Guyanatime 2 february 2018

Jagdeo P2 keynote speaker at World Development Forum in Mexico Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, February 2, 2018

Issue No. 3469

Wales cane workers picket President's office Page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Several injured in Linden P8 Highway accident

Husband batters wife with iron P17

…demand immediate severance payments …call on Judiciary to speed up court case following GT article 'Mo fyaah killing wave'

Former PM wants timeline for Govt’s Page 7 CoI extended

– says killings started from opposition to PPP's 1997 elections win

Region 6 to Govt: Provide free transport Page for dismissed 16 workers’ children

Guyana to focus on building cohesion …as Interfaith Harmony Week launched

Page 14

2 injured in Golden Grove P8 accident Govt covers housing fees for hinterland teachers – P15 Harmon

Labourer killed after walking into path of P10 minibus at Sarah Johanna Trio nabbed after ganja, gun found in Canje River P8 raid

World Interfaith Harmony Week is being observed nationally under the theme, “Fostering Social Cohesion in Guyana”. Representatives from various religious organisations, along with Government Ministers, attended the launch on Thursday

Jamaican Herbal doctor, man announced as arrested with GPL’s new CEO narco filled capsules – Badal's tenure as Chairman ends Page 17

Page 16

UG Turkeyen and Tain Talks 11

Reformed sex ed curriculum needed in P15 schools

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friDAY, February 2, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jagdeo keynote speaker Blocked Bel Air Park land conversion at World Development M&CC petitioning court to Forum in Mexico “set aside” ruling

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uyana’s former President and current Leader of the Opposition, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, is currently attending the first ‘World Sustainable Development Forum’, being held in Mexico City under the theme ‘Implementing the Paris Agreement and the SDGs’.

This event commenced on February 1, and will conclude on February 3.

Co-sponsored by the Government of Mexico City

and a group of world class universities in Mexico, and supported by the business and industrial as well as research and academic communities in Mexico, the forum will consist of keynote addresses, high level panel discussions, and parallel sessions focused on specific themes and issues.

Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who has a Master’s degree in Economics and holds a number of global leadership positions in the ar-

neys Kamal Ramkarran and Nicholas Carryl, has won his bid to prevent the City from effecting its land conversion proposal.

In court documents seen by this publication, Roger Yearwood, attorney for the M&CC and its Town Clerk, the second respondent, gave notice that the City would make an application on February 12 for a motion

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

eas of sustainable development, green growth and climate change, has been appointed Head Speaker of the forum.

Other renowned speakers include political leaders who have been, or currently are, heads of states and heads of governments, distinguished winners of the Nobel Prize, ministers holding relevant portfolios from a large number of countries, as well as leaders of business and industry, civil society, and research and academic institutions.

The WSDF is expected to attract a global audience, and youths are expected to have a special role in the meeting.

Mayor Patricia Chase Green

A

recent High Court ruling by Justice Gino Persaud has blocked the Mayor& Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC) and the Town Clerk from leasing or selling the Bel Air Park playground to a private land developer, but the M&CC has moved to have the judge overturn his January 8 decision.

City Hall has stated its intention to have the playground converted into a cluster of town houses for top City officials, including Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen, Town Clerk Royston King, the City Engineer and the Medical Health Officer; but Bel Air Park resident attorney-at-law Devindra Kissoon, through his attor-

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

Town Clerk Royston King

to be heard by Justice Gino Persaud to “set aside” his January 8 decision due to “default of appearance” by the respondents.

According to Yearwood, the legal adviser to the council, he was on the corridors of the Supreme Court on January 8 when he was caught “unaware” after a

Marshall called the matter “in a loud cry,” asking if anyone was present on behalf of the M&CC and the Town Clerk.

Yearwood claimed that after he was called in to the judge’s chambers, he was informed that the Town Clerk was served twice with the notice of the case. As such, he sought an extension of time but was denied, and the court proceeded with the order to block the land from being sold or leased.

Based on the attorney’s explanation, it appears that the document suddenly appeared upon his enquiry at City Hall.

“After this, Mr. Yearwood contacted the Council in relation to the matter, and a copy of the proceedings was unearthed, from where it had mistakenly and inadvertently been placed and given to Mr. Yearwood,” an excerpt from the court documents highlighted.

In recent days, the Mayor has come out defending the move to convert the prime piece of property, saying that nothing was done in secrecy, as the matter was discussed at the level of Council after being raised by the Investment and Development Committee.

Last week the State media reported that all of the 30 City Councillors where issued with cease and desist orders reportedly threatening them with fines or imprisonment if the Bel Air Park land was used for purposes other than for “community purposes”.

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, has recently criticized the takeover of the Bel Air Park land, expressing his conviction that local democratic organs should follow the rule of law, which was in reference to Justice Persaud’s order.

However, the Mayor retorted and pointed out that “the Minister was interfering with the business of council,” as the Mayor was quoted as saying.

The Park has reportedly been used as a playground since the 1990s, after serving a host of other purposes over the decades, including as a race horse course and airfield. It has reportedly been managed by the City from around the 1960s.

news

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friDAY, February 2, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, February 2 – 05:00h-06:30h and Saturday, February 3 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, February 2 – 05:50h-07:20h and Saturday, February 3 – 06:30h-08:00h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light cloud cover in the early morning is expected to give way to light rain showers that will last throughout the day. Partly to light cloudy skies are expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 24 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly between 4.02 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 05:51h and 18:08h reaching maximum heights of 2.74 metres and 2.82 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:41h reaching a minimum height of 0.48 metre.

Wales cane workers picket President's office …demand immediate severance payments …call on Judiciary to speed up court case following GT article

By Samuel Sukhnandan

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undreds of former cane harvesters of the Wales Sugar Estate picketed the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) and the High Court on Thursday as they called on the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government to pay their long overdue severance immediately, as they declared that President David Granger’s Government had failed them.

This picketing exercise added to the mounting complaints and massive denunciation the coalition Government has already received over the past few months, since the announcement of the downsizing of the sugar industry and the

Several fired cane harvesters holding up placards during the peaceful picketing exercise held outside the Ministry of the Presidency

cutters are discriminated re: severance, sugar production at Wales ended. Severance pay follows, Wales cutters have children to feed, debt to settle.

Do not punish us longer, and TESPA says we are entitled to our severance.”

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Former cane harvester of Wales Sugar Estate, Eon Fernandes

firing of thousands of workers whose livelihoods depend on this key sector.

It also following a breaking story carried in the Guyana Times on Wednesday where the dismissed Wales Sugar Workers complained bitterly about not being paid their severance despite the fact that two years have elapsed. The workers also called on Komal Chand to make a statement as they claimed that they had not seen or heard from him in a while.

During the picketing, workers held up placards with slogans; one reading, “Wales

According to most of them, while the Wales’s Estate was the first to close its doors, close to two years later they are still awaiting their severance.

They see it as an unfair move, one that should have caused the Government to make a conscious decision to pay all cane harvesters their severance.

An upset worker, Romeo Charles, who served for over two decades at the estate, told Guyana Times that he is saddened with the manner in which cane harvesters are being treated. The father of seven said it has also been

difficult to secure full-time employment ever since he was fired.

“I deh working all ova the place when I could find a job and deh wuking to sustain my family. Me ain’t got no fixed job at the present moment.

Anybody that call me to give me a wuk is that what I doing.

I need a money to maintain mah family. And if I get me severance, I would do something good with it.”

Unfortunately, Charles said he felt secure working with GuySuCo and never ventured to learn any new skills; as such, he is untrained to work in construction and other fields. This, he said, is one of the reasons why he and many of his former colleagues are finding it difficult to get employment.

Charles was also joined by his teenage son who attends the Goed Fortuin Secondary, saying he could not afford to send the teen to school on Thursday because the passage alone is over $500 daily.

“You have to find that passage for him every day and many of

days I does can’t send he. It really hard pun we.”

Another disgruntled worker was very critical of the Government’s handling of the issue regarding severance, stating that they are unreasonable and inhumane to the suffering of the sugar workers. The ex-GuySuCo employee said Government should have seen it fit to pay workers across the board.

“We need severance because we got family to maintain… the other two estates get their severance and we need our severance. How this Minister them getting their fat salary. Just like that we need we money…

The President say he building the ‘good life’ for the Guyanese people. This is the good life?

This is the starvation life. They (Government) making a good life form themselves with that 50 per cent raise.”

The father of three said it has been extremely difficult on him because he is the breadwinner of his family and has to provide for a wife and three school-aged children.

Turn to page 7

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friDAY, February 2, 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

Not a blade of grass

T

his week, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres referred the Guyana/Venezuela Border Controversy to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as a means of arriving at a final and binding judicial settlement.

This referral, though long overdue, comes at a time when Guyana has decided to intensify its exploration for more offshore natural resources, after already discovering a significant amount of commercial oil and gas resources earlier this year.

The Secretary General’s decision also comes at a time when the Guyana Government is faced with a host of domestic problems, ranging from massive corruption scandals, the unilateral and controversial appointment of the Chairman of its premiere electoral body, allegations about misappropriation of funds, to the mass dismissal of thousands of poor and ordinary sugar workers from the rural economy.

The referral has been announced while Venezuela is itself also facing immense hardships, food shortages, economic recession brought about by falling oil prices, and poor economic policy oversight by the Venezuelan Government.

That country is also politically divided, with developed nations imposing sanctions on the Government of President Nicholás Maduro, and the people themselves in certain cases, because of an uprooting of democratic norms and practices by Maduro with the aim of holding on to power.

All of the abovementioned domestic crises being faced by both countries will now be placed on the backburner, as the referral takes precedence because of what is at stake. The truth is: Guyana is in a far better place than Venezuela in emerging from this entire controversy as the top dog and rightful victor.

But the Government must guard against complacency.

It must ensure that it properly prepares for the upcoming case at the ICJ by not only recruiting a good team of international lawyers, but lawyers who have our vested interest at heart and cannot be compromised.

It also is important for the Foreign Affairs Ministry to ensure that it has the financial, technical and clerical resources to lend assistance to the team in its bid to defend this country’s territorial sovereignty aptly at the level of the ICJ. Until such time the case is scheduled to be heard, the Opposition, too, must rally around the Government on this particular matter. They should have joint meetings and exchanges to discuss methodologies and Guyana’s entire judicial approach to the controversy.

The country’s Attorney General must also give way to brighter and more experienced local talent if we are to ensure that there are no lapses, missed deadlines, and sabotage at any level.

This case is of paramount importance, and Guyana’s future depends heavily on its outcome. For too long, Venezuela’s outrageous claim that the award was null and void has hung over the people of this country like a dark cloud. There will, no doubt, be attempts by Caracas to downplay the importance of the UN Secretary General, and there will likely be politicians from both sides of the divide that will campaign heavily on the controversy in that country’s April Presidential elections.

But Georgetown must stand her ground and remain resolute. Citizens must also demonstrate pride in being Guyanese, as they express their full support and confidence in the Government’s ability to weather the storms ahead in order to re-secure Guyana’s patrimony, oil wealth, and people in the mighty Essequibo region. As Dave Martins and the Trade Winds dubbed it in their hit song, “We ain’t giving up no mountains, we ain’t giving up no river that belongs to we…not one rice grain…not a blade of grass”.

These young lasses lit up the stage at one of the performances during the Department of Education (Georgetown) Children’s Mashramani Activities 2018 at the National Cultural Centre earlier this week (Carl Croker photo)

Opposing ethnic killing wave Dear Editor, There is a lot in a name and we need to get names right. Assuming that our President David Granger and the majority of us Guyanese would welcome one (or more) Commission of Inquiry (CoI), which would provide our nation an understanding, as true as can be, and would take us along a path of revelation, redemption, resolution and reconciliation, then the names we start with and the terms of reference are important.

The term ‘Jagdeo era killings’, which has even been repeated by President Granger, is to be regretted, as it is misleading.

That submerged subterranean killing wave has its origin in the rejection of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) win at our 1997 election by an opposing and extreme criminal fringe with ethno-political pretensions and links, which, when our national security forces were not having any success in apprehending them, evoked a similar irregular counter-force.

The period from1998 to 2008 should be enquired into as a whole and that would naturally be in chronological sequence. One cannot help, but be suspicious of the coalition Government’s move in embarking on enquires into spliced-out pieces, starting near the end and proceeding in an order known only to themselves.

Starting at the end indicates an attempt to ne-

gate and escape the logical deductions, which would be inherent in a chronological review of events over that period. The period from 1998 to 2008 was one of great testing of our peoples and our country.

Rather than make it appear that Jagdeo and/or the PPP/C was the cause of those troubles, I submit, that it should be recognised that our (PPP/C) handling of that period, though criticised from many directions, saw our nation through as a whole avoiding the intensified polarisation, which was intended by the opposing and extreme criminal fringe with ethno-political pretensions and links.

Editor, you may recall the rising tensions in our country as our 1997 (December 16) elections approached. I was President then. Our National Poet, Mr Martin Carter, had died earlier that month and our (PPP/C) Prime Minister and Presidential Candidate, Mrs Janet Jagan, was being particularly hounded by crowds as she sought to pay her respects at the various ceremonies honouring her colleague of many decades. On her way to Mr Carter’s internment at ‘Seven Ponds’, she was advised to pause at the Office of the President and she sat with me. She revealed that it seemed to her that we were re-running the 1957 to 1961 period – that after the uproar at the PPP win in 1957, the people of Georgetown, overwhelmingly Afro-Guyanese and supporters of the

People’s National Congress (PNC) at that time, settled into a toleration of the PPP Government, but as the elections of 1961 approached with prospects of another PPP win in their consciousness, they just couldn’t take it and all hell seemed to break out!

As it happened, we, the PPP/C, did win the 1997 Elections and all hell did break loose with the ‘slow fyah. Mo fyah’ campaign, marches, lootings, burnings and beatings – all against a background of charges by PNC supporters that: (i) we, the PPP/C, had rigged the election; and (ii) that the electoral system was unfair as the PPP/C would always win a fair and free election.

Ravi Dev, who in his continual search for a way forward for our country and his empathy with this ‘African Insecurity Dilema’, had once put himself in some form of association with the PNCReform, within and without Parliament, writes in a recent column that: “This Friday will mark the 20th anniversary of the January 12, 1998 ethnic riots, when more than 200 IndianGuyanese were beaten and assaulted in the streets of Georgetown by members of the African-Guyanese community, in full view of the Police, yet no arrests were made. The riots followed PNC protests against the PPP’s victory in the December 1997 elections”.

Following the 2001 jailbreak and their projection by key political factions as ‘Freedom Fighters’, the at-

tacks on assumed supporters of the PPP/C were taken to a higher level. When the national security forces showed remarkable inability to apprehend them, it was inevitable that a similar irregular counter-force emerged.

We have been reminded by our President about the seeming compelling evidence about one of my colleagues, sitting with me at Cabinet, obtaining and providing high-tech equipment to the phantom force.

We could be reminded similarly about that conversation (illegally taped, yes) between a then Vice Chairman of the PNC and the Commissioner of Police in which the then PNCR Vice Chairman thanked the then Commissioner of Police for a number of things, including misleading his police team on the killings at Agricola.

