the type of costume, then a guideline should have been disseminated to pro-

From page 9

vide information on what is acceptable. She added that to her distress the guard’s position was also supported by some of the teachers.

The post went viral with hundreds of persons lashing out at the school for its position. This publication reached out to the mother of the child on Monday, who indicated that no apology was issued to her or her son. She said that he went to school on Monday as per normal.

On Monday, when Guyana Times contracted Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton for a comment on the matter, he said he was not aware of the issue, but would get back to this publication.

One popular Amerindian rights activist called for the complete banning of culture day in schools if persons are not allowed to wear Indigenous outfits to depict Guyana’s diversity.

In several posts, the mother was urged to file a formal complaint to the Education Ministry and the Ethnic Relations Commission.

On Monday, the staff at the ERC said no one was available to comment on the matter.

When this newspaper reached out to the school on multiple occasions for a comment on the matter, it was told that no one was available to comment on the matter.

14 news

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Rose Hall street vendors calling on municipality to rethink vending policy

Vendors along Arch Way Rose Hall Town

T

he Rose Hall Town (RHT) Municipality has given street vendors until Wednesday to make their vending stalls mobile.

However, vendors operating along Arch Road in Rose Hall Town are calling on the municipality to rethink its vending policy, and are resisting a deadline given by the Town Council to comply. Rose Hall Town Mayor Vijay Kumar Ram has said that all those who do not comply by Thursday will have their stalls removed. The vendors have also been told they must redesign their stalls, or it will be removed.

On February 26 last, the Municipality issued notices to the vendors indicating that, at its statutory meeting, a decision was taken for the vendors who operate in the vicinity of the market and along Arch Road to use movable stalls. According to the notice, this is to prevent the vendors from leaving encumbrances on the Council’s Reserve after they would have concluded selling for the day. The notice informed that the vendors had one month to comply.

Another notice issued to the vendors invited them to attend a meeting on March 27 to discuss permanent

selling structures on the Council’s reserve.

At that meeting, the June 1 deadline was given to comply. On Monday, the vendors took their case to Regional Prime Ministerial Representative Gobin Harbhajan. However, Harbhajan did not meet with the delegation at his office, but went on site, where they were allowed to air their views.

One vendor, Leroy Punch, has deemed not feeble the council’s proposal to have moveable structures erected.

“I made a stall with wheels over seven years ago, and one morning I came and met it in the middle of the road, and one time I came and met it till down the road there. The only thing I can see is chaos, because when them men smoke their joint and drink their rum, you are going to find these stands all over the place, and we will have some serious problems,” Punch said.

Another vendor, Purshotum Ramkumar, complained that some of those who live in RHT will be able to take away their stalls after vending, but others will have nowhere to park theirs.

“Some of us might be fortunate because we might

have a relative (living in the town), or somewhere else where we can leave (our stalls) in the afternoon.

Most of the vendors are from out of the town. At the meeting, we were asking them what alternative they have for people who are willing to wheel the stall off, but need somewhere to place it, and they could not answer,” Ramkumar said.

Ramkumar said most of the vendors have had to fortify the road shoulder in order to erect their stalls, and since the Municipality collects a monthly fee from them, what might be a “win win situation” would be for the vendors to be allowed to install unique stalls.

Another vendor explained that she has been on the road shoulder vending for several years, and now her husband is jobless following the Rose Hall Estate’s closure.

She told this publication that threats by the Municipality cannot be taken lightly. “I don’t know what I am going to do. Is $6,000 a month they want from us; (which) we would have to pay, whether you sell or not.”

Meanwhile, Ratnama Singh related that she had been ill and away from the street for one month, and

upon her return, she was told that she would have to pay a revenue for the period, despite her absence.

“And they had somebody else selling on the spot all the time,” she said.

Harbhajan, in response, said there was not much he could do, but noted that he also discussed the issue with the Mayor.

However, Mayor Vijay Kumar Ram told the Guyana Times that there will be no compromise, and those who do not comply will not be allowed to vend. (Andrew Carmichael)

A section of the vendors meeting with Gobin Harbhajan

CT scanners to be operational at NA, Bartica hospitals by 3rd quarter

T

wo years after acquiring Computerised Tomography (CT) machines, the New Amsterdam and Bartica Regional Hospitals will finally be able to provide the much-needed service to residents.

Following budgetary allocations, modifications had to be made to the New Amsterdam Hospital to house this highly radioactive machine, while a new building was constructed at Bartica Regional Hospital.

Director of Health Services, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Jevaughn Stephen highlighted that the availability of this service in the Region was quite significant. This comes as the Health Department is working on reducing referral of critical cases to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

“From July 1, these services will be made available to the public, not only New Amsterdam but the entire East Berbice. We find that half of our transfers to GPHC are as a result of injuries to the head that cannot be diagnosed and treated here, because we did not have the CT scan machine. However, with the new machines, we will be reducing those trans-

The building under construction at Bartica to house the CT scanner

fers,” Stephen explained.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings recently conducted a supervisory visit to the Bartica Regional Hospital.

There, she received an update on the construction of the new building to facilitate the CT scan machine. Based on details provided by the regional officials, the new facility will be completed in another month.

“I saw the building where we are going to house the CT scan. It’s about 80 per cent complete. What’s left to be done is the installation of some doors and windows, a little tiling and electrical work,” Minister Cummings

is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.

Together, these machines, when functioning, will contribute to equal access health-care delivery, modernisation of health services in communities outside of Georgetown, and be economically beneficial to persons in and around Regions Six and Seven.

RAD-AID, in 2016, handed over the two CT scanners valued at approximately US$200,000, to the Public Health Ministry. The two machines are currently being stored at a central location in Georgetown until they can be dispatched to the two facilities.

New Baramita Toshao determined to improve lives of Carib people

B

aramita Village’s first female Toshao, Sharmain Rambajue, intends, over the next three years, to work assiduously to improve the livelihood of the Carib people of Region One (Barima/Waini).

Baramita is the largest Amerindian settlement in Guyana, and the biggest Carib Village in the Caribbean. It comprises 22 satellite villages and has a population of about 3,500 residents.

According to Toshao Rambajue, she contested the Village Council elections because it was her wish to “really help the Indigenous peoples in Baramita”.

“For so long, the ex-councils didn’t really pay attention to the Indigenous peoples here…I’ve seen their needs,

Toshao of Baramita, Sharmain Rambajue

and so that is why I came forward and got on board and campaigned,” she explained.

“Throughout my tenure as Toshao, I will work really hard for the Indigenous peoples, and develop my community to build a better Baramita,” she said in an interview with the Department

of Public Information.

In the area of youth development, the Toshao plans to establish a skills training centre. This has been deemed necessary, she added, since it will provide many Baramita youths with an opportunity to develop a trade skill.

Continued on page 15

15 Chief Justice orders AG to enforce Judicial Review Act news

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

…Williams to pay Nandlall $100,000 in costs

A

ttorney General, Basil Williams was on Monday ordered

by Chief Justice, Roxane George to enforce the Judicial Review Act (JRA)

by July 31, 2018.

In December 2017, Chief Justice George had granted an Order Rue Nisi of Mandamus, directing the AG to show cause why the said Order Nisi should not be made absolute.

After reviewing all the affidavits files by both sides and legal arguments, Chief Justice George on Monday made the Order Rule Nisi absolute and directed the Legal Affairs Minister to bring the Judicial Review Act into force.

The National Assembly passed the Bill and it was assent to by the then President Bharrat Jagdeo 2010. However, it was never operationalised.

Attorney-law Anil Nandlall, had moved to the court to have it addressed: 1) whether the Minister had discretion to bring into force the Judicial Review Act after the promulgation

of Civil Procedure Rules; 2) whether the Minister had a duty to issue the order to bring into force the JRA; 3) whether the Honourable Court can compel the Minister to fulfil his duty.

In addressing the first issue, the Chief Justice examined the relationship between the Judicial Review Act and the Civil Procedure Rules and noted that the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) expressly mention that the Judicial Review Act (JRA) contained the procedures by

which remedies can be accessed under the Act. The Chief Justice also took into consideration the Hansard, which evidenced the fact that the JRA was unanimously passed. Its importance was endorsed by both the Applicant and the Respondent in the House.

It was also recognised in the debates that the Act will come into force with the CPR. Having outlined the importance of the JRA the Honourable Court considered the time frame which would have been reasonable for the Minister to exercise any discretion he had. The Respondent had claimed that the Presidential Legislative Agenda did not take into consideration the enforcement of the JRA. The Court rejected this argument and concluded that the CPR was promulgated since 2010, and that the present Government was in power and that 3 years now and yet failed to bring the Act into force, notwithstanding, that the Respondent was called upon, in writing to do so, by

houses, without waiting for the entire construction of the 60 houses before we begin to give occupancy,” she said.

The Minister further noted that there was ongoing discussion with the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN), which is currently in the process of constructing a model home at Amelia’s Ward, at the cost of $3.5 million under its own initiative.

Minister Yearwood said since not everyone could qualify for the 60 houses, the discussion centred on possible collaboration in constructing the lower-cost homes for persons.

She noted that she recently visited the model home, along with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of the Board of LEN. “We met with the inward Investment Manager of LEN, the Chairman and the CEO of the LEN Board.

We started discussions and we’re going to follow-up in a week’s time...we are now going to engage LEN, because there are some per-

sons who cannot pre-qualify for the $5.1 million and the $6.1 million homes because of their income. So, that will be the group we’re going to target. But we have not completed any negotiations yet with LEN. We just started the discussion. But it’s more than likely that we’re going to engage LEN on that process,” the Minister said.

She added that the Ministry was concerned about all categories of persons in Linden and was committed to providing houses and house lots to the people of Region 10. She stressed, however, that there was currently the issue of squatting in the Amelia’s Ward housing area. In this regard, she said lands would be allocated to those whose homes fall within the boundaries of a house lot; however, for those whose homes fall within the boundaries of a road or straddles two house lots, they would have to make a decision. Minister Yearwood said there were ongoing engagements with such persons in terms of rectifying this situation.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

CH&PA set to build 60 homes in Linden

T

he construction of some 60 houses at Amelia’s Ward, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice)

by Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), targeting low-income families is expected to commence within a month.

Contractors were allowed to bid for the contract in Linden about a week ago and according to Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valerie Yearwood, the project is currently at the tendering stage. Minister Yearwood said 30 flat houses at a cost of $5.1 million and 30 houses on stilts at a cost of $6.1 million would be built.

According to the Minister, 128 persons applied for the homes and 60 were pre-qualified by the bank. However, she noted that persons are yet to be shortlisted and this process would be done prior to construction.

“Because the bank is asking for us to send those persons in, for them to start processing them...The project is at the tendering stage.

The contractors uplifted their bid documents...and the tenders will be opened on the 30th of this month (May). In three weeks’ time after that, we’ll commence construction. The roads are already in place and we’re just ready to go,” Minister Yearwood noted.

She added that the homes would be completed in batches and persons would be allowed to occupy them.

“As we complete one batch, we’ll allocate the

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George

both the Applicant and the Guyana Bar Association.

The Court accepted the applicant’s submission that when the CPR came into force, the discretion which the AG’s had to bring the Act

into force was transformed into an obligatory duty and the Respondent failed to discharge this duty.

The Chief Justice also considered the AG’s submission that the Court would be breaching the separation of powers doctrine if it were to mingle in the affairs of the legislative and executive.

The Court made it clear that the JRA had been assented to already which meant it had passed the stage of the legislative arm. Further, that in a situation where the Minister failed to perform his duty, the Court is empowered to compel the said Minister to perform his duty.

The Court cited a number of legal authorities to support the conclusions

Attorney General Basil Williams

reached. The Court Ordered the Williams to pay to the applicant $100,000 in cost.

The applicant was represented by Manoj Narayan and Rajendra Ramkisson Jaigobin.

Trotman boasts of Guyana’s low deforestation rate

…as GFC launches new law enforcement project

N

atural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman on Monday boasted of Guyana’s low rates of deforestation as the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) launched a new project at its Kingston, Georgetown office, which aims to strengthen forest legality and improve the livelihoods of forest communities among others.

The Minister, while highlighting the Forestry Commission’s mandate to sustain the forest, said Guyana has documented one of the lowest rates of deforestation in the world.

“The Guyana Forestry Commission has a national mandate to promote sustainable forest management in Guyana, in keeping with its national laws and international standards and agreements, and has been successful in the past in this regard and this is evident in Guyana’s rate of deforestation still being one of the lowest in any other part of the world. In the year 2016, this rate was verified by international auditors at a mere 0.05 per cent,” the Minister boasted.

“Guyana has long been

recognised internationally as a country that practises SFM [Sustainable Forest Management] at the concession management unit lesson. We are also considered to be a global leader in the fight against climate change and our monitor, reporting and verification system is second to none…despite these advances, we remain committed to reviewing and revising our legislative and policy framework when necessary to ensure that the necessary sector operate at the best governance framework,” he added.

Trotman further encouraged the beneficiaries of the new programme to make use of the opportunity to gain knowledge, to improve the quality of community operation which will benefit all Guyanese.

The new project was launched under the Food and Agriculture OrganisationEuropean Union Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FAO-EU FLEGT) Programmes.

It seeks to build the capacities of the community forestry groups, to strengthen compliance with regulations on

taxes, social security, and labour laws over an 18-month period.

Twenty-five community forestry organisations are expected to be part of the US$54,500 project.

GFC Board of Directors Chairperson Jocelyn Dow encouraged the representatives from the community forestry organisations to continue complying with the regulations and reminded them of their roles to the forest.

Meanwhile, Programme Officer of FLEGT and European Union Delegate, Federico Esteban Suarez said, “The European Union, FAO and Guyana share the view that climate change is a real threat for our dear planet, at large, and in the Caribbean and in Guyana in particular.

Sustaining the forestry has to play a major role as part of the solution for both climate change, mitigation and adaptation”.

The launch also saw representatives from various forestry regions, as well as persons from the Labour Department, Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

New Baramita Toshao...

This venture will also meet the need for skilled personnel in the community.

“So, instead of bringing mechanics from Georgetown, we will have them right here,” Rambajue explained.

The main economic activity of Baramita is mining and traditional ground provision farming. Toshao Rambajue aims to encourage more subsistence farming, and will be partnering with agencies, including the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), to provide technical and other support.

She said, “We have the miners in the area and also the school kitchen. However, we have to send for greens (vegeta-

bles) and meat all the way from Georgetown. Therefore, if we have persons within the community supplying the miners and the school, again, the monies will be circulated right here, and it will also provide employment.”

Baramita, the Toshao said, is challenged by many social ills, including alcohol consumption, suicide, sexual and domestic violence, therefore she will also partner with other agencies and NGOs to tackle these issues. Rambajue explained that her ultimate goal is to eradicate the stigma associated with Baramita. She is in the process of crafting a three-year plan.

She also plans to reintroduce the toll gate system to monitor the amount of alcohol

From page 14

entering the community. This will also be a source of income for the village.

Members of the new council are currently acquainting themselves with the assets of the village and meeting with business persons in the area.

Meetings will also be held with the miners, after which a general village engagement will be held.

Sharmain Rambajue was elected village captain from a field of four candidates, comprising another woman and two men. Fourteen councillors have also been elected to support Rambajue and to serve the 22 satellite communities.

Rambajue campaigned under the theme, ‘A Fresh Face, A Fresh Start – Development for all of Baramita.’

16

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018

Regional

Venezuela to be hit with Colombia heads for divisive runoff with new EU sanctions peace deal at stake T C

he European Union (EU) is calling for "fresh presidential elections" in Venezuela as it prepares to impose more targeted sanctions against officials in the South American country.

Nicolás Maduro was re-elected as Venezuela's President on May 20 in an election marred by low turnout, a boycott by the main Opposition, and allegations from rival candidates of several voting irregularities.

At a regular meeting in Brussels on Monday, the EU's Foreign Ministers said in a statement that the vote "lacked any credibility as the electoral process did not ensure the necessary guarantees for inclusive

and democratic elections.

"The EU will act swiftly, according to established procedures, with the aim of imposing additional targeted and reversible restrictive measures, that do not harm the Venezuelan population, whose plight the EU wishes to alleviate," it added.