When that tape surfaced my colleague, Gail Teixeira, then the Honourable Home Affairs Minister, was assailed by our Cabinet enquiring what the then Police Commission was saying about that conversation.

She reported that he did not refute that the voice was his but that he was playing along the VC to learn what the PNC knew and was thinking. And today that former Commissioner of Police and that former PNCR Vice Chairman are in President Granger’s Cabinet as Minister of Citizenship and Attorney General, respectively. continued on page 5

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

PM sowing seeds of Labour Ministry, GHRA must division and discord assess our working conditions

Dear Editor, Our Union has noted the contents of an article titled “Komal Chand’s removal a plot for Jagdeo’s third term – PM Nagamootoo” which appeared on January 31, 2018 in another section of the media.

We were indeed disheartened to recognise the PM is seeking to sow, seemingly, seeds of division undoubtedly, one suspects, for his own purposes.

The GAWU must say that it strongly disagrees with the PM’s expressed views as reported and more so his attempts at personalisation rather than addressing the relevant concerns of the affected workers at this time.

The criticism of any official of our Union is tantamount to a criticism of our organisation and, therefore, it is incumbent on the GAWU to appropriately respond as we have done in our statement of January 29, 2018. The red herrings invoked by the PM are, in our view, an ignominious attempt to stir the pot of division and undermine the unity and solidarity among the workers. Moreover, the PM’s centre-staging of this matter is a futile attempt to turn the spotlight away from the hardships he and the Government

have created in the sugar belt at this time.

The article goes on to say “[f]ollowing GAWU and NAACIE’s acceptance of Government’s proposal to pay redundant workers severance in two parts”. This statement is both disturbing and patently untrue. It seems the Kaieteur News, for reasons best known to itself, has ignored completely our statements in which we clarified and completely debunked this figmental contention. On this score, we wish to quote what Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan told the National Assembly on January 19, 2018 when he moved the Supplementary Estimate in relation to the workers’ severance payments:- “Mr Chairman, I would like…to indicate that following a meeting with Members of the Cabinet subsequent to the moving of this paper in Cabinet, we had indicated that following a meeting this morning with the union, we put an amending proposal to the unions. I am not saying that it was accepted, but we did put it to them.” From the Minister’s utterances, he is clearly saying that we did not accept the Government’s proposal on the severance pay

matter. As we have repeated ad nauseam, both GAWU and NAACIE reiterated that the severance payment must be made at once in keeping with the laws and the practice that has prevailed. Moreover, we told the Government delegation that the workers expected to receive their payments at once in keeping with comments in the media by the Minister of Agriculture, among others. Furthermore, to agree to any other alternative arrangement would not only be contrary to our public position and our members’ legitimate expectation, but would also set a wrong precedent which we cannot countenance.

While, at this time, the PM chooses to engage in petty politicking, at the same time thousands of our compatriots are facing the daunting reality of a jobless life; a life where their dreams have turned to nightmares, and where they see all that they worked for slipping away. Today the euphoric ‘Good Life’ has metamorphosed in a ‘Dark Reality’.

Yours sincerely, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

Govt reserves are for everyone’s benefit

Dear Editor, Around 4:00 pm Wednesday afternoon I used the ATM at the Republic Bank (Rosignol Branch) leaving my vehicle in the parking area. I proceeded to pick up a drink at the shop opposite the Bank only to be hailed out by a Massy Security Guard who informed me that I can only park my vehicle there if I am

conducting business with the Bank. I pointed out to him that my vehicle was the only one in the parking area, so I will not be inconveniencing anyone.

The land in front of the Bank happens to be the Government reserve which Republic Bank Limited has no proprietary rights over.

Therefore, the Bank must de-

sist from controlling public usage over such.

The development of the reserve is mutually beneficial for both the public and the Bank. Therefore, the bank should inform their security personnel of this fact and stop the harassing of the public.

Krishna Sukhoo Account holder

Dear Editor, Permit me this final letter that contains the Association’s long-term plan and a few pertinent questions.

Our main objective is to conduct our operations in an environmentally-friendly way.

We are a humble group of people who are law-abiding citizens that obey the laws, rules and regulations of the country and the regulatory agencies. Our number one priority is safety; we will work in accordance with international mining practices and engineers from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Department of Environment to adhere to those rules and regulations. We are not ‘hostiles’ and ‘savages’ as labelled by the management of Romanex; we are simple and humble human beings that are trying to work with dignity and integrity in a hope that we will earn a decent daily bread for our families.

We are in the process of constructing a multi-purpose complex, which will house our administrative office where we can ensure compliance is being adhered to.

We will ensure that we monitor the miners and that they are working in a respectable and responsible manner, giving first priority to safety. In our multi-purpose complex, we will also provide space and conditions to accommodate a police outpost, a medical health centre and an office for the GGMC officers.

For our social and economic development programme, we aim to provide comfortable living conditions for the residents, our concept for living does not mean providing food and adequate health facilities, but we will be assisting in providing sponsorship

to eligible students to further develop their academic qualifications. We aim to encourage those who are athletic and gifted in sports by upgrading the roads and infrastructure to encourage them further. We also plan to upgrade the bridges outside of the immediate mining areas to provide greater ease of access to and from communities.

Working in an organised manner and following the rules and regulations of the regulatory bodies, we will always sell our gold to licensed gold traders; also, we will be paying our royalties and taxes in advance. It is estimated that by paying our royalties and taxes, the Government can have sufficient funds to rehabilitate the Moco Moco Hydro Electricity Station and also build another hydropower station at Kumu.

We all need better living conditions and opportunities to improve our living standards. With stable and cheaper electricity, we can industrialise our local products and create many other jobs. The benefits that we will be contributing to the Rupununi are beyond weight or measurement once we are allowed to resume our operations.

Currently, the fisherman can’t sell his fish, the farmer can’t sell his produce, the cattle rancher can’t sell his beef, the poultry farmers can’t sell their chicken, and the list goes on, all because there is no way for the miners to earn a living. The lives and livelihood of thousands are being affected and even though in the last statement from the Government, it emphasised on the fact that the Ministry of Natural Resources is working assiduously to resolve this long and drawn-out situation, it does not reflect any truth. The general feeling of

the miners about the representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources is Mr Lawrence does not care about the situation and Mrs Watson is lazy and incompetent to handle this situation.

Some pertinent questions we have: what are the longterm plans that Romanex proposes for the social and economic development of the Region? What can the people expect from them, apart from employment of a minimal six to eight persons like they have now?

We are calling on the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and the Ministry of Labour to visit and investigate the deplorable conditions these workers are being faced with, most of the time there is little or no food for the few workers and that is no secret, even the GGMC officers are aware of that fact.

After our last meeting of the Rupununi Mining Association that was held at Marudi last Sunday, the miners suggested that the Government allot the two mountains to the small miners while Romanex can have the other lands that the Government is proposing for us. ‘What is good for Peter is just as good for Paul!’

We are, therefore, calling on all the mining syndicates, associations, private miners and stakeholders to support and stand with us in this matter. We are all miners and we know the difficulties faced; after all, gold is the main income source of Guyana’s economy, why then are we being treated this way?

Marlon Johnson, President Rupununi Mining Association

Opposing ethnic killing... Central Govt must deliver a higher level of governance from page 4

Editor, most of us Guyanese have been focused, for decades, on making a steadily better living and would be hard put to recall every significant event, every turn during this period in correct sequence.

Hopefully, any of us, would be able to put hands on storages of our four newspapers, which taken together should give a fair picture of events as they occurred.

We, PPP/C stayed away from holding a Commission of Inquiry, waiting on a time when it could have been healing. And we would have expected that such a CoI would have been structured similarly to the one established by our Government in consultation with the then Opposition, to enquire into the 2012 disturbances in Linden, with international Commissioners and nominees of various national stakeholders.

There is a common saying in an eastern country, that the East wind is blowing and the West wind is blowing and who knows which will prevail?

All through this period, the winds for division were blowing strong but we, the PPP/C have been heartened that all along this period, too, there have been occasions when Indo-Guyanese have acknowledged assistance and protection from Afro-Guyanese and vice-versa. The sense of being Afro or Indo or Amerindian or whatever though slowly, is gradually and steadily being encompassed in the sense of being human and being Guyanese.

Enough said.

Yours truly, Samuel A A Hinds

Dear Editor, The lawlessness of the APNU/AFC coalition Government continues uncontrolled, realising an array of never-ending issues which attenuate citizens’ welfare. It doesn’t seem to matter that their insensitive and tactless actions are resulting in hunger, sickness, increased sufferings, uncalled-for debts, and absolute condemnation of any measure of prosperity for the majority of our citizens.

As if it is not enough that the continuously increasing tax burdens are being imposed with every budget, the tragedy of placing the families of thousands of sugar workers on the breadline has been brutally enforced as a vicious sanction by an unconcerned government. The impact within communities and across our nation will reverberate with immense citizen distress for a long, long time to come.

Related to the foregoing, there are several areas regarding the regulation of local governance matters, which have been apparently meted out for Government’s dis-

dainful squeeze. It took almost 22 months after the March 2016 Local Government Elections for the Government to appoint Commissioners to the constitutionally-approved Local Government Commission (LGC). Since the October 2017 appointments, the Commissioners have not been paid. Further, it remains an indictment on this Government that the deliberate lack of urgency is being exercised in providing an office with the necessary support staff and equipment so the Commission could commence its work.

It is also common knowledge that many Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) are experiencing serious issues regarding the receipt of their 2017 subventions. Some NDCs are complaining bitterly that the REOs are deciding what projects must be done in the villages, and they are also awarding contracts for the NDCs to their friends and relatives. Many NDCs are totally dissatisfied with the awarding of contracts by the RDC Tender Boards.

The Local Government

Commissioners must put their act together and make sure that political thugs do not prevent development in the communities.

On another front, there have been announcements that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is about to commence the 10th round of continuous registration. It was recently revealed that commencing February 5, 2018, the Commission would embark on a Claims and Objections Exercise with a list already certified through a Claims and Objections period in the Ninth Cycle of Continuous Registration.

There seems to be no wisdom in the latter approach since if the most recently updated list is not used, one would be defeating the justification for any expenditure utilised in covering the new period. Further, by law, GECOM should have commenced a Continuous Registration exercise, which is to be followed by a Claims and Objections period.

Additionally, information received suggested that GECOM would not be engaging

additional staffing for the exercises. However, one still has to be alert to the management expenses of the present staff.

Precedence establishes the need for strong monitoring to avoid the previous favourite suppliers being offered jobs at the expense of the more qualified, to facilitate kickbacks.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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By Anya Kamenetz

I

’m delivering a six-foot-tall Elmo a roundhouse kick in the guts. His stomach slices into angular shards as my foot intersects with it. Next, I step over to his friend Grover . . . closer . . . closer . . . and finally place my head directly inside his looming, black, black, black void of a mouth.

This bizarre scenario was no dream.

It happened on a visit to the Stanford University Virtual Human Interaction Lab, founded and directed by Jeremy Bailenson. I went there, as unlikely as it may seem, for parenting advice. I wanted to think about the future of screen time.

If the forecasters are to be believed, we’ll all soon be plunged into a gently glowing alphabet soup of AR, VR, AI, MR, and LoT– augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, “mixed reality,” and the Internet of Things. We’ll be inhabiting the bodies of avatars 24/7, exchanging GIFs with our sentient refrigerators, and using virtual assistants to ward off telemarketing bots. Digital experiences will be so immersive and pervasive that Yellowstone National Park will look like today’s Times Square. By then, the existence of screens as separate entities, with borders and off buttons, will be a quaint, half-remembered state of affairs.

The current scientific advice on digital media for children is based on the

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

concept of “screen time”. This exists in opposition to a concept of “screenless time”. “Online” imagines that there is such a thing as “offline”. Those are exactly the boundaries that may melt with the next generation of technology.

If a four-year-old child is accompanied through her day by an AR, AI Elmo – an imaginary friend made visible – is this screen time? What about a nine-year-old who plays outside with peace of mind supplied by a virtual

tether, an alarm that sounds on his mother’s phone when he leaves his block?

Being aware of the content our kids are encountering is going to be as important as ever. It might actually become easier as more applications move back into shared physical space. And this new media world offers vast new expressive and creative capabilities.

The imaginations of tomorrow’s great artists and designers are awakening in children today. As parents, encouraging their media pursuits will remain

important.

Nevertheless, the dawn of VR is occasioning some soul searching. Just as 19th-Century audiences supposedly panicked at the sight of the Lumiere brothers’ 1895 film of a train pulling into a station, our 21st-Century perceptual systems are still somewhat naive to the effects of 3D immersion. In my tour group at the Stanford lab, I saw the VR headset make full-grown adults nauseous, cause them to scream in fear, and refuse to take a step across a solid floor because their eyes told them they were at the edge of a cliff.

“The brain has not evolved to distinguish a compelling virtual experience from a physical experience,” Stanford’s Bailenson has said. Given that, I would be a little concerned if first-person shooter games came to dominate the medium. Bailenson believes that we should take the power of VR experiences seriously from a moral perspective, and use it to produce what he calls transformative “a-ha” moments. He has built a VR game, for example, in which you fly around a city, Superman-style, in order to deliver insulin to a diabetic child.

Just as with earlier types of media, there’s a worry that children will be oversensitive to the effects. The fact that they seem to find the tech so compelling only makes the concern greater. (Excerpt from fastcompany.com)

By James Lehman, MSW

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hen we talk about adolescent bullying, we’re entering into another phenomenon altogether. The reality is that many adolescents in high school today are very abusive to each other. There are peer groups that will attack other kids verbally and emotionally, similar to a gang mentality.

When these kids start calling other students rude names and questioning their sexuality, it is all done to dominate and bully them. If a teen or pre-teen doesn’t want to be a victim, they have to join a group. The

kids who don’t socialise very well – the shy or passive types – often become the targets.

And the threat of violence is always behind it. This trend in high school is prevalent today, and I think very destructive. In my opinion, parents and school administrators who ignore the way kids abuse each other in high school are kidding themselves. This behaviour is hurtful and harmful, and there needs to be a lot more accountability.

Make no bones about it, bullying is traumatising for kids who are the targets. In fact, I think children should be taught about bullying throughout grade school. They need to learn what it means, how to resolve it, and how to deal with a bully. If this is not taught, kids who are targets will think there’s something wrong with them, and this vicious cycle – because that is truly what this is – perpetuates itself. Kids should also be learning how to handle their impulses and control themselves when they want to hit, hurt or intimidate others. Unless there’s a concerted effort to deal with bullying and bullies in school, nothing will change. It’s a

challenge, but I firmly believe it can be done.

Teach your children about bullying from an early age I think from a very early age, you have to teach your child what a bully is. You can tell them the following (or even post these words in your house somewhere): A bully is somebody who forces other people to do things they don’t want to do.

A bully is somebody who hits other people.

A bully is someone who takes or breaks other people’s property.

A bully is someone who

calls other people names.

Then you have to set a standard that says, “We don’t do that in our house.” Start that culture of accountability early. Teach them what the word means, and say, “You’re accountable for that kind of behaviour in our house.”