The sanctions are expected to be formally adopted at a meeting on June 25 in Luxembourg, according to reports.

On Friday, EU diplomats told Reuters news agency that the bloc was considering imposing sanctions on 11 officials.

In January 2018, the EU introduced a travel ban and an asset freeze on seven

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro speaks to supporters after the release of the May 20 election results [Carlos Garcia/Reuters]

Venezuelan individuals and in November, it imposed an arms embargo.

According to official results, Maduro secured a second sixyear term after obtaining 5.8 million votes, while his main

opponent, Henri Falcon, garnered a total of 1.8 million.

Turnout in the election, which came against the backdrop of a political and financial crisis, stood at 46.01 per cent.

country Sunday evening, during the swearing-in of the new Cabinet under the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Administration, just three days after the historic election win.

Governor General, Dame Sandra Mason, administered the Oath of Office to

the 24 Ministers and two Parliamentary Secretaries in a public ceremony at the Bay Street Esplanade, which also saw in attendance Prime Minister of Grenada Dr Keith Mitchell; Prime Minister of St Lucia, Allen Chastanet; Prime Minister of St Vincent and

the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves; and Deputy Prime Minister of St Kitts, Shawn Richards.

According to Mottley, the composition of the Cabinet reflects a careful balance between experience and youth. (Excerpt from

vised address.

It was not clear if striking drivers would accept his offer.

Diesel prices in Brazil have nearly doubled since 2016.

Many people have queued for hours to fill bottles and other containers with fuel.

The strike has brought much of Brazil to a standstill, with queues at petrol stations, airports running out of fuel, and supermarket shelves empty.

On Sunday, security forces escorted fuel tankers to petrol stations and airports in at least eight states.

Last week, unions told drivers to clear the roads af-

ter President Temer threatened to send in the army.

However, many drivers re-

fused to leave their blockades until diesel prices came down. (Excerpt from BBC News)

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

New Barbados Cabinet sworn in

T

he Government of Barbados has pledged to uphold the highest standards of accountability, transparency, fairness, discipline and unity.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley, QC, gave this assurance to the people of the

olombia headed for its most divisive presidential race in decades after right-winger Ivan Duque won Sunday’s first-round vote, triggering a runoff with leftist Gustavo Petro that could upset a historic peace deal or see a reversal in business-friendly policies.

It is the first time in Colombia’s modern history that an openly leftist candidate has reached the second round of a presidential vote, a prospect that has unnerved some investors in Latin America’s fourth largest economy.

Duque, a 41-yearold former official of the Washington-based InterAmerican Development Bank, was the convincing winner of Sunday’s ballot with 39 per cent of votes, ahead of Petro, an outspoken ex-Mayor of Bogota, with 25 per cent, broadly in line with polls.

However, Duque’s pledge

to overhaul the 2016 peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) by scrapping immunity for those convicted of crimes has alarmed many Colombians, weary after five decades of conflict that killed more than 200,000 people and left seven million others displaced.

Though outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos won the Nobel Peace Prize for forging the accord, it has deeply divided the nation of around 50 million people. The deal was narrowly rejected in a referendum before Congress finally approved a modified version.

Petro, himself a former member of the now defunct M-19 rebel group, has backed the peace agreement, along with the three other losing candidates, meaning Duque may need to moderate his position to attract wavering voters in the June 17 second round. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

Nicaragua protests Brazil fuel protests: Temer cuts diesel erode pillars of price in bid to end strike support for Ortega

B

razilian President Michel Temer has lowered the price of diesel in a bid to end a truckers' strike that has crippled the country for almost a week.

Temer said the price would be cut by 46 Brazilian cents (US$0.13) per litre.

He said the new price would be maintained for 60 days and adjusted monthly thereafter.

Striking truckers have blockaded main roads across the country and defied Temer's threats to send the army in.

"We have done our part to ease the problems and suffering," Temer said in a tele-

Haiti searching for missing Mayor

T

he Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities (MICT) Monday expressed concern over the disappearance of the Mayor of the Commune of Estère, Senèque Estimable, who was last seen walking towards the capital five days ago.

In a statement, the Ministry said it is urging citizens to remain calm, especially the residents of Estère, a commune in the Gonaïves Arrondissement, in the Artibonite department of Haiti, who had ransacked public buildings “in reaction to this previously unexplained disappearance” of the Mayor.

The Ministry said that Estimable was last seen on May 23 walking in the direction of the capital.

“Since then, the family, relatives and sympathisers of the City Councillor have no news” regarding the Mayor, the Ministry said, noting that the authorities have already launched an investigation into the matter. It said that a team from the MICT has also visited Estère.

“The Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities invites all persons with information likely to help shed light on this issue, to inform local authorities as soon as possible.” (CMC)

Barbados Advocate)

Cuba to amend Constitution to extend economic reforms

C

uba will seek to amend its Constitution to further open up the economy, but without modifying the "irrevocable character of socialism", authorities there said Monday.

Former President Raul Castro, who stepped down last month, introduced reforms in 2011 to open the top-heavy, centralised economy to small private businesses and foreign investment.

The changes resulted in a burst of activity in the first years, as Cubans opened restaurants and other small service-oriented businesses.

But the changes did not unleash the hoped-for economic takeoff.

A special commission will be formed during an extraordinary session of Parliament on Saturday to present the constitutional changes, which deputies will discuss before putting them to a referendum.

The details of the proposed changes were not revealed, but they are expected to continue the reforms launched by Raul Castro, who transformed the Cuba

A demonstrator takes part in a protest march against Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's Government in Managua, Nicaragua, May 26, 2018

A President Miguel Diaz-Canel

he inherited from brother Fidel in 2006.

The changes will also provide a legal underpinning for those already made.

When Raul Castro handed over the presidency on April 19 to Miguel DiazCanel, a 58-year-old civilian, he underlined that his reforms "are not intended to modify the irrevocable character of socialism" in Cuba.

Castro is slated to remain as Secretary General of the island's Communist Party until 2021. (Excerpt from AFP)

thuggish response to weeks of protests has eroded carefully constructed pillars of support in the Church, military, and business world for Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, emboldening calls for the ouster of the former Marxist guerrilla who has dominated politics for decades.

More than a month after changes to the Central American nation’s social security system triggered student-led protests, indignation at a brutal crackdown in which at least 77 people have been killed and over 800 wounded has morphed into a daily challenge to Ortega’s rule.

Protesters demand he step down, while regional diplomatic body the Organisation of American States said last week he should hold early elections.

He has as yet shown no sign of heeding that call, which

could end one of the longest standing leftist governments in Latin America, a staunch ally for socialist Venezuela.

It will not be easy for the loose alliance of students, farmers, politicians, and academics to dislodge Ortega, 72, who was re-elected in 2016 with nearly three-quarter of the votes after limiting Opposition participation.

But the Sandinista leader, whose office acknowledged a request for comment on this story but provided no immediate response, looks more isolated and fragile than at any other time in his current 11-year tenure as President.

Support from the Catholic Church and the Private Sector is wavering. There is visible discomfort in the military, a solidly Sandinista organisation constructed by Ortega’s brother from the original rebel army that overthrew a US-backed dictator in the 1970s. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

France hails Malian hero who saved toddler from Paris balcony

Mamoudou Gassama was filmed by crowds on the ground as he quickly climbed up four balconies to reach the toddler in distress

A

Malian man in France has been hailed a hero and granted French citizenship after he scaled an apartment building to rescue a child dan-

gling off a balcony.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Mamoudou Gassama, an undocumented migrant, would become

China Mao impersonator at blockchain conference causes furore

A

publicity stunt at a conference about blockchain technology in China, which saw an actor impersonate Mao Zedong, has sparked uproar on social media.

Xu Guoxiang imitated Mao – by wearing a grey suit and speaking in his Hunan accent – at the Boao Blockchain Forum for Asia in Hainan Province.

China's law prohibits using the names and images of party leaders for commercial purposes.

The event's organisers were forced to apologise for the stunt.

The Boao Forum for Asia has issued a statement saying it is not affiliated with the Boao Blockchain Forum for Asia.

At the conference, Xu said: "I sincerely hope this forum is a success. I thank you in the name of Mao

Zedong!"

He delivered a speech with "actor characteristics and personal opinion", according to China's Global Times news website.

Blockchain is a technology that underpins digital currencies and was the focus of the conference.

Chinese state radio said Xu was a "little-known actor".

The reaction on social media has been critical of the stunt, as Mao Zedong is still venerated by many in the country as the founder of modern China.

Some who commented on Chinese social media platform, WeChat, said they feared Xu's performance could hurt the future of blockchain in China.

One user denounced the impersonation as "shameless" and "sensationalist".

a "naturalised French" national and join the fire service, the AFP news agency reported on Monday.

Gassama was filmed by crowds on the ground as he quickly climbed up four balconies to reach the toddler in distress.

A couple in the neighbouring apartment, located in Paris' 18th Arrondissement, were trying to reach the child but were unable to lift the boy over to their side safely.

When Gassama reached the child and pulled him to safety, the crowds gathered below broke out into rapturous applause.

He later told French

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with Gassama at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris [Thibault Camus/AFP]

media he loved children and "wouldn't have wanted something to happen to him".

"I managed to get up to

I

talian President Sergio Mattarella has asked an ex-International Monetary Fund (IMF) economist to form a government as the country faces fresh political turmoil.

Carlo Cottarelli became known as "Mr Scissors" for his cuts to public spending in Italy.

His appointment came after efforts by Italy's two populist parties to form a coalition government collapsed.

But the move is a temporary measure and the PMin-waiting says he will hold new elections by early next year.

The prospect of elections as early as September hit European financial markets on Monday with analysts suggesting the move might

Stop-gap PM Carlo Cottarelli met President Sergio Mattarella on Monday morning

simply delay a future populist government that wants to renegotiate key eurozone debt agreements.

Italy, the European Union's fourth-biggest economy, has been without a government since elections

in March because no political group can form a majority.

Two of the big winners from the vote – Five Star and the League – attempted to join forces but abandoned efforts after the President ve-

toed their choice of Finance Minister.

Mattarella said he could not appoint the eurosceptic Paolo Savona to the post, citing concern from investors at home and abroad.

The rare move by the President sparked fury from both parties, who say they will reject Cottarelli's nomination in Parliament.

After the President blocked Savona's appointment, Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio called on Parliament to impeach the President.

"Why don't we just say that in this country it's pointless that we vote, as the ratings agencies, financial lobbies decide the Governments?" he asked in a video on Facebook. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

South Korea calls for more impromptu talks with North Korea as US prepares for summit outh Korea’s President Moon Jae-in said on Monday there could be more impromptu talks and summits with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, as US officials prepare for a historic meeting between President Donald Trump and Kim. Moon and Kim Jong Un held a surprise meeting on Saturday at the border village of Panmunjom, during which they agreed that a North Korea-US summit must be held.

“What’s more important than anything from the lat-

H

er story was one that galvanised a movement; her face became a symbol of that movement.

Savita Halappanavar died from infection after miscarrying her first child in an Irish hospital in October 2012.

Her family said she pleaded for a termination during the miscarriage, but medical staff refused her requests, because there was still a foetal heartbeat.

Mrs Halappanavar's death caused international controversy and sparked a campaign to have Ireland's abortion law liberalised.

Her parents have now said she will "rest in peace" after Irish voters backed a referendum to overturn the country's ban on abortion.

The death of the 31-yearold dentist, who was originally from India, became

Jazeera)

Italy’s President names stop-gap PM

Savita Halappanavar's parents S hail Irish abortion vote (Excerpt from BBC News)

the balcony above. I went up like that. And thank God, I saved him," Gassama said.

According to his brother, Gassama did not have the

necessary papers to take up residency in France and had been living in temporary accommodations.

Before Macron's announcement, officials hinted that the situation could change.

A government spokesperson said the country should "open the doors of our national community", and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo added the city was eager to support efforts to settle him in France.

Gassama's efforts have turned him into a phenomenon on social media, where he has been described as "the Spiderman". (Excerpt from Al

est inter-Korean summit was that the leaders easily got in contact, easily made an appointment and easily met to discuss urgent matters, without complicated procedures and formalities, just like a casual meeting,” Moon told a meeting with senior secretaries.

Trump last week pulled out of the meeting with Kim, planned for June 12 in Singapore, before announcing he had reconsidered and American and North Korean officials were meeting to work out details.

On Sunday, the US State Department said US and North Korean officials had met at Panmunjom, a village in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that runs along the heavily armed border between North and South Korea.

Asian stocks and US share futures gained on Monday, while shares in South Korean construction and railway firms surged after Trump said his officials and North Korea have resumed talks to prepare for the summit in June. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Coca-Cola launches 1st alcoholic drink Savita Halappanavar died after a miscarriage in a Galway hospital in October 2012

a catalyst for groundbreaking social change in Ireland.

Mrs Halappanavar was 17 weeks pregnant with her first child when she was admitted to University Hospital in Galway.

Now, almost six years on from her unexpected death, voters have agreed

to remove the Republic of Ireland's constitutional ban on abortion and there have been calls to name the new legislation Savita's Law. At her home in Belgaum, southwest India, Savita's mother described the referendum result as a "victory" on behalf of her late daughter. (Excerpt from BBC News)

C

oca-Cola has launched its first alcoholic drink, a lemon flavoured alcopop, in Japan in a bid to tap new markets and consumers.

In a global first for the US drinks giant, three fizzy lemon drinks went on sale on Monday.

The product aims at a growing market of young drinkers – especially women.

Described by Coca-Cola

as "unique" in the company's 125-year history, the three drinks range from three per cent to eight per cent alcohol.

In keeping with the company's tradition, the recipe is closely guarded but the drinks are modelled on the country's popular Chu-Hi drinks, usually a mix of local spirit and a range of fruit flavours.

Chu-Hi – an abbreviation for shochu highball –

has been marketed as an alternative to beer, proving especially popular with female drinkers.

Local companies like Suntory, Asahi and Kirin currently dominate the sector for canned Chu-Hi drinks.

The most popular flavours are strong citrus ones such as grapefruit or lemon, the latter one being the taste Coca Cola now wants a share of. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, May 29, 2018

ARCHIE

Give a little, take a little, but most of all show intelli(March 21- gence and innovation when it April 19) comes to how you handle your personal finances, contracts and medical issues.

ARIES

You’ll be erratic or will have TAURUS to deal with people who are.

(April 20- Slow down and go over every May 20) detail before you bring about change. Understand the ramifications that a mistake will have on your life.

dilbert

Consider what’s possible, GEMINI (May 21- and put more time and energy June 20) into what promises to bring you the most satisfaction and highest returns. Take better care of your health and personal finances.

If you show greater interest in your relationships, you (June 21- will be offered information July 22) that will encourage positive change. Opportunity is within reach if you are willing to take a chance.

CANCER

Peanuts

Be brave, but don’t take LEO on the impossible. Use com(July 23- mon sense and integrity to Aug. 22) find your way forward. Use what you have instead of trying out something you know little about.

Calvin and Hobbes

Take a step back from perVIRGO sonal dilemmas, and instead (Aug. 23- focus on learning, networking Sept. 22) and making personal, physical or health improvements. Refuse to let emotional situations deter you from getting things done.

Travel plans, business LIBRA (Sept. 23- meetings and discussing the Oct. 23) changes you’d like to make are encouraged. Take care of matters regarding siblings, a close friend or in-law.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — STAMMER

Put your thoughts out SAGITTARIUS there and find out what (Nov. 23others have to contribute.

Dec. 21) Consider the responses you get and weed out anyone you find noncommittal or reluctant to share.

(STAMMER: STAM-er: To speak with involuntary pauses and repetitions.)

Average mark 29 words Time limit 40 minutes Can you find 36 or more words in STAMMER? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — WELCOMES

else lees lose cleome clew close

cole come cowl meow mewl mole

scow scowl seem slew sloe slow

smew socle sole some

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

Slow down and do things SCORPIO properly.

Pay close attention (Oct. 24to detail and put your own Nov. 22) personal touch on anything you do. Your efforts will result in greater recognition and interesting offers.

solution

Don’t limit what you can CAPRICORN do just because someone is (Dec. 22- causing problems. Deal with Jan. 19) personal matters, make adjustments and get back to focusing on getting ahead financially. Make plans with someone special.