I think it’s also important that you talk about how to treat others. Ask your child, “How should you treat others?” And the answer is, “You treat others with respect; if they don’t respect you back, walk away. Treating someone with respect means not calling them names, threatening them, or hitting them.” You can also say, “You listen to others. You accept others. If they don’t want to play with your toys or they don’t want to share their things, you have to learn how to accept that.”

This is not easy for kids, but they will learn. I really think children need to have the concept of bullying explained to them numerous times. That way, when any kind of bullying is going on, they can identify it and stop the behaviour, both in themselves and others. (empoweringparents.com)

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friDAY, February 2, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

'Mo fyaah killing wave'

Former PM wants timeline for Govt’s CoI extended – says killings started from opposition to PPP's 1997 elections win

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here continues to be public criticism over the coalition Government’s move to establish a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the 2008 Lindo Creek Massacre, with many questioning Government’s motive to probe that particular mass killing, while calling for the inquiry to be extended to cover earlier years.

This most recent call was made by former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who in a letter on Thursday expressed suspicions over Government’s move. He noted, however, if Government wants to uncover the real truth behind the killings of that period then it needs to first get the name correct.

“There is a lot in a name and we need to get names right… The term ‘Jagdeo era killings’, which has even been repeated by President Granger, is to be regretted, as it is misleading,” Hinds stated.

The former Prime Minister posited that the ‘submerged subterranean killing wave’ originated from rejection of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C’s) 1997 election win by an opposing and extreme criminal fringe with ethno-political pretensions

Former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

and links, which, when the national security forces were not having any success in apprehending them, evoked a similar irregular counter-force.

“The period from1998 to 2008 should be enquired into as a whole and that would naturally be in chronological sequence. One cannot help but be suspicious of the coalition Government’s move in embarking on enquires into spliced-out pieces, starting near the end and proceeding in an order known only to themselves,” he noted.

According to Hinds, who is also a former Guyanese President, the move to start at

the end indicates an attempt to negate and escape the logical deductions, which would be inherent in a chronological review of events over that period.

“The period from 1998 to 2008 was one of great testing of our peoples and our country. Rather than make it appear our (PPP/C) handling of that period, though criticised from many directions, saw our nation through as a whole avoiding the intensified polarisation, which was intended by the opposing and extreme criminal fringe with ethno-political pretensions and links,” he asserted.

The former PM recalled that the uproar following the PPP’s win in 1957 was repeated after the party victory in the 1997 Elections when “all hell break loose”, giving birth to the ‘slow fyah, mo fyah’ campaign, marches, lootings, burnings and beatings.

He went on to highlight that the 2001 jailbreak and the projection of inmates by key political factions as ‘freedom fighters’ resulted in attacks on assumed supporters of the PPP/C, which were taken to a higher level.

Furthermore, Hinds reminded the coalition

Wales cane workers...

Former Minister Norman Whittaker

Government that while it has been preaching of a PPP Cabinet Minister obtaining and providing high-tech equipment to the phantom force, it should not forget the involvement of its own current Cabinet Members in questionable activities during that period. He specially referred to the taped conversation, though illegal, between the then Vice Chairman of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Basil Williams, and then Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix, in which Williams thanked the latter for a number of things, including misleading his Police team

From page 3

Meanwhile, another former long-serving employee of GuySuCo, Eon Fernandes, told Guyana Times that he has turned to farming on a part-time basis ever since being fired but this has proven to be difficult, since there are always problems with irrigation and there is not a huge market for agriculture.

He too is demanding his severance pay, stating that he will not give up fighting for what rightfully belongs to him.

“GuySuCo and the Government tek they eyes and pass the workers of Wales cane cutters. Wales Estate close since 2016. This is 2018 and up to now they ain’t give we no money. We need we severance because we ain’t wuking right now.

We is poor people and we need to put food on the table,” he stated.

The workers were also joined by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Members of Parliament, Dr Frank Anthony and Juan Edghill, who said they will continue to show solidarity to the aggrieved workers.

Court hearing

Amid all the criticisms and calls for severance to be paid with immediate effect, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is pushing for a date to be set for a court hearing regarding the severance pay for ex-employees of the Wales Sugar Estate.

GAWU promised to put pressure on both Government and the courts to move swiftly to have the matter involving the former cane harvesters of that estate heard as speedily as

possible.

The union complained that the matter is still to be heard in the court which he finds very strange, but promised to fight on with the sugar workers until something is done.

GAWU’s lawyer, Ashton Chase had compiled and filed documents for the matter regarding the non-payment of severance packages to hundreds of sugar workers to be called up at the High Court.

Prior to the closure of the Wales estate in 2016,

GuySuCo had offered the cane harvesters work at the Uitvlugt Estate, but the workers with support from the union turned down the offer.

The workers and GAWU argument was that it would have been uneconomical for the workers to travel beyond 10 miles for work, and that there was not enough harvesting at the estate to cater for the large workforce that Wales intended to send home.

The Wales Estate closure was rationalised by

Government as a cost-saving measure due to billions of dollars that was allocated to the declining sugar industry. Since then, the scaling down of other estates across the country has been taking its course.

on the killings at Agricola.

Then Home Affairs Minister, Gail Teixeira, had reported to Cabinet that Felix did not refute that the voice was his but claimed that he was playing along with the VC to learn what the PNC knew and was thinking.

Moreover, Hinds explained that the PPP/C stayed away from holding a Commission of Inquiry, waiting on a time when it could have been healing.

“We would have expected that such a CoI would have been structured similarly to the one established by our Government in consultation with the then Opposition, to enquire into the 2012 disturbances in Linden, with international Commissioners and nominees of various national stakeholders,” he noted.

Meanwhile, former Local Government Minister under the PPP regime, Norman Whittaker, in a penned letter published on Thursday called out the coalition Government for its double standards in establishing the Lindo Creek CoI. He too called for the probe to be extended to cover the 1970s to 2010, which he described as the country’s most troubling and frightening periods of mayhem and violent actions from racially charged criminal activities.

Positing that serious crimes in Guyana were being committed before 2002, Whittaker said this move by the David Granger-led Administration is a crude attempt to exclude a very important period in the country’s history.

“We cannot have double standards. If we are seeking the truth, we cannot bury the

atrocities and the angst and the sufferings. We cannot hide this dark period of our country’s history. Neither must we conceal the perpetrators and the participants; the ringleaders behind the sinister sinful activities of that period… The Government has an obligation to the Guyanese people, and more specifically, those who would have suffered physically, mentally, materially and who are alive and still bear the scars, to the surviving relations of those who would have gone to the great beyond, to elicit the truth,” the former Minister and parliamentarian stated.

On this note, Whittaker challenged the Government and, by extension, the Commission of Inquiry to get to the proximate cause of the political, racial and accompanying criminal activities of the 1970s to 2010 with a view to uprooting and treating its innate causes.

He added that the role of the PNC, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force must be honestly highlighted in the violent activities of the period including the weapons which the GDF loaned to the PNC which are yet to be accounted for; the murder of then Education Minister Vincent Teekah, the 1973 Ballot Box Martyrs, the murder of Father Darke, the miscreant behaviour of members of the House of Israel and the inconclusive inquiry into the assassination of Walter Rodney; as well as the defence of criminals such as Andrew Douglas as freedom fighters, the notorious “Blackie” and the Guyana Flag and the criminal activities.

8 news

friDAY, February 2, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Trio nabbed after ganja, gun found in Canje River raid The Judicial process…

A The ganja field and one of the camps found being destroyed

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hree persons are now in custody following a drug-eradication exercise conducted on Thursday by ‘B’ Division Police in the Canje River.

A senior officer from ‘B’ Division (Berbice)Police reportedly headed a party of Policemen on the drug-eradication operation at Long

Hook, Canje River, during which the officers stumbled upon a field with an estimated 200,000 marijuana plants measuring from two to six feet. They also unearthed 100 kilograms of processed cannabis along with two camps nearby. These were all photographed before being destroyed by fire.

The items that were discovered in the camps

Additionally, the ranks took possession of a Baikay 12-gauge shotgun, an outboard engine, a chainsaw, a mist blower, and two grass cutters which were found in the two camps that were

destroyed. The items have since been lodged with the Police.

The three males who were arrested are assisting with the investigation.

Several injured in Linden Highway accident

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everal persons were injured on Wednesday afternoon when a minibus bound for Mahdia in Region 8 reportedly suffered a blowout in the vicinity of Moblissa on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway and toppled several times.

While details of the accident are sketchy, this publication understands that the driver of the bus, who

hails from Amelia's Ward, Linden, lost control of the vehicle after the blowout.

The injured passengers were taken to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC). They are 26-yearold Mark Cartwright of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, who suffered lacerations to the right foot; 46-year-old Burt Samuels of a West Bank Demerara vil-

lage, who has been hospitalized in stable condition; 38-year-old Curt Cox of a Pomeroon river community, who suffered trauma to the head and left hand; 26-yearold Jerry Jones of 1265 Section B, South Sophia, Greater Georgetown, who suffered head and shoulder injuries; and 39-year-old Mark Benjamin.

Cartwright and

2 injured in Golden Grove accident

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ifty-year-old Rudolph Adams of Mocha, East Bank Demerara was on Wednesday driving motorcycle CH 3068 along the East Coast Demerara Public Road with 31-year-old Brian Murray of Haslington, ECD as his pillion rider.

While at Golden Grove, a

motor car driven by a 31-yearold man of Nabaclis reportedly collided with the motorcycle, causing it to crash into a parked vehicle.

The impact sent Adams and Murray flying for some distance before sustaining a rough landing on the roadway.

They were picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were admitted and are nursing their injuries. The car driver, however, has been taken into Police custody as they continue their investigations into the accident.

Benjamin were treated at the hospital and sent away, while the other injured passengers were admitted in stable condition.

Jury empanelled as North West robberymurder trial begins

Deceased: Timothy Adams

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arlon Marian Freeman has denied that he was responsible for the murder of Timothy Adams, who allegedly met his demise during the course of a robbery at Turtle Creek, Five Star Backdam, North West District (NWD) on December 22, 2013. After Freeman entered the not-guilty plea when the charge was read to him, a 12-member jury was empanelled to hear the case before Justice James BovellDrakes at the High Court in Georgetown.

Freeman is represented by Defence Counsel Folio Richards while State Counsel Lisa Cave is presenting the State’s case. Reports were that the now deceased man met his demise while he was en route to a mining camp.

Justice Bovell-Drakes adjourned the matter to Monday afternoon when the first set of some 10 witnesses are expected to testify.

…and the Venez border controversy t long last – about the same number of years we’ve been independent, actually – things may finally become quiet on our western front. The Secretary-General of the UN has sent the Venezuelan border controversy over to the World Court – otherwise known as the International Court of Justice. Venezuela had insisted that the “jawboning” to arrive at a “political solution” – otherwise known as the “UN Secty-Gen Good Offices” - process continue.

Now we’ve been jawboning since 1990 and the Venezuelan Sword of Damocles threatening to slice off Essequibo remained firmly in place. Additionally, on land, the Venezuelan army fired across the border, while at sea they seized then chased off an oil exploration ship. We can’t go on like this…and we’ve now gotten a process that can swat away the Venezuelan sword – forever. This, of course, would allow us to continue our internecine war that’s also been boiling in that same time frame! But if we want to fight each other, that’s nobody’s business but ‘we own” – we don’t need the Venezuelans to periodically get us to become united when they rattle their swords!! Not one spring cuirass!!

But there’s a fly in the ointment. Venezuela had agreed to place the controversy in the hands of the UN Secretary General to pick a mechanism from Article 33 of the UN charter – which includes a “judicial settlement” if the Good Officer process ain’t going nowhere in his estimation. But the World Court has their own rules – one being if both countries don’t agree to the matter being brought to it, to the balking country, the decision’s only an “advisory”.

And that’s what Venezuela’s just signalled when they rejected the Secty-Gen’s World Court forum, which he’d signalled he was contemplating a year ago. But we have to proceed full steam ahead – have no doubt about that.

A decision of the World Court, after all, does matter in the new evolving international relations arena. No country REALLY wants those relations to be in an actual state of anarchy – so arbitrators like the World Court have more than “moral suasion”.

Now for the actual controversy, which arose when Venezuela claimed there was fraud/collusion between two arbitrators in the panel back in 1899 when the “full and final” arbitral decision was made, we’re solid. Apart from anything else, the documents underlying the claim were already produced by the Venezuelans back in the 1960s…and they confirmed there’s certainly no gun – much less a “smoking” one!!

Then, of course, if the World Court were to re-open a settled border to a claim made half a century later – they’d then certainly unleash anarchy upon the world!! …and Lindo Creek This PNC Government’s just thumbing their noses at the Guyanese people after the crescendo of protest over its first announcement of a “CoI on Crime”: only the period 2002-2009 would be covered. If the President’s proffered rationale is to uncover the “criminal network” with the collusion” of the PPP Govt – then, as your Eyewitness and countless commentators argued, it would make sense to begin in 1998 when the PNC unleashed their “slow fyaah” strategy.

Now the Government’s gone and appointed exJustice Donald Trotman – the father of the controversial Minister of Natural Resources – as the sole Commissioner to man the CoI!! With all due respect to the esteemed ex-Justice, at the age of EIGHTY, hasn’t he developed the sagacity to see how this will appear to the people of Guyana? Even if he were purer than Caesar’s wife, as with that poor woman, there will be speculation about his impartiality on whatever conclusion he forms at the end of the hearings.

Justice must not only be done: it must be seen to be done! …and petroleum contract Gaskin made the point your Eyewitness has been belabouring over the last year. If the contract had to be renegotiated after its self-expiring terms, why can’t Trotman be taken to court for overstepping his remit on allocating 600 blocks?

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

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friDAY, february 2, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Charity Market sunken wharf

Patterson denies being contacted by regional authorities P ublic Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has said the authorities of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) never contacted him in relation to the Charity Market Wharf that has sunk more than 6 inches in the past year.

However, Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt is maintaining that he had written the minister, informing him of the state of the wharf and requesting intervention of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI).

Engineers have declared that the Charity Market Wharf has sunk more than six inches and currently poses a serious risk to life and limb, but vendors utilizing the facility are refusing to relocate until the Public Infrastructure Ministry mobilizes a team to effect urgent repairs on the wharf.

In a previous interview Region 2 Chairman Devanand Ramdatt and Vice Chairwoman Nandranie Coonjah related that they had contacted the MPI for assistance, but were yet to receive a response.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdat

In a telephone interview with the Guyana Times, Minister Patterson said, “The Charity Market is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure; it is the responsibility of the Region. I have been reading the news, and no approach has been made to my ministry. We highlighted to them quite a while ago that it is an area of concern.

“I don’t know how the ministry’s name is being called now. I’ve seen reports that the

Chairman said he had written to me, and I don’t think that is quite true, but it is a regional problem. The Charity Market is and always has been under the control of the Region. We do the sea defence. The wharf is the (responsibility of the) region, not the ministry,” he explained.

Ramdatt, meanwhile, maintains that the minister was made aware of the situation, and that technical officers from the MPI had even been dispatched to the region some

time ago.

“How is it that his technical staff was here? How is it that the matter is engaging the Sea Defence Board, which comes under his responsibility?

As far as I know, wharfs and so on come under the responsibility of that ministry,” Ramdatt noted.

Vice Chairwoman of the Region, Nandranie Coonjah, has said the Charity Market Wharf has been engaging the attention of the region’s Works Committee since August of 2017, and that is the reason for the initial study on the wharf.

She explained that the Region 2 Engineer was engaged, and he and a team ventured below the wharf and discovered the rapid deterioration.

While under there, it was observed that there were large cracks on the floor, several boards were rotting, and most of the piles beneath the wharf were determined to be no longer able to support the structure; thus the solid concrete wharf is sitting precariously on a few remaining piles, and the prognosis is that it would like-

Some of the rotting piles supporting the wharf

ly collapse.

Vendors have reported that they are aware of the dangers posed by the state of the wharf, but they maintain that they “need a solid plan” before they can relocate their businesses. They are also waiting on the MPI to officially commence work on the wharf and remove

them from the spaces they currently occupy.

The structure is 32 years old and requires urgent attention, since over 30 persons utilize it for vending, and countless others for other purposes. It is also a parking area for many persons using their boats to traverse the Pomeroon River.

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friDAY, FEBRuary 2, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GuySuCo issues controversial lease to Montrose businessman R esidents of Montrose on the East Coast of Demerara raised concerns about an issued release of a reserved plot of land that borders the righthand side of the Montrose main road after developmental work is being undertaken by a businessman in the community.

According to the Chairman of the Better Hope/La Bonne Intention Neighbourhood Democratic

Council, Zaman Shaw, the reserve is currently being maintained by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Council has no control over the issue of the reserve’s release.

“The land is managed by GuySuCo, we the NDC have nothing to do with it, all we’re asked to do is be present when the Police come to remove an illegal structure on the reserve. So it was GuySuCo who issued the re-

lease,” Shaw said.

This came in response to a letter published in Tuesday’s edition of Guyana Times with headline “Who issued the lease for reserve land?”

The letter had stated that a massive piece on a stretch of reserve land has been fenced and construction works are ongoing. It further stated that the reserve land is a major part of the drainage system for the

NDC Chairman Zaman Shaw

Montrose and adjoining areas.

It is through this stretch of land that water flows to access the outfall which channels the water to and through the koker via the Montrose pump. This reserve thus plays a crucial role in draining heavy rainfall or any overtopping of the sea defences.

Moreover, the letter further stated that the residents of the area said they were told by the staff/ Councillors of the Better Hope/LBI NDC and the staff of the Communities Ministry that a lease was issued but did not revealed by whom.

This lease that was issued is held at the Better Hope- Heatwave Band LBI NDC.

Labourer killed after walking into path of minibus at Sarah Johanna

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labourer was on Wednesday afternoon killed after he reportedly walked into the path of a moving minibus at Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Persaud Hari, 64, of Lot 59 Sarah Johanna, EBD, succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

Based on reports gathered, the minibus driven by a 50-year-old man of Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, was proceeding to Georgetown when the father of three attempted to cross the roadway and came into the path of the minibus.

He was picked up in a conscious state and rushed to the medical institution but died while receiving medical attention. The driver underwent a breathalyser test but no trace of alcohol was found on his breath.

Nevertheless, he was taken into custody and is assisting with investigations.

Jairaj Hari, the dead man’s youngest son, told Guyana Times that he was at work when he received news of the accident. As such, he went straight to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was told that one of his father’s legs was broken.

“When I see him, he had on bandage on one of his foot but he had other bruises on his face and blood was on his clothes,” the man stated.

He noted that after he spoke with his father, he left the hospital at about 19:00h and went home.

The aggrieved son noted that when he returned to the Diamond Hospital on Thursday morning, he was told that his father had passed away.

“When I wake up this morning (Thursday), I see a missed call from the Police Officer who was investigating the matter… I nah had credit to call he back so I went straight to the hospital… after I get the news that my father died, I guess that officer de trying to call me”.

He explained that his father does odd jobs in the community and on the day in question, he was heading home after working on a farm. The son noted that his father was not under the influence of alcohol when he met in the accident although he would normally “take his lil thing”.

Nevertheless, he noted that the family is awaiting the post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death. The man leaves to mourn his three children.

S RAIGHT

NEWS

friDAY, february 2, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

House of NyahBinghi observes Black History Month especially in the area of agricultural business ventures.

The organisers explained on Thursday that during the various programmes there will be drumming, chanting and dancing at various locations from February 9 to 11, including at Mocha on the East Bank of Demerara and Sophia in, Greater Georgetown. The

A major reason for Guyana losing its manufacturing sector

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ome wise person once said for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The mismanagement of the energy sector since independence has been responsible in the main for the economic erosion within our manufacturing sector. In 1973, Guyana was spending about US$500 million on fuel imports during the energy crisis and to his credit, Mr Burnham at that time did promise the people that he will build a large hydropower plant in the Upper Mazaruni. The rest is history! That promise moved from a Guyanese hydropower plant to a Guyanese giant hydrocele with a huge amount of debt and nothing to show for it. By 1984 when Burnham finally surrendered to the reality, over G$1 billion was squandered and any plan for an aluminium smelter was shelved, burying Linden’s economic fortunes in the process.

UNDP did an extensive study on the hydropower potential in Guyana, but the closest Guyana ever got to unleashing that potential was the Amaila Falls Hydro Project under Mr Jagdeo, which has now been thoughtlessly abandoned by this Granger regime in exchange for a half-baked energy strategy that continues to hinder human development.

In addition to the underperformance in the energy sector, the prevalence of low-cost Chinese made goods, most of which can be made in Guyana, is a major inhibitor to the growth in the manufacturing sector. China has been able to manipulate its currency; employ children on the cheap (not follow standard labour practices); destroy the environment and cut corners on quality to get ahead to the disadvantage of Guyana, who cannot do the same because of the international rules. Collectively, these two reasons are stagnating the manufacturing sector.

Whenever a manufacturing facility closes its door, it leaves a black hole. Everything that supports that factory goes down with it. Guyanese jobs disappear, local people who supply that factory with materials, equipment, maintenance services and then all the other services around it like the markets, they all go down with that factory.

This is exactly what has happened to the Mon Repos Market based on a video I saw from CN Sharma on his “Voice of the People” programme in January 2018. The overwhelming consensus of the vendors was that “money nah circulating”. With the Enmore Factory mothballed by this Granger regime at the end of 2017, some 40,000 people along the East Coast of Demerara were directly and indirectly affected in their pockets. The same experiences have been experienced on the West Demerara and in the Corentyne. People have mortgages/rent to pay and they have to put food on the table. Just meeting these two basic needs will become impossible for thousands of families if some of these sugar factories are not re-opened in private hands within the next six months. As the experience from the bauxite industry revealed, severance money can only last so long especially when they are getting less than G$500,000.

In any country, the bricks and mortar associated with success are the agriculture, mining, housing, and manufacturing sectors. On all four fronts, the policies of this Granger regime have directly contributed to the active destruction of these sectors with some respite in the mining sector. It is these sectors that make Guyana tick, and it is unfortunate that the members of Team Granger are not empathetic to this fact.

So coming back to the ordinary market vendors in the Mon Repos Market, no policymakers should take their comments lightly. It is a sure way of testing the pulse of the economy and progressive public policies must be crafted urgently to recalibrate the economy.

This brings me to a pertinent point – imports. Pigeon peas in a tin? Give me a break! Now can you understand why the economy is stifling? The world has unrestricted access to the Guyanese market and continues to flood it with their products. Unfortunately, because of our high cost and unreliable electricity and an unresponsive government investment policy, Guyana has restricted access to the world market. This is an uneven relationship and must be addressed. All the signs are pointing to the fact that more factory closures in the manufacturing sector are set to happen unless President Granger and his team act now and fast!

Please share your thoughts at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

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Cuffy: The 1763 Monument depicting the “Great Rebellion” that occurred on Plantation Magdalenenburg, in Canje, Berbice

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ountries worldwide continue to adopt Black History Month, and Guyana’s House of NyahBinghi will host a series of events to mark the festivities.

The East Coast Demerara communities of Bachelor’s Adventure and Paradise will be venue to a

host of activities planned to mark this year’s Black History Month observances. Over the next three days, the House of NyahBinghi will host lectures and documentaries at Bare Root, Bachelor’s Adventure from 18:00h, and special focus will be placed on development of Rastafarian Youth,

activities will culminate at Buxton from Republic Day to February 25, 2018.

Black History Month was originally set aside every February to highlight the challenges and achievements of African Americans, but the celebration has been adopted by a number of other countries across the globe.

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friDAY, february 2, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Roger Hinds 'Young bill Rogers'

Colwin Blair 'lil Colwin'

Colwyn Abrams 'Cwyn' Samantha Grant

Melissa 'Vanilla' Roberts

Quacy Coates 'DJ Avalanche'

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fter a two-year hiatus, the Carib Soca Monarch is back but with the absence of several well-known performers, including former champion, Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo and reigning Carib Soca Monarch, Kwasi “Ace” Edmondson.

This year, the competition will be held in two segments – the first is the semi-final slated for the McKenzie Sport Club Ground on February 10 and the final billed for the National Park on February 17.

The competition will see 15 artistes competing for the title.

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Jonathan 'Lil Red' King

Initially, the organisers received 18 applications but after an intense house judging, the best 15 were given the green light.

At the semi-finals, five of the contestants will be eliminated and final 10 will go ahead and compete in the finals. Point to note however, this year the competition is run by the Education Ministry through the culture, youth and sport department but ANSA McAL under the Carib Beer Brand remains the title sponsor.

The 15 shortlisted to compete for the title are: Alisha “Sasha

Alisha Hamid 'Sasha Melody'

Melody” Hamid with her tune, “Love Off Meh”; Brandon Harding with “Alive”; Colwin “Lil Colwin” Blair with “Leave Me Alone”; Colwyn “Soca Cwyn” Abrams will perform “Soca Rage”; Delon “Soca Del” Azore will do his rendition “Take A Bounce”; Diana Chapman with “Get Ready”; and Jonathan “Lil Red” King with “Water, Paint & Powder”.

Keron “Norek Mas” Sam is all set with his tune “Power Soca”; Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts will perform “We Run Things”; Quacy “Avalanche” Coates will sing

ed Square Vodka will be doing it again this year with its sponsored concert titled “A Night to Remember” which is billed for three locations on March 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

The concert will feature “Guyanese Baboo” Terry Gajraj and singing sensation Devindra Pooran. Alongside them will be veteran Celia Samaroo, rising stars Vicadi Singh and Steven Ramphal.

They will be assisted by the Shakti Strings Orchestra and will feature Aamir Khan, Avinash Ropchand and others.

On March 1, the event will be held at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground; on March 3, the event will go to Tain Berbice at the University of Guyana Campus; and on March 4, the show will be at Aracari Resort, Versailles, West Bank Demerara.

Guyana Times Entertainment was informed that Terry Gajraj as well as the Shakti Strings Orchestra will not be performing at the Aracari Resort but the others listed on the cast will.

The emcee for the shows will be popular radio personality, Seegobin. Tickets for the events will be $1000 and will be available at regular ticketing agents.

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Stanton 'Cardiac' Lewis

Keron 'Norek Mas' Sam

his tune “Life”; Roger “Young Bill Rogers” Hinds with “De Money Power Dance”; Roshauna Fraser will perform “Show Me”; Samantha Grant is expected to perform “Ah Playing Mas”; Shellon “Fluffy” Gally will sing her song titled “Bam Bam” and wrapping up the 15 contestants vying for the title of Carib Soca Monarch 2018 is Stanton “Cardiac” Lewis with his tune titled “Welcome Guyana”.

The competition is expected to be heated since each artiste will bring their own flare and experience to the stage. While it’s too

early to predict the outcome of the competition, eyes will be on the return of Brandon Harding. His tune has been creating quite a buzz.

Vanilla Roberts is also someone to look out for, as well as Young Bill Rogers.

Jonathan “Big Red” King can also work the stage and so can Colwyn Abrams. The newcomers will be greeted with a battle as they compete with the experienced guys. Guyana Times Entertainment extends best wishes to the artistes.

he versatile due, Nishard Mayrhoo, popularly known as “Nishard M” and Neval Chatelal were on Saturday evening crowned International Chutney/Soca Monarch (CSM) when the competition was held at Skinner Park, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago.

The debutante turned up the heat enough to outshine several other contenders for the coveted crown. Coming in second was Omadath Maharaj and copping the third position spot was Nermal Massive Gosein.

Mayrhoo and Chatelal delivered a hyped performance of their song, "Masala" which began with a fusion of chutney and calypso and eventually exploded into a combination of soca brass, chutney drums and crafty lyrics.

Both artistes said their determination paid off since they would have placed in the competition before but never copped the title. The duo will share the $300,000 which was a drastic drop in prize money when compared to previous years.

Earlier in January, CSM was cancelled after the National Lotteries Control Board withdrew sponsorship. Within a few hours after the announcement of the cancellation, trinidad’s Finance Minister Colm Imbert intervened and committed TT$1 million to the show.

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, february 2, 2018

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total of 17 chutney singers have been selected to participate in this year’s Annual Chutney Monarch Competition organised by the Social Cohesion Ministry, with Rajesh Dubraj as the convenor.

Following the auditions, 21 singers were initially selected to participate but two withdrew due to travelling

difficulties and two due to personal commitments.

However, the semi-finals are set for Sunday, February 11 at the Bartica Community Centre Ground, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and the grand finale is set for Sunday, February 18 at the Leonora Synthetic Track, West Coast Demerara.

At the semi-finals, six persons will be eliminated and will compete against reigning Chutney Monarch Vanita Wallie at the finals. Wallie’s song for this year’s chutney monarch is titled, “Phool Basiya and She Husband”.

Below are the names of the competing singers as well as the names of their songs.

NAME Steven Ramphal Sasenarine Hitnarayan Sherldon Adrian Lyken Derick Anthony Mangal Parsasram Singh Arijit singh Chait Singh Mohanlall

SINGING NAME Steven Ramphal Prince HTN Mighty Eagle Bright Colours Vicadi Singh Arijit Singh Bunty Singh

NAME OF SONG Mujhe Sangeet se Pyar Hai Guyanese Larki Me Na Vex Yuh Go Chutney Lovia Meet de Nanny Wedding Story Banwari ,Poonwasie & de lokni

Haresh Singh Eze Baird Roger Hinds Simone Lyte Mahadeo Tatpaul Kumdeo Singh Hamesh Rhyna Deoshankar Mohan Ramrattie Heiralall

Big Haresh King solo Young Bill Raja Enomis Dennis Tatpaul Birdee Singh Entertainer V Star Ravi D Amanda the Little Lady

Chutney Raja Savitri Meh Larki Always Fretting Chutney Music Awo Mere Larki Nazima Chamkeying Essequibo Gyal- The Dreamer Amanda the Little Lady N a Ready To Marry

Steven Ramphal Reigning Chutney Monarch Vanita Wallie

Bill Rogers

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s Guyana counts down to Mash 2018, corporate Guyana is making sure there are enough activities to entertain Guyanese to the fullest.

As usual, ANSA McAL is one of the major sponsors of events especially under its Stag Beer Brand. For the past few years, ANSA McAL has been hosting “Stage” – one of the biggest parties leading up to the Mash Day. This year, it gets even better as the beverage company has set aside two nights for Guyanese to have a blast.