Channel your energy AQUARIUS into home improvements.

(Jan. 20- Keeping the peace and makFeb. 19) ing your daily routine run smoothly will also help you in the workplace. Physical fitness is encouraged.

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Don’t fall into a trap that someone sets using emotional tactics. Read between the lines and justify your actions by the facts you discover, not by assumptions someone else wants you to believe.

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018

Keaton Jennings replaces Stoneman for 2nd Test

L

ancashire opener Keaton Jennings has replaced Mark Stoneman in England’s squad for the second Test against Pakistan at Headingley on Friday.

Surrey batsman Stoneman scored 13 runs in two innings as England lost the first Test at Lord’s by nine wickets.

Jennings, 25, returns for

the first time since August, when he played in the series victory over South Africa.

He is averaging 43.79 in the County Championship this season, with two centuries in his 314 runs.

The left-hander also scored a hundred in Lancashire’s One-Day Cup loss to Nottinghamshire earlier this month.

“Keaton Jennings

showed a strong temperament in scoring a hundred on his Test match debut against India in December 2016,” said national selector Ed Smith.

“Keaton has found good form in county cricket this season, including three centuries in his past seven innings.

“Mark Stoneman misses out at Headingley. Mark has

experienced a disappointing start to the 2018 season and had a difficult Test match at Lord’s.”

England squad for second Test

Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (capt), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Dom Bess.

The squad is Smith’s second since replacing James Whitaker as national selector in April.

England recalled batsman Jos Buttler and called up uncapped off-spinner Dom Bess for the first Test.

The pair helped England avoid an innings defeat after coming together to share an unbroken stand of 125 when the hosts still needed 69 to

19

Keaton Jennings

make Pakistan bat again at the end of the third day.

However, any hopes of an unlikely victory ended at the start of day four as England lost four wickets for six runs.

Pakistan comfortably chased down the 64 runs required for victory, with the fourth day lasting just 90 minutes despite James Anderson bowling Azhar Ali in the third over. (ESPNcricinfo)

Giro d’Italia win’s validity

should not be questioned

Real Madrid OVERTAKEN by Barcelona as Europe’s TOP CLUB

R

eal Madrid might have won a 13th European Cup but they have been overtaken by rivals and La Liga victors Barcelona as the continent’s top club, according to new data.

In a Euro Club Index compiled by sports data company Gracenote, Liverpool - who were beaten by Real in Saturday’s Champions League final - move up eight places to 11th.

Premier League champions Manchester City are England’s highest ranked side at number three, with Tottenham in ninth and Manchester United 10th.

The rankings are produced from results over the past four seasons, but the most recent campaign carries a weight of about twothirds.

Chelsea dropped five places to 12 after the defence of their Premier League title ended with them finishing fifth, although they did win the FA Cup. Arsenal were sixth in the Premier League and dropped from 11th to 15th sandwiched between Sevilla and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Huddersfield Town were the biggest movers after achieving top-flight safety as they moved up from 232nd to 171st, while Burnley, who will be playing in next sea-

son’s Europa League after finishing seventh, rose from 116th to 68th.

The biggest decline came from Stoke City as their relegation to the Championship saw them go from 83rd to 115th.

How does it work?

Teams collect or lose points depending on the result of each match, both domestically - including cup competitions - and in Europe, but the amount of points depends on the gulf between the two sides.

For example, a home Chelsea win against Sunderland is worth very few points, in contrast to a Crystal Palace win at Stamford Bridge.

There is an extra bonus for an entire league if one of its clubs performs well in Europe.

The top 100 of Gracenote’s Euro Club Index contains clubs from 20 different countries.

“La Liga and the Bundesliga still have more clubs in the top 100 than the Premier League,” said head of analysis at Gracenote Simon Gleave.

“But an analysis of the best 18 clubs in each league reveals that the Premier League has overtaken the Bundesliga in terms of the

average quality of those 18 clubs.

“La Liga is still the strongest with an average Euro Club Index rating of 2,906 for its clubs (down from 2,925 last season) but the Premier League is now second (2,807 up from 2,770) with the Bundesliga third (2,695 down from 2,798).

“With such a drop in quality within the Bundesliga, Serie A may be able to overtake the German competition next season.”

Barcelona won La Liga by 14 points, as well as the Copa del Rey, this season, while Real were third in the league - 17 points behind their great rivals - although they claimed a third Champions League in succession.

The two clubs have dominated the Spanish top-flight along with Atletico Madrid but it seems the gap between them and the rest could be narrowing.

“La Liga’s quality remains high, despite a drop in Euro Club Index ratings for all of the competition’s best four clubs - FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla,” added Gleave.

“This indicates that the general standard of the next best 14 clubs has risen which can only be good for the league.” (BBC Sport)

C

Chris Froome defeated 2017 champion Tom Dumoulin by 46 seconds to win a maiden Giro d’Italia title

hris Froome says there should be “no question at all” about the validity of his Giro d’Italia success.

Team Sky’s Froome wrapped up his maiden Giro victory on Sunday to become only the third man to hold all three of cycling’s Grand Tours simultaneously.

The 33-year-old Briton is involved in an ongoing anti-doping case after giving an adverse result in a test at last year’s Vuelta a Espana.

But he told the BBC he was tested “every day” of the three-week Giro.

Four-time Tour de France champion Froome has asthma and received permission from cycling chiefs to use legal asthma drug salbutamol at the Vuelta, which he won to become the third man to claim the Tour and the Vuelta in the same year.

However,

he was found to have double the allowed level of the drug in his urine.

With cycling’s governing body, the UCI, still investigating and Froome denying any wrongdoing, he competed at the Giro and is the first British man to win the race in its 101-year history.

“There should be no question at all about the validity of the results here,” Froome told BBC Radio 5 live on Monday.

“I am being tested absolutely every day - before the race and after the race.

“I know from my side, I’ve done absolutely nothing wrong and it’s only a matter of time until that is clear to everybody.

“It’s unfortunate for the sport and its image, but hopefully we’ll get this result as soon as possible. For

everyone, that would be the best thing possible. We’re in the middle of that process right now.”

Froome is the seventh man to complete a Grand Tour hat-trick, after adding Italian success to his 2017 Vuelta and four Tour de France wins.

In addition, he joins Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault as the only riders to have held cycling’s three most prestigious stage races at the same time.

But he says the Giro was the toughest yet, having skidded out on a reconnaissance lap during the curtain-raising time trial stage in Jerusalem - before another crash on stage eight.

“It’s so much more unpredictable,” Froome said.

“It’s a lot more explosive and, with the risk involved in terms of crashing and missing the right move at the right moment, I think this is the most tricky of the three Grand Tours that we have on our calendar.

“This was the hardest victory for me.” (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018

Suspension threat hangs over Pakistan Captain Sarfraz Ahmed held onto a blinder to remove Dawid Malan

P

akistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed will have the threat of Test suspension hanging over him after the team were penalised for a slow over-rate during their Lord’s victory over England.

They were judged to be three overs short of their requirement at the end of

the Test once various allowances were taken into consideration by ICC match referee Jeff Crowe Players are fined 10% of their match fee for every over short while the captain suffers double which means Sarfraz was fined 60% of his fee and the rest of the team 30%. Sarfraz

pleaded guilty and there was no need for a hearing.

If Pakistan commit another minor over-rate offence in the next 12 months with Sarfraz as captain he will be suspended for a match.

The second Test begins at Headingley on Friday. (ESPNcricinfo)

Real Madrid forward will not join former club Tottenham R

eal Madrid forward Gareth Bale will not return to Tottenham this summer.

Bale’s future in Spain is in doubt after he said he needed to play more often following Saturday’s Champions League final win over Liverpool.

Tottenham had a buy-back clause inserted into the Wales international’s contract when he left to join Real for £85m in 2013.

It offered Spurs the opportunity to match any accepted bid from a Premier League club for Bale, 28.

However, the forward has a contract with the Spanish giants until 2022 and is thought to earn more than £400,000 a week after tax.

It means his likely transfer fee and wages would make a

Tottenham bid unrealistic.

Bale will make any decision on his future in conjunction with his advisers.

In the short term, they intend to wait until the dust has settled on his man-of-the-match performance in Kiev before deciding their next course of action.