The two nights – February 21 and 22 – are expected to be epic. On February 21, Trinidad’s Soca Queen, Dextra and her band will headline the event along with Nadia Batson and Guyana’s own Kwasi “Ace” Edmundson and the Heatwave Band.

On February 22, it will be Farmer Nappy, Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo and the upcoming musical band Ultimate Rejects. On both evenings, gates will be opened at 18:00h with showtime set to commence at 20:00h.

Tickets will not be sold but customers can purchase any two Stag specials and win a season ticket. The Stag special may vary at various bars. Patrons are encouraged to get their passes as early as possible and be a part of the biggest fete for the season.

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ooking for an adventure, then grab your partner or bestie or even a group of friends and head down to Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) for the 2018 Rupununi Music and Arts Festival – a weekend of art, craft, culture and camping which kicks off on February 16 until the 18.

This year’s festival is the third edition and will be held at the Manari Ranch near Lethem with fun packed adventures throughout.

Over the festival w e e k e n d , the days will feature exciting adventures, while the nights will be filled with fun camping activities, including cultural programmes all aimed at community building and encouraging social cohesion at the highest levels.

Among the day time activities are: early morning yoga sessions; group meditation, keep fit, zumba, capoeira. Additionally, there will also be workshops on jewellery making, music, dance, art, wood carving, etc.

Visitors will get the opportunity to go on guided tours through the Savannah, to nearby waterfalls and other sites. They can also enjoy outdoors adventures such as bird watching, fishing, biking and hikes.

The St Stanislaus College Scout Group will be present on site, to lend to the 'camping spirit' by building a Monkey Bridge which can be traversed by festival goers.

The weekend also offers ‘a window’ into the rich variety of world music for everyone which will

Bunty Singh

be on full display after the sun sets. Night time fun will begin with many cultural presentations from both local and overseas artistes.

Among the line-up of local performers are Creole Rock, Feed The Flames, Jazz and Poetry Ona Stool, Trevaun Selman, Nachgana Dancers, Surama Cultural Group and more are to be added – an announcement will be made in the coming weeks. Additionally, there will also be performances by our neighbouring artistes from Brazil and Suriname.

At the end of every night, there will be a huge campfire where visitors will gather to singing songs, recite stories and just enjoy each other’s company.

The packages for the third edition of the Rupununi Music and Arts Festival are in two categories and the prices vary on the number of persons.

For those walking with their own camping tents, the packages are: one person - $6000; two persons - $11,000; three persons $15,000; four persons - $20,000 and six persons - $27,000.

There are also packages which includes tents and the cost for those are: one person - $9000; two persons - $17,000; three persons - $25,500; four persons - $27,000 and six persons - $36,000.

More information can be found on the festival’s official website: www.rupununifestival.com Also check out their facebook page for updates on the festival including ticket locations as well as for specials on packages.

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friDAY, february 2, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Sacked workers urged to enter small business sector

Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Bureau of the Ministry of Business, Dr Lowell Porter

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orkers who have been dismissed from the Skeldon Sugar Factory and the former Rose Hall Estate are being encouraged to develop new skills and to get into a business.

On Wednesday, the former workers benefited from a financial education forum -- a collaborative effort between the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Ministry of Business’s Small Business Bureau.

Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Bureau, Dr. Lowell Porter, explained that the objective was to have an awareness programme so that the severed sugar workers would have an option relative to investing their severance pay.

“Where should I put my money? Or should I put it anywhere?” he asked rhetor-

ically. “Without this forum, those questions would never be answered,” he remarked.

The one-day financial, business and investment forum was held at the Skeldon Community Centre. Among those in attendance were commercial banks, insurance companies, the Private Sector Commission and the Guyana Stock Exchange.

According to Dr. Porter, the workers have already been dismissed, and persons need to make adjustments.

He said there are opportunities out there, and the former employees might need some guidance to take advantage of them.

Initially, the former workers were particularly concerned about the future of their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions, and whether they would have to continue making contributions if they were to start up a new business.

Regional Director of NIS, John Bishop, explained why many workers who have been attached to the sugar company have in the past had difficulty accessing their benefits.

According to him, because of the system which GuySuCo had in place for employment, many persons had falsified information to gain employment.

“So the information which you supplied does not correlate with now. So the question is: ‘who is to be blamed?’ Are we here to (ap-

Guyana Stock Exchange General Manager George Edwards

portion) blame? No, this is a critical juncture, where we shouldn’t be blaming anyone. What we should be doing is reconciling what we have with the NIS, ensuring that our information on the database is correct,” he explained.

However, Bobby Seepersaud, representing the insurance industry, said the NIS pays a pension which is equivalent to only 40 percent of a person’s wage, hence there is need to have an insurance plan which can back that up. He also noted that insurance can provide financial assistance in times of tragedy, and those who are injured and unable to work can still have their financial commitments met.

Meanwhile, General Manager of the Guyana Stock Exchange, George Edwards, explained how the

stock exchange operates. He said it is somewhat different for purchasing ordinary shares from a company.

“While in the market out there you can go yourself, in the stock market, you have to go through trained, qualified individuals,” he explained. Those individuals, he added, are called brokers.

Edwards advised persons who were going to put their money in the bank to take note of the interest rate which the bank will be offering, and not have their money there for safe-keeping.

Buying shares, he said, had an advantage over banking, in that the dividends paid to shareholders are taxfree, while in Guyana there is a 20 per cent tax on the interest paid to customers.

The forum had less than three dozen persons in attendance, and only two persons from the Rose Hall

Some of the persons who attended the forum

Estate.

Dr. Porter has said there will be follow-up programmes, since Wednesday’s could be considered a general forum. Those follow-up programmes will be done in the form of business clinics which address the specific needs of specific groups of persons who want to get into business, he explained.

“Let’s sit down one to one and find out what is it that you want to achieve, and we will see how we can assist you to get there,” he explained, while noting that the Small Business Bureau will back up with 40 per cent of the equality required by banks to obtain a loan, and the agency would assist with preparing business plans.

Guyana to focus on building cohesion …as Interfaith Harmony Week launched

Government Ministers and representatives from the various religious organisations were at the launch of World Interfaith Harmony Week

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ollowing a proposal taken to the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2010 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, that august body declared the first week of February World Interfaith Harmony Week.

This year, World Interfaith Harmony Week is being observed under the love of the good and love of the neighbour banner, with the national theme being ‘Fostering Social Cohesion in Guyana.’

Social Cohesion Minister, Dr. George Norton, at the

launch of the week of activities, commended religious leaders for the role they have played in encouraging religious harmony in Guyana. He told the gathering he believes that Guyana is a model of interfaith harmony, adding that he is proud of the high level of religious tolerance exhibited.

“I am confident that if we apply the very tolerance and respect we have for religion to other areas of our lives, then Guyana can become the epitome of peace and love, and a model for the

world to follow,” he said.

“I want to encourage you to teach your child love for humanity. Children are our future, and they weren’t born with biases; so let us foster their innocence to create a better, more peaceful world,” Norton added.

At the launching of the Week was Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes, who said the week should be used to pause and reflect on the important message of love for God and neighbour.

Continued on page 15

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friDAY, february 2, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

UG Turkeyen and Tain Talks 11

Reformed sex ed curriculum needed in schools

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he current Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) programme, offered in secondary schools, lacks relevance and is inadequate in meeting the needs of adolescents while denying them access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, according to the Guyana Equality Forum (GEF).

GEF’s representative, Joel Simpson, made that statement at the University of Guyana’s 11th Turkeyen and Tain Talks on the topic “Education and Freedom: Education Reform and SocioEconomic Development in Guyana”.

Simpson was one of the panellists at the Turkeyen and Tain Talks along with Chair of the Education Reform Commission, Ed Caesar; Chair of the St Stanislaus College Board of Governors, Chris Fernandes; Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson; Guyana Teachers Union General Secretary Coretta McDonald; National Science Coordinator Petal Punalall-Jetoo; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Engagement, Professor Michael Scott; and Conservation International Guyana Vice President, Dr David Singh.

In his presentation, Simpson said that the lack of comprehensive sexuality education, homophobic and transphobic bullying and school dropouts along with the gaps in the reintegration of teenaged mothers into the school system were issues that were deliberately ignored while discussing education reform.

He noted that evaluations by the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) have shown that programmes on sexual education could help youths delay the onset of sexual activity, reduce risky sexual behaviour, reduce the number of sexual part-

St Stanislaus College Board of Governors Chairman, Chris Fernandes

ners, and increase responsible behaviour, including protection from HIV; Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancy.

In addition, he explained that the GRPA’s evaluations of the HFLE programme taught in public secondary schools in Guyana found that it ignored the basic human rights of young people by denying them critical information on a range of issues.

“The GEF and GRPA view the HFLE programme as lacking relevance and inadequate to meet the needs of adolescents and denies them access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services,” Simpson noted.

“Young people need honest, effective sex education that is comprehensive and rights based – not ineffective, shame-based abstinence-only programmes. The HFLE programme is a failure because it has not shown any positive changes in reducing teenage pregnancy and STIs in young people,” he added.

Simpson called on the Education Ministry to work closely with civil society and key stakeholders to implement a comprehensive sexual education programme in the public school system

while proving safe spaces for students to discuss sex and sexuality with counsellors.

During his passionate presentation, Simpson, Managing Director of the LGBT advocacy group SASOD, noted that while there were rules for teachers to not discriminate against students based on ability, race, colour or creed, there were no rules that covered sexuality or gender identity.

He added that LGBT students were dropping out of school because there were no laws, policies or mechanisms in Guyana to protect or offer redress to them when they experience stigma and discrimination in the education system. He noted that SASOD and the Guyana Trans United had documented instances where these students were discriminated in clear view of the teachers and nothing was being done to address the level of bullying.

“In some instances, the discrimination of LGBT students are from the teachers themselves and in plain and open view for others to witness,” he noted.

Additionally, Simpson said Guyana lacked any system to reintegrate teenaged mothers in the school system. He recommended that a reintegration policy be developed and implemented to ensure that girls could complete their secondary education after giving birth.

He also suggested that the Education Ministry’s Policy on Discipline of Teachers’ Code of Conduct include sexual orientation and gender identity as protective categories from abuse and discrimination.

Review management of Education Ministry

Meanwhile, St Stanislaus College Board Chairman Fernandes noted that there was no short-term fix of the education system, adding

that an extensive long-term plan was needed. He explained that Guyana was in a state where private schools were outperforming the public ones and those students from the private primary schools were gaining entry into the top public secondary schools, which undermines the goal of equal opportunity and equity in education.

Fernandes told the gathering that it was his opinion that the management of the Education Ministry needed to be revised since the Ministers failed to consider their tenure as a long-term assignment.

“They seem more interested in creating a public relations programme to make the results being achieved look good as they can during their period at the helm,” he noted.

Education Minister Nicolette Henry was supposed to be one of the panellists at the event, but for some reason could not attend

GEF’s representative, Joel Simpson

and sent her CEO. Fernandes explained that the day-to-day operations of the Education Ministry needed to be handled by someone who was highly-trained and qualified and supported by two equally qualified deputies.

“Our emphasis should be for a total audit review of the management system

Free StreamTV access for GTT customers on 20 channels

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TT customers now have the additional value of accessing 20 television channels for free via the company’s StreamTV service.

StreamTV is a free video product featuring live TV channels including the highest rated primetime content from the US networks as well as live news.

The service first became available to GTT customers in December 2017, and has been receiving positive reviews from those who have been streaming.

Access is available on devices connected to fixed WIFI available through GTT’s DSL, Silver, Gold and Blaze High Speed Internet.

There is currently a special

promotional offer which also allows DSL Bronze customers access to the service until the end of February 2018.

The service can be activated through a browser by logging in at gttstreamtv.com to register.

Smartphones, tablets, PCs, and laptops are some of the common devices used to access the web application.

GTT’s StreamTV al-

Govt covers housing fees for Guyana to focus on... hinterland teachers – Harmon

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n light of reports that teachers who are seconded to the hinterland have to pay for their own accommodation, Minister of State Joseph Harmon has rubbished such reports, claiming that once a teacher is sent in the hinterland to perform duties, the Government takes care of it.

“Once they come from the coast to the hinterland, there is supposed to be State accommodation provided unless teachers refuse the accommodation provided, they will have to pay the cost for wherever they choose to stay”.

In a letter published

by Guyana Times, it is alleged that the head teacher of Saxacalli Primary School was required to pay 10 percent of his salary as rent for the teacher’s living quarters

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

that he is temporarily occupying.

It was also highlighted that hinterland teachers would use their own computers and printers to complete tasks for the school without getting a stipend

from the Government for using same. In some instances, the Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) is concerned that the aforementioned situation could lead to some teachers returning to the coastland.

As such, the PTA has called for the matter to be investigated and dealt with at once since it believes if teachers return to the coastland, it will add to the already fragile situation where the hinterland schools lack teachers.

Meanwhile, Regional Executive Officer, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) Gavin Gunga denied that hinterland teachers have to pay for their own money for their accommodation. When further questioned, he reiterated that “No, they do not have to pay anything.”

of the Ministry in which the Minister should just be the executive chairman,” he submitted.

CEO Hutson noted that the education system was a work in progress, adding that the Ministry was aware that there was much more to be done for the development of the sector.

“We know inherently that we want to live together in peace and harmony, and that confrontation is not a natural inclination. We need moral courage to allow us to go beyond racial prejudices; we must cultivate moral courage,” Hughes stated.

According to the World Interfaith Harmony Week’s website, the week is based on the pioneering work of The Common Word Initiative, which started in 2007. The initiative called for Muslim and Christian leaders to engage in a dialogue based on two common fundamental religious Commandments: Love of God, and Love of the Neighbour, without compromising any of their own religious tenets.

The Two Commandments are at the heart of the three Monotheistic religions, and therefore provide the most solid theological ground pos-

sible.

The World Interfaith Harmony Week provides a platform upon which all interfaith groups and other groups of goodwill can show the world what a powerful movement their unity is.

The thousands of events organized by these groups often go unnoticed, not only by the general public, but also by other groups themselves.

World Interfaith Harmony Week will allow for these groups to become

lows up to two simultaneous streams per StreamTV account and all of the live streams can be recorded for viewing up to 30 days later.

The available channels are ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS, CW, One America News, Newsmax, AWE, Sankhya, TVG 28, HJTV, HGPTV, TBN, QVC, Three Angels, EWTN, Word and Daystar.

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aware of each other, and strengthen the movement by building ties and avoiding duplicating each other’s efforts.

It is hoped that this initiative would provide a focal point from which all people of goodwill can recognize that the common values they hold far outweigh the differences they have, and thus provide a strong dosage of peace and harmony to their communities.

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friDAY, february 2, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

IAC calls for Lusignan massacre to be included in CoI – urges Govt to establish national reconciliation platform

The 11 victims of the Lusignan massacre

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he Indian Action Committee (IAC) has raised several concerns following the launching of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Lindo Creek massacre, and has called on Government to have the enquiries expanded to include other tragedies, especially those that had a nationwide impact on Guyanese, like the Lusignan massacre.

The IAC has said that while it recognises the importance of this CoI, and that it is the Government’s intention to unearth answers surrounding events linked to the June, 2008 massacre, which claimed the lives of eight miners who were brutally killed, the CoI must not

be confined to any particular incident, or to a selected few.

“These enquiries must be expanded to include others, which the IAC remains convinced were designed through maximum casualties or infliction of violence to instill fear into the hearts and minds of Guyanese, especially those of East Indian descent,” the organisation said on Thursday.

The IAC is calling for the commencement of an inquiry into the Lusignan massacre, which saw the brutal murder of eleven residents of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara on 26 January 2008. “Eleven innocent, poor, unsuspecting and defenceless residents, including five children, were slaughtered

in the dark of night by heavily armed, merciless gunmen,” the IAC recalled.

The organisation also pointed out that like all other families who suffered, those in Lusignan would also like closure, as they remain “befuddled over what could have precipitated such a dastardly attack.”

The IAC is also calling for an inquiry into the unprovoked attack on IndoGuyanese on January 12, 1998, primarily in the City of Georgetown. “Many were beaten, stripped and robbed by various gangs in what was believed to be their dissatisfaction over a High Court decision relating to the 1997 election petition. Twenty years after, many are still

Region 6 to Govt: Provide free transport for dismissed workers’ children

Samuel T Fraser voted against the motion

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he Region Six RDC on Thursday voted unanimously on a motion to provide, and finance, transportation for the children of severed sugar workers in the Rose Hall Canje/ East Bank Berbice area and in the areas from Crabwood Creek to Number 56 Village on the Corentyne.

Put to the house by Regional Vice Chairman Dennis DeRoop, the motion received full support from both the People’s Progressive Party and A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change.

In the motion, DeRoop called for Government to provide funding to the RDC for this transportation.

He noted that 1,141 sugar workers from Rose Hall Canje Estate and 1,851 from Skeldon Estate were severed by GuySuCo and the Government of Guyana.

“The workers were unable to secure alternative employment, and no alternative employment was provided by the Government,” he told the RDC, while adding that the sugar workers and their families have been severely and adversely affected.

He said the severed sugar workers have thousands of children attending school. and because of the unconscionable decision of GuySuCo and the Government, they are no longer able to send their children to school.

The RDC, he said, should be issued with funding to provide financing for the transportation of the affected children. All of the coalition councillors supported the motion.

And in a second motion put to the RDC, DeRoop called on Government to subsidize Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and Guyana Water Inc (GWI) bills for these severed sugar workers.

The motion noted that the severed sugar workers are facing tremendous hard-

intimidated and scarred by that sudden unleashing of violence and the subsequent humiliation they were forced to endure,” the organisation said.

The IAC has said it is hopeful that eventually the findings of these inquiries would form the basis for the establishment of a national reconciliation platform, which it is firmly recommending. The organization is of the view that rather than a continuation of blame and hate, the platform could provide a much needed mechanism to aid in healing and the fostering of national harmony.

The IAC is of the firm view, based on this recommendation, that there is an urgent need for the members of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to be

sworn in immediately, since parliamentary approval has already been given. The IAC has said the ERC seems best suited to facilitate such a platform.

Meanwhile, former President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Tuesday that events prior to 2002 have to be taken into account. He said the involvement of the People’s National Congress (PNC) (the majority partner in the coalition) in the killings and civil disturbances proceeding that year must be investigated.

Jagdeo, who incidentally serves as the Opposition Leader, also highlighted several other incidents that the PNC has been named in. “Where are the 155 high-powered military weapons that were loaned to the PNC’s Ministry of National Development?” Jagdeo questioned.

The People’s Progressive

Party/Civic (PPP/C), on the other hand, on Wednesday said the Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was established with a clear political objective. That party has highlighted that the Commission was set up along partisan lines, and is being headed by only one individual.

The PPP/C has said it notes the unilateral establishment of the Commission, like others named under the Government, underscoring the deviation from the approach of the PPP Government to have bi-partisan talks.

The PPP has said that, given the nature of the Commission’s establishment and the decision to start an inquiry with the incidents at Lindo Creek as opposed to a more comprehensive review of the crime wave, the Party would find it difficult to participate in any of the events.

Herbal doctor, man arrested with narco filled capsules

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herbal doctor is among two persons arrested on Wednesday by ranks in F Division (Interior Locations) after they were found in possession of capsules containing suspected narcotics, along with smoking utensils.

The discovery was made during an intelligence-led operation carried out by the Police at a house located at Port Kaituma Water Front, North West District (NWD).

According to reports received, during a search of the premises, the ranks unearthed a quantity of smoking utensils, capsules and tablets containing 10 grams of hashish and other narcotics.

At the time, the 50-yearold herbal doctor, of Victoria Village, East Coast

The items discovered by the Police at the premises of the herbal doctor

Demerara, and a 42-yearold unemployed resident, of Port Kaituma Water Front and South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown, were in the house.

The two suspects are in custody, assisting with the investigation. Meanwhile, the Police have since sent samples of the suspected narcotics for analysis.

Morgan’s Learning Centre opens multimillion-dollar facility

A Regional Vice Chairman Dennis DeRoop

ships, are unable to provide for the needs of their families, and have been unable to pay their GPL and GWI bills. Also, because of the direct action of the Government and GuySuCo, the communities that the severed workers reside in have become depressed.

That motion received unanimous support, with only Coalition Councillor Samuel T Fraser voting against it.

The RDC is now expected to instruct Regional Executive Officer Kim Williams-Stephen to inform Government of the wishes of the RDC. The RDC is hoping that Government would act swiftly.

s Guyana seeks to improve its education delivery, Morgan’s Learning Centre, a private educational learning institution, has enhanced its operations, having moved into a multimillion-dollar facility that will mainly cater for underprivileged students from Forms One to Six. The school has set an aim to provide quality education where students can be comfortable. The facility’s Director, Orin Morgan says it took a lot of hard work and dedication to improve the Centre’s standards, moving from a place where classes were held at the lower section of another building.

“We at Morgan’s Learning Centre are pleased that we can contribute towards the moulding of Guyana’s children and there is no better feeling that we get as teachers than when

The Morgan’s Learning Centre

we can move a child from nothing to something,” Morgan observed.

The Centre will also offer classes to school dropouts and while being a private entity, Guyana Teacher Union General Sectary Coretta McDonald says the Centre will assist in enhancing education delivery in the country.

“Children who we think don’t have a second chance,

Morgan is a person who would have recognised those persons and they now have a chance of making themselves what they really want to be,” the trade unionist pointed out.

She added that the union will look into the interests of teachers at the school.

The school will offer subject areas at the levels of CXC and CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency).

NEWS

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friDAY, february 2, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jamaican announced Husband batters wife with iron as GPL’s new CEO – Badal's tenure as Chairman ends

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Jamaican national has been appointed to serve as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. Albert Gordon’s appointment took effect from Thursday.

Coincidentally, Chairman of the GPL Board of Directors, Robert Badal also announced the end of his tenure. Badal was first appointed to that post in January 2016.

Gordon, who served previously as President of the National Water Commission of Jamaica (NWC), has several decades at extensive experience in water, sewerage and electric utilities.

Prior to his tenure at the NWC, where he also served in several senior capacities, he held several senior managerial posts in strategic planning, private power projects and generation and transmissions systems development planning at the Jamaica Public Service Company.

Gordon also served as Director General of the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) Jamaica, appointed by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen. He holds a Bachelor of

Christina Totaram

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hirty-four-year-old Gladstone Simmons, who with a piece of iron allegedly inflicted a brutal beating on his reputed wife Christina Totaram when he uplifted the woman from her place of work in the wee hours of January 21, and was taken into Police custody and questioned for New GPL CEO Albert Gordon (left) and outgoing GPL Chairman Robert Badal

Science degree in electrical engineering and an MBA. Meanwhile, Badal said in a statement following the announcement of the end of his tenure as Chairman that he needed “every day of my time to focus on my companies’ expansion plans”.

Badal is also the CEO of the Guyana Stockfeeds

Company on the East Bank of Demerara and the owner of the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown.

“I am now waiting on the appointment of a new board by the Minister of Infrastructure (David Patterson) to execute a smooth handover,” he said in the statement.

the heinous act, is likely to be charged and placed before the courts sometime today.

Totaram, an East Bank Demerara resident, is still recovering from the injuries she sustained from that ordeal, and has said she is fearful that the man would return and carry out similar acts. She is calling for the Police to actively pursue her matter.

In images circulating on social media, the battered body of the mother of three was seen with black and blue marks on her hands, feet and back. She was hospitalised and bore several long stitches on her hand.

Still coping with a broken arm, Totaram claimed that Simmons became angry after she was having a telephone conversation which he assumed was with another man. The woman said that when she denied the man’s accusations, it angered him even more, and he began to

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan; Deputy UNDP Resident Representative for Guyana, Shabnam Mallick; US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway and other members of the National CariSECURE Task Force

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ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan on Wednesday convened the first meeting of the National CariSECURE – Strengthening Evidence Based Decision Making for Citizen Security in the Caribbean Task Force for the implementation of data-driven tools for evidence-based policy-making in Guyana.

The Task Force was established last November to bolster evidence-driven crime prevention.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Public Security Ministry; Guyana Police Force (GPF); Guyana Prison Service (GPS); Bureau of Statistics; Ministry of Public Health; Ministry of Legal Affairs; Ministry of Social Protection; Director of Public Prosecutions Chambers; Ministry of Social Cohesion, Department of Culture,

Youth and Sport. Also, in attendance was Paolo Del Mistro, Team Leader on the CariSECURE Project.

The meeting looked at the 2018 Annual Work Plan which included the establishment of a Table of Equivalencies, adoption of the Caribbean Composite Citizen Security Indicator Framework, adoption of the Caribbean Composite Citizen Security Data Sharing Agreement, design and deployment of a Crime Information Management System, piloting of the Women’s Health and Life Experiences Survey and the crime victimisation and perception survey, and Guyana guidance note on Citizen Security Data Collection and Dissemination.

Minister Ramjattan highlighted the roles and responsibilities of the Task Force. These included the best approaches and mechanisms for effective im-

beat her with the piece of iron.

Guyana Times understands that at least one other male was present when the woman was being beaten, but he apparently was too sacred to intervene.

Garbage collection fee consultation

Albouystown/Charlestown residents agree to pay fee …call for reassessment of collection days

in the community dumping faeces ion the alleyways and other unsanitary materials in the drains, resulting in the creation of health hazards.

They suggest that action be taken against those defaulting residents.

The aim of the fee imple-

1st meeting of Task Force on evidence-driven crime prevention held plementation of the 2018 Work Plan.

The Public Security Minister went on to reiterate Government’s national priorities and commitment to advance citizen security.

He also expressed his sincere gratitude to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for their support in implementing CariSECURE. CariSECURE is being implemented in 10 Eastern and Southern Caribbean countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, with specific emphasis on Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia as priority countries.

The project is geared towards improving the quality, comparability, reliability and use of information management systems to inform citizen security policies and programmes.

This year is expected to see the arrival of a company to design the system to support an integrated data collection system for all the relevant sources, and the acquisition of computers for the various stations and other offices from which data will be sourced.

Some of the injuries the mother of three received

The six residents, inclusive of Councillor Carolyn Fraser, at the consultation

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s City Hall prepares to implement a fee for the collection of household garbage, residents of the Georgetown wards of Albouystown and Charlestown, represented by only six persons who attended the consultation, have signalled their support for the initiative, but have proposed a reassessment of the days when garbage would be collected in their wards.

The City’s Solid Waste Director, Walter Narine, hosted the penultimate consultation at the Albouystown Health Centre before the recommendation is taken to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) for decision.

The consultation exercise was ordered by Mayor Patricia Chase-Green.

Narine told the residents that approximately $1 million is expended each month to collect garbage in the Albouystown/Charlestown area, with $787 being the average cost to remove one bin.

He told the six residents that they should do the math, adding that the rates and taxes have not increased since 1994. He stated that the City is ready to further improve its service being delivered to the residents, but noted that it cannot be done without the help of the residents.

The residents were in-

Albouystown/Charlestown Councillors with the city’s Solid Waste Director

formed that City Hall is not going to be imposing a garbage collection fee, and that the consultation is for them to provide a feedback and suggestion to improve garbage collection in the City.

The handful of residents explained that instead of collecting garbage two days per week in their area, City Hall should re-evaluate and collect one day, since many of the bins are half empty when collection day comes around. In addition to that, they proposed that the two days’ collection commence in November and run to December, when there is heightened cleaning activities for the holiday season.

In relation to the fee, five of the residents noted that $200 weekly per household is a reasonable charge, while one elderly gentleman proposed $100.

However, Mayor ChaseGreen took into account the number of residents, and informed them that such a small number is not sufficient for making such a decision, but she noted that their suggestions would be taken into account.

The residents also complained about persons living

mentation is to broaden the Council’s revenue base so that it can meet its expenses.

The Council’s two garbage contractors -- Puran Brothers Disposal and Cevons Waste Management -- withdrew their services on July 30, 2017 as City Hall’s debts had risen to the multi-million-dollar range.

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

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

The bailout was granted, and Central Government decided to pick up the tab until December 31, after which the M&CC would step in. The Council is expected by the end of June to procure two new garbage trucks to aid in garbage collection.

The final consultation will be today at the Kitty Market area at 18:00hrs.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, February 2, 2018

ARCHIE

When it comes to conARIES tracts, legal matters, money (March 21- and health, you are best off April 19) listening carefully. Someone will mislead you or withhold information. Get your facts and figures straight before you proceed.

Listen and learn. You will TAURUS pick up valuable information (April 20- that will help you outmaneuMay 20) ver someone trying to lead you in a direction that would be costly financially as well as emotionally.

dilbert

Do your own thing. Learn GEMINI (May 21- from experience and stay foJune 20) cused on making changes that will help you be the best you can be. Don’t give in to emotional manipulation.

Home, family and personal relationships should (June 21- be your top priorities. Make July 22) plans that will bring you closer to loved ones. Share your insights and do something creatively challenging.

CANCER

Peanuts

Deception is apparent LEO when it comes to how you (July 23- handle your money. Don’t Aug. 22) let your generosity overpower your sense of reason.

Concentrate on making money, not on spending it.

Do your best to help the VIRGO older and younger people in (Aug. 23your life. Exhibit understandSept. 22) ing and offer kindness and solutions that will encourage others to take greater initiative.

Calvin and Hobbes

Keep your secrets tucked LIBRA (Sept. 23- away someplace safe. Someone Oct. 23) will pry into your personal affairs if you aren’t careful. Look inward and do your best to make physical improvements and healthy lifestyle changes.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD – FEARFUL (FEARFUL: FEER-ful: Frightened.)

Average mark 16 words Time limit 25 minutes Can you find 20 or more words in FEARFUL? The list will be published tomorrow.

Emotional deception is SAGITTARIUS apparent.

Be realistic when (Nov. 23it comes to acknowledging Dec. 21) the limits of your capabilities.

Don’t take on something that will set you up for failure.