I need to be playing every week – Bale

It is not completely out of the

question he might stay at the Bernabeu but, after winning the Champions League on four occasions with Real, the player is not

willing to accept a bitpart role in Zinedine Zidane’s squad.

Although the clamour for Bale should he decide to leave Spain would be huge, very few clubs could match his present financial demands.

Manchester United have been linked with the 28-yearold frequently over the past few years but invested heavily in Alexis Sanchez in January, after which manager Jose Mourinho said he would be concentrating on strengthening in other positions during the summer transfer window.

Manchester City appear to be more interested in renewing their interest in Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez, whilst Chelsea’s uncertain managerial situation makes a move to Stamford Bridge more complicated in the short term.

Away from England, Paris St-Germain have the finances, and Bayern Munich and Juventus have the pulling power, to be viewed as potential destinations. (BBC Sport)

Djokovic beats qualifier Rogerio Dutra Silva

N

ovak Djokovic made the second round of the French Open after beating Brazilian qualifier Rogerio Dutra Silva.

The former world number one, seeded 20th at Roland Garros, went 2-0 down at the start of the first two sets but recovered to come through 6-3 6-4 6-4.

The injury-hit Serb, 31, has not won a Grand Slam title since his victory in Paris in 2016.

Meanwhile Stan Wawrinka, another former champion who has struggled with injury, lost his opener.

The Swiss 23rd seed, who overcame Djokovic in the French Open final in 2015, was beaten 6-2 3-6 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 by Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

Elsewhere, Austrian seventh seed Dominic Thiem overcame Ilya Ivashka of Belarus 6-2 6-4 6-1.

Thiem will now face Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, ranked 3 9 t h , w h i l e Djokovic takes on Spain’s J u a m e Munar, the world number 155.

Djokovic, now ranked 12th, said before the tournament that his confidence had been knocked after suffering a recurring elbow problem, which required surgery in January.

He returned to training in March and fell to successive first-round defeats at Indian Wells and the Miami Open.

But the 12-time Grand Slam champion reached the semi-finals of the Italian Open earlier this month and looked fairly comfortable against Dutra Silva, the world number 134.

The Brazilian got off to the best possible start by breaking his opponent in the opening game, before Djokovic got into his stride.

Dutra Silva had his opponent rattled in the third set after they exchanged breaks, and Djokovic slammed a loose ball against the advertising boards in anger before a p o l -

Novak Djokovic

ogising to the crowd for his reaction.

In the end, the Serb brought up three match points and served it out at the second attempt. (BBCSport)

Neymar rubbishes Real Madrid RUMOURS – ready to play for Brazil

B

razil and Paris Saint Germain (PSG) star striker Neymar has rubbished rumours linking him to Spanish giants Real Madrid, also revealing that he is not fully fit after training for a week with Brazil in their World Cup preparations.

“My focus is Brazil, people are talking nonsense and that is not worth answering,” Neymar was quoted as saying by espnfc at Brazil’s football confederation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

Neymar has been consistently linked with a move to the Bernabeu this summer.

On his recovery from a foot injury suffered in February, the former Brazil captain added: “Physically I am well, my foot is fine. I am adapting to a few things. I still feel some discomfort, but it is not something that will trouble me,” the 26-year-old said.

Asked how well he was feeling now, Neymar said: “Not 100 percent yet. But that comes with time. It is normal that I have this fear of making complete movements. Let’s take it easy, there are still many days until the (World Cup) opener and I will be 100 percent then.”

Brazil will take on Croatia in a friendly on June 3, and Neymar -- who has not played a match since the injury -- hopes to be on the pitch again for that game in Liverpool.

“I am ready to play, there is nothing that can stop me,” he said. “What I feel today is this fear because I am coming back now.” (Hindustan Times)

sports

CLASSIFIED ADS

Hardik Pandya out of World XI T20

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018 www.guyanatimesgy.com

ACCOMMODATIONS ARACARI HOTEL(VREED-ENHOOP, WEST BANK DEMERARA): FULLY FURNISHED WITH A/C AND HOT WATER. RESTAURANT, BAR, SWIMMING POOL, GYM. SECURE ENVIRONMENT WITH PRIVATE PARKING. CARNIVAL RATES FROM $5,700. FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 592-264-2946/8

I

COSMETOLOGY – FULL COURSE $100,000. TECHNICIAN $40,000.

Aracari Salon & Spa, WBD 264-3312, 600-3927

ndia allrounder Hardik Pandya has pulled out of the Hurricane Relief T20 between West Indies and a World XI at Lord’s on Thursday because of a viral illness, with Mohammed Shami taking his place. Adil Rashid, the England legspinner, has also been added to the squad.

Rashid brings the number of players the World XI can pick from up to 12, with four legspinners included - Rashid Khan and Shahid Afridi were among the 11 named

Conferences & Retreats – Full Service: Hotel, Catering & Facilities. Aracari Resort WBD – 264-2946 Alex Wayne Weddings & Anniversaries: Rental or Full Service: Banquet Hall & Catering.

Aracari Resort WBD – 264-2946 Alex Wayne Aracari Hotel, WBD (Near Harbor Bridge) – All Modern Amenities – Rates from $25. Phone 264-2946-8

EDUCATION Electronic Course Beginning 1st June.

Practical’s. Learn to repair all major electronic appliances including flat screen TVs. Earn extra cash in our spare time. Boost your income. Abdul Electronics. Tel: 225-0391/226-6551 Jean offers courses in Dressmaking, curtains, floral, cake decorations. 6702653, 638-8499

LAND for sale One transport land for sale 100x50ft at Hope Town village West Coast Berbice Price 1.2M Contact # 680-1009

property for sale PRIME LOCATION-PUBLIC ROAD, LOT 2 SARAH JOHANNA, EAST BANK DEMERARA. SIZE: 35*101 FT PRICE $6M NEGOTIABLE. TEL: 673-9231, 216-4063, 685-5476 LOT 38 BELLA DAM, WEST BANK DEMERARA, SIZE: 120*40 FT PRICE $4.5M NEGOTIABLE. TEL: 673-9231, 216-4063, 685-5476 Lot 15 Public Road, #2 Village, West Coast Berbice. 49ft x 10,314ft Length. $18M. Contact: 648-7109 or 686-4818

spirituality & ASTROLOGY Spiritual healing: remove blockages, voodoo, excurse, black magic, spell, business, upliftment, pregnancy, love & marriage problems, clearance, etc.

Contact: 694-9569 or 683-5228 Sri Guru Raghavendra Astrology.

Master: VEERA BHADRA. Specialized in: PALM, FACE, PATRA READING & HOROSCOPE BOOK OPENING. An expert in clearing negativity in life by using ancient prayer methods. Gives complete solution to your problems like: love, children, finance, job, marriage, finance and education. Meet him once to get guidance. All religions are welcome. Private and confidential. Tel: 695-9805 & 652-6427.

taxi services GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 225-7878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

To Rent One bedroom apartment at Parfaite Harmony (Dairy) Call: 670-2653, 638-8499

VACANCIES E N M O R E / H O P E NEIGHBOURGHOOD DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL. VACANCY ONE OVERSEER VACANCY EXISTS WITHIN THE ENMORE/HOPE NDC FOR AN OVERSER. SEND APPLICATION TO THE ABOVE NDC ON OR BEFORE 28TH MAY, 2018. REQUIREMENT: FIVE (5) CXC SUBJECTS, INCLUDING MATHEMATICS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE, MUST BE COMPUTER LITERATE. APPLICATION CAN BE SENT TO CHAIRMAN, ENMORE/ HOPE NDC, BEEZIE, ENMORE, EAST COAST DEMERARA. NB: ONLY SHORT LISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED.

21

earlier this month, to be captained

by Eoin Morgan, while Sandeep Lamichhane was a replacement for Shakib Al Hasan.

Pandya and Shami both took part in the recently completed IPL, although fast bowler Shami only played four times for Delhi Daredevils. After signing a whiteball only contract for Yorkshire, Rashid has been in action in the Royal London Cup and is likely to play against Derbyshire on Wednesday before travelling down

to London.

Proceeds from the match will go towards redeveloping five stadiums in the Caribbean, which were damaged by Hurricane Irma last year.