YESTERDAY’S WORD – MILITARISM mail maim malt marl mart mast milia militia mist mistrial mitral iris

lair last liar limit lira list tail trail tram trial trim tsar

alit alms amir aril arms astir rail sail salmi salt sari silt

similar sitar slam slat slim slit smalt smart stair star stir stria

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

You can be creative withSCORPIO out breaking the bank. A (Oct. 24moderate approach to what Nov. 22) you want to pursue is a good place to start. Avoid temptation and indulgent behavior.

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle

Get your ducks in a row.

CAPRICORN Knowing where you stand (Dec. 22legally, financially or with Jan. 19) regard to your health will help you make important decisions that will shape your future.

A partnership will lack AQUARIUS trust. Emotional manipula(Jan. 20tion or ulterior motives may Feb. 19) help you initially, but in the end you will be exposed if you aren’t honest and open.

Take the plunge and inPISCES (Feb. 20- vest in yourself. Believe in March 20) your ability to create something unique. Think big, but proceed frugally. If you get the most for the least, success will be yours.

friDAY, February 2, 2018

Pollard claims his heart still with Windies W

indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard has insisted he still harbours hope of playing for the regional team despite another tense standoff with governing board Cricket West Indies (CWI) recently.

Pollard was one of four players who opted to not make themselves available for the team’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers, the others being Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell.

According to the CWI release the players cited prior commitments with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as the main reason for their abstention. Pollard has, however, insisted the issue of uncertainty surrounding his future and a general ambigiuty combined with poor communication on the part of the board is at

the heart of the issue.

“You can't decline an offer if you weren't selected.

In the email, I was asked if I was available and if I am, then I need to play the Regional Super 50. I responded saying I would not be able to participate in the Super50. So that was the communication. There was not any discussion as they [CWI] have been claiming,” Pollard told ESPNcricinfo.

Despite the issue, however, the all-rounder insists he would still happily suit up for the regional team.

“In my heart, my priority at the start of my career, was always to play for West Indies. My priority was to play Test cricket. I can say I was basically robbed of that opportunity because I was told that I was a limited-overs cricketer. That was one thing I had to get up out

of my sleep for.

I continued playing ODI and T20 cricket, despite having all these leagues around the world,” Pollard said.

“Obviously my heart is still to play for West Indies. But with these sort of things happening, it is very, very difficult to say, 'you know what, I'm just gonna sit and wait'. If there's a clear plan of going forward we sit, we plan for the year, I am sure things can happen.” (Sportsmax)

E

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lead Sri Lanka fightback posed 83 not out after being sent in as an opener - taking advantage of being given a life with only four runs to his name.

Mominul missed out on a Test-best score, adding only one to his overnight total be-

Mehidy (20) and Sunzamul Islam (24) providing support.

With wickets tumbling around him, Mahmudullah raised the tempo, striking Dilruwan Perera and Lakshan Sandakan for sixes as the Tigers passed 500

Stokes named in England one-day squad

Ben Stokes

Dhananjaya, Kusal n unbroken stand of 187 from Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis guided Sri Lanka to 187-1 in reply to Bangladesh's 513 all out.

Dhananjaya de Silva crafted a superb century and Kusal Mendis returned to form as Sri Lanka hit back on day two of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Mominul Haque fell early on Thursday for a brilliant 176, but stand-in captain Mahmudullah made an unbeaten 83 to get the Tigers up to 513 all out.

Mehidy Hasan removed Dimuth Karunaratne without scoring to set the alarm bells ringing for the tourists, but Dhananjaya (104 not out) and Kusal took them on to 187-1 at stumps.

Dhananjaya scored an unbeaten century as Sri Lanka batted out of a draw in the third Test against India in November and reached three figures for the fourth time in the longest format to frustrate the Tigers.

Kusal was short of runs in Sri Lanka's tri-series success after being dropped for the Test series in India, but showed his class with a com-

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chance to see the back of Kusal after Mustafizur Rahman drew an edge.

Kusal found his feet after an uncertain start, growing in confidence in a new role at the top of the order, while Dhananjaya used

ngland included all-rounder Ben Stokes in their squad for the five-match one-day international series against New Zealand starting later this month.

Stokes is due to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Feb. 13 to answer a charge of affray following an incident outside a nightclub in September.

England are scheduled to play New Zealand in a Twenty20 international in Wellington on the same day.

Stokes, who has not played for England since the incident in Bristol, was cleared for selection by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last month.

Fast bowler Jake Ball has been dropped from the squad along with batsman Dawid Malan who was called in as cover for Stokes during last month’s 4-1 one-day series victory over Australia.

“Our ODI side has made excellent progress over the last three years and it’s encouraging to see with the 2019 World Cup on the horizon,” chairman of selectors James Whitaker said in an ECB statement.

The first match in the one-day series against New Zealand is in Hamilton on Feb. 25.

England squad - Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood. (Reuters)

SCOREBOARD

Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva run between the wickets © Associated Press

fore clipping Rangana Herath to Kusal at short leg and the veteran spinner struck again to remove Mosaddek Hossain.

Mahmudullah played a captain's knock, reaching his half-century after lunch with

before Suranga Lakmal (3-68) ended the innings.

Karunaratne edged Mehidy to Imrul Kayes at first slip before Sri Lanka had a run on the board, but the wicket-taker failed to hold on to a

his feet expertly in a fluent knock and struck Taijul Islam through extra cover for four to bring up a richly deserved hundred on a good day for Sri Lanka. (Sportsmax)

Bangladesh 1st innings (overnight 374-4) T Iqbal b D Perera 52 I Kayes lbw Sandakan40 M Haque c Mendis b Herath 176 M Rahim c Dickwella b Lakmal 92 L Das b S Lakmal 0 Mahmudullah not out 83 M Hossain c Sandakan b Herath 8 S Islam st Dickwella b Sandakan 24 T Islam b Herath 1 M Rahman c Dickwella b Lakmal 8 Extras (0b 0lb 4nb 0pen 5w)9 Total (129.5 overs)513 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-72 Iqbal, 2-120 Kayes, 3-356 Rahim, 4-356 Das, 5-376 Haque, 6-390 Saikat, 7-417 Miraz, 8-475 Islam, 9-478

Islam, 10-513 Rahman Bowling: Lakmal 23.5-4-683, Kumara 15-1-79-0, D Perera 27-4-112-1, Herath 37-2-150-3, Sandakan 221-92-2, de Silva 5-0-12-0 Sri Lanka 1st innings D Karunaratne c Kayes b Has an 0 K Mendisnot out 83 D de Silva not out 104 Extras (0b 0lb 0nb 0pen 0w)0 Total (48.0 overs) 187-1 Fall of Wickets : 1-0 Karunaratne To Bat :D Chandimal, N Dickwella, R Silva, D Perera, R Herath, S Lakmal,L Sandakan, L Kumara Bowling: Rahman 7-131-0,S Islam 15-1-52-0, Hasan 8- 0-45-1 T Islam 173-56-0, Hossain 1-0-3-0

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friDAY, February 2, 2018

Textbook Kohli puts India ahead

I

t was another majestic knock from Virat Kohli as India stole a march on South Africa in their sixmatch ODI series.

Virat Kohli's classy century ensured Faf du Plessis' own gritty hundred counted for nothing as India beat South Africa by six wickets in Friday's first one-day international.

On a slow Durban pitch, Proteas captain Du Plessis ground out a gutsy 120 to help South Africa to 269-8 after India's spinners had the hosts reeling on 134-5.

The next best contribution came via Chris Morris' 37 and, as is so often the case, talismanic India skipper Kohli (112) came to the fore with his 33rd ODI century, aided brilliantly by Ajinkya Rahane's 86-ball 79.

India – beaten 2-1 in the Test series – reached their tally with 27 balls to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the sixmatch series.

South Africa had battled to 79-1 off 14 overs before the introduction of Yuzvendra Chahal (2-45) and Kuldeep Yadav (3-34), who had the home side's batsmen toiling.

Quinton de Kock (34), Aiden Markram (9), JP Duminy (12) and David

brought up the century for Kohli and, after Rahane had lobbed one to Tahir at long on, the skipper was afforded a standing ovation after the same bowler forced him into a hoick that Kagiso Rabada snapped up.

India effortlessly saw out the remainder of the chase to take a lead into the second match in Centurion. (Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD

Faf du Plessis slaps the ball away © BCCI

Miller (7) all fell victim to the duo, before Du Plessis came to the rescue.

It was not as easy knock for the skipper, who would have walked lbw on 18 had India reviewed a Chahal appeal, but having survived the spinning onslaught he cashed in with 82 off 60 balls against the seamers.

Morris stuck around for a 74 partnership before being bowled by Kuldeep's full toss, but Du Plessis

and Andile Phehlukwayo put on a half-century stand with the former sending Bhuvneshwar Kumar way over deep midwicket and giving Jasprit Bumrah the treatment before holing out to Hardik Pandya at extra cover.

South Africa were still in it when Rohit Sharma (20) edged Morne Morkel behind and Shikhar Dhawan (35) was run out, but they were unable to break the Kohli-

Rahane partnership.

Kohli managed his innings with trademark poise, a couple of fours off Morris in the 19th over speeding up his knock towards fifty.

At the other end, Rahane provided an excellent foil swiping an Imran Tahir delivery over midwicket to bring up a hundred partnership before slapping Morris over the long-on ropes.

Two fours off Phehlukwayo in over 41

CAS overturns doping bans on

28 Russian athletes

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wenty-eight Russian athletes have had their Olympic doping bans overturned and results from the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi reinstated after their appeals were upheld by sport’s highest tribunal on Thursday.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said there was insufficient evidence of anti-doping violations against the athletes, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said they would not necessarily be invited to the Pyeongchang Games this month.

Eleven other athletes were confirmed to have committed doping offences although CAS said it had reduced their lifetime Olympic bans to a suspension from this year’s Games.

The original bans were imposed by the IOC following an investigation into alleged systematic doping at the Sochi Games which Russia hosted four years ago.

The IOC has also banned Russia from Pyeongchang

as a result of its “unprecedented systematic manipulation” of the anti-doping system, although individual Russian athletes can compete as neutrals if they can meet stringent IOC criteria. Russia has repeatedly denied state involvement in doping.

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the CAS ruling.

“This, of course, cannot but give us joy,” he told reporters. “It confirms our position on the fact that the vast majority of our athletes are clean.”

Putin added that Russia still needed to continue its fight against doping along with the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA).

“We will do this in determined fashion,” he said.

Russian sports minister Pavel Kolobkov said the IOC would be asked to allow the 28 athletes to compete in Pyeongchang.

“We really hope that the IOC make a decision in favor of all clean athletes who earned the right to compete at the Olympics,” he told

reporters.

But the IOC, which has cleared 169 Russians to compete, said that “not being sanctioned does not automatically confer the privilege of an invitation”.

ic manipulation of the anti-doping system” in Sochi.

It regretted that the “proven” existence of the systemic manipulation was not considered for the other cases.

“This may have a seri-

Russia's Elena Nikitina is one of the athletes to have had their life bans overturned

“Systematic Manipulation”

The IOC said the confirmation of 11 cases “clearly demonstrates once more the existence of the system-

Virat Kohli punches down the ground © BCCI

ous impact on the future fight against doping,” the IOC said.

CAS said its role was “not to determine gener-

South Africa 1st innings Q de Kock+lbw Chahal 34 H Amlalbw J Bumrah 16 Faf du Plessis*c H Pandya b B Kumar 120 A Markramc H Pandya b Chahal 9 JP Duminyb K Yadav 12 D Millerc Kohli b K Yadav7 C Morrisb K Yadav 37 A Phehlukwayo not out 27 K Rabadarun out Dhoni 1 Extras(0b 3lb 1nb 0pen 2w)6 Total(50 overs)269-8 Fall of Wickets : 1-30 Amla, 2-83 de Kock, 3-103 Markram, 4-122 Duminy, 5-134 Miller, 6-208 Morris, 7-264 du Plessis, 8-268 Rabada Did Not Bat: M Morkel, I Tahir Bowling: B Kumar 10-171-1, Bumrah 10-0-56-1, H Pandya 7-0-41-0, Chahal 10-0-45-2, K Yadav 10-0-34-

ally whether there was an organized scheme allowing the manipulation of doping control samples” but was limited to dealing with the individual cases.

WADA said it noted “with serious concern” the decision by CAS, given that “all 39 athletes were part of Russia’s systematic doping program”.

“WADA understands that this decision will cause dismay and frustration among athletes. The Agency supports the IOC’s intention to analyze these decisions very carefully and consider all options, including an appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal,” the statement added.

Cross-country skier Alexander Legkov, who won gold in the 50km and silver in 4x10km, and Alexander Tretyakov, who won gold in the men’s individual skeleton, were among those to be cleared.

Alexander Zubkov, president of the Russian bobsleigh federation, was one of the 11 whose doping offences were confirmed and

3, Jadhav

3-0-19-0

India innings (target 270 from 50 overs) R Sharma c de Kock+ b M Mo rkel 20 S Dhawan run out Markram 35 V Kohli* c Rabada b Phehlukwayo 112 A Rahane c Tahir b Phehlukwayo 79 H Pandya not out 3 MS Dhoninot out 4 Extras (0b 6lb 0nb 0pen 11w)17 Total (45.3 overs)270-4 Fall of Wickets : 1-33 Sharma, 2-67 Dhawan, 3-256 Rahane, 4-262 Kohli Did Not Bat : K Jadhav, B Kumar, K Yadav, J Bumrah, Y Chahal Bowling: M Morkel 7-0-351, Rabada 9.3-0-48-0, Morris 7-0-52-0, Tahir 10-0-51-0, Phehlukwayo 8-0-42-2, Duminy 2-0-16-0, Markram 2-0-20-0

he remained stripped of his two gold medals.

“I have said many times that I have never doped and do not dope now,” he told Reuters. “What am I being accused of? What anti-doping rule violation do they want to slap against me?”

Jim Walden, lawyer for Russia’s former anti-doping chief-turned whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov, said the ruling provided “a very small measure of punishment for some athletes but a complete ‘get out of jail free card’ for most”.

The United States AntiDoping Agency said the IOC should have dealt with the matter earlier.

“Slamming dozens of cases through the process on the eve of the Olympic Games has not served justice and as such the integrity of the Games has been sabotaged,” its chief executive Travis Tygart said.

“The whole mess truly stinks and the nightmare continues for clean athletes.” (Reuters)

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ose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC), MS and beverage giants ANSA McAL Ltd on Tuesday renewed their long standing relationship during a courtesy call to the company’s Head Office at Beterverwagting, East Coast, Demerara.

A delegation consisting of Vice President Mark Papannah, Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, Asst Secretary Simon Naidu

and Organising Secretary Ravindranauth Kissoonlall held a highly successful meeting with ANSA McAL Managing Director Troy Cadogan to discuss the club’s plans for 2018.

Foster informed Cadogan the club has set itself a target of 700 activities for 2018 and that the year has gotten off to a flying start with activities being held on a daily basis.

The two groups started a working relationship over two decades and Foster hailed the them as one of the main reasons why the club being considered to be among the best in the country.

ANSA McAL would be co-sponsoring their Annual Youth Review Magazine, 28th Annual Award Ceremony and would be the sponsor of the 6th Annual ANSA McAL Award of Excellence, monthly

Personal reasons hamper Buck from Guyana stint

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Jerome Buck

en’s coach but personal reasons will see the specialist not fulfil the initial plans.