ICC World XI: Eoin Morgan (capt), Shahid Afridi, Tamim Iqbal, Dinesh Karthik, Rashid Khan, Sandeep Lamichhane, Mitchell McClenaghan, Shoaib Malik, Thisara Perera, Luke Ronchi, Adil Rashid, Mohammed Shami. (ESPNcricinfo)

Regal Sports/Ink Plus/ Elegance Jewellery and Crown Mining 20-over…

3 teams record victories

T

he Independence weekend saw Regal Masters, Parika Defenders and R and R Sports registered victories when the Regal Sports/Ink Plus/ Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop and Crown Mining 20-over softball tournament continued yesterday at Everest Cricket Club.

Regal Masters defeated Mike’s Wellman by 38 runs in difficult conditions. Regal Masters batted first and managed 150-7 off their allocated overs.

Rudolph Baker slammed four fours and a similar number of sixes in a top score of 55 while Fazleem Mohamed made 35 with one four

and three sixes, Eon Abel hit 32 (2×4) and Mahase Chunilall 18.

Latchman Kallicharan claimed 4-31. Mike’s Wellman responded with 112-6. Nandram Samlall struck 36, while Basil Persaud made 25 and Wayne Jones 12.

Troy Kippins claimed 3-14 while Mahendra H a rd y a l , Saheed Mohamed and David Harper had one each.

Parika Defenders overcame Fisherman XI

by 43 runs. Parika Defenders batted first and posted 141-7. Dubraj Singh scored 34 while Anthony Arjune got 22 and Amit Kumar 19. Fisherman XI replied with 98 all out in 19 overs. Dennis Mangru made 35 with two sixes w h i l e Danny Thomas got 12 as Kabesh P e r s a u d grabbed 4-11, Devanan Kannan 3-7 and

Dubraj Singh 2-26.

R and R Sports got the better of Sunrisers of Essequibo Coast by three wickets. Sunrisers took first turn in the middle and got to 113 all out in 19.1 overs.

Omeshwar Lall stroked 40 while Mahendra Persaud contributed 14 as Raymond Harper, Peter Persaud, Ryan Singh and Rudolph Myers picked up two wickets each.

R and R Sports responded with 116-7 in 18.3 overs. Ejaz Mohamed made 25, Myers 21, Persaud 17 and D. Mohabir 16. Motie Lall took three wickets.

The competition continues on Sunday.

Ricciardo “UNLIKELY” to join Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton

L

ewis Hamilton says it is “unlikely” his Mercedes team is one of Daniel Ricciardo’s options for a potential move from Red

Bull.

Ricciardo, who won Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with moves to Mercedes and Ferrari.

Hamilton said he “would imagine” Ricciardo’s future was at Red Bull.

“There is only Ferrari and Mercedes he could consider - but it is unlikely he is coming here,” he added.

“I don’t think that is going to happen.”

World champion Hamilton and his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas are both out of contract this season.

Hamilton and Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff have said it is only a matter of time before a new contract for the Briton is concluded, while Wolff has said he wants to wait until mid-summer before making a call on the second driver.

His options are to keep Bottas or go for either Ricciardo or Force India’s Esteban Ocon, a Mercedes young driver.

The final decision on drivers at Mercedes is Wolff’s with the car company’s board, but Hamilton has often said that he is consulted on his views during the decision-making process.

Sebastian Vettel is under contract at Ferrari until the end of 2020 but team-mate Kimi Raikkonen’s deal expires this season.

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso, F1’s other multiple world champion alongside Hamilton and Vettel, is also free to move but is not be-

Daniel Ricciardo (left) and Lewis Hamilton

lieved to be an option at Mercedes and Ferrari because of his history with both manufacturers.

Red Bull want to keep Ricciardo but the Australian has said he will wait until the summer before making a decision.

Hamilton said: “He is one of the top drivers and so I am sure there will be offers.

“At Ferrari I would imagine Kimi is going to want to continue and why not? He is driving really well this year and he doesn’t seem to be age-

ing. So I am sure he will go for a little longer.

“At the moment, [Ricciardo] is pretty much the lead driver in that team so it’s not a bad place to be.

“If at some stage Red Bull get an engine [closer in performance to Mercedes and Ferrari], they are going to be even closer to us. They could win many more races and he just has to keep his head down and keep doing what he’s doing and he should have his options ready.” (BBC Sport)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018

20 wicketkeepers benefit from Coaching Clinic in Berbice Indulge in a Game of Chess The Sicilian Defence…

T

The participants and coaches who participated in the workshop

T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday last launched the Dr. Tulsi Dyal Coaching Programme for youths in Berbice by hosting a Wicketkeeping Clinic. Twenty wicketkeepers drawn from the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 levels attended the Clinic, which was held at the Albion Community Centre.

Senior Level Three Coach Winston Smith conducted the seminar with assistance from Pre Level One Coaches, Neil Rudder and Winston Rose.

Among the participants were Berbice Under-19 Keeper Junior Sinclair, Guyana Under-19 female keeper Uma Matadin and Berbice Under-17 keeper Kevin Sewraj.

The extended Coaching Clinic included both classroom work and practical on the field. The young wicketkeepers were taught about equipment, the crouch position, glove work, footwork and concentration. Special emphasis was also placed on physical fitness, speed and agility.

“A lot of practical work was done on how to keep to the difference types of spinners, fast bowling and how to take a return from the outfield. Smith,

who is spearheading the BCB outreach coaching programmes, urged the young wicketkeepers to work hard on their personal game and to put into practice what they have learnt from the clinic,” a release from the BCB said.

He spoke at length of the importance of physical fitness for wicketkeepers as they are always involved in the game. Wicketkeepers, he stated, have to have good eyes, fast legs and reflection, along with strong concentration. While other fielders might have periods of relaxation, wicketkeepers are always involved in the game.

President of the BCB, Hilbert Foster, in a short presentation to the young cricketers, stated that attendance at all clinics organised by the Board shall be compulsory for those aiming to represent Berbice.

He stated that for the first time in its 79-year history, the BCB will be investing heavily into countywide coaching programmes and those who fail to take advantage of it will be left behind.

He urged clubs to place special emphasis on developing wicketkeepers as there is a shortage of good gloves-men around the county. The Dr. Tulsi Dyal

French Open…

Guyana’s Sachia Vickery suffers 1st round defeat

S

achia Vickery’s campaign in the 2018 French Open unfortunately came to a swift end, as she lost in the opening round on Monday at Roland Garros.

The USA-based Guyanese lost in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, to USA’s Madison Keys, the World Tennis Association’s (WTA) 13th ranked female player.

Despite the defeat, Vickery gained an automatic main draw for Wimbledon, due to her rankings.

Sachia Vickery

Singh Coaching Programme, he stated, is a half million investment into making sure that every cricketing potential is fulfilled and that Berbice continues to dominate junior cricket at the Intercounty level.

Other clinics are scheduled to be held for fast bowlers, batsmen, left-arm spinners, off-spinners and leg-spinners and the BCB intends to have players like Devendra Bishoo, Romario Shepherd and Veerasammy Permaul involved.

The Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh Programme also involves the hosting of four two-day cricket coaching sessions in each of the Zones – West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne. A total of 280 youths between ages 12 and 19 years are expected to participate in the sessions.

The BCB, at the end of the four sessions, will select the best 70 players to participate in a one-week cricket academy from July 23-28 at the Albion Sports Complex. The BCB would like to express gratitude to Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh for his continued support of Berbice Cricket.

he Sicilian Defence is the most popular Defence against white’s opening 1.e4 and is used extensively at top level play. It is a very aggressive Defence and immediately stakes claim at the center, denying white the double pawns on e4 and d4. Many chess champions actually prefer to start with Jessica Clementson 1.d4 because of how well the Sicilian Defence plays against 1.e4.

Eventually the c-pawn of black is usually exchanged,

opening the semi-open c file for black to bring his queen or rook to and add pressure to the queen side attack.

White not only has to worry about black’s Defence but also the counter attack that the Sicilian Defence presents. White tends to have the advantage on the king side while black will usually look to attack on the queen side.

For those chess players that play against the 1.e4 opening quite often, the Sicilian Defence is an opening that you should spend quite a bit of time studying. There are many variations and they each are designed for specific types of players.