This is according to President of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) Phillip Fernandes who explained, “unfortunately due to personal reason he had to cancel and we will

be looking to who can fill that role”.

Fernandes added it’s important they find a replacement now, so that they can get into the serious work of preparing for the games The GHB head served for years as the national women’s coach until re-

Phillip Fernandes

lin-

quishing duties to Dwayne Scott for the 2017 Pan American Indoor Championships which were was hosted in Guyana but resumed duties to lead the national women’s team to the CAC outdoor qualifiers in Jamaica.

The country’s senior teams qualified after finishing second in the male division while the women won their division at the CAC Qualifiers in Jamaica last year. CAC Games runs from July 19 to August 3 in Colombia.

Television Programme and the 7th Annual Tribute to Head Teachers Programme. The company would also review for possible assistance to provide street signs for Rose Hall.

The secretary was loud in his praise for ANSA McAL assistance over the years and special mention was made of former Managing Directors Paul Chan-a-Sue, Beverly Harper along with Cadogan and Nigel Worrell among others.

Harper served as Honorary patron of the club from 2010 to 2015 while Cadogan was hailed as a long standing friend and mentor to the management of the club.

Papannah assured ANSA McAL the club along with its ten cricket teams and Over-35 Group would work as a unit to make sure that all the programmes are not only properly organised but also achieves their objectives.

Cadogan, in brief remarks stated ANSA McAL was aware of its corporate responsibilities and loves to be involved in activities that make positive differences. He congratulated the club for its outstanding work over the years and encouraged the executive committee to uphold their high standard and expressed confidence that the relationship between the two would be strengthened in the future.

McLeod looking to pick up Bolt's mantle

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orld and Olympic 110m hurdles champion Omar McLeod hopes to join an increasingly competitive race to fill the void left by his more celebrated compatriot Usain Bolt.

Bolt the decorated many-time champion walked away from the sport of athletics following last summer’s London World Championship. The 31-year-old’s decision brought to an end incomprehensible dominance on track but also unprecedented success and recognition for the sport off it.

In wake of his departure the search has begun in earnest for an athlete capable of filling the void left by the double world record holder. Already crowned the World and Olympic champion the athlete will be hoping to generate interest off the track.

“It’s all about having an image. It’s all about the fans. If you connect with the fans, you automatically win,” McLeod told USA Today. “That’s something I’m trying to do more.

It’s a different level to it, taking up that mantle. It can’t be, ‘I run fast but don’t have personality,’ or, ‘I have personality but don’t run fast,’” he added.

The athlete, however, also plans to expand his appeal on the track by potentially adding sprint events to his repertoire. McLeod and his new coach, Edrick Floreal, have spent the pre-season concentrating on something else, sprinting.

“It aligns with the goals I set out for myself. I know if I accomplish those goals I’ll be well on the way to taking up that mantle. It’s humbling and it’s an honor. All I need to do is do what I do, be myself, and I think it’ll happen.” (Sportsmax)

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friDAY, February 2, 2018

Guinness "Greatest of the Streets" Football

Hustlers fall to Brothers United

– Harmony Warriors , ESPN show promising signs The closeness of matches continued throughout the night as Young Ballers and Jetty Ballers also could not muster a goal in regulation time, but latter won 1-0 on penalty kicks.

Match time goals returned when Collin MaCalmon 6th goal led Ballers Empire to a needle victory over Mocha while Up Like-Seven were on top against Nismes Ballers, winning 3-0 due to Terry O’Brian (18th) and Anthony Darlington (9th).

Police ‘B’ failed to awaken Dream Team from their

Goal Getters and Parfaite Harmonie also produced a close match

L

ast year’s runners up Hustlers received a dent to their 2018 campaign when they were needled by Brothers United on sudden death penalty kicks during the second night of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Street’ Football Championship West Demerara/ East Bank Demerara Zone staged at the Pouderoyen Tarmac on Wednesday.

Watched by another partisan and sizable gathering, Hustlers and the Brothers unit, who are a composition of four broth-

ers and close friends, were unable to break the goalless deadlock at the end of regulation and extra time.

Also staying in contention for a knock-out spot was ESPN who hammered Front Line Ballers 3-0 led by the dynamic duo of Pernell Schultz and Trevon Lythcott. Shultz scored in the 13th and 15th while Lythcott converted in the 14th.

More so, Harmony Warriors got the better of Police ‘A’ via Cordis Paul’s Guinness Goal (counts as two in the final 3 min-

utes) in the 18th minute.

Likewise, Gold-Getters failed to get going against Parfait Harmony, losing 0-1 via Ural Armstrong’s strike in the 8th minute.

Mocha ‘B’ edged ahead of Agricola Gas Team 2-1 on sudden death penalty kicks after their goalless encounter. Another, match had to be decided by penalty kicks when both Boom Bang and West Side Ballers failed to breach make a mark.

However, the former held their nerves to win 2-1 on spot kicks.

sanctuary and were hammered 0-4. Dellon John (19th) and Kester Dorris (20th) ensured there was no need for spot kicks.

Additionally, both Asylum Youths and Patentia Money Team won 2-0 on sudden death penalty kicks against Agricola and Bagotville after both of their matches ended in goalless stalemates.

The tournament which is in collaboration with Colours Boutique will continue tonight at the same

venu e w i t h teams looking to seal their passage to the knock-out phase.

The winning purse for the top side is $400,000 and the championship trophy, while the runner-up will receive $200,000 and the corresponding accolade. The third and fourth placed finishers will receive $150,000 and $100,000 respectively along with trophies.

Brothers United and Hustlers were locked in a feisty battle which needed to be decided by sudden death penalty kicks

Milo Schools Football Tournament 2018…

Another goal-rush weekend anticipated

T

he second round of the sixth annual Milo Schools Football Tournament will get underway from Saturday and another action-packed weekend is expected with six

more matches slated for the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

The under-18 tournament which is a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Public Health under

theme “there is no excuse for violence” saw 37 goals scored on the first weekend with three-time defending champions Chase Academic Foundation (12-0) and Masters Academy (10-0)

recording the biggest margin in victories.

On Saturday, Ann’s Grove Secondary clash with Dolphin Secondary from noon followed by top Linden side Christianburg

Magnum "Mash Cup" Futsal Classic

Fireworks expected on opening night

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ith over $800,000 in prize monies and trophies up for grabs, the inaugural Magnum ‘Mash Cup’ Futsal Classic which is being held in collaboration with Legacy Entertainment is anticipated to provide a riveting start to the indoor season which kicks off tomorrow night, at the National Gymnasium.

According to the organisers thirty-two of the top teams in the format will square off to see who will be crowned the champion of the inaugural event.

The release added that teams have been in constant contact with the Organisers to get a spot in the invitational tournament and they have been experiencing headaches to arrive at the final selection of teams which has surpassed the agreed allotment.

However, most of the top exponents in the format including Sparta Boss, West Front Road ‘Gold is Money, Leopold Street, North Ruimveldt, Broad Street, Sophia, Silver Bullets,

NK Ballers and Swag Entertainment B u l l e t s , out of Linden have secured spots and fireworks are expected from Night One. The winning team will receive $400,000 while first runner-up will collect $200,000, the third place finisher will pocket $100,000 and fourth place $50,000.

Among the teams invited are: West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’, Sparta Boss, Leopold Street, Tiger Bay, Albouystown A&B, Sophia, Bent Street, North Ruimveldt, Future Stars, Back Circle, Old Skool Ballers, Broad Street, Channel Nine Warriors, North East La Penitence, New Market Street, Alexander Village, Hustlers, California Square, Kingston, Ansa McAl All Stars, Mocha, Organiser Esan Griffith Showstoppers, Silver

NBK All Stars, Swag Entertainment, NK Ballers, Buxton Diamond, Champion Boys, YMCA All Stars, R u g b y team, Team Extreme.

The first weekend of the tournament showed there is a great rush by teams to hit the back of the net

Secondary against Vergenogen Secondary from 13:30 hrs; the final match from 15:00 hrs will be Lodge Secondary and Queen’s College.

The following day at the same starting times as mentioned, Annandale Secondary and Friendship Secondary clash then exciting Bishops’ High face a tough task in Pure Masters.

It then sets the tone for 2017 runners-up Morgan Learning Centre and School of the Nations.

Teams will be hoping to secure the first place prize of $500,000 which goes towards a school project.

Second to fourth, will receive $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively which also go towards school projects.

friDAY, February 2, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

23

Corona, Petra partner for lucrative fustal tournament – motorbike to be awarded to MVP, patron

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o p B r a n d z Distributors under their popular Corona Beer and Petra Organisation have joined forces to host a cash-filled futsal tournament which gets cracking on February 24 and concludes on Easter Saturday (March 31) at the National Gymnasium.

The organisers had partnered with previous brands in their previous two editions but the third has surpassed those on a financial front.

At the launch on Thursday at the distributors’ Broad Street location, Co-Director of the organising body Troy Mendonca disclosed the lucrative allure of the tournament, stating the winning purse will be

$600,000 and the championship trophy. Second to fourth will take home $300,000, $150,000 and $75,000 along with the corresponding accolades.

Mendonca also highlighted the growth of the teams which they began engaging 10 years ago and the organisation of the teams embodies the concept that sport fosters social cohesion.

The sweet of the pudding comes in form of two motor cycles which specifications will be revealed at a later date; one will be awarded to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the other to a lucky spectator.

More so, with 24 of the top teams being split into six groups of four, the battle will not be just to progress to the knock-out stages but cop

Some riveting futsal action is anticipated for this tournament in the National Gymnasium

the group prizes; $40,000 for first place team, $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000 will be awarded to second to fourthplace group teams.

Marketing and

Promotions Manager Marvin Wray contented there was no issue in partnering with Petra due to their stellar work on previous tournaments. Wray also

stated they aim of the company is not just to build a sale relationship with customers but help develop their communities.

Likewise, Sales Manager

Rishi Rampersaud echoed similar sentiments to Wray, stating “this year is focused on community development and this tournament will start that concept on the right track and patrons can look forward to more initiatives like this in the future”.

He also all urged all to come out and support the teams.

The participating teams come from Alpha Warriors, Pro Kleaners Campbellville, Showstoppers, Mocha, Agricola, Plaisance , Sparta Boss, Old Skool Ballers, Leopold Street, Albouystown, Kingstown, North East La Penitence, Back Circle, West Front Road, North Ruimveldt, Tiger Bay, Broad Street, Channel Warriors, Bent Street, Tucville, Alexander Village, Future Stars, NK Ballers and Sophia.

(Akeem Greene)

CWI Super50 Cup 2018…

Permaul backs Jaguars to surpass 300-run mark Ground, Antigua which gets underway today. easoned Guyana Speaking to Guyana Jaguars campaigner Times Sport after their Veerasammy Permaul 35-run victory in their firmly believes Jaguars has opening Group ‘B’ match the batting depth to post against English side Kent totals in excess of 300 runs on Wednesday, the marque should the top-order deliver spinner expressed optimism. a solid start.

“Going into the next His comments came game once we get a good ahead of their second match start and solid foundation of the 2018 Cricket West with the batting we posIndies (CWI) Super50 Cup sess, we can score over 300 against United States at runs.

It’s one-day crickthe Sir Vivian et and you need to be posiRichards tive but not reckless; if you Cricket get a good start and don’t lose too many [wickets] you [will] always have the base to push-on”, the Berbician contended.

Jaguars were heading towards defeat had it not been for stellar batting by Shivnarine Chanderpaul followed by Permaul and Devendra Bishoo pulling them from the brink with the ball.

Defending a seemingly inadequate 233, Kent were cruising on 119 for one in the 28th over until Premaul snatched four for 46 and leg-spinner Bishoo, three for 34, to scythe through Jaguars will be aware of the threat the innings and send former West Indies batsman Kent crashing for 198 Xavier Marshall can pose all out in the 47th over.

The left-arm spinner who took

…face United States today in 2nd match

By Akeem Greene

S

Shivnarine Chanderpaul looked to be the most assured batsman on Wednesday against Kent

50 wickets in the four-day championship, topping the charts, revealed the conditions played in the spin twins’ favour.

“They got off to a very good start and soon as the spinners were introduced it pulled back the run rate and that helped us pick up wickets at crucial stages. We never let them back in as we sought to keep the pressure on them by forcing the runrate to climb.”

He further stated, “It was a great opportunity to play alongside Bishoo again having not played with him for a long while and we really went out and got the ball in the right areas which helped create pressure and brought wickets. It’s always a pleasure to play alongside him since we know what he is capable of achieving.”

Earlier, Chanderpaul, stroked 67 at the top of the order and got support

from wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble who made 39, as Jaguars were bowled out within their allotted 50-overs. At one stage they were tottering on 33-3 with captain Leon Johnson and Chandrapaul Hemraj back in the pavilion without troubling the scores.

“We didn’t had the start we were looking for; the pitch was not conducive for stroke-play early into the match and the batsmen probably needed to take their time a little bit more by seeing off the new ball and waiting on the ball balls to put away. We let Kent into the match and Shiv [Shivnarine Chanderpaul] really stood out by helping us to a total we could defend”, the Albion finger spinner posited.

The 28 year-old also believes the batsmen are cognisant of their mistakes and will be looking to make

amends as they push for a top-two finish among five teams in their group.

Looking at today’s match, United States will enter down on confidence after being victims of a 162run hammering at the hands of Leeward Hurricanes on Wednesday.

Opener Jaskaran Malhotra stroked a top score of 43 while former West Indies batsman Xavier Marshall struck 40 but none of the other top eight reached double figures in pursuit of 299.

Left-arm pacer Elmore Hutchinson and fellow left-armer Saurabh Netravalkar along with leg-spinner Timil Patel looked to be their most threatening bowlers and will have a tough containing some Jaguars’ batsmen hungry for runs.

Today’s fixture gets underway from 09:00 hrs while the other Group ‘B’ match

pits Hurricanes against the formidable Jamaica Scorpions at the Coolidge Cricket ground in a day/ night affair which starts at 14:00 hrs.

Jaguars Squad: Ricardo Adams, Devendra Bishoo, Anthony Bramble, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Leon Johnson (cpt), Ramaal Lewis, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul, Clinton Pestano, Raymon Reifer, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd United States Squad: Adil Bhatti, Elmore Hutchinson, Nosthusha Kenjige, Ibrahim Khaleel (cpt) Jaskaran Malhotra, Xavier Marshall, Prashanth Nair, Saurabh Netravalkar, Mrunal Patel, Nisarg Patel, Timil Patel, Usman Rafiq, Roy Silva, Sunny Sohal.

friDAY, February 2, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI Super50 Cup 2018…

Pg 23

Permaul backs Jaguars to surpass 300-run mark

…face United States today in 2nd match Guyana Jaguars will look for a stronger showing with the bat today against United States

Corona, Petra partner for lucrative fustal tournament

Pg 23

– motorbike to be awarded to MVP, patron (L-R) Co-Director of Petra Organisation Troy Mendonca and Top Brandz Sales Manager Rishi Rampersaud handing over the championship trophy to Petra representative Jacklyn Boodie along with Top Brandz Marketing and Promotions Manager Marvin Wray at the launch on Thursday

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