The Najdorf Variation in the Sicilian Defence is the most popular line and has been favored by some of the greatest chess minds that have ever played the game. It is aggressive and yet positional at times. It truly has something for every type of player and is important for every chess player to learn and study.

Black plays an innocent looking move with 5…a6, however this is far from innocent. Black defends the very powerful b4 square, restricting the play of the two knights and the light squared bishop. This also allows for a b5 push from black, starting the attack on the queen side.

White has many different ways to respond to the Najdorf and over the years new ideas and lines have come about that have changed the way players respond to the Najdorf Variation.

The Sicilian Defence is the most popular Defence for black against the e4 push from white. The Dragon Variation is the most aggressive and sharpest line that black has in the Sicilian Defence.

White has many options that he can respond with. The most common is the Yugoslav Attack but this is a double edge sword. White will castle on the queen side, black will castle on the king side and both will have very sharp options to attack their opponents king. This is one of Magnus Carlsen’s favorite lines and has had much success playing as black, opening up the Defence white has on the queen side.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018

23

Coach Joseph optimistic National Junior Table Tennis about Lady Jags’ future C/ships slated for June 1 A fter the recent experience – and understandable disappointment – of Guyana’s senior women’s team, the ‘Lady Jags’, in the CONCACAF Women’s Qualifiers, Lady Jags’ Head Coach Dr. Ivan Joseph has disclosed that he has a few ideas on how the team should be composed and how its performance can be improved.

In a press briefing prior to the Lady Jags’ scoreless draw with Barbados, Dr. Joseph admitted that the team was lacking in some areas. “Sometimes it doesn’t matter how pretty you look. Up until that final point… and we were there and we couldn’t deliver it,” Joseph said.

The head coach is confident the Guyanese team’s weaknesses can be overcome and its members can be properly prepared for future high-calibre encounters. One of the key elements in his plan is to host

a national team camp. Set up in an audition form, the camp would allow for talented players from around the country to come and show off their skills. This camp would also allow the Jags to identify new talent and increase their player pool.

Citing complaints he has received in the past, he said this process would make selection “fair” for every player. “One of the things that I’ve heard loud and clear (is) people are feeling like they’re not getting picked for the team, or they’re not getting chosen,” Dr Joseph revealed.

He has also expressed intention to host more friendlies. “I want to make sure the team stays together and we have another friendly sometime before the end of the year,” he said.

This, he explained, would have to be discussed with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President, Wayne Forde, and the Technical Director,

Lady Jags Head Coach, Dr Ivan Joseph

Ian Greenwood.

Explaining his reason for the friendlies, Joseph declared, “We can’t have those other Caribbean teams playing three games in August and (we are not doing so). The gap is going to get bigger.”

Joseph was referring to the next round of the CONCACAF Women’s Qualifiers, which will run from August 25 to September 2.

Y

oung table tennis players will soon have the opportunity to show off their skills, because the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) is preparing to host the 2018 National Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championships at the National Gymnasium on Mandel Avenue.

Scheduled to be run from June 1 to June 4, the competition will be open to all players 18 years and under, and will operate under the

rules and regulations of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

Competition will be divided into the following categories: Boys’ 18 yearsand-under Singles; Girls’ 18-years-and-under Singles; Boys’ 15-years-and-under Singles; Girls’ 15-yearsand-under Singles; Boys’ 13-years-and-under Singles; Girls’ 13-years-and-under Singles; Boys’ 11-yearsand-under Singles; Girls’ 11-years-and-under Singles; Boys’ 9 years-and-under

Singles; Girls’ 9 years-andunder Singles; Novices Girls’ Singles; Novices Boys’ Singles.

The players will go through a round-robin phase before advancing to the knockout stage. Victorious players will receive medal prizes.

GTTA has indicated that accommodation and meals would be provided for players from Berbice, Linden, Bartica and Region 2.

The action is expected to kick off on June 1 at 4pm.

‘Stalemate’ keeps Lady Jags Liverpool agree deal for Monaco midfielder out of World Cup prospects L

Brianne Desa taking a shot at goal

G

uyana’s national women’s football team, the Lady Jags, went into their final match of the CONCACAF Women’s Qualifiers fully imbued with the knowledge that they needed to win this crucial match against Barbados.

With a packed crowd backing them, the home team were champing at the proverbial bit before the Leonora Track and Field Centre was plunged into darkness. This power outage delayed the beginning of the match for close to an hour.

When lights were restored, the Guyanese ladies, pumped up and ready to go, charged on to the field in high spirits. They built up momentum with crafty possession of the ball for most of the 90 minutes of the game.

Possession, coupled with a series of stunning plays, would usually put the home team in the driving seat, but fate would have the match rolled out differently.

Playing what was arguably their most critical match of the season thus far, the Lady Jags suffered a bout of t o u g h luck, in that they were unable to penetrate the safe hands of the

Bajan goal keeper Rhea Holder.

The team’s downfall came in their inability to make tactical decisions on the spot.

The home team opted for one too many shots for glory rather than a simple pass.

Guyana saw their biggest goal scoring opening in the first half, when Cameo Hazlewood charged towards the net with the ball in her possession. She took the shot, but it was comfortably scooped up by the goal keeper. The remainder of the game was played out in similar fashion, with the local ladies missing the mark several times.

On the other hand, the Bajan women found the Guyanese defence almost impenetrable, and probably counted themselves lucky to settle for a nil-all score.

In the earlier match, Bermuda cruised to victory with an easy 1-0 defeat of the struggling Suriname side. Prior to that encounter, Bermuda and Guyana were battling for top spot in Group ‘E’. In the end, fortune favoured the Bermudans, and they have advanced to the next round of the competition.

They are scheduled to face off with Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Cuba in that round.

Guyana’s nil-all draw with Barbados means that the Lady Jags will not proceed to the next round of the CONCACAF Cup for the first time in several years.

iverpool have agreed to sign Monaco midfielder Fabinho in a deal that could be worth more than £40m.

The Brazil international, 24, will join the Champions League finalists on 1 July for around £39m (45m euros).

A further £4m (5m euros) could be added in performance-related bonus payments and Fabinho's arrival will likely be followed by the departure of Emre Can. "This is something that I always wanted - this is a giant of a team," s a i d

Fabinho. "I am really excited."

Fabinho has spent spells playing as a right-back but has excelled in defensive midfield and is viewed as a replacement for Can, who is out of contract this summer and has repeatedly been linked with Juventus, Manager Jurgen Klopp said: "He has ability and mentality to play at the highest level in a number of positions.

He can play 'six', 'eight' and 'two'. This is cool."

The Brazilian, whose deal will begin on 1 July, said the club's infrastruct u r e looked "exceptional".

"A football

club of this size coming after my services, I didn't have to think that much about coming over," added Fabinho.

"I will try to create my own history at this football club. Hopefully, on a personal level, I'm able to win titles with this club."

Fabinho, who joined Monaco on loan from Portuguese side Rio Ave in 2013, won the French league title in 2016-17.

He has featured heavily for the club since making his loan move permanent in 2015, playing 47 times in all competitions last season and scoring eight goals.

In all, he made 225 appearances and scored 29 goals in five seasons with the French club.

"We have signed a fantastic player, b u t someone who is an equally fantastic person I think," added Klopp.

"His reputation as a character in the dressing room and his attitude in training has come through from everyone we speak to.

"He has a lovely family also adding a person like this to our dressing room only makes us even stronger. What we have - in terms of our environment at Melwood and in the team means anyone coming in must be of that build. They must be the highest quality person a n d player."

Despite helping Monaco to second in Ligue 1 behind champions Paris St-Germain last season, Fabinho did not make Brazil's 23-man World Cup squad.

He will join another new face in Liverpool's midfield next term, with Guinea international Naby Keita moving to Merseyside from RB Leipzig on 1 July. (BBCSport)

tuesDAY, may 29, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

National Junior Table Tennis C’ships slated for June 1

The tournament is expected to attract the likes of Junior National Players Kaysan Ninvalle and Abigail Martin

Pg 23

French Open…

Coach Joseph Guyana’s Sachia Vickery optimistic suffers 1st round defeat about Lady Jags’ future Pg 22

Pg 23

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